The Houses Competition (THC), Round 7.
House: Gryffindor
Class: Charms
Category: Drabble
Prompt Chosen: [Animal] Black Cat
Rating: K+
Word Count: 980
Beta(s): Charlie9646, Niharika (Harrypotter3977)
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Summary: Hermione discovers a small, black cat roaming in the dungeons while looking for Severus. Who does he belong to...and can she keep him?
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Hermione knocked softly, waiting a moment before pushing the door open. "Severus, are you in here?" Minerva had asked her to remind him about the presentation he was supposed to give at the next Dueling Club meeting. He'd avoided having to take his turn throughout most of the school year, but it could be avoided no longer.
"Hello?" she called again, when she neither heard nor saw him.
Hmm, she thought. I suppose I'll wait for him.
She made herself comfortable, sitting on the edge of one of the long tables-at the front of the class of course-casually looking around the room. How long had it been since she'd last sat in at these tables as a student...was it ten years already? Desperately soaking in as much information as she could muster, the heat and humidity of the room always leaving her hair bigger and louder when she left than when she'd come in.
Hermione chuckled at the memory, tugging lightly on her carefully plaited hair.
She caught movement out of the corner of her eye, surprised to see a black cat trot out from behind the blackboard. The creature slowly made its way over to her, tiny paws silent against the stone floor as it regarded her curiously.
"Oh, hello there," she whispered softly, smiling at the small creature.
Its fur was sleek and shiny, black as night and perfectly groomed. It moved like a miniature black panther, cautious and purposeful as it drew nearer to Hermione.
"How are you doing this fine evening?" Hermione wondered, resisting the urge to slide down from the table and meet the animal partway. Cats were not dogs; they did not like to be chased. She would let the pretty thing come to her.
The cat meowed softly in response, coming closer to where Hermione's feet were dangling off the table. Gazing up at her inquisitively for a long moment, the cat sat back on its haunches, its thin tail swishing delicately back and forth.
Hermione smiled softly at the cat, unable to stop thoughts of Crookshanks from filling her mind. She wondered if her old cat would have been friends with this cat. Mrs. Norris had never been a big fan, but that was never down to Crookshanks. Hermione smiled sadly as she remembered her first year of teaching...Crookshanks's last year. She missed him terribly.
Surprising Hermione and pulling her out of her thoughts, the dark animal suddenly hunched in slightly before launching itself into the air.
Hermione blinked, and suddenly the cat was in her lap. She held herself still as the animal sniffed her, leaning its small face close to the fabric of her jumper. The cat smelled her chest, up her neck, leaning forward to reach the end of her chin. She felt its cool nose touch her skin, making her jump slightly, before the creature turned and rubbed itself under her neck.
"Oh," Hermione remarked softly, remaining still as the cat rubbed against her with a purr. That soft, rumbling noise that Hermione missed so much. A stray tear fell from her eye as the cat shared its warmth with her, a contrast against the chill of the dungeons. One hand came up of its own volition, lightly stroking a furry ear before petting the cat's head. The creature purred a little louder, arching and stretching against her.
"I see you've met," came a silky voice from the storage room, and Hermione glanced over to see the Potions Master himself leaning against the now open door, his arms crossed over his chest. He was covered in the many black layers he always wore; the only hint of colour in his otherwise ominous wardrobe was the shine of gold that resided on his left ring finger.
"Hello darling," Hermione replied, sinking her head slightly into the purring black cat in her lap.
"Was that greeting for me, or the feline currently marking you as its territory?" Severus wondered with an arched eyebrow.
Hermione rolled her eyes, cuddling the cat more fully. "Minerva sent me to remind you about your session with the Dueling Club tomorrow afternoon," she told him, scratching the top of the cat's head lightly.
Severus grunted in response, shutting the storage room door and walking towards his desk, leaning against it and returning his arms to their position across his chest.
"Aren't you going to ask me who that cat belongs to?" he wondered.
Hermione shook her head.
Severus frowned. "And why is that?"
She sighed. "Because, it probably wandered its way down here from Argus's office, or Minerva's, or belongs to one of the students, and I'd like a few more uninterrupted moments to enjoy the feel of a cat in my arms once again before I have to send it away." Hermione dipped her head down to hide another escaping tear.
"He," Severus commented.
"What?" she replied, lost in the purr of the cat and the memories it evoked.
"The creature you've curled yourself about," Severus answered. "It's a 'he'."
"Oh," Hermione said softly, stroking her hand down the cat's back. "Precious boy," she commented, thoughts of Crookshanks spilling forth another tear.
Severus sighed. "And he is yours, you daft woman," he added with a huff.
Hermione froze, lifting her head to meet Severus's gaze as the cat continued to purr against her. "Are you serious?"
He only nodded.
"But I thought you didn't want...you said…are you sure?" She was sputtering, only just restraining herself from crushing the animal in her excitement.
"Evidently the look on your face right now is worth eschewing my previous misgivings," he replied simply.
Hermione's eyes filled with tears now, wrapping one arm around the cat as she stood and walked towards her husband. "Thank you," she whispered before kissing him fiercely.
"Hmm," Severus replied between kisses. "You can thank me by taking my Dueling Club lessons."
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The end.