Theodore Nott was minding his own business while walking back to the common room. The Welcoming Feast had been a drag, the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher looked like a homeless man, and he still had Transfiguration homework to finish. He was rounding the last corner to the dungeons something wound its way around his ankles. He looked down to see a strange white cat rubbing against his legs.

"Can I help you?" He asked it coolly. It looked up at him with bright green eyes. "Who do you belong to?"

"Nott," a voice called. He turned to see Owen Wood walked toward him. "I think he likes you."

"Is he yours?"

"No, my sister's. The little bugger sneaked in while trying to snack on my owl."

Theodore smirked. "Funny. Well, what house is your sister in?"

"She's not at Hogwarts."

"What?"

"She decided to go to another school. A smaller one."

"Beauxbatons?"

"No," Owen laughed. "Ambrose's. It's a small Scottish school."

"Why?" Theodore asked. "Is she a squib?"

"No," he said quickly. "She didn't want to live in Oliver's shadow."

"That makes sense," he smirked. "You're brother is an idiot."

Owen chose to keep his mouth shut. "Can I have the cat? I need to send him back."

Theodore laughed. "Send him back how? By owl?"

Grimacing, Owen conceded the point. "I was thinking about asking to use Flitwick's fireplace."

"Maybe," the Slytherin said picking up the cat and holding him to his chest. "But until you find out, I think he would rather stay with me."

"He would. But you don't need the burden." Owen had inched forward and the cat was hissing at him.

"What's his name?"

"Thistles."

Theodore scoffed. "Really?"

"It wasn't her choice. Look, can you just hand him to me? I'll take him up to my dorm until I can talk to Flitwick."

Scratching behind the cats ears, Theodore made a decision. "Let me know what Flitwick says. I'll keep him until then."

"You can't just keep him," Owen said, sputtering. "He's not yours."

"And his owner isn't here. He likes me."

Theodore was trying to get under his skin. The kid actually thought he was good enough for Daphne Greengrass. No one was good enough for Daphne Greengrass.

Huffing, Owen stomped off toward the Great Hall. Theodore let Thistles drop to the stone floor and continued on his way, cat following silently. He entered the common room, holding the door for the cat.

"Eek," Pansy Parkinson shrieked. "Where did you find that beast?!"

"Apparently it's Wood's sister's."

Flint sat up straight. "Don't you mean brother?" He smirked. "The Ravenclaw?"

He shook his head. "No, the Ravenclaw said there is another Wood. She doesn't go here. Didn't want to deal with Oliver."

The Quidditch captain's eyebrows shot up. "Oh really? Isn't that interesting?"

"I thought so. Apparently the cat isn't fond of Wood. He likes me."

Flint bent down to pet the cat, whose claws met his skin. "Ouch!" He cried.

"Maybe it's not just Wood," Theodore said. "He didn't scratch me."

"You know what they say," Adrian Pucey cut in. "Familiars who are guarded only open up to their witch or wizard...and their soulmate." He wiggled his eyebrows at Nott.

The younger boy scoffed. "Yeah, I'm sure my soulmate is a Wood."

"So where did she decide to go to school?"

"Apparently there's a little Scottish school called Ambrose's or something. I was only half listening."

"So is the beast yours for the year?" Pansy asked, eyeing him apprehensively.

Theodore rolled his eyes. "He wanted to owl it back."

The common room broke out in guffaws. "Owl a cat back?"

"Yeah, I guess common sense slips even for Ravenclaws."

"Idiot," Pucey sneered.

"Well, he will be around the common room at least until Christmas holidays."

Later that night Theodore crawled into bed and felt Thistles curl up at his feet. "Goodnight Cat."

"Meow."

Theodore was shaken awake by an irate Draco the next morning. "Shut the bloody bird up!"

Pulling himself out of bed, he found the offensive owl. A large brown barn owl was squawking like crazy with a note for him.

"Ok, Bird," he grumbled. "I've got it." He pulled the note away and tossed a treat at the unfamiliar owl.

Mr. Theodore Nott,

It has come to my attention, via my brother, that my dear Thistles has taken a liking to you. I am sorry. He can be quite the handful. If you wouldn't mind returning him to Owen so that he can get him to me I would greatly appreciate it. Thistles can be quite a beast and burden when he chooses to be, which is often. Thank you for taking care of him.

Yours,

E. Wood

Theodore was intrigued. Why? He wasn't sure. But he wanted to know more about this E. Wood. He wanted to know her name, her full real name. Why had he never met her before? How old was she? Was he intrigued by a first year? Had he seen her on the Platform and not known it? He felt Thistles curl around his feet as he saw the bottom of the letter.

P.S. Watch out. He likes toes.

"Ouch!" He yelled, jumping back from the playful looking cat. It blinked up at him with innocent eyes, like it hadn't just tried to eat his appendage. "Don't do that."

The cat slunk off to the other side of the room.

"It's from his owner," Theodore announced to his dorm mates. "She's asking me to give him to her brother."

"So do it," Draco grumbled. Unsure of why, Theodore didn't want to give him back. He wanted to keep him. Too late, he looked up and saw Thistles on Draco's bed, tail thumping menacingly. Before he could react, the cat attacked Draco's bare toes. "Ouch! What the hell?!" The pale blonde fell out of bed to get away from his attacker. "You beast!" He cried, fixing the cat with a hard glare.

"Meow," the cat responded, unabashed.

Blaise snorted. "He's certainly going to fit in here in Slytherin."

"Nott, are you sending it back?!" Malfoy demanded.

"No," he decided. "I think I like having him here."