Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count - 633

Put Money On It

Kingsley let himself into the house, and promptly fell over the broomstick that had been leaning precariously against the wall until the light breeze knocked it down in Kingsley's path. Snorting to himself, he shook his head and picked it up, placing it in the umbrella rack.

Harry would undoubtedly tell him off for that—"It's not an umbrella!"—but Kingsley wasn't sure where else to put it. They really needed to sort out the shed, but they'd both been so busy lately that when they got home from work, neither of them were interested in yet more work.

Still, the fact that the broomstick was there at all meant Harry was home, which was always a good thing.

Sure enough, after he'd hung his cloak up and put his shoes on the rack, Kingsley stepped into the living room to see Harry sprawled out on the sofa, a coffee cup resting on his chest with one hand wrapped around it.

"Hey you," Kingsley greeted, bending down to kiss his partner. "How was your day?"

Harry kissed him back, but then huffed at the question. "Fine I guess. I just… still can't change into a goddamn animal and it's frustrating."

"You'll get there, sweetheart," Kingsley replied, squeezing Harry's shoulder as he straightened up. "You have my deepest sympathy though, it took me almost three years. I know it's hard, but keep persevering with it."

"You know, if you loved me, you would have brought me chocolate instead of sympathy," Harry said, smiling up at him impishly.

Kingsley raised his eyebrow and pulled a bar of chocolate from his robes, handing it over to a grinning Harry. "See how well I know you?"

"Thank you," Harry said, already pulling open the foil. "You're literally the best."

"Uh huh."

…

Kingsley blinked at the moving yellow blanket. When a little black head poked out of it, he tilted his head to the side, curiously. The kitten seemed quite content to explore the sofa, sniffing everywhere, it's little ears pricking occasionally.

Kingsley watched for a moment, amused, before he coughed pointedly.

The kitten yelped and spun around, almost losing its balance on the sofa cushion and tumbling off. Thankfully it didn't, it's claws digging into the material for a moment to hold it in place. When the kitchen looked up, Kingsley chuckled.

He'd recognise those eyes anywhere.

Harry had persevered with the Animagus change for almost a year, and Kingsley would put money on the kitten being him.

Sure enough, there was a ripple, and the glossy black fur receded to leave Harry sitting in the kitten's place, glaring balefully at Kingsley.

"It's not polite to sneak up on people," he groused, but then held his hands out for Kingsley to join him, immediately pressing his face against Kingsley's chest when he sat down beside him.

Really, if Kingsley had thought about it, he'd have known Harry would have been a cat; although the adorable kitten form was a surprise. Kingsley in his panther form would dwarf Harry if they transformed together.

"I wanted to be bigger," Harry muttered. "Being a kitten isn't exactly what I had in mind."

"You're adorable, if that helps?" Kingsley offered, smirking. "The cutest thing I've ever seen."

Harry snorted. "That is not a good thing, Kings. How is a kitten going to help me in the field?"

"Small enough to escape from places a human certainly couldn't," Kingsley pointed out. "And nobody would be suspicious of a little kitten wandering about. If you'd been something more conspicuous, you wouldn't have been able to use it for recon of any kind."

Harry hummed his agreement. "True."

Kingsley stroked a hand through Harry's hair, and to his amusement, Harry almost purred.

Yeah, he thought to himself. Definitely could have called this one.

Written for:

Basement: 9. "It's not polite to sneak up on people."

Marvel: 6. Persevering

Pairing The Character - HarryKingsley

North Funfair - Christmas Market - Nimbus 2000 - Broomstick / Harry Potter

East Funfair - Christmas Crackers - 12. Yellow / Cat / "Thank you."

South Funfair - Paper Chains - HarryKingsley / 7. "If you loved me, you would have brought me chocolate instead of sympathy."

365. 303. Glossy