Chapter 2

Huh ...Where am I? Malfoy wondered as he surveyed his surroundings, groggily blinking sleep out of his eyes. Oh crap! It was all coming back to him. He was stuck as a cat. He stretched his long lithe body and jumped from his seat next to Hermione. He looked back up at her. She was sleeping with a little smile on her face. She looked so sweet and...and she was the reason he was stuck being a cat for who knows how long, he reminded himself sternly. I have to get out of here , he thought to himself . But I can't open the door, I'm only a cat...

Just then the Hogwarts Express screeched to a halt. In the confusion of people waking up, jumping up and leaving the compartment ,Malfoy managed to slip away. He narrowly avoided being stomped on as he slipped under the seat of the one of the thestral-drawn carriages waiting to take people up to Hogwarts. As the carriage moved forward several moments later, he thought about how he could get the other Slytherins to help him.

Back in the train Hermione was searching franticly "Where is he," she murmured as she looked under her book (not that there was any way that he could have been hiding under her book, but she'd looked everywhere else already).

"Where is who?" Ron asked her.

Suddenly Hermione looked up with a grim look on her face" Who indeed! Should have known he'd try to do things his way! Just like him..."

Ron looked at her curiously "Are you O.K Hermione?"

"Oh, I'm fine I just can't find my new kitty, I just can't think where he can have got to!"

"Oh well, I'm sure you'll find him soon. He's probably just exploring his new home or something,"Ron said.

"Or something!" Hermione grunted to herself.

"What was that?" Ron asked.

"Oh, yes I'm sure you're right. But now we have to get off the train before we miss all the carriages."To herself she thought; let him get himself into trouble, see if I help him! Let him see what it's like to be a helpless little animal! And with that Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville left the train and got into a nearby carriage. Hmmmmmmm ...Has anybody noticed that Ginny did not return? Where has Ginny got to? And with who? More on that later

Meanwhile Malfoy had reached Hogwarts and was heading towards the Slytherin common room. He quickly left behind him the chattering masses that were heading towards the Great Hall. After rounding the last corner, he reached his destination. After staring at the picture that covered the entrance he realized that he did not know the password and even if he had, he would not have been able to say it because he was a cat and the only person that could understand him was Hermione. So he decided to wait. Somebody was bound to come along soon. 10 minutes later Crabbe and Goyle came lumbering around the corner. They were not in the best of moods. Without Malfoys help they had gotten lost on the way to the Great Hall. Not only were they hungry but they had no idea what to do with themselves now that Malfoy was absent. They had only happened upon the entrance to their common room by chance. Malfoy guessed that they probably didn't know the password either. He was about to give up on his idea of getting help and leave, when Crabbe and Goyle spotted him. Goyle nudged Crabbe and pointed at Malfoy. A light seemed to go on for them as though of recognition. But unfortunately it wasn't the fact that the cat resembled Malfoy, it was of the fact that just that afternoon they had been very mean to an animal a lot like this one. Seeing the look in their eyes Malfoy tried to shout "No, no. It's me!" But to no avail. Both goons felt that Malfoy would approve if they messed up another furry little animal. Fortunately or rather unfortunately they didn't even think of using their wands...

Half an hour later Hermione, Ron and Harry left the Great Hall. They had all eaten their fill and were looking forward to their beds. Harry and Ron were having an animated conversation about quidditch and Hermione was stifling a yawn behind her hand. Quite honestly Quidditch bored her. She had never been very good at flying and she only went to the quidditch matches to support Harry and Ron .And now that Harry had been made captain of the team he would probably be spending more time in the air instead of studying for the NEWTs next year. True it was still another year but those tests were very important all the same...and if she tried to tell them that they would just call her a bore...so she didn't say anything and just went on walking.

Suddenly she heard a pitiful voice cry "No, no ! Heeeeelp!"

"Do you guys hear that ?" Hermione said, stopping to listen.

"It sounds like some animal in pain,"Harry said in a worried voice. All three turned to where the noise was coming from and Hermione felt realization wash over her.

"Oh my gosh, it's him!" she yelped as she took of towards the source of the noise, Harry and Ron following close behind her wondering who she had recognized.

A.N. In retrospect, I realise that this story, contrary to what people told me in their reviews,makes Draco sound like a winging brat and Hermione like the Saint Kathrine. I am certainly my own worst critic but I feel like my writing ability has come a long way since then...right now I don't really like the first three chapters myself...they turned out so Blah. But if you like, just heap on the compliments, I don't mind,hehe