Cori Finn here. I finally finished chapter three. I hope you all like it. This one is dedicated to Never Odd Or even, neosildrake, demonfaerie15, wicket willow and Eyeinthesky.
Of Names and A Sorting
Draco had never had a pet before. He soon found it to be a great deal of responsibility. Luckily for Draco, he had a very well behaved cat. So well behaved in fact, one could almost forget that it was there. It took Draco a long time to come up with a name for his new pet. It was only after he stopped looking did he find the perfect name, Nightshade. It just fit the little black cat perfectly. So, after a small ceremony declaring the cat the newest member of the family, Nightshade Malfoy was born.
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Nightshade stretched. Never before had he slept in a bed so fine. The bed also just happened to belong to a certain blonde eleven year old, but Nightshade didn't care. Even though his owner had provided him with his own bed, he preferred curling up with the boy. And, if his hugging him lightly as he slept meant anything, then his owner didn't mind any either. Nightshade jumped down off the bed and padded out into the hall. One thing that he had learned the hard way in his new home was that it was remarkably easy for a little cat to get lost. He meowed experimentally. When no one came to his rescue, Nightshade took a few steps down the hall and meowed again. No one came. He began to grow irritated. He was hungry and he wanted food. Someone had better come and feed him, the sooner the better.
Harry hadn't been a cat for long. He'd woken up the morning after he'd made his escape and immediately known something was different. It wasn't until he fell over as soon as he stood that he realized that he had four legs instead of two. An odd feeling behind him drew his attention to his brand new tail, and feeling them twitch made him realize his newly pointed ears. Harry, as far as he could tell, was a cat. It had taken him all day in the park to come to terms with his new cat-hood. He had practiced walking, pouncing and even climbed a couple of trees, chasing squirrels. It wasn't long, however, until his stomach made him realize that he hadn't eaten since the day before. He was starving. Harry's new nose led him to a vendor on the outskirts of the park. Whatever it was that he was selling, Harry wanted some. He mewed plaintively up at the vendor, and was ignored. "Oh mummy! Look at the poor kitty! He's hungry. Mummy, can I keep him please? I'll take care of him, I promise!" Harry looked up at the high pitched voice. It came from a little girl a short distance away, standing with her mother. Harry's stomach decided that it would be best if he went with the pair. "Penny, we can't keep him you know that." Harry walked closer. The little girl, Penny picked him up. "But mummy, look at his face. How could anyone say no?" "Penny dear, your father is allergic. No." Penny's mother took Harry and set him on the ground and started to walk away. Besides, I thought you wanted an owl." Harry looked at the two in despair. They couldn't leave him here. The girl was supposed to feed him! He had to stop them from getting away! Suddenly, Harry found himself in front of Penny and her mother. Penny's mother gasped in alarm. "That is not a muggle cat! We can't leave him here!" Penny squealed. "Can I keep him then mummy?" "No, I'll take him to Magical Menagerie in Diagon Alley later today. They'll know what to do with him. Though I suppose we could feed him first." "Don't worry kitty," Penny said, "They'll take good care of you there. In fact, you're so cute somebody will probably snatch you right up and take you home with them. You'll see." Harry drifted to sleep with thoughts of being warm, full and wanted running through his mind.
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Draco had spent the last of his summer acquainting himself with his new companion. After naming the cat, he proceeded to have his name engraved on the silver tag of the collar he'd bought. With its green color and its silver tag and lining, it suited Nightshade perfectly. The two spent their days wandering around Malfoy Manor, with Draco pointing out anything of interest, and their evenings going through Draco's school books. Draco read aloud to his cat in order to help himself remember the material better. He could help but notice though, that Nightshade seemed to understand what he was saying. "Tomorrow," Draco said one such evening, "We're going to Hogwarts." Nightshade meowed in question. "You know Hogwarts. It's the school I've been telling you about. It's where we're going." Draco smiled. "Father tells me it's purely magical. I think we're going to love it." As Draco prepared for bed, he thought about the conversation he had with his parents nearly a month ago.
"Draco dear, you bought a cat?" "I merely acquired my familiar mother." "Are you positive Draco?" "Yes. Besides father, this cat is special. Extremely magical even." "It has to be, to be your familiar." "The shopkeeper told me that he hasn't grown at all since he got it." "And when was this?" "Six years ago father."
"Don't worry Nightshade," Draco said to the cat. "You're staying with me. I made sure of it." Nightshade purred in contentment as they fell asleep.
The next day found them on a bright red train, ready to go to Hogwarts. They were sitting in a compartment with a blond girl in it. The door slid open and a boy walked in. "I didn't know you had a cat Draco," the newcomer said as he sat down. Nightshade, from Draco's previous descriptions of his friends, was able to identify him as Blaise Zabini. "Yeah Dray, how come you never told us?" This came from the blond girl seated next to Draco, Pansy Parkinson. "I've only had him for a month," Draco said quietly, "His name is Nightshade." "Nightshade?" Blaise asked, surprised. "Where'd you get that from?" "Well," Draco said calmly, "Nightshade named himself." "And how did he do that?" "I'd been in our Potions lab getting some practice in the clumsy cat managed to knock over an entire jar full of the stuff. It fit." "Well," Pansy said, holding the small cat up, "It does suit you well." Nightshade meowed at her sternly and wriggled out of her grasp. He then proceeded to leap across the compartment into Blaise's lap and glare at her darkly. "I don't think he appreciates your handling, Pansy." Draco and Blaise couldn't help but laugh.
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"This is the year that Harry Potter is supposed to start Hogwarts. He should be on the train right now." Blaise looked up from the currently sleeping Nightshade. "Did you want to go look for him, Draco?" "I think we should," Pansy put in, "Before he ends up around the wrong sort of wizards." "Then let's go." Draco said decidedly. "But leave Nightshade here. Let him sleep."
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When Nightshade awoke, it was dark and he was curled up on his owners lap. Draco looked down, having felt him stretch. "We'll be there soon." Nightshade yawned and looked around. Blaise and Pansy were asleep, but they jerked awake when the train stopped. "Are we here?" Blaise murmured. "Looks like it," Pansy replied. "We better get going then."
The three students stood, with Nightshade in Draco's arms and made their way off of the train. Nightshade mewed a question. "No," Draco replied, "The house elves will bring to where they need to go after we're sorted." "First years! This way, follow me!" A very large man called from down the platform. Nightshade stared in awe. He was huge! The man easily towered over the students, and made Nightshade feel small and insignificant. "Who is he?" Pansy asked. "Groundskeeper, I think," Blaise answered. Draco said nothing. The man led them down a path. "Watch your step. You'll get a good view of Hogwarts when round the bend." Nightshade meowed in surprise. The castle was so brightly lit; it looked like it was glowing. "Alright, four to a boat." They had arrived on the shore of a lake, where a small fleet of small boats were waiting. Blaise, Pansy and Draco climbed into a boat. They were approached by a shy looking boy searching for a seat. "We've got four," Draco snapped as he placed Nightshade on a seat. Startled, the boy hurried to another boat. "Draco, that was mean," Pansy said. "I know," Draco smirked. Blaise could only laugh as the boats moved forward at their guide's command. "We're all going into Slytherin, right?" Pansy clarified. "Of course we are," Blaise replied. "I mean really, could Draco here go anywhere else?" "Of course not," Draco replied smartly. "Every Malfoy is a Slytherin."
Nightshade edged away from the side of the boat and closer to Draco's warmth. The water looked cold. He was contemplating burrowing into Draco's cloak when the boat stopped and he was picked up. Ignoring a small commotion about a toad, Nightshade snuggled deeper into Draco's arms. The door was opened and they were led into a chamber by a stern looking woman. There was another commotion, this one much louder, but Nightshade didn't care. He was comfortable thank you very much, and wasn't about to move. When they finally started moving again, He took a moment to look around, and his eyes were immediately drawn to the ceiling, or lack thereof. Draco followed his cat's gaze and smiled. "Don't worry Nightshade," he said. "It's enchanted to look like the sky above us. Father told me."
Nightshade looked around the room. There were more people here than he was used to seeing. They were seated at five long tables, one at the front and the rest perpendicular to it. The one at the front had the least amount of people, and they were all adults. The other four were full of younger people, students. They must be the House tables. All the students began to clap, and Nightshade's attention was drawn to the front of the room. The woman from before was holding a long scroll and was standing next to a stool with a hat on it. The woman began to go down a list of names. Each time, a student went forward, put on the hat, and then went to a different table. This was the sorting. "Malfoy, Draco." At his name, Draco walked forward. He sat gracefully on the stool and the hat was placed on his head. It barely had time to settle before it yelled, quite loudly, "SLYTHERIN!" Nightshade yelped in surprise and fell to the floor. The commotion knocked over the stool that the hat had been placed on and the large hat fell on him.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Nightshade yowled in surprise. "I've never sorted a cat before." The voice was coming from the hat. "But you aren't an ordinary cat are you Nightshade?" Nightshade was insulted. Of course he wasn't! "No worry, though. I'm sure you'll remember soon enough. I'd better sort you though. You're perfect for... SLYTHERIN!" The hat was lifted off of him and he was snatched into Draco's arms. Draco carried him over to a table that was predominately green. "I knew you were something special, Nightshade. It is true though, every Malfoy is a Slytherin."
A/N: I appreciate all the help and advice I get. Please review!