SAW A PROMPT ON THE HAPHNE DISCORD. CALLED THE CAT THAT KNEW
Here is the original prompt in full
The Cat that Knew: There are rumours at Hogwarts of a cat that roams the halls at night. It's not Mrs Norris, oh no, but rather a ghostly white feline with startlingly blue eyes. Some say it's a sort of apparition, some think it's what Filch dreams of at night but in reality, it's not a cat at all!
Daphne Greengrass has been an Animagus for as long as she can remember. It's one of the things that run in her family she can actually be thankful for. Insomnia (one of the things she could have lived without) keeps her out of bed at night and she had ever since her First year decided to just explore the castle instead of staring at the ceiling in her room. She talks Mrs Norris out of telling on students out of bed, steals ice cream from the kitchens, plays fetch with some portraits, gnaws at the shoes of her dorm mates and sneaks into the Prefects Bathroom to mess with the mermaid in the window.
During her Second year, however, she meets a crying boy in the Astronomy tower. That boy was Harry Potter, kept awake by nightmares of a man turning to dust at his hands. Daphne offers him comfort from then on and for every night to come, listens to his woes and keeps his deepest secrets.
Until one night, in their Sixth year (or Fifth, depending on where you want this story to happen), Daphne decides that enough is enough.
Harry, on the other hand, is quite surprised to hug his best feline friend in one moment, and a beautiful girl on a nightgown in the next.
Now please enjoy my attempt at a first chapter
Daphne Greengrass has been an Animagus for as long as she can remember. It's one of the things that run in her family she can actually be thankful for. Insomnia (one of the things she could have lived without) keeps her out of bed at night and she had ever since her First year decided to just explore the castle instead of staring at the ceiling in her room. She talks Mrs Norris out of telling on students out of bed, steals ice cream from the kitchens, plays fetch with some portraits, gnaws at the shoes of her dorm mates and sneaks into the Prefects Bathroom to mess with the mermaid in the window.
It was during one such excursion during the first week back for her second year that Daphne met him..
Still unable to sleep, Daphne had made the executive decision to meander her way up to the astronomy Tower. The view from on high, combined with the cool breath of night air never failed to soothe her.
So. Imagine her surprise when, after another round of fetch with the portraits. She made her way through the school, slinking through passages, and taking a few shortcuts, arriving at the tower door, about to transform and stretch her human legs.. When she heard the unmistakable sound of someone crying.
Despite popular opinion, Daphne wasn't heartless. Far from it, a little prickly perhaps, aloof even. But heartless? Never.
So, resolving herself to been in her animal form a little while longer. Daphne nudged the door open.
Harry just wanted to be alone, alone in his own head. But despite his desires, the young Potter could not get the memories of Professor Quirrel turning to ash out of his head. Whether he was awake or asleep, it didn't matter.
At least over the summer he could try and distract himself with the chores he was given, but even then, it was only a temporary reprieve for him.
And on top of that, Harry had to contend with the displeasure of his..so called family and their displeasure. Which was made worse by the nightmares. All to often, he awoke screaming, gasping for breath, soaked in sweat. Usually this would be followed by his uncle Vernon quite violently demanding that he.
'cease that infernal racket'
But unfortunately, he could not cease. He tried to, he really did but the thoughts and nightmares just got worse. Until eventually, Harry chose to forgo sleep entirely. Sleeping only when his exhaustion forced the matter out of his control.
On top of all of that, he then had to deal with an insane elf called dobby. Being locked up and rescued and then almost getting crushed by a flipping tree!
So. He was done, utterly shattered. Running on empty.
His pity party of one was suddenly interrupted by the creak of the door.
Not even bothering to get up or look, Harry made sure his invisibility cloak was out of the way, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his pajamas before speaking.
"don't bother with a detention, I don't think I'll be able to show up.."
His voice was hoarse, raw. He knew that talking like that was probably a bad idea, that it would just get him in more trouble.. But he couldn't find it in him to be bothered.. He was just.. So.. Tired. Closing his eyes for just a moment, Harry felt somthing brush against his side, then settle into his lap.
Startled, his bloodshot eyes snapped open to see a snow white cat, with the most startlingly magnificent blue eyes, staring up at him.
"meow"
Harry, despite how he was feeling, smiled.
"hi.. You're a very pretty kitty."
Ever so gently, he reached a hand Down to rub the felines head. The cat pressing against his touch. Purring softly. It was oddly soothing..
After a few minutes of this, Harry started to talk. Talk about his first year, his life with the Dursley family. Everything he'd bottled up
It just started to flow out of him. The cats soft purring and gentle kneeding relaxing and comforting him. Even as more tears came.
Later, he would think it odd that the cat seemed to listen, and encourage him to keep talking, mewing and nudging him whenever he faltered.
It would be the first of many meetings with that cat, odd that she always seemed to be waiting for him too..
But she was just a cat..