This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Word Count: 1623
Title: Seeking The Truth
Note: based on an AU where Harry is adopted by McGonagall and becomes a black cat in honour of her and Sirius. (Take Him) other canon events also changed.
Warnings: language
Beta: DarylDixon'sgirl1985
International Wizarding School Competition:
[School]:
[Prompts]:
Main:[Quote] "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." - Walt Disney
Additional: [Action] Searching
[Dialogue] 'That cat looks very suspicious.' / 'You say that about every cat you come across.'
[Theme]: The Room of Requirement
Look at a riddle, and the seeking of something of great importance, the answer to a question or person to help resolve it.
Hogwarts
Assignment 4: Beauty Therapy: Body Modifications Task #6 - Transdermal Implant: Write about someone hiding something "beneath the surface".
Yearly:
Prompt 496 [Animal] Cat
Quidditch League:
[Team] N/A
[Position] Seeker
[Theme] Evanescent- Vanishing quickly, lasting only a short time
A slender black cat seemed to be observing Severus Snape and his companion very carefully. He had tried to wave his hand to shoo it off, but it remained sitting there with his emerald eyes observing them seriously.
"That cat looks very suspicious," Severus insisted to his companion in a way of conversation.
"You say that about every cat you come across," Lucius laughed. It was clear that Severus had a severe dislike of felines that the blonde man didn't understand. This fact was reflected in the dramatic sneeze that followed.
"It's staring at us," Severus repeated anxiously.
"Don't be silly; what kind of wizard would pick a cat as an animagus?" Lucius laughed. This hubris often led him into sticky situations, and had this encounter not simply been two friends having a drink, it might have done so again.
The black cat, however, wanted answers. He saw the Slytherin duo and jumped to the conclusion that they must have been up to something sinister. Although, that same mentality had both saved his life and gotten him into trouble over the years.
"How is Draco doing?" Severus asked, an unusual look of concern on his face. His lips were pursed as if he didn't like the way this conversation could go.
"As good as he can be, under the circumstances, that boy, I can't fathom how he became Draco's soulmate."
That tone of voice was reserved for only one particular "boy", none other than Harry Potter himself. Although his name had not yet been mentioned, the black cat had a suspicious feeling that the name would be coming up shortly.
"Harry Potter," Lucius said with a shrug. "Who would have thought the Malfoy heir would be the soulmate of Harry Potter, our new celebrity?"
The cat's eyes went wide, but luckily Severus was too busy complaining about how surely there was a way around the soulmate bond.
"Unfortunately not, I've read extensively on the subject, the worst part-" Lucius paused and was interrupted by Severus.
"Surely the worst part is that it's Potter," Severus insisted.
"No, the worst part is that they need to consummate the bond, or Draco will die," Lucius said, knocking back a white shot that judging by the expression was something a lot stronger than pumpkin juice.
"Lucius, day drinking already?" Severus asked, eyeing the shot glass. "Tequila won't solve this problem."
"No, but I'd rather be drunk than think about the consequences if we don't find a solution."
"Technically, alcohol is a solution," Severus teased, clearly attempting to lighten the sombre mood.
"Very funny, Sev," Lucius said, turning even paler than normal. He called a waitress over and ordered another round of shots.
"I wouldn't drink that if I were you," Severus suggested as the two shots were placed in front of Lucius.
"And why, pray tell, is that?" Lucius asked, more intoxicated than Severus had ever seen him.
"Narcissa," Severus said simply.
"Oh, like I'm scared of my wife," Lucius insisted, tipping back another tequila shot.
"Suit yourself," Severus said. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
"Lucius Malfoy! What in Morgana's name are you doing? There is no excuse for drinking like this during the day," Narcissa said in a shrill voice, looking furious. The black cat had never seen her anything other than composed, calm and collected. He wondered if it was because of the soulmate bond, he suppressed a shudder and disappeared suddenly before he could be spotted by more people.
"Oh, Harry, will you ever get over this prejudice against Slytherin?" Hermione asked, sighing dramatically.
"Since when are you their biggest fan? Planning on creating a new club? Stop abuse against Slytherins? You can call it S.A.A.S," Ron interrupted, partly teasing, partly attempting frustration.
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed furiously before storming out of the Gryffindor common room.
The serious look on Harry's face stopped Ron's comeback that she was just being overly dramatic.
"Mate, are you okay?" Ron asked.
"If I really am his soulmate, you know, I don't want him to die," Harry admitted.
"I'm sure Mr Malfoy was lying," Ron pointed out helpfully to Harry.
"They didn't know I was there, Ron, I think it's true. It explains the dreams…" Harry trailed off. He knew Ron was aware of his erotic dreams involving Draco Malfoy. Which the dates coincided with the birthday of said Slytherin.
"So, what are you going to do? You can't just ask him."
"I'm sure he will come to me, eventually," Harry said, but his eyes were unsure. He knew how good Draco was at hiding secrets from him. There had always been something more hidden beneath the surface.
Harry was walking down the hallway with Luna chatting when he noticed how sickly Draco was looking.
"You know," Luna said suddenly. "He looks ill."
"I don't think it's any of our business," Harry muttered, feeling guilty.
"What if you asked the sorting hat?" she asked.
"Ask the sorting hat?" Harry repeated.
"It's magical, Harry, it knows a lot," Luna explained, staring off at Malfoy's form disappearing down the corridor.
"I suppose it won't hurt, I might get some answers," Harry said.
"On the other hand, it might raise more questions," Luna said mysteriously before leaving Harry alone in the corridor.
Harry was a firm believer in doing more than talking, so he went to the headmaster to ask if he could speak to the sorting hat.
"Of course, dear boy," Professor Dumbledore said when he asked to speak to the hat. Harry didn't bother to explain to Dumbledore what he was doing, as Dumbledore hadn't asked him.
He took the dusty old hat off the shelf and popped it onto his head.
"You again," said the hat.
"Surprise," Harry joked, and the hat chuckled.
"So, soulmate bond got you all in a knot?" the hat replied.
"How do I know it's true?" Harry asked the hat, and fleetingly wondered what made him think this was a good idea.
"You trust your friend, but if you look inside your heart, you know it's true," the hat suggested.
"You're lying," Harry accused the hat. The hat shrugged at him.
"Don't believe me then, soon enough you will feel it as well."
It seemed like Harry was done conversing with the magical hat, but before he could pull it from his head the hat said one more thing, "Harry, please don't be a stranger, I get rather lonely up there on that old drafty shelf."
"I'll try, thanks," Harry muttered before taking the hat off his head.
Harry sat staring at the framed photograph of his parents with him as a baby. He had bags beneath his usually bright emerald green eyes, and he was slouched over it like a lifeline.
"What do I do?" Harry asked his parents image, but they simply smiled up at him, beaming with an ecstasy that was lost to him.
He glanced over at the Marauders map next to the bed, and suddenly he sat up straight. It was well past midnight, but Draco was in the Hospital Wing. He grabbed the map, and rummaged under the bed for his father's invisibility cloak.
He reached Draco's bed in record time, and he seemed to be sleeping, tossing and turning, mumbling nonsense. Draco was covered in a sheen of sweat. Harry walked right over to the bedside, sitting down gently so as not to wake his sleeping soulmate. He touched Draco's hand, and Draco seemed to calm down instantly.
"Harry," he heard Draco say in his sleep.
"I'm here," Harry replied. "You're safe."
"Safe," Draco repeated, a smile on the sleeping Slytherin's face for the first time Harry could ever remember seeing one. Harry was thankful to be sitting under the cloak, but a sudden exhaustion overcame him, and the cloak fell from his figure and he curled up behind Draco, holding Draco against him, cradling him, protecting him. Harry didn't notice until the next day he had accepted that this man was his soulmate after all.
When morning came, Harry felt rested and expected to roll over and tell Ron his nightmares were gone, and then he realised he had a body pressed against him, the warm body of his former nemesis found out to be his soulmate.
"Harry, what—?" Draco asked, waking up suddenly.
"I'm sorry, I was worried about you," Harry admitted.
"What do you care if I die?" Draco asked, there was a sadness in his eyes. It was clear he didn't believe Harry would ever accept this bond.
"You're my soulmate," Harry shrugged, attempting to sound lighthearted.
"You shouldn't know that," Draco said. "Who told you?"
"My heart told me the truth, Draco, shouldn't you do the same?"
"Even if you could, I couldn't ask you to," Draco said vaguely.
"Have sex with you?" Harry asked straight out. "Why wouldn't I? You're gorgeous."
"Don't mock me," Draco said his eyes wide.
"Oh come on, you really haven't noticed, I practically fall asleep staring at a photograph of you," Harry admitted.
"You really want me?" Draco asked incredulity clear in his voice. Harry hated that Draco ever felt that he wasn't wanted. It was part of Draco's charm that he believed everyone was hot for him.
"I think the time for talking is over," Harry said, proceeding to claim the man's lips in a kiss that poured out all the emotions he couldn't possibly express.
"Don't think you can just do this and then—" Draco attempted to say between kisses.
"I'm not leaving, I'm here, you're safe," Harry repeated the mantra from the night before.
"Safe," Draco nodded, and proceeded to kiss Harry again. It wouldn't be simple, but Harry was sure the two of them could figure things out together.