Staying at Malfoy Manor was dangerous but unavoidable. Their keeper, Potty, always apparated in and out of the room, so the door was never opened. Unfortunately, the door had a knob instead of a handle, so there was no way to open it in cat form.

As the days went by, Snape grew nervous. Not only because of the prospect of spending Christmas under a roof with the Dark Lord, but also because Lucius had hinted to Wormtail that he – Snape – was to be Draco´s sparring partner for unforgivables.

It wasn´t so much that he thought the boy could really hurt him, it was Lucius or – Merlin forbid – the Dark Lord demonstrating how it was done that he feared. He wasn´t sure whether he´d be able to maintain his animagus form under Cruciatus and if he unvoluntarily transformed, he was going to give Potter away.

Apart from the growing tension, life at Draco´s room wasn´t so bad. The food was extraordinary good (and much), the bed was clean and warm and the company could have been worse.

Snape found out that Potter was an entertaining companion as long as he was a cat and didn´t talk. The boy was very inventive when it came to creating diversion. He spent hours playing with the tickling cleaning charm in the cat toilet (Snape found the way the younger cat wiggled his frame as if shaking with laughter endearing). Another day the boy found a remembral on one of the book shelves and chased it around the room all afternoon. Snape was even tempted to join the game, but of course it would be most inappropriate for a teacher to chase a remembral with a student, so he stayed on the pillow and watched.

The best game of all was ´knock over Draco´s possessions´. Potty the elf didn´t like it that much, but Snape found it amusing.

The potions master counted the days, so it came as no surprise, when one evening the door opened and Draco Malfoy entered his room. Lucius was right behind the boy.

"So tell me, where is that surprise you promised me, Father?" Draco asked eagerly.

Lucius craned his neck. "On your pillow, I´d say."

Draco looked twice. "Another fur cap?" The disappointment was clear in his voice.

"Not a cap," laughed Lucius. "Take a closer look."

Draco strode to his bed. "A cat, Father!" he beamed. "You know for how long I´ve been wanting one." He picked Potter up. "Does he have a name yet?"

"Of course not," said Lucius graciously. "As he is yours, the name is yours to choose."

"Rasputin, it is then," cried Draco and held Potter at arm´s lenght. "Black like the devil, exactly what I´d have chosen. Thank you, Father!" He only then noticed the smaller cat on his pillow. "Two? Why did you purchase two?"

"They´re kind of brothers," said Lucius. "They wouldn´t give me one without the other, but Rasputin was exactly what I wanted for you. I thought you can practise your curses on the shabby one."

Snape arched his back and hissed. At least he wasn´t going to die quietly.

Draco laughed. "Look, he may not be beautiful, but he has a fighter´s heart. May I keep them both?"

"If that´s what you wish."

"I will call him Hagen."

"Hagen? The one who killed Siegfried?" Lucius laughed. "Dinner will be in a quarter hour. Don´t be late, son."

Draco put his wand on this bedside table when his father had left and dropped his cloak on the floor lazily. An elf was going to take care of it. He sat on his bed, grabbed Potter by the fur on his neck and dragged him towards him. Potter let it happen without a fight despite the rather rude – or was the blond boy only clumsy? – treatment.

"Let me look at you properly," the boy said to the cat. He lifted Potter so that he had to stand on his hind legs and stared into his eyes. The cat stared back unblinkingly. "You have no idea for how long I´ve been wanting a cat." Draco lowered Potter on the bed and began to stroke his fur. The Gryffindor relaxed and even began to purr. "I will take good care of you," Draco continued. "But I won´t be able to take you to school. We´re only allowed one pet and I really need my owl."

Potter rubbed his head on the other boy´s thigh.

"And now let me see you. Keep your claws in!" The blond dragged Snape onto his lap by one of his forelegs and scratched his ears gently. "You are a bit thin, that makes you look shabby. I will tell the elves to fatten you up a bit. I´ll brush your fur every day and you will see, soon you´ll be as beautiful as your brother."

Snape wasn´t exactly thrilled by the prospect of being brushed by Draco Malfoy on a daily basis, but better that than being on the receiving end of his cruciatus training. Stiffling a fatalistic sigh he leaned into the boy´s stroking hand.

-x-

Draco left them in his room when he went downstairs for dinner. The potions master and his charge received food (chicken and rice) from Potty, the elf. After the meal Snape stretched out on Draco´s pillow, while the boy played with the cleaning charm for a while.

Later – Snape estimated it had been two hours – Draco returned and played with them a bit. He charmed a ball to roll around and Potter chased it. Snape watched his companion for a while, but didn´t go after the toy himself until Draco pushed him from the bed and told him off for being lazy.

The blond took his new cats through their paces, he increased the speed of the ball little by little. Potter, being a seeker, enjoyed the game. He was quick and determined. He followed the small red ball wherever it went. Under the desk, around the chair, under the bed, on the window sill. Snape trotted after the younger wizard obediently – it didn´t seem wise to anger Draco – but he couldn´t have caught the ball if his life depended on it. He had never liked sports.

When Draco grew tired of the game, he prepared for bed and slid under his blanket in his pale blue silk nightshirt – another piece of information Snape never wanted – and gathered his new pets close. Snuggled up to two students – one in cat form – for the night. Snape wished again he had a wand to kill himself.

-x-

Draco, it turned out, was a morning person. He woke at the crack of dawn and instead of rolling over for another nap, he stretched luxuriously, yawned once and got up with what Snape considered too much energy for the ungodly hour.

Potter seemed to agree with Snape´s view of the situation for he growled when the Malfoy heir started whistling a merry Christmas tune on his way to the shower.

Once Draco was ready for the day, he spent half an hour brushing his – tired – new pets´ fur, with special attention to "Hagen"´s. The brushing finished, the boy rummaged in his bedside drawer and produced two Slytherin green leather collars. Snape decided he didn´t want to know why Draco kept those despite his new cats had been a surprise.

As there was no way to escape, the two animagi let the blond attach his collars grudgingly. Snape just hoped they´d be able to brush them off, when – if – they escaped Malfoy Manor. If not, they couldn´t transform or they were going to suffocate or, as the leather seemed rather strong, rather strangle themselves in the process.

The good surprise of the morning was that the boy was not ready to leave his pets behind when he went downstairs for breakfast.

"Come, Rasputin, Hagen," he called and the two cats obeyed gladly. They had to explore the house, if they ever hoped to escape. Luckily Malfoy seemed to know nothing about cats or at least he didn´t realise that following a call was entirely uncatish behaviour.

Snape, who had been to the manor as a guest on many occasions in the past – some of them deatheater meetings, others social calls – followed the boy without fuss, but Potter, who had never been to a place comparable to the Malfoy estate, gaped at everything. The marble staircase, the exquisite paintings, the silk draperies, the damask table cloth, the fine china – Snape was quite sure it was muggle – and the dark blue silk upholstery of the chairs.

"Draco," said Narcissa Malfoy, who was already sitting at the table in a dress other women would have chosen for a ball, "do you have to bring those beasts to the meal?"

"Mother, please, let me," Draco pleaded in a sweet voice and made puppy eyes, "I won´t be able to take them to Hogwarts and I´d like to spend as much time with them as I can."

"Of course, sweetheart, if it´s your wish." Narcissa smiled sweetly and patted her son´s cheek as he sat beside her. Potter looked like he was going to vomit.

"Draco, stop behaving like a seven year old," said Lucius from the other end of the table. He wore a black silk morning gown. "You are not a child to get your wishes through flattery. You are a man, so argue your desires."

"Yes, Father."

Narcissa scowled at her husband. "Don´t listen to him, Draco. Sometimes, a little flattery would do him good."

Lucius lowered his copy of the Daily Prophet. "I will not be spoken at like this in front of my son, woman."

Narcissa sneered and reached for the teapot to pour her son a cup of the brew.

The two cats explored the room, while the family was eating. Snape was proud to see that Potter looked for doors and windows and also sat on the sill for a while to see where they had to run, if they managed to leave the house. The boy was not entirely useless.

When the Malfoys had finished their meal, Narcissa poured another cup of tea for herself and Draco. She called for the house elves, who removed the dishes but the newly filled teacups and a small plate of bacon and bits of sausage Draco drew in front of him.

"Rasputin! Come here, good cat. Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!" cried the boy softly.

It took Potter some moments to realise that he was called, but then he came to his master obediently. Draco bent down and lifted the cat onto his lap. He stroked Potter´s back, who purred and kneaded the boy´s thighs with his front paws.

"Draco," said Lucius over the rim of his newspaper, "don´t you dare put that beast on the table."

"No, Father," replied the boy and exchanged a wink with his mother.

Snape watched Potter being fed bacon for a little while, then he decided it would be wise to act like a proper cat and started tapping Draco´s leg with his front paw. When the boy didn´t react, he used his claws.

"Ouch!" whined the blond and kicked at the smaller cat. "Bad cat!"

"If you don´t want him, get rid of him," said Lucius and rustled his copy of the Prophet. "I told you you need to practice your unforgivables. How can you face our Christmas guest when you can´t even cast Cruciatus properly?"

Snape shrank back a bit and Potter stood on Draco´s leg. He pulled all the stops to distract the boy. He kneaded his thighs, he purred, he rubbed his head against his arch-enemy.

It worked. Draco stroked the seemingly love-starved cat on his lap. "No," he said. "I want them both." He dropped some pieces of sausage on the floor for Snape to eat.

"Not on the carpet!" hissed Lucius.

"Yes, Father. I´ll take them to my room." Draco sat Potter on the floor and led the way upstairs.

-x-

The blond took them downstairs to breakfast every day from then on, but other than that, the two cats were trapped in the boy´s bedroom.

Then, on Christmas Eve, they heard heavy trunks being dragged past their door.

"I hope my Lord will find the rooms agreeable," they heard Lucius say.

"I´m sure you gave me the best your house has to offer," replied a cold, hissing voice.

The potions master fled under the bed and Potter followed his lead without hesitation. Snape scrutinized the cat beside him. The boy shivered. Was he in pain? The potions master could have slapped himself. He had known for years that the boy´s scar hurt whenever the Dark Lord was nearby. Was Potter in pain now? A look into the other cat´s eyes reassured Snape that it was rather panic than agony the boy was suffering. Good. Nevertheless, how could he forget about such crucial questions? It might put them in danger! He didn´t even know whether the boy had the scar in his cat form!

The two animagi stayed in their hiding place under the bed. They curled up to each other, trying to find some comfort, but it didn´t do much good. Snape felt Potter shiver beside him and he had to use all his willpower to not start shaking, too. What if the Dark Lord was able to see them for what they were? Lucius hadn´t recognized them for humans, but the Dark Lord was a different league.

Several hours later, Draco came to his room. Snape guessed that it must be shortly after dinner. It had been dark outside – as far as he could see from under the bed – for a while.

"Come here, Rasputin! Come here, Hagen!"

Snape nudged Potter and approached the blond Slytherin. Both cats were lifted and Draco took them downstairs.

"Our guest wishes to see my early Christmas present," he informed his pets. Potter started to struggle, but Snape slapped him with his front paw. They had to act cattish more than ever.

They were carried to a room they hadn´t been to before. Snape, though, knew it from previous visits. It was the Malfoy library, the biggest private collection of books in Britain. The amount and quality of the tomes on the shelves rivaled Hogwart´s library, especially the sections on Dark Arts and Artefacts was easily bigger than the school´s.

Draco carried them to the fireplace, where a group of people was assembled.

The Dark Lord occupied a red velvet armchair. Lucius and Narcissa sat on a sofa, as did Bellatrix Lestrange and her husband Rodolphus. Wormtail stood in the background with a bottle of brownish liquid, waiting to refill glasses should it be desired.

Draco approached the snakelike man. Snape could feel the boy tense as he knelt in front of the armchair.

"My cats, my Lord," the younger Malfoy said and bent his head in a gesture of submission.

The evil wizard bent down and lifted the nearest cat onto his lap. He tickled Snape´s ears. "I see, Draco," he hissed contently, "that you´re not blinded by beauty. Which qualities does this creature possess to win your affection."

"Hagen is fierce," said Draco. "He fights for what he wants."

"Hagen? – Ah, I love the story of the Nibelungs! So inspiring!" He stroked Snape´s fur. "He´s a bit shabby."

"We´re working on it, my Lord," said Draco. "He is given a potion to improve his looks."

"A potion!" cried the Dark Lord. "Don´t remind me of that traiterous potions master! He made me a laughing-stock!"

"Never, my Lord!" cried Bellatrix in protest. "How could a vile creature like him ever lessen the glory of our Lord!"

Voldemort smiled coldly. "Yes, you´re right, Bellatrix, my most faithful. How could he. He will be punished, of course. Are there any news on the hunt?"

Rodolphus cleared his throat uncomfortably. "No, my Lord, it´s like they disappeared from the face of the earth. They don´t have wands and they wore robes. How can wandless wizards in robes blend in with muggles?"

"Obviously those two can," hissed the Dark Lord.

"My Lord," cried Bellatrix eagerly, "we have an advantage! We know where they are going! We can catch them at the very gates of Hogwarts if need be!"

"You better do," said the Dark Lord with false calm, "or face my wrath!" He pushed Snape from his lap and got up. "I shall retire for today." He left the room, ignoring his bowing hosts.

Lucius waited for a while before he rose, too. "You may retire also, Draco. I will see you to your rooms."

Draco gathered his pets and followed his father upstairs. He said no word until they were in his room, behind closed doors.

"He´s so creepy, Father," the boy said feebly. "Don´t misunderstand me, it is my wish to follow your lead and serve him faithfully for his goals are just and honorable. But he is scary."

"Draco," said Lucius carefully, "many, my son, find the Dark Lord ´scary´. Magic is about power. Power and magic go hand in hand. Wizards are naturally ambitious. It is in our blood to explore magic and seek more power. Our Lord holds more power than any of us, he´s our natural superior. This is disquietening for most wizards. Be wise, my son. Don´t show how much you fear him, for it would give away how much more power he has. Serve him well and some of his glory will fall to you."

"Yes, Father," said Draco.

Lucius turned on his heel and left.

Draco stroked his cats for a while and took off their collars for the night. Then he put on his nightshirt and crawled under his duvet. The two cats curled up beside him like they had done every evening since the boy returned home for the Christmas break.

Snape had barely fallen asleep, when he was woken by soft footsteps. He arched his back and pushed Potter, who blinked twice and then jumped on his feet as well. The potions master thought frantically. What was he to do? Then he remembered that his first priority was Potter and there was only one course of action.

It was the Dark Lord who stepped to Draco´s bed in a crimson nightshirt, illuminated by a small light on the tip of his wand.

"My Lord?" Draco asked sleepily.

"I´ve come to discuss the alliance with your house," the snake-like man hissed softly.

Snape jumped from the bed and ran to the door, which the Dark Lord had left open. He was confident that Potter followed, as the boy had looked for a way out over the past days himself. And what was more, Potter had shown that he was quick on the uptake in crises before.

The potions master hurried down the corridor towards the staircase. He stopped at what he knew was Lucius´ bedroom door and miaowed. Potter followed his lead. Moments later they heard heavy footsteps in the room.

"The cats are in the corridor. Something must be wrong with Draco." When Lucius opened his bedroom door seconds later, the two cats were already halfway down the stairs.

Snape jumped and hung to the handle of the front door. He turned the key, which wasn´t easy for a cat, but he succeeded. Then he hung on the handly with all his might, but it wouldn´t move. The door was too heavy.

Suddenly he felt a second body beside him. Potter was hanging there and struggling with every fibre of his body. Little by little the handle moved. Snape pushed against the door frame with his hind legs and slowly the door creaked open.

As soon as the crack was wide enough to allow a cat through, the potions master let go of the handle. Angry shouts were to be heard from upstairs when the two cats swished from the house and ran for the gates. Potter, being bigger, was faster, but Snape ran for his life and stayed close. When he reached the gates, he turned.

The light of spells was to be seen in the windows of the upper floor. The potions master hoped with all his heart that Lucius and not Draco was on the receiving end of Voldemort´s ire. With a silent prayer for his student´s safety, he slid past the iron gates and followed Potter.

They ran for hours. When Snape finally signalled Potter to take a break, they both panted. Potter looked at his teacher questioningly. With a curt nod the older wizard signalled he considered it safe to transform.

"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God," chanted Potter. He paced back and forth, to and fro. "I thought he was going to recognise us! He was going to kill us! You sat on his lap!"

The potions master turned on the spot to allow himself to look at the boy. "I did and nothing bad happened to us. So calm down, Jim."

The use of his code name startled the boy out of his panic. He stopped short and glared at the potions master. "How can you be so calm? I thought he was going to kill us! And before that I thought Lucius would use Cruciatus on you! And before that I was afraid those muggles were going to kill us! Or..." The boy blushed.

"Or?" Snape asked pointedly.

"You know... uhm ... make sure we didn´t produce more strays." The boy blushed even more if it was possible.

The older wizard stared at the younger blankly for a moment, then he, too, blushed.

"Luckily this did not happen," Snape said after a short silence, when he thought he had regained enough control to let his voice sound steady.

"Luckily," said the boy. "What now?"

"Now, Jim," said the potions master, "we find ourselves a safe place to sleep and after a good night's sleep, we continue our journey."

As they had spent more than three weeks in cat form without a break, neither of the two wizards wished to transform again so soon. They hiked in their human form and shortly after sunrise they found another barn. There was hay and they both fell into it tiredly.

"Toby?" Potter asked softly after a little while.

"Yes?"

"I´m cold and I ... I feel a bit nervous."

The potions master wasn´t sure what to say, but the boy continued when there was no response.

"Is it okay, uhm, would you mind, er, just this once, I don´t mean to be a burden..."

"Jim," hissed the older wizard, "what do you want?"

There was a short pause. Then. "MayIsnuggleuptoyou?"

"What?"

The boy lifted his head to look at the potions master. His cheeks glowed. "I said, may I – just this once – snuggle up to you?"

The potions master sighed. "Sharing our warmth sounds reasonable," he grumbled. "We have done it in cat form after all." He extended his arms in what he hoped was an inviting gesture.

Potter shifted in the hay until he lay beside his teacher. "Thanks," he piped and put an arm around the other wizard´s waist. His head, he lay onto Snape´s shoulder.

"You´re welcome," the older man mumbled. He enclosed the boy in an embrace.

"I have been thinking," said the boy after a while.

"About what?"

"Draco."

"Draco is safe." Snape tried to sound sure, although he wasn´t. "The Dark Lord wanted to remind Lucius of his place. He just scared him. He didn´t hurt Draco."

"How do you know?"

The boy shifted and looked up into Snape´s eyes. It felt wrong to lie. "I don´t. But I hope. The spell light was not green."

"I hope it, too." Potter settled back down onto the potions master´s shoulder and a little later both wizards were asleep.