Draco Malfoy

Draco pushed open the door to his girlfriend's dormitory with a sigh, the familiar scent of her perfume mingling with the ever-present odor of cat fur. Bloody cat, he thought, casting a withering glance toward the creature lounging arrogantly in the corner atop its ridiculous little tree. Two weeks of hell. Two weeks of scratches, snarls, and fur-covered robes. His arms, still raw with fresh marks, bore testament to his suffering, not to mention the tiny puncture wounds left by those sharp, vindictive teeth. He absently rubbed one of the deeper scratches on his wrist as he strode into the room. How did I even end up here? The things I do for love...

“You’ve really outdone yourself this time, haven’t you?” he muttered, his voice low, smooth, and tinged with disdain as he set his wand aside, glaring at the beast. It stared back, eyes narrowed, tail flicking with venomous precision. Honestly, why does she love you so much? “You’ve tried everything, haven’t you? Scratching, biting, knocking over every bloody thing. Tried to snap my wand, too. I should hex you.” Draco smirked darkly, stepping further into the room. The cat’s eyes followed him like a predator eyeing its prey. It’s like it knows. It knows it can get away with it. If only she’d see what I have to deal with...

He stopped at the litter box in the corner, the memory of almost being shoved into it by this fur-covered menace still fresh in his mind. That thing really would’ve done it if it had the chance. I don’t get paid enough for this. Well, not paid at all, but still. “You’d think Voldemort himself had put you up to this,” he said with a scoff. “But no, I’ve faced the Dark Lord. I’m not cracking from a flea-ridden furball.”

His eyes flicked to the bowls on the floor, empty and forlorn, as if mocking him. The cat’s gaze followed his as it shifted from its perch, slinking down the tree like a shadow. Draco didn’t trust the damn thing for a second. It’s plotting something. Always is. Maybe I should just use a Repelling Charm. She doesn’t have to know...

As he bent down to refill them, he caught a flash of movement from the corner of his eye. The cat’s paw swiped out, claws extended, aiming for his wrist. Draco jerked back just in time, his reflexes quicker than the beast had anticipated. Ha, too slow this time. “Nice try,” he drawled, his lips curling into a smirk. “But you’re going to have to do better than that.” Is it wrong to feel this smug about outsmarting a cat? No. No, it isn’t.

The cat hissed, offended, but Draco paid it no mind as he tipped food into its dish. For a moment, there was a fragile truce. The beast nuzzled against his leg, purring softly, as though finally recognizing his superiority. For a fleeting second, Draco allowed himself to hope. Finally. Maybe it’s realized I’m not so bad after all. Took long enough.

And then, in a single, defiant move, the cat flipped the water bowl over with its paw, sending water splashing across the floor. Its eyes gleamed with triumphant malice as it let out an ear-splitting meow, loud and accusatory, as if Draco had been the one to commit the act of vandalism.

“You insufferable little-" He stood up, fists clenched, every muscle in his body itching to hex the blasted thing into oblivion. I could curse it into oblivion, just one little jinx who would know? But no, that wouldn’t do. She’d never forgive him if he did that. Why am I so soft? No wonder it doesn’t respect me. It probably senses I’m holding back. Well, you win this round, you furry parasite. Draco’s eyes narrowed as he exhaled slowly, forcing himself to calm down. “I could turn you into a rat in seconds,” he threatened in a low, dangerous voice, “but no. I won’t. Not because you don’t deserve it, but because she...” Merlin, she really loves you, doesn’t she? Why?

The cat’s ears flattened as it hissed at him, a final act of defiance, just as the dormitory door swung open. His head snapped toward the door, and there she was, finally back from break. Draco’s entire demeanor softened, his expression lightening instantly, but the cat, the conniving little demon, meowing at her with big innocent eyes. Of course. Perfect timing. You little actor, that’s what you are.

It sat innocently beside the overturned bowls, meowing pitifully, as though Draco had been the villain all along, its eyes wide and sorrowful, the very picture of mistreated innocence. You’ve got to be joking.

“Oh, for Merlin’s sake,” Draco muttered under his breath, casting the cat a murderous glance before straightening up, running a hand through his platinum hair, and turning to greet her with the most charming smile he could muster. I’ll deal with you later, you furry hell spawn.