Silence inside and outside the trophy room.
Tiger's footsteps stopped at the door. Hermione covered her face in despair.
"Oh no..."
Barely a whisper. Panic and shame crashed over her like a wave.
She rushed behind the door, trying to block it. Fuzzy paw pads pressed against the wood.
But Tiger's casual push carried too much strength. She couldn't stop it.
The door swung open.
A helpless cry. Hermione tumbled into the corner like a rolling ball.
Too ashamed to face him, she pulled the oversized Slytherin robe tight, curling into a tiny bundle.
"He can't see me... he can't see me... Merlin, please..."
Desperate, Hermione prayed to the wizarding deity for the first time. The Shelbys didn't answer to God.
"..."
Tiger stared at the small bundle. His fierce eyes flickered with disbelief.
"Hermione?"
The small figure flinched. Her muttered prayers stopped. The atmosphere went strange.
The big cat followed him in. Seeing this, she lowered her head with huffing breaths, eyes full of mockery.
"Meow~"
Hearing the familiar name, Gunpowder woke in Tiger's arms. Small ears poked out, blue eyes glowing.
The familiar scent made it look curiously toward the corner. "Awoo?"
"What are you doing?"
Tiger's teeth hurt.
That earlier cry. The faint acorn scent. All too familiar.
He'd never seen Miss Know-It-All this out of control.
Like a deer chased by hunters, panicking into a snowdrift. Made him feel soft and amused.
Really stupid...
Low laughter rumbled in his throat.
"I'm... I'm not Granger... you should leave... I..."
Hermione's mind went blank. Her sharp wit useless. Her muffled voice carried tears.
"Okay... okay..."
"You're not..."
Like coaxing a child, Tiger drew out his words. Didn't rush to expose her. Looked around instead.
The oversized robe. The plate on the table. The bag by the display case...
He didn't understand what she was doing, but one thing was clear—the person who invited him wasn't Gemma Farley. It was this silly little thing.
"Did you make this?"
Tiger lifted the dome, voice carrying expectation.
When his eyes hit the plate, his smile vanished. Like he'd seen something toxic, he slammed the dome down.
"Venom, thank Hermione. She made this specially for you. Look at that plating..."
Mock delight in his voice. Tiger turned around expressionlessly. The big cat laughed harder.
Don't let that enter my stomach, or I'll kill you.
"Alright, Hermione."
"Stop playing."
"Not safe lately. I should take you..."
With revenge in mind, Tiger walked toward the trembling bundle, grinning wickedly.
"No no no... no..."
Hearing footsteps, Hermione shrieked. Wrapped herself tighter. Flopped onto the floor.
For Tiger, this only made him laugh harder.
Under the big cat's furious gaze, he scooped up the bundle with one arm. The soft robe came off layer by layer.
When the fuzzy paw pads were exposed, Tiger's laughter stopped.
Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, covering her face, trying to hide her cat head.
Shame hit like a tsunami. She felt ready to faint.
"What the fuck?"
Tiger's eyes widened.
"Merlin's..."
"Absolute genius."
Tiger rubbed the furball with rapture, breath trembling.
"Be careful. Don't try random potions. Lucky it was Polyjuice..."
"Shit, who invented this?"
"Got it... Tiger... tickles..." A dizzy murmur.
Hermione's hair had turned to soft cat fur. Delicate ears stood on her head. Pink nose twitched.
Satisfaction filled him.
Broad hands roamed through the fur, pinching ear tips, grabbing paw pads.
Hermione curled drowsily in his arms, floating in clouds, mind blank.
Just instinctively followed his guidance.
Raise hand. Extend tail. Tilt head...
Every movement showed obedience softer than Gunpowder's.
She'd become a real cat, completely immersed in his care.
On the other side, Gunpowder and the big cat sat in a row. Tails whipped like whips, cracking loudly.
Purring that should express comfort now full of irritation. Claw-sharpening sounds everywhere.
The hair Hermione stole was cat fur Gemma had plucked from Gunpowder.
She'd wanted to teach the chipmunk a lesson.
But she'd overlooked one thing—Tiger was a feline fanatic.
Her Animagus form alone made this beast drop his guard and sleep holding her.
Let alone Hermione as a humanoid cat. This was his dream cat.
Damn, miscalculated!
After glaring at them, the big cat stood and walked to the door.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Gunpowder followed. For the first time ever, it found Hermione more annoying than the big cat.
"Meow!"
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