A Short Story Is A Love Affair

It was a scene that had come to be commonplace in the Ministry canteen. A few years ago, one might have stopped and stared at the four men eating lunch together, but now it was so mundane as to be unremarkable. Two aurors, two unspeakables, one cat. Nothing special about that, not when they saw it every day. 

“There was blood everywhere, and Goldstein passed out because he’s squeamish about that sort of stuff. Makes you wonder why he chose to be an auror, really. But anyway, they just attached it back on, there’s barely even a scar.” Ron told his tale enthusiastically, gesturing to his shoulder with his sandwich. 

“The wonders of modern medicine, eh? That’s pretty impressive, Weasley. Will you be getting a second Order of Merlin for your consummate heroics?” Theo asked. He was teasing, but it was good natured. Harry smirked into his coffee. 

“I can’t imagine he’s got much wall space going spare, what with all the commendations.” Draco mused. Ron, entirely unaware that he was being mocked, simply shrugged in a show of humility. 

“Anyway-” Harry said, changing the subject before Ron made more of a fool of himself, “Is there much progress?” He nodded towards the cat that Draco was fussing with his other hand. 

“Not as much as I would like. She’s slowly getting better at understanding me and her surroundings in a more human context, but other than that? Very much still a feline.” Draco filled him in, and Harry sighed. 

Only the four of them knew that the tabby cat Draco had recently become inseparable from was Hermione. After an accident within the Department of Mysteries that neither Theo nor Draco could elaborate on, she’d been stuck for a month now. Having finally plucked up the courage to ask her out, Draco and Hermione had only been on two dates before the cat incident, and he was now horrendously protective of her. He’d happily taken the accusations of becoming a crazy cat man on the chin. People could say what they liked, he wasn’t going to let Hermione out of his sight until she was back on two legs. She’d taken to sleeping with him, curled up on his spare pillow, and he’d be lying if he said he didn’t love it. He’d love it more if he could wake up to her human face, but he was taking what he could get. 

“Isn’t there anything else you can do?” Ron asked. Theo snorted.

“He’s doing everything he can, Ron.” Harry said, observing Draco’s vaguely indignant face, as if he hadn’t dedicated his every waking hour to the task. 

“I’ll get her back, Weasley.” Draco settled for that, aiming to keep his tone civil. Hermione meowed, shoving her face back into Draco’s hand, and he smiled. “I’ll get her back.” He said, far more softly than before. Harry and Theo watched the two of them sadly, knowing he’d stop at nothing. Ron’s attention was entirely back on his sandwich.