Breakfast
As Harry and Ron made their way to the Great Hall, the morning sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating their path in the corridor.
Suddenly, they spotted Tom walking towards them from a distance, dressed neatly in his uniform, with light steps heading towards the Great Hall. The doors to the hall were wide open, revealing the bustling scene inside. A fragrant aroma wafted through the air, with various delicious breakfast foods laid out on the long tables, tempting the appetite.
A sudden thought popped into Harry's mind. He leaned towards Ron and said, "I need to use the restroom, you go ahead to the Great Hall."
Tom proceeded towards the Great Hall as usual, ready to enjoy a delicious breakfast. Although he sensed some people staring at him, he was already accustomed to such gazes.
However, Tom was unaware that this time the stares were a bit different from usual. Following closely behind him was a fluffy black furball, lightly following his steps, attracting curious glances from time to time.
Tom sat down at the Slytherin table as usual, and Theodore Nott, upon seeing him, was about to greet him. However, his gaze paused as he noticed two fluffy black ears peeking out next to Tom, sparking his curiosity.
Theodore hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting from Tom to the two swaying black furry ears, feeling a hint of confusion. Eventually, he couldn't help but ask, "Tom, what's that?"
Following Theodore's gaze, Tom noticed a black furball sitting next to him, its paws scratching the table as if assessing the surroundings.
Meanwhile, Harry focused on the delicious dishes on the table, his emerald cat eyes sparkling with excitement as he contemplated which delicacy to choose to satisfy his hunger. Suddenly, feeling a focused gaze on him, Harry turned to see Tom looking at him expressionlessly.
Harry tilted his head, wagged his tail lightly, and let out a cheerful meow as a greeting to Tom, saying good morning.
Tom couldn't help but feel a bit helpless. He bent down, gently picked up Harry, feeling the cat's slight struggle. Harry meowed softly as Tom lifted him onto his lap, and Harry stopped struggling only when Tom placed him on his thigh.
Sitting on Tom's lap, Harry could now see the delicious food on the table more clearly. His fluffy tail stood erect, gently scratching Tom's chin, displaying his excitement. His eyes sparkled with innocent light. Finally, he let out a contented meow, radiating boundless joy.
The sudden commotion attracted the attention of many Slytherin students around, especially a pair of eyes burning with intense curiosity. Tom noticed Orion Black sitting across from him, staring at Harry with an expressionless face, his gaze incredibly focused.
Tom furrowed his brows, wondering if Orion disliked cats. Just as he was about to speak, Orion spoke first, breaking the silence.
Orion's voice trembled with excitement as he exclaimed in awe, "He's so beautiful, can I... pet him?"
Harry gazed at Orion, his fluffy ears standing proudly, lifting his head in arrogance. He leaped onto the table gracefully, as if inviting Orion to groom his fur, showing his noble status. Orion, being a cat lover, immediately felt excited about this opportunity. He reached out his hand gently, ready to stroke Harry's fur.
However, just as Harry took his first step forward, he felt a large hand suddenly grasp his nape, causing him to instinctively stop in his tracks.
Tom grabbed Harry by the nape of his neck, lifting him up, and the two locked eyes. Tom's agate-colored eyes stared intently at him, conveying a certain message, while Harry widened his innocent green cat eyes, emitting a soft meow.
In this silent confrontation, Tom was the first to relent, sighing softly as he gently placed Harry back on his lap. Harry wagged his tail triumphantly, knowing that he was now a very charming cat, irresistible even to Tom, the serpent. (Yes, Harry still believed that Tom didn't know his true identity.)
Harry leaned forward, gently placing his soft cat paw on the table, meowing at the tempting syrupy pancake pieces, then turning to gaze at Tom with those large cat eyes, as if asking if he could have a taste.
Tom gazed back at Harry, smiling slightly, and reached out his hand to gently pick up a piece of syrupy pancake, placing it in front of Harry. Excitedly, Harry sniffed at it, licked his lips, ready to enjoy the delicious bite.
Harry took a bite of the syrupy pancake, but ended up getting syrup on his fur around his mouth. Tom chuckled softly, gently wiping Harry's mouth, before cutting the pancake into smaller pieces and feeding them to Harry with a fork.
Harry savored the syrupy pancake pieces Tom fed him, enjoying the delicious taste. As he tasted the food, he let out a satisfied meow.
Unfazed by the gaze of the people around (especially Orion who coveted Harry's attention), Tom continued to feed Harry with undivided attention, his lips curling slightly upwards as he relished this intimate moment.