Draco's Revenge
Theo had a grand time at the gala. Neville was an amazing conversationalist, and he had a softness in him that Theo yearned for. He told him as much, always amazed at how much adversity Neville face from a young child. Yet he still managed to maintain a kindness and warmth to him. Theo was nothing like that. He was cold and deflected. It was safer that way. But being around someone so authentic and unapologetic, he wanted more of it. He craved it, like a drug. Theo briefly wondered if that was what Draco felt around Hermione.
On their first date, they decided to stay in. They were drinking in his Drawing Room, casting several Muffliato charms over the space. When Theo told him about what happened with Draco and Hermione, Neville only nodded, contemplating and weighing the story. When he finally spoke, "It must have been a shock to both of them."
Theo wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and burped. "What do you mean?"
Neville raised an eyebrow. "You know for someone with all the etiquette lessons, you certainly don't act like it."
"I am the everyman. I spent almost 10 years in the Muggle world. You'll find that in very few places is acting like a proper git welcomed. It took me more than a few black eyes to learn that."
Neville shrugged and smiled. "I guess that's true. And what I mean is that obviously, Hermione feels taken advantage of and lied to. And for Draco, I'm sure he didn't mean to fall in love with the girl he bullied in grade school."
Theo sat back into one of the blue velvet recliner, shifting his weight and swirling his firewhiskey. He thought about this past year. Although he resented Draco for being an absentee friend and partner, he always looked relaxed and happy the few times he could be arsed to leave Hermione's side. Then he thought about what Draco looked like the past few months.
Draco, ever the dramatic Wizard, choosing to stay mostly in cat!form when not in the company of clients or the Ministry.
[Image: A white and orange cat stares off into space. Implied: Cat!Draco is brooding.]
[Image: A white and grey cat stares at a cellphone. Implied: Cat!Draco hopes to see Hermione text Theo.]
[Image: A white kitten asleep over the back of a sofa. Implied: Cat!Draco sleeps away the days.]
[Image: A white cat is asleep on the floor. Implied: Cat!Draco is drunk almost every night.]
[Video: An asleep white and orange cat makes movement likes it's riding a bike. Implied: Drunk Cat!Draco dreams of biking with Hermione in the countryside on their first trip together.]
[Image: A white and grey cat leans against a silver pillow in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Implied: Cat!Draco has an existential crisis.]
Most recently, Theo almost always found Cat!Draco in the same position he left him, lying out on the veranda and staring up at the sky.
Theo pressed his lips together. "He dug his own grave."
"Maybe. But I imagine it would be hard to tell Hermione the truth. And her accusations are unfounded, yes? You all weren't trying to make a fool out of her, were you?" Neville's brows crumpled together, and his voice hardened.
He almost spat out his very expensive Ogden's 50-year old firewhiskey. "Salazar's ball sac, no. I kept trying to convince him to tell her earlier; that it was a bad idea to stay with her; but the arse has to do things the hard way ... You think he really loves her?"
Neville let out a low exhale, rubbing the nape of his neck. "If it were a cruel prank, Draco was very devoted to it. He stayed in cat!form for almost a year, didn't he? Despite the potentially negative consequences to his magic?"
"How do you know about that?" Theo tilted his head.
"My grandma told me that my parents were accomplished Animagi during the First War. I did my research on it. Never quite had the luck to finish the process. I kept messing up the Mandrake leaf part." Neville finished up his drink. "You know Draco better than anyone. He took a great risk in telling her, especially when he could have not said anything and started over. How is he doing now?"
"You know how he is."
"From what little I knew of him at school, he's probably crying a lot," Neville deadpanned.
Theo smirked, a warmth spreading to his cheeks. "Can I kiss you?"
Little did they know, Cat!Draco was outside plodding the Nott grounds, using revenge to distract him from his emotional pain. The property's blood wards allowed him to come and go as he pleased.
Watching.
Waiting.
[Image: A white and orange cat is in a tree. Implied: Cat!Draco hides behind some sparse leaves in a tree.]
When Neville finally left, Cat!Draco made his way into the manor.
His mood, dark, and his magic, unstable, he blew out all the lights in the rooms.
"Lumos!", he growled.
"What the fuck—" Theo sputtered.
[Image: A grey cat's face is lit by a candle against darkness. Implied: Cat!Draco ambushes Theo.]
[Image: A grey cat sits high up and stares down menacingly. Implied: Cat!Draco is about to attack.]
Cat!Draco perched atop an old credenza. "Prepare. For. Pain!"
He attacked.
Theo immediately transformed, thinking he could be more nimble in cat!form.
[Image: A grey cat is in mid-jump over a white and grey cat. Implied: Cat!Draco goes ninja on Theo's ass.]
However, Cat!Draco was much quicker, having spent the larger part of the year as a cat.
[Image: A white and grey cat glares at camera. Implied: Cat!Draco gives Theo the death stare.]
[Image: A white and grey cat snarls. Implied: Cat!Draco attacks.]
[Video: Cat!Draco beats up cat!Theo.]
Cat!Draco hissed and flailed at Cat!Theo. "“You told me to tell her and now she won’t talk to me! She kicked me out! And now we can't go back to what we were. We were just making strides!”
"Ow! Ow! I didn't say to transform in front of her. I told you to tell her the truth. Like an adult Wizard." Theo meowed in pain, blocking the blinding fists of fury as much as he could. "Stop it, drama queen! I will bite you, you little bitch."
When he couldn't take the punches anymore, he bit back, displaying his own fearsome fangs.
HISS.
[Image: A grey cat bares its fangs. Implied: Cat!Theo is about to bite.]
Cat!Draco howled in pain, resuming his ineffectual but thoroughly annoying punches.
Cat!Theo snarled. "Stop! Or I'll bite again. Stop! STOP. I'll fucking help you."
"You can't help me. No one can," Cat!Draco bit back.
"If you would stop hitting me, I have a plan to get Granger to forgive you. Alright?"
Cat!Draco sent a devastating glare at Cat!Theo, but slowed his punches.
[Image: A white and grey cat grabs onto the leg of a chair. Implied: Cat!Draco pauses but is still angry.]
Cat!Theo continued, "We also have Longbottom on our side."
"Go on," Cat!Draco said, but was still suspicious.
[Image: A grey cat gives a sideways glance. Implied: Cat!Draco looking sus.]
Cat!Theo said, "Well, you're going to go to her house every day ..."
[Image: A white cat peeks over some bed covers. Implied: Cat!Draco is intrigued.]
Cat!Draco sniffed, tilting his ears toward Cat!Theo. "Say more things like that."