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“I can’t believe you managed to learn how to use your Animagus form so quickly,” a disillusioned Sebastian exclaimed. “You’re going to have to teach me. It’s so much easier to sneak around like that.”
You meowed and gave Sebastian a proud look. The only problem with being in your cat Animagus form was the lack of communication, but Sebastian seemed to have no trouble understanding what you were trying to convey.
“Yeah, yeah. Very impressive,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Genius of the century right here.”
Amused, you batted at his leg with your paw, or at least, where you thought his legs were. You ended up hitting the air instead.
“Hey, watch it,” he complained. “You’re going to ruin my disillusionment.”
It wasn’t like there were any prefects around to bust you, but you supposed it was better to be safe than sorry. You didn’t want Sebastian to get in trouble because of you again.
“Look out,” Sebastian whispered suddenly. “It’s Professor Sharp.”
You looked over, and sure enough, Professor Sharp was briskly walking through the corridor. You panicked for a second before you remembered—cat form. He wouldn’t care about a stray cat wandering around at night.
But for some reason, instead of walking past you, he stopped and crouched down in front of you.
“Hello,” he said, his large hand reaching out to pet you on the head.
You let out a loud yowl and took a step back. It wasn’t that you were afraid of Sharp, but when you were in this tiny cat form, he looked much bigger and scarier up close.
“Easy,” he said, raising his hands slowly. “It’s alright. I just want to help. These injuries look painful.”
Injuries? Right, you’d forgotten. You had run out of Wiggenweld potions in the middle of the fight and couldn’t heal the few wounds you’d received. The injuries must’ve transferred over to your Animagus form.
“I’ll take you with me for the night,” he decided. “I have some potions that can get you back on your feet in no time.”
Pushing down your guilt, you hissed at Sharp with as much false anger as you could muster and bristled. Going with him was the last thing you needed, even if he did mean well and your body was kind of hurting.
Instead of backing off in fear like he should, Sharp merely smiled and lifted you from the ground.
You screamed in shock, but all that came out was a strangled meow. Where was Sebastian? As much as you didn’t want him to get in trouble for you, you didn’t want to be stuck with Sharp in your Animagus form. What if he figures it out?
“It’s alright, little one,” he soothed, gently patting you on the head. “I will not hurt you.
You were not little, dammit. It took a lot of self-restraint out of you to not scratch Sharp in retaliation.
“You’re going to be alright,” he continued.
Before Sharp could get too far, Sebastian appeared from behind a pillar. “Hello, Professor Sharp,” he said. “I believe you have my…my pet Kneazle. Could I please have them back?”
You almost cried in relief at the sight of him. He hadn’t abandoned you after all! You owed him your life.
Sharp stopped and looked at you. You glared right back. “Sallow? You should be in bed. It’s way past curfew.”
“I’ve been looking for them,” he said, gesturing at you. “They got in some trouble earlier and ran off. Thanks for stopping them for me.”
You were starting to think that it might’ve been better if Sebastian just left you to the wolves, for this had to be the most embarrassing thing to have ever happened. He was going to tease you relentlessly for months after this, assuming you can even get out of Sharp’s custody.
“Your Kneazle is hurt,” Sharp said. “I’ll treat their wounds and return them later.”
Sebastian frowned and looked at you worriedly. “But Professor Sharp, they don’t like strangers. I can deal with the wounds myself.”
“No. You have classes early tomorrow,” Sharp said. “It’s already too late. Go back to bed, or I’d be forced to give you detention and deduct house points.”
You meowed loudly in protest and batted at Sharp’s chest with your paws. He didn’t even flinch.
“I’m sorry, Professor, but I can’t leave them,” Sebastian said firmly.
“I understand your loyalty to your pet, but I must reiterate that you’re breaking the rules,” Sharp said. “Is there something you’re trying to hide? I’ve heard from the librarian that you’ve been breaking in after curfew. This is completely unacceptable and if it continues, I’d be forced to contact your uncle once more.”
You had half a mind to just shift back into human form, consequences damned, and take the fall for Sebastian.
“Er…I apologize.” For once, Sebastian looked slightly guilty.
“Go back to bed,” Sharp said. “I’ll return your Kneazle tomorrow.”
“Can I at least come with you? I just want to make sure they’re alright.”
He sighed. “Fine. Only for a bit.”
“Fantastic. Thank you, Professor Sharp.”
You let out a despaired meow. This was going to be a long night.
—
To your chagrin, Sharp carried you all the way to the potions classroom while Sebastian trailed behind him. Surprisingly, his hold was actually comfortable and not at all awkward like you thought it would be. Maybe he had cats before?
“Here we go,” Sharp said, gently placing you down on his seat. “Let’s take a look at your injuries.”
Sebastian crouched down in front of you as well, and you tried not to feel uncomfortable. “Are they alright?”
“The injuries are most unusual for a pet Kneazle,” Sharp said, looking at your pelt closely. “Tell me, Sallow. How on Merlin’s name did they get so wounded?”
“Er…um…I’m not quite sure,” Sebastian said, his eyes wide with panic.
Sharp sighed. “Never mind,” he said, taking a mysterious vial from his desk. “This should do the trick. Open up.”
You eyed the potion warily.
“It’ll help you feel better,” Sharp coaxed.
The potion smelled absolutely putrid, perhaps due to your enhanced sense of smell. Drinking it was the last thing you wanted. You meowed in protest and stared at Sebastian pleadingly.
Sharp took the opportunity to pour the potion into your open mouth. “There you go,” he said.
No! It didn’t taste as bad as you thought it would, but the shock factor made it a hundred times worse. You pawed at your tongue in disgust, trying your best to get the awful aftertaste out of your mouth.
Sebastian chuckled, and you glared fiercely at him. Traitor.
“Do you feel better?” he asked. “It looks like your wounds are gone.”
You did, actually, not that you could tell them. Sharp’s potions were truly impressive—much more effective than your own concoctions.
“You can go back to bed now, Sallow,” Sharp said. “I’ll keep an eye on them for the rest of the night in case something happens.”
“Alright,” Sebastian said reluctantly. “I’ll see you later, then. Thanks again, Professor Sharp.”
“Try not to get in trouble on your way back,” Sharp warned.
You watched Sebastian leave sadly, silently chiding yourself for not using the disillusionment charm earlier. You just had to make things more complicated, and look where that got you.
Sharp started tidying up his desk, but you still felt his dark gaze bearing on you. Feeling uncomfortable, you curled up on the soft cushion and prepared yourself for a long night.
Then, out of nowhere, Sharp knelt next to your chair. “So, you’ve decided to become an unregistered Animagus, huh?” Sharp asked. “I have to say, I’m impressed. It’s not the easiest thing to learn, especially for a fifth-year.”
You froze, your fur bristling with alarm. What did he just say?
“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. I’m never opposed to students learning something extra on the side; shows initiative and all. Just don’t let me catch you running around at night again. I might not be as lenient the next time.”
How did he know? You hadn’t done anything particularly intelligent to give it away, and Sebastian had been a decent actor. Was Sharp using Legilimency?
“I’m sure you’re wondering how I figured it out,” he said. “Those injuries. They’re from dueling, aren’t they?”
You shook your head frantically, too panicked to keep up your cat act.
“Don’t lie to me, kid,” he said, frowning at you. “I’m an Auror, remember? I’d have to be blind to miss something like that. You and Sallow haven’t been exactly discrete either. Your dorm mates have informed me that the two of you have been missing several nights a week. That and all your sneaking around Hogwarts at suspicious times…it doesn’t exactly take an Auror to put two and two together.”
Suddenly, you were thankful for the fact that cats can’t talk.
“I won’t tell the headmaster. For now, that is,” he said. “I know you’re not going to tell me about your little secret excursions, but I want you to come to me if you or Sallow ever get hurt doing…whatever it is that you do. Got it?”
You meowed.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said. Then, to your shock, he smiled and scratched you behind the ears. “How unfortunate for you that I happened to like cats. If your Animagus form had been anything else, I would’ve walked right past you.”
To your surprise, a loud, rumbling purr came out of you at his touch.
Sharp laughed and withdrew his hand. “My apologies,” he said. “Couldn’t help myself.”
You wished a hole would appear and swallow you up. How were you going to face him from now on? You didn’t think you could ever look him in the eye again.
“You can turn back if you wish,” he said. “But I’d still like to keep an eye on you for the night. Curses can be unpredictable and I want to make sure nothing bad happens.”
You yawned and made yourself comfortable on the seat cushion. It was easier to remain as a cat than to have to face Sharp and risk being grilled again.
“That’s fine too,” he said. With a wave of his wand, he conjured a blanket and draped it over you carefully. “Good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As mortifying as it was, you still appreciated his help today. It had been difficult trying to take on everything with just Sebastian and Ominis’ company. Just knowing that you had Sharp to fall back on when things ever got too out of hand was comforting.