Drarry AI Oneshots

The Cat's Out of the Bag

It had all started with a simple, accidental misfire of a spell-something Harry had been trying out after reading up on Animagus transformations in the library. Unfortunately for him, the spell had gone a bit wrong, and instead of transforming into a full Animagus, he had been stuck halfway. Now, Harry was essentially a cat-small, sleek, black fur, with striking green eyes that seemed to catch the light just as his human ones did.

To make matters worse, he couldn't figure out how to reverse it. And, in true Harry Potter fashion, instead of finding help immediately, he had gotten himself stuck in this form long enough to be discovered by someone.

That someone, of course, was Draco Malfoy.

Draco had been making his way through the courtyard when he first spotted the black cat, sitting calmly on the steps of the Slytherin dorms. It was a chilly evening, and the cat looked oddly out of place, though its vibrant green eyes were captivating.

"Where did you come from?" Draco murmured as he approached the cat. It didn't run away as most would. Instead, it tilted its head and watched him with an almost human-like intensity. Draco frowned, kneeling down in front of it.

"You're not one of the school's cats, are you?" Draco muttered, his brow furrowing as he examined the mysterious feline. "No collar, no sign of an owner... what am I supposed to do with you?"

The cat blinked up at him, and Draco couldn't help but notice how striking its eyes were-emerald green, eerily familiar. He reached out tentatively, and to his surprise, the cat didn't back away. Instead, it pressed its small head into his hand, purring softly.

"Well," Draco sighed, "looks like you're stuck with me for now."

That was how Harry found himself being carried into the Slytherin common room by none other than Draco Malfoy, who had apparently decided to take care of the mysterious cat until he found its owner. For Harry, this was simultaneously the most mortifying and surreal experience of his life. He had no way of communicating who he really was, and Draco-completely unaware that his new feline companion was actually his former rival-was treating him like an ordinary stray cat.

Draco had set him down gently in front of the fireplace in the common room, conjuring a small cushion for Harry to sit on. "There you go," Draco said, scratching behind Harry's ears in a way that was almost embarrassingly enjoyable. "You can stay here for the night, I suppose. I'll figure out who you belong to in the morning."

Harry, despite his internal panic, couldn't help but appreciate the warmth of the fire and the surprisingly gentle touch from Draco. He curled up on the cushion, his tail flicking lazily, while Draco settled into a chair nearby with a book.

It wasn't until later that evening, when the common room had quieted down and it was just the two of them, that things took a turn Harry hadn't expected.

Draco, sitting in the armchair with his legs stretched out, glanced over at the black cat-at Harry. "You know," Draco began, his voice soft and thoughtful, "I don't usually talk to animals, but you seem like a good listener."

Harry's ears perked up, and he blinked at Draco, unsure of what was about to happen.

"I suppose I can tell you some things I wouldn't normally say out loud," Draco continued, leaning back in his chair. "It's not like you'll repeat it to anyone, will you?"

Harry's heart raced, a sinking feeling settling in his stomach. What could Draco possibly want to talk about in front of a seemingly anonymous cat?

Draco sighed, running a hand through his platinum blond hair. "It's just... things have been different since the war. Everything's changed, you know? And I'm trying-I really am. But it feels like no matter what I do, people still see me as the same old Malfoy. The Death Eater's son."

Harry's stomach clenched at the sadness in Draco's voice, but he remained still, watching silently from his cushion.

Draco continued, his voice quieter now. "I never thought I'd say this, but... it's Harry Potter who makes everything worse."

Harry's eyes widened, his tail twitching nervously.

"I mean, not that he does it on purpose," Draco said quickly, almost as if he were trying to explain himself to the cat. "But just being around him-it makes me feel like I'll never escape my past. He's always there, being perfect and noble, reminding me of everything I wasn't. Everything I couldn't be."

Harry wanted to protest, to tell Draco that he wasn't perfect, that he didn't mean to make Draco feel that way, but of course, as a cat, he could do nothing but listen.

Draco rubbed his temples, his expression conflicted. "But the worst part is... I don't hate him anymore. I don't even dislike him. If anything, it's the opposite. And that's the real problem."

Harry's heart skipped a beat. What?

Draco groaned softly, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped in front of him. "It's pathetic, really. I spent all those years hating him, and now, I can't even look at him without feeling... something else. Something stupid. Something that I shouldn't be feeling."

Harry's mind was racing. Draco Malfoy, of all people, had feelings for him? This had to be some sort of elaborate prank, some cruel twist of fate. But the vulnerability in Draco's voice told Harry otherwise. This was real. This was Draco confessing feelings he had never intended to share-especially not with Harry Potter, even if Harry currently resembled a small, black cat.

"And now I'm sitting here talking to a cat about it," Draco muttered with a dry laugh. "Merlin, I've really lost it, haven't I?"

Harry, still processing everything, moved cautiously toward Draco. He nudged Draco's hand with his head, and Draco smiled faintly, stroking the fur between Harry's ears.

"At least you're not judging me," Draco murmured, a sad smile on his lips. "But I suppose it doesn't matter. Potter's never going to know, and that's probably for the best."

Harry's heart ached as he watched Draco, torn between wanting to reveal the truth and the impossibility of doing so in his current form. He wanted to tell Draco that he understood, that he didn't hate him, that maybe-just maybe-he felt something too.

But for now, all Harry could do was stay by Draco's side, hoping that when he eventually found a way to return to his human form, he'd have the courage to tell Draco the truth.

And maybe, just maybe, things would be different between them.

The End... or perhaps, just the beginning.