Shadows of Redemption

Chapter 3: The Silent Agreement

Harriet's POV

I never imagined I'd feel any form of relief while in Draco Malfoy's care, yet here I was, almost grateful. Almost. He could have exposed me immediately, used my predicament to his advantage, but he hadn't. Instead, he'd promised-however reluctantly-that he'd keep my secret and help me.

Still, relief wasn't enough to chase away the frustration coursing through my little Kneazle body. I needed to get back to normal, and fast. There was no telling what might happen if I stayed this way much longer. The only issue was that I had to rely on Draco Malfoy, of all people.

Draco stood up from the armchair, rubbing his temples. "Right, Potter," he said, clearly talking more to himself than to me. "We need to lay down some ground rules."

I sat on the armrest, my tail curling around my paws, and tried to look as attentive as possible. If he was going to lay down rules, I'd make sure he knew I had my own set of expectations.

"First," he began, pacing, "you can't just go prowling around the Manor whenever you please. There are certain... people here who wouldn't be so kind to a stray animal, much less one that's actually you."

I knew exactly who he meant: his parents. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy were not known for their warm hospitality, especially toward anyone they deemed beneath them. If they ever discovered my true identity, I doubted I'd live to see the next sunrise.

I flattened my ears in agreement. I had no intention of wandering around anyway, especially since the last thing I wanted was to end up hexed or worse.

"Second," Draco continued, his expression growing more serious, "if anyone asks, you're just a Kneazle. A gift from... a friend." He winced at the word, and I couldn't blame him. The idea of Draco Malfoy and me being friends was laughable, even now.

But I supposed we had to pretend, for both our sakes.

I gave a slow nod, dipping my head, and Draco's eyebrows shot up. "You understand?" he asked, incredulous. "Merlin, you really are clever."

If I could roll my eyes, I would have. I lifted a paw and gave it a deliberate lick, hoping he'd take the hint that yes, I was intelligent and yes, I understood the stakes. Draco watched me, his mouth twitching like he was trying not to laugh.

"Fine," he muttered. "I'll take that as a yes." He rubbed the back of his neck, looking lost for a moment. "This is going to be a disaster, isn't it?"

I wanted to tell him that yes, it probably would be. Instead, I jumped down from the armrest and landed gracefully on the floor, padding over to where he stood. I looked up at him, silently trying to convey something I wasn't sure I fully understood myself: that maybe we'd figure this out together, somehow.

He sighed. "Come on. I'll show you where you can stay. And remember, Potter, you're still an unwelcome guest here, so keep quiet."

Draco's POV

Having Harriet Potter in my house-even in Kneazle form-felt like a bad joke. I was used to her being larger than life, someone who was always ready to throw herself into danger. Now, she was... small. Quiet. Vulnerable. It unsettled me in ways I didn't want to think about.

I led her down the hall, making sure no one was around. Mother and Father were both preoccupied today, but that didn't mean I could afford to let my guard down. Harriet padded along beside me, her paws silent on the polished floor. Every so often, she'd glance up at me, her green eyes full of questions.

"Here," I said, opening the door to one of the guest rooms. "You can stay in here. It's safer, and no one will think to look for you."

The room was spacious, with a four-poster bed draped in emerald and silver curtains-Slytherin colors, naturally. A plush rug covered the floor, and sunlight filtered through the tall windows. Harriet walked in and immediately leaped onto the bed, circling once before settling down. She seemed to melt into the comfort of the blankets, and I had to hide a smile.

"Comfortable, are we?" I teased. She gave me a haughty look, the kind only a Kneazle could manage, and I found myself laughing. It felt... strange, but good.

My laughter faded as reality set back in. What were we supposed to do now? I wasn't an expert in Transfiguration, and I doubted even Mother's vast library could offer a solution to this specific problem. I had to be careful, too. If Father found out I was hiding Harriet Potter, he'd report it to the Dark Lord without hesitation.

The very thought made my skin crawl. I sat down on a chair across from the bed, resting my elbows on my knees. "We'll have to wait until we're back at Hogwarts to really figure this out," I said, more to myself than to her. "For now, you'll just have to bear with me."

She made a soft noise, almost like a purr, and I frowned. Was she... agreeing with me?

I sighed again. This entire situation was insane, and yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more at play. Something about having Harriet here, even in this form, felt... different. Like I'd been given a chance to see things from another perspective.

And I wasn't sure I liked what I was beginning to feel.