Thick Smoke

Animagus

The next morning, Eliza woke up feeling her face wet. The witch groaned and rubbed her eyes, head turning to the person sleeping peacefully next to her in his black silk pyijamas. His hair was sticking up everywhere on the pillow and his body was only half covered, his chest moving up and down as he was breathing in his sleep. It was one of the times he looked peaceful, just like when she held his hand in the hospital.

Furvus was being impatient and she had to gave in eventually. As small as he was, Furvus was peculiar and had humane tics and quite a lot of strength for a cat. He had something wrapped around his right leg, something that looked old and dirty. Eliza got rid of the rope –because it was rope- from his leg and placed the book on her lap.

"What is that?"

Draco took a peek if she was sleeping or not but fully woke up when he saw the book on her lap. He groaned and leaned against the mattress, acting nonchalantly.

She smirked and turned to him with a new glint in her eyes, "I think I know how I can escape."

"Are you sure this is possible? We haven't reached that level in Transfiguration yet." Draco muttered for the millionth time, watching closely as she copied the ingredients on a piece of parchment with invisible ink.

"I need you to buy me some stuff since I can't get out." She started, placing the parchment in his palm, "If you have any question as to where to find them, ask Mildred."

Draco frowned, "The house elf?"

Eliza nodded and returned to her book, preparing herself for the big project, "Let's see, it takes skill, practice, and patience for wizards and witches to become Animagi. The process of becoming an Animagus is long and arduous, and has the potential to backfire and cause the transformation to go horribly wrong. That's not very encouraging, is it?" She mumbled, feeling her mind getting foggy.

Being an animagus was the only way to get out of the manor; there was no going back once she would start practicing and once Draco would come with the leaf and Polyjuice ingredients, it was definite.

It was only an hour later when the blond returned to her room and found her sitting on the bed, staring at Furvus while he was glaring at her. It looked like they were going to fight yet at the same time she looked ready to skin her pet with scissors.

"What are you doing?" He sneered, not understanding how his heart was beating for a person whose personality was the vaguest thing he has ever seen.

She was in a desperate state just a few days ago and now she was so lively; suspiciously so.

"I need to take a piece of his hair but he's not very cooperative," Eliza mumbled, launching at her cat, squishing the poor pet under her, "Such a strange cat. Come on Furvus, you are the one who's always wanted me to become an animagus." She continued to mutter as she grabbed his tail and cutting a few strands of black fur.

Draco placed the ingredients on the desk before sitting on the bed, next to her. The cat jolted out of her grasp as soon as she moved and hid under the bed.

"There is some kind of sadistic urge inside of you, isn't it?" Draco mumbled, seeing the same glint in those icy eyes that have been threatening him.

Eliza's head turned to him in surprise yet she wasn't –or at least didn't seem- surprised by that statement.

"That may be true but I plan to keep that side of me locked away."

Draco was ready to question her more, especially now that he knew for sure that half of her blood was Voldemort's but someone jumped on his leg. Furvus' eyes were staring up at the blond as if he was advising him to shut up.