Chapter Text
Months later draco was back at Hogwarts and before he knew it he had finished his first year , summer break hadn't been nearly as enjoyable as years prior the loneliness getting bigger every day , his father seemed to live in his office nowadays only coming out to eat and tell draco good morning before going back in his cave and now to top it all off his mother was also starting to pull away slightly , joining his father in his office for hours on end draco might as well live alone with the way he spend most of the day in the manor all alone.
The only solace he had all summer were his new found friends, pansy and Blaise , since that second meeting at the park they had started to meet up at least once a week and send letters via owl almost every day , draco hoped he didn't seem too desperate but he genuinely couldn't help it he finally had people he felt comfortable being fully himself with.
Pansy was everything he could ever wish for in a friend, she was smart , she was caring , she knew how to stand her ground and speak her mind , she was aware of his importance and treated him with the respect he deserved while still not being scared to talk to him about anything and everything and ti top it off she was funny as all Merlin.
the only problem really was that sometimes she took her affection a bit too far and could get quite clingy with him at times , but those were rare moments that were overshadowed by everything else.
Then there's Blaise.... He didn't dislike him per'se in fact he actually liked a lot of things about him as a person , he was witty , perceptive, funny and knew how to destroy people verbally without having to raise a hand.
the problem was he was way too arrogant almost to the point of delusion for his own good draco was sure that in Blaises mind he was the most important wizard to ever exist since Merlin quite funny considering his family is very run of the mill as far as pure blood wizarding families are concerned and yet Blaise doesn't seem to realize this he doesn't give draco the admiration and respect he deserves almost seeming to look down on him at times it was ridiculous bewildering and most of all infuriating.
Draco could say he put up with him mostly for pansy's sake but the reality was much more complicated then that , because for all the times Blaise got on his nerves and a verbal altercation ensued there were an equal amount of times were Blaise was genuinely a friend to him , times where he was incredibly perceptive about Draco's thoughts and feelings before even draco himself seemed to and prompted him to vent about anything troubling him.
And he was a great secret keeper unlike crab and goyle draco was confident he could spill his guts out to him and Blaise wouldn't utter a word , and so it was confusing the relationship draco had with Blaise , to say they were friends seemed like a stretch but to say they disliked each other seemed to ignore all of the quiet moments they had together where they genuinely got along.
Draco gave up on putting a label on their relationship anyway, it wasn't necessary Blaise was now a part of his life there was no way around it and a label didn't seem necessary for them , in any case the moment they got to Hogwarts after winter break they were inseparable wherever one was there was a good chance the other two were close behind it was great but there was a small problem or more like two problems... Crab and goyle.
Draco didn't want get rid of them or anything he did care for them deep down but he couldn't deny the fact that he was... Deeply embarrassed by them especially Infront of Blaise it was embarrassing the way they acted like brain dead brutes who acted like starved dogs the moment a plate of food was presented Infront of them.
and spending time with them especially when Blaise or pansy weren't around was becoming to feel more and more like a chore to draco , he only really enjoyed their company when they came up with ways to torment potter and his annoying friends and that wasn't even unique to only them anymore , pansy and Blaise also came up with cruel fun ways to mess with potter and his gang and any annoying griffindor in their vicinity and dare draco say they did it better , their plans were smarter crueller and more thought out then crab and goyle could ever do.
And apart from that crab and goyle had nothing to offer draco anymore they were boring annoying stupid and gross , draco was really over them but he didn't want to completely ignore them either so he settled for letting them trail behind him pansy and blaise and occasionally force himself to hang out with them when Blaise and pansy weren't present draco figured they were too stupid to realize how much draco had drifted away from them anyways.
And now summer break was about to end and all of them had gotten most of the things they needed for their second year except for one thing, a pet for draco.
Draco had wanted a pet since his first year but none had ever convinced him they were always too needy and clingy , or too loud and annoying but he hoped he would get lucky today and finally find his animal companion.
His parents of course couldn't spare a couple of hours to accompany him as was unfortunately becoming custome so as soon as the day came he sent an owl to Blaise and pansy and not long after a response came.
And now he was on his way to the magical menagerie Blaise and pansy right beside him
" What type of pet are you looking for draco ? " Pansy asked curiously
Draco shrugged " when it comes to species as long as it isn't a toad or a rat I don't care , it's the personality I'm worried about " draco huffed " all the pets I saw last year were either too high maintenance and annoying or too clingy and needy and I really don't want either of those "
" So basically you want a pet that takes care of itself and doesn't show any form of affection to you ? Why do you even want pet at all then draco " Blaise chuckled sarcastically
Draco rolled his eyes " I'm fine with taking care of their basic needs and I also wouldn't mind one or two cuddles here and there I just don't want a pet that's constantly screeching for attention or that can't go two seconds without being watched , that's not a pet that's an annoyance " draco said glaring at Blaise.
" I'm sure we'll find what your looking for draco we just need to be patient " pansy said trying to ease the tension.
Not Long after they had arrived at the magical menagerie where a short seemingly annoyed elderly woman welcomed them at the front.
" Welcome to my shop what can I do for you three " she said in a monotone voice
" Were looking for an animal companion for my friend here " pansy said gesturing at draco
" And what are you looking for then ? " The woman said at draco
" Any species is fine as long as it isn't a toad or a rat I just need them to be low maintenance and as independent as possible " draco said confidently
The women looked slightly confused and surprised as if she'd never heard someone ask for those traits in a pet
" Well it's an interesting request for sure and a very hard one at that I hope you don't have much to do the rest of the day because we'll likely be here for hours " the women sigh in surrender
" We don't so we can take as long as necessary "
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4 hours later and draco was starting to get worried he wouldn't find his pet this year either , they had seen all of the Ravens , bunnies , owls , puffskeins and even rarer species like phoenixes and still nothing the bunnies were way too clingy and attention needing, the Ravens and owls too loud and all the other rarer species we're too high maintenance or they needed a special license to be kept as pets.
They were currently halfway through all the cats and so far it was the same old problem's as the other pets, maybe he just wasn't cut out to have one , draco thought starting to give up , maybe I'll look at three more and just go home I'm getting sick of this.
As the shop keeper was about to show draco another cat however a loud aggressive hiss rang out and echoed through out the room.
" Who's that ? " Draco asked , the woman's face immediately soured in response
" Very bad news apparently " Blaise said smirking
" That's Gemma , she's the worst cat I've ever had the misfortune of caring for " the elder woman's eyes narrowed in seeming hate
" Show her to me " draco said quickly intrigued , the woman pulled a face as if I had just told her she'd grown six heads.
" Oh no no no boy she's untamable I cant even touch her cage without her trying to bite me in between the bars and in any case it's a waste of time no sane wizard or witch would want her as a companion we'll just skip her " the woman said dismissively
Draco immediately frowned and looked at the older woman dead in the eyes " I said I want to see her so bring her out now "
The woman's face turned red in anger but she didn't dare deny the Malfoy heir and went to the back of the shop were a cage shook as a black ball went wild inside it
' HISSSSSSS ! HISSSSSSS ! '
" STAY STILL YOU STUPID CAT ! " The woman screamed
...
" I thought you said you wanted a ' low maintenance pet ' " Blaise said wide eyed at the screams and hisses
" Just because she hates that shop keeper doesn't mean she'll hate me " draco said in response
" I don't know draco that cat sounds feral " pansy said in a hushed tone
After a while of hissing and screaming the woman finally started walking towards them holding the shaking cage as far away from her body as possible , when she arrived to them she basically threw the cage at the floor and as soon as she did the shaking stopped.
Draco sat on his knees on the ground so he could be eye level with the cage and he strained his eyes so he could see past the darkness inside the cage , the cats fur was pure black to the point where it camouflaged in the shadows inside the cage she would have been invisible if it weren't for the bright green eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness , she was gorgeous draco though.
" Hello " draco said in a low voice
Gemma blinked once then hissed although this time a lot less louder
" That cage looks so small and uncomfortable no wonder your so mad " draco said in sympathy and he clicked open the latch of the cage , the woman staggered backwards as far away from the now free cat as possible Blaise and pansy also took a step back.
Gemma immediately took a couple of steps forward then she arched her back and gave a big stretch accompanied with a yawn then her eyes landed on draco but she didn't move just stared at him without blinking.
Draco didn't know why he did it but something told him to strech his arm out Infront of the felines nose and wait, he didn't go to pet her or touch her in any way his hand completely still.
Gemma moved forward towards Draco's hand and took a sniff of it then another she then blinked at draco , draco blinked back and before draco knew it Gemma rubbed her cheek on his hand and draco let her not making any other move letting her dictate the interaction.
Gemma then rubbed her forehead more aggressively on draco palm and he allowed himself to scratch her behind her ear , she seemed to really like that as she rubbed her head all over his hand looking for more scratches a slight purr beginning on her throat.
Draco couldn't help the smile beginning of his face , this one just might be it.
Gemma stalked forward bumping her head on his knee, he put her paws on his lap and let out a demanding ' meow '
Draco immediately got the hint and lifted her up in his arms , after a few seconds Gemma fully relaxed into his arms laying her head on his stomach.
" Does she shed a lot ? " Asked draco with a smile on his face although if he was honest he didn't really care too much about maintenance anymore she was perfect.
" No not a lot she has short hair... " The old lady grumbled " she doesn't require much outdoor exercise either as long as you play with her inside at least one hour every day , she does hate dry food however so you'll have to buy her wet food exclusively "
Draco looked down at Gemma " that's fine I don't mind , how much is she ? "
" She's a pure breed so that hikes up the price to around 500 galleons " Blaise and pansy's jaws dropped open a little at the mention of the price.
" B-but I'll lend her to you at a discount as long as you buy her ! " The old lady said desperately clearly wanting to get rid of the cat now.
" No need I'll pay the full amount " draco said , she was worth every knut in his eyes.
So draco paid happily and got out of the shop with Gemma in his arms and Blaise and pansy talking his ear out beside him , pansy in particular kept trying to pet Gemma but the feline hissed every time she tried , draco smiled all the way home.