I just want to be a writer.

I didn't want this damned cat. This future, this challenge.

Milav might at well have just clawed at my heart tonight.

I want to be friends with Hermione so bad. I want her to read my stories. Because I write more than news and reports. I've got a book going. I write fanfictions. I want her to read my stuff and critique it because her opinion would be powerful.

But when I say the wrong things, he gets mad. I knew the instant Milav came downstairs that tonight would be trouble.

And Harry. Now I don't have a chance with Harry.

When he caught me... my heart stopped. His eyes are so pretty. So green. I could write poems about his eyes.

I wanna be free of him and with Harry.  I'm starting to think... no.  He'll know if I betray his trust. 

Time to toughen up, I think to myself.  Get through this.  It'll be fine.  No escaping him anyways.

———————————

Hermione layed in the dark in the embrace of her warm bed.  But tonight, nothing could stop the cold feeling that sent shivers down her spine.

How could they have let her into this task so easily?  What was up with that cat of hers?  Hermione was beginning to question the morality of Izzy and her cat, Milav.  Then again, she was questioning a lot of things.

Like her and Draco, for example.

They had kissed.  They had hugged.  He said he didn't want her getting hurt.  And a few days earlier he said he'd talked to Blaise and Pansy "us".  What did that mean?  Did he like her as much as she liked him?  

She resolved to find out the next day.  But it was getting late and she was extremely tired.  She had to go to bed.

__________________

When Harry and Ron got back to the Common Room, they bid Draco goodbye, still smiling and laughing.  They saw Izzy sitting in the common room, talking to her cat.

"...I don't want this anym-" She looked up and noticed them, eyes wide and sentence cut short.

"Hey... Izzy... How was your night with Hermione?" Ron asked, exchanging a glance with Harry.  Izzy pretty much died inside when she saw how suspiciously they looked at her.  Dammit.

"It was great!  I was just trying to tell Milav, my cat, not to get frustrated at other people.  The second Hermione went upstairs he attacked her chair.  He doesn't like people.  Sorry," she lied easily.

"I told you Harry, I bloody hate cats," Ron commented with all suspicion leaving his eyes.

Harry rolled his eyes at Ron as Izzy continued, "Anyway, how was your time with Draco?"

"It was great, actually.  It's still gonna be a little difficult to be around him but it'll be fine.  He's a good guy and he's changing." Harry looked a little confused while he spoke, like he never expected that sentence to leave his mouth.

Izzy nodded and went back to petting Milav, although she was a little hesitant while she did.  Didn't want him to bite her.

"Well, I guess we'll see you tomorrow morning, Izzy," Harry said, his eyes lingering on her a little longer than would have been normal.  She blushed and looked away, muttering a quick "goodnight" as they walked away.

She sighed as she heard the door close.  It was gonna be a long school year.

A/N: did you like the puns in the title?  I know this chapter had nothing to do with Sirius Black but I couldn't resist the opportunity.