A Cat Between Worlds

Harry did not plan on spending his afternoon locked in an unused classroom with Nico di Angelo. To be fair, Nico didn’t plan on it either. The cat, however, absolutely did. It started when Harry was walking down the corridor, minding his own business, when a door swung open on its own and a familiar black cat trotted out. Harry barely had time to say, “No,” before the cat hooked a claw into his shoelace and yanked. Harry stumbled inside. The door slammed shut behind him. “Seriously?” Harry said to the ceiling. A groan came from the corner. Nico was sitting on the floor, knees pulled up, looking like he’d been dropped there five minutes ago and had already given up on escape. “Oh,” Harry said. “It’s you again.” Nico glared. “I didn’t do this.” “I assumed the cat did.” The cat meowed from the windowsill, smug and glowing faintly like it had just completed a divine quest. Harry tried the door. It didn’t budge. Nico sighed. “He’s not letting us out until we… talk.” Harry turned. “Talk about what?” Nico gestured vaguely. “Feelings. Life. Whatever he thinks we’re avoiding.” Harry stared. “A cat locked us in a room for emotional honesty.” Nico buried his face in his hands. “Please don’t say it out loud.” The cat meowed once—firm, authoritative, like a therapist saying continue. Harry sat down across from Nico. “Okay. Fine. We’ll… talk.” Nico looked horrified. “We don’t have to.” The cat knocked a stack of books off a desk. Harry raised an eyebrow. “I think we do.” Nico groaned. “This is humiliating.” Harry shrugged. “At least it’s not Snape.” Nico snorted before he could stop himself. “Fair.” A beat of silence. Harry cleared his throat. “So… you keep ending up here. With me.” Nico stared at the floor. “I don’t mean to. Shadow‑travel is supposed to take me where I want to go. But lately it’s just—” He gestured around the room. “Here.” Harry hesitated. “Do you know why?” Nico didn’t answer. The cat meowed softly. Nico glared at it. “Don’t you dare.” Harry leaned forward. “Nico?” Nico finally muttered, “Maybe… maybe I don’t hate being here.” Harry blinked. “Oh.” Nico immediately backtracked. “Not like that. I mean—well—not not like that—just—ugh—forget I said anything.” Harry tried very hard not to smile. “I won’t.” Nico looked like he wanted to shadow‑travel into the sun. The cat purred loudly, like it was applauding. Harry softened. “For what it’s worth… I don’t mind you being here either.” Nico froze. The cat hopped down, walked between them, and sat exactly in the middle like a referee who had just declared a breakthrough. The door clicked. Harry tried the handle. It opened. Nico stared. “He really was waiting for us to talk.” Harry sighed. “We’re being emotionally blackmailed by a cat.” Nico stood, brushing off his jacket. “I hate this.” The cat meowed affectionately and rubbed against his leg. Nico sighed again, quieter this time. “Fine. I hate it slightly less.” Harry smiled. “Progress.” The cat meowed triumphantly. And just like that, the door swung open, releasing them back into the hallway like two students who had just passed a very strange exam.