A Cat Between Worlds

The magical breach opened on a Thursday, which Harry found personally offensive. Thursdays were supposed to be uneventful. Maybe a quiz. Maybe a mild explosion in Potions. Not… this. He spotted it from across the courtyard: a swirling tear in the air, leaking shadows like a broken ink bottle. Students screamed and ran. Professors shouted spells. And in the middle of it all stood Nico di Angelo, looking like he’d been dragged out of bed and into a disaster he absolutely did not sign up for. Harry sprinted toward him. “Nico!” Nico didn’t look back. “I told you to stay away!” “You didn’t tell me anything!” “I meant it telepathically!” “That doesn’t count!” The cat appeared on a nearby wall, tail flicking, watching them like it had front‑row seats to its favorite drama. Harry reached Nico just as the shadows surged. Nico shoved him back. “I can fix it. Just—don’t get involved.” Harry grabbed his wrist. “Too late.” Nico froze. His eyes flicked to their hands. Then to Harry. Then to the cat, who meowed like finally. A gust of dark energy knocked them both off balance. Harry steadied Nico, pulling him close so they didn’t get swallowed by the breach. Nico muttered, “This is exactly why I didn’t want you here.” Harry didn’t let go. “And yet here I am.” Nico’s expression flickered—annoyance, fear, something softer he immediately tried to hide. “I don’t want you getting hurt.” Harry huffed a laugh. “You’re talking to the Boy Who Lived. I’m basically indestructible.” “That’s not comforting.” The breach crackled. Nico raised his hands, shadows gathering around him like obedient dogs. “I can close it. But I need—” Harry stepped closer. “What?” Nico swallowed. “Someone to anchor me.” Harry didn’t hesitate. “Okay.” Nico blinked. “Okay?” “Yeah. I’m here.” The cat meowed approvingly, like it had orchestrated this entire moment (it had). Nico took a breath, placed his hand over Harry’s, and focused. Shadows surged toward the breach. Light flared. The air shook. Harry held on. Nico leaned into him, exhausted but steady. The breach shrank, flickered, and finally snapped shut with a sound like a sigh. Silence fell. Nico sagged forward. Harry caught him before he hit the ground. “You okay?” Harry asked softly. Nico nodded weakly. “Yeah. Just tired.” The cat hopped down from the wall and circled them, purring like it was conducting an evaluation. Harry brushed a leaf out of Nico’s hair. “You did it.” Nico looked up at him, eyes dark and tired and honest. “We did it.” The cat meowed triumphantly, as if stamping a giant APPROVED on the moment. Nico groaned. “Don’t make this weird.” Harry smiled. “I’m not.” “You’re smiling.” “That’s allowed.” Nico muttered something in Italian that Harry suspected was not a compliment. But he didn’t pull away. The cat nudged Nico’s ankle, then Harry’s, then sat between them like a referee declaring the match over. Nico sighed. “He’s not going to stop interfering, is he?” Harry shook his head. “Probably not.” Nico looked at him—really looked—and something in his expression softened. “Then… I guess I’m staying for a while.” Harry’s smile widened. “Good.” The cat purred like it had just completed its greatest divine mission. And honestly? It probably had.