The Storm

                                    

                                          
"So... this cat... just showed up? Out of nowhere?" Harry asked with a puzzled expression. 
Having followed Avyanna through the various hallways of the castle, Hermione and Draco were surprised to have found themselves sitting in the back of the library along with their friends. Both Harry and Ginny sat nearest to the fireplace, while Ron and Neville sat at one of the close tables. Blaise and Pansy lingered close by, but were too skeptical of the scene before them.
"Pretty much," Mione said. 
Avyanna remained perched on the small table in front of everyone, allowing them all to get a good enough look at her. Her long white tail swayed back and forth; her head tilted to the side every time someone new spoke.
"Apparently, she was sent here by Calix," Draco noted.
Ron cocked a brow. "But why would he send you a cat? What could a cat possibly do?"
~Grrr~
The redhead immediately closed his mouth and went stiff in his chair. The whites of his eyes grew as Avyanna's mouth pulled back to allow her small teeth to poke through. 
Harry, nor the rest of them, could conceal their amusement. The dark-haired Gryffindor chuckled. "Gee, I don't know, Ron. This cat in particular looks like she has the ability to take you down with one swoop."
The space filled with more excessive laughter while Ron rolled his eyes. 
"Would you two please take this a bit more seriously," Hermione insisted. "Her name is 'Avyanna'. And she happens to be more attentive and quite responsive than anyone could think to imagine."
Avy jumped from her spot to wander over to where Ron was sitting. Her large icy eyes poured into him, causing the guy to shift uncomfortably in his chair. A moment later, she hopped up on the table and slithered closer to him. 
"Uhh, Mione." Ron's voice filled with panic while Avy leaned her small head into his personal space and began to sniff around.
Hermione merely giggled and sank closer into Draco's side. The blonde Slytherin wrapped his arm around her waist and held her close.
"Ronald, this is just her way to get to know people," she explained.
~Meow~ 
He remained utterly still as stone while Avyanna conducted her own investigation of each person. As she worked the room, Hermione had introduced her to each person and gave a little bit of background to each of them. Avy would either tilt or bow her head in acknowledgment. Nonetheless, everyone was sniffed and looked at twice... until Avy managed to reach Harry.
Suddenly the air in the room had shifted...
Avyanna froze as though she'd seen one of the floating spirits that roamed the halls. She stared at Harry with unblinking eyes. Mione noticed the change in the little feline's behavior and immediately got up from Draco's side. She knelt beside the couch where Harry was sitting and reached out to ease Avy. 
Her hand glided smoothly down the cat's spine. 
"Avy, what's wrong?" she asked. "This is Harry. He's no threat, I assure you."
Avyanna gently shook her head. No. That wasn't the reason why she'd become so transfixed on the young man. Unlike the others, Avy actually settled onto Harry's lap and raised her paws to rest against his chest. She leaned into him and took several long breaths in. 
The longer she stared at Harry, the more pupils started to really dilate. Soon they lost their color completely and were nothing more than two pools of obsidian darkness.