A cat's meow came from the kitchen, followed by the uncontrollable giggles of Hermione and her mother.
Mr. Granger awkwardly withdrew his hand, his face flushing red as he quickly walked to the kitchen door.
He saw the snow-white Ragdoll Cat crouching at Hermione's feet, her long fluffy tail curled upward, intimately yet possessively wrapping around Hermione's calf.
The cat looked up and gazed at him quietly with those sky-blue eyes.
There was no hostility in that gaze, only a declaration so clear it couldn't be clearer:
I only want her!
Hermione felt her calf tighten. That fluffy touch carried an undeniable sense of possessiveness that made her heart skip a beat, and a strange sense of satisfaction welled up within her.
That's right, you are mine.
A voice whispered quietly in her heart.
Mr. Granger stood frozen for a moment, then laughed helplessly. He glanced at his daughter. Hermione was looking down at the tail wrapped around her ankle, her face wearing a smile he had never seen before—a mix of doting indulgence and absolute satisfaction.
"Alright, Lia, Stop fooling around." Hermione bent down, gathered the cat into her arms, and skillfully scratched her chin, eliciting a comfortable purr.
Holding the cat, she looked up at her father and said, "Dad, Lia only lets me hold her." Her tone carried a small, boastful hint of pride.
"Alright, alright, I see." Mr. Granger adjusted his glasses to hide his disappointment and amusement. "It seems I'll have to earn this 'little princess's' trust first. This might be harder than pulling a wisdom tooth."
Hermione didn't answer, but simply hugged the warm softness in her arms, turning to take Lia upstairs.
"We're going to go rest now."
"Goodnight, dear," Mrs. Granger's voice came from the kitchen, full of laughter.
Hermione's bedroom was clean and tidy, with bookshelves filled with various books. She placed Lia on the bed and then closed the door.
With a click, the door locked.
All the noise and prying eyes of the outside world were shut out.
Hermione turned around and looked at Lia, who had already transformed back into her Cat-girl form on the bed. She was curiously surveying this private space that belonged to Hermione.
"Welcome home, Lia." Hermione walked over and hugged her gently from behind, resting her chin in the crook of Lia's shoulder, her warm breath brushing against Lia's ear.
Lia stiffened for a moment from the stimulation of the breath, then slowly relaxed. Her long silver hair brushed against Hermione's cheek, tickling her. She turned her head, and Hermione's gentle face was reflected in her sky-blue eyes.
She gave a soft "Mm," and her tail quietly and possessively wrapped around Hermione's waist.
---
In Hermione's room, everything carried her unique scent. The ink of books, the slight bitterness of parchment, and a faint, clean scent from the girl herself, like sun-dried cotton.
Lia took a deep breath, drawing the scent deep into her lungs. This was a scent that allowed her to sleep peacefully; it was the scent of safety.
Hermione had prepared an extremely soft bean bag chair for her by the window, topped with two fluffy pillows. It looked like a private throne prepared for a cat.
"That's your spot," Hermione said, pointing to the bean bag. "You can lie there and bask in the sun."
Lia took one look at it but walked straight to Hermione's bed, which was covered in pale purple sheets. She threw herself onto it without hesitation, burying her face deep into Hermione's pillow like a little beast occupying its master's territory.
She rubbed against it contentedly; the scent of Hermione on the pillow was even stronger.
Hermione watched this, shaking her head with a mix of helplessness and amusement; she had expected this. No "private territory" could ever be as attractive to Lia as the small space right beside her.
"You smell like sweat. Get up and take a bath first." Hermione took her pajamas out of the wardrobe and handed Lia a large nightgown.
"Take... take a bath..." Lia looked up, her sky-blue eyes filled with confusion and a hint of panic.
During Christmas, she had always transformed into a cat, and then Hermione would bathe her like a pet. That feeling had been very comfortable and reassuring.
But... but now she was in human form!
At the thought of Hermione's hands on her human body... doing this and that, and that and this... Lia's cheeks burned with a whoosh, and even the tips of her white cat ears turned a lovely shade of pink.
"No... it's not okay..." she stammered, her eyes darting away. "It's, it's way too advanced!"}],
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