Chapter Text
Harry put the cup of tea down in front of Snape and sat down with his own, the plate of biscuits he was carrying was put in the middle of the table, moving the vase that normally stood there. He took a sip from the cup, grimacing slightly as it burned his tongue.
“Give the tea a couple of minutes,” he told Snape who was reaching out for his own cup. “Well, what does Dumbledore want?”
Snape left the cup well alone and instead took one of the biscuits on the plate. Harry raised a brow. That was the first time he had ever seen Snape actually eat something Harry had put on the table. Normally he barely even touched the tea. He wasn´t sure if it was something personal, or if Snape just wasn´t the tea and cucumber sandwich type.
“There have been reports,” Snape began, looking from Marv to the biscuit before taken a bite.
Was it Harry´s imagination or did Marv sit up a bit straighter on the chair? He dismissed the idea in favour of trying to urge Snape to actually finish a sentence. If he was going to be this obtrusive there was a real chance the conversation would take the rest of the afternoon.
“Perhaps he should explain him self when he arrives later this evening,” Snape muttered, more to himself than to Harry.
Harry barely managed not to roll his eyes. “Severus. Have someone died?”
“What? No.”
“Then why are you being so evasive? Whatever Dumbledore sent you to tell me can´t possibly be that bad?” Harry placed his elbows on the table and leaned forward. This was worse than trying to get Ron to study for the exam. At least he could be bribed with sweets.
Snape visibly took a deep breath and with a last glance towards the cat, finally seemed to reach a decision.
“There have been reports regarding the Death Eaters. It seems that the Dark Lord hasn´t been seen for quite some time.”
Harry frowned. “Are you saying his missing?” he asked, disbelief colouring his voice. It would explain why there had not been any raids, attacks or anything else that summer. But how? A Dark Lord didn´t just go up in smoke.
Snape nodded, glancing again at Marv, who was looking like he was paying very close attention to the conversation. Harry looked at the cat. It seemed to react every time Voldemort´s name was mentioned. Strange.
“I´m assuming he´s not away on a holiday or something?”
“I can assure you that the Dark Lord does not go on holidays, Potter,” Snape sneered, finally looking like himself.
Snape then sighed and reached for his cup. “Lucius called a meeting last night,” he began slowly, using his spoon to stir the tea a couple of times. “It seems no one has been able to contact the Dark Lord for the last month and no one seems to know where he is.”
Harry lifted his own cup. Why would Voldemort just disappear? How could he just disappear? It had to be a part of some elaborate plot.
“And?” He asked. “What is Malfoy proposing to do with this little problem?” Perhaps Voldemort had died from a heart attack? Then again, that would require that he actually had a heart, so perhaps not. Brain tumour? That would explain the insane behaviour.
Again Snape seemed to be more interested in Marv than Harry.
“Snape,” he finally snapped, “I know Marv is quite beautiful, but I´m starting to feel you´re more interested in him, than having a conversation with me.”
The comment managed to gain a reaction from Snape that Harry had never ever seen before. The man actually blushed. Harry gaped. It wasn´t a full on red-face blush, but there was definitively some colour creeping up his neck and giving his normally so pale face some colour. That was interesting. He leaned back in his chair. To his surprise Marv suddenly jumped over and placed himself in Harry´s lap, red eyes blinking slowly before the cat walked around it a circle and then curled up in his lap.
Unsure Harry slowly put down a hand and let it slide over the soft, black fur. Encouraged by the fact that Marv hadn´t bitten him yet, he slowly scratched him behind one of the ears and was rewarded with Marv nuzzling ever so slightly against his hand. Apparently the cat liked to be complimented. Harry smiled and shook his head. He looked up and met Snape´s eyes. “Well?” he prompted.
“Lucius wanted to know if anyone and any information about his whereabouts. The common theory is that he is of on one of his research trips. They occur every now and then, and are normally never planned or announced. After all the Dark Lord does not answer to anyone.”
Marv tensed slightly under Harry´s hand and he slowed his petting to avoid getting bitten. The cat relaxed again and closed his eyes.
Harry smiled. “So the decision is to wait and see if he suddenly shows up?”
“More or less. Bellatrix want´s to do a localisation ritual to figure out where he is.”
In his lap Marv suddenly decided he had been petted enough and jumped back to his own chair. Red eyes fixed on Snape, the gaze intense. Harry let him go in favour of his tea. “Okay?”
“Avery and LeStrange talked her out of it. Apparently they´re afraid the Dark Lord will be angry if he notices that we have tried to interfere in his business.”
Harry finished the cup and poured himself another. “I´m assuming there is no chance that Voldemort just fell over and died from natural causes?”
“What?” he added when he looked up and saw that both Snape and Marv were glaring at him. “It would make everything easier.”
“I don´t think we´ll get so lucky,” Snape said in a dry tone as he stood up from the table. “I´ll be back with the rest of the miscreants later this evening.” With that he swept out of the room, his cloak billowing behind him.
Harry looked at Marv. “I have no idea what´s wrong with him at the moment. He is acting incredible strange.”
Marv looked at him attentively, his tail twirling slowly back and forth.
“He isn´t so bad,” Harry continued. “One of the best spies. Voldemort thinks he is on his side, but I´m pretty sure Snape is firmly planted on our side. Especially after Voldemort killed my mother. Snape had a real crush on her you see, and he begged Voldemort not to kill her. Apparently Voldemort asked her to step aside, but he isn´t exactly known for his patience, and when she refused he killed her all the same.” Harry stared into the air.
“Anyway,” he continued shaking himself out of the memories of his parents. He looked over a Marv who was completely still and was regarding him with a look Harry couldn´t label. “You hungry, boy? You were making a lot of noise when Snape arrived.” A quick look in the fridge revealed that there was more bacon left and Harry put it into the bowl.
***
“Is Marv alright?” It was Hermione who was asking. She was turned in her seat and was watching the black cat who was sitting in the window looking out into the garden. Harry looked over and had to agree that Marv did seem a bit subdued in comparison to his normal vibrant self.
“He´s a cat,” Ron said, helping himself to another biscuit and talking with his mouth full.
“Ron! Manners,” Mrs. Weasley scolded and smacked her son lightly on the arm. In the armchair next to the fireplace Snape looked towards the ceiling, probably praying for patience, and perhaps manners for Ron.
“He´s probably just tired of the rain”. It had been raining for a week now and even Harry was starting to wish for better conditions. Although he had to admit that Marv had been sort of quiet that afternoon after Snape left. He had eaten the bacon and then slunk away somewhere and not appeared again until several of the Order members had arrived for the meeting.
Currently they were waiting on the twins, Remus and Tonks. Mad-Eye and Kingsley wouldn´t be joining them as they where at work. Dumbledore was in the kitchen talking to Arthur about some muggle contraption Arthur had discovered at work.
Harry watched Marv for a moment, noting how the cat seemed to be listening to them from the way one of his ears was turned. He did however seem somewhat resigned.
Beside him on the sofa Hermione suddenly smiled. “I know just the thing. I´ll be right back.” With that she disappeared out into the hallway and they could hear the floo activate and Hermione giving her home address.
Raising a brow Harry looked over at Ron in a silent question. The redhead just shrugged. Apparently he had no idea why Hermione had disappeared.
“So, Harry, how are you going to spend your birthday this year?”
“I haven´t decided,” Harry answer, leaning forward to take one of the sandwiches Kreacher had made. He took a bit and swallowed before continuing. “I thought perhaps a quiet dinner at home?”
“You´re turning 18 Harry!” Ron exclaim, having finally finished the biscuit. “You ought to do something special! Like, throw a party, or get really drunk.” He was grinning.
Harry rolled his eyes. Of course Ron wanted a party. Luckily for him the sound of the floo activating stopped him from answering. He turned his head towards the door. Hermione appeared in the doorway, smiling and holding something in her hand.
“Found it,” she grinned and walked over to the window where Marv was sitting. Harry watched as she first held out our hand, letting Marv smell it before dangling what looked like a toy mouse in her other hand just out of range.
“He´s not lacking in the toy department, ´Mione,” Harry called, wondering why she had brought another toy. Marv had more toys than Harry wanted to count, and he didn´t seem to like any of them. The only time he got interested was when Harry conjured up live animals from something. Harry reached out and picked up the teapot, he poured a cup for himself and noticed that Snape´s cup was empty, filling that as well.
Snape nodded in thanks and picked up the cup.
“It´s not just another toy,” Hermione said behind Harry. “It´s filled with catnip.”
Snape started coughing as the tea apparently went down the wrong way. Between the coughs it seemed like he was trying to say something that sounded like “Don´t”. Harry turned around and looked towards Hermione and Marv.
“Catnip?” He asked. He had never heard about it.
Hermione smiled at him and Harry watched as Marv suddenly noticed the smell of catnip, whatever it was, on Hermione´s hand. The change was almost funny to watch. For a moment nothing happened, then Marv was rubbing against Hermione´s hand, licking and looking like he was trying to get her to touch him all over at the same time. Hermione grinned and picked him up, carrying him over to the sofa and placing him in her lap.
Surprised Harry noted that Marv didn´t seem to mind the treatment. His pupils where dilated and he had both front paws rapped around Hermione´s hand, keeping it still as he rubbed his head against it, over and over again. He then licked and nipped at her fingers and hand, before going back to rubbing his head against it. To Harry´s amazement a loud purring could be heard.
“He seems content,” Dumbledore remarked as he came into the room, eying the cat with something between amusement and worry. Severus, who had finally managed to stop coughing, explained in a strangled voice.
“It´s catnip, Headmaster.”
For a moment Harry thought Dumbledore looked concerned before he smiled. “Oh, well, I guess a small dose won´t hurt.” Sill confused Harry turned to Hermione and watched as Marv twisted and turned in her lap, purring happily and seemingly enjoying himself.
“It´s a plant,” Hermione explained. “Cat´s react to it like it´s a drug, but it´s quite harmless. It gives them a slight high and makes them more happy and active. Watch.”
Hermione managed to get her hand back and dangled the mouse in front of the purring cat. Marv tried to take it but Hermione was faster and threw the mouse across the floor.
Marv, who had been on his back, scrambled to turn and kicked off from Hermione´s lap after it. He grabbed it, and slid across the floor for a couple of feet ending up on his side. He held it between his front paws and kicked at it with his back paws, twisting and turning.
Harry smiled as he watched the cat rubbing his face all over the mouse. Suddenly Marv jumped to his feet and used his mouth to throw the mouse into the air, before pouncing on it once it landed. Hermione stood and wrestled the mouse from Marv to throw it towards the hallway and the cat ran after it, diving to capture it to continue to rub his face against it.
“I think that´s the most active I´ve seen him in a long time,” Harry said. Watching as Marv kicked the mouse away only to twist, jump and go after it.
“He´ll jump around for a little while and then he´ll probably sleep until tomorrow. They normally get a bit sleepy once the drug wears of.” Hermione returned to her seat on the sofa and watched as Marv kept throwing the mouse around, running after it before repeating.
Hermione was right though. After about 30 min Harry could see Marv getting tired. Smiling he went over and picked up the cat and brought it back with him to the sofa. He placed him in his lap and grinned as Marv, still a bit high apparently, nuzzled against his hand and purred loudly. He was blinking slowly and stretched out on Harry´s lap. A yawn gave Harry a nice few of several sharp teeth.
Still careful, Harry put a hand on Marv´s stomach and rubbed it slowly. The cat seemed to approve because he started purring even louder and closed his eyes. Pushing one front paw up into the air.
Still grinning, Harry looked up at Dumbledore who was staring at Marv with amusement twinkling in his blue eyes. “I´ve never seen him this affectionate,” Harry confessed.
Glancing over to the armchair he wondered why Snape was starting to look slightly green. Perhaps he was coming down with the flu or something?