Hi all! This is a one shot I wrote yesterday when I was bored. Let me know what you think.
ImNotJK :(
The small, blonde haired girl sat on the lawn. Her front garden overlooked the park, and she watched longingly as all the other children played football in the afternoon sun. With a despondent sigh, she skimmed her chubby fingers along the purple cast that now resided on her left leg. After a second glance towards the park, the girl's attention returned to an old and battered copy of 'The Wind in the Willows'. Before too long all unhappy thoughts had dissipated, and her young mind was enveloped in the world laid before her by the wonders of the book. The tiniest of chuckles escaped her lips as she pondered what her mother would do if she stole a motor car.
The light was beginning to wane as the bright orange sun moved lazily behind the tree line; a sign that very soon her mother would call her in from the front the garden. Without looking, the girl reached for her yellow bookmark that lay on the grass beside her, and jumped when her hand hit something furry.
"Hello." She gave the small tabby cat a second to reply before continuing. "I'm very sorry, I didn't see you there. I was reading."
The cat remained perfectly still, its bright green eyes shining. A long moment passed before it blinked and looked away. She reached out her hand and stroked the smooth grey fur of the tabby cat, its brilliant eyes closing as it leaned its head into her touch.
"You look as though you have glasses on." She chuckled staring at the markings around its eyes. " You are a very handsome cat." The cat's head snapped around and looked at her again. She had never seen a cat raise its eyebrow before - nor knew that they even could - but this cat definitely did.
Backtracking, she quickly continued. "Unless you are a girl cat, then of course you are very pretty." Happy with that addition to the sentence, the cat looked over to the park and watched as the other children played.
"You see that cat there." Following the girls finger, the Tabby stared over to where a huge white cat with tortoise shell patches lay upon the bonnet of an old muggle car. "That is Mr Anderson's cat. Be careful because he is very mean. Last year I got a kitten for my sixth birthday and we had to give him to Mum's friend, Sarah, because he kept getting hurt." she stared angrily at the filthy feline for a few more moments. Mud covered his paws and the white fur of his underbelly was almost black with dirt.
A voice rang out from inside the house. "Darling, dinner's ready."
"Coming Mum." Stuffing the bookmark into her book she reached for her crutches. "Like I said, be careful. I like you very much. Goodbye..." the girl paused and the cat waited. She pulled a disappointed face, ashamed at not being able to think of a suitable name for the cat in the allotted time. "I don't want to give you the wrong name, so I will have to think about it for a while. For now can I just call you Tabby?" The cat stared. "See you later, Tabby." A loud heave and the girl was up and heading for the house. At the doorway she looked back but the striking tabby cat with the intelligent green eyes had vanished. "Tufty!" she shouted towards the huge cat sprawled across the bonnet. "Don't you think about hurting my new friend or I'm going to sellotape your feet to Harrison's skateboard and watch you roll away! Alright?" at the lack of response she closed the door behind her. McGonagall smiled.
Minerva McGonagall's eyes woke to darkness. Springing to her paws she realised that she had fallen asleep. Stretching her tired muscles out along the bricks her mind imagined Albus's face if he had found out she had been sleeping while she should have been keeping guard. 'Well, maybe if I didn't have to do everyone's job for them AND do late detentions I wouldn't be so tired' Hopping from the wall she trotted silently to the old garage that she should have been watching. Once sure that it was secure, Minerva sat wearily in front of it, only to see the cat that a young girl had warned her about earlier. As it approached Minerva sighed.
"I am not in the mood today, if you would kindly continue on your way there won't be any trouble." The cats head moved low to the ground obviously sizing up his opponent. His top lip curled back exposing his large fangs as he spat.
'Who d'ya think you're talking to like that? This is my turf and if you think your gonna tell me what to do, you've got another thing coming."
A loud 'MEOW' woke the child from her slumber. Running to the window she looked out to see if it had come from one of the usual neighbourhood cats or her new friend. A loud gasp erupted from her small body as she saw Tufty cornering her Tabby into the alcove next to Mrs Wilson's garage.
"How brave." She whispered as her new friend stood unmoving, staring straight into the face of advancing enemy. What she saw next she would see again, in every dream that she had for the next six months. He mouth dropped open as her tabby cat turned into a woman wearing a long emerald cloak and a pointed witch's hat. Before Tufty even knew what was happening the woman had kicked him, hard. The witch scowled after him for a moment - the ball of bedraggled fur ran off screeching into the night - before turning back into a tabby cat. Eyes like saucers, mouth agape, all that the young, blonde haired muggle could say was
"Wow… that's different!".
"Hermione!" Hermione Granger dabbed her paintbrush on some tissue before placing it back into its case. Taking a step back she looked at her painting and nodded in approval; her Nan would like it. With a short sigh she grabbed her book and descended the stairs.
"Yes Mum?" Turning into the sitting room she looked up to see her mother standing by the sofa with a woman. Though she was wearing very peculiar clothes, Hermione's eyes were drawn straight to the woman's face. The girl marvelled at how the woman's eyes were exactly the same, although from what stood before her, she couldn't help but think her memory didn't do this lady any justice.
"Darling this is..." she couldn't continue as she was interrupted.
"YOU!" Hermione shouted, pointing her finger. The tall woman's eyebrow arched at the rudeness exhibited, but Hermione still let out a small giggle as she compared that image to that of the eye-brow-raising cat from four years prior. "Mum, that is the cat!"
"Hermione, pointing is rude!" Suddenly remembering herself, she calmed down a little. She lowered her head, slightly ashamed at what the woman must think of her.
"Sorry, it's just... I knew I would see you again, but then we moved so I thought… I can't believe this… you are the cat! Mum, I told you she was real." By now the tall woman's face was the picture of confusion, but Hermione's mother had obviously cottoned on as she gave quiet.
"Ooooooh, I see."
"And you didn't believe me." Hermione shook her head at her mother, to which Jean couldn't help but smile.
"Well darling, you must admit it is slightly hard to believe that you woke up in the middle of the night to see a cat turn into a woman, kick another cat and then turn back again."
Sudden realisation hit the stranger's face. Crossing her arms in front of her she simply said "Your hair has darkened hasn't it." Hermione let out a gigantic grin before stepping forward with her hand outstretched.
"Hermione Granger" The older woman took her hand lightly shaking it before replying.
"Professor McGonagall."
Hermione took a step back. "Professor?"
For the half an hour they had talked of Hogwarts, Magic, and Necessities. There was a lot to fit into a short space of time, as the professor had explained she had other 'Muggles' to see before the day was out. After Hermione and her mum had finished marvelling at the world that had suddenly been opened up, Professor McGonagall stood.
"So, I will give you some time to think and will send an owl to retrieve your answer."
"What... Like a real one?" Hermione's eyes were full of wonder and it did Minerva's heart some good to see such a show of innocence. She couldn't help but express the smallest of smiles, as her nod sent waves of excitement into the child.
"Well, until next time." Jean spoke quietly, brain still processing. "Oh, One second." Jean went over to the bookshelf and pulled out one of the many folders. Opening it she pulled out a few drawings and handed them to the mysterious woman that had walked in out of the blue. "Take these."
McGonagall looked down at the four pieces of paper in her hand, each a drawing of her. There were three of her in cat form and one in human form, the likeness was uncanny. "I couldn't possibly." She said, hand already outstretched to return them. "They are very good Miss Granger, hard to believe you were only..." she thought for a moment "seven."
"No, please take them, she did hundreds of drawings of that cat." she pointed to the pieces of paper that showed a grey tabby with green eyes sitting on a wall. "Well, as you said, you must be on your way." After a long moment of reluctance, Minerva McGonagall shrunk the pieces of paper down and placed them in her pocket. There was a loud inhale from both muggles and it took a lot of willpower to keep the laugh in her belly where it was.
Striding quickly to the door, "Until we meet again. Goodbye Miss Granger, Mrs Granger."
"Professor." Hermione whispered shyly. Nodding once more the regal, elegant woman opened the door and let herself out. It clicked shut behind her. Both muggles stood silently for a moment before turning to each other. The volcanoes inside Hermione erupted.
"I'M SO EXCITED I THINK I'M GONNA DIE!" She screamed as she ran upstairs to her room.
Tufty is a real cat... Mr Anderson... if your reading this then tell your cat to LEAVE MINE ALONE OR IM GONNA RUN IT OVER! that is all. (I wont really run it over.. i wont even kick it but i do feel better having stood up for my cats who are relentlessly bullied by that fat beast!)
Thanks for reading :D