A/N: Enjoy!


Annabel thumped on the Filch's door three times before Argus answered.

It was the morning of Halloween, and she needed the costume Argus had kept a secret until now. Annabel wondered what it would be. He hadn't told her a thing and whenever she asked about it, he would just tap his nose. 'You'll just have to wait, I guess.' He said every time.

"You're here early." Argus exclaimed after swinging the door open.

Annabel crossed her arms and responded with a small, "Hm."

Argus rolled his eyes and stepped back, allowing her to pass.

Annabel strolled past him and plopped herself on his couch. She crossed her arms and looked at him expectantly.

"Okay, are you ready?" He asked, barely containing himself. After today Annabel would never call his magic 'rubbish' again.

Annabel fought a smile. "I suppose, I don't really care though." She claimed unconvincingly.

Argus clapped his hands together.

"Cats."

"Cats?"

"Yes. Cats."

Annabel didn't understand.

"Sorry have I missed something? Cats are so Primary 2, Argus."

"No, listen. I am literally going to make us cats!" He exclaimed.

"What? How are you going to do that?" Annabel frowned.

"Well… My dad has a whole bookcase of old magic books and in one I found a spell to change the shape of objects. I'm thinking that if I focus everything I have, I could change us. Into real life cats. For the night."

"What?!" Annabel leaped up from the couch. "Do you really think you can do it?" He eyes twinkled with excitement.

Argus narrowed his eyes. He loved Annabel more than anything, but sometimes she got on her nerves. Like, for example, now - when she yet again didn't trust him with a perfectly easy task.

Argus shut his eyes and began to repeat the same thought over and over.

'Make Annabel a cat. Show her you can. Make her a cat.'

He let out an earsplitting scream as every particle in his body focused on proving Annabel wrong.

Breathing heavily, he opened his eyes.

There it was.

A sandy blonde cat sat where Annabel stood moments before.

Argus smiled.

"I… done it?" He questioned to himself.

Cat-Annabel licked her front paw.

He knelt down and patted her.

"I told you. You never trusted me. I am smart, Annabel, I can do things too." He smiled.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Mr. Norris answered it and Argus could hear him urgently talking to what sounded like two other men. Before long, his father walked into the living room with two wizards. Argus had never met any wizards apart from his parents but from the way they were dressed, it was the only explanation.

"Argus, these men are here to… They think you've…" His father stumbled over his words. Eventually he sighed and asked whether or not Annabel had went home yet.

"Nope." Argus answered, simply.

The wizards exchanged looks.

"Where is she?" One asked him. He didn't look happy.

Argus nodded to the cat on his lap. "Here."

The wizards sighed.

"Oh, Argus, what did you do? You know you can't use magic around Muggles." Mr. Norris moaned.

Argus explained the costume situation to the men.

When he finished, Mr. Norris apologized and asked Argus to quickly change her back and allow the wizards to get on with their day.

Disappointed, Argus channeled his thoughts to bring back Human-Annabel.

This was not how he planned the big costume reveal to go.

However, no matter how hard he tried, his magic would no longer work. Minutes went by and Annabel was still stuck in her cat form. Everyone is the room began to get agitated.

"Can we do anything?" one of the wizards asked the other.

"No," the other grumbled, "only the boy can undo his underage magic. That's how it works."

After a while, Argus gave up. "I can't do it!" He sobbed.

Mr. Norris tried to console his son to the best of his ability but it evidently it was not enough.

Mid-cry, Argus heard another knock at the door - this time to be answered by one of the wizards.

"Albus, I'm glad you could make it. This boy has transfigured his mate into a cat and can't fix it."

Argus' sob sub-sided and he watched the old man walk into the room. He was tall and thin with long, silver hair and a long, white beard tucked into the belt of his midnight blue robes.

"Argus, my name is Albus Dumbledore." The man introduced himself, peering over his half-moon spectacles.

"I have heard about your situation." His eyes glimmered with kindness. "While I wish to help your friend, unfortunately, the degree of your underage spell is too strong for anyone but you to undo."

"But—but… I can't do it."

"Then… Your dear friend will remain as a cat for the rest of her life."

Argus looked down. In that moment, he could literally feel the magic drain from his body. Spilling away — never to be used again