Hogwarts a History – The eyes have halls
Chapter 01 – Working girl

…

It ain't easy being green, or so she'd heard. Well, it wasn't easy being Mrs. Norris either. The prowling feline was one of the most reviled denizens of Hogwarts; slightly less reviled than Peeves the Poltergeist but slightly more reviled than her human, Filch.

She stalked the halls in search of prey, but not the sort she could eat. It was after hours, quiet and dark; her prey consisted of those who would disturb the ambiance. There were always a few, this she knew; some were quite elusive.

For those she held a certain respect; their ability to thwart displayed their worth. All others were seen with appropriate disdain.

It is well documented that cat's look down on humans. Clumsy and slow, frightfully dim with barely any instinct to speak of; they ranked just above things like sheep only for their utility as servants; for which most were really only subpar.

At least that was her assessment. She would admit, if only to herself, her perspective was biased by the fact her own human could barely care for himself and she had seen what a house elf could do. There really was no comparison.

It was without question the greatest regret of her lives, the incident. She didn't like to think about it. Too soon—too soon! They would not tend to her now, no matter how she yowled. They would not come.

Bah! What did it matter, she didn't need them. Working girls didn't need such things and a working girl is what she was. It was important work, a sacred duty. Find them, catch them, cull them.

This at least was how she saw it. If they were fool enough to be found and caught, they deserved it. Prey; prey was caught, prey was culled. It was the natural order. The strong survived and the weak were delicious hamburgers. That's how it was supposed to work.

Why humans chose to act so contrary to this notion was a mystery to her, and one she'd settled on never solving. Doing so would require her to sink to their level and no cat would ever deign to demean themselves so.

Besides, she needn't understand them to catch them.

A noise pricked her ear, the left one, and she turned her head just so. Humans; noisy humans, trying to be quiet. Easy prey.

Padding down the hall more silent than a ghost, gabby things that they were, she snuck between suits of armor, through hidden holes and passages little known or used by big galumphing wizards.

She'd identified her prey before she ever lay eyes on them. The scent had been strong, and these were repeat offenders. Difficult though, they were green ones. The green ones were not afraid to fight, though most did so poorly.

These were not at all prepared to fight, nor were they built for flight, despite seeing her and squeaking like mice.

"It's Mrs. Norris!"

Indeed, it was; least its memory worked. She let out a long, high yowl, then stared a penetrating stare that pinned the quivering boys in place. Masterful thing, that yowl; terrifying and able to carry for great distances. It was a sound she'd trained her human to recognize.

"Mrs. Norris!"

There he was.

The sound of her human panicked the young ones. The food they'd been carrying showered down on her as they freed themselves of their burden and fled.

Cursing cakes and other things involving pudding, she gave herself a quick shake before bounding in pursuit. She would have caught the little rule breakers just on principle, but now she was mad, and covered in gook.

They would be caught; this she swore as only a cat can. It didn't even appear it would be terribly difficult. They were needlessly loud, not especially fast; she used a hidden passage to get in front of them and turn them into stumbling buffoons when she jumped out hissing.

She sat quite proudly as her human stumped up and glowered at the two corpulent greens.

"Well, well, what ave we ere?"

Appearing petrified with fear, her sharp feline eyes saw one of them slowly drawing his magic stick. She didn't like that, expressing it with her claws.

He squealed, he yelped, he dropped his stick and wilted under the heated glare of her human.

"So, thought you could spell me did you boy?"

Bringing them in was always an unpleasant task but her human made sure it was especially unpleasant for these two. They would likely go unpunished; the green ones usually did.

Still, this was something, and this incident would surely not be the last. Some never seemed to learn, no matter how often they were caught.

"Stupid cat," she heard one of them grumble, only to be cuffed upside the head.

No one appreciated what she did, this was a fact, but that was alright. Working girls had to work; if she didn't, who would?

"Mrow."

"Yes my dear, I think the thumbscrews would be very appropriate."