Scratch had a lot of pet peeves.

Ever since the McGees had moved in and Molly had chosen his attic as her room, they changed more often than not, usually, his dislikes aligned with whatever interests Molly had that day.

Right now Molly was really into puppy videos, Scratch hated dogs because they hated him, something about ghosts seemed to put them off and cause them to attack, he still remembered his last encounter, the teeth, the claws, he still shuddered.

Who knew poodles were that terrifying.

"Scratch, look at this," said Molly, like a tween trying to get his attention on something uninteresting.

Scratch sighed and flew to her, on her phone, there was a video of a small ball of fur which was probably some breed of puppy, all of a sudden there was a small little sneeze and the dog jumped a little.

The moment it sneezed Molly let out a high-pitched squeal.

"This is the cutest thing ever, best doggo ever."

Scratch rolled his eyes.

"Oh man you have to check this video out Scratch it's about a rottweiler befriending a poodle and-"

"Kid I don't care, they're just animals." Scratch hoping Molly would drop the matter.

Scratch knew he said something wrong the moment Molly gasped

"Scratch, they are not just animals, they're furry friends who are just so cute, they make everyone happy," she now pointed at her phone which had the image of a puppy with wild eyes pawing the screen. "Look at them, they're just being adorable, I could eat them all up."

"Really. Well, I know what type of meat will go in the stew tomorrow." Scratch said with a sinister smile.

"No you won't," said Molly, offended.

Scratch rolled his eyes "Please, Molls you are a little too obsessed with dogs."

Molly looked ever more offended, "Please dogs are perfect little angels we should all love, heck I've wanted to have a puppy for years, mom and dad didn't get us one because you know moving around and now we've stopped money's a bit tight and…"

Scratch wanted this to end. "Well it's a shame, but what can you do?" He said praying to deities he never believed in that Molly would drop this, said deities rejected his plea and sent Molly another idea.

Molly smiled, "Well I was thinking… ghost dog?"

Scratch looked at her shocked, "Really? I mean trust me having a ghost dog isn't that great."

"Why not?"

"They're a dead dog, you'd start crying a few minutes after meeting them," he was talking from experience, dead puppies always made him cry, he was a ghost, not a monster.

Molly stood there for a second and then nodded in defeat, "Yeah, that makes sense." She said dejectedly.

"Exactly, also I'd by the one on ghost poop duty, I mean it's not as if there's a magical solution to your problem."

That's when Molly's eyes widened, "Scratch, That's it, you can use your magic to get me a dog."

Scratch shook his head, "I can't make you the perfect dog out of nowhere Molly, I mean I could transform something into a dog but…"

Molly's eyes widened as she had just discovered Scratch had a secret treasure trove of Friendship bracelets hidden away around the house. "WHAT?"

The ghost shrugged, "I can turn something living into another animal, I just need a living thing, some water, and for us to hash out the details."

"Details?" Asked Molly.

Scratch nodded, "Yeah details you know how long it's going to last, how you're going to get back here, you know stuff like that."

Molly nodded, "Okay then, let's do it."

"Wait. I didn't say I'll do it." Protested Scratch.

"I'll leave you alone for the rest of the day."

"Deal," said Scratch.

…

Half an hour later Scratch finished writing up the contract.

"Okay, so whatever drinks the water that's in your mom's workout bottle will turn into a dog, at 16:00 they'll be teleported back here from wherever they are. You leave me alone until that time has passed, if something happens to you that's on you, is that everything?"

"Yep," said Molly, signing the contract, Scratch followed suit.

Scratch then clicked his fingers, Molly's mother's water bottle glowed green for a second then the light faded.

"That's it?" Said Molly confused.

"Yeah, not all of these spells need to be big all the time Molly."

Molly nodded and picked up the bottle, and took a swig.

"Kid, what are you doing?" Said Scratch.

"I'm not going to turn anyone into a puppy, I'm going to be one myself, I'll be so cute no one will be able to resist me."

The ghost looked at Molly and nodded, damn that's… actually kind of clever."

"Yeah, so how long will this take to…"

All of a sudden Molly fell to the floor, she tried to stand again but it was impossible. The world around her turned gray, somehow she could smell something cooking from downstairs, someone was cooking bacon.

She tried to move but felt her clothing holding her back, she struggled to get free, and after a minute she freed herself and walked towards her mirror, looking back at her as a dog, with two pointed ears, a wavy coat and so adorable it stopped Molly's heart.

"Oh my Gosh I'm adorable, Scratch, what color am I?"

The same as your hair color, I don't know what breed you are though?"

"My phone there's a dog breed identification app."

"Why would you… never mind," Scratch took a photo of her and waited a minute, "You're an Australian Retriever," said Scratch.

"G'day," they both said In unison in the same accent.

"Didn't think you'd do that," said Molly.

"Hey I'm only human," he paused briefly. "Well was human."

"Wait, how can you understand me?"

"Magic, humans won't understand you though, dogs probably will."

"This is great, I mean my clothes didn't change with me and…"

"You'll be teleported back here at four, no one will see you, trust me, now I'm going to be out at the club, see you later."

The Ghost opened a portal and was about to enter it.

"Wait," said Molly, halting the ghost, "How am I going to get outside? I don't have any hands, and mom and dad will call the pound if they see me."

Scratch nodded at her, "Fair, but don't worry I've got a way out."

…

Molly landed in the bush outside the house, she heard Scratch's laughter from above, but she didn't care she could explore the world as a pupper now.

She started to walk away from the house and towards the park, it was going to be a great day she just knew it.