Chapter 4

Licce Melding was slumped in her chair. Dumbledore was taking the class for Transfiguration and was a little bit rusty on the subject. Beside her sat Jissikah and Aleckseia her Slytherin friends. Licce was feeling extremely guilty. She had offended a few teachers in her time but had never been the cause of one's resignation. "If only I had been a little more thoughtful yesterday" she thought to herself. "McGonagall was already upset and in a bad mood, why did I push it?" Licce sighed and turned to face her friends. They smiled sympathetically. "It's not your fault" said Aleckseia. "Yeah" added Jissikah. "The whole world doesn't revolve around you Licce" she sneered. Licce looked confused. "McGonagall was probably upset about something else and quit" she added. Licce felt embarrassed by Jissikah's comment but did not feel any less guilty. "And if you were the reason she left, Licce Melding" said Jissikah curtly "Shame on you!"

Dinner at Hogwarts that night was simply not the same without the company of Professor McGonagall. Especially because nobody knew where she had gone, or why she had left in such a hurry. Dumbledore was trying his hardest to remain unruffled and keep everything hushed although he was becoming an emotional wreck. He blamed himself for coming on to her, all those many times and finally last night. He never meant to make her feel awkward; he was merely trying to comfort her. After all, they had been friends for years. He had known her since she was a child. He enjoyed her company immensely and had great respect for her. Dumbledore shook the thoughts from his head. He cast his mind back to the present and started to talk with Professor Snape while sipping from his goblet.

Minerva woke up. She suddenly felt a surge of anxiety. She had no idea where she was, why she was in cat form and why he body ached so much. She looked at her surroundings. She was in a large room which appeared to be the sleeping quarters of a young girl. It was decorated with pink and purple furniture and the walls were painted white. She was lying on a large violet cushion near the bed. Then it all came flooding back. The throbbing pain from the night before. How she felt so close to Albus, but knew it was so wrong. Then how she fled from Hogwarts as a cat, into the muggle world, where she was now. Minerva's cat ears pricked up. She could hear footsteps coming towards her. The door of the room creaked open.

A pretty young girl walked in. She had neat red hair, bright blue eyes and pale freckly skin. She was dressed in a frilly pink dress with a huge bow at the back. Her bright red hair was tied back with a white satin ribbon. Her eyes brightened when she saw Minerva the cat. "Kitty!" she shrieked piercingly. Minerva cringed. Her hearing was seven times more accurate when she was in cat form. "I found you under the tree! Whatever were you doing there silly cat?" The girl asked, stroking Minerva's soft fur with her sticky hands. Minerva was horrified. "I was knocked out and now this brat thinks I am a genuine feline!" "We are going to have so much fun!" said the girl in her high-pitched voice. Minerva shuddered. She had a feeling it was going to be a long night.

Harry Potter lay on his bed stretched out. He could hear the soft patter of rain falling outside on Privet Drive. There were 10 more days left until he could go back to Hogwarts, and probably face his doom. He gave a small chuckle and rolled onto his stomach. "Whoever this prankster is that's trying to kill me, well they're not very impressive" he thought. "If I am able to kick Voldemort's ass every year I think I can handle some school joker with a black owl." Harry shook his head and sniggered. "Come on, writing in dried blood. Now that's original" Suddenly there was a clap of thunder followed by a strike of lightning. Harry sat up. Then there was a burst of blinding light which came from the floor of Harry's room. He sat there numbly not daring to move. As quickly as it had come, the light vanished and left nothing but a folded piece of paper lying on his bedroom floor. Harry's stomach lurched. He knew what this meant. The school joker was smarter than he suspected. "Well I may as well see what they are threatening me with this time." thought Harry, reaching out for the paper. He seized it and opened it in a cavalier manner.

As Harry unfolded it liquid squirted onto his face. Harry was stunned but unhurt, as he was wearing his glasses and no liquid got into his eyes. "That was rather peculiar". He thought to himself. He stared at the paper. Was that all? A squirt in the face! Harry seemed quite relieved. "So maybe my stalker isn't so dangerous after all" he thought, relaxing. He was just about to fold the paper back again when a burst of fire leapt out from the paper and set his face alight. Harry tried to scream but flames were engulfing his face. He could not breathe, but could feel the full impact of the fire eating away at his flesh. Harry could smell the foul stench of his own skin burning away, and felt the pain spreading down his shoulders and neck. He realised the fire was spreading and swallowing his body. He started kicking and yelling, and howling in pain.

Vernon Dursley his uncle could hear this noise from downstairs. He quickly rushed up to Harry's room to find out what was the cause of the commotion. "What is the meaning of this racket boy?" he growled opening Harry's door. As soon as his eyes saw Harry he let out an almighty cry. "Good God!" he exclaimed, paralysed with shock. Uncle Vernon stood there unable to move or get help. He watched his nephew sitting there on the bed ablaze. He heard Harry's desperate cries for help but was frozen stiff. Soon enough Harry's Aunt Petunia came to the room, wondering what the fuss was all about. As soon as she saw Harry she let out a shriek and ran to the bathroom. She quickly retuned with a vase full of water. She tipped the contents on her nephew and watched the fire being extinguished, Harry's hair still smouldering. The icy water had sent a painful sensation onto Harry's scalded skin. Bits of burnt flesh had fallen to the ground leaving the room with a sickly stench of death.

Dumbledore sat at his office desk staring at the wall. He did not move nor did he speak. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a rubbing against his leg. Dumbledore looked down to see a silver cat at his feet. He swung his chair around to face it and it jumped upon his lap. The cat began to purr and stroke its head against his chest. "Minerva?" he said not daring to believe it. The cat meowed and jumped down onto the floor. It beckoned Dumbledore to follow it. He followed the cat out of the castle and onto the grounds of Hogwarts. Then the cat began to pick up the pace. "I do hope this is important!" he puffed, while struggling to keep up with it. The cat broke into a run and was heading to the edge of the school grounds. Dumbledore wondered where Minerva was leading him. The night sky was an inky black and the stars all seemed a blur as Dumbledore ran past. Then the cat leapt off the side of the cliff and into the lake which surrounded the school. Dumbledore tried to stop himself but was not quick enough. He lost his footing and tumbled off the face of the cliff into the murky waters below. He opened his mouth to scream but no sound came out. Then he landed with a crash. Dumbledore opened his eyes. He looked at his surroundings. There was no cat to be seen or any water. He realised he had just woken up from a most vivid dream and had fallen out of his bed. Dumbledore sat up, dazed. He climbed back into bed and tucked himself securely under the sheets. He shut his eyes tightly and tried to block out the thought that Minerva could have actually fallen somewhere and was now dead.

Minerva McGonagall had never been so embarrassed in her life. Dressed in booties with a bonnet on her head she sat with her new "friend" Zahra, who had forced her into playing tea parties. Minerva would have run away at once but was tempted to stay when Zahra brought her a saucer of milk to drink. So for the past few hours she had been dressed up in the most ridiculous attire imaginable, chosen for her by Zahra who was clearly enjoying the tea party. Zahra was prattling on about nothing and Minerva was falling asleep. The tea party ended, much to the relief of Minerva when Zahra's mother came in and told her to go to sleep. She tucked her little angel in bed and kissed her goodnight. Minerva had settled onto a furry rug on the floor where she curled up and fell asleep.

Aleckseia woke from her sleep. She rubbed her eyes and rolled over, in an attempt to get comfortable again. Out of the corner of her eye she couldn't help noticing a green glow coming from Neecholi's bed. Aleckseia craned her neck to see what the light was. The light was in fact mist, coming from a small cauldron placed on Neecholi's bed. Aleckseia strained to see where Neecholi was. Then she saw her, levitating above the cauldron. She seemed to be in a trance and was chanting something in an unfamiliar language. Aleckseia seemed fascinated by Neecholi's strange behaviour, but she was careful not to disturb her. Abruptly, Neecholi's ritual came to an end. The green mist vanished and Neecholi stepped back onto her bed. She quickly slipped the cauldron under her bed and looked around to see if anyone was watching. Aleckseia squeezed her eyes shut. Neecholi saw that nobody was watching and tucked herself into bed. Aleckseia kept her eyes shut and tried to go to sleep. It seemed that Neecholi was a lot more complex than she had first thought. But there was something about this that bothered her.

Harry Potter lay stiffly in his muggle hospital bed, in the burns ward. His scalded and blistered face was wrapped up underneath bandages. A nurse was busy attaching tubes to his body and hooking him up to a machine whilst a doctor in a white coat was busy scribbling onto a sheet looking rather concerned. Vernon Dursley had dialled up an ambulance for Harry and had come to the hospital with him. He had even seemed slightly concerned for Harry's welfare this time which was quite a surprise. Harry felt very uncomfortable but in no time drifted off into a deep sleep.

Minerva was crouched in the corner of the Zahra's room. She was figuring out the best way to escape. She had to escape! Minerva shuddered at the thought of last night. Never in her life had she been more humiliated. Nevertheless, Minerva had stayed the night at the girl's house, for she needed to get some rest or she would be too weak to transfigure herself back into a person. Minerva heard a strident voice holler "Zahra! Breakfast is ready." Minerva's stomach rumbled. Zahra stirred. Minerva jumped on her bed in an effort to wake her. "Kitty!" said Zahra cheerfully. "Hurry up and wake up you silly girl!" thought Minerva impatiently. Zahra yawned and slowly pulled herself out of bed. She walked over to her huge closet and pulled out a pink fluffy dressing gown. She wrapped it around her shoulders and called out to Minerva. "Come on kitty, let's go and get breakfast".

Minerva leapt towards to door and followed Zahra down the stairs. Minerva resisted the urge to claw the plush pink carpet. She followed Zahra into the kitchen. The smell of blueberry pancakes was wafting through the house. Minerva's stomach rumbled. Zahra seated herself at the breakfast table and helped herself to some pancakes and fresh orange juice. Minerva meowed loudly. Zahra looked down at her and rolled her eyes. Minerva glared at her. A few minutes later Zahra's mother tottered into the kitchen. She stared at Minerva with disgust. "Darling, what is this cat doing in our kitchen?" she asked. "Honestly do you really want fleas and fur all over our house?" Minerva was fuming. "Mother, just give her some milk will you" Zahra said rudely. "If you insist sweetie" she replied, heading to the fridge. She poured Minerva a saucer of milk and placed it on the ground near Zahra's feet. Minerva lapped it up immediately. The cool milk moistened her parched throat. Minerva looked up from the milk and arched her back. It was painful hunching over to drink all the time. She was about to return to lapping up the milk when it splashed up right into her face. Minerva jumped back in fright. She realised Zahra had dropped some grapefruit bits into her milk. Minerva scowled. "You could have dropped me some pancake!" she thought bitterly. Zahra laughed, pleased at her efforts. It seemed she had dropped the grapefruit on purpose to annoy the cat.

Minerva was quite fed up and paced over to the window. It was half open so she leap out and scurried across to the fence. "Hey!" cried Zahra, clearly outraged that Minerva had escaped from her. She rose from her chair and scurried off after the cat, knocking over her chair and glass of milk in the process. The glass came crashing down onto the tiled floor and glass shattered everywhere. The breakfast chair she had been sitting in toppled over and fell hard onto the floor. Minerva's eyes widened as she saw Zahra leaping towards her. She sprinted across the yard as fast as her cat legs could carry her and bounded over the fence, landing hard on the next door neighbour's trash cans.

Minerva winced as a sharp pain spread through her front leg. She looked down to find her delicate paw pad had been sliced by a shred of glass and was bleeding furiously. She tried her hardest not to weep as the pain was so unbearable. Minerva tried to walk but was crippled with pain. The blood gushing from her paw had formed a small puddle at her feet. Realising she was stranded because of her injury she began to meow loudly. Minerva knew it was hopeless and if anyone was to come to her aid it would be another muggle. She also knew it would be impossible to transfigure back into her human state. Minerva meowed weakly and hung her head.

Just when she thought she would be stuck on top of a trash can with a bleeding paw forever she heard footsteps approaching her. Minerva looked up and sure enough it was a muggle coming towards her. The muggle was a tall girl of about fifteen with beach blonde hair and green eyes. She had a look of great concern upon her face as she stepped towards Minerva. Without saying a word she laid a hand on Minerva's head and stoked her gently. Then the muggle saw the pool of blood around the cat's paw. She gasped and gently examined Minerva's paw. "You poor cat!" she said with concern. "I told Brad not to leave empty beer bottles lying around! I'm so sorry you had to be hurt, cat". The girl gently wrapped her hands around Minerva's body and lifted her up onto her shoulder. "I'll fix your paw" she said soothingly. Minerva settled onto her shoulder, relived someone had found her. She also had a feeling this muggle would be much kinder than Zahra.