Right, before this chapter begins, it's time for my longest author's note ever.

Issue 1: Conrad. Yeah, I know his personality is completely out of character, but that's what happens when a Harry Potter fan decides to bring in one of the character's best friend who is also aforementioned character's son's godfather. So personalities incorporated mixed and you got the new and improved Conrad Tesdinic. Yeah, right. Anyway, I can get away with that on the basis of it being at least twenty years since we first met him in 'Conrad's Fate', and you know what Chrestomanci Castle does to people.

Issue two: The story in general. Right, before I start on this, there is something you must know about me. I improvise. This is a bad thing. I am excellent (and very immodest about it, too) at writing short stories, but when it gets longer than about three thousand words I either start to lose interest, or, as mentioned above, improvise. What this means: I NEVER write a story with a set plotline, and this is a bad thing to do. What I tend to do is, again, improvise, but when I do this I tend to dig myself into a deep plot hole with no way out. DON'T follow my example. It'll end in disaster.

Issue three: The watch thing. No, Conrad, Cat and Kitty did not think it through, simply because I didn't. Oh, and another thing, I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that in 'The Sage of Theare' (or whatever it was called) Christopher was sick with the flu, and still could do magic, unlike when he's tied down with silver.

And that's the end of monster A/N. If you've read through all of that and still want to read this chapter and laugh as I failingly try to sort out the plot holes, I both congratulate you and offer the number of the nearest psychiatrist.

Chapter 14

12 hours. That's how long Christopher Chant had been without magic, and he was starting to go slightly nuts. So, you can imagine the enchanter's relief when Cat knocked on the door of his study just before lunchtime and told him that he would soon be free of the dreaded silver. Cat's reason's for this weren't exactly noble…he wanted to shirk responsibility, but Chrestomanci did not have a problem with this at all.

"But before I take it off, you have to promise two things. First, you aren't to punish Kitty…or me, for that matter." Cat said. "We were trying to help…sort of."

Chrestomanci nodded "Alright. Anything else?" This was said with more than a little sarcasm.

"Yeah…you have to keep spending time with Millie, or Kitty'll kill not only you, but me, and that wouldn't be too good."

"I was planning too. Now…" Chrestomanci held out his arm. The silver watch dropped to the floor. "That's better." Chrestomanci sighed triumphantly.

"Chrestomanci?"

"Yes, Cat?"

"Kitty…the Goddess…you aren't going to send her back, are you?" Cat asked quietly, looking down at his feet.

Chrestomanci surveyed him for a moment before deciding on "I'll do what I have to" and leaving the room.

----

"Are you alright, Eric?" Conrad asked later that day, slightly surprised to see Cat walking alone – something he hadn't seen since he'd arrived at the Castle.

"Yeah... yeah I'm fine." Cat replied.

Conrad said, "Where are the others?"

"I dunno. Playroom, I guess. Conrad, what do you know about Series ten?"

"Why?" Conrad replied.

"Well, would Chr…istopher have to send the Goddess back if he found her, or could he, I dunno, let her stay in the Castle?"

"Why?" Conrad wanted to know again.

"It doesn't matter." Cat mumbled. "I'd better be getting back to the playroom."

He turned and started walking back in that general direction.

"Eric, Kitty will be fine." He thought he heard that being called, but when he looked around Conrad was already gone.

-----------

An hour or two later, the Goddess and Cat were both called to Chrestomanci's office. They were of course followed by Janet, Julia and Rodger.

"Come in." Chrestomanci's voice came through the door, and then as the five children did so, he said "Sit down."

Neither he nor his wife (who was there, and Cat silently thanked Chrestomanci for this) looked surprised to see the other three children

"Kitty?" Chrestomanci said. "Do you, perhaps, know why you're here?"

The Goddess did not respond, instead continued to look at her feet.

"No?" Chrestomanci asked. "Well, Kitty, the reason you're here is because of what you said to me yesterday…"

Rodger couldn't help himself "She was right, Dad, you were acting like a five year old…"

Millie coughed, but it sounded oddly like a disguised laugh.

"Not that, thank you Rodger." Chrestomanci replied, looking rather irritated.

"Are you going to send me back?" The Goddess sighed, looking up.

Chrestomanci looked at her, frowning slightly. "Well, we agreed to be your legal guardians, Kitty, on the pretence that you had nowhere else to go…"

"I didn't!" The Goddess exclaimed passionately. "Just ask Cat, ask Janet how miserable I was! Ask Millie, she knows first hand! You let her stay!"

"Wait, what?" Rodger and Julia both demanded at once, looking from their father to their mother, both of whom avoided their eyes.

The Goddess realised her mistake and clammed up again, staring at the floor.

Cat and Janet looked at each other, and then at Rodger and Julia. All four children looked confused.

"Let me finish." Chrestomanci said, in his usual way smoothing over the parts of the conversation he didn't like as if they never happened. "As of a few weeks ago, that pretence became factual. You, Kitty, are far too old to be the Goddess now, and you are welcome to stay here as long as you like, as long as you take your watch back." And he picked up the silver watch from the desk and dropped it onto her lap. "You can four can leave now," he added to Cat, Rodger, Julia and Janet. "I would like a moment with Kitty."

The Chant children did not like this idea. They were all bursting with questions about the Goddess' – or as we can legally call her now, Kitty's – outburst, especially Rodger and Julia. But, before they had the chance to question anyone, they were suddenly out in the corridor.

"Your mum…?" Janet said to Rodger after a moment of silence.

Rodger laughed. "Of course not. Come on; let's get back to the playroom. Cat?" He added this last bit as he saw that only three children were heading towards the playroom.

"I…I'm gonna wait for Kitty." Cat replied.

Rodger shrugged. "Suit yourself." He replied and the other three Chants went off.

Cat leaned against the door to the study just in time to hear Kitty crying and saying "I'm sorry, Millie, really I am, I didn't mean to tell, but…"

"It's alright, my love, you didn't mean to." Millie was replying. "Tell her, Christopher…"

Cat could see the scene in his minds eye, Kitty crying on the chair, Millie probably hugging her, and Chrestomanci feeling rather intimidated and uncomfortable with the whole situation still behind his desk. But what Millie was saying…

"You can come in, Cat."

Cat nervously opened the door, but was pleased to see Chrestomanci did not look angry at him for listening in the slightest. On the contrary, he looked rather pleased for the distraction.

"Kitty, what did he do to you?" Cat asked her jokingly.

"Oh, it's terrible, Cat, he's a right old bully." Kitty laughed tearfully.

"Me? You'll not meet a nicer man anywhere." Chrestomanci replied.

"I can list a few, starting with Amos Tesdinic." Conrad's voice came from the door.

"Oh, come now, Conrad, that's not fair." Chrestomanci sounded injured. "Do I look like a pear to you?"

Kitty and Cat laughed, even though they had no idea what he was on about.

Millie outright, and then replied "More like a strawberry, love." indicating his bright scarlet suit.

Chrestomanci looked offended. "Did you want something, Conrad?"

"I come bearing good news." Conrad replied. "But I'll come back later." He added, glancing at Cat and Kitty before heading off again.

"That man lives to insult me, I swear." Chrestomanci commented lightly.

Cat looked at Millie. "Were you really the Goddess?" he asked.

Millie glanced at her husband, and then back at Cat. "Yes." She replied simply. "Before Christopher came along and kidnapped me."

Chrestomanci sighed. "She lies, Cat. This lady stole one of my lives just to be with me."

"Note how it's his life and not hers." Kitty laughed.

"Millie only has one." Cat pointed out.

"The thing is, Kitty" Millie sighed. "Nine-lived enchanters are so full of themselves that a simple normal person isn't good enough for them. That's why they either fall in love with Goddesses from Series Ten or stay single."

Cat blushed and looked away pointedly.

"See what I mean?" Millie finished. "Now, the other children will be waiting for you. You'd best get going."

Cat and Kitty both nodded and left, but not before hearing Chrestomanci say "I am not full of myself!"

----

That night, Kitty took a little longer than usual to tidy up her share of the mess in the playroom, and Cat stayed behind to help. The other children went off to bed, Janet and Julia grinning at each other knowingly and Rodger complaining about them giggling all the way up the hall.

"Thanks." Kitty said when they were finally done.

"No problem." Cat replied.

There was silence for a minute, then, as they passed the door to Kitty's room, she turned around and grinned. "Love you too, Cat. Goodnight." And before he had a chance to respond, she slipped inside and shut the door.

Cat stared. Did she just…

"Goodnight." He replied, before heading up to his own room.