Cat, Rat, and Dog

By Matelia-legwll

A/N: A little snapshot from the end of the last chapter:

"So the cat chased you as Wormtail and you got up here and changed back, and still fainted?" asked James.

"Er—well," started Peter, but at that moment, the cat stretched and opened its eyes.

Peter fled to his bed, and I heard the sound of curtains pulling shut. I chuckled for a moment, before noticing that James had engaged the cat in a staring contest. I let out a laugh.

CHAPTER THREE: Lily

I woke up to a feeling of absolute bliss. I was cradled gently in someone's hands, and it filled me with a sense of being home, being safe. My eyes fluttered open to see Potter, Black and Pettigrew gazing down at me. Pettigrew fled from my wrath, and I stared at Potter. It was to my horror that I finally figured out that he was the one who was holding me so gently.

Black laughed and that made me come to my senses. I was a cat, so I was perfectly entitled to use the arsenal of a cat. My claws came out and I was about to scratch up that pretty face of Potter's, but Black picked me up. Furious at not getting my proper target, I unleashed my claws on Black's hands, until he dropped me. I landed on all fours, and stumbled once before straightening.

I heard the reproachful, "Padfoot!" before I dashed out of the water closet. I ran straight to the door, to find out to my terrified alarm that it was closed all the way. I started scratching the door, trying to find a way out.

Potter and Black were still arguing.

"What was I supposed to do?" asked Black defensively. "Look at these scratches! It's worse than Moony!"

"No, she's not! And of course she scratched you," declared Potter. "You took her away from me."

"Yeah, and I suppose it was perfectly happy being with you?"

"She was! Stop calling her an 'it'!"

"How do you know it's a 'she'?" challenged Black.

"Wormtail said 'she'," declared James stubbornly.

"And you trust Wormtail to know the difference between a girl and a boy cat? When he can't even stand the sight of one?"

"Yes!" There was a pause. "Well..."

"Exactly." I could practically hear the smirk in Black's voice.

"Here, let me go and check."

"You think the cat is going to let you look there? When Evans hardly notices your presence?"

"Hey!"

"Sorry. That was a low blow," acknowledged Black contritely.

"Yes it was," pouted Potter.

I was getting quite fed up with listening to this. I started begging for someone to open the door. Surely one of them would listen. One of these boys must understand.

Surely enough, Potter and Black soon came out of the toilet.

"What do you think it wants?" asked Black loudly. I hissed at him. Mark that down for one that didn't understand.

Potter grinned. "I think she doesn't want you around."

I tilted my head in acknowledgment. Potter at least got one desire correct.

"Wicked!" Potter exclaimed. "Do you understand us?"

I stared at him for a moment, wondering if he was serious, then nodded. Both his and Black's eyes widened.

"What's so mental about that?" I tried to ask.

"More meows," said Black disparagingly. "I think that was a coincidence."

I glared at him and deliberately shook my head.

Potter's eyes widened even farther. "Look at her eyes!" he exclaimed. "I'd recognize that glare anywhere."

I looked over at him in puzzlement.

"Do you belong to Evans, little kitty?" he asked, kneeling down.

I looked at him in increased consternation. I didn't belong to myself. And yet, how else could I explain who I belonged to, if it wasn't to myself? After a pause, Potter added, "Lily Evans?" One more moment of hesitation, and I nodded.

Both boys looked relieved. "I didn't know Evans had a cat," remarked Potter.

"Oh, really?" said Black. "I thought you knew all about Evans."

"Apparently not, if she's been keeping her pet cat away from me," said Potter.

I tried to roll my eyes. I'm not quite sure if that actually happened, but Potter grinned. "You sure learned a lot of mannerisms from Lily."

Pettigrew peeked his head through his curtains, and I took pleasure in hissing at him and watching him withdraw in terror.

"We probably should find Evans and give her cat back to her," suggested Potter glumly.

"Yeah," agreed Black. "We can tell her that McGonagall said that patrols were not tonight after all."

My attempt at exclaiming 'what?' came out as a big meow.

"Hey, little kitty," crooned Potter. "What's your name? What would Lily Evans name her cat?"

Black looked amused. "You're the one with the crush, not me."

"I know," said Potter irritably. "I was talking to the cat, not you." Potter cleared his throat then said, "Petunia? Tuney?"

I looked at him in surprise. How in the world did he know my nickname for my sister? How did he know my sister's name in the first place?

"Rose? Lily always wanted her name to be Rose. No?"

How did he know that? I only admitted that in one game of Truth or Dare up in the girls' dormitory.

"Lils would be too confusing," Potter mused. "What about Red?"

Oh my. If I didn't stop him soon, he'd go on and on. I motioned with my hand, my paw, to go back.

"Lils?" he asked in amazement.

I nodded. I could tolerate him calling me that. Not Red.

"Lils," he said again, as if trying out the name.

It sounded surprisingly good rolling off his tongue.

"Well, come on then, Lils. Let's go find Lily Evans," said Potter. He held his hands out to me, expecting me to jump in them again, I suppose. I turned up my nose, and faced the door. I heard a laugh from above me and suddenly I was scooped up.

"Haughty little thing, aren't you?" said Potter as he opened the door with his free hand.

I glared at him for the indignity of being picked up, then squirmed in his grasp. I was not going to fall for the spell his hands cast upon me; not when freedom was in my sight.

A/N: Well, what do you think? How was that? Should I continue with the little snapshot at the beginning of the chapter? Or is that too annoying? What do you think about Lily as a cat? What's your favorite part so far? I'm not so sure about this chapter, but it'll get better.

Why is it that the more one begs for reviews, the less reviews actually trickle in? I'm not trying to pressure whoever reads this, but I would honestly appreciate more feedback from almost 50 hits.

Oh, and those of you who have put this story on alert, I definitely want your feedback. You care enough about this story to be bugged every time I update, but do you care enough to let me know if you like where I'm taking it?

I will need to get some reader interaction soon and I want to build up a good reader base first. Every review makes my day. Hint-hint. But seriously, the more reviews I get, the sooner I start on getting the next chapter ready and out.

Thanks for reading!