Cat, Rat, and Dog
By Matelia-legwll
A/N: The customary little snapshot from the end of the last chapter:
James muttered to the cat as he finally made it up the stair, "Only Snape is in the Great Hall. Evans is not, in case you didn't notice. So stop trying to go there."
My stomach rumbled hungrily as I grinned and went into the Great Hall myself.
CHAPTER FIVE: Lily
If only I had one more minute with Severus. He would have figured out what had happened to me. He was starting to recognize me, I swear. How do you not recognize your best friend, even if she's been turned into a cat? Six years we've been best mates. If only I had had ten more seconds, five more seconds. Why did Potter have to drag me out of the hall?
I tried to go back. I tried my hardest, until Potter and Black unleashed that awful monster of a dog. Little dogs are rather cute, but big dogs scare the living daylights out of me. The fear was even deeper because I was currently a cat. Dogs chase cats. I dashed up Potter's arm and hid myself in the tangle of his hair.
I probably looked absolutely ridiculous, but it was the best hiding spot I could come up with on such short notice. How in the world did they get a dog into the castle? Dogs are not on the allowed list of Hogwarts pets. Cats, thankfully are, but I am absolutely certain dogs are not. And where did it disappear to?
It growled at me, barked a laugh a few times, and then was gone by the time I looked up again. Potter and Black were being stupid about the robes I had supposedly ruined. I looked down at Potter's sleeves. His arms were showing through in several places, and I admit I gloated. At least until Potter reminded me that Sev was still in the Great Hall and I was still missing in action.
Potter then took me to the library to look for myself while Black went and had a meal, and I leaped off of his shoulder to go look in the Transfiguration section.
Potter grinned when he saw me looking up at those books. "Good taste," he murmured as he looked around for Madam Pince, and his primary target, me.
"No Evans here," he sighed, picking me up once again. I meowed at him and reached toward a Transfiguration book titled, Human Transfiguration, A Guide. Potter glanced at my choice, and regarded me curiously as he set me down again, this time on the table. "Lils, that book is not worth anyone's time. It doesn't give out any more information than the average reader would already know." He reached for a book on a higher shelf, pulled it out, and set it next to me on the table. "This book is at least worth reading, though it still doesn't tell you everything about Human Transfiguration. To get to the real Animagi literature, you have to have a note from McGonagall. But there is no other better book someone can get without a note."
I regarded him in amazement. I knew that he was an expert in Transfiguration, but to know exactly what books to look at and which to not, or which need a note from a teacher . . . well, that implies that at one time he read all of these books.
He grinned. "What? Did Lily tell you all that I ever read is Quidditch stuff?"
I nodded. Easier than explaining that I was Lily and held those opinions myself.
He chuckled. "That's just because I've read all the books on Transfiguration. At least all in the Hogwarts library."
I dropped my jaw. All? I couldn't even dream of having read all the books in a particular section. The Hogwarts library was huge! Thousands upon thousands of books. If I was in my regular form I would accuse him of exaggeration and bragging. But why would he exaggerate to a cat?
"Did Lily ever tell you that Sirius and I skive off on one Transfiguration lesson every week or so?" James asked.
I nodded again. Of course I knew that. I berated him and Black every time for skiving off on the one subject they seemed to do the best in.
"Well, it's not really skiving, is it?" James mused. "McGonagall gave us the ongoing assignment to read every Transfiguration book and give her a summary of it and an evaluation of its usefulness to students. She'll eventually weed out the books like the Guide. She gives us one lesson off every week or so, to do that." He paused, then smiled a little guiltily, "and we sometimes use it to do other things, too." He cleared his throat, looking back at the book lying on the table, and grinned broadly. "Of course, we're so far ahead of the class that when she gives us N.E.W.T. level work, or even beyond N.E.W.T. level work, we are still excellent at it. I don't think even she realizes how excellent."
Did that qualify as bragging, I wondered. Surely one of those statements qualified as bragging. I shook my head, not knowing whether or not to believe it. James shrugged to himself, replaced the book on the shelf, and scooped me up again.
I was getting an unhealthy delight from his touch. James Potter shouldn't affect me this way. There was just something in his calloused hands that sent sparks tingling down my spine. I hadn't even forgotten that his hair smelled slightly of peppermint, contrary to my orders to myself. What was happening to me?
Where was James taking me now? He had said something about elves. 'The elves will be delighted,' or some such statement. He had taken me close to the Hufflepuff Common Room, but he stopped in front of a large painting of a bowl of fruit.
Why did he tickle the painting? How does one tickle a flat surface? Those were the only questions I had time to think of before James had grasped the handle that appeared and swung it open to reveal the Hogwarts kitchens. He quickly stepped inside and shut the portrait before he set me down.
About six house elves approached him immediately.
"Master James is back again?"
"What would Master James like?"
"Is there anything Blinky can do for Master James?"
"Should Mitsy get anything for Master James's kitty?"
"Would Master James like some of the treacle tart from tonight's dinner?"
"Is everything satisfactory, Master James?"
James grinned as they listened intently. "Let me see. Some tuna and milk for Lils, put that in a saucer, if you please. I would definitely enjoy some of the treacle tart, and maybe some of the shepherds pie you had earlier."
I stared at the saucer of milk that one of the house elves immediately provided me. I stared at it for quite a while, before I dredged up the nerve to stick out my tongue and lap up the milk. It took a long time, but I was able to drink all the milk. The instant I was done, a house elf whisked it away and brought me the plate that had chunks of tuna.
When this was brought to me, I gave James a hard look, but he just smiled at me. What was I to do? I couldn't eat with my paws, but I didn't want to dig my whole face in. I gave a little huff, then relinquished my dignity and ate the chunks. I quickly set to cleaning myself up. My tongue was quite efficient if I say so myself.
I hate to admit this, but I got carried away and washed all of my fur before I realized that James had been watching me the whole time with a little half-smile on his face. The kind of patronizing smile one gives to little kids or animals, when they act cute.
I meowed at him, my exact words were 'What are we waiting for? Let's go.' But James, of course, only heard the meows. He laughed — a deep, hearty laugh — and stood up.
"Where should we look for Evans now?" he murmured to me, his hand resting on the portrait for a moment, after he had politely thanked the elves for their good food and service.
As soon as he opened the painting, I set out for the Gryffindor Common Room. If James wouldn't give me a chance to see Sev and get him to realize what had happened, then I would just have to do the communicating with my other friends. It would take a while longer, but it would be worth it, I assured myself.
"Good idea," agreed James once he realized where I was off to, and he followed me all the way back.
A/N: Well, what do you think? What's your favorite part so far? Any good dialogue or good rants? Any suggestions? I'll take them into consideration, I promise. Any questions for me?
Wow. What a response. I had to update sooner than a week this time, just to give you all a treat. Yay! Keep on reviewing, please! I promise I'll respond. Even to anonymous reviewers, as long as you include an email address.
I'm trying to build up a good reader base of readers that will review. I know you must hear this alot, but every new review does make my day. And seriously, the more reviews I get, the sooner I start on getting the next chapter ready and out. For example, this one. I try to justify putting it up with getting a certain number of reviews. Also, keep in touch, and you may get certain treats!
Anyway, thanks for reading! Have a good weekend!