Cat, Rat, and Dog

By Matelia-legwll

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

"Evans will understand, Wormtail. And I bet you ten sickles she'll agree with my reasoning." I stood and made my way to the door before turning and saying, "And it remains your job to figure out how we can keep Prongs and Moony from suspecting too much."

I turned again and walked out, shutting the door to Peter's voice saying, "But — but — but — ! Argh!"

Ah, the satisfaction of walking down those stairs. Now I understood what we had happened upon, now I understood the gravity of hiding our, well, blatantly illegal activities, and now I understood the mysterious connection between James and the cat.

CHAPTER SEVEN: Peter and Lily

PPPPPPPPPPPPPP

What am I going to do? I told Sirius, but he said I have to work out a plan for the next two weeks of Easter break. Something that will keep James and Remus from suspecting too much.

I pulled out a quill and parchment, filled the quill with ink and began to write.

Item one: Hide the map.

Done. Or well, relatively. No one would think of looking under my pillow, would they? Sirius reacted weirdly when he heard that I had hid it though. I've got to watch out for him snooping around.

Item two: Tell Sirius.

Well, I did that. He gave me two weeks to work with before he transforms Evans back. I wonder why.

Item three: Laugh off any weird questions.

Well, no one has posed any weird questions yet. But that's still a poor line of defense.

I've got to think of more things. Merlin. I forgot to consider that Remus would be around and suspicious too. I'm in big trouble. I'm not sure I can keep it from both of them.

LELELELELELELE

Getting around the castle is quite an interesting feat for a cat. Everything looks different from down here, and I've managed to step in a trick stair three times so far. I haven't been that bad since first year. Of course, there is the added bonus of James picking me up every time I get stuck, but that's not why I'm this bad, I swear it's not! What is wrong with me? It must be the natural impulse to 'love the hand that feeds you' or some such nonsense. I swear, all this infatuation requires is a little sleep and distance.

Although how I am going to get distance from this prat that insists on following me around like a puppy, I'm not sure. Maybe once I get to the common room his friends will distract him and I'll be able to go to my own dormitory and persuade the girls that there is more to me than meets the eye.

Great. Black met us just outside the portrait hole. Now I have to listen to their prattling until one of them opens the hole.

"Can I please, please look for Evans with the cat?" begged Black.

"Why don't you want me along?" pouted James.

"It's not that I don't want you around; it's more that I'll use my doggy persuading powers, and it's easier for dogs and cats to converse rather than throwing random animals in the mix," said Black delicately.

"Deer aren't random," said James flatly.

Say what? What is this conversation? Did I even hear him right?

"Sure they aren't," said Black, acting as if he was humoring James.

"Alright, I see your point," sighed James. He crouched down near me and spoke to me next. "Lils, go with Sirius. Everything will be ok. Just be nice to him, and the dog," he added as an afterthought.

"Great, let's go," said Black.

James straightened up. "I trust you to not lose track of her and keep all doors shut," he admonished Black.

Black nodded. "Yes, yes," he said impatiently. "Of course. It's not like I'm taking your baby daughter out for a date, James."

"You might as well be," glowered James. "Pets are sometimes referred to as the owner's children."

"How nice," said Sirius blandly. "C'mon Lils, let's go before James gets all mushy on us."

I considered him carefully. Did I really want to go with Sirius Black of all people? I didn't have much time to consider it, as James picked me up and handed me over.

I started hissing, spitting, and squirming. I had decided that I did not want to be brought to his 'doggy persuading' chambers, but suddenly I heard Black whisper, "Lily Evans, if you want to be a witch again, I suggest you be extremely nice to me."

I froze. Did he just say what I think he said? Could Sirius Black be an ally?

I remained in his arms, carried comfortably into an empty classroom, but as soon as he set me down to close the door, I blocked it. "What do you know?" I meowed.

Black shook his head in amusement. "If I didn't know what had happened already, I would've guessed by your behavior just then, Evans." He grinned. "Peter is extremely remorseful about what happened." Sirius rolled his eyes. "Extremely."

I allowed him to shut the door, but gazed at him so intently that he jumped when he turned back around.

"Blimey! No need to look at me like that. Now, how to do this?" he mused aloud. "It would be so much easier if you were a regular cat; one that wouldn't be transfigured back into your original form. I assume James was planning on telling you sometime, but I imagine that will occur when you are actually friendly to us." He sighed. "I'll communicate to you through Padfoot. Don't be surprised at anything Padfoot says. Through Padfoot, I will actually be able to understand what you are saying when you meow. Oh, and don't be frightened of him. He doesn't bite."

Sirius stepped out of the classroom, leaving the door open a crack. I was tempted to leave, but I resisted that, and soon the door swung open again, and swung shut with a bang.

It was all I could do to not run up the desk and cower. There stood that huge black dog that James and Sirius had snuck into Hogwarts somehow.

The dog turned and looked at me. Don't be afraid. Nothing will hurt you.

The words entered my head, involuntarily, almost like a translation of the short whines and snuffs coming from the dog. I relaxed, not knowing why nor how. "So how is Sirius going to get me out of this form?" I asked.

A simple spell, really.
It's actually the timing that is the most important to discuss currently. The when, not the how.

"Why?"

Is Lily Evans gone for the Easter Holidays or not? If you get changed back immediately Prongs will question you on where you were the whole day. Not to mention all the people that saw your cute little episode in the Great Hall. If you get changed back at the end of Easter Holidays, you can blame it on your cat getting loose before you left, and you didn't have time to find little Lils.

"I've never thought of Sirius as the smart one," I remarked.

Hey, pouted the dog. What was that for?

"Who's Prongs?"

James, sorry. Anyway, do you agree?

"To be miserable, searching for myself, and spending time with the Marauders for all of the Easter Holidays?" I asked skeptically.

What do you want me to say? Yes? And Prongs won't search the entire break.

"That makes me feel so much better," I remarked sarcastically.

Good. Do you agree, then?

"I doubt Sirius could be persuaded otherwise," I said longingly. I really missed walking upright.

Nah, I — he has a bet with Wormtail that you will agree with him.

"He bet that I would agree?" I was dumbfounded.

You have to understand how this will work, the dog went on. On the last night of the Easter Holidays, I — Sirius will take you into an empty classroom and change you back. You will be back, mention nothing about these two weeks, and use the excuse I presented earlier. You will clue no one in on what has happened to you. The only people that will know the whole truth are Wormtail, Sirius, and you. You will act as catlike as you possibly can, not raising Prongs or Moony's curiosity.

"Moony?"

Remus, sorry. I think of these people by their nicknames.

"And Wormtail is. . . ?"

Peter, of course.

"Is that all the briefing?"

The dog nodded. Excuse me and I'll go get — Sirius again.

The dog slipped out of the room and I didn't see him again as Sirius came back in and picked me up again and started walking back towards the Gryffindor Tower.

"Thanks for our little chat," said Sirius. "Now I have to go plant the idea that you left for the break in James's mind." He yawned. "And get some sleep. This next fortnight will be interesting."

Sirius never spoke a truer word.

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?

All readers--Here is your chance. Take a look back at Peter's part and his list. Can you think of anything to add? Tell me in a review or PM, and chances are I'll use it. My only request be that the list consist of rather obvious or pathetic notions, and that it would be absolutely hilarious to make Peter follow through on. I got up to eight on my own, and they were turning serious. (wrinkles nose) Not good in a humor fic.

And here's the normal Tuesday update. Keep on reviewing, please! I promise I'll respond. Even to anonymous reviewers, as long as you include an email address. Also, there is a teensy chance I'll update on Friday. For Mani (as a birthday present), and for lonely.silence (thanks again for that awesome review on Ch. 6). However Ch. 8 is almost like a double chapter, so decide when you want me to post it--Friday or Tuesday.

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. I try to justify putting it up with getting a certain number of reviews. Also, keep in touch with a PM or email, and you may get certain treats!

Thank you for reading!