So, I wrote Chapter 8 and had it mostly ready to go when I decided I didn't like the direction I took at all. So, Chapter 8 is now completely different from my original plan, but I prefer it this way. Let me know what you think
Special thanks: jdcani, LillyPheonix, Juliefan1, & nofearonlylove for reviewing. Thanks guys! I really love to hear feedback and know what you think. Also, thanks to DevilzVampire, Junora, & Happy-the-Nekomander for adding me to their favorites or story alerts. Hope you all continue to enjoy Tabby Cats and Wizards. :)
Disclaimer: Hey, I'm not J.K. Rowling, so I don't own Harry Potter. :)
Minerva woke up to find Albus' side of the bed was still warm, but he was nowhere to be seen. Though she wished it weren't the case, she knew he wouldn't be anywhere in the manor. This bothered Minerva as she hated waking up alone. Crawling out of bed, the elder witch remembered the events from the previous night. How would Annabelle ever trust her now?
In a time of sensitivity and pain, Minerva had shunned her in favor of her own emotions and feelings. It shouldn't have mattered that Minerva was hurting. A professor had a duty to protect her students and Minerva had failed to perform this task.
McGonagall would make it up to Annabelle today. They'd go to Kings Cross together and she'd see her kitten off, as if they really were a family. Coming to this revelation, Minerva hopped up from her bed and tossed on her dressing robe.
Minerva stopped upon reaching the stairs, her ears straining to clarify what she was hearing. It was a sound that most witches and wizards wouldn't have picked up, but she was different. Her animagus traits often carried over into her human form, which enhanced her senses past that of any human. Knowing that the sound could only be coming from one room, she slowly crossed the hall to the door and gently knocked before pushing it open. Not wanting to scare the girl, she transformed into her animagus and stalked over to the bed. The child hadn't seen her animagus form yet, so this would be a new experience.
Gaining an approving glance from Sylvanna, Minerva silently hopped onto the bed and nuzzled against Annabelle's cheek. Being a cat removed the normal physical barriers of polite interactions, yet the comfort was the same.
The girl's broken voice arose, muffled from her mouth being covered by the pillow. "Go away, Sylvia." Still, Minerva persisted. She wiggled her way under the pillow and began to purr as she continued to nudge the girl.
Finally, Annabelle's bloodshot eyes opened and she looked at Minerva in shock. The little tabby cat had her mentor's eyes and had markings across her nose and around her eyes where her square spectacles normally sat.
It's not possible, right?
Annabelle felt crazy as she looked at the cat, convinced it had to be Minerva. It looked so much like her and those eyes looked too human. Deciding the cat wouldn't judge her, she convinced herself to be brave.
It's just a cat! You can talk to her.
"You heard me crying, didn't you?" The cat stopped moving and just mewed in confirmation. Annabelle sighed and pet the tabby's head, paying special attention to her ears. "I'm just worried is all. I…" Annabelle hadn't paid attention to the cat moving until it landed on the floor and morphed into her professor.
"I'm sorry, Miss Wyte. I didn't want you to tell my animagus form something you wouldn't tell me. I don't want to deceive you, lass." Minerva perched on the edge of the bed and gently wiped away one of her charge's tears with her thumb. "I'm still willing to listen, but I want you to know who I really am."
Annabelle still found herself shocked silent, mouth gaping open again. She watched as her instructor let out a warm chuckle and she felt herself relaxing again. Belle wanted to tell Minerva. She really did, but how would her professor react? Sighing, she decided she'd tell her at least something. "I want to tell you. Really, I do. I just don't know how much I can." She slowly turned away from Minerva, so that she was facing her pillow, and sighed. Her eyes were squeezed shut and a stream of tears leaked from her shielded emerald orbs.
Minerva couldn't help herself any longer. She scoot closer to her student and wrapped her into a gentle, yet firm hug. Pulling the girl into her lap, she let the child cry. She was determined to fix this. "Lass, I want you to know that I'm here for you." Seeing the girl's hesitation, the elder witch ran a light hand through her charge's hair. "You can trust me, love."
Minerva hadn't recognized the endearment until minutes later as the girl continued to sit in silence. All professional boundaries had been crossed days ago and now Minerva knew there was no going back as Annabelle began to speak.
"I'm scared, Professor." The words were soft, and her voice shook, but they were powerful enough to shatter Minerva's stone-cold heart.
"I know, lass. It's okay to be scared." The raven haired witch continued to stroke her charge's soft, blonde hair and gently rocked back and forth.
Annabelle sniffled and choked out. "Not if you're a Gryffindor." She let out another heart-wrenching sob and opened her mouth to speak again. "I'm not smart enough for Ravenclaw either. No house will want me." Though she was blaming her insecurities on the house stereotypes, Annabelle was actually terrified about people never wanting her. The younger witch was scared that when Minerva found out everything that was going on, that her professor wouldn't care about her any longer.
"Oh, honey… Gryffindors are certainly allowed to be scared sometimes, but if we're not, then I'm doing a pretty poor job at representing my house. You see, I've been terrified before, and I'm head of Gryffindor." She chuckled and let her arms rest around Belle's frail frame. "Gryffindors aren't valued for never being scared. They're valued for looking past that fear and doing what's right anyway. They're also respected for being highly chivalrous and having an admirable heart, but in regards to Ravenclaw, Professor Flitwick would jump on the opportunity to have you in his house. Trust me when I tell you that multiple houses will be fighting for your allegiance." Placing a light kiss on the blonde's head, Minerva set her charge back on the bed and made her way to the door. "I just hope my house wins." With that, Minerva shut the door behind her and went downstairs to make them breakfast.
As Minerva left, Annabelle quickly threw on a pair of black slacks and a teal, long-sleeve, button-up shirt. She then laced up her black boots and grabbed her wand, securing it up her sleeve before racing downstairs to join her mentor. She found Professor McGonagall busy at work, controlling multiple different cooking incantations simultaneously. Within minutes their food was plated and the pair sat down to eat.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Annabelle realized that Professor Dumbledore didn't appear to be around. Normally, he joined the witches for breakfast, so this was out of the ordinary.
Minerva sighed and stopped eating to knead her temples. That man was going to be the death of her. Looking back to Annabelle, she shrugged nonchalantly. "He had business at Hogwarts to attend to, so he left early this morning." Minerva took another couple bites and realized they were both nearing the ends of their meals. "In fact, once you're done packing, you'll probably still have time to sit and read for a little bit before we go. We can wait even longer to leave since Albus won't be joining us." Normally, he would postpone their timing by stopping to talk with every person who looked his way. Given his peculiar wardrobe, that was generally half of London. As both women cleared their plates, they headed up to their respective rooms to finish packing. Minerva was done in minutes, as she used magical assistance.
Annabelle was tempted to ask Minerva for help, but eventually settled on just asking Lindy. When the little elf appeared, she bowed to the young witch and gave a crooked grin. "What may Lindy help little miss with?" Lindy looked around and noticed the half full trunk. "May I?" She asked purely out of respect and barely waited for a nod before she snapped her fingers and the trunk finished packing itself. Her school robes were easily accessible on top, so that she could change once they got close to Hogwarts. Lindy had shrunken everything to fit and promised to undo the charm once her trunk made it to the dormitories. Annabelle was ready to deem the task done when Lindy stopped her. There was still one more charm that it needed. She placed a feather weight charm on the trunk, so that it was extremely lightweight. She did the same thing for Sylvanna's crate before disapparating with a 'pop.'
The younger witch looked around the room. She had intended it leave it exactly like it had been when she arrived, but it simply seemed different now. Everything was packed away except for a single book. Sitting down on the bed, she reached for the book and picked it up, turning it over in her hands to read the back. Professor McGonagall had told her to leave this book for last, and she certainly had. She'd read all of her books, but this one and now she was a little worried. Quidditch seemed to be a big deal at Hogwarts, and especially to her professor, and she didn't want to let them down.
Opening Quidditch Through the Ages, Annabelle found herself immediately absorbed into the text. She couldn't wait to fly on a broom. She hoped to try out for the team, but Hogwarts, a History had mentioned that first years rarely try out, and when they do, they rarely make the team. That included pure-blooded wizards who'd been riding brooms their whole life! There was no way Annabelle was going to try out when she'd never even gotten on a broom before. However, Quidditch intrigued her and she couldn't wait to eventually try it out.
An hour passed and before she knew it, Minerva was coming to knock on her door. The elder witch poked her head in the door and smiled. "It's about time to be going, lass. Do you have everything you need to go?"
Annabelle nodded and placed her book in the trunk beside her. "Are you taking me to Platform 9 & ¾?" She didn't have any idea how to get onto the Platform, even though she'd read about it. She just didn't understand, and plus, she'd like her professor to take her.
Minerva's smile faltered for a moment as she walked into the room. "I'll be taking you, but I don't believe it's a good idea if I look like myself. It would raise a great deal of questions, as well as that of favoritism. I don't want the other students to think that I favor you before we even get to Hogwarts." She paused and shrugged slightly. "If it's alright with you, I will transfigure my appearance to look like an adult you resemble."
Annabelle returned her smile, slightly excited to see this piece of magic. "Oh, please show me!"
Minerva chuckled at her student's enthusiasm and removed her wand from her sleeve, muttering and incantation over herself. Before the younger witch's eyes, Minerva's face became a little fuller, her cheekbones becoming less pronounced. Her skin darkened a touch and her usually raven hair, turned into a brilliant yellow blonde falling past her shoulders. The only thing that stayed the same were those brilliant green eyes.
"Wow…" Annabelle couldn't help, but be amazed.
As they both stood up, Belle realized that her mentor was now closer to her mother's petite height of 5'2". Knowing what was coming, the student reached over to grasp her mentor's arm. The professor grabbed Belle's trunk while Annabelle held Sylvanna close to her own body. With this, Minerva cast Silencio over their figures before apparating away without sound.
The two witches arrived in a small, grungy restroom at Kings Cross. Minerva removed the spell and quickly checked to make sure they were alone in the bathroom. At the 'all clear,' Annabelle followed her mentor out of the cramped stall and the two made their way toward Platform 9 & ¾. Reaching the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10, Minerva stopped and glanced at her young charge, who was still clinging to her arm.
"Now, you have to run straight at that wall." Noticing Annabelle's horrified expression, Minerva gave her a small smile and continued. "It won't hurt. I promise it won't. You and I will go through together."
Annabelle gave a slow nod and looked over at the metal barrier again. At her mentor's urging, the two broke into a slight run and the next thing Annabelle knew, she was standing on Platform 9 & ¾. A brilliant train, labeled "Hogwarts Express", stood before her in stunning red and black. The platform was packed with witches and wizards of all shapes and sizes. The pair made their way over to the compartment for animals and handed the conductor Sylvanna's cage. Sylvanna was not pleased with this and began mewling as loud as she could, making clear her displeasure to anyone who could hear her.
After handing her over, they walked around the platform a little before Minerva realized that the train was getting ready to leave. Without thinking, the professor wrapped her charge into a tight hug before sending her off to the train. "Be good!" Minerva yelled as Belle ran toward the train, climbing up the stairs into the train right before the doors shut.
The train blew its whistle a few times before it began to accelerate and disappear out of sight. Minerva waved her hands and found herself missing Annabelle already. She sighed and began to walk toward the exit.
She's already gone.