A/N: This idea came to me early this morning, and I was so excited to bring it to FF! Please review and let me know your thoughts. Second chapter is almost finished.

Long, slender fingers gently stroked the cat's fur, scratching behind her ears, and continuing down her back.

Mildred couldn't help but stare at Miss Hardbroom seated upon the stage; her faithful cat perched regally in her lap. The assembly had been about the importance of properly training a witch's cat, and Miss Hardbroom had brought Morgana along to display her obedience.

It is of extreme importance, girls, Miss Hardbroom had said, that your cat not only likes you because you feed her, but also because she feels connected to you, loyal until the end. And would do anything - and at this, Miss Hardbroom dropped her hat, and the cat dashed over to it - to protect you. They proceeded to perform a few tricks and commands the cat had mastered, and upon everyone's applause, the pair had returned to their seat.

In the present, Miss Cackle was still prattling on as Mildred eyed Morgana, purring happily in her mistress's lap. It was a funny thing when she thought about it - Miss Hardbroom showing affection for something – and that something returning the feeling. Today's display had certainly proven that the pair shared a deep emotional connection. In the beginning, you must treat your cat as you would a young child, the deputy head had said earlier. Mildred pictured Miss Hardbroom singing and cooing to the cat, and she couldn't help the snicker that escaped from her lips. She quickly covered her mouth, but it was too late. All at once the room went silent, and every eye turned to look at her.

"I'm sorry you find that funny, Mildred." Miss Hardbroom spoke up angrily, and Mildred racked her brain trying to remember what Miss Cackle had been saying before her unfortunate slip. "You can wait in your room until the end of assembly, when I will come and fetch you."

Mildred stood, the only sound in the room from her chair scraping backwards, and slowly shuffled out of the great hall, hanging her head.

"Now then," Miss Cackle continued, "As I was saying, Miss Hardbroom is offering to personally assist in the training of one of your own cats. One pupil will be selected to learn three new commands onstage at the end of today's assembly. Would anyone be interested?" Several dozen hands shot up eagerly, but Miss Hardbroom's closed eyes told that she had already made up her mind.

"Ethel Hallow," Miss Hardbroom called out, "You may go and fetch Nightstar."

"Thank you, Miss Hardbroom." Ethel smiled, standing tall and striding out of the room.

"Tough luck, Hubble Bubble." Ethel sneered as she bumped passed Mildred on the way to the dorms.

"Leave me alone, Ethel." Mildred sulked.

"Sorry, I must've missed something. Am I in any way at fault here?" Ethel spun around, "It seems that you couldn't contain your hilarity at the thought of getting a private lesson with Miss Hardbroom. I didn't make you guffaw like that. I don't see how you could possibly think that I'm the one bothering you."

Mildred kicked herself mentally - of course Miss Cackle had to be saying something about HB when her laugh slipped out. "Well didn't you come out here to do just that?" She asked, hurt.

"Everything isn't always about you, Mildred, you dog. I was chosen to have the training session. I'm off to fetch Nightstar." She said, careening past her.

"Take that back, Ethel!" Mildred shouted, catching up to the blonde and grabbing her by the shoulder.

"Get off of me!" Ethel screeched. "Take what back?" She spat.

"...I'm not a dog." Mildred answered quietly.

"No then? Well, how about a cat?" Ethel sneered, an evil grin crawling up her face. "Transformus, changeonus..." She began.

"What are you doing?!" Mildred shrieked, beginning to run the other way.

"Illio allio, feline meowio!" Ethel finished. She threw her hands in front of her as fiery red jets of energy escaped from her fingertips, shooting for the girl with the messy plaits.

Mildred gasped in horror as Ethel recited the spell, which seemed pretty self-explanatory, and she attempted to dash to the side to avoid the cat-curse. Her bootlaces, however, did not comply, and became twisted in the rubber soles of her shoes, causing her to slip and take a dive, headfirst, into the cold, stone floor.

Ethel's curse barreled toward its target - whizzing by and slightly missing as the girl fell, singeing her frizzy hair, then sailing past her and slamming into whatever was unfortunate enough to be in its path.

"Mmmmrrreeeooowww!" Came a shriek, as red bolts pierced the body of a cat, which sailed a few feet and crumpled into a heap on the ground.

Ethel's hands flew up to her mouth - the spell was intended for a human target - the sheer force would be too strong for a cat to withstand. Had she killed the poor thing? The thought made her stomach churn.

Mildred got up off the floor, dusted off her uniform and looked from cat to Ethel, her eyes wide.

As the dust cleared away, they spotted the tangled heap lying still on the floor. Mildred was the first to approach it, cautious and concerned - she couldn't stand by and let any creature suffer, human or animal. Ethel slowly shuffled behind her, keeping her eyes glued to Mildred's back, afraid of what she might see if she looked at the floor.

Suddenly Mildred stopped and gasped, dropping to the floor next to the injured animal. "Ethel... it's... it's...!"

"Don't tell me it's dead, Hubble!" She cried angrily.

"No… it's alive… she's alive. It's… Morgana." Mildred said, voice trembling. Ethel hurried over and dropped to her knees next to her.

"Crud, Mildred." Ethel breathed, her heart thudding in her chest. Mildred reached out to stroke the cat's fur. She pulled her hand back in alarm when it crackled at her touch - and watched as red light slowly swirled around the cat's form.

"What did you do, Mildred?!" Ethel spat, "You just had to go and make it worse, didn't you?"

"I didn't do anything! I just touched her-"

Suddenly the red light grew brighter, surrounding the cat's body until it was no longer visible. Then the form started to shift, changing shape and growing larger. Ethel and Mildred skittered backwards on hands and knees, afraid of what might happen.

"What... the…"

The light glowed so brightly that the girls had to shield their eyes, when finally it seemed to explode, winking out of existence. Mildred uncovered her eyes first, and then jumped to her feet. Ethel followed her gaze and gasped in alarm.

Sitting on the floor where Morgana used to be was a young girl, who seemed to barely pass for three years old, sporting jet-black, medium-length hair and cat-yellow eyes.

"Is that…?" Mildred didn't need to finish her question. "Change her back, Ethel!" She turned suddenly, grabbing Ethel by the shoulders and shouting in the loudest whisper she could muster.

"Me?! You're the one that touched her!" Ethel whispered back frantically, pulling away.

"Don't pin this on me, you're the one that wanted to turn me into a cat!" Mildred raised her voice.

"Shhh!" Ethel scolded. "If HB finds out, we're worse than dead." She whispered, eyes darting around the hallway.

Mildred peered over at the little girl, who was watching the squabble with wide-eyed fascination. "At least she's alive." Mildred squeaked.

"We've got to fix this. So for now we're on the same team." Ethel said, grabbing Mildred's hand. "Come here, Morgana." She called to the little girl, who instantly obliged and scuttled over, jumping gracefully into Ethel's arms. "We'll go to my room," she said to Mildred, "HB already thinks you're in yours. That should buy us more time."

The girls ran quickly, it would only be another few minutes until someone noticed how long Ethel and Morgana were gone, or until the assembly ended and everyone would come pouring out into the halls. They reached Ethel's room and swung the door open, dashing inside and slamming it shut.

Safely inside Ethel's room, both girls stopped, panting heavily. Ethel put Morgana on her bed and wrung out her arm – the girl was definitely heavier than a cat. Mildred doubled over, trying to catch her breath.

"What... do we do ...now?" Mildred gasped, her lungs working hard to replenish their air supply.

"I don't know." Ethel whispered, staring at the girl on her bed. Her lip quivered and she blinked back the tears that threatened to escape from her eyes. "I really don't know."

Constance watched as Ethel left the great hall, ponytail swishing. She had faith that the girl would take the lesson seriously and therefore wouldn't embarrass herself or her teacher onstage. A minute after Ethel left, Morgana looked up at Constance and cocked her head. "You may follow her." Constance said to her cat, nodding, and the room filled with excited gasps and whispers as the cat leapt from the deputy's lap and padded out of the room.

This had been at least 15 minutes ago, and as the assembly came to a close, there was still no sign of girl or cat. Constance's eyes narrowed as Miss Cackle announced that the training would be rescheduled and the girls were dismissed.

Now that she could focus her attention elsewhere, Constance concentrated on Morgana's energy, surprised to only find a faint strain. Jumping to her feet, she strode out of the room purposefully, then materialised to the source.

As she appeared in Ethel's room, Constance grew even more confused. Ethel and Mildred jumped up, both standing at attention shoulder to shoulder, and hiding behind them, Constance noticed, was what seemed to be the form of a small girl.

"Ethel Hallow and Mildred Hubble!" Miss Hardbroom boomed, her patience wearing thin, "What on earth is going on?" She spat, exasperated.

The little girl whirled around at the sound of the older witch's voice, pushing through Mildred and Ethel. With a huge smile plastered on her face, she made a mad dash for the woman, nuzzling into her leg. "Mummy!" She squealed excitedly. "It's me, Morgana!"

Miss Hardbroom's face went through a range of emotions that Mildred would never forget. A mixture of nauseating shock, sheer disbelief, intense confusion, and then what seemed like the slightest tinge of amusement took over the usually stony features of her form mistress's face as she peered down at the tiny thing clawing at her dress.

Mildred bit her lip, trying hard not to laugh nervously, while Ethel looked so stricken with anxiety that she might vomit.

Constance raised her hand (at this motion Ethel cowered), and placed it on the little girl's back, patting her a few times before addressing the older girls. "I am waiting for an explanation." She growled through gritted teeth, her words laced with venom. "And it had better be a good one."

A/N: Please let me know your thoughts! Reviews are very much appreciated :)