I stuck near to Severus as a group of Fifth Years passed us and grinned at us, apparently amused that we were so small. It wasn't the first time. Molly, the Prefect, had told me to ignore them but in a new place without my sister, I wasn't feeling too confident. Severus glared hard at them, but that only seemed to annoy them more. I sighed.
Once they had moved off, Severus turned to me. "I've got Potions, next," he told me, slightly miserably. "I'd better go."
I nodded. I didn't really want him to go but it wasn't like I could turn up to a Slytherin and Ravenclaw Potions lesson. "See you soon," I said as I mustered a smile from somewhere. He nodded and made his way off.
It was chilly, actually, in this castle. I huddled my robes around me, trying to get my bearings. I was off to a Charms lesson, which was… that way? Round the corner? Hopefully? I sighed again and moved off.
I was just rounding the corner when I caught sight of a well—groomed tabby cat walking haughtily along the edge of the corridor. I loved that cats were allowed in the castle – my dorm-mate Mary had brought a gorgeous ginger cat with her to Hogwarts and I loved playing with him. Finally, it was something that I recognised from the Muggle world!
I crouched down directly in front of the cat. "Hey little one," I said softly. "Do you want a little stroke? Shall I give you a little cuddle? Good kitty, good kitty…"
The cat stared at me, looking oddly taken aback for a cat. Maybe it hadn't been shown much love recently. It went to move away from me, but I reached out and stroked it, tickling it behind the ears as I went.
But before I had even got to stroking the cat's tail, something odd began to happen. The tabby cat seemed to be… expanding? But… was it… was it turning into my Transfiguration teacher?!
I screamed.
"Miss Evans," said Professor McGonagall curtly, though I noticed that she was blushing slightly, with the tiniest hint of a smile. "I do normally inform students early on of my ability to take cat form. Though I don't believe we've got to that lesson with your class as yet…"
She trailed off. I think the fact that I was now sitting on the floor sobbing might have put her off her speech a little bit.
She sighed. "Come along, Miss Evans, I'll make you a cup of tea in my office."
A/N – it's been ages! I've missed you guys. Just a silly one shot here, hope you like it.