I haven't changed into a cat since the first time, I'm too worried about the consequences, but this time, I need to. I tried going down to the vampire part of the academy the other day and got so many dirty looks that I don't plan on doing it again. A small part of me hurts at the memory. I thought I'd gained some respect there thanks to my stunt standing up for a vampire in the canteen, but apparently not. And I'd been a coward and run away.
But not this time. My presentation with Heath is tomorrow and we need to go through the feedback from Professor Phillips, as well as practice one last time. I'm fairly confident in what we've created, but I don't want to risk our grade on me being sure of myself while the rest of the class may have listened to the feedback and done better. It's top of the class or nothing.
Which brings me back to having to turn myself into a cat. It's the easiest way of getting around unnoticed. At least, that's my theory. There's a chance it won't work that way.
"Alright, let's do this," I say to myself. I don't pull out my wand this time. If what I read in the book is right, then I should be able to cast the spell without my wand, which will let it travel with me. I hope it works because I can't imagine being without it for a few hours. It's like removing a limb and then having to learn without it.
I concentrate on a mental image of the cat Heath showed me a photo of and wait for the tingles to spread over my body. They come quicker than I expect and I shrink in size, the fur, ears and tail sprouting from me. This time the extra extremities feel right, but that's because they're attached to the body they're supposed to be.
Why didn't I leave my door open? I need to think this through more next time I do it. The window it is.
I leap up onto the desk, marvelling at the ease of the motion. It really is nice to be a cat. The windowsill is next, and I jump that one with ease too, slipping out of the open window and running along the stonework of the academy. I know I need to head down to get to the vampire part, but I need to find another entry point for that.
The academy poses no obstacle for me. I dart in through an open door and slink along the shadows. There aren't many students about, but those that aren't don't even notice me. It's not just the grace of a cat that I have, it's the stealthiness too. I have to wonder if there's a way I can tap into this while I'm a human.
The vampire corridors have more students around, which makes it more of a challenge to get through without anyone noticing me. It's one I'm more than willing to rise to the challenge of.
A voice catches my attention. I recognise it, and I’m instantly drawn in its direction.
"...I just need him to forget about the witch and we'll be able to move on," Emma says to her friend, a calculating note in her voice.
I creep forward, darting behind a bookshelf, I position myself so I can see her, before realising I'm too small to be able to see her face. That takes away some of the effectiveness of what I'm doing, but at least I can still hear what she's saying and not be noticed.
Though I'm not sure what she'll do if she does see me. As far as she knows, I'm just a random cat that got in and should be ignored. At least, that's what I'm banking on.
"Why is he still so fixated on her?" Emma's friend asks, taking me off guard. I almost forgot what I'm hiding to try and listen to.
"I don't know. I hope its just because she's different. It's not going to last. Heath knows we're meant to be together." Well then, there's no doubt who the guy she's talking about is any more, that's for certain.
"What are you going to do about it?" The friend sounds uneasy.
"The only thing I can do, I'm going to get her expelled."
I hiss, but no one notices. She wants to get me expelled just because I like the same guy she does? That's ridiculous. It's not my fault Heath likes me better.
Huh, alright, maybe it is. But it's just because we're a better match and nothing else.
"Is she really that bad?" the friend asks.
Hmm. Maybe she'll be my friend in the future. I appreciate the way she's standing up for me even if we've never met. "I heard she stood up to a vampire in the canteen the other day."
I don't need to be able to see Emma's face to see the scowl there. Emma knows exactly what happened because she was there. She doesn't need anyone to remind her.
"It's all just a front. She's only doing it to try and trick Heath into liking her."
Guilt floods through me. There's some hint of truth in that. It isn't why I stood up for the vampire, but I was in the canteen so Heath saw me with Bradley and thought we were together. If I were in human form, I'd snort in amusement. It seems that wasn't as necessary as I first thought.
"Then she shouldn't be here," the friend whispers.
Bye-bye future friendship. We have nothing else in common. It's a shame. Things were going so well in my head.
"No, she shouldn't, and I'm going to make sure she doesn't stay here any longer."
"But how? Are you going to get your parents to talk to the Dean?"
"No. That's never going to work. The Dean will just point out that she has a great academic record and he'll take it under advisement. We need to make sure something happens that she gets the blame for." I can hear the calculation in her voice, but there's nothing I can do about it right now.
Except get to Heath. Once I'm there, he can help me sort through what to do about the words I'm overhearing.
"Then what?"
Yes, what? I need Emma to answer her friend. The more I know, the easier it's going to be for me to do something to counter it. Maybe I should get her expelled.
I chase the idea away the moment it's entered my mind. I don't need that kind of karma in my life. She can keep her position at Grimalkin, even if it's only me that knows I'm the bigger person.
Emma doesn't answer, or maybe she did with some kind of gesture, and the two of them walk away from my hiding place.
Alright then. I guess there's only one thing left for me to do. I need to go find Heath and then I can ask him what to do about the situation. He knows Emma far better than I do, which means he stands a chance at undoing whatever damage she has planned.