Leisurely walking along the path toward the Forbidden Forest, Evans was trailed by a large, floating basin filled with fresh fish and chicken breast.
"It's so much easier to restock in the Muggle world," he muttered, half amused. "Just exchange a few pounds and you can fill the fridge. In the wizarding world, you have to hunt magical livestock yourself."
He glanced back at the floating supplies and grumbled, "Still, Hogwarts is over a hundred miles from the nearest Muggle town. Flying on a broom takes too long. Maybe I should practise Apparition a bit more."
Then another thought bubbled up: "Professor Flitwick mentioned some yak-summoning spell last month. Does it really work? Or is it just spatial summoning and not true Conjuration? If it's conjuring matter from nothing, that's basically heresy against the Barnaby Summoning Principle... I have to ask him about that."
Lost in his own musings, Evans glanced around and realised he was almost at the cats' new home.
Since the day Norberta crashed out of the sky, he'd had to relocate the cats. Just seeing the Whomping Willow's clearing made them anxious. No amount of coaxing could get them to trust the place again.
But the new spot wasn't bad at all. It was a wide clearing about two kilometres from the castle that had once been home to Nifflers. Nana had already helped the Nifflers move their golden tree to a new location, so the land was now open and peaceful.
Evans had chosen the place purposefully: it sat right between a herd of Thestrals and the centaur settlement. With those two powerhouses as neighbours, no dark creature would dare lurk nearby. For a clowder of cats, it was about as safe as the edge of the Forbidden Forest could get.
The only thing lacking was entertainment, but Evans wasn't worried. After all, cats were perfectly content just lounging around.
Just as he parted the last set of bushes and looked ahead, Evans stopped short.
Was this the right place?
He glanced around, baffled. He'd never gotten lost in the Forbidden Forest before, and he was certain this clearing was the one he chose for the cats.
But something was off. There, just beyond the low grass, was a structure that hadn't existed yesterday.
…
A few minutes earlier.
"Evans really let you all live somewhere like this?"
McGonagall surveyed the clearing, unimpressed. There were a few makeshift shelters and nothing else. She couldn't see a single comfort or source of entertainment for the cats.
"For us, this is already paradise, meow!" the little black cat purred, standing proudly among her citizens.
She looked around at the other cats, her expression content. "We don't need toys or amusement; having a safe place is enough. Back in the forest, every day was dangerous. We were always hiding or running. Here, we finally don't have to worry."
Hearing this, McGonagall's expression softened a little.
She flexed her fingers around her wand, her resolve only growing. If Evans promised to care for these cats, then he could do better than this!
"Gather your citizens over to the side," she instructed. "Leave the clearing empty for me."
"What are you going to do, meow?" the little black cat asked, her eyes curious and bright.
Following orders, the black cat and her group made their way over with apprehensive excitement, leaving McGonagall standing alone in the open clearing.
She lifted her wand, eyes narrowing in focus.
In front of the little black cat's astonished gaze, the makeshift huts and even the earth beneath her paws began to twist and warp. Trees bowed and melted into new shapes. Stone burst from soil.
Within moments, a miniature castle rose from the earth. Towers unfurled. Steps assembled. Its silhouette looked like a scaled-down Hogwarts, yet every archway, corridor, and window was designed with feline proportions and tastes in mind.
The cats, startled at first, soon meowed and spilt in to explore every corner.
"I was in a rush," McGonagall admitted with a sigh, critiquing her own work with a critical eye. "If I'd had more time, I could have made it larger, maybe closer to Hogwarts itself. But transfiguring this much in one casting is no small feat."
She pocketed her wand. "Still, it'll do. At least now you have a real home."
McGonagall studied her handiwork with a fiercely protective look. The surrounding woods were thin enough to see beyond, but... "Evans didn't even set up any protective wards? This is still the edge of the Forbidden Forest. For a bunch of cats, there's danger everywhere."
The little black cat opened her mouth, about to argue, but a familiar voice called out nearby.
"Professor, it's less than two miles from Hogwarts! Between the centaur tribe and the Thestrals, what dark creature in their right mind would risk this patch of woods?" Evans emerged, floating basin in hand, surveying the new castle with awe. "And your transfiguration! It's just... mind-blowing."
He set the basin down and looked at McGonagall. She folded her arms, still a little annoyed. "Evans, you're too quick to trust the status quo. Even with guardians nearby, you can never completely rule out attacks. Cats are fragile. They need more than luck."
"I heard you're holding the Magical Creatures Club assessment this Saturday."
Evans grinned, giving the little black cat a fond pat. "That's right! Would you like to come, Professor? Harry will probably bring her along, too."
McGonagall hesitated. "I may need to meet with a Transfiguration master that day. Teaching materials, you know how it is," she said, catching the black cat's disappointed face. She softened and added, "But I'll make it. I might just arrive a little late."
"As long as you show up, meow!" the little black cat said, her tail flicking with delight, and turned to organise her subjects and help Evans unload the feast.
Evans watched the cats swarming over the miniature castle, and an idea struck him.
"Professor, what if the castle itself was part of the club assessment?" he mused aloud. "It'd be the perfect challenge and reward for anyone hoping to join."