James looked at Nicola the pig in amazement, knowing it really was her and he had made her that way. Part of him had enjoyed having this much power over his friend and it was pretty funny seeing her in this form but nonetheless he knew this was wrong.
"Well, i'd better try that reversal spell I guess" James admitted, suddenly realising he was probably moments away from seeing his crush naked and on all fours.
"Oh, that won't work for at least 72 hours" Meredith replied casually.
"What? So she's stuck as a pig for three days?!" James retorted in horror.
"It's not me who turned her into one" Meredith shrugged "I can sell you that book at a very reasonable price. Keep her away from the butchers until Monday and you can restore her to her old self easily enough. Though why you would want to is a mystery"
"No, I don't want the book thanks. Way too much responsibility" the young man was visibly in a quandary "Can I come back here and restore her when she's ready? I'll pay you"
"It's on the house. Least I can do" Meredith smiled slightly unconvincingly.
"Thanks" James scratched his head "Just not sure what to do with a pig until then. And people will wonder where she is"
"Don't panic" Somehow just the tone of Merediths voice seemed to calm and convince James "I can cast a spell which will make everyone forget your friends existance until she is human again. And I have a friend of my own who will be able to look after her until that time."
Meredith seemed to make a card appear as if from nowhere and thrust it into James' hand. It was for a farm he hadn't heard of before even though it was only a few streets away.
"Thanks I really appreciate it" James smiled. Meredith nodded kindly in acknowledgement.
As James left the store with the pig in tow the shopkeeper sorceress rolled her eyes and cackled to herself.
After a slightly awkward and attention grabbing walk James and Nicola arrived at the small, unremarkable looking farm.
"Well, what do we have here?" the farmhand looked down at the pig with a disinterested expression. Nicola snorted. James wasn't sure, but it seemed her human mind was unaltered and he knew how awful three days of living on a pig farm would be for her. But he had no choice. And she had challenged him to transform her after dragging him into the creepy shop and breaking Meredith's stuff. This was her own fault. Kind of.
"This is Nicola. Please look after her, she's a friend of...erm, a friendly pig" he corrected himself. The farmhand shrugged.
"Meredith said you would help" James explained.
"Ah, one of Meredith's eh?" The burly man's eyes had lit up at the very mention of her name and he seemed far more accomodating now "Well she's welcome here then. Don't worry we'll certainly look after her!"
"Um, thanks. I'll be back in three days" James called after the man who was already walking away with a squealing Nicola dragging behind him. James hoped he had done the right thing as he made his way home.