"Well then" Meredith clasped her hands together purposefully "Now you have been house trained I suppose we can go and find your friend. He may be of some use to us"
Nicola had almost forgotten James momentarily, caught up in the excitement of potentially gaining magic powers of her own. But she was relieved Meredith hadn't.
"Yes Mistress, thank you" Nicola answered deferentially.
"Well, I suppose we had better find some clothes for you first. Hold still a moment"
Meredith seemed to pause thoughtfully for a moment then waved her arm at Nicola. Somehow, instantaneously, the young woman found herself fully clothed.
"Very nice" Meredith smiled, licking her lips and pulling Nicola in front of a mirror excitedly "What do you think?"
Nicola tried her best to appear grateful. This was not attire she would have chosen herself. Thigh high leather boots, the tiniest of mini skirts and a tight, low cut top, all in black. But there was more. Her hair was now also black, rather than brown and flowed halfway down her back. It wasn't the only thing that had grown either, she felt sure she had gained a few inches in height and her already vuluptuous boobs seemed to have swollen by a bra size or too as well. Nicola was sure the old crone fancied her now. She just needed to figure out how to play the situation to her advantage.
"There" Meredith drew close behind Nicola so she was almost whispering in her ear as she clasped her hands on the young womans shoulders "better?"
"Um....yes. Mistress" Nicola smiled unconvincingly.
Nicola hoped nobody she knew would see her dressed like this as she left the shop. There was a small nature reserve out the back populated by any number of critters. It seemed one of them was James.
"Well, aren't you going to fetch your friend?" Meresith asked.
"Sure" Nicola began "But, um, where and what is he?"
Meredith smiled "You said you wanted powers and I have granted you some, modest though they may be for now. See if you can work it out."
Nicola felt a surge of excitement run through her body. She had powers? She scanned the area hoping for a sign of her friend. It felt impossible - was the old hag messing with her?
"Think about it" Meredith encouraged.
Nicola shut her eyes and concentrated for a few moments. Suddenly it was there, clear as day. James was a mouse! Not only that, but she knew exactly where he was without even searching for him. Running over to a patch of grass by a tree she crouched down by a rather ordinary looking white mouse.
"This is James!" She almost squealed in excitement as she clasped her hands around her friend.
"Very good" Meredith nodded "Now bring him inside. I'm going to teach you some magic"