I had never fainted before, not for anything, but this was just too much, and as blackness encroached on my vision, I let it come and I slipped into unconsciousness.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

She shrieked and pointed, “James! Who is that and what did you guys do to her?”
 

Holly gets to know Lily
 

As I leaned over him, I realized he was conscious, but barely.  I repeated my question from earlier, “What happened?”
 

My only memories of the night before were of the transformation.  The pain.  I think I threw up. What else had I done? Was I still a monster if I had no memory of being one?
                Yes.
 
 
 

He howled in laughter and pulled off to the berm.  I jumped off the bike and immediately sat in the grassy landscaping along the road.  Holding onto the blades of grass with my fingers and generally soaking up the feeling of being on the ground, I eventually relaxed.
 

“I don’t know why you were so upset last night Lily, so just start at the beginning.”

“Oh Holly, if I start at the beginning, I’ll be telling you my life’s story.”
 

Frank and Alice's Wedding
 

Sirius stood up and snatched the Daily Prophet from Remus’ hands.  “Hey there, Moony, surprised you don’t have ink on your nose.”
 

   Remus frowned but didn’t reply.  Sirius continued, “You’ve been hiding behind this all morning. And ignoring us to boot.”

“Holly?” I looked up to see Remus waving his hand and hearing the door shut, “come here.”

“This Animagus thing is great.  Its a blessing, because the animal, it doesn’t let me overthink anything.  When I’m Padfoot, it really frees up my mind.  Untangles it.”

I nodded, “Probably not a worry to be had except who will give you your next belly rub?”

He chuckled a bit, “Exactly.”  Then lapsed into silence.

I straightened up and gathered myself to ask if anything was wrong when I made eye contact with her.

I knew her.

Warning: There is strong profanity in this chapter.

Standing once again, I finished the perimeter of the room.  A mere two paces each wall with no possible exit besides the stairs.  No shelves on the walls, no ornamentation that could even hint where I was.  I found the stairs again and felt my way up them on my hands and knees.  Eleven steps total, and at the top, I was again met with seamless stone.