Deeper Than I Thought
Waiting to Change
"Don't worry, dear, it will be back to normal," said Madam Pomfrey comfortingly, toying with the ginger beard in her hands, placing a green substance on it. It smelled horrible and made me even angrier than before. "I think you'll have to stay here, though, before it…erm, grows away." Then she straightened up, gave me one last glance and left with the bottle of the greensubstance I now had all over me. Turning on the bed, I spotted my reflection in a mirror and was surprised it didn't crack. I had a long frizzy mustache from under my nose down to my knees. I could easily give Dumbledore a run for his money. Yes, I am a girl and I have a mustache, and with no thanks to Sirius Black and his stupid friends.
Throwing myself back on the bed, I crossed my legs on and put my hands into fists. One would think they would leave me alone since I am a fellow Gryffindor in their same year, but no, I was on their exclusive list of prank targets and it wasn't easy. Perhaps it was because of my giant square glasses with thick black frames, without which I was temporarily blind. Or it could be due to my frizzy murky brown hair that stood out at odd angles in the morning. It was not thick or silky, just messed up like a bird's nest. Or it may have been due to the fact that I am clumsier than a drunken house-elf, although most of the time it could have easily been the furniture getting in my way too much. At least that's what I always told myself. To put it simply, the Marauders loved to make fun of me. They never hurt me, no; they just mortally humiliated me on regular basis in front of our entire house and school. Why? I could never tell.
As I was trying to think about it, my mind traveled back into my first days of school when I met all of them.
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. I read that somewhere, though I cannot remember where. The point is, those words remained encrypted in my memory forever. My life was boring until I got my letter and everything changed. I had hopes and dreams and Hogwarts was a place where they could be fulfilled. I dreamed of friends, love, magic and adventures on every step.
None of my dreams have been really fulfilled yet; many times it was more like a nightmare. I was pretty clueless and for some odd reason, it was hard to get people to like me. Only Lily did, but she liked everyone, no matter what was wrong with them. Except maybe James Potter. In his case, Lily's kindness could never prevail above the resentment. In second year, we made it our mission to detest the Marauders and their ways, although at times we betrayed this resolution when laughing too hard after a brilliant prank pulled on Slytherins. I had to admit that their pranks were the best ones, as long as they didn't concern me, which, unfortunately, they did many times.
As we grew upand got older, things changed, just as they always do. Lily became beautiful, smart, and, much to her displeasure, James Potter's love interest. But he was not the only one crushing after her. Many guys were. Who would not, though? She had long red hair and gorgeous emerald green eyes. But what really stood out about her was her enchanting personality. When she was around, people smiled, even if they didn't really have a reason. In addition, she would help anyone in need, even a Slytherin, unlike the rest of us sane Gryffindors. But this again may exclude James Potter since she once confessed she dreams of releasing flesh-eating forks after him. I, on the other hand, kind of scared people away. I wasn't mean or anything, just too sarcastic and cynical for my own good, I guess.
Then there were the Marauders. They weretop in all of their classes, yet still having enough free time to think up crazy and stupid ideas. They were quite popular amongst Hogwarts students, what with their good looks, sense of humor and lively attitude was not to be questioned. I admit that for a short time, I really wished I could hang out with them, but too bad. Unlike them, I was the exact opposite of the word popular. My hair never changed, I couldn't get contacts because I was allergic and I was still too clumsy. McGonagall never again asked me to hand out parchment for a test after I tripped over Potter's bag (which coincidentally found its way right under my feet), andsent the parchments flying all over the classroom. My wand fell out and accidentally made the cage with an owl in it dance, causing great havoc to last half a day since it jumped out of the classroom and threatened students' lives.
I didn't have much luck with boys either. Lily told me they were stupid not to see my true beauty, but I didn't blame them. Not even I could see my beauty, because she was hiding behind my giant spectacles. People even had a hard time remembering my name.
I was walking to a class from lunch one day with Lily when some Hufflepuff ran up to us and flashed Lily his bright smile. "Hey, Lily, I've been looking for you," he said happily, looking awed that he had found her.
Lily grinned back at him, turning a slight shade of pink – he was her first real boyfriend. "Do you need anything?"
"Well, not really. I just wondered whether you'd go for a walk after dinner tonight? I just had a great time in Hogsmeade with you and I'd like to spend some more time with you."
Smiling even more, Lily nodded. "Of course. I'd like that. Oh, this is LeAnn, by the way," Lily said, pointing at me. I tried to suppress a smile and extended my hand, but the boy merely glanced at me and looked back to Lily.
"Okay then. I'm very excited. I'll wait for you outside the Great Hall. Bye." And with that, he kissed her on the cheek and walked off, calling, "Bye Lily and, um, Lana."
So I was Lana and throughout the years I've been Lara, Laura, Lena and many others. Only James Potter called me Frizz, which I hated.
Six years have passed quickly and things like discovering ants in my bed or finding out my hair is suddenly green after coming out of the Potion's classroom where I sat right in front of Black became regular and I got so used to them, I hardly flinched when bats attacked me, and I checked my bed every night. But the Marauders never failed to come up with new ways on how to make me look like an idiot. Today, for instance, Black made me grow a mustache that kept growing and growing until it nearly strangled me and that's why I was in the Hospital Wing, staring at the ceiling, wondering why was I so invisible to people and they only saw me when I was made fun of. Maybe there was something wrong with me. I remembered that as a child I used to smell my clothes in case they were reeking badly. And I also cried a lot. Lily was always there to comfort me, but what did she understand? She was so gorgeous, intelligent and liked. I used to feel sorry for myself a lot, but I don't anymore. Now I'm just very angry with Black and Potter and Lupin and Pettigrew. I'll get back at them.
Some might say I hated them, but in reality I did not. Deep inside I admired them. They were the bravest, most loyal bunch on the school, true Gryffindors; even Pettigrew, if he really tried. I guess I was just jealous and angry at them for never giving me a chance.
Shaking my head, trying to get them out of my mind, I picked up my wand from my bedside table and closed the curtains around my bed, just in case I might frighten some first year that might wander here. Taking down my glasses and placing them on the bedside table, the world around me became an instant blur.
Falling asleep, I imagined Black getting hit by his beloved bludger. When he fell off the Gryffindor tower six times, right into the lake, where he was eaten by the giant squid, I woke up with a start, hearing strange sounds from behind my curtains. It sounded as though the walls of the Hospital Wing moved all around. Opening my eyes lazily, I sat up. I yawned and noticed that my beard had shortened a great deal since I fell asleep, yet it was still a few inches long.
Then I looked around and saw nothing but the curtains closed around my bed. A new day was dawning and small sunrays peeked through the small gaps in the curtains. Listening intently, I tried to catch every sound, but nothing or no one seemed to be there. I must've just imagined it, so I laid back on the back and shut my eyes, trying to fall back asleep.
"Ouch! Padfoot, you just stepped on my foot!" I heard a hushed voice.
"Sorry, mate, I didn't see it."
"Watch it! That was my eye your wand made contact with."
Those voices were too familiar. Anger was building up inside me. Sitting up abruptly, I took my wand from under my pillow, ready to hex them. With my other hand I found my glasses and placed them on my eyes, the edges of my surroundings becoming sharper.
Why would they be there anyway? Surely to slip some cockroaches into my hair. But this time I would be ready.
"He's here, look!" I could never mistake that smooth and annoying sound of Black's voice. But who's 'he'?
Their footsteps shuffled around until they settled a few beds away from mine.
"He looks terrible," squeaked Pettigrew, fright coming from his voice. Raising my eyebrows, I was interested in what was happing. Standing as quietly as I could, which was a great success in my case since I could never get off the bed without getting tangled in the covers and falling down on my nose, I tiptoed to the curtains and peeked through the small gap between them.
The sun was peeking over the horizon, the Hospital Wing bathed in the morning autumn glow. Turns out 'he' was Remus Lupin, lying limply on a bed, bandaged and so pale it frightened me. From what I heard, he left tonight to see his ill mother, just as he does once every month. Could he possibly have been attacked?
Black, Potter and Pettigrew were circled around his bed, concern in their eyes. They, too, looked ragged, as if after a harsh battle, for their clothes were torn at the sides and Black's arm was bleeding. What in Godric's name were they doing?
Black arched his neck to check the door for Madam Pomfrey and then glanced back at Lupin.
"Tonight was a close one," he said quietly and I had to shift a bit forward in order to hear. "He's getting stronger every full moon."
Wondering what the full moon had to do with all this, and suddenly it all dawned on me. My heart was thumping against my ribcage loudly; I was worried it would give me away. Full moon, Lupin's absences, his wounds, his pale face…he had all the symptoms and I never saw it before. Could Remus Lupin possibly be a werewolf?
I looked fearfully back at the bed where he was sleeping, as if worrying he might jump out of it and rip my throat. But nothing of that sort happened. He looked harmless and reserved as ever before; it was hard to believe this boy turns into a bloodthirsty beast every month.
"Are you alright?" Potter asked, jerking his head in the direction of Black's wound.
"Yup," he replied, screwing up his face in pain. "But it will be better like this." And then, without a warning or anything, there was no Sirius Black, but a giant shaggy dog standing there. I felt my jaw drop and heartbeatquicken. Black…was…an…animagus!
Chuckling, Potter crouched down and ruffled the fur on the dog's head. The dog then laid down and licked his wound while I gaped at him with my mouth open and eyes wide. Suddenly, a rat was running all around the dog, squeaking, and by normal circumstances I would shriek, but these were no normal circumstances. How did the rat get there?
"Not so loud, Peter," Potter said, addressing those words to the rat. But then I noticed Pettigrew was no longer standing by Lupin's bed, but…could it be? As if the scene wasn't ridiculous enough, in a blink of an eye, a magnificent stag was standing in Potter's place, prancing about. He then walked to Lupin's bed, lowered its head with big antlers and nudged Lupin's head softly with his nose. Something that would look very sweet if Black, Potter and Pettigrew weren't unregistered animagi and Lupin a werewolf!
Thoughts raced through my head so fast I hardly registered them. The Marauders were always up to something and they had many secrets, which they didn't share with anyone besides each other, but I never thought it could be something like this. My ears were buzzing, but that may have been due to the little ugly fly flying around my head. I tried to get it away by waving my hand at it, but it didn't stop bothering me.
As I watched them for a bit longer, my eyebrows furrowed, the fly kept nagging at my face, until it landed on my nose and buzzed annoyingly, and I felt a very uncomfortable tickling in my nose.
I sneezed, lunging forward. I tried to grab hold of the curtains in a last frantic attempt to save the situation, but the curtains gave away and I turned on my heel, getting tangled in them, falling to the ground with a thud. It took me a while before I could release my head and look up, seeing Black, Potter and Pettigrew towering above me, back in their human form, with their wands raised, shocked expressions on their faces.
Obviously I was in trouble. But so were they!
If you could please review. I would really appreciate it. :)