Chapter Three: Transformation
"Serena! Let's go! We're leaving in ten minutes."
"Yeah, yeah." I muttered, before yelling back: "I'll be right there!"
I sighed deeply and turned back to the small suitcase sitting on my bed. I'd already packed three pairs of jeans, several t-shirts, a green sweater, sneakers, my toothbrush, and a book. But there were just a few more things I had left to pack. I smirked to myself and began digging around under my bed, searching for the secret loose floorboard.
"Serena, have you seen my- what are you doing?" Chandra had entered my room, without knocking, like usual.
"Nothing!" I said, straightening up and brushing off my shirt. "Looking for… a pair of socks."
She rolled her eyes at me. "Still packing? You're even worse than Tristan."
I scowled at her. "Did you need something, or did you just want to pester me?"
"Oh yes. Have you my hair smoothing potion? I can't find it."
"No," I lied. "Why would I want that?"
"I dunno. Sorry, just wondering." She turned to leave, back to her room which was conjoined to my own through a shared bathroom. "You'd better hurry."
"I know, I know. Don't worry."
She turned and left, her less-than-smooth hair bouncing behind her. Truth was I had taken it, but for a much better cause than asinine silliness like hair.
Every summer we spent one week at the Burrow with all of our Weasley "cousins". All of them. As much as I loved everybody and the Burrow, it still made me feel grateful for the Manor and my own (blessedly small) family afterwards.
I listened intently as Chandra left her room and clunked down the stairs with her suitcase. As soon as it seemed clear, I fell back onto my stomach with a thud and dug under my bed for the secret compartment. Ripping off the cover board, I yanked out a three sided mirror, Chandra's half-empty bottle of hair potion, and a small transportable cauldron.
I tucked the hair potion under my jeans, and laid the mirror on my bed for now. Using Super-Strength Spell-o Tape, I tried to secure the lid of the lightweight black pot. If it leaked I was dead. Probably pretty literally. I pushed that thought to the back of my head and shoved the cauldron into my suitcase.
Done. I reached for the mirror still sitting on my bed and folded it open, revealing the three sides.
"Vivian Kwan. Zelda Renaldi. Alexandria Lee."
The mirror's three faces glowed red for a moment, and then I was looking at the insides of a bedroom on two panels and blackness on a third.
"Guys," I hissed, waiting impatiently. The blackness on one disappeared as Vivian opened her mirror and appeared in the panel.
"Hey, Serena." I smiled at her.
Zelda soon appeared in her side, then Alexa right after her, the latter yawning and stretching.
"Wazzadeal? Why so early guys?" Alexa asked, still bleary eyed.
"Alexandria, it is nearly noon," Vivian snapped at her, her eyes shifting to that panel.
The three-way mirrors had been constructed and enchanted by Zelda about midway through last year. We'd been completely wrapped up in our business and trying to stay afloat in school, and Zelda found little ways (like this one) to help us.
"You all know I'm leaving in a matter of minutes," I began. "And I don't know when I'll be able to talk to you again until school starts. I just wanted to make sure we were all still set."
"You couldn't talk your parents out of it?" Zelda asked, looking concerned. The health risks associated with this whole endeavor seemed to weigh more heavily on her than us. It certainly looked like she hadn't been sleeping lately. "This is the critical week."
I shook my head. "They can't know that, obviously. And there was no talking them out of it."
"Are you going to be okay?" Vivian asked, concerned.
"Sure," I said, waving off her worries, exuding confidence I didn't feel. "In such a large, labyrinthine house it's pretty easy to sneak off."
"Is it now?"
"Shut up Alexa."
"But seriously," I continued. "Are you all set? Are we ready?"
Both heads nodded at me, and Zelda watched, chewing her lip.
"Good," I said. "Then… I guess we'll all see what happens. Midnight Friday."
There was a sudden crashing and the sound of doors slamming from downstairs.
"I've got to go," I said. "Good luck everyone."
They waved at me then popped off screen as I ended the connection. Shoving the mirror (carefully) in my suitcase, I snapped it closed and left my room. I paused in the space outside my bedroom. It was a small sitting room filled with two Victorian couches and several bookcases. I could see the staircase leading downstairs through the open door. Behind me were the doorways to Chandra's and my own bedrooms.
I paused, thinking. It wasn't technically illegal, right? In my parent's home at least. Where they were responsible for keeping track of my use.
Throwing caution to the winds, I pulled out my wand and tapped my suitcase, whispering a locking spell. Just in case.
Down the stairs, Dad was finishing getting the luggage into the car. I handed him my suitcase and he threw it in. Mom usually insisted that we drive to the Burrow. Probably for sentimental reasons. I didn't get it, personally.
I turned back and looked that the house one last time, sighing. The Manor stood like a stately but aging gentleman, outlined against the bright blue sky and half-covered in crawling ivy.
Dad came up behind me, clapping a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm not sure why you resisted this time," he said. "You usually have so much fun with your cousins."
"I know," I said, sighing.
"I hope you can put that behind you and have a good time anyway."
I peered up at him from under my hair. "Only if you can."
He smirked at me, opened his mouth, shook his head, and turned back to get into the car. Dad loved Mum, and that was probably the only reason she was able to drag him to the Burrow so often. He was usually harassed the whole week.
Tristan and Mum finally caught up with us, arguing as they walked. Tristan was still clutching his broom, obviously pleading, and she was shaking her head firmly.
Dad stepped out of the car. "'Mione, he's taking it. We have this discussion every time. He flies at school all the time, and doesn't get hurt there. Plus he needs to practice. It's his seventh year."
"Thank you!" Tristan said, throwing up his hands and getting in the car.
I sighed. This was sure going to be an interesting vacation.
"Hermione! It's so good to see you again!" Grandmother Weasley came running out to meet us, gripping my mother into a hug. "It's been ages. You really should come more often- or for longer at least."
She turned to my dad, suddenly going cold. "Malfoy."
He grinned sheepishly. "Hello Molly. Always a joy to see you again."
"It's Mrs. Weasley to you." She turned to my brother, and my parents walked into the house. He obviously didn't know I was following behind with my suitcase, because he leaned over to talk into Mum's ear.
"It's like I'm apologizing for marrying you. Did I ever tell you how legitimately scared I was she would castrate me after I got you pregnant?"
She snorted and thwacked his arm.
"Honestly!"
I screwed up my face in disgust, then carefully placed my suitcase down behind a couch and ran to greet everyone. The living room and kitchen was empty so I went outside, where groups of red-haired folks were standing around chatting. One messy black-haired head stood out
"Albus!" I yelled, running across the lawn. People knew well enough to get out of our way.
"Serena!" He turned just in time for me to hit him. We collapsed, laughing hysterically, as the my momentum pushed us over. He pushed me over and I pushed back, and we were rolling around like the six year olds we still half-were inside. He finally trapped me, holding my hands above my head and pinning my legs under each other awkwardly with one knee.
He stared down at me, grinning triumphantly. "Give in Malfoy."
I stared back up at him, in his stupidly twinkling green eyes. I felt myself suddenly start blushing (blushing?) and the deep weight of embarrassment settled in my stomach.
"Umm… Yeah." I said, trying to look at something that wasn't his head. "Fine Potter."
"Don't be a bad sport," he said, finally getting off of me, and offering a hand to help me up.
"Where's Fred?" I asked.
"He was pestering my sister a minute ago, but he might be over by the cakes now…" Albus said, turning to try and find him. I squinted. The glare of orange was blinding me.
My question was answered for me when a pair of arms suddenly grabbed me from behind and starting twirling me around. I screamed delightedly and elbowed the body behind me, forcing him to drop me to rub his stomach. I fell on my bottom painfully.
"Hey Serena," he said, grimacing and still rubbing his abdomen. "Good to see you too."
I smiled good naturedly. "Always a pleasure Fred."
I stood up and Lily joined us. She had the same dark hair as her brother (but in much better care of course) and the same warmly mischievous brown eyes as her mother and eldest brother.
"What are you three up to?" she asked, leering at us. "You'd better not start anything, Grandma will be furious. And we're going to eat cake soon."
"Cake?" Fred asked, looking around as if it might drop out of the sky.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Serena- are you in our room? Do you want to bring up your stuff?"
"Oh, sure," I said, about to follow her, when we were interrupted by two tumbling, gangly figures.
"What's the big idea, Potter?"
"You know what you did Malfoy!"
All four of us were caught in the crossfire of the two arguing boys. Having just passed their Apparation Exams, they kept popping in and out of sight as they chased each other.
I made quick eye contact with Al and Fred, silently communicating my plan. They nodded, and when one of the two forms passed close to me, I kicked the legs out from under them, landing them on their bum.
"Fred!" The red-head jumped on top of the vulnerable body, pinning him. I looked over to see Albus and Lily had completed the same with the second boy.
Lily and I glared down at our brothers. Tristan Malfoy and James Potter grinned cheekily back up at us.
"What is going on?" Lily demanded.
"Nothing!"
"He took my broomstick and hid it somewhere."
"I did no such thing! You've simply lost it."
"No, it's true, he took it," I said, turning to Lily. "My brother's left eyebrow always twitches like that when he's lying."
Tristan glowered at me from under his blonde bangs. "You're no fun Serena."
"Sure I am," I said, smiling. "Just not when you threaten to get in the way of Grandma Weasley's famous chocolate cake."
The pair got up and dusted themselves off.
"You know…" Lily said, "for boys about to start their seventh year, you two are still an awful lot like third years."
"Watch it, you," said James said. He had the identically orange Weasley hair. How in the world that gene slipped through the Uncle Harry's supposedly dominant genes for darker hair, I'm still wondering.
Fred had mysteriously disappeared a few minutes prior, and the three Potters were called away by their mother, so I wandered off to try to find my sister. I found her chatting with Daniel Weasley, Uncle Ron and Aunt Chloe's only son. He went to Beauxbatons, since the family lived in France, where Chloe was in charge of Madame Rouge's- a famous Wizarding beauty products line.
Daniel was flipping his strawberry blonde hair as he talked. Chandra was watching him, mouth slightly open and eyes glazed over. I smirked slightly. Chloe was quarter Veela (still not sure how Uncle Ron managed to convince her to marry him), so Daniel's French accent and contemptuous French sneer had a kind of gravitating pull. Or so I'd heard.
"Come on Chay," I said, grabbing her elbow. "Let's go up to our room."
"Wha- No, I—" I dragged the squirming and arguing girl up after me to the room we shared with Lily, hauling my heavy suitcase in the other hand.
Lily came up to join us after a few minutes. She sighed and flipped her shiny black hair over her shoulder, then turned to us, excitement shining on her face. She turned to the two of us and let out an thrilled squeal and we found ourselves squished into one of her hugs.
"Lily- I can't breathe," I said, gasping and heaving for dramatic emphasis.
"Oh shut up," she mumbled, her voice muffled in somebody's shoulder. She pulled back and looked at us. "I've missed you two," she said. I couldn't help the smile that spread over my face and the warmth that spread through me. We weren't even technically related, and I was her enemy- an evil Slytherin to her proud Gryffindor roots yet that never stopped her.
"So- what are we doing tonight?" she asked, turning to her bed to unpack.
"Well…" my sister instantly began listing off possibilities.
"Serena- aren't you going to unpack?" my sister asked me.
"Uhh, nah, not right now," I said, throwing myself on my bed to mask the sudden anxiety I felt.
Chandra still let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head.
As much as I had tried to deny it when talking to my three comrades, there was honest and serious danger associated with what we were about to do. What I was about to do. This would change our lives forever- and even if it went perfectly well, there could still be serious repercussions. And if it wrong… I closed my eyes and forced the thought out of my head. It wouldn't go wrong. It couldn't. If it did, I'd never forgive myself. It was all my idea, after all.
You have to do this, I thought, steeling myself. It was for Zelda. She'd do the same for you.
But despite my convictions, a certain paragraph came floating back at me from my memory. One damn paragraph, right underneath the side effects clause which- terrifying as it was itself- had been nothing compared to this. The warning paragraph.
We probably considered it first, before starting this project. We'd read the entire book before starting, but at that moment, with the four of us crouched around a thickly bubbling cauldron sitting in a second floor bathroom, the warning suddenly felt more serious, more tangible and terrifying.
I looked up, and my eyes met Vivian's. They were masked, nothing but her usual calm exterior. Even in 4th year, she had completely mastered that art.
"Are you sure?" I asked the girls around me. "If anyone wants to turn back, it's now or never," I said, my voice falling to a whisper. "If we quit now, the worst we can expect is flu-like symptoms and skin discoloration."
"Can you read it again?" Alexa asked, eyes closed, her voice wavering slightly.
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. My mouth was dry suddenly.
" 'A warning to all: The fine art of Animorphmagi is not without risks. Those who fall prey to carelessness or sloppiness will suffer severe consequences. Wrong measurements, timing, proportions or techniques, missed steps, or inaccuracies can lead to an unsuccessful transformation, loss of limbs, bleeding, extreme nausea, and- most commonly- death.' "
There was a few minutes of silence as it sunk it. If we continued with this, we could die. Slowly, Alexa opened her eyes and smiled.
"I'm in," she said.
"Really?" Zelda asked.
"Hell yeah." I smiled.
I met Vivian's eyes, and saw my own certainty mirrored. We needed no words. From that moment on, we were sealed. We were joint together- a team- inseparable and impenetrable in the strength of our bonds. This was it.
The sudden pounding of footsteps and laughter snapped me out of my reminiscing. I sat up suddenly on my bed, opening my eyes. But it was just Percy's daughters, Molly and Lucy, and Fred's little sister Roxanne, who shared the room next to ours. The door next to ours slammed closed and the sound of raucous giggling seeped through the left wall. I rolled my eyes and laid back down.
"You really aren't going to unpack?" Chandra asked me, now sounding personally affronted.
"Nope," I answered. Couldn't risk them seeing… things.
Matriarch Weasley had probably ordered everyone to their rooms. I could hear Fred and Albus' muffled voices as they went up to their room on the other side of ours. The sound of loud metal music followed their door slamming closed. Somebody followed up after them- I assumed it was Daniel, their third roommate- and their was a low, rumbling explosion. Even over the still-blaring music, I could hear Fred laughing and Daniel yelling at him in French. I smiled to myself serenely.
The next day, we headed out for a Weasely Quiddich game. The day was warm and bright, and the weather was just perfect.
"Malfoy! You playing?" James Potter asked. He and my brother Tristan were organizing the teams.
My brother glared at me, narrowing his eyes. "You'd better, kid." He still hadn't forgiven me for ducking out of try outs last year. It's not that I didn't want to- I just knew there wouldn't be time. It had been the critical year for our… extra-curricular activities.
I had surprised everyone- including myself- last summer when I was cornered into joining the game by uneven numbers. Teddy Lupin had been mysteriously missing. As had been Victoire. So I joined in, flying for the first time since the Hogwarts lessons in first year. When you think about it, it really was a minor miracle I hadn't flown more than that, but I suppose most of Dad's efforts were focused on Tristan. And for good reason. But I guess there were some things that you just had in your blood, that couldn't be denied.
Some one handed me a broom, and I held the smooth wood, smiling to myself slightly. A nervous flutter ran up my stomach. What if I was no good now? I'd disappoint everyone.
"Serena! Let's go, you're on my team," my brother called after me. Tristan, Albus, Roxanne and I were on one team, James leading the other team with Fred, Lily and Daniel. Teddy and Uncle Charlie watched from the ground. Double refs were a definite necessity.
Flying again was…
There weren't even words to describe it. The rush of air after kickoff, the feeling of freedom, the bird's-eye perspective… Even though I knew why I'd done it, I regretted not joining the team last year. All nerves melted away into a focused determination. James was going down.
Afterwards- having ended the three hour game on a tie, to my great irking- we landed again and headed toward the house for dinner, Al walking in step with me.
"Think you're gonna join the team this year?" he asked.
"Dunno," I said, trying not to make any promises. But the look on my face was a dead giveaway. Potter's face split into a huge grin.
"You have to! We're out a Keeper, one Beater and two Chasers for next year- so you'll have your pick. Plus- I mean honestly… We can't have the Slytherin team be without a Malfoy, can we?"
I smiled back at him. "Suppose it would be against decorum." Albus had joined the team as Seeker in second year, only the second student to do so that early, becoming the youngest Slytherin Seeker since my dad.
"So- who's up for mischief tonight?" Fred asked, coming up behind Albus and I, throwing his arms around our shoulders.
"I can't," I said, trying not to look guilty.
"Why not?" Al demanded. Fred retracted his arms in shock.
"Don't tell us you're going soft Malfoy," Fred accused.
"No! Of course not. I just… can't." I forced myself to look at them. "How about tomorrow night?"
"Well…" Albus glanced at Fred, who shrugged and also avoided eye contact. "We'd love to, but…"
"We can't."
The rest of the evening passed quickly. Maybe too quickly. Dinner was quite the affair- the usual giant wooden table somehow enchanted to fit into the dining room and a million and one Weasleys and "would-be-Weasley's" crammed into one room. The chattering voices and amazing smells were thankfully adequate cover for my sudden loss of appetite tonight. Who could blame me? It was the night.
I let out a shaky breath and poked a few steamed vegetables around my plate, trying to make it look like I'd eaten. I looked around the table. For once, I was more uncomfortable than even my father, who was chatting quite civilly with Uncle Ron. Strangely, I noticed Fred and Albus were sitting slightly removed from the entire affair, and the two of them would occasionally exchange a nervous glance, and weren't eating much either. It wasn't that odd, I decided. We'd all find out what they were up to sooner or later.
I went through the motions of doing dishes like a ghost, feeling oddly empty inside. After tonight, I would be one of two things: dead, or in violation of international wizard law.
I laid awake in bed, waiting for my two roommates to fall asleep. About 1 am, when I could hear their slow and steady breathing, I snuck out from under my warm covers and dragged myself out of my comfortable bed. Holding my breath, I pulled the small cauldron out from under my bed, pushing aside the clothes hiding it, and I tip-toed down the stairs, careful not to let them creak.
The lawn was wet with dew, and I regretted not thinking to put on shoes. Or socks. Or something beside a nightgown.
I crossed the grass to the edge of an enclosure of trees, and felt an almost instant sense of relief at the cover. Once I felt somewhat safe, I set down the cauldron and stood up, staring at it.
It stared back at me.
Black pot and blonde girl.
Now or never.
And I preferred to live.
I took a quick breath, and threw off the lid, ignoring my violently shaking hands. I gripped the ladle sitting inside and pulled up a scoopful of the liquid inside. It was clear, perfectly similar to water, except that it seemed slightly lighter or less dense and gave off the scent of roses.
I closed my eyes and took the entire ladleful in one giant gulp. It tasted delicious. Or horrid. I wasn't sure.
I felt something changing almost instantly. The magic lingering in my body, the spells and potions I'd been performing and taking for the past two years reacted to this final step with vivacious vigor. It was like a long-lost lover they'd been waiting for.
Things were moving, changing, shifting. Something unperceivable, almost. Tiny changes in the structure of my being that by no normal terms I should feel, but- in this heightened sense of awareness- I could sense. I felt warm and cold and excited and terrified all at the same time.
A sudden wind picked up, blowing my hair around me. And as sure as I knew anything, I knew that now was the time, and I somehow knew exactly what to do.
One deep breath.
A shudder, running down my spine.
Excruciating pain- like my entire body was lit on fire and being ripped apart at the seams.
And who ever was ripping suddenly succeeded. It felt like my limbs and skin and organs tore right off my body and rearranged themselves.
Then- all sensation stopped. My vision was black. I felt like I was falling and spinning, like reality was slipping, or maybe I was just falling asleep. Yes, perhaps this was all some strange dream…
That notion was proved violently incorrect as my body gave one final, brutal tear.
A fierce growl suddenly escaped my lips.
I smiled, and there was an accompanying low rumble in my chest. I opened my eyes and looked down.
Two black paws.
I leapt into the air, reveling in my sudden power, this new strength. I ran to the Weasely pond, wanting to see my reflection. I felt fast, powerful, in control, feline, dangerous and stealthy.
I looked down into the water. The face of a black panther looked pack up at me, two large grey eyes reflected waveringly.
Throwing all caution to the wind, I let a ferocious snarl of victory. My heart was light and pounding with excitement and joy. I still couldn't believe it. I turned and began running, not really caring where I was going.
It was time to test this out.