Chapter 4
Nicknames, Best Friends and Summer
June 15th, 1992
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - Shrieking Shack
"You mean, you've all done it?" James looked skeptical at his lot of friends as they exited the shadows that had hid them from being spotted by Madam Pomfrey.
In reply to his question, Anna transformed into a blackberry furred timber wolf and yipped happily; of course, James already knew she had done it. Cedric melted on all fours into a proud stag; Irys held out her arms and flapped them like she had wings before she jumped from the ground and a snow owl soared above their heads.
Thomas smiled and winked before he too turned into a tiny tiger cub, with orange and black fur stripes that gleamed in the moonlight. Clover yawned and melted into an auburn cat that stretched it's hind legs before she began licking her paw.
Peter and Mia melted into foxes; only Peter was black, white and grey. A Canadian marble fox. Al jumped and transformed into a beautiful black panther; Weave also transformed mid-jump into a large black dog. Amos melted into a badger and Holly transformed into a red panda. Suddenly, all his friends returned human, and he beamed at all of them. "Wait for Anna's signal to enter," he said before he disappeared into the Shack from the tunnel. Suddenly, the screaming started and the entire Lot gasped in horror and pity.
When the screaming stopped, Anna turned to her friends. "Alright, Weave, Amos, Mia, Clove, Peter, Al and Tommy, you follow my lead, stay low to the ground; tail tucked, ears back. Ced, Hols, Irys; you come in after us—no Irys, you can't fly in, you'll scare him, you'll have to hop."
Anna transformed and led the pack into the room, her body low to the floor, her ears back and tail tucked, her friends followed suit and soon everyone was playing together and by dawn, everyone was exhausted, but still they were all in higher spirits for the rest of the week.
June 18th, 1992
Hufflepuff Common Room
The Common Room was empty except for the Lot, all in their circles of couches near the fireplace. As always, Anna had her head in Al's lap, her feet in Jamie's. "We should have nicknames!" Weave blurted out, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen over the Lot.
"Like what, Weave?" Anna opened her eyes to look at her friend.
"Well, since we're all Hufflepuffs, and only one of us turned out to be a badger; I think Amos' should be Pride," Weave pointed out, the Lot agreed, that that name fit Amos best. "Al, yours should be Paws," Al thought it over in his head before he nodded in agreement.
"I like it," he said, Weave beamed.
"Mia's should be Foxy," Thomas teased with a wink towards their friend.
"Absolutely not!" she scoffed as she crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head violently, her straight jet-black hair flying as she moved.
"How about Red?" James suggested Mia thought about it before she nodded.
"I like that one," she replied with a smile. "Thanks, Jamie,"
Holly and Weave suddenly started bickering, over poking each other. "You're a real thorn in my side, Hols—that's it! Your nickname can be Thorn!" Weave exclaimed with a laugh, the Lot joined and agreed.
Suddenly, Tilly appeared with a soft Pop! "Miss Anna and friends will miss breakfast," she said before she disappeared with yet another Pop!
"Wait! Tilly!" Anna called and Tilly reappeared with a small Pop! "How's Winky?"
Tilly beamed. "Winky is okay, she sleeps." Anna and the Lot all gave a big sigh of relief towards the news. "Tilly keeps eye on Winky, Tilly promise."
oOoOoOoOo
Courtyard
As Anna, Thomas and Cedric made their way through the Courtyard for their next class, Weaver had flying lessons, so the rambunctious Hufflepuff was nowhere in sight to cause trouble.
"What do you think my nickname should be, Anna?" Cedric asked their curly-haired friend, who paused in her tracks to think about it.
"What about Tip?" she suggested, Tommy snorted a laugh before Anna elbowed him in the ribs. Cedric nodded in agreement over the nickname.
"I like it, Tommy's should be Claws," Cedric replied as the trio continued walking towards the Greenhouses for Herbology.
oOoOoOoOo
Library
After Herbology, Anna and Jamie met up in the Library before lunch. "How many of us have nicknames so far?" Jamie asked her as she scratched her quill on parchment.
Anna counted on her fingers before she replied, "Six."
"Do you have one yet?" he asked her and she thought about it quickly before she shook her head in reply. "How about Hopper?" he suggested.
Anna furrowed her brow and set down her quill. "Why Hopper?" she asked, James chuckled and the laugh met his eyes.
"Because the first time I saw you transform, you were hopping through the snow, it looked pretty funny." Anna laughed and hit her head on the table.
"Oh no! Did I really look that ridiculous?" she laughed and covered her face with her arms on the table. James laughed and nodded.
"It was pretty funny," he shrugged.
"Fine, let's go with Hopper," she giggled. "But as long as I get to call you Moony," she teased lifting her one eyebrow, poking him in the side, James put his hands up in surrender with a laugh and a nod.
oOoOoOoOo
Great Hall
At lunch, the pair told their friends about their nicknames and the Lot agreed that Anna's nickname suited her best, having seen the witch hop around even without snow. Clover had her nose stuck in a book, her expression in a sneer as she glared at the words on the pages. "Clove, don't make that face, you look like a bloody queen," Tommy teased. "Why don't we call Clover, Queenie?" the Lot all nodded their heads in agreement and Clover grumbled about getting back to her book before she set off for the Common Room.
"Maybe Peter's can be Mar, short for Marble since he's a Marble Fox." Anna pondered aloud and Peter immediately agreed with her suggestion. Once the Lot finished lunch, they all parted ways to do their own thing until dinner.
oOoOoOoOo
Library
The Lot sat in their usual spot in the secluded part of the Hogwarts Library; Anna sat between Weaver and Irys as the trio worked on a Charms essay. "Oh! Irys, your nickname can be Snow!" Clover exclaimed before she sneezed because her quill had tickled her nose. "It's obvious because you're a snow owl and your hair is white like snow." Irys nodded in agreement with a small smile breaking on her face.
"Hey Weave, yours can be Pads," Mia smiled; Weaver nodded vigorously.
"I was just about to say the same bloody thing!" Weaver exclaimed with a beaming smile.
"So it's settled, we all have nicknames," Anna smiled as she cast a quick drying charm on a spare bit of parchment she had used to write down all their nicknames. The page was titled in Anna's beautiful writing . . .
The Mischiefous Lot
June 27th, 1992
Hufflepuff Common Room - Girl's Dormitories
Anna and Irys were busy packing their trunks, chatting excitedly about sailing the Mediterranean with Irys' family, they were going to take the Floo to Irys' cottage.
When the green flames shone brightly on the drawing-room floor; Cecilia and Dean Bones were waiting for them happily on the other side, while the girls stepped out and brushed themselves of the soot. Anna was practically bouncing with enthusiasm, she'd never been sailing before; her plans for the summer was going to be spent with all of her friends, after her parent's permission of course; who were both happy that their daughter wanted to spend the summer with her friends.
First, she was going sailing with Irys and her family, then she was going with Mia and Clover to Mia's Witching Camp in Canada, then she was going back to the Summers' Manor to spend some time with Jamie, Thomas and Cedric; and finally she was ending her summer with the Weasley Twins at the Burrow.
She was so excited that she introduced herself to Irys' parents, with a beaming smile and the violet flash of her eyes, which made Cecilia gasp then smile—that very same, nostalgic smile Professor Snape gave her when he called her "Vixen"—. Cecilia and Dean shared a knowing glance then greeted the pair of witches with open arms before they all spent the night at the Bones Cottage before they Apparated to multiple Apparation points before they got to the harbour in the Mediterranean that their boat was harboured. Their boat was actually a beautiful 40-foot yacht with gold lettering on the side that read Vixen's Pride.
"Mrs Bones?" Anna asked after the boat left the harbour. "Why is the yacht named Vixen's Pride?" Cecilia Bones smiled at her and gave her a cup of tea before they sat opposite one another in the yacht's galley to talk.
"We named it after an old friend of mine, from when I was a student at Hogwarts; her name was Vixen Potter."
"My house-elf friend, Winky, told me about her when she got sick," Anna confessed quietly, although it seemed as Cecilia Bones hadn't heard her because she continued on.
"She was my best friend," Cecilia said. "We became the best of friends, the beginning of our second year,"
"What about the first year?" Anna asked, confused.
"She was too shy, so she spent most of her time with her older brother, sister, and their friends," Cecilia explained solemnly with a slight frown. "But when she walked by our compartment the beginning of our second year—all alone—, we pulled her in and befriended her," she added, sipping her tea, her frown disappearing into a nostalgic smile at the memory.
"We?" Anna asked, furrowing her brow in confusion before her expression softened as she slowly understood. "You mean your roommates?" Cecilia nodded and her smile grew. "Mrs Bones?"
"Please Anna dear, you may call me Cel,"
"What House were you in when you attended Hogwarts?"
"Gryffindor," Cel answered automatically. "But we were still proud of Irys when she got into Hufflepuff; she wouldn't have met you if she hadn't,"
"Cel, I met Irys when we were being Sorted," Anna clarified as she slowly sipped her tea.
"But being in Hufflepuff brought you both closer," Cel pointed out, Anna nodded in agreement; being both Sorted into Hufflepuff had indeed brought Irys and Anna closer in friendship. "I'm also guessing you have nicknames for one another; in regards to your . . . transformation," Anna's eyes widened as they flashed a deep green and her jaw dropped.
That was supposed to be a Lot secret, Anna thought with her brow furrowed and her heart racing.
"During the March break, Irys would sleep in her owl form," Cel clarified, from Anna's confused—yet hurt—expression, Anna nodded slowly in understanding, sipping her tea once more. "She doesn't even know that I am aware of it, not even my husband knows. However, this stays between us," she added with a wink that made Anna crack a smile and giggle quietly.
July 11th, 1992
Mediterranean Harbour - Harbour's Hidden Pasture for the Wanded
Anna dragged her trunk behind her, Spi on her shoulders and Irys walking alongside her. She'd be taking a Portkey to Mia's house before they'd take the Floo to the Witching Camp to Canada the following morning. "I'm going to miss you, Hopper," Irys hugged her with tears in her eyes. "Promise, you'll write?"
Anna laughed as though Irys would give her a choice and hugged her back. "I promise, Snow," she let go and grabbed the hand-held mirror that flashed blue and suddenly, she was gone.
Anna and Spirit landed in a loud heap in Mia's backyard. "Anna!" the girls exclaimed as they both ran to hug their friend.
"Mia! Clover!" Anna hugged them back before the trio separated and they all retreated inside to greet Mia's parents; Isabella and Richard Valentine.
"Mum, Dad," Mia started as Anna and Clover followed their friend into the dining room, where her parents were having a cup of tea. "This is Anna," Mia gestured to her friend, who smiled as her eyes flashed violet.
Mia's parents stood and greeted her; Isabella Valentine actually went so far as to hug the little witch. "It's so nice to finally meet you, Miss Cloud, Mia speaks highly of you," she said with a smile as she pulled away.
After the introductions, and after Anna got a tour of the house, the little witch settled to exploring on her own, while Mia helped her father in the kitchen and while Clover was busy writing a letter to—only she knew who—.
Anna was in the drawing room, looking at all the photographs above the fireplace on the mantel. Most of the photographs were of Mia as a baby or somewhere in Paris, but one photograph stood out to the little witch, Mia was nowhere in sight of that picture, in fact, the photo looked nearly 20 years old. Isabella entered the drawing room. "Mrs Valentine? Why am I in this photograph?" she asked pointing to the wedding photo in the very centre of the mantel.
"Oh! That was my best friend's wedding, you resemble her, her name was—"
"Vixen Potter," Anna cut in, Isabella's jaw nearly dropped. "I get that a lot," Anna added with a guilty smile and a shrug. Isabella took the photo down and the pair sat on the sofa so Isabella could point everyone out.
"Now, Vixen was my roommate, so were the rest of the girls," she pointed to a small group of girls, they all looked just like the rest of the Lot. "Besides Mia Potter, that's Vixen's older sister and that's James Potter; that's my husband, but we had only just started dating at that time, that's Vixen and her husband, he courted her with a Letter of Intent for 3 years before they decided to get married."
"What's a Letter of Intent?" Anna asked, furrowing her brows.
"A Letter of Intent is a witching tradition to court witches and wizards," Isabella explained.
When Anna's attention returned to the photo, she recognized some of the faces. "Oh! I know who that is!" she exclaimed pointing to Simon Bloodwell. "That's my friend, Travis' dad."
"Vixen's husband had wanted Simon to be one of his groomsmen because of how Simon had treated Vixen with respect, letting her nap sometimes in class taking notes for them both," Isabelle explained with a smile at the memory.
"Mrs Rivers? You knew Cecilia Bones?" Anna asked pointing to the head of star-white hair, the witch that resembled Irys so much. Isabelle nodded.
"Knew? She remains one of my closest friends to this day. Cecilia was our roommate, Anna, I know each of your friend's mothers," she said. "I grew up with Cecilia, your friend Thomas' mum—her name was Lacey Rosier—"
"As in, Justin Rosier's aunt?" Anna asked, Isabelle, looked confused before she thought about it and nodded as though confirming a theory.
"That must be her brother, Evans son, so yes Anna, Lacey would be your friend's aunt."
"Who else did you grow up with, Mrs Rivers?" Anna asked looking back at the photograph.
"Well," she started.
July 14th, 1992
Mia's Witching Camp -Yellow Cabin
The rest of the cabin were sleeping peacefully as Anna, Clover and Mia got up and quietly snuck out to run around in their Animagus forms in the light of the full moon. Anna jumped and transformed, her black paws hitting the soil; Mia melted into the earth, down on all fours and shook her black fur as it turned red. Clover simply yawned and shrunk before she started licking her paw.
The girls heard rustling; Quick hide! Anna thought in a panic, Anna and Mia bolted beneath the nearest bush.
Queenie! What the bloody hell are you doing? Hide! Mia snapped.
Holly Hufflepuff! We can communicate telepathically! Anna squealed in her mind.
I'm a cat, Red, whoever it is won't care. Clover replied, continuing to lick her paw.
Suddenly, a pair of girls appeared—out after curfew—if they were caught, they'd be in loads of trouble. "Oh, it's only a cat, Sam. Why must you so scared of everything?" the dark-haired girl said to her friend, who crossed her arms over her chest and scoffed.
"Because I swear I saw a fucking wolf, Lottie! Why must you judge me for everything?" the other said back as they disappeared into the abyss, only their wands lighting the way.
When Anna and Mia came out of hiding they continued their playing until it was nearing dawn, then they returned to their cabin.
July 18th, 1991
Summers Manor - Orchards
When Anna had arrived at the Manor, she was excited to see her best friends. The three boys all ran to greet her, when she landed, having flown her broom. It had been a long flight when Mia, Anna and Clover had returned to the River's Cottage by Portkey; after they'd landed in the dewy grass, Anna knew travelling by Portkey was her least favourite form of travelling in the wizarding world. James immediately pulled her into a hug, happy to see his best friend once again, even Lina—the Summers House-elf—was happy to see the witch. She was bouncing up and down when the four children entered the Manor. "Oh! Miss Anna has returned!" Lina exclaimed. "Lina is so happy to see Miss Anna again!"
"Lina, would you go fetch Mum and Dad and tell them Anna is here?" James asked and Lina nodded before she winked at Anna and disappeared with a small Pop! making Anna giggle quietly.
"Anna, weren't you going to show us what a Muggle movie looks like?" Thomas asked, and Anna beamed and nodded, taking out a wad of Muggle money.
"After my room is fixed up and I get some sleep, I'll bring you guys to the Muggle movies tomorrow, with your parent's permission, of course, Jamie. It's absolutely brilliant!" she exclaimed. "You guys are going to love it, I know it."
July 19th, 1991
Somewhere in London - Theatre
"You were right Annie!" Cedric exclaimed as the four left the theatre. "That truly was brilliant!"
"Cedric's right," James smiled, taking her hand as the four walked to meet Jamie's parents at the coffee shop they had told them to meet them at once the movie was over. "It truly was brilliant! Thank you for that Anna," he kissed her cheek and she blushed crimson at his daring display of affection, especially in front of the others.
"Anytime," she giggled as the trio enveloped her in a hug.
Here it is! After all this time, the final chapter of our second book! Thank you so much for your patience as I've been really busy with school. I hope this final chapter makes up for the wait
Love,
T. T. Zoldy