A/N - Updated 2/12/17. Thanks to sonotawriter for betaing.
Thanks to padfootsgrl79 - IDK why I type 'fallow' instead of 'follow' but since your comment, I've been trying to remember to 'find-all' for that.
What's happened so far:
Ch 4 - Neville is taken to Hogsmeade by James, Sirius, and Remus. He learns about Padfoot and is roped into spying on the girls sunbathing plans, which are interrupted by Avery and Mulciber (displeased with Slytherins hanging out with a Muggleborn). Hermione jumps in front of a spell and ends up in the Hospital wing. James decides it's time to put on another party, and Trevor shows them how to use the Come and Go room. Sirius sees Hermione's 'mudblood' scar, and he and James are determined to figure out 'their twins' much to Remus' disapproval.
Ch 5 - Avery and Mulciber's group is seething after most of the upperclassmen attended a party in honor of their defeat at the hands of the Orwells, and the three Slytherin girls eat with Lily to avoid issues. Jean gets her private lesson with McGonagall, and the twins have dinner with Hagrid (who gives them matching Owls: Twit and Twoo) and Dumbledore. Monday, the Orwells have their first Defense class, where they each show Professor Fawley their Patronus before joining the class in a duel. Jean turns Sirius' hair pink for a spell he used in their duel and gets attacked by Mulciber. Mulciber gets a broken nose and hit with a bat-boggy hex while Sirius decides to keep the hair after trying to remove it and finding it only triggers an explosion of pink glitter.
Neville and the Do-Over
Chapter 6: A Change in Form
[That weekend/ five days later]
(Sunday, November 30th, 1975)
It was breakfast at the Gryffindor table: Jean, Trevor, Lily, Trish, Jane, Lucinda, James, Sirius, and Remus sat together. Peter sat down the table scowling at them, even more so after James and Sirius had (yet again) asked him to join them. Since the party, Peter had been ignoring the boys, but they continued to track him down and try to talk to him, at least, three times a day.
By the time mail came in, Peter had been forgotten in the happy chatter. After all, it was a Hogsmeade Weekend, and they were planning to go altogether. It was also the last Hogsmeade weekend they had before Christmas in a few weeks – apparently, the town didn't like being flooded with students right before the Holidays (and wanted the chance to shop without students all over).
After waiting for another fifteen minutes, after they had finished eating, they were finally allowed to start their journey. As the group made their way to Hogsmeade, it was snowing and already had more than a dusting on the ground. Before the halfway mark, they had to stop to put warming charms on each other to keep the bite of the cold away.
"So what is everyone doing for the Holidays? Just home with family?" Trish asked.
"I'll be with the Potters." Sirius said lightly. "I'm never bloody going back to that house." He muttered to James, who flopped his arm around his neck. "Unless it's to burn it down." He amended in a hushed whisper.
"Just home, although I'll be visiting these two." Remus jerked his head to James and Sirius.
"Just home for me too." Trish agreed.
"Me too." Lily said, followed by Lucinda and Katie.
"Me as well, although it is a big family – I'll probably meet some more cousins I've never seen before." Jane laughed.
"The Weasleys are kinda known for that." Sirius laughed, "Are you one of like five?" He grinned.
"Soon." She smirked. "Mum's pregnant again." She beamed. "For years I thought I'd be an only child, Sam wasn't born till I was seven." Jane added.
"What about you two, then?" Trish asked, after a minute.
"We'll be staying." Jean answered quickly.
"You're not going home to your fam-"
"Trish!" Lily hissed.
"Oh guys, I'm sorry. What about your Godfather? Aren't you going to spend the Holiday with him?" Trish amended.
"We are." Trevor answered, shocking everyone to confusion.
"Hagrid's their Godfather." Sirius clarified for the group.
"Yes, so we'll be staying in the castle and coming down to visit him." Jean added.
After that, they made their plans. They would all meet at the Three Broomsticks in an hour. Before that James, Sirius, and Trevor were going to Splintwitches. Lily, Jean, and Remus were going to Tomes and Scrolls. While Trish, Jane, Lucinda, and Katie were going to Gladrags Wizardwear. After they warmed up in the Three Broomsticks they would all go to Zonko's and Honeydukes together (as long as James didn't annoy Lily too much).
Before they parted, Jean handed Trevor a coin purse. Hagrid had sent with their owls the day before, one with money (so that they could do their Christmas shopping) and the other with a box of homemade cookies and owl treats. The treats were split between them after Twit and Twoo seemed to enjoy them, and the cookies were covertly vanished before someone could break a tooth on one.
~.~.~
[The next day]
(Monday, December 1st, 1975)
"Come on, Peter!" Remus whispered from the middle of the dorm.
"Pete, stay." James begged. "You've been mad for over a week." He hissed.
"You have to talk to us, at some point!" Sirius called in a loud whisper after the boy.
SLAM.
"Wh-!" Neville shot up in bed, his wand out in front of him. The room was dark and his eyes unfocused.
"It's alright Trevor, it was just Peter leaving." Remus said softly, and after a moment to process, Trevor lowered his wand and rubbed his eyes with the backs of his hands.
"Well now that you're awake, you can help." Sirius called from his bed across from him, chucking a pillow at Trevor's face.
"Help with what?" He got up (hopping over a book with its cover open, on the floor) and joined the three boys around Sirius' bed.
"My revenge on your sister." Sirius brushed his pink hair, with his hand (the color had started to fade, and the glitter had finally washed out).
"I don't think you really want to do that Sirius."
"Don't worry Trev, me and Jeany understand each other." Sirius assured him a devilish grin. Trevor sighed, 'I warned him', he thought to himself (suppressing a laugh).
"Well, what are you planning?" Trevor leaned against the left bedpost of Sirius' bed.
"Rain in the Great Hall." Sirius grinned.
"Well, more like raining goo." James corrected with a grin to match Sirius'.
"Goo that will dye you a different color depending on how you try to remove it." Remus finished, with a small proud grin of his own.
"Brilliant." Trevor chuckled. "You're gonna get chewed out so bad." He smiled wider than the other boys.
"I'd reply to that Trev, but we have an agreement when it comes to your sister." Sirius replied pointedly.
"Let's do it." Trevor shrugged. 'She did tell me to try to befriend them,' he justified to himself. "Is that why we're all up early?"
"Exactly." James smirked. "Five minutes and we're going."
~.~.~
The four boys stood alone in the Great Hall looking up at the ceiling, grinning. They had just finished, and in about half an hour people would start filing into the hall. It was almost completely hidden – the changing ceiling did make it a little troublesome, but they felt confident no one would notice (not until it was too late anyway).
"Let's sneak back to the common room, so everyone can see us, or they'll get suspicious." James said, starting for the door.
"I am really going to enjoy this," Trevor smiled at the ceiling before turning to Sirius, "and the fallout to follow." He smirked and followed James.
"I think he's right about Jean you know." Remus whispered to Sirius.
"Well if he is, then I get to enjoy angry Jean." He said wistfully. "Plus she'll finally get pissed at you – Mr. Gentlemen." He mocked.
"What?"
"Let's see how you like fiery Jean." Sirius slapped him on the arm and left, running after James and Trevor.
~.~.~
"Lovely as ever, Lily!" James smiled at the redhead as she came down the stairs, into the common room.
"James." She said curtly (delighting the boy anyway). She waited with her arms crossed until she was joined by Trish and Jane.
"Sorry, Lily." Jane whispered as the two joined Lily.
"Let's go I'm starving." Trish sighed and with that, the girls started moving to the door.
"Are Jean, Lucinda, and Katie going to meet us, like usual?"
"I hope so, I hear most of Slytherin is ignoring them still." Lily answered. "Sev has been walking the line, if he looks to be too friendly with them he'll be just as bad off, or worse." Lily said quietly, looking worried.
"I don't know how those three ended up with all those vipers. Severus can be OK when he wants to, but he still makes sense in Slytherin."
"He's just shy and has some trust issues – if you knew his parents it would make sense why he is like he is."
"We know Lily." Trish and Jane sighed together, having heard it before.
"At least, the girls have each other." One of them offered as the portrait door swung open and the girls were quickly gone.
James, Sirius, Remus, and Trevor waited on the couch in front of the fire. They watched most the tower empty out in the last few minutes after Lily had left with her friends. They talked quietly about Quidditch while waiting until they could go join everyone in the Great Hall.
"Alright." James said looking at his watch. "Let's go."
~.~.~
In the Great Hall, they found the six girls sitting together. Trevor sat by Katie with a small smile (and a polite nod to Jane on his other side). Lucinda, Lily, and Trish sat across from him. James sat on the other side of Lucinda (not being able to sit beside Lily). Remus took the only seat by Jean before Sirius could (leaving him to sit across from her, by James).
"Thank you." Jean mouthed to Remus as he sat down.
"So Jean, have classes been boring?" Lily asked.
"It's been OK. Most of the teachers don't really give us homework, it's mostly just a list to work through at our own pace. Except for History, Astronomy, and Care. The first two we've been through the information, but forgotten a fair amount, and Care of Magical Creatures..." She held in a chuckle, at the thought of fifth-year Care of Magical Creatures (and the first school book she didn't care for).
"Our education there was a bit unconventional." Trevor laughed, sharing a smile with Jean.
"I wanted to take Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, but Dumbledore said I should wait and could just take the O.W.L.'s for them and taken them next year."
"Why doesn't Dumbledore have you take Transfiguration and such with the 6th or 7th years?"
"Dumbledore was very concerned about us making friends and acting like 16 years old's while we can." Trevor gave an amused smile.
"Dumbledore's a smart man." Lily grinned, and Trish rolled her eyes at her friend.
"So next year we'll have Arithmancy and Runes together." Remus said. "The classes are rather small, and we could use two more."
"Afraid it would just be Jean, Remus." Trevor corrected.
"Well, if I don't forget it all, and fail to test in." Jean countered.
"You'll do fine Jean." Trevor rolled his eyes.
"WHAT THE?" Came from Hufflepuff table.
"YUCK!" Other shrieks followed, and the whole school started to look up. 'Oh, Shit.'
POP. The sound came from beside her, she turned from the ceiling to see Remus with a large black umbrella over him. He jerked his head at her, and without a second thought, she plopped herself close to him and took shelter under the umbrella.
Yelling and cries of disgust filled the hall, with the sound of heavy rain as goo pummeled them. She jumped a little as she felt it hit her low back, at that Remus leaned closer so that the umbrella would completely cover both of them. She hugged herself into his chest and tried not to think about how inappropriate it should feel (and how it felt anything but inappropriate).
"Thanks." She said into his chest.
"I couldn't just sit there and let you get slimed." He whispered, reminding himself not to sniff her hair (that would be creepy). He glanced across the table to a seething Sirius, with James and Trevor throwing goo at each other behind him.
Finally, with a pop of blue light, the goo stopped raining down on them. Jean and Remus parted, both blushing slightly. James looked eagerly around: as people started vanishing the goo (puffs of red smoke dissipated to reveal screaming red students in red robes). Others tried to Scourgify themselves only to be swallowed by gold smoke that left them and their clothing gold.
"Everyone Stop!" McGonagall called. "Do not attempt to magically clean yourself." She addressed the sea of goo covered students, taking count of the dyed students. Most of the upperclassmen were red or gold (although there were three blue students, along with one who was dyed canary yellow). 'I wonder if they had a spell, tied to each of the eight house colors.' Jean wondered to herself noting the few students, who were not red or gold.
"Everyone may make their ways back their bathrooms." Dumbledore started. "No one will be counted late to class, so everyone can shower and get fresh robes. Those of you who have already been dyed, go up to the Hospital Wing and tell Madam Pomfrey, she may be able to reverse it." Dumbledore calmly addressed the mass of students who then started filing out of the hall.
"Not you two, Mr. Potter and Mr. Black." McGonagall approached them. "Mr. Lupin, I am disappointed that you could not stop this, although you did, at least, spare Miss Orwell, so five points to you."
"Professor, you can't possibly -" James attempted.
"It's always you Mr. Potter, and whatever you do Mr. Black is sure to be in on it with you." She paused to look at Trevor. "And it appears now you are dragging Mr. Orwell along with you."
"Professor, it couldn't have been us," Sirius spoke up, "we were in the common room and didn't come down for breakfast until late." Sirius said in his most charming way but seemed to have no sway over the Professor.
"It's true Professor, the whole house must have seen us in front of the fire talking about Quidditch." Trevor piped in. "I woke up when Peter left. They had tried to talk to him – he's been upset. After we hung around the common room hoping we'd see him come back – he forgot his history book, you see." McGonagall looked him over, and the three boys tried to hide how impressed they were.
"We will see about that. Now go get cleaned up and get to class." The boys left the Great Hall and followed the crowd up to the common room. Sirius threw looks at Remus but said nothing, Remus tried to look ashamed (or at least not as happy as he was).
"You were brilliant, Trevor." James' smirked.
"Yea, think Peter will cover for us?" Sirius looked to James.
"Of course, he'll cover for us, even if he is mad."
"As long as he didn't come back to the dorm before we were in the common room, it shouldn't matter. He did leave early, he did forget his book, and everyone saw us in the common room." Trevor shrugged.
"The book thing was true?" James asked, stopping and turning to look at Trevor for the answer.
"Yeah, I almost stepped on it this morning." Trevor laughed. "It was open on the floor near his bed." James smiled and clapped him on the back.
"That was quick." Sirius praised. There was silence for a moment, as James and Sirius walked on either side of Trevor, and Remus followed a step behind.
"Remus," James stopped and turn to him. "take us to the Prefect bathroom – it's huge, we won't have wait or get goo all over our dorm."
"The Prefect Bathrooms will be filled with Prefects – who aren't going to be very happy with you."
"Ah, right." James sighed.
~.~.~
[That Friday/a few days later]
(Friday, December 12th, 1975.)
After what in the coming weeks would only be called 'the incident', the girls were no longer tolerating James and Sirius. Many apologies were given to Jean, and assurances that Trevor (and Remus) were still welcome and that if she wanted to eat with her brother that they understood.
It had been nearly two weeks since 'the incident', and nearing a month since their arrival. Since then, their main time together was when they meet in the Room of Requirement every other night, or they're dinners with Hagrid (with and without Dumbledore). During class, they would write to each other (with their planners), and between classes or at meals one would slip away to say 'hi' and chat for a few moments.
~.~.~
"Sorry, I'm late Jean." Trevor called as he entered the Come and Go room, pausing to make sure the door disappeared behind him. "Sirius was pestering me about coming along. Even tried to follow me, but Remus caught him."
"You'd think after spending a week with pink hair he'd try not to piss me off." She grumbled. "I swear, sometimes I think he wants me to Hex him."
"Well the goo was meant for you, but let's talk about anything but Sirius." He said heaving a sigh as he let himself fall onto the other end of the lone couch.
"Deal." She turned so that she sat facing him, her shoes off and her legs crossed on the seat. "So, all my reading."
"You're not supposed to be reading - remember? Dumbledore?"
"I only do it when everyone is studying or doing homework and I'm done with everything."
"Mhmm."
"I have! Anyway, that's why it's taken me this long to finish reading everything. Time Travel theories are a bust. Maybe the timeline will try to right itself, maybe it won't. Sometimes things have to happen exactly down to the minute or less, and sometimes an action can happen anytime in a period of months and still get the same result."
"That's helpful." Trevor groaned.
"The only real help I can gather is it's likely not to matter how or when James and Lily start dating, but when it comes to Harry's being born, if they don't conceive the same as before then there could be no Harry. Then there's the chance that it is the same Harry but only not named 'Harry' or born a few days off from his birthday."
"So, we could royally screw everything."
"Yup. If we try to get them together, it could all fall apart. If we don't try to get them together, they may never get together because of something we did."
"Any happy news?"
"Spell creation was interesting; a lot of trial and error at the end, thou. I found a few interesting dueling ideas and some new defensive spells. Wandless magic could be mildly helpful – like if you fall and lose your wand you could use Lumos to find it. If your wand is a foot or two from your grasp, you could get to the point where you can get it to come to you."
"Those could be helpful enough, for us to try to learn."
"Yeah, there is also a stinging spell, that will give anyone (but you) who's touching your wand a shock. I was wondering if it could be used to get someone to drop your wand. You'd have to be pretty close to them, but there have been times when it would have been useful."
"Those three sound worth the effort – they could even end up saving our lives."
"It will be a lot of work – the further the wand is the harder it will be. Then there is truly wandless magic which outside of children and Pregnant women is nearly unheard of besides what is under Internal magic – which besides literal magic tricks - the ones I've even heard of are Apparition and the Animagus transformation."
"So we'll just focus on those three." Trevor shrugged.
"Yea, they are pretty easy spells, but it will probably take us months to a year just to be able to reliably do those three - from a couple feet away - every inch matters."
"After that last prank," Trevor said after a pause. "I've been thinking about the twins."
"Me too." She smiled sadly. "It feel's wrong when people call us 'the twins'."
"Yeah." Trevor nodded. "I saw them once get into a duel, and they were using Transfiguration with Hexes instead of stuns or your standard jinxes. I never thought about why before, I just thought it was because they were pranksters and wanted a laugh - even in a duel."
"But maybe it wasn't..." Jean pondered the possibilities.
"Exactly, maybe it was because everyone knows how to undo a stun or your standard dueling spells."
"And that's why Snape made Langlock – there are other silencing spells but most people, at least, most adults, can undo them even non-verbally."
"So maybe, we need to learn to use less common spells or our own spells in battle, so that once a Death Eater is down the others can't get him back up mid-fight." Trevor finished saying as Jean wrote a note in her planner to look into the idea. "So how has it been with Avery and them? They over it?" He asked.
"I don't think so – I think they're plotting, but more pissed than ever after I introduced my knee to Mulciber's groin and nose. Which reminds me..." she wrote another note. "Muggle self-defense; most Purebloods have no idea about Muggle fighting outside of punching and kicking."
"Like the knee thing." Trevor nodded, it was true he had never heard of that kind of thing before she told him about being attacked. "They're probably waiting for us to let our guard down, or just planning to poison us." He laughed at the idea (that after everything they would be stopped by some miffed Slytherins).
"That reminds me," Jean dug around in her book bag while she continued. "You know how they say twins can feel each other's pain?"
"Sure" He shrugged.
"Well, I made these bracelets. They're disillusioned and charmed so that they won't break or come off without a password. They have a locator spell on them so they will always tug your hand toward the other. I was hoping to do more, but I'm not sure."
"Sounds useful. What else were you trying to do? Get them to tell us if the other was in trouble?"
"Yeah, I was trying to make the other burn hot if one of us was in pain or really afraid. I'm just not sure how to do it."
"Have you looked into those diagnostic spells, Healers use? Maybe - "
"That could work Trevor! I'll do some reading and see what I can come up with." She quickly added another note to her planner. "So how is it going with the Marauders? Is Peter still pissed at them?"
"With me and them, everything is fine. They haven't told me about Remus, but I really don't expect them to unless they have too."
"Agreed." She nodded.
"They did tell me about becoming Animagi early on thou, saying it was for the sake of their mischief. Peter is still avoiding all of us, but they keep trying to get him to talk to them and it only seems to make him more pissed. Then there is Sirius and Remus, most of the time they seem normal and then randomly they get really intense with each other. I don't know what's up with them (other than Sirius being annoyed that you didn't get slimed)."
"Hmm." Jean hummed as she took it all in.
"Any progress with Snape or our other Black?"
"No, with this shit from Avery and them, the whole house has been giving us a wide birth. Snape will work with me in potions, but otherwise, he's like the rest – afraid to join me, Lucinda, and Katie on Avery and Mulciber's bad side. Before Mulciber attacked me, they talked to me in the Library, but since Mulciber has cursed two lower classmen because they sat next to me in the common room."
"I guess it was one thing for you to beat them in a duel with backup, and another for you beat him in his surprise attack." Trevor grinned proudly.
"Probably didn't help that I told him how 'Muggles know a thing or two' before I hit him with the Bat-Bogey Hex."
"No." He laughed. "But it was brilliant – I wish I had been there."
~.~.~
[That Tuesday/three days later]
(Tuesday, December 16th, 1975)
Jean walked to breakfast with Lucinda and Katie, and they sat at the Gryffindor table across from Lily, Trish, and Jane. A bit down the table from them sat Remus, James, Sirius, and Trevor. For the last two weeks, this was how meals were – ever since 'the incident'. Jean excused herself from the girls. They smiled, understandingly, they knew it must be hard for her not to see her twin all the time. Of course, they would have been fine with just Remus and Trevor but they all knew that wasn't likely to happen.
"I'll see you all at lunch if I'm not back in a few minutes." Jean said as she got up from the table.
"See ya in a bit." Jane called after her.
"K, Jean." Katie and Lucinda added together before giggling at themselves.
"Tell Trevor and Remus, hello." Lily instructed, a little louder than the rest.
"Sure." She called over her shoulder as she walked down the table and sat between Trevor and Remus.
"Hey, Sis." Trevor scooted over for her.
"Lily's still mad then." James said: now his usual 'Hello' to Jean.
"There's my Jean-Bean." Sirius winked.
"Ignore him, Jean." James gave Sirius a quick glare.
"Hey guys, and yes they are all still mad, but they say hello to Trevor and Remus." Jean relayed to the boys.
"Why do they get a hello?" James demanded.
"Yeah, they were in on it!" Sirius agreed.
"I guess the girls just think that you two bullied them into it." Jean shrugged grabbing a piece of toast. "Why don't you just find a way to apologize already?" The four looked like they hadn't considered the idea before. "You guys can't be this thick, just do something nice for them already so Trevor and I can see more of each other."
"You see each other three times a week, after hours, and you write to each other in your little planners, all the time." Sirius objected.
"Maybe because it's the only time I get with my twin sister." Trevor joined the conversation.
"Anyway, not why I came over." Jean finished her toast. "I have a question for you two, for once, and before you try to lie to me, just know - I know a spell to force you and I will use it here in front of everyone." She threatened with a smile.
"Why would you think we would ever lie to you, Jeany?" Sirius nearly purred.
"Because Trevor wouldn't tell me." She lied flawlessly. 'Not that I needed him to tell me.'
"Oh?" James asked, one brow raised, suddenly far more interested in what she had to say.
"So which of you is the dog?" Jean jumped to the point, just wanting to get on with it all but knowing they would take some weaseling.
"What?" James and Sirius said together, and Remus coughed on his toast.
"You heard me – that big shaggy dog by the lake that Saturday when Avery attacked." She explained calmly but her tone seemed to unhinged the boys more than just the statement would have.
"You saw a dog by the lake?" Sirius asked innocently. Jean drew her wand and pointed it at them on top of the table and quirked a brow.
"The truth." She scolded. "I know it was an Animagus, and I know it was one of you because it's the only way you could have gotten there so fast. So who? James? Sirius?" Her wand pointed from one to the other. 'Don't look too much at Sirius.' She coached herself. 'Look at James - pretend it's him!'
"Why are you just asking us then?" Sirius asked carefully.
"Because I know Trevor isn't it, and Remus is too much a gentlemen to pull that stunt. I'm sure they were both hiding with one of you watching the show, but still." She paused and looked at Remus who was blushing and staring at his food. "See?" She gestured to him. "So again which one of you is the dog?" 'Come on Sirius.'
"Can I ask why?" James said softly his voice cracking.
"Because I need some help. So if you could hurry up and tell me, we can go."
"Go with you?" Sirius asked, his guarding tone gone.
"Yes, Sirius. Come with me to the Room of Requirement until lunch."
"Alone?" Sirius asked again, a grin growing.
"Yes, Sirius. All alone until Lunch." She rolled her eyes.
"Then let's go, Beautiful." He smiled, standing. "See ya, guys." He patted James' shoulder. James chuckled while the other two looked unhappy.
"You are way too hopeful." She laughed, standing, shaking her head at him. "Figure something out." She hissed at James, before turning to Sirius again. "Come on boy." She said with a wicked grin, before patting the side of her leg.
~.~.~
She led him to the Come and Go Room without answering his blatant questioning look. Continuing to pretend not to notice his attention to her, for the silence it granted her, but Jean was struggling to suppress a grin at his petulant look by the time they came to the seventh floor. With cracking and without a word she summoned the room, and they entered a large empty room.
"And here, I was thinking the room would give me a clue. So I guess I'll just have to ask what you want with me. Now don't be shy darling." He winked.
"I want to be able to turn back." She sighed.
"What?"
"It's been weeks!" She groaned, dropping her bag on the floor.
"I usually understand what a girl means when she says that." He smirked through her eye roll and glare.
"No warning it is, then." She muttered to herself, dropping her bag to the stone floor.
"Wha-? Woah!" He jumped back. Staring. "Holly shit Jean. You're a fucking Bear!" She looked at him, raised her new body up to its full height and stared down at him. "Easy girl." He smiled, she huffed at him, hitting him in the face with hot breath.
"Alright. So you can't change back on your own." She nodded. "This is what you've been doing with McGonagall on Saturdays, I take it." He continued, and she nodded again. "I assume you know what you're supposed to do then, you just haven't managed it." He talked out his thought process, and she sat on the floor in front of him, sadly nodding her head. "Yeah you see, I don't think Minnie was surprised when she found out her form. I was. I mean I'm a huge shaggy dog, at first, all I could think about was how dogs are dependent on humans, chase their own tails, and how they lick their ass all the time. I thought 'this can't be what I am – weak, dumb, and disgusting'. Then James talked me through it, all the good things about dogs. How their Loyal and fun-loving – man's best friend and all that." He finished, only for her to huff again.
"Alright, more to the point then. I'm guessing your thinking - How can I be a bear? I'm a pretty girl, incredibility smart, an extraordinary witch, and yet deep down all I truly am is a big bumbling oversized dog? An anti-social, fat, lazy, stupid, violent bear." She glared at him, and he held his hands up for her to let him continue. "But that's not what bears are. Bears are strong and fierce, they're protectors (of their cubs and their land), they are smart and clever, but most of all they are peaceful and content in life until someone crosses them. I think a bear is exactly what you are." He smiled. "You're strong, you bravely defend others, you're smart and clever, and you can jump from happy and calm to terrifying - I think it's brilliant." he grinned, and they stared at each other for a long time. "Now you have to accept that," he said slowly, "then just want to be human again, not for any reason, not because you hate the bear - just because you want to." He finished hopeful and waiting, and then waited some more. "Come on Jeany." He sighed, but still, she sat there as a bear, moping. "Fine! We'll do it the hard way." He grumbled.
His body shivered and fell to his knees and was replaced with that of a large dog. He barked at her until she looked at him. He wagged his tail and he barked again, getting her to stand up on all fours. He ran up to her and jumped at her (and off of her) and ran around her before doing it all again. She roared at him – annoyed with his play, but he continued. He was large enough that they were close in height – at least on all fours. He pestered her around the room until she was playing back with him. Until she was enjoying being a bear. They ran around the room play fighting (wrestling and knocking each other over), until out of breath.
Both laying on their sides, on the cold stone floor, they panted in their exhaustion. He watched her change back to the bright blue eyed girl, in green lined robes. He stretched forward and licked her face before turning back to himself and rolling onto his back (holding his stomach as he breathed).
"You had to do it the hard way..." He breathed.
"How was the floor so much more comfortable as a bear?"
"I don't know. Why do I feel inclined to lick people's faces, as a dog?"
"Point taken." She breathed. "Couch please." She panted at the ceiling and a foot away from them a couch appeared.
"I bloody love this room." Sirius smiled, pulling himself up after her, and they both collapsed again, on the couch. "What now? We done?" He asked, between breaths.
"Almost, I want to be able to change right back and forth."
"Sure, just don't make me do that all again. Give yourself a minute, it's harder to change into your form when you're out of breath." She dragged herself up anyway and stood a couple feet away from the couch. "Fine don't listen to me, but you better not puke on me." He warned, shifting on the couch. Her body shimmied and morphed in a blur and into a bear again, then rolling her head back (letting go), she shrunk back into herself.
"Ha!" She flopped herself back on the couch, landing next to him with a huge smile.
"You're a bloody amazing witch."
"That almost didn't sound like a come on."
"I'm too damn tired for come-ons. Check back in 30 minutes." He smiled.
"Oh? I only get 30 minutes with this Sirius? Too bad," she smiled mischievously. He looked her in the eyes, and slowly shook his head.
"Don't you tease me - I'm weak."
"Poor Sirius." She pouted, turning to face him on the couch. "Oh, it is poetic."
"You're an evil little witch." He gave a breathy laugh.
"I thought you liked playful..." she leaned over him laughing, unable to stop laughing long enough to fake a pout.
"I will get you for this." He promised, solemnly nodded at her.
"And the hair." She added for him, with a smirk.
~.~.~
[Next day]
(Wednesday, December 17th, 1975.)
The next day, James and Sirius had figured out an apology for the girls. Which was accepted more for the effort than the actual plan – a private party for just them in the Room of Requirement. The boys had pestered them until they actually accepted, and the girls had conceded to go but with forgiveness conditional on their enjoyment.
They gathered around on four couches facing each other. With a huge square coffee table in the middle filled with food, Butterbeer, and candy. Then James told them, that they all were going to play Truth or Dare, but that the girls could change any truth or dare given by one of the boys – if all the girls could agree.
"Alright we got the rules out of the way, and everyone has a Butterbeer and any food or candy they want." James looked around the room to check. "OK, Ladies who's going to start?" He asked with a smile falling to Lily.
"James." Lily smiled.
"Yes, Lily dear?" He answered, as his grin doubled at the use of his name.
"Truth or Dare?" Lily asked with a smile that gave away nothing.
"Dare." James picked quickly.
"I dare you to transfigure your clothes into a tight, short, pink, dress and keep it like that 'till we leave. With matching heels." She added, and her sweet smile turned wicked.
"Of course." He stood, and with a couple flicks of his wand everyone, but he and Lily were howling with laughter or giggling themselves pink. Lily, however, was both impressed and disappointed at his lack of fit about her dare, and James and was simply happily basking in how she had called him James and not dared him to leave her alone or ask some other girl out.
"Who's next?" Trevor asked the girls.
"Sirius." Jane smiled wickedly. "Truth or Dare?" She asked.
"Dare, of course." He answered Jane with a flirty grin.
"Wear only your underwear until we all leave." Jane dared with a smirk.
"Come on Jane! He's going to love that!" Lily objected, with a sigh and an eye roll to look at the girl with pursed lips.
"Yea, but so will I." Jane laughed.
"Me too." Lucinda grinned. "Now strip." She flicked her wand at him and everything, but his red silk boxers disappeared off of him and appeared folded on the floor by his feet.
"Enjoy Ladies." Sirius grinned, leaning back in his seat with his arms out to either side. James scowled at him. "It was your bloody idea mate." Sirius hissed to him, from his seat next to the James.
"Trevor." Katie giggled. "Truth or Dare?"
"Umm... dare." He answered, knowing the boys would throw a fit if he answered any other way.
"Seven minutes alone with me." A door appeared across from her when she said it (with a timer above it).
"Lucky bastard." Sirius muttered as Katie and Trevor disappeared (the timer starting by itself once the door shut behind them).
"Well, someone keep going while they're in there." Jane sighed at the starting pause as everyone seemed to watch the clock tick down.
"Alright. James, truth or dare?" Trish said, grinning wide.
"Dare." James answered without missing a beat.
"Within the week, you have to pull an impressive prank on only Sirius, and it has to be public in some way, so we can all enjoy it." Trish finished.
"No problem." James shrugged like it was nothing, and Trish eyed him with annoyance.
"Sirius." Lucinda smiled. "Truth or dare?"
"Dare."
"Next Hogsmeade weekend, you have to take some first year, with a crush on you, for her dream date." Lucinda declared.
"A first year?"
"Yup."
"But she'll be eleven! That's just wrong!" Sirius argued.
"No kissing of course." Lucinda rolled her eyes at him pointedly. "Just escort her there and back, take her where ever she wants, and buy her some candy and flowers, and just be charming."
"Alright." He shrugged a little grudgingly.
"You're last Jean." Lily smiled.
"Hmm. It is tempting to pick on Sirius, but I can't think of anything good to make him do."
"I might take truth." Sirius challenged.
"No, you won't." James laughed.
"Hmm. Lucinda's was good." Jean decided. "Truth or dare, Sirius?"
"Dare." Sirius answers immediately.
"See!" James laughed.
"Christmas is almost here, buy something thoughtful for your brother for Christmas." Sirius' jaw clenched at her words. "You don't have to give any kind of card, beside a to and from, and you don't have to hand-deliver it or anything." Jean justified (the dark look he had making her feel a little guilty for the dare).
"...Fine..." Sirius said, scowling slightly at her.
"Great, now we can get to the real fun." James grinned. "I'll go first." He smiled. "Lily, truth or dare?" He asked happily, and Lily looked torn.
"Dare." She finally answered, flinching just saying the word.
"I dare you to," James grinned, "sit on my lap for the rest of the-" He stopped short and looked at all the girls "-turn." He finished, knowing if he dared more they would surely veto his dare. Lily looked around to the girls, pleadingly.
"It's only the rest of the turn Lily." Jane shrugged with a grin. "It's already more than half over." Jane added. Lily got up with a sigh and sat sideways on the lap of the boy in the pink dress and matching heels.
"Hands to yourself Potter." Lily muttered dangerously to James, once perch on his knees.
"Of course." James whispered back, his hands never moving from the couch, and a huge grin on his face.
"Alright." Remus spoke softly. He was pale and looked like he hadn't slept in two days. "Jean, truth or dare?" He asked conversationally.
"Truth, and ask something good so they don't throw a fit." She answered with a smile.
"Umm." Remus thought as he scratched his head. "How many relationships have you been in?"
"Boo!" Sirius called with his hands on either side of his mouth.
"Alright," Remus sighed. "How many people have you kissed?"
"Four." Jean answered lightly.
"Well," Sirius started. "I guess that leaves me until Trevor get's done." He smirked looking at the door, to find it had just opened. "Well then, Trevor it's your turn, want to dare Katie back in there with you?" He laughed, causing the couple to blush.
"So what did I miss?" Trevor asked, ignoring Sirius' question.
"Nothing much, Lily's on James's lap until you and I go, and there has been a couple future dares. Oh, and sister is the only one to take Truth so far." Sirius summarized.
"Alright, dear sister, truth or dare?" Trevor smiled and Jean knew then that she wasn't going to like it either way.
"Dare Jean! Come on!"
"Yeah!" Echoed the room.
"Fine, I pick dare." Jean said giving him a warning look.
"I dare you to take dare the next three time someone asks you." He smiled.
"Oh, you little brat!"
"The girls can save you if it's unreasonable." He assured.
"Fine."
"Great." Sirius beamed. "Jeany?" He called with a wicked smile.
"Yes, Sirius." She grumbled.
"I dare you to match James through this coming turn." Sirius smiled victoriously.
"Come on!" Jean looked to the girls who deliberated, Lily joining them (now free).
"It has to be flatting, and Trish will do it." Lily announced the girl's decision.
"Fine." She stood her arms wide, and her eyes closed in a wince.
"There!" Trish announced. Jean looked down to see herself in small red dress and red pumps.
"How am I even suppose to walk in these?"
"Here." Lucinda whipped out her wand flicked it at her. "Won't be a problem for about 30 minutes, which should be more than enough time."
"Your turn Lily dear." James smiled at her.
"Jane dear, truth or dare?" Lily smiled wickedly.
"Truth." Jane answered.
"If you had to spend 7 minutes in that room," she gestured over her shoulder to where Trevor and Katie had been, "with one guy here, who would you pick?"
"Sirius." She sighed, and Sirius' grin doubled. "Look what you did, Lily." Jane pointed at him, and they both giggled. "Alright, Sirius Truth or Dare?"
"Dare." He sat forward, waiting.
"I dare you to flirt with Trevor like you do with all the pretty girls until it's my turn again."
"If that's what you like Jane." Sirius winked, at her as he got up from his seat.
"Come on!" Trevor protested as Sirius squeezed himself next to him.
"Shush Beautiful." Sirius winked at him wrapping an arm around his shoulders, erupting the group in howls of laughter again.
"Katie you're next." James said, trying not to laugh as Sirius started playing with Trevor's hair.
"Remus? Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Boo!" James called.
"Shush, James." Katie scolded. "Is there someone you like?"Katie asked grinning widely.
"Maybe." Remus mumbled.
"Maybe isn't an answer, Remus." Katie scolded.
"Fine, Yes." He blushed, and James looked at him puzzled.
"Really? Who?" James asks.
"Shut up James." He growled.
"You're going to tell us later." James stated, but it sounded tentative.
"We'll see." Remus told him.
"Anyways, my turn." Trish changed the topic. "Lucinda, truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Do you fancy someone, and if so what house are they in?" Trish asked with interest.
"Hufflepuff." Lucinda said softly, blushing bright red. "Truth or dare, Katie?"
"Dare!"
"Ask Trevor out already."
"W-would you li-?"
"Of course, Katie." Trevor blushed, trying not to let Sirius having his hand in his hair ruin the moment. "I was waiting til after the break, for our next Hogsmeade weekend." He said quietly before she hugged him tightly (breaking him free from Sirius).
"Your turn Jean." James called.
"Revenge time ladies." She hissed gesturing to her outfit. "Lily?"
"No Jean!"
"Lily, truth or dare?" Jean insisted, and Lily looked torn again.
"...Truth..." She looked at Jean pleadingly, as Jean smirked at her fear for a long pause before continuing.
"What's your Favorite candy?"
"A Cadbury Crunchie Bar." She said with a sigh of relief, as Jean snickered at her.
"A what?" Asked Sirius, as he put his arm back around Trevor and started drawing patterns with his finger on Trevor's shoulder (who tried to ignore it).
"It's Muggle candy, Sirius." Jean sighed.
"Well, my turn again." James smiled. "Lily?"
"Of course." She muttered to herself.
"Truth or dare?" James continued.
"... Dare." Lily decided.
"I dare you, to actually open the presents I give you this year."
"Alright," She sighed, knowing it could have been worse, "but if they're jinxed ..." She warned, getting only a smile from him.
"James, truth or dare?" Remus smiled.
"Dare." James answered, looking at Remus questioningly.
"I dare you, to promise Lily, that you will not be giving her any pranks or otherwise jinxed presents."
"You know I wasn't -" James objected.
"Yes, but you were going to let her wonder, so promise." Remus said.
"I promise you, Lily, that it was not my intent nor will I, give you any prank gift or otherwise jinxed present. Just as I never have, which you would know if you ever opened them." James said with a huff, leaving Lily a little surprised (with a touch of guilt).
"I guess I'm next." Trevor sighed, as Sirius gave him a cheeky wink. "Um, Lucinda truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"If you had to kiss one guy here, who would it be?"
"Sirius." Lucinda said with a small shrug, causing him stop playing with Trevor's hair and give her a wide grin.
"My turn then." Sirius said with a smile.
"Well get on with it, so I can get out of this!" Jean huffed, gesturing to her little red dress.
"Alright, Jean-Bean." Sirius' smile turned mischievous. "Truth or dare?"
"You have to say dare, Sis." Trevor reminded her.
"Thanks for that one, love." Sirius stage whispered to him, with a wink and soft brush of Trevor's cheek.
"You're pushing it." Trevor warned in a low voice.
"Noted lovely." Sirius hummed in return, palms up in submission.
"Yes, thank you so much for that Trevor." Jean said over Sirius, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Dare." She gritted out, making it official and Sirius' eye's lit up.
"Kiss me, on the lips, right here, no less than 30 seconds." Sirius dares.
"What?" Jean growled, jerking forward in her chair. "Come on girls!" She turned to them.
"I agree, he went too far." Lucinda nodded.
"I don't know." Jane hummed undecidedly.
"She should get to pick one of the guys here." Lucinda said again. "That's more fair and way more interesting." She added with a grin.
"Perfect." Trish snickered.
"Agreed." The five girls said together, nodding.
"It's unanimous Jean, pick one." Lily smiled mischievously.
"Come on, Jean." Lucinda laughed. "Pick one of four."
"It's not one of four! It's one of two! I'm not kissing my brother, and James would be just as bad. Sorry James, but-"
"I know." He nodded.
"So," Jean picked back up her argument, "it's either give Sirius what he wants or assault Remus." Remus looked confused at the statement, but she didn't notice.
"I wouldn't call it assault." James laughed.
"Well, he clearly doesn't feel well." Jean justified, gesturing up and down to Remus.
"Alright then." Katie perked up, and with a smile pointed her wand at Remus. "Nullum Dolorem." Katie smirked as he was washed with white light. "How do you feel Remus?" She asked a moment later, looking smug.
"Great." He almost laughed, wondering why he had never thought that there would be painkilling spells.
"It will only work that well for a little bit I'm afraid, but it should help for a couple of hours. Mum always used it." She shrugged.
"Well, Jean?" Lucinda prompted.
"Come on Jeany," Sirius smirked, "you know you've been dying to."
"Oh? Have I?" Jean asked, standing and pausing to wave her wand over the dress (returning it to her jeans and sweater) before walking over to Sirius.
"You could have kept it." Sirius said putting up a pout briefly, before patting his knee with a smirk.
Jean sat sideways on his lap and leaned into his chest. Her check brushed his, and her lips brushed his ear as she whispered softly to him. "When are you going to learn, that I don't like my hand to be forced?" She said with growing bite, giving his other cheek a pat, before standing again, turning from him, and making her way to Remus.
~.~.~
Katie's spell had done wonders, he never felt this good the day before the moon. He had thought he had been doing well (having Sirius with him for the last few moons had helped), but now that the ache was gone he realized that they had been there in the first place. He watched Jean change her outfit back to the crimson sweater and blue jeans (the dress had looked amazing on her, but it hadn't looked like her). 'Don't stare,' he warned himself and looked away from her, across the room was Sirius, grinning like a madman. 'Git - No, he's a friend, and he doesn't even know.' He argued with himself. He really hated the days leading up the moon. 'I wouldn't even be thinking like that it wasn't for the full moon tomorrow.'
He swallowed hard when he noticed Jean was sitting on Sirius' lap. 'Stop it, you have no right to dislike it'. He chastised himself, pressing his thumbnail firmly into his palm. He's jaw clenched as he watched Sirius' face as Jean whispered something in his ear. 'Stupid grin – no.' He thought, pressing his thumb in harder (allowing the nail to bite a little at his skin). He sighed silently to himself, letting his hands drop to his sides and looked away (he really didn't want to see her kiss him).
"Sorry, Remus." The whisper brought him back. Jean was standing in front of him with an embarrassed smile. Sirius was yelling something about her being cruel and getting his revenge. 'What had happened? Should have been paying attention.'
He tried to hold back his confusion as she gently lowered herself to straddle his lap. She blushed and tucked her hair behind her ear, leaning close to him. 'She smells amazing - except she also smells like him – don't think about that.' He watched breathless, as she blushed deeper and glanced from his eyes to his lips and inched closer. She closed her eyes and brushed her lips against his. 'Yes.' His heart jumped to his throat, he could hear the girls started slowly counting. 'Kiss her back, you idiot!'
The moment he convinced his lips to move with hers, he heard her heart start pounding in her chest. Her right hand brushed his cheek, moving down to his neck. He didn't have to think about his own hands for them to find her thighs on either side of him, his hands gliding up them to rest on her hips. His thumbs peeking under her sweater and softly stroking soft skin – he felt her give a tiny sigh (or was it a moan? He wasn't sure, but hot air washed over him).
Her other hand had found his chest, as the first sat happily on the back of his neck. His right arm made its path up her back, his forearm pressing against her spine and his fingers peeking over her opposite shoulder and she melted into him with another sigh. It was heaven - the feeling of her in his arms, the feeling as her lips move with his, and her hot breath on his skin.
Suddenly, her whole body stiffened with a jolt, jumping in his arms and breaking their kiss. He heard something hit the stone floor a moment later. 'She was hit.' His jaw clenched, and his hold on her became tense. 'Relax stupid.' He scolded himself, blushing as he relaxed his arms. The girls had stopped counting and were snickering and catcalling off to the side.
"That's enough." Sirius grumbled from the other side of the room. 'Git.'
"Are you alright?" Remus whispered, his voice cracking a little at the beginning.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Jean blushed to a darker shade. "I'm pretty sure it was just a box of candy." She assured, and he removed his arms as she started to pull back from him. Bracing herself on the couch to either side of him she lifted herself up.
"Right..." He replied. ''Right'? Stupid.' He said it right as she found her footing and know they were just staring at each other looking embarrassed.
"It's your turn, Lily." Trevor said loudly from behind them, but only more giggles erupted from the cluster of girls off to the side.
"Your turn." Jean repeated her brother's words, whipping around to the girls clustered around Lily, and they all fell silent.
"Come on Jean." Trevor patted the spot beside him (now away from Sirius), and she made her way to him. Letting him wrap his arm around her and squeeze her shoulder. 'Should be me – no, it was just a stupid dare.' He corrected himself. He crossed his arms over his chest and clenched his jaw, 'stupid full moon – stupid wolf thoughts.'
"Lily it's your turn." Trevor repeated slowly, his tune telling them it was time to move on.
He stared at his knees for most of the game after that, until Jean's name came up. It was Jean's turn again. Her neck was flushed, still sitting with her brother as his hand rubbed her upper arm. She had a bar of chocolate on her lap that she was nibbling. 'Stop staring.' He gave his head a shake, realizing he hadn't heard who she said or what they had chosen.
"Come on love." Sirius was imploring. 'Bloody git – no. No, that is just how Sirius talks to girls...git.'
"At least, you get privacy and don't have to actually do anything while in there." Jean nearly growled at him.
"Come on Lucinda." Sirius said holding out his hand to the girl, and they left the group and disappeared behind the door and the timer started again. Remus grinned to himself.
"Remus!" James shouted.
"What?" Remus' attention snapped to the voice.
"It's your turn." James spelled out. "Are you feeling sick?" James asked. 'Could you make it any more obvious? No, it's fine, don't be stupid.'
"Truth or dare, James?" Remus little more than muttered.
"Umm, dare." James answered looking a little concerned at Remus' tone.
"When we get back to the dorm, you're going to use a pair of Sirius' boxers as a pillow case for the night, or be hexed by me personally."
"Clean, right?" James asked weakly.
"Sure." Remus shrugged.
"Alright. My turn and then would be Sirius, but he's busy." Trevor said and turned to his sister. "So Jean, your last dare. When Sirius get's back hex him once, and then let it go." Trevor said sternly.
"Fine."
"But make it good." Trevor whispered to her making her smile. 'Nice smile. Stop it! Just stop it - it's not happening.'
"Alright, who's up?" Sirius exited the room, after Lucinda (who was blushing slightly).
"You." Jean turned to him with a smirk, her wand in hand. "Pay attention, you wanted me to teach you this one." She said, standing in front of him.
"Come on Jeany." Sirius tried to reason with her.
"Sorry Sirius, it was a dare after all." Jean said with a smile.
"I warned you." Trevor called from behind her.
"Meet the Bat-Bogy Hex." She grinned, and with a flourish of her wand, he slapped his hands over his nose.
"I'm getting Ginny flashbacks!" Trevor laughed, offering his hand as Jean returned back to her seat. She slapped his hand and plopped down next to him with a smile before the first bat crawled to freedom and the room filled with laughter.
"Your turn Sirius." Jean said her smile only growing at his glare.
"Are... we...even?" Sirius managed between bats.
"Yes." Jean conceded.
~.~.~
[The next day]
(Thursday, December 18th, 1975.)
Jean left the library late the next night. She had been with Lily and the other members of their study group (except Remus who hadn't shown). She was the last to leave, after being very kindly kicked out by the plump elderly Madam. Jean had to suppress a grin on her walk out, as she glances again the nameplate on woman's desk (that declared her 'Billie Olivia Tecka').
It was nearly after hours and the halls were empty. She looked at her watch, and thought about Disillusioning herself, just in case, but decided instead to hurry up and take a shortcut (that she really shouldn't know about). Jean was making her why down to the dungeons when she saw a figure slumped against the wall.
"Hey! Are you alright?" She called, running to their side. "Remus? What are you doing here?"
"Run..." He groaned, his voice sounding like he had marbles in his mouth. 'He's changing.' She realized (she really should start watching the lunar cycle).
"It's too early, what's wrong?" She asked hurriedly, slipping under his armpit, lugging him up, and starting to pull him to the stairs.
"Go Jean." Remus rasped.
"Come on." She encourages, pulling him. "Focus Remus." She added, but he seemed not to notice. "It's too early, you hear me?" Jean yelled at him sternly, lugging him down the stairs as well as she could. "For god's sake, where are James and Sirius?" She muttered to herself.
"You don't understand." He groaned. "You have to go." He implored.
"Look at me." She snatched his chin and stared into his yellowing eyes. "I know. Alright? I know, and I'll be fine. You just fight until I get you out of the castle." She ordered and turned back to pulling him along with her as fast as she could. "Fight it!" She called over his pained groaning, as she pulled him towards the door. "We're almost there, just a little longer. Just hold on." With a flick of her wand the doors opened, her knees and back were screaming making her groan along with him as she heaved him to the open doors. "Why do you have to be so heavy." She muttered (cursing under her breath). "Just another moment, Remus." She assured him at the meter mark.
"I can't." He cried and unhooked himself from her, slumping onto his knee. She could hear the change begin. 'No time.' Her face winced as she reared back and kicked forward with all her strength, (kicking him in the rear with enough force to send him tumbling through the door, and past the steps). She darted through the doors after him, and with a wave of her wand, the doors clanged shut.
A horrible growl came from behind her. She took a quick breath and turned. She felt her body shift (like putty shaping itself in an instant). Standing in her new body, she stood tall, lumbering over him, and roared. 'Don't you bloody growl at me.'
The werewolf stiffened at the sound but then relaxed, taking a non-threatening stance. She wasn't sure how she knew the werewolf had accepted her warning, but she did. 'Now just to get him into the forbidden forest where there aren't any people. He can spend the night tracking or something, there are plenty of creatures in there.' She thought to herself, lowering herself onto all four legs and huffing at him. He looked at her for a moment before he promptly turned and started trotting down the lawn to the forest, with her following close behind him.
It was easier than she had thought it would be, to keep him in line: maybe it was the size of her form, or maybe they were talking (she did seem to understand him in some way, and he her). She knew Sirius as Padfoot had talked to Crookshanks, so it was possible but she thought she'd be more aware of it (generally you know when you are and are not talking). All night he ran around the forbidden forest tracking things and finding creatures. Every step of the way she was there watching him and only letting him wander back to the edge of the forest as the night ended.
After hours, the moon was finally setting, and dawn was coming. She watched him change back, his screams ringing in her ears. Finally, the screaming stopped, and he collapsed to the side passed out. 'Is that normal?' She wondered, looking down at him. She thought about turning back but stopped when a smell came on the breeze. 'What is that, and why do I feel threatened?' She looked around and saw nothing. Inhaling deeply, the scent grew stronger, but she couldn't name it (outside of it being a threat). Listening she heard breathing, and steps coming from the shadows in front of her. There was a group, watching them from just beyond the shadow of the forest. 'Now you're screwed.'
She heard a twig break and felt her body speed up. She stepped so that she stood over Remus and growled into the black forest. Slowly Centaurs emerged, approaching them. They stared at his naked body laying on the ground. Part of her knew that Centaurs were easily offended and territorial. She was torn, her human mind said to let them make the first move, but the bear didn't like them – they were a threat.
"Leave the werewolf, little witch." She huffed at the words. Standing up to her full height, and roaring – it shook the trees, and for a short time, it halted their advance. "As the wolf, he has invaded our woods, and now he stays as a man too?" They were really pissing her off. She roared again, as along and as threatening as she could (still standing over him). She worried if he was OK, she could hear his heart, his breath, but still, it didn't seem right.
They leveled their bows at her and advanced. 'Wrong move.' She thought, her heart rate spiking and blood pounding in her ears. They seemed to sense her rage, it was overflowing twitching in her fingers and rumbling in her chest. With every breath and pounding of her heart, she hated them ('it would be so satisfying to rip them apart').
One tried to circle behind her, stepping over the sleeping man she swiped at the offending Centaur, throwing him onto his side into the dirt. She roared at him, as he stumbled back onto his hooves. That was when the first arrow hit her – pain blocking out all thought leaving her with only the images of her crawls shredding flesh. The same Centaur was in her reach so she grabbed him by the shoulders and force him down again, this time keeping her paw in his back. His chest and face pressed firmly to the ground there was no chance of him getting his footing.
He growled and struggled, he tried to push himself up and his rear bucked but he was stuck as long as his chest was on the ground. She glared at the next closest Centaur – the leader – the one who shot her in the side with a fucking arrow (she growled as she remembered her injury).
"I see." The Centuar before her snorted, and they glared at each other. That was when he shot her the second time. Her paws clenched, when the arrow hit her - the Centaur under her cried out as her claws bit into his back – as she roared again. The face of the Head Centaur changed, it seemed things were not going as he wanted. 'The little one is important.' She looked down at the Centaur under her and growled against his neck her eyes locked on the leader.
"What's going on here?" A voice behind her boomed - 'Hagrid.' He had his crossbow in hand and eyed the Centaurs. "I think it's time for you to leave." He added after taking in the scene.
"You d-" The Centaur started but stopped when she growled at him and made the little one cry out. "We will leave with him." The Centaur countered, but she only huffed at him - 'think again.'
"I think she's not going to let him go until you're all gone." Hagrid said calmly.
"Fine." The leader growled, and they backed into the darkness and paused there. She roared again, she could hear them, she could smell them, they were still there. After a moment, they ran off in a rage, and she let the little one up with a huff, still standing over the sleeping boy curled on his side in the dirt and grass.
"I'll treat those wounds if you want." Hagrid offered the Centaur, but he only ran off without a word.
"What the bloody hell?" She turned to the voice to see Trevor, landing in the grass in his Pj's. "I hate flying." He muttered, dropping the broom in the grass next to him.
"Change back now." Hagrid said softly to her. She stepped away from Remus and let herself shrink back to her human form. Hagrid had Remus over his shoulder - she looked away blushing – she had known he was naked before but it didn't register somehow until she was her again. Trevor conjured a blanket as she turned away, and he and Hagrid wrapped Remus in it.
She looked at her feet as she waited and found two black pieces of wood sticking out of her. One was in her thigh and the other was sticking out from the side of her stomach. She reached out to touch them in a daze – she remembered getting shot, but it didn't hurt anymore. The moment her fingers grazed the arrow's shaft, the pain flooded back. She gasped and felt her knee nearly give out, tears flooding to her burn behind her eyes.
"I gotcha." She heard as she stumbled backward (the world growing dim).