Disclaimer: still don't own anything! And I never will.
The sound of soft footsteps echoed down the dark corridor. Three students wandered the halls of Hogwarts in search for the library. Emilia sighed from under the invisibility cloak. None of them had any clue how to get to the library from here.
"Do any of you know where we are?" harry whispered.
"Um…" Emilia looked around for any familiar statues or paintings. "Sorry, I don't think so."
Hannah sighed, "I thought you said this was a shortcut?"
"It is!" Emilia said defensively. "we just took a wrong turn somewhere, I'm sure of it!" She scanned a large painting with a weird looking tree in it. "I might recognize that…"
"I recognize that too!" harry whispered, "this way"
The students walked down another long corridor, some steps, through a few more small hallways, and finally, the library entrance came into sight.
"Wow Harry, thanks" Hannah laughed, "no more short cuts from Emilia"
"Hey! Just get inside will you?" Emilia rolled her eyes and followed the other two into the library. The large bookshelves seemed almost inviting to the young girl. The smell of parchment and old books filled the air. The three Gryffindors slipped off the cloak and sped towards the restricted section.
"Wait" Hannah stopped right before they entered.
Emilia spun around. "Aren't you coming?"
"You two go on. I need a book."
Emilia looked at her friend for an explanation before giving up. It didn't sound like she wanted to explain herself just yet. Harry and Emilia walked amongst the darker bookshelves. This section had an eerie vibe to it -one that put Emilia on edge. The dusty floorboards creaked under the two students. Harry started browsing through the bookshelves in the dark. Emilia gently pulled out her wand and cast a Lumos charm before starting her search. A large green book caught her eye. It was gold lettering on the side that was too worn for her to read. She pulled the book off the bookshelf and opened the first page. Each page was thick and had tears in different places. The same gold lettering that was on the outside covered the pages and glittered in the light from her wand. The young girl looked at the book in awe.
A loud scream filled her ears. Emilia jumped and spun around to see where the noise was coming from. The book in harry's hands was screaming? How?! Emilia ran for the cloak as harry slammed the book shut. Two sets of loud footsteps were coming closer and closer and the two Gryffindors struggled to pull the cloak on. Hannah came around the corner silently and flew over to them. Emilia quickly pulled her under the cloak, along with the large green book she found earlier.
"You find your book?" Emilia muttered
"None of them would tell me what I wanted" Hannah mumbled as she took out her wand.
"What do you mean they wouldn't 'tell you what you wanted'? Were you trying to talk to them?" Emilia sniggered.
"Do shut up will you?" Hannah rolled her eyes "I wasn't talking to them, that seems like something you would try. Now be quiet because Filch is coming."
"I know," Emilia said quietly "I can smell people coming remember?"
"What do you mean you can smell-" but Harry was cut short by Hannah's silencing look
The old caretaker came into view as they neared the entrance of the library. His cat, Ms. Norris, came followed the old man into the library. She scanned the room with her yellow eyes before stopping where they were standing. The old cat arched its back and began making growling/hissing noises their way.
Emilia hated that cat. Ever since she got to Hogwarts that cat has hated her more than the other students. Emilia supposed it was because Ms. Norris knew she wasn't any normal student. Maybe the cat could sense her wolf side? It was the young girls best guess so she chose to stick with it. But this cat would not give them away! Not now when they were so close to getting out! Emilia pulled out her wand and cast a quick silencing charm on the annoying animal. The young girl smiled triumphantly as she heard the quiet laughing of her two friends behind her.
The three Gryffindors raced silently out of the library. Sadly their celebration was cut short. As Emilia looked around she realized that they were lost. Really lost. Harry pointed out a familiar looking suit of armor, but the suit of armor looked like the ones by the kitchens. And Emilia knew they were nowhere near the kitchen.
The greasy voice of Filch came floating down the dark corridor. How did he get here so fast? "Filch" Emilia whispered to the two others. The three grew silent as the noises got louder.
"You asked me to come directly to you, Professor if anyone was wandering around at night, and somebody's been in the library Restricted Section."
The three students paled at the words. Where ever they were, Filch must know a shortcut. She was so sure they had left him behind! To Emilia's horror, it was Snape who replied, "The Restricted Section? Well, they can't be far, we'll catch them."
Emilia was determined not to panic. The two adults came around the corner and started walking closer to the trio. Harry guided them over to a door that was slightly open. Somehow they managed to squeeze through the small gap. The two adults walked straight past, and Emilia leaned against the wall, breathing deeply, listening to their footsteps dying away. That had been close, very close. It was a few seconds before she noticed anything about the room she had hidden in.
A window brought in the moonlight from outside, making it easier to see than in the dark corridors. it looked like an unused classroom. The dark shapes of desks and chairs were piled against the walls, and there was an upturned wastepaper basket — but propped against the wall facing him was something that didn't look as if it belonged there, something that looked as if someone had just put it there to keep it out of the way. It was a magnificent mirror, as high as the ceiling, with an ornate gold frame, standing on two clawed feet. Emilia couldn't make out the writing on top: 'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi'
Emilia and Hannah stepped back and allowed harry to look in first. From what Emilia could see, it was just a regular mirror. She saw harry standing in front, looking the exact same. A part of Emilia was disappointed it was a regular mirror. Why would there be a mirror here in the first place? But what else would it be? 'Of course, it has to be a regular mirror' she told herself.
Then harry gasped. He looked surprised as he touched the mirror. Emilia watched curiously as he looked over his shoulder and became disappointed. "Harry?"
He waved his hands around him as if he was trying to feel for something. Emilia started to worry as Harry stepped closer and closer to the glass, staring longingly.
"Harry are you alright?" Hannah asked slowly.
Harry looked over at them, his eyes full of unshed tears. "My parents…" he said quietly.
Emilia quietly walked over to her friend. "What do you mean?" she said slowly.
"They're here! I can see them in this mirror!" harry pointed to the mirror. Hannah walked over to where harry was standing and looked in. Her face softened as she stared at her reflection.
"Do you see them?" harry said excitedly
"I see my sister…." Hannah paused. "We're happy. We look… happy. Normal almost. My sister isn't dark here. She's…. She's actually smiling." Hannah started shivering and looked away. She stepped back and let Emilia see inside.
Emilia slowly crept towards the mirror, unaware of just what she would see. Instead of seeing just her reflection, she saw two tall figures on either side of her. Emilia gasped. She didn't know what to say! Her father stood on one side of her, smiling down at her. She smiled and looked to the left of her. A woman she didn't recognize stood there, with her hand on her shoulder. Emilia touched her shoulder but felt nothing. She gazed intently at the woman. She now knew exactly who this was. The long curly dark hair was the same as Emilia. Same with the face shape and smile, this woman was clearly her mother. Looking at herself compared to her two parents she could quickly make out the similarities she shared with both of them. She looked a lot like her father, but even more so like her mother. "Mum-" was all Emilia was able to say. She felt tears struggling to escape but she blinked them back. Emilia stared at the glass with joy, but also terrible sadness. She slowly backed away and let harry step in front, the picture of her mother still burning in her mind.
Two girls trudged into the empty dorm room. Both only had one thing on their minds- sleep. Emilia flopped down on her bed and let out a tired sigh. That mirror! Why did she see her mum in that mirror? Maybe it shows dead family members? But no, her dad was also there and Hannah saw her sister (who is very much alive). All Emilia knew was that she had seen what her mum looked like. Tall, dark curls going past her shoulders, tan skin, Emilia's same blue-grey eyes…. She had always wanted to see what her mum looked like.
Emilia suddenly sat up. Maybe that's what the mirror showed? Someone's deepest desire! She wanted her mum more than anything else. And harry wanted his parents and Hannah wanted… her sister to be happy? Or to have a connection with her sister? Emilia shrugged.
"Hannah," Emilia said "the mirror, it shows the person's deepest desire. Doesn't it?"
Hannah, who was laying on the floor, sat up with the sudden realization on her face. "It does!" there was a slight pause before Hannah said slowly, "erised is desire backward."
Emilia smirked. "How long do you think it will take Harry to realize that?"
"Not before he tells Ron" Hannah laughed. "Those two tell each other lots." the two sat in comfortable silence for a while before Hannah spoke up again, "what's that?" she pointed to a book beside Emilia. Emilia looked down at it curiously for a second before she remembered where it came from.
"I got it from the library. Before we had to run off" Emilia answered. "It was in the restricted section so I figured it must have something good in it"
Hannah laughed. "Come join me on the floor! It's not too bad down here"
Emilia sighed and sat on the floor with a blanket around her. They moved to the window so the moonlight could provide light to read the book. "What were you looking for in the library?"
Hannah bit her lip in thought. "Well, you know how you turn into a werewolf?"
"How could I forget?"
"Well, I figured you must feel alone with no one to be with…" Hannah went on slowly, "and I heard of an animagus and I thought I would look it up in a book. Because maybe us marauders could become animagi? It would help out with your transformations! Plus it would be pretty cool." silence followed.
Emilia didn't know what to say. She was deeply touched that not only did her friends accept her for what she was but wanted to help her out. She wanted to say yes. But something deep inside her was telling her no. it was too dangerous! She was a monster, a monster that could rip them all to shreds if anything happened. And they weren't old enough to do this either! They would have to do it illegally if they wanted to go through with Hannah's plan. It's too dangerous she reasoned. The young werewolf sighed. She was a monster. A horrible monster and she couldn't let her friends be killed. "No."
Hannah frowned. "Of course it's up to you Emilia. But are you sure you don't want help?"
"It's too dangerous." Emilia's bottom lip trembled and she looked down at her hands. "I'm a dangerous dark creature! What if I haven't taken my potion and I kill you? What if something goes wrong and you don't turn before I transform? And it's illegal anyways! I'm not letting you go against the law to help me with something I've been used to for a while now."
Hannah wasn't sure what to say. Emilia had a point, but Emilia couldn't deny that her wolf must be confused without some sort of pack. She was still a cub, wasn't she? Hannah had talked about it to Michael and he was very excited about it.
Hannah, deciding to change the subject, asked, "so what's the book about?"
Emilia pulled the book closer and opened it. It was so big it covered both the girl's laps. Emilia gazed down at it with admiration. "Something about this book is familiar. It might be the scents…"
"Have you ever seen this book before?" Hannah asked curiously
"No. at least I don't think so."
"Can you smell who used it?"
Emilia paused "sometimes. But only if they've had the book in their position for a long time, and when my sense of smell is really good. And of course, if I have the smell memorized."
"When is your sense of smell good?"
"Closer to the full moon" Emilia sighed. "The last full moon was a little too long ago and the next full moon won't be for a few weeks."
Hannah traced her fingers along the gold lettering. She had a slight hint of amusement behind her eyes and she looked like she was trying to hide a smile. "Did you know what this book was about when you picked it up?"
"No. the scent seemed familiar so I grabbed it. I didn't get a chance to read it." Emilia said.
"This is what I was looking for!" Hannah said excitedly. "All the other books only told me what animaguses are, not how to become one!" The blonde girl flipped through the pages until she reached a certain page with a large gold headline. 'Process for Becoming an Animagus'
Emilia groaned. "You don't give up do you?"
Hannah smirked and began reading. "It says there's a potion you brew… and part of this process you have to hold a mandrake leaf in your mouth for a month… seems easy enough so far."
"No, you're not risking your life for me!" Emilia said stubbornly she tried to close the book but Hannah pulled it to her side where Emilia couldn't reach.
"I'm trying to read" Hannah rolled her eyes and kept staring at the old pages.
Emilia huffed and wrapped her blanket tighter around her. If she was honest with herself, she didn't mind that they wanted to do this. She just didn't want to accidentally kill them. Accidentally or not, a death was a death and she could be forced to leave Hogwarts.
"Let's make a deal?" Emilia said quietly.
Hannah at her friend with suspicion but motioned for Emilia to continue on.
"I think it's wonderful that you want to help. It's probably the nicest thing anyone's done for me. But if I kill one of you, or worse yet, bite and turn you, then I'll be forced to leave Hogwarts. So… IF you did this… then you'd have to agree that you guys wouldn't even approach moonlet until you've mastered turning into an animagus. And we'd have to keep it a secret!" Emilia finished and closed her eyes. She didn't know what Hannah would say but she figured her friend would agree with her.
Hannah thought for a few seconds before responding, "I think it's reasonable. Then us marauders can become animagi then?" she said hopefully
Emilia sighed but answered, "yes."
Hannah wrapped an arm around Emilia. "This should be fun for you to watch!" she smiled "you don't have to hold a mandrake leaf in your mouth from full moon to full moon!"
Emilia giggled at the thought. This could be interesting after all.
Hello, dear readers! I've actually been doing research on different Patronus and animagus forms for her friends to become. I have some ideas but suggestions would be very helpful!