Author's Note: Yay! So they finally become Animagus and discover some side effects of the first transformation... like mood swings. :) Sorry no Scorpius in this chapter. :( Hope you like it!
Chapter 20: Secret Animagus
At exactly a quarter to midnight Imee and I snuck out. We were all meeting down by the lake. Tonight was the night. I was very excited.
We waited in the moonlight until all six of us had gathered. James, our official leader, set up a large mirror with magic so we could view ourselves after transformation. Then he began to speak as he handed us each a glass that appeared to be filled with bubbly pink mud. Ew.
"As soon as the clock starts tolling out midnight cast the two spells I taught you over yourselves and start drinking. You must be finished with the entire glass before the clock falls silent. I'll also cast a spell that connects our minds when we're in animal form so we can easily communicate.
"You can do that!" I exclaimed.
"Um, yah," James replied.
"I didn't know you were that smart," I said.
He frowned. "Thanks Lils."
I rolled my eyes. "You know what I mean. I knew you were smart but not super genius, aunt Hermione smart."
He beamed at this. Hermione was known as one of brightest witches of this age. Comparing his intelligence to hers was a huge compliment.
Dong. I jumped as the clock started to strike out the hour. I waved my wand muttering the incantations James had shown me. Then I grabbed my small cup, and gulped down its contents. It had an odd taste, like warm raw steak.
After twelve bongs the air rung with silence and I started to change. Fur burst out of my body. My nose and mouth were pushing outward into a muzzle. My teeth got longer and sharper. I fell forward as it became awkward to stand on two legs. My huge paws hit the ground with a thud. I threw back my head and howled.
I padded over to the mirror. I had a soft, silky grey coat. My eyes were a stunning golden color. I had a strong jaw and a mouth of inch long, sharp, slightly curved teeth. I peeled back my lips in a snarl to better admire the fearsome things.
A deep rumbling roar echoed across the grounds. I whipped around. James was a majestic lion. He had tawny colored fur and a thick mane. His eyes gleamed with pride. There was a very human edge to his swagger as he came to look in the mirror too.
Albus took flight. He was an Eurusian Eagle Owl. Albus was about two feet tall but his wingspan was a massive five and a half feet. His feathers were a rich fawn color with dark brown stripes. Albus's eyes were big and brilliantly orange. He had a black beak and sharp black talons. He let out a deep hoot.
I looked for Bryson. He was a Quarter-horse. He had a straight profile and a broad chest with powerful hindquarters. All at once he took off running. His smooth muscles rippled powerfully under his glossy, black coat.
It wasn't hard to spot Imee. She was a cute little Rex Rabbit. Everything about her was sweet and cuddly. She had a plush velvety light brown coat. She bounced around boisterously.
I heard the sound of paws that were lighter then mine hitting the ground to my right before Matt rammed into my side. I let myself be bowled over and stared in awe at the Siberian Husky. Everything about him was beautiful. He had a black and white coat. His paws and legs were entirely white. Matt's triangular ears stood erect. He had a strong chest and back. He had a thick furred brush tail and his tongue lolled out in a silly grin. Matt's eyes were the most breathtaking feature. They were almond shaped and blue. Not just any blue though. It was a light color that reminded me of ice. They were bright and full of life. Matt was an adorable dog.
I was aware of a thin connection to each of the five animal's minds. I was able to open the connection to speak mentally to them but it wasn't like we could see each others every though, thank goodness! I gently explored the thread that linked Matt and I.
"Hey," I thought.
"This is awesome Lils!" was his reply.
"Definitely!" I agreed enthusiastically.
I rolled out from Matt's paws and stood taller then him. Bryson was still running, reveling in his new found speed. Albus had disappeared into the sky. I could feel his elation seep through our mental connection. A glance at Imee and James caused me to give an odd barking laughter. It was strange to see a huge kingly lion liking the head of a tiny little bunny that was nestled up against its side.
"Look at that!" I thought.
"And so the lion fell in love with the… bunny?" Matt's tail was wagging like crazy as he yelped his laughter.
It was strange to see animals attempting to show human emotions, and stranger still to be the animal trying to show those feelings.
"Let's play!" Matt's idea echoed in my mind.
I could automatically feel my tail raising high, wagging to and fro as I pounced at him. We playfully nipped and swatted at each other, yelping happily.
We rolled around in our affectionate game for hours. It wasn't until the clock told us it was 3:00 am that James told us we'd better turn back human.
"Aw come on James! Five more minutes?" I begged.
"We have classes tomorrow! Bed time!" he demanded.
With much complaining we all became human again. For a bizarre moment being human felt completely wrong. I wanted to run on four legs and feel the ground under my strong paws.
As soon as I got the feel of myself I rushed at James. "You're brilliant you know! Absolutely brilliant!"
"So I've been told," he grinned.
I smacked him on the arm. "And an arrogant jerk too."
James laughed. He tried to ruffle my hair but I ducked under his arm to hug Bryson. "Let's not forget the one who actually made the potions and combined them!"
Bryson smiled and patted my back before I dropped my arms. Of course I had to hug Imee and Albus too. I saved Matt for last. He was giving me a strange look like he thought I was going slightly insane. With tons of energy suddenly buzzing through me I was crazy hyper. I threw my arms around Matt and kissed him. A little too enthusiastically for my brother's taste. I think being an animagus messed with your emotions cuz mine were spiking all over the place.
"Lily!"
I looked around. Albus clutched his wand inside his robes. He was turned away from Matt and I looking slightly ill and muttering curses under his breath. James however had his wand drawn. Imee was rolling on the ground laughing like crazy and Bryson leaned against the castle wall watching all of us with an amused expression.
I rolled my eyes at them.
"You shouldn't be kissing like that! You're just a child!" James spluttered.
"A child?!" My temper flash. Whoa talk about major mood swings. "Imee's almost a full year younger then me and you don't treat her like a child!"
"Imee's different…"
"How? Are you saying she's more mature then me?" I asked.
"Well, no…"
"Stop treating me like a baby!"
"You're the one who insisted on dating Chandler…"
"Where did that come from? What does he have to do with anything?!!!" I asked angrily.
"Neither of you are making any sense!" Albus interrupted.
"You're quarrelling like children!" Imee growled.
The laughter had left her face. Bryson looked ready to break up a fight. Matt was frozen with shock. Our lighthearted, cheerful mood had vanished. I seemed to be doing everything wrong lately.
I sighed and hugged James. "I'm sorry."
"Me too," he murmured.
"I don't know what came over me. It was like I had serious mood swings…" I trailed off.
I was silent as we hugged. "I just don't want to lose you," he finally said, his voice a little shaky. "I'm scared to see you grow up. I look at you and can't help but wonder what happened to the little red headed girl who believed everything I told her like I was her hero and would burst into my bedroom at midnight begging for me to read Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump or The Tale of Three Brothers one last time."
I sniffled a little. "Actually the Fountain of Fair Fortune was always my favorite. I loved when Sir Luckless proposed to Amata at the end."
He chuckled. "That's right; I'm the one who liked the Tale of Three Brothers most."
"Yah, and Albus always wanted Babbitty Rabbitty," I managed a giggle.
"I did not!" Albus denied with a grin. "I liked the Wizard and the Hopping Pot."
"What nonsense are you guys talking about?" Imee demanded.
"The Tales of Beedle the Bard of course," I said.
"Haven't you heard the stories? All wizarding kids have!" Bryson exclaimed.
"Muggle born remember?" Imee pointed out.
"You are?" James pretended to be surprised.
"My own boyfriend didn't remember?" Imee cried teasingly.
Immediately our cheerful mood was back. Yup, I'm pretty sure major mood swings is a side affected of our Animagus experiment.
That night I had a dreadful dream.
I was walking down the street with Matt Wood on one side of me and Scorpius Malfoy on the other. They were both trying to get me to marry them.
"I'll give you all of my money," Matt declared. "You can even have my broomstick!"
I turned to Scorpius. "What about you?"
"I'll give you the only thing I can, my heart," he vowed softly.
"Really?" I cried.
He didn't answer, his face frozen.
"Scorpius?" I asked.
He fell forward, a knife sticking out of his back, and landed dead at my feet.
"Scorpius!" I sobbed. "Come back, don't leave me here. I choose you! I love you!"
"Ello girly." A rasping voice barked sinisterly.
I noticed the man for the first time, standing where Matt had just been. He had the haunted look of someone who'd spent a lot of time in Azkaban. He leered at me showing broken yellow teeth.
I screamed. "Scorpius!" I shrieked frantically. "Scorpius!"
I was going hysterical.
I jerked awake screaming his name and reaching out into the dark as if to save him.