AN: Any dialogue in bold italics is them speaking while in animagus form.
Oh, Look, a Snack!
"I'm pretty sure it was during our third year that you said you didn't read. You've managed to shatter that image."
"Hmm, can't blame me for reading if its for personal gain."
"How very Slytherin of you." Severus sat across from Harry. "What are you reading?"
"I'm searching for a potion that doesn't seem to exist." Harry looked over the edge of his book as he turned the page. "You see, there is a color changing charm, but not a color changing potion. Such a shame. Perhaps you - in your infinite wisdom - should create one."
Severus snorted. "Why, pray tell, would I do such a thing?"
"Because you're my friend." Severus snorted again. Harry dropped his gaze back to the book and adjusted his response accordingly. "Right, because you're brilliant and love a challenge.
He paused and hummed softly, "Hmm... True."
"Such modesty is wasted on you."
"Just say you'll go with me." James' pleading voice could be heard through the library door followed by the telltale shrill screech of one Lily Evans.
Harry closed his book and set it down. His emerald eyes drifted from the teen sitting across from him to the library doorway just as an irate Lily entered. She stomped to their table, slammed her book bag down beside Severus and huffed. Her glare fixated on Harry as if it was his fault James was still hounding her.
Harry hadn't reacted to her antics. He had simply watched Lily with disinterest. Although he had blinked when she rudely slammed her book bag down as it disrupted the silent haven of the library. That simple, selfish act of Lily is what broke his tolerance regarding her petulant behavior. Harry dragged his gaze upwards to meet hers, refusing to hide his distaste for her dramatics and pushed away from the table. "I'll see you later, Severus."
Slughorn grinned at his class and stood near the table displaying three cauldrons. The professor stood closer to the cauldron on the left and was careful not to breathe its fumes directly. That was the class' first clue not to inhale deeply as they stood around the front table.
"Who can name these potions? Mr. Snape?"
"Amortentia, Invigoration Draught and Draught of Peace."
"Quite right, five points for Slytherin." The professor strode towards the center cauldron, "Mr. Radisson, can you tell me what Amortentia smells like?"
"Not exactly, sir. It is said to smell different to each person, according to what..." Harry fidgeted and continued, "they, erm... find most attractive."
Slughorn simply grinned at Harry and nodded, "Exactly so, five points for Gryffindor. Five more if you can tell me what you smell?"
As Harry was one of the students already near the cauldron holding the Amortentia, he leaned a tad closer and inhaled nervously. The aroma surrounded him immediately and he closed his eyes as his sense filled with, "Green grass, the breeze over the Black Lake and..." His eyes flew open. He backed away from the potion as he recognized the third smell.
"Mr. Radisson?"
Harry shook his head, "Something... flowery."
The professor must have seen the troubled look cross Harry's features because he simply hummed, but didn't press the issue, "Hmm... five points, Mr. Radisson. Well, done.
"Amortentia doesn't create actual love, of course. That's impossible. But it does cause a powerful infatuation or obsession. For that reason, it is probably the most dangerous potion ever made.
"We won't be making that today, no. Here is today's assignment, which was properly identified by Mr. Snape: Draught of Peace. As we have a double class, we have just enough time to finish it, providing you start immediately. Carefully follow the steps. Miss one, and your potion could be quite deadly."
Harry moved back to his desk to stare at the book for a moment. He turned it to the proper page and stared blankly at the required ingredients. Harry closed his eyes and a small grin tried to tug at him, but he tamped it down with a soft sigh.
"Here." Severus set down enough ingredients for both of them. "Don't think I will be this considerate every time."
The teen smirked and Harry blinked. "Thank you."
"What was the third scent?"
Harry's breath hitched. "I..." Severus went to work on his own potion, not looking Harry's way. Harry's hands moved automatically, sorting through the potion ingredients that was laid out before him. "Asphodel."
The full moon was expected to shine brightly down on Hogwarts in a few hours. Remus had been escorted to the Whomping Willow by Pomfrey moments ago. The other five Marauders sat around the common room as if nothing was amiss. Probably because it was true. At least as of that moment.
Hermione went to her dorm room to change her school robes into her night clothes, which consisted of sweatpants and a t-shirt. As was her habit, she quickly closed her privacy curtains around her bed and charmed them silent. Hermione tugged her jumper over her head and threw on a pair of socks.
As she wriggled her toes, she cast the disillusionment charm and waited until it took effect. Hermione slipped a hand through her curtains and grabbed her trainers when she realized her mistake. She rolled her eyes even if no one could see her. Her trainers were floating mid-air. She peered around her curtains and was relieved when the last set of curtains closed.
The door opened quietly. Had anyone been watching they would have seen a pair of trainers float along before the door closed again.
Hermione didn't relax until she reached the common room without mishap, slipped on her trainers and laced them quickly, but soon jumped in surprise when she heard a snicker behind her. "Floating trainers aren't common place even at Hogwarts."
"Mine forgot to wear them when she cast her charm again."
"She is a witch right?"
"I'm sure she is. Brightest witch of our age."
"Book smarts aren't the same as common sense."
"I'll hex the next one to speak. Even if I can't see you." Hermione huffed and her trainers stomped across the common room to the portrait.
"Mine, just disillusion your trainers and we'll go."
She just gave another huff, but she did as she was told and her shoes vanished from sight. Stupid boys. It was easy enough to get down to the grounds without getting caught. Once they were past the greenhouses - and out of sight of the castle - they dropped their disillusionment charms as usual and changed forms. Hermione jumped onto Harry's back, to the top of Padfoot's head, to James' antlers where she clung. Once Peter had a good hold on Padfoot's' shaggy hair, the three bigger animals took off at a sprint for the Whomping Willow.
When they were as close as they dared they paused while Hermione chattered happily, almost like she was laughing at them. What she was about to do was one of her favorite pastimes. It was wild and it let her have complete freedom with her animal.
As soon as she was in range of the Whomping Willow, a limb came hurtling down towards her. Quickly moving to the side, Hermione grabbed the flying branch and clung to it. As soon as it started to move, she climbed her way upwards, jumping from branch to branch in order to avoid being hit.
It was like a dance. A dangerous, fun dance. It was like Hermione and the willow were competing to see who was the better dancer.
Up a bit, jump to the left, hop a tiny bit back, climb up, drop, leap, shimmy up. Constantly moving, her animal was happily chittering away.
All too soon, she was able to drop on top of the knob that paused the tree's crazy motions. Harry trotted over and used a single paw to hold the piece down so Hermione could scamper down the hole.
The howls began, and for a moment the little Lemur trembled, but then Hermione shook her small head and continued onwards. She ran up the stairs and the howls grew louder and louder, the sound of furniture being thrown around soon became audible.
The battered door came into sight, the walls swaying as if to some silent music. She hurried to the door and released the latch that kept it closed. There, in front of her, was Moony.
He was large, his fur short and bluish gray. His hind legs were full of muscle, his front legs were long so he could either stand on two or four legs. His snout was long, almost like a dogs, and it quivered as it drank in the smell of Hermione.
Moony pushed himself up so he could walk over to her before falling back down to sniff her fur. She playfully brought her tail up and flicked him on the nose which caused Moony to snort. He reached down and picked her up by the scruff of the neck and placed her on his shoulder. She happily settled into her favored position with her tail hanging loosely around his neck while hugging close to him.
"Let's go! The others are waiting."
Something they had realized was that, even changed, they could still communicate to each other. Remus could understand them, probably because he was a werewolf, but when he was in Moony's form, he couldn't verbally communicate.
So the werewolf just snorted and loped out of the room, heading for the exit. Hermione held on tighter, her ringed-tail constantly moving about.
Finally the two burst from the Whomping Willow, and Moony raced over to James, where he sniffed the large buck, as if making sure it was him. Then he moved onto Padfoot, then Peter, and finally Harry.
Once Moony was satisfied that these were indeed his friends, Hermione asked, "What are we doing tonight?"
"Forest!" Were the other four answers.
Hermione huffed, "How am I not surprised?"
Before they took off, Harry raced over and said, "Oh, look, a snack!" before biting down carefully on the rat's scruff.
Peter huffed and, if rats could pout, he pouted, "Is this necessary?"
Harry's answer was muffled as he couldn't speak with his mouth full of fur. Padfoot barked out a laugh as James rose onto his hind legs. Hermione tightened her hold on Moony as she squeaked out her laughter. Moony just gave a small howl.
As the Lynx walked to the forest with the rat dangling from his mouth, Padfoot bound up behind him and quickly had Harry by the scruff carrying him in a similar fashion. Hermione buried her face in Moony's fur, a howl of her own mixing with Moony's, except hers was loud and high where his was more like a wolf's.
Before anything else could happen, Padfoot charged to the Forest, occasionally stumbling due to the added weight. James quickly followed, catching up easily.
Moony stayed put, tilting his head to the side to stare at Hermione who was still with him. She patted him on the head and Moony nudged her gently before taking off after the others, Harry's shout echoing back to them, "Put me down, Flower!"
The only answer he got was laughter from everybody else.