Disclaimer: still don't own anything. Sigh
Warning: DEVIATION FROM CANON: In the Marauder's time, Sirius did not play the prank on Severus that sent him to the transformed Remus, James did. James did not save Severus, Sirius did. So it's exactly the other way around. Otherwise I could not make Severus and Sirius interact semi-civilly at all.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
'thoughts'
"talking English"
°°Vampire language, also called Vampiric Mot°°
House-elf language, also called Gaëla
# Language of the Werewolves, also called Grawl #
/Language of the Goblins, also called Gobbledegook/
§ Centaur language, also called Starwan §
Written language
LAST CHAPTER
With one last uneasy glance at the sleeping girl, Minerva hastily walked out of the Hospital Wing.
She just didn't know what to feel anymore.
NEW CHAPTER
'Red. Yes, red would be nice. Or orange polkadots. Stripes. Or bright purple stars with a silver skull in the middle! AS LONG AS IT IS NOT WHITE!' Jenna scowled up at the horrible, white ceiling. Last night she had spent several hours twisting and turning, despite being doused with a sleeping potion. The stress of the situation with James and Sirius' crushing devastation as he finally saw how things really were in the Potter family, played havoc on Jenna's mind. She had tried breathing excercises, had spent some more time sort-of-communicating with her mental wolf, but the sleep just would not come.
And now she was tired and cranky.
And the ceiling was still blasted white!
Oh. Jenna blinked. And blinked again, but the change remained. The ceiling now sported stars in the most clashing colours, literally flashing as if to get attention. One particularly ambitious star was trying to push the others out of the way to gain the spotlight for himself.
A little frown marred Jenna's face. How the hell? She knew she hadn't done this. She would have felt some drain on her core if her accidental magic had done this. Nor was this the work of Fred and George, they would have shown themselves by now.
A giggle and a muffled snort pulled Jenna out of her thoughts. Her eyes widened in disbelief at the sight that met her eyes. There, almost hidden under the bed next to her was a foot. Only a foot.
Jenna shook her head to clear it, still drowsy from the lack of sleep. Her eyes narrowed at the familiar shoe. "Viv?"
A louder giggle and the sound of someone scrambling up, pulled an involuntary smile on Jenna's face. "Viv, what the hell are you doing here? And what..wait a second, is that Tup?"
Viv pulled off her chameleon cloak and nodded cheerily. "Yep. Tup and I decided to come and stay for a while." She looked back at the bed under which she had hidden, and saw the brightly coloured mop of hair of her future mate. "C'mon Tup, you heard her. She's already seen us."
The slightly older boy slithered from beneath the bed and flopped on his back with a cheeky grin. "Hey there, cub"
Jenna let out an impressive growl in annoyance. "You can't call me cub. You aren't that much older than me, you know. Only Alpha may call me that."
The boy shrugged unelegantly from his position on the floor. "You were pouting like a cub."
"I was not!" Jenna fumed. To her annoyance this only made Tup smirk more.
"You were too."
"Was n.." She halted herself before she finished the utterly childish answer. Her eyes narrowed. Tup was deliberately egging her into a tantrum. And then she really would be acting like a cub. With an insulted huff, Jenna crossed her arms and turned away. She was tired and cranky and she didn't want to see that stupid Tup right then.
"Ah, c'mon J. Don't be such a..." Viv actually gulped at the vicious glare that was thrown her way. "Oh alright then. We were just trying to make you feel better. And can you honestly say we haven't improved the ceiling?"
"Beautiful. Now why are you here?" Jenna bit out.
Viv ignored the tone and beamed back. "To annoy my very bestest friend of course! And how very well we do that, don't we Tup?"
The languishing boy smirked. "Oh yeah."
With a roll of her eyes, Jenna gave in and smiled briefly. "Well, don't exp…"
The door of the office opened, forcing Viv and Tup to scramble back under the bed as fast as they could. And with their werewolf speed working for them, that was just fast enough.
"Awake, Apprentice Potter? Good." Madame Pomphrey strode forward in her usual manner and cast the diagnostic spell on her patient. "Yes, you seem to have recovered completely. You will still need to take things easy, and if you feel anything out of the ordinary I want you here back stat. Is that understood?"
Jenna murmered her agreement, knowing she would do anything in her power to stay out of the Hospital Wing.
"Alright. Since you have slept the entire day, you are just in time for dinner in the Great Hall."
Jenna blinked confused. "Dinner in the Great Hall? I thought dinner was in the antechamber during the holidays."
The Healer chuckled. "Child, the holidays were over two days ago."
"Two days ago?" Jenna frowned in thought. The attack had been on New Year's Eve, then came the few days in Master's Manor, the days in the den of the Southern Pack, and now at least two days in the Hospital Wing to 'recover'. Yes, the holiday must have ended.
A sickening feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.
The holidays were over, so the students were back. Students who had probably read about her disappearance. Students who would now find out about her Apprenticeship to their most hated teacher.
Oh, Merlin where were Fred and George when she needed them?
Completely forgetting the two werewolves hiding under the bed, Jenna slowly made her way towards the Great Hall.
000
Taking a deep breath Jenna eased herself into the Great Hall. She tried to ignore how the entire room quieted and turned their eyes towards her, before starting to speculate in whispers on what had happened to her. The Headmaster had decided to keep the story out of the newspapers and had placed some heavy protection curses on the information. It wouldn't do for the newly resurrected Dark Lord to find out about another possibly being the One-Who-Lived.
Jenna herself had had to forcefully keep her opinion to herself when she heard that. She knew damn well that Voldemort already knew about her. And wanted her.
A cold shiver ran through her body as she remembered the terror of the mind attack.
Attuned to his Mistress's emotions, Izzy squeaked comfortingly from his pocked inside Jenna's robes. Strangely the small act of kindness went a long way towards cheering Jenna up.
Unconsciously she tilted her head back a bit, and marched all the way to the Head Table. Time to shock the masses even further! Three feet away from the platform, Jenna knelt. She had positioned herself right in front of Master's chair, and her voice clear voice easily carried over the again stunned silence of the Hall, "Good Evening, Master."
The dark haired man looked at her with slight approval on his face, and a wicked glint of amusement in his eyes. "Apprentice. You may sit at your House Table."
Jenna bowed her head in thanks. "Thank you, Master."
She stood as gracefully as she could manage in her shaky state and marched to her usual spot, where to her relief Fred and George were waiting for her. With a nearly silent sigh Jenna sank on the bench and reached for the food, resolutely ignoring the probing, curious, angry and scornful glances aimed at her.
Below the table, Fred put his hand on her thigh and squeezed it comfortingly. "Good to have you back, kitten."
George tried to speak his agreement, but with his mouth full of food he only managed, "Mrguff."
A tiny smile made its way on Jenna's face. This wasn't as bad as she had imagined it to be. She had handled the looks and the sometimes unfriendly attitudes of the students of Hogwarts for months now. Nothing had really changed, except that the students now really had something to talk about. Feeling cheered, Jenna dug in to her food with relish.
Now all she had to do was find out a way to smuggle Tup and Viv back through the Floo and everything would be fine.
000
From the Head table, Albus Dumbledore took in the chaos in his dining hall.
Children from all houses were whispering, arguing, stealing glances at either young Jenaya Potter or Severus, or outright staring at them. Most students of the Slytherin House looked stunned, or as stunned as their emotionless masks allowed them to look, or angry. Albus knew many of the more ambitious students had been vying for an Apprenticeship with their Head of House for years. To find out a Gryffindor had managed to get that favoured position was a heavy blow to their egos.
Especially since the girl in question was a Potter, the family which the Potions Master clearly abhorred.
As he watched, Albus saw some of the angry looks turn calculating. They were trying to figure out what was so incredible about Jenaya that Professor Snape would ignore her ancestry, her gender, and her House.
Albus made a mental note to keep a close eye on those students. He knew first hand how dangerous curious Slytherins could be.
His twinkling eyes ran over the Ravenclaw table, where multiple debates were going on. He had no doubt they were exploring all possible reasons and ideas on the young Potter's disappearance and subsequent Apprenticeship. Idly he wondered if any of the children would think off the possibility that the Apprenticeship was older than a few days. That it was not directly involved with the kidnapping.
At the Hufflepuff table was noticeably the least commotion. Many students were whispering, staring, and overall looking very confused. Albus let a gentle smile curve on his face. He always had a soft spot for the badgers of Hogwarts. They represented the people all should desire to be. Hardworking, loyal, determined. It was such a shame most others only saw them as weaklings. Truthfully Albus thought Hufflepuff was the strongest house, due to their companionship and ability to mingle. They supported each other, and easily made friends with their mostly open attitudes. It was refreshing in the current climate of lies and deception.
His smile slipped. The Hufflepuff attitude also meant they would be the first, or at least the easiest prey for the rising darkness. They wouldn't know how to spot the danger until it was too late.
Albus averted his eyes to the last table. His favourites. His shining Gryffindors.
To his sadness and slight shock, Albus could see a clear division in opinion. Some students were looking at the Potter girl with awe in their eyes, some with curiosity. But most of the students, especially those in Galen Potter's vicinity, were angry.
Albus couldn't contain a frown at Galen's actions. He was on his feet whispering furiously to those around him who were listening to him with rapt attention. His gestures were violent and his kind brown eyes shone with anger.
The Headmaster had known of the tension between Galen and Jenaya, but this looked more serious than sibling rivalry. He resolved to talk to James about it. He was sure it could be solved fairly easily.
000
From her position at the back of the greenhouse, Jenna fumed. It had been six days since she had been let out of the hospital wing and the students still wouldn't stop whispering.
At Master's orders she remained in Herbology class, and Care of Magical Creatures. Those were her weakest subjects as she hadn't gone beyond fifth year level yet. The rest of her time was spent furthering her knowledge in her other subjects. Master supplied texts at her level for her to study and quizzed her harshly every weekend.
At first Jenna had been relieved to be able to avoid the boring classes, but she quickly noticed it only increased the hostility towards her. The Gryffindors especially seemed to hold her privileges position against her. From experience Jenna knew this was only the build up of emotions. The explosion would come later.
Both from them and from her. Because all the whispers, poited fingers and hisses at her were driving her absolutely nuts.
The bell went, and Jenna stomped out of the greenhouse, ignoring the silent Neville following her.
She knew he was hoping for forgiveness, but she just couldn't forget that crushing fear of being locked up. Instead of glaring at him she had taken to ignoring his existence completely.
With another angry huff she stomped into the Great Hall. Automatically her eyes went up to the Head table, and she stiffened at the warning she saw in Master's black eyes. Strangely the danger of punishment calmed her, and she was able to take a deep breath and approach Master respectfully like he deserved instead of approaching in anger. As usual she kneeled, and received her permission to sit at the Gryffindor table.
With slightly better cheer she turned and walked to her usual spot.
She was blocked before she could reach it. Galen glared down at her, "Are you proud, sis? That you've become an Apprentice? To that SLIMY SNAKE? Whoring yourself out to him? Huh? Do you call him Master when he cums insi.."
"MR POTTER!" Strangely it was Professor Flitwick who stormed to the table, face reddened in anger. "Mr Potter, how dare you disgrace one of our most valued traditions in this way? Becoming an Apprentice is the highest honour a wizard or witch in training can receive! Twenty points from Gryffindor for this, this…It's outragous!"
Jenna had flinched back from Galen's horrible accusations, but as soon as Professor Flitwick had started squeaking his anger, a hand steadied her. She half-turned to look in the half-glazed eyes of Trowan Boot. "Come."
He gently led her to the Ravenclaw table, where the upper class students made place for them. He smiled serenely. "I had thought I would speak with you after the holidays. How have your classes been, Jenaya?"
Jenna grumbled, inwardly relieved at the mundane turn of the conversation. It was a nice contrast from the tension just before. "I thought I told you to call me Jenna?"
The older boy smiled, "Alas. I believe I told you before that I prefer your full name, Jenaya."
As Jenna was about to snap back, Professor Flitwick skipped up beside the table. "Well done, Mr Boot. Feel free to sit at the Ravenclaw table, Ms Potter." He left quickly after that.
Jenna nodded cautiously, not sure how the other Ravenclaws would take that piece of information. To her happiness most upperclass Ravenclaws either agreed or looked uninterested.
That relief soon turned to exasperation when the students took her eye contact as permission to interrogate her on her Apprenticeship, or more importantly on all she had learned so far.
All in all, Jenna was relieved when Fred and George finally returned from their classes and frogmarched her out of the Hall for her afternoon session with Master.
000
Jenna looked up from her kneeling position on the floor when somebody knocked on the floor. She looked at Master, but he seemed as surprised as she was. After all who would want to visit the grumpy Potions Master on their free saturday?
Master strode to the door, and snarled when he saw who was on the other side, "BLACK!"
Jenna paled. She knew how much Master loathed her godfather. It wasn't as bad as his hatred for James Potter who had once played an almost fatal prank on him, but Padfoot still didn't have a good relationship with the Potions Master. Not even after he saved Master's life by preventing him from going to the Whomping Willow and thus meeting a transformed werewolf. In fact that action seemed to be why Master hated him most.
"Snape." Padfoot's voice was subdued, hollow. "Snape, can we talk? She's my goddaughter. Merlin, I..I didn't see. James. How could he? Can we talk, Snape?"
Angrily Master opened the door wider. Jenna knew it was the lifedebt that was forcing Master's cooperation, and she worried even more.
"Apprentice, out! I don't want to see you back here before dinner. OUT!"
Jenna scrambled from her mediation position, grabbed her supplies and fled out the door.
000
The hours stretched out longer than Jenna thought possible, but when she finally arrived in front of Master's door again she couldn't muster the courage to enter.
After a few minutes of deliberation the door swung open. Her eyes widened at the sight before her. Master stood in the doorway, Padfoot sat on a chair, and the entire room was ravished. Furniture was turned over, glass fragments and books lay cluttered all over the floor. Then she noticed the quickly, potion induced, healing bruises on Padfoot and even one on Master, and the veritable mountain of empty vials. All with a broken green seal, indicating their healing ability.
"M-master? Padfoot?"
Master closed the door behind her with a light click. "Your godfather and I have come to an agreement. He shall train you in 'creative duelling'." Master nearly sneered the term. "And he shall help you advance your lying abilities."
Jenna blinked, but remained silent in case this weird, but good dream suddenly stopped.
"He also wished to be there for your first animagus transformation. I have decided that that will be tonight. Prepare for transforming."
Padfoot piped in. "Wait. Take off your robe. You don't want your wand on you if something goes wrong."
Thoroughly stunned Jenna took off her robe and gave it to Padfoot, wand, Izzy and all. Then she folded into meditation position amid the rubble, and started focussing on her core.
Twenty minutes later she felt her body being covered by small feathers, felt herself shrink, and felt her body structure change. Finally it was over, and the small animal let out an anxious tweet. Acting on instinct she flapped her little wings quickly and darted to a corner to hide, and possibly escape the confining space. Her flight became more erratic as she couldn't find a nice tree or cloud to hide in.
A big hand enclosed around her gently and a low voice crooned to her. After a fierce mental struggle, Jenna managed to return to her human consciousness enough to understand the words.
"…sweet little birdie. Yes, such an itty bitty bit, you are. Yes, my littl…."
"Black, desist that ridiculous behaviour and tell my Apprentice to turn back. She has been in this form for almost an hour now. It is time to return to human form while she still can."
"Alright, alright. You heard him, my itty bitty bit! I can see you understand me again. So turn back once I put you on the ground, kay? I don't want to spend another half hour trying to catch you."
Jenna managed an embarrassed tweet and obediently forced herself to turn human once she was deposited on the ground. For a minute she lost contact with her human side again, and had already started flapping her wings to disappear again, but she managed to bury that impulse.
Panting heavily Jenna checked her hands to see if she had turned back all the way. She squeaked in dismay at finding out she had lost her clothing somewhere along the transformation. Deeply embarrassed she crossed her arms over her chest and curled into herself to hide any important bits.
"Here, puppy." Padfoot draped her own robe over her, with a smirk on his face. "I was wondering whether you'd remember your clothing." He merely grinned at her crimson shade of skin.
"So what kind of animal am I?" Jenna mumbled as she buttoned her robe closed.
Master answered with a slightly pleased tone in his voice, "A silver snidget. Not nearly as rare as the golden snidget, nor as magically powerful, but still a respectable animagusform. Resistant to summoning charms as Black just found out, good at hiding in the shadows, and the tail feathers of a silver snidget are stabilising factors in many offensive potions."
Jenna frowned. "But I thought…Aren't magical creatures impossible to become as an animagus?"
Both men looked at her as if she was stupid. "And pray tell, where did you find that pearl of wisdom?" Master asked coolly.
"I j-just. Fathe-James Potter told Galen once." Jenna stuttered, unused to feeling stupid when it came to magical knowledge.
Padfoot snorted. "I have no idea why he would tell Gale that." He looked at his goddaughter and explained sincerely, "EVERY animagus form is of a magical, or part magical animal. I am a grim, Prongs is part unicorn, McGonagall is part Kneazle. All wizards and witched have a magical core, which we need to survive. In our animal form there needs to be space for that, so the animal changes entirely or partially into a magical one. If a wizard would turn into a non-magical animal, how could they ever turn back into a human? You need magic to change shapes."
The explanation was so logical Jenna wondered why she hadn't thought of it. It was strange to really be taught something by Padfoot. Perhaps she had been underestimating his intelligence a bit because of his exuberant behaviour.
Unaware of his goddaughter's epiphany, Padfoot continued. "The only thing that separates us from the magical or part magical creature we turn into is our ability to retain our human intelligence." He winked at Jenna, "Well, if we work hard enough on it."
"And the fact that animagi don't get all the magical powers of their magical animals." Master added, seemingly pleased to be able to take over the lesson.
Padfoot continued undisturbed. "So, you're a silver snidget, and you've gained immunity to the summoning charm in that form, but not the ability to turn metal into silver."
Jenna eyed him in question. How could he know that already?
The man smiled sheepishly. "I pushed your beak against this goblet." He gestured to a clearly iron goblet.
Jenna grinned tiredly. That was so like Pads.
She yawned, feeling the drain of her first transformation on her core.
Before she slipped into sleep she felt Padfoot's familiar arms enclose her body and carry her. She was asleep before she reached her bed.
END CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
AN. Long time no see. Thank you for all your sweet reviews, and I hope you are happy with Jenna's animagus form. I thought long and hard about what would fit best, and this was it.
Not much action in this chapter, but still some interesting info don't you think?
I will include Remus and more Potter soon, as I'm going to have the Order of the Phoenix reassemble once again. Do you have anyone you wish me to include anyone specific there? And with what kind of attitude? Give me a good reason and I'll try to incorporate them, though I can tell you already that I might not succeed.
NOTE: On 18-8-2008 edited 'snitch' to 'snidget'
