Tansy loved sixth year Transfiguration classes. To start with she thought she'd walked into the wrong classroom because the blackboard had shown a revision of the matchstick to needle spell that they'd learned at the start of first year. As soon as Professor McGonagall had entered and begun the lesson it had become clear why; they were meant to do the spell non-verbally. Tansy had never had a problem with nonverbal spells in any subject. All her Professors had commented on her ability over the last two years although none of them knew why she found it so easy. Tansy hadn't enlightened them on her history of mutism; she had simply shrugged and avoided their eyes until the subject was changed.
Tansy knew that to achieve a nonverbal spell, she only had to say the words clearly in her mind and concentrate fully on the intended outcome of the spell whilst moving her wand. Having less Transfiguration homework than usual, Tansy was working twice as hard on her Potions. Professor Snape was setting them harder and harder Potions every week and she was determined not to give him an excuse to give her more detentions. She also spent a lot of time in the library, researching into Animagi.
Halloween arrived and Tansy went down to breakfast with Hermione. Harry was already sat at the Gryffindor table with Ron, and was staring grumpily into his porridge. Tansy knew that he'd tried to ask Professor McGonagall for permission to go to Hogsmeade but that she'd given him a very definite 'no'.
'We'll bring you both loads of sweets back from Honeydukes,' Hermione said, in a falsy bright, if slightly patronising tone of voice. She was trying to cheer him up, but he just stabbed moodily into his cereal bowl and splashed Tansy with milk. She wiped it off calmly and dug around in her purse, before handing Hermione a couple of Galleons.
'Can you get me a new notebook and quill please? Oh and some chocolate, just in case I get near a Dementor…' She asked quietly.
'No chance of that, when we're not allowed out,' Harry said sullenly, digging around in his cereal bowl again. Tansy ignored him and reached for the coffee pot. She took a big gulp of the black liquid and immediately felt the caffeine buzz as it worked its way through her body.
'Chocolate's amazing; I bet it has loads of other healing properties, yet to be discovered…' Ron said and Tansy nodded in agreement and helped herself to a pain au chocolat and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Being confined to the school with a very grumpy Harry did not make for the most pleasant Saturday, and Tansy was quite relieved when he finally decided to go and visit Hedwig in the Owlery. She went up to her dormitory and began fine-tuning her notes on Animagi; nearly a year ago, she'd decided that she wanted to try and become an Animagus but she had kept it a secret because she wasn't sure if it was a good idea or not. She opened her notebook and started sketching the animal she'd become; her drawing ability really wasn't that great but nobody else would have to see it.
She put down her quill and placed her wand in her bag so that she wouldn't be tempted to use it. The book stated that you had to mentally control your innate magical power and that you had to focus it completely to perform the transformation. The initial transformation was the hardest and the book suggested that you internalise your magic by keeping your arms close to the body.
Tansy wrapped her arms around herself and flexed her fingers into little zaps of energy. First of all she had a peculiar sensation of tingling all over, with a sensation of being pulled inwards very fast from all parts of her body – even her hair. Then, very suddenly, she was a small black cat. Senses seemed to explode around her: The room smelled of lavender water and old socks and she could hear Colin Creevy playing exploding snap with Ginny in the common room below even through the shut door. She could see every individual dancing dust mote in the ray of sunshine that came through the gap in the curtains. She looked around her at the huge four-poster beds with their dusty hangings and was suddenly aware of how much smaller she was; she could've walked under each bed without having to duck! She lifted her head and tasted the air which sent more messages exploding through her brain. So this is what it felt like to be a cat!
Rather reluctantly, Tansy focused her energy a second time and, after a brief tingling and stretching, she became herself again. The sensation was exhilarating but exhausting, and she had to stop herself from trying the transformation again; she didn't want to get stuck in cat form and not be able to turn herself back because she was too tired. Instead, she slipped the wrapper off a chocolate bar and began her Potions homework.
'Tansy, wake up!' Tansy opened her eyes and carefully unstuck her face from the pages of her Potions book; she seemed to have been asleep for most of the afternoon and dusk was falling outside the dormitory window. Hermione was standing next to her bed, looking windswept and excited.
'We got you as many sweets as we could, oh and here are the things that you asked for…' Hermione emptied a bag, containing, what looked to Tansy, like half a sweet shop, onto the pillow of Tansy's four-poster and carefully placed a stack of chocolate bars and a notebook and quill on her bedside table.
'Wow, thanks,' Tansy exclaimed, and immediately helped herself to a handful of toffees; she'd missed lunch and her stomach was growling in protest.
'We'd better go down,' Hermione said as she removed her cloak and scarf. 'The feast starts in five minutes. Come on, the boys are waiting.' Tansy hastily undid her messy plaits and ran a brush through her hair, before following her friend out of the dormitory.
Tansy enjoyed the feast immensely. She was still buzzing with excitement after her successful transformation that afternoon and she couldn't wait to try it again. Her mood must've shown on her face because, at one point, Hermione asked her what she was so happy about. Tansy just shrugged; she knew that she would tell her friends eventually but, for the moment, she wanted to keep it a secret. The boys were never very discreet and it was illegal to be an unregistered Animagus. Tansy hadn't decided who she would tell if and when she finally got the transformations under control. The adults would probably make a fuss about it and Tansy hated attention, even positive attention.
The feast ended with a loud role of thunder which echoed threateningly across the starry ceiling, causing Tansy to jump and upset her goblet of pumpkin juice. After hastily mopping up the orange puddle with her hat the four friends made their way through the castle to Gryffindor tower but when they reached the last corridor, a throng of people blocked them from the portrait hole. Tansy couldn't see anything apart from a solid wall of peoples' backs, so she moved back a few yards, although this didn't help at all; she could now see the backs of peoples' heads instead.
'Has the password changed or something?' Hermione asked curiously, voicing the question on Tansy's lips. Ron and Harry shrugged.
'Let me through, please,' came Percy's voice from behind them. 'You can't have all forgotten the password. Excuse me I'm head boy.' Ron grimaced as Percy pushed his way through the crowd – he'd never been particularly enamoured with Percy's new role of authority.
'Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick!' Percy's sharp exclamation caused Tansy to feel a thrill of fear; something big had happened.
Seconds later, Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Lupin and Snape had appeared. As the crowd parted to make way for them, Tansy caught a glimpse of what was stopping everyone from getting through the portrait hole and gasped.
'Oh my...' Hermione exclaimed, voicing Tansy's internal thoughts.
The Fat Lady had gone. What remained of her portrait lay in chunks on the floor; someone had obviously slashed viciously at it with a knife. Tansy could see strips of canvass and even lumps of the golden frame littering the floor. Nobody spoke for a few seconds, and then Dumbledore regained his composure.
'Professor McGonagall…'
A rude, cackling laugh interrupted him; it was Peeves, the school poltergeist. He was floating, upside-down, above a crowd of nervous-looking first years. When Professor Dumbledore turned to him, he adopted a greasy mannerism that made Tansy's skin crawl.
'She's ashamed Your Headship, sir. She's a horrible mess; crying, something dreadful.' He said, looking gleeful, before adding an unconvincing, 'poor thing'.
'Did she say who did it?' Dumbledore asked quietly.
'Oh yes!' Peeves said delightedly. 'Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black!'
Tansy felt herself go numb with shock. Black spots began to impede her vision and she felt her knees give way. This was too much; Sirius Black couldn't be here inside the castle! Peeves must've got it wrong!
'You okay?' Harry asked in alarm. Breathing heavily, Tansy put her head between her knees and focused on not throwing up or passing out.
'What's going on?' Professor McGonagall had arrived. 'Are you okay, Miss Laverstock?'
'She's fine Professor,' Hermione said, dropping to her knees beside Tansy and shaking her roughly by the shoulder. 'She's just had a bit of a shock that's all.' Tansy nodded and dragged herself to her feet; she was relieved to see that all of the Gryffindors had returned to the great hall and she was alone with her friends and the Professors.
They arrived in the great hall at the same time as the other houses. Professor Dumbledore explained that they would have to stay there for their own safety whilst the castle was thoroughly searched. He waved his wand and the tables flew to the walls and they were all suddenly knee deep in squashy purple sleeping bags. He then left the hall, leaving Professor McGonagall to give instructions to Percy and the head girl.
'Well of course, I for one know exactly who let Black into the castle!' Malfoy's loud, sneering voice rang out over the babble of excited chattering and Tansy's heart sank. A sudden hush fell over the nearest students and Malfoy grinned maliciously at Tansy.
'Obviously one of his relatives let him in.'
'Shut up Malfoy,' Harry said forcefully, and began to pull Tansy away from him.
Malfoy's sneer broadened before he dropped the bombshell. 'He is your uncle after all, isn't he Laverstock?'
There was a deathly silence and then people began to protest loudly. Their voices echoed over each other in a confusing medley. For the second time in about ten minutes, Tansy felt herself turning faint as she became the centre of attention. Malfoy laughed maliciously at the expression on her face. Too many things had happened too quickly and Tansy felt all the blood drain out of her face. She stepped forward, trying to ignore the ringing in her ears and the fact that her vision had started to go funny around the edges.
There was a loud bang and several people screamed; Malfoy had disappeared in a burst of purple light. In his place sat a slimy frog.
'What on earth is going on in there?' Professor McGonagall, who had just left the hall, had run back in and was looking furious and also a little scared. Tansy blushed and turned away, in tears; almost every single student was now looking at her and she couldn't bear it.
'Did you do that non-verbally?' Hermione asked in a hushed voice and Tansy nodded miserably. Professor McGonagall seemed to have got the gist of what had happened, and she pointed her wand at the frog. Draco Malfoy reappeared with a second loud bang, looking furious and embarrassed.
'Double detention and twenty points from Gryffindor, Miss Laverstock! Nothing gives you the right to practice such tricks on your fellow classmates. As for you Mr Malfoy, twenty points from Slytherin; the next time I hear of such outrageous bullying then it will be fifty. Now get into your sleeping bags all of you. Miss Laverstock, can I have a word please?'
Professor McGonagall led Tansy out of the hall.
'I do not expect you to abuse your talent, Miss Laverstock.' The teacher said sternly as soon as the double doors had swung shut behind them. Tansy nodded numbly, tears rolling down her cheeks. Professor McGonagall handed her a tissue before continuing in a softer voice.
'However,' Professor McGonagall's nostrils had flared, 'I can understand that you were provoked. It's bound to be a difficult few weeks for you, now that people are aware of your true relationship with Black. I hope that you know that my offer is still open; you can come and talk to me at any time.' Tansy nodded and re-entered the hall, looking at the floor as she hurried past the staring students. She was grateful to finally reach her friends and she slipped into a sleeping bag just as Percy extinguished the lights with a wave of his wand.
'You okay Tansy?' Ron asked. Tansy nodded, before remembering that he probably couldn't see her in the dark.
'Yes,' she whispered.
She stretched out; the sleeping bag was wonderfully warm and it seemed to have extra magical padding so that it didn't feel as though she was lying directly on a hard wooden floor. Under her head, she could feel a soft feathery pillow, although when she turned over, her hand met only cold floorboards. Her last thought, before she fell asleep was that Professor Trelawney had, at least, got something right; her deepest secret had been revealed to all and now the fat was in the fire.
Hope you enjoy. Please review! I know that there is a whole lot of new information on Pottermore about Animagi but I am not a member, (because I don't have time), and this is how I imagined it so please don't be too mean.