Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)
Fashion, Textiles & Tailoring: Timeless Trends
Task #3 - Animal Print: Write a fic featuring an animagus (does not have to be cannon).
Disclaimer: I only own Jade, who some might recognize from my other one shot "Friends to the end": s/13926209/1/Friends-to-the-end
Spoilers for Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.
Talbott Winger. What an ironic last name for someone whose animagus form was an eagle.
He knew he should register with the ministry but he was too scared. His animagus information could be easily accessed and Voldemort could come for him just as he sent Death Eaters for his parents. Was he ever glad his mother helped him learn, his ability to turn into an eagle saved his life that night.
Talbott always did pride himself in being smart and cautious. He didn't have many friends at Hogwarts besides Penny Haywood and Nymphadora Tonks, two Hufflepuffs in his year. Penny was the opposite of him, popular and outgoing, but she was the nicest girl he had ever met. Tonks was funny and, like him, could change his appearence at will except she was a metamorphmagus.
Professor McGonagall, a fellow animagus, knew of his secret and respectfully kept his it.
"While I completely support your decision, Mr. Winger," McGonagall stated. "I do advise that you abide the law and register."
"Right," Talbott replied half-heartedly. "I'll get on that..."
The Ravenclaw student was perplexed when a redhead Slytherin girl plopped down across from the table from him after dinner one day.
"If you want to know something about me, just ask," Talbott said without a greeting.
"How did you-"
"I'm used to people talking about me."
"You and me both." The Slytherin sighed.
"You're ..." Talbott was drawing a blank, struggling to remember her name. What was her name? He'd seen her around many times especially talking to Ben Copper after the blond was done feeding Talbott bird seeds in his eagle form.
"Jade," the Slytherin supplied patiently.
"Right, the one with the brother." Talbott caught Jade grimacing. "Sorry."
"No, it's fine."
But the animagus could tell it wasn't fine, she probably got called "Jacob's sister" more than her actual name. He had been in a few classes for three years, he should've known it. Squishing the guilt, he asked what she wanted.
"I heard you're attempting to brew an animagus potion," the redhead stated bluntly. "I've always wanted to transform into an animal myself."
"I don't know what you're talking about," the boy lied as he shifted in his seat.
To his surprise, the Slytherin sighed and mumbled out an okay. She started to get up but was stopped.
"Have you ever snuck into Filch's office?" The animagus asked.
"I won't confirm nor deny." Jade's green eyes drifted over to Filch standing a few feet away with a hissing Mrs. Norris.
"Follow me."
"Where are we going?" The Irish girl inquired.
After breaking into Filch's office and raiding the artifact room, Talbott lead Jade to the greenhouse for the final ingredient, a mandrake leaf.
"I have to hold this in my mouth?" Jade asked while she examined a dirt covered mandrake leaf.
"For a month," Talbott replied with a nod.
"A month?" The Slytherin repeated, her nose wrinkling. "But what if I accidentally swallow it?"
"You'll turn into a mandrake." Talbott chuckled at Jade's horrified face. "No, you'll just have to start over." He strolled over to the door. "Let's get the ingredients to Penny."
That night, Talbott stepped into the owlery, nodding at the owls. He took a quick scan of the room before turning into his eagle form. Gracefully stretching out his wings, he pushed up from the floor and took off.
He had a flight route he liked to take. First he soared over the Black Lake, the giant squid swimming through with much grace while fish darted around.
His next stop was the Forbidden Forest where he was greeted with other birds squawking and chirping. Spiders scattered around the forest ground.
His last destination was the courtyard where students and professors alike were sitting or standing and mingling. Rowan Khana was studying her potions textbook intently while she quizzed Ben. Talbott caught sight of Jade talking with one of his housemates, Andre Egwu.
Talbott always felt free while flying; it made him grateful every time that his mother showed him for to be an animagus. He enjoyed every bit of being a bird... except for Ben feeding him bird seeds.
A month later, Jade was allowed to take the leaf out of her mouth and added that to the potion along with a strand of her hair.
"Now we wait for the next electrical storm," Penny instructed. "Let's take this potion somewhere safe."
"More waiting?" Jade groaned but followed the blonde.
Talbott listened to the two talk as he trailed behind them. "Come with me, Jade, I'll show you the spell you'll need to say every dawn and dusk."
"This is a lot of work," Jade muttered, following Talbott.
Talbott would never admit it but he felt like he was becoming friends with Jade. It wasn't that he was a snob or anything, he just preferred being alone.
"You got it?" He asked the Slytherin. "Good," he said when he got a nod. "Now, we're going to talk to Professor McGonagall."
Jade nodded and followed while mumbling under her breath that the wait will be worth it. That, and how she hopes she turns into something cool, causing Talbott to chuckle.
"Once you become an animagus," McGonagall began. "You will need to register with the Ministry of Magic." She turned towards Talbott with a stern but knowing smirk. "Isn't that right, Mr. Winger?"
"I-well-" Talbott stuttered as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes."
Eyes wide, Jade turned to the Ravenclaw. "You're an animagus?" She exclaimed in excitement.
"An unregistered animagus," McGonagall added. "And Mr. Winger assured me he would register sooner rather than later. If he doesn't, I will personally drag him to the Ministry of Magic myself."
Talbott wrung his hands together and said, "Yes, professor," as Jade giggled behind her hand.
"Now," McGonagall drawled as she focused on Jade. "What do you hope to become?"
"A dog so I can play with Fang," Jade answered sincerely.
"Good answer," the stern professor replied with a smile.
A few days later, thunder cracked through the evening, signaling the electrical storm that was to come.
"I'm not going to get struck by lightning, am I?" Jade asked as she stood in the courtyard with Penny and Talbott.
"No," Penny promised. "Now, here comes the first lighting strike!"
Lighting flashed across the sky. Jade quickly cast the animagus spell and chugged the potion down.
"How do you feel?" Talbott asked in anticipation.
Jade looked down at her hands as if those held the answers. She hummed and admitted, "I feel fine."
"See if you can transform," Penny encouraged.
Taking a deep breath, Jade concentrated. In the blink of an eye, she went from being a human to a small red fur puppy. She yipped happily before turning back.
"I did it!" She squealed.
"You did it," Penny smiled.
"Thanks to you and Talbott," Jade thanked.
"What are you going to do first?" The blonde Hufflepuff inquired. "Are you going to register with the ministry.
The new animagus smiled and said, "Later. I think I have an idea of what I'm going to do now."
The next day during free time, Talbott took his daily flight. He flew over the training ground and saw Jade, Hagrid and Fang. Curiosity getting the better of him, he swooped down onto a ledge and observed.
"I became an animagus," Jade was telling Hagrid. "I was hoping I could play with Fang?" She looked so hopeful and ecstatic that Talbott couldn't help but smile.
"I can't think of anything that would bring a bigger smile to my face," Hagrid grinned, tears welling up in his eyes.
Talbott watched Jade turn into a puppy and engage Fang into a play session while Hagrid watched proudly. Happiness swelling in him, he took off to finish his route.
Maybe one day he'll register but for now, he would be free.
A/N: Hope you enjoy.