AMATO ANIMO ANIMATO ANIMAGUS
It had been almost a month since they had to sleep at the great hall. Ever since, Alex had been secretly preparing a potion. The best way to track down an animal was being an animal herself. Professor McGonagall hadn't talked to them about the Animagus potion yet, but it wasn't necessary. Alex had been thinking about turning into an animagus for years now. She knew what she had to do. And she was ready to do it.
It was morning. They had defence against the dark arts, but Remus was nowhere to be seen, and Alex knew why. There was a full moon last night. Professor Snape walked into the room, closing all of the windows down. The room was darker. Snape pulled down a screen over the blackboard and spoke.
- Turn to page 394. - As the students eyed Snape with guarded curiosity, Draco finished scrawling something on a bit of parchment and balled it up in his hands. As he opened them, a moth fluttered from his palms.
- Excuse me, sir, but…where's Professor Lupin? - Harry asked Snape.
- That's not really your concern, is it, Potter? Suffice it to say, your professor finds himself incapable of teaching at the present time. Page 394. - he went to the back of the class and started the projector. The images started showing on the screen, and Alex opened her eyes in surprise.
- Werewolves? - said Ron.
- But, sir, we've only just begun learning about Red Caps and Hinkypunks. We're not meant to start nocturnal beasts for weeks… - Hermione, who somehow just showed up in the class, said.
- Quiet! Now. Which of you can tell me the difference between an Animagus and a werewolf? - Hermione put her hand in the air, but Snape ignored her. - no one? How disappointing…
- Please, sir, an Animagus is a wizard who elects to turn into an animal. A werewolf has no choice in the matter. Furthermore, the werewolf actively hunts humans and responds only to the call of its own kind… - Draco let out a low howl. Alex slightly smiled at his silliness.
- Thank you for your demonstration, Mister Malfoy. That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger. Tell me. Are you incapable of restraining yourself? Or do you take pride in being an insufferable know-it-all? - some people laughed. Snape couldn't stand Hermione. Well, he couldn't stand anyone, but he had quite a grudge against the Gryffindors. - Five points from Gryffindor. Now, as an antidote to your ignorance, I prescribe two rolls of parchment on the werewolf by Monday morning, with particular emphasis placed on recognizing it. - Alex knew what that homework meant. Snape wasn't fond of Remus. For what she knew, they had shared their years at Hogwarts, but they were never friends.
That night, Alex recited the spell she had been reciting day and night for the last month. With the wand pointing at her heart, she said.
- Amato animo animato animagus. - she looked outside the window of the Slytherin common room. If everything went according to plan, tomorrow there would be a lightning storm. It would be during the Quidditch game. Lucky her, it wasn't her team playing, but Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. She would take advantage of everyone being at the match to consume the potion.
- What are you doing? - Alex was startled. Draco was on the stairs, looking at her.
- Uh, nothing!
- Then why is your wand in your hand?
- I was…practising some incantations. - she smiled at him. He didn't seem to believe her.
- Promise me something…Don't do anything stupid, okay?
- I promise… - Draco turned around and headed towards his bedroom. She couldn't quite promise him anything, but the last thing she wanted was to worry him. Besides, she knew what she was doing.
Next morning arrived. Alex recited the spell, and then headed to the great hall to have breakfast. The lightning storm would start soon, and she needed to be ready.
- Morning, Black! - Fred sat next to her on the Slytherin table as some people looked at him.
- Morning, Fred. Ready for the game today?
- Of course! I need to impress my fans. - he looked at her with a grin.
- Well, sorry to disappoint, but this fan over here won't go to the game today.
- What? Why not?
- I have to finish some homework. And I don't feel like being surrounded by dozens of people screaming and cheering, to be honest. Hope you understand.
- Sure. If there's something you need, I'm here, you know that right?
- I know, Freddie. - she got up and hugged him. - See you later!
Alex headed back to the common room to gather the potion she had prepared, and take it with her. She tried to avoid Draco. She knew that if he saw her and she told him she wasn't going to the game, he would insist on staying with her, so it was better not to be seen. Alex left the castle carefully, making sure no one saw her. She headed to the forbidden forest. It was dangerous, she knew, but it was the safest place to do what she wanted to do.
If executed correctly, the potion would turn blood-red at the instant lightning first struck during the next lightning storm, signifying its completion. When the storm began, Alex looked at the potion carefully. It turned blood-red. "I did it". One last time, Alex pointed her wand at her chest and recited the words.
- Amato animo animato animagus. - she grabbed the potion and with the thought of the animal on her head, she drank it.
Instantly, Alex felt a fiery pain. It was like there were two heartbeats inside of her. She focused on the animal she chose. "A white wolf". She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, she wasn't herself anymore. She had white hair covering her body. The earth felt different beneath her paws. Her sight was different too, improved, so were her other senses. She could hear many noises and smelt different scents. It was overwhelming. She needed to calm down and breathe, but even breathing was different. She started running through the forest. At first, she bumped on everything and constantly felt to the ground. Her balance was messed up. As she kept on running, she started to get used to her new features. Running on four was quite a challenge. The rain was falling and she was thankful for that. It helped her calm down and be able to focus. She stopped in the middle of the forest, and looked around. She had made it. She managed to become and animagus. Now, it was a matter of time she would find her dad, whether for good or bad.
She closed her eyes, and though of herself. Her human self. When she opened her eyes, she was back at her usual form. She went back to the place where she had transformed, and picked up all of her stuff. She didn't want anyone to find out what she had done. Once everything was clean, she headed back to the castle. People should be still at the Quidditch game, so she was sure no one would see her return. But she was wrong. The moment she walked in the castle, she saw a lot of people walking the same way: the hospital wing. "Oh, no". Without a second though, she followed them. She saw Fred, and talked to him.
- Fred! – Fred turned around and saw her, completely soaked. – What happened? Is everyone okay?
- Harry had a little accident…What happened to you?
- Me? – she looked at herself and realized. – Nothing! I was outside.
- Why? It's pouring outside! – he took his Quidditch robe, and put it around her. – Let's go.
When they arrived at the hospital wing, everyone was gathering around Harry.
- What happened to him?
- Dementors. He fainted and fell off his broom. Dumbledore saved him. – Hermione said at Alex without looking at her. When she turned, her face was shocked. – What happened to you?
- She felt like taking a natural shower with her clothes on. – said Fred with a smile. Suddenly, Harry started opening his eyes.
- Looks a bit peaky, doesn't he? – said Ron looking at his friend.
- Peaky? What did you expect him to look like? He fell fifty feet. – Fred said to his little brother.
- Yeah, c'mon, Ron. We'll walk you off the Astronomy Tower and see how you come out looking. – George added.
- Probably a right sight better than he normally does. – said Harry smiling.
- Harry! How're you feeling? – Hermione asked as Harry edged up against his pillow.
- Brilliant.
- Gave us a right good scare, mate. – Fred looked really concerned.
- What happened?
- You fell off your broom. – Ron said.
- Really? I meant the match. Who won? - Silence. Uncomfortable glances. Alex wasn't sure what had happened, but apparently, Gryffindor had lost the match. Hermione decided to break the silence.
- No one blames you, Harry. The Dementors aren't meant to come on the grounds. Dumbledore was furious. After he saved you, he sent them straight off.
- There's something else you should know, Harry. Your Nimbus…when it blew away? It sort of landed in the Whomping Willow. And well… – Ron showed Harry's broom. It was completely destroyed. Harry's face was devastating.
- Everyone, you need to leave. Mister Potter needs to get some rest. – Madam Pomfrey got everyone out of the Hospital Wing.
The Gryffindors headed to their common room, and Alex headed to the Slytherin one. When she arrived, there was some people around. Everyone looked at her weirdly. Draco was sitting on a corner when she saw him. She went to sit next to him for a moment.
- Hey! I heard the Gryffindors lost the match. You must be happy. – he looked at her with surprise at first, and then, the surprise turned to…anger?
- Where have you been?
- I wasn't feeling like going to the match, so I stayed around. I was outside when it started pouring so, I got soaked. – she smiled, but Draco looked pissed off.
- Oh, that's why you're wearing a Gryffindor robe from the Quidditch team? – "shit". She had completely forgotten about Fred's robe. That's why Draco was mad. – Let me guess. Fred Weasley. – Draco got up, and walked out of the common room before Alex could say anything.
She felt tired, like she hadn't slept for several days. And her mind was a bit dizzy. Best she could do, was take a shower and go to sleep for the rest of the day. She would give Draco explanations the next day.