Chapter One:
Potions
~Be a good boy
Try a little harder
You've got to measure up
And make me prouder~
Alanis Morissette's "Perfect"
Perfect. Everything around him was perfect. Too perfect, almost. Sitting in his best friend's parlor with his wife, his sister, her husband, and, of course, his best friends. They were pleasantly discussing the weather, drinking tea, and being...well...normal. Everything was abnormally perfect.
Outside, Ron could hear the laughter of children. His daughter Grace was out there, with Angel and Philip Malfoy, and James, Elizabeth, Luke, and little Anna Potter. James, Grace and Angel were off by themselves in one corner of the Potters' backyard, giggling and whispering. Meanwhile Elizabeth, the second eldest Potter, was lecturing her younger siblings and Phil on something pertaining to dandelions. Ron watched smiling through the window.
His mind was in a kind of daze, only half awake. He watched as the three oldest kids condescended to join the younger children. He wasn't paying enough attention, however, to realize an argument had broken out. Before he knew it, all seven of them had tramped inside.
"What is going on here?" Hermione demanded, looking angrily at the mud that had accompanied the kids' trek inside.
"Dad, didn't you fight the Dark Lord?" Philip Malfoy pouted at his father. Draco's eyes widened.
"What?"
"You fought the Dark Lord," Philip repeated. "You and Mum. Didn't you?"
"Nuh-uh!" Luke Potter argued. "My dad killed the Dark Lord! Your dad wasn't even there!"
"Yeah!" Anna Potter, only three years old, agreed angrily. She didn't know what was going on, but someone was yelling at her brother.
"My dad was!" Grace Weasley argued.
"But our dad killed him!" Elizabeth Potter countered shrilly. Grace, not having any siblings, turned to her cousin Angel Malfoy for support.
"My dad gave Uncle Ron a dagger, and Uncle Ron gave it to your dad!" Angel said haughtily to Elizabeth, who glared up at her and stood on tiptoes in an attempt to appear taller.
"So?" She said, looking at Luke.
"Yeah, so?" Luke agreed.
"So...my dad's better than yours!" Philip shrieked, coming to his sister's defense. This brought cries of outrage from the Potter children, and answering howls from Angel, Phil, and Grace. James, the oldest Potter and best friend of Grace and Angel, remained neutral, looking at his mother for support.
The six adults had watched the exchange with interest, but things were now starting to get out of hand, as Luke and Philip threatened to start physically fighting.
"All right. ALL RIGHT!" The voice was Draco's. He immediately brought silence. Phil looked down shamefully, and Luke, suddenly realizing what he had been saying, looked petrified. "Now, you seven are being quite foolish. Angel, Philip, I expected more out of you." He let his words sink into his children's heads before continuing. "Now, I think you all need to go back outside."
"But Dad," Phil objected sullenly. "We want to know what happened."
Those words brought utter silence, and the adults now exchanged nervous glances. They didn't want to remember, and they had tried to shield their children from the hatred of their pasts. The children remained quiet, each watching the reactions of their own parents. The four Potters, even toddling Anna, watched silently as Harry and Hermione exchanged nervous looks, paling at the memory of that November night ten years ago when Ron had crawled through the mud to their door and they had discovered the Dark Mark burned into his skin. Angel and Phil anxiously watched as Draco's face, now turned to stone, looked to Ginny, who was biting her lip nervously. Grace stood alone, watching her parents. Rayven had closed her eyes and put her face in her hands. Ron however...Ron did nothing. He just stared straight forward, not blinking, his lips turning white from pursing them so hard.
"They are old enough..." Ginny said nervously. "Angel and Grace and James will be going to Hogwarts next year, and-"
"Absolutely not," Ron interrupted severely, and all seven kids shrank back at his voice. "I refuse to tell that story to children."
"Ron, they will find out eventually, from us or other sources," Rayven pointed out logically.
"At least take Anna away, Hermione," Draco said, looking down at the innocent toddler. Hermione rushed to do just that. The other six looked imploringly at their parents.
"It all began-" Harry started.
"NO!" Ron interrupted, leaping to his feet. "I refuse to let this happen. Rayven, Grace, we are leaving. Let the rest of them stay and-"
"No, Ron, we are not going anywhere," Rayven said, softly but firmly. "Grace is ten years old now, she needs to learn the truth."
"I strictly forbid-"
"But I want to know, Daddy," The soft voice of Grace Weasley interrupted. "I'm old enough." Ron looked down into his daughter's face, and her innocent gold eyes looked back. He opened his mouth to repeat his decision, to forbid that she ever find out about what had happened, to protect her from the world. But Rayven, Draco, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione were staring, knowing that what he said now would dictate their decision. His eyes traveled to those of Angel and Phil, James, Elizabeth, and Luke. They would have to know someday. He sighed, and fell down.
"Fine," He replied. "Let them know."
"Hello? Helloooooooooo? Earth to Ron!" Ron shook himself out of his reverie to find Draco Malfoy's hand waving in front of his face. He was sitting in the Potter's parlor with Rayven, Ginny, Draco, and naturally Harry and Hermione. Outside it was pouring down rain. Everyone was looking at him curiously.
"Er...sorry," Ron muttered. "So, how're the Cannons doing, Harry?" Harry jumped at the chance to answer, and Ron plunged into the conversation, pushing the memory out of his mind. It had been nearly six years since that fateful day, here in this very parlor, when Ron's daughter had learned the Truth. Grace was now in her fifth year at Hogwarts along with Angel and James. Elizabeth was in fourth year while Luke and Phil were in second. Anna was only nine years old, and was at the moment at Lavender and Seamus Finnigan's house visiting their daughter Parvati.
Meanwhile, over a hundred miles away, Grace Weasley, James Potter, and Angel Malfoy were sitting down to lunch.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Are you absolutely SURE we're not going to get caught?"
"What? You scared?"
"I am not scared, just cautious."
"Same thing!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"HONESTLY!" The exclamation came from the lips of a beautiful young woman with bright red hair and sparkling silver eyes. Her name was Angel. Her two friends spun around sheepishly. One was a boy, a tall young man with impossible brown hair and big green eyes: James Potter. The other was a girl who could've been Angel's twin. The same height, fiery hair color, and complexion led many to believe they were twin sisters instead of cousins. The only way people could tell the difference between Angel and Grace was their eyes. Grace's were a deep, mysterious gold.
"Sorry," James muttered rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, Ang, what're you trying to do, get us caught?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Angel replied haughtily. "I was just trying to get you two to stop flirting."
"We were not flirting!" Grace and James cried in mortification at the same time. Angel grinned.
"Could've fooled me," Angel grinned.
"What are you three up to now?" The three friends jumped as they realized they were having this conversation in the Great Hall, and turned to see Stephen Thomas, better known as Steve, studying them curiously.
"Nothing," The three replied simultaneously.
"Yeah, right," Steve replied, rolling his eyes. "Anyway, can I borrow your Potions book Gold?"
"Sure," Grace replied, not batting an eye at the use of the nickname her classmates had given her. Angel was Silver and she herself was Gold. Why this was she wasn't exactly sure. Their eyes, of course, had something to do with it, but there was also the fact that Grace and Angel, along with being cousins, were also best friends and there was something that just flowed in saying the names together: Silver and Gold.
In any case, it was a normal April afternoon at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where Albus Dumbledore still ruled as Headmaster. He looked down the High Table to where Minerva McGonagall sat, still ready to punish any who crossed the lines of the rules. Flitwick, Binns, and Trelawny still taught their classes. Professor Sprout had sadly retired, but Neville Longbottom had taken over as Herbology Professor. Remus Lupin was once again the Defense teacher, Severus Snape was still Potions Master and life ran in the castle the same as it had for the last thousand years.
Dumbledore's eyes traveled down to the students. The Slytherins sat in tight groups of no more than four, whispering together. The Hufflepuffs sat very close to one particular friend, but open to the entire table, chattering happily. The Ravenclaws were holding debates of some sort, with one large group against the other. And then, of course, came the Gryffindors. Evenly spaced and open to all the people of their house, the loudest laughter came from Dumbledore's own old house. It did not take him long to spot the new Trio, as two of the three had trademark Weasley red hair. James Potter sat across from the girls, laughing. For a moment, Dumbledore could've sworn he was back in time to the days of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, or maybe even the Marauder years.
He shook his head. No, this generation had a personality all its own.
Lunch was over almost as soon as it had begun. Or so it seemed to the students. They were eager for their afternoon classes to end so they would be set free for the weekend. James, Grace, and Angel left the Great Hall together as they had almost every day for the last five years.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Potter, Malfoy, and Weasley. Haven't they kicked you out of this school yet?" The three friends spun around angrily at the familiar voice. It belonged to a dark haired young man with heartless blue eyes and a mocking sneer.
"Haven't you dishonored the name of Hogwarts long enough, Flint?" Grace snapped, pushing James out of her way and advancing toward her archenemy. She had always hated Damian Flint with a passion. James and Angel grabbed the back of her robes.
"What? Afraid I'll hurt your ickle little girlfriend, Potter?" Flint taunted. James flushed almost as darkly as Grace did.
"She is NOT my girlfriend!" He hissed.
"Oh?" Flint replied. "Is it Malfoy this week then?" All three were enraged, and they would've tackled him. But...
"Children, what is all this fuss?"
Grace stopped short feeling her heart stop. She would've recognized that icy voice anywhere. Averting her gaze from Damian, she turned her golden eyes to his older, taller, and even more detestable brother, Thomas Flint.
The two brothers looked the same, but at the same time...they didn't. Damian was short and stick thin, with a sallow face and thin, sharp features, cruel azure eyes and slick, deep brown hair. Thomas, however, was taller, and while still lean was much more muscular than his sickly looking sibling. He was actually rather good looking, with proudly cut features and a well-shaped nose. His hair was black, so black it looked blue sometimes, and fell pleasantly into place no matter what happened. And his eyes...many of the young girls at Hogwarts said Tom Flint had eyes to die for. They were the color of melted chocolate, steady and strong, and they never changed; no matter what color he wore or how the light was reflecting or what his mood was his eyes remained steady, taking in the world, and (in Grace's humble opinion) formulating evil plans behind an iron wall of melted chocolate. Grace Weasley hated Tom Flint's eyes.
"We're only one year younger than you, Flint," James reminded him angrily. Angel remained silent. Grace glared at the brothers. Flint (the elder, that is) cocked an eyebrow.
"Really? You were acting like a group of bitter first years," He replied smoothly.
"Yeah, children," Damian smirked.
"I was referring-" Tom continued in a voice like ice and moving his unwavering gaze to his younger brother, "To all of you."
"But-"
"Mr. Flint is quite right," Another voice interrupted. All of them (except for Tom, who had seen him coming) turned to find Snape looking down at them. "Now, children," He emphasized the word with relish. "Don't you think you ought to...run along?"
James and Angel had to literally drag Grace to Transfiguration to prevent her from punching or slapping or...doing SOMETHING to Severus Snape. She really hated him sometimes. She knew he had helped her parents during the rise of Voldemort, but that didn't change the fact that he was an evil, homework obsessed, biased Slytherin git!
Damian left the scene soon after, finding that without the Gryffindors to taunt there really wasn't much to do. Snape looked down at Tom fondly.
"I appreciate that, Mr. Flint. I'm quite tired of breaking up fights between them."
"It's no problem, professor," Tom mumbled. Snape nodded knowingly.
"Get to class, Mr. Flint," He said. Tom nodded, but took his time in getting to Arithmancy, and considered skipping it entirely. He hadn't been lying when he implied that he considered his brother infantile. Honestly, Tom hated the Gryffindors too, but there were much more efficient ways of going about destroying people's lives that teasing.
Rolling his eyes, he strutted into Arithmancy five minutes late.
Finally, the students were set free for the weekend. They poured out of their classes chattering and laughing loudly. Grace, Angel, and James were whispering like guilty conspirators, trying to stifle their giggles behind their hands.
"What are you three up to NOW?" An exasperated voice asked. They jumped guiltily and turned to face...a short young girl with curly brown hair and inquisitive cinnamon eyes.
"Liz!" James exclaimed at the sight of Elizabeth, his little sister. "What are you doing here?"
"Trying to see if she can catch you in the act of something stupid so the Ravenclaws will take the lead again, most likely." A new voice added. Grace looked down and saw James's younger brother, Luke, making a face at his sister. Liz just grinned.
"It's not my fault you Gryffindors are so reckless," She replied, flipping her hair.
"Liz, may I remind you that its four Gryffindors versus you, the only Ravenclaw present?" Grace said, trying not to laugh.
"This is a good point," Liz replied, sighing. "Where's Phil when you need him?"
"What, who called my name?" A short Ravenclaw boy with blond hair and brown eyes appeared.
"I spoke too soon," Liz murmured.
"That sounded like an insult Mizz Liz," Philip Malfoy said smoothly. Liz just rolled her eyes. Angel laughed at her younger brother's words.
"Come on, guys," She said lightly. "Let's not worry the perfect little Ravenclaws." At that, Phil and Liz stopped glaring at each other to glare at the Gryffindors, who just laughed and went down to dinner. Luke went off with some second year friends, and the three were alone again at last.
They pretended to go to bed that night, as if it weren't any different. Of course, those that knew Silver, Gold, and James could tell they were up to something, but then again, they always were. They met back in the common room just after midnight. James had his father's invisibility cloak and Marauder's Map in hand. Angel and Grace were in a frightful fit of giggles, and James had to wait for them to calm down before they could begin the long and dangerous journey down to the Slytherin common room.
It was the first time they had actually been brave enough to go inside the common room. Angel had somehow managed to get the password (she was good friends with the head girl), so they decided that they couldn't let such a perfect opportunity go to waste. At this point, they had only their prayers to protect them from Mrs. Norris and Filch.
They stopped at the prefect's bathroom. Grace was elected to go inside and collect the potion. All three were prefects, so it wouldn't be too suspicious if just one of them was seen entering the bathroom, as long as no one saw her coming out with the steaming potion in hand. It went off without a hitch.
None of them spoke; they didn't need to. James walked in front, leading the way with the Map as his guide. Grace came next, walking very carefully so as not to spill a single drop of the potion, and Angel followed, her keen eyes and ears alert. The cloak covered them all, she knew, but one could never be too cautious.
They made it to the common room with no major problems. They did see Mrs. Norris, and had to stop and wait for her to leave the corridor, but other than that they ran into no one. They reached the wall they knew to be the entrance to the Slytherin common room. Angel boldly stepped forward.
"Turntable," She whispered. The door slid open.
"Turntable?" Grace asked, making a face. "Who uses 'turntable' as a password?"
"Shh," James hissed, trying not to laugh himself. Taking a deep breath, the three walked through and got their first glimpse of the Slytherin common room.
It was really rather a disappointment.
The room was smaller than that of Gryffindor, with a lower ceiling. The embers in the hearth was dying, and over the fireplace was a single portrait of Salazar Slytherin. The chairs didn't look very comfortable by Gryffindor standards, and they were a dark, dreary green with intricate and expensive looking silver designs. The floor was covered with a large green carpet, and while there were a few hangings on the stone walls, they were mostly bare. There was only one very small window at the top of the left wall, and it seemed to be there to remind one how enclosed you were instead of offering a view of the outside.
"Ugh," Grace muttered, summing up the opinion of her two friends. However, they didn't have long to sit and stare in disgust. The longer they stood, the more chance they would get caught.
It didn't take them long to find the fifth year boy's dormitory. Once inside, James quickly spotted Damian Flint's pale face, looking no different in sleep as it did awake. Grace wondered, briefly, if he was as nasty in his dreams as his was in waking life. She shook her head then turned to her friends, who nodded.
They slipped out from under the shelter of the cloak, and Grace suddenly felt very vulnerable. If any of the boys woke up now, they would be in big trouble. All the more reason for speed. The potion was still in its liquid form at the moment, and could do absolutely nothing except taste horrible. However, it was time to add the final ingredient. Angel plucked a hair off her head and put it in the potion. It went from a clear deep blue to light pink, and immediately took on the consistency of lotion. Grace nodded, to assure the others that everything was going according to plan, and approached Flint's bed.
This was the most delicate part of the procedure. It had been assigned to Grace because she was the best at Potions, and therefore probably the only one of them who actually knew what they were supposed to do with potions not meant to be ingested. She dipped her hand into the cool smooth substance, and took a deep breath. If he woke up now, she would probably be expelled.
She then started applying the potion to his face, smearing the pink substance over his cheeks and forehead while murmuring an enchantment under her breath. His skin absorbed the substance, and in less than a minute the entire cup was gone. Grace stood, and the three of them started for the door.
"What are you doing?" A mumbled voice asked, the three spun around in terror to see one of the larger boys, who had been snoring very loudly, turn to face them. Their minds had not even begun to react when he continued. "Two cups of baking powder, not three...umph," His snoring returned and Grace let out a breath in relief. He had been talking in his sleep.
About baking powder. Okay, then.
They flew from the room, and though the put the cloak on, they were making far too much noise than was prudent. They ran past Peeves, who just cackled but didn't try to stop them. When they reached the common room they fell on to the floor, laughing from the adrenaline and knowledge of what was going to happen in the morning.
Damian Flint wasn't at breakfast the next day, but he dorm mates and those that had seen him on the way to the hospital wing spread the word like wildfire. Grace, Angel, and James did a high five when they heard the news.
The Gender Changing Potion had been brewed properly after all!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey, Silver, where were you last night?" Grace asked as Angel walked into the room and feel onto the sofa, looking exhausted.
"Nowhere special," She mumbled.
"Sure," Grace rolled her eyes. "Probably out sneaking with your boyfriend!" Angel laughed, throwing a pillow at her cousin.
"Gold, I only WISH I had a boyfriend, as you should know." Both girls started giggling.
It was the first week of May, and although every adult from Dumbledore to Madame Hooch knew Angel, Grace, and James were guilty for the crime of turning Damian flint into a female for two weeks, however they didn't have any proof whatsoever. As a matter of fact, they all seemed to (secretly, of course) find it quite amusing, except (obviously) Snape, who was even crueler to them in class than usual in the last month.
"Although," Angel continued, her silver eyes dancing with mirth. "I know who you WANT to be your boyfriend, eh Gracie?"
"Angel Marie Malfoy!" Grace exclaimed, her cheeks turning the color of her hair. "I told you I got over that!" Angel only laughed.
"Yeah, sure, I see the way you look at him." She continued to tease. "Gracie and Jamsie, sittin' in a tree-"
"Angel, someone's going to hear you!" She hissed, her cheeks even darker. Angel laughed so hard she nearly fell out of her chair.
"Gold, everyone in this damn school knows you're in love with James Potter. And everyone knows James is in love with you. Why don't you just-"
"Don't be ridiculous, Angel," Grace interrupted fiercely. "James likes that Ravenclaw girl...what's her name? Er..."
"Oh that Victoria chic?" Angel rolled her eyes with a scoff. "Please, Grace, that will never happen."
"How do you know?"
"Because I do!"
"You do what, Silver?" A voice interrupted. Both girls jumped to see James covered from head to toe in mud from being out in the rain for Quidditch practice.
"Nothing," Grace answered for her cousin. Angel rolled her eyes, and James raised an eyebrow.
"If you say so, Goldie," He said. Then he lowered his voice to a dramatic whisper. "It is time."
"Time?" Grace asked, making a face. "Time for what?"
"Time for the final ingredient," James continued.
"For what?" Grace asked, even more confused.
"Grace!" Angel hissed. "What are we brewing...right now...in the shack...?"
"OH!" Grace exclaimed, hitting her forehead with her hand. "Duh!"
"Tell me about it," Angel said, rolling her eyes. "How could you forget?"
"So wait..." Grace's eyes flooded with understanding as she turned back to James. "The Potion is ready?"
"I checked before practice," James replied. "We're supposed to add the final stuff at the new moon, which is tomorrow night. We can take the cloak and go through the Whomping Willow and go out to the shack, and take it from there." His green eyes were burning with an eager flame, and Grace felt herself getting caught up in the excitement.
"Yes!" She cried, leaping to her feet and doing a little jig. "We are so cool!"
"And modest too," Angel said sarcastically, but she was grinning nonetheless. "You know if we get caught we'll probably get sent to Azkaban or something?"
"That's why we're not going to get caught," Grace said, rolling her eyes as if this should be obvious. Angel looked as if she were about to say something but as she saw James nod in agreement she decided it was pointless. She left James and Grace to argue about... something. She had stopped paying attention. She let herself slip into a daydream about the night before.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It's not like an interior decorator had visited the shrieking shack or anything, but at least the rotting wood and broken furniture had been either removed or replaced, and it was somewhat clean. Grace surveyed their hang out with approval from her position halfway through the trapdoor. They had done pretty good, considering what they had to work with.
"Uh, Grace, you want to get a move on up there?" Angel snapped from below. "While I'm young, if you please."
"Sorry," Grace blushed, hurriedly ascending the last few stairs and scuttling aside to let James through. He turned around and held out a hand to help Angel, who smiled even though she didn't mean it.
There was only one object in the room that looked out of place, and that's where Grace's gaze was immediately directed. It wasn't the object itself, really, it was the fact that a bright blue sheet covered it. Grace immediately ran over and through the sheet off, revealing a giant copper cauldron. Anxiety written all over her face, she studied the potion within for a few moments, then sighed with relief.
"It's okay, we're not going to die," She announced.
"You say that like you thought we would mess it up," James replied, looking hurt. Grace just rolled her eyes. Filch had decided to give her detention last month on the night they had to add the latest ingredient of the potion, of all the bloody nights. She had no choice but to leave it to Angel and James, and (considering their Potions grades) she had been mortally afraid that they would screw it up.
"Have you no faith?!" Angel cried dramatically, striking a pose. Grace laughed.
"No, not really. But it's okay, you guys didn't mess it up...this time..."
"This is the most important time, so it's okay," Angel replied in a business like manner as she set down the small red velvet bag she had been carrying. The invisibility cloak and map had come from James's dad from his trouble making days. The last item in their mischief making kit was descended from Angel's father. It was a bottomless bag.
They used it to carry...practically everything. When Angel had received it the summer before third year she had initially intended to carry her books in it. However, James and Grace had managed to talk some sense into her, pointing out all the mischief they could pull with a bottomless bag no one knew about. Tonight, she pulled three goblets, a ladle, and a small but sharp knife from the unknown depths.
Grace took the ladle, and as if performing a sacred ritual, filled the goblets. James and Angel remained silent, watching her every move. The potion resembled honey in all but consistency. However, providing the ingredients the taste was probably a far cry from honey.
Grace then picked up the dagger and locked eyes with her two best friends. "After this it's too late to turn back. You guys ready?"
"Yes," They replied solemnly. Grace nodded.
"I'll go first. Then Angel, then James." With that she held her left hand palm up over the first goblet and took a firm grip on the knife with her right. Closing her eyes she slashed the knife across her palm, the gritted her teeth against the pain. She forced her eyes open, and carefully tipped her hand to that the blood spilled only drip by drip into the goblet. She counted thirteen drops, then quickly pulled her hand away and handed the knife to Angel and turned to magically heal her hand.
Angel and James both repeated the process. The potion the goblets now contained was a deep, rich red the color of wine. Taking a deep breath, Grace raised her goblet.
"Well, at least the hard part's over with," James commented. Grace laughed and Angel grinned, both relieved that their friend had broken the heavy atmosphere with something so light-hearted.
"Okay," Grace said, regaining her self-control. "On the count of three we all drink, okay?" James and Angel nodded, and Grace took a deep breath. "One...two...THREE!" In perfect unison the three friends tipped the goblets and chugged the evil tasting contents.
Grace felt her insides tangle in knots and turn to lead. She fell to the ground, twitching. She had never felt pain like this before. And then...
It stopped. Suddenly, Grace felt perfectly comfortable, more comfortable than she had in years, she opened her eyes, and noticed everything was bright and clear, the details were so sharp it nearly hurt her eyes. She knew she could see distances she couldn't have hoped to before. Eagerly, she looked down at her own body to see the results of months of toil. She squealed in delight.
She could hardly believe they had done it. They were animagi! And even more unbelievable was what she had become. According to the ancient spell, your animagus form was a balanced mixture of who you really are and who you wish to become. Grace had expected to be a cat, or maybe a monkey of some kind, but never...
A phoenix.
She looked over at her friends, and if she had been in human form she would've laughed. They had amazed looks on their faces, looking around and trying to get used to their new bodies. She could immediately tell which one was which. James was flapping his powerful new wings, and his eagle form looked up and their eyes met. Turning, he saw Angel, who stood towering above them on all four legs. She was looking delighted...or, at least, as delighted as a unicorn can look.
Grace tried to speak, and gasped (or...whatever it really was, seeing as she was a phoenix) with delight as she heard a beautiful, soft note come to her ears. As if just to show off, James let his wings out to their full span and took off, flying right through the window. Grace heard him squawk, and decided she wasn't about to let him think he was so cool. She spread her wings, and took flight.
She let out a note of pure joy. There was nothing...NOTHING like flying. She had never really liked broomsticks or Quidditch. It had never occurred to her what flying as a bird would be like. Now, she knew. She flew out into the night, letting the May wind whip around her. She caught up with James and they soared through the sky together. The feeling now flowing through her was not entirely flight related.
Grace heard galloping from below. She and James looked down to see a streak of brilliant white following them. Grace stopped and turned, singing out a note. Angel halted abruptly and reared onto her hind legs, kicking the sky.
They spent over an hour just out flying (or, in Angels case, galloping) around the edge of the village, before Grace realized they needed to get back to the castle. She led them back to the shack and landed gracefully next to Angel. James followed. Grace closed her eyes and pictured the girl she saw everyday in the mirror. When she opened her eyes, she was human again. She turned to Angel and James, who were also in their ordinary forms. For a moment, they just stared at each other. As usual, it was James who spoke first.
"That," He said, "Was the coolest thing ever!"
"Definitely," Grace agreed, nodding. Angel gave a giant grin.
"C'mon guys...we've got class tomorrow."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I can't believe the year's over already," Grace whined, adding her last pair of shoes to the trunk.
"I know what you're saying, Gold," Angel sighed. "So much has happened this year."
"Like our whole little...animal thing?" Grace asked, smiling wickedly. Angel through a pajama top at her as a signal to shut up. Grace just laughed, tossing the top back to her cousin. She waited patiently for Angel to replace the shirt, and they went down to the common room together.
The room that night was a mixture between the younger students thrilled to be going home for holidays and the seventh years looking around as if they thought the room would just up and disappear. They immediately spotted James in the corner of the room. His chessboard was out.
"There you are, girls!" He cried as they walked over to him. Grace saw one fourth year boy shoot James a jealous glare, and held back laughter. James had once been voted Gryffindor's Biggest Pimp. The other boys didn't seem to understand that he was only interested in Angel and Grace as friends. Oh well, if it kept obnoxious teenage boys away, all the better.
"Chess?" Grace said, raising her eyebrows at James.
"Of course chess!" James cried. "I will beat you yet, Grace Weasley."
"You wish!" Grace exclaimed in indignation. She had never lost a chess game to anyone other than her father her entire life. She fell into the chair across from James and looked over at Angel, who was shaking with repressed laughter.
"What?" They demanded at the same time.
"You two are just so blind sometimes," Angel said with a smile.
"Care to open our eyes?" Grace asked sarcastically.
"Not really, no," Angel replied. Grace stuck out her tongue, and Angel laughed. "I'll leave you to beating James miserably at chess, Grace. I've got some seventh year friends I want to say goodbye to."
"Fine with me, I'm not your mother," Grace shrugged. She then turned to face James. Angel just rolled her eyes and went through the portrait hole.
"Her and her seventh years," Grace rolled her eyes. James just laughed and directed his first pawn. For a few moments, the chess game continued in silence.
"So, we're going into sixth year," James commented. Grace snorted.
"Thank you for that report, Captain Stating-The-Obvious."
"Hey, I was just saying!" James said defensively. "I mean, think about it Gold. We've only got two more years of school left."
"Yeah," Grace said, and suddenly she felt as if she were graduating tomorrow. Only two more years? Where had her life gone? What had she done with it?
Grace knew she needed to do something with her life. She always felt so...useless. Look at what her parents had done! They had practically defeated the Dark Lord themselves, braving death and pain and torture to do what they thought was right. That's what Grace wanted to do. Well, not that exactly, but something bold and dangerous and exciting to fight for what's right.
Her mind wandered to breakfast of that morning. She had had a rather nasty encounter with Flint...Tom Flint, that is. She dislike Damian in the extreme, of course, but there was just something sinister about Thomas Flint that made her hate him. She was convinced he was evil. She vowed, then and there, to bring down Tom to justice.
"Uh, Grace?" James interrupted. "It's your turn."
"Oh...right," Grace murmured, and returned to the present.
Perhaps Grace should've listened to the old adage: Be careful what you wish for, it might come true. Perhaps then she wouldn't have had to learn it the hard way...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Once safely out of the common room, Angel's pace gained speed. She was a prefect, so technically she wasn't out after hours...yet. Still, she didn't want to be seen.
She slowed outside a portrait of a sleeping fairy. She coughed several times before the fairy opened her eyes. "Password?" The fairy asked, letting out a yawn.
"Hurricane," Angel murmured. And fairy nodded and went back to sleep as her portrait opened much the same way that of the Fat Lady did for Gryffindor tower.
She slipped into the room beyond. It was a cheery room, about the size of one of the dorms. There was a fire cackling in the grate. There was nothing on the table or anyone on the two stuffed chairs. However, someone did rise from the sofa.
"You're late," He said, smiling down at her.
"I know. I was packing," Angel replied smiling.
"And trying to sneak off," He added, giving her a sideways grin as he slipped his arms around her waist.
"Yeah, that too," She laughed, looking up into his eyes. She loved his eyes. She sighed.
"What?" He asked.
"We're not going to see each other all summer!" Angel cried. He laughed.
"Going to miss me?" He asked mischievously.
"Yes I will. And don't laugh, it's not funny!" She cried.
"You're right, it's not funny," He replied, and although his laughter was quieted his eyes were still dancing. "I'm going to miss you too, Angel. I would come see you anyway, but your father..."
"Sometimes I hate all this sneaking," Angel said bitterly, falling onto the couch.
"Just say the word," He replied, sitting next to her. "I'll tell everyone if it's what you want."
"No," Angel sighed again. "We already talked about this. It's too dangerous. You're father would kill you. Literally."
"Hey, if that's what you want..."
"You dying would NOT make me happy!" She cried in horror. He laughed, and she realized he was kidding. She gave him a look.
"I bet you think you're funny, don't you?" She asked. He just kept grinning. She repositioned herself so that her head was on his shoulder, and she felt his arm encircle her waist. She snuggled against him, feeling perfectly safe in his arms. For a few more moments, they just gazed into the fire, lost in their own thoughts.
"You could tell Grace and James," He finally suggested. Angel looked up at him in amazement.
"You hate them!" She cried. He shrugged.
"They're your friends. They make you happy. If they like you they can't be all bad. I blame all this hating of me on your parents brainwashing all three of you. No offense to your parents or anything," He added quickly. Angel just laughed.
"No, I think it's the same way. We can't tell them, though, they'd...I don't know what they'd do and personally I don't care to find out any time soon. They hate you, and I can't understand why. If they knew you like I know you..." Angel looked up into his melted chocolate eyes and smiled. "They would love you."
"I love you too," He smiled. Wrapping his arms around her shoulders, Tom Flint pulled her into a kiss.
Potions
~Be a good boy
Try a little harder
You've got to measure up
And make me prouder~
Alanis Morissette's "Perfect"
Perfect. Everything around him was perfect. Too perfect, almost. Sitting in his best friend's parlor with his wife, his sister, her husband, and, of course, his best friends. They were pleasantly discussing the weather, drinking tea, and being...well...normal. Everything was abnormally perfect.
Outside, Ron could hear the laughter of children. His daughter Grace was out there, with Angel and Philip Malfoy, and James, Elizabeth, Luke, and little Anna Potter. James, Grace and Angel were off by themselves in one corner of the Potters' backyard, giggling and whispering. Meanwhile Elizabeth, the second eldest Potter, was lecturing her younger siblings and Phil on something pertaining to dandelions. Ron watched smiling through the window.
His mind was in a kind of daze, only half awake. He watched as the three oldest kids condescended to join the younger children. He wasn't paying enough attention, however, to realize an argument had broken out. Before he knew it, all seven of them had tramped inside.
"What is going on here?" Hermione demanded, looking angrily at the mud that had accompanied the kids' trek inside.
"Dad, didn't you fight the Dark Lord?" Philip Malfoy pouted at his father. Draco's eyes widened.
"What?"
"You fought the Dark Lord," Philip repeated. "You and Mum. Didn't you?"
"Nuh-uh!" Luke Potter argued. "My dad killed the Dark Lord! Your dad wasn't even there!"
"Yeah!" Anna Potter, only three years old, agreed angrily. She didn't know what was going on, but someone was yelling at her brother.
"My dad was!" Grace Weasley argued.
"But our dad killed him!" Elizabeth Potter countered shrilly. Grace, not having any siblings, turned to her cousin Angel Malfoy for support.
"My dad gave Uncle Ron a dagger, and Uncle Ron gave it to your dad!" Angel said haughtily to Elizabeth, who glared up at her and stood on tiptoes in an attempt to appear taller.
"So?" She said, looking at Luke.
"Yeah, so?" Luke agreed.
"So...my dad's better than yours!" Philip shrieked, coming to his sister's defense. This brought cries of outrage from the Potter children, and answering howls from Angel, Phil, and Grace. James, the oldest Potter and best friend of Grace and Angel, remained neutral, looking at his mother for support.
The six adults had watched the exchange with interest, but things were now starting to get out of hand, as Luke and Philip threatened to start physically fighting.
"All right. ALL RIGHT!" The voice was Draco's. He immediately brought silence. Phil looked down shamefully, and Luke, suddenly realizing what he had been saying, looked petrified. "Now, you seven are being quite foolish. Angel, Philip, I expected more out of you." He let his words sink into his children's heads before continuing. "Now, I think you all need to go back outside."
"But Dad," Phil objected sullenly. "We want to know what happened."
Those words brought utter silence, and the adults now exchanged nervous glances. They didn't want to remember, and they had tried to shield their children from the hatred of their pasts. The children remained quiet, each watching the reactions of their own parents. The four Potters, even toddling Anna, watched silently as Harry and Hermione exchanged nervous looks, paling at the memory of that November night ten years ago when Ron had crawled through the mud to their door and they had discovered the Dark Mark burned into his skin. Angel and Phil anxiously watched as Draco's face, now turned to stone, looked to Ginny, who was biting her lip nervously. Grace stood alone, watching her parents. Rayven had closed her eyes and put her face in her hands. Ron however...Ron did nothing. He just stared straight forward, not blinking, his lips turning white from pursing them so hard.
"They are old enough..." Ginny said nervously. "Angel and Grace and James will be going to Hogwarts next year, and-"
"Absolutely not," Ron interrupted severely, and all seven kids shrank back at his voice. "I refuse to tell that story to children."
"Ron, they will find out eventually, from us or other sources," Rayven pointed out logically.
"At least take Anna away, Hermione," Draco said, looking down at the innocent toddler. Hermione rushed to do just that. The other six looked imploringly at their parents.
"It all began-" Harry started.
"NO!" Ron interrupted, leaping to his feet. "I refuse to let this happen. Rayven, Grace, we are leaving. Let the rest of them stay and-"
"No, Ron, we are not going anywhere," Rayven said, softly but firmly. "Grace is ten years old now, she needs to learn the truth."
"I strictly forbid-"
"But I want to know, Daddy," The soft voice of Grace Weasley interrupted. "I'm old enough." Ron looked down into his daughter's face, and her innocent gold eyes looked back. He opened his mouth to repeat his decision, to forbid that she ever find out about what had happened, to protect her from the world. But Rayven, Draco, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione were staring, knowing that what he said now would dictate their decision. His eyes traveled to those of Angel and Phil, James, Elizabeth, and Luke. They would have to know someday. He sighed, and fell down.
"Fine," He replied. "Let them know."
"Hello? Helloooooooooo? Earth to Ron!" Ron shook himself out of his reverie to find Draco Malfoy's hand waving in front of his face. He was sitting in the Potter's parlor with Rayven, Ginny, Draco, and naturally Harry and Hermione. Outside it was pouring down rain. Everyone was looking at him curiously.
"Er...sorry," Ron muttered. "So, how're the Cannons doing, Harry?" Harry jumped at the chance to answer, and Ron plunged into the conversation, pushing the memory out of his mind. It had been nearly six years since that fateful day, here in this very parlor, when Ron's daughter had learned the Truth. Grace was now in her fifth year at Hogwarts along with Angel and James. Elizabeth was in fourth year while Luke and Phil were in second. Anna was only nine years old, and was at the moment at Lavender and Seamus Finnigan's house visiting their daughter Parvati.
Meanwhile, over a hundred miles away, Grace Weasley, James Potter, and Angel Malfoy were sitting down to lunch.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Are you absolutely SURE we're not going to get caught?"
"What? You scared?"
"I am not scared, just cautious."
"Same thing!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"HONESTLY!" The exclamation came from the lips of a beautiful young woman with bright red hair and sparkling silver eyes. Her name was Angel. Her two friends spun around sheepishly. One was a boy, a tall young man with impossible brown hair and big green eyes: James Potter. The other was a girl who could've been Angel's twin. The same height, fiery hair color, and complexion led many to believe they were twin sisters instead of cousins. The only way people could tell the difference between Angel and Grace was their eyes. Grace's were a deep, mysterious gold.
"Sorry," James muttered rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, Ang, what're you trying to do, get us caught?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Angel replied haughtily. "I was just trying to get you two to stop flirting."
"We were not flirting!" Grace and James cried in mortification at the same time. Angel grinned.
"Could've fooled me," Angel grinned.
"What are you three up to now?" The three friends jumped as they realized they were having this conversation in the Great Hall, and turned to see Stephen Thomas, better known as Steve, studying them curiously.
"Nothing," The three replied simultaneously.
"Yeah, right," Steve replied, rolling his eyes. "Anyway, can I borrow your Potions book Gold?"
"Sure," Grace replied, not batting an eye at the use of the nickname her classmates had given her. Angel was Silver and she herself was Gold. Why this was she wasn't exactly sure. Their eyes, of course, had something to do with it, but there was also the fact that Grace and Angel, along with being cousins, were also best friends and there was something that just flowed in saying the names together: Silver and Gold.
In any case, it was a normal April afternoon at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where Albus Dumbledore still ruled as Headmaster. He looked down the High Table to where Minerva McGonagall sat, still ready to punish any who crossed the lines of the rules. Flitwick, Binns, and Trelawny still taught their classes. Professor Sprout had sadly retired, but Neville Longbottom had taken over as Herbology Professor. Remus Lupin was once again the Defense teacher, Severus Snape was still Potions Master and life ran in the castle the same as it had for the last thousand years.
Dumbledore's eyes traveled down to the students. The Slytherins sat in tight groups of no more than four, whispering together. The Hufflepuffs sat very close to one particular friend, but open to the entire table, chattering happily. The Ravenclaws were holding debates of some sort, with one large group against the other. And then, of course, came the Gryffindors. Evenly spaced and open to all the people of their house, the loudest laughter came from Dumbledore's own old house. It did not take him long to spot the new Trio, as two of the three had trademark Weasley red hair. James Potter sat across from the girls, laughing. For a moment, Dumbledore could've sworn he was back in time to the days of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, or maybe even the Marauder years.
He shook his head. No, this generation had a personality all its own.
Lunch was over almost as soon as it had begun. Or so it seemed to the students. They were eager for their afternoon classes to end so they would be set free for the weekend. James, Grace, and Angel left the Great Hall together as they had almost every day for the last five years.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Potter, Malfoy, and Weasley. Haven't they kicked you out of this school yet?" The three friends spun around angrily at the familiar voice. It belonged to a dark haired young man with heartless blue eyes and a mocking sneer.
"Haven't you dishonored the name of Hogwarts long enough, Flint?" Grace snapped, pushing James out of her way and advancing toward her archenemy. She had always hated Damian Flint with a passion. James and Angel grabbed the back of her robes.
"What? Afraid I'll hurt your ickle little girlfriend, Potter?" Flint taunted. James flushed almost as darkly as Grace did.
"She is NOT my girlfriend!" He hissed.
"Oh?" Flint replied. "Is it Malfoy this week then?" All three were enraged, and they would've tackled him. But...
"Children, what is all this fuss?"
Grace stopped short feeling her heart stop. She would've recognized that icy voice anywhere. Averting her gaze from Damian, she turned her golden eyes to his older, taller, and even more detestable brother, Thomas Flint.
The two brothers looked the same, but at the same time...they didn't. Damian was short and stick thin, with a sallow face and thin, sharp features, cruel azure eyes and slick, deep brown hair. Thomas, however, was taller, and while still lean was much more muscular than his sickly looking sibling. He was actually rather good looking, with proudly cut features and a well-shaped nose. His hair was black, so black it looked blue sometimes, and fell pleasantly into place no matter what happened. And his eyes...many of the young girls at Hogwarts said Tom Flint had eyes to die for. They were the color of melted chocolate, steady and strong, and they never changed; no matter what color he wore or how the light was reflecting or what his mood was his eyes remained steady, taking in the world, and (in Grace's humble opinion) formulating evil plans behind an iron wall of melted chocolate. Grace Weasley hated Tom Flint's eyes.
"We're only one year younger than you, Flint," James reminded him angrily. Angel remained silent. Grace glared at the brothers. Flint (the elder, that is) cocked an eyebrow.
"Really? You were acting like a group of bitter first years," He replied smoothly.
"Yeah, children," Damian smirked.
"I was referring-" Tom continued in a voice like ice and moving his unwavering gaze to his younger brother, "To all of you."
"But-"
"Mr. Flint is quite right," Another voice interrupted. All of them (except for Tom, who had seen him coming) turned to find Snape looking down at them. "Now, children," He emphasized the word with relish. "Don't you think you ought to...run along?"
James and Angel had to literally drag Grace to Transfiguration to prevent her from punching or slapping or...doing SOMETHING to Severus Snape. She really hated him sometimes. She knew he had helped her parents during the rise of Voldemort, but that didn't change the fact that he was an evil, homework obsessed, biased Slytherin git!
Damian left the scene soon after, finding that without the Gryffindors to taunt there really wasn't much to do. Snape looked down at Tom fondly.
"I appreciate that, Mr. Flint. I'm quite tired of breaking up fights between them."
"It's no problem, professor," Tom mumbled. Snape nodded knowingly.
"Get to class, Mr. Flint," He said. Tom nodded, but took his time in getting to Arithmancy, and considered skipping it entirely. He hadn't been lying when he implied that he considered his brother infantile. Honestly, Tom hated the Gryffindors too, but there were much more efficient ways of going about destroying people's lives that teasing.
Rolling his eyes, he strutted into Arithmancy five minutes late.
Finally, the students were set free for the weekend. They poured out of their classes chattering and laughing loudly. Grace, Angel, and James were whispering like guilty conspirators, trying to stifle their giggles behind their hands.
"What are you three up to NOW?" An exasperated voice asked. They jumped guiltily and turned to face...a short young girl with curly brown hair and inquisitive cinnamon eyes.
"Liz!" James exclaimed at the sight of Elizabeth, his little sister. "What are you doing here?"
"Trying to see if she can catch you in the act of something stupid so the Ravenclaws will take the lead again, most likely." A new voice added. Grace looked down and saw James's younger brother, Luke, making a face at his sister. Liz just grinned.
"It's not my fault you Gryffindors are so reckless," She replied, flipping her hair.
"Liz, may I remind you that its four Gryffindors versus you, the only Ravenclaw present?" Grace said, trying not to laugh.
"This is a good point," Liz replied, sighing. "Where's Phil when you need him?"
"What, who called my name?" A short Ravenclaw boy with blond hair and brown eyes appeared.
"I spoke too soon," Liz murmured.
"That sounded like an insult Mizz Liz," Philip Malfoy said smoothly. Liz just rolled her eyes. Angel laughed at her younger brother's words.
"Come on, guys," She said lightly. "Let's not worry the perfect little Ravenclaws." At that, Phil and Liz stopped glaring at each other to glare at the Gryffindors, who just laughed and went down to dinner. Luke went off with some second year friends, and the three were alone again at last.
They pretended to go to bed that night, as if it weren't any different. Of course, those that knew Silver, Gold, and James could tell they were up to something, but then again, they always were. They met back in the common room just after midnight. James had his father's invisibility cloak and Marauder's Map in hand. Angel and Grace were in a frightful fit of giggles, and James had to wait for them to calm down before they could begin the long and dangerous journey down to the Slytherin common room.
It was the first time they had actually been brave enough to go inside the common room. Angel had somehow managed to get the password (she was good friends with the head girl), so they decided that they couldn't let such a perfect opportunity go to waste. At this point, they had only their prayers to protect them from Mrs. Norris and Filch.
They stopped at the prefect's bathroom. Grace was elected to go inside and collect the potion. All three were prefects, so it wouldn't be too suspicious if just one of them was seen entering the bathroom, as long as no one saw her coming out with the steaming potion in hand. It went off without a hitch.
None of them spoke; they didn't need to. James walked in front, leading the way with the Map as his guide. Grace came next, walking very carefully so as not to spill a single drop of the potion, and Angel followed, her keen eyes and ears alert. The cloak covered them all, she knew, but one could never be too cautious.
They made it to the common room with no major problems. They did see Mrs. Norris, and had to stop and wait for her to leave the corridor, but other than that they ran into no one. They reached the wall they knew to be the entrance to the Slytherin common room. Angel boldly stepped forward.
"Turntable," She whispered. The door slid open.
"Turntable?" Grace asked, making a face. "Who uses 'turntable' as a password?"
"Shh," James hissed, trying not to laugh himself. Taking a deep breath, the three walked through and got their first glimpse of the Slytherin common room.
It was really rather a disappointment.
The room was smaller than that of Gryffindor, with a lower ceiling. The embers in the hearth was dying, and over the fireplace was a single portrait of Salazar Slytherin. The chairs didn't look very comfortable by Gryffindor standards, and they were a dark, dreary green with intricate and expensive looking silver designs. The floor was covered with a large green carpet, and while there were a few hangings on the stone walls, they were mostly bare. There was only one very small window at the top of the left wall, and it seemed to be there to remind one how enclosed you were instead of offering a view of the outside.
"Ugh," Grace muttered, summing up the opinion of her two friends. However, they didn't have long to sit and stare in disgust. The longer they stood, the more chance they would get caught.
It didn't take them long to find the fifth year boy's dormitory. Once inside, James quickly spotted Damian Flint's pale face, looking no different in sleep as it did awake. Grace wondered, briefly, if he was as nasty in his dreams as his was in waking life. She shook her head then turned to her friends, who nodded.
They slipped out from under the shelter of the cloak, and Grace suddenly felt very vulnerable. If any of the boys woke up now, they would be in big trouble. All the more reason for speed. The potion was still in its liquid form at the moment, and could do absolutely nothing except taste horrible. However, it was time to add the final ingredient. Angel plucked a hair off her head and put it in the potion. It went from a clear deep blue to light pink, and immediately took on the consistency of lotion. Grace nodded, to assure the others that everything was going according to plan, and approached Flint's bed.
This was the most delicate part of the procedure. It had been assigned to Grace because she was the best at Potions, and therefore probably the only one of them who actually knew what they were supposed to do with potions not meant to be ingested. She dipped her hand into the cool smooth substance, and took a deep breath. If he woke up now, she would probably be expelled.
She then started applying the potion to his face, smearing the pink substance over his cheeks and forehead while murmuring an enchantment under her breath. His skin absorbed the substance, and in less than a minute the entire cup was gone. Grace stood, and the three of them started for the door.
"What are you doing?" A mumbled voice asked, the three spun around in terror to see one of the larger boys, who had been snoring very loudly, turn to face them. Their minds had not even begun to react when he continued. "Two cups of baking powder, not three...umph," His snoring returned and Grace let out a breath in relief. He had been talking in his sleep.
About baking powder. Okay, then.
They flew from the room, and though the put the cloak on, they were making far too much noise than was prudent. They ran past Peeves, who just cackled but didn't try to stop them. When they reached the common room they fell on to the floor, laughing from the adrenaline and knowledge of what was going to happen in the morning.
Damian Flint wasn't at breakfast the next day, but he dorm mates and those that had seen him on the way to the hospital wing spread the word like wildfire. Grace, Angel, and James did a high five when they heard the news.
The Gender Changing Potion had been brewed properly after all!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey, Silver, where were you last night?" Grace asked as Angel walked into the room and feel onto the sofa, looking exhausted.
"Nowhere special," She mumbled.
"Sure," Grace rolled her eyes. "Probably out sneaking with your boyfriend!" Angel laughed, throwing a pillow at her cousin.
"Gold, I only WISH I had a boyfriend, as you should know." Both girls started giggling.
It was the first week of May, and although every adult from Dumbledore to Madame Hooch knew Angel, Grace, and James were guilty for the crime of turning Damian flint into a female for two weeks, however they didn't have any proof whatsoever. As a matter of fact, they all seemed to (secretly, of course) find it quite amusing, except (obviously) Snape, who was even crueler to them in class than usual in the last month.
"Although," Angel continued, her silver eyes dancing with mirth. "I know who you WANT to be your boyfriend, eh Gracie?"
"Angel Marie Malfoy!" Grace exclaimed, her cheeks turning the color of her hair. "I told you I got over that!" Angel only laughed.
"Yeah, sure, I see the way you look at him." She continued to tease. "Gracie and Jamsie, sittin' in a tree-"
"Angel, someone's going to hear you!" She hissed, her cheeks even darker. Angel laughed so hard she nearly fell out of her chair.
"Gold, everyone in this damn school knows you're in love with James Potter. And everyone knows James is in love with you. Why don't you just-"
"Don't be ridiculous, Angel," Grace interrupted fiercely. "James likes that Ravenclaw girl...what's her name? Er..."
"Oh that Victoria chic?" Angel rolled her eyes with a scoff. "Please, Grace, that will never happen."
"How do you know?"
"Because I do!"
"You do what, Silver?" A voice interrupted. Both girls jumped to see James covered from head to toe in mud from being out in the rain for Quidditch practice.
"Nothing," Grace answered for her cousin. Angel rolled her eyes, and James raised an eyebrow.
"If you say so, Goldie," He said. Then he lowered his voice to a dramatic whisper. "It is time."
"Time?" Grace asked, making a face. "Time for what?"
"Time for the final ingredient," James continued.
"For what?" Grace asked, even more confused.
"Grace!" Angel hissed. "What are we brewing...right now...in the shack...?"
"OH!" Grace exclaimed, hitting her forehead with her hand. "Duh!"
"Tell me about it," Angel said, rolling her eyes. "How could you forget?"
"So wait..." Grace's eyes flooded with understanding as she turned back to James. "The Potion is ready?"
"I checked before practice," James replied. "We're supposed to add the final stuff at the new moon, which is tomorrow night. We can take the cloak and go through the Whomping Willow and go out to the shack, and take it from there." His green eyes were burning with an eager flame, and Grace felt herself getting caught up in the excitement.
"Yes!" She cried, leaping to her feet and doing a little jig. "We are so cool!"
"And modest too," Angel said sarcastically, but she was grinning nonetheless. "You know if we get caught we'll probably get sent to Azkaban or something?"
"That's why we're not going to get caught," Grace said, rolling her eyes as if this should be obvious. Angel looked as if she were about to say something but as she saw James nod in agreement she decided it was pointless. She left James and Grace to argue about... something. She had stopped paying attention. She let herself slip into a daydream about the night before.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It's not like an interior decorator had visited the shrieking shack or anything, but at least the rotting wood and broken furniture had been either removed or replaced, and it was somewhat clean. Grace surveyed their hang out with approval from her position halfway through the trapdoor. They had done pretty good, considering what they had to work with.
"Uh, Grace, you want to get a move on up there?" Angel snapped from below. "While I'm young, if you please."
"Sorry," Grace blushed, hurriedly ascending the last few stairs and scuttling aside to let James through. He turned around and held out a hand to help Angel, who smiled even though she didn't mean it.
There was only one object in the room that looked out of place, and that's where Grace's gaze was immediately directed. It wasn't the object itself, really, it was the fact that a bright blue sheet covered it. Grace immediately ran over and through the sheet off, revealing a giant copper cauldron. Anxiety written all over her face, she studied the potion within for a few moments, then sighed with relief.
"It's okay, we're not going to die," She announced.
"You say that like you thought we would mess it up," James replied, looking hurt. Grace just rolled her eyes. Filch had decided to give her detention last month on the night they had to add the latest ingredient of the potion, of all the bloody nights. She had no choice but to leave it to Angel and James, and (considering their Potions grades) she had been mortally afraid that they would screw it up.
"Have you no faith?!" Angel cried dramatically, striking a pose. Grace laughed.
"No, not really. But it's okay, you guys didn't mess it up...this time..."
"This is the most important time, so it's okay," Angel replied in a business like manner as she set down the small red velvet bag she had been carrying. The invisibility cloak and map had come from James's dad from his trouble making days. The last item in their mischief making kit was descended from Angel's father. It was a bottomless bag.
They used it to carry...practically everything. When Angel had received it the summer before third year she had initially intended to carry her books in it. However, James and Grace had managed to talk some sense into her, pointing out all the mischief they could pull with a bottomless bag no one knew about. Tonight, she pulled three goblets, a ladle, and a small but sharp knife from the unknown depths.
Grace took the ladle, and as if performing a sacred ritual, filled the goblets. James and Angel remained silent, watching her every move. The potion resembled honey in all but consistency. However, providing the ingredients the taste was probably a far cry from honey.
Grace then picked up the dagger and locked eyes with her two best friends. "After this it's too late to turn back. You guys ready?"
"Yes," They replied solemnly. Grace nodded.
"I'll go first. Then Angel, then James." With that she held her left hand palm up over the first goblet and took a firm grip on the knife with her right. Closing her eyes she slashed the knife across her palm, the gritted her teeth against the pain. She forced her eyes open, and carefully tipped her hand to that the blood spilled only drip by drip into the goblet. She counted thirteen drops, then quickly pulled her hand away and handed the knife to Angel and turned to magically heal her hand.
Angel and James both repeated the process. The potion the goblets now contained was a deep, rich red the color of wine. Taking a deep breath, Grace raised her goblet.
"Well, at least the hard part's over with," James commented. Grace laughed and Angel grinned, both relieved that their friend had broken the heavy atmosphere with something so light-hearted.
"Okay," Grace said, regaining her self-control. "On the count of three we all drink, okay?" James and Angel nodded, and Grace took a deep breath. "One...two...THREE!" In perfect unison the three friends tipped the goblets and chugged the evil tasting contents.
Grace felt her insides tangle in knots and turn to lead. She fell to the ground, twitching. She had never felt pain like this before. And then...
It stopped. Suddenly, Grace felt perfectly comfortable, more comfortable than she had in years, she opened her eyes, and noticed everything was bright and clear, the details were so sharp it nearly hurt her eyes. She knew she could see distances she couldn't have hoped to before. Eagerly, she looked down at her own body to see the results of months of toil. She squealed in delight.
She could hardly believe they had done it. They were animagi! And even more unbelievable was what she had become. According to the ancient spell, your animagus form was a balanced mixture of who you really are and who you wish to become. Grace had expected to be a cat, or maybe a monkey of some kind, but never...
A phoenix.
She looked over at her friends, and if she had been in human form she would've laughed. They had amazed looks on their faces, looking around and trying to get used to their new bodies. She could immediately tell which one was which. James was flapping his powerful new wings, and his eagle form looked up and their eyes met. Turning, he saw Angel, who stood towering above them on all four legs. She was looking delighted...or, at least, as delighted as a unicorn can look.
Grace tried to speak, and gasped (or...whatever it really was, seeing as she was a phoenix) with delight as she heard a beautiful, soft note come to her ears. As if just to show off, James let his wings out to their full span and took off, flying right through the window. Grace heard him squawk, and decided she wasn't about to let him think he was so cool. She spread her wings, and took flight.
She let out a note of pure joy. There was nothing...NOTHING like flying. She had never really liked broomsticks or Quidditch. It had never occurred to her what flying as a bird would be like. Now, she knew. She flew out into the night, letting the May wind whip around her. She caught up with James and they soared through the sky together. The feeling now flowing through her was not entirely flight related.
Grace heard galloping from below. She and James looked down to see a streak of brilliant white following them. Grace stopped and turned, singing out a note. Angel halted abruptly and reared onto her hind legs, kicking the sky.
They spent over an hour just out flying (or, in Angels case, galloping) around the edge of the village, before Grace realized they needed to get back to the castle. She led them back to the shack and landed gracefully next to Angel. James followed. Grace closed her eyes and pictured the girl she saw everyday in the mirror. When she opened her eyes, she was human again. She turned to Angel and James, who were also in their ordinary forms. For a moment, they just stared at each other. As usual, it was James who spoke first.
"That," He said, "Was the coolest thing ever!"
"Definitely," Grace agreed, nodding. Angel gave a giant grin.
"C'mon guys...we've got class tomorrow."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I can't believe the year's over already," Grace whined, adding her last pair of shoes to the trunk.
"I know what you're saying, Gold," Angel sighed. "So much has happened this year."
"Like our whole little...animal thing?" Grace asked, smiling wickedly. Angel through a pajama top at her as a signal to shut up. Grace just laughed, tossing the top back to her cousin. She waited patiently for Angel to replace the shirt, and they went down to the common room together.
The room that night was a mixture between the younger students thrilled to be going home for holidays and the seventh years looking around as if they thought the room would just up and disappear. They immediately spotted James in the corner of the room. His chessboard was out.
"There you are, girls!" He cried as they walked over to him. Grace saw one fourth year boy shoot James a jealous glare, and held back laughter. James had once been voted Gryffindor's Biggest Pimp. The other boys didn't seem to understand that he was only interested in Angel and Grace as friends. Oh well, if it kept obnoxious teenage boys away, all the better.
"Chess?" Grace said, raising her eyebrows at James.
"Of course chess!" James cried. "I will beat you yet, Grace Weasley."
"You wish!" Grace exclaimed in indignation. She had never lost a chess game to anyone other than her father her entire life. She fell into the chair across from James and looked over at Angel, who was shaking with repressed laughter.
"What?" They demanded at the same time.
"You two are just so blind sometimes," Angel said with a smile.
"Care to open our eyes?" Grace asked sarcastically.
"Not really, no," Angel replied. Grace stuck out her tongue, and Angel laughed. "I'll leave you to beating James miserably at chess, Grace. I've got some seventh year friends I want to say goodbye to."
"Fine with me, I'm not your mother," Grace shrugged. She then turned to face James. Angel just rolled her eyes and went through the portrait hole.
"Her and her seventh years," Grace rolled her eyes. James just laughed and directed his first pawn. For a few moments, the chess game continued in silence.
"So, we're going into sixth year," James commented. Grace snorted.
"Thank you for that report, Captain Stating-The-Obvious."
"Hey, I was just saying!" James said defensively. "I mean, think about it Gold. We've only got two more years of school left."
"Yeah," Grace said, and suddenly she felt as if she were graduating tomorrow. Only two more years? Where had her life gone? What had she done with it?
Grace knew she needed to do something with her life. She always felt so...useless. Look at what her parents had done! They had practically defeated the Dark Lord themselves, braving death and pain and torture to do what they thought was right. That's what Grace wanted to do. Well, not that exactly, but something bold and dangerous and exciting to fight for what's right.
Her mind wandered to breakfast of that morning. She had had a rather nasty encounter with Flint...Tom Flint, that is. She dislike Damian in the extreme, of course, but there was just something sinister about Thomas Flint that made her hate him. She was convinced he was evil. She vowed, then and there, to bring down Tom to justice.
"Uh, Grace?" James interrupted. "It's your turn."
"Oh...right," Grace murmured, and returned to the present.
Perhaps Grace should've listened to the old adage: Be careful what you wish for, it might come true. Perhaps then she wouldn't have had to learn it the hard way...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Once safely out of the common room, Angel's pace gained speed. She was a prefect, so technically she wasn't out after hours...yet. Still, she didn't want to be seen.
She slowed outside a portrait of a sleeping fairy. She coughed several times before the fairy opened her eyes. "Password?" The fairy asked, letting out a yawn.
"Hurricane," Angel murmured. And fairy nodded and went back to sleep as her portrait opened much the same way that of the Fat Lady did for Gryffindor tower.
She slipped into the room beyond. It was a cheery room, about the size of one of the dorms. There was a fire cackling in the grate. There was nothing on the table or anyone on the two stuffed chairs. However, someone did rise from the sofa.
"You're late," He said, smiling down at her.
"I know. I was packing," Angel replied smiling.
"And trying to sneak off," He added, giving her a sideways grin as he slipped his arms around her waist.
"Yeah, that too," She laughed, looking up into his eyes. She loved his eyes. She sighed.
"What?" He asked.
"We're not going to see each other all summer!" Angel cried. He laughed.
"Going to miss me?" He asked mischievously.
"Yes I will. And don't laugh, it's not funny!" She cried.
"You're right, it's not funny," He replied, and although his laughter was quieted his eyes were still dancing. "I'm going to miss you too, Angel. I would come see you anyway, but your father..."
"Sometimes I hate all this sneaking," Angel said bitterly, falling onto the couch.
"Just say the word," He replied, sitting next to her. "I'll tell everyone if it's what you want."
"No," Angel sighed again. "We already talked about this. It's too dangerous. You're father would kill you. Literally."
"Hey, if that's what you want..."
"You dying would NOT make me happy!" She cried in horror. He laughed, and she realized he was kidding. She gave him a look.
"I bet you think you're funny, don't you?" She asked. He just kept grinning. She repositioned herself so that her head was on his shoulder, and she felt his arm encircle her waist. She snuggled against him, feeling perfectly safe in his arms. For a few more moments, they just gazed into the fire, lost in their own thoughts.
"You could tell Grace and James," He finally suggested. Angel looked up at him in amazement.
"You hate them!" She cried. He shrugged.
"They're your friends. They make you happy. If they like you they can't be all bad. I blame all this hating of me on your parents brainwashing all three of you. No offense to your parents or anything," He added quickly. Angel just laughed.
"No, I think it's the same way. We can't tell them, though, they'd...I don't know what they'd do and personally I don't care to find out any time soon. They hate you, and I can't understand why. If they knew you like I know you..." Angel looked up into his melted chocolate eyes and smiled. "They would love you."
"I love you too," He smiled. Wrapping his arms around her shoulders, Tom Flint pulled her into a kiss.