Chapter Four: Unleash the Cat.
" What are you three talking about?" Alanna said, looking over at Harry, Hermione and Ron from her seat in the armchair by the fireplace.
" Our Defense the Dark Arts homework. We have to write a story about our selves if were Shifts." Ron explained.
" Oh…When I was in my fifth year, Professor Lupin made us write about why we wouldn't or would want to be Shifts." Alanna said, and then went back to her Charms homework.
" I can't decide which animal to be! Chad, if you could be a Shift what animal would you hope your True Animal would be." Dean asked. Chad looked up from his Ancient Runes work, and looked quiet startled by this question.
" Well, I guess I'd be a wolf. I mean what other animal would you want to be." Chad said.
" A panther for one thing." Alanna said, not even looking up from her homework.
" Oh come on. Why would you want to be a cat? I mean at least a domesticated dog is useful for something more then a paperweight. All domesticated cats do is lick themselves, sleep and demand to be fed."
Alanna looked up from her parchment and glared at Chad. " I'll have you know domesticated cats are very useful. They eat mice and spiders for one thing."
" Which provides proof they are violent creatures and not good pets."
Fred laughed as Alanna and Chad continued on about cats and dogs.
" They've been having that argument since they first met." Fred explained to the confused fifth years.
" Why wouldn't they just call it quits?" Parvati Patil asked.
" Oh they do. But they always start up again." George explained.
" Well I guess a panther would be an even match for a wolf." Chad said.
" And wolves are rather cute, as far as dogs go." Alanna grinned slightly.
" Oh really?" Chad asked, his eyebrows arched.
" Before you two start. May I remind you that there is no making out of any form in the dorms or common rooms. And you're not to leave until morning." Hermione said, while writing down something on her parchment.
" Crud." Was all Alanna said, and then went back to her own homework.
" Your no fun Hermione." Chad said, going back to his Rune homework.
***
Ron grumbled something indecent while he, Harry and Hermione made their way to the Great Hall for lunch. Ron and Harry had spent the entire morning in double Divination. Professor Trelawney had predicted his and Harry's death about a hundred times in that class, Ron didn't know if he could stand it for the rest of the year.
" Hi guys. What's wrong with you, Ron?" Alanna asked, when the trio sat down. Ron really didn't know why he never notice Alanna before. She seemed to be everywhere, but, the only time she stood out in his memory from the years before was when she helped Ron and Harry with their DADA homework when Hermione was to busy and when Fred and George first told Ron about Alanna.
" Double Divination." Ron said. Alanna mock shuddered. " I took Divination for a very short time, but after the Professor predicted my death for the tenth time I changed over to Ancient Runes. Too bad you only can do that in your first month of it." Alanna quickly added, quickly killing Ron's hope of avoiding Divination.
" Professor Trelawney predicted your death?" Lavender asked.
"Yep. She said I wouldn't make it to my fifth year. And here I am in my sixth year."
" Bloody hell!" Harry growled.
" What's wrong Harry?" Hermione asked.
" Professor McGonagall asked me to find a new announcer, since Lee Jordan is graduating this year, but everybody I asked doesn't want to do it. I just needed to scream to get my frustrations out." Harry smiled weakly.
" Hey Alanna, you know a lot about Quidditch. And aren't you always saying you wish you could join us, but you get motion sick if you play Quidditch." Fred said suggestively.
Alanna caught on to what Fred was saying.
" I don't know.."
" Please Alanna!" Harry begged, giving Alanna big puppy dog eyes.
" Ack! Not the puppy dog eyes! My greatest weakness! All right Harry I'll do it! Just stop doing that with your eyes!"
" Thanks Alanna!" Harry grinned.
** *
The month of September passed quickly. Harry kept busy with studies and Quidditch. Being the new captain, Harry had to sign up new players, for they ones who had graduated last year, and run practices. Although Harry's practices weren't as early as Wood's, but they stilled happened rain or shine, having learned that it's better to be prepared just in case they had to play Quidditch in the rain. Ron had gotten the spot of one the chasers, something he was really good at.
Before Harry knew it was time for Halloween dance. Harry stood at the bottom of the Gryffindor staircase waiting for Ginny. He was dressed in his green dress robes from last year and Ron, who was waiting for Hermione, was wearing brown dress robes which looked very good on him.
" Harry, you do realize if you hurt my little sister, I'll kill you." Ron said bluntly.
Harry wasn't sure if Ron was joking, but Harry chuckled softly. " Don't worry Ron, I wouldn't dream of hurting Ginny." At that very moment Ginny and Hermione came down the stairs. Ginny was wearing soft yellow dress robes and her hair was done up in a French twist, decorated with beads that shone like jewels. Hermione was wearing pale blue and her hair was done the same way it had been done last year at the Yule Ball.
Harry had to blink several times to stop staring and Ron had to be told to shut his mouth.
" Wow Hermione, you look great." Ron breathed.
Hermione blushed, " So do you Ron."
" I love your hair Ginny." Harry said. Ginny blushed. " The robes looks great with your eyes."
The foursome made their way to the Great Hall to see the party was already in full swing, with several people already dancing. Harry saw Chad and Alanna on the dance floor. Chad dressed in forest green with gold trim and Alanna with sky blue with silver trim.
" Hmm, she must have had to sell her house to afford that robe." Came a high voice behind Harry. Behind Harry Malfoy, dressed in black and silver, stood with a Slytherin fifth year that Harry didn't know.
" Actually Alanna told me her Guardian, who's a seamstress, made it." Harry said, menace in his voice.
" Come on Harry, let's go and dance." Ginny said.
" Robbing the cradle Potter?" said Malfoy.
" She's only year younger then him Malfoy. And you should talk, considering I saw you snogging with Beverly Nighthawk the other night." Lavender Brown said as she passed with her date, Dean.
Harry grinned as Malfoy tried to explain to his date.
" May I have this dance milady?" Harry said bowing to Ginny.
" Certainly." Ginny grinned, her ears going red.
I have to remember to thank Chad for his dating tips. Harry thought to himself as he and Ginny made their way to the dance floor.
The Wyrd Sister's, who somehow Dumbledore got to play there again, played a nice slow song. Ginny was, to Harry surprise, was a graceful dancer. I wonder where Ginny learned to dance so well.
" You learn to be a graceful dancer when you have to step over the twins messes." Ginny said, reading Harry's mind.
After what felt only merely hours the Ball over. Harry wished it could go on for longer but he knew it couldn't.
" I'll be thankful to wash this gunk out of my hair." Hermione said, going upstairs, clearly happy of how the night went.
" Agreed. I damn near emptied the bottle trying to get my hair to bloody behave." Alanna muttered.
***
Poor little bunny, wouldn't know what was going to hit it. She'd just wait for the perfect moment to pounce and… " We're under attack!" someone screamed. Alanna woke up and fell out of bed in a tangle of sheets.
" Bloody hell!!!!" Alanna yelled, actually more like roared. Alanna detangled herself sheets and grabbed her wand from under her pillow and raced to the common room with the other girls in her dorm.
Under attack?! Just great! Just when I'm getting VERY close to my monthly change. Why can't I be like normal girls and only have one monthly cycle? Alanna thought angrily. In the common room, Professor McGonagall stood there in a red flannel nightgown.
" Alright fourth years and up with me, Third years and under stay here!" Professor McGonagall said.
The students followed their professor in a run to the Front Hall where a battle was taking place. Already students from other Houses were fighting Death Eaters and Voldermort was nowhere to be seen. The Gryffindors split up and took on their own oppents. Alanna started dueling with a tall Death Eater. After shooting curses back and forth and dodging curses, the Death Eater knocked Alanna's wand out of her hand and kicked it out of her reach. The Death grinned wickedly and stepped closer to Alanna. Alanna put up her fists, if she was going down, she was going down fighting. Suddenly, one of the biggest dogs Alanna had ever seen jumped on the Death Eater and sunk its teeth into his neck. When the dog was certain the Death Eater was dead. He let go of the Death Eaters neck.
" Sirius Black at your service." The dog said. Actually barked. An animage, an animage that didn't know Alanna could understand him.
" Thank you Mr. Black." Alanna grinned at the surprised look on Sirius Black's face.
" How did you..Harry look out!" Sirius Black shouted, looking behind Alanna.
***
Harry flung spells at the Death Eater until the Death Eater was unconcious. Harry something barked in front of him. Looking, Harry saw Sirius standing in front of Alanna.
Alanna turned around and looked at Harry. " Harry duck!" Alanna yelled. Harry ducked down and heard something roar and something going thud. Harry looked around to see a huge panther, standing on a Death Eater's chest, behead the Death Eater with one sweep of it claws. The panther looked back at Harry with big blue-green eyes.
" Alanna?" Harry whispered. The panther nodded.
" SHIFT!!!!" a female Death Eater screamed. Several Death Eaters lunged at Alanna. Harry shot some with a few spells and a massive golden coloured wolf lunge attacked another.
Harry cast spells at Death Eaters until he thought his voice was going to give out. Suddenly one Death Eater shouted " Retreat!" The Death Eaters fled Hogwarts. Many students tried to capture a few, but most couldn't grab one. As the last Death Eaters were leaving Neville tackled a short and pudgy looking Death Eater to the ground.
" I got one!" Neville said, pining the Death Eater to the floor.
" Very good Mr. Longbottom." Professor Dumbledore said, walking over to Neville. Dumbledore removed the Death Eaters mask to reveal non-other then Peter Pettigrew.
" He's alive!" Professor Flitwick squeaked.
" Wait a minute. If he's alive does that mean that the whole Sirius helping the Dark lord is also not true?" Professor Sinistra asked.
" Very true Professor." Came a gruff voice. Several students and teachers turned around to see Sirius standing there. Some students and teachers tried to get farther away from Sirius, but most realized that he might innocent.
" We'll find out the truth from Mr. Pettigrew later." Professor Dumbledore. Dumbledore waved his wand over Peter. " Sopor." He said and Peter fell into a deep sleep.
" Right now, we have more important matters to deal with." Dumbledore turned to Alanna and the wolf Shift.
" Miss Whyte and Mr. Masters a presume?"
" Yes Professor." Alanna said, in panther form Alanna voice sounded deeper and gruff, with and edge of a growl in it. Alanna and Chad changed back into humans, which was odd to watch, it was like watching a panther and a wolf melt into humans. Both Alanna and Chad's pajamas were torn all over. Harry saw on Alanna's left shoulder there was a mark that looked like a big cat had scratched her. Chad had a wolf paw print on his right shin.
" Thank you Mr. Black, for saving my life." Alanna said to Sirius.
" Please call me Sirius. And besides I was just doing my duty." Sirius said.
" Is she the one Sirius?" Dumbledore asked.
" Well, she fits the description."
" There's on one way to find out. Hagrid could you take Peter to the Hospital wing please?" Hagrid pick up Peter with on hand and went up one the staircase.
" Follow me please students." Professor Dumbledore said, heading towards the Great Hall. Harry watched Alanna as the walked to the Great Hall. Alanna looked very confused and worried.
Professor stood behind the middle of the teacher's table and waved his arms. Huge silver bowl appeared.
" This is the Bowl Of Heritage." Dumbledore explained, " This bowl know the heritage of every student in this school. All a student needs to do is place a single drop of blood in this bowl and the bowl will display the student's true full name. Please come here Miss. Whyte."
Alanna walked towards the teacher's table shaking all over. This probably the moment Alanna's been waiting for her entire life. Harry thought. She must be worried about who she might be related to. I mean what if she was a Malfoy!
" Um… couldn't I just spit into the bowl?" Alanna asked, looking at the dagger Dumbledore held in his hand.
" I'm afraid not."
" Bloody hell." Alanna muttered and took the dagger from Dumbledore. Alanna pricked her index finger and squeezed and a drop of blood into the bowl. Smoke formed rapidly in the bowl and rose into the air. The entire school watched as the smoke formed letters then words.
Alanna Lilly Potter.
The entire school was dead silent. The silence was only broken by two thuds, of Harry and Alanna fainting.
***
There you of it! The end of another chapter! I don't own another expect for Shifts, Professor Creatura, Alanna and Chad.
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!
" What are you three talking about?" Alanna said, looking over at Harry, Hermione and Ron from her seat in the armchair by the fireplace.
" Our Defense the Dark Arts homework. We have to write a story about our selves if were Shifts." Ron explained.
" Oh…When I was in my fifth year, Professor Lupin made us write about why we wouldn't or would want to be Shifts." Alanna said, and then went back to her Charms homework.
" I can't decide which animal to be! Chad, if you could be a Shift what animal would you hope your True Animal would be." Dean asked. Chad looked up from his Ancient Runes work, and looked quiet startled by this question.
" Well, I guess I'd be a wolf. I mean what other animal would you want to be." Chad said.
" A panther for one thing." Alanna said, not even looking up from her homework.
" Oh come on. Why would you want to be a cat? I mean at least a domesticated dog is useful for something more then a paperweight. All domesticated cats do is lick themselves, sleep and demand to be fed."
Alanna looked up from her parchment and glared at Chad. " I'll have you know domesticated cats are very useful. They eat mice and spiders for one thing."
" Which provides proof they are violent creatures and not good pets."
Fred laughed as Alanna and Chad continued on about cats and dogs.
" They've been having that argument since they first met." Fred explained to the confused fifth years.
" Why wouldn't they just call it quits?" Parvati Patil asked.
" Oh they do. But they always start up again." George explained.
" Well I guess a panther would be an even match for a wolf." Chad said.
" And wolves are rather cute, as far as dogs go." Alanna grinned slightly.
" Oh really?" Chad asked, his eyebrows arched.
" Before you two start. May I remind you that there is no making out of any form in the dorms or common rooms. And you're not to leave until morning." Hermione said, while writing down something on her parchment.
" Crud." Was all Alanna said, and then went back to her own homework.
" Your no fun Hermione." Chad said, going back to his Rune homework.
***
Ron grumbled something indecent while he, Harry and Hermione made their way to the Great Hall for lunch. Ron and Harry had spent the entire morning in double Divination. Professor Trelawney had predicted his and Harry's death about a hundred times in that class, Ron didn't know if he could stand it for the rest of the year.
" Hi guys. What's wrong with you, Ron?" Alanna asked, when the trio sat down. Ron really didn't know why he never notice Alanna before. She seemed to be everywhere, but, the only time she stood out in his memory from the years before was when she helped Ron and Harry with their DADA homework when Hermione was to busy and when Fred and George first told Ron about Alanna.
" Double Divination." Ron said. Alanna mock shuddered. " I took Divination for a very short time, but after the Professor predicted my death for the tenth time I changed over to Ancient Runes. Too bad you only can do that in your first month of it." Alanna quickly added, quickly killing Ron's hope of avoiding Divination.
" Professor Trelawney predicted your death?" Lavender asked.
"Yep. She said I wouldn't make it to my fifth year. And here I am in my sixth year."
" Bloody hell!" Harry growled.
" What's wrong Harry?" Hermione asked.
" Professor McGonagall asked me to find a new announcer, since Lee Jordan is graduating this year, but everybody I asked doesn't want to do it. I just needed to scream to get my frustrations out." Harry smiled weakly.
" Hey Alanna, you know a lot about Quidditch. And aren't you always saying you wish you could join us, but you get motion sick if you play Quidditch." Fred said suggestively.
Alanna caught on to what Fred was saying.
" I don't know.."
" Please Alanna!" Harry begged, giving Alanna big puppy dog eyes.
" Ack! Not the puppy dog eyes! My greatest weakness! All right Harry I'll do it! Just stop doing that with your eyes!"
" Thanks Alanna!" Harry grinned.
** *
The month of September passed quickly. Harry kept busy with studies and Quidditch. Being the new captain, Harry had to sign up new players, for they ones who had graduated last year, and run practices. Although Harry's practices weren't as early as Wood's, but they stilled happened rain or shine, having learned that it's better to be prepared just in case they had to play Quidditch in the rain. Ron had gotten the spot of one the chasers, something he was really good at.
Before Harry knew it was time for Halloween dance. Harry stood at the bottom of the Gryffindor staircase waiting for Ginny. He was dressed in his green dress robes from last year and Ron, who was waiting for Hermione, was wearing brown dress robes which looked very good on him.
" Harry, you do realize if you hurt my little sister, I'll kill you." Ron said bluntly.
Harry wasn't sure if Ron was joking, but Harry chuckled softly. " Don't worry Ron, I wouldn't dream of hurting Ginny." At that very moment Ginny and Hermione came down the stairs. Ginny was wearing soft yellow dress robes and her hair was done up in a French twist, decorated with beads that shone like jewels. Hermione was wearing pale blue and her hair was done the same way it had been done last year at the Yule Ball.
Harry had to blink several times to stop staring and Ron had to be told to shut his mouth.
" Wow Hermione, you look great." Ron breathed.
Hermione blushed, " So do you Ron."
" I love your hair Ginny." Harry said. Ginny blushed. " The robes looks great with your eyes."
The foursome made their way to the Great Hall to see the party was already in full swing, with several people already dancing. Harry saw Chad and Alanna on the dance floor. Chad dressed in forest green with gold trim and Alanna with sky blue with silver trim.
" Hmm, she must have had to sell her house to afford that robe." Came a high voice behind Harry. Behind Harry Malfoy, dressed in black and silver, stood with a Slytherin fifth year that Harry didn't know.
" Actually Alanna told me her Guardian, who's a seamstress, made it." Harry said, menace in his voice.
" Come on Harry, let's go and dance." Ginny said.
" Robbing the cradle Potter?" said Malfoy.
" She's only year younger then him Malfoy. And you should talk, considering I saw you snogging with Beverly Nighthawk the other night." Lavender Brown said as she passed with her date, Dean.
Harry grinned as Malfoy tried to explain to his date.
" May I have this dance milady?" Harry said bowing to Ginny.
" Certainly." Ginny grinned, her ears going red.
I have to remember to thank Chad for his dating tips. Harry thought to himself as he and Ginny made their way to the dance floor.
The Wyrd Sister's, who somehow Dumbledore got to play there again, played a nice slow song. Ginny was, to Harry surprise, was a graceful dancer. I wonder where Ginny learned to dance so well.
" You learn to be a graceful dancer when you have to step over the twins messes." Ginny said, reading Harry's mind.
After what felt only merely hours the Ball over. Harry wished it could go on for longer but he knew it couldn't.
" I'll be thankful to wash this gunk out of my hair." Hermione said, going upstairs, clearly happy of how the night went.
" Agreed. I damn near emptied the bottle trying to get my hair to bloody behave." Alanna muttered.
***
Poor little bunny, wouldn't know what was going to hit it. She'd just wait for the perfect moment to pounce and… " We're under attack!" someone screamed. Alanna woke up and fell out of bed in a tangle of sheets.
" Bloody hell!!!!" Alanna yelled, actually more like roared. Alanna detangled herself sheets and grabbed her wand from under her pillow and raced to the common room with the other girls in her dorm.
Under attack?! Just great! Just when I'm getting VERY close to my monthly change. Why can't I be like normal girls and only have one monthly cycle? Alanna thought angrily. In the common room, Professor McGonagall stood there in a red flannel nightgown.
" Alright fourth years and up with me, Third years and under stay here!" Professor McGonagall said.
The students followed their professor in a run to the Front Hall where a battle was taking place. Already students from other Houses were fighting Death Eaters and Voldermort was nowhere to be seen. The Gryffindors split up and took on their own oppents. Alanna started dueling with a tall Death Eater. After shooting curses back and forth and dodging curses, the Death Eater knocked Alanna's wand out of her hand and kicked it out of her reach. The Death grinned wickedly and stepped closer to Alanna. Alanna put up her fists, if she was going down, she was going down fighting. Suddenly, one of the biggest dogs Alanna had ever seen jumped on the Death Eater and sunk its teeth into his neck. When the dog was certain the Death Eater was dead. He let go of the Death Eaters neck.
" Sirius Black at your service." The dog said. Actually barked. An animage, an animage that didn't know Alanna could understand him.
" Thank you Mr. Black." Alanna grinned at the surprised look on Sirius Black's face.
" How did you..Harry look out!" Sirius Black shouted, looking behind Alanna.
***
Harry flung spells at the Death Eater until the Death Eater was unconcious. Harry something barked in front of him. Looking, Harry saw Sirius standing in front of Alanna.
Alanna turned around and looked at Harry. " Harry duck!" Alanna yelled. Harry ducked down and heard something roar and something going thud. Harry looked around to see a huge panther, standing on a Death Eater's chest, behead the Death Eater with one sweep of it claws. The panther looked back at Harry with big blue-green eyes.
" Alanna?" Harry whispered. The panther nodded.
" SHIFT!!!!" a female Death Eater screamed. Several Death Eaters lunged at Alanna. Harry shot some with a few spells and a massive golden coloured wolf lunge attacked another.
Harry cast spells at Death Eaters until he thought his voice was going to give out. Suddenly one Death Eater shouted " Retreat!" The Death Eaters fled Hogwarts. Many students tried to capture a few, but most couldn't grab one. As the last Death Eaters were leaving Neville tackled a short and pudgy looking Death Eater to the ground.
" I got one!" Neville said, pining the Death Eater to the floor.
" Very good Mr. Longbottom." Professor Dumbledore said, walking over to Neville. Dumbledore removed the Death Eaters mask to reveal non-other then Peter Pettigrew.
" He's alive!" Professor Flitwick squeaked.
" Wait a minute. If he's alive does that mean that the whole Sirius helping the Dark lord is also not true?" Professor Sinistra asked.
" Very true Professor." Came a gruff voice. Several students and teachers turned around to see Sirius standing there. Some students and teachers tried to get farther away from Sirius, but most realized that he might innocent.
" We'll find out the truth from Mr. Pettigrew later." Professor Dumbledore. Dumbledore waved his wand over Peter. " Sopor." He said and Peter fell into a deep sleep.
" Right now, we have more important matters to deal with." Dumbledore turned to Alanna and the wolf Shift.
" Miss Whyte and Mr. Masters a presume?"
" Yes Professor." Alanna said, in panther form Alanna voice sounded deeper and gruff, with and edge of a growl in it. Alanna and Chad changed back into humans, which was odd to watch, it was like watching a panther and a wolf melt into humans. Both Alanna and Chad's pajamas were torn all over. Harry saw on Alanna's left shoulder there was a mark that looked like a big cat had scratched her. Chad had a wolf paw print on his right shin.
" Thank you Mr. Black, for saving my life." Alanna said to Sirius.
" Please call me Sirius. And besides I was just doing my duty." Sirius said.
" Is she the one Sirius?" Dumbledore asked.
" Well, she fits the description."
" There's on one way to find out. Hagrid could you take Peter to the Hospital wing please?" Hagrid pick up Peter with on hand and went up one the staircase.
" Follow me please students." Professor Dumbledore said, heading towards the Great Hall. Harry watched Alanna as the walked to the Great Hall. Alanna looked very confused and worried.
Professor stood behind the middle of the teacher's table and waved his arms. Huge silver bowl appeared.
" This is the Bowl Of Heritage." Dumbledore explained, " This bowl know the heritage of every student in this school. All a student needs to do is place a single drop of blood in this bowl and the bowl will display the student's true full name. Please come here Miss. Whyte."
Alanna walked towards the teacher's table shaking all over. This probably the moment Alanna's been waiting for her entire life. Harry thought. She must be worried about who she might be related to. I mean what if she was a Malfoy!
" Um… couldn't I just spit into the bowl?" Alanna asked, looking at the dagger Dumbledore held in his hand.
" I'm afraid not."
" Bloody hell." Alanna muttered and took the dagger from Dumbledore. Alanna pricked her index finger and squeezed and a drop of blood into the bowl. Smoke formed rapidly in the bowl and rose into the air. The entire school watched as the smoke formed letters then words.
Alanna Lilly Potter.
The entire school was dead silent. The silence was only broken by two thuds, of Harry and Alanna fainting.
***
There you of it! The end of another chapter! I don't own another expect for Shifts, Professor Creatura, Alanna and Chad.
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!
