A/N: reads last set of reviews by Atheis and Aeris and smacks self in head "What have I done?"

Welcome Jade! Thanks for reviewing.

Hey Jig -what about the tango?

Nytd looks up as Lorien comes into the room. "How's Ron's sunburn?"

Lorien sighs. "Fine, but I think it's the least of his problems right now. He's not happy about Hermione's date with the lifeguard tonight."

"I guess I can understand that. Didn't Sirius get himself a date too?" Nytd asks.

"Yes. I think he's hooking up with that cute muggle that was flirting with him and Remus all afternoon." Lorien replied.

"Which one?" Nytd asks. "I believe there were several."

Lorien rolls her eyes. "No kidding." After a minute she looks thoughtful. "So what are you writing now?"

Nytd looks at the screen. "This chapter is where you become an animagus, finally."

"Really?" Lorien looks excited. "Are you going to tell me?"

Nytd smiles. "Let me just finish typing this and you'll find out."

--

Transformation

When Remus returned to his rooms after class in the middle of the week, he found Sirius pacing the floor in a very agitated fashion.

"Padfoot, what are…..."

"Are you alone?" Black cut him off.

"Yes, but Lorien with be up in a few minutes. What's wrong?" Remus asked.

Black stared at him for a long moment and then indicated the small table in the room. "That," he said.

On the table was a large arrangement of flowers; old fashioned white roses mingled with purple-blue iris. It was absolutely stunning.

"What is this?" Remus asked.

"They're for Lorien," Black growled in a low voice.

Lupin shrugged. "Well, the house elves must have made a mistake and brought them here."

"No mistake. I asked." Black threw a small sealed note on the table in front of Lupin, and he picked it up. Lorien's name was on the front. Remus turned it over and cringed when he saw the green wax seal bearing the Great Serpent of Slytherin.

"That slimy bastard," he spoke angrily. "Who the hell does he think he is?"

"Evidently, someone who's sending you a message as well, Moony." Sirius sounded less than pleased himself.

A quick knock sounded at the door and then Lorien stepped into the room.

"Hi guys." She saw the odd looks they wore. "Who died?"

"No one," said Remus.

"No one, yet," replied Sirius.

"What's going on?" she asked.

Lupin indicated the flowers on the table.

Lorien caught her breath at the sight of the elegant arrangement. "Oh my! Who sent these to you? They're beautiful!" She walked over to the table quickly to smell them.

"They aren't for me, they're for you," Remus replied stiffly.

"You didn't!" she said excitedly.

"No," he said with forced patience, "I didn't."

"Well, then who..."

Lupin handed her the card, but she already knew. She looked from one man to the other and held her breath as she opened the note.

Dear Lorien,

These are a small token of my appreciation

for what you did for me. I am truly in your

debt.

With most sincere gratitude.

Severus

She breathed a sigh of relief. The note was harmless. Appropriate, and harmless. She handed it to Remus. "It's just a thank you."

"My ass it is," Sirius said quietly, as Lupin frowned at the note.

"I wonder why they were sent here?" she said.

Remus jumped in to cut off Black. "I'm sure the house elves made a mistake because you're here so much." He shot Sirius a meaningful look and he said nothing.

"Well, I'll put them in my rooms." She picked up the flowers. "I've got a session with Neville tonight, so I'll see you later?" Lorien asked.

Lupin nodded and smiled as she went out the door, but his expression changed when he turned to Sirius again.

"I can think of plenty of ways we can fix it so she can't revive him again," Black offered his friend.

"Don't temp me," Remus replied.

Lorien sat with her face in her hands for a long time after Neville left. When she looked up it was only to press her fingers to her aching temples. She was getting nowhere with the forgetful G5. It wasn't that he was stupid, he wasn't. There were a number of other subjects that he did well in, especially Herbology. It was just that he went to pieces in the potions classroom, and although he wasn't intimidated by her, she seemed to be having trouble inspiring a desire to learn anything about potion brewing in the timid teenager. She needed a source of inspiration for him soon.

--

Snape entered the headmaster's office and stood in front of Dumbledore's desk. "You wanted to see me?" he asked.

"Yes, Severus. Sit, please," dumbledore said.

The younger man sat in the chair opposite the headmaster.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better. Fine, thank you," Snape replied.

"Good. I'm glad. You're returning to classes tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Good." Dumbledore paused for a minute. "Severus, I've left the staff in the dark a bit as to what happened to you, but we're going to have to say something."

"I suppose." Snape looked mildly annoyed.

"They know something happened. Minerva does. I know she senses it," Dumbledore stated.

"Tell them the truth," replied Snape simply.

"Really? Is that what you want?"

"It doesn't matter to me, Albus. I have no secrets to keep anymore, and you know I don't dwell long on what the others think," he replied somewhat tersely.

"Things could get a bit awkward and messy if we tell them everything," said Dumbledore, "but that's never bothered you, has it?" He finished wryly.

The head of Slytherin gave him a rare smile.

"Alright. The truth then. At least part of it. I will let the staff know that you were attacked by Death Eaters while you were on a mission for me and everything that happened in the medical ward. What else you tell them on an individual basis I leave up to your own discretion. Fair enough?" Dumbledore asked.

"Fair enough."

"I have something else I need to speak to you about," said Dumbledore.

"What is it, Albus?" Snape looked concerned.

The headmaster sighed. "Fudge."

"He's not taking the warning seriously, is he?" Snape guessed.

"No. They're 'taking it under advisement and will look into whether or not additional measures must be taken'."

"Idiots! They've no idea," Snape snarled.

"I must admit I have my own doubts, Severus," said Dumbledore.

Snape questioned the headmaster. "About what I told you?"

"No, of course not. I merely wonder whether they'll go through with it now that we know." Dumbledore explained his doubts.

"It's not Voldemort's style to back out of something like this," Snape said, but even as he did so he realized something about the whole issue was bothering him. He couldn't quite put a finger on what.

"Well, we have a little time yet. I'll send another owl to Fudge. Meanwhile I know of a few people that may be able to help us if the Ministry doesn't follow through."

Snape nodded. "Of course, if there's anything I can do, Albus."

"There just may be. We'll wait a little longer."

Lorien returned to her rooms, flung herself into a chair and let her head fall against the back. As she sat lost in thought, the delicate scent of antique roses met her nose and her eyes went to the flowers on the table next to her. They were beautiful and the fragrance was heavenly. She smiled a little to herself as she looked at the wall hangings and then back at the bouquet and realized she was glad he had sent them. The problem came with the fact that she knew that he sent them as more than a thank you, and she also knew that the house elves didn't make mistakes.

Her thoughts went to Remus and she frowned. Surely he knew the house elves hadn't erred. She figured that the two Gryffindors were probably in his rooms now plotting the assassination of the Head of Slytherin House. Her head began to ache with all the conflicting feelings she was having about the two men, and she gave up and decided to go to bed.

When the weekend arrived Lorien knew exactly what she would not be doing in her free time. She would not be betting on Quidditch, tutoring Neville, drinking wine in the dungeon, or what ever that stuff was with Remus and Sirius. She would not be flirting with anyone, kissing anyone, almost kissing anyone or doing anything else along the same lines with anyone. She wanted no men whatsoever in her life for one or two days. She needed a little space and time to think.

She knew what she did want to do, and early Saturday morning she threw on a heavy cloak and headed for the forest. She was on a mission and needed a little inspiration herself.

It was one of those rare late fall days that that warms beyond the seasonal norm, and Lorien's mood was lightened by the blue sky and warm sun. She skirted the edge of the forest at first and then when she found a place that felt right she cut into the woods.

She knew she would be ok during the day as long as she didn't venture too deep, but she had to get to a place where she could think, where she could breathe.

She knew she had found the right place when she came to the tiny clear pool with the fallen tree nearby, and sat down on the trunk to clear her mind. The small clearing was ringed with elm trees and she knew that they would give her the grounding and stability she needed.

She sat for a long time just breathing slowly, focusing on the noises of life around her. She shifted from the obvious noises to the more subtle rustlings, and from the subtle rustlings to the almost imperceptible hum of the life energy in the trees and earth itself. She stood up and let the cloak fall to the ground.

She was ready. With her eyes closed the scents around her came into focus, one by one, fainter and fainter they became clear. Her breathing remained slow as she reached for the next few steps quickly, the tingling sensation radiating up her arms and legs and back and neck. She held it and took a deep breath. She was readying to go through the next stage. The key to it was picturing making it to the other side without hesitating.

Lorien raised her arms at her sides, palms up, and now that she had grounded herself she called on the flowing, changeable, creative aspects of water. She plunged ahead.

She gasped in agony and fell to her knees as the pain ripped up her spine, her shoulders, her neck. She willed it to hurt, to go further, to be over and she fell forward onto her hands as she struggled not to collapse. Pain now ripped down her lower back and hips and she realized the sensation that she now felt had to be a tail. She was almost there! Fire blazed through her shoulder blades and through her mind as she exerted her will and she moaned as she felt the changes happening.

She pictured a door ahead of her and her cries echoed in the woods around her as she mentally slammed herself through it. Startled birds sprang from their perches and flew past the spot where the woman had been.

A moment went by and she stayed where she was, eyes closed, trembling, swaying slightly. Trying to stay on her feet. She planted all four of them firmly and slowly she steadied herself. She opened her eyes. Two large, green scaled feet with enormous black claws were before her. Very slowly she turned her head. Two very similar clawed feet were behind her, attached to a large scaled body. A long muscular tail covered in blue-green scales stretched out behind her.

When she turned to get a better look at herself she lost her balance a little and was startled by the flapping noise she heard as she caught her balance. Warily she turned her head even further to look up her back, and she was sure the jaw she now possessed dropped open at the sight before her.

She shook her head as a dog would and moved to the edge of the pool to get a better look at herself, peering a little at a time at her new reflection. Gold eyes looked back at her and blue-green wings framed the image of the small dragon that stood at the water's surface. Sirius's words came back to her at that moment. "Coolest thing in the world. I can tell you."

'Now, Sirius. I believe you,' she said in her mind.

Lorien ran all the way to the castle. Once she was inside she continued to run and almost didn't notice Remus as she plunged by him.

"Hey!"

She skidded to a stop and turned to face him. "Hi," she panted.

"What on earth are you doing?" He was obviously amused at the way she had almost run him down.

She grinned at him. "I can't….. tell you yet." She was winded.

"Ok." He looked puzzled.

"Get Sirius... Med ward...Fifteen minutes...I'll show you." She was off down the hallway again before he could say anything else.

She had to restrain herself from flinging open the library doors, and settled for walking quickly to the librarian's desk. Irma was off helping some student. Of all times. She turned and headed for the section she thought she could find what she was looking for in, dodging a small group of Gryffindors huddled around a table whispering together.

Gryffindors...whispering. She looked back and sure enough there were two red heads in the small group. A Weasley was just what she needed. She hurried back to the group.

"Excuse me. Fred, George, could one of you help me for a moment?"

Fred jumped up at the opportunity to assist the attractive older witch. "What can I do for you, Mistress Lorien?"

"Walk with me," she requested.

He followed her a short distance away.

"I need the most current, complete reference there might be on species of dragon. I figured you might know since..."

"I know, I know, since my older brother Charlie studies dragons in Romania." He sounded a bit disappointed.

"Well, yes," Lorien admitted.

"This way."

He led her to the section she was originally heading to but saved her a lot of searching when he pulled out a large volume.

"This one. Compendium Draconis. Updated in the last six months. Charlie is even mentioned in here a bit," Fred said.

"Great. Thank you so much, Fred."

Lorien ran down the hall to the infirmary with the heavy book. She had found exactly what she was looking for.

Remus and Snuffles were in the large room waiting for her alone. She shut the door behind her and locked it and the dog disappeared.

"Here." She walked to the closest exam table and let the open book drop with a thud.

Both men peered at the book. "It's a book on dragons?" asked Remus.

"Yes," she said. "Read it. Left page." She was beaming.

"Turquoise Dragon?" asked Sirius.

"Yes."

Lupin read the passage. "The turquoise dragon, Vermithrax cearulivirens, is a recently encountered species of dragon. First discovered nearly two years ago by Theseus Pepperidge and Charles Weasley, this small, relatively docile member of the dragon family...what is this all about, Lorien?" He broke off from his reading and looked at her.

She smiled at him and said nothing.

He looked at Sirius. "Do you know what she's getting at?"

Black looked as puzzled as Lupin and shook his head.

"Did you see the picture?" she asked.

"Yeah." Black's eyes went wide and he quickly looked again and back. "No way!" he said incredulously.

She smiled and nodded.

"Lorien, it could be a hundred things..."

"But it isn't. I know," she replied.

"What?" Sirius asked incredulously.

"I did it," she said happily.

You did?" Sirius asked, his mouth open.

Remus interrupted. "Did wha...Merlin's beard, did you?!"

Lorien allowed herself a proud smile.

"That thing?" Remus asked, pointing to the picture in the book.

Lorien frowned at him. "Yes," she spat back.

Sirius put his hands on her arms. "Lorien, can you do it again?"

She shot Remus a hurt look and turned back to Sirius. "Definitely."

"Excellent." He whirled. "Moony, OUT." He pointed to the office. "Stay in there until I come get you."

"But..."Remus started to protest.

"OUT." Lorien and Sirius scolded him and he stalked to the office and shut the door.

What had taken her about four minutes in the forest, took her about a minute and a half in front of Sirius. The black haired wizard stared in amazement for a minute and then broke into a wide grin. "Coolest thing in the world."

The animal was large, but small as far as dragons go, about the size of a dairy cow. She had a long powerful tail and impressive wings that she stretched and showed off for Sirius as he walked around her. Her entire body was covered in varying shades of green to blue-green scales and he noted the large black claws on her feet.

"Lovely, sweetheart. Absolutely lovely." He slapped her neck affectionately as he would have if she'd been a horse. "Should we show the wolf?"

The gold eyes blinked and the large head turned to look at the office door.

"Moony, it's ok," called Sirius through the door.

Lupin walked out with a hand shielding his eyes as if he couldn't bear to look.

"Remus, it's all over. She's fine," Sirius said.

"Is she?"

"Moony, she's right in front of you. Get a grip and look at her." He shook his head at his friend's reluctance.

Remus pulled his hand away and looked up into the golden eyes that were watching him expectantly. His mouth fell open. "I can't believe it," he gasped.

He stared at her for the longest time and she began to worry.

"Well, what do you think?" Black asked, a little annoyed with his friend.

Remus didn't know what to say.

--

A/N: Compendium Draconis is a Nytd publication, but Lorien's animagus form (oh come on - is it cool or what?) is based on the discovery of a new species of monitor lizard three years ago. Varanus cearulivirens is a beautiful, but small turquoise cousin of the Komodo dragon, V. komodoensis. Of course I changed the genus name to a more draconian one. I'm sure you all know where Vermithrax comes from. grins

And Charlie Weasley studies dragons under Theseus Pepperidge, who's name came about one night when I was eating milano cookies while typing.