Chapter 8

I Hate Snakes! (Rachel)

My name is Rachel.

I am the ruthless warrior of the Animorphs, most people say.  I'm not all totally a warrior though.

I admire Harry.  He is truly a brave person to have fought a snake that could kill you by looking at it.  He lost his wand and he shoved a sword up the snake's mouth.  He almost died.  Worst of all, he has lost both his parents.  Now he is loosing all of his friends.

Tobias and Ax were in their regular forms now.  I watched as Ax pressed hand against the Basilisk's hide.  "Ax, what are you doing?" Jake asked.  I am seeing if I am able to acquire its DNA, Prince Jake. Ax replied, his main eyes on Jake's.  His stalk eyes were still looking at the giant snake.  Jake looked interested.  "Can you?" he asked, cocking his head.  I am finding out now, Prince Jake.  Yes.  I have acquired it.

I looked to Jake.  He nodded to me.  I strode over to the dead and decaying Basilisk and pressed my hand on its scales.  I felt it become part of me.  "Should I try it?" I asked, my eyes wondering over the scene.  Jake nodded again.  "Keep your eyes closed, Rachel.  You could kill us off." He said.

The first thing that changed was my teeth. Long, deadly fangs grew. Then, without warning, I sprouted. I got so high I cracked my head on the ceiling. "Owww…" I moaned, my voice causing the chamber to reverberate. I went to touch my head but my arms and legs were now part of my body. I fell. The ground shook. My head elongated. My insides squelched disgustingly as they, too, stretched. All bones but my spine, ribcage, and skull disappeared. My hair was sucked into my scalp with a disgusting SCHLOOP! My skin became dry, turned green, and seemed to crack. My tongue became forked. My eyes transformed suddenly. They grew and became yellow.

Then, something happened I wasn't expecting. A feeling welled up in my chest. It made my whole body tingle. I searched my mind what it was. It was something I'd never felt before. Then, it dawned on me.

I was magic.

That's when the instincts hit. The Basilisk was totally unafraid. It ruled the magical animal kingdom. Nothing could dare compete with it! It knew with satisfaction that it could kill by looking… and it was hungry. The predator in it was telling me what to do: Tear. Rip. Kill.

I smelt something. My slit-like nostrils widened. Humans! I knew that smell! They were prey. I opened my eyes. I could see though things. Rachel! Stop! Close your eyes! Tobias squawked, panicking. These words meant nothing to the Basilisk.

I heard footsteps and glanced over to see what it was. It was that boy… Harry was his name. He kept his eyes shut. I couldn't see through him, though. He was complete and solid. There was something different about him. His scar seemed to radiate bright green light. He raised his hands.

"Stop." Harry said. It wasn't in his strange, unfamiliar tongue. It was in a different language. It was in my language. Something in me was compelled to do as he said. I stopped. "Close your eyes." He said. That was easy. I could do that. I closed my eyes.

"Remember." He said. This confused me. I felt him touch me. I shuddered under the touch. I could feel his magic pulsing through his skin. He was much more powerful than any wizard, the Basilisk mind told me, he was a Parselmouth. He was Harry Potter.

"Rachel, remember." He said. The magic flowed into me. Then, I remembered. I was Rachel. I was an Animorph. I was a fifteen-year-old girl part of a guerilla war troop that stopped parasitic aliens from taking over the world. I was Rachel the Animorph!

Aaaahhhh! I yelled, slithering away from his touch, Aaaahhhh!  I had completely lost myself in the morph! I had almost eaten my friends!

Rachel! Rachel, it's okay! It's Tobias! Listen to me, morph out! Morph out! Tobias said. He sounded scared.

I demorphed quicker than thought possible. When I returned to human form, I was shaking like a leaf. The Basilisk's mind had been so… so… powerful.

"It's okay, Rachel. It's over now. It's okay," said Tobias. He had morphed human. He hugged me and stroked my hair. I felt the shaking stop. I breathed easily and closed my eyes. He let go, stood, and pulled me to my feet.

Harry smiled crookedly. "Don't let it happen again. The next time I hear a snake say 'Tear, rip, kill' I'll curse you." He turned and started to walk away. "Thanks," I whispered. I don't think he heard. He kept walking. He might have, however. I saw him shudder.

He was a strange one, Harry Potter.

A/N: Did you enjoy? Not my best chapter, I can tell you that. They still have a lot to find out about Harry… And Harry about the Animorphs. Well, stick around for my next chapter, "Chapter 9-Follow the Leader (Hermione)"!