Who the Casket Chose
James sat in the common room with his head resting on his hands. It was the day after he had seen Snape kiss Lily, and he still couldn't believe what had happened. Sirius strolled over to him and sat down.
"Look James… if Lily chooses that git over you, she's just not worth it," he said, soothingly. James lifted his head to look at Sirius.
"But I've never liked a girl as much as I like Lily. If only she liked me as much as I like her," said James, taking his eyes off Sirius and staring into the leaping flames of the fire. Sirius raised his eyebrow.
"Well, Lily's nice and all,
but I'm sure there'll be other girls," he began. James glared at him.
"Trust me – there won't be," he said sadly.
Sirius hated seeing his friend so glum, so he stood up.
"Come on James. Let's get all our rotten homework done, then we can go exploring," he said with a grin.
"I'd forgotten that tonight was the full moon," said James, and Sirius sensed the excited tone of his voice. James smiled at his friend and together, they began their work.
Lily sat on her bed, staring at the ceiling, thoughts tumbling around her head. Everything was so confusing. Last night, she had actually kissed Severus and she didn't even know him! No, wait, Severus had kissed her… And he had asked her to come to Hogsmeade with him! Lily tried to remember how she had answered. She hadn't been thinking too clearly, had she said yes? This was just ridiculous! She knew that Severus was just some lonely Slytherin outcast, obsessed with the Dark Arts. So why had, she, Lily Evans agreed to go on a date with him? Was it because she felt sorry for him? Or… Lily sat up and strolled to the window. She looked down at the lake and watched the Giant Squid propel itself across the water. A couple of students were lazing around under the trees, while others tossed a Quaffle to each other. Her thoughts wandered back to Severus. She had said yes… Was it because she actually… Was it because she had feelings for him?
Lily, Bellatrix and Star sat down at dinner that night and watched a seventh-year Ravenclaw boy drop his name in the cup with a grin.
"Hmm, he's handsome, don't you think so, Lily?" Bellatrix asked her friend. Lily was absent-mindedly twirling her hair around her fingers. Bellatrix sighed.
"Since last night, Lily's been acting very strangely. I wonder what happened," Bellatrix told Star, looking at Lily with concern.
"I agree. It's almost as if… no, that would be ridiculous," Star began, but Bellatrix interrupted her.
"What would be ridiculous?" she asked curiously.
"Oh no, it's silly. But what if Lily met someone last night," Star said quietly. Bellatrix gasped.
"Do you mean a boy?" she asked.
"Maybe…" said Star, turning to watch as Lily gazed into thin air, a frown on her face.
"No…" said Bellatrix slowly.
James, Sirius and Peter watched through the window as Professor Dumbledore led Remus towards the Whomping Willow.
"Any minute now," whispered James, as he watched Remus disappear under the swinging branches. Finally, Dumbledore took one last look at the tree and walked back up to the castle. James grabbed the Invisibility cloak, and the three boys hurried downstairs to the Entrance Hall. Sirius stopped the other two and looked around cautiously to make sure that no one was spying on them.
"Excellent, no one in sight," he said softly, and they raced across the grass, stopping only when they reached the Forbidden Forest. Hidden from sight behind a tall oak tree, James, Sirius and Peter transformed. Peter quickly scarpered over to the Whomping Willow, where he pressed a small knot on its trunk. With one little pink paw, he beckoned for the others to follow.
James found it hard to walk as a stag. Everything was so awkward. He stood on four legs instead of two, he had hooves instead of hands and feet, and his antlers always seemed to get in the way. He ducked under the stationary branches of the Willow until he reached the hole that had now opened in the tree's trunk. It looked awfully small... Sirius bounded over happily and wriggled through the hole with not the slightest difficulty. James was envious – Sirius was almost an expert at being a dog, but being a stag was far more challenging. At last James managed to bow his antlers and walked through the hole into a long tunnel. Up ahead he heard Sirius bouncing along, barking occasionally, or scratching playfully on the walls. At long last the tunnel came to an end, and James thankfully lifted his head up, taking this opportunity to look at his new surroundings.
The Shrieking Shack was old and all the pieces of furniture were covered in layers of dust. Straight in front of him was a winding staircase, which he began to climb clumsily. His hoofsteps were muffled by the dust that had settled on the staircase over the years. He listened carefully, and realised that he could now hear a noise coming from a room near the top of the staircase. His heart beating, he quickened his pace and trotted onto the stairs' landing. With his long antlers, he pushed a door open and gasped with surprise. Sirius the dog was curled up on the bed with Remus the werewolf by his side. Peter was sitting as far away as possible, his whole body curled up in a tiny ball on the pillow. James trotted forwards and attempted to lie down next to the bed. It felt strange, but finally he was comfortable. In fact, he was so comfortable that he lay his head down on the dusty floor, closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep…
Two weeks later, the Care of Magical Creatures class stood in a huddle outside the Forbidden Forest. Professor Lamina cleared her throat.
"Today, class, we will be going into the Forbidden Forest on a little excursion. I arranged this trip with Dumbledore because he wanted you to observe the natural wildlife," she announced.
The whole class began talking excitedly.
"I wonder what creatures live in the forest. I've heard there are werewolves in there," Bellatrix said excitedly.
"Well, I'm not sure about werewolves, but I read that unicorns and centaurs live there," Star answered, peering into the forest hopefully as if a unicorn or centaur would suddenly jump out at her.
"Ooh, I'd just love to see a unicorn!" said Bellatrix breathlessly. She, Star, Lily and the rest of the class began to walk into the Forest, following a narrow path with trees on either side.
"Stay together class! I don't want anyone getting lost," Professor Lamina shouted. They kept walking for what seemed like hours, until they were so deep in the forest that there was no sunlight at all. Star shivered, wondering what on earth they would find in this part of the Forest. Suddenly, someone near the front of the procession let out a blood-curdling scream.
"What on earth…?" Professor Lamina began. At that moment, the class heard an ear-splitting ROAAAR!
"Hurry up, everybody! Out, OUT!" the Professor screamed, but no one needed telling twice. The whole class was running along the path as fast as they could, paralysed with fear. As they ran, Star spoke breathlessly to Lily and Bellatrix.
"Did you two see what that thing was?" she gasped, looking at her two friends.
"Of course not! We were too busy running away from it!" squeaked Bellatrix, tripping over a fallen branch. Lily hurriedly helped her up and they kept running.
"Well, I saw it and it was a chimaera. I had no idea there were chimaeras in the Forest. They're really rare but worst of all, they're really dangerous. And when I say really dangerous I mean deadly!" said Star, her voice wavering. Lily and Bellatrix gaped at her.
"Look, Star. Are you positive it was a chimaera? I mean, there are hundreds of creatures living in the forest," said Bellatrix, but she didn't sound too convinced.
"Bella, I've seen pictures of them. And I'm telling you, what I saw back there was most definitely a chimaera."
"But what on earth was a chimaera doing in the Forbidden Forest? Forests aren't even its natural habitat!" said Star angrily. Sirius tried to calm her down, but it wasn't easy, as he was also very concerned.
"I know, Star. But you have to calm down," said Sirius, in what he hoped was a soothing voice. Star looked up at his calming grey eyes. She trusted him and began to calm down.
"I know, I know..." Star said with a sigh. "I'm sorry for being such an idiot. It's just that chimaeras aren't even supposed to live in Britain. That's what puzzles me." Sirius gave her a quick hug.
"I'm confused as well," he said with a frown. "I should go and investigate," he added softly, so none of the other Gryffindors in the common room would hear. Star frowned at him.
"Don't be stupid, Sirius. I know you're daring and courageous and all that," she began. Sirius grinned at her.
"Star, you flatter me," he said, smiling. Star just snorted.
"But I'm serious. You can't just go looking for a chimaera! You'd be mad!" she said.
"Star, don't you want to find out why there's a chimaera in the Forest? If you're worried about my safety I'll go as a dog… Oh no…" Sirius clamped his hand over his mouth.
"What did you say?" Star looked him in the eyes. It was no use lying – Star would figure it out anyway.
"Star, I – I'm an unregistered Animagus," he began. Now it was Star's turn to gasp in surprise.
"But, but…" she stammered. "You're not, are you?" she said wildly. Sirius just nodded calmly.
"I can transform into a dog at will," he said. Star studied his face.
"You're not lying... I can tell. But I just can't believe it! Becoming an Animagus is so hard that only a handful of witches and wizards ever even attempt it! That's why the Ministry of Magic is so careful about keeping an eye on all the people who are registered Animagi," she said. Sirius just gave a small sigh.
"Sirius, why didn't you tell me?" said Star.
"It – it was supposed to be a secret. But you can't tell anyone," he pleaded. Star smiled.
"Sirius, you know I'd never tell a soul. And I'm so impressed! I still can't believe it," she said, shaking her head.
"Well, who knows? Maybe you can become an Animagus someday," said Sirius.
"Maybe!" Star replied, with a grin.
James, Sirius, Remus and Peter took their seats at the Gryffindor table. Dumbledore welcomed everyone to the special Choosing Ceremony.
"Welcome, welcome. In just a few moments, the casket that is sitting on this table will give us four names. The names of a student from Gryffindor, one from Hufflepuff, a Ravenclaw student and finally, a Slytherin. They will be competing against each other for the Grand prize – one hundred Galleons prize money and of course, the trophy. They will have to use wit and cunning to get past three obstacles. Each will be held on a different day, and each will be very challenging. That is why I am only allowing students of sixteen years or older to enter the competition. Ah, look, the casket is beginning to glow. The time is near!" said Dumbledore. All eyes were on the casket, and the atmosphere was tense.
"I hope that my cousin Andromeda gets in," whispered Sirius.
"Ugh, and I hope Snape doesn't," James whispered back.
"Sirius, imagine if your cousin Narcissa got in," said Peter. Sirius glared at him.
"Peter, I prefer not to talk about Narcissa," he growled. Peter looked nervously at Sirius, but at that moment, four small pieces of parchment shot out of the casket. James leaned forward on his seat as Dumbledore held up the emerald green parchment.
"The competitor from Slytherin – Severus Snape!" he read. James groaned and hung his head in his hands, while Sirius patted him on his back.
"It can't be that stupid git!" he moaned.
"Who cares about Snivellus? Let's wait and see who'll be representing Gryffindor," murmured Sirius under his breath. James lifted his head and watched as Dumbledore picked up the deep blue piece of parchment.
"From Ravenclaw – Mary-Anne Witherbow!" cried Dumbledore. There was wild applause from the Ravenclaw table and people thumped Mary-Ann on the back good-naturedly. Meanwhile, Dumbledore was drawing out a canary yellow piece of parchment.
"Oh, get on with it!" said Remus, wondering who Gryffindor's competitor would be.
"From Hufflepuff – Gretchen Florentine!" Dumbledore shouted. It was Hufflepuff's turn to whoop and cheer, as Gretchen blushed furiously.
"At last! I never thought he'd get to us," said James, rolling his eyes.
"Shh!" Remus quietened his friend as Dumbledore pulled out the fourth and last piece of parchment which was glowing scarlet.
"And the competitor from Gryffindor…" he began. James couldn't stand the tension.
"Come on, who is it?" he whispered.
"Sirius Black."