Chapter four: Transformations
After a light dinner, Remus started to get nervous about what would happen to him tonight. He had only been become a werewolf twice now, but it was an awful experience. Especially now, when there were so many other people around he could harm if he was loose. He moved his finger slowly as he tried to think about what his friends would learn at school while he was gone. All of a sudden, he thought Where was Peter after the quidditch match? He didn't walk in with us and I didn't even notice. Remus felt awful for forgetting Peter, but consoled himself that he couldn't have concentrated on more than his finger at the time. Still, he wondered why Peter hadn't come with them.
Just then, Madame Pomfrey came back into the room. "Can you bend your finger yet?" she asked.
Remus nodded and showed her.
"Excellent," she said happily. "Now I'll escort you to the Whomping Willow and show you how to stop it."
Luckily they passed no one on the way to the school grounds. It would have been hard for Remus to explain why the school nurse was taking him to meet his father. Outside, Remus spotted a huge man clipping the bushes around the school. The man turned around and called out, "Hello, Madame Pomfrey!" Remus was surprised to see that the man looked only about 25.
"Hello Hagrid," Madame Pomfrey called back cheerfully.
"Who's that?" Remus asked as they walked towards the edge of the grounds.
"That's Hagrid, the Keeper of the Grounds here at Hogwarts."
Soon they reached the tree, its branches waving wildly. With a long stick she found on the ground, Madame Pomfrey poked a knot near the bottom of the tree. The tree stopped. She pointed out the hole beneath the tree that led to the tunnel. "Just go down the tunnel (it's a bit long) until you get to the shack. You'll be quite safe there. We'd like you to stay two nights, just to be safe, but there is enough food to keep you full." She smiled. "Everything will work out fine. Now hurry before the tree starts up again."
Remus thanked her and crawled down the hole into the tunnel. He walked for what felt like hours until he reached his sanctuary. He took a quick tour before collapsing on the shabby bed. He was glad to see that the door could not be opened from the inside or the outside. There was no chance that he could get out and hurt someone.
Lying on the bed, Remus watched dusk fall, and as the moon began to rise, he felt the change come over him. His arms and legs grew long brown fur. He felt his mind being taken over by the wolf's mind as his body made the painful shift from man to beast. For the rest of the night, his werewolf form raged through the shack, howling and scratching. When Remus awoke in the morning, he remembered none of what happened. Looking around the room, he could tell he had not escaped to do more damage.
All day long, he lay around, reading a few old copies of the Daily Prophet that covered the floor and wondering what his friends at school were up to. As night came, he got a little bit nervous that the moon might still be full enough to force the change, but his fears did not become reality. Once the moon was all the way up, Remus felt calm enough to crawl into bed, where he slept very peacefully through the night.
Remus woke with the sun the next morning, anxious to get back to his friends and his classes. He walked quickly across the grounds to the castle and made his way to the Gryffindor common room. Inside his dorm, the other boys were just beginning to wake up.
He began to change his robes when everyone was awake enough to realize he was back. "How's your finger?" asked James.
"Is your mum any better?" Sirius asked.
Remus smiled. "Slow down you guys! My finger is fine, and my mom is doing well, but I think I get to go see her once a month until she is completely better."
Everyone was happy to hear this answer and they talked excitedly about what Remus had missed yesterday and what they might learn today. Soon they were ready to go down to breakfast. When they got there, Peter excused himself. "I have to see someone about something…I'll catch up with you on the way to class."
Sirius and James exchanged glances as they watched Peter walk over to the Slytherin table and sit with Snape. "What is wrong with him?" James wondered aloud. "All they want him for is to follow their every command. Can't he see that?"
No one answered. They all concentrated very hard on the breakfast in front of them.
Over the next couple of weeks, Peter hung out with the group sporadically. He was usually found following Snape's group around. At first James and Sirius were very hurt, since the three of them had been friends since they were very little, but they realized that if Peter wanted to be friends with powerful people, he wasn't much of a true friend.
Remus tried not to concern himself with Peter's desertion, he had way too much on his mind with all of his lessons. The classes themselves were all very interesting, but there was so much homework to complete. His favorite class by far was Defence Against the Dark Arts, taught by Professor Carter. As the professor told the class tales of how he had defeated monsters and saved wizard and Muggle lives, Remus daydreamed of living that kind of life. I want to be like Professor Carter, he thought, but I am the kind of creature he fights off. Still, Remus looked forward to going to DADA.
The other classes the first years attended were flying classes, Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, Charms and the History of Magic. Potions was the hardest for Remus; it was fun, but he didn't have the natural knack for it like some of his classmates did. The good thing about Potions class was that Gryffindors had it with Ravenclaw. That meant Remus got to see Lily Evans all of the time. He hadn't talked to her yet, but he watched her from across the room (which might be why he wasn't doing as well in that class!)
A week before the next full moon, the Gryffindors were at flying lessons with the Slytherins. After a few practice laps, Madame Hootch picked 7 people from each house to scrimmage at quidditch. Remus and Austin were not picked, so they practiced tossing a quaffle for a while, then watched the scrimmage. Sirius was one of the Gryffindor chasers; James was the seeker, the hardest position of all. Snape was a Slytherin chaser, but his friends Crabbe and Goyle were not playing.
Remus was suddenly reminded of Peter, and he couldn't find him anywhere. "Hey Austin, where do you think Peter's gone?"
Austin pointed to their right. "Hooch is over there with him, giving him some tips." Both boys began to laugh.
"He still hasn't managed to get off of the ground has he?" Remus sputtered between giggles.
Austin shook his head, helpless to speak.
Shouting from the field drew their attention away from Peter. "I wonder what's going on?" Remus said.
They walked over to where most of the spectators were standing. "Potter has seen the snitch!" one of them cried, as James sped towards the ground. Remus strained his eyes, and thought he saw a speck of gold, but it was gone. James pulled out of his dive just in time, and circled around, trying to see where the golden snitch had gone. Madam Hooch joined the group.
"What was all of the shouting about?" she asked anxiously.
"James saw the snitch, but it got away from him," Austin said sadly.
Madam Hooch blew her whistle and yelled, "Game's over! Time for your next lesson!"
Just then, James turned quickly and sped toward the Slytherin hoops. His hand was inches from the snitch when it dropped down sharply. James followed, with a very steep dive. Before anyone could tell what had happened, James was standing on the ground holding the snitch.
The Gryffindors cheered. Madam Hooch looked impressed. "Nice job, Potter. I'll tell the Gryffindor captain about that, she may want you on the team this year." To everyone, she yelled," Anyone interested in playing for their house should report to tryouts Saturday morning at 9 am."
On the way to Transfiguration, Sirius was asked James excitedly if he planned to try out.
"Of course I'll try out," said James. "It's worth a shot."
Austin piped up. "Can we come and watch your tryout?"
Sirius answered before James could. "Of course we'll all be there for James, for support. I'm going to try out for chaser, but James has a much better chance than I do. Good seekers are hard to find."
James smiled bashfully. "Aw, I'm not that good. But it'll be nice to have you all there on Saturday."
Saturday, Remus thought, the full moon is on Friday, I won't be able to go. Out loud he said, "I can't go."
"What?" Sirius said. "Why not?"
"I have to go see my mum on Friday night and I won't be back until Sunday morning."
"Oh." James looked disappointed.
"If I could switch the day, I would, but it's too soon. I'm sorry James," Remus said sadly.
"I know you would. It's ok."
In Transfiguration, Remus tried to think of a way to watch James' tryout with out letting them know that he had lied about his mother. At last, he thought that maybe he could stand at the edge of the grounds during the day and see some of the tryouts without anyone seeing him.
All of a sudden, his thoughts were interrupted by McGonagalls stern voice.
"Mr. Lupin, maybe you can tell us how many registered Animagi there have been so far this century."
Remus didn't even know what an Animagi was, he hadn't been paying any attention at all. He looked up. "I'm sorry, but I don't know."
Professor McGonagall shook her head and said, "You'll have to start paying attention in this classroom, Mr. Lupin. I just got done saying there are only six registered Animagi in this century. One of them is me."
With that strange announcement, she changed into a cat. The whole class gasped. With a popping noise, their professor returned to a human form. Everyone clapped, especially Remus. On the way out of class, James and Sirius were talking about how much fun it would be to become an Animagus. Remus was glad to see that James wasn't so disappointed anymore. As they walked down to lunch, someone called, "Remus!"
After a light dinner, Remus started to get nervous about what would happen to him tonight. He had only been become a werewolf twice now, but it was an awful experience. Especially now, when there were so many other people around he could harm if he was loose. He moved his finger slowly as he tried to think about what his friends would learn at school while he was gone. All of a sudden, he thought Where was Peter after the quidditch match? He didn't walk in with us and I didn't even notice. Remus felt awful for forgetting Peter, but consoled himself that he couldn't have concentrated on more than his finger at the time. Still, he wondered why Peter hadn't come with them.
Just then, Madame Pomfrey came back into the room. "Can you bend your finger yet?" she asked.
Remus nodded and showed her.
"Excellent," she said happily. "Now I'll escort you to the Whomping Willow and show you how to stop it."
Luckily they passed no one on the way to the school grounds. It would have been hard for Remus to explain why the school nurse was taking him to meet his father. Outside, Remus spotted a huge man clipping the bushes around the school. The man turned around and called out, "Hello, Madame Pomfrey!" Remus was surprised to see that the man looked only about 25.
"Hello Hagrid," Madame Pomfrey called back cheerfully.
"Who's that?" Remus asked as they walked towards the edge of the grounds.
"That's Hagrid, the Keeper of the Grounds here at Hogwarts."
Soon they reached the tree, its branches waving wildly. With a long stick she found on the ground, Madame Pomfrey poked a knot near the bottom of the tree. The tree stopped. She pointed out the hole beneath the tree that led to the tunnel. "Just go down the tunnel (it's a bit long) until you get to the shack. You'll be quite safe there. We'd like you to stay two nights, just to be safe, but there is enough food to keep you full." She smiled. "Everything will work out fine. Now hurry before the tree starts up again."
Remus thanked her and crawled down the hole into the tunnel. He walked for what felt like hours until he reached his sanctuary. He took a quick tour before collapsing on the shabby bed. He was glad to see that the door could not be opened from the inside or the outside. There was no chance that he could get out and hurt someone.
Lying on the bed, Remus watched dusk fall, and as the moon began to rise, he felt the change come over him. His arms and legs grew long brown fur. He felt his mind being taken over by the wolf's mind as his body made the painful shift from man to beast. For the rest of the night, his werewolf form raged through the shack, howling and scratching. When Remus awoke in the morning, he remembered none of what happened. Looking around the room, he could tell he had not escaped to do more damage.
All day long, he lay around, reading a few old copies of the Daily Prophet that covered the floor and wondering what his friends at school were up to. As night came, he got a little bit nervous that the moon might still be full enough to force the change, but his fears did not become reality. Once the moon was all the way up, Remus felt calm enough to crawl into bed, where he slept very peacefully through the night.
Remus woke with the sun the next morning, anxious to get back to his friends and his classes. He walked quickly across the grounds to the castle and made his way to the Gryffindor common room. Inside his dorm, the other boys were just beginning to wake up.
He began to change his robes when everyone was awake enough to realize he was back. "How's your finger?" asked James.
"Is your mum any better?" Sirius asked.
Remus smiled. "Slow down you guys! My finger is fine, and my mom is doing well, but I think I get to go see her once a month until she is completely better."
Everyone was happy to hear this answer and they talked excitedly about what Remus had missed yesterday and what they might learn today. Soon they were ready to go down to breakfast. When they got there, Peter excused himself. "I have to see someone about something…I'll catch up with you on the way to class."
Sirius and James exchanged glances as they watched Peter walk over to the Slytherin table and sit with Snape. "What is wrong with him?" James wondered aloud. "All they want him for is to follow their every command. Can't he see that?"
No one answered. They all concentrated very hard on the breakfast in front of them.
Over the next couple of weeks, Peter hung out with the group sporadically. He was usually found following Snape's group around. At first James and Sirius were very hurt, since the three of them had been friends since they were very little, but they realized that if Peter wanted to be friends with powerful people, he wasn't much of a true friend.
Remus tried not to concern himself with Peter's desertion, he had way too much on his mind with all of his lessons. The classes themselves were all very interesting, but there was so much homework to complete. His favorite class by far was Defence Against the Dark Arts, taught by Professor Carter. As the professor told the class tales of how he had defeated monsters and saved wizard and Muggle lives, Remus daydreamed of living that kind of life. I want to be like Professor Carter, he thought, but I am the kind of creature he fights off. Still, Remus looked forward to going to DADA.
The other classes the first years attended were flying classes, Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, Charms and the History of Magic. Potions was the hardest for Remus; it was fun, but he didn't have the natural knack for it like some of his classmates did. The good thing about Potions class was that Gryffindors had it with Ravenclaw. That meant Remus got to see Lily Evans all of the time. He hadn't talked to her yet, but he watched her from across the room (which might be why he wasn't doing as well in that class!)
A week before the next full moon, the Gryffindors were at flying lessons with the Slytherins. After a few practice laps, Madame Hootch picked 7 people from each house to scrimmage at quidditch. Remus and Austin were not picked, so they practiced tossing a quaffle for a while, then watched the scrimmage. Sirius was one of the Gryffindor chasers; James was the seeker, the hardest position of all. Snape was a Slytherin chaser, but his friends Crabbe and Goyle were not playing.
Remus was suddenly reminded of Peter, and he couldn't find him anywhere. "Hey Austin, where do you think Peter's gone?"
Austin pointed to their right. "Hooch is over there with him, giving him some tips." Both boys began to laugh.
"He still hasn't managed to get off of the ground has he?" Remus sputtered between giggles.
Austin shook his head, helpless to speak.
Shouting from the field drew their attention away from Peter. "I wonder what's going on?" Remus said.
They walked over to where most of the spectators were standing. "Potter has seen the snitch!" one of them cried, as James sped towards the ground. Remus strained his eyes, and thought he saw a speck of gold, but it was gone. James pulled out of his dive just in time, and circled around, trying to see where the golden snitch had gone. Madam Hooch joined the group.
"What was all of the shouting about?" she asked anxiously.
"James saw the snitch, but it got away from him," Austin said sadly.
Madam Hooch blew her whistle and yelled, "Game's over! Time for your next lesson!"
Just then, James turned quickly and sped toward the Slytherin hoops. His hand was inches from the snitch when it dropped down sharply. James followed, with a very steep dive. Before anyone could tell what had happened, James was standing on the ground holding the snitch.
The Gryffindors cheered. Madam Hooch looked impressed. "Nice job, Potter. I'll tell the Gryffindor captain about that, she may want you on the team this year." To everyone, she yelled," Anyone interested in playing for their house should report to tryouts Saturday morning at 9 am."
On the way to Transfiguration, Sirius was asked James excitedly if he planned to try out.
"Of course I'll try out," said James. "It's worth a shot."
Austin piped up. "Can we come and watch your tryout?"
Sirius answered before James could. "Of course we'll all be there for James, for support. I'm going to try out for chaser, but James has a much better chance than I do. Good seekers are hard to find."
James smiled bashfully. "Aw, I'm not that good. But it'll be nice to have you all there on Saturday."
Saturday, Remus thought, the full moon is on Friday, I won't be able to go. Out loud he said, "I can't go."
"What?" Sirius said. "Why not?"
"I have to go see my mum on Friday night and I won't be back until Sunday morning."
"Oh." James looked disappointed.
"If I could switch the day, I would, but it's too soon. I'm sorry James," Remus said sadly.
"I know you would. It's ok."
In Transfiguration, Remus tried to think of a way to watch James' tryout with out letting them know that he had lied about his mother. At last, he thought that maybe he could stand at the edge of the grounds during the day and see some of the tryouts without anyone seeing him.
All of a sudden, his thoughts were interrupted by McGonagalls stern voice.
"Mr. Lupin, maybe you can tell us how many registered Animagi there have been so far this century."
Remus didn't even know what an Animagi was, he hadn't been paying any attention at all. He looked up. "I'm sorry, but I don't know."
Professor McGonagall shook her head and said, "You'll have to start paying attention in this classroom, Mr. Lupin. I just got done saying there are only six registered Animagi in this century. One of them is me."
With that strange announcement, she changed into a cat. The whole class gasped. With a popping noise, their professor returned to a human form. Everyone clapped, especially Remus. On the way out of class, James and Sirius were talking about how much fun it would be to become an Animagus. Remus was glad to see that James wasn't so disappointed anymore. As they walked down to lunch, someone called, "Remus!"