The next day Dolphin was talking to Remus over breakfast.
"So, if you don't cut your hair for about a month, how long will it grow?" she asked, interestedly.
"I don't know," he mumbled, stirring his porridge round and round. "Elbow length."
"Good," she replied, sitting back contentedly. "Grow it, then." Remus looked up.
"What?"
"You heard me, Moony. Grow your hair."
"But... why?"
"Look, if you want me to get you with Sirius, which I will, then don't question, just do."
"Why don't you tell me? It'll make things a lot easier."
"No, it won't," she answered firmly. "Grow your hair, ok?"
"Fine," he said, going back to stirring his porridge.
"Are you going to eat any of that?"
"...no."
"Oh. That time of the month, huh?"
"Yeah. Only Sirius can't come, because he's got a date." Remus sighed. "I hate being like this. So jealous." He looked at Dolphin. "Wait. Why don't you come?"
"Me? I can't."
"Yeah, you can!"
"I'm not an Animagus, Moony."
"So become one."
"Wow! Can I?"
"Yup. Why not? It only takes a day, most."
"It's Monday. I've got school."
"Say you don't feel well. Skip your classes."
"I'll have to go to the hospital wing."
"No, you won't. Go to your first class. History of Magic. Tell ol' Binns you don't feel well, and say you'll be fine if you have a lie down. Go back to your dormitory, and do what you need to do."
"You're not going to let this go, are you?" asked Dol, with a smile.
"Nope."
"You must really want me to do this if you're encouraging me to skip class!Fine, I'll go. Let me ask Wyverna if she'll come too."
"'Kay, then."
So, when Wyverna and Dolphin should have been sat in History of Magic, they were instead following James' scribbled instructions on how to become an Animagus. At the end of the day they went to meet Remus and Sirius in the Forbidden Forest. It wasn't full moon yet, so if it hadn't worked then they were still safe.
"Well?" asked Remus impatiently. "Has it worked?" Dolphin took a deep breath, and a moment later, where she had been stood was now a gorgeous black mare.
"Wow," said Sirius softly. "I guess it worked, then."
"How about you, Wyverna?" Remus asked. Wyverna closed her eyes, but nothing happened.
"I can't do it," she wailed.
"Just try do a little bit at a time," encouraged Sirius, "like just try and change your ears." Wyverna screwed up her face again, and her ears changed to cat ears, pointed, and furry. She concentrated some more, and they went back to normal.
"See? I can't do it!" Remus and Sirius were still staring at her. "What? What is it?"
"No wonder you can't become an Animagus! You're a Metamorphagus!"
"I'm a what now?"
"You can change your appearance at will!"
"But I can't be an animal?"
"No... In fact, you'd better go. It's nearly full moon."
"You want me to come?" asked Sirius, putting his arm around her.
"No, it's ok. You stay with Remus."
"Ok then, if you're sure."
"I am."
"Hurry back, then."
"I will."
"Be careful."
"I am."
"See you."
"I will."
She began to hurry back to the castle, hearing a gruff bark behind her. She just made it inside the school, when she heard a lone werewolf howl.
