Remus found it unbelievable that the library was deserted on a Wednesday afternoon in the middle of the term. Wednesday, the only day of the week when they were allowed to stay out of bed until their nightly astronomy lesson, which began at exactly twelve o'clock, had a rare value for the young werewolf, though he had difficulties sharing this feeling with his best friends Peter, James and Sirius. They just - could not see what he saw at night, when the light and the business of the day had faded into clear, cool darkness. They could not feel the traces of magic - its fine sounds and the scent of thousands of spells - that surrounded the castle, but they were highly perceptible for Remus's sensible nose and ears. He supposed this was one of the very few advantages of being a werewolf - the only one, now he thought about it. But this was another feeling he would rather not share with his friends.
At the moment, all three of them were too preoccupied anyway, browsing a book called "The seventeen most famous encounters with werewolves" for a way of protecting themselves against him during his monthly transformation. They intended to keep him company at all costs and although Remus was eternally grateful for having such great friends, he could not help feeling that this was too dangerous to be carried out. Stupid and dangerous.
'What if it doesn't work out and I kill -' he began for the fifth time tonight.
'Shut up,' they said in unison - for the fourth time tonight.
'Alright, alright,' he muttered. 'I am just worried. I won't let you near me if it isn't a hundred percent safe.'
'What do you think we're searching this stupid book for?' snapped Sirius. 'We are going to find a way that is a hundred percent safe. Only that I don't see you being much of a help at the moment.'
'Well, I suppose that would be because I feel completely safe when I get near a werewolf at full moon,' said Remus sarcastically.
'You could help us look for defence methods,' said James, now also looking up from his lecture. 'I am sure we could profit from your knowledge -'
'How often do I have to tell you,' said Remus impatiently, 'I do not have any knowledge. I got bitten, that's all. Mum never even told me who did it. And she never taught me any defence spells either, for apparent reasons.'
Sirius laughed. James turned back to the book, looking slightly affronted. Remus' heart sank. 'I - I am sorry,' he said. 'I didn't mean it.'
'Come on then,' said James indignantly. 'Make yourself useful. You can take this copy and start from the back.'
Hours passed by. It had to be ten o'clock - eleven, perhaps. Remus could not tell for sure. They had fruitlessly gone through Dangerous Beasts and How to Fight Them by Newt Scamander, Advanced Defence Curses by A. Moody and Where There's a Wand, There's a Way, which seemed to put all sorts of silly ideas into Sirius's head.
'Let's try this one,' he said eagerly. 'Oh look, they've taken a picture of the bloke after he tried to transfigure himself back. What an idiot!'
'Sirius, you can't do that one,' said Remus quietly. 'It is ridiculously advanced. And in any case - it won't help you fight off... fight off a werewolf at full moon.'
'That's true,' nodded James. 'We need to take care of that first. What other books have we got?'
'Those were all I could find over here,' said Peter, pointing in the general direction of the shelves in front of the Restricted Section. But we can continue here, if -'
'Blimey,' gasped Sirius suddenly, now absorbed in a book called Transfiguration Listings Part II. 'Go on, have a look at that, Jay.'
James bent over the book Sirius was pointing at and let out a gasp himself. 'Sirius,' he said slowly. 'You thinking what I -'
'I never knew Professor McGonagall could turn into a cat either,' said Peter awestruck. 'You're right - it is very impressive.'
Two faces turned, very slowly, assuming an almost identical frown. James and Sirius did look like brothers at times, Remus thought.
'Peter!' said James in a low and indignant voice. 'Don't you get it? Werewolves don't attack animals. They only go after humans. This is our ticket into the Shrieking Shack!'
Remus whirled around. 'What?' he gasped. 'No way!' He turned towards Sirius and tried to give his voice a pleading tone. 'Tell me you're not really planning to do this. You can't!'
'Well,' said Sirius matter-of-factly, 'we can't - just yet. But we could work it out.'
'No,' begged Remus. 'Please don't! It's dangerous, and... and far too difficult. You -' but he broke off. Remembering how James took it when things were not going his way, he decided to do their friendship a favour and not argue for once. They would soon realise how stupid it was to believe that they, three underage wizards, could become Animagi without any of the staff and their fellow students noticing. This plan was bound to fail and James knew it.
'Well,' his friend said tentatively now, giving Remus a scrutinizing look, 'you do have a point. It will be difficult.'
'You're right,' nodded Sirius, who had become very silent for the last few minutes, gazing at the register, which clearly stated that, this century, only six witches and wizards had accomplished the difficult task of becoming Animagi, Professor McGonagall being one of them, but Remus had known, of course, that her skills surpassed anything they had seen from her so far. He smiled, and with a hint of relief in his voice said,
'Finally. I knew you'd see reason.'
Peter nodded. 'Far too dangerous, I agree.'
'And illegal,' whispered James with an odd gleam in his eyes.
'This is completely insane,' grinned Sirius, sounding more determined than ever. 'I love it!'
James grinned broadly. 'We'll have to do a bit of background reading,' he said eagerly. 'Go and have a look what else they've got in here on the subject!'
Sirius disappeared in the back of the library, returning only moments later with a bunch of books in his arms. James flipped through them as fast as possible and decided to have a go on a huge, black one.
'The Advantages and Disadvantages of Being Able to Turn Into An Animal At Will,' he read. 'Excellent. I'll start with this one.'
Sirius and James were so busy reading one book on advanced Transfiguration after another that they missed half of what was happening during their lessons the next day. The idea of becoming Animagi was too fascinating to let anything interfere, even if this meant they would have to do put some work into their Charms homework for a change in order to keep up with Professor Crockford's high expectations. Sirius was so eager to continue his reading after a long and undisturbed lunchbreak that he even suggested to skive off flying lessons. James, however, refused - politely as ever.
'Are you mad? I am not skipping lessons I take voluntarily. That's like pulling your own leg, isn't it? And in any case - this Transfiguration crap is not that important.'
Sirius raised an eyebrow. 'All right, mate,' he growled, 'no need to get shirty. I'll never understand why you're still doing flying lessons, by the way. You're on the Quidditch team.'
'I love flying,' said James simply. 'No matter how boring the lessons are.'
'I think they should make it an optional subject,' said Sirius gloomily. 'Or better yet: stop teaching it at all. It's no use. I have yet to meet a witch or wizard who can't fly.'
'That's because they learn it at school,' said a voice behind them.
Remus and Peter were back.
'Well, you would know,' snapped Sirius. 'Actually, seeing you I think I've been wrong, Peter. I think you are the first wizard I've ever met who couldn't stick to a broom if his life depended on it.'
'I am not as bad as Snape,' said Peter in a hurt voice, causing Sirius to let out a bark of laughter.
'Oh yeah, I forgot about him,' he said. 'He hardly ever turns up for lessons these days though, does he?'
'I think he is afraid of heights,' said Remus calmly. 'You should stop ragging about it. It's not funny.'
'I think it is,' retorted Sirius. 'Though, admittedly, it's not as entertaining as it used to be. He just won't get better. And he knows it. Doesn't even try to pretend he could catch up anymore.'
James grinned. 'It was nicer when he did, wasn't it?'
'We're very late already,' interrupted Peter their reminiscences. 'Madame Hooch will be mad.'
'You're just afraid she'll have you be the first to mount your broom again,' said Sirius, getting up nevertheless and stuffing his book ('Human Transformation - A Step By Step Guide') into his bag. 'As a demonstration of how little you can afford to be late for lessons. C'mon, then. Move!' He shoved Peter out of the Gryffindor common room, closely followed by Remus and James, who were still discussing Snape on their way down to the Quidditch field.
The lesson had not started yet, Sirius noticed with a glance at the Slytherins, who were assembled in the middle of the pitch already. Some were sitting on the grass, others standing near by, chatting and laughing. As they drew nearer Sirius could see that they were playing cards. And the girls were there. Evans, Wood, Katie - and Marlene McKinnon, Gryffindor's ginger head. They were standing a bit further away, chatting with some of the Slytherin girls, not noticing that their fellow Gryffindors had arrived. Sirius recognized his cousin Viola was not among them. She had made it into the Quidditch team this year, meaning that she was no longer obliged to attend flying lessons. Instead, she was practising Quidditch three times a week.
Sirius wondered how anyone could stand sitting on a broom this long. Once a week was fine. James was right - flying was fun, even though the lessons were dead boring. But three times a week? (Four, if you were James Potter, the boy who never got enough.) Sirius shuddered. Instantly, some of the girls looked up and some of them made to come over in an all too innocently casual way. James shooed them away.
'Gerroff,' he said with a thoroughly unpleasant look about him. 'We've got some men's talk to do.'
'We do?' asked Peter timidly when they were out of earshot. Sirius snorted.
'Jay's talking nonsense as usual. But it works. Look at them scowling.'
Some of the card-playing Slytherin boys had turned their heads and laughed. They seemed to have been discussing something and suddenly, a pair of them got up and approached them, each clutching a pack of cards.
'Wanna play?'
But at this moment, Madame Hooch arrived at the Quidditch field, with a bunch of broomsticks floating behind her.
'I'm very sorry for being late,' she panted. 'There was a Boggart in the shed. Another one. I really need to talk to the headmaster about them. They almost give me a heart attack each time. And Filch can't seem to get rid of them quickly enou-...' She stopped, seeing their blank expression with some astonishment. 'You do know what a Boggart is, don't you?' she said. 'Those disgusting beasts that turn into whatever you fear most? You must have covered them.'
They shook their heads.
'Well, never mind now,' said Madame Hooch, distributing the broomsticks among them. 'I am sure you will soon, if they keep breaking into the castle. Anyway, line up, please. I am checking stance and style today. You are going to get grades at the end of the month, so try to show some involvement. Potter, keep your feet on the ground. I know you are here on your own account, but that does not mean you can do whatever you want. Ready? On my whistle - three - two -'
'Oooh,' said Marlene McKinnon suddenly, 'I think Professor McGonagall wants a word with you, Madame Hooch.'
Their teacher turned. Down the hill, looking very fierce, came Professor McGonagall, dragging a small figure behind her. A student, obviously, who seemed more than uncomfortable with her dragging him all the way down by his ear. Sirius recognized him at an instant.
'I am sorry to interrupt yer lesson, Madame Hooch,' said Professor McGonagall in a stern voice. 'I am just restoring one of your students tae ye. Mr. Snape tells me he got lost.' She gave the small Slytherin a very severe look and shoved him towards his fellow students. 'I trust ye'll be able tae talk some sense into him.'
And she left.
Madame Hooch gave Snape a look Professor McGonagall would have been proud of and motioned him to come forth.
'At Muggle schools they flog students for playing truant, you know,' she said. 'I do not approve of such means, but I advise you to not do it again. For you own good.'
Snape lowered his head, but did not speak.
'Come here,' snarled Madame Hooch. 'You will be the first to mount your broom. Lets see how you do it.'
She handed Snape a broomstick, who looked thoroughly unhappy now, but took it without complaint. He climbed onto it, his face remaining motionless though very pale, and kicked off the ground.
At first, Sirius thought nothing unusual was happening. Snape was hovering in mid-air for a few seconds and moved smoothly over the field, his legs floating just about three feet above the ground. Then, suddenly, the broom made a jerky movement, very similar to a bucking horse, and Snape was doing a somersault, landing safely on the soft grass in front of one of the Quidditch goalposts. He shook himself, looked around, and finally got up again, ignoring the laughter and the suggestive cheers from his fellow students. Even Madame Hooch seemed to have difficulties keeping her face straight.
'You are hopeless, Mr. Snape. I think I'll give up on you.'
She was joking, of course. And while Sirius, James and the other Gryffindors formatted for a nice, relaxing game of Quidditch against their Slytherin classmates, Sirius could see Madame Hooch walking off to one of the corners with Snape, giving him private instructions on how to be taken on a ride by a broomstick. Or better - how to not let it happen.
