When Somers Turned to Black

Chapter 2: Animagus...Almost.

Disclaimer: We do not own any of the Harry Potter works. Fortunately, we do not own the movies either.

A/N: Thanks so much to all of the reviewers so far! Hooray... orphius was our first ever reviewer on our first ever fanfic! Looking forward to posting chapters that are a lot more interesting.

After the feast, Sirius, Remus, James, and Peter made their way down the long hallway towards the Gryffindor common room. They were joking loudly when Sirius tripped, landing awkwardly on his face. His friends began to laugh uncontrollably at the sight of Sirius sprawled out across the floor, shoelaces untied and tangled.

"Oh go on you stupid prats," said an embarrassed Sirius, as he sat up to retie his shoes. "I think I can find my own way back to the common room."

"But are you sure you'll make it without falling flat on your ugly face again?' called back James, who was already halfway down the hall. Sirius rechecked his shoelaces, and rose, heading towards the common room, when he spotted Raven coming up the stairs. She turned towards the girls' lavatory, as Sirius decided to sneak quietly after her.

What can I do that will make her think twice about ever threatening a Black again? He thought maliciously.

He looked her over thoroughly. Raven's shiny, black hair was loose, falling neatly past her shoulders. Her robes were thrown carelessly over an outstretched arm. She was wearing a red, tight-fitted tee that clung to her thin, shapely figure, and a black, ruffled skirt that fell just above her knees.

"Muggle clothing," mumbled Sirius. He crouched behind a statue of Godric Gryffindor. Grinning, Sirius pulled out his wand and whispered mischievously.

"Flipuli Gustoro!"

A gust of wind flew from the tip of his wand shooting straight at Raven. Sirius stifled a laugh as the wind whirled around her, lifting up her short black skirt. He had just enough time to catch a glimpse of Raven's black, satin underwear before she shrieked, forcing the skirt down. The imposing wind ceased just as quickly as it had begun. Raven pivoted around angrily to face Sirius. He revealed himself slowly, pretending to read the inscription at the base of the statue.

"Oh, hello... um, Raven," said Sirius, closing his mouth tightly, trying to fight an army of laughter from bursting forth.

"Do you really find it amusing to cast spells on me?' asked a fuming Raven. "Perhaps next time you'll be half a gentlemen and decide to duel me face to face instead of hexing me like a coward.

"Well, I hadn't realized I was hexing you. In that case, I'm extremely sorry for being such an uncaring, unmanly, bastardly git," retorted a sneering Sirius.

"Next time you decide to mess with me, DON'T!" yelled Raven. "Expelliarmus!" she shouted, making Sirius's wand shoot out of his hand and fly straight into hers. He went tumbling through the air for about ten meters, landing heavily on his back.

"Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean you can take advantage of me. I am still fully capable of beating your silly arse," stated Raven hurling his wand meaningfully to the floor and stalking away. Sirius lay stunned for a few minutes where he had been roughly thrown.

How dare she call me half a man! Who does she think she is anyway? Sirius thought angrily. So much for a successful prank on Raven. I would have been better off sticking with Snivellus.

He stood, rubbing his back and slowly making his way towards the Fat Lady's portrait. The guys are going to wonder what took so bloody long. I'll just tell them I took a detour to the boys' bathrooms.

"Galloping Grindylows."

The Fat Lady's portrait swung open to reveal a near empty common room. James, Remus, and Peter were among the few who had decided to stay awake a couple of extra hours before the start of the first full day of classes.

"Oy Black," called Remus from a large scarlet couch in front of the fireplace. "Sit down so James'll tell us what's going on."

Sirius flung himself across the plush sofa, feeling a great relief that his delay had been overlooked. "What is it this time, Potter?" he asked lazily, expecting nothing more than the usual mischief.

"Alright, I didn't want to tell you until it thinned out around here," James whispered, looking around the room anxiously.

"Oh, come out with it you stupid git!" Sirius said throwing a pillow at him.

"Yeah, get on with it," squeaked Peter.

"Well," James started, looking around the room a second time, "...are you ready for this?...Okay, I was practicing transforming...you know, into my animagus form, and... well... I sort of almost did it!" he finished quickly.

"What do you mean, you almost did it?" asked Sirius, sitting up and giving James his full attention.

"I...I don't know. I was concentrating real hard, then all of a sudden I could feel my arms and legs thinning, my neck lengthening, and something pushing its way out of my head behind both ears. I was on all fours, and then...I went back to normal. I sort of lost my concentration I guess," James explained excitedly.

"What kind of animal were you turning into?" asked Remus, leaning forward in his seat.

"Well, if I had to guess, I would say a horse or something. I'm not sure," replied James. Peter smiled broadly, squirming in his lumpy armchair, being excited about becoming an animagus and all.

"I think we should probably work extra hard at transforming. We should start looking through books again tomorrow. If James has already started to change, we could probably entirely transfigure by the end of the year. Maybe sooner," said Sirius hopefully.

"I don't know about that," Remus responded unhappily. "Remember, we've got O.W.L.'s this year, and we're gonna be getting tons of homework, not to mention Quidditch for you and James. There just won't be enough time."

"I know we can do this Remus," said James reassuringly.

"I don't need you spending all this time and putting off all of your homework for me," Remus said guiltily. "Not to mention breaking a whole load of wizardry safety laws in the process."

"But, we want to help you," James said quietly.

"James is right. You don't realize how hard it is to see your best friend turn into a werewolf every month, knowing that there's nothing you can do," said Sirius sadly. "Especially for me. I hate not being able to help out. And you know that if we were in animal form, you couldn't hurt us. We've already proven that to you with all those books we looked at when we decided we were going to turn into animagus."

"Oh, c'mon Remus. Think of the adventure," pleaded James.

"Yes, adventure Remus! We could roam around the school grounds after dark!" shrieked Peter excitedly.

"Please Remus..." whined Sirius with a fake, over exaggerated frown plastered on his face. Remus looked into the eager faces of his persistent mates. Rolling his eyes and sighing deeply he stood up.

"Hell! Alright you bloody gits," smiled Remus. "Just don't get us expelled!"