Chapter 12
They walked down to the lake, discussing various aspects of the day.
"Everything that J.K. Rowling has EVER said about Professor Binns is true." Said Haylie grumpily.
"Unfortunately." Answered JT.
"Not that you would know…you were asleep the whole class." Countered Lexie.
"Well, you weren't paying much attention, either; are we even allowed to have our iPods here?"
"Can I help it if 'Pirates of the Caribbean' is a HELLUVA lot more interesting than goblin wars?" Everybody nodded in agreement.
"'Pirates of the Caribbean'?" Said Ron curiously, joining them along with Harry and Hermione.
"Never mind," Haylie said quickly.
"So what class have you got next?" Asked Harry.
"Actually, we're not really sure." Said JT uncertainly.
"All the paper says is to meet McGonagall down by the lake." Added Lexie.
Hermione's eyes widened. "Ancient Runes? That's a very interesting class," she said, with a look that clearly meant for them to not ask questions.
"Yeah, I guess so," Said Haylie, cottoning on. JT was not so inconspicuous.
"With McGon-" elbows in the ribs from both Lexie and Haylie quickly silenced him. "Um, yeah." He coughed.
"Gotta go!" Hermione said hurriedly, pulling the two boys along with her. "See you at dinner!"
When they got to the edge of the lake, they looked around and noticed that they were the first to arrive. The three of them sat on the ground, waiting for Jeremy and Chris and watching JT try to adjust to the new clothes that he wore under his normal clothes. Suddenly, he yawned and stretched, and, without warning, both of the girls had an arm around their shoulders. They looked at each other, then stared at JT pointedly.
"All right, all right…" he said. "I'm really tired. I had trouble getting to sleep last night. Do you mind?" He added, and without waiting for an answer, he swung his legs around so that they were in Lexie's lap, and flipped his head so that it was in Haylie's.
"Hi." he said, looking up at her and grinning unabashedly.
"What the hell are you doing, JT? You PROMISED you wouldn't make a move without me!"
"Did you really mean to say that out loud?" said Haylie. Jeremy stepped back and coughed, neatly managing to hide himself in Chris's shadow. Then he stepped forward and pulled JT up ungraciously by the arm. Haylie got up and started dusting herself off, glad to have JT's head out of her lap for the moment. Lexie was still on the ground, resisting the urge to snap JT's neck.
(For your sake, Haylie, I'll let him live.)
(What's that supposed to mean?)
Lexie raised an eyebrow, then went back to her "audition breathing", as Jeremy would have called it.
(Um…Lexie…need a hand up?) Haylie said.
Lexie looked up. "Oh, thanks." Chris has holding his hand out to her.
"No problem," Chris answered.
(Well, it was my turn!) JT said quietly to Jeremy. (You already got to sit in her lap!)
(Well, at least I don't throw myself all over them!) Interrupted Chris.
(What? What about the couch thing? If that's not 'throwing yourself all over them,' I don't know what is!)
Suddenly, a cat came meandering up to them, watching other Slytherins, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs walk to the edge of the lake. Its eyes had small circles around them, making it look like it was wearing a pair of glasses. The cat seemed to grow and change, and then Professor McGonagall was standing before them.
"Wow," Chris and Lexie said.
"Holy shit," said JT and Haylie.
"What the hell?" Said Jeremy.
Haylie and Lexie looked at each other. (Seven.) They said.
"I am Professor McGonagall. You have been handpicked by Professor Dumbledore himself to be taught the fine art of self-Transfiguration."
After a long and complicated lecture on the procedure, she said, "The reason we are outside is that we don't know for sure what your first forms will be. If we were in a classroom, and you changed into a dragon, the results would be-"
"Multiple casualties?" Jeremy put in.
McGonagall peered at him sternly over the rim of her glasses. "-disastrous. And do not interrupt me again. If you feel so confident on the subject, then feel free to finish the lecture. I daresay I've had a very long day." Needless to say, Jeremy shut up. "Since you seem to know this subject as well as I do, would you like to be our first volunteer?" Jeremy shook his head. "No, no, I insist. I'm sure you'll do excellently." Jeremy reluctantly got up, peeled off his shirt, and walked to the water's edge.
(He's been working out.) Chris said to JT.
(Hmm.) JT answered.
"Just will yourself to change, and you will change." Professor McGonagall encouraged. Jeremy wasn't even trying to look calm anymore; his face was almost completely drained of color, and his hands were shaking visibly. He took a deep breath, and the other four heard his thought, (It's just another role.)
As he stood, the class of nine went silent. And for a moment, nothing seemed to happen. Then his knees seemed to buckle and he fell to all fours, his arms lengthening visibly. A fine pattern traced itself over his entire body, becoming a coat of gold as his ears lengthened and moved to the top of his head, and his eyes shifted to the sides of his head. His fingers melted together, forming one hard toe. His curly hair straightened to waves and lengthened, as did his face. A moment later he had sprouted a matching tail. During the transformation, he grew steadily until standing before the awestruck class was a buckskin stallion. It's form wavered for a moment then became solid.
The stallion turned, spotting the six-pointed star on his brow in the waters of the lake. Giving a startled squeal, it reared up and Jeremy's voice punctured his four friend's thoughts:
(What the hell! I'M NAKED!)
Lexie and Haylie looked at each other and giggled.
(Eight.)
The stallion seemed to be trying to drop and cross his forelegs. He realized he couldn't as he toppled sideways, landing face first in an awkward bow in the shallows, soaking himself. Jeremy recovered beautifully, standing, turning to face the class and bowing again, now that he had figured out how to work his four legs.
(I meant to do that.)
"Wonderful, Mr. Guskin. You may have a seat now." Said Professor McGonagall, smiling slightly.
The buckskin snorted indignantly before melting back to Jeremy once more.
He sat back down next to the girls again. He looked at Lexie, eyes wide and whispered two words. "The star." Lexie only nodded solemnly.
"You will now break up into your houses to begin practicing." The voice of Professor McGonagall broke into their thoughts. "Gryffindor and Ravenclaw together. Then Hufflepuff and Slytherin."
"What? How come I had to do it in front of the whole class?" Said Jeremy, irritably.
"Because you felt the need to make it clear that you were an expert in the middle of my lecture," McGonagall answered, smiling. "You may also direct your own group, if you wish."
Carrie-Ann, who the girls had noticed to their displeasure had also joined them, looked considerably annoyed at the fact that she would be grouping with Slytherin, and not Gryffindor.
"So, who goes first?" Said JT when they were in their groups.
"I vote Haylie." Said Lexie.
"What? Why me?" She answered.
"Because I said so," said Lexie.
"And because I think it's a good idea." Added Jeremy. (Pay up, JT. I won the bet.)
(What bet?) Asked Chris.
(The 'who takes their shirt off in front of the girls first' bet,) answered JT, looking extremely pissed.
(I've got a good idea,) Said Chris, smiling, a curious expression on his face.
(And what would that be?)
(Who impresses them the most. Since we're all going to be shirtless soon.)
(You're on!) They said.
Haylie walked up to the improvised "stage."
"And remember, if you forget your lines, improv's always good." Yelled Jeremy.
For a second, it just looked like she was blushing. Then the crimson spread all over her body, and they realized that it was hair. As she stood, gazing at her hands, her leg joints began to shift as she grew a mane and tail of chestnut hair. Her face began to lengthen as Jeremy's had and the ears and eyes swiveled in the same way. She began to grow taller, her hands and feet melting to hooves. For a brief instant, she felt she had a choice, though what the other option was, she didn't know. After a moment, some of the hairs on Haylie's forehead changed color, and soon there was a beautiful chestnut thoroughbred mare with a little white diamond-shaped star on her forehead. As she stood, she seemed to shiver and turned transparent slightly, but the moment passed, and she shook her head and flipped her tail, getting used to them. Her friends watched her try to walk on her new legs as unsteadily as a new foal. As she got used to the new joints, she started into a canter, circling neatly around Hagrid's hut before coming back to the group and nipping at JT. Slipping gracefully back into human form, she sat down and said, "You next," she said, the joy and exhilaration still in her eyes. Jeremy stared at her unseeingly, his eyes blank with shock and recognition. JT sighed resignedly and got up, pulling off his shirt as he went and throwing it at Haylie. Chris leaned back where he sat, allowing himself a small smile.
"For your pleasure." JT said, looking naughty.
"Meow," Haylie replied.
He was bent over slightly, obviously expecting the same shapechange that Haylie and Jeremy had had. Instead, his form began to expand, adding on bulk that they could see was mostly muscle. His entire body covered itself in what became a three dimensional tattoo of fur, pure white. His hands widened into padded paws, and he grew a long tail, which lashed busily. Falling to all fours in a crouch as he grew, his brown eyes lightened to a startling blue as a ruff grew around his face. A large white cat stood before them and then, almost as an afterthought, stripes seemed to draw themselves outward from his back as if from an invisible marker. The white Bengal tiger yawned leisurely, stretched, paced over to Haylie and shrank back down to JT, who grinned.
"Meow." He said. Haylie smiled.
"All right, Lexie, you next," he said. "Can't let you miss out on all the fun, can we?"
"Oh, of course not," she replied with feigned innocence.
Standing up, she flashed Haylie a nervous, yet exited smile.
(This is it,) she said.
(Make me proud,) said Haylie.
Standing before them, she wiggled her fingers a bit and shook her head, clearing her hair from her face. Breathing once, she paused. The change was almost immediate. Her olive skin deepened to a bronze and her legs lengthened, joints altering smoothly. For a moment, her eyes widened, then she pulled herself into a ready stance as her long hair darkened to black and she sprouted an equally long silky tail. Her neck lengthened along with her face as her ears moved to a familiar post atop her head, each taking the shape of delicate flower petals. Eyes growing and moving to the sides of her head above her dished cheeks retained their golden hue and glitter, though they widened in surprise slightly. She was feeling the choice that Haylie had, if she'd known it. For a moment, a creature that could be described as nothing other than an anime-like equine girl stood there. Then her arms lengthened and their joints swiveled. Hands hardened into hooves and her shoulder muscles as well as those in her legs bunched, rippling visible beneath her glossy pelt. Dropping from a half rear, a dainty Arabian mare tossed her head, and a mark the shape of a crescent moon spread from the center of her forehead as a finishing touch. Her form flickered, shimmered, then solidified. Arching her swanlike neck, she eyed herself curiously in the water before taking off along the shoreline like an arrow from a bow. Head held high, the coppery bay mare sped along the water's edge, her strides surprisingly long for her size. She seemed to race her own reflection. As she neared the group, she circled them once, melting back into Lexie, who smiled and sat down next to Haylie. Catching her breath from her excitement, eyes sparkling, she turned around.
"C'mon, Chris, up, up, up!" Said Lexie, pulling him up by the arm.
"Yes, Chris, up!" was Jeremy's addition to this demand. This time it was Lexie's turn not to notice the mocking tone in his voice.
Chris got up. (Prepare to be amazed,) he said, removing his shirt and giving Jeremy and JT a meaningful look.
Lexie glanced at Haylie, her large eyes wider than usual.
(Shoot me while I'm happy,) she said, a smile pulling at the corners of her mouth.
Haylie studied Chris critically. (I dunno. Jeremy looks pretty good, too.)
(Wonder what he does.)
"Wrestling team." Chris said from behind them as if in answer to their silent question as he walked up from behind. Jeremy swore under his breath and JT's shoulders slumped.
They smiled, and turned to watch Chris' change.
He stood, poised and waiting, and as with Jeremy, nothing seemed to happen for a moment. Then a coat of silver, like dye on water, began to spread from his back to cover him completely. Dark points, most of them black, began to mark themselves on parts of his face, across his shoulders, and down his back. Then as slowly as it had started, the transformation…stopped.
Jeremy nudged JT, who remarked.
"You're all silver."
Jeremy snorted before standing.
"Run for you're lives, it's a mutant!" he joked and smoothly shifted into his horse form, cantering once around Chris, as if to point out his failure, then galloped madly off before sitting down again in human shape, out of breath and chuckling.
That seemed to bring Chris down to earth. The color receded, almost as if it were being pulled back inside of him. Standing, he ducked his head and walked to the back of their gathering. He swallowed almost imperceptibly before managing to say:
"Let's watch the others."
They watched the two Ravenclaw boys in their group. The first was a transformation to an agile, honey hued squirrel, which went smoothly after the first couple of seconds, where he began to grow a large bushy tail before anything else, much to his embarrassment and the delight of the rest. He grinned as he shoved his friend up. He jogged to the front and proceeded to shift into the body of a raccoon with large mischievous blue eyes, his bandit's mask appearing first. After changing past, they all sat back and watched the rest of the groups.
They saw an Afghan hound, tall and lanky, trot past, sit down and become Carrie-Ann, who reemerged with a smug smile on her face. A short angular faced boy became a raven and swooped over his groups' heads before growing back to his human body once more. Amidst the rest of the group came a cry of, "Good Lord, Luke! Couldn't have gotten any smaller, could you!" Directed at a lumbering brown bear that was sitting on its haunches and blinking owlishly. This was followed by a gale of laughter as the bear raised a paw menacingly, but contracted back to his original form before he could do any damage.
Presently, McGonagall dismissed class for dinner and the students split off. The group of five gathered and trooped back up to the castle to change. No one noticed the form of Professor Lupin in the shadows; his eyes were focused on the form of Chris, who trailed slightly at the back of the cluster of friends.
The next day, after Defense Against the Dark Arts, which had been their last class that evening, they made their way up to the Great Hall for dinner with Harry, Ron and Hermione. As the class filed out of the room, most chattering about the class, which had included Lupin's famous boggart lesson.
"Harry! Ron! Hermione!" called a voice. They all turned around-then looked up. Standing there was Rubeus Hagrid. He was twice the size of an average man, being half-giant on his mother's side, and nearly twice as wide.
"Hagrid!" Hermione said joyfully.
"Hallo, Hagrid." Said Harry. "Are you teaching Care of Magical Creatures tomorrow?"
"O' course." Hagrid smiled. "I had wanted ter show yeh hippogriffs again. I thought yeh'd be up to it." Harry smiled weakly. "But with Beaky gone…" He looked at Chris, Haylie, Lexie, Jeremy and JT. "Say, aren't yeh goin' ter introduce me ter yer friends?"
The trio introduced the other five, and they each tried to shake his hand, which really meant that they shook his finger, while he shook their arms.
"I'll see you tomorrow in class." He said, grinning.
"I'll be right back, Haylie," said Lexie. "I want to ask Hagrid something." She ran off to speak to him as he strode off.
The other four left the Great Hall with the rest of the houses, weaving through a sea of robes towards their common room.
"Chris." Professor Lupin's voice called.
"Meet you there." Chris said, then turned and made his way through the crowd back to the entryway, where the Professor waited. Just then Lexie came back.
"Where's Chris going?"
"Professor Lupin wanted to talk to him," said Jeremy. "C'mon, let's go."
"I was wondering, Chris…could you come with me for a moment?" Lupin said. Lupin motioned for him to follow and lead him outside into the late evening, along the bridge where he had talked to Harry in his third year. "I noticed you were…having a bit of trouble yesterday." He said carefully, scrutinizing him. Chris' shoulders dropped.
"Yeah. I was..."he trailed off, staring quizzically at the Professor.
"Never mind how I knew." Lupin replied. "As you know, I am a werewolf." He said, a note of resignation in his voice. "And though I have not seen you change, I am sure you have the capacity to. And I do not doubt for a moment what your form will be." He explained. "Now, tonight. Tonight is a full moon. And I'm asking you to try. Just one more time."
"But Professor…" began Chris.
"This time, you'll have me with you. I have reason to believe my influence might…help." He replied, interrupting him. Taking a deep breath, he turned to Chris. "Just try. Now." He asked and stepped into the moonlit woods nearby. The change was almost immediate. Chris followed, concentrating and willing himself to change.
Slowly, he felt the melting sensation of the silver spreading across his body. He paused, remembering his failure, then looked about. Lupin's transformation was nearly complete. C'mon, he urged himself, hoping against hope.
For an agonizing moment, nothing seemed to happen, then the muscles in his legs bunched, coiled, and strengthened. His neck and shoulders became more powerful and his hands formed large paws. Muzzle lengthening, he felt his teeth growing into powerful canines, and a tail originated. For a second, he wavered, felt he had a choice, but the feeling passed. He turned and with an instinct that seemed to grip him naturally stood by the side of the werewolf, raised his muzzle to the midnight sky and howled, the resonating sound swelling from deep within his chest.
(Well done, Chris. You had it in you.)
He turned, surprised at the fluidity of his own movements. Turning his head, a dark marking, like cross-sabers, seemed to be marked on his back.
(My marking?) He asked.
(Yes. Like the others have theirs.) Lupin replied, then gave a nod of his head and loped towards the bridge again. Chris followed, long strides swallowing the ground easily. Head up, he faced the breeze and followed Lupin, reveling in the freedom.
"What do you think Lupin wanted with Chris?" Lexie asked curiously. The two girls had decided to take a walk on the castle grounds that evening, leaving the two boys in the common room.
"I don't know. Maybe to talk about class." Haylie suggested as the two of them neared the bridge.
Suddenly, a howl pierced the night air and a second one joined it, richer than the first. The wild calls filled the night for a moment; then there was silence. Lexie glanced at Haylie.
"You sure we should be all the way out here?" she asked.
"Do you mind if I'm not so sure anymore?" came the reply.
"Well, we're out here, we might as well get to the bridge. The light's a little better there." Said Lexie. As they neared the end of the bridge, two forms materialized from the woods. One appeared to have longer limbs and a more human torso; the other had the silhouette of an incredibly large dog.
"I think…it's a w-werewolf." Stuttered Haylie, terrified.
"Oh, God. And a regular wolf…"moaned Alexis.
The second creature approached the girls and the werewolf stepped back. The two girls only stared; shaking slightly as the large male wolf neared them.
Lexie scanned the pair of lupine forms, her eyes locking with those of the wolf, which were unusually dark brown, so dark they were nearly black in color. Tentatively, and almost in a trance-like state, she reached out her hand slowly.
"Lexie. What are you doing! That's a wolf!" cried Haylie.
Lexie closed her eyes and laid a trembling hand on wolf's head. The wolf raised its head, slipping her hand down to its muscular x-marked shoulders. Reaching out with her mind, she formed a word she hoped would be answered.
(Chris?)
(How'd you know?) The wolf bared its teeth in a smile.
Haylie sank to her knees in relief as the werewolf raised a paw as if in greeting.
"Oh, thank God. Professor Lupin and…"
"Chris."
"You did it, Chris! You did it!" cried Haylie, shaking his paw for lack of anything better.
The wolf sat down and melted smoothly back to Chris.
"It was the Professor." He replied, motioning to the werewolf, who ducked its head and trotted off into the woods.
The three sat in silence for a moment.
"It's getting cold. Anyone up for butterbeer?" asked Lexie.
"Am I!" asked Haylie. "What kind of a question is that?"
Chris smiled and nodded as the three of them walked the path back to the castle in the night.