A/N: Hey Queen Weasel, you were pretty close! (I'm not going to give anything else away here, sorry.) And thank you very much Dianne for all the great reviews! I really appreciate the in depth comments. They're great! I would also like to mention that I am not, nor will I ever be a follower of the cartoon version of X-Men. (The movie was great, but I didn't know there was an X-Men character with a certain nickname until my sister pointed it out. I apologize, but I like it too much to change it.)
Werewolf Disclaimer: I'd like to take this moment to say that I take no credit whatsoever for er... ugh...aaargh! HOWWWWLLLLL!!!!!!
Chapter Eighteen -
The Forbidden Forest
Harry inhaled the autumn air around him, and almost immediately knew where Neville was. The poor mutt had headed upwind, and he was determined to greet the hell out of his friend. He couldn't smell Hermione, but that could be either because he hadn't been able to pick up her scent back in the kitchen, seeing as she had basically flown the entire time, or because she was flying right now. Harry assumed that both were likely to be correct.
The feel of the pads on his feet against twig and rock was interesting. He studied the sensation further, and was startled to realize that his paws were nearly twice the size of his splayed hands. He tripped over them a few times before he had totally recognized the problem, but after a moment he got used to them. In fact, even just thinking about how he was walking on four feet made him fall on his face once, so he was determined not to think about it anymore, and tried to let his lion body carry him as it obviously knew best.
Harry was so focused on the feel of his body that he wasn't prepared for the feathered bomb that dropped from directly above. He turned and hissed menacingly as Hermione regrouped and readied herself for another attack. She flew daringly straight towards him, her eyes glinting with mischief. Harry had a strange moment of feline insight, and took a running leap against the nearest tree.
Hermione's owl eyes had seen his defense strategy, and she veered away at the last second, just barely missing the massive paws that sideswiped her tailfeathers. She landed on a thick branch above Harry's head.
Suddenly it was Hermione sitting there, not her animal form, and she wobbled once, before grasping at the trunk of the tree to stabilize herself. "I like the mane. Very becoming." She smiled. "Watch those paws Harry. I get the feeling you're a bit stronger now than what you're used to." She changed back into her horned owl form, and took off from the branch with a flurry of wings.
Harry, who had his front paws placed up on the trunk of the tree, now felt a distracting tug on one of his hind legs. When he dropped back to the forest floor, he saw the tiny form of Neville as a pug growling and pulling at the fur tufting out from his back left leg. He had a feeling that neither Hermione nor Neville really had to wonder who he was. It must have been rather obvious. Besides, they already knew he was going next. It couldn't really be anyone else. The grey scar in his mane just confirmed it.
So much for heading back to the shrieking shack to 'guess' who is who. He thought wryly.
Harry smiled at Neville the best that a lion could smile, and roared. The sound echoed through the forest, and through Harry's own head. Poor Neville dropped his mouthful of fur, turned tail, and fled. He ran only far enough for Harry to see that the sound had simply surprised him, but it hadn't made him fear Harry's new form.
Now that Harry thought about it, and had tried it, A lion was the only animal he seemed suited to. He purred loudly, and followed Neville through the trees. He leaned his hindquarters against some of the scratchier trees as he passed, feeling very pleased with the sensation. He knew he was probably picking up burrs and such things, but at the moment he really didn't care all that much.
Another sniff of the air told Harry that something had changed in the forest.
There was another cat nearby.
It was from downwind coming from the shrieking shack, so the scent was just barely reaching them before it was carried away. Even weak as it was, the smell was distinctly feline. Harry made a low chirruping noise to Neville and he too stopped, snorting at the air around him. It was as if Harry had said, "Do you smell that?"
They both began to run toward the scent. Harry closed his eyes to concentrate fully on finding this other mysterious cat. Neville seemed to trust Harry's judgement, because it was obvious that the dog didn't know what he was chasing.
Of course, Harry had the larger stride, but the wildly snorting Neville wasn't far behind by the time Harry exploded from a taller section of ferns, and landed in a roll on top of another huge shadow.
The other jungle cat had obviously been expecting his attack, and he knew he had been upwind, but Harry was surprised at how well it defended itself, especially since he hadn't expected it to be so huge. By the time the tangled pile of cats came to a stop and Harry opened his eyes, he could feel a massive claw pushing itself into his chest and a snarling angry breath mussing his mane.
He knew immediately that he was looking up into the angry brown eyes of Ginny Weasley in the form of a Bengal Tiger.
She had sleek orange and black fur everywhere except her cheeks and chest, where white patches stood out in broad contrast to the darkness of the forest. Her teeth were bared, and flecks of menacing drool dripped from the sharp tips.
She roared into his face.
It was loud enough to damage any normal human's eardrums, and Neville was sent scurrying away again.
Harry only purred his laughter. After a moment of eyeing the sharp teeth closely and hedging his bets on the speed of her retaliation, he gave her the sloppiest lick he could right in the middle of her big white cheek. It somehow didn't feel wrong to be 'kissing' her. It was a very pleasant teasing sort of gesture of cameraderie, and her fur tasted clean as if she had only recently bathed herself.
She snapped her jaws at his tongue, but he just batted her head to the side with his dinner-plate paws. Basically, her motions translated to "If you don't remove that disgusting tongue, I'll remove it for you."
"Awww. Look at the kitties!" Hermione's voice once again sounded from the treetops. "They're playing!" She turned back into an owl, leering down at them and hooting with laughter.
Ginny suddenly turned into herself. "Here birdie!" she said teasingly, then once more as a tiger, leapt. She used Harry's chest as a pushoff point, and Harry was momentarily winded. She was able to reach approximately ten feet in the air, where she lightly smacked the righteous owl off her branch, and landed gracefully by launching off the nearest tree the same way Harry had done earlier.
Hermione came to a flustered rest on a rock next to Harry, and turned back into herself, rubbing at her shoulder. "That was uncalled for Ginny!" then she turned to Harry. "What would you say if I told you I have a craving for rats?"
Harry became himself too, and sneered. "I'd have to say make sure you pick your rats wisely. Specifically go for the ones with silver paws, and make sure they're named Peter Pettigrew."
The four spent the next ten minutes playing. They would transform and say something, then change back. Quite a bit of it was teasing. Some of it was informative. Harry found himself making actual physical contact a lot more than he would have, had he been human. Having the Dursleys as guardians had made Harry very reluctant to touch someone else. Even a hug usually felt awfully awkward and far too personal. It felt very natural now to give a lick here, a nudge there, a running leap and a pounce on top of Neville, a flick of his tail in Ginny's face... Things felt very simple as a lion.
Neville had raised a very interesting idea, and Harry had just been pondering it, when he and Ginny both raised their heads and sniffed at the same moment.
'It must be Ron!' The cats both looked at each other in confusion. They weren't as certain with him about what animal he was. All they knew was that some new creature had entered the forest from the direction of the shrieking shack.
Since they couldn't know what animal they were up against, they all grouped together, and slowly walked toward the scent, Hermione fluttering gracefully above them.
They heard a distant yip, and Neville snorted in excitement. He barked back, and began to run. They saw Neville disappear into the tall grasses for a second. No sooner had he disappeared, then he came running back out looking terrified, with a red hunting fox directly on his tail and snapping at his heels.
Ron had arrived.
He yipped excitedly, and raced forwards to jump at Harry. Harry just batted his paw at the fox, and growled. It felt a little like giving Ron a noogie.
Ron went over to Ginny, and pushed himself into her front legs. She purred at him contentedly, and began to lick his face, looking rather proud and mothering. Ron pulled away abruptly, and shook his body starting at his head, and rolling the motion down right to the end of his white tipped tail.
He turned back into a human. "Ginny don't attempt to clean the other animals please. It was bad enough having to watch you clean yourself for those five minutes when you didn't know who you were."
Ginny growled, and batted him in the arm.
"Luna says we all need to go back to the Shrieking Shack. She's got a couple of other things to tell us." He turned back into a fox, and headed towards the shack.
Harry turned into himself again. He whistled a cat call to his friend and said loudly, "Hey Ron!" when Ron turned, Harry said, "Pretty foxy there mate!" and he changed back to his lion form.
The fox grinned, and they all followed him back to the shrieking shack. Harry sort of imagined the lot of them as a small travelling zoo. Two jungle cats, a fox, a dog, and an owl.
"There you are." Said Luna. "Did you have trouble finding them Ronald?"
They all changed back into people, and Ron answered her truthfully. "No, I got a bit sidetracked. There was a grouse in the bushes near the back door."
Hermione giggled. "And you had to chase it?"
Ron laughed. "It might surprise you to know that us foxes seem to have a thing for birds. They're pretty tasty I might add," he said licking his lips suggestively.
That shut Hermione up immediately, and she blushed while everyone else laughed.
"All right everyone." Luna took charge. "I wanted to tell you how important it is that no one find out about your ability to change form. Animagus training without a permit is illegal, and unless you have the proper papers, even owning any of the training books can bring a nasty fine down on your heads, so I have to swear you all to secrecy."
"No problem Luna. You can count on us." Said Neville, blushing slightly.
They all swore to Luna by linking pinkie fingers and shaking.
"Now, back to the business of being animals," Harry continued, "Neville made a suggestion that I think should make things a little easier to keep secret. My father and his friends did this too. We should make up nicknames to refer to our animals. Neville said he feels like a different being when he's a pug. I feel the same, and I think we should have the names to show it."
"What was your father's nickname? I didn't realize he was an animagus." Said Luna dreamily.
"My father was a stag. They called him Prongs, Sirius Black was big black dog named Padfoot, and Remus Lupin was Moony."
Neville gaped. "Your map! That was professor Lupin? Your father?"
"Yeah, my map was made by them." Harry answered. "They called themselves the Marauders."
"Who was Wormtail?" Luna asked quietly.
Harry's face twisted into a scowl. He knew this could be a very long story. "You all met Sirius briefly, and you know that he was never the one who betrayed my parents, and that he never killed thirteen muggles and one wizard with a single curse... Do you remember that Voldemort was brought back to life by his most faithful servant, and that Cedric Diggory was killed right before my eyes in June of my fourth year?"
Luna and Neville nodded. None of the others responded, as they all knew this story very well.
"The wizard who did all those things..." He closed his eyes, "calls himself Wormtail. He was one of my father's best friends, or at least everyone thought he was."
Neville and Luna gasped, and Harry continued. "He was a rat more in mind and spirit than any I have ever encountered. His animagus form was disturbingly appropriate."
Luna shuddered.
Harry went on. "I had the opportunity in third-year, to be rid of Wormtail forever. Moony and Padfoot had confronted the rat and pointed their wands at him. I stood in front of them, and wouldn't let them kill him. I told Sirius and Remus that my father wouldn't have wanted them to become killers... just for him."
"Because of me, Wormtail escaped and was able to restore Voldemort." Harry put his hands over his eyes, and spoke his grief through his palms. "If I hadn't done that, Cedric Diggory wouldn't be dead, Voldemort wouldn't be back, and most of all, Sirius would still be alive. He wouldn't have had to stay hidden in what may as well have been another prison for the last year of his life."
No one knew what to say to the silent tears they saw running down Harry's cheeks. Ginny, who was closest, put her arm around his shoulder, and patted his back lightly.
"I think we should go now. We'll think up nicknames later." Hermione slowly stood, and everyone moved along behind her.
Harry quickly swiped a sleeve under his glasses, and followed with Ginny.
"I'm going to go back to Ravenclaw tower as a gecko." Said Luna. "I'll be less noticeable that way."
"I'll carry you again." Offered Neville.
She looked at him appraisingly. "All right. Drop me off on the fourth floor opposite the vampire tapestry."
Neville nodded, and the next thing anyone knew, she was a small white and yellow lizard. Neville put on the invisibility cloak, and Harry and the others disillusioned each other by rapping their wands on one another's heads.
They all made it back to Gryffindor tower after dropping Luna where she asked, and headed up to their dormitories, thinking about lions, tigers, and rats.
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'Oh my!' Thought Harry the next morning, as he saw Ginny walk into the Great Hall for breakfast.
It wasn't really anything she wore, or did that caused the reaction. He could just see something slightly more feline about the way she walked. More confident, and with a strange excited sort of glint in her eye. She looked younger today than she ever had, and Harry was startled to realize that this was the way she would have looked had she never had her run in with Tom Riddle's diary in her first year. The incident had scarred her just as deeply as his encounters with the Dark Lord had scarred him. Today the weight she had long since carried had somehow evaporated.
Harry smiled to realize that he felt the same way.
She made a beeline for him. "Have you chosen a nickname yet?" she whispered as she took her seat beside him.
"Well," he said uncertainly, "I thought it would be easy, but I just don't really want to make one up for myself. All the ones I come up with either sound totally stupid in my head, or else they sound really conceited. After last year, I don't need anyone else telling me I have a big head."
Ginny laughed. "Hmm... let me think. Yellow fur, large paws, sensitive nose, black whiskers and mane, small grey spot shaped like a lightningbolt on the forehead, aha!" she said suddenly, surprising Harry. "What do you think of the nickname Greymane? I mean-" she hurried on, intent on making sure Harry understood her reasoning, "It says that your scar is important without saying it's about your scar. I mean, you don't like people staring at it and everything, but I remember you once telling me that it was your favorite feature, and-"
"I like it." Harry interrupted in a whisper. He had the strange sensation that he would have appreciated any nickname she suggested just then. He was really in a good mood. "Greymane it is. Have you thought of yours?"
"I have, but I want your opinion."
"All right, let's hear it."
"Sabertooth." Said Ginny almost defiantly.
Harry laughed. "It's perfect!" he said happily. "It says 'don't mess with me, I'm a Weasley!'"
Ginny laughed, sounding glad that Harry thought it was a good one. "Have you seen any of the others? I wanted to get their opinions, and find out what they've thought up."
"Fraid not Gin." Harry said, stuffing a bit of toast into his mouth. He chewed quickly, and swallowed. "I would bet they're all still asleep. We were out pretty late last night."
At that very moment, Neville and Ron appeared in the hall. Both were looking a little worse for wear, but they were smiling radiantly. They plopped themselves down on the bench opposite Harry and Ginny.
"Thought up any names yet?" Ginny asked quickly.
Neville shook his head.
"Nope. Haven't had time yet." Said Ron cheerfully, and he began to fill his mouth, barely chewing, much less tasting any of the things that went in.
"Didn't you eat enough last night?" Ginny asked him sweetly.
"Wha?" said Ron through the food.
"I seem to remember you getting sidetracked by a grouse?"
Ron shook his head. "I didn't eat it, I just batted it around a bit. I just said that to get a rise out of Hermione."
Harry was surprised. This was the first time that Ron had ever admitted to intentionally inciting Hermione's wrath.
Something Ginny had just said suddenly pricked a thought in his brain, and he gasped. "I've got it!" he whispered loudly to Ron. "Your nickname." He clarified at everyone's confused looks. "You said you get sidetracked by birds?"
Ron nodded.
"Well then if you want to really make Hermione blush, what about the nickname 'Sidetrack'?"
An evil grin began to spread across his features. "Oh, you're good. You're really good. I'm going to use that one."
"Good." Said Harry. "What about you Neville?"
"Oh, I'll probably take any nickname. I'll even take a cutesy pootsy one or something. I seem to be one of the meeker of our group." He smiled meekly as if to prove his point.
"Fluffy?" said Ron threateningly. Neville suddenly looked alarmed.
"Ron, we can't name him after Hagrid's three headed monster!" Harry said, trying to save face for Neville. Neville, after all, had never met Fluffy.
Ginny looked closely at Neville. "At the risk of sounding simplistic, what about something like 'Wrinkles'?"
Neville suddenly grinned. "I used to have a stuffed puppy that I named wrinkles."
"You sure you want that one?" Harry asked uncertainly.
"Why not?" Neville responded. "I would think it takes real guts to be willing to be called something like 'Wrinkles'. It's the mark of a fine and confident individual." Neville said these words proudly, then stuffed a whole slice of toast into his mouth, completely ruining the fierce attittude he had just adopted.
Ron patted him on the back teasingly. "And you certainly are a fine individual Wrinkles!"
"I'm going to regwet dif, awen't I..." Neville muffled good-naturedly around the toast in his mouth.
"So what about you guys?" Ron asked. "Got yours?"
Harry pointed to Ginny. "Sabertooth." Ron nodded and smiled, and Harry pointed to himself. "Greymane."
"Those are pretty good."
Before they could say any more, a slightly irritated looking Hermione stalked determinedly over to their table with a dreamy looking Luna directly behind her. Hermione sat down in a huff and Luna, seemingly unaware of Hermione's bad mood, lazily offered her hand to Neville and curtsied.
"Hello, my name is Stickyfoot." She said immediately.
Neville chuckled, and to everyone's surprise, he took her knuckles to his lips and kissed them, making Luna blush. "I'm delighted to make your acquaintance, Stickyfoot, my friends call me Wrinkles."
She curtsied again, and made no indication that she thought that 'Wrinkles' might in any way be an inferior name. Hermione tried not to giggle behind her fingers.
"And might you introduce these charming friends of yours?" she asked, playing along with the act.
Neville indicated Harry across from him with a grand swish of his arm. "Might I present to you, the king of the jungle-" he paused, while Harry blushed furiously, "Mister Greymane."
Next, he moved his hand to Ginny. "Your worst nightmare in animal form, Miss Sabertooth."
Then, smiling, he patted Ron on the shoulder, and looked fleetingly at Hermione. "And the slyest birdwatcher this side of the forbidden forest, Mister Sidetrack."
At this, Hermione's eyes widened, and Ron smirked at her evilly. "And who is this lovely creature you have brought us?" he asked, sounding slightly sinister, and tapping his fingers against each-other like an evil genius.
She gaped at Ron, then at Neville for a moment, then looked pleadingly at Luna. It seemed she didn't know what to do when Ron flirted outright with her. She was blushing madly, and looked completely gobsmacked, much to Harry and Ginny's delight.
"Mister Sidetrack, I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance," Luna rambled easily. "This is my darling friend, Miss Eyespy. I hope you'll pardon her reluctance, she's just had a rather frustrating encounter with Parvati."
"What? No historical figurehead? No famous witch or wizard?" Ron asked, slipping out of character.
Hermione, whose cheeks were still furiously red, shook her head. "I thought I should keep it simple, as we're going to be referring to each other regularly as these names. I don't want anyone to get suspicious."
"So, tell us all about this 'frustrating encounter' that you've had with Parvati?" Ginny asked, grinning at Hermione knowingly, and somehow shoving a piece of bacon into her mouth at the same time. Everyone was looking intensely ravenous today.
Hermione pursed her lips with anger. "She pulled a Trelawney on me in our dormitory this morning. Went all limp and glassy eyed, then she told me that... well that my future love would only please me completely as long as we always have something to argue about. Honestly! Have you ever heard such complete tripe?" She dug angrily into her breakfast, oblivious to the way the supposed 'prophecy' from Parvati was affecting the others.
Harry, Neville and Ginny shared very knowing grins, but said nothing. Ron had turned a bit pale, and was staring intently at his fork which seemed to captivate him. Luna swiped a piece of toast from his plate, and began to munch on it thoughtfully while still standing. Ron pretended to wipe some unseen smudge off the side of the utensil, then went back to his meal, not realizing that he was now missing a piece of toast.
At least they now knew that Parvati had selected a different subject matter for her prophetic abilities, Harry thought ruefully. Too bad it had to be people's love lives.
"Luna, could I ask you something?" He had decided to change the subject, and at the same time fill the embarrasing silence that Hermione seemed to have unknowingly created.
Luna cocked her head to the side and nodded.
"Well, Remus was telling me over the summer that he doesn't have a pack anymore." Harry nearly tripped over the words in eagerness. "He was really upset about it. And seeing as Greymane's not exactly someone who could ever hide, I thought I could put it to use somehow. I wanted to be with him when he transforms, and I wanted to get your permission to tell him about all of this."
"Luna nodded. It's not a problem. In fact I think I wouldn't mind hanging around with him of a full moon once or twice. It would give him some company."
Harry nodded. "I'm not sure what he'll be like at that time, but I suppose a gecko would be safe from him."
"Count me in." said Ginny. "I'd like to be part of a wolf pack."
"Anyone else?"
Everyone nodded enthusiastically, even Neville.
"I'll write to him this evening." Harry nodded.
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Dear Moony
If possible, I'd like for you to come for a bit of a visit to Hogwarts. Fred and George say we can have visitors whenever we want, and I immediately thought of you. I know you'll be busy and things will be a little crazy here too, but it would be nice to see you.
I know you are regularly ill, and I thought you might be able to use that as an excuse to get out of your duties. Although I'm sure no one will notice if you come over of an evening. Hope to hear from you soon.
Harry
Harry had briefly considered signing his letter 'Greymane'. But decided against it. He'd given away enough as it was without bringing the entire ministry down on his head. He only hoped that Remus would understand that he meant for him to come over on the next full moon.
He looked around the common room. Neville was practicing his cello in the corner, and he was getting quite good at it. He was currently being fawned over by three fourth year Gryffindor girls, and was apparently loving every second of it. He was even showing off a bit, laughing with them and playing complicated sounding passages in the song he had just learned. Harry decided not to interrupt.
Ginny sat in one of the wingbacked armchairs doing her charms homework in her lap.
"Do you think this letter is too obvious?" Harry asked her.
She read through it once and smiled, handing it back. "It's perfect."
"I'll go mail it then." Harry rushed off to the owlery to see if Hedwig was up to delivering his bit of post.
He received his answer from Remus the next morning at breakfast. He tore into the envelope, and began to read the answer excitedly.
Dear Harry
I don't know what you're up to, but I'll see you on the 23rd of November.
Moony.
Harry ran over to the others to tell them the news. Everyone was especially excited about showing off their animal forms to someone new, and they began to plan how to let out the secret. The twenty-third was only a week away. It was on the Friday the night of the full moon, and Harry could only assume that indeed Remus had understood the message.
Harry was a little worried. Remus had told him unconditionally that he would not teach Harry to become an animagus. He only hoped that didn't include Luna teaching him how to become one.
