Chapter 15 – Blowing in the Wind

Part 57 – Bird and Wolf

"You both transformed over the break? That means only Harry and I haven't!"

"Yep! I'm a Black Wolf and Hermione is a wren!"

"Huh. I guess I'll have to meditate more. I didn't really have time over the holiday, between homework, etiquette with Narcissa, and the most insanely formal meals I've ever attended."

"Those were perfectly normal meals!" Draco objected. "Well, the first night was much more casual than usual."

"You just keep thinking that, Drace," Meega muttered.

The Slytherin pair had met with the Gryffindors the first chance they had found after returning to Hogwarts. It shouldn't have surprised Meega that the other two girls had transformed over the two-week break, but it did. She hadn't managed to find any free time to meditate, and she hadn't expected the others to, either.

"Why was Narcissa teaching you etiquette?" Mione asked.

"So I don't tarnish the Malfoy family name or honor. Lucius ordered me to stay there this summer so that she can continue my lessons with the help of some professional tutors."

Mione let out a low whistle. "You mean you're going to be stuck at Malfoy Manor all summer?"

"I doubt I'll be stuck there. Narcissa already told me that she has some places she wants to take me so that she can show me off. Well, let's see it."

"See what?"

"You two transform." Mione looked at Hermione, who transformed into a wren with a faint 'pop.' Then Mione changed into her Animagus form, grinning a wolf's grin at her schoolmates. "Well. That's all but two of us done."

Part 58 – Career Advice

With the O.W.L.s fast approaching, each student had an appointment with his or her Head of House to discuss their career choice. Meega was looking forward to the chance to speak to Professor Snape, but she didn't really have a career choice. None of the pamphlets that had been set out in the common room really appealed to her. She didn't want to be a Healer, or a Professor, or a professional Quidditch player, or anything else presented in the leaflets. Really, there had only ever been one thing that had appealed to her to do the rest of her life. Unfortunately, she doubted Professor Snape would have much advice on that subject. Or be particularly comfortable with it.

"Miss Kyl-Derc. No doubt you have something outstanding chosen for yourself."

Meega smiled a little sheepishly at the Potions Master's rare compliment. "Well, I think it's perfect for me, but I doubt most people would consider it outstanding." She paused, feeling a little foolish.

"Yes?" the Professor prompted.

Meega blushed faintly. "Well . . . to be completely honest, Professor, I want to get married and have children."

Professor Snape's eyebrows sought his hairline momentarily before, astonishingly, he smiled broadly. "While that is a common enough answer from those of my pupils with arranged marriages about what they're going to do, I had not expected it from you. From what I have seen in my classes and the comments of my colleagues you could do anything you want."

"But this is what I want to do, Professor. I might write some, but what I really want is a husband, and children, and a home."

Still smiling, Professor Snape nodded. Meega was more than a little confused by this turn of events—she had expected the Professor to be uncomfortable and disappointed with her 'lack of ambition.' But this! There was no way in her wildest imaginings that Meega could have been prepared for this. "You will make an excellent mother, Miss Kyl-Derc. Much better than you would a Ministry official, for example. Give me a moment . . .." The Professor opened one of his desk drawers and shuffled through the papers, searching for something. After a moment he pulled a sheet of paper out and handed it to Meega. "This is a list of the suggested N.E.W.T. level classes suggested for those whose plans involve motherhood rather than a career," he told her, his cool façade returning. "Do you have any questions?"

Meega quickly glanced over her list, "Why is Arithmancy suggested? Isn't is just a numeric form of Divination?"

"Unlike Divination, Arithmancy is actually applicable to life. Even if you never use the divining attributes of the study, it teaches you to solve problems. You will need that skill both raising children and managing a household."

Meega nodded, folding the paper neatly and tucking it away. "Well, then, I suppose that's everything."

Professor Snape nodded. "If you would be kind enough to send in Miss Parkinson? I believe she is next in line."

Part 59 – Change

Concentrate, Meega! Concentrate!

Try as she might, Meega was failing miserably at her meditation. April was already turning to May, but she and Harry had yet to transform and there was no longer time nor a reason for mass meditation sessions.

Sighing, Meega flipped onto her stomach. There was no way she was going to get anywhere, and she only had twenty-six more cranes to make. Enough of Draco's black paper was in her bag to finish that project, at least.

After making nine hundred and seventy-four paper cranes, Meega didn't have to think about it. By the time she'd started her third crane, her hands had fallen into the repetitive motion of the origami and her mind had slipped into the now-familiar patterns of meditation.

Twenty to go . . .

Fifteen.

Ten.

Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Six.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One thousand paper cranes.

Grinning, Meega sat back on her heals. Twenty-six here, and the rest back in her dorm. She'd make her wish when she got back.

Before she could move to gather her cranes, a white-hot burst of pain erupted between her shoulder blades and flashed down her spine. Meega screamed and kept screaming as she felt something sprout from her shoulders and her spine extended downward inch by excruciating inch. Then something snapped, and the blistering pain burned Meega, still screaming, into the black.

Part 60 – One of Mine

Therin jolted from his near-doze at the sound of Meega's scream. "You!" he snapped at the inhabitant of the canvas across the corridor. The little girl jumped, half her flowers spilling from her basket and planting themselves to be picked again. "Go, child, and fetch the headmaster, the matron, and the Head of Slytherin House! Quickly!" The girl stared for a moment, eyes wide, and then bolted from her frame to complete her task.

"Why are you so worked up? The girl has said she's Muggleborn. Your house will be rid of that defilement if she dies."

"Your hat doesn't make mistakes, Godric," the dark-haired boy said stiffly. "Lady Meega is one of mine, and I always have and always will look out for my own. And, for your information, in her case it is splitting hairs as to whether she's Muggleborn or her blood is more pure than young master Malfoy's."

Three figures came hurdling around the corner, the black haired man leaning the older man and the matron by a good distance.

"Quickly," Therin said, "Lady Meega is in need." The portrait swung open, and Severus Snape strode in. When the other two tried to enter, they were blocked as if by and invisible wall. "Godric, Rowena, I have no time for your games!"

"There are laws for this room, Salazar," Helga reminded him. "Godric and Rowena are under no obligation to let their students in—just as you kept your students from entering when they wished you to allow it."

"Helga!"

"Salazar. Be calm. Your pupil will bring her out."

A moment later, Severus exited with Meega and her book bag. As the portrait swung shut, her gave the four there an odd look. Getting his student to the Hospital Wing was more urgent than interrogating the founders, and so he tucked Meega's broken glasses into a pocket and started off in that direction. Poppy and Albus followed him, the former twittering like a silly bird, and Severus tried not pay too much attention to the wings and tail that now graced Meega's form. He tried not to look at the golden glow coming from behind her lashes and half-closed eyelids at all.

Meega was powerful, competent, and intelligent. She had demonstrated as much on numerous occasions. What could she have been attempting that would lead to an accident like this?