A/N: Firstly, many thanks to all my reviewers! I've been a bit lax in that respect lately... Secondly, it occurred to me that not everyone would know the secret to 'editing' wizarding photos... While I don't know if wizarding photos can actively interact with their viewers in canon, I certainly like the idea that they can. So to 'edit' such a photo, all one needs to do is tell the people in the image what to do. The photo wizards and witches then transfigure, charm, hex, curse or whatever it takes and voila! Edited wizarding photographs!
If Harry hadn't grown accustomed to the interesting 'vocabulary' Hermione had finally picked up during their Auror training, not to mention from the twins, he might have continued teasing her about the 'tits' comment for the rest of their natural lives. As it was, it only took one good knock upside the head to get him to drop the matter. This, of course, led to him teasing her that maybe she had taken too eagerly to the physical combat training...
For the next couple days, Sirius, James and Remus attempted to discretely tail the instructors. Their task didn't go as easily as they would have liked. The instructors were uncommonly swift on foot and seemed to vanish the instant they stepped around a corner. This trick of their's caused the Marauders no small amount of frustration and, before they knew it, their Friday lesson was beginning.
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The second special class for the seventh year Slytherins and Gryffindors began with yet another demonstration. Though, unfortunately for Bolt and Wildcat, this demonstration was not planned. It was later learned that one Slytherin had bet another ten galleons that he wouldn't smack Wildcat's arse when she walked by during their next lesson. While Slytherins are not normally the bravest of people, they can be motivated into a false bravery with the prompt of easy money...
SMACK!
The sound barely had time to register before a whirlwind of activity took place. The instant the Slytherin boy's hand connected, he suddenly found out just why she had warned them of violent tendencies...
Despite the fact that he wasn't exactly a lightweight, or short for that matter, the seventh year suddenly found himself dangling a foot above the ground and choking for breath. The students nearest backed up with startled screams as Wildcat held him up with one hand around his throat and snarled savagely. Claws unsheathed as she drew her hand back for a vicious, and most likely bloody swipe...
That was when the class learned just why they had two instructors for this class.
In a flash, Bolt had crossed the room and slammed into Wildcat just before her claws could strike the flesh of the student. The unfortunate Slytherin fell onto the cushion he had been using a chair, gasping in great lungfuls of air and rubbing his throat. Turning, he saw Wildcat and Bolt rolling on the ground and more than one student backed away from the scene before Bolt finally managed to pin Wildcat to the ground.
Panting for breath, Bolt actually had a grin on his face despite the numerous bloody scratches on his face, arms and torso. "Been a while since I've had to do that..." He commented, then seemed to notice that Wildcat was still snarling and put on a stern face. "Wildcat!" He barked, his tone that of a commander. "You cannot kill the students!"
It would have been funny if his tone hadn't been so serious...
No less than ten students thanked whatever deity was listening when Wildcat finally calmed down. Bolt rose, reaching down to help Wildcat to her feet. He checked to make certain she was okay and then gave her a hug. When the embrace ended, Wildcat moved over to the Slytherin while Bolt moved to the front of the class.
"My most sincere apologies, Mr Creed." Wildcat's normally strong tone was more subdued. "Please allow me to escort you to the hospital wing..."
The poor Creed boy seemed to want to decline the offer, but couldn't come up with an excuse before Wildcat took his arm and led him from the room.
The remaining students turned wide eyes on Bolt as soon as they left and he looked a bit nervous. "Heh... Well, now that you've been given a better demonstration on why we need to hold these lessons..." He gave the class a rueful smile, causing more than one girl to practically swoon, as he remembered the last 'demonstration.' "I'll see if I can get the lesson going while we wait for Wildcat."
While Hermione was gone, Harry taught the class about the strange mentalities that can develop when becoming an Animality. He described how he saw the other Animalities as members of his 'herd' and even amused them by describing Moonshine's stronger pack mentality. As he spoke, he absent-mindedly flicked his wand over his various scrapes from the minor scuffle, removing any trace of Wildcat's temper. This somehow turned into a brief look at Animality laws.
"Back home, our government is bringing forth laws concerning Animalities. You have to pass all sorts of exams, both medical and intelligence, before you are allowed to be turned. Not to mention the laws in place to protect our rights and protect us against law suits in case we can't control our instincts, especially when we are first turned. Though, as Wildcat has demonstrated, not even those that have delt with them the longest can always control themselves..."
Eventually, Hermione returned and, upon learning what Harry had taught them so far, she continued on that same line... After first apologizing to the class for her disturbance!
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By the time curfew had rolled around that night, the story of Wildcat nearly mauling a seventh year Slytherin had spread to every student in every house. The story had been told and retold until some younger Hufflepuffs had fainted, thinking they were seeing a zombie when passing Creed as he stalked through the halls. The professors expressed concern, but were assured by Albus Dumbledore that everything was fine and neither Animality had broken any laws.
For his effort, and suffering, Vinnie Creed became fifty galleons richer.
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Saturday morning dawned bright and cheerful... Too bright and cheerful. The clouds that had seemed perpetual the last week had cleared off and now the brilliant sun glared dangerously on the thick blanket of snow that carpetted the grounds. While no one seemed too eager to get up early on the weekened, some students were uncommonly cheerful as they bounded out of their dormitories and to breakfast.
After the owls had delivered their morning mail, the Headmaster cheerfully informed the students that perhaps they should take advantage of the break in the weather to participate in some winter activities outdoors. His suggestion was met mostly with grumbles, a few cheers and a number of war declarations flew back and forth among the students. All in all, Albus thought it would be a good day.
Polishing off their breakfasts in record time, the Marauders soon quit the Gryffindor table and practically flew out of the Great Hall. War had been declared and now they had to get outdoors to prepare for a grand snowball fight... Preferably before anyone else managed to get outside. They may be Gryffindors, but the Marauders were not above such dirty tactics as striking before anyone knew what was coming.
Remus and Peter worked on building the main and smaller Marauder Forts while James and Sirius stockpiled the fort with charmed snowballs. The snowballs had charms for changing colors, turning things invisible, levitating... Standard snowball war charms. A few snowballs were given special charms and set aside for Slytherins. Once things were set, the Marauders took up specific vantage points around the entrance and waited.
And waited...
And... The door creaked open, the sound of laughter coming from the castle and before they bothered to check who their targets were, four snowballs hit their marks!
"James Potter!"
James gulped and peeked from his hiding spot. "Yes Lily-dearest?"
"How many times do I have to tell you..." The purple haired, faceless Lily Evans stormed over to the Head Boy and took hold of his cloak. "Look before you throw!"
It must be noted that Lily's dark purple hair looked wicked considering her entire head seemed to be invisible.
"More times than you should have had to?" James gulped slightly, not really wanting to piss his girlfriend off too much.
"Exactly!" Lily gave James a kiss, letting him know she wasn't too upset.
"Lily! That's just gross!" One of the other Seventh Year Gryffindor girls made a gagging sound.
Whatever it was she found gross apparently amused the hell out of Sirius who was openly laughing at the couple. "Gross, yes... But funny as hell getting to watch James kissing the air like that."
Breaking the kiss, Lily conjured a mirror and glanced at her reflection. All she could see was purple hair... Giving a laugh, Lily stole one of James' snowballs and smushed it into his face, turning his skin olive green. "There, now let's get set up. We have to defend Gryffindor's honor..."
Cheering, the Marauders and their official and unofficial female counterparts prepared for war.
They were just in time before the rest of the students started piling out of the castle and soon all hell broke loose. Some students managed to escape the rather harsh snowball war by sneaking off for walks, or to the Quidditch Pitch. Some even took ice skates and went out to the frozen lake. All in all, it seemed a typical winter weekend.
At least until their new special class instructors returned from a trip to who-knows-where.
It started with a sparkle of silver that caught Lily's eye. She stopped mid-throw to look for the source of light. Eventually she spotted the cause and watched, quickly drawing the attention of several other girls to the sight of the black and silver pegasus circling down for a landing. The boys soon discovered the lack of attention on the part of the girls and followed their gazes upward.
Seeing the pegasus in flight caused conflicting emotions within James Potter. On one hand, he finally knew if the pegasus instructor could fly or not, and on the other hand, he also knew that even as a horse that instructor could claim the attention of his Lily. James frowned moodily at the Animality as he backwinged to a neat landing.
It wasn't until Bolt landed that anyone noticed Wildcat was mounted on his back. Sweeping his wings aside, the cougar-woman slid off her friend and landed on the ground. As Bolt shifted back into his hybrid form, more than one student's jaw dropped. They had known their new instructors didn't seem to feel the need to hide their differences, but to go around wearing skimpy leather outfits in the snow?
Wildcat, who had been holding several parcels, handed half of her load to Bolt and, giving slight waves to the students, the two instructors walked calmly up toward the castle doors as if nothing were out of the ordinary at all. Once they were safely inside, James, Sirius and Remus exchanged glances and started up the snowball war once more.
As the other students became engrossed in the war, they slipped away and into the castle unnoticed... Mostly. Only moments later Lily slipped into the castle as well.
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The Marauders' plan to track down the two instructors to sate their curiosity failed for two very important reasons. First, they forgot that the instructors had that annoying tendency to just vanish. Second... The instructors were waiting for the Marauders to follow them and, using their advanced stealth skills, were actually trailing the boys instead of the other way around.
It didn't take long for Lily to catch up to James, Sirius and Remus, and when she did, James hit upon the brilliant idea to split up and cover more ground. Sirius argued that James just wanted to get Lily alone and that was how it James and Sirius ended up in the kitchens while Lily and Remus wound up in the library.
They really were attempting to track down the instructors. They just had things to do first... Honest!
At any rate, as the groups split up, Bolt and Wildcat had a quick mental conversation. Telepathy was a minor Animality ability most commonly used in full animal form that they had learned to develop during their Auror training. It was a very useful skill.
"If they had split up the other way, my job would have been easier."
"Quit your bitching, 'Mione. This can still be used to our advantage."
"Fine, but don't expect it to be quite so easy for me to get both of them to come."
A soft snort of amusement greeted that comment.
"Oh grow up..."
"Sorry, it comes with all the time we've spent around the Weasleys."
Making a disbelieving sound, Wildcat shook her head and headed down toward the kitchens. Just as they were about to get out of range for their telapathic communication, she sent another thought.
"Muffle your hooves... Sounds like you're wearing high heels."
"Argh! I thought you guys had enough of that joke back in fifth year?"
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Lily Evans and Remus Lupin were just exiting the library when it happened. Remus had been explaining why the Marauders were attempting to follow the new instructors, basically just admitting that they were bored and there was a minor mystery about the Animalities. Lily found the whole thing amusing, especially the way Remus suddenly jumped and looked guilty when they left the library and came face to face with Bolt.
Without James anywhere nearby to distract her, and with Bolt standing there wearing just a pair of dragon-hide trousers, Lily couldn't help it when she found herself staring at the eye-pleasing image. It was the first time she had ever been this close and, in a near drool-inducing moment, she realized that Bolt's strong chest had a fine layer of creamy white fur. So that's why he looks so pale...
The predator in Remus couldn't help but admire the pegasus/human hybrid as well. Though not even Remus was certain as to if it was because of the Animality's looks or because Bolt was a prey species twice over. He gulped when he realized that Bolt was looking at him with an amused expression on his face.
"Good m-morning, Mr...Er, Bolt..." Remus blushed as he stuttered. "Umm... Did you have a good... Flight?"
Lily was still incapable of speech at this point, ogling the special class instructor.
"Good morning. Yes, I had a wonderful flight. Thank you for asking." Bolt nodded and seemed about to walk by then before apparently changing his mind. "Mr Lupin, Miss Evans... Could you please accompany me?" Without waiting for a response, Bolt started off down the corridor.
Remus looked over at Lily, swearing later that he saw a bit of drool, before swatting her just hard enough on the arm to shake her from her stupor. "C'mon..." He started following the hybrid.
Turning a shade of red that nearly matched her hair, Lily made a small squeak sound and scampered to follow Remus and Bolt. It wasn't until she was close that she slowed to a normal walk and fell in behind them. She found her traitorous mind offering the opinion that the view wasn't bad at all even as she decided to get a pair of trousers like those for James...
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"Is it just me, or are we being watched?" Sirius Black looked around as he and his bestest best friend James Potter emerged from the kitchens. Both Sirius and James carried two large wicker baskets filled with food.
James looked around, the light glinting off his glasses. "I think we are, but it's probably just the house elves hoping that we'll come back." He shrugged off the sensation, turning for the trek up to Gryffindor Tower.
Sirius didn't seem as convinced. "I dunno, the elves have never given off that creepy feeling before."
"Creepy feeling? What are you, five?" James laughed as he draped the handles of both baskets he carried over one arm, promptly using the free hand to swat Sirius upside the head and causing the slightly taller boy to fumble the baskets he was carrying slightly.
"Ow! What's with the abuse?" Sirius grumped, checking under the lid to one of the baskets. "Good thing for you that the frosting on the cupcakes wasn't damaged..."
Rolling his eyes, James looked highly amused. "As if smeared frosting would matter with how they taste."
"It does!" Sirius started off on a long-winded rant about how perfectly frosted cupcakes tasted better than messy ones. However, he didn't get far into the explanation before he suddenly found himself face down on the floor and missing a certain sweet-filled basket. "What the..."
"Hey!" James nearly fell over with the same impact that had knocked Sirius on his face, stumbling a few steps before regaining his balance. He looked ahead to see a tawny cougar standing halfway down the corridor from them and holding Sirius' cupcake basket by the handle in it's... Her teeth. "Very amusing, Wildcat. Can we have our basket back?"
Sirius picked himself up, "Yeah, that's the basket with the desserts in it..." He dusted himself off and took long strides over to the cougar.
Just when he was almost in range, Wildcat jumped back and ran a couple dozen yards before stopping. She turned to look at them, an almost expectant look in her amber eyes.
"Come on, what gives?" Sirius was starting to get cranky... She had the sugar! He made to pounce on the cougar only to hit the floor again as she moved just in time.
Perking her ears forward, Wildcat gave the Marauders the impression that she was laughing at them before she turned and ran further away. She paused every now and then, looking back and once even sitting down to obviously wait for them.
Eventually getting a clue, Sirius and James took up a jogging pace and curiously followed the thieving cougar.
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Once she was certain that James and Sirius were following, Hermione made sure that she stayed far enough ahead of them that they could only catch glimpses of her as she turned corners and ran through secret passages. When she reached the portrait of the explorer riding the magic carpet, she closed her eyes and charged right through the image as if it were not even there. It was a handy trick, one that Crookshanks had taught the Animalities back in her fifth year.
Hermione's sudden appearance startled Remus and Lily, both of them jumping to their feet from the soft, cream colored sofa and reaching for their wands. They stopped when they saw it was her, Lily giving an amused smile at the way the cougar looked with a basket dangling from her mouth. Stalking over, she dropped the basket onto the glass and gold coffee table and shifted back into her hybrid form.
"They're coming." Hermione said as Harry emerged from his room with a familiar photo album. She stood up straight and waved her wand around herself in a manner that created a usefully near-blinding glow. When the glow cleared, she seemed to be... Human.
Remus' jaw dropped at what he assumed was a human illusion of the normally hybrid instructor. She saw his surprise and winked, fishing a sugar biscuit out of the basket and walking over just as a pounding started on the portrait...
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Sirius and James skidded around a corner just in time to see Wildcat's tail slither into a portrait. They paused, exchanging a glance before stalking over to the explorer painting.
"I don't remember any secret passageways being here..." James looked skeptically at the portrait.
Thinking back to when they still had the Marauder's Map, Sirius also didn't remember any passages here. "Maybe it's a guest room?" With that, Sirius knocked on the frame.
No sooner had Sirius knocked than the portrait opened. Standing in the open doorway was a young woman. She was a bit on the small side, probably not even five and a half feet tall, and had deep chocolate brown eyes. She wore a pair of prim, pale blue robes that concealed any figure she might have had. Brown hair was pulled up into a neat bun that gave her a librarian quality.
Having expected to see the taller, muscular and exotic Wildcat, Sirius was disappointed to find a librarian hiding away in the room. "Er... We're looking for a... Cougar."
The rather plain looking librarian raised a skeptical brow. "A cougar? Really... And why are you looking for this cougar?" Her tone was patronizingly annoying.
"It... She stole our dessert." James seemed to realize how idiotic that sounded even as he said it. "Um..."
"So you decided to... Chase a cougar... That had stolen your... Dessert?" The woman was looking at them as if they were stupid. "Isn't it considered dangerous to chase a wild animal that apparently wanted food... In the middle of a castle?" She lifted the hand holding the sugar biscuit and took a small bite, waiting for the boys to respond.
James and Sirius exchanged a brief look, looking a bit uncertain now. Whatever they might have said was broken off by the familiar sound of Remus laughing at them coming from behind the woman.
"Moony?" James tried to peek beyond the woman and saw Remus leaning over the edge of a couch to see the other two Marauders so that he could laugh at them. "What are you doin' in there?"
Hermione, aka the librarian, managed not to laugh and pasted a surprised look on your face. "Oh... Are these friends of your's, Remus? Well, why don't you come on in, boys... A basket of goodies just appeared not too long ago."
She cheerfully moved aside and gestured for them to enter and, once they were in, she closed the door. While they were busy looking around, she cast quite a few locking and privacy spells on the doorway and the common room in general. Once that was complete, she walked over to the coffee table and swiped a couple more sugar biscuits before moving to sit at the desk she had claimed for the duration of the mission.
After taking in the room, the boys spied their basket sitting on the coffee table, the contents of which were being plundered by Remus, Lily and Bolt. Lily was nibbling at a chocolate chip biscuit as if afraid that Bolt would think her a pig if she ate too fast or too much. It was something both Hermione and Harry found amusing.
"Why are you guys hanging out here?" Sirius was looking at Lily and Remus accusingly before he sat on the floor and set his other basket on the table as well. "Weren't you going to the library?"
"We did go to the library." Remus nicked a treacle tart from one of James' baskets before the Head Boy could deposit them on the table. "But seeing as we were looking for Bolt and Wildcat, when Bolt came and asked us to come here, we figured why not?"
"Which brings us to the other point." Lily had finished her biscuit by now and was peeking into the other baskets. "They said they have something to tell us in private."
Bolt, busy stuffing a piece of strawberry cake into his mouth, gestured over to where the woman was sitting at the desk.
Hermione finished writing something down and cast a charm. Standing, she brought the piece of parchment over to the table and set it down along with an everlasting eagle quill that had been monogrammed with the letters HW. "Before we can explain, we need you to sign this confidentiality contract." Her expression was challenging and, for a moment, Harry expected her to add on a dare.
Remus, Lily, James and Sirius exchanged uncomfortable expressions. It wasn't often that teachers asked you to sign, no doubt magically binding, contracts. Whatever it was they wanted to say, it must have been very important.
"And if we don't?"
"If you don't, we modify your memories of this day and you never find out the answers to questions that have been on the edge of your mind since we arrived." Harry had finally finished his cake.
One might think that would be enough of a reason for the Marauders, but their curiosity didn't extend to signing unknown contracts with virtual strangers just for something they could probably find out on their own. After all, they couldn't be master pranksters if they didn't know how to spy.
Seeing their doubt, Hermione added something that they couldn't resist. "Dumbledore doesn't even know all of what we plan on telling you."
That was enough for Sirius and James, both took turns and signed the parchment. As soon as each finished signing, their names glowed golden, causing a brief gold glow to come over them as well as the magic bound them to the agreement. Seeing as James and Sirius had already signed, Remus signed as well. It took a moment of all three of the present Marauders staring at her before Lily added her signature to the parchment.
Bolt laughed like a demon as he swiped the parchment off the table and tucked it into his pants. "Mwahahahaha! Now your souls are mine!"
"WHAT!"
A/N: This one took a while to get out. My muse was arguing with itself over how to work one of the scenes. Either the next chapter, or the one after that will be the end of the First Mission. It depends on how much my muse manages to get done in the next chapter. Thanks again to all my reviewers!