Mistaken Identity
Chapter 1
By: EckoStalker
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and such related characters are not my property, but are owned by J.K. Rowling. I, on the other hand, do own Alexis Whyte and Madame Sanya. My dear companion Deep Shadows owns Artimis Callabella, Hailey, and Aaron (with my occasional help and add-in for the last two).
Author's Notes: This is a spin-off from Seven Years Later..., but it has nothing to do with the main plot of the story sequel. And I will try to get on our account to read your hopefully excellent and informative reviews and to reply, but I am currently without access to the Internet at this time (and most of the time, I just get info from Deep Shadows). So don't take it personal if I haven't answered any of your questions or comments, it's just that I can't get to them. Deep Shadows does it for me until I get Internet access. Thanks bunches! Enjoy! There will be about two more chapters, I think.
She lifted her small, wet nose to the star studded sky, sniffing quietly for anything unusual. Even in the almost pitch blackness of the night, keen wolf eyes picked out every detail of the trees and obstacles before her. Still, nothing strange.
Pricking her small ears forward, she loped off at a steady pace along the assigned trail, senses attuned for any sign of disturbance. The mission was turning out to be duller than she thought.
Yawning cavernously, gleaming fangs glinting with innocent evil, Alexis Whyte, in wolf form, slowed to a quick jog, still wary of her surroundings. She sorely considered just quitting and grabbing someone to go get some pizza. Ron perhaps, would join her... she shook her head, soft white fur rippling gently. No, she had to keep to the Auror mission.
Some unrecorded magical activity had been detected in the small woodland area on the outskirts of a good-sized Muggle community. Aurors were dispatched to determine if the source was Muggle friendly or dangerous. So, Aurors Alexis Whyte, Artimis Callabella, Aaron Billiard, Hailey Garnet, and Ronald Weasley had been sent to find the said source.
Thinking to cover more ground quicker before daybreak, all had split up, Alexis taking the path nearest the Muggle city, almost three miles to the north and towards which she was traveling. That was nearly two hours ago.
The air was thick and humid amongst the dense clumps of trees, the slight breeze drifting in lazy circles, taunting Alexis's wolf sense with the alluring scents of hidden prey. Suddenly, she skidded to a halt, thickly padded paws making no noise with their stealth ness. On one of the relieving eddies of wind, a faint smell of humanity lingered edgily, drawing Alexis's attention slightly to the left. She would have ignored it as a Muggle hiker or forest hiker except that she smelt something odd to a regular human's scent. Curious and true to her job, she expertly traced the scent, following an invisible trail through the mysterious forest. The trace grew stronger, definitely carrying the odd twinge of magic that associated with Wizards and Witches. Alexis broke into a quick jog, drawing closer.
The trees suddenly gave way to a small, crudely cleared area, and Alexis scrambled back, hiding herself in the trees to further survey the scene.
The house that occupied the center of the sandy clearing was actually nicely made, it being mostly composed of large cedar planks and logs with a slightly tilted metal roof. A chimney rose from the back, made of metal as well, and emitted a steady flow of wispy smoke that Alexis's wolf eyes picked out keenly. Two sorrel mares were penned in by a thick wooden fence to the right of the clearing, fidgeting nervously at the sight of Alexis.
Seeing no one else, Alexis quietly crept from her hiding place, slinking silently to the edge of the uncovered porch, seeking out the single shaded window.
Inside she distantly heard the crackling of flames and clinks of dishes, a scent of nicely roasting venison wafting through the chinks and cracks in the wooden walls. She hesitantly placed a soft paw on the edge of the porch, poising to jump upon it, when a loud crash resounded through the house. Alexis started and scrambled off and under the porch steps, ears laid back against her head. The horses whinnied in surprise, prancing about and drawing closer together, eyes wide and shining in the light of the moon as they watched Alexis fearfully.
A stream of muffled curses drifted to Alexis's acute ears, sounding deep, yet feminine. It grew quiet once again; only-slight scuffles of footsteps and the warm whispers of unseen flame.
Alexis scooted out from underneath the steps and proceeded to investigate the vicinity. Nothing seemed menacing to her wolf sense, and all Alexis felt was that this was some hermit witch who just wanted to be left alone.
Well sorry lady, not happening if you're gonna use magic...
She circled the house, surveying for anything out of the ordinary. Garden supplies tossed near a small garden plot, an ancient, broken horse carriage, and a good sized metal shed containing grain and surplus food were the only other things worth investigating.
Alexis casually loped past the horse pens, and the horse nearest her reared up in fear, neighing frightfully and knocking against the other, sending it also into a frantic fit.
Alexis spun and instinctively crouched into a defensive position, ears laid back and teeth bared in a menacing snarl. She growled lowly, warning the beasts on reflex. It only frightened them worse. They pranced about the tight stalls in agitation, whinnying loudly and pushing against the fence boards. One of the mares started and kicked out with iron-shod hooves, striking the topmost board. A thick, reverberating crack sliced through the stillness as the board snapped in two and were sent careening. Alexis let out a surprised bark and leapt back to avoid the flying pieces. Looking at the horses in annoyance, she backed up to shift to human form when a large rectangle of yellowish light spilled across the ground, illuminating Alexis and making her green eyes shine light lighthouse beacons in the darkness.
She squinted, blinded momentarily and shocked into motionlessness. A silhouette ambled across the light and Alexis saw the house's occupant in the now open doorway. She was an older woman of a tall stature, almost anorexically thin. She was swathed in dull colored shawls and loose, handmade garments. A few wrinkles showed around bright, honey brown eyes, and her salt and pepper hair hung thickly in a disheveled ponytail. In her outstretched, wrinkled hand was clutched a shabby, light colored wand, pointed threateningly at Alexis.
"Damn wolves! I thought I scared your kind off a while back! Just don't know when to quit, do you!" She yelled in a deep, slightly accented voice. Alexis gazed at her in confusion, then looked down at herself in remembrance. So she WAS talking to her, and the way it looked from this angle, Alexis didn't blame the sorceress for thinking she was after horseflesh. Alexis straightened in wolf form, concentrating so as to change back to her original form and thus explain the situation. The woman glared, sensing something unnatural and tricky about this creature of the night, and acted in the way she thought best.
She stepped forward, speaking a spell in a confident, thick voice, and directed it towards Alexis with a flourish of her wand.
Alexis stared wide-eyed at the sparkle of dangerous looking red energy streaming towards her and kicked into full gear. She dodged to the right and vaulted off the wooden fence, soaring over the assault as it flew under her by mere inches. She landed lightly on her feet, twisting snakelike around to face the witch, body low to the ground.
The witch watched with calculating eyes, evaluating the probability of that trick.
"So, no ordinary blood-thirsty canine we have here, no? Hm, very peculiar... Like to cause trouble in this form, do we? Well no wolf dines on Madame Sanya's stock just to cause mischief!"
And with a fanciful flick of the wand, she sent a bolt of violet colored matter at the confused wolf.
Alexis yelped in surprise, caught off guard and unable to react in any new way but to flee. She spun on hind feet and hightailed it towards a clump of trees. At the last moment upon reaching them, she jumped up and twisted over the crackling bolt right before it grazed past her, and now sprinted straight towards the old house. Alexis glanced over her shoulder in contempt, but quickly sped up as she witnessed the bolt striking the tree... and bounce back, following her trail. Damn! A homing spell... nifty though...
She skimmed across the ground, diving under the house, hearing the witch's snickers as she watched from the porch. Alexis hurriedly squirmed her way to the other side in growing panic, and upon exiting galloped towards the safety of the trees.
Alexis had made it to the outermost ones and heard the spell sizzling through the air inches behind her. It struck a tree to the side of her, blinding her temporarily with the shower of sparks, as it ricocheted off several other trunks.
The bolt collided with a tree directly in front of Alexis, and it bounced back and flew at her headlong like a bolt of lightning, slamming into her with the precision of a sniper.
Alexis howled in unbearable pain as the spell coursed through her body, making her white fur stand on end with the transfer of energy.
She collapsed to the ground, convulsing spasmodically as her muscles burned and tightened, her bones stretching and stiffening. Her vision exploded into bursts of painful color, her head pounding with a sudden rush of noise.
Presently the pain faded, leaving her whimpering and limp on the forest floor. Her muscles twitched as she slowly regained her senses, everything tingling unpleasantly, the forest dark and silent around her. Her entire body hurt and her joints were stiff, but Alexis forced herself to stand. She stood trembling for a moment on four shaking legs, head drooping tiredly. When she was sure she could walk alright, Alexis jerkily slinked off into the woods, and a voice echoed behind her.
"Maybe next time you won't resort to trickery..."
Alexis growled to herself but continued walking, confused at the statement.
After about ten to fifteen minutes of walking, Alexis was pretty sure she was far enough away from the psycho hermit that she could rest. She plopped down, head lolling into a pile of fallen leaves and sending them into a flurry above her. Alexis tiredly and lazily watched them drift down around her in soft spirals.
Well, better check in with the others... here we go...
She prepared herself as she let down the barrier that had blocked Artimis Callabella's mind link to her. She was immediately bombarded by a wave of concern and worry that muffled her mind, worsening her headache.
What happened? Why didn't you call earlier! For all I know that could've killed you! You forget how serious this job is? You need to be more careful...
(Artimis?)
What?
(Shut up)
(You're not my mother. I'm sorry I worried you. Told you this damn mind link would cause problems sooner or later...)
Hey, this thing's saved our lives plenty of times... you need to-
(All right! Lay off the mother hen deal and quit with the clucking)
Fine... don't listen to me... what's you problem? Got up on the wrong side of the den this morning?
Har har. No, had a run in with our source, that's the problem. And I'm bloody tired and hungry.)
Oh. So what went on? Anything we need to worry about?
(No, just some old witch who's been stuck with her horses for way too long. Nothing serious, might want to record it though for later, Ministry might want to check her out themselves...)
Got it. Damn Minis, always bugging where people don't want them... well, the others and me are heading back to the house. Catch up later, alright? Hard talking mentally from that distance...
(Got ya, see you in a while...)
With that, Alexis felt a stifled pop in her mind as Alexis lost contact with Artimis when she apparated. Alexis yawned and looked up, the sky getting a purplish hue to it and the ground steaming from early morning dew.
So much for getting back before morning...
With a last cautious and sulking look in the direction of the old witch's house, Alexis sat up and concentrated on her human form, ready to go home.
Alexis blinked in surprise as her image slipped in her mind, losing her grip on it. Confused, she tried again, straining to make her Animagus power work for her. But again it eluded her, the magic disappearing into the recesses of her brain.
Alexis started to panic and shook her narrow head roughly, trying once more after squinting her eyes shut. No luck. She stood on four feet again, fidgeting and at a loss, growing hysterical. Looking around in wide-eyed fear, she turned to the nearest tree and rammed her head into the trunk, hoping to knock the knowledge back into her mind. All she was rewarded with were stars in her vision. She backed away, whimpering. She tried her mind link, hoping to contact Artimis for assistance. But as she feared, the contact was fuzzy and distant, totally incoherent.
She spun around, green wolf eyes scanning the awakening woodlands. Her magic didn't work in Animagus form, and now she couldn't reach Artimis.
Alexis was stuck in wolf form.
She gulped in fear, sitting back on her haunches and thinking.
I'm screwed...
Finis Chapter 1
Expect an update next week on Tuesday...
Deep Shadows
