Chapter 27
"Wood!" Professor McGonagall snapped. "Pay attention!" Meredith kicked Oliver lightly under the table. He had dozed off during McGonagall's Animagus demonstration. It was pretty interesting to see her head of house transform into a tabby cat right in front of their eyes.
"Now," McGonagall said. "Turning oneself into an animal is an extremely difficult skill. It takes years of practice and the transformations can go horribly wrong. It is for this reason that the ministry monitors those who decide to become animagi. In the library there is a list of all registered animagi in the country."
"Professor," a Ravenclaw girl who sat behind Meredith raised their hand. "Why do witches and wizards become animagi? I mean I know it's really cool bit of magic, but really in the long run why would someone want to turn into an animal?"
"For many reasons Miss Pascal," McGonagall said sternly. "It is a highly coveted skill in those seeking to become aurors and spies. Think about it. If you were attempting to spy on an enemy, are they likely to suspect the sparrow outside their window is listening to everything they say?" Meredith glanced over at Patricia who was scribbling notes frantically. Patricia's efforts to improve her grades had increased tenfold since they got back from Christmas holidays. She and her parents had gotten into a row that resulted in Patricia showing up on Meredith's front stoop in the middle of the night. Patricia had wound up spending most of the holidays at Meredith's house. They had stayed up till midnight nearly every night studying, often with her Dad's help. Patricia was doing better. In their last charms lesson she had successfully managed to cast a cheering charm, her essay on kappas had received top marks, and even Snape had had nothing negative to say about her last potion. Transfiguration and Ancient Runes were still giving her difficulty. Her last failed essay had resulted in a howler from her mother, which Meredith had chucked into the fire before it had a chance to open and scream its message.
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"Here it is," Meredith said pulling a book from the shelf. "Registered animagi for England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales." They flipped open the book and leaned over it.
"Here's Professor McGonagall," Oliver said.
"Minerva McGonagall," Percy read. "Occupation, transfiguration teacher Hogwarts School of Witchcraft. Animagus since 1934. Tabby cat. Recognized markings include black markings around the eyes."
"Wow," Patricia said. "They're have only been five animagi this century."
"Registered," Percy said. "Who knows how many unregistered animagi are out there."
"What happens to an unregistered animagi that get caught?" Meredith asked.
"I think it's at least ten years in Azkaban," Percy said. "I don't know really. According to Dad it's very difficult to catch an unregistered animagus, unless something goes wrong with the transformation."
"Ugh," Oliver said. "Look at this." He showed them a picture of a botched animagus. The wizard had the head and tail of a wolverine yet the rest of him was still human.
"That's horrible," Patricia gasped. The bell rang and they quickly gathered their belongings and headed to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"Good afternoon," Professor Kittleman greeted them. "If you will all turn your books to page three hundred and ninety four." Meredith turned the page of her book and felt her heart jump. Chapter 24 Werewolves, it read.
"Now," Kittleman said, "who can tell me exactly what a werewolf is?" For the first time ever Meredith's hand was in the air before Percy's.
"Miss Lupin," Professor Kittleman called on her. Percy lowered his hand in disappointment.
"A werewolf is wizard or witch who transforms into a wolf every month on the night of the full moon. A witch or wizard becomes a werewolf by being bitten by another werewolf."
"Very good Miss Lupin," Professor Kittleman said.
"The werewolf," Professor Kittleman continued. "May easily be the most dangerous of all dark creatures. While in the state of the wolf, the witch or wizard has no sense of himself or herself. They are a vicious bloodthirsty beast who would kill their best friend if they came across him." Meredith bit her lip. Professor Kittleman sounded exactly like Umbridge had.
"Who knows how a werewolf can be killed?" Meredith felt a chill go up her spine and she glared at Professor Kittleman. A Ravenclaw at the table beside her raised his hand.
"Silver," the Ravenclaw said. Meredith snorted.
"Something to say to that Miss Lupin?" Professor Kittleman asked sharply.
"A werewolf cannot be killed by a silver bullet, or a silver knife, that's just an urban legend. A werewolf is merely an ordinary witch or wizard in a different form, rather like an animagus. So, they can be killed just as ordinary wizards can. Though, it would be much more difficult to do so because of the werewolves extraordinary strength."
"You are quite correct Miss Lupin," Professor Kittleman said with a hint of shock in his voice. "Yes, a werewolf can be killed just as any other wizard. However, it is inadvisable to try and take on a werewolf solo. If you will turn to page 396…" Meredith turned the page and nearly lost her lunch. The picture showed at least six wizards surrounding a werewolf. From the way the werewolf was laying on the ground he was obviously dead.
"Murderers," she whispered.
"What was that Miss Lupin?" Professor Kittleman said.
"It's murder," Meredith said. "What they've done to the werewolf."
"How is that?"
"It's a human being they've killed. A perfectly normal decent human being."
"I'm afraid you're wrong about that Miss Lupin," Professor Kittleman said firmly. "As I have told you, a werewolf is a vicious beast…"
"Only during the full moon," Meredith protested. "One night a month. What about the rest of the time. Like you said, sir. A werewolf is merely an ordinary witch or wizard in a different form."
"Miss Lupin," Professor Kittleman said a slight flush in his cheeks. "While a werewolf is in the wolf form it cannot be thought of as an ordinary human being, but must be considered a beast. Therefore, it must be dealt with as so."
"Why not just stun him? Make sure he can't hurt anyone and then just wait till he transforms back?"
"Miss Lupin," Professor Kittleman snapped. "You do not know what you are talking about. Now, if you will turn to page 396." Meredith was not paying attention for the rest of the lesson. She wanted to hex Professor Kittleman so badly she could barely see straight. This was why so many people were prejudiced against werewolves. It began right here in the lessons they were taught. By the time she left Defense Against the Dark Arts class she was ready to hit someone. She tried to stay calm and remember the techniques Dumbledore had taught her for controlling her temper.
"What has gotten into you?" Patricia asked her as they made their way to the dungeons for Potions.
"Yeah Mere," Oliver said. "Contradicting a teacher isn't like you." Meredith shook her head.
"And since when are you a werewolf aficionado?" Percy demanded. Meredith didn't know what to say. Her friends all knew her father and liked him. But how long would that last if they knew about his condition? Fortunately, she was saved from answering by the arrival of Snape. She pushed Kittleman out of her head and focused on the instructions Snape had put on the board.
"Don't stir so forcefully, Lupin," Snape barked at her. "The potion will be completely useless if it is too runny." Meredith glared at Snape and loosed her grip on her spoon. All movement in the classroom stopped as the door opened and Dumbledore swept into the room.
"Good afternoon students," the Headmaster greeted them.
"Good afternoon Headmaster," they chorused back.
"Forgive the interruption Severus," Dumbledore addressed Snape moving to the front of the classroom.
"Carry on everyone," Snape said as Dumbledore stood in front of his desk. Though they were whispering Meredith was able to catch some of their conversation.
"Letter…Remus…run out." At the mention of her father's name Meredith directed her full attention to the conversation.
"If I start brewing it tonight I can have it ready by the end of the week."
"That will be cutting it close."
"It cannot be rushed."
"Very well," Dumbledore said. "I will inform Remus that the potion will arrive by the end of the week, but that he must take it as soon as it arrives."
"Yes," Snape said. "He should be safe then." Meredith's mind spun trying to wrap itself around what she had heard. Her father, a potion, needed to take it by the end of the week. Great Merlin they were talking about the Wolfsbane potion! It was Snape who had been making the potion for her father all these years. The bell rang and Meredith quickly cleared her area and put her equipment away. But she did not leave right away. She hung back after all the others had left. Slowly, as though approaching a dangerous animal, she went to Snape's desk. The potions teacher looked up as she came close and eyed her maliciously.
"What do you want, Lupin?" he asked her coldly. She gripped the books in her arms tightly so he would not see her hands shaking.
"Sir," she said slowly, willing her nerves not to fail her. "It…it's you that has been brewing the Wolfsbane potion for my father." Snape eyed her, his face expressionless.
"What of it?" he said.
"Well," she said trying to find the words. Gratitude toward Snape was an entirely new feeling, one she was not at all comfortable with.
"Um, well, thank you sir. For that." She could not look at him.
"It is not for him that I do this," Snape snapped. "Dumbledore asked me eight years ago to brew the potion for a friend of his. I did not know you father was to be the recipient at the time. I continue to do it only as a favor to Dumbledore."
"Of course," she said. She stared at the floor trying to summon the courage to say what she needed to.
"Was there something else?" Meredith took a deep breath.
"Could you teach me how to brew the potion, sir?" she said quickly in one breath. Snape stared at her hard as though trying to penetrate her scull with his eyes. She did not turn away.
"The Wolfsbane potion is an extremely complex potion, far beyond NEWT level, and far too complex for a third year to grasp," he said. Meredith sucked in her breath preparing to argue but Snape was not finished.
"However," he said standing. "Should you excel to NEWT level, and I will tell you now, that I do not allow any student into my NEWT classes unless they earn an Outstanding on their OWLs, and should you keep your marks at least at an Exceeds Expectations level in that NEWT course, I will consider it." Meredith let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She nodded her agreement and hurried from the classroom. It was, she figured, as close to a ceasefire as she and Snape would ever get.