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Lily was livid. She was Snape's partner in Potions, and so she got covered in potion as well. Thankfully, or not, the incomplete Forgetfulness Potion had no effect on their memory. She found us in the common room before lunch.
"What in the world possessed you to do that?" Lily cried furiously.
"What?" We looked up from the Daily Prophet in unison. We were reading an article about James's parents colleagues from the Auror Department in the Ministry of Magic – several criminals who were aligned with whoever they were calling Lord Voldemort had been arrested.
"Don't act all innocent! How could you do that?"
"We didn't mean to get you! We meant to get Snape!" Sirius said.
"We did apologise to you," James said solemnly.
"Severus is my friend! Why would you something so stupid, so childish?"
"Snivellus isn't a good guy, Evans," James said seriously.
"How would you know, Potter?" Lily's hands were on her hips. "Have you ever spent time with him? And don't call him that!"
"No, but -"
"So how would you know whether he's a good guy or not?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Lily!" I finally couldn't take it anymore. "Snape isn't a good guy! And stop over reacting, for goodness sake, it was just a bag of dungbombs! Have you heard the kind of pranks the Prewett twins do without reason?" The Prewett twins, Gideon and Fabian, were fifth year mischief makers, and James and Sirius's idols.
She looked at me. "I don't care what they do or don't do, Ayesha. I didn't expect you to do it." And she turned around and walked out the portrait hole.
"Don't worry guys, I'll talk to her later."
But later didn't come, as Lily determinedly kept her distance. She sat with Snape during lunch, refused to acknowledge me in corridors and sat as far away as possible in Charms and Defence. After dinner, where Lily was once again absent from the Gryffindor table, we had to go for detentions with Mr. Filch. He left us in the Trophy Room, with a pile of cleaning supplies. Sadly, even though we had our wands, we couldn't really use them in this situation yet.
"Things to this weekend: Learn cleaning spells at Library," James said as he scrubbed at a spot on a Potions trophy.
"We can't really practice them anywhere," Sirius said, mopping the floor.
"Unless we create the mess ourselves," I paused, coughing because of the dust I had disturbed, "but forget I said that. They'll realise we're using magic and take our wands the next time."
"I like how even Rosebud's accepted the fact that we'll be getting plenty more detentions," James smirked.
"It's inevitable," I sighed.
"Did you get a chance to talk to Evans?" Sirius asked after a while, breaking the continuous swish, mop, scrub, swish, mop, scrub tune.
"Nope. I was with you guys the whole day, wasn't I? I'll talk to her later."
"You'll tell her the truth?" James asked.
"Yeah, I think so. She might not believe me, though."
'Might not' was an understatement. That night in the girl's dorm, Lily solidly refused to hear anything against Snape, even when I got her to calm down and listen to me. Mary, Alice and Caroline didn't really know what to say, so they stayed out of it.
I went back down the stairs to report the outcome to the boys, who were discussing something else.
"How ill do you think his mum is?"
"He went home the first week, didn't he? Just after getting here."
"Who went home?" I asked as I fell into a seat next to them.
"Remus," James said. "But tell us about Evans first."
I sighed. "She's still quite angry. She wouldn't listen to a word I said against Snape. But she'll come around."
"Hopefully before we use up the rest of the dungbombs," James said.
"How many did you get?" I asked curiously.
"Three bags. Dad said I'd need them," James grinned. "But we had to hide them from Mum."
"Then my mum and dad will get along splendidly with yours," I laughed. "Only mine don't really know what a dungbomb is."
"Sadly, my parents won't get along with any of yours," Sirius stated. But he didn't look really sad about it.
"Speaking of parents, what were you saying about Remus and his mum?" I asked after a few moments.
"Oh, yeah," Sirius said. "Remus went home tonight. He told Peter his mum was ill."
"So? You're allowed to do that, right?"
"That's not the point. This is the second time he went home. The first was when school had just started, in the weekend."
"Maybe his mum is really ill," I said.
"Maybe. But it is kinda weird."
"We should get some rest," I said. "We have to do detention tomorrow as well, and there's that Potions essay we got today for Thursday."
Remus came back the next day, looking a little paler than usual. He had three cuts on his face and he was limping. He said his dog attacked him when he went home and then he fell over her.
Classes went on normally, but Lily gave us the cold shoulder the entire week. I managed to convince Mary that Snape was bad news, but Caroline and Alice still refused to take sides.
Friday before lunch we had Transfiguration, where we had progressed from toothpicks and needles to beetles and buttons. James and I managed to get our set done first, and Professor McGonagall gave us five points each because they all matched. At the end of the class, James ran out, leaving half his books, since he had found out that the Gryffindor Quidditch team was holding trials after dinner.
"It's barely even time for lunch yet!" I muttered at Sirius. "And he's not going to be allowed anyway, first years aren't allowed brooms, and the first flying lesson is next week!"
"He already knows how to fly," Sirius reminded me, picking up James's copy of Beginner's Transfiguration. We made our way to the door.
"Miss Cooper! A word with you, please!"
I turned back to face Professor McGonagall, who had already moved to the back of her desk.
"I'll be out in a minute," I muttered to Sirius before walking to the front of the class.
"Yes, Professor?"
"Professor Dumbledore would like to speak with you," she said, not looking up from the scroll of parchment she was reading. "Come to my office at four o'clock."
"Er, okay?" I said nervously. "Did I do something wrong?"
She finally looked up at me through her square rimmed glasses, with a hint - just the tiniest hint - of a smile. "Hardly. There is something he wishes to discuss with you."
Her tone indicated that the conversation was over, so I left.
"And she didn't say why?" Sirius asked as we walked to lunch.
"Nope, just that he wanted to discuss something... And she smiled."
"Smiled?" Sirius paused in the act of stepping into the Great Hall.
"Yeah, and she told me Binns is going to sing out his lecture on the origins of music magic on Monday."
"Oh, real funny, Rosebud."
Sirius and I joined James at the Quidditch pitch, where he was staring longingly at the sixth and seventh years practicing for later.
"I really don't see how you can balance on a piece of wood," I said, squinting up at the players.
"You'll see soon. It's the best feeling in the world!" James was grinning manically.
Half hour later, the captain, Penelope Walter, took pity on James, and after making him promise that he actually knew how to fly, lent him her broom. It wasn't five seconds later that James was fifty feet above the ground.
"Woah, that kid can fly!" Penelope raised her hand to block the sun and observe. "Wish I could take first years on the team."
Sirius and I were watching James doing laps of the field. The two other players in the air, Simon Roberts and Alicia Wright, flew down and landed next to us.
"Who is that kid?" Simon asked.
"James Potter," Penelope replied before we could.
"Do you mind if I have a go?" Sirius asked Simon. The three of them turned to him.
"Can you fly like him?" Alicia asked.
"No one can fly like him," Sirius grinned. "He's brilliant. But I can fly."
So a minute later, I was on the ground, craning my neck to watch my best friends fly around the pitch.
"I'm guessing you want a go too?" Penelope glanced at me.
"Oh, not in a million years," I chuckled. "I don't see how you can balance on a broom."
They laughed. "If you're meant to fly, you'll see."
I checked my watch and realised I'd be late for Professor Dumbledore if I didn't leave immediately. Asking Penelope to pass the message to the guys, I left for McGonagall's office. A few minutes later, I was knocking at her door.
The office had 'McGonagall' stamped all over it. Except for three fluffy looking armchairs at the desk. Professor Dumbledore was sitting behind the desk, McGonagall was standing by the fire, and there was another witch I didn't recognise.
"Miss Cooper, please take a seat," Dumbledore gestured to an armchair next to the witch.
"Miss Cooper, this is Miss Matilda Kennigsworth, from the Department of Control of Underage Magic in the Ministry of Magic."
I turned to the witch, who was smiling at me. "How are you, Miss Cooper?"
"Fine," I said.
"You're probably wondering what you are doing here," she said, smiling reassuringly.
"A little."
"Do you know what a Metamorphmagus is?"
"A Meta - what?" I asked, completely flabbergasted.
Dumbledore cleared his throat, making us turn back to him.
"When you were a young child of three, Miss Cooper," he started, making me wonder even more what was going on. "The Ministry was notified of a Metamorphmagus child born to muggles. When the matter was looked into, it was found the girl did actually have Metamorphmagus abilities. Steps were taken to hide this sign of Magic, so the Statute of Secrecy would not be broken. Now, the time has come to reveal those abilities."
I was staring at him. Was he a mad man? Well, probably so. "What is a Metamorphmagus, Sir?"
"A person who can change their appearance at will," he finally explained. "Hair colour, eye colour, other facial features, height, anything."
"And you think this person is me? That I am a Metamorphmagus?" I asked sceptically.
"Yes," the answer came from Kenningsworth. "I myself placed the charm to suppress your morphing capabilities over eight years ago."
I mulled over this. "So why are you telling me this now?"
"I understand that we are a few weeks late, but believe me when I say that your case is extremely rare. A muggleborn Metamorphmagus? I'm fairly sure that's unheard of."
"It is an inherited trait, Miss Cooper, so I suspect that there must have been a witch or wizard in your ancestors, no matter how far, who was a Metamorphmagus."
"No, I meant -" I took a deep breath. "I meant if you suppressed that side of me then what's the point of telling me now?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Now that you have been introduced to the magical world, we can remove the charm. I am sure that by the time you go home for your Christmas holiday, you will have it under control."
"So, I still have the ability to change the way I look?"
"Yes, but only if you remove the charm. Would you like to?"
I considered it for a second. Just a second, because I already knew what I would say since the moment I understood what was going on. It wasn't even a choice, really. "Yes."
Kenningsworth raised her wand and swished it around in a few complicated movements, muttering under her breath.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.
"Done," she smiled.
"Oh." That was quick. "Am I supposed to feel any different?"
That made her laugh. "Try concentrating on changing your hair colour. That should be easiest."
Hmmm. New hair colour. I closed my eyes.
A second later, I heard Kenningsworth's sharp intake of breath. I pulled my hair to the front.
Pink. Pink hair.
"Oh my..." I heard myself say. "Did that really happen?"
"Yes," Dumbledore smiled.
I laughed, and my hair turned yellow.
"I didn't want yellow hair," I muttered.
"Hair is the most readily changeable feature. While you get used to this, it may change itself according to your mood. But you may control it with practice," Kenningsworth said.
I nodded, trying to bring back my natural black hair.
"Now, Miss Cooper," Dumbledore said, his expression suddenly serious. "While you may choose to tell your friends about this - it is in fact, your right to decide who knows - I hope that you will not use your newfound talent for activities which may land you - or others - in detention. Do I make myself clear?" His bright blue eyes pierced me over those half moon glasses.
How did he know about that half formed plan to trick people into thinking James was at two places at once? "Yes, Professor."
"Sirius!"
Sirius turned to find me running down the stairs. "Rosebud - hey, slow down!"
"I - have -" I panted heavily, leaning on his shoulder. "- been looking - all over - for you. Where's James? And please, stop calling me that!"
"That is your name, isn't it?" he grinned evilly. "Now, what did Professor Dumbledore want? You can tell me on the way to the Quidditch pitch."
"James is still there?"
"Yeah, the trials just started a few minutes ago, I saw it from the common room window. Come on, we can catch some of it!"
"Wait!" I grabbed his hand to stop him from moving. "I need to show you something first!"
I pulled him into an empty classroom and closed the door.
"What is it?" Sirius was getting impatient.
"Hold on," I said. I closed my eyes to concentrate, like I'd done for the last hour in a stall in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
"What, Rosebud?"
"I'm trying, aren't I?" I snapped, but I heard Sirius's sharp intake of breath and opened my eyes.
My hair was red.
I looked at Sirius, who was staring open-mouthed.
"Well, say something!"
He closed his mouth and opened it again. "Uh, what am I supposed to say?"
I grinned. Closing my eyes, I concentrated hard on Sirius's features. Hearing his small yelp of surprise, I knew it had worked.
"Well," I said, trying to mimic his half-grin. "You could say 'That is so brilliant! You're wonderful, Ayesha, and as a reward, I'll never call you Rosebud again!'"
That snapped him out. "I would never say that!" he scoffed. "But we're missing the point! How are you doing that?"
I changed my face back to my own, but I left my hair bright gold. "I'm a Metamorphmagus!"
Sirius looked even more confused.
As we walked out of the castle and to the Quidditch grounds to find James, I managed to answer his questions – whatever I could - and we formulated a plan to prank James.
Making sure that no one was looking, I quickly rearranged my features. I realised that every time, it took less effort to achieve the look I wanted.
We walked onto the pitch, quickly finding James on the stands, hungrily watching the Gryffindor team trials for a new chaser and keeper.
James's eyes popped as we approached him. "Evans?" he sputtered disbelievingly.
"Hello, James," I smiled at him.
"Wha - what are you doing here?"
"Why James, can't I see the Quid - no, I can't do this," I sniggered. Sirius groaned. "I'm sorry, James."
He frowned. "I knew there was something going on. I just can't figure out what it is yet."
Sirius laughed. "Show him, Rosebud."
"Rosebud?" James exclaimed, too loud for my liking.
"Sshh! Not so loud!" I said, looking around to see if anyone noticed. "And we need to go somewhere quiet."
We followed James out of the pitch and the three of us quickly walked around it to the side which wasn't visible from the castle. The side of the pitch generally attracted older students in pairs, we quickly realised. Trying not to make faces at the busy couples, we walked till we found a stretch of unoccupied area.
"Now will you tell me what this is about?" James asked with a note of exasperation in his voice.
"Yes, so please be quiet."
I concentrated on my own face again, and this time, I felt my hair grow a few inches and my face become less round.
When opened my eyes, I found Sirius and James both staring at me.
"What?" I said, looking at the both of them. "Sirius, you just saw this a few minutes ago!"
"I don't think I got used to it," he muttered.
"You're a Metamorphmagus?" James asked.
"How did you know that word?" I said, and in my surprise I felt my hair turn bright purple.
"My Dad had a friend who could do that - I met him once. So you are one?"
"Yes - the Ministry just realised that I should know," I said, trying to concentrate on one hair colour. I managed a deep brown, close to my own black.
"So why do you want to keep this a secret?" James asked.
"Not secret, per se," I said carefully. "I just don't want everyone to know. Let me get used to it myself first."
"This is going to be an awesome skill for pranking -"
"Don't even think about it, Sirius!" I said sharply. My hair turned reddish again. "Professor Dumbledore warned me."
"You're no fun," Sirius grumbled, but then brightened at some thought as I brought my hair back to black. "Can we call you Rainbow?"
"No! I told you, I don't want everyone to know!"
"Do you know that you've still got Evans's eyes?"
I groaned.
Minerva McGonagall
"... seemed happy. If she feels any discomfort, do let me know."
"Of course, Matilda. I shall be in touch."
"You continue to surprise me, Albus," I said, after Kenningsworth had left.
"That has never been my intention, Minerva," Albus chuckled, like only he could. "What did I do this time?"
"A muggleborn Metamorphmagus. Surely this is big enough to warrant the Ministry's presence. Kenningsworth may have been from the Minstry, but she wasn't representing it, neither was any document read out from the time the suppressing charm had been placed. What is going on, Albus?"
"Minerva, from the short time that she's been here, what have you been able to gather from young Ayesha?"
I barely had to think. "She's exceptionally gifted, and not only at Transfiguration. I was chatting with Filius and Horace the other day, they say she's remarkable in their classes as well. The other professors agree that she's hardworking, and she helps other students. I also think she will be landing up in detention more time than we can count, with her friends."
Albus chuckled again. "She is certainly not your average witch, Minerva. The child is destined for great things." He sighed. "I received a letter a few days into the school year – from a witch who lives near Ayesha's family. She was the one who had alerted the Ministry of Ayesha's case in the first place. But then," his face darkened, "Voldemort and his ideals were spreading. So the old witch, terrified for the life of this young, talented witch, broke into the Ministry and removed her records."
I let out a long breath. "That's a crime, Albus."
"Considering the circumstances, I thought it would be wise not to alert Minister Bagnold of this situation."
"What is going to happen when the news spreads?"
"I'm sure Miss Cooper is going to be discrete – she won't be yelling from the top of the astronomy tower, at least I hope not," he chuckled.
"This isn't a joke, Albus!"
"Relax, Minerva," he said in that infuriatingly calm voice. "If and when the time comes to let Millicent know, I will handle it. Meanwhile, we need to keep an eye on young Miss Cooper and her friends."
I had a feeling that wasn't going to be as easy as it seemed.
