CHAPTER 3

Expect the Unexpected

January 1972, Hogwarts library

It was past curfew. Jessie should not be here. She ought to be in her bed. She definitely should not be near the trouble makers James, Sirius, and Peter. Their presence so close to her in the Restricted Section would make getting caught worse. Though she was hidden and they hadn't seen her, but still she should not have risked it, but there she was. She tried to concentrate on the book she was reading, "Being an Animagus, III" by Thomas Wakefield.

She was so engrossed in the book in moments, that she didn't hear the footsteps coming towards her.

James, Sirius and Peter were quietly reading their respective editions of "Being an Animagus I" by Thomas Wakefield. James was trying hard to concentrate on the boring book and itching to try something practically.

Failing to get oneself registered as an Animagus could land up in a punishment to Azkaban.

Until now, all that James had read was boring theoretical knowledge. There was nothing on how to become an Animagus. There were a few spells to try that captured his attention. One showed how to turn one's foot into that of any animal. James had tried this spell last week, which resulted in 90 hours of limping with a frog's foot. The level of magic they all were attempting seemed too high. But they were determined to do it still for their friend.

Just as James finished reading this much, he heard footsteps. Filch's footsteps. He tried to alert his friends to the noise, but they wouldn't look up from their books. He had no choice but to speak, "Sirius! Peter!" he whispered very cautiously. They looked up. "What is it?" Sirius whispered back. "Filch." James replied. "Quick, James your cloak!" Peter mouthed. As fast as he could, James blew out the lantern they were using and threw the cloak over himself and his friends. But what they did not notice was that they had company. Another lantern was lit very dimly five shelves ahead; he saw a tall girl with long, curly brown hair and had a hunch that it was Jessie Sofós from their house, whom they had often found in the library reading till late. Filch had entered the library. They had no choice but to act quickly.

Jessie hadn't heard Filch's footsteps until now. He had entered the library as she could gather. She blew out her lantern, but it was a bit late.

They reached the entry/exit of the Restricted Section and saw that the lantern they had seen earlier was blown off, and a girl was hardly visible in the moonlight from the windows. Whoever it was, she was clearly trying to hide. Filch was nearing them. James thought they had to do something. He turned his head towards his friends and they nodded in silent agreement. They neared the figure and threw the cloak on them just in time. Sirius clasped his hand on the person's mouth just as Filch entered the Restricted Section. He eyed the lantern kept on the nearest table suspiciously. "Who's there?" He spoke. "You cannot hide. I know you are there." He stood watching and when there was no sign of movement, he left. The four under the cloak sighed in relief.

They made a quick retreat to the Common Room and mumbled the password to the Fat Lady, leapt inside and slumped next to the nearest wall. James had thrown off his cloak and sighed, "Whoa. That was close."

"Yeah, I thought we might get caught." said Sirius. By then he had freed the girl from his grasp.

"Thank you for saving me there." Said the girl they had rescued. They turned to see her, and indeed, it was Jessie Sofós, the curly haired witch in their year.

"Before I accept your gratitude, please tell me, what were you doing in the library at half past ten?" James questioned.

"I could ask you the same question as well, Potter. And it's none of your business." she retorted. The three boys shuffled their feet looking down.

"If we hadn't saved you, you would have been in huge trouble and you know that." Peter retorted back.

"Well, if you noticed, I just thanked you." She replied cocking her head on one side.

"You're welcome," Sirius said sarcastically, "And don't worry, we won't tell anyone. Your good girl image won't be ruined." With this they went in the direction of their dormitory.

"How do I know that your promise will be kept?" Jessie said boldly.

"You could also tell anyone." Peter pointed out.

"I know I could, but I don't want our house points to be deducted. As it is you guys don't leave any chance to have them reduced." Jessie replied.

"You are right." realised James and went into the dorm's direction.

"How do we know you are not lying?" questioned Sirius.

"I swear on Godric Gryffindor's grave." The little witch said.

The next day...

James, Sirius and Peter were eyeing Jessie suspiciously whenever they saw her. They used to gulp down anxiety and fear each time they saw her nearing a teacher.

Same was the case with Jessie. She too would constantly keep an eye on the three trouble makers, save for their fourth friend, poor Remus. Jessie had one of those stares that could scare the living hell out of you, and currently, innocent Remus was becoming its victim because of his three trouble-maker friends.

After Transfiguration, when the fear and anxiety was at its highest because of Professor McGonagall, the three Marauders confronted the witch. Just as she was about to exit the classroom, the three blocked her way. "Please move away." Jessie said exasperatedly.

"We need to talk." said Sirius.

"What made me worthy of this pleasure?" Jessie asked sarcastically.

"Stop this. Okay?" James said angrily. He exhaled as to exhale out his anger with his breath and closed and opened his fists and said, "Jessie. We need to talk. Please. It is important. I promise it won't be too long." He looked at her pleadingly.

She rolled her eyes and said, "Alright."

The three mess makers took her to an unused empty classroom, and bolted the door. "What is it?" asked Jessie.

James looked at Sirius and then at Peter and both nodded to him. "We need your help." said James.

"What is it that you need my help for?" Jessie asked "Is it some homework, some essay, project? You could have said it in front of everyone, it wasn't necessary to get me here. Or wait... it would have hurt your ego; your reputation would have been ruined. I get it. But still, it would have taken alot of you to ask me, because even if you would have asked Evans, the topper of the year, it would be alot to take on your pride-"

"Will you stop? You speak too much without knowing. Gosh, you've bitten my ears off already!" remarked Sirius.

"Oh shut up Drama Queen Black!" Jessie retorted.

"Both of you shut up!" intervened James. "Look, Jessie, it's not what you think. We know why you stay up late in the Restricted Section." He said with certainty. "You are trying to be an Animagus." he announced as if it were a piece of interesting news. "And we know you are ahead of us, you are brilliant at Transfiguration. We aren't able to get any of it right, we are terribly messing it up." He breathed deeply, "We need your help to do it. Please." he finished and took a gulp.

All the while James spoke, Jessie looked at him with horror in her expression. She opened and closed her mouth like a fish gaping for water. "How..? When?" she said looking confused "I don't understand." She scratched her head while saying this. "Wait; first tell me all that you know." She demanded.

"Last night, after we came back to the Common Room after... what transpired, Sirius told me he had seen you with a book on Animagi, last week, and we have often seen you practice high level Transfiguration spells in the library on many things, I've myself seen you turn one animal into another and turn it back. I saw your owl turned into a small puppy and it barked! The spells you were using are mentioned in books about Animagi." James finished.

"You once left the book you were reading on the table in the Restricted Section. It was the second part of 'Being an Animagus'." Sirius continued for him.

Jessie blushed at her mistake being pointed out.

Sirius continued, "And we put two and two together and came to this conclusion.

She sat down on a chair, pursing her lips. "Okay. I am trying to become an Animagus. So what? I just want to strengthen my magical abilities, and work further in transfiguration, that's it!" she said exasperatedly. "Please don't tell anyone about this, okay?" she pleaded.

"We have a condition." James said. "You help us in completing the transformations, we help you and none of our secrets go out. It remains all business. No unnecessary questions. Deal?" the three were now standing together, shoulder to shoulder, and James held his hand out.

Jessie considered it for a moment, and took a deep breath and said, "Okay. I will help you." She stood up and took James's hand and shook it, confirming the deal.

"The library, tomorrow, Restricted Section, I'll meet you all there." She said with finality and left.