A Werewolf Romance
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
This story contains several of my own characters, if you wish for more detailed profiles please don't hesitate to ask.
It had been a few weeks since she found out how to become an animagus, and now Micky was trying to actually achieve it. Everyday, when she could spare some time between classes, homework and revision (which wasn't long, she had to admit) she would sneak into the Room of Requirement and practise the application to try and transform.
It was difficult, but Micky hated admitting defeat so she persisted on to her goal. But even now, three weeks on, she couldn't quite manage it. She had briefly considered asking Prof. McGonagall for some more help and guidance, but she knew her answer would be to focus on her OWLs and not get caught up in an extra such as trying to become an animagus.
Prof. Snape was also out of the question, even though Micky was sure he'd have the skills and knowledge to help, he wouldn't. He didn't see the point of any student going off task from school studies, and she'd be no exception to that.
There was however one of her teachers that she may be able to ask for help. Lupin may be the DADA teacher, but she knew from glancing around his office in the past he had a liking for animals of various forms, and one of those books she had seen was Human/Animal Transformations-From Animaguses to Werewolves
So he would have at least some say on how to allow her to achieve her goal. It would also let her spend some rare time with him outside of being in his lessons. They hadn't seen each other properly since the day she got beat up by Flint.
The main problem was going to be when to go and see him. After classes was a busy time for both of them, and she knew if she got caught by Snape wandering around after curfew again, she would be in deep trouble, she counted her blessings that she had gone this far without punishment, Snape was usually not one to hold back, especially on a Gryffindor.
She didn't have time to dwell on it too much now, she was into a busy time for her year, and although she was desperate to achieve this little challenge, she also wanted high marks in her OWLs, she had always fancied being and Auror for the Ministry of Magic, and for that top grades were required.
She knew she was going to find out exactly what grades, and NEWT subjects she needed, as she had her careers meeting with Prof. McGonagall later on that morning, as her surname was Black, she would get seen rather quickly in the morning, Kassi and the twins not being seen until the evening.
Part the way through History of Magic (why did this subject need to exist?) she excused herself and moved up several floors of the castle until she reached McGonagall's office. She waited outside in case someone was still in there, but the door soon opened itself to allow her entry into the room.
Inside was the office as normal, Prof. McGonagall was sitting behind a large desk, a bookcase was to the right of the room and a great ornate fireplace was on the left. Micky approached the desk slowly, even though she knew what was coming, there was always something about teachers' offices that made her feel uneasy. She didn't even get into trouble at all but she still hated being inside them.
"Right Miss Black, do take a seat." Micky jumped in shock, she hadn't expected the voice. She took a seat in front of the desk silently and waited for the talk to begin.
"Now, Michaela, this meeting is to talk over any careers ideas you might have, and to decide which subjects you should continue into your sixth and seventh years." She started. "Have you had any thought about what you would like to do after you leave Hogwarts?"
She thought for a moment, Micky wanted very much to say an Auror, but she knew was a hard career to get into and McGonagall may not think she's up to it. But, McGonagall had just asked about thoughts that she had, and Auror was definitely a thought so….
"I have considered, possibly becoming an Auror after school."
"That's is a difficult profession that requires dedication and willingness to drive forward on your part."
Micky merely nodded, preparing herself to have the rug whipped out from under her.
"I think you would be perfectly capable of becoming an Auror, if your grades and aptitude remain as they are at present."
Slightly startled, Micky looked at the professor, who was now looking through a list of Micky's predicted grades. She couldn't a small smile appear on her face at the thought of her being a 'dark wizard catcher'.
"Yes," McGonagall began again, "Most of your teachers predict that you will get Os and Es in you OWLs. Only one teacher thinks differently, and I would worry myself on their opinion or passing that exam for that matter."
Now Micky was startled, she'd never heard Prof. McGonagall speak badly about any of the teachers or the subjects.
"Divination was never something I saw as essential in life, and it is not a NEWT subject you'd need for an Auror."
After managing to suppress a laugh she thought was coming about Prof. Trelawney 'predicting' her failure in Divination, she asked,
"What subjects would I need to take on?"
"Well, the ideal subjects would be: Transfiguration, you'll have no problems there; Charms, your predicted an O; Herbology, which is at an E presently; Potions, which I must warn you, Prof. Snape will not take any NEWT student who gets below an O in their OWLs, you are on a E at the moment so you better work hard to get that up. And finally, you obviously need Defence against the Darks Arts, which you are on an O for anyway so as long as you keep up the good work you will get that no bother."
That didn't seem too bad to Micky, all those subjects were strong points, and it also meant that she could stop Divination and, more importantly, History of Magic, which she was perfectly happy with.
"Have you got any further questions for me Michaela?"
"No Professor, I think that's it, thank you."
"Very well, then you may go."
With that Micky stood up and left the office. She was pleased that she was able to pursue a career that she was interested in. She now just had to hope that her grades stayed up and that she could beat Snape's estimations of her and get an O in Potions. It still didn't stop her from wanting to achieve becoming an animagus though. It may actually help her in the long run. She remembered reading a leaflet on becoming and Auror once, and it said that once skill you must fulfil was 'Concealment and Disguise' and changing her appearance into an animal may certainly help.
That evening after dinner, Micky had made a decision that she was going to see Lupin, it would be a few hours until curfew so she couldn't get in trouble by Snape for being there. However after the conversation that she had had with him in the hospital wing only a few weeks before, she still had an uneasy feeling that he suspected her of something. She decided to take the secret passage she'd found in third year that took you straight from the Gryffindor tower to the right hand side of the DADA classroom, that way, she minimised her chances of running into Snape.
She walked all the way to the Fat Lady with Kassi and the twins, and then mentioned that she'd forgotten something downstairs and needed to retrieve it. Micky was sometimes really thankful that she was normally so truthful; it made her lies seem rather believable.
She strolled right down to the bookcase and pulled on the right book (second shelf, five along from the right) and the bookcase slid to the side revealing a short corridor and a long twisting staircase. She had found this place completely by accident one day, much to annoyance of Fred and George who had been trying to find them all for two years. Micky walked all the way down the staircase and, upon reaching the end stopped at the wall. She listened for a few short moments to ensure there was no one near, and only then did she tap the off-colour brick and go through the opening.
Lupin wasn't sitting at his desk when she walked into the classroom, so she walked up the stairs at the back of the room that led to his office. Thankfully he was there, though he was looking worse than Micky had seen him in a while. He was tired and pale; he was sitting at his desk, with his head in his hand rubbing his temples. Not wanted to startle him by simply walking up, she coughed gently to announce her presence.
He slowly raised his head to see who it was, and when his eyes met Micky's he smiled tiredly at her.
"I'm sorry sweetheart," He started. "I wouldn't like you to see me like this. I must look dreadful."
She walked up to him, knelt down next to where he was sitting and kissed him gently on the cheek.
"I don't care how you look Remus, I love you and that's all that matters."
His smile grew larger at that sentence; she sometimes had the feeling that he doubted her sincerity to him. He then pulled her towards him and kissed her softly on the lips.
"Thank you Micky,"
She now felt really selfish as to the reason she came up. She wanted more than anything just to simply be with him, but while there was a chance of them being caught by so many people, that was out of the question.
"So why have you come to see then?" He asked.
"Do I need an excuse?"
He raised an eyebrow at that remark.
"To ask for some help." She said after a breath. "I'm trying to become an animagus, and I thought you may be able to help me."
He chuckled softly, "Why don't you ask Prof. McGonagall, she is the Transfiguration teacher after all."
"I know what her answer would be, that it's too close to my exams for me to distracting myself with near pointless tasks."
"So why me?"
"I know you have keen interest, having scanned your book shelves on more than one occasion, and I wanted to see you."
He thought quietly for a moment,
"Really I should give you the same answer that McGonagall would give, but it seems that I can't say no to you Micky."
With that he stood up slowly and went to his shelves. He got down the book she'd seen before: Human/Animal Transformations-From Animaguses to Werewolves, and then proceeded to flick through it's first few pages.
"You do know it's difficult, nearly impossible."
"Yep, and it's not stopping me."
He laughed again at her, "I'm not going to be able to talk you out of this am I?"
It was Micky's turn to raise her eyebrow, conveying her answer without speaking.
He gave her all the help he could, but said ultimately it would be up to her, as the transformation requires concentration for it to work the first time. She thanked him for what he could do, kissed him once more and left, thankfully not running into Snape this time.
It was then she set herself a deadline; she was going to achieve this before her exams started, and even though that was only four more weeks she was going to do it by then.
Please review, I love to read your feedback and I try and listen to any advice or criticisms you have for me.