AN: Last chapter! I cannot thank you enough for all the support you've given this story. It means a lot to me. Check back in about a month and I will begin posting the second installment of the series. Also feel free to review with any suggestions for the next book, most of it is written at this point but I've still got a lot of editing to do so all suggestions will be taken into account.
Chapter 22- The Beasts Inside
"This is stupid," Severus muttered under his breath, ignoring the glare he earned from McGonagall and the conspiratorial smile he earned from Ben.
"This is how you become an animagus," Minerva hissed angrily at him, "Now focus on the attributes of a fox in your head- picture it running around, feel what it feels, see what it sees. Mr. Snape you do the same with a wolf."
Ben took a deep breath and focused, the image of a sleek gray wolf running through his mind. It ran through the trees- Ben could feel the thorns tearing at his fur, he could smell the fresh dew on the leaves and the scent of animals long gone, he could feel the soft earth below his rough pads.
"Now focus on your left hand and transfer that image of a paw," Minerva's voice drifted in from what sounded like miles away. Ben slitted his eyes open and stared at his hand, slowing pushing the magic into it until it tingled with unused energy.
He focused of the feel of his paw on the damp forest floor- the razor sharp claws digging into the earth, the pads balancing his weight evenly, every sensation until he saw his hand start to waver below his gaze. This is the first time he had seen any results and Ben gasped in excitement. He pushed more power into his hand, focusing his entire being on the transformation. His hand started to warp, silver-gray fur covering it as it shrunk and curved into a large, perfectly shaped paw.
Ben was so excited that he lost focus and the paw snapped back into its original form. He shook out his hand, staring at in wonder, "That felt weird," he said with a small laugh. "But it was sooo awesome."
He looked at Severus, "Now you try."
Severus sighed, feeling stupid as he closed his eyes and focused on the fox. He didn't even need to open his eyes, he felt the transformation occurring. When it felt complete he opened his eyes and studied the small paw that was once his hand. It was about half the size of Ben's- still large for a fox. It was covered in orange-brown fur. Severus let it transform back looking back at Minerva to find her beaming radiantly at them.
"You two are the fastest students I've ever had!" she told them happily. "I believe that next time you both should be able to pull off a full animagus, although it will take practice to be able to spend any measurable amount of time as one. For the next couple of days just let your cores replenish and keep those mental images of your animals. Well done!"
Ben and secretly Severus could hardly wait until the next lesson. That day they waited rather impatiently for Minerva to arrive as it was a Saturday and Severus had nothing better to do. They attempted to play some wizard chess but both of them were so distracted that their pieces gave up and marched off the board (Severus had found that Ben's set was rather touchy and tended to throw fits if the game wasn't played correctly).
Finally Minerva flooed in (right on time) and Ben flocked her at the fireplace. "Can we transform now?"
"I've never seen a student so eager to be in my class," Minerva said half- jokingly. "I don't see why not; just remember that mental picture in your head."
Ben closed his eyes and recalled the image which had become second-nature by now as he had thought of little else over the past few days. He focused hard, and felt the shimmering, morphing feeling fall over his body. When he opened his eyes he opened his eyes as a wolf.
Severus watched Ben's transformation with interest. As soon as Ben had finished with no incidents Severus called forward his own mental images. He transformed into a beautiful, large orange fox. He looked up with light brown eyes into the own golden ones of Ben.
Ben raised his tail in greeting, wagging it a little in happiness. He let out an experimental yelp, seeming to surprise himself with the noise. Then he sat back and let out a howl that rang eerily through the house. He really was a beautiful wolf- his silver coat gleamed in the daylight. As animaguses followed the wizard's age the wolf was still young. The last notes of the howl faded from the air and Ben lowered his head, gazing around the room and taking in how different everything looked from these eyes. But there was also something else.
Ben hadn't realized it when he had first transformed but something in him had changed. He didn't know how, but he knew that this wasn't simply a result of his transformation. Although an animagus often had different thoughts and behaviors than its owners it did not severely transform their personality like this.
Ben felt something missing from himself- a different side to himself that came out very rarely, but every time it did it left Ben with a scared and unsettled feeling. It simply felt dark and although Ben felt empty without it he found he didn't miss this other part to him. This was the part that had taken over when he had attacked Dumbledore and back when he destroyed Tucker's house. It didn't cause a defensive mechanism like the rest of him did- it caused a destructive mechanism, one that sought out pain.
Ben padded around the room, thinking about this. He nearly crashed into the wall when he tried to run on the slippery tile so he stuck to a brisk walk. He felt his magic draining rapidly but he didn't want to leave, not yet, not while that feeling was gone for the first time in his life.
The fox meanwhile could run and was taking full advantage of his smaller size and agility. Severus sprinted around the room leaping on and off furniture and growling at Minerva when she gave him a disapproving look. He too felt free of his Master, but to a lesser extent because Voldemort had never had as strong a grip on him.
Severus quickly bored of running around and got another more entertaining idea. He quickly found the wolf who was pacing the living room, brooding about something. Severus decided he needed to change that. He flattened himself to the ground, using his innate stalking abilities to creep towards his victim. Ben was so lost in thought that he didn't notice the smaller beast slowly sneaking up on him until it was too late.
Severus launched himself at Ben, hitting him hard enough in the side to knock him off balance. Ben scrambled for purchase on the floor and fell with a loud crash, rolling over to pin the fox who quickly wriggled out of his grasp. Ben let out a happy yelp and chased the fox down the hall, knocking over an assortment of objects.
The wolf might be bigger but the fox was faster and he quickly hurtled into safety under the kitchen table. Ben didn't even bother to stop as he flew into the kitchen, knocking chairs out of the way. He grabbed the fox lightly on the scruff of his neck and pulled him out. The two continued to play fight until their energy was completely drained. They turned back at almost the exact same time and dissolved into laughter.
Minerva was tempted to check if the two of them were cursed when she saw them having a laughing fit on the kitchen floor. They managed to calm themselves down under her strict gaze but had to turn away from each other to prevent themselves from cracking up again. "Nicely done, both of you. I believe my job here is done- just keep on practicing and you'll be able to keep that form for as long as you wish."
Ben composed himself and stood, hugging Minerva tightly, "Thank you Professor. That was… I mean… I just feel good as a wolf you know?"
Minerva smiled, "Animagus have an odd way of bringing out the best in their owners. Now behave, I won't see you until you enter Hogwarts in three days. I expect you to keep out of trouble at school, understood?"
Ben fixed a serious expression on his face and nodded vigorously, "Yes ma'am."
Once she was satisfied with Ben she turned to Severus, "You make sure he keeps out of trouble."
Severus nodded, "I'll do my best."
Minerva sighed, "I have a feeling this is going to be a long year." She had no idea how correct that statement would be.
Stay tuned: See more of Benjamin Severus Snape in the next installment of The Twisted Magic Series: The Power of Two.vingd that baths ay the angersleep at the moment but inetly pleasant water enveloped him. He decided that baths ay the angers was he Sevingd that baths ay the angersleep at the moment but inetly pleasant water enveloped him. He decided that baths ay the anger
