Chapter 8
It was almost as if he was in a forest of some kind. Or maybe a jungle. He couldn't tell the difference, but he knew he was in one of those. It's not like he ever went close to either of those things.
His mind wandered far and wide until he was finally in a clearing. This was it. This was where he would find his inner animagus.
A lion's roar was heard throughout the jungle.
Jude inhaled sharply, his eyes moving around frantically until he realized he was back in the room of requirement with Emma and James staring at him; one's eyes with curiosity and the other with a wide grin.
"Did you find it?" James asked, his fingers gripping his pants in anticipation.
The blue eyed boy grinned back shakily, his body relaxing as he brought his brain back from its adventure, "It's a lion."
Emma's eyes lit up, "No way. That's the king of the jungle and the sigil for Gryffindor."
James nudged his best friend's shoulder, "Look at that. We got your nickname; King."
"And yours?" Jude questioned as they all stood up. "You said yours was a stag, so what would yours be?"
"Prongslet," James replied with a small smirk. "Since my grandfather and my dad had stags as their patronus and maybe their animagus, and my grandfather's name was Prongs, so Prongslet."
Jude patted his friend's shoulder, his voice joking, "You are a novel, mate." He snickered when his friend shoved his shoulder. He turned to his female friend, "Emma, what about you?"
Emma cleared her throat, her cheeks turning a bright red, "Oh, um, I couldn't get a clear image of what it was. I'll try on my own time."
The boys exchanged confused glances before they turned back to her with furrowed brows. "Are you sure?" James asked.
"You were pretty happy when you came to," Jude added.
Emma shook her head vigorously, "No, no. I was just...remembering when Leon asked me out on the train."
The two in front of her froze in shock. Jude glanced slowly at James who was clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles were white. The blue eyed young man swallowed dryly, "And...you said yes?"
"I-I did," Emma nodded, her hands holding onto the hem of her cardigan. She grabbed some of her books, her head down, "I-I should get going. He said he'd be waiting for me in the common room."
She quickly made her way out of the room, leaving the two behind. Jude turned to James who was slowly grabbing his belongings, "You alright, mate?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" James replied gruffly, walking away.
Jude sighed with a heavy heart; and today had been so good so far. He followed his friend out, hoping the rest of the year would be better despite the newest revelation.