Chapter 3: Partners
Concentrate, thought Ariadne to herself. Concentrate…almost there…
"OY!"
Ariadne lowered her wand and exhaled in exasperation. The potbelly pig she was attempting to transfigure into a trunk blinked back at her, unperturbed. Her intent focus had been fully broken by the commotion occurring at the opposite end of the Transfiguration classroom.
"Grab it from behind, Lupin! Get it!"
"It's too fast!"
"WATCH THAT CABINET—"
There was a tremendous crash, mingled with the terrified squeals of a startled pig, the gasps of a large number of Gryffindor girls, and the groans and laughter of four insufferable teenage boys.
The scared, panting pig had run headfirst into the cabinet of wine goblets the first-years had been practicing turning into guinea fowls. Someone (and Ariadne thought she could hazard a guess who) thought it would be amusing to take the pig for a little ride around the classroom. The pig evidently disagreed with this proposition.
McGonagall strode over to where Sirius and James were doubled over in laughter beside the pitiful and dazed potbelly pig sitting in a pile of shattered glass and wood. With a wave of her wand, the glasses and smashed cabinet repaired themselves and the pig zoomed into his cage in the corner of the classroom. Sirius and James attempted to compose themselves while McGonagall turned her disapproving gaze towards them.
"I do not know what about this lesson suggested to you two that it might be acceptable to treat animal subjects as objects for your entertainment, but I suggest you disabuse yourselves of that notion immediately."
James was struggling to keep a straight face, but Ariadne noticed that Sirius was discreetly glancing around the classroom, seemingly to confirm that every eye was on him. He's actually enjoying the attention, she thought with disbelief.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor," said McGonagall icily as she turned away with a sweep of her robes.
"Awww Professor…" complained James. Sirius merely shrugged and ran his fingers through his dark hair, pushing it back from his face.
McGonagall ignored him. "And ten points for Miss Morrigan being the only person to successfully transfigure her pig and move on to a second attempt."
James caught Ariadne's eye and winked at her across the classroom, as if to say he owed her one for digging them halfway out of the deficit of points. Sirius, however, seemed more annoyed than when McGonagall had deducted points in the first place.
"…the final project will be due just prior to the practical component of your Transfiguration exam," concluded McGonagall. "If you have questions, please ask for clarification." The bell rang and her voice trailed off into the noise of chatter.
"Miss Morrigan, a word please," called Professor McGonagall into the bustle of everyone packing up.
If any other name had been called by the Head of Gryffindor House, it would have been cause for trepidation. If McGonagall had called "Mr. Potter," it would have been followed with titters and "ohhhs," and he likely would have strutted to the front of the room, pretending not to care but secretly enjoying the attention (as Ariadne had witnessed numerous times before.) If McGonagall had called for "Mr. Black," it would have set off a wave of girlish giggles and impressed murmurs as students speculated about how he had flouted the rules this time. More than likely, McGonagall would summon both James and Sirius together in the same breath, and Ariadne had seen the tag-team cockily swagger to her desk too many times to count.
But because Ariadne Morrigan was Ariadne Morrigan, McGonagall calling her name caused no stir at all. It was probably just prefect stuff, or McGonagall arranging her packed exam schedule.
Ariadne hoisted her heavy bag over her shoulder and approached Professor McGonagall's desk. As usual, McGonagall was brisk and to the point.
"You will be working with Mr. Black on the Transfiguration project," she informed Ariadne.
Ariadne stared. She was usually in McGonagall's good books, because she did exactly what McGonagall wanted. But then again, McGonagall rarely ever asked her to do anything she didn't want to do. Prefect duties, organizing the House championship feast, completing extra study outside of class…Ariadne's goals and McGonagall's goals for her tended to align.
Except for this one.
"Um, Professor…can I ask why you want me to work with Black?"
McGonagall looked up from the stacks of essays she was organizing. "I thought that would have been fairly obvious. Though you have both demonstrated considerable talent in the field of Transfiguration, Mr. Black lacks a sense of work ethic. Likewise, you occasionally lack the spark of inventiveness that could take your Transfiguration abilities to the next level. I believe you could both learn much from each other."
Spark of inventiveness? Was she referring to Black's total disregard for rules and conventions? But otherwise, Ariadne couldn't find anything to argue with in McGonagall's statement. She clearly wanted Ariadne to straighten up Sirius's study habits. And she could not deny that they needed straightening.
Suppressing a sigh, Ariadne turned around and slipped out the classroom door, thinking about the Arithmancy homework she had to turn in during her next class. At the last moment, she realized that Sirius was not aware of McGonagall's plan to transfigure him into a model student via this project. Turning back to classroom door, she caught Sirius just as he was emerging, laughing languidly at something James had said.
"Black!" she called to him.
Sirius turned around and arched a brow at her.
"Common Room, 8pm tonight. Transfiguration project."