Animagus

For half an hour after the train set off, Lily listed Potter's misdeeds and the school rules he had broken in their first and second years. She concluded, "Potter is such a conceited jerk!"

Rose nodded in wholehearted agreement. Even though she got along well with the Marauders, what Lily said was true, without the slightest fabrication-James Potter really was a little troublemaker who gave the professors headaches.

A little troublemaker who values friendship, she added to herself.

Then Lily looked at Rose worriedly with her green, almond-shaped eyes. "You should stay away from them. Oh, I really don't want to interfere with your choices, but the things they do are just too dangerous."

Rose shook her head. She looked at Lily with understanding and said, "What if I told you to keep your distance from Snape?"

"Oh..." Lily sighed like someone far older than her years. She looked full of worry, as if she really feared her best friend would be killed because of those awful jerks.

"Don't worry, Lily!" Rose said softly. "They're not bad people, really. They're just a little arrogant. Boys always mature a little later. Give Potter some time-"

She thought of how quickly things progressed between the two of them in the original story after James Potter matured, and gave Lily a mischievous wink.

At the start-of-term feast, Dumbledore had the students sing the school song together. There was no set tune, and Rose sang the whole thing to the tune of a march. The stirring melody earned her an appreciative look from the headmaster.

After the Sorting came the part she had been looking forward to most. All kinds of food appeared on the long tables, and she piled her plate high with lamb chops, roast chicken, and smoked bacon, then poured herself a large glass of iced orange juice. Next came all sorts of desserts—she was practically becoming a devoted follower of the House-elves!

Walking along in the crowd, her head foggy from eating so much, Rose completely forgot what she had promised James on the train. She followed Marlene, preparing to climb through the opening behind the Fat Lady's portrait.

A hand seized her shoulder and pulled her forcefully out of her path.

"Sirius was absolutely right! You were bound to forget!" James rolled his eyes and spoke indignantly.

"Ow-James, slow down!" Rose stumbled along behind him, belatedly remembering their agreement. "I'm going to be sick!" She could feel all the food in her stomach churning.

Seeing Rose turn pale, James stopped hesitantly. "We're nearly there. Once we've talked, you can go back and rest!"

They entered the Room of Requirement together, and the familiar furnishings immediately reminded Rose of the last time, when they had all fought on the carpet and rolled into a heap.

Taking a deep breath, Rose sat down in a corner of the sofa and wearily rubbed the corners of her eyes. "What couldn't wait until tomorrow?"

"What's wrong with her?" Sirius, who had been lounging against the sofa, sat up straight when they came in.

"From what I can see," James said gleefully, "she probably ate too much at the feast."

Sirius and Peter burst out laughing, and even Remus gave a faint smile.

Before Rose's face could darken completely, Sirius pretended to cough and said seriously, "We made a great decision over the summer-to learn to become Animagi!"

"We wrote to you at the address you gave us before the summer holidays, but you didn't answer a single letter!" James complained.

"I moved out of there on the third day of the holidays and stayed in town after that," Rose said softly. "Have you really decided to learn to become Animagi? It's a very advanced kind of Transfiguration, and it carries some risk."

"The Marauders never fear risk!" James brandished an imaginary sword in the air. "We've already worked out the theory-come on! Join us. It's really the coolest thing ever!"

Sirius was still reclining lazily against the sofa, his face full of curiosity and longing for the unknown. When Rose looked at him, he raised an eyebrow in an exceedingly handsome manner.

Peter's eyes were half full of excitement at the prospect of thrills, with fear and resistance hidden deep within them.

Remus, meanwhile, sat quietly. He knew that well over half the reason his friends had made this dangerous decision was for his sake. So even though he didn't approve of them taking the risk for him, he said nothing to dampen their spirits.

"All right, I'm in," Rose said calmly. In her view, this was an adventure with a predetermined outcome, so without much further thought, she joined their seemingly very dangerous and exciting transformation plan.

"Ha! I won, James!" Sirius cried happily. James reluctantly pulled a Galleon from his pocket and placed it in Sirius's hand.

"You bet on me?" Rose narrowed her eyes, her gaze moving back and forth between the two boys.

"A little harmless joke." Sirius grinned and raised both hands, nudging James with his shoulder. "She was bound to agree to join today. Deep down, she's just like us!"

"All right, all right," James muttered unhappily. "Why doesn't Evans have that kind of adventurous spirit?"

"Lily is just more cautious." Rose gave a cold huff and held out her hand to Sirius, pretending to be angry. "You bet on me, so I should get half the winnings, shouldn't I?"

Sirius stood before her. After the summer, he had grown even taller and straighter, his silky black hair falling over his eyes and lending him an effortless touch of elegance. But none of it could conceal the liveliness in his eyes.

"It's all yours," he said lightly. Holding two Galleons between his long, pale fingers, he placed them in Rose's palm. His fingertips brushed her skin, tickling her slightly.

In the end, Rose went to the Hospital Wing with Sirius and asked Madam Pomfrey for a dose of digestive potion.

On the way back to the common room, Sirius couldn't stop laughing. He imitated Madam Pomfrey's voice perfectly. "You're not a little first-year anymore, Miss Claude!"

Rose flushed and, unable to bear it any longer, kicked him in the shin. "Shut up, Sirius Black!"

"But that didn't hurt at all, Miss Claude!" Sirius grinned as he walked backward facing her, his hands behind his head and a very handsome smile on his face.

Rose glanced at him, then quickly lowered her head, telling herself that he was still a thirteen-year-old boy and that she absolutely could not fall for a child!

They were alone in the corridors, with no patrolling Prefects in sight. They horsed around all the way from the second floor up to the Seventh Floor. The common room was empty, and Rose headed for the stairs to the girls' dormitories on the right.

Sirius cleared his throat and said solemnly, "Good night, Rose. We'll officially start practicing tomorrow, so sweet dreams!" He winked at Rose and raced up the stairs to the boys' dormitories.

By the time Rose returned to her dormitory, the girls' long, even breathing filled the room. She tiptoed into the large bed she had missed for so long and rested her head on the soft pillow. Before long, her consciousness faded, and she fell asleep.