Aurora and the Boy Who Lived

Chapter 13 The spell is complete

Friday seemed to take forever arriving. The seven of us were currently exploring the Headmaster's office. Fawkes primped before Ginny, Hermione, and me shaking his scarlet plumage.

"I see everyone is present," a voice greeted us, coming out of the fireplace. "It is nice to see you here, Draco."

"I'm honored to be invited, sir."

Dumbledore held the young man's gaze a moment before relaxing into a broad smile. "Are we ready to begin?" At the resounding yeses he clapped his hands and a large open area cleared in the center of the room. He directed Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, and Draco to stand in a circle facing out. "Neville, please hand out the goblets. Aurora?"

I walked around my friends, the ancient spell book open in my hands. "Do the five before me come of their own freewill to this ring of power?"

As one they answered, "I come freely, with no restraint."

"Do any come in deceit or treachery?"

"I come freely, with no agenda."

"Do any wish to turn aside before there is no chance?"

"Not I." A soft glow illuminated the five teenagers. They had passed the sincerity test.

"Repeat after me and when I tell you to, drink the potion. Are y'all ready?"

(The following has been roughly translated into English. Grandma's book is filled with long forgotten spells and I'm not spilling the beans about it to you.)

FOR EVERY PERSON THAT HATES,

THERE IS ONE WHO LOVES.

FOR EVERY PAIN, THERE IS JOY.

WHEN ONE DIES, ONE MUST BE BORN.

THESE ARE THINGS I HAVE LEARNED.

LET ME NOW BECOME ANOTHER.

SHOW ME THAT WHICH I MUST DO.

TAKE ME TO MY ONE DESIRE,

LET ME BE ANIMAGUS!

"Now drink." The four friends drank the potion and fell into a light trance. 'Any second now, and it'll start.'

Just then Hermione morphed into a champagne colored Burmese cat. Ginny sat up dazedly and poof! There was a white unicorn speckled with gold 'freckles' standing where she had been. I looked over at Ron. He was still changing. When he was done, he was a sleek dark red panther. Draco had transformed into an albino Gila monster.

"Where's Harry?"

Neville pointed to Fawkes's perch where a golden phoenix had joined him. The new comer had emerald green eyes. I, needless to say, was very surprised.

After the new Animagi returned to their normal state Professor Dumbledore spoke to the group. "I can only hope this ability will help you in the days ahead. The fact that there are seven of you may be significant. Seven as a number has a magic all its own. A bit of advice, it would not be wise to be seen in your animal forms. Harry, you know whom you can trust with this secret. Draco, you know who cannot be. Now, might I suggest you go down to dinner?" He ushered us out with a wave of his hand.

Leaving the Marauders found we were too keyed up to go to the Great Hall and eat. The boys went to nick food from the kitchens while the girls headed to the Marauder Room.

"These secret rooms are brilliant!" Ron said after everyone had eaten his or her fill.

"Now we have somewhere we can talk in absolute privacy or be alone if we choose to be," Hermione pointed out.

"What are your rooms like?" I wanted to know.

Harry answered first. "It's furnished like this but in dark greens with some cream and gold. It has paintings of past Hogwarts Quidditch teams. It used to be Dad's."

"I've got Padfoot's. It's just like Harry's but orange."

"Sounds blinding. Mine's done in purples, lavender, and tan with a huge bookcase and paintings of famous wizards," Hermione filled in.

"Navy, light blues, and white with landscapes," Neville said.

Ginny added, "My room is so pretty. It has paintings of all these gardens and it's burgundy and pink with white accents."

"My room is decorated in black, silver, and white. The paintings are of the Hogwarts founders. What about you, Aurora?"

"I have Moony's old room. Everything's pale green, silver, and white. The canvases are all of Mount Olympus and the Greek gods."

"Sounds nice. What should we do now?" Ginny pondered.

"I want another look at the map," I said looking to Harry who placed it on the table so all could see it.

Mr. Prongs would like to suggest these new Marauders get some nicknames already!

Mr. Moony points out that real names are SO boring!

Mr. Padfoot agrees with Messrs. Prongs and Moony. All Marauders must have fun nicknames. It helps to keep people confused. They're like never ending pranks!

"Anyone have any ideas?" asked Draco thinking.

"Actually, yes," Hermione said tapping her chin. "We should all have names which reflect our Animagus form and/or personality. Draco, Dragon would fit you perfectly. Some Muggles call your animal a dragon."

He nodded his head. "I like it."

She continued. "Ron, Red. Ginny, what do you think of Freckles? No one would think twice about us calling either of you by those."

"It's cute. Merlin knows I have enough of them...How about Mouse for you, Herms? It's the exact opposite of your form."

"And most people see me as mousy."

"Fortunately for me!" Ron said kissing her cheek.

"What about me?" Harry reminded them.

"Umm."

"Harry's should be Fly Boy," I decided.

"Good one," Neville chimed in. "Gran usually calls me Hunter. It's my middle name but it goes with my falcon too."

"Six down, Aurora to go," Hermione remarked.

"Er..."

"Umm."

"Hmm."

The friends sat thinking of a moniker for yours truly.

"Dancer," Draco breathed.

"What?" asked Harry.

"Dancer," he repeated. " 'Watch as the phoenix dips and glides, she's perfectly suited to the dance of the wind.' It's from a poem by Oswald Gorgian. Plus she is a great dancer," he added.

I blushed at the compliment.

"Dancer," they agreed.

Christmas Eve arrived in a flurry of activity. The Yule Ball had been held the Saturday before. Professor Dumbledore had The Potion Makers play. Ginny, Hermione, and I had taken turns dancing first with our dates and then Draco. (Harry had asked me to go with him a few days after Halloween.)

The stunt we pulled had been more of a present than a prank to the entire school. Neville had found a spell for Disappearing Snow. We'd used it to charm the Enchanted Ceiling so that when each crystal snowflake gently drifted down and came to rest it melted, leaving no wet mess behind. Hermione had cast the Smoke Charm, writing "Happy Holidays! From the Marauders". It had been the crowning touch to a wonderful evening.

The gang was leaving that afternoon for Harry's house, Draco included. Harry had invited him upon learning the Slytherin's parents would be in Paris for vacation. Draco had readily accepted, admitting he hadn't looked forward to a Christmas alone.

An hour before they were scheduled to depart I, The Procrastinator, was still in my private sanctuary wrapping presents for friends and family. I was especially proud of the silk pajamas I'd bought my friends. Each set were unique to the person and had their Animagus form on a patch on the front pocket. Only a fellow Marauder could see the animal. Harry's p.j.s were forest green, Ron's orange, Hermione's purple, Ginny's pink, Neville's blue, Draco's black, and mine were pale green.

Catching myself daydreaming once again about the goodnight kiss Harry had given me the night of the Ball I shook my head, reduced the gaily-wrapped gifts, and placed them in my backpack. I ran to the Great Hall to wait with the others for the carriages to Hogsmeade. From there we would apparate to Harry's. (Ginny had just taken her test and passed thanks to Hermione's coaching.)

"We were about to send Fly Boy after you! What took you so long?" Ginny scolded.

"Had to finish wrapping presents."

"Whad did ya get us? Whad did ya get us?" Draco asked, jumping up and down like a four year old hyped up on sugar.

"Who said I got you anything?"

He frowned and dramatically waved his hand. "Guess I'll have to return the present I got you then," he deadpanned in his snootiest voice making me giggle.

"The carriages are here. Come on people," Hermione ordered, sounding exactly like a Marine drill sergeant I'd seen once in the French Quarter.

The short ride was uneventful. Apparating to Harry's, I had just gotten back to my feet (I was still a little clumsy), when a large black dog knocked me down again.

The friendly mutt was zealously licking my face when Harry muttered, "Sirius, would you get off my girlfriend already?"

The pup transformed. Sirius was tall and had thick black hair that fell elegantly into his dove grey eyes. He was dressed in a black T-shirt, blue jeans, and black dragon hide boots. Harry's godfather was very handsome.

Sirius held my gaze for a moment then sighed theatrically. "Oh to be seventeen again!"

"I thought you were joking, Harry."

"No, Dancer. Unfortunately I wasn't."

Feeling cocky, I tipped my head to the side and smirked. "Didn't you say he was handsome? I don't see it."

"Hey!"

When I laughed, Sirius realized I'd been joking and introduced himself properly. We put our things away and joined the adults in the kitchen for dinner.

Christmas morning Harry found me staring out the window at the falling snow.

"Knut for them."

"I'll give them for free. I was just wishing Shawna were here. She'd love you guys."

"And I'm sure we'd love her." We passed the time snuggling together until Aunt Molly called me in the kitchen to help with breakfast. The delicious scents soon woke the remaining sleepers. We enjoyed a leisurely meal before adjoining into the parlor to open presents.

The pajamas were a huge hit. Ginny gave everyone a diary. She swore they weren't possessed and added the man at the shop had placed protection charms on them so only the recipient could read them. Hermione's gifts were ID bracelets with our nickname on the front, on the back 'Marauders Forever' was written. We all received huge boxes of assorted candies and chocolates from Neville. He also gave Ginny a fluffy white kitten. Ron surprised us with books. Harry, Ginny, Draco, and I were given 'Quidditch Tips From the Chudley Cannons' and Neville 'A Guide to European Plantlife'. Hermione gasped with pleasure when she opened her gift to see a small pair of pearl earrings. Draco's present to us was a gold-framed picture Colin had taken of the group at the Halloween party.

"My turn," Harry announced handing out small black boxes.

Inside were silver pendants hanging by black leather cords. Each disk was engraved with the owner's Animagus form.

The frenzy over, Ron engaged Neville in a game of chess while Hermione and Ginny played outside in the snow with Fred and George. Remus was telling Harry, Tonks, Aunt Molly, and Uncle Arthur the story of Harry's first Christmas while I sat quietly, forgotten for the moment in the corner.

*Plop!* Sirius made a big production of stretching out on the couch beside me. "Word has it the Marauders are up to their old tricks again."

"Seems so."

"It snowed in the Great Hall once when we were there too," he grinned.

"Really?" I laughed.

He leaned in close conspiracily, "I want to thank you for helping Harry and the others...you know."

I copied his lowered voice. "I was happy to help. But why didn't you and Professor Lupin?"

"James had the book we'd used. It was destroyed when..." his voice broke.

"Oh! Mr. Black, I'm so sorry."

"Whoa! None of that Mr. Black business. Makes me feel old. Call me Sirius or Padfoot," he winked.

"How 'bout Siri since I doubt you're 'serious' often."

"Found out already!" he laughed, half barked. "And here I thought my secret was safe."

"Speaking of secrets, Ron has your old hideout."

"Lot of fond memories in that room. Who has the other three?"

"Well, there's seven all together, plus the main room. But I have Moony's and Harry has Prongs's."

"Figured Harry would get that one. Does Zeus still throw lightning bolts when it gets too quiet in yours? Remus always complained about that."

"Yeah."

"Who has Peter's, the back stabbing, murdering bastard?"

"What does it look like?"

"Yellow and sky blue, very ugly."

"Urgh. Doesn't sound like any of ours."

"Good. Well, I think Moony's story is getting a bit boring don't you?" With that said, he pounced on Remus in Grim form.