Snake And Wolf: The Finding

I hope you have as much fun reading this as I have writing it.

Snake and Wolf: The Finding

Chapter 11

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Harry, Hermione, and Ron trudged into Transfiguration class, Harry and Ron looking half-asleep and Hermione looking hyper. The trio had been sitting by the lake for two hours, watching the fourth year Care of Magical Creatures class confront Hagrid’s Blast-Ended Skrewts. They had laughed as several of the students jumped when one of the Skrewts had blasted fire, well remembering their own encounter with the creatures last year.

Now they found desks at the back of the room and waited, Ron promptly falling asleep. The tabby cat sitting on McGonagall’s desk fixed its eyes on him and Harry prodded Ron awake.

“Ron.”

“Go away.”

“Ron.”

“Sod off.”

Harry rolled his eyes and looked at Hermione, who gave a half-smile and moved to stand behind Harry.

“RON!”

“WHAT?” Ron sat up as they both yelled at him and saw Hermione and Harry laughing at him. He glared at them then saw the tabby cat watching him.

“Oh.”

Harry and Hermione continued to laugh until the cat turned into a frowning Minerva McGonagall.

“Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger.”

Hermione immediately fell silent but Harry only managed to after Ron reached over and punched his shoulder. Even after that his eyes were dancing with laughter.

McGonagall quickly called the roll then said, “Today we are going to learn about two certain charms known as the Abscondo Charms. Unlike most charms, these are used to disguise things that one does not want to be seen and to show what is not wanted to be seen. Mr. Longbottom, if you would come to the front.”

Neville jumped as she called his name and walked to the front of the room slowly. Everyone in the class could see he was visibly shaking.

McGonagall brought out her wand and pointed it at Neville, who covered his eyes with his hands.

“Now, the Abscondo Charms are used for disguise only. Nothing actually changes when the Charms are used and everyone around sees this as the real way a person looks.”

Turning to Neville she said, “Delitesco!” A second later an exact replica of Ron was standing there.

“Look in the mirror Mr. Longbottom.”

Neville turned and jumped when he saw what was in the mirror.

“Wow.”

“Arguo!”

Neville reappeared and McGonagall said, “You may sit down Mr. Longbottom.” With a nod Neville practically ran to his seat.

McGonagall looked at all of them and said, “Now, I want you all to practice using Delitesco. You may practice Arguo in your spare time.” With a curt nod she sat down behind her desk and began to grade a stack of papers lying there.

The class was quite fun for the trio. Hermione made Ron look like Draco Malfoy, who gasped when he saw what she’d done and said the charm on her. The only thing that happened was her hair turned a brilliant shade of purple. Harry fell out of his chair from laughing so much. He didn’t notice Ron and Hermione smiling evilly down at him until Ron whispered something to Hermione, who pointed her wand and said, “Delitesco!”

A second later Harry had long black hair falling into his eyes. He blinked then looked up at his friends.

“You didn’t.” His voice was lower and he didn’t even want to think about who it sounded like.

Ron covered his mouth with his hands and Hermione, obviously trying not to laugh as well, nodded.

McGonagall looked over her desk and Harry saw her smile. She looked at Hermione and said, “A perfect replica Ms. Granger.”

“Thank you Professor.”

Harry looked at McGonagall and begged, “Professor, please do something.”

McGonagall looked at him and he swore she was trying not to grin. She said, “I never thought I’d hear those words from Severus Snape.”

Ron burst out laughing and fell out of his chair, causing Harry to glare at him.

“Oh you think this is funny do you? Who looks like Malfoy at the moment?”

Ron continued laughing while pointing at himself. Harry shook his head and pointed his wand at him.

“Delitesco.”

In place of Draco, there was suddenly another Hermione.

Harry gave a triumphant “Ha!” while Hermione giggled softly.

Ron sat up abruptly and asked, in Hermione’s voice, “What’d you do?” He immediately covered his hands with his mouth and Harry grinned.

“Gotcha.”

Ron snarled and jumped over the desk onto Harry, who rolled away just before his friend pounced on him and began to run frantically around the room with Ron right behind him. All of the class laughed loudly at the sight of Hermione Granger chasing Professor Snape around the Transfiguration room.

McGonagall, trying not to laugh, yelled, “Mr. Potter! Mr. Weasley! Sit down!”

Ron stopped in mid-chase and blinked at her before returning to his seat. Harry was already back in his seat, sitting sideways. Hermione laughed at the two of them, which earned her two glares.

Near the end of class they finally convinced Hermione to work the counter-charm.

Unfortunately it didn’t work.

Ron groaned. “You mean I have to look like Herm for the rest of the day?”

Harry looked him and growled, “You’ve got it easy. I have to look like Snape.”

Hermione shook her head and them and said, “Delitesco.” A second later the two were back to normal.

“What’d you do?” Ron looked shocked.

Hermione smiled and replied, “I did that charm again. Only I put you back as yourselves. We’ll still have to take the charm off though.”

Ron blinked.

“I thought we were back to normal.”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “No Ron. I did the charm again. I’ll have to work on the counter-charm tonight.”

“Oh fine.”

Harry laughed at the look on his friends face then practically ran out of the room as class ended.

The trio walked down the halls, Ron and Hermione laughing over Harry looking like Snape. Harry rolled his eyes and sighed. Turning to walk back wards he said, “C’mon, let’s get to lunch.”

The other two nodded and they set off quickly towards the Great Hall.