Something for Georgia

A sleek white cat stalked the corridors of Hogwarts. Its soft paws made no sound as it padded across the hard flagstones. Muscles rippled on its flanks beside the sharp shoulder bones that went up and down with each careful step. The tail behind it swayed back and fourth across the stone. It knew what it had to do. He would be there. Waiting for her. Master... no! Not master. Friend. Cats have no masters. He is a friend.

Something caught her eye. Slowly, stealthily, she crept forward. Closer...and closer...and pounced...

She dropped the mouse at the doorway to Snape's office, patted it a few times to see if it would move, and then lost interest.

She was nearly there. The cat leapt gracefully up the last steps. And there he was, waiting. The wise old man with his silvery white hair and beard glistening in the half-light. He smiled at her as she padded over to him and rubbed up against him. He already had the door open, and together they entered his office.

Once she was in, the cat leaped up onto the huge desk and calmly cleaned her ears with a perfect white paw. She was lean, her muscles always twitching and on edge. She eyed the old man with a piercing, intelligent stare that would have pinned many men to the wall. But not him. He walked around the desk and took his place in the high-backed chair behind it, facing her.

"It's alright Esmerelda, you can change now,

The cat nodded, and changed.

The white cat's figure twisted as the body became human. Fur disappeared and was replaced by a flowing white nightdress. Long, silver hair cascaded down shoulders of pale alabaster and hung in curls to the waist. The girl was in her late teens. She had a tall, thin frame and a perfect figure. Her eyes were the colour of sparkling blue diamonds. Her lips were a dark rose pink. She slipped off the desk and met Dumbledore's gaze.

"Hello grandfather."

"Good evening, Esme. How have you been?"

"Not bad. This werewolf thing is a bit of a bummer. I keep thinking I should be chasing myself." She shrugged dismissively

He smiled. "I assume you have already learned to control the wolf?"

"Of course, grandfather. I only change when I want to, and I have complete control when I do. I haven't tested it with a person present. I haven't found anybody willing to be in the same room with a werewolf yet. I'm pretty sure it would be fine, but people just don't trust me."

"Hardly surprising, considering your reputation. And yet I might be able to help you. Most of my Order are at least comfortable with werewolves. Which reminds me, I have a friend who was bitten a long time ago. Do you think you could teach him?"

"In exchange for help with my own problems, you mean?" she asked.

"No. No deals. No bargains. Just people helping people."

"Of course," she muttered. "People helping people. Grandfather, why do you insist in believing that all problems can be solved if everybody helped each other? That isn't the way the world works. Goodwill to all men doesn't exist. Or is this another trick to get me to join your precious Order?"

"You are a brilliant young lady, Esmerelda, intelligent and highly capable. The only person I've ever known who has mastered animagus in two different forms, and you can also control being a werewolf. You would be a great asset."

"I don't want to be part of the Order! I don't want to be part of this bloody stupid war! Unlike you, I live for me, not for some boy with a cut head. I have been in wars, and I know what it's like. All sides think they know what's best, and the victor will always be a tyrant to somebody. War doesn't solve problems. It just breeds more of the things!"

She picked up an anonymous silver contraption from the desk and thew it against the wall. Her anger vented, she turned and strode towards the exit. On the threshold she paused.

"Tell your friend the werewolf to be here in three days. It will be a full moon. I will meet him at the lake one hour before sunset."

"Is this in exchange for anything?"

"No. No deals. No bargains. Just ... help."

Then she was gone. Dumbledore sat alone in his office for a while, before getting up and crossing to an old portrait.

"Phineas, a message for Moony please..."