Heart of Stone: HPHM Year 6

The Mysterious Witch

"I suppose congratulations are in order," said Talbott when Sarah met him at the bottom of the stairs the following morning.

Sarah groaned. Of course, word had already gotten out about her and Skye taking over as co-captains. Madam Pomfrey mended Orion's body in a second, but the fall of his broom had shaken him, or in his words, "disturbed his balance." He'd resigned from the team until he could find it again, leaving Sarah and Skye to work out where they'd find a replacement chaser and how they could keep Ravenclaw and Gryffindor from starting an all-out war. Sarah respected Orion's decision, and wanted him to take all the time he needed to find his balance; she just hoped he found it soon. 

"I didn't think you cared about quidditch," she told Talbott. 

"I don't. But I'm dating the biggest quidditch fan at Hogwarts. I also couldn't help but hear several heated words about it in the dormitory last night." He rolled his eyes. 

"Ugh, don't remind me," she stated. It was all she could do, once the typical celebration party was underway, to stop a few over-excited Gryffindors from breaking into the Ravenclaw changing rooms. They wanted to desecrate the place as revenge for what happened to Orion.

 "That's why I'm extra grateful for your help," she said. "I don't have a lot of time before tryouts for a new chaser." 

"Always happy for an excuse to get outside and away from people," said Talbott. 

Sarah shuddered as they stepped out into the courtyard. It was the coldest October she remembered at Hogwarts. The sun shone brightly, but the grass was still coated in frost. Her feet quickly got soaked through her shoes and socks, her toes freezing. 

"Over here," said Talbott. He lead her behind a large pillar. After looking carefully to ensure no one was watching, Talbott nodded, then shrank down to become the eagle. Sarah followed suit, transforming into the yellow lab. 

Talbott gave a mighty flap of his wings and took off into the air. Sarah ran after him. It felt good to run as a dog. She hadn't used her animagus ability in ages. She stretched her legs and let out a cheerful bark as her body adjusted to the superior smelling and hearing. 

Talbott disappeared over the trees, and Sarah dove into the woods. She'd hoped her dog's nose would be able to pick up on the scent of an owl, but the forest had so many smells, she could hardly differentiate one from another. Still, hardly anyone knew she was an animagus, so she figured it was safer to be in this form with the assassin on the loose. 

Sarah stopped and laid low in the bushes when she heard noises ahead. She strained her ears, and realized they were definitely human. Her heart beat wildly. Had she stumbled across the assassin? The noises came closer, and Sarah guessed it to be two people. They smelled familiar. She dared to poke her head out of the bush, then panted in relief. It was Liz and Chiara. Her relief became alarm anew when she realized her friends were strolling through the forest, unprotected and making quite the racket. 

She darted behind a tree, transformed, and then approached them. Liz gave a squeak of fright and Chiara gasped at the sudden appearance of another person. 

"Blimey, Sarah!" Chiara breathed. "Don't do that!" 

"What are you two doing out here? It's not safe!" 

Liz crossed her arms. "Wow, thanks. This is practically the first time you've spoken to me outside of class all year, and you don't even say 'hi?'"

"I'm sorry," said Sarah. "I've been busy. But really, you shouldn't be in the forest right now." 

"Why not? I'm in here all the time, looking after the creatures. You know I'm just as safe in here as you are."

"We were visiting Borf," said Chiara. "You ought to have a look at him, Sarah. He's quite grown up now. Very majestic."