Bellatrix

Chapter 8

We stood in the Shrieking Shack- James, Remus, Peter, Sirius, and I. We were steeling ourselves for the worst, readying ourselves for whatever outcome.

Moony looked at us. "Guys, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Of course we're sure, Moony!" Peter smiled encouragingly.

"Yeah, Moony. We've been... reading for this." Sirius grimaced. "Doesn't that tell you we are completely ready?"

"Okay." Moony whispered. "The book says you have to imagine your instincts sharper, your senses sharper. Lose yourself in your soul, and only when you are completely lost, speak the words: Animagus movetur intra me erumpere" Remus finished, uncertain.

"I'll go first. I hope I'm a unicorn!" said Sirius excitedly. He closed his eyes, and then shook his head. "I'm too excited, I can't think strait." he frowned.

"Just let your emotions take over. You don't have to think strait: just let the excitement in your soul swallow you up." Remus coached.

"Okay." Sirius said, serious. After some time, he whispered, gripping his wand, "Animagus movetur intra me erumpere."

In front of us stood a big black dog, unrecognizable as Sirius except for his eyes, grey and excited.

James's face broke out into a wide grin. "Congradulations, Padfoot. You've been initiated!" We all grinned at the awesome nickname.

"Padfoot" suddenly changed back into a human.

"Thank god, I was worried." I said.

"Don't worry, it's easy. That was awesome! I'm a freaking dog! And a big one!!! And my name is Padfoot! Omg!!!" He said, like a teenage girl.

"Padfoot! Calm down your feels!" I laughed.

James swaggered forward. "Me next." He closed his eyes as Padfoot had done, whispered, "Animagus movetur intra me erumpere." and quicker than Sirius, turned into an elegant stag.

"Prongs." I voiced, and the others swiftly nodded. James turned back and smiled widely.

"That was AWESOME." He grinned. "Guys, we should TOTALLY prank people with this! Like, someone will be like, 'Guys, there's a stag in the griffindor common room!' "

"Prongs, are you forgetting something? This is illegal." Remus smirked, once again being a voice of reason.

"Oh, yeah." Embarrassed, he scratched the back of his head.

"Next- Peter!" I grinned.

Peter nervously squinted his eyes tightly shut. "Animagusmoveturintrameerumpere!" He said all at once.

"Peter, try saying it slowly." Remus coached.

Peter took a deep breath. For a whole two minutes, no one said anything. Then, Peter's voice, not nervous, not scared, said slowly, "Animagus movetur intra me erumpere." He turned into a tiny creature, and we all crouched down.

He was a tiny little rat.

"Wormtail." Sirius grinned.

Wormtail turned back, and jumped up happily. "Did you see that guys? I did it! I really did it!"

I high-fived him. "Good job, Wormtail."

"Your turn, Cousin." Sirius smiled encouraging.

I shut my eyes and lost myself in me.

I let myself see all the parts of me. I saw my quick anger. I saw my fierce protectiveness. I saw me holding grudges, I saw my past, I saw my determination and my bravery and my sadness and my foolishness. I saw my humor and my cleverness, my definitely non-humble attitude. I saw my past. I saw myself.