The Last Horcrux

The Animagus Charm

Riot took the news that Tori was a werewolf in stride. "I knew there vas something!" he exclaimed, snapping his fingers. But Mark turned a little green and swallowed hard. "I'm cool with it," he said at last. Then he started studying Amanda's notes on the Animagus charm with great concentration and soon he asked for a quill and started jotting his own notes in the margins.

On the weekend they sequestered themselves in the owlery to discuss the situation.

Mark had been going through Amanda's notes with concentration."This mandrake leaf bit is going to be really hard," he said, jotting a note of his own in the margin.

"We have to keep it in our mouths for a whole month,'' Amanda agreed. "And if we mess it up we have to start all over again."

"Where are we even going to find a mandrake leaf?" asked Mark.

"That part's easy," said Tori. "The fifth years are raising mandrakes in herbology. So....I just snip a few leaves next time no one's looking."

"The teaspoon of dew shouldn't be too hard ... but this other bit ....where you have to say the spell every day.....twice a day....." Mark trailed off, his voice full of doubt.

"Ve can do it,'' said Riot decidedly. "I know ve can!"

"We can't skip a single time, not once," said Amanda. "We'll just have to go to the loo, or a supply cupboard or something, and whisper the words."

"And then wait for a lightning storm...." said Mark.

"Mr. Moony's friends did it at school so we can too," said Amanda, more confidently than she felt.

"I vonder vat animal I vill become," said Riot. "I think I shall be something very fierce."

"Probably a big puppy," said Tori. Riot kicked her.

"You can't control which animal you become," said Amanda. "But it's supposed to be some kind of expression of your innermost being." This was the part that secretly worried her the most. She was sure Riot's animagus would be something cool but what if she became some horrid animal, like a mole or a spider? She looked over at Mark and guessed that he was having similar thoughts.

"Vell, are ve in?" said Riot.

"You don't have to do this for me,'' said Tori softly.

"Tori, we want to," said Amanda.

"I'm in," said Mark, pale but determined. He thrust his hand into the center of the circle.

"Me too," said Amanda quickly, laying her hand on top of his.

"I also am in," said Riot, placing his hand on top of Amanda's.

"Thank you," whispered Tori as she laid her hand on top of Riot's.

"We need a name," said Amanda looking around at all of their faces. "Like Mr. Moony's friends had."

"Vat did zey call themselves?"

"The Marauders," said Amanda.

There was a long silence.

"How about Marauders Two?" suggested Mark doubtfully.

Tori shrugged, not impressed.

"It should be something tough," said Riot.

"Tough but queer," Tori agreed.

"The Evil Fairies," suggested Amanda

"Mmm," said Tori. "Not bad. How bout.... The Evil Queens?"

"Queen Bees?" said Amanda.