All Over Her

Chapter 21: The Full Moon

I couldn't focus in class all day. Even with the luxury of silence provided by Mattheo's lack of words during potions. Other than that specific instance I was mostly zoned out the rest of the time. Ziggy and I liked to make a little checklist for wolf-nights. We liked to think of it more like camping. Going into our first year at Hogwarts our dad's gave us a very long talk about how to deal with this stuff. Harry got the lecture as well but more towards the, "make sure they don't die" aspect. But me? I was to make sure my sister doesn't lose her mind. Which she comes close to doing every time.
    "Alright, our change of clothes?"
    I double checked my backpack, "Check."
    "Snacks?"
    "Yup."
    "Blankets, pillows, and lantern?"
    "Yes, yes, and yes."
    "Random homework and fake permission slip?"
    I pulled out the crumpled papers, "Never leaves this bag."
    "Okay.. let's go." Ziggy said, holding her breath.
    I threw the backpack at her. She liked to wear it during these nights, she said it makes her feel more useful.
    "Hey Zig, does George know?" I said in a whisper since we had already left our room.
    "No.. should I tell him?"
    It's not that I don't trust George, the Weasley family are some of my favorite people in the world, even Percy. But this is a lot for someone to take in, we should be sure he won't just tell Fred. Which I know, they're twins they tell each other everything. So better safe than sorry.
    "Maybe wait for now." I said.
    We continued to walk towards the abnormally large tree in silence. It was a mixture of making sure we wouldn't get caught since it was after hours and Ziggy is just too anxious to talk. We looked back towards the castle and saw very faint windows lit up, but we were way too far to be able to be seen. Our dads said there's like this weird hole near the base of the willow. I assume they made it themselves, or maybe it was there conveniently. I find it interesting, this sanctuary sheltered our dads and now it'll shelter us. Maybe it'll shelter our own kids one day, a whole big generational circle.
    The path into the shrieking shack was this long dark winding hall. I usually stand at the front with the lantern because Ziggy's always scared of something or someone is going to come out of the dark and find us. The tunnel smelled of mildew and lake water, it was under tree roots so it wasn't so unexpected. I'd occasionally look above us at the roof of the tunnel, staring at the deep and thick roots of the whomping willow. I assume they're older than my dads obviously, maybe older than the headmaster.
    Once we get to the wooden door, I let Ziggy in first. The wood was all broken up and rotted. I've gotten a few splinters here before. Remus said they'd be in here so much people thought it was haunted. That the screams of old souls lived in this very building, denouncing trespassers. This fairy tale obviously worked in their favor because it ensured no one would ever find them or go after them. I found this to be very funny since Remus is the least terrifying person you would ever meet. Especially when you've seen him in a Christmas sweater, a very sweet man.
    "Alright Zig, I'm gonna open the windows.. Are you feeling fine?"
    "Yup, same as I always do every time we go through this."
    I nodded at her. To call the things blocking the windows curtains was a glamorization of what they actually were. I don't think there was any fabric left on these things. They were ratty with little holes, the fanciest restaurant ever produced for a moth.They were ugly things too, they're this ugly beige-ish green, with faded brown flowers. I get uncomfortable just looking at them let alone touching them.
    "You'll be okay, I'm here." I said, staring straight at Ziggy before swinging open the first curtain, then running to open the second.
    She instantly fell to her knees, gripping at her arms and legs as the moonlight illuminated her body. Her eyes turned a large and sharp yellow, her ears growing to thrice their size. She screamed as her sharp teeth pierced through the bottom of her jaw. Her back coiled, showing her spine prominently through her clothes, until they began to rip, revealing short gray fur. Her legs grew larger, stretching and curving into hind legs, claws emerging from her once normal sized feet. Her hands were the last to turn, she gripped onto her nose. Her nostrils turned black from the inside out, as it grew she yelled in agony, her face becoming elongated. Finally, her hands caught up to the rest of her body, becoming bent in the same form of her legs, but these claws were much larger than her hind legs. She stood up straight, howling louder than any other creature could sound.
    Whenever she initially turns she's jittery, very susceptible to sudden movements. I walked calmly to her side, my hand outreached to pet her. Which seems ridiculous I know, but I like to make her aware I'm still here as myself before I transform into an animagus. I placed my hand on her nose, she breathed deeply, exhaling just as strong.
    "See, nothing different than all the other times." I said, holding her face.
    "What the fuck." A voice rang.