Stuck on the Sidelines - Book 3

Helping out a Friend

I silently held my breath as the front door to Hagrid's hut opened a fraction before closing again. Buckbeak wasn't moving. "Ok Buckbeak, come quickly. Come with us now, ok? Come on!" Harry pushed. "Keep trying, come on." Hermione urged quietly. Buckbeak let out a whine in protest. "Buckbeak, ok? Quickly, hurry up ok?" Harry worriedly repeated. Hermione dashed towards the rack of dead ferrets as Harry tugged uselessly on the chain. "Hurry up Buckbeak, ok?" Harry whispered. Buckbeak let out a loud squeal. "Come on! Come on Buckbeak. Come and get the nice dead ferret?" Buckbeak rushed up as Hermione threw a ferret into the air. Seconds later, Buckbeak had already swallowed it.

"Come on, it's here. Come on Beaky." Hermione called. Then the unthinkable happened!

Albus had opened the cabin door and had directed the minister outside to look at something. We all froze in shock. "Here we are, Minister. Follow me. Now, look there. You see..." Albus commented. "Where?" Fudge asked. "Look beyond the rocks." Albus indicated to a point on the ridge. "What am I supposed to see?" Fudge seemed clueless. "Professor Dippet had that ling planted when he was headmaster." Albus explained. "Oh, yes. Indeed, indeed." Fudge agreed. "And all the strawberries. You see..." He drew a line over the grounds. "Strawberries. I see no strawberries." Fudge sounded perplexed. I watched as Harry and Hermione enticed Buckbeak under the canopy of trees where I was happily tucked out of sight. "This way!" Hermione called as the Minister and the others turned around. We all raced further into the forest leading Buckbeak.

"Now, what?" Harry questioned, unsure. "We save Sirius" Hermione stated matter of fact. "How?" Harry queried. "No idea." Hermione truthfully replied. I followed them as they watched the Whomping Willow. "Look it's Lupin." I silently watched leaning on a nearby tree. "And Snape's coming!" Hermione added as he entered. "And now we wait?" Harry guessed. "And now we wait!" Hermione repeated as confirmation. They both sat down on the forest floor.

Some time later...

Bats flittered through the forest. "At least someone's enjoying himself" Hermione smiled at Buckbeak. I looked to see Buckbeak feasting on a bat. "Yeah." Harry added as an afterthought. "Hermione?" Harry began. "Yeah?" Hermione replied. I got up and walked over to where Buckbeak lay resting. I happily stroked Buckbeak before the screams and barking began. I watched as Hermione and Harry took off further round the fringe of the forest. I followed as quickly as possible almost losing them at one point. Hermione howled into the night. She howled again. I raced back to Buckbeak knowing we would probably need some help.

I led Buckbeak forward towards the howl as he burst forth and attacked. That wasn't a wolf! Remus ran off in his werewolf form. "That was so scary." Hermione whispered fearfully. "Poor Professor Lupin's having a really tough night!" I nodded at Harry's words. "I'm going after him, good luck saving Sirius." Hermione nodded at me knowing what I would try to achieve. The only way to help Remus through the transformation was companionship by a friend in animal form. I just hoped his wolf form still remembered me and if the werewolf side of him didn't recognise that - I was going to have some trouble.

I quickly transformed myself into a panther so I could follow his trail into the forbidden forest. I tracked the scent for hours trying to catch up to him so he wouldn't self-harm. I ran as fast as my paws would carry me until I halted in my chase as I could now smell Remus' all around me. He had been circling me in. I was cautious as I turned my head trying to locate his whereabouts. I calmly sat down resting as Remus slowly prowled around.

He hesitantly crept from the shade of the trees and into my line of sight. He barred his claws and teeth at me; growling furiously. Instinctually, I lowered my head until it was touching the ground showing my submission. He stalked closer towards me barring his fangs for a better word and growled again; two inches away from my face. The snarling werewolf inhaled deeply, the growling stopped. He circled me again before curling slowly next to me.

The next morning was a sight. Me as a panther and Remus back to human form. He opened his eyes before sitting up and slowly moving away from me. 'Oh damn, I slept with a panther last night!' He thought quietly to himself. "Wait, why hasn't she attacked me?" He voiced aloud. I cocked my head before standing up and stretching my paws into the soil.

I watched Remus' as his face was priceless when I transformed back. Luckily my clothes conformed around me. His mouth was hanging open. "Rose, you're an animagus?" I cracked up laughing before slowly nodding. "Remus, are you ok? You took quite a few hits last night." I asked, concerned. "I'm fine, I've looked worse" He replied. "I know" I muttered quietly.

"Your form looks familiar..." He trailed off hesitantly. I smiled lopsided.

"Really? Huh. Anyway - last night you only caught me with your claws a couple of times and your own face looks pretty scarred. That's it! Now let's get back to the castle. I want some breakfast?" I murmured looking up at the sky. It was around 9:30am to Remus' calculations. He apparated home to get some clothes as I flew back to the castle in bird form getting back just in time for lunch which I happily went too. I grabbed the first empty chair I came across at the Gryffindor table - I wanted to eat here today and no-one was going to tell me otherwise. I also wished very much that Severus wouldn't come to see me but it looks like I can't have everything my way.

"Where have you been?" He questioned, standing behind me. "Ill." I nonchalantly said, shrugging my shoulders. "Well, you won't believe what has been going on! Sirius Black has disappeared again, outsmarted the dementors for the umpteenth time and Lupin has resigned." He sounded quite gleeful about that fact. What had he done? "Someone might have said something to some of the students parents." He boasted happily. I was shocked. He was that angry to cost a man his job! "I can't even look at you right now!" I remarked before leaving to go and check on Remus.