The Gang at Hogwarts : Theft and Animagi

Hogwarts Express

Taking the Hogwarts Express was always mayhem. And today was no exception. The nine and three quarters platform was filled to the brim with a crowd of students running around to find their friends and frantically emptying their suitcases here and there to look for something they thought they had forgotten. Asterin payed the horde of students and parents no heed as she entered the train and headed directly to her usual wagon. She had gone to the train station alone. It was more practical that way, less commotion and more efficiency. The witch was halfway through putting her case up the rack, struggling a bit because she wasn't tall enough, when a pair of hands helped her push it through.

"I thought you'd grow during the holidays, Tessi." said an amused voice.

Asterin turned back around and glared at the lanky boy that stood in front of her.

"One more word on my height and I will hex you, Lupin." she said sternly, but her eyes were sparkling.

The boy simply smiled and raised his hands in surrender before hauling his own luggage in the rack. Asterin sat down next to the window and observed her friend more pointedly. Remus Lupin looked even more exhausted than usual. The purple circles under his eyes were darker and his face paler, not to mention the new cuts and scars she could see on his face and wrist. It had been a full-moon three days ago. The witch's hand unconsciously tightened itself around her bag.

"What's in there ?" asked Remus as he sat in front of her.

"A dead body." she said very seriously. The wizard shook his head.

He could not find out about the book on animagi or about her research. Not yet. She still needed to talk to his idiotic friends about her plan anyway. There was a loud whistle and the train started moving. The girl cautiously cleaned her hands before setting her sanitizer next to her and pulling her black gloves back on. Asterin lifted her gaze to meet the boy's green eyes and leaned forward. "So let's talk business, shall we ? What optional subject are you taking this year ?"

"Arithmancy, Care of magical Creatures and Muggle study"

Asterin's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Care of magical creatures ?"

"I was going to take Ancient Runes, but James and Sirius convinced me otherwise. They think we're going to adopt dragons, and I really couldn't miss the look on their face when they're going to realize we'll be studying flobberworms. What did you take ?"

"Divination, Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. Don't look at me that way, I didn't exactly plan on taking Divination but Aramith thought it would be 'fun'."

Remus' eyebrow shot up, he looked fully unconvinced.

"Alright, she said she would owe me a favor." Asterin admitted. He grinned.

"And what are you going to ask her ?"

The girl smirked as she put a gloved finger to her lips. "Not telling."

"Hey come on Tessi !" the boy protested. "Please tell me ? You can't say that and not tell me the rest !"

"I can do whatever I wish." She replied, flicking an invisible speck of dust off her cardigan.

Suddenly the boy lunged forwards and grabbed her antibacterial gel before stranding up and holding it above his head. Asterin narrowed her eyes before rising from her seat.

"Give it to me, Lupin."

"Come on. Just tell me, it's easier than bargaining for your own possessions," he teased.

Asterin tried to grab it but the bottle was far out of her reach. Potter and Black were rubbing off on him too much ! And why on earth did this idiot have to be so tall ? The witch tried to jump up to seize the gel.