The Makings of another Fine Day (Kris)

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cassandra had had enough today. Not only was she given a long report due by Mcgonogall, she was finishing one up by Snape. Oh, and don't even add the amount of stress she had over the Valentine's Party Dana was throwing. Oh, and not to add to the pandemonium, she received a letter from her mom. The letter was just stating, as usual, " Your dad's doing worse, but it will be okay. Just enjoy your term...." She hated those words. It was just a premonition for the future. She knew it wouldn't be long now......

She actually wondered how some guys did it. They could run around and act like nothing was bothering them. However, Megan once said that most guys had the emotional range of a teabag.

Cass finally got to a little corner she knew to be quiet in the school. Not many people went down this corrider since everyone school believe it to be the way down to the Slytherin dorms. But, she had never seen anyone down this corrider except her. She slid down under the sconce in the wall and just relaxed. This was about the quietest place in the school. She hated her dorm room since the girls she shared it with tended to be really loud, the common room was usually filled with gossip, and so was the library and great hall.

Cass finally relieved herself of her bookbag and sat there in the quiet. She released her curly black hair from the clip she had it in and pulled out her transfiguration book. As she began to get cold, she took off her cloak and put it over her legs to stay warm.

[kris]

Kris laughed wrestling the little thestral onto its back while the three older animals looked from a little distance. The small pack had taken a liking in Kris and for 3 years by now Kris had been coming out to the forest to see them. H would play with the young fowl and the alpha male would sometimes give him a quick ride.
Animals – all animals from little pets to thestrals and other creatures in the Forbidden Forest – all of them seemed to like Kris for some reason he could never understand. Even mrs.Norris liked him! When Kris was in a bad mood, animals would always approach him and it would always improve his mood.

Kris laughed and got onto his feet to end the game a little silvery vixen limped onto the forest clearing, holding one of her hind paws. Kris had saved the vixen from a blood-sucking parasite, when she was just a cup and fed and raised her, so the animal trusted him.
“God, what hurt you, precious?” Kris murmured stopping the blood-flow from the vixen’s leg and pushing the thestrals – who had became excited at the smell of blood – away. Kris squinted his eyes making sure nothing had stayed in the wound, which had been left by a trap as he figured. The vixen squeked and was obviously in pain, but she didn’t move away, trusting Kris completely.

“You are going to need some time to repair. No spell is going to help you now,” Kris muttered a soothing the vixen’s fur calmingly as he thought about the possibilities, “I guess I could talk to Dumbeldore and take you to the castle. The secret open courtyard. You wouldn’t be seen nor disturbed and you’d feel safer than in the castle.”<br>Deciding it was the best option Kris picked the vixen up in his arms – the animal was mall enough to not be too heavy and started towards the school.

He got the permission to keep the vixen in the courtyard until she was recovered, when Kris had promised to make sure the school chickens wouldn’t get hurt because of it. Some light twinkled in Dumbeldore’s eyes as he sent Kris off with the vixen and a lemon drop, Kris was now sucking, although he hadn’t really wanted it.
Reaching the hallway that most people avoided, because it was common belief that it would lead to Slytherin common room, Kris pondered how he would be able to open the secret door to the garden with his both arms full.

Turning around the corner Kris saw a girl – probably a third year – sitting on the floor and walked over stopping in front of her. “Not the best place to be hanging around. But since you’re already here – get up and pull that unicorn’s statues first right leg up,” Kris ordered coldly, using the ‘Slytherinish’ tone of voice, which made a sharp contrast with the tenderness with what his hands were soothing and calming the vixen in his hands.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cassandra looked up quickly and couldn't believe what she saw. A Slytherin was holding an apparently hurt vixen in front of her. She stood up gingerly, but kept her hand near wand anyway. She never knew what kind of trap a Slytherin might dream up.

" Wow, is he okay?" she pointed to the animal in his hands. This guy was apparently nothing but a softie at heart. But once a Slytherin, always a Slytherin sometimes.

Cassandra didn't turn his back on him though. She crouched down to her left and pulled the unicorn's leg.

[kris]

“She,” Kris informed the girl sharply, noticing the Gryffindor badge on her clothes and groaning mentally. GRyffindors and Slytherins had the best relationships in the whole school and this girl was wary of her without a doubt.
“And her hind leg is broke. Stepped into a trap. She’ll have to stay here for a couple of weeks. And I’d appreciate it if her location would be kept a secret – too many visitors wouldn’t do her any good,” Kris said stepping forward as a secret door appeared next to the statue and after a couple of steps he reached the little courtyard. Kris was a little wary about turning his back to the girl, but he figured there was nothing he could do, so he counted on the Gryffindor nobility.

“Come on, darling, lay still now. I have to get that iron-piece out of your leg,” he muttered softly to the animal, throwing his coat on the ground and gently placing the vixen on it as he kneeled next to her. Reaching over Kris pulled a hunting blade from it’s ankle-sheath – using the blade and only one finger would be much less hurtful to the animal.
Hearing foot-steps behind him, Kris didn’t turn around, but still left on of his hands on the vixen’s stomach: “If you are already here, then make yourself useful. Get some water from that creek over there and bring it here. And then talk to her – she is going to be in pain, however quickly I try to act, but I have to get this piece out of the wound, before I can bandage it.”<br>

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass ran over to the stream and grabbed the water. Yes, she was wary of him, but the poor animal was in a whole lot more trouble than she originally expected. She wasn't going to let an animal suffer because she wanted to squabble over house differences.

She immediately went off the defensive. She returned the water to the Slytherin. She quickly handed him her cloak and tore a piece of her skirt off to bind the wound.

" I know she will probably need to keep warm. I'm Cassandra by the way. I think we were so ate up by each other's unexpected appearances we didn't properly introduce ourselves. This certainly is an amazing place," she said to the boy hoping to break the ice. She certainly hoped he wouldn't hurt her and lock her up in this room after they were done. But, she was willing to take the chance at this point.

The area was full of animals. She never really had handled any animals at home, only her cat. This place was even full of chickens. I guess this is were the hidden chicken pen is she thought to herself.

[kris]

“Mmm. Kris. I’d say it’s a pleasure to meet you, if I wasn’t in a bit of a hurry right now,” Kris said in introduction, using the blade of his knife and a finger to pull out a long piece of iron that had obviously broken off form the trap. Pushing the knife into ground to clean it, Kris placed the piece of iron next to it carefully next to it, to get rid of it later. He definitely wasn’t going to leave it here, where any of the animals could get hurt by it. A energetic two-headed pup tried to get closer to him, inviting Kris to play, but a sharp barked commanded from Kris, made him move back a couple of steps and sit down obediently.

Kris pulled the water closer and cut a piece of cloth from his cloak, using to wash the wound, before cornering an other piece and pushing it on the wound, then tying it closed with the piece Cassadra had handed him.
Covering the fox with Cassandra’s cloak, Kris stood and created a magical fire next to the cloaks, before pulling his knife out and moving to the creek to wash his hands and the knife, as well as the piece of iron.

“Yeah. I’m not even sure most teacher’s know about this place. Dumbeldore knows though – he said he’d possible be over some day to check on the vixen,” Kris answered coming back to the vixen and pulling out his wand once again, “Don’t freak on me, now.” Kris casted an advanced heating charm on Cassandra and himself. The Gryffindor girl had helped him and had sacrificed her cloak.

“To get out of here, just push on that oak-stomp near the entrance. The door will open again then,” Kris said pointing to the button and kneeling down again pulling a vial from his pocket and forcing it down the vixen’s throat with calming coos and murmurs. The vial was a slight modification of the Skele-Gro. Snape had brewed it fro Kris, as he saw Kris being surrounded by all kinds of animals all the time and Snape had seen Kris pull limbs into place, so he had just one day approached the fifth year and handed the vial over, briefly explaining what it was for.

Moving a bit farther from the vixen Kris turned around and started petting the animals who ran to greet him and bustled around him. He was a regular visitor in the yard. Kris glanced up and smiled seeing the chickens retreat behind the trees, knowing Dumbeldore had fulfilled his promise and moved the chickens for know.
“So what had brought you to this hallway. People seldom use it?” Kris asked palying with a pup with one hand and soothing a little birds feathers, who had landed on his shoulder with the other, “And yeah, this place if magnificent. It will take about a month before the flowers bloom and the ground gets green again – it’s current state now is nothing compared to what it looks like then. Spring always starts earlier here – I’m guessing it’s because of all the magic practiced in the castle.”<br>

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

" Oh, I was just trying to find a quiet place to work. Gryffindor's can never stay quiet for long. There is always some commotion going on in the tower. Somebody usually trying to top somebody else. You can also never get away from ' Did you hear about Harry doing this?' It gets annoying sometimes when I try to study. The library is never a help either. There is always someone causing a ruccus in there as well. I found that spot a few months ago and have used it as study place. Nobody uses it," she said as she squatted down to pet a small animal she had never seen before. It looked sort of like a cat but it wasn't.

" Everything seems very tranquil here compared to the usual hecticness of the castle. I always feel as if someone is rushing somewhere and your always being watched by someone or something. My friend Dana has always told me there are good places to escape that feeling, but this is the first place I have found."

[kris]

“I always wonder how the wonder-boy himself hasn’t lost his nerve with the entire fan-club chasing him around all the time. I would have probably hexed someone by now if the roles were reversed,” Kris shrugged carelessly, “That’s good about the SLytherin common room. It’s always somewhat quiet and nobody will come to bother you if you enter with a scowl or a glare.”<br>
Kris nodded towards the animal Cassandra was playing with: “That’s a kneazle you are petting. She seems to like you though, so I guess you are reliable. They sense suspicious people and can be rather aggressive then. She is one of the magical creatures in here. There are non-magical creatures here as well.”<br>Hearing a soft whine Kris looked up and smiled standing as an old unicorn limped towards him, nuzzling his hand with his head.
“His first leg had to be removed to save his life and since he isn’t able to run in the forest like this anymore, Dumbeldore brought him here. He doesn’t seem to mind me – even though he let me touch him for the first time after I had been coming to this place for 3 years.”<br>
Kris petted the unicorn who seemed to still keep a wary eye on Cassandra though.
“Yeah – there are other places like this one scattered around the school. Not gardens but absolutely fantastic rooms.,” Kris answered turning his head a little, “How do you know Dana anyway?”<br>

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass continued to pet the kneazle. " OH, well that's a funny story. I was out walking on the grounds one day and there had been a group of boys who used to terrorize me when I was a first year. So, I decided to take action. I sat behind a snow drift for about an hours pelting snowballs at them, and Dana just happened to see me and joined me. Nothing, great and stupendous. She thought it took a lot of guts to stand up from myself like that. It was very funny. It took them forever to figure out where the snowballs were coming from," Cass smiled, and made sure to not mention they were Slytherins. She didn't want to alienate him or anything.

" We've spent some time in Hogsmeade, and she invited me to that Valentine's Party. I think she is going to attempt to hook me up with a guy I like," she continued to pet the kneezle. It was really cute.

She eyed the unicorn warily and said off-handedly, " She looks a little uneasy with me being around. I thought unicorns usually liked girls."

[kris]

“Oh, you’re Cassndra. Dana mentioned you. Asked me to jinx a little at the party, so I’d alter your dare,” Kris murmured recalling the conversation he had had with his cousin, “And the way you met sounds like Dana.”<br>
“Attacking a bunch of Slytherins alone. That does take guts, I have to admit and Dana usually is a good judge of character,” Kris murmured thoughtfully starting to untangle the male unicorn’s mane. Cassandra hadn’t mentioned the house, but Kris wasn’t a fool. The only house who terrorized others and younger students were Slytherins.

“And unicorns usually do prefer girls. But this one’s leg was amputated by a female so he is wary of them now. I’m guessing he is an extra-ordinarily old creature now. He was there before I found this place and approached me for the first time about a year ago. Guess he had observed me long enough in the first four years I spent in this place and had decided I was trust-worthy,” Kris shrugged and patted the unicorns neck, sending him off as he kneeled next to the vixen once again muttering softly in her ear, causing her to loosen her muscles once again. Kris had an absolutely magical contact with animals – he was born with the gift and it showed. Even mrs. Norris came to find shelter from Kris when some younger students tried to terrorize her.

Kris pushed a too curious bird away and sighed, using his wand to clean a patch of snow off the ground. If he wanted to let the vixen rest in peace for tonight he’d have to spend the night. Sending a calculating glance towards Cassandra, Kris wondered if he could leave the girl here to make sure none of the animals bothered the vixen for a moment: “Could I leave you here for a minute while I go and get a blanket and something form the kitchens for myself? I’ll need the things for the night, but I can’t really leave the vixen alone or the other animals will get to close for comfort.”<br>Kris explained quickly, before eyeing Cassandra curiously, pondering about the reply.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Stunned that he would trust of her she said, " I wouldn't mind at all. A moment of my time is not going to send my plans for the day in ruin. Go ahead and take your time."

The animals in the field did leave her a little off guard, but he had shown her kindness she would do the same back. She wasn't going to let an animal suffer because she was selfish with her time.

Funny, though, some of her thoughts about Slytherins were changing.

[kris]

Kris nodded as Cassandra agreed to stay put for a moment and he looked around the courtyard once more. “The animals shouldn’t bother you. If they do just send a little ball of light upwards, then they back off. I’ll be back in 5 minutes at most.”<br>Not really wanting to leave, Kris moved to the three-stomp and opening the secret door by pressing on it still excited. He would need some things for the night.

Moving into a fast-paced walking Kris stopped by his common room and grabbed a magically charmed blanket, that would keep him warm during the whole night a jumper for himself and a cloak to replace the one Cassandra had sacrificed. Blood wouldn’t come out of it, so Kris made a mental note to send Dana shopping to replace it.
Stopping by the kitchens as well to get some meat for the vixen and some food and drink for himself, Kris managed to get everything in 3 minutes he noticed as he ended up in front of the courtyard door again.

Pulling the statues leg, Kris entered and dropped his package on the ground, then throwing his cloak to Cassandra. Kris himself had outgrown it, but he rather liked it with the small silver vines and leaved decorating the collar and sleeves-ends, so he hadn’t bothered to throw it out either. “Don’t catch a cold. I’ll make sure you get a replacement for your cloak, but hat will take a couple of days,” Kris said leaving his own things on the ground he had cleaned from snow earlier and pulling out the small strakes of raw meat.

“Come on, darling, you need the energy,” Kris muttered softly kneeling next to the vixen so it’s head was resting on his leg as he slowly fed the animal the meat, even though it went through hard-ships.
“The animals didn’t give you any trouble I expect?” Kris asked glancing up to Cassandra.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass watched Kris leave. She plopped down on the ground, and the kneezle automatically plopped back down in her lap wanting more attention. She did try to sit as lady like as possible but it was a little hard to do in a ripped skirt. She stroked the animal and watched her surroundings. She could definetly tell that there was life out there, but not much of it was going to come out for a stranger. She could faintly hear chickens clucking in the background, and the unicorn continued to eye her.

As soon as Kris was gone, he was back carrying some blankets and some clothes. She took the cloak from him and thanked him.

" No, none of them gave me any problem," she lifted the kneazle up a little and stroked his fur, " except this guy. He just loves attention. Yes, you do," she directed the last quote to the kneazle. He was a cute little thing, but his face looked a little funny.

" This cloak is awful pretty to be giving to me, are you sure? And don't worry to much about replacing the other one, it can wait. I'm not too worried about it anyway," she threw the cloak around her shoulders. She was getting a bit of a chill. The kneazle made a noise at his dislike of having Cass's attention directed to someone other than himself.

[kris]

“Good to hear. There aren’t any carnivores in this yard and as a witch you should have been able to block any other attack towards you. Although the animals here are peace-loving. Only the old unicorn might have been more aggressive, but he trusts me and saw you with me,” Kris shrugged and seeing that the vixen didn’t want to sleep and drifted off to fitfull sleep, Kris moved himself so he was leaning against a tree and looked at Cassandra thoughtfully.

“I’ll replace the cloak. And that one is old enough and too short for me anyway,” Kris shrugged. The cloak was about a year old ad it looked as good as new, but for Kris that meant old enough already.
“Weren’t you reading something in the hallway earlier? Studying rather,” Kris asked suddenly. The least he could do to repay the favor of Cassandra helping him with the vixen, was to help her with her homework, should she need it. Kris was smart and did fairly good in all his subjects. If he bothered to attend that is. Dana and he met usually twice a week in a small clearing in the Forbidden Forest and there Dana would give him a quick summary of what went on in classes, as they mainly had the same subjects

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

" OH," Cassandra said it very loudly. She was quite surprised he would ask.

" Well, its kind of stupid actually, " she blushed and looked down at the floor, " I want to become an animagus."

She blushed a whole lot more. She handed him the advance transfiguration book from the library.

" I was hoping if I put the elbow grease into it I could do it soon. I've been practicing, but so far I just get this quesy feeling in my stomach."

[kris]

“Animagus?” Kris raised a surprised eye-brow. He wanted to become one himself and always had, but he hadn’t expected this kind of an answer as he thumbed through the book, not really bothering to look at anything particular, as he had already read it earlier.

“Well, I am surprised,” Kris admitted calmly, giving the book back and looked at Cassandra ponderingly. Silence stretched as Kris calculated the girl in his eyes and debated with himself about how much he would share, “But not shocked. I have had some help with it myself and I’ll probably get some more professional help during the summer to complete my transformation.”<br>
“I’m able to transform my hands slightly and require a bit of fur,” Kris finally stated slowly, pulling out his wand and using ‘accio’ to get a small vial of a reddish liquid from a hole in a tree near-by and holding it in his hand as he showed it to Cassandra, “Snape brewed it for me. It was completed only 2 days ago and I tested it yesterday. It’s a complicated potion – wouldn’t suggest trying to brew this, if you aren’t a master. But it transforms you for a minute to the animal you would turn into as an animagus if you have the ability at all. After taking it one can’t try to transform himself fro one month though – otherwise there may be irreversible side-effects. But it was nice to see my animal.”<br>
Kris smiled and his eyes flashed as he recalled the joy, he had felt when he had seen the mirror reflection of his animagus form in the creek. It had been a huge black wolf, with silvery ears, a small marking on it’s chest and nose and two silvery strips on it’s sides. The striped had been perfectly parallel and a bit slanting – they strips moved closer to his back-bone at the tail-end, but ended about 10 cm from it on both sides and didn’t go further than the wolf’s ribcage.

Kris shook his head, pushing the memory back in his mind and raised the vial of the liquid once again: “I didn’t use all of it, so you are welcomed to the rest if you want. But I warned you about the side-effects, so it’s your decision. After it you’ll feel dizzy and will probably loose your lunch over here and the liquid itself is foul too. The transformation itself isn’t completely painless either.”<br>

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass stared at the vial with her mouth wide open in amazement. To see her animal would be one of the greatest things to ever happen to her! She took the vial from his hand and looked at the viscerious solution.

" Thank you, I don't know what to say," she held it gingerly, almost lovely. She looked at the solution in the bottle.

" God, to find out, do you know that is like the dream of every person to try an animal form."

She plumped down on the stump closest to her. She held it in her hand.

" And for that gift, foul is something I'm willing to risk."

She eyed the vial trying to decide if this was the right moment. This should be momentous. She popped the lid and smelled the foul stench. Not sure if she was ready for this

[kris]

“Remember that the change will only take place if you have any talent or hope in ever learning to turn into an animagus,” Kris reminded Cassandra just in case. The ability wasn’t very wide-spread actually.
“And if said foul I meant foul. I have a feeling that blood has a rather big part in that potion,” Kris grimaced recalling the taste, “But you can be sure it’s made by one of the best, so it works. And don’t forget to not try turning into your animal form for a whole month if you take it.”<br>
Kris watched the girl in front of him and fell silent, trying to guess what animal she might turn into.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass looked at the vial and finally made her mind up.

" Cheers," she lifted the vial and swallowed what was left.

She nearly choked on the vial liquid. THis has gotta be worse than Fear Factor she thought.

She opened her eyes and looked up at Kris. She felt, well, nothing.

She was disappointed, but then that familiar quesy feeling started up in the pit of her stomach. She dropped the vial as her hand went to her mouth to keep the bial down in her stomach.

She fell to the ground on all fours, and promptly lost her stomach. The pain was immense. She felt every bone in her body contort into a different shape, her back arched, her legs and arms began to bend differently, and her nails began to grow. She looked at her arms to see the black fur begin to engulf the skin she had on her arms. She closed her eyes for just a moment to look back down and see the large, black paws.

Then just as suddenly as it started, the pain stopped. She quickly loped over to the closest body of water she could find. She looked down.

The yellow eyes of a black panther stared back at her. The shock of it nearly rocked her. The gasp that escaped her lips became a growl.

But, before she could fully appreciate what had happened, she felt her body begin to contort to its normal state. Oh no, not yet, please, was all she she could beg to herself.

The black hair began to recede and limit itself to the top of her head. She heard the unicorn whinny in the background, probably stunned to see the abrupt change in her.

Before she knew it, she was back to her old self. She was curled up on the ground, still a little shocked by the moment. She could feel were parts of her clothing had ripped. She could still remotely feel the fur on her body.

Wow, that was amazing, she thought to herself.

[kris]

Kris grimaced as Cassandra lost her stomach, but cleaned it up, with a flick of his wand wordlessly, watching the panther Cassandra had turned into. It wasn’t the biggest panther, Kris had seen – in fact his own wolf-shape hadn’t been much smaller, as he had been the size of a grim.

“Not bad,” Kris said as Cassandra changed back and standing up walked to the girl and picking her up, moved her back to lay next to the small fire he had created, knowing that warmth would help.
Pulling out a pie from the food he brought for himself, Kris handed it to Cassandra: “Eat it. I know you might not want it, but it makes you feel less cold and quesy.”<br>
Kris didn’t let any of his emotions show as he watched the call, trying to collect herself as he spoke again: “You had a beige spot on your left hind leg and the tip of your tail was beige as well. They will probably be your special features that allow people to recognize you in your animagus form.”<br>Kris paused for a second: “I must admit, I’m surprised. Most people would prefer a bird or an carniavore animagus form, but most end up as cats or dogs or rabbits or foxes or something like that. I’m glad I didn’t get one of those animals though.”<br>