Four To The End (prev Shifting Lines) Book Three (Marauders Era)

Author's Note: in regards to the tarot pulls, I want to make it clear that unless otherwise said, all tarot cards pulled in the story are ones either my partner or I pulled for the situation. In this case, the only card I purposely chose was Remus's past card. All other tarot cards mentioned in this chapter were actually pulled in real life by one of us.

CW emetophobia; also a reminder there will be a chapter out this Friday :)

-x-

Remus was glad when it was finally time for Transfiguration, Tuesday afternoon. Professor McGonagall was his favorite teacher.

"A point each from Gryffindor," she said, her lips a flat line across her face. Despite the sternness in her voice, Remus could sense she was a little excited about something which made him very curious. "Mr. Potter, your hair is a disaster; why are there leaves in it? Mr. Pettigrew, Mr. Lupin, you've both got mud all over your trousers, Mr. Black—" She paused, eyes raking over Sirius's unkempt appearance; his shirt was untucked and partially unbuttoned, his tie was gone, and he hadn't worn his sleeveless jumper that day at all. He flashed a broad grin at her and she gave a faint sigh. "No. Go have a seat."

At least she didn't take extra points off for my tie, he thought as he tried to brush the dried mud off the seat of his trousers before taking his usual seat.

Transfiguration was now shared with Ravenclaw and it was so strange to see all the blue and bronze accents around the room. He wasn't sure why it was odder in this class than any other, then realized it was probably since he was used to Transfiguration being such a Gryffindor class since McGonagall was Head of Gryffindor.

McGonagall went right into her lesson and immediately Remus knew why she had the aura of excitement.

"Can anyone tell me what an Animagus is?"

A couple of hands shot up, Remus's included. Instead McGonagall called on Sirius, whose hands were busy doodling rather than being up. Sirius jerked his chin up. "M-me?"

"Unless your brother has snuck into this lesson, I don't believe there's another Mr. Black in the room," McGonagall said and there were a few giggles.

"Ani... magus..." Sirius said slowly and McGonagall nodded. "Er."

YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT THEM LESS THAN A YEAR AGO! Remus was screaming in his head. How could Sirius forget?! There was no way he could have forgotten about that event which was without a doubt why McGonagall called on him. Sirius—who loved cats—had been petting a tabby cat the previous year only for the cat to turn into McGonagall herself.

Sirius glanced at Remus who mouthed the words McGonagall. Cat.

"Hats?" he asked.

Remus dropped his head on his desk. "No, Mr. Black," McGonagall said, sounding a little more amused than disappointed at least. "Mr. Lupin, since you tried telling him, why don't you tell the class?"

Remus straightened up. "Er—y-yes. Animagus are p-people who can—can—can become anim-mals..." He launched into a brief, stammering explanation about them, and saw Sirius slapping his forehead as it dawned on him where he had heard the term before.

When he finished, McGonagall gave three points to Gryffindor. Then, without warning, she turned into her cat form. A tabby cat with markings around its eyes that looked like spectacles. There were loads of gasps and a smattering of applause; Remus clapped too, even though he had seen her do it before. It really was remarkable and marvelous magic.

"That was terrific!" one of the Ravenclaws squealed after McGonagall transformed back.

"Thank you," she said, as if someone had merely opened a door for her. She then went on to expand on what Remus had said about Animagi, explaining that it was an arduous, difficult, and, at times, painful process. That most witches and wizards who tried to become Animagus gave up, and that those who did it incorrectly were permanently part-human part-animal. And that on very rare occasions, a witch or wizard messed up so badly that they permanently became an animal.