Harry Potter and the Body Thief: Chapter 21
Here's my next chapter. I hope someone is reading it. If not, then I have the story in my journal for my records.
Astral Projection
On Tuesday (Moony's night), Sibyll said, "We can call it a night. I can't have you do actual astral projection. You aren't grounded in this body and I can't have you not coming back."
"I'm grounded in this body," said Harry.
"You never tried leaving this body." Sibyll twirled one of her scarves. "When we do it in class, the students always return to their own bodies. Your body has someone else in it."
Harry pointed to his chest. "This is my body."
"It isn't." Sibyll played with her long stringy hair. "We can't risk you being trapped in the astral plane."
"I can practice meditating on my own." Harry got up and left. It was Moony's night, so the wolf and the dog were in the Shrieking Shack. Harry never really paid full moons much mind before. Under the moonlight, he walked to Hagrid's hut.
He cuddled by the fire with his bloke. "Rube, I can tell by the howls Sirius and Remus are having a grand time." Harry unbuttoned Hagrid's shirt. Wouldn't he know the bloke would have on bloody long johns like a lumberjack? Harry wasn't going to be disheartened. He put his hand under the thermal underwear and touched Hagrid's woolly chest hair. "I need you so bad."
Hagrid kissed the top of Harry's head. "Yeh're worth the wait."
"My birthday is next week," said Harry. "And I can't wait to open my present."
"Buddy, yeh know I love yeh. Life comes from livin'. Yeh can't rush it." His arms held Harry in a warm embrace.
"I'm going to be twenty-eight next week. In five years, I'll be thirty-three."
"Young in wizard years."
"An adult in Hobbit years." Harry took off his shoes and put his socking feet on the sofa. "These aren't Hobbit feet."
Hagrid took off Harry's socks. "Not furry enough."
"You read Lord of the Rings?" Harry moved off Hagrid's lap and repositioned himself so his feet were on Hagrid's gut.
"No, I read The Hobbit."
"I only read The Hobbit from beginning to end." Harry admitted. "I have too much reading for school - only got to Chapter 3 in The Fellowship of the Ring."
"Yeh should have time fer readin'. Dumbledore works yeh too hard."
"I have my reading for my classes. I have my lessons with Filius on Sunday and now I have to learn astral projection. Moony going to be sleeping off his big night the next few days, so I have to cover for him."
"No talkin'. Yeh rest in yehr head on me shoulder."
"I come up to your chest when I sit on your lap." Harry leaned against Hagrid and closed his eyes. "I hear three voices."
"Fang is barking back." Hagrid sat up. "I ought ter bring him in. He'll be wantin' ter join the party."
Harry sat up and put on his socks and shoes. "I'll be going. I'll be short my assistant tomorrow."
"Put yehr Hobbit feet on me lap anytime." Hagrid opened the door for Harry then he went out to bring Fang inside and check his other animals. Harry watched Hagrid a moment and then started the walk to the castle.
---
Harry put a bowl for Sirius on the floor near the staff table and filled it with bangers. He then filled a bowl with tea and milk. He set that beside the first bowl. "Snuffles, I'm going to get my own breakfast."
"You give a dog tea?" said Minerva.
"And you fancy cat food?" said Harry. "The house elves make more than enough."
Minerva said, "I'm teaching my third years about animagi."
"Sirius is now registered," said Harry. "If he wants to live this way, it's his choice. He was put in prison for eleven years for being in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"It isn't healthy for him." Minerva sat beside Harry. Harry wanted to tell her that Sirius was up late last night with Remus, but he didn't know how much Minerva knew and he wasn't making that mistake, again.
Remus had told him that James and Sirius were very bright and capable boys that taught themselves the difficult magic necessary to become animagi and helped Peter learn. Sirius didn't seem very bright or capable now. Remus had said that werewolves didn't eat animals, only people, so his friends figured they were safe as animals, but they didn't expect that Remus would be calmer with his friends and would start remembering his transformations.
Remus also admitted sneaking into Azkaban to be with Sirius on full moons. Harry had been right about the doggie sex. Putting Sirius in prison had the side effect of Remus returning to violent painful transformations. Improvements in wolfsbane helped but medication couldn't replace his lover.
"Having dementors suck your happiness away for eleven years isn't healthy," said Harry. "I was in Azkaban one night and I remember this awful coldness, a chill that went straight through the bones. If I could have escaped by changing into a dog, I would have and that was only one night."
Harry poured himself his own tea with milk. He ate an apple then buttered a scone to eat while drinking his tea. Watching Sirius eat, Harry ate his scone and drank his tea. Harry now had Quirrell's nervous and limbic systems. He trembled now, his nerves got shot faster and, while he didn't stutter, his speech wasn't as fluent as it had been before and that was going from one human body to another. Going from human to dog had to be more dramatic.
Sirius talked, dressed himself, conducted business in Hogsmeade and wrote letters. Sirius told Harry that he needed to be himself. Sirius also needed to find his place in the world. He had the love of Remus. Harry found their love to be amazing and at the same time simple.
A young lady came over to Sirius and went to pet him.
Harry grabbed her hand. "You never bother a dog while he is eating."
"He's finished his food," said the young lady.
Sirius was lapping his weak tea.
"He's drinking his tea," said Harry.
"I'm Dora Tonks," said the woman. "It's alright that you don't recognize me. My appearance changes. Sirius is my cousin once removed."
Harry let go of her hand. "Sorry."
"Professor Quirrell, you aren't a leper."
"I had his face on the back of my head." Harry sat back on his chair. "People aren't real comfortable with me."
"You aren't Professor Quirrell." Miss Tonks had no doubt in her voice.
"I'm not?" Harry took another apple.
"No, your accent is wrong," explained Miss Tonks. "I would say Surrey. Professor Quirrell has some York with a touch of Cockney. He stutters so much that it's hard to be sure. I want to be an auror after I finish. I figure with my ability I can disguise myself as other people. I can look like anybody, but sounding like them is quite a feat."
The dog changed into a man. Sirius stood. His robe was open to reveal one of the suits Harry helped him pick out - the understated grey one - Sirius looked handsome in everything. "Nymphadora, I haven't seen you since you were a babe. Your mum is one of the few members of my family that would speak to me after my mum disowned me." He offered her his hand.
She shook his hand. "Sirius, people are more likely to talk to you if you're human."
"I find it the other way around." Sirius took an empty seat at the staff table. "And as a hound, I don't need to talk back."
"You'll ask to pet a strange dog, but you aren't likely to hug a stranger," Harry said in agreement. "Miss Tonks, I'm having a party this weekend. My Godfather is invited. I'm sure he would love to have a family member presence and, with you there, he may stay human."
"Sirius is your godfather. That makes you Harry Potter." She laughed a sweet ladylike giggle. "You caused the scars on your face and arm before you switched bodies."
"It's all very amusing that You-Know-Who pushed me out of my own body and my soul found a freshly dead body to reanimate," said Harry.
"Professor Quirrell is dead?" said Miss Tonks.
"If he's in here with me, he's been awful quiet the last five months," said Harry. "He had a pretty nasty heart attack before Madame Pomfrey started me up, again. Madame Pomfrey says my magic is healing the damage. So you needn't be concerned."
"I've been telling Inus he needs to find his own life," said Sirius. "Quirrell's life is over. He went to his reward. As my godson, Inus is supposed listen to me on spiritual matters."
"He's twelve years old," said Miss Tonks. "He doesn't have to decide next week."
"He isn't twelve," said Sirius. "He's having his twenty-eighth birthday next week. You don't have to bring a present."
Harry got up, taking his half-eaten apple with him. "I'll leave you two to talk. I have a class to teach." Harry waved good-bye to them before exiting the hall. They looked too busy to notice him. Harry was happy that Sirius had a cousin to talk to. Now he may spend a bit more time as human.
Astral Projection
On Tuesday (Moony's night), Sibyll said, "We can call it a night. I can't have you do actual astral projection. You aren't grounded in this body and I can't have you not coming back."
"I'm grounded in this body," said Harry.
"You never tried leaving this body." Sibyll twirled one of her scarves. "When we do it in class, the students always return to their own bodies. Your body has someone else in it."
Harry pointed to his chest. "This is my body."
"It isn't." Sibyll played with her long stringy hair. "We can't risk you being trapped in the astral plane."
"I can practice meditating on my own." Harry got up and left. It was Moony's night, so the wolf and the dog were in the Shrieking Shack. Harry never really paid full moons much mind before. Under the moonlight, he walked to Hagrid's hut.
He cuddled by the fire with his bloke. "Rube, I can tell by the howls Sirius and Remus are having a grand time." Harry unbuttoned Hagrid's shirt. Wouldn't he know the bloke would have on bloody long johns like a lumberjack? Harry wasn't going to be disheartened. He put his hand under the thermal underwear and touched Hagrid's woolly chest hair. "I need you so bad."
Hagrid kissed the top of Harry's head. "Yeh're worth the wait."
"My birthday is next week," said Harry. "And I can't wait to open my present."
"Buddy, yeh know I love yeh. Life comes from livin'. Yeh can't rush it." His arms held Harry in a warm embrace.
"I'm going to be twenty-eight next week. In five years, I'll be thirty-three."
"Young in wizard years."
"An adult in Hobbit years." Harry took off his shoes and put his socking feet on the sofa. "These aren't Hobbit feet."
Hagrid took off Harry's socks. "Not furry enough."
"You read Lord of the Rings?" Harry moved off Hagrid's lap and repositioned himself so his feet were on Hagrid's gut.
"No, I read The Hobbit."
"I only read The Hobbit from beginning to end." Harry admitted. "I have too much reading for school - only got to Chapter 3 in The Fellowship of the Ring."
"Yeh should have time fer readin'. Dumbledore works yeh too hard."
"I have my reading for my classes. I have my lessons with Filius on Sunday and now I have to learn astral projection. Moony going to be sleeping off his big night the next few days, so I have to cover for him."
"No talkin'. Yeh rest in yehr head on me shoulder."
"I come up to your chest when I sit on your lap." Harry leaned against Hagrid and closed his eyes. "I hear three voices."
"Fang is barking back." Hagrid sat up. "I ought ter bring him in. He'll be wantin' ter join the party."
Harry sat up and put on his socks and shoes. "I'll be going. I'll be short my assistant tomorrow."
"Put yehr Hobbit feet on me lap anytime." Hagrid opened the door for Harry then he went out to bring Fang inside and check his other animals. Harry watched Hagrid a moment and then started the walk to the castle.
---
Harry put a bowl for Sirius on the floor near the staff table and filled it with bangers. He then filled a bowl with tea and milk. He set that beside the first bowl. "Snuffles, I'm going to get my own breakfast."
"You give a dog tea?" said Minerva.
"And you fancy cat food?" said Harry. "The house elves make more than enough."
Minerva said, "I'm teaching my third years about animagi."
"Sirius is now registered," said Harry. "If he wants to live this way, it's his choice. He was put in prison for eleven years for being in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"It isn't healthy for him." Minerva sat beside Harry. Harry wanted to tell her that Sirius was up late last night with Remus, but he didn't know how much Minerva knew and he wasn't making that mistake, again.
Remus had told him that James and Sirius were very bright and capable boys that taught themselves the difficult magic necessary to become animagi and helped Peter learn. Sirius didn't seem very bright or capable now. Remus had said that werewolves didn't eat animals, only people, so his friends figured they were safe as animals, but they didn't expect that Remus would be calmer with his friends and would start remembering his transformations.
Remus also admitted sneaking into Azkaban to be with Sirius on full moons. Harry had been right about the doggie sex. Putting Sirius in prison had the side effect of Remus returning to violent painful transformations. Improvements in wolfsbane helped but medication couldn't replace his lover.
"Having dementors suck your happiness away for eleven years isn't healthy," said Harry. "I was in Azkaban one night and I remember this awful coldness, a chill that went straight through the bones. If I could have escaped by changing into a dog, I would have and that was only one night."
Harry poured himself his own tea with milk. He ate an apple then buttered a scone to eat while drinking his tea. Watching Sirius eat, Harry ate his scone and drank his tea. Harry now had Quirrell's nervous and limbic systems. He trembled now, his nerves got shot faster and, while he didn't stutter, his speech wasn't as fluent as it had been before and that was going from one human body to another. Going from human to dog had to be more dramatic.
Sirius talked, dressed himself, conducted business in Hogsmeade and wrote letters. Sirius told Harry that he needed to be himself. Sirius also needed to find his place in the world. He had the love of Remus. Harry found their love to be amazing and at the same time simple.
A young lady came over to Sirius and went to pet him.
Harry grabbed her hand. "You never bother a dog while he is eating."
"He's finished his food," said the young lady.
Sirius was lapping his weak tea.
"He's drinking his tea," said Harry.
"I'm Dora Tonks," said the woman. "It's alright that you don't recognize me. My appearance changes. Sirius is my cousin once removed."
Harry let go of her hand. "Sorry."
"Professor Quirrell, you aren't a leper."
"I had his face on the back of my head." Harry sat back on his chair. "People aren't real comfortable with me."
"You aren't Professor Quirrell." Miss Tonks had no doubt in her voice.
"I'm not?" Harry took another apple.
"No, your accent is wrong," explained Miss Tonks. "I would say Surrey. Professor Quirrell has some York with a touch of Cockney. He stutters so much that it's hard to be sure. I want to be an auror after I finish. I figure with my ability I can disguise myself as other people. I can look like anybody, but sounding like them is quite a feat."
The dog changed into a man. Sirius stood. His robe was open to reveal one of the suits Harry helped him pick out - the understated grey one - Sirius looked handsome in everything. "Nymphadora, I haven't seen you since you were a babe. Your mum is one of the few members of my family that would speak to me after my mum disowned me." He offered her his hand.
She shook his hand. "Sirius, people are more likely to talk to you if you're human."
"I find it the other way around." Sirius took an empty seat at the staff table. "And as a hound, I don't need to talk back."
"You'll ask to pet a strange dog, but you aren't likely to hug a stranger," Harry said in agreement. "Miss Tonks, I'm having a party this weekend. My Godfather is invited. I'm sure he would love to have a family member presence and, with you there, he may stay human."
"Sirius is your godfather. That makes you Harry Potter." She laughed a sweet ladylike giggle. "You caused the scars on your face and arm before you switched bodies."
"It's all very amusing that You-Know-Who pushed me out of my own body and my soul found a freshly dead body to reanimate," said Harry.
"Professor Quirrell is dead?" said Miss Tonks.
"If he's in here with me, he's been awful quiet the last five months," said Harry. "He had a pretty nasty heart attack before Madame Pomfrey started me up, again. Madame Pomfrey says my magic is healing the damage. So you needn't be concerned."
"I've been telling Inus he needs to find his own life," said Sirius. "Quirrell's life is over. He went to his reward. As my godson, Inus is supposed listen to me on spiritual matters."
"He's twelve years old," said Miss Tonks. "He doesn't have to decide next week."
"He isn't twelve," said Sirius. "He's having his twenty-eighth birthday next week. You don't have to bring a present."
Harry got up, taking his half-eaten apple with him. "I'll leave you two to talk. I have a class to teach." Harry waved good-bye to them before exiting the hall. They looked too busy to notice him. Harry was happy that Sirius had a cousin to talk to. Now he may spend a bit more time as human.