Almost Furries! (Closed RP for Lily and House)
For well over two months, Lily had been working diligently at mastering an Animagus transfiguration. She'd taken out every book in the library, spoken with Professor McGonagall, even gone to London several times (to some rather shady places) in search of information. She had no intention of informing the Ministry, of course. Then again, she wasn't at all sure the Ministry was aware she was even alive, so it was quite probable they didn't give a rat's arse what she did.
In any event, she'd found a remote area away from the castle and would often ride Agrippa out there to practice. It was slow going. Not only was the spell wickedly difficult, but Transfiguration had never been Lily's strong suite. But this was for Sirius, something to surprise him with, and so she soldiered on.
A week ago, she'd managed to get a soft sheen of reddish fur, the first big encouraging step since she'd started. Tonight, she was going to see how far into the transfiguration she could get. So, after dinner, before the sun had set, she allegedly had just gone out for a nice ride, to enjoy the summer's evening. In actuality, she'd headed out to her spot to see if she could turn into a...well, whatever it was she'd turn into.
It had started well enough. She'd felt her body shifting, the complicated magic flowing through her, making her limbs tingle as they changed. But then something had gone wrong. Either she'd lost her concentration or she hadn't done something right or...
Well, bugger it, for whatever reason, halfway through the change, she'd stopped. On all fours, with her hands as pads, though with still elongated fingers, a tail, a bright sheen of reddish fur covering her, she was more panther than not, though the transfiguration was not by any means complete. She walked like a panther, and she had a definite muzzle, though her eyes remained the same and it was clear her face was more human than should be. But she couldn't talk. Shite. And she couldn't hold a wand. Double shite.
Thinking quickly, Lily paced back and forth, mind racing and tail lashing. She'd heard of this happening, of course. She had a book in her bag; but there was a potion to be made or an incantation to be done. Either course could work, in theory, but she was in no position to do either. The potion had to taken fresh, or else she'd have had a batch prepared.
Right, she needed help. Her first instinct was, of course, Sirius. He'd gone through the Animagus transfiguration, he'd know better than anyone what to do. But... No. She still wanted this to be a surprise, for him. She was in no serious trouble. Best keep it under wraps unless absolutely necessary. For the same reason, she discarded contacting McGonagall and Dumbledore. She couldn't talk, communication would be ponderous, and she couldn't be certain they wouldn't automatically send for Sirius upon seeing her condition.
Growling in frustration, she also discarded Cox. He would send for Sirius, if only for the laughs, not to mention the fact that she couldn't be sure where he even was at the moment. She was not going to traipse around the school, searching for someone. She needed help, someone who would listen to her and not immediately call for Sirius, and someone who she'd know where they were.
Chuckling out a quick laugh - which was an odd sound coming from her panther vocal chords - Lily set out towards the castle at a fast clip. Merlin, but she couldn't wait until she got this transfiguration right. Her eyes were still human, but her legs were panther, and propelled her along at a breakneck speed. There was one person she could bet her last Knut would be sequestered in his room. And, so long as she could slip past the Slythendor common room, no one else she knew would be near it.
Upon reaching the castle, she trotted up to the closed door and scratched loudly on it twice. Her bag was dangling from her teeth and she let it drop with a thump. Then she yowled politely.
'Come on, Skippy. Don't pick tonight, of all nights, to actually have a social life.'