OOC: I'm sorry but i couldn't wait any longer. I wrote most of this post about 9 months ago and i've been modifying and adding to it ever since. Hope you like it ;D
*** Halloween ***
Night descended on the castle earlier and earlier each evening, the cold moon rising into the foreboding sky. Halloween had arrived, celebrated throughout the school with a day off lessons and a feast in the evening. Everything was done traditionally, just as it had done since the grand school was founded so many years ago.
The noise in the Great Hall was immense. Everyone was talking and chatting to people next to them and even shouting to those further along their table. Crystal's head throbbed, causing her to feel faint. She'd been feeling a little off colour all day, but the huge hall, bright lights and shouts of students had made it much worse. "I need some fresh air," she said distantly to those around her, getting up from the table and walking out of the school. The night air was crisp and cold, making Crystal wrap her robes tightly around her. It was good to be out of the hall but her headache still burned on. She shut her eyes for a minute, trying to clear her head. She had never liked the feasts, being surrounded by so many magical people and reminded of her lack of skill.
A second later Crystal was on her hands and knees, the pain searing in her back, where she had felt a huge force hit her with such power, as if someone had just swung a cricket bat at her back. Breathing heavier now she looked around to see what had happened, but only saw a few autumn leaves fluttering in the cool breeze. Suddenly the girl's breath was knocked from her body, causing her eyes to widen and her breathing rushed and deep. A tingling feeling rippled over her body. Anxiously Crystal looked at her hands in the dim light, only to see the thick white hair growing on them. Her hands grew longer, as did her nails, which merged into one long, semicircular hoof. Her thumbs, however, shortened and became only a bump on her now very long arm. Crystal's elbows slowly changed to knees, still covered in white hair. Astonished, the girl stumbled backwards, only to realise that her legs had done the same and that her shoes had turned metal. They made a familiar clip-clop sound on the paved path and seemed to be attached to her feet. Crystal tried to stand up but it only resulted in her crashing back down on her new legs. Now her breathing started to change. Instead of deep breaths through her mouth it changed to her nose, which began to lengthen. Her whole face changed shape to became both longer and thinner. Her eyes spread further apart, so they were nearly on the side of her head, and so that she could see a little behind her. Her ears also became longer and seemed to move further up her head. Crystal's hair no longer fell in front of her face but down her long, arched neck, thinning out but still exactly the same colour as it had been just a minute ago.
The whole transformation had now taken place. The tingling stopped so Crystal shut her eyes tight and slowly opened them again, hoping to see that it was all her imagination. She lowered her head, hoping to find her feet, but instead saw two huge hooves and ankles covered in long, white hair. Turning her neck behind her she saw a long, chestnut body. Then she noticed something different, another part of her that wasn't there before… a tail, the exact same colour as her mane. Concentrating, she managed to swish it and started to look around, wondering if it really was her, or just a trick someone was playing. Maybe she was going insane and that she thought that she had turned into a horse.
Ok… try and think logically. If I can find something to see myself in, then I can try to find out of I am going crazy or not. I just need proof Ah, just the thing Crystal thought catching sight of a large pool of water left from the previous day's rain. Slowly she walked over to it, finding it very easy and somewhat more balanced to be walking on four limbs, rather than two. Taking another deep breath she peered into the water and nearly stumbled backwards at the sight of herself. She knew this face so well from home. The face of her animagus mother's form. The face of a Clydesdale.
A tall, dark figure with scruffy, dark hair emerged from the shadows behind Crystal. He had only just come from his hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, late for the feast, as usual. Upon seeing the horse he had wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him in the fading light. But getting slightly closer he realised that he was right, and it was indeed very scared looking one too. Clydesdales are naturally very large and strong, bred for heavy farm work, but then again there is no stronger man in the school than Hagrid. From his giant moleskin coat he managed to pull out a length of rope and slowly approached the horse, making it head collar shaped as he did so. Crystal, however, was still gazing at her appearance in the puddle, half celebrating, half worrying about how to change back. This had been the first time she had shown magical promise, so it came as a relief, though a rather startling one. As Hagrid came closer Crystal became aware of him and swinging around, she faced him. The girl was not frightened but did not want to be caught either, so put her head up high snorted slightly. As Hagrid advanced he raised the rope to the height of her head, but Crystal backed away slightly.
Suddenly his hand shot out and grabbed her forelock hard, making Crystal toss her head more and try to get backwards, but his grip was tight and she was not willing to pull out half of her hair to get away.
Maybe he'll realise that I'm not really a horse… hopefully Crystal thought desperately as Hagrid slipped the head collar over her face. "Now, come on. We betta get you inside" he said in his gruff voice patting her on her neck and tugging slightly on the rope. Obediently she followed, knowing that there was no other way to go. Nevertheless, as they approached the door she became a little more reluctant to follow, pulling and tossing her head again, trying to get free from the bridle. Still, patient Hagrid pulled her on, into the entrance hall, where he found a small ring on the wall to tie her lead rope to, in a very tight knot.
The Keeper of Keys then proceeded into the Great Hall and marched up the centre to Professor Granger. Leaning over the table his spoke in an inaudible voice to everyone but those close to the head teacher and Professor Granger herself. The head teacher nodded and replied quietly, before looking at Professor Lupin, who she was sitting next to, and telling him to investigate the situation. With the smile and a nod the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher stood up and swept out of the hall, catching sight of Crystal straight away. The horse had been watching the events through the crack in the door, trying to push her body flat against the wall, but, realising that it was a lot larger than what she was used to, decided that staying quiet was probably the best action to take. Hopefully no one in the hall would notice her. Crystal had always liked Professor Lupin as a teacher, unlike Professor Umbridge, because he had understood her from the beginning. Slowly he approached, but she made no movement. His worn hand gently reached out and touched her long nose, stroking it gently and untying the rope. Maybe she could tell him about her then he'd be able to help.
Yes, he's the best person to tell. He'll know exactly what to do. She tried to speak, but no sound came out. Not words, or a neigh, or a whiney, or even a grunt.
Why can't I talk? she thought desperately, feeling utterly wretched for about the sixth time that evening.
"Let the feast begin!" Professor Granger's loud voice spread over the hall, startling Crystal a little. Suddenly the Great Hall was filled with the sound of cutlery and the smells of delicious foods. These also reached Crystal, who breathed in deeply, wondering what she was going to be given to eat.
Maybe I'll have to eat hay all my life, and I'll be stuck like this forever Crystal thought, lowering her head slightly, arching her neck, and smelling what she thought might be the last feast she would be able to, only allowed to eat grass and oats. Slowly he untied Hagrid's knot, looking at Crystal's sad eyes. She could tell he pitied her, but she couldn't let this happen to herself, it was like giving up and Crystal never gave up. She lifted her head up again and looked at the rope in his hand. It was loose and his hands were old, without much strength left in them. She allowed him to lead her out of the corner and away from the door, but when she felt the rope lose the rest of its tension, she jerked her head up and twisted towards the door. Before the teacher could take any action against the movement, the rope had been pulled free from his hands and the horse was trotting neatly towards the door.
A cool wind met Crystal's face as she leapt down the stone steps, her new legs absorbing the pressure easily. The professor cursed under his breath and returned to the teachers' table, convinced that searching in the dark, and on an empty stomach, was a waste of time. Crystal smiled inwardly, glad to be free, and congratulating herself on her initiative and quick instincts.
Soon Crystal entered a smooth canter, her feet finding the steps much easier than the run she'd used in her two-legged form. The trees flew past her and her feet tore up the ground. Her long mane and tail trailed out behind her as her hooves pounded on the grass. Crystal was free. Not just from the school and all the pressure on her, but free from her own body. Her previous form had trapped and convinced her that there was no need to live, no point in life other than to exist and be laughed at by everyone else. Now, though, she had a meaning, a reason to be at Hogwarts. All her questions were answered and now she could live, she could live a better life in a much better body. But slowly her plans turned cold and grey, bars confining her again.
On the horizon tall, dark gates rose up from the ground, surrounding the grounds of the school. The heavy, trapped feeling closed in on Crystal's heart again, squeezing it until it felt like it would explode, then sinking deep down inside her, heavy iron weighing her down.
Soon they were looming above her, emphasised by the delicate sunset behind. Crystal's free canter had slowed to a heavy walk and her mind had wandered back to the school. She breathed heavily after the exercise, her warm breath turning to steam in front of her eyes. All her free thoughts now seemed miles away, completely incomprehensible. How could she leave David and all her friends without a second thought? She felt selfish, conceited, to have left everyone behind and now she would have to go back. Unless…
Unless there's a break in the fence somewhere she thought hopefully. Slowly she started to plod along the perimeter of the school's grounds, her eyes fixed on the fence, but her mind wandering back to the Great Hall.
). Because I'm not good at making lesson plans, I'll leave that to the more enthusiastic *looks to Rosie and Chloe*. I think we can keep the now-second years' as is, though. Onto the topic!
I'll just have to auto you back 