Transformations and Transfiguration

By: Jasmine

Chapter 1

"Change of Heart"

When lost in your own imagination, thoughts spinning in your head, be sure you are in a place far from reach of anyone, for you never know what being shall effortlessly do something and make a run for it. That would be the advice Lily Evans would give anyone in her current situation, her long, wavy red locks now as brilliant a green as her eyes, making both glow with an odd sort of radiance, a mixture of anger and hatred, as they rested on the source of her problem: James Potter.

Oh, she loathed him to such an extent that trying to describe it in words would be much too difficult for there weren't enough adjectives in the English language. His laughter rang in her ears, seeping through her like poison. She regretted having ever wished she was in Gryffindor over Ravenclaw. If she'd been sorted into Ravenclaw, she at least wouldn't have to put up with James's incessant taunts. As always, she would end up trying to return his scoffs, but to no avail for she was much too occupied with being top in everything, with the exception of trouble.

"What's the matter, Evans? I don't see that wretched cat of yours anywhere, so it couldn't possibly have gotten your tongue." Sirius Black's jeering voice cut into her thoughts like a dagger does to skin. He loathed Lily's cat almost as much as she loathed James. Every chance it had, Lily's pure black cat would pounce on Sirius, scratching him to bits before disappearing, giving him no time to do nothing but scream. This brought satisfaction to Lily's heart, knowing that at least someone was aiding her in the torture of those unbearable marauders, as they referred to themselves.

"Shut it, Black, or I'll make sure he comes after you while you're fast asleep." Lily snapped, her eyes narrow slits. Then, she smirked as she continued, "Ebony will tear his prey to shreds if he sees they are incapable of fighting back."

"Stop acting deranged, Lily." interrupted Jasmine, pulling at Lily's robes, placing her in her seat again, having noticed Sirius's frightful look. Lily glowered at James and Sirius before crossing her arms around her chest and sitting still. Jasmine rolled her eyes before rising from her own seat.

After having straightened out her robes, she looked up at James and Sirius, staring intensely at the pair. They cringed under her glare, knowing if they didn't abide by the rules she set, they'd be very sorry indeed. "Go back to your compartment, you two, before I make you go back. And stop this rubbish. We're entering fifth year, for heaven's sake, can't you act the least bit mature and leave poor Lily alone!"

"Of course we can't—" James began bravely, Sirius readying himself to come to his aid, but only to be interrupted.

"That was a rhetorical question, you dope." said Jasmine, rolling her eyes again. She placed her arms on her hips, tapping her foot slightly. When the two boys in the doorway didn't budge, she said, "Weren't you guys about to leave?" Sirius made to advance toward her, as if wanting nothing more than to tell her to shut her trap, but James pulled him along, snapping the compartment door shut behind them.

Jasmine then shook her head, pitying the two of them slightly, before lowering her gaze, fixing it on Lily. "Don't just stand there, help me get this jinx off. I can't go back looking like this." Lily commanded, though this time a bit more softly. She held up her jade hair, scrunching her nose at the repulsive smell now radiating from it. "D'you know the counter curse, because I'm lost." Jasmine nodded her head, sympathetically smiling at her friend before waving her wand.

The numerous candles floating in the Great Hall shone warmly upon the new and returning Hogwarts students, their glow being the only source of light in the hall. The sky was draped in a gray mass of clouds as if telling anyone still outside to seek shelter because a huge downpour was on its way. Lily gazed up at the ceiling, wishing she could see stars instead.

Lily failed to notice where she was going, her sight and train of thought fixed upon the ominous skies. Without realizing whom she'd bumped into, she was halfway through voicing a curt apology before noticing it was one she'd never say such a thing to. "Watch where you're going, Potter." she snarled menacingly, her hands in her pockets, her fingers wrapping around her wand.

"Same to you, Evans." James replied curtly, not even glancing her way, as he'd done on the train. He never put much focus on Lily, feeling she wasn't worth having his sight placed upon her. She was always so lanky and boring, never doing much to herself. He just never found any interest in looking at her.

Lily felt the same way toward James, but she would always be sure to glare at him, hoping that he'd catch it, even if it be a glance. She wanted to make sure he knew of her hatred toward him and nothing else. The two passed each other without another word, going in opposite directions only to seat themselves right across each other. "Move." said James, waving his hand at her. "I'm about to eat. I don't want to look at something so—" He halted his speech abruptly, finally realizing that he wasn't speaking to the same Lily Evans anymore.

"You move. I don't sit with anything of another species." Lily retorted, feeling very proud she'd finally been able to catch James Potter off guard and insult him all at the same time, completely oblivious as to why James was so shocked. She was quite convinced that she'd surprised him with her ingenious reply, but she was terribly mistaken.

James's eyes widened as he looked over Lily. She was no longer lanky, but very prettily filled out. She'd also grown a few inches, and she now probably reached a few inches above his shoulder, and if he remembered correctly, that's the type of woman Sirius had described for him over the summer. He recalled their pointless conversation...

"Yeah right, mate. I'm not the type to go steady with just any girl." Sirius retorted smugly, putting a hand through his sleek hair, the ends of his mouth curling upward ever so slightly. "And I don't think there's any type of girl who'd be willing to put up with me, anyway." The ends of his mouth curled a bit more.

James laughed aloud, rolling his eyes as well. "It's kind of alarming how much truth there is in that last statement."

"Hey!" Sirius replied, throwing a pillow at James. "What're you trying to say?" He dodged a pillow, catching the second. "Anyway, I know exactly what kind of girl would go after you

"This I've got to hear." said James sarcastically, stopping his arm in midair, the pillow falling back onto the bed softly. "Go on, then. Try to describe just what kind of girl would be attracted to me."

Sirius clapped his hands together loudly. "Let's see... Well, she's obviously got to be more good-looking than you, but I guess that would mean every girl has a chance." He dodged a pillow. "And she can't be too short. Probably a bit higher than your shoulder... She's got to be smart, and be able to keep up with you. She can't be shy, she's got to be able to keep you under control." James laughed. "What?"

"It's really funny. I can almost picture this girl you're describing." He continued laughing, failing to notice the expression Sirius's face had taken.

"Who might that be?" said Sirius, his eyes slightly narrowed, his smirk still in place. When James didn't answer, Sirius decided to end the silence with, "Oh, that's right! How could I have missed this!" He stared at James for a second before whispering, "Evans."

"WHAT?" James bellowed, standing to his full height, which was quite tall considering he'd grown a few inches over the summer. He picked up a fluffy cushion, an evil grin replacing his gaping mouth. "Take that back."

"Make me." Sirius laughed, rising as well. What came next was no longer words but a massive pillow fight, ending in a pool of feathers that the two had to swim through to get to the door.

"Hello!" a deep voice snapped James back to reality, and he finally noticed Sirius's hand waving in front of his face. He turned his head toward him, staring innocently at him, only to have a grin thrown back. "The feast started quite a while ago, mate. Where've you been?" James laughed apprehensively before turning toward his place and beginning to pile food onto it, his face a bright magenta, his cheeks even darker. Sirius coughed, hiding his laughter.

Well, that's about it for now. Kinda short, I know, but what d'you guys think? Let me know in your reviews! I've got chapter 2 ready to go, but it'd be nice if I got a few reviews before putting it up, for my own enjoyment, of course!

(I'll probably put up chapter 2 anyway, but five reviews would be nice!)