Marauders ... or Something
Friday, 16 October 1998
“We need names,” Ron announced as he sat down on one of the couches in the Founders’ Tower sitting room.
Once they’d all turned human again, they’d made their way inside to shower and start researching their forms. James’ journal had told them the same thing Mary and McGonagall had; some people with a particular talent for transfiguration (or someone like Harry who had a family gift based in transfiguration) would be able to complete the transformation much easier, as would people with forms more anatomically similar to humans (like apes or even canines and some cats), but people with forms entirely unsimilar to humans (like snakes and birds) would likely have a much harder time. Researching one’s form would help build up the pathways for the full transformation; knowing not just what your form looked like, but also how it functioned and thought.
Now, a small, freshly showered group of recent animagi were gathered on the main floor of Founders’ Tower; Susan, Luna, Neville, Harry, and Teddy along with Theo, Ron, Hermione, Hannah, and Ginny.
“What do you mean names?” Hannah asked from across the room.
“Like the Marauders,” Ron responded.
“That doesn’t help.” Hannah shot back.
“My dad and his friends,” Harry explained, “they became animagi to help Remus though the transformations, it’s where we got the idea.”
“Oh yeah,” Hannah said, nodding, “I remember some of the Gryffindors talking about that but hadn’t heard the name.”
“Can’t the three of us just be Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs,” Neville said, gesturing to Harry, Theo, and himself, “that’s way easier than having to come up with three new names and I sort of like the idea of honoring them in our names since they were the inspiration for this particular scheme.”
“I like it,” Harry said with a grin, “though if you start calling Teddy ‘Prongslet’ or ‘Bambi’ like they tried to call me I might have to hit you.”
“Deal,” Neville said, sticking his hand out to shake on it.
“You lot are going to force McGonagall into early retirement,” Luna said from where she sat at Harry’s feet with Ginny in front of her trying to teach him how to braid.
“You might be right, Little Moon,” Harry said with a laugh, before sighing in defeat and trying to untangle Luna’s hair from his fingers, “I’m not going to figure this out today, can someone hand me a pen and paper?”
“Sure,” Hermione said, pulling a small notebook and a pen from her purse and tossing them to Harry.
“Alright,” Harry said, flipping the notebook until he found an empty page, “everyone else needs names. What was everyone’s forms? We can start with this group and then figure everyone else out.”
“I’m a thestral and Ginny’s a horse,” Luna added.
“Badger,” Susan told him, “and Hannah’s a lioness.”
“Hermione’s a fox and I’m a terrier,” Ron said.
“Alright,” Harry said, nodding his head, “whose is the same as their patronus so we can look at the form?”
“Mine is,” Ron said, pulling out his wand and casting the spell for them all to look at the terrier.
“Literally the only name I can think of is Snuffles,” Harry said as he watched the silvery blue form of Ron’s Patronus run around the room.
“We are not naming me after the fake name Sirius used when he was on the run.” Ron said, shooting a fake glare toward Harry.
“We’ll think on it,” Hermione said, laughing at the pair.
“Mine’s also the same as my Patronus,” Susan said, sending her badger to chase after Ron’s terrier.
“What about Toil?” Harry suggested, “like the unafraid of toil from the Hufflepuff values.”
“I like it,” Susan said with a nod.
“Hold on,” Theo said, seemingly finally catching up to what Neville had said earlier, “are you really alright with us having the same nicknames as your dad and his friends? Especially with me having the same nickname as Teddy’s dad?”
“Yeah,” Harry said with a shrug, “it makes sense.”
“Does that count?” Ginny said, looking toward Susan.
Susan tilted her head back and forth a couple of times, mulling it over, “neither actually said the words, so no.”
“Does what count?” Harry asked.
“Nothing,” everyone else in the room chimed in unison.
“Whatever,” he said, shaking his head, “moving on, I have an idea for Hermione.”
“Let’s hear it then,” she said.
“What about Kit? Like the name for a baby fox, I think it’s cute.”
“I like it, Harry,” Hermione said with a smile, “we’ll have to come up with a name for Seamus’ fox at some point too.”
“He chose to ditch us to take a nap, he can get named another day.” Harry responded.
“Wait,” Neville said, sitting up as quickly as he could without waking Teddy who’d fallen asleep on his chest while they’d been discussing names, “didn’t Dean say the same thing?”
Harry cocked his head for a moment before his eyes lit up in realization, “you don’t think?”
“You guy mean,” Ron cut in, “really? You think?”
“I sure fucking hope so,” Neville said, “you’re the one still living with them what’s it been like?”
“About as insufferable as always,” Ron said, “but they’ve been fighting less so maybe you’re right.”
“I sure bloody hope we’re right,” Harry said with a sigh, “I simply cannot take another year of them dancing around each other. It’s even more insufferable than the two of you,” he added, gesturing to Ron and Hermione.
“Oi,” Ron said, “at least we figured it out.”
“Yes, in the heat of battle. In the middle of an argument about house elves. In the Chamber of Secrets. In front of a rotting basilisk corpse. While I was standing right there.”
“Yes and we were rather rudely interrupted by you shouting about a war going on,” Hermione teased.
“What do you guys mean about Dean and Seamus?” Hannah asked.
All the Gryffindors sighed.
“It’s been seven years of their bullshit, I can’t do it anymore, someone else explain,” Neville said while Ron and Harry nodded fervently in agreement.
“Fine,” Ginny said, “I’ll explain.”
“Probably best seeing as you dated one of them,” Harry said, snickering lightly. That earned him a stinging hex to the arm, “oi!”
“Shut it, I dated you too Mr. I’m Obsessed with Draco Malfoy.”
“I was NOT obsessed with Draco Malfoy!” Harry argued, “how many times must I tell you I thought he was up to something, and I was right!”
“Harry, love,” Ginny said in a placating voice, “no matter how many times you tell me that, it remains one of the easiest ways to rile you up, so I shall continue.”
When it became obvious Harry wasn’t going to be able to stutter out an argument, Ginny smirked and said, “anyway, Dean and Seamus have been circling around each other for 7 years, much to the detriment of everyone else’s sanity. I think every single Gryffindor who had to spend significant time with them has genuinely considered locking them in a closet until they sort it out.”
“If they’re not together yet, I’m withdrawing the Dean/Seamus Truth or Dare rule we made.” Harry declared.
“Big move, Potter,” Neville said, “I second it though.”
“I vote yes, that’s a majority of the dorm.” Ron added with a nod.
“What’s this rule?” Hermione asked.
“I’m genuinely surprised we never told you,” Harry said, “back in 3rd year we made a rule that we’ll never dare them to kiss each other or ask a question that would force them to admit they like each other, we didn’t know what was holding them back, so it didn’t seem fair to force it for the sake of a game, but it’s just getting ridiculous now.”
“I’m shocked that you lot were emotionally mature enough at 13 to come up with that rule.”
“We have our moments, ‘Mione,” Harry responded with a grin.
“Oh wait,” Theo cut in, “I thought of a name for Ron, what about Argos?”
“Wasn’t that the name of Odysseus’ dog in the Odyssey?” Hermione asked.
“Yeah,” Theo said with a nod, “he was incredibly loyal. He protected Odysseus’ family while he was away from Ithaca.”
“I like it.” Ron said, grinning.
“It works,” Harry said, smiling at his best friend, “Ron is almost unfailingly loyal.”
“Almost? Must we continue to bring up my past transgressions?”
“You’ve been spending far too much time with Hermione,” Harry said laughing, “since when do you use words like ‘transgressions’?”
“Oh, shut it, both of you,” Hermione said, cutting off their banter, “I have an idea for Luna, what about ‘Binky,’ the name of Death’s horse from that Pratchett novel?”
“The Reaper Man?” Harry asked.
“Yeah,” Hermione said, looking a little surprised that Harry knew what she was referencing.
Noticing her surprise, Harry rolled his eyes, smiled, and said “I do read you know, the librarian in Surrey recommended those novels.”
“Sorry,” Hermione said looking slightly sheepish, “they’re good novels, I’m glad you’ve read them.”
Harry just smiled in return.
“Okay so we just have Ginny and Hannah left,” Luna said, “how about Filly for you Ginny? Like a young female horse, I think it’s a better nickname than ‘mare’.”
“Works for me,” Ginny said with a shrug, “what’s that movie about the lions you were telling me about, Hermione? Maybe there’s a name there for Hannah?”
“The Lion King?” Hermione asked.
“What about Nala?” Harry pitched.
“Oh, that’s pretty,” Hannah said, “but you’ve got to promise to show me this movie next time we’re somewhere with a television.”
“Done,” Harry agreed, “so that’s everyone named.”
“Give me the cub,” Theo said reaching out to Neville who had been holding Teddy the whole time, “I miss him.”
“Theo he’s four feet away from you and you spend every day with him, how can you possibly miss him?”
“He’s four whole feet away from me.”
“Both of you quit it,” Harry cut in, “hand over my son, everyone’s been named, and I’ve epically failed at learning to braid so my hands are free again.”
“Fine,” Neville said with a sigh, passing Teddy over, “assert your dad privileges, see if I care.”
“I rather think you do care, Nev,” Harry said with a laugh before hugging Teddy close and running his fingers through his messy curls, “hi there, pup.”
“You can’t keep giving him more nicknames, Hadrian,” Theo sighed, though he had a rather fond look on his face.
“It’s not fair if he’s only cub,” Harry argued, “you’re a wolf, so he can be cub to you, I’m a grim so he’s my pup.”
“If he becomes an animagus when he grows up, he’ll totally be a wolf, so cub is only proper,” Theo shot back.
“No way,” Harry said shaking his head, “you’re gonna be a grim just like your da and Uncle Sirius aren’t you, pup?” he cooed, tickling Teddy’s sides and reveling in his giggles.
“You want to wager a bet, Potter?” Theo teased.
“You’re on, Nott.”
“You’re going to lose.”
“I rather think he’s going to be a stag like his Uncle Nev and Grandpa James,” Neville cut in, “though I’m going to have to come up with a deer-related nickname that isn’t going to get me hit.”
“Fawn is nowhere near as cool a nickname as pup or cub,” Harry said, “and there’s no use arguing, Ted’ll be a grim, just you wait.”
“Whatever you say, love,” Theo responded with a soft smile.
* * *
Saturday, 17 October 1998
Harry, Teddy, and Theo were late to breakfast.
“Oi, Padfoot, Moony,” Neville called from the Gryffindor table, “bring the pup and come sit with us!”
“Course, Prongsie boy!” Harry called back with a grin.
“This is not happening,” McGonagall muttered to herself while Mary did her best to hide her laughter.