Chapter 1- To School, Screams, and Surprise Snogs
Welcome to Lycan Reversal. As a Harry Potter fanfiction, I can only claim that which doesn't belong to the books, I don't make money off this, I do this for fun, etc…
This story will have a lot of fluff on the front end, but there is still a story under all of the fluff and it will pick up in 4th year, but third year is important to establish the characters, to learn about how they interact etc…
I want to thank DarknessEnthroned for getting me to write a happy, fluffy story after all the tears; you know what you did.
I want to thank Dev_Sagittarius_Black for encouraging me to write this over the countless other fics I started.
I also want to thank King Quilava for beta-reading the chapter.
Chapter 1: To School, Screams, and Surprise Snogs.
"He's been insufferable for the last week, trying to figure out why he wasn't good enough, even laid into Fred and George, said he probably wasn't picked because he couldn't even control his own brothers. Wish he had got it, annoying as him preening is, this is even worse," Ron complained.
"Honestly, Ronald, if you applied yourself more, maybe you'd understand why he is so upset," Hermione said.
"I mean the git did seem content blamin' Harry for the attacks last year, even the Snake didn't do that," Ron said.
"The 'snake' has a name you know?" Harry responded clearly, exasperated.
"You figure we should wake him?" Ron gestured to the sleeping man by the window.
"You can't just change the subject, Ronald." Hermione huffed.
The lights flickered. The temperature in the compartment plummeted, and the windows frosted over. The train lurched to a stop.
"W-wha's going on?" Ron asked fearfully.
"I think there's something outside the compartment," whispered Harry.
A dark shape came into view, long skeletal fingers reaching for the compartment door. As the door was pulled open and bonelike claws came into view, the smell of decay and hemlock wafted in. It crept in behind the veil of a black tattered cloak, the room a bone-chilling cold. As it reached towards Harry, he heard a scream as darkness graced his vision.
Harry opened his eyes and sat up.
"Here, have some chocolate; it will make you feel better," said the shabby-looking man who had been sleeping.
The compartment door was flung open, revealing a very frazzled Katie Bell. Her towering form was tense, and her breathing was short and rapid.
"Harry, I heard there was an attack, and I was so worried." Katie said, picking Harry up and putting him on her lap. "Angelina and Alicia were so mean to meeee; they wanted us to sit apart on the train, and now you've been attacked." Katie said, hugging Harry into her much larger form and wrapping her arms around him protectively. Katie sniffed the air before turning to the unknown adult. "Who are you?" She demanded, almost growling as she turned her body, as though shielding Harry from the stranger.
The door burst open again. "KATIE! LET GO OF HARRY!." Angelina demanded.
"I don't want to," Katie said, trying to wrap Harry in a Katie cocoon.
"Alicia, if you would," Angelina said as Alicia handed her a rolled-up newspaper.
"Bad Katie, let go of Harry." Angelina said, repeatedly whacking Katie with the newspaper.
"We're really sorry about the trouble. Katie has become… a little impulsive over the summer, and Angie and I are doing our best to keep her well behaved." Alicia explained.
"Katie was already impulsive; now she seems downright clingy, and her behavior is almost erratic," Hermione ranted.
"You're just jealous," Katie called from the corner of the compartment where Angelina was failing to pry a very red Harry from Katie's grasp.
"Erratic?" Ron asked
"It means unpredictable, so lacking a logical reason behind their actions," the shabby-looking man said.
"Nah, girls are always like that," Ron said before the sudden and impactful meeting between Ron's gut and Hermione's elbow silenced him with a pained grunt.
"I was coming to see if everyone was alright, but that looked like it hurt; I would recommend against such actions on school grounds, least of all in public," was heard coming from the door in a teasing tone. Everyone turned to see that standing there, his strawberry-blond hair coiffed, was the newly minted Headboy Benjamin Slughorn.
Something was different about Benjamin today, and it wasn't the badge on his robes. His eyes had a brightness the third-years hadn't seen before; they shone like polished jade.
"I have to get back to rounds; it seems like Harry is well tended in Nurse Bell's hands," he chuckled before leaving.
"I don't think I have ever seen him that happy," Hermione said.
"Prob… ouch… that hurt 'Mione… he's probably just smug… no good snake" Ron managed to huff out still clutching his mid-section.
Harry pondered the seventh-year's mood, Chipper. Not something I would usually associate with Ben, but it is good to see that smile doesn't look forced for once.
"Has anyone seen where the new professor went? He left his briefcase." Hermione asked abruptly.
"I think he left when Benjamin was talking. Probably needed to make sure no one else got attacked." Alicia replied helpfully.
Hermione left with the suitcase, and Ron left to go find Fred and George.
"Now that we are alone, imagine what kind of fun we could get up to," Katie purred, winking at Harry before glancing his cheek with her tongue.
"Eh-em!" A very red Angelina coughed. "We're right here, you know," Angelina snapped.
"Why, Angie, I had no idea you were such a voyeur," Katie said, a huge smirk adorning her face.
Katie dove out of the way of the angry light of the stinging hex Angelina threw at her. This continued for a few minutes as bolts of white light soared across the room, with Katie spinning, twisting, and leaping out of harm's way.
"Cease fire, cease fire," Alicia cried out after being hit by a stray hex.
"You look a little worn out, Harr-Bear; you can take a nap on my lap until the train arrives." Katie said, her amber eyes staring warmly into his emerald.
Harry dozed off, his face beet red.
"Harry, it's time to wake up," a soft voice said.
"Don't wanna," Harry grumbled, trying to bury his head into the warmth of his pillow.
"Harry, that tickles," Katie whined.
His pillow seemed to protest his attempt to bury himself further in…
Harry realizing where he was, shot up, his face crimson from ear to ear.
Katie's face was red and downturned; she refused to look at him, and the short, rapid breaths from her nose were audible.
"K-Katie I'm so…" Harry tried
"Maybe it would be for the best if you ran along, Harry," Alicia said.
"We'll calm down Hurricane Katie," Angelina offered.
Nodding his head sadly, Harry left the cabin behind, mortified that he had upset Katie.
Harry joined the twins and Ron for the rest of the train ride. After arriving at Hogsmeade station, Harry saw Katie and Alicia get into a carriage. Angelina caught his hopeful gaze and shook her head, causing Harry to turn away and get in a different carriage with Ron and Hermione. Ron and Hermione bickered while Harry sat there in his own little world, trying to figure out why Katie was so mad at him. Eventually the carriages arrived at Hogwarts, and the trio of third-years entered the Great Hall to await the first-years.
Even as the hat sang its song and the first years were sorted, Harry couldn't escape this constrictive feeling in his chest; he could almost hear Dudley taunting him for messing up.
Harry hardly ate at the feast, the knot in his stomach ensuring he wasn’t overly hungry. After the feast, Harry went up to Gryffindor Tower and tried to get some rest. He tossed and turned for a while before finally being dragged into Morpheus’ realm.
Harry was in the Dursleys' sitting room, bringing Uncle Vernon his coffee so he could read the morning paper.
"Even among the freaks, you’re a failure, aye boy?” Uncle Vernon whispered, a cruel smile on his pudgy face. “Can’t even go one day without upsetting someone, can you, boy? You’re growing up; not long now ‘til we can be rid of you as well. You’ll be out on the street, all alone and begging for handouts.” Vernon laughed, the cruel sound seeming to cause his body to grow larger and larger as the room shook.
Harry woke up in a cold sweat; it was early, and he decided he would do what it took today to make amends with Katie. He bathed and got dressed, trying to shake thoughts of the nightmare from his mind. He made his way down to the common room, and about twenty minutes later, he heard a low roar from across the room. Looking in the direction of the noise, he saw Katie sneaking down from the girl's dormitory; the source of the sound had been her stomach.
“Katie, can I talk to you for a minute?” Harry asked. Katie jumped upon hearing the noise.
“Look, I know you are mad at me because of yesterday, but I will do anything to make it up to you,” Harry said, head bowed in apology.
“Anything?” Katie asked, her tone level and her face serious.
“Yes, whatever it takes." Harry's response was resolute.
“In that case, I want..." Katie began.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter.