Memory Lane (Shadow and Holly)

Shadow nodded and stood up, tail wagging.

Holly led the way out, new Hogwarts robes feeling incredibly good and familiar.


"Okay," Holly said, when they were on the fourth floor, "So the story is, you are my pet wolf, who is totally harmless, whom I couldnt possibly leave at home, cause its a bit of a madhouse there. Agreed?"

Shadow nodded, morphing back briefly.
"Just remember to call me Blackie, ok? Too many people will remember that I was a wolf morph."

"Fair enough," Holly said, "Man I hope this works ... if someone recognizes you, there will be LOTS of questions asked...."
She opened the door to the Great Hall and let Shadow through first.

Shadow morphed back quickly and trotted through.

A few confused faces turned to Holly and Shadow as they walked through, but no one said anything. They all remembered the last time they had annoyed Holly.

"Morning," Holly said to a few fellow Gryffindor's, who glanced up and nodded.
"Im so loved," Holly added in a whisper to Shadow, pointing to the seat next to her, indicating Shadow should take it.

Shadow nimbly jumped onto the seat, loking at Holly.

A few Gryffindor's mouths fell open.
"Why the hell is there a dog beside you Bristol?"
"Wolf," Holly said, "And dont talk with your mouth full."

Soon after Professor McGonagal handed out timetables.
"Oh fun." Holly said, "Double potions first thing."
She made a 'blah' kind of noise.

Shadow stuck her toungue out in disgust at the thought of potions.

"You look funny when you do that," Holly remarked grinning, all sadness forgotten.

"Holliya, can I ask why you have brought a wolf to school? Or even better, why you are talking to it?"
Professor McGonagal's eyes seemed to pop out from her head.

Shadow swore in her mind and tried to hide the distinctive patch of white fur on her forehead. Mcgonnagle knew her wolf form off by heart.

Holly cringed into her cereal.
"Uhhm ... Profez I had to bring her ... I couldnt leave her at my house..... you know what my da's like, she couldnt stay there."
She looked at Professor McGonagal with sad eyes, and nudged Shadow to do the same.

Shadow copied Holly, praying that she wouldn't be found out.

"Well....." McGongal said slowly, "I suppose it's good that you showed up this term Bristol.....and you appear to be fresh ... uniform is satisfactory .... I suppose your wolf can stay. But you must work extra hard, promise?"
Holly nodded, but crossed her fingers behind her back.

Shadow breathed a sigh of relief.

McGonagal gave them one last piercing look, and moved along the line.
Holly sighed.
"We make a swell team," she grinned.

Shadow smiled back.

"Potions then," Holly said, bad mood settling back in, "To the dungeons we go...."

Shadow snapped up a kipped delicately before nodding and leaping lightly onto the floor again.

Holly smiled and ignored the bemused looks they were getting from on-lookers.
"What was your favourite subject when you went here?" she asked Shadow.

Shadow shrugged as she loped slowly alongside her friend, heading down to the dungeons. THis, she was also dreading and made a mental note to rub her head in some ashes as soon as she could.

"You were smart, I remember that," Holly said wisely, "Seems like years ago that we were all at Hogwarts....dunnit?"
She stood outside the dungeon door for a full minute.
"We should probably go in ...."
But she made no move to open the door.

Shadow sighed and nudged the door open with her nose.

"Yeah ... I needed that," Holly said, and pushed the door open further.
"You're late Bristol," Snape said, without looking up.
"Well noticed." Holly said, taking a seat at the very back of the class.

Shadow trotted after Holly, sitting next to her.