The Fifth Marauder

4 - FOX!

On the twenty third of October, you awake to the sound of screams.

"Fox! Theres a fox in the dorm!" Alice Fortescue screams, her hands on her pixie cut head. The other two girls scream as well, all pointing to you. You sit upright in bed as Marlene and Lily cry out, dashing from the room. You look around, but you cant see the fox they talk about. You jump down from your bed, but you find yourself in a crawling position. As you go after the girls, you pass a mirror. You try to scream, but find yourself incapable. Instead, a strange yelp comes from your mouth.

You arent you anymore. The mirror shows a female fox with flames for fur and a white underbelly. The tip of her tail is white, though almost entirely orange. Her paws are tinted brown, as well as her nose and the rims of her (e/c) eyes. She is incredibly petite, and you see why the others ran. Her white jaw seems like it could be stained with someones blood any moment. You feel a twitch, and the mirror reflects the creatures orange ear flickering. So this is your animagus.

Then you hear the shouts of someone entirely new. Whoever was in the common room this early in the morning had heard the screams of your roommates, and many of them are already dashing to the room to see or help. Your beady (e/c) eyes flit around the stone walls, but the only escape is the door. You havent the slightest clue how to change back, so your best bet is to make a break for it. So when the door swings open and many Gryffindor pupils are pointing their wands into the room, you dash.

You skitter down the spiral stairs, your lean body and small feet making little sound. But your yelps are loud as spells are cast in all directions in an attempt to subdue you. You make it to the common room, and everyone screams as they see you. You freeze momentarily when the other Marauders spot you. Remus has a look of disbelief on his scarred face, Sirius is glaring at the fact you beat him, Peter tilts his head in confusion, and James is grinning like an idiot. The screams grow louder, and the boys all dash to the door. Peter rips it open, and out you run.

You hurry out the halls, and the few students who are awake gawk when they see a fox and four boys in their casual clothes bolting down the halls. You pass Kettleburn, who beams like an insane man at a wild creature, and Dumbledore who just steps aside as if it is the most casual thing in the world. Finally, you make it out to the rim of the Forbidden Forest. The groundskeeper, a friend of yours named Rebeus Hagrid, chuckles at the sight; its clear he doesnt know about what is happening. You run into the woods without a second thought, even though they are off limits to students and incredibly dangerous.

You slow to a stop near a large tree with roots slipping out from the ground. You hide under one, rather worried that you may bite someone or the students who were chasing you still are. You hear the shouts of your friends that were unable to keep up with your nimble fox legs.

"(Y/N)! (Y/N)!" They call, their footsteps emphasized on the woodland floor that is dusted with dry leaves. You creep out from your hiding place, seeing the boys approaching. Remus is the first to spot your firey fur in the crisp wind.

"Hey, there she is!" Sirius exclaims as Moony points him out. You make a strange sound, once again a high pitched squeak. Peter sees you, and he understands your problem.

"You just have to think about your real form to turn back. Its much easier than it sounds." Pettigrew, or Wormtail as you have taken to calling the rat Animagus, tells you. You follow instructions, and almost immediately your red fur becomes (h/c) hair and your skin is returned as you morph into a human once more.

"That was....fun!" You say, laughing and running a hand through your messy hair. Remus chuckles and Peter grins, but Potter and Black seem a bit jeakous. Then Sirius smirks.

"Foxy, aren't you (Y/N)?" You shake your head, thinking it is nothing more than a pun. The others eyes widen, and you recognize just how cold it is. You had only worn a sports bra and shorts to bed.

"Gah!" You wrap your hands around you, covering your body as the men turn around and avert their eyes. Sirius rips off his sweater, throwing it to you. You put it on, then walk over to them.

"Arent you cold? You cant just walk about shirtless." You tell the long haired boy. James snickers, cocking an eyebrow.

"Havent most people already seen him shirtless? Just be grateful he has pants on this time." A ripple of laughter runs through the five of you, but it goes quiet as you head back towards the castle. You find it a bit unsettling, truthfully. Not once in the past three years have you heard so few words come from the group, not even when you first met each other. James, as always, breaks the sugar bowl.

"Ill be next."

"No." Sirius says, glaring at him.

"Will too."

"Will not."

"Too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Ill pay you both to shut up." You say, shaking your head. You have come out from the tree canopy, and now climb the grassy hillside of the castle grounds.

"How about a bet, mate?" Sirius asks, smirking at James. "Last one to get it has to do the others homework for a month!"

"Deal!" They shake hands firmly, each filled with determination. You dont know who to route for, because both are very dear to your hearts. Luckily, its out of your hands, because all thats left to do is wait for one of them to figure it out.