I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good:

[alt_terry]

I feel like I'm so close. In fact, I had a near miss today.

A couple of near misses.

I was trying to do the transformation again, using another suggestion I read somewhere. Instead of sitting, I was lying down. Being as relaxed as possible is supposed to help. And I felt something, I really did! It was like the time I had transfigured my finger into a claw. Sort of a humming all over just inside the surface. Not a physical sensation, exactly, but like something inside my magic. And it spread all over my body. I guess the best way to describe it would be like sort of hovering on the edge of a magical sneeze, you know?

And just as I was about to tip over the edge, I heard a step behind me and a voice said, 'What's the matter? Are you sick?' I felt a huge jolt of surprise, even as I felt a sort of flurry all over my skin, and I scrambled to my feet.

I'd been so stupid! I'd asked the ghost to watch the git for me, and he was off in the Tower doing that, but I had forgotten all about Dudley.

He was staring at me, open-mouthed in astonishment, and when I looked down at myself, I could understand why. I was still me, but I had a thin veil all over me, sort of like a scrim, of grey hair, a few inches long. 'Suffering cats! What happened to you?'

There wasn't any way out of it. I had to explain. So I did and his eyes bugged out. 'An animal! You're trying to become an animal? What kind?'

Just as I said I didn't know yet, the ghost popped through the wall next to us with a warning: the git was on his way back.

I closed my eyes and tried to transform away the hair, but I was too panicked. Then I remembered the depilatory charm I'd seen the git do. I reached for my bracelet--and froze, looking at Dudley. There was no time. Either I trusted him or I didn't, and my gut said to trust him. So I pulled out my wand and his eyes opened even bigger. 'You do have one of those,' he hissed. 'Wicked cool! You're not supposed to, are you?'

'No, and you better not tell,' I said as fiercely as I could.

He was grinning ear to ear. 'Of course I won't! What do you take me for? You've got a wand! That's wonderful!'

'Shh!' I ran the charm all over myself, and the hair fell to the pavement. Luckily it didn't take very long. Dudley helped me shuck my shirt and trousers and make sure I got every bit of it, even helping me twist my wand hand to aim it behind my back. I was shaking as I dressed again in a hurry, but I slipped back into the git's room and he was none the wiser. Dudley took the hair away to burn it.

Dudley knows everything now. But it looks like it'll be all right.

Comments

[alt_neville]

Do you like Dudley, do you think? If you're friends?

[alt_terry]

Dunno. It's not like I have a lot of friends to pick from here, you know? I think there are a few other muggles working here, but they're really wary. Flitting around corners, always out of sight. (Sort of like house elves, except a bit noisier and clumsier). Which makes real sense with the git running the place. I don't have any idea if the others are men, women, young or old.

I'd like the chance to get to know him better. Without us both having our heads practically cranked over our shoulder because we're afraid the git's gonna come up behind us.

Trust goes a long way. though. It's a start.

[alt_justin]

Terry,

I hope you're right and he keeps your secret. One hopes he remembers that you're probably his best chance of getting away from Carrow, what. It's cold comfort, I'm sure, but probably a bally good thing that he's so odious no one in his company could possibly take his part.

And the fur, I say: I'm sure you're close, indeed. Keep at it, old man! See if he'll also help you hide from Carrow while you work at it.

-Justin

[alt_ron]

That's dead amazing, Terry. You're really going to do it!

Never doubted it for a minute, of course.

You'll be away from there in no time!