One night, as Gilderoy and Amelia chatted quietly in the library, a sudden, loud cracking sound echoed through the corridors.
Hearts racing, they grabbed the two vials they had stored in Room of Requirement and moved as silently as shadows, racing toward the castle gates.
Reaching the edge of the Forbidden Forest, they marked a tree and positioned themselves beside it.
Their wands would drop to the ground during the transformation, easy to find once they changed. Lightning flashed across the sky, and their eyes met—determined, no longer nervous.
Together, they raised their wands and chanted:
"Amato Animo Animato Animagus!"
Then, in one swift motion, they downed the blood-red potion.
The sensory onslaught hit instantly: a metallic burn, cold fire sliding down their throats, skin prickling as if every nerve were being rewired. Their wands felt almost alive, heavier, resonating with their pulses. Thunder cracked, lightning flared, and their vision blurred as the second heartbeat throbbed in excruciating intensity.
Their bodies shrank, smaller and smaller, muscles, bones, and flesh reshaping in agonizing clarity.
In their minds, they saw their new forms staring back at them—fierce, unwavering. Both held their gaze, bowing and acknowledging the creatures before them. "You are me," both thought, embracing their forms.
Then their eyes opened. Amelia saw a sleek black bird where Gilderoy had stood—a raven.
Gilderoy saw a Falcon perched where Amelia had been.
For a long moment, they stared at each other in wonder, then checked their own bird forms, marvelling at the transformation.
Then, they focused, imagining their human forms, and their bodies grew, returning to their original shapes.
What they hadn't considered was that their clothes did not transform with them. An equally naked Gilderoy and an equally naked Amelia looked at each other.
Amelia shrieked in horror, twisting to cover her breasts and sex as best she could. Gilderoy, being a gentleman, quickly looked away, handed her robe, and pulled his own over his head. His eyes took a single glance, imprinting Amelia's body into his mind.
She is so breathtaking.
He caught Amelia sneaking a look at his chest and lower half, her face bright red, but he chose to ignore it and said nothing as he shrugged into his robes.
After securing their robes, they hugged themselves, ensuring every part had transformed back correctly. Smiles spreading, they high-fived each other, excitement bubbling over.
"We did it, Amelia."
"Yes, Gilderoy, we did."
"We should… face opposite directions," Amelia said finally, her voice steady though a faint blush crept up her neck. "Before and after transformation. It's safer that way."
Gilderoy tilted his head, a slow smirk tugging at his lips. "Safer? Or are you just afraid you might like what you see?"
Her eyes flashed, but the colour in her cheeks deepened. "Don't twist my words, Lockhart. I just think it's… practical."
"Practical," he echoed, stepping closer until she could feel his presence at her shoulder. "That's one word for restraint."
Amelia turned away, pretending to brush imaginary crumbs off her robe, but her pulse had already betrayed her. "You're impossible sometimes."
He chuckled lowly. "And yet, you never walk away."
Her lips parted, ready to retort, but nothing came out. His gaze held hers for a long moment before she finally looked down, whispering, "Just… face the other way when the time comes."
"If you insist," he murmured, voice soft but edged with amusement. "But don't expect me not to imagine what's behind me."
Amelia shot him a glare that lacked its usual bite. "You really don't know when to stop, do you?"
"Oh, I do," he said, tone dipping low commanding, assured. "I just choose not to."
Over the night, they practiced repeatedly, learning to transform back and forth at will by merely imagining their animal selves. Eventually, they could change in an instant.
Amelia grinned, transformed into her falcon, and soared into the night sky. Gilderoy followed, becoming his raven, trying to catch her as they played, somersaulting and weaving through the air. They dived and spun in playful arcs, testing reflexes and flight instincts, calling to one another in sharp, exultant cries. Each movement brought exhilaration, and the subtle thrill of newfound freedom.
Amelia dove into the water, snatching a fish straight from the Black Lake. Their instincts overwhelmed them due to the smell making them land quickly and devour it raw, surprised at how delicious it was.
Hmmm… maybe it was because they were birds now; even raw fish, freshly caught from the lake, tasted perfect.
Afterward, they flew over the Forbidden Forest, their eyes capturing centaur camps, unicorns grazing, acromantulas crawling, and other creatures prowling in the shadows.
The forest seemed alive, and the pair moved through it with both reverence and joy, as if they had entered a realm previously forbidden to them.
Soon, their wings grew heavy. They returned to the spot where their wands rested and transformed back into humans.
"Damn, that was fun," Gilderoy said.
"Absolutely," Amelia agreed. Flying through the sky had been exhilarating.
Clutching their robes, they trudged toward the Grand Staircase.
For a brief moment, they paused, eyes meeting in quiet understanding — a farewell wrapped in silence. Perhaps it was the intimacy of becoming Animagi together that bound them more, a connection deeper than words could reach.
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