Forever and Always
:3
If anyone has been wondering what's going on in my life the story below basically tells you all you need to know. It's as close to a true story as can be told when set in the world of Harry Potter. Art by Dakarai (I'm not allowed to post it here, but here's a link to the FA page http://www.furaffinity.net/view/23186223/) and story by me.
Forever and always.
The words echoed through Kohaku's mind as she awoke and sat up, staring around the Hufflepuff dormitory, the dream still fresh in her mind. She lay back down, closed her eyes, and tried to force herself back to sleep. Though she tried to quiet her mind, the dream still plagued her thoughts, causing her to toss and turn with no end in sight.
She got up once more and sighed, giving up on sleep for the moment. Kohaku stripped off her clothes behind the privacy curtain surrounding her bed, wrapping only a thick scarf displaying the colors and badge of her house around her neck. Her wand tucked safely into the scarf, Kohaku then began to transform. She crouched down on four limbs and fur quickly sprouted from her body, her human ears shrank and were replaced with overlarge fuzzy ones atop her head, her limbs and body changed shape, becoming more canine, and a tail sprouted from her behind. In mere seconds she became the form of her animagus, a wolf.
I should really learn that enchantment to allow my clothing to transform with me, she thought as she slipped beneath the cloth and into the dormitory proper. Kohaku slinked in the shadows, walking carefully as she knew from experience that if she tried to move too quickly her claws would click on the floorboards. As she entered the common room she saw that no one was inside and the portrait of Helga Hufflepuff above the mantle was fast asleep and snoring lightly. The burrow up to the castle was short and she padded quickly up and emerged from behind the barrels that hid the entrance. As Kohaku skulked in the shadows, she listened for the voices of the house elves who worked in the kitchens, but all had left for the night. Her ears were pricked as she moved in the darkness, watching and listening for any sign of the professors that she knew looked for students like her who were up long past curfew.
Soon she left the castle behind, and loped down the cobblestone path toward Hagrid's hut. She enjoyed Hagrid's company, but she needed time alone with her thoughts, and besides, Hagrid was probably asleep, just like everyone else at this time of night. Instead, Kohaku padded on, past the hut, and into the Forbidden Forest. She knew the rules, just as everyone at Hogwarts did, but she didn't fear the forest. The creatures of the forest at worst ignored her and many were her friends, except of course, the acromantulas; she tended to stay away from their territory. One of the centaurs, Firenze, would often talk with her about his life with his herd and the magic of the stars. Sometimes he'd even share stories of the legendary Harry Potter and how he not only knew him, but taught him! She didn't wish to speak to him tonight though.
Forever and always, again the words flashed through her mind. A memory, a promise between friends to never let anything separate them, no matter what. Kohaku would never forget that day.
It had been a stormy day, just three years past. The rain beat down on the castle windows and she had felt especially lonely. Kohaku had always felt like she didn't quite fit, like she belonged with nature, and had looked forward to taking Care of Magical Creatures that year. When she'd learned of Animagi, at first she was extremely excited: she could finally become an animal, hopefully a wolf, but then she realized this would only further alienate her from her classmates. She didn't want people to think she was strange for feeling more comfortable in the skin of a wolf than that of a human, so she walked the halls after class deep in thought and unsure where to go.
Eventually she found her way to the library, where she spent a lot of her time at Hogwarts when not working on homework or in class. Luckily her classes were finished for the day so she had no need to worry about being distracted when she should be learning. She wandered about the shelves, at first unsure what she was looking for, but eventually realizing she wanted to learn more about Animagi.
Her mate, Blaze, peeked from around the next corner. "Hey. What's wrong love?" he asked as he saw her frown.
Kohaku brightened as she turned to see him. "Oh just thinking."
"What about?" he wanted to know; he could sense something was up. He knew Kohaku too well to be fooled by the way she tried to shrug off her problem.
She sighed. "We learned about Animagi in class."
Blaze knew about Animagi, he'd learned about them a couple years ago. He was beginning to see why this was such a big deal for his mate. "Hold on. We need to get Whynter."
The two of them walked off toward the dungeons where Whynter should have just gotten out of Potions. "Heyyyy," she chirped.
"Kohaku has something important she wants to talk about," Blaze informed her.
"Ummmm let's go somewhere a bit more private," Kohaku whispered as the trio were bombarded by Whynter's Slytherin classmates who passed by on their way out of class and back to their dorm. The Ravenclaws and Gryffindors sneered at the trio, they couldn't understand why the two Hufflepuffs would ever befriend a Slytherin.
The three left and went down one of the walking trails around the castle so they could talk without any prying ears. The stormy day had become a drizzle so very few students were out and about, but the trio didn't mind a little bit of rain. "Sooo, what's up?" Whynter asked after they'd been walking in silence for awhile.
Kohaku took a deep breath, "IwannabeawolfAnimagus," she blurted out, clutching Blaze's hand for comfort.
"Well of course you do, silly," Whynter said as if it was the most normal thing in the world. Kohaku just cocked her head at Whynter like she was the crazy one. "Well I mean just look at you," she gestured toward her friend, "You've always been obsessed with wolves and nature. You belong outside," She shrugged. "It's just common sense. No need to become a stress-head over it."
"So you don't think I'm weird or crazy or anything?"
"Nope." She popped the P.
"Me either," said Blaze.
"I don't want anyone else to know. Can we keep it our secret?" Kohaku questioned tentatively.
Whynter got a conspiratorial look in her eye. "I have an idea. How about we do some research and find out how to do the spell, but don't tell the Ministry?" she giggled.
"I'll do it, but only if you guys do it with me," Kohaku grinned, the idea of a secret club growing on her.
"I don't like the breaking the law, but I will if the both of you do. Someone has to keep you out of trouble." Blaze sighed. This whole thing stressed him out, but he'd do anything to make his love happy, and that included breaking the law... as long as it was done for the right reasons.
"Oooooo, I'm totally in!" Whynter exclaimed.
Kohaku thought back to the time that she and Blaze had first started dating, when they had promised that even if something happened, they'd made a vow to be friends for all time. She caught his eye, cocked her head, and asked if her idea was ok without saying it aloud. Since their minds were on the same track he nodded, answering her unspoken query. "So let's all make a pact. No matter what happens we'll stay together, friends, forever and always."
Back in the forest Kohaku padded on, thinking of how much she missed Whynter. In the three years since that fateful day, the three had grown closer than ever. They'd researched how to become an Animagus every day until they found the proper spellwork. They'd needed Mandrake leaves, but luckily Kohaku was the teacher's pet and with a little work, and a walk past the giant creepy Fanged Geranium in the greenhouse, she had procured the necessary ingredients, one for each of them. After a couple of months they'd first transformed, making sure to drink the potion and say the spell words for the last time out by the Forbidden Forest at night, where no one would notice them. Kohaku had transformed into a beautiful black, chestnut brown, and white eastern timber wolf; Whynter had become a sleek and adorable pure white ragdoll kitten; Blaze a handsome light orange and white red fox with a distinct black v-shaped marking under the right eye and black ear tips. They had spent many a late night romping through the Forbidden Forest, but eventually Whynter graduated, heading off to start a robe fashion store in Diagon Alley. Blaze graduated too; he became an important weather-wizard and often came up with new spells to manipulate the elements. Kohaku got to see him during vacations and sometimes he was able to visit in the evenings so his loss hurt less.
The three of them occasionally spoke using their Patronuses, communication had advanced far beyond the letters by owl of the past, but it just wasn't the same. Whynter was always busy, stressed, and overworked and Kohaku herself had classes and homework to contend with. Of course she knew that that's just how life was, but she still missed the easy friendship they had once shared.
Kohaku tugged her wand out of her scarf using her teeth. She thought hard about the day that had changed everything. She and her mate Blaze had discussed many aspects of their relationship and they both realized they had feelings for Whynter. After much debate they decided it was best to be honest and share those feelings with her. Whynter had recently gotten out of a bad relationship so they thought that if any time was right this was it. She remembered how stressed she was, thinking there was no way in heck her gorgeous friend could like her back, but when she finally admitted how she felt, Whynter said she liked her too. It was the best feeling in her life.
Kohaku was demiromantic so she rarely fell for someone right off the bat. When Blaze asked her out she thought of him as a friend and they had only known each other a short while so it took some time for those feelings to build. However with Whynter the three had already been friends for a long time which allowed her to fall hard without ever even realizing. This feeling is what made the memory so strong, especially since this meant she could be with both people she so deeply cared for. As Kohaku remembered her past she concentrated on her spell.
Expecto patronum! she thought, unable to articulate the words aloud in her Animagus form. A silvery blast of magic emitted from the tip of her wand. A pure white ragdoll kitten pranced from the spell and turned, floating, looking at Kohaku with curiosity. Kohaku stared for a minute at her Patronus wishing for all the world it was actually Whynter there beside her. But she knew that their friendship would never be quite the same after her confession. At the same time that they had all grown closer than ever, Whynter had already begun to date someone else, so their relationship could not be.
Kohaku began to lope through the forest, her Patronus racing beside her. She reached a clearing and looked up into the starry sky, the full moon clearly shining above. She howled into the night, expressing all the feelings she couldn't share into that single eerie song. Her Patronus weaved between her legs, comforting her. A pack of wolves howled close by, answering her call, a lone werewolf responded far into the mountains.
Kohaku curled up, spent. Exhaustion spread through her mind and body as she laid down and curled her body close. The Patronus padded over and settled down in the crook of her stomach. Her last thought was that, even though she knew she might never be able to be mates with both the people she cared for most in the world, she knew that they'd be friends and she wanted Whynter to be happy. It didn't matter who Whynter's mate was, she would be the best friend that she could. And perhaps, if she was very lucky, they might someday become more.
Forever and always.
Author's notes: Forever and always is really something my mate and I say and although it was not based on Snape's quote it felt fitting for this story. I've been waiting to get this piece commissioned since the Patronus quiz on Pottermore came out, I really did get Whynter's fursona, but I didn't have the money until just recently. The story wasn't planned, my muse just decided to hit me upside the head for hours after commissioning Dakarai until I wrote it down XD
Special thanks: Tempo for being my awesome editor and friend through my emotional roller coaster of a life. Blaze, my mate, for understanding and loving the weirdo wolf that is me. Whynter for being my friend, forever and always.