Order Only: Sirius, help!!

[alt_gredforge]

Terry just got word to us that he's managed to change a finger into a claw.

Except it won't change back. Now he's panicking because he's afraid the git will see. And probably kill him.

Bugger all. Is there anything he can do?

Comments

[alt_sirius]

He what?

Tell him it's all right. Happens. The best thing is not to over-think turning it back. Most common mistake when you're starting out is to get stuck. It's a good sign.

But the second-most common mistake is that once you're stuck it's hard not to keep trying to change it. It's like biting the inside of your cheek and then not being able to keep from running your tongue over the torn skin.

If he can keep calm and forget about it, it should revert on its own. The challenge is Carrow. Can he put a disillusionment on it?

It's a good sign, though. And the passage I was looking for is in the Wycliffe. I'll copy it out for you in a little while.

[alt_gredforge]

Good. Right. We'll pass that on right away.

Thanks, Sirius. Ever so much.

[alt_sirius]

All right.

Ellie's gone down to her cot and we're settling in for the night. I've got time to look at Wycliffe.

Can Terry receive owls? It might be more efficient at this point for me to write to him directly. I can put a charm on the letter so that Carrow won't be able to read it.

Wycliffe gives over two chapters to the transfiguration of humans into animals. Unfortunately he doesn't devote more than two paragraphs to the Animagus transformation but he does talk about the theory that having been transformed into an animal could predispose a practitioner to that same species. However, I have to caution you that all the information I've ever been able to find is clear on the matter of forcing oneself into a particular type of animal. It could lead to disastrous consequences, like never being able to change back.

So what I'd suggest to Terry at this point is that if he can somehow recall what it was like to be that dog - not focusing so much on the physical aspects or on that dog in particular, or even dogs in particular, but the sensation of ... nowness, I suppose. The way things looked, the way they smelled, the way that the ground felt beneath his paws. What it felt like when one of you two scratched his ears. That sort of thing.

But if I can send him an owl, I might be able to give him a few other suggestions.

[alt_gredforge]

Great. We have an owl you can use, Pigwigeon (we call him Pig). He's been trained to avoid Carrow, and to only deliver to Terry if Carrow's not there. We'll send him to you.

Except--we suppose that'll make it clear to him we're with the wand smugglers then, right? Or that SOMEONE with the group of kids on the lock we made is in contact with you. Because he'll wonder why he's getting a letter from you that's delivered by Pig.

[alt_sirius]

Are you forgetting that little game of Twenty Questions that Hermione had me play with your group? I think he already knows someone is in contact with me.

But don't worry; I can be careful in what I tell him.