After a long week crammed with lessons, lectures, and seemingly endless assignments, the rhythm of school life at Beauxbâtons had returned to its usual demanding pace. Eira had dutifully attended every class, juggled parchment upon parchment of homework, and survived it all with silent anticipation. For tonight marked the seventh day—the final phase of her Animagus initiation. The potion she had brewed under the moonlight was ready.
The school had long since fallen into hush by the time she crept out of the Ombrelune dormitory. The gardens outside were bathed in silver, cloaked in the calm chill of midnight. Her footsteps were quiet as she made her way across the dew-speckled grounds, finally stopping near the ancient tree in the Luna Garden, the place where she had carefully buried the Animagus potion a week ago.
She waited, arms folded, glancing up at the full moon that hung high above, perfectly visible through the shifting clouds. Moments later, she heard the soft patter of footsteps, and then a familiar voice.
"Hey," said Fleur softly, approaching in her pyjamas—fluffy, pale blue, and dotted with tiny cartoon bears.
Eira couldn't help it. She burst into laughter, covering her mouth.
Fleur frowned. "What?"
Still chuckling, Eira pointed. "You—your pyjamas. Those little bears. You look… absolutely adorable."
Fleur rolled her eyes as she looked down at her outfit. "It's night. Did you expect me to wear robes and lace?"
"No," Eira said between giggles. "Just didn't expect you to look like a lost teddy bear."
Fleur shook her head, trying not to smile. "Well, get used to it. From now on, you'll be seeing me in this kind of clothes more often."
The laughter faded, and Eira's became shy but she immediately brushed off and said . "Come on. Let's go."
Together they walked under the great tree, where moonlight pooled like liquid silver. Fleur glanced around. "You really buried it all the way out here?"
Eira nodded. "Of course. Took me a week to find this spot. Remote enough, and directly under moonlight."
She knelt, brushing away moss and fallen leaves, then began to dig. The soil was loose from her previous enchantment. As she uncovered the vial, its contents shimmered unmistakably silver.
Fleur leaned in, curious. "So this is what the Animagus potion looks like? It's different from how the books describe it."
"Which book?" Eira asked, brushing dirt from the corked top.
"Library of course ," Fleur replied.
Eira pouted and said " I went there for information but They wouldn't let me check the restricted books. I was denied access to the book ."
Fleur smirked. "That's because you are only eleven."
Eira pouted. "Three years younger than you. Don't act like you're my grandmother."
Fleur grinned. "Sure, sure… Miss little girl ."
They both laughed again, soft and light under the stars. Then Eira uncorked the vial—and immediately pulled a face. "Ugh, it smells like fermented seaweed."
Fleur winced. "You know, you don't have to do this now. It could be dangerous."
Eira shook her head. "I've come this far, so I'm committed to seeing it through. This decision is crucial, and I'm sticking with it."
Fleur sighed and drew her wand. "If something goes wrong, I'll stun you and run for help."
Eira chuckled. "No need. If I start turning into a chimera, run first before I eat you , and then call the professors."
Fleur narrowed her eyes. "You're joking far too much for someone about to reshape their entire body."
But just as Eira raised the potion to her lips, Fleur suddenly said, "Wait, wait! We might've forgotten something important."
Eira paused. "What?"
"You need a storm! The ritual—it's supposed to work best when there's lightning."
Eira nodded. "Yes, I know. But that's only if your first tries fail. Some people—those with innate talent—can succeed under the moon alone. But if you fail three times in a year, you have to wait for the next year and then use the storm to forcibly practice the ritual . That's how the family books describe it."
"So, there are two variations to the ritual?" Fleur asked, relieved.
"Exactly. And I'm confident I'll succeed." Eira looked at the glowing vial in her hands. "This is the moment."
Without further hesitation, she downed the potion.
Immediately, her eyes fluttered shut. Fleur held her breath, wand gripped tightly in her hand, watching with anxious eyes.
Inside herself, Eira was falling. But not through space—through thought. She focused on her mind, her magic, and followed the flicker of light that had ignited inside her core. It grew brighter, warmer, until she saw it—her Animagus form.
With a deep breath, she embraced it.
Her body began to shift. She felt no pain, no tearing or burning. Only warmth and stillness, like stepping into a familiar second skin. Her limbs folded, shrank, feathers blooming in place of hair. And then, she opened her eyes.
The world looked entirely different—sharper, clearer. Colors subdued, but sounds and movement intensified.
In front of her, Fleur's mouth hung open. "Oh my Merlin… you're beautiful."
Eira tilted her animagus head.
Fleur crouched down and waved her hand gently. "Nod your head if you understand me, Eira. I need to make sure you didn't just permanently become the most adorable owl I've ever seen."
Eira rolled her golden-green owl eyes.
Fleur burst into laughter. "Yep, that's you."
She reached forward and gently scooped Eira into her hands. Eira instinctively flapped her wings.
"Easy, easy," Fleur said, calming her. "You don't know how to fly yet."
She stroked her feathers with wonder. "You smell nice too. Who knew owls could smell this good?"
Then Fleur smiled. "Alright, try flapping. See if you can lift yourself."
Eira spread her wings slowly. She beat them once, twice—until the wind lifted her from Fleur's hands. She rose into the sky, gliding in slow circles.
"Don't go too high!" Fleur called. "The school defense wards will trigger if they detect an unfamiliar person or animal !"
Eira adjusted her wings and glided low, feeling the wind beneath her feathers. She passed over the gardens, over the reflective surface of a moonlit pond, where she caught a glimpse of herself—a snow-white owl with piercing green eyes.
She felt free.
It was unlike flying on a magic carpet. This was her. Her own body and wings that let her experience this beautiful moment of freedom.
After some time, she circled back and gently landed beside Fleur, who was waiting with wide eyes.
With a soft flutter, Eira shifted back. Her body lengthened, feathers faded, and within moments, she stood once more as a girl—completely herself.
Fleur let out a squeal and threw her arms around her. "You did it! Eira, you did it! That was amazing!"
Eira beamed. "It felt incredible. Like… I could go anywhere. Just me and the wind."
Fleur smiled. "You're tempting me. But if I tried it, I'd probably turn into a full-blooded Veela. Or worse."
Eira tilted her head. "We'll figure it out. There might be a way to make you a an owl too."
"Still," Fleur said, thoughtful. "Did it hurt? The transformation?"
"No," Eira replied. "Not at all. Just warmth. No pain or fear. Just peace."
Fleur blinked. "That's… unusual. The books say most people suffer terribly during their first transformation , by feeling immense pain they will be tested if they were able to survive and not lost their sanity then they will be able to succeed the ritual ."
Eira shrugged. "Maybe it's the reward for doing it right. I didn't need thunder. I didn't have to wait years. Just forty days, and it worked."
Before Fleur could answer, a sudden voice echoed across the grounds.
"Hey! Who's there?"
Fleur's eyes widened. She grabbed Eira's hand. "School Security! Quick, before they catch us!"
With a flick of her wand, Fleur cast an illusion spell. Both girls shimmered out of sight.
"Let's get back. Now."
They crept silently back to Ombrelune Hall, their footsteps hidden by moonlight and magic. Once inside, Fleur turned and whispered, "Go on and sleep. If you feel any discomfort or aftereffects, tell me right away."
Eira nodded. "Goodnight."
Fleur grinned. "Goodnight, little bunny."
Eira groaned. "I'm not a bunny anymore . I'm a hunter. An owl."
Fleur smirked. "Sure, sure… My little snow owl."
And with that, the two girls parted, climbing their separate staircases to bed, the secret of the snow owl safely soaring between them.