The Goodest of Boys [Animagus One-Shot]

[Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn]

2023
 

It had taken Aidan two years to become an Animagus – not for lack of proper motivation, but simply because misfortune seemed to befall the boy at every step of the process.

His first try at the Mandrake leaf had lasted approximately five seconds before he spit it out…he loved leaves, and mandrakes too, but it was a different story completely to keep one inside your mouth. The second try had gone better, almost 2 weeks before Aidan had wanted to find out if he could run as fast as a unicorn. He’d found and followed a herd at a full gallop and, needless to say, the leaf did not survive the encounter. And the third try – well, he’d been so close. Only a few days away from the next full moon before he’d fallen out of a tree and swallowed the leaf while trying to rescue a stranded porlock. His parents and his teachers had been monitoring his attempts to become an animagus, and they were doubtlessly frustrated by the seemingly endless setbacks. But no matter, the best things in life take time and Aidan was determined to get it right.

The potion itself was much easier because it wasn’t subject to Aidan’s daily encounters with magical creatures. He wasn’t particularly skilled at potions like some of his classmates, but with the guidance of his professors he ended up with a fine brew. Now, the incantation…this needed to be a daily occurrence, and this is where Aidan stumbled again. It was difficult to remember it every day, because how could he know where he would be every dawn and dusk? He’d slipped up a few times and needed to restart before finally getting it right.

The lightning storm, the potion vial, the incantation…all this was fairly standard procedure on Hy-Brasil. Aidan had heard stories about the experience several times over, and he had mentors to oversee the process and ensure he sidestepped the most dangerous pitfalls. And when he became an Irish setter – the sweetest and most optimistic of dogs – really, who was surprised? His fur coat was an eye-catching red, and the chain he always wore of a Celtic knot as a human could be seen reflected as a pattern on the fur around his chest.

He liked to use his transformation among the Druid children. There were some who had turbulent home lives or needed the comfort of a creature without judgment. So Aidan would enjoy lying in the sun as his coat was brushed or Druid children practiced their music on their new instruments with a simple audience of one. He was a calming presence and it seemed to do some measure of good. After all, that was where Aidan shone best, as a human or dog – when you needed a hug or to simply sit in comfortable silence.