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Sebastian could have gone the rest of his life never seeing a chicken or especially any chicken eggs ever again. The memory of the sensation birthing those giant things still woke him up in a cold sweat. So it seemed that fate was especially cruel that only a few days later, he and MC came across yet another one of his eggs on the ground. Each one sent MC into yet another laughing fit.
Even the sheep seemed to laugh at him, their baaing voices mocking him whenever he passed, making the dog in him growl. They had been witness to the event that caused this to happen in the first place, along with the very hens he had integrated himself into when he became one. He had told MC that Garreth had spilled the potion on him but he forgot to mention that it was his fault.
He had been in his animagus form, a very rambunctious border collie who had been herding up the sheep after he had set another batch of chomping cabbages on them. What? He was bored. He had been so caught up in the action he hadn’t seen Garreth and had tripped the young man sending his potions flying, one happening to land on him.
And while he couldn't be too angry at Garreth since that situation did lead to him and MC finally getting together, his asshole would never be the same after all those damn eggs.
Speaking of, he was now witnessing Poppy collect one of the said eggs. Poppy was along with the trio today. He had a sneaking suspicion that she was very interested in one of them and it wasn't himself or MC. Ominis was acting oddly soft as well. Very unlike his normally austere and stoic self. They suited each other well. And honestly, Sebastian was glad to have someone take Ominis’ attention away from him. Maybe he could finally get up to some mischief without Ominis following him around to nag him.
Not that Sebastian had much time for mischief nowadays, his mind being calmer than normal, solely focused on the witch whose hand was currently entwined in his. He didn’t need to have to gain her attention anymore and he had enough adventure with her being his girlfriend. Although she originally objected he now often went along with her on her crusades through the highlands. It helped them both blow off a lot of steam and usually resulted in quiet sweet moments after. The one thing that did bother him about these little adventures was seeing MC effortlessly turning poachers into chickens left and right….and refusing to cook them. She insisted that it would be wrong, they were people just like he was, even though now feathered. And regrettably, he had found himself agreeing with her when before he hadn’t. Just because he had been one. Though he did sometimes, send a Confringo at them when MC wasn't looking. They could deal with being a little fried. After all, they were poachers (and he may or may not have been a bit of a pyromaniac).
Poppy was cooing over the traitorous sheep and hens as they wandered by the many animals of Feldcroft. The egg still cradled in her hands. Sebastian was about to interject and warn her to put the egg down, when Ominis stepped in.
“Ah, Poppy. You might not want to eat or really even touch that egg,” he warned.
Poppy looked confused until Ominis bent down to whisper in her ear. Her look of total and complete disgust was enough of an indicator that Ominis was telling her the sordid tale of his egg-venture.
Extremely pale now, she chucked the egg away from them with surprising strength. The egg flew several yards away and hit a rock. The four of them watched in surprised awe.
“I guess I don’t know my own strength,” she let out a strangled laugh.
Grossly enough, they watched a fox come up and lick the insides of the egg off the rock. As soon as it was done eating it, the fox began wandering haphazardly as though it were drunk.
MC being as attentive as she was, noticed this and muttered a whispered “shit” under her breath. Ominis’s sharp ears picked this up and he turned in her direction, “MC?”
MC wasn’t sure if she was right or not and didn’t want to worry Ominis. He had already gone through enough the first time raging love potions caused issues with animals. Knowing she couldn’t lie to him though, after excusing herself from Poppy and Sebastian after pointing out a poacher fire coming from the woods, sending them off in vengeance, she spoke to Ominis.
He listened carefully as she explained her theory, his expression thoughtful.
“That’s definitely concerning. We don’t know how many eggs Sebastian laid during the night and if Poppy found one, other people definitely did as well. We could have a major crisis on our hands.” He twirled his wand in his hand, a habit he had when he was thinking hard.
MC threw her head back dramatically. “Should we try to find all of them? Is that even realistic?”
Ominis pinched the bridge of his nose. “Knowing how much of a troublemaker Sebastian is as a human, I’m certain he was even worse as a chicken. I imagine he laid eggs all over the hamlet.”
“We have no choice then. We need to at least try to gather the ones we can. And hope against all odds that if some poor sod eats the eggs, nothing bad happens to them.”
As they would soon find however, something did indeed happen to those who ate Sebawstian’s eggs.
Sebastian and Poppy made their way back to MC and Ominis, grumbling about the poachers escaping their clutches. MC and Ominis told them they all needed to go on an egg hunt while conveniently leaving out the consequences of said eggs being consumed. The last thing they needed was Sebastian having a meltdown and slowing down the process.
Poppy was skipping around, acting as though she were doing an Easter egg hunt. Ominis and MC followed, far too tense to speak. And Sebastian followed behind all of them, sullen and pouting.
The thing was, how did one find eggs? Some were easy of course, white against the dark earth and easy to find. However, most of those had already been found. They looked under bushes, in the chicken coop (taking all the eggs just to be safe, even if they were normal or not), and anywhere the other chickens seemed to hang out. They had only found about a dozen in an hour and MC was getting worried. She knew he’d laid a lot more. Where were they?
With a groan she did what she promised herself she wouldn’t. She asked Sebastian.
“Sweetie?” she asked innocently.
“Yes love?” he answered, turning to her with a brilliant smile she felt guilty for ruining.
“Do you…uhh remember where you went as a chicken?” she grimaced internally as she said it.
His face fell. “I thought we said we weren’t going to talk about that.”
“I know, I’m sorry, it’s just…really important.”
Sebastian sighed heavily but paused to think for a moment.
Where had he gone? He only remembered bits and pieces, mostly them just being memories of her or of the fear and anger he’d had towards Ominis when he threatened to cook him.
After a moment something did come to him.
“Well I didn’t go anywhere but…before I turned into a rooster the farmer realized I laid more than normal. It was super early and…he was shaking me I believe. It was terrifying but…I think the eggs I shit into the basket he had under me, he said something about taking them into the town, uhh into Hogsmeade. Selling them under…magic eggs? Something about them…uhh cough..speeding up fertility.”
Sebastian’s face turned red.
Meanwhile MC’s face paled. “They’re being sold?! That means so many people likely have these eggs in their home and EATING them!”
Sebastian looked affronted. “Okay, look I agree it’s pretty weird. But it’s not like I was laying rotten eggs or something. What’s the worst that can happen? They get a bit ill?”
MC started fanning herself, trying hard not to begin hyperventilating. “Okay, look, I really didn't want to tell you this since you’re so… sensitive about this. But we suspect that those eggs were imbued with love potion!”
Sebastian’s jaw dropped in pure horror. “Wait - so will they fall in love with the first person they see? Or ….” He paused, somehow looking even more disturbed. “You don’t think the eggs would make them fall in love with you?!”
“I don't know!” she bemoaned. “But either way it’s obviously not a good thing! And it’s probably too late to get them back.”
“We are so screwed,” Ominis scowled. “All of this is your fault.”
“My fault?!” Sebastian shot back. “This is not my fault. I’m a victim, same as you, to Garreth’s potions. And I didn’t even want a potion, unlike you.”
“Well if you hadn’t tripped him while running your furry tailed arse around-”
“His what?” Poppy and MC exclaimed at once.
Ominis raised his eyebrows in amusement, turning his sightless gaze to his now silent and even more pink best friend. “So you haven’t told her yet have you? Are you going to enlighten her or shall I?”
“Tell me what?” MC looked between the two of them, growing even more frustrated. What more could there possibly be? Furry tailed? What was Ominis talking about?
“Your dearest darling happens to be an animagus. And a dog to be precise.” Ominis smirked.
“Border collie.” Sebastian huffed indignantly, crossing his arms. “I’m a border collie not a mere…dog.” He said, as if offended by the thought.
“Aww,” MC cooed, imagining a border collie with Sebastian’s brown curls. “I should be angry you kept this a secret from me,” at this she shot him a glare, “but I think it’s so sweet that you’re a cute puppy.”
Sebastian reared back as though MC had slapped him across the face. “Excuse me! I am not a puppy. Nor a dog. A border collie is a very important animal. It herds other animals. It’s not just there to look cute.”
Ominis hid a smile behind his hand. “Face it, Sebastian. You just want to be a good boy underneath that bad boy persona of yours.”
MC was certain she had never seen the color he turned on a human before. Sebastian’s face had turned practically purple as he turned with his hands out as though to throttle Ominis.
“Guys,” Poppy interjected. “I know the idea of Sebastian as a dog is funny-” (“Border collie,” Sebastian muttered under his breath) “- but we need to come up with a plan instead of standing here arguing.”
MC smirked, “Oh I have a plan alright. I have a job for you Sebastian. You’re going to find your own eggs, and herd everyone affected back here. As a dog.” At his glare she corrected herself. “Border collie, sorry.”
“What makes you think that I’ll ever do that? It’s embarrassing.”
“You’re not so embarrassed about it when you’re running around Feldcroft causing havoc.” Ominis remarked.
“T-thats, that’s different!” Sebastian protested.
“Please Sebastian, I really want to see you as a dog. And besides, it's the quickest way to find them. You know your own scent the best, and no one is going to want to fight a dog that wants them to follow. Please do this for me!” MC begged.
Sebastian looked torn. “I- I don’t know.”
Ominis rolled his eyes, already growing tired of this conversation. “Sebastian, just shut up and become that blasted dog already. Unless you want everyone in a five mile radius trying to claim her as their own one true love.”
At that Sebastian turned serious. “I won’t allow anyone to claim her but me.” He grimaced. “Okay fine, I’ll do it.” With that he turned into a dog border collie and began to sniff the ground.
The non-animagus trio followed behind Sebastian, though he was moving much faster on his four legs than the humans were able to with their two legs.
MC couldn’t help but coo over how sweet Sebastian was as a puppy but she made sure to stay silent. Ominis and Poppy meanwhile followed along silently. Though she could see the cogs turning in Poppy’s head and just knew that she would be attempting to become an animagus as well.
MC was deep in thought over debating what sort of animals the three of them would turn into when Sebastian paused and then broke into a run.
Panting and practically ready to fall over, the trio eventually caught up to where Sebastian had stationed himself right in front of a market stall. An unfortunately empty market stall.
Sebastian whimpered, looking very distraught. MC figured that this must have been the place that the man had been selling Sebastian’s eggs of love. However, not an egg was in sight, just a lot of empty baskets. His big brown eyes looked even sadder in dog form and she had to cheer him up somehow.
“Sebastian, do you remember what the egg’s smelled like?” Dog Sebastian nodded. “Do you think you could track them?” Before her fluffy tailed boyfriend could respond Ominis interjected.
“MC it will take days to track down every single one of them. They could already have been consumed by that point. We need to find another way.”’
It was when the four of them were pondering this when the first sign that Sebastian’s eggs weren’t as far away as they thought occurred. A young woman was wobbling slightly back and forth in the square, looking dazed and flushed in the cheeks. And when she saw MC she squealed and ran towards her, throwing her arms around her neck. “My darling love I found you!”
“What the actual fuck!” Poppy uncharacteristically cursed and when MC turned to her in shock she saw what Poppy was gaping at. A crowd of about a hundred or more people and animals were rushing towards her, all acting strangely and shouting, and cooing, meowing, and barking about how they absolutely adored MC. They were almost upon her when Sebastian nipped at her ankles making her yelp.
“Sebastian oww!! Why did you do that?”
Ominis moved in front of her as well as Poppy, and all they said was, “MC run!”
She did. She booked it out of Hogsmeade towards Hogwarts, the only place she could think of in her moment of panic. Hogwarts had had a lot of strange things come against it in the past so surely it could deal with a horde of magically lovesick beings. Perhaps even one of the Professor’s would have some idea on how to undo this catastrophe and Professor Weasley would ground her nephew from life entirely. Well not entirely, but from potions for a while. Could you even ground a grown up? MC had no idea but she hoped so. Because if Matilda didn’t deal with him, MC sure would and she wasn’t sure if she would even turn Garreth back this time.
~~
Ominis and Poppy tried to hold them off but what good were two against a hundred? Yes spells held off the witches and wizards for a while but the animals got through, which Sebastian desperately tried to herd back but to no use. A hippogriff did not care what a little barking wizard animagus had to say when the desire of his feathery heart was escaping. Sebastian howled in frustration and ended up chasing after the rest, hoping to Merlin that he got to her first. What he would do when he got to her he didn’t know. He just knew he had to protect her from all this.
He was finally making headway into the raving crowd when MC neared the entrance of Hogwarts. Somehow the school must have sensed impending catastrophe coming upon them (really how else can you describe a mad hoard of people AND animals chasing their ideal mate?), and several Professors appeared at the gates.
Relieved, the sight of the teachers gave MC the final push she needed to be behind the line of protection. The moment Professor Garlick pulled her behind, shielding her body with her own, spells went flying. Everyone was doing their best to stun the raving animals and humans or to lure them in a sleepy state. Professor Weasley had been putting her Transfiguration talents to use and attempting to spell the animals into objects or even smaller and slower creatures. And unfortunately for Sebastian, he found himself in the crosshairs.
He knew the moment the spell hit him that something was very very wrong. As an animagus, he kept his mind. Sure there were some dog instincts, but he was always in control. And he suddenly found himself very much not in control. He felt his body shrink and with it all his human thoughts poofed away.
Sebastian the turkey looked up at the tall animals around him and squawked in alarm. How did he get here? Why were there so many predators around him?! They might think he was a tasty treat!
Immediately he turned around and began heading away from the large and intimidating creatures. He passed right on by another two creatures running around on two legs, giving them no mind. He had bigger worries than the strange hairless ones.
Ominis and Poppy both paused momentarily in confusion at the large turkey running by them.
“I don’t remember seeing a turkey?” Poppy mused.
“A turkey? Perhaps you just overlooked it in all the chaos,” Ominis huffed, very out of breath.
Poppy shrugged it off as the two continued to run full speed towards the castle. Thankfully by the time the two caught up, the professors had everything much more in control.
MC stepped out from behind the teachers, relief clear in her face. “I am going to murder Garreth with my own two hands. No magic needed,” she growled.
MC, Poppy, and Ominis looked over the range of knocked out or transfigured creatures.
“Sebastian sure was busy with those eggs,” Poppy let out a strangled sort of laugh.
MC paused. “Wait… Sebastian? Where did he go?”
Poppy looked over the crowd of stunned people and transformed animals. “Perhaps he was stunned as well?”
Ominis shook his head. “No, Sebastian's too smart for that. One of the best sides of him is how good he is at dueling and avoiding spells. He wouldn’t get stunned even in dog form, too fast.”
MC looked around again. “He wouldn’t just run off though. He was far too concerned. Something must have happened to him. I hope my poor puppy wasn’t stepped on by something.”
Professor Weasley, who was just about to head for a floo to find Garreth, paused and turned. “Did you say puppy?”
MC blushed, embarrassed. “Yes Professor. He’s a dog animagus.”
“Oh dear, I may have turned him into a turkey.” Professor Weasley said, a bit distressed now.
Poppy gently elbowed Ominis. “I told you there was no turkey before!”
Ominis threw his head back and groaned. “First a chicken and now a turkey. I can’t decide which one is worse.”
MC, although she was also annoyed by this new information, couldn't help herself. “You mean you don’t know which one is more fowl.”
Ominis rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile that twitched at the corner of his lips.
The three then hurried off in the direction Sebastian had been seen going and hoped that winging it wrangling a turkey would be enough. However, last time they hadn’t been dealing with a large, very emotional, and somewhat intelligent species. Seb turkey had somewhat of a brain.
Sebastian was sitting high up in a tree surveying his surroundings for predators. And when three of them showed up underneath his roost he was not very pleased about it. He let out a loud gobble warning any other possible turkeys in the area of the presence of the odd featherless and pale ghost looking things that surely wanted to cook him up with some gravy.
One of them called out to him. “Sebastian, please come down. It’s me, MC. I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to uhh…squawk it out?” She tried, hoping the pun would soothe his ruffled feathers. He tilted his head as he inspected her and slowly his head turned from blue to a more normal coloration. He at least was no longer afraid of her. Now to get him down….
“I read somewhere that turkeys like corn.” Poppy suggested. “They also really like nuts.”
“Sounds like thanksgiving but from the inside out.” Ominis said dryly, although he preferred his turkey moist. “Are you sure he won’t think we plan to eat him? Human Sebastian read enough about American culture that I’m sure he knows every way a turkey has been prepared.”
“Ominis you’re not helping!”
At this point, it seemed that Sebastian the turkey was done with listening to them bicker. To their shock, he stretched out his wings and began to fly away. MC and Poppy stared open-mouthed.
“I had no idea turkeys could fly?!” MC let out a dramatic shriek.
Ominis winced before he covered his face with his hands. “Of all the ways to learn about turkeys,” he grumbled.
“It’s fascinating to watch!” Poppy chimed in. “Male turkeys are such large creatures that you wouldn't think they could fly! And did you notice that he changed colors?”
MC reached her hand to touch Poppy’s shoulder. “Poppy, now really isn't the time. We need to get Sebastian back.” Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she began giving out directions.
“Poppy I need you to go find corn or just something that a turkey would want to eat. Ominis, please go find someone who can help reverse this. I am going to stay here and watch over him.”
Poppy and Ominis both scattered off immediately. MC hoped desperately that the two would return quickly. The last thing she wanted to do was stare at a turkey for hours on end.
Alas, that is exactly what happened. She and Sebastian the turkey just watched each other. It was such a ludicrous situation it was almost funny.
Eventually Sebastian flapped his wings yet again. MC jumped up, ready to chase him to his next destination. But Sebastian instead landed near her. He cocked his head to the side, watching her. She noticed his head was turning more red.
“I wish I knew what these colors meant,” she muttered to herself. “Hopefully I’m not about to be forced to duel a turkey.”
Instead (to her relief), he began strutting around and gobbling. MC about had to stuff her fist in her mouth to not giggle. Oh she couldn't wait to tease him about this later. He was still so cocky even as a turkey.
MC slowly approached Sebastian and began to pat his head. He plopped himself down and cuddled her.
“Aww, you're just a lovebug even when you’re not a human,” she smiled.
Speaking of bugs he noticed one on her and pecked it off, slightly ripping her shirt. His head got even redder and he wiggled away from her hugging arms. He gobbled even louder and strutted around her, puffing up his tail feathers and walking backwards towards her to show how they wiggled.
Poppy’s sudden squeal of excitement sent him running behind her, cuddling up close. “MC he was courting you!!” She cooed, a bag full of cracked corn in tow, as well as Garreth who Ominis was making sure carried it. Garreth looked absolutely terrified, brow sweating. MC didn’t know what Ominis had said to him but he was making sure he did not upset the Prince of Slytherin.
“Put it there in front of her.” Ominins demanded. “And then get out of the way unless you want to become a brainless animal.”
“Animals aren’t brainless! Some are very smart.” Poppy protested.
Ominis put a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. “I know darling, I’m just telling our friend here he will become one of the not as intelligent ones if he messes anything up further.”
MC stroked Sebastian the turkey’s head as she fed him some corn. “Why did you bring him anyways, Ominis? Does he know how to reverse this?”
“He better figure something out soon.” Ominis shot him a murderous look. “I’m sick of my friends being turned into birds, almost getting eaten, and being chased by a bunch of lovesick fools. No one, I mean no one messes with them, not even my other…friends.”
Garreth threw his hands up in surrender. “I assure you, I have no desire to create further chaos for once.”
Ominis looked skeptical to say the least. “Well then prove your usefulness. Return Sebastian back to a human. Preferably a human not under the influence of love potion. Again.” He rolled his eyes, thinking about the very recent time Sebastian was a hen birthing eggs.
Garreth started pacing back and forth, wringing his hands. “What if I …. No… or maybe….no...”
MC was absentmindedly patting Sebastian’s feathery bum when Garreth suddenly lit up. He swung around to announce, “I know what it is I need to do!”
“And that is what exactly?” Ominis asked, crossing his arms menacingly.
Garreth gulped but proceeded to ignore him. “It’s simple. Wasn’t it a transfiguration spell?”
Ominis nodded. “The professor did say that, didn’t she?”
Garreth grinned triumphantly. “Well why don’t we just ask her to turn him back now that we found him?”
Poppy patted him on the shoulder. “Great idea Garreth! It’s so much simpler than last time.”
MC spat out a bunch of feathers that had gotten her mouth from Sebastian’s very insistent attempts to nuzzle her. “How do we get him back to the castle? He isn’t very…lightweight. And how does one herd a turkey? I don’t think we have enough corn to lead him back.”
“Let’s just levitate him. Don’t you do that to animals all the time?” Ominis asked.
Poppy’s eyes widened. “You WHAT?”
MC winced as she recalled all the animals she had levitated in the past few years. Spiders, mongrels, poacher chickens, and cows… yeah she had this under control. Just this time it wouldn’t be in self defense or trying to get some free milk. “Don’t worry about it, Poppy.”
With a wave of her wand soon enough Sebastian was floating beside her, like a plump balloon. Even as a bird, MC could see the betrayal in his eyes. His decorous feathers were hanging limp as she led him along with her wand.
“I’m sorry sweetie,” she hummed to him. “I know this is unpleasant, but we have to do this. You want to be human again, don’t you?”
Sebastian clucked in a way that sounded derogatory. Perhaps turkeys had their own cursewords as well. Regardless, MC and the others preserved forward to Hogwarts.
The journey back took much longer than any of them wanted, but she had to be mindful to not have Sebastian hit a branch or get stuck in a bush.
It was nearing nightfall by the time the group arrived. Garreth led the human and turkey quintet to Professor Weasley’s office.
“Aunt Matilda,” Garreth sang out obnoxiously, “We require your expertise in this mayhem of a situation.”
Professor Weasley looked up and grimaced when she caught sight of the floating turkey. “Garreth…what on earth have you done now?”
“Oh no Auntie… this wasn't me for once! I believe you are the cause of our own Sebastian Sallow being transformed into this very angry turkey.”
To prove his point, Sebastian made a noise that sounded like a very resentful squawk.
Professor Weasley stared at him aghast. “Oh no… Poor Mr. Sallow. I certainly didn’t intend for this to happen. He must have been caught in the cross-fire earlier today.”
“You can turn him back, can’t you?” MC begged.
To everyone’s massive relief, she nodded. “Yes, and thankfully it’s a straightforward spell. Everyone else please back away from him”
Once everyone was at a respectable distance, Professor Weasley waved her wand. They watched the turkey’s limbs stretch and the feathers fall away. In its place stood a (still floating) human Sebastian.
“MC can you please let me down now?” Sebastian bemoaned, holding a hand over his mouth like he was going to be ill.
“No, I think you should leave him up there for a bit.” Ominis said, smirking to himself. “Perhaps he’ll learn better than to cause chaos. For despite it being Garreth who began this mess, it was Sebastian who set it off. They both deserve a lesson to think before they act, the bird brains.”
Poppy frowned. “I’ll have you know that phrase isn’t as accurate as you think Ominis. Despite people assuming birds are fools they are actually quite intelligent. Instead you should be using the terminology “koala brained” as koalas fail to recognize their own food if it's not on the branch, or the fact that the very food they are ingesting happens to be extremely toxic to most.”
The silence that followed informed Poppy that her spectacular animal knowledge was not very welcomed at the moment, despite the way MC’s lips twitched as she thought how Garreth often drank potions before testing if they were in any way shape or form safe for consumption.
All the group really wanted was an end to this torturous day and to go to bed. Sebastian was also silently vowing to himself that he would never come in contact with a bird ever again and would stick to a pure red meat, game, and seafood diet.
They lingered for just a moment before they all left, as though in silent agreement. Soon it was just Sebastian and MC.
“I’m sorry that you had such a bad day today,” she said, touching Sebastian’s face tenderly.
Sebastian sighed. “It was not great, but I remember you staying with me the entire time I was a turkey. You really are the best girlfriend I could ask for.”
Biting back a laugh at the memory of Seb clucking, she forced her face into a neutral expression. “I thought you were rather cute.”
“Oh? Shall I turn you into a turkey so that you can experience it as well?” Sebastian brandished his wand.
MC squealed and started running away. Sebastian’s longer legs allowed him to quickly catch up to her. He picked her up and swung her around as she giggled.
“You cheated,” she pouted.
“I can’t help it if my impressive height makes me faster. You’re just too short,” he grinned.
She huffed. “Rude. I’m a perfectly normal height for a woman, thank you.”
Sebastian’s eyes softened. “You’re perfect just the way you are.”
MC stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. “You are as well. Chicken or dog or turkey. Nothing will ever cause me to love you less.”
And with that they finally headed home, thankful that the days of being a bird were behind them. (Or were they?)