The squirrel chittered around a mouthful of nuts as he spotted Pansy and Ron walking towards him, hands clasped together. When on earth had that happened?

Spitting out the four acorns he'd miraculously fit into his tiny rodent maw - he'd wondered, and they were very tasty anyhow - he twitched his tail and scurried up the old oak, watching as the pair drew closer, Pansy's voice drifting up to him on the light November breeze.

"...and I couldn't help but laugh, you know, since paisley looks absolutely horrid on everyone. It isn't a forgiving pattern."

Ron nodded, his eyes looking slightly glazed, and said, "You're right, Pansy," in such a mechanical way that the Animagus suspected the man hadn't really been listening to the dark-haired witch at all.

"Of course, I'm right," she huffed. "I told him to try something plain and pale, with his complexion, but his only light shirt was stained from a dinner the other night at his mum's. Pasta sauce all down the front. You'd think he was raised with Muggles; he can be such a complete slob. And, of course, he's terrified of offending Granger, so he set all his house-elves free. And I have no idea how to get out stains, obviously, so I just picked out a green jumper, since an ex-Slytherin can't go wrong with green." Ron started lagging his steps a bit and Pansy yanked on his arm, urging him forward. "I know she's your friend, Ronald," she sneered, "but I really don't see what Blaise is being so fussy about. It's not as if he needs to impress her. She's the bloody Hogwarts Librarian and he's a first string Chaser for the Cannons!"

Hermione and Zabini, too? Where had he been the past week? Oh, that's right; he'd been locked up with McGonagall - whom he was currently apprenticing with - in an effort to master his Animagus transformation. It was the first time he'd ever sacrificed his social life in favor of academics. Something just wasn't right about that.

The couple came to a stop just below the squirrel's branch, and Pansy gestured towards the protruding roots at the base of the tree. "Conjure me something to sit on, will you, Ronald?"

His eyes narrowed in mute anger, the redhead pulled out his wand, fingers so tight around it that the Animagus was sure it would snap. Taking a deep breath, Ron picked up a pebble and Transfigured it into a small, round pillow, shoving it into Pansy's hands. "Here," he growled.

She stared at it, a small frown at her lips. "It's a bit hard and flat, isn't it?" Arching a black brow, she gazed up at him expectantly.

Ron's face burned a deep magenta and, kicking a few stones into a pile, he Transfigured them all into fluffy, down-filled pillows. In a bright paisley design. "Are you happy now?" he shouted at her.

Pansy nodded dumbly, mouth agape, and her expression was just so priceless, that the squirrel felt himself laugh.

In the split-second before transformation, he recalled what McGonagall had told him about triggers and the novice Animagus, and how his distinctly human brain could flip the switch from squirrel to man automatically if he wasn't especially careful. But it was far too late to actually do anything about that, and he found himself suddenly perched precariously on a thin limb, without that marvelously bushy tail to balance him. He tumbled head first out of the tree, and could only thank Merlin Ron had created that nice soft landing spot for him.

He slammed onto his back, the breath whooshing out of him, and grimaced up at the two stunned faces hovering above him.

"Seamus?" Ron's eyes were wide. "What the devil were you doing up in that tree?"

"Um..." Seamus' lips turned up in a grin, "gathering nuts for the coming winter. Must be ready for hibernation, you know." Ignoring the incredulous looks Pansy and Ron were giving each other, he glanced around at the large pillows, absently running a hand over the fabric. "I'm somewhat fond of paisley myself."

Struggling out of the soft nest, Seamus got to his feet, dusted himself off, stuffed his hands into his pockets, and, whistling loudly, he started back up towards the castle. He figured he needed a bit more help from McGonagall.