When the shock began to wear off, Fade’s face turned sort of pink. “Yeah, actually…” As an example he concentrated really hard and his hair turned black, orange, and back to his natural pale blue, with the exception of two blonde bits that remained unchanged in the very front. “Never tried to change my skin tone.” Actually the thought had never occurred to him. He had however been practicing changing part of his body into other things. Bat ears were becoming one of his favorites. “It isn’t so much you changing, as creating the illusion you changed. That’s why growing and shrinking is so hard.” Really he was just repeating something he read in the book Magnus had given him as a gift. “But um, if you wana come to my lessons… Mag’s friend Paul has offered to help me practice.” He blushed fully and looked away. (( ))

Magnus was rather excited at the idea that the metas would practice together. "That's too cool. I wish I could do it. But at least I can watch, and maybe sketch." He was invited to come, right?

Fade gave Magnus a look. As if he would ever volunteer to hang out with Paul without his best friend. After all, Paul was so cool Fade was sure the only reason the guy offered to help was because Magnus had insisted. "So long as you get my good side." He crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue as an example. (())

"So...you want me to sketch your back?" he snickered, sticking his tongue out.

"Who is Paul? I would love to learn more about this ability, and it would be super fun to have get to spend more time with you. Oh.. um, I mean, spend time learning about you. I mean with you!" Niki hid her face in her hands. She was smiling hugely, but was so embarrassed all she knew to do was hide behind her hands. After a few moments, she noticed the boys were distracting themselves talking about drawing again, and she started to feel a little less embarrassed. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been so embarrassed so many times in such a short amount of time. She was normally a lot more at ease around boys but maybe because these boys had magic, that made things different. She knew that knowing Fade was like her would change the way she saw him. She was very eager to get to know him better and learning their ability together would be a good way for that to happen.

Niki finally looked at the boys and laughed at the faces and the quip exchanged between them. She commented, "I would love to learn to grow wings. If what we do is an illusion, does that mean I wouldn't be able to fly using the wings? Would still make for a really fun drawing, right Magnus?"

"Paul's an auror friend o' my family. 'E's actually the bloke that saved me life from the werewolf attack. After I was adopted Dad sought 'im out and they became really good friends," Magnus explained, "'E's not a meta but 'e knows ow to do things like change 'is appearance so I'm thinking 'e could 'elp you two or find someone who can."

He nodded, "It would be a great drawing." He wished he could transform like Fade and now Niki could. He'd be privately envious about the skill though he tried his best not to let it show. He did want to encourage them to learn how to control it better.

“Yeah, Paul’s cool. Never met another metta, but mom says my grandma was one.” His eyes found the floor and he muttered something unintelligible. “Anyway I read that every metamorph is a bit different and there are some who do better with certain things than others, but the commonality is that they can change. Er, appear different.” His eyes darted between the two just to be sure they were following. ( )

“Any of em could look like they had wings I suppose, but whether they can actually fly depends entirely on the witch or wizard and their predispositions.” He paused to think for a moment. “There was one recorded case of a metamorph I read about who got so good at becoming animals the Ministry made them register as an animagus. So maybe flight is possible.” He had been doing a lot of reading and thought about the subject a whole awful lot. Getting to talk about it was kind of therapeutic. “Although I think if anyone knows a thing or two about transforming we got the specialist right here.” He nudged Magnus playfully but would never deny the admiration he had for his friend.

Magnus didn't know a lot about what Fade was saying, having not read much up on the subject. "Eh," he said, "but I don't do it willingly. You got skills."

“Not always.” He tapped his head indicating his hair that would do whatever it wanted whenever it felt like it. “But I get’cha.” He didn’t envy Magnus, () his transformations were painful and he was only allowed to spend the time locked away from the world. Although having seen his best friend transform gave Fade a new awareness about how could transform himself and afterwards he even managed to change his hand into a paw. Had to give credit where credit was due. “You still taught me a lot, believe it or not.” He grinned.

Magnus sighed inwardly, looking solidly at the ground. Fade's power was cool, fun and something Magnus thought should be celebrated. His transforming on the other hand was not. Though Fade's comment had him looking up in spite of himself. "I did?" he asked stunned. Okay he had lied about not remembering what happens in werewolf form but he didn't remember anything that could help Fade either.

() “Uh, yeah man. And I’m not just talking about how to flirt properly.” He had forgotten Niki () was standing right there when he said it. “First of all you showed me that changing isn’t something we need to hide, or be ashamed about.” Fade had spent the better part of his life hiding and feeling bad about what he couldn’t control. “Also, seeing your transformation gave me a better idea of how I should be going about it…” He held up his hand and focused really hard. Slowly the ends of his fingers started to grow longer and resemble claws although he stopped before it go too realistic not wanting to insult his friend or trigger any negative emotions.

The boy was a little stunned when Fade mentioned flirting, but he managed to hide it. He shrugged self-consciously. "Why should you be ashamed?" he asked astonished, "I mean you can't urt anyone and its cool." He watched as his friend made claws. "Neat," he said with a smile, "glad you were able to learn something to help your transforming." And he was glad, though he was also jealous.

Fade’s eyes found the floor when Magnus () asked why. “Well my mom made me hide it, felt like I was broken or something. But I grew up around non magical people so I can’t blame her really… Before I met you I didn’t have friends either. The older kids liked to pick on me to get my hair to turn colors and it made me feel sick most of the time. Wanted to cut it all off honestly.” He shrugged slightly unable to make eye contact with anyone. “Not like I have anything to really complain about, tons of kids get picked on. I’m nothin special.”

"I guess I can understand with the muggles about, but its a real shame cos it really is awesome and you are special. I can't do it. Don't let a couple 'o people ruin it. They are just jealous cos you've got something different and cool that they don't." Magnus looked at the ground again. "I mean, I get jealous too," he admitted, "Cos its totally brilliant. You're cool without the meta thing but that just makes you even cooler."

Niki felt a little like an outsider in the conversation that was being exchanged between Magnus and Fade, but she could tell it was a long time developing that they would open up to one another about this subject and how they felt. She had a feeling that they'd kind of forgotten she was standing there. She debated walking away silently so they wouldn't feel strange that she'd been witness, but then, thought if she made it "no big deal", then it would be fine, too.

So she said, "May I be friends with you two? I mean, I know you guys don't know me that well yet,,, but would it be alright if I came around any time I see you guys around? I'd like that, very much... I think you are both very cool!" She blushed a little hoping they would accept the complement and not think she was weird for actually asking to be friends. How elementary was that, she thought to herself. But she genuinely wanted to know if they minded her coming around, so why not ask!

Magnus smiled at the girl. "Course you can be. I'm fairly mellow I think, well not on full moons... but yeah... I'm always appy to 'ave friends." He hadn't forgotten her at all--but as bubbly and outgoing as he can be, sometimes he can be equally shy.

It sounded like Fade sprung a leak, he was make a “pffff” sound and blushing a little. “Nah, not that cool.” () He grinned over at Niki. () “Yeah man.” He called everyone that, also dude and sometimes bro all in good fun. “Us Claws gotta stick together, and besides, if you come to practice with me it’s better if we aren’t arch rivals… Or is it?” His eye widened but he laughed showing he wasn’t at all serious. Sure a bit of healthy competition was alright, but he wasn’t trying to upset anyone. Besides how often in life would he ever have the opportunity to collaborate with another metamorph. Probably never.

Niki just smiled, not really sure what to say next. She wondered why Fade had said, "yeah man", but then figured that was just how he talks.

"Yes, you are, and nothing you can say will make me change me mind so there," he stuck out his tongue. Then he giggled when Fade called Niki "man."