A Future of Hope

Chapter Seven: Good Luck Mr. Potter

March

"Are you sure, Albus? He's under so much strain already. Do you truly believe he can handle this added stress?" I ask the Headmaster. I have rarely ever doubted Albus Dumbledore, but I must admit I am skeptical about what he is asking of me.

"You wanted to help him, Minerva," Albus replies, eyeing me through his half-moon spectacles.

"I do want to help Potter. Lord knows that he'll need everything we can give him."

"Then help him in this, Minerva. It may be the thing that eventually turns the tide in our favor."

I give a nod to Albus. "Alright," I concede, "I'll train Potter on the condition that you tell him yourself."

Albus nods. "I'll send for him later this evening."

I say goodnight and head to my quarters. I fall asleep worrying that despite what Albus believes, we are putting too much on Potter's shoulders.

The next morning, I wake up very happy. It's a Saturday and I have the entire day to myself. When I arrive in the Great Hall, Albus informs me that Potter has agreed to go under my tutelage and we are to have our first session at six o'clock tonight. Well, it could be worse, I decide and go about my day.

At two minutes until six, Potter arrives at my office. "Good evening, Mr. Potter," I say.

"Professor McGonagall," he replies.

"If you are to become an animagus," I say as soon as he is seated, "I want you to first understand the concept behind it. I will assign you some reading material for the week and next week, I will ask you questions. Once I believe you to understand animagus, we will start attempting to transform."

"OK," he replies. "Do you really think this will help me to defeat him?"

"I think that every advantage you have is one more wild card you can throw at him. I would learn all you could."

Mr. Potter says nothing so I hand him a rather large textbook. "Read chapter one and two by next week Mr. Potter. We'll have a discussion at that time. You may go now."

"Yes, Professor McGonagall."

I nod my head as he stands and leaves my office. I still cannot help but wonder if Albus was right in asking this of Harry. It took me a year to fully master becoming a cat. How can he expect Harry to transform into an animal by the time Voldemort strikes?

The next week, a few minutes to six, Harry once more enters my office. "Good evening, Mr. Potter," I greet him.

"Professor McGonagall," he replies and takes a seat. He sets the book I gave him on my desk and opens it to Chapter One.

"What do you think, Mr. Potter?" I ask him.

He shrugs. "I don't know. If it weren't for Hermione, I don't think I would have understood half of what it said. It seems to be fairly complex."

"It is. Are you up to trying?"

"I guess."

"Very well. Let me just ask you a few questions and then you can go. You'll need to have chapters three and four read by next week."

"OK."

I think for a moment about what I should ask him. Finally I ask, "How is the animal of the wizard determined?"

I wait only moments for the answer. "It's the wizard's inner spirit," Mr. Potter says.

"Please explain."

Harry fidgets in his chair and says, "If the wizard or witch is very playful and loyal their inner spirit might be a dog. If they are very sneaky they could be a rat. Someone with a fierce personality might be a tiger."

"Very good, Mr. Potter. What about multiple animal forms? Is there such a thing?"

He thinks for a moment then says, "I don't remember reading that but I don't think there can be. Not if it's based on your inner animal. You can't have two inner animals, can you?"

I smile and respond, "No, you cannot."

I continue asking him questions for fifteen minutes. Then I dismiss him to go read the next two chapters in the book. The following week, I again question him about the reading material and with a smile on my face ask him if he would be interested in seeing the different types of animal transformations. He practically jumps out of his seat as he says yes.

First I demonstrate the difference between transfiguring someone into an animal and them doing it themselves. With the flick of my wand, I change him from a seventeen-year-old boy into a cat. The transition takes almost no time at all but I cringe as his bones break to rearrange themselves. When he's fully cat I transform him back again.

He's sore even though his bones repaired themselves. "Now watch me," I say to him only moments before sliding from human form to cat form. I have always had an affinity for cats, and I have valued the fact that I can be one greatly.

"Do you see the difference?" I ask as I switch back to human form.

"Yeah," Harry replies, "You didn't break your bones."

"No. When you change into an animagus, your body accommodates the change. When you are forced into an animal shape, you body tries to fight it and it results in the breaking of bones. When you become an animagus for the first time, you emit light and your bones will feel that way. The second time, you will not feel the pain. Eventually, you may transform from animal to person quicker than I can. When you first change, it may take a few moments. You may go now. Read the next two chapters and next week, we'll start with little changes."

For the next couple of weeks, I watch as Harry masters changing his eyes from green to a golden brown that will match the animal that he eventually will become. He even manages for his pale skin to darken and have glow about it. But unfortunately, that is all. He cannot get one arm to change into a limb of something or even sound like his inner animal.

As the weeks wear on and turn into months, the results do not improve. Finally I assign him three hours of attempts before each practice session. It's already May. Voldemort will begin to attack soon and he will not be prepared.

Once more it's six o'clock at Harry Potter is walking into my office. I can tell he is just as frustrated as I am at the situation. We discuss the two chapters he had to read for the week then move aside to attempt a transformation.

After his third attempt his fingernail lengthen and turn into black claws. He's going to have a strong animagus, I can tell. After another hour with no more results, I grow frustrated. "Mr. Potter, are you even trying? Do you want to defeat Voldemort or don't you?"

Mr. Potter glares in my direction. "I'm doing the best I can!" he yells at me. "If the fate of the world was your responsibility, you'd know that! I can't do everything!"

Harry Potter slumps to the ground and my heart goes out to him. It was too much to ask of him. I see that even more clearly now. I walk over and kneel beside him. "Mr. Potter, I know you're trying. I apologize for accusing you falsely. Anyone can look at you and see how much you have on your plate."

"I'm sorry I yelled," he replies.

"There is nothing to be sorry for, Mr. Potter."

"I just get frustrated," he says.

I hold back the laughter from my lips. How often had I used that same sentence in the months since he and I began the impossible mission? "I know, Mr. Potter. Would you like to go to your dormitory now?"

"I'd like to try some more. I'm running out of time"

I nod and he and I both stand. "Remember this Mr. Potter, when you transform, you need to focus all of your energy. Don't think about Voldemort or the battle yet to come. Don't remember all the attempts you've had in the past. Focus on managing this one task. Once you can make the transition, it will get easier."

"OK."

"This will be your last attempt for the day, Mr. Potter. Please try to make it count," I say as gently as I can even though I am disappointed there have been little results thus far. I do not want him to see how frustrated and disappointed I am. I do not want him to break down again.

Harry nods and closes his eyes. I can see he is concentrating, but I doubt he will accomplish anything on this attempt. I am just about to tell him that he can go when I see a light emitting from him. I watch in happiness as I see his human form dissolve away and be replaced by that of an animal. I am so proud that I even grant him one of my rarely seen big smiles as he explores the new form he has.

"Very well done, Mr. Potter," I congratulate him, unable to contain the excitement from my voice. "You've just gained a head's up against the enemy."

In this instant, I know that the hope for the battle has grown. For Harry to master this means a great deal. I know now that perhaps he can accomplish anything. I now hope for a future filled with peace that only he can bring us. I watch him as he enjoys this new form and say as softly as a kiss, "Good luck Mr. Potter."