Vater

"Perfect potions, Ms Granger," said McGonagall, giving her a proud look. "I made the mixture for the three of you." She pointed at the three smoking goblets on the desk.

Harry, Ron and Hermione stepped forward and picked up the goblets gingerly. McGonagall smiled and gestured at a large mirror on the wall.

"You will drink the potions one by one and then stand in front of the mirror. Your Animagus form will be visible in the mirror. Why don't you go first, Mr. Weasley?"

Ron gulped down his potion, made a face and stepped in front of the mirror. They all could see a grand Arabian horse with reddish gold mane in the mirror. He also had a gold horn on the head.

"Wow," said Ron, and was echoed by Harry and Hermione.

"Very good, Mr. Weasley - the uni-stallion; quite a powerful magical creature," McGonagall said.

Hermione went next. Her reflection was a brown, otter-like creature, but there was something different about the limbs and the tail, and the fur seemed tinged with gold. McGonagall looked surprised and Ron looked delighted. Hermione herself looked pleased.

"What was that?" Harry asked.

"A magical otter, Harry, also known as Otterambus - they are very powerful in the water, they can dive really deep and drag a lot of weight. They're quite immune to a lot of curses as well, because of the thick skin," Ron said. "And very smart," he added.

Harry took a deep breath and drank his potion. He felt really strange, as if something inside him was being unleashed. Hoping he would not turn into something really embarrassing or useless, and stepped in front of the mirror.

There was a collective gasp in the room, and then a slow smile began to spread across Harry's face as he stared at his reflection.

He was a phoenix, a rather beautiful one with black and gold plumage. Not as gorgeous as Fawkes, but close. His Animagus form retained his green eyes and there were gold markings around the eyes, like his glasses. His scar was also there, a gold lightning shaped mark on the black forehead.

He stepped away from the mirror and turned to his friends, who beamed proudly at him. McGonagall looked awed.

"We'd better get started with the transformations. It is a little difficult, and given your rather distinctive Animagus forms, it might be slightly tougher for you. But I expect you to master it within the week."

She proceeded to tell them how to do it. She made them practise for a long time, until each of them could transform their left hand into their animal forms'. They were too tired after that and she dismissed them, remarking kindly that they were doing pretty well and should be able to finish off in a week.

"Wow," said Ron, as they dragged themselves back to Gryffindor tower. "That was great!"

"We're magical creatures! That's rare..." Hermione said.

Harry nodded absently.

"You know, it is rather useful, these forms. Ron can out-run our enemies if we're lost in the forests, Harry can fly us out of trouble, and I can get you out if we're in water!" she said happily.

"Come on," said Ron, tiredly. "We need to sleep if McGonagall's going to work us like that!"

Hermione woke them up the next morning, looking rather excited. She was waving an old newspaper at them.

Harry sat up, rubbing his eyes. He had not slept well despite the exhaustion; his sleep had been marred by nightmares involving Snape, Voldemort and Dumbledore.

"'S matter?" Ron grumbled sleepily.

"Look at this!" she said, holding out the newspaper. Harry and Ron peered over it.

"Snape's mother?" Ron said, arching an eyebrow.

"This, Ron," said Hermione, pointing her finger at a raven-shaped brooch pinned to her robes. It matched the Sorting Hat's description.

"She was in school with Tom Riddle," Harry said suddenly, remembering the date on the Potions book.

Hermione nodded.

"She was in Ravenclaw," she said. "I looked up some charts as well; she was indeed a descendant of Ravenclaw."

"Did you find out where Snape lives?"

"Yes, Harry. Spinner's End. We will go there, of course, but I think we'd better finish our Animagus training before that. Speaking of which, McGonagall asked me to tell you that Dumbledore wants to see you again. Right after breakfast."

Harry nodded at her. She waited for the boys in the common room, where the House-elves had already set up breakfast for them. When Ron and Harry finally came down, Hermione had already finished eating. She waited as they ate.

"Eat some more," she said sharply to Harry and dumped a pile of bacon bits on his plate. Harry tried to glare at her but realized that he'd need the energy and turned back to his plate.

Fed and watered, the three friends went over to the Headmistress' office. McGonagall sent Harry inside, and dragged Ron and Hermione to the Transfiguration room for more practice.

"Harry?" Dumbledore asked, raising his head. He looked sleepy.

"Good morning," Harry said. "I have a question: how do you destroy a Horcrux?" He went on to explain what Hermione and Ron had told him. Dumbledore nodded.

"They are right, Harry. You have to get rid of the charms and curses that might be there on it first. Then, when it is neutralized, you can use the Killing curse. It is, however, not necessary that you use that. In fact, I would not recommend it unless it is absolutely necessary - it has terrible backlashes. You may use other means as well; like you destroyed the diary using the Basilisk's fang. I daresay that you'll know what to do when you have to do it. Remember that every Horcrux contains a fragment of Lord Voldemort's soul. There might be ways to force it out and destroy it indirectly..."

Harry fingered the locket in his pocket.

"Could it be that Regulus already destroyed this one?" Harry asked.

"No, Harry. If the locket is intact, if Slytherin's sign is not broken, then it is not destroyed."

"Oh."

There was an uncomfortable silence for some time. Harry wasn't feeling particularly happy with Dumbledore, and he wanted to leave the office. But he didn't want to be rude, either. Dumbledore, however, breached the silence.

"So...you're a phoenix, Harry? I'm very proud."

"Thank you," Harry said, keeping his voice as formal as he could manage.

Dumbledore sighed heavily.

"Still angry?"

"No, sir."

There was silence for some time again.

"I miss you," Harry said quietly, after a long time.

Dumbledore said nothing.

Harry stood up, feeling embarrassed, and muttered, "I should go. Professor McGonagall would be waiting."

"Good luck, Harry," Dumbledore said softly.

As Harry left the room, he heard Phineas tell Dumbledore, "I still don't understand why you love that boy so, Dumbledore..."

"You wouldn't, Phineas," came the soft reply.

Harry wiped his eyes angrily with his hand and hurried away.