Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Chapter11

Animagus Training

"Harry? Why are we in here again? It's dark in here. I don't like it. It's dark and musty and full of spiders. I don't like spiders!"

"They're okay, Evan. They're okay. Just look at them. They're just tiny little things. Money Spiders! Money Spiders bring you luck! Didn't you know that?"

"I guess I forgot. Please don't stop talking to me, Harry. I like it when we talk. It makes me feel safe."

"I'm locked in a cupboard, Evan. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here, Evan. I'm not going anywhere."

"Why are you in the cupboard, Harry? Why are we in the cupboard?"

"I asked Uncle Vernon if I could walk down to the pond and feed the ducks. I forgot that I wasn't supposed to ask him questions. It wasn't too bad a question though. He'll let me out in a few weeks, if I cut my hair."

"They're no point in that, Harry! It'll only grow back later on tonight."

"I know, but I want to feed the ducks. Will you come and feed the ducks with me?"

"Of course! Actually I would like to feed the ducks now as well. We ARE seven, after all! We should be able to go and feed the ducks whenever we want. We don't want to be locked in here all day. This cupboard is very depressing!"

"I know, Evan. I hate it in here too. But it's not too bad in here whilst I'm talking to you. You're my best friend, Evan. You know that don't you?"

"Harry, I'm your ONLY friend!"

"Yeah, and you're the best!"

Harry woke up on Wednesday morning, totally perplexed. It was one of the best dreams he had had in absolutely ages. He didn't wake up in a cold sweat, he didn't feel worried or angry, and he didn't have to worry about whether or not he should keep it from everyone. So why was he crying? And who was Evan? He supposed it must have been an imaginary friend of his when he was younger. He didn't remember having any friends, but he remembered having a very vivid imagination. It was his imagination which kept him sane during his long spells - or rather periods of time - locked up in the cupboard under the stairs, at number four, Privet Drive. Although, this Evan character seemed so real! But it couldn't be. He didn't know anyone when he was little. If he stretched his memory hard enough, he could possibly see someone who looked like himself without the scar, but apart from that, his imagination extended only to the voice which was soft and friendly, and had a strange lilt to it, which he didn't recognise.

He had been having this dream for a while now, interspersed with the dream about the warm... babies? Harry didn't know what they were. All he knew was that he had been having these dreams since his birthday, and whilst totally bewildering, they were nothing to be alarmed about. Probably just repressed memories, he thought sagely. Yes, that is definitely what Hermione would think!

At breakfast time, there was the usual Owl post, and Harry and Hermione each received their copies of the Daily Prophet. Hedwig came down as usual to see Harry, although she didn't have any post for him, and took a little bit of bacon rind. Harry's right shoulder was now a favourite perch of Hedwig's, because there she was able to be close to Harry, and would more often than not get lots of fuss and attention from Ron and Hermione as well.

As Harry unfurled the Daily Prophet, he heard Hermione give a loud and exasperated sigh as she appeared to have already done the same.

Five more dead in attack on Pureblood Family. Ten other attacks reported with no casualties. Dark Mark Present at all. Minister Fudge Denies connections with alleged return of He Who Must Not Be Named. Who is right? Who is wrong? How much longer can this go on?

"You knew nothing of this, Harry?" Hermione asked, curiously.

"No. My scar only plays up when Voldemort is feeling particularly murderous or angry or he is nearby. I've only had two attacks since the summer started, although I occasionally get dreams of his conversations, but there's usually nothing in them as far as predicting attacks is concerned. Anything I do get, I send straight to Professor Dumbledore and Sirius."

"Have you been getting much recently?" Ron asked.

"No, that's the worrying thing. Either he's exceedingly calm when he holds the meetings, or the Death Eaters are orchestrating things independently of him. Either way, it is certainly cause for concern." Ron and Hermione nodded in reply.

"Anyway," Hermione said out loud. "I make it about ten to nine. Off to transfiguration!"

Transfiguration that day was of great interest to Hermione. (It was great interest to everyone else for that matter, but, as Hermione had said to Percy on her very first evening at Hogwarts, Transfiguration was her special interest. She had been doing a lot of reading during the Holidays, as soon as she had received the book list. Viktor had initially been somewhat put out by the fact that she spent all her evenings reading. She had invited him to join her, which had soon placated him though, and to massage his ego, she asked for help with a few of the more complex spells. She liked to be well ahead in her wand-work to give her ample time to complete essays. And as everyone knew, Hermione was excellent at essays as well.) That day, professor McGonagall announced that they would be transfiguring partners that year, using their wands. To demonstrate this, she took out her wand, tapped Neville Longbottom on the hand, and it transformed into a cat's paw to riotous applause from the students. Neville simply looked at it, stunned.

"Now don't worry everyone, if anything goes wrong, I will be on HAND to right it." She chuckled at her own little play on words. The few who had latched on to it groaned. Professor McGonagall, they had thought, had no sense of humour. This, by all accounts, confirmed their suspicions.

The lesson passed quickly and enjoyably for everyone. By the end of the lesson, Hermione had succeeded in entirely transfiguring Neville into a cat (a toad, she felt, would be too cruel), Neville actually managed to transfigure Hermione's foot into a hoof which she was delighted about. Professor McGonagall looked shocked and awarded Neville twenty points for Gryffindor. The whole class cheered him, and he turned a brilliant shade of plum in modest embarrassment.

"Neville!" Harry heard Hermione say to him. "Have you been practising over the holidays?"

"Well, I, um... Yes." He said quietly.

"Very good." Hermione said encouragingly, before turning to Ron and Harry, mouthing "Oh WOW!" and grinning. Harry and Ron grinned as well. Neville rarely received praise from any of his teachers, other than Professor Sprout, the Herbology teacher. Professor McGonagall was almost as difficult to receive praise from as Professor Snape, from whom it was impossible to receive praise.

Harry and Ron spent the lesson giving each other lion's paws and manes.

"Just to get used to it." Ron explained to Hermione, who had giving them rather withering looks.

"Okay, but change it next time otherwise people are going to get suspicious."

"Agreed." Ron and Harry replied.

After Transfiguration they had French again, in the Library.

"Bonjour la Classe"

"Bonjour Mademoiselle Delacour!" They all responded.

"Assiez-vous, merci." They all sat. "Now zen, euh, today we will be learning 'ow to speak in ze past. Donc, 'ow many ways can you all sink of for speaking in ze past?"

Hands shot up all around the class.

"Mees Patil? Padma?"

"I have done something."

"Very good, yes, I 'ave done somesing." She said, writing it on the blackboard. "Meester Longbottom?"

"I was doing something."

"Ah yes, excaillahn! I was doing somesing. Meester Weasely."

"I have been doing something."

"Ouais. I 'ave been doing somesing. Meester Vinaigre?" Hermione snorted.

"Please miss, it's Finnigan." Seamus said, trying not to laugh.

"I am vairy sorry Shaimoos. Donc, Meester Finniganne?"

"I would have been doing something."

"Ouais, Mees Brock... Buckle..."

"Brocklehurst, Professor." Mandy said, slowly and clearly.

"Donc, Mees Brockul'urst."

"I may have been doing something."

"Good, and... Meester Boot?"

"I might have been doing something, Mademoiselle."

"Zat is vairy good. Now zen, 'oo can remember what I said about, euh, ze verb "to be" on Monday?" A few hands went up. "Meester Potter?"

"You said, Mademoiselle, that the verb être is only used in describing something or someone, or in conj... conju..."

"Conjugating." Hermione said, helping him.

"Thanks, Hermione. Yes, conjugating certain verbs in the past tense. Please, Mademoiselle, but what does conjugate mean?"

"To be truthful, 'Arry, I am not too certaine myself. Zere is no direct meaning of ze wod zat I know of. Ze best way I can sink of to explain is to say, for zese purposes, when you say zat you were doing somesing, or you have been doing somesing... zat is ze conjugation for ze past tenses, but, in French, you say zem differently. What I will be teaching you today, langgisticallemahn, is zat zere is a difference between I was doing and I 'ave done, and zat, euh, ze verbs être and avoir, are not used zat way, but differently. Mostly it is ze verb avoir zat is used in ze perfect tense, however zere are certain circumstances when ze verb être is used in its stead. Zere are certain words wheesh always go wiz être, and zen zere are ze reflexive verbs. 'Oo knows what I mean by "reflexive verbs"?" A small spread of hands went up. "Mees Patil, Parvati?"

"Is it where you do something to yourself? Like brush your teeth or comb your hair?"

"Excellent examples Parvati, yes, zat is exactly what a reflexive verb is!" Fleur said, beaming. "Please take cinq points for Gryffondor". Parvati lit up at this. "Yes, zat is correct. Ze reflexif means zyou are doing ze verb to yourself. Before ze verb you 'ave to put ze reflexive pronom. Zese are "Me", wheesh means "to me"" She said, writing it on the blackboard in a clear table ""Te" - "to you", "Se" - "to 'im" or "to 'er", "Nous" - "to us", "Vous" - "to you", and "Se" - "to zem". Ze pronom reflexif weel go in front of ze verb always. In ze past tense, it goes before ze auxiliary. Now, if you would all please copy down zese tables as I write zem."

The evening couldn't come quickly enough for them. At dinner an owl came for them with a staff. A beautiful mahogany creation crowned with an ornate marble stag. The tiny eyes were of diamond. Around the staff was attached a note.

This staff belonged to your father, another item left by him in my possession before he died. It is a very powerful implement and will aid you all in your project. Come to the Shrieking Shack after you have finished your meal. Use the staff. I will meet you all down there, as will the others.

Professor Dumbledore

Harry showed the note to Ron and Hermione. They both nodded.

"It's beautiful!" Hermione breathed in awe.

"It truly is something!" Ron added quietly. "And it belonged to your father?"

"Says so right here."

"You know, in some cultures, the white stag is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge." Hermione said. "You certainly have a prestigious background, Harry."

"Yeah, and you read too much!" said Ron lightly, throwing his arm around Hermione's shoulders and giving her a squeeze to let her know that he didn't mean it maliciously. Harry couldn't help notice the tips of Ron's ears turn dark red at this, and Hermione's eyes widened almost imperceptibly as she fought back the colour threatening to flush her own cheeks.

"Oh stop flirting with her, Ron, and just do it!"

"I can't, Harry. Not yet. Please... let me build up to this in my own time."

"Okay, but just remember, there are others!" he said, winking at him. Then when he looked away, he raised an eyebrow to Hermione and said.

"He's getting there."

"Thanks, Harry.

"Anyway!" Harry projected to both of them. "To the Shrieking Shack".

To get to the Shrieking Shack, they had to get under the Whomping Willow. No one was particularly fond of that tree as, in their second year, Ron and Harry inadvertently flew a car right into it, which nearly got them killed. (As Ron so pointedly said, of all the trees they could have hit, they had to choose the one that would hit back!) Then in their third year, firstly it destroyed Harry's broom, and then they had a very nasty encounter with Sirius, before they learned he was innocent. Nope! It sure wasn't their favourite tree!

Harry, pleased that he had brought the staff with him, and just as pleased that the staff was quite long, prodded the knot with it that stopped the branches.

As they wandered through the tunnel, Harry asked Hermione something that both he and Ron had been curious about, ever since they had decided to do this.

"Have you decided yet what sort of owl you want to be? You are more than welcome to borrow Hedwig."

"Or Pig." Ron added, the tips of his ears turning bright pink again. Both Harry and Hermione affected not to notice this, and Hermione said

"I'm not sure yet. I might be able to change of my own free will, depends on how powerful the spell and my own abilities are. We won't be using the animals tonight you understand, or the potion. Tonight we will just be getting used to the transformations. The potion is to allow us to hold our form indefinitely as we wish. It can be done with practice without the potion, but as we need to master an infinite number of other transformations as well, this will make it a lot easier and help retain forms we would be otherwise less disposed to hold normally. Of course that is assuming we have the predisposition to perform the Animagus transfiguration already. If one of us doesn't then..."

"Then we'll stick by those who do no matter what." said Ron sternly.

"Agreed." they replied.

"Certainly I love their plumage. Their feathers are so soft. A barn's tends to be a little rougher." Hermione said, pulling the subject back to what owl she would like to be. "Hedwig has dignity, and well, Pigwidgeon is just cute!"

"Well that rules both out then!" said Ron, elbowing her lightly, which caused her to throw her arm tightly around his neck and rub his scalp sharply with her knuckles. "Ok! OK! I give up, I give up!" he cried, laughing. Harry shook his head.

After a further few minutes of friendly banter, during which time they ducked and dodged roots and low ceilings, they found themselves at the foot of some stairs, which would lead them up into a small side room in the Shrieking Shack.

Harry opened the door and they walked through, their jaws dropped in amazement. The room, like the Charms and DADA classrooms, had been magically enlarged, and now housed a huge Sphynx as well as a Lion, Hedwig - to their delight -, A white stag, and a small, lithe red fox. Fondly grooming the stag was Sirius, and Remus was sitting in a chair reading. Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were having an animated argument on the other side of the room.

"I tell you, Albus, she's too young! And she's so impressionable! Don't you even care what happened to her three years ago?"

"I understand, Minerva, but you must understand that it is her decision. I have spoken to Miss Granger about it, and she agrees, and has agreed to look after her."

Harry and Ron stared at Hermione at this, but she merely raised an eyebrow and thought "You'll see!"

"Ahem!" Hermione said loudly. The professors looked up, as did Padfoot and Moony, and they walked over to them.

"Harry!" Sirius said. "Hello again, Ron, Hermione! How are you?"

"A little nervous actually, Sirius!" Hermione said, quietly.

"A little?" Harry and Ron chorused. Hermione stifled a snigger.

"Don't worry, that's understandable. We all were the first few times until we got used to it. Peter especially so." Sirius said, wincing slightly.

"Well, then, I suppose as we're all here I'd better get started. You have all performed some sort of corporeal transfiguration wandlessly before?" Professor McGonagall began, in a very business like manner.

"Um... Professor? I don't understand." Harry said, a little shyly. "What do you mean?"

"Oh I don't know. When you were little, did you ever cut yourself quite seriously and have it heal almost instantaneously? Or perhaps you might have broken a finger or toenail and fixed it?"

"Well, when I was younger, my hair always used to cause the Dursleys no end of annoyance. They would send me to the hairdressers once a week at one point, and once Aunt Petunia got so fed up with it, that she took a pair of scissors to me and cut off all my hair, apart from a bit at the front to cover "That ugly scar!"" He squealed, putting on a falsetto voice. "But it all grew back that very night. I was worried that I'd look a fool because we were having photos done the following day. Not that they would have bought it." He added a little bitterly. "I got locked up in the cupboard of ages for that!" He shuddered a little at the memory of it. "Is that any good?"

"That is excellent Potter!" McGonagall said, her mouth curling upwards slightly at the corners. "Miss Granger? Mr Weasely?"

"Well, when I was younger I always had an abnormally good memory and I was always quick to learn. Still am in fact. Especially if it's something I'm interested in, or if I'm worried about my exams." She said, as plainly as she could, trying not to sound big-headed. "I saw a programme on TV once that the brain grew every time you learned something new which is why brain growth is at its most rapid in the first two years of life. And then when I got my Hogwarts letter and read up on transfiguration I became quite interested on Animagus transformation, as well as all the other stuff of course, and then when I read the other night that you had to have a predisposition towards it, I was wondering, is it possible that when I was younger I was transfiguring my brain, or even my whole skull, so that I could learn more?" She said this all very fast, and by the end, she was quite flushed out of both the effort of her sentence, and through being slightly embarrassed.

"That is quite correct, Miss Granger. An excellent example. By the sounds of it, you will do very well indeed because I imagine you have been doing it throughout, yes?"

"Um..." At this her face went a brilliant shade of rose. "Actually yes. I suppose you could say that I have been cheating in my exams?"

"I think we can overlook that on this occasion, Miss Granger, on one condition." Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling, a smile twitching at his beard.

"Professor?"

"You keep doing it, Miss Granger. To expand one's mind of one's own free will is an all too rare and precious trait in people today, Muggles and Wizards alike."

"Yes sir." she said, quietly.

"And, Mr Weasely?"

"I can't really think of anything sir. Ma'am." He said, downcast.

"Of course you can, Ron, you idiot! You're just like Hermione! What about all those chess strategies you learned and foiled when you were younger! If that's not expanding your mind, I don't know what is!" came a hot voice from behind the Sphynx. Ron and Harry turned, and their jaws dropped, as a look of triumph crossed Hermione's face.

"Ah, and so the wily vixen decides to make an appearance!" Dumbledore said with amusement.

"G...G... Ginny!" Ron cried in alarm. "What in the hell are you doing here? Excuse me professors" He added hurriedly. Dumbledore nodded, and McGonagall scowled, as were their wonts.

Ginny turned to Ron and glared hard at him.

"But that's not what I meant, Gin! I just meant to comfort him not to..." And his jaw dropped again. "Wait a minute... How? How did you do that?"

"Do what?" Harry said, somewhat confused by everything that was going on.

"Do this!" Ginny said. Harry stared at her, unashamedly, before a light of understanding flickered across his lips in the form of a smile.

"You were in the cupboard weren't you?"

"Yes. I've been following you around for the last few days, since Monday, missing my lessons." At this, she blushed lightly and turned apologetically to the teachers.

"How?"

"With this." She pulled out, from under her own robes, Harry's invisibility cloak, and tossed it to him. "I'm sorry Harry. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not, Ginny." He replied, sweeping her into a filial embrace causing her to blush almost brown, before, just as quickly she returned to a light pink. Harry gazed at her, aghast. "How did you do that? What did you do?"

"That, Harry." Ginny said groaning with embarrassment. "Is MY predisposition to the Animagus transformations. I am sure you know what Ron has been telling you about me so I wont go into that, but normally my guard is up and suffice it to say, you never normally see how deeply embarrassed I really am." She said, allowing herself, this time, to turn darker than her hair.

Suddenly, Harry had a brainstorm. Not only could he get her to calm down, but also, he'd be able to stop her being so embarrassed about him, and that would do them all a favour, especially if she was to be a member of the Order of the Phoenix.

"Look at me, Ginny" Harry thought, for her alone to hear. Her large brown eyes gazed back at him questioningly, and he fought back a smile as he allowed his mind to go blank. From out of the blankness came a crowd of faces. They were all looking in the direction of where Harry had just fled after receiving a singing telegram on Valentine's day in their second year. Then his mind fixed on a face. It was Draco Malfoy. He was sneering at Ginny. "I don't think he liked your Valentines much." He said in his low lazy drawl. And then his mind flicked back to the incident in Flourish and Blott's, earlier on in the same year when Draco cornered Harry and commented on his celebrity, which prompted Ginny to pipe up in his defence "Leave him alone. He didn't ask for that." As Ginny watched these events, played back, she looked at him uncertain. She was still very embarrassed and was using all her will not to show it, although a significant amount of colour shone through.

"Ginny. I was in my second year. I was twelve. Boys at that age HATE that stuff. Especially as it was Lockhart! It wasn't that I didn't appreciate it. I actually thought it was really sweet, although I prefer to think of my mother having eyes the colour of precious gems rather than "Fresh Pickled Toads"" He grinned, "But I felt really embarrassed about that in public. A simple card would have been more than enough." At this point, Harry blushed slightly too. "I had a lot on my mind trying to catch the Heir, and I didn't feel like having anything like that in public. I mean, look at what an idiot your brother is about girls!" he said, glancing at Ron, who was now pummelling Hermione's arm lightly.

It had done the trick. Ginny had burst out laughing hysterically; the colour in her cheeks once more, although this time from the exertion of mirth, rather than embarrassment. Everyone turned to look at them, eyes wide with amusement. Even Professor McGonagall looked intrigued.

"Thanks Harry!" she thought, fervently.

"Just returning the favour." He replied, winking.

"Well then. Let us begin!" said Professor Dumbledore. Although his voice was light, his eyes were grave. He seemed very much to share the opinions of Arabella. He gave a heavy sigh. "Now as you can all plainly see, here we have your animals which will be your Animagus forms when you transform. Now, Ron, you will have the easiest transformation, as you will actually be changing relatively little about yourself, although for the first couple of weeks your backside will be quite sore, I'm afraid. The same will be true for all of you in that respect. As Professor McGonagall here will tell you, and Remus and Sirius will confirm, having a tail takes some getting used to. Now the first thing I want you to do is to approach your creatures and develop a bond with them, and..."

"Sir?" Harry interrupted. "Are you taking part in the transformations as well?"

"At my age?" he replied, eyes twinkling. "My goodness no! All the animals here are for you young ladies and gentlemen."

"But sir, there are only four of us. There are five animals here."

"That is quite true. And I want you all now to go over to your animals." Ron walked over to the lion, proffering his hand, palm up, to which the lion took a long sniff, and then nuzzled it gently, purring with approval. Harry walked over to Grace the Sphynx, and Hermione wandered over to Hedwig. Ginny stood still for a while, looking around nervously. "Please don't be shy, Miss Weasely. Go over to your creature." She had never looked more embarrassed at that moment when, after a long pause, she made her way over to the fox, her own face making the fox look quite pale.

"But sir." Ron said, confused. "What about the stag?"

"Now that's an interesting puzzle." Dumbledore said with a smile. "Harry, would you mind awfully performing your Patronus charm again. I realise you've had to perform it quite a lot this week, but would you do it once more for those who haven't seen Prongs up close."

"Um, okay. You can all come and stroke him if you like. He will stay for a few moments before he disappears." He said slowly, quietly. He knew that Ron and Hermione had seen Prongs up close, but he didn't know about the others. When he thought about the effect it could well have on Remus and Sirius, he didn't think he could handle the tears he would feel.

Once again, he let his mind drift back to the day he got his Hogwarts letter. The thrill of realising he wouldn't be living with the Durselys any more. The thrill of seeing real magic for the first time. The thrill he would get from getting his wand. A warm feeling spread through him, a smile spread across his lips, he drew his wand, and, pointing it into the space in the centre of the Shrieking Shack, he roared

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" A brilliant white light shone from the tip, as the huge white stag tore out of his wand, circling the room, before returning to Harry's side, calm and peaceful, glorying in the attention he was getting. Everyone walked over to him, Ron Hermione and Ginny, Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall, Moony and Padfoot, and, to Harry's astonishment, the stag as well.

"Heya Prongs, old fellow!" Sirius said, teary-eyed. "Long time, no see!" He was patting him on the back, a little forward of the hind legs.

"Good to see you again, James." Remus said quietly. "It's been far too long."

Harry motioned for everyone to stand back a little from the trio, sensing that this was time for them to finally make their peace. He knew that Sirius had blamed himself wholly for the deaths of Harry's parents, and he could imagine that Remus had felt guilty for some time about the events that had transpired all those years ago as well.

As they all stood watching the scene in rapt silence, slowly, Prongs began to fade. Remus was now stroking his muzzle, whilst Sirius had his arms around Prong's neck. He held on until he was holding onto thin air.

They remained in silence for some time afterwards. Finally Sirius spoke, and when he did, he was choked, but there was a light in his eyes that Harry hadn't seen since he had looked at him in his parent's wedding photos. He knew that Sirius had made peace and Harry was grateful for it.

"Thank you Harry." he said simply. Remus nodded at his side fervently, a child-like look of gratitude in his eyes.

"Any time!" he replied quietly, leaving no doubt in the minds of everyone there that he meant it completely.

A gentle snort from the stag brought them sharply out of their reverie, and Ron asked again about the stag.

"He is for Harry." Dumbledore said simply.

"But I thought I was a Sphynx!"

"You are, Harry."

"Then wha-?"

"Voldemort!" Professor McGonagall gave a slight shudder, though she was the only one. Ginny went pale but stood resolute. "It would seem obvious to everyone that Harry would want to follow in his father's footsteps. Everyone that knew about him, of course. Wormtail would almost certainly have told Voldemort that James and Sirius were Animagi. In a sense it is the perfect bluff."

"And the ministry!" said Sirius with distaste. "If Harry registered as a Sphynx, there would be all sorts of red-tape. He'd have to apply for a special licence to transform into a dangerous magical creature and that takes two years, then he has to apply for permission to transform! That takes a month! By the time permission comes through you're dead, plain and simple. Non-magical Animagi don't have that restriction. If your not registered as a magical creature, your markings aren't known and for all accounts and purposes you are just a magical creature. Plus as an Omnimagus, firstly you are immune to the Unmasking charm we used on Wormtail two years ago, and secondly there isn't one known to have the same effects on Omnimagi!"

"That goes for all of you." Remus added. "You are all immune to that charm. So the key point is simply not to let yourselves be seen to change and everything is hunky-dory."

"Now Harry, you will register as a stag, Ginny as a fox, Hermione as an Owl, and Ron as a lion. This will happen at the end of the year. Now of course, we don't know what your markings will be yet, but the Omnimagus transformation will allow you to change your markings, so you will be able to go undetected as you pass. Now from the note you sent me Harry, I agree that the enchantment we used on Hedwig over the Holidays would work very well with Hermione so that she can pass undetected around the country. You will prove a very useful spy, Miss Granger." Hermione's face darkened deeply. "This spell Remus, Minerva, is a simple charm, but nonetheless very effective and, in her Owl state, she will be completely invisible to those not in this room right now." Everyone smiled at this, Hermione challenging Ginny for the darkest shades of red. "However we will not be able to do this until she has perfected the transformation in a few weeks." Everyone nodded at this.

Suddenly, Ron had a thought.

"But, Hermione, I thought you said that it would be dangerous to perform the transformation to a different animal that wasn't your Inner Animagus." he said a little confusedly.

"Well I'm afraid, young Miss Granger here has been telling you all a little white fib."

"You mean it's not dangerous to be a different..."

"Oh no Mister Weasely!" Professor McGonagall interrupted. "It is exceedingly dangerous."

"I am afraid." said Hermione blushing once again, and turning to Harry. "I've only been telling you a third of the truth."

"A THIRD!" Harry cried. "What was that third?"

"That your Inner Animagus was the Sphynx."

"And the rest of it?" he said weakly.

"Well I was looking at "How to find your Inner Animagus", when I glanced in the back and read your fathers profile." Hermione began quietly. "And I'd noticed that most of yours and your dad's characteristics were the same. These characteristics would make the Stag transformation more than safe for you to perform. It is so close as to not matter one jot. But that's then only two thirds of it."

"There's something else?" Harry said, dumbfounded.

"Yes. Whilst I was looking over your profile again, after looking at your dad's, I noticed another unusual quirk. Your attraction to the air is not entirely un-coincidental. There is something else in you. I think that's what you spotted when you made the mistake about the eagle. You see Harry..." She paused, not knowing how to broach the subject. However as she paused, there was a timely trill in the air, and in swept Fawkes, his red and gold plumage shimmering in the firelight. He settled himself on Harry's shoulder, twittering gently and holding Harry's eye with an encouraging gaze. And then, he winked. Harry stared at him, open-mouthed.

"Wh... Wh... What are you trying to tell me, Hermione?"

"You're a Phoenix, Harry." Hermione said, before the courage fled her.

Ron, Sirius, Remus, and Professor McGonagall stared at Harry, gawping. Hermione had obviously told Ginny in their little girlie chats that they'd obviously been having about the subject. Hermione was glad. It was good to have female company again. As she'd said to Harry a few days ago, sometimes a girl just needs another girl to talk to. Dumbledore simply stood there, eyes twinkling. He had either been talking to Hermione, or, as Harry had had reason to suspect on several occasions since arriving at Hogwart's, Dumbledore had known exactly what was going on and just let nature take its course, as it were.

"Now then," Dumbledore said, kindly. "Let us get down to business."

"Right!" said Professor McGonagall, suddenly business-like. "Now what I want you all to do, is picture what you have done in the past in your minds eye. Now, Miss Granger and Mister Weasely, your transformations are a little trickier to depict, because they are internal rather than external. So, what I want you to do is to FEEL your brains expanding. Mister Potter, I want you to imagine yourself with longer hair, down to your shoulders, say. And finally, Miss Weasely, I want you to imagine yourself as pale as Nearly Headless Nick, or any one of the Hogwart's Ghosts."

Harry looked at her curiously, but nonetheless he tried doing exactly what she had suggested. She had brought along mirrors to help them, and he stared into his with a small amount of amusement. His hair was always something of a bother to him. He had always thought of it as a lost cause. He wondered what would happen if he tried to tidy his hair a little whilst he was at it. Whilst he was trying to avoid Dudley and his gang at school when he was little, he spent a lot of time in the School library, and he remembered reading that different people had wider or narrower pores and follicles through which the hair would grow, and that was how the different quality and texture of hair occurred. The colour was down to genetics but that wasn't explained in that book. He remembered asking Uncle Vernon what "Genetics" meant, but he was locked in his cupboard for a week for asking questions. He smiled a little, and concentrated on his hair. It was jet black, wavy and slightly curled at the ends, which was probably why it was so messy he thought. He wondered what would happen if he augmented his pores and follicles. He gave a start as his scalp started to tingle. He looked on the mirror. It was like watching spring progress into summer as he stood there and watched. Whilst it apparently seemed to grow no longer, it became much thicker. He also noticed that the ends were not as curled. In fact, he noticed, his hair WAS much neater. He then tried to squeeze the follicles but not the pores. The first time it didn't work and he looked a little bit like Hermione he thought with an involuntary shudder. However, as he saw what he accomplished he decided to have another go and soon he was rather pleased with the result. He had decided to let his hair run down past his shoulders to his shoulder blades.

"Er, Professor McGonagall, do you have a spare tie please? I want to see what I look like with a ponytail. I thought Bill looked rather good in his, didn't you, Ginny, Hermione?" he asked, a smile on his face, one hand behind his head, firmly gripping his new locks in his hand, keeping the bulk from view and out of his eyes. With his hair away from his face his scar was more pronounced than ever before.

Everyone turned to him to see what he was talking about and stared at him open-mouthed. Hermione handed him a bit of rope that she had in her robe pocket without uttering a word. He looked in his mirror, tied his hair behind his head and looked at himself. He had to say that he liked it. He could see why Bill liked it. You left yourself open for people, saying, "This is me. Take me or leave me." People would have a fit if they saw him like that in the Gryffindor common room. Fred and George would have a field day!

"Hey!" said Ron, chuckling at the looks on the girls' faces and Professor McGonagall's face. "Since when were you the handsome one?"

"Since always. I've had girls falling over my feet since I've been here!" said Harry, catching on to Ron's little tease.

"Yeah, but that's because you've got big feet!"

"Yeah and you know what they say about men with big feet!"

"Yeah the bigger the foot, the more refined the lady who feels the pull of your charm. But I don't think Professors count Harry!" Ron said, eyeing Professor McGonagall astutely.

"Flattery may get you everywhere, Mr Weasely" she said, trying not to smile and failing miserably. "Unfortunately, it won't with me." Harry noticed that her cheeks shone with a slight hue of pink, which seemed to take thirty years off her, although he thought better of voicing this thought.

"Er, sir..." said Harry, looking at Dumbledore with meaning.

"If you wish to Harry, you are more than welcome. Although, I don't suggest you mention the real means by which you achieved this remarkable new look."

"Thank you, sir." He saw Ginny out of the corner of his eye throwing Ron an extremely dirty look. He reckoned he must have said something to her silently.

"Anyway." said Professor McGonagall. "Now I want you to approach your creatures. Notice every inch of their skin and fur or feathers. Notice the ears, the eyes, the nose. Notice the tail. Notice the mane, the claws, the hooves, the paws." She paused as she observed them, transfixed by their creatures. This was good. She looked over at Harry. He would have the hardest job of all. He had three creatures to contend with. Would he try to tackle them separately or all together? At the moment he was looking at the stag, stroking him, staring into his tear-dropped eyes, feeling the leathery antlers - As it was winter, the stag was re-growing his (he was still quite young. Three years old at a guess) - looking at his muzzle. Then, to her alarm, he turned to Fawkes. He was going to try them all at once. He clucked softly at Fawkes who nodded. Surely Harry didn't speak Phoenix as well! Everyone knew now that he was a Parselmouth, but surely he couldn't speak with other animals as well. He was running his finger along Fawkes' beak, and staring into his eyes. He was truly creating this bond he would require. And then he turned to the Sphynx. And he stared.

And he stared.

"You must find allies amongst the serpents."

"How."

"Talk to them. Befriend them. Help them. Earn their trust. They have secrets, Harry, powerful secrets, which can help you. You must earn their allegiance against Voldemort. The Werewolves, giants, vampires and other creatures can be approached by others. The snakes, however, are your task."

"Does Dumbledore know?"

"He asked me to tell you."

"Why didn't he tell me himself."

"It was to be a part of our bonding for the Animagus transformations. You have to know me inside and out - Mind, Body, and Soul."

"Do I need to know Fawkes and the Stag as intimately as well?"

"Yes. The Stag's name is Tsevi."

"And will I be able to talk with them out of my Animagus form."

"Yes." Harry's face lit up at this.

"Will we all?"

"Yes."

"And will it be all creatures of our forms, or just you?"

"It will be all of us. All Sphynxes, all foxes, all lions, all Phoenixes, all owls."

"Excuse me for a moment please, Grace." He turned to Ron Hermione and Ginny. "We will be able to talk with our creatures, even out of form!"

"YES!" He heard in reply.

"Sorry about that, I had to tell them."

"I understand."

"So how do I go about making my transformations."

"It is fairly simple. Firstly, take a look at your hand, then look at my paw. Then imagine that your hand was my paw. Then simply will it to be so, and it will be. Only work on the paw at the moment. Do it one step at a time. You will soon be able to do the whole transformation instantaneously, but everything has its own time and you must do things properly and in stepwise order or you could seriously hurt yourself."

"I understand." Harry said, looking at his hands. If he looked at them from a certain angle, and bent his fingers at the knuckles, he could almost believe they were paws. He glanced over at Grace and got the shock of his life when he turned back to see two huge golden hairy paws with pink pads underneath and ebony-black claws spreading from in between the fingers or toes (he wasn't sure which).

"Um, Professor?" Harry said, somewhat startled. "Is this okay?"

Everyone looked at him. Sirius and Remus were clapping wildly, Professor Dumbledore stood there, eyes smiling, Ron, Ginny and Hermione once again stared open mouthed at him, and even Professor McGonagall couldn't help but smile.

"That is excellent, Potter!"

"Although it looks like Mister Weasely and Misses Weasely and Granger have also had some success as well." Dumbledore said with a smile. Harry wheeled round to look at them, and couldn't help but laugh with joy. Ron had a huge golden mane sprouting around his neck, Ginny's head and face were completely red, her nose, or rather muzzle, was long and thin, and large pointed ears pricked up atop her head, and Hermione had Grown Wings of a beautifully soft dark brown plumage where her arms had been.

"Looking good everyone!" Harry said encouragingly.

"Not looking too bad yourself." Hermione added, smiling. Ginny growled happily and Ron simply beamed. Harry had never seen Professor McGonagall look happier, even when he had caught the Snitch, winning the Quidditch Cup for them in the third year.

"Now will you change back please. I want you to practice the transformations between what you have already done and your human form until you can do it instantaneously."

Harry, however had his eyes firmly trained on Fawkes. Seeing Hermione with wings strengthened Harry's resolve that he wanted to complete all his tasks as quickly as possible. It had been a secret desire of his, a wonderful dream, for as long as he could remember, to be able to fly unaided. The moment he had mounted his broom in the first year and had gone chasing Malfoy on it, had only strengthened that longing. As he looked at his arms and then at Fawkes, thinking how wonderful it would be just to become Fawkes - just like that - he pictured himself doing just that. He felt a warmth spread throughout himself and he felt his very heart and body fill with Phoenix song, and he looked at himself. He spread his hands out in front of him, but he didn't see hands. He saw feathers. He jumped up, punched the air, cried "YES!" and soared around the room, looking down on them, looking up at him.

"Harry!" He heard Ginny cry. But he wouldn't come down. The feeling was too wonderful. He felt so free and liberated. He automatically started to bear down towards Fawkes. Fawkes moved over a little so that Harry could land on his perch, which he did without thinking. It was only when he landed next to Fawkes that he realised he wasn't looking down at Fawkes. He was looking him straight in the eye.

"Professor? What's going on?" Harry tried to ask. But she seemed to not be able to hear him. Everyone was simply staring at him in amazement, even Grace.

"Harry?" Came a voice from his right. He looked over and saw Fawkes blinking at him. He looked past Fawkes to Professor McGonagall.

"Yes Professor?" he said. Still she said nothing. "That wasn't you, was it Fawkes?" Harry said, looking puzzled. Fawkes blinked again and nodded. "But how is that possible? Grace said we wouldn't be able to talk to you until we had completed..." Harry felt his jaw drop.

"Look into the mirror Harry." Fawkes said gently. Harry glided down to the mirror and tried to look at himself, but he was too short. Harry began to panic. He couldn't look down. His neck didn't give him enough forward motion to do that.

"Um, could one of you guys help me to look in the mirror?" Harry thought desperately, apparently unable to convey his wishes to anyone other than his friends. Hermione came over, still winged. She transformed one of her arms back - she appeared to rather like having wings. And picked Harry up and, still gawping at him, placed him on her shoulder, and wandered over to a Mirror.

He gave a start. There, staring back at him from the mirror, were Hermione and, what looked very much like Fawkes. A perfectly normal Phoenix was standing on the shoulders of a young lady with wings. He tried not to laugh at the thought. He rotated his neck to where he had come from and found that Fawkes was still there.

"I'M A PHOENIX?" He cried in shock. He had another good look at himself, observing his beautiful golden beak and gold tipped red plumage. His beady black eyes stared at himself in unashamed disbelief. "Hermione, could you put me on the floor please? I want to transform back. I want to talk to the others." Hermione nodded transformed her wing back into an arm, placed Harry on the floor, and stood back as she reformed her wings so that Harry could transform again. Harry closed his eyes, and imagined what he was like beforehand, with the long hair in the Ponytail, and seconds later, he was standing in front of them all as if nothing had ever happened, although still looking slightly shaken.

"Mister Potter!" Professor McGonagall said, shaking. "Explain yourself! How on earth did you pull that off first time? Were you not listening when I said to transform yourself stepwise? How on EARTH did you manage the transformation just like that?"

"I just did what you said to do Professor. I thought about myself, then I though about myself with Phoenix wings. But as I was about to do it, I had another look at Fawkes, and I thought that it would be really cool if I could do it just like that. And the next thing I know, I'm flying around the room." Everyone continued to stare at him. Finally Sirius broke the silence boisterously by yelling.

"That's my boy! That's my boy, Harry! I knew you'd be the first to crack it. James was as well."

"I don't know how I did it. It just seemed the natural thing to do."

"Could you do it again please Harry?"

Harry wandered over to Fawkes, looked at him for a moment, and closed his eyes as he pictured his own transformation. When he opened them again, he wasn't staring at Fawkes, but at the base of his perch as, once again, he had successfully made the transformation.

"Well done Harry." Fawkes squawked. "You make a very handsome phoenix. Excellent plumage."

"Thank you." Harry replied. This praise meant an awful lot to Harry as he held a deep respect for the Phoenix who had healed him twice in the past. With that said, he transformed back.

"That was absolutely fantastic Harry!" Ron said out loud.

"Indeed Harry. I would now like you to try that with your stag. I still want you to go stepwise with Grace here because, although you managed with Fawkes the first time, no one has ever managed to perform the transformation the first time before. NEVER. Never mind into a magical creature, especially one as powerful as a phoenix." Harry nodded and wandered over to Tsevi.

"Hello Tsevi." He said quietly, gazing into his eyes and stroking his beautiful coarse fur. "My name's Harry. You look just like my father." he said with a sad smile, a touch of the old hunger spreading into his eyes. Tsevi seemed to notice this because he took a step into Harry and nuzzled his side. "Thank you." he said quietly, as he let his hands gently smooth over the soft antlers. As he gazed into the tear-dropped eyes of his newest friend, his mind drifted to the previous Sunday and the words of the farewell liturgy to his father.

A lone Stag, noble, proud, and true as the sky.

At that moment, he longed to be able to see his father again without having to take out his wand. Prongs was a marvellous companion, but he would love to be able to talk to his father without having to take out his wand. He knew that would never happen, however he also knew it would be so cool if he could perform the transformation successfully. He felt himself wanting this with all his soul. He also found himself knowing that he could do it. This surprised him a little at first, but it seemed a natural sensation so he allowed himself to succumb to it, and before he knew what was happening, he found his spine bending, his eyes narrowing, his fingers and toes clubbing together to form hooves and antlers sprouting from his elongated muzzle. He felt it all occur this time because he was expecting it to happen. He knew it would happen. He was tempted, in fact, to return directly to his Phoenix form, but he had no idea of the effects that that would have on him. He stood for several minutes glorying in his new persona. He paused to consider for a moment. Prongs. Harry wondered if his having three main forms would warrant three nicknames. What else would they come up with? Prongs Junior and Lazarus? And what about Ginny? Foxy was too corny, and he wouldn't be surprised if that triggered one of her regular bouts. Red, on the other hand, was simply too derivative. He shook his head smiling to himself. Remus and Sirius came up to him a little nervously.

"Harry?" they chorused. Harry nodded his head sedately.

"You look just like James." Remus said, a tear in his eye. Sirius nodded fervently.

"Harry, you're beautiful!" Ginny couldn't help herself. The words escaped before she knew what she was saying.

"I couldn't have put it better myself, Ginny." Hermione agreed. Harry felt the blood rushing to his ears, which he reflexively flicked with embarrassment. Tsevi who noticed this said

"Your humans are very fond of you Harry."

"They are."

"Why did you tell me before you transformed that I look like your father?"

"My father was an Animagus like me. He also turned into a stag. You saw the stag that came out of my wand when I performed that spell? That was him."

"I think I remember that. My father told me that my grandfather told him of the time when he bonded with a human who could turn into a stag."

"You're JOKING?"

"I make no jocularity Harry. My grandfather was the stag, which aided another human in his transformation into a stag. He was said to have black messy hair as well. I think I can in fact see a possible resemblance. I wish my grandfather were here to see it. It would do him proud."

"I am very sorry to hear that. I would love to have met him. Anything to do with my father really. He and my mother died when I was one. I know very little about them."

"Do not be sorry. He lived to be twenty-three, a goodly age for a deer. And we know well of your parents Harry. All who live in the Forbidden Forest do. We also know of yourself and your noble actions over the past four years. We are all behind you Harry."

"Thank you." With that, Harry transformed back. "See, Sirius. That wasn't so hard was it!" All but Professor McGonagall had a good chuckle at this.

"Very well Mister Potter. You have displayed your inherent ability and predisposition towards the Animagus Transformation, but please adhere to my request that you attempt the Sphynx transformation in a stepwise manner!"

"Yes professor." He said, a little disappointed, but still fully understanding her concern. "Oh and by the way Remus, Sirius, it was Tsevi's grandfather that dad bonded with!" They stared at him, wide eyed. Harry guessed that they would all be staying in the shrieking shack tonight.

"Alright. I now want you to practice your transformations that you have already performed. Miss Granger - you will get used to producing your wings - Mister Weasely - your mane, Miss Weasely - your head. You will practice behind your curtains tonight, in the Toilets, and you may convene here during your lunch hour, but you must tell me first."

"Now then all of you. It's late, and you have school tomorrow. Get yourselves off to bed and we will reconvene here at the same time tomorrow night."

"Yes Professor Dumbledore!" They all chorused. Professor McGonagall accompanied them out, under Hogsmeade through the tunnel, and out underneath the Whomping Willow onto the Hogwarts grounds.

By the time they got back to the Gryffindor common room they were the only ones up. Peaceful snoring and grunts could be heard emanating from all fourteen dormitories.

"WELL!" said Ron, sighing and collapsing into a comfy chair in front of the fire. "What did you all think of THAT?"

"That was ABSOLUTELY AMIZING!" Ginny squealed silently. "I can't believe I'm a fox! I've always loved them!"

"Actually Ginny, I've always thought you looked a little like a fox." said Hermione, catching Harry's eye, who nodded with a smile, mouthing "Thanks." Diplomacy was always Hermione's strong point, and there was no way that, even if it were true, she would ever dream about letting Harry be the one to say it. Ron of course wouldn't but Harry saying it would be disastrous. Not even Ginny making herself pale could prevent herself from the blush that would escape her, and the diversion of blood to the skin that would produce such a deep blush could actually be dangerous for her.

"Should we try it again now?" Ron asked.

"I'd love to." Hermione put in. "But I think we'd better go one at a time so others keep an eye out for students using the bathrooms. I'll go first. I LOVE my wings!" She added. "I can't wait to do the full transformation!"

"Neither can I!" The others put in.

"What are you talking about Harry?" Ron asked with a smile. "You can already perform two complete Animagus transformations PERFECTLY!"

"He was talking about the Sphynx." Ginny said.

"Yeah. I'm a little disappointed about not being able to try it straight off, but I also agree with McGonagall. It would be too dangerous to try it. Just because I know I can perform two transformations perfectly without going stepwise doesn't mean that I can do three." Harry put in, sagely. "Anyway. Go ahead, Hermione. Ladies first, then you Ginny."

Hermione looked at her arms, a look of intense concentration furrowing her brow. As she stared at them, Harry noticed tiny elegant white hairs, which he hadn't noticed previously. From the pores where these hairs blossomed, sprouted beautiful nut-brown feathers, her fingers retracted and her arms bent at an odd angle until they became beautiful soft wings. Harry and Ginny stepped forwards to stroke them. They were beautifully soft. Then, after a quick glance at Harry, who returned a nod, Ron stepped forward too, and stroked them.

"Hedwig will be so proud of you." Ron said simply.

"She is." Harry said simply. Ron and Ginny gawped at him.

"How..."

"Oh. They understand each other very well." Hermione said. "Harry doesn't understand her speech, but her mannerisms. You probably saw Hedwig ruffle her feathers at me and give a gentle hoot?" Harry nodded. "That was Hedwig telling me I looked beautiful."

"Well you do." Ron said, slightly choked. Ginny and Harry exchanged glances, Ginny stifling a snigger.

"Ginny?" Harry asked, having a sudden thought.

"Yes?"

"Were you there in Dumbledore's office on the first night?"

"Yes."

"And were you there when we burned the books?"

"Yes."

"You do realise, that you are a part of the Order of the Phoenix too, don't you!"

"Yes!" She said, blushing lightly, but her eyes were wide with excitement.

"Hermione, do you think you could fly yet?"

"No. I need to completely change my bone structure so I'll be light enough. As a part human I won't be. Most of the bones are too dense." At this point she changed back. "Right, Ginny, it's your turn!"