Chapter Eleven

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The Art of Animagus

Tuesday morning found the four participating in their morning run. All were exhausted by the time they had completed their tasks, but their times had improved slightly. Before long they had reached the Great Hall and were heading to their own tables. As Harry sat down, Gallatea turned away from her conversation with one of her female friends to greet him.

“ Hello Harry, how was your run?”

“ It was better than yesterday. The others seem to be especially worn out. I don't know if it's because I'm used to running away from my cousin that I'm fitter. We'll just have to wait and see.”

“ Running from your cousin?”

“ Long story, you don't want to know.”

“ So, are you looking forward to tonight?”

Harry looked at her warily. Did she know about the extra training? No-one else was supposed to know about it. If it got out to the rest of the school that the four were getting special treatment, there would be a lot of angry parents.

“ What do you know about tonight?” Harry whispered back to her. Catching on, Gallatea also lowered her voice.

“ The Animagus lessons with Lady Hufflepuff. I know about them because I'll be there too. My mother thought it would be a useful skill. It's the only one of your lessons I'll be partaking of, though. I think you may be able to get permission to bring Ardwick and Chris if you want.”

Harry stared at her in stunned silence, before slowly nodding his head in consent.

Later that day in the first herbology lesson of the year the group experienced their first confrontation with Horatio d'Escargot. He had been keeping a relatively low profile for the last few days but he took Hufflepuff's inattention as a good chance to strike. Turning around in his seat, he glared at Hermione and Ginny, who were sitting in the seat behind him.

“ So, I see you Mudbloods are weak at magic. Don't think I've forgotten that little display in Transfiguration, and no matter what that Ravenclaw woman says, I won't let it lie. One day, the world will be purged of filthy scum, and on that day I will be watching.”

Hermione and Ginny just stared at him in contempt. It was Hermione that answered his taunt.

“ Really? That's nice.”

Horatio turned enraged eyes on the young witch and lifted his hand. But Hermione was too quick. Before he could utter a spell she had her wand out and threw an impediment jinx on him. The two girls watched in satisfaction as he struggled to move. After a few minutes the jinx was lifted and the angry boy turned back to the front, muttering about revenge.

That evening at seven o'clock the four time travellers met at the entrance to the Gryffindor tower room with Gallatea, Ardwick and Christabel. A few minutes later Lady Hufflepuff turned up and the group moved up to the room. Hufflepuff smiled at the students and began to explain what was going to happen.

“ Right, everyone, we'll be starting with some background notes on the theory of the animagus transformation. You have to cover the theory before even attempting the transformation. It is a very complicated piece of magic and there are a lot of things that can go wrong. Once we have covered the background, which should take us to about nine o'clock, you will all decide whether you want to continue. If you do not believe you will be successful, I suggest you back out before we start the practical lessons. After the notes you will each perform a charm, one at a time, which will tell us what animal you will become. After that you will be spending the next few weeks researching your animal. It is impossible to become the beast, if you do not understand the beast. Understand?”

Seven nods were her answer.

“ Good. Now, take a seat and we will start with your notes.”

Two hours later Lady Hufflepuff called a halt to the note taking. While the teens rubbed the cramp from their hands, the founder waved her hand and a circle of pillows appeared on the mat in the center of the room. She called her charges over and asked them all to sit in a circle on the floor. Once they were all seated, she began to talk.

“ Now, if you want to leave, now is the time to do it. This is your last chance to back out.”

Nobody moved. They all simply looked back at the older witch and awaited further instructions. After a few moments she nodded and continued.

“ Good, I'm glad you have all decided to continue. Ten points to each of you. Now, I need you to close your eyes and concentrate. Then repeat these words, one at a time starting with Harry. Now, say Video Animagus.”

Harry closed his eyes and began to concentrate. After a few moments he whispered the words to the spell.

“ Video Animagus.”

When the other occupants of the room gasped in awe, he slowly opened his eyes to see a magnificent beast roaming in the center of the circle. On closer inspection he could see it was a white feline. A very large white feline.

“ What is that?”

“ It's a snow leopard, Harry,” Hermione supplied.

The group jumped in surprise, and Ginny let out a short scream, as the snow leopard suddenly spread previously invisible white wings. They reached right across the length of the circle and shimmered a similar shade of white to unicorn hair.

“ Wow,” was all Ron could say.

“ I think that about sums it up,” agreed Ardwick.

“ I thought we'd been over this Harry, it's a snow leopard.”

“ With wings???”

“ So it would seem.”

Hufflepuff chose this moment to speak up.

“ Well, this is a most impressive form, Harry. I don't believe I've ever heard of a winged snow leopard before. Now, I suggest we continue around the circle. The image will fade in a moment. Ardwick, I believe it is you turn.”

Ardwick closed his eyes, much as Harry had done. A moment later a large grey form appeared in the room.

“ It would appear so, `Tea.”

“ We'll have to be careful he doesn't accidentally stand on us.”

“ I believe it is Hermione's turn. Well done Ardwick. Now, Hermione, just do as the others did.”

Hermione closed her eyes and muttered the spell. Opening her eyes she was surprised to see a large snowy owl sitting in the middle of the floor.

“ An owl, how appropriate.”

“ Shut up, Ron. It's your turn now, so you might not be laughing.”

“ I wasn't laughing, `Mione.”

“ Just get on with it.”

A few moments later the image of a large, black winged horse appeared in the center of the floor. A minute later the group was looking at air. The beast had completely disappeared.

“ I believe that was a thestral. They can turn invisible,” Gallatea stated.

“ But thestrals are dark creatures! They bring bad luck!”

“ Those are only fairytales Ron. If you'd ever read `Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' you would know that.”

“ Shut up, Gin,” he muttered as he peered at the now visible horse, “ It doesn't look so bad. Kinda majestic looking…”

Rolling her eyes, Gallatea proceeded to say the spell. A small shape appeared on the floor before flapping its wings and flying to sit on her shoulder. Looking up, she recognised it as a peregrine falcon. Smiling, she turned and waited for Ginny to say the spell. After a few failed attempts due to lack of concentration, another bird appeared. Ron burst out laughing when he saw it. Once he controlled himself he stated,

“ A pelican? Your animagus form is a pelican? Heeheehee.”

Turning red, Ginny pulled out her wand and pointed it at her brother.

“ What's wrong with a pelican? It's not that different from `Mione's owl or `Tea's falcon.”

“ I'm sorry, Gin, it just seemed funny.”

The redheaded witch crossed her arms and turned to the last person in the room and waited for her to say the spell. When she saw the small creature that appeared she didn't feel so bad. After all, a pelican was no stranger than a meercat. Christabel seemed pleased, though, so she didn't comment. Luckily, neither did anyone else. Hufflepuff was looking pleased and smiled at the students.

“ Right everyone, that'll be all for tonight. Next week I want you to bring some books on your animal to start the research. Now, off to bed, you've had a rather…interesting…night.”

With that the seven students wandered out of the room, heading to bed. That night seven young teenagers dreamed about their animals and all the adventures they would have with their new forms.