Author's Note: Hey, everyone! I've decided to rewrite the first chapter and changed a few things. I stated Voldemort killed Amelia's Uncle, but knew I was going to show that wasn't true in later chapters, but scrapped it. She will find out who did killed her uncle and it's someone Lupin knows very well.
Tonight I was awake in the small bedroom of the Leaky Cauldron. It was the last night before I start my third year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry and for the most part I was truly looking forward to the new classes and being with my friends again, including Harry. But at the same time, I hated keeping a secret from my three closest friends that I was an Animagus and a double one at that, being able to turn into a wolf and a red-tail hawk, which was something I shared with my Uncle Jonathan.
He taught me to learn this high skill in magic after I got older and would always tell me the story about his friends when he went to Hogwarts. He was a red fox and an unregistered Animagi. When he taught me to master the skill to become one , he made sure I did it the right way and registered with the Ministry of Magic. It was a very tedious process because there weren't many wizards and witches who were registered and being the youngest witch with this high level magic added more weight. Somehow, my uncle was able to pull a few strings in the Ministry and the rest was done.
By the time I came to Hogwarts in my first year it was a really difficult time for me to adjust. My uncle suddenly died and I never knew why, my parents wouldn't tell me because maybe I was too young to understand. I always thought it was He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named after hearing all of the crimes he's committed against others, but I really don't know. It wasn't until I met Harry, Ron and Hermione that I began to warm up around them, but it was hard to keep my secret from them. The thing was, the registry of Animagi was opened to the public, the only problem my name wasn't on the list, because I was underaged. It was Dumbledore who granted me permission to practice my skills only on school grounds as long as I'm not seen changing in and out of my human form, so I got creative whenever I needed to practice, as McGonagall, a registered Animagi would look out for me from time to time.
I let my mind drift away before closing my eyes and falling asleep.
The very next morning I was woken up by the small chirps that belonged to my feathery friend, Atticus, a brown great horned owl. I soon pushed myself out of bed to walk towards his cage to greet him.
"Good morning, boy. Slept well?" I softly let out while giving out a small yawn as I placed my fingers in his cage where he responded by nibbling them affectionately. I returned the sweet gesture by stroking his chest feathers gently as I smiled at my friend before getting dressed this morning.
Once I finished dressing into a dark blue tee, blue jeans, a teal hooded jacket and floral Dr. Martens, I was ready to join the Weasleys and Hermione for breakfast before boarding the Hogwarts Express later today.
"Atticus, come on!" I called out to my owl as he clambered out of his open cage and flew onto my extended forearm before perching on my shoulder. Soon as I reached out of my room, the arguing voices belonging to two of my best friends, Ron and Hermione were easily heard loud enough for me to find them at the bottom of the stairs.
"Amelia, finally someone who can understand, can you please tell Ronald here that my cat did not eat his rat!" Hermione glanced at me with a smile before glaring back at Ron as this argument over Hermione new cat, Crookshanks eyeing Ron's poor old rat, Scabbers wasn't going to end probably until the end of our third year. Earlier during our yearly shopping at Diagon Alley for new school supplies, Hermione decided to bring a magical companion for the remaining years we were going to attend Hogwarts and found the ginger fluffy feline at the Magical Menagerie shop. He was sweet cat and Hermione fell in love for him while Ron absolutely hated him for stressing out his rat that looked rather sickly recently but it probably was because Scabbers was old now.
"No, Amelia, her cat did ate Scabbers…I can't find him anywhere!" Ron defended himself as I tried to say something positive to him.
"I'm pretty sure Scabbers is around here, Ron. He will show up soon." Once I let this out, my ears picked up the rapid footing of animals coming nearer as it was in fact Ron's rat being chased by Crookshanks.
"Scabbers…!" Ron yelled out as he quickly snatched his rat from the floor while Hermione grabbed Crookshanks by her feet and once I thought the arguments were over, I was clearly wrong.
"I'm warning you, Hermione. Keep that bloody beast away from Scabbers or I'll turn it into a tea cozy." Ron threatened her with another glare with his hands nearly suffocating the poor little rat in his grasp.
"It's a cat, Ronald. What do you expect? It's in his nature." Hermione disputed his claim while stroking the top of her feline friend causing Ron to give her a look of disbelief.
"A cat…? Is that what they told you? Looks like a pig with hair." At this point there was no reason to continue these two fighting as I tried to claim peace between them but I gave Hermione one more crack out of Ron just for fun.
"That's rich…coming from the owner of that smelly old shoe brush. Crookshanks just ignore the mean little boy." She gladly continued petting her cat as now I decided to end their bickering for now.
"Okay, okay, I think that's enough you two. Ron, you have Scabbers and he hasn't been eaten which is important. Just keep a closer eye on him and besides I don't think Crookshanks will want to eat him. Neither Hedwig or Atticus both made any efforts against your rat yet owls love rodents." I told him truthfully as my brown eyes noticed someone familiar leaning by the stairs seeing it to be Harry.
"Harry!" Ron was the first to greet him with excitement causing Hermione to turn around with a wide smile spread along her lips.
"Harry." She spoke out happily as my own lips couldn't hide the grin from my face.
"Hi, Harry." He gave out a large white smile before meeting us at the bottom of the stairs as in that moment those irritating butterflies had enlarged and fluttered nonstop in my stomach in the past two years while his ocean colored irises met my chocolate ones.
Soon afterwards, the four of us entered the pub of the Leaky Cauldron meeting with Ron's family, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Percy, Fred and George and lastly Ginny for some breakfast before our departure. All of us were explaining about the activities we did over the summer as Ron and his family went on a trip to Egypt which was pretty fascinating. Once again, Hermione and Ron exchanged several glares and argued as I truly gave up on those two knowing there was no point to prevent it this whole year at Hogwarts until I get some free time to myself. Harry was then pulled aside to speak to Mr. Weasley alone about something that I was curious about but soon thought nothing of it as I fell into a deep conversation with Ginny and Hermione about our summer break.
As we headed on the Hogwarts Express, the shrieking voice of Mrs. Weasley called out to Ron as she held a small green cage in her hand containing Scabbers while she ran down the train and found him peeking out the open windows. He had forgotten his rat by mistake and his mom scolded him for leaving the rat behind which Ron apologized for before we walked down the small hallway trying to search for an empty sitting compartment. Harry began to tell us about his Aunt Marge visiting the Dursleys during his summer break to which didn't end quite as well as she blew up like a hot air balloon and floated high above in the air. Then again, she most likely deserved it.
"I didn't mean to blow her up. I just…I lost control." Harry let out softly as I continued walking behind him with Hermione while Ron stood in front of us showing a grin on his face.
"That's brilliant." He spoke out amusingly which gained disapproval from Hermione.
"Honestly, Ron, it's not funny. Harry was lucky not to be expelled." She did have a point but still living with terrible Muggles like Harry's relatives needed to be treated equally even if it meant being blown up.
"I think I was lucky not to be arrested." Harry sounded relieved as we stumbled upon a compartment only occupied by one older person who had his face covered by a blanket and was sleeping.
"Come on, let's go in here. Everywhere else is full." I told them as I started to slide the door open and sat next to the sleeping man before Hermione and Ron took their seats across from me with Harry taking the last seat next to me.
"Who do you think that is?" Ron asked almost in a whisper to not wake up the man as Hermione studied at something above our heads before answering.
"Professor R.J Lupin." Once she said the man's name, my eyes widen slightly as I was surprised in that moment. I heard of him before from my uncle and parents, he was a very good friend to them especially to Uncle Jonathan. I wonder if he was going to be the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher.
"Do you know everything? How is it that she knows everything?" Ron's voice snapped me out of my thoughts as Hermione pointed her finger at the suitcase stationed above Professor Lupin's head.
"It's on his suitcase, Ronald." Hermione answered him again to state the obvious and causing Harry and me to laugh softly before it started to become quiet.
"Do you think he's really asleep?" Harry questioned me suddenly as he looked at that man and then at me.
"He looks like it why?" I took a glance at the professor before giving him a response and watched as Harry stood from his seat and walked to the opened door.
"I have to tell you something." He slid the glass door shut and returned to his seat as he started to speak about the conversation he shared with Mr. Weasley about the deranged prisoner who escaped from Azkaban, Sirius Black.