Italics are inner thoughts of characters. Without further delay enjoy.
A peregrine falcon, swooped over the castle on the cliff, on the way back to her loop. Miss Peregrine let out a joyous screech and hastily perched herself on a ledge of the castle. Teenagers in identical black robes, and different coloured scarves poured out of the doorway of the castle into the main courtyard. A fifteen year old white blonde hair boy in a green scarf tipped his head up to search for the unfamiliar screech of the bird that wasn't a owl. Harsh sunlight blinded his sight of vision and he looked back down to hurry to his next class. Miss Peregrine had a desire to explore this peculiar building and she landed on toad like pink lady shoulder who was scurrying into the huge wooden doors. The lady looked strangely at her, and then without thinking, grabbed a stick like object from her pocket and pointed at Miss Peregrine and yelled "Stupefy." Before she knew it, Miss Peregrine was sent flying into the stone wall. Her body ached all over and she wondered what sort of place this was, and wondered if everyone here hated peregrine falcons. She was in too much pain to leave the castle and escape, when she noticed a kindly old lady in emerald green robes and a strange looking black hat pick her up and take her away. Professor McGonagall carefully picked up the falcon and glared menacingly at Umbridge before she parted her lips and said "Headmaster Dumbledore will hear about this." She then proceeded to take Miss Peregrine up to the hospital wing.
Miss Peregrine debated whether she should transform back into her human form. She quickly decided not to, but knew she couldn't stay here forever. The children needed her so she could reset the loop, and she couldn't bear to think what was happening there right now in the loop without her there to supervise them. She silently laughed at the thought of coming home to a messy household. Miss Peregrine thrashed her wings signifying that she wanted to be free. McGonagall shushed her and went back to wondering where Madam Pomfrey was. Sitting down on the bed she looked at the peregrine falcon, with intense hatred for Umbridge running through her head, thinking that the worst part was the fact that Umbridge was a cat person. Footsteps were heard against the stone tile and the door swung open revealing Pomfrey and an injured first year Ravenclaw who had been tormented for being a muggleborn. Pomfrey looked at McGonagall, who presented Miss Peregrine to the nurse. A concerned look passed Pomfrey's face and she sighed. "What happen and is there any injuries?"
"Umbridge" McGonagall sighed, before adding. "She stunned it and I think it has a broken wing"
"Let's take a look at this falcon then"
Miss Peregrine propped her head a questioning matter before she felt herself being put in the warm hands of the nurse. She was concerned about what would happen to her and if there was any pain involved in fixing her injured wing. Mcgonagall glanced into the green eyes of the falcon and flashed a smile. Pomfrey was mixing a pain potion to fix the falcon broken wing. With a flick of her wand Madam Pomfrey produced an eye dropper and squirted into the potion into Miss Peregrine's beak. She felt a rush of warm in her damaged wing, until she felt it was healed. She wanted to thank them in person, so she hopped off the bed and started the transformation back into human form. Where the bird was onced placed there was now a young woman in her late twenties to early thirties, she wore full black victorian formal wear and her black hair was in a bun. "Thank you for your kind hospitality. My name is Miss Alma Lefay Peregrine please to meet your acquaintances" she said.
McGonagall was silent. "You're an animagus!"
Miss Peregrine tilted her head in confusion. "I'm sorry I am not sure if I understand? A what? I am not from around here."
McGonagall then answered " You know an animagus, a human that can transform into a animal. I should have known, I'm one. I can turn into a cat. You were a bird before, if i'm not mistaken. That what you are right? Have you registered with the Ministry yet?"
Miss Peregrine cracked a smile "Oh i am not aware of this so-called Ministry. Before you ask I am a ymbryne!"
"Excuse me? What is that? In all my time as a witch i have never come across that term. The Ministry is wizarding government, by the way. Most animagus register there, but since you are not one, you don't need to worry" she replied, smiling.
"A ymbryne is a shapeshifter, a matriarch of peculiardom. I can transform into a bird at will, manipulate time in the form of a loop, and am trusted with the care of peculiar children. I run a loop in Wales"
"Peculiar Children?"
"Yes, they are born with abilities that set them apart from normals like you. I protect them by keeping them safe, repeating the same day in a loop"
Their conversation was interrupted by the large door to the hospital opening with a bang. In stormed the dreadful pink toad Umbridge with Harry Potter trailing miserably behind her with a scowl on his face."Hem-Hem" coughed Umbridge, in her signature tone.
"There you are Professor McGonagall. Mister Potter here is-Who is this?" Stated Umbridge in her sickly sweet voice as she glared suspiciously at the newcomer. The three women turned to face Umbridge. Miss Peregrine shook her head in disgust at mannerisms displayed by the old toad in pink. This Umbridge lady is worse than Millard, she thought. Alma placed a fake smile on her features and held out her hand to Umbridge. "It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance My name is Alma Lefay Peregrine, and you are?." she lied. Umbridge stiffened at the gesture and shook her hand politely. " I'll have you know that i am Professor Dolores Umbridge. I work at the ministry of magic"
"Ahh. So you are the one who broke my wing!" exclaimed Miss Peregrine.
A sudden moment of realisation moved across Umbridge features her stared at Miss Peregrine in shock. " Wait are you the peregrine falcon that landed on my shoulder?!" gasped Umbridge. Harry looked on in confusion glancing at the scene playing out in front of him. Harry cleared his throat nervously, "Um excuse me for interrupting professor. But why are you so worked up? "
Umbridge turn her head to him, "This does not consider you Mr Potter!" she snapped angrily. Quickly Harry raised his hands in defence he quickly muttered an apology. "Sorry Professor. I just don't understand the situation that all. No need to be rude." he huffed in annoyance.
"She's literally taken over Hogwarts, there's no doubt she wants power. Everyone hates her, even Snape, the potions master, and that's saying something. Finch likes her though. Promised him power over the students" whispered McGonagall into Alma Peregrine's ear she smiled. "Hogwarts…" said Alma, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Only the best school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world…" said Minerva McGonagall, proudly. "We-"
"What did you say about me!" Umbridge shrieked. Harry laughed, he had known what McGonagall said was true.
"Oh, there are plenty of things to say about you" laughed McGonagall, but she had a hint of sass in her voice that was almost undeniable. "Asi was saying, we accept young witches and wizards from all over Britain, regardless of bloodstatus,terrible" she said looking at Umbridge. "They attend from age 11 and have produced many great wizards. Dumbledore is by far the best headmaster we have had."
Alma nodded her head in understanding.
"Alma are you registered with the ministry as an animagus?" asked Professor Umbridge wearily.
"I am not an animagus. I am a ymbryne. We can turn into birds and manipulate time. I am charged with the care of peculiar children, and we have a loop in the 1940s" answered Alma.
"Peculiar Children?" asked Umbridge.
"Yes, we protect them from normals like you. They have powers, abilities that many would consider strange-"
"I am not normal!" shrieked Umbridge, cutting her off. "I am a pureblood witch!"
"So are you like doctor who?" asked Harry.
"Who? I'm sorry but I don't understand who is that?" Alma blinked;
"He a time traveler from a muggle tv show." McGonagall answered. Harry smiled at her impressed at her muggle knowledge.
"Sort of I can travel through time to the present which is now and to my loop." clarified Miss Peregrine. "I can do it safely, while most exiting a loop would have time catch up to them. it is a unique trait we ymbrynes have."
"Wait there are more of you?!" Umbridge said mortified with shock. Miss Peregrine had the urge to roll her eyes at the dramatic women in pink but she resisted cause that would be so unlady-like. Even though she had only known Umbridge for an hour, she realised soon why most people at this school hated her.
"Yes' said Alma. "Do you have a problem. If we were not here, the lives of many peculiar children would be in danger! They would not have sanctuary, a place to be safe, a place to call home" Tears welled up in Miss Peregrine's eyes as she thought of her children alone. Hopefully Emma is looking after them, she thought. How could umbridge insult them like that!
"I really do hate children" sighed Umbridge. "Come Potter!" she ordered. "We must leave this filthy half breed in peace. I. The ministry will hear about this" Harry trudged angrily behind her giving Miss Peregrine a sympathetic look as he turned after Umbridge.
With a sigh, she turned to the door. Opening the door she barked "I will have order!" before leaving. The door closed with a bang.
McGonagall sighed "I am terribly sorry about that. Umbridge can be quite a handful. She hates halfbreeds, anyone who is not fully a witch or wizard or has a blood of a magical creature. She also hates werewolves."
"I can tell" laughed Alma "How did she get hired again?"
"Ministry. They think the education standards are falling here, and are interfering with our teaching. She inspected my class the other day, thinking she can fire those unfit to teach. Sybil has been distressed about it for weeks. She teaches divination here, although i've never had much respect for her. "
"Of course. Umbridge seems obsessed with that place. It was nice meeting you but I must really get back to my loop. Without me to reset it, the children will be in grave danger" sighed Alma, looking at the grandmaster clock near the entrance it read 3:46 pm. The changeover was at 7 o'clock on her loop. Alma had a little over three hours to get back to her loop.
"Would you be so kind in opening the window so I can transform?" Miss Peregrine asked politely.
"Yes certainly" replied McGonagall, walking to the window. Fiddling with the latch, the little window opened and a sudden rush of cold air filled the room. "Goodbye," Said Alma Peregrine, smiling at McGonagall. "It has been a pleasure"
"You are very welcome," said McGonagall.
Concentrating with her mind Alma reached for her bird part of her mind while letting go of her human traits. With a swoosh of fabric, Alma Peregrine was now her bird form of a peregrine falcon. She let out a sad screech, ruffled her feathers, and stretched her wings. Alma darted out the open window, she then flew around the castle as she did. Alma let out one last screech of farewell. Miss Alma Lefay Peregrine began to make her way to the loop. She flew into the distance, over the castle and the forbidden forest, Hogsmeade and the mountains below. She let the wind ruffle into her feathers, quite enjoying the cool air. Taking one last look at Hogwarts, she saw a figure in the window, waving to her.
"Goodbye" yelled McGonagall cheerfully, and the peregrine falcon continued her way into the fading sunset towards the great beyond, never forgetting about her time spent at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.