LOCATION -THE WEASLEY'S BACKYARD
TIME- 12:00 NOON
DAY- FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS VACATION
PERSONS- RON WEASLEY, HARRY POTTER, HERMIONE GRANGER
YEAR-1996

"You've done it! I'm so proud of you!" Hermione Granger was staring down at two dogs, one shaggy and black with a thatch of straight black fur over his green, wolfish eyes, concealing his lightning-bolt scar; and one with short, thick, red-orange fur and glowing eyes. As she peered down at them, they began to change, growing taller, skinnier, and hair retracting. Hermione found herself staring at two boys, her best friends Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter. They smiled at her, but she ignored the red-headed boy, pouncing on Harry and hugging him. She pulled back and they smiled at one-another.

Ever since Harry had realized Sirius was an Animagus in his third year, Ron had pointed out how useful it would be in hiding from Voldemort. Hermione had objected at first, unregistered Animagi were illegal. Ron had changed her mind when he said it could possibly save Harry's life at some point. That made Hermione agree, which made Ron upset for awhile and told no one why.

Ron had chosen to become a dog, hoping it would make him feel braver and more protective. Harry's first thought was a stag, but Hermione had pointed out that that was his Patronus, so he chose a dog as well, after Sirius. Hermione had had a time of choosing, until Ron suggested an intelligent Animal. Hermione chose a cat, after differing between a cat, a dog and an owl. Hermione, of course, had managed her transformation first, becoming a fluffy brown she-cat with a white tail, muzzle, chest and paws.

Hermione nodded at Ron, whom she was still quite angry at, but had agreed to come to the Burrow for Christmas. Ron glowered at her, then shook his head and walked back to his house. Harry and Hermione looked at each other, and then Hermione transformed and followed Ron. Harry sat, leaning against a tree. He was looking through one of the topmost widows, into Ginny's room, where a billow of red hair was hugging a fluffy cat, who looked bemused. Harry remembered, Ginny was a cat-lover. He felt a stab of regret; cat people don't normally like dogs.

Harry wanted to practice his transformation more. With a shudder, he felt fur start to sprout and spread though his body; his face began to lengthen, his nose widening and his spine curving. He shook out his fluffy black fur and kicked off his back legs and launched himself forwards, missing his front-paw landing and dropping his snout into the fragrant grass. His paws beside his head, he pushed up again and growled in frustration. He trotted forwards, and then tried as naturally as he could to break into a run. He cantered forwards, pushing out his front legs, placing them on the ground, and lifting his back legs and tucking them between the front ones. He planted them on the ground and restarted.

He ran around the backyard, feeling the air whipping his face and stirring the patch of fur that concealed his scar. He was running about just fine, until a flash of red told him that Ginny had come into the backyard. When he passed her again, he saw she was with Hermione, and they were holding cups of lemonade and chattering away. Harry's stomach did a flop and he tripped, and when he opened his eyes, he was sprawled in the grass. Ginny leaned over him, curiosity sparking in her brilliant brown eyes. Harry panted lazily, and let Ginny pass her hand through his fur.

"Hey, boy, who're you? Where'd you come from?"

"Hey, Ginny, I think that's-"

Panic coursed through Harry as he realized Hermione was about to ruin his only chance at Ginny loving him. Ginny was dating Dean, and this was how he could get closer to her.

Harry snarled at her, the sound rumbling in his throat and through his teeth. Hermione stepped back.

"Well, that's not Harry!" said Hermione, sounding oblivious."He wouldn't growl at me like that!"

Ginny ceased the stroking of his fur and looked at Hermione. Harry moaned. He liked the petting.

"What do you mean, that's not Harry?" Ginny asked.

Hermione must have realized she couldn't expose their Animagusing secret, because Ginny could let it slip and somehow, Harry knew, it would lead to their secret being exposed.

"Never mind," She muttered. Ginny shrugged and continued patting Harry's head. Harry relished her attention.

"C'mere, boy, are you hungry?" asked Ginny, standing up and gesturing to the door. Harry shook his head and nudged her hand. She started to walk towards the door and Harry followed her, wagging his tail and accidentally hitting Hermione with it on his way. He stepped over the threshold and padded into the kitchen.

"Mum!" called Ginny. "Mum, I found a dog! Mum, can I keep it?"

"What, Ginny, dear?" asked Mrs. Weasley, coming out the kitchen, wringing her hands on a dishtowel.

"I like this dog," said Ginny happily. "Can I keep him?"

"Oh, Ginny, couldn't you find a smaller pet? I thought you didn't like dogs?"

"I like this one! He's sweet and really clumsy. And I don't think he has a family." Ginny said, pinching one of his pointed ears between her fingers.

"Oh, okay, Ginny, you can have the dog." Mrs. Weasley patted Harry's shaggy head. "I suppose he is quite cute."

Harry felt a surge of pride.

"Thank you, Mum!" Ginny squealed, bending down and kissing Harry on the nose. Harry felt heat rise beneath his fur.

"I think I'll call you Nightmare," said Ginny, "because that's what it would have been if I left you out there by yourself."