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HERMIONE'S NEW PET
By- Autumn Felicity Summers
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PROLOGUE
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Animagi, thought Severus Snape, is one of the most useful things.
The reason for the comment was simple. He was able to follow Lucius Malfoy without him even knowing a thing that he was being tracked.
Well, so long that he remained ignorant, well enough!
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Dumbledore would certainly find this interesting, thought Severus to himself as he – bound – back to the Leaky Cauldron, where he had temporarily taken up at room.
He knew that Voldemort was aware of the fact that it was he who was there to spy on him and the Death-Eaters, but he simply couldn't figure out how – nor anyone else for that matter.
Well, they wouldn't ever know! He thought with a malicious glee. He would have is revenge!
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Once back in his room via the window, Severus Snape, still in his Animagus form, 'leapt' around a little inspecting for any curse or sign of discovery. No, nothing was wrong. It was safe to transform back into what he was.
Oh Merlin!
Oh Merlin! Oh Merlin! Oh Merlin!
Why did the ground still seem so close to him?
Why did he feel so light and lithe?
Why did he still have the strange urge to nibble on nuts?
Oh Merlin! This didn't mean any good. No good at all.
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"A perfect solution, Hermione!" said Percy Weasley appreciatively.
"Well, I did have that thought in mind for some time – and of course, it was with the help of a load of books," said Hermione, trying to sound modest and failing – not as miserably as she would have a few years ago, though.
"Well, with this new spell, it would be a lot easier to track unregistered Animagus. No more unregistered Animagi! Well, that is quite good."
"Okay, so explain to me again how this thing works," asked Ron, who had hitherto been a mute audience.
"It's very simple, Ron. You remember we learnt modifications of properties of Freezing Spell?"
"No. and I don't want to listen to a lecture," said Ron to an affronted Hermione. "Just in plain English – what does it do?"
Eager to explain something, Hermione said, "It will transform all unregistered Animaguses to their Animagi forms and freeze them so. Unless they report to the Animagi Department Head-Office, they won't be able to transform back."
"Quite clever. But how did you cast a spell on the whole country?"
"I have not," said Hermione, "I merely cast it over Diagon Alley and Leaky Cauldron. There have been quite a few robberies in the Diagon Alley lately and if the robbers are doing it in their Animagus form, well, they are now trapped."
"How will they know what to do?"
"Oh, they will know. As soon as they transform, a notice concerning this will appear in front of them."
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"The fact that you are reading this notice clearly means that you are an unregistered Animagus. You will be return to your human form only if you report to the Head Office, Animagi Department, Ministry of Magic. – Hermione Granger."
Hermione Granger! And he had thought that he had gotten rid of that little chit. Whatever was she doing? Report to the Head Office? And reveal his secret? And be laughed at? Be useless to the Order? That little chit!
At that moment, he hated Hermione Granger with an intensity he hadn't hated even James Potter.
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