Homework assignment: provide reasonable evidence as to WHY Hermione would suddenly bolt over to Ron and smooch him, simply because he didn't think getting the house elves to help would be a good idea. Bonus points if you can do it without love potions in the equation.

(I've long since put the details of that out of my mind)

Speech

Thought

Time for a choice: think Harry should gradually keep changing as things go (becoming full anthro-cat, probably by 4th year)?

I'll be using 'XXXXXXXX' for flashbacks in this story, just so you know

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Dumbledore watched as the 'Kitty'-Who-Lived' backed into his office, yelling at to get away from him.

"One sec, Professor." He said before glaring at the cat, "Get lost! No, I am NOT going to share a mouse with you, now go away!" Harry hissed, quickly closing the door, "God, that furball's almost as bad as Ginny.." He took one of the chairs in from if the Headmaster's desk. He couldn't explain it, but over the last few days, it seemed like Ginny and Norris were taking turns following him around in between classes. More than once, though, Ginny had already gotten in trouble for getting to class late because of that."

"Harry, do you know why you're here?" The headmaster asked, trying to keep his grandfatherly image up.

He scratched his ear for a moment, "Hm..is this about me calling Malfoy a self-absorbed swine and piss-poor excuse for a biped, and that his mother must cry every night considering that she really wanted a girl and only got half a result, since he/she minces around like a wannabe princess, as well as insinuating that his family tree forks about as much as a flagpole?"

"No, Harry." Dumbledore's eye twitched a little, "As you've no doubt heard already, Professor Snape caught the youngest male Weasley after he crashed his family's car into the Whomping Willow."

"Oh, yeah." He remembered him and C laughing their asses off the the idea of Ron getting a smackdown from a tree. The Howler he got from Molly afterwards lam-blasting him for his less-than-stellar idea was the icing on the cake, along with the one Ginny got scolding her for being put in Slytherin and ordering her to get resorted.

"He made mention that you two were no longer friends. May I ask why?"

Harry frowned, "'Cause there's no way in heck I'm gonna be friends with someone who thinks he can dictate who I decide to talk to. It didn't help him when he tried to force Hermione to sever ties with me, especially right in front of her dad."

"Now, Harry." The headmaster started, grandfather mode going full throttle, "I'm sure he was simply looking out for your well-being and simply overreacted. You should really consider forgiving him and let bygones be bygones."

An eyebrow slowly raised itself on Harry's face, "You're pulling my tail, right? Considering he didn't like me talking to Susan, as he put it, 'because she's little more than a squib' just because she's a 'Puff? I think not. Especially after learning he felt being the 'Friend-of-The-Boy-Who-Lived' gave him the right to throw he weight around Gryffindor House."

"Harry, he is your friend..."

"WAS my friend, Headmaster." He interrupted, "And to be honest, I've been wondering if he was ever a real friend to start with. Without him trying to get me to goof off, I can finally put a little more effort into my studies. Plus, no more of his constant bickering with Hermione. I wash my hands of that guy."

"This is not good, without fear of losing Mr. Weasley's approval, he is becoming far too assertive. Is there nothing to encourage you to at least try to mend that bridge?" Dumbledore asked, "Young Ronald WOULD have to go and let house pride go to his head."

"Nope. Oh, and if you see him, remind him he still owes Susan an apology for that remark."

Dumbledore raised an eye, "You wouldn't happen to be referring to Susan Bones, by any chance?"

"Yeah, that's her. Nice gal. Pretty cute when she blushes, too." He couldn't resist letting out a patented Cheshire Grin at the old man. Oddly enough, he enjoyed the slight shudder he got in return.

Dumbledore frowned mentally, "That..smile..is most certainly NOT normal." He took a second to regain his calm demeanor. "Um, yes. Now..there is also the matter of this..transformation of yours. It would be in your best intrest for me to attempt to undo it."

"Uh, say that again?" Harry was already starting to feel things were getting fishy.

"Now just settle down Harry. Just tell me how you did it and I should be able to return you to your old self." The old man said as he drew his wand and deftly pointed it at him.

"Hell no!" Came the reply as he suddenly did a backwards leapfrog over the chair and used it as a shield. "I happen to LIKE the new me, thank you very much!"

The headmaster would not be dissuaded, however, "Be reasonable, my boy. You have absolutely no idea how dark the majority of these transformation rituals are!"

"Professor, I don't know what makes you think I did some kinda ritual or whatnot to get this, but I sincerely doubt you have the right to just up and remove it from me with my permission or proof it's doing me harm."

"The fact you are behaving in a completely different manner should be proof enough, Harry! Now hold still." Dumbledore began performing a lengthy set of wand movements.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Albus." The Sorting Hat piped up from its place of the shelf, "Section 2, Article 10, Clause 1-c: Unless there is proof beyond a shadow of a doubt that any ritual, potion, or incantation a student has performed on themselves is more detrimental than benifical, Hogwarts staff, that includes YOU, Albus, are forbidden from undoing the effects without the combined expressed permission of the student and their parents or guardian. There is only an exception to the permission if it was performed on school grounds, and even then sufficent proof of harmful effects must be proven."

Harry paid close attention to the abrupt scowl Dumbledore gave the hat in response, "Hm, guess I can't really trust you after all, Headmaster." He thought sadly before schooling his features, "Well, if that's all, Professor, I better get going. First Defense class of the year."

"Very well, ." Albus watched the boy make his way out of the office before rounding on the hat, "What are you DOING, Darian!?" He snapped, "It's obvious the boy is starting to become a dark creature and needs help!"

The hat snorted, "Because YOU say so, 'Headmaster'?" There was a bite of sarcasm in the title, "As for what I'm doing..what I should have done when this whole thing started; keep YOU from overstepping your bounds! Which, may I remind you, you already have! 'Severus Snape' ring a bell?"

The headmaster's frow deepened before turning his back to the hat.

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"..And three-time winner of Witch Weekley's 'most charming smile' award." Lockheart finally ended his spiel, much to the relief of Harry and every other boy, while the girls were all entranced, "My job will be to teach you to defend yourselves against some of the foulest creatures ever to stalk the earth." He let loose with what he thought was a roguish grin, though Harry reacted by pretending to retch, earning a few stifled snorts, "After all, I didn't defeat the Brighton Banshee by smiling at it, did I?"

"Poor thing probably clawed its eyes out after seeing your creepy mug." Harry muttered under his breath. He was still trying to figure out how they got the likes of HIM as a teacher, the the only pictures in the class were ones of him! And even THEY were preening and strutting around.

When the man passed out a test, he looked at some of the questions, "Favorite color? When's his birthday?? What haircare products does he use!?" He slowly turned to look at Hermione, giving her a 'does THIS answer your question?' look.

"He probably just wants to be sure we've read the books." She whispered before getting down to answering them.

After a while, Lockheart took the papers back up, tutting as he looked through them. "Disappointing, hardly any of you remembered that my favories color is Periwinkle, or my greatest dream is total harmony between magic and non-magic people..." The toothy grin faltered when he came on Harry's paper, a crude stick-figure drawing of Harry's sticking his tongue out."

He managed to compose himself and continue the class, if you can call his idea of suddenly releasing a cage full of hyperactive Cornish Pixies on everyone a 'class', "No..no need to panic!" He called out hesitantly, watching Ron shriek as he was hoisted up by his underwear onto one of the braziers, "I'll take care of this....!"

Harry and Hermione could hardly believe their ears, "Peskipixi Pesternomi!?" He yelled at the man as he ran off after one of the fluttering troublemakers snatched his wand and tossed it out the window, "Lockheart, YOU SUCK!"

Hermione used one of her books to knock away a pixie that though one of Neville's ears looked tasty, "That wasn't even a real bloody spell! I can't believe that man! Honestly!"

"Ok..it's time to throw some weight around here!" Harry growled, pointing his wand as his neck and muttering a spell he found in the library. He then inhaled as deeply as he could.

"GET YOUR FLUTTERING ARSES OUT OF MY SIGHT! NOOOWWW!!!" His Sonorus-boosted voice, or roar in this case, just about shook the room and sent nearly every student to the floor. It also had the effect of terrifying the rambunctious pixies and sent them screaming out the window.

For a moment, silence reigned in the room as he undid the spell. Slowly, the others climbed back to their feet and looked at Harry with gobsmacked expressions.

All he could do was grin, "Never underestimate the power of a old fashioned bellow."

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Things'll be speeding up some the next one. Plus Snape'll be getting his soon too. Temporary? Permanent? Have to wait and find out.

AN: Yeah, I've misplaced my copy of CoS, so if someone would be kind enough to remind me if the rogue bludger and dueling club is before or after the holidays, I'd appreciate it.