A/N- I love authors' notes. Apologies for the delay. I need a new mouse. This one double clicks when if should be single and Torrent doesn't work for me coz I don't have real IP. Er…thanks for the reviews ppl, without those I might never have finished this chapter.
Chapter 14: Animagus lessons.
The Great Hall was more crowded than at the time when everyone had sat together for the Triwizard Tournament. Draco eased his way forward, using his technique of senior status and sharp elbows to get a front row seat. It was the first time in history that Animagus lessons were going to be discussed at Hogwarts and even the first year students were there, looking excited.
McGonagall had decided that, after all, even the juniors could attend as long as they did not attempt the spell themselves. They were not allowed to even listen in on the spell, just the introductory lessons, after which the seventh year students would be tested for their magical ability and taken in separately to be shown the ropes.
"You must realize that being an Animagus is strictly something you do by yourself," said McGonagall. "Though there are books on how to do it with explicit instructions, it differs from person to person…" Draco noticed that Granger looked worried at the thought statement. If it wasn't written down, then how was she going to look it up? He smiled a little at the thought and turned his attention back to the Headmistress. "Even if you have the necessary magical levels to become an Animagus it's more the matter of hard work, than power or the strength of your magic to become one."
Draco could very well understand that, having met Peter Pettigrew. The man was a whiny idiot without much magical strength but he was an Animagus. Lots of hard work. Check.
"You must also remember that the animal chooses you, not the other way around. You cannot become an all-powerful monster by wishing for it. Sometimes, your physical characteristics indicate what animal you become..."
"Right," said someone in a not so subtle whisper. "Malfoy, the ferret."
He whirled around to see who had made the comment and his gaze settled on Weasley who was looking the other way. Before the Great Revelation by Granger, he would have been sure that Weasley would be the first to insult him, but after Granger's somewhat garbled proclamation in the Great Hall, the redhead was having a hard time himself.
When Granger announced that Potter's boyfriend had dumped him, everyone assumed that it had been Weasley. After all, what better candidate was there for the position? They were close; they shared a room and before Ron started dating Granger, Potter and Red were more inseparable than Siamese twins. Most people seemed to have conveniently forgotten that Granger had been a staple part of the trio as well. In fact, she was getting the cold shoulder as well from people who assumed that she had stepped between the two boys.
On the whole, it was the attitude of the entire school that surprised Draco. True, Potter had neither confirmed nor denied Granger's declaration, simply smiling mysteriously whenever a question was asked and shaking his head good naturedly. What was more surprising was that no one had reacted in the predictable fashion. Draco had been sure, once the school population got a whiff of Potter's orientation, then they would be after him with garlic and stakes… or perhaps he was mixing up his metaphors… Potter was a poof not a sodding vampire… although where he came from, being a vampire was preferable to being gay. Though the news had been treated with disdain by some and outright disgust from more (mostly Slytherins) the rest of the school had taken it with aplomb. There was no way of confirming the news since Harry refused to comment, and there was the fact he had always shown an interest in the opposite sex, but no one seemed to be ready to kick Potter out of school if he turned out to be gay.
Draco had underestimated how much Muggle influence had seeped into the school. He had heard that in Durmstrang any boy suspected of being gay was kicked out, literally and painfully right that instant and no one protested. Durmstrang was an old school, which was filled with homophobic, pureblooded males. Draco was glad he was not going there. He would not have lasted long there.
Hogwarts' population, though not hundred percent behind Potter, was ready not to freak out if their precious Boy-Who-Lived turned out to be (at least according to what his best female friend had divulged in a moment of drunk honesty) batting for the other team. That was something to think over. He had been brought up on a mother load of prejudice from both his parents, sure that he would be lynched and burned at the stake by others, should he ever stray away from the straight and narrow path of the purebloods. He had based his entire life on that; purebloods were magically stronger, better than half-bloods and Mudbloods. They were always straight; they married pureblood witches and had nice countable number of children, mainly boys.
One by one, since arriving at Hogwarts, his believes had been torn down and the last of them, (Granger, Mudblood was more intelligent, Potter, half-blood was stronger than him and Weasleys had an uncountable number of children) that he would be reviled should he flaunt his sexual preference was also starting to crumble. He leaned back into his seat and closed his eyes for a bit. People were giving Weasley a hard time because they thought he had dumped Potter for Granger. Not the most original concept, and in a few days, there would be a flurry of well-wishers, howlers and proposals from eager wizards for Potter but no death threats.
He was dying to see what the newspaper would say about the latest news on the Golden Boy; it would be viscous, should Potter confirm it, very viscous but he would undoubtedly have the support of his friends -- some of them purebloods and not all of them Weasleys. So, perhaps it was time Draco relearned a few lessons in life.
There was also another thing that was eating him up. The Gryffindors had assumed that Harry and Ron were an item and it was their sole duty to keep their Golden Boy happy. Therefore, they were all trying to get them to sit together and keep Granger away. At least one fraction of them were while the other was undecided and some were all for Granger and Weasley. What Draco couldn't stand was the way that Potter was pressed against Weasley. He knew that Weasley and Potter were just friends and that there was nothing between them. But how dare people try to get the two of them together. Weasley was too tall, his robes were old and he was ugly. How could anyone even assume that the tall gangly teenager, with two left feet, a mass of red hair and freckles was even right for Potter? Harry deserved someone better, some one with better fashion sense and even better looks. Someone like …him.
He fumed in silence as McGonagall droned on as to why your Animagus was not a magical creature but always something mundane. Draco was glad he had left his ferret with Cybele; the girl had a fondness for animals and the ferret was basically harmless. It had burrowed into her robes and he had thought the whole thing adorable…bearable. At least the ferret could be covered up with a large napkin or pushed inside his robe during an emergency. If Hagrid had given him an alligator instead, he would have left school no matter what. Given the choice between a wild animal and the Dark Lord, he would pick the Mad Wizard, knowing that, however psychotic, Voldemort was unlikely to gnaw off his private parts in a fit of boredom.
Nott, the lucky inbred, had gotten a bird for his assignment after pestering Hagrid for an extra credit to his Care of Magical Creatures grade. Now, no thanks to him, nearly all the students who were taking Care of Magical Creatures were running around with animals on their shoulders, hair and in one case, mouth.
Draco looked up from his musing when he realized that everyone was muttering agitatedly to see the Headmistress on stage being replaced by the toad-like female in an ugly robe that reminded him of a circus tent. Umbridge, it seemed could not keep her nose out of anything.
"What's she doing here?" Weasley asked loudly. Not surprisingly, the Golden Trio were seated in the front row and could be heard all over the Hall, being obnoxious, forceful and, in Granger's case, bluntly honest.
Draco was also wondering the same thing and did not bother to hide his disdain towards the female.
"Hem, hem," said Umbridge in her annoying throat clearing, attention seeking way and everyone sat back expectantly. "Now that your Headmistress has given you a basic introduction, I'm sure that you are curious about a few Ministry rules about Animagi. You all know that you have to be registered …" she paused, seeing Hermione's arm in the air, then ploughed on ignoring her. "…at the …"
"I believe there is a student here who has a question," McGonagall said loudly, interrupting the annoying woman again and she had to stop. You could ignore a student but you couldn't very well ignore the Headmistress unless you were stupid or reckless.
"Yes…" said Umbridge looking annoying but not knowing how to steamroll McGonagall. "…um…Miss Granger…" as if she didn't know who was trying to get her attention. "…what is it?"
"Are you an Animagus?" she asked smartly. Give the girl some credit…she was about as suicidal as Potter sometimes when butting heads with Umbridge.
"I…" the Toad paused and Draco knew she wasn't. Anyway, they all knew it. Unless you counted on the rouge Animagus who were not registered, and Umbridge was not the type, therefore she was not one; the list of Animagi alive at present did not include her. Neither did it include Sirius Black, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew and until recently Rita Skeeter. All Animagi…all unregistered…all wild in their own way. There were probably more unregistered Animagi running around than registered ones but no one knew for sure. Draco wondered whether Rita Skeeter should have been a Gryffindor with her disregard for personal wellbeing and cavalier attitude. For a Slytherin, she took risks no one would dream of to get her story.
"No…I'm not…because the confidential nature of my work at the Ministry…" Umbridge said, her face red with anger.
"What work?" Granger asked in a light tone making others gasp. "All you do is keep putting your nose where it doesn't belong."
"Miss Granger," said McGonagall coming to her rescue before anyone could hit her on the head. "That's enough."
Granger pouted… pouted like a little girl but settled down with a grin, leaning against Weasley who was pulled away from her by a Seamus Finnegan…and pressed against Potter, who squirmed a bit but grinned as if the whole situation was funny. i Funny /i that his friends were clearly forcing the two of them to sit in each others laps. Granger had yet to get over the effects whatever was plaguing her from the middle of last week, since she seemed to think the whole situation was hilarious as well. In fact, she seemed to encourage Weasley by winking at him and suddenly all three of them burst in to laughter, ignoring Umbridge who was droning on about Article seven paragraph twelve subsection twenty-two.
"I might not be an Animagus but I have been involved…working in the …a very secret part of the Ministry that deals with such things, and should you have any question you want me to answer, please ask them now. In fact, I would suggest that each of you ask me a question or two and I will answer them better than anyone with actual experience can. After all, most Animagi only know of one form and that is the one they turn into, while I have researched and read about all possible forms."
Draco rolled his eyes and continued to watch the Gryffindors.
"Most of you will not become an Animagus…you do not have the strength to be one and I know what is being taught in the school is barely adequate to…"
Draco watched Potter whisper something to Weasley who shrugged then nudged Granger. The trio leaned forward and went on discussing whatever it was, until Weaslette also joined them, perching herself on the corner of Potter's chair. Potter put a hand around her shoulder to hold her steady and told her something, which she seemed to confirm with a nod. Draco would have given anything to listen to in on the conversation and not …
"…and most of the students are not up to the standards of magic required…"
Just great, she insulted the school, the teachers and the students in one breath and seemed to have no idea what she was talking about. Maybe, Granger wasn't the only person who was suffering from this whatever impulsive speaking spell that was going around.
"…and it is also unnecessary to become an animal and wind up with a bat brain or a dog brain…"
"…or a ferret brain…." someone near Draco muttered.
Draco turned around to see who had insulted him yet again, and found himself looking eye to eye with Dean Thomas who was smirking. Why in the world were they sitting as a mixed bunch instead the usual House seating order.
"Funny," he snapped before turning around, mindful to keep his wand sheathed in case he got the urge to hex anyone. This joke about the ferret was getting old and he was used to it but it was a little tiresome.
"…and the fact you lower yourself to become an animal…"
"Sour grapes," Draco thought as Umbridge went on to make it sound as if becoming an Animagus was akin to getting Dragon Pox. Just because she couldn't become one it did not mean that …all right…she was probably jealous and …
"…any questions?"
Potter, not surprisingly, lifted his hand.
"Yes," said Umbridge looking excited. The tip of her tongue darted out and flicked over her lips as if she had seen a fly she wanted to snatch.
"What happens if you are an unregistered Animagus?"
"You get sent to prison," she said triumphantly. Draco thought the boy stupid since both his father and god-father had been unregistered but he knew that they were both dead so there was no way they could be prosecuted. "As I said earlier in my…"
"What happens if your form is a fish?" someone asked. "An' you transformed for the first time. You said there is no way of knowing what your form is until you have turned and you are on dry ground? Is there any way of preventing yourself from…"
Draco turned to spot a loud mouthed Ravenclaw who had a parchment rolled against his chest. He had probably been writing down everything Umbridge had said.
"I suppose they pick you up and throw you into a bucket of water," Granger said loudly making everyone laugh.
"What if you were larger than a fish," the Ravenclaw said insistently.
"You mean like a sperm whale?" someone said.
"I thought my mom said sperm was a bad word," a first year student said.
"Yes, well, your mom should know," Ginny Weasley said loudly.
"Miss Weasley…" said McGonagall standing up.
"But…"
"My office…"
"Now?"
"Now!"
"But…" started Granger only to stop under the withering look the Headmistress directed at her. Impulsive speaking or not, Granger was not stupid enough to take on the former Gryffindor Head.
"Detention for you too if you…" said McGonagall sweeping out of the Great Hall in a flurry of robes and that was the cue everyone had been waiting for, it seemed, to ask the most improbable of questions.
"What if you turned into something small…?" a timid Hufflepuff asked.
"Like a unicellular," a Ravenclaw girl with thick lensed glasses asked.
"Uni…what?" said Blaise before Draco could shut him up.
"Students," said Umbridge as she realized she was loosing control of the class. "Now…"
"Means really small, you know microscopic," someone explained ignoring Umbridge.
"Students, sit down and…" Draco looked around hopefully for a sign that McGonagall, who seemed to have left the Hall with a reluctant Ginny in tow, would return before the Toad lost control of her audience and he was forced to step in as Head Boy. He looked around for Susan Bones and spotted her in a corner with a smile playing around her lips. Apparently, there was no love lost between Susan and Umbridge and the Head Girl seemed to be enjoying the whole thing to even think of crowd control.
"Eww," said a small girl who was called Kaira…Keira… a Slytherin from a poor but old pureblood family. "You mean...like a worm."
"Something smaller," the Ravenclaw explained.
"What if someone steps on you?"
"What if you turned into something you don't want like a…"
"You mean like when Malfoy turns into a ferret?" Weasley said loudly. Oh, please, old joke.
"Well, it would be fine if you turned into a spider," Draco snarled back. The redhead turned two shaded paler.
"I don't think Draco will be a ferret," Granger said, seemingly coming to his rescue. "I think he'll be a French poodle."
Everyone was laughing at that. "You mean, pampered, groomed and dressed up in a bow tie," said Weasley gasping for breath. Draco did not think it was that funny.
"Years of interbreeding to produce a perfect outcome," Lavender Brown, said with a snort.
"Don't you dare…" snarled Draco jumping to his feet, before sitting down hastily. It would not do for him to lose his temper in the Great Hall in the midst of everybody.
"Miss….Miss…I have a question," a small girl, probably a Gryffindor first year was jumping up and down in the middle of a sea of taller seniors, waving her hand. She had obviously no idea who Umbridge was and referring to her as Miss was not going win her any more House points.
"Now, children," said Umbridge. "As I was saying…" she paused when she realized that the only person who was even remotely paying attention to her was the little girl and managed to plaster a fake smile on her face and say "yes, little girl, what is it?"
"What if you turned in to a snail or something? And was really slow?" the girl thought for a moment. "I want to be something fast."
"You can't wish for your shape. It just happens," someone said loudly.
"Ginny, you're back." Weasley was always so loud.
"I got detention the entire week," she moaned slumping down next to Potter. "Can you believe it?"
"Well, it could have been worse," Granger pointed out, ignoring Umbridge who was shouting something about the school's lack of discipline. "She could have told your mom."
"True," joined in Weasley and the three of them suddenly grinned and nudged Seamus who nodded and stood up.
"What if you turn into an Animagus, say a fox and have sex with a real fox? Can you have cubs from that…?" the Irish boy sat back and the Gryffindors smiled as one.
Then Draco got it. They had planned this; they must have heard that Umbridge was going to hold this lesson and they had planned on throwing her more questions that she could handle. Apparently the entire school, apart from him and a couple of first years was aware of the plan. Oh…and all the Hufflepuffs apart from Susan Bones and some Ravenclaws. But they didn't count. Some of the Slytherins seemed to know about it but he hadn't been informed. It could have been because he was Head Boy but he wasn't sure. He saw Weaslette wink at Pansy and decided that he seriously needed to get across the point that he existed as well.
"What if you have your periods when you change?" Lavender Brown asked loudly.
"Do werewolves have the same problem?" someone wondered out aloud.
"Must be fun if your time of the month is your time of the month," Granger said with a quirk in her voice.
"Where do all the clothes go?" someone asked.
Draco also wondered about that. He knew the clothes changed as well, in Rita Skeeter's case, her glasses became markings on her beetle form but what if you changed clothes. There is no rule saying you couldn't change your clothes just because you were an Animagus.
"No more questions, students," Umbridge said loudly. "As for the testing…"
"I'm here now," said McGonagall stepping into the Great Hall with a faint smile on her face at the sight of all the students who were milling about aimlessly, asking inane questions. And the best part of it all was there was no way Umbridge could get away with giving detention to the entire school, so she had to suffer.
"Well," said Umbridge using the opportunity to smile at the students who sat down hurriedly. "All purebloods…"
"There's no need for that," McGonagall said sharply.
"All right then," said Umbridge looking pleased. "All purebloods and half-blood…"
"Despite what you may believe," said the Headmistress in a frosty tone which would have frozen the Hogwarts Lake quiet easily. "I do not believe that only Pureblood and half-bloods have the potential to become Animagus."
"Maybe…" said Umbridge as she stepped down from the platform. As she walked out the Hall, in her odd rolling gait, she stopped infront of Granger and smiled maliciously at the girl who for once did not reply. Infact she looked worried and Draco knew that no matter what, the first seeds of doubt had been planted in her mind.
"Now all the seventh year students step this way and the rest…."
----------- -------- ----- - ---------------- -----------
Of those who were chosen for the Animagus training, there were surprisingly, one Hufflepuff (Smith), only two Ravenclaws, four Slytherins (including Draco, Nott, Blaise and Pansy) and four Gryffindors (Potter, of course, Weasley, Granger and Neville Longbottom). Draco was surprised by the turn out as a whole, and despite protests from a lot of students, McGonagall was certain about her decision. She addressed all the senior students, who were the only ones remaining in the Great Hall, the rest having been pushed out, firmly.
"All of you can try again later but for now, this is all I will be training," she said resolutely. "I can quite confidently say that everyone, and I mean everyone, has the ability to become an Animagus but some of you need more discipline. I've chosen those I believe have the greatest potential to becoming Animagi now, but later on, once this group has finished training and should time permit, I will start working with a new group. There is no guarantee that everyone here will eventually become an Animagus; it all depends on each individual. Remember that you are allowed to practice those relaxation techniques and everything that goes with it. But remember to be cautious and do not do anything stupid. If you have any question regarding this, you can approach me later and I will address your problems." (This with a glare at Umbridge who was resolutely writing down everything that was been said so she could, most likely, report it back to the Ministry.)
"However, you must remember that this is not a part of your school curriculum and should this in any way interfere with your regular studies then I suggest you rethink your priorities. For all of you, this is your final year at school as well as the year in which you will be sitting for the most important exam of your life." Granger looked as if she was about to stager and Draco could imagine her doing mental arithmetic to count the number of days left. That girl was far too predictable.
Draco sighed. It was not all that was cut out to be. It was boring. It was tedious. Potter was on the other idea? of the room. He was i not /i looking at Potter who was talking to Weasley, leaning towards him far too closely… not that he was looking. It was boring. He was not looking at Potter.
Draco jumped when someone cleared her throat near him. He managed to tear his eyes away from the Dynamic Duo to find Granger standing over him with a faint smile on her face and the rest of the classroom walking around in pairs. "Guess I'm with you then," she said with a tinkle of laughter that was so unlike her, he stared at her for a couple of more seconds before what she had said filtered into his brain.
"Why not Weasley?" he asked wondering whether he should be grateful that he had been paired off with a non-Slytherin or run out screaming since it was a Gryffindor who had sought him out.
"He's too busy with Harry," she said with a wink and Draco stared.
"What are we doing now?" he asked, more as a distraction than an actual question.
"We are partnered up so we can talk to each other and help with the spell," she said with a smile and Draco looked up to see a disgruntled Pansy partnered with Neville. At least there was nothing to blow up in this lesson. The lone Hufflepuff was being couched by McGonagall personally, the two Ravenclaws were facing each other with serious expressions on their face and Potter and Weasley…
"You can't help but look at him," Granger said in a low voice and Draco gave her a death glare which she deflected with a loopy smile.
"Hermione," he said, remembering that she had been sort of nice to him before, and they had been in first name term. "Is there anything that you wanted in particular and why you decided to partner up with me?"
"I wanted to tell you a few things," she said. "Actually, Harry did but in the end it was decided that I was the better candidate."
"What?"
"For one, Madam Pomfrey wants you to meet her when you can. Secondly, your father has been brought in to the Castle tonight."
"What?" gasped Draco rocking on his heels a bit at the news.
"Not totally unexpected is it?" Hermione said. "You were told about it."
"But not this soon," said Draco, ignoring Blaise who was glaring at him over Nott's shoulder. It was not as if he had paired up with Granger willingly, and it was not as if he could pair up with Pansy. She was looking rather disgruntled and ducked just in time to avoid Longbottom's wand from poking her in the eye.
"It can't be postponed forever," Granger said. "We will be having a meeting today though I don't know if you are invited but the end result is…he'll be here and there will be tighter security around the Castle. You might as well be forewarned. They will search your room especially so if there's anything you'd rather not be found…" she left the rest hanging, for his to fill in the blanks.
"But…why?" spluttered Draco, angrily.
"Because as his son, you might try to free him," said a voice behind him and Draco turned around fast, his wand wiping out to pin Potter on his throat.
"You think so?" he asked evenly.
"You were never straight with us," Potter pointed out while Weasley smiled at his girlfriend as if they had been separated for a long time (several years, in fact).
"Let's not go over those old things again," Draco said, warily. "I'm tired of dragging up the past."
"Just thought you should know," Weasley said, neutrally. "It seemed rather unfair to spring it on you."
"Thank you," said Draco to be polite. He might not have treated these people kindly but they were willing to go out of their way to be kind to him. And they did care about him. Draco massaged his temples, where he was getting a faint headache and nodded. "Shall we just practice the spell?" he asked, noting McGonagall looking at them sharply. He whirled his wand over his head without much interest, his mind in chaos.
He did not expect to get the spell right the first time. They would continue to practice it until they could do it without a wand, since Animagus transformation was strictly wandless magic but getting it right the first time, even with a wand was unheard of. He felt nothing.
"Not even a tingle?" Granger, who had been watching his closely asked.
"Nothing," he said then tried to be polite for once in his life. "Why don't you try it?"
"I…" she hesitated then nodded. She did a half-hearted wave and then looked down.
"What is it?" he asked. "You aren't even trying."
"It's just what she said about purebloods who are able to turn into Animagus…" she trailed off.
"That's stupid," he said startled. "You don't believe her do you…" and trailed off remembering what she had said the other day about her hidden insecurities. "Look," he said, and swallowed. His ancestors turned in their graves and were his father nearby, he would run the risk of been knocked down by a killing curse. "No matter what they say…purebloods are stupid…have you seen Goyle? And you make a damn good witch, even for a Mudblood."
"Thank you, Draco," and she smiled a pure Hermione smile that he suddenly realized something.
"You're better now, aren't you?" he asked in a low whisper. "You keep pretending that you need to make startling announcements but you are back to normal."
"Yes," she confessed back in an equally low whisper. "But this is so much fun."
Draco opened his mouth to say something else when Pansy gave a loud scream. They all turned around like one to see a duck sitting in front of her. "Oh, by Merlin," said Draco the first to speak up. "Don't tell me that's Longbottom."
"It is," wailed Pansy. "How did he become one before me?"
No one asked what 'one' was since at that moment, the duck gave a quack and moved forward. It tripped over its feet and fell flat on its beak but seemed to recover and go quacking towards the door.
"Mr. Longbottom," said McGonagall. "That's enough, change back."
"Quack, quack," it said happily going towards the door.
"Oh," said the female Ravenclaw. "I don't think it…he can."
McGonagall took out her wand and then sighed. "I can't change him back by force the first time; the shock might be too much. Someone catch him."
There was a loud yell and Nott jumped towards the duck, which took off at a startling speed, tripping once but picking up. "Oh, God," said Draco as the entire class joined the space.
"Told you it was always the Purebloods," Granger said, mournfully.
A/N –next Chapter has Lucius, Chamber of Secrets and a discussion on Children's Fiction. :)