Disclaimer: I only own FOUR things: Saerry, the twins (count them as one), the plot, and Aeyr's.

A/N: *bounces happily while Atrata and Sâerwy look at her like she's mad*  I GOT THE HARRY POTTER DVD!  I GOT THE HARRY POTTER DVD!  *dances*  YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!  ^________________^  And the CD I ordered!  Oh happy day!  *dances some more*  *shakes head*  She's gone mad.  Correction, she was already mad.  For once, we agree.  *grins*  Scary, isn't it?  *snorts*  Terrifying.  Yesssss.  Hey!  That's my saying!  *laughs*  *scowls*

Chapter 20 **Animagi, Fights, and Pranks, Oh my**

"How come Harry gets to just sit there and watch us," complained Ron a few days later in the hidden room.  Harry grinned from his chair as Hermione scathingly replied, "Because he's finished the transformation!"  Ron scowled then closed his eyes, concentrating.

Harry chuckled and stroked Fawkes' neck.  The phoenix had taken to following him everywhere lately, though most of the professor's insisted he stay out of the room when class was in session.  He wondered why the phoenix seemed to be more protective than usual.  Sighing, Harry looked at his friends to see how far along they were.  Of the four, Hermione was the farthest along.  She looked almost like a human cat with golden fur covering her entire body and short claws springing from her fingertips.  Her face had finally become catlike and she was continually twitching the whiskers sprouting from the sides of her nose.

Ron sighed and leaned back in his chair, opening his amber eyes to look at the red-brown feathers poking out of his skin.  Harry grinned at his friend, who sighed again and closed his eyes.  Shaking his head, Harry looked at Ginny, who had finally agreed to become an Animagus with them.  For someone who had only been working on the transformation for two days, she already had red fur sprouting all over and a bushy, white-tipped tail curling around her feet.

Draco was almost as far along as Hermione was and they could now tell that his Animagus form would indeed be a dragon from the fact that his head had become that of a dragon's.  A small dragon but a dragon nonetheless.

Harry looked at his watch and frowned.  "Time for Transfiguration guys."

"Potions for me," said Ginny, the red fur beginning to disappeared from her face.

Suddenly there was a pop and a rumbling purr that made them all look at the chair where Hermione had been sitting.  In her place was a tawny colored lioness with black tipped ears and bright brown eyes.  The lioness purred then bounded over to Harry, resting her head on his knee.  Harry grinned and said, "You did it, Mione."

Hermione purred louder then with another pop became herself again, her cheeks flushed and her eyes glittering.

"I did it!"

Harry rose to his feet and gave her a peck on the cheek.  As she blushed even more he said, "Congratulations."

From behind Hermione Draco growled in a husky voice, "We rrrreally don't want to see you two snog."

Harry frowned at him and said, "Ah, and here's the man who goes up to the Astronomy Tower with a certain redhead."  Draco blinked and Ginny blushed, looking as though the red fur had grown back.  Ron's amber eyes narrowed and he looked at Draco.

"Redhead?"

Draco finished transforming back to human and said, "Oh, come on, Weasley.  Surely you're not that de…  Merlin's beard!"

Ron leapt out of his chair with a snarl and tackled Draco, sending them toppling over out of Draco's chair and onto the floor.  Ginny cried, "Ron, stop it!" but was drowned out by the two boy's cursing.  Harry looked at Hermione, who nodded and a moment later there were a lioness and a black Aeyr in their places.  Hermione bound forward and batted Ron away from Draco, standing on the boy's chest to keep him down.  Harry slithered forward at the same time and wrapped several of his coils around Draco's ankle, pulling him away from Ron.

As Harry returned to normal with a pop Ron yelled, "You stay away from my sister, Malfoy!"

Draco didn't say anything, just looked at Ginny, who looked from him to Ron and back again.  Ginny then said, "Get off him, Hermione."  Hermione blinked at Ginny then moved off of Ron, padding over to where Harry stood with Fawkes on his shoulder.  She stood beside him, staying in her Animagus form in case Ron needed to be tackled again.  But that wasn't needed.

Ginny strode forward and slapped Ron, her eyes blazing.  She gave of an aura of rage that made Ron cower, even though she was shorter than him.

"I can take care of myself, Ron!  I'm fifteen!"

Ron finally found his voice and growled, "You're doing a fine job."

Ginny yelled, "You don't like Draco just because he's a Malfoy!  How prejudiced can you be?"

"A lot!"

"Dammit, Ron!  I love him!"

Ron's jaw fell open.  "Wh-what?"

"I.  Love.  Him."  Ginny narrowed her eyes and snarled, "And if you do that again, I swear I will learn the Cruciatus Curse, illegal or not, and use it on you."  With that she turned on a heel and walked over to Draco, who was watching her with an amused expression.  After a moment he bent down and kissed her, causing Ron to give them a look.  Harry frowned at his friend looked at Hermione, who had changed back and had slung her arm about his waist.

"Ron?"

"What?"

"You're staring."

Ron turned away from glaring at Draco and Ginny – who were still kissing – and looked at Harry and Hermione.  He frowned then said, "I'm going to class."

Hermione took a step towards him and said, "Ron…" but he had already vanished down one of the passageways.  She turned back to Harry and said, "Something's up.  He's been acting…"

"Like he did when he found out I was a Snape," said Harry bitterly.

Hermione nodded and said, "We have to find out what's wrong."

"What's wrong?  It's obvious, Mione."

Hermione arched an eyebrow and Harry softly said, "He's jealous."

"Jealous?"

"Of us.  Of Draco and Ginny.  We've got someone and he doesn't."

"He has us.  He knows that."

"Yeah, but its you and me and now Draco and Ginny are together.  I'm guessing Ron feels left out."

Hermione frowned then smiled.  Harry groaned, "Oh no.  Don't tell me…"

"I have a plan," said Hermoine with a glint in her eyes.  Harry closed his eyes and muttered, "I told you not to tell me."  Hermione simply grinned then dragged him out into the hall past the suit of armor.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"So, what's this plan, Hermione?" asked Draco as they sat outside by the lake after classes.

Hermione grinned and replied, "Well, first, we have to find out if Ron likes anyone.  Then we put then together."

Harry frowned and said, "Mione, we don't know if Ron likes anyone."

"So find out."

"Not that easy o' Plan-Making-One."

"And why is that," asked Hermione, arched an eyebrow.

"How do you suggest I find out?"

"I don't know.  Ask him."

Harry fell back into the grass with a thump, causing Fawkes to tumble from his customary perch on his shoulder.  As the phoenix rustled his feathers at him, Harry muttered, "Sorry, Fawkes," then sat back up.  He looked at the other three and said, "I'm open to suggestions here."

All was silent until Ginny said, "How about a Truth Potion?"

"I doubt my d…  oh!  Sirius would give us one.  I think…"

"Then let's go!"

Hermione dragged them all to their feet and up into the castle, Fawkes winging after them.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Mione, I think we know where we're going by now."

"Oh, sorry, Harry."

"No problem.  Ach!  Fawkes!  Easy with the talons, my friend."

Fawkes chirped and rubbed his head against Harry's cheek.

"Alright, alright.  No harm done.  Hey, where'd the Potions door go?"

"Hidden obviously.  Merlin's sake, Potter, do you not pay attention in Charms?"

Harry rolled his eyes at Malfoy then pulled out his wand, pointing it at the door.

"Profero."

Part of the wall flashed and a moment later the oak door of the Potions classroom appeared.  Harry tucked his wand back into his robes and smirked at Draco.

"Dad pulled that one on me at the manor."

Draco rolled his eyes then was drug inside by Ginny, who followed Hermione and Harry as they entered.  Harry looked around the room and called, "Sirius?"

There was a clang from their left and they all looked to see Sirius emerging from the closet that was used to store the students finished and bottled potions.  He smiled at them and said, "Ah!  My favorite people.  Wait, where's Ron?"

Harry replied, "That's what we wanted to talk to you about Sirius."

"Ah.  Well, I'm all ears.  Tell."

Hermione quickly began to explain and by the time she was done Sirius was nodding his head.

"I think I can handle that.  Does Snape know about this?"

All four of them shook their heads and Sirius grinned.  He said, "I see…  Well, let's get started!  While we're at it, why don't we play a prank on good ole' Snape?"  He grinned at them and arched his eyebrows.  Hermione looked like she was about to protest but Harry clamped his hand over her mouth and said, "Sure, Sirius.  What did you have in mind?"

"Oh….  Just a little reminder of an old prank."

"Not the one involving Remus I hope," said Draco.

Sirius looked appalled at the thought.  "No!  I don't know what I was thinking that day.  No, no.  This, this is a fairly easy to work prank.  Just a bit of transfiguration…"  With that he vanished into his office and Harry looked at Hermione, who looked absolutely murderous.

"Oh, c'mon, Mione.  It's just a prank."

Hermione mumbled something and Harry moved his hand.

"..how could you think of doing something like that, Harry?  He's your father!"

"We know this," said Draco and Harry at the same time.

Hermione scowled at them then smiled as Sirius returned with a vial.  He handed it to Hermione and said, "One Truth Potion.  Just put it in Ron's drink and then you can ask all you want.  But only use a little of it.  Too much and he'll start spouting off things."  Sirius gave a little shudder then clapped his hands together, his blue eyes glittering mischievously.

"Now, how about some mischief, my young compadre's?"

Harry and Draco nodded while Ginny and Hermione nodded a little less enthusiastically.  If Sirius noticed he didn't show it.  Grinning, widely he led them out of the Potions classroom.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

They found Severus standing in the hallway talking to McGonagall and Sprout, his back towards them.  Sirius grinned and ducked behind a statue, Harry and the rest following him.  Drawing his wand, Sirius whispered, "Simple little prank.  Quite fun too.  You could use it on the Slytherins."  He grinned at Draco, who chuckled and whispered, "How are the Slytherins anyway?"

"Much better behaved after I threatened to turn them into hamsters."

"You didn't," breathed Ginny.

Sirius grinned and replied, "I did."  Ginny looked at him in awe while Harry and Draco tried to cover their laughter.  Sirius then silenced them and poked his head around the statue.  He waved his wand at Severus then ducked back behind the statue.  The five of them pressed silently against the wall for a few minutes until they heard Sprout's surprised voice say, "Severus, why do you have kitten ears?"

Harry, Draco, Ginny, Hermione, and Sirius all choked back laughter.  There was a short pause then Severus yelled, "BLACK!"

Sirius chuckled and said, "Time to go I think."  The four teenagers nodded and they shot off down the hall.

"BLACK!  YOU COME BACK HERE AND UNDO THIS!!  BLACK!!"

Sirius waved over his shoulder and yelled, "I'm certain Poppy can handle them!" causing a fresh wave of laughter from the teenagers.

"BLACK!!"

By the time they made it back to the Potions classroom, they all had to hang onto chairs to keep from falling over from laughter.

"That," gasped Harry, "was – hilarious."

"Absolutely," panted Draco and slung an arm about Ginny's shoulders as she leaned against him, brushing tears from her eyes.

Suddenly from in the hall came Severus' voice.

"BLACK!  Get your ass out here!"

Sirius quickly ushered them into his office and opened a secret passage in the wall.

"Inside you four.  Leads right up into the entrance hall."

The five of them climbed into the passage just as Severus managed to get the locked door open.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Harry fell out from behind a portrait in the entrance hall and turned in time to catch Hermione.  Ginny and Draco stumbled out a moment later, followed by Sirius, who said, "I think I shall go see how my young godson and goddaughter are."  With that he set off down the hall, leaving the four of them alone.

Ginny said, "Oh, that was fun.."

"Let's just hope my dad doesn't find out we were in on it," said Harry.

The other three quickly agreed then Hermione said, "We should go get dinner."  She pulled the vial of Truth Potion out of her robes and added, "And of course, continue with the plan for Ron."

Draco chuckled and said, "Sometimes I think you should have been a Slytherin, Hermione."

Hermione gave him a startled look and Harry softly said, "I think he meant that as a compliment."

Draco grinned.  "Of course."

Hermione shook her head then headed off for the Great Hall, the other three trailing after her.  As soon as they had gotten there and sat down, Severus swept past the entrance, the pair of kitten ears flattened against his head.  Harry, Draco, Hermione, and Ginny all looked at each other then began to laugh.

Profero – To reveal

A/N: Heheheheh.  Two Animagi now!  ^^  Now I need to figure out who to stick Ron with….  I have a suggestion.  I seriously doubt Saerry wants to hear it.  Sod off.  British slang does not become you, my dear.  *growl*  *rolls eyes*  Both of you stop it.  *bows*  Of course, m'lady.  *grumbles*  *sigh*

A/N2: Ah, and many thanks to Severitus for that inspirational Chapter 36 of A Father's Sin that inspired Sirius' prank.  Highly amusing.  Hope you don't mind that I used it.  Just happened to find it very humorous.  I've mentioned that already haven't I?  Several times.  Shut it, Atra.