"What if?"
A Harry Potter story (AU, set in the beginning of HP-ATSS to follow each school year but with trickles here and there from years 2-6) started July 2007, just before the release of Book #7. This tale ignores DH and subsequent revelations about canon characters and timelines. It is, for the most part, RaM-verse compliant.
Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling; I do not own these canon characters, and I do not make money from these fictional adventures.
Rating: K+ to T (just to be on the safe side, for mild coarse language and implied sexuality; ADMM and FFPS).
A/N: Brian and Albus plan a little Animagus surprise for Minerva. Later, Brian is taken ill and must be treated by Nurse Pomfrey.
Chapter 28/??
The Hound of Hogwarts
Albus leaned to retrieve the short willow tree branch, and laughed at the expectant, albeit lop-sided, look he was getting from his companion on their early afternoon walk on the castle grounds. A pleasant cool breeze was coming in from the Black Lake, and the giant squids were lazing in the shallows near shore.
"Alright, alright," he said, chuckling and preparing to throw the stick toward the Black Lake. "Patience is a virtue for all of us, young fellow, including a wizard's best friend."
"Woof!" was the enthusiastic and rather insistent reply, but the Headmaster's companion was no ordinary canine. In continuing with Brian's Animagus training that summer, Dumbledore had suggested that they try out another form. And here, on a bright sunny mid-July afternoon, he was playing fetch with his son… who at the moment was temporarily Transformed, by means of a Canis verto spell into a lively black and white Border collie.
Watching while Brian-as-dog raced after the stick that had been tossed for him, Albus shook his head fondly and conjured a sailcloth-covered shaded glider to sit upon. He grinned at the stripes, realizing that he'd once again unconsciously used Gryffindor house colors of scarlet and gold. Dumbledore had been Head of House before rising to the post of Headmaster in the 1940s, and often utilized that particular color palette in his Transfigurations. He settled on the seat, propping his feet up on the brace, and he could feel the tingle of Brian's magic as the young wizard loped back across the grassy slope, completely delighting in the strength and agility of his new form.
The handsome Border collie flopped to the turf in front of the glider, panting; his large blue eyes were focused on the elder wizard's face, and he held the stick loosely in his mouth. Brian-as-dog dropped it, once again looking eagerly up at Albus. Dumbledore Summoned it to his outstretched hand.
"I may have to charm our retrieving stick to throw itself if you keep at this, son," he said, smiling and gesturing with the stick. "Perhaps we could get a few sheep for you to herd here on the lawn, eh? I'm sure that can be arranged."
"Woof, bow-woof!"
Albus laughed, taking this for an agreement. He was about to draw his wand from a pocket of his robes, when Brian-as-dog suddenly got to his feet and barked in the direction of Hagrid's hut. A few moments later, Fang, the groundskeeper's enormous boarhound came bounding and slobbering toward them.
"Fang! Geddown yeh daft mutt," Hagrid called breathlessly as he hurried over, fully expecting to have to break up a fearsome canine squabble. He grabbed Fang by his collar, hauling him away from the Border collie. Both dogs wagged their tails at each other but neither one was exhibiting any kind of threatening behavior. This was particularly interesting because Fang was at least four times bigger than Brian.
Brian-as-dog barked again, wagging his tail and his rear end enthusiastically, dropping down so that his chest brushed the grass… an invitation to play. He whined until Hagrid released his own dog to pat him on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry about Fang, Perfesser. His manners leave a lot to be desired," said Hagrid, stroking the collie's ears with both hands after patting Fang on the back. "What a bonny fellow, sir. I didn't know you had a dog." The gentle half-giant loved all creatures, most especially dogs and dragons.
"Thank you, Hagrid," Albus replied. "He's here off and on for the summer, I believe." Dumbledore chuckled when Brian-as-dog yipped at him again and pointedly stared at the stick which he had rested on the arm of the glider.
"What's his name? He looks rather keen with those bright eyes of his."
Albus grinned at the compliment, tamping down his mild feeling of guilt at the ruse he and Brian were carrying out. "Fly, because of the way he likes to run. Here you go!" And with that, he threw the stick down the slope; Brian-as-dog, or rather, Fly, ran at top speed, easily out-distancing the much larger Fang as he grabbed the branch and returned to Albus' feet.
"He is a fly one!" Hagrid exclaimed, laughing heartily and clapping his shovel-sized hands. "He could do awfully well at the Muggles' sheep trials… if you were so inclined."
At Dumbledore's invitation, Hagrid sat on the ground beside the glider, demurring Albus' offer to conjure him a similar, if proportionally larger chair. They chatted and visited for a while, watching the two dogs chase and rough-house with each other. Hagrid's loyalty to the Headmaster really was boundless, all the way back to the time he'd been in Gryffindor House during his short three-year term as a student at the school—prior to his false accusation and unfortunate expulsion, but that is a tale for later chapters, isn't it?
Hagrid just happened to look toward the main gates, and Albus felt a pleasant tingle as Minerva Apparated and gave her Deputy Headmistress password for re-entry to the castle grounds.
"I'll head up and finish mah rounds, then, Perfesser," he said, getting to his feet and dusting off his trouser legs. He smiled and nodded at Dumbledore before he called Fang to his side, giving McGonagall a wave of friendly greeting. "Good afternoon, sir, and thank you."
"I have enjoyed our visit very much, my boy," said Albus sincerely. He reached to stroke Fly's silky ears as the groundskeeper made his way toward the Forbidden Forest and the Greenhouses. "How about a few sheep to demonstrate for your Mum? What do you say to that, lad?" He held the dog's muzzle in his hand, marveling at the new look with which Brian seemed entirely at home.
Fly barked energetically, wagging his tail and squirming with anticipation as he glanced over to see Professor McGonagall waving and walking toward them. If dogs could smile, Brian-as-dog was smiling rather broadly just then. At a soft whistle from Dumbledore, he raced off several yards and dropped to the turf, his eyes never leaving the Headmaster's face.
"Good afternoon, dearest!" Albus said cheerfully, kissing her cheek as she joined him. A subtle wave of his wand and the glider became a two-seater. "Did you have a pleasant trip over to Edinburgh?"
Minerva smiled at his welcome. "I did. It was good to see my cousin and her new shop; I really don't visit as often as I should, so it was a good idea. Thank you, Albus." This last was in response to his offer of a cool glass of lemonade.
"Mmm, my pleasure," he said in a low voice. "Perhaps you can thank me again, later?" She laughed at the innuendo, and squeezed his hand. "Would you like to see a brief demonstration? You might enjoy this!"
Looking in the direction that he was pointing his wand, Minerva finally saw the attractive Border collie, waiting patiently for Albus to conjure his flock of sheep. In another heartbeat, six wooly Romney Marsh ewes appeared, noisily calling to each other as they too, caught sight of the shepherding dog.
"Oh my! I haven't seen sheepdog trials in years," she commented with a grin. "But Albus, where is Brian? He might like this as well." She turned and looked over her shoulder back toward the main steps of the castle.
His eyes twinkling as he glanced over at the dog, Albus nodded, giving a sharp whistle. "I'm sure he's around here somewhere, my dear."
"Up you get, Fly," Albus called, and the dog rose at once, creeping toward the ewes. He watched them closely, trotting left and right as the sheep huddled shoulder to shoulder. Dumbledore whistled once, then twice more and Fly scooted to his right, driving the sheep to their right as they faced the Border collie. Minerva's eyes widened when she realized that she could feel the tingle of Brian's magical signature very close by, and that it was he who was herding the sheep at Albus' whistled and spoken commands.
"Good lad!" said Albus, twitching his wand once more so that a small wooden paddock appeared with its white-washed three-rail gate wide open for the sheep to enter.
"Is that really he?" she asked, stifling a laugh. "I don't know that I've ever heard of a working-dog Animagus before!"
"I don't think either of us expected his canine form to be this particular breed," Albus said. "He simply concentrated on being a dog during our session earlier, and this is the form he took when I cast the spell for him."
Minerva looked thoughtful as she gently rocked the glider with her foot. "Well, if you recall the photographs from his childhood with the Rollins family…"
Albus chuckled, squeezing her into a one-armed hug and placing a kiss on her hair. "You are right; I hadn't thought of that. There were two Border collies, weren't there?"
"Rex and Fly," Minerva added.
Albus laughed again. "And here I thought I was being clever with the name!" He shook his head, still laughing at himself.
While they had been talking, Fly the collie had guided the small flock of sheep into the enclosure, and ran back to the pair seated on the scarlet and gold striped glider. He propped his front paws up on the armrest beside Minerva, his mouth wide in a doggie smile for his mother. Albus grinned his approval, and banished the sheep and their pen with a subtle wave of his wand.
Minerva stroked the dog's ears and head, laughing as he further insinuated his snout under her hand if she paused even for a moment.
"This is a very good look for you, Brian," she said warmly, momentarily resting her forehead on his. "I normally think of myself as a cat person as you know well, but I may have to make an exception for this bonny little collie…"
Brian-as-dog barked at the joke, his pink tongue lolling over her wrist as he panted. Minerva just laughed when he briefly rested his warm muzzle on her knee, his blue eyes sparkling at her. She felt a rush of love as her son flopped to the turf, yawning and showing dozens of flawless white teeth. He rolled over onto his back, scratching against the grass and obviously enjoying the sensation. When he finally sat up, he looked expectantly at Albus.
"Good idea," Dumbledore agreed, nodding at the unspoken but very clear request. "I think I'm getting hungry for sandwiches and tea myself."
Brian barked in reply and patiently waited for the Finite Incantatum from his father. Moments later, he had returned to his human form and was sitting cross-legged in front of the glider, a few stray bits of grass and leaves clinging to his head and shoulders.
"Hi, Mom, surprise," he said, grinning broadly up at her. "That was a lot of fun!"
-/-/-/-/-/-
It was dark but Brian found his way as the sconces along the short hallway to his parents' bedroom came on faintly; not enough to be blinding, and he had learned to adjust them. He had awoken from a sound sleep with a splitting headache, and was now drenched with perspiration, even though he typically only slept in light-cotton pajama bottoms and kept one window open to the cool night air. His heart pounded and he bit his lip to stifle a moan of pain; he leaned heavily against one hand to support himself as he stumbled in the hallway.
It was several painful minutes before he reached Albus and Minerva's bedroom in the Headmaster's suite. Taking a deep breath, he knocked softly and urgently on the door. He pressed his cheek on the cool, smooth wood and felt a bead of sweat running down the left side of his face.
"Mom," he whispered, hoping she would hear. "Mom, I'm sorry. Oh, man…" Brian knocked again, groaning as he leaned against the doorjamb; a wave of dizziness and nausea swept over him, and it seemed to be getting worse. He blinked rapidly and clenched his teeth, hoping he wouldn't pass out.
As he slumped to the floor, sliding down with the wall against his back, he heard footsteps on the other side of the door. He looked with worry at the shaking of his hands, and he clenched his fists tightly to try and stop it.
"I'm coming, Brian," said Minerva, hurriedly drawing her dressing robe over her nightgown and trying to ignore the worry that clenched at her chest. "We'll be right there."
Not sure how long he waited there on the floor, Brian felt Albus' hands gently lifting his head, and he saw both of his parents looking at him with concern.
"I'm sorry," he apologized again, blinking to clear his blurry vision while Minerva cupped his feverish cheek. "I'm sick… like last time, at Christmas, but I don't know what caused it." He swallowed heavily, taking a deep breath against the nausea.
A tingle of magical Levitation, and Brian felt Albus helping him to stand, one arm lifting under each of his armpits. "Come on, lad, let's get you sitting more comfortably in here…"
"And I'll call Madam Pomfrey," Minerva added, heading over to the fireplace to make the Floo-call. Her attention was on making the call and she did not see that the boy was now taller than Albus' shoulder and a good four or five inches taller than she herself was.
Brian leaned heavily against Dumbledore, his unsteady feet not cooperating as he stumbled along to the sitting room. "I called Topher right away and asked him to bring the nurse. I'm sorry I woke you…"
Albus gently eased him into a chair, Summoning a cool cloth from the nearby bathroom as he did so. "No need to keep apologizing, my boy; that was quick thinking. Poppy will be here in no time." He smiled encouragingly as he wiped Brian's sweat-soaked face with the damp cloth and the elder wizard sat in another wing-backed chair, drawing it closer.
"Thanks, Dad," said Brian, sipping from the water glass Albus now held for him. He sighed and sat back, holding the cloth to his forehead. Minerva joined them and drew her wand to further adjust the chair upon which Brian rested.
"Here, child," she said softly, lengthening the seat with a wave of her wand. "Lift your legs up here and lie back. Madam Pomfrey will be here any minute."
Brian did as she instructed, and sure enough, the fireplace glowed with an eerie green light as the school nurse stepped through, looked around briefly to get her bearings and headed directly for the young wizard stretched out on the Transfigured chaise lounge.
"Well, what have we here?" she asked, nodding in silent greeting to Minerva and Albus. "Topher said you had taken suddenly ill, young man."
Brian sat up slightly, pulling himself up by the chair arms. "Yes, ma'am, almost like last time. My headache woke me up and I felt sick to my stomach."
"M-hmm," Poppy replied briskly, waving her wand over his head and chest to run several diagnostic spells. "No, just there is fine, Brian."
Minerva watched anxiously as the Head nurse scanned the obscure symbols that now floated above the boy. Albus reached to squeeze her hand reassuringly, though he too, was somewhat nervous. As a Potions Master, Dumbledore was familiar with some of the glyphs but for different purposes than Healing.
Poppy reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a tiny green crystal vial to hand to Brian; the boy's parents immediately recognized it as a fairly strong analgesic Headache potion, one often recommended for migraines.
"You'll need this, but wait just a moment and hold absolutely still please," she instructed, making two very intricate swishes with her wand. Brian's eyes went wide as he felt the peculiar popping and bubbling of the spell through his chest and abdomen.
"Magical core diagnostic, Brian," she explained without even waiting for him to ask his question. "I'm sure it felt very odd since it is your first one, hmm?"
"Yes, ma'am, it was weird," he agreed, curiously watching her as she studied the new set of symbols that rose from her wand. He glanced over at Minerva. "I actually feel a whole lot better right now, Mom. I bet it's just a summer cold—I seem to get them every July."
"I concur," said Poppy with a smile, not commenting on his self-diagnosis (and it probably was correct). "The asynchronicity adjusted itself at almost the same time that I cast the spell. Go ahead and take your Headache potion, and we'll get you back to bed."
Brian drank down the potion, now feeling a little foolish at making such a fuss—he truly felt much better than he had not five minutes prior. Madam Pomfrey had him remain seated while she held his wrist gently, checking his pulse and then looking at the way his eyes reacted to light.
"Have you been expending a lot of magic lately?" she asked, nodding with satisfaction at his other vital signs.
Brian shrugged, taking another glass of water from Albus to wash the metallic taste of the potion out of his mouth. "I guess you could say that. Gardening with Professor Sprout, dueling with Professor Flitwick, and we're still working on my Animagus training," he replied, easing forward with assistance from both Poppy and Minerva. "I ran around as a sheep dog for most of the afternoon… no, I didn't Transform myself. Not yet."
"That is rather a lot for a student on his summer holidays, I would say," commented Poppy, and then she gave a loud gasp of astonishment as he stood and towered over her. "And a significant growth spurt, apparently!"
Albus chuckled when he realized that he and Brian were looking at each other nearly eye to eye, and Minerva inexplicably blushed when she saw that her son was now gazing down at her, his own eyebrows rising in surprise.
TBC
