Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters, those belong to J.K. Rowling.
Rated M.
"Spoken dialog."
'Thoughts' / internal thinking
Author Notes: I put time stamps in this chapter to help make it easier to follow so please read them.
Midnight Gold, the Rise of the Forgotten Lord
Chapter 37 Confrontation Pt 1
Posted 25th July 2013
Revised andBeta by Joe Lawyer
Ravenclaw Tower - (Sunday Evening)
He silently watched as the winter sun slowly set behind the distant hilltops, as darkness once again claimed the ancient castle. He took in this beautiful sight while patiently waiting for his dear friend Penny to return to her quarters for the evening. Despite the peaceful sunset he had just watched, he was still rather nervous, his stomach doing little loops and turns like a rollercoaster. For weeks now his close friend had been avoiding him for whatever reason, but he had finally built up the courage necessary to confront her, to talk to her, and try to mend the broken bridge lying between them.
Predictably, he had gone to his godfather and elder cousin for advice on just what to do, how to make amends, etc. Ultimately, though, they weren't here, standing in the girl's bedroom, waiting for her inevitable return. Truthfully, he felt so out of his depth right now, just standing there waiting for the older Ravenclaw to return. After all, most kids have had friendships for years, since their preschool days even, and inevitably had some experience with swallowing their pride and saying 'I'm sorry' to help mend fences. But not him, he had never had friends before coming to Hogwarts; they had always been driven away with alacrity by his cousin and his gang of sycophant bullies. So, for once, despite all his intelligence and cunning and understanding of the harsh realities of the world, he knew he was way out of his depth, with no insight or experience of his own to call upon. In fact he just had some well-meaning advice from others to help guide his actions and a few books he'd read on psychology.
Maybe he was overreacting, over thinking everything just like he normally did, but Penny was the second friend he ever had and he didn't want to lose that friendship without doing everything in his power to try to save it, even if he had to apologize for something he didn't even realize he'd done.
"I'm going soft," Harry muttered quietly to himself as a small smile appeared on his lips. He gracefully moved away from the bedroom window while pushing a rogue lock of hair back behind his left ear. If this had happened just a year ago, he would have simply dismissed it and not have bothered with her anymore, and cut her off permanently from his favour. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you looked at it, the older Ravenclaw had somehow managed to crawl her way into his cold heart over the last year and a bit. Catching his own reflection in the dressing table glamour mirror, he saw a soft smile on his lips, an energy in his eyes, that soft but visible sparkle he often saw in other students that were full of life and energy around the school.
Smiling at the sudden realization, "But I'm happier now than I was," he admitted aloud, both to himself and to the empty room.
Now that he thought more about it, it was probably due to all the friends he had made since coming to Hogwarts, coupled with the discovery of having a godfather and family that actually cared about him. True family. He thought about Ted and Andy and their daughter Tonks. All of them had subtly worked together and had, without his even realizing it, pulled him out of the cold, hard protective shell that he had erected to protect himself from his abusive relatives and the harsh world around him.
Rather than dwelling on the past, he pushed the hateful and negative thoughts that always rose up in him when thinking of his relatives to one side, and through sheer force of will chose to instead focus on his friends and newly found family, rather than letting the memories of his childhood sour his current mood. Right now he was here to talk to Penny and try to fix their damaged friendship. Thoughts of Penny led him to fondly remember their midnight adventure together, followed by waking up the next morning in bed together.
He couldn't help but smile when he recalled Penny's reaction, whilst another more primal part of him wished he had taken the opportunity to kiss her, to taste her for himself that night. It was at that moment that he realized something quite shocking; he had a 'crush' on the beautiful older Ravenclaw who had wormed her way into his heart. He cleared his mind of such primitive thoughts; it certainly wasn't the time for such fantasies and emotions.
Looking back over towards Penny's fine glamour table and matching mirror set, he considered for a moment the idea of enchanting the glass so that he could observe his friend more closely, but he quickly dismissed it. She was afriend and ally, he told himself, therefore he would respect her privacy, even if their friendship wasn't on the best of terms at the moment. However, if their friendship suddenly ended tonight he would feel free to spy on her, but for now he would respect her privacy, he silently vowed.
That was one of many things he was learning now after setting up several more enchanted mirrors around the school; specifically that he needed to learn to respect other peoples' privacy. This was for several good reasons. The first was that he was spending more and more time watching them, like a drug addict looking for a fix, watching them for any secret of value to exploit now or in the future, instead of prudently focusing on his grades and his other more pressing side projects. The second reason was that he hated the thought of being spied upon himself, so therefore he was being rather hypocritical for doing so on others... But at the same time, he understood just how powerful such an information network could be, therefore, he was unwilling to just totally stop his activities regardless of the ethical implications. After all, he had already learnt from the spy glasses that the headmaster had his own spy network over the entire school. He shuddered to think at how long he would have remained ignorant of the old thief's capabilities without the mirrors, or how many of his plans might have been discovered and countered before he caught on.
In the end he had looked for some type of middle ground to assuage his guilt over the spying and the sheer usefulness of such information, something to justify the creation and existence of the spy network he was developing and planning to deploy on a much wider scale. He finally settled on a promise to himself; that he would only use the network sparingly, and that its use would be limited to spying only on his enemies and rivals, rather than the general population of Hogwarts. Naturally, if you weren't his friend then you were a possible rival and competitor, so that gave him a rather large loophole if needs be. Nevertheless, his original objective had been achieved; he now knew that the idea of the enchanted spy mirrors forming an information network worked and could be deployed outside the walls of Hogwarts in the real world, where much more valuable information waited. The concept had been proven handily. He sat down on the floor next to Penny's bed to continue his wait, his head gently resting back against the covers.
Another half an hour passed before his friend finally turned up, but he put the half an hour to good use while sharpening his mind magic and organizing and filing away some of his more recent memories. As soon as she walked through the door he looked up to meet her eyes, registering the surprise they held. "Hey, are you alright?" he asked carefully, with a hint of nervousness, testing the proverbial waters as he took a closer look at his friend.
Several seconds passed before Penny finally answered him, her voice faint, showing signs of fatigue. "I'm fine Harry. What do you want?" she answered, while she closed the dorm room door.
"I wanted to talk to you," he voiced sincerely as he stood up from the floor, fighting off the leg cramps as he met her striking eyes. "I want to find out what I've done wrong? What's causing you to avoid me? I want to mend the bridge between us; I want my friend back."
"Harry, please, can we do this another time? I'm very tired," Penny expressed.
"Just so you can avoid me for another three weeks?" he asked rhetorically. "I just want to know what's up. I want to talk to my friend again." He decided it was time to swallow his pride, "So, I'm sorry for whatever I've done to upset you; can you please forgive me?"
"That's the thing Harry," Penny expressed with a sad smile. "I don't believe you."
"Why?" he demanded, his anger swelling and growing under her sad, pitying eyes.
"You lie, you manipulate, you steal... so easily," Penny's voice accused, whilst looking down at him with a hint of pity. "You play with people like they are chess pieces, always measuring their worth and value to you alone. You're always scheming, always looking for some type of advantage and benefit to be gained in every situation. I would bet all the gold in my purse that you even have something planned out for Luna, your student who has thrived under your teaching, who even now looks at you with such loyalty and adoration. Even for her, I bet that somewhere in the back of your mind there is a scheme involving her somehow."
"So? I judge people, weighing their positives merits against their negative ones," Harry defended with a hint of anger in his voice, whilst wondering why it was wrong. After all, people did this all the time on a subconscious level; it was a basic instinct, honed by millions of years of evolution. "Everyone does it; I'm just honest about it rather than hiding that fact. The Slytherins recognize that intrinsically, they would say that that's simply the way the real world works," still not seeing the issue at all.
"What am I to you then? What am I worth?" Penny asked, stepping closer to him, causally putting her book bag to one side. "Am I worth more or less to you than Daphne? Am I higher or lower than Tracy? Or am I merely a long-term investment, just like one of your businesses? All this year you've made it clear to me that the Head Girl position is one of your goals for me, but you never stopped and asked me if I wanted it, just assuming I would take it."
"No, you're my friend, Penny," he expressed carefully and quietly. "I just want you to do well; I want you to reach your full potential. I don't want the backward nature of the Ministry or this prejudiced culture to hold you back; I just want you to do well."
"You're lying, Harry," Penny expressed, her sorrowful blue eyes meeting his own. "I may not be able read your thoughts with magic, but I know you, I know your little tells. How could I not, after watching you so closely this last year?" Silence fell across the bedroom. "Do you know what a friend really is Harry?" she suddenly asked. He thought about the question and what his answer might be.
"Because I don't think you truly do," Penny added sadly. "Because a friend doesn't judge a person simply by their value to him or her, nor by their individual skills and abilities that might be useful to them down the road. They do it by how they make them feel."
"Someone you care for, " Harry offered with a smile, not sure how he would explain what a friend was to him without thinking of benefits and alliances.
"That's vague Harry, even for you," Penny expressed with a disappointed half smile. "I want a friend who doesn't think of me as some tool, or as an asset to exploit, who doesn't constantly measure me against everyone else," she explained, her hand resting on her chest as she spoke. "Who won't manipulate and play me like you did last year into stealing that stuff, or into taking that gold. Or this year with the polyjuice potion. You used me as a tool, and all tools eventually get replaced and discarded when they've lost their usefulness. I want a friend, who wants to be with me, for me. Not because I currently benefit them, not because I'm some type of asset to use and exploit."
"Have you not benefited as well from my friendship? Has the knowledge I've shared, not helped you in myriad ways?" Harry asked, trying to understand Penny's mind.
"Yes, it has," she admitted easily. "But it's like your handing out rewards, like a treat to a favoured pet," Penny voiced, before once again facing him, her eyes burning with a hint of anger. "I am not a pet Harry; I am my own person."
"Then you stole that special map from Neville and his friends. Neville and his friends had a falling out about that. Their trust in one another has been broken, and they'll probably never get what they had back. Your actions have broken and irreparably damaged another person's friendship, but you don't care about that at all."
"My father helped to create that map, not the Longbottoms," he spat in his own defence. "So did my godfather. It was mine by right, not Longbottom's and Weasley's, mine!" He countered with disgust and anger at the thought of Ron's dirty hands holding such a treasured item, one of the few links left to his father.
She nodded her head in understanding, her blonde ponytail dancing as she turned back to face him. "Yes, I understand that, Harry," she admitted with soft sad smile. "You don't have much of your family left, so you grasp at the things that remain, seizing them, just like you said Tom Riddle did. But you don't feel guilty about the fact that those five boys now believe that one of them stole it. Not a bit. I look at you, and I see a miniature Tom Riddle in the making," he was shocked to the core at such a remark, at being compared to a mass murderer, one whose followers killed his parents.
"I looked him up you know," Penny continued. "He was charming, smart, and hard working, all the things that you appear to be, but look at what he became... I can't help but wonder if you will be the same?"
Ignoring the remark about Tom Riddle, his anger swelled. "So you're upset with me because I'm a cold hearted bastard?" Harry asked her, his anger seeping into his voice. "I am what I am, because I didn't have the luxury of a real childhood. Yes, I'm a jerk and a manipulative asshole, a schemer and a plotter, but it was what I needed to be to survive!" he freely admitted with a snarl. "Unlike you, Penny, I didn't have a loving mother to hold me. I didn't have someone to mend my cuts. I didn't have someone to whisper words in my ears to drive away my childish fears. I grew harder, I grew smarter, I grew colder, more calculating, because I had to. I stole food, so I wouldn't starve; to numb the pains in my empty stomach. I learnt to manipulate bullies to beat up others, so they wouldn't hurt me anymore," he admitted with indifference as his anger turned to rage, churning and boiling, slamming against the emotional barriers he'd built from childhood and later fortified with magic. But it all proved inadequate to hold back these turbulent tides, laughable even, his emotions shifting, becoming unstable, becoming chaotic.
"I'm a product of my environment," he added, as he turned to walk away from his friend. "Since I've come to Hogwarts Penny, I've been nothing but honest about what I am, though you are only just starting to see it, it seems."
"There you are, playing the guilt card again Harry," Penny expressed with another sad shake of her head. "Deflecting all the blame onto your relatives. I knew you would use that as a defence, and yes I know your childhood wasn't cosy, it was rough. Hell, I doubt words could truly describe it. But you're no longer with your relatives, you're no longer under their thumb, you're no longer being bullied or beaten, but yet you still operate the same way," she argued. "And yes, you're right, and I'm only just starting to see you for what you truly are, and I don't like it. You're not the lost boy I first saw as just needing a friend. Not the lost boy needing a shoulder."
Sighing, he quickly moved to leave the room when he felt the first tears stir in his eyes, before he abruptly stopped and turned back to face her one final time. "I am what I am," Harry voiced defiantly, despite his eyes betraying the emotional pain he was feeling at his friend's harsh words. "If I was such a cold, manipulative, heartless bastard as you so believe, why haven't I then claimed Hermione's life debt already? Why have I chosen to ignore her all this time when such an intelligent young girl like her could be such a useful future asset to me? Someone I could easily use?" he asked the older Ravenclaw as she frowned in response.
"But thank you for reminding me of that oversight I've obviously made," he voiced coldly, despite the unshed tears in his eyes. "But consider this, last year I killed for you; I killed that troll and held you in my arms as you slowly died. I had your blood on my hands." He voiced, looking back at her coldly, angrily. "I didn't have to fight that troll; I didn't have to risk my life for yours. I could have easily run away like cold, ruthless logic would have demanded, but I didn't; I stayed. Without a moment's hesitation I leaped into the fight, I put my life on the line for yours, and I would do it again, because you are my friend, no matter what you believe about me. Afterwards, when you were in the hospital wing, I checked on you daily, I was there dutifully waiting for you to wake up."
"So call me what you want, Penny," Harry expressed sourly, coldly, "But I do think of you as a friend, I don't think of you as purely an asset for my gain."
"What are you going to do Harry?" Penny questioned nervously.
"You're a smart girl Penny, you've already made it clear that you think you know me so well," he voiced, his lips curling. "So why don't you work it out?" he answered, before leaving the room and slamming the door shut behind him as he went. Every part of him screamed at him go to the Gryffindor common room this instant and claim the Gryffindor for himself, to screw Penny over, to get back at her for hurting him so badly. In the end he buried that destructive impulse, instead choosing to head to his own dorm room, tears freely flowed down his red cheeks. His emotions were out of control, raging like a confused and wounded beast as he fought to control them, to bring order back to chaos, to restore his emotional balance.
"I've grown soft, too soft," he muttered, as he walked towards his room, the tears streaming down his puffy face, as his door opened automatically for him. "Never again," he promised, as he locked the door with a silent flick of his wand, the high security charms activating while he slipped into a lotus position on his bed, before he heard someone try to open his door.
Ignoring the harsh knocking and attempts to open his bedroom door, he quickly slipped into his rampaging mind, into his magical core, trying to tame the emotional beast within him.
'Never again,' he promised himself as he slipped deeper and deeper into his magical core, vowing that he would become stronger.
Reaching his core a sense of inner peace came over him, calming his emotions. He slowly opened his eyes, only to be met by another pair of sharp yellow feline eyes, inches from his own. The spiritual tiger stared right back at him, as if judging him, weighing him, it's breath hot on his face as the winter snow continued to gently fall around them. The tiger spirit slowly circled around him, silently weaving between the snow and ice covered pine trees, never taking its eyes off of him. The tiger was young, perhaps a young adult like himself, but it had jagged scars running along its beautiful orange and gold fur, the signs of battles won, of hardships overcome. This tiger was a survivor, a creature that had endured hardship and countless trials, forged and hardened in the fires of adversity, changed, but not broken; it was him.
With this realization, he felt a permanent, lifelong, and immutable connection form between them. He didn't know how he knew, but he did. Then, it leapt at him. In mid leap it turned into a creature of white energy, maintaining the form of a tiger, but with hints of orange and gold. It crashed into his body, merging with him, infusing him, as the spiritual magic coursed through his veins, touching him everywhere at once, every cell of his being, as he felt his magic shift and alter.
Then he felt it, the changing, accompanied by a sudden unexpected rush of pain along his glowing limbs, amongst his cells, as every fibre in his body felt like it was on fire from the inside. The fire of change grew steadily stronger until he was harshly brought back to the waking world, to the reality of his dorm room.
Looking down at his glowing limbs, they shifted and changed before his eyes. He watched in awe and wonder as he realized what was happening to him. Even as he felt the touch of an animal mind pressing against his own, merging with his own, his world started to shift and change around him as he fell forward onto his huge, glowing paws, and sharp claws.
Then it happened. His senses were suddenly bombarded with new sensations and information, of new smells and new sights, at new colours his human eyes had never seen but could now perceive with his new eyes. He even gave a growl instead of a gasp.
Harry James Potter, Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble Houses of Potter and Peverell, acknowledged heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, was now an animagus. Just like his Godfather was, just like father before him. A wave of calm washed over him, and in its wake his doubts and fears just disappeared.
Midnight Lord
Great Hall - Monday (Lunch Time)
He sat down at the Hufflepuff table the next morning, right next to his currently gossiping cousin. No one objected to him sitting there with them since it was now well known that they were family. He took a ham and cheese sandwich from one of the silver serving trays as he waited patiently for the exchange to end.
"Hey Tonks, can I talk to you in private in a couple minutes?" He asked, wanting to share his new secret and accomplishment with his beloved cousin.
"Sure Harry," Tonks quickly agreed, before turning back to her friends.
"Thanks," he replied, whilst silently shifting his attention back to watching the Great Hall for anything of note. His eyes caught Penny's briefly, the pair of them just looking at one another, causing his emotions to begin to stir restlessly before he looked away.
"Mr Potter, where were you this morning? You missed your DADA lesson again," Professor Flitwick asked, taking him by surprise as the short professor suddenly appeared behind him.
"Sleeping, I'm not much of a Monday morning person," he answered easily, with a minor grin, as several students turned to look at the unfolding exchange, giving him curious looks. "And you should call it drama class professor, or how to do your hair for maximum effect, since we haven't been taught anything related to the subject." He commented as several male students chuckled around him, whilst others grumbled in agreement at the truth of his assessment.
He watched as the charms master puffed himself up like a puffer fish in response, "Harry, you can't continue to skip DADA lessons just because you disapprove of the professor's teaching style," the charms master lectured. "That will be detention this Saturday morning; I'm most disappointed in you," the short professor shaking his head in disapproval, trying the guilt trip card on him again, to similar results as last time.
Realising that he would be forced to miss Quidditch practice and that most of the team would be on his backside about it, he recognized the charms professor's clever little game. But he didn't care too much; it was just a game, one which he had no long term interests in. After all, he seriously doubted that he would go professional after leaving Hogwarts. Although starting up his own team and building his own grand stadium, that sounded much more lucrative. He smiled back at his head of house, unconcerned, "Alright then," Harry quickly agreed with an uncaring shrug of his shoulders, the tiger in him demanding that he not back down in the face of such a blatant challenge.
Eventually the pair of them made their way to the Swansong Rooms, "So what did you want to talk to me about Harry?" the pink haired 'puff asked, as she threw herself onto one of the comfortable leather couches and got comfortable.
He smiled back at her, while he pushed his hair out of his eyes, "Tonks, I want to show you something amazing," Harry told his cousin.
"What exactly do you want to show me Harry?" Tonks enquired, with a hint of eagerness.
"I finally achieved my animagus form last night and I wanted to show it to you first," Harry expressed with a pride filled smile, wanting to show off his greatest achievement yet to someone he cared about, whose opinion and respect mattered greatly to him. And it was an open secret amongst his family that he was learning to become an animagus, like his godfather and father before him, so Tonks was a safe choice.
"Really?! You've done it?" Tonks exclaimed excitedly, whilst bolting upright in her seat. "Sirius said that it would take years to achieve your form. Even Professor McGonagall said it takes a long time to master, even by adult wizards and witches."
"Well, I've done it," he boasted proudly. "And I'm rather happy with my alternate form."
"What is it?" Tonks asked excitedly, like a kid at Christmas.
"How about I just show you," Harry responded with a feline grin, as he willed his body to transition, summoning the inner tiger that was always with him now. His body suddenly felt hot all over and his bones began to shift and transform, his body becoming longer, his senses becoming shaper, his sight shifting, adjusting, as his jaw disconnected and remoulded itself to that of an apex predator.
Midnight Lord
"How about I just show you," Harry expressed with an eager grin. She watched in mute silence as her cousin's body changed, his limbs started glowing with whitish gold energy, his body leaning forward and falling heavily on to all fours. He shifted before her eyes, as she watched his teeth shift, growing longer and sharper, as a tiger suddenly appeared out of the light. Gasping for air, as she'd unknowingly held her breath, she took in Harry's impressive and deadly beautiful feline form, even as Harry slowly started to advance towards her, his amber eyes locked on to her, holding them as she felt a shiver of instinctive fear race down her back, at her recognition of a predator.
Warily she watched him advance on her as she registered his powerful muscular legs, longer she assumed to help with jumping and lunging at prey. She noticed too how his tail swung side to side in time with his strides. He suddenly turned to the side and brushed up against her legs, just like Shadow did whenever he wanted attention, a loud giggle escaped her lips at this and helped her to relax and let go of the death grip she had on the wand she didn't even realize she was holding. She smiled down at her feline cousin as he gracefully jumped up onto the couch next to her, his claws obviously retracted as she didn't heard the leather of the couch being punctured. His mightily large head fell to rest onto her lap whilst she mentally registered just how heavy he was. He tilted his head to one side to look up at her with the same deep amber eyes, a bit of a grin on his face, although the facial muscles obviously weren't intended for such a thing.
Instinctively stroking his rich auburn, gold striped fur, she noticed that it was layered with softer, finer fur nearer to his pelt. He gave a rumbling purr of approval to her gentle touch encouraging her further as she gently stroked the back of his ears, but at the same time noticing scars hidden beneath the fur. "You're beautiful Harry," she whispered, giving words to her thoughts, as she continued to stroke Harry's rich fur, whilst wondering what it was like to be a Tiger, as she felt the hard muscles beneath her fingers.
Then the answer came to her, 'Powerful... and deadly.'
Midnight Lord
She subtly sniffed the air as she once again examined her prized seventh year class of students. All 15 of them were dutifully working on their independent transfiguration skills, as they vigorously revised the material for the upcoming NEWT level examinations. However, today for some reason, she just couldn't get settled, couldn't relax; there was a new smell around, a powerful, heavy musk hanging in the air, tugging at the instincts in the back of her mind. Her inner cat sensed danger, the need to flee from that of a larger predator nearby, lurking, hunting, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end and her ears to twitch at every sudden sound.
"Mr. Redstone," she suddenly snapped at the seventh year Gryffindor, the seventh year spinning around in panic. "Less time talking with Miss Kessler, more time focusing on your own work," she lectured, whilst giving the boy a stern look of disapproval, and the silent promise that she would be watching him.
Continuing to move amongst her students she noticed that the smell, the heavy scent was lingering around Miss Tonks, one of her star pupils, causing her to move in to investigate the Hufflepuff more closely. After several long minutes of discreetly studying Miss Tonks, whilst subtly sniffing the air around her, she confirmed that Miss Tonks was the source of the thick, heavy scent. "Miss Tonks, are you wearing a new type of perfume?" Professor McGonagall enquired.
"No professor," the pink hair girl replied, her face showing signs of confusion as the rest of class listened in.
"Nothing new today? No new shampoo or body wash for instance?" she enquired, trying to solve the mystery of the new odour.
"No professor, I used the same ones I always use," the seventh year replied, her hair taking on a hint of red.
"Never mind then," Professor McGonagall answered, dismissing the issue and allowing the girl to get back to her work. Several minutes later she suddenly recalled where she had smelled a similar scent before, her old mind recalling the muggle zoo she had once visited.
"Miss Tonks, do you have a cat?" she suddenly asked.
"No professor, the closest thing I have to a cat of my own is my cousin's, Shadow" she replied, giving her a confused look.
"Don't take this the wrong way dear, but for some reason you smell like a cat today and it's roused my feline senses," she offered in explanation whilst tapping the tip of her nose, the Hufflepuff in question suddenly blushing red in embarrassment.
Headmaster Office - (Monday Afternoon)
"Good afternoon, Harry," the aged headmaster greeted warmly as he entered the office. "Right on time, just as usual."
"Of course," he replied, as he took his usual seat.
"Lemon drop?" the elderly wizard offered, holding out the silver bowl filled with yellow, tear drop shaped candies.
"No thank you headmaster," he politely declined as he reached into his own robe pocket for his own selection of sweets, before he carefully unwrapped the red packaging and tin foil, throwing the red cherry favoured sweet into his mouth. "Cherry drop headmaster?" he offered with a grin, as the headmaster's own lips twitched in amusement at his familiar offer being turned back on him.
"If you don't mind," the headmaster expressed with a distinct sparkle in his eye, his old bony fingers cupping the cherry drop before placing it in his mouth. "Hmm... that's rather nice," the headmaster noted.
"What is it you wished to see me about Professor?" Harry enquired smoothly.
"I wanted to discuss several important things with you. As far as the rest of staff are concerned, I'm discussing your recent behaviour." The headmaster offered with a coy smile, "I have taken the liberty of rearranging your detention with Professor Flitwick this Saturday. Instead you'll be serving your detention with me this upcoming Wednesday night, where we can spend the evening discussing the many mysteries of magic. I think you'd agree that that's a far more productive use of your time to writing lines."
He smiled at the good news, "Thank you Headmaster," Harry expressed whilst at the same time wondering what the headmaster's game was.
"No problem my boy," the headmaster casually remarked as Harry fought the urge to call him out on his inappropriate familiarity. "After all, it seems awfully wrong to punish you for achieving such an extraordinary feat of magic at such a young age, just like your father and godfather before you," Dumbledore expressed, his eyes sparkling. "To become an animagus at so young an age is almost unheard of."
"An animagus, headmaster? You flatter me," Harry announced, playing for time whilst trying to work out how the elder wizard had found out so soon.
"There is no need to lie, Harry," the headmaster scolded lightly, with clear amusement lining his features. "You should be proud of your achievement; not many people achieve such an ability, let alone such an impressive creature as a tiger."
"How did you know?" Harry asked, realizing that he had been definitively found out if the man knew his form as well. He was caught, like a fish in a net, and it would be counterproductive at this point to continue denying it.
Smiling, he answered Harry's question, "Well, this past Christmas I helped to erect several new wards around the school. One of them was an animagus detection ward, supported by a secondary animagus identification ward, otherwise Professor McGonagall would set it off nightly," the headmaster offered with a smile. "Naturally, I put an additional set of security wards over Ravenclaw tower and further wards over your dorm room for added security, along with Gryffindor tower. So when suddenly last night they triggered and much to my surprise they registered a tiger animagus in your room, rather than a rat, or a housecat, I naturally concluded it was you," he explained proudly to Harry, with a smirk on his old smug lips.
"After all, your late father was one, so is your godfather, therefore it was predictable you would learn the skill in time. I have to admit, though, I didn't expect it as a second year," the headmaster expressed with amusement. "I personally expect Professor McGonagall will be intensely quizzing you soon enough."
"Indeed," Harry confirmed, with a hint of bitterness, whilst giving the elder wizard a slight bow of his head, acknowledging the headmaster's deductive prowess. He silently cursed himself for failing to hide his new ability. Both his father and godfather had been able to keep the secret for years, but he had been found out in less than a fucking day. Of course he realized that these new wards were the problem. His father and godfather had not had to deal with that particular issue while still in school. His successful transition has also been rather sudden and unexpected as well. Nevertheless, he would need to expand his knowledge of wards to determine just what had been placed on his dorm room and work to prevent their information gathering.
"So tomorrow morning you will be escorted to the Ministry of Magic so that you can register, just like the law requires," the headmaster stated firmly. "After all, we don't want a repeat of what happened to your godfather. Either myself or Professor McGonagall will escort you." Harry realized that the headmaster was protecting his own ass.
"Wouldn't my own head of house be more appropriate for such an escort?" Harry enquired, since this seemed like Professor Flitwick's job, rather than Professor McGonagall's, who he had easily identified as a hardcore Dumbledore worshipper and was either blind or chose not to see the many failings and sins of the headmaster.
"Yes, he would be," the elder wizard stated as his hands folded across his lap. "But he has several lessons tomorrow morning whilst Professor McGonagall doesn't, plus Minerva also happens to know the relevant ministry procedures and paperwork involved," the headmaster listed with a kind hearted smile.
He felt his anger stir at the headmaster as he realized the political game that was being played. With the well known cat animagus escorting him through the Ministry everyone would automatically assume that she had taught him the skill, rather than the truth, that it was almost entirely self taught. People would also assume it was due to the prowess of a Hogwarts' education rather than by his own intense efforts, boosting the school's prestige as a byproduct of his hard work. He would be no one's pawn or means to take unearned credit to enhance their public image. Perhaps an interview with Rita would work to ensure that no one thought Hogwarts had any part in his success? He'd have to think more on that. "Sirius will be escorting me," he stated, interrupting the headmaster's speech. "He is my magical guardian; it is his responsibility to escort me outside school grounds, not the school's, not yours."
"Naturally," the chief warlock agreed with a laidback smile.
"Can I go now Professor? I need to contact my godfather," Harry asked coldly, fighting to keep his emotions in check.
Smiling back at him before waving his old hand in dismissal, "Of course," the headmaster agreed, leaning back in his chair, as Harry quickly rose from his seat. However, just before he could leave the office the headmaster suddenly spoke up, "That will be 150 points to Ravenclaw House."
'At least that's something,' he mentally noted, as he left the room to inform his godfather and research the current laws on being an animagus and its registration requirements, privately hoping the library could provide him with some positive answers. Who knows, there might be some alternate means of registration, either with the ICW or with another country that would suffice. It would be unlikely for a foreign registration to be found out by his many enemies. Or there might be some loophole or privilege for a Lord or heir to exploit on that front. The point was, he just didn't know, but he'd do his best to find out.
Great Hall (Dinner Time)
"Yes Davis, I already got the detention changed to this Wednesday night; I'll be there Saturday morning despite what Chang's told you," Harry patiently explained to the Quidditch team captain, who seemed to calm down at the unexpected news.
"Good," Davis announced smugly, like he had just won an argument before walking away.
'Fucking idiot,' he mentally muttered as he sat back down at the Ravenclaw table next to his close friend, whilst sending a look over towards a red faced Chang.
"How are you today?" He enquired, looking over towards Padma.
"I'm fine, thank you Harry. What about you?" Padma asked as she enjoyed her evening meal.
Despite the headmaster finding out his secret he was still in rather a good mood. After all, only the headmaster knew of it so far. "Rather good, thanks," he admitted with a sly grin. "Even with the detention and being called to the headmaster's office," she gave him look of disapproval at this.
However, before Padma could reply, the harsh accusing voice of Professor Snape cut through the air, immediately silencing the entire population of the Great Hall. "Headmaster! I demand to know how you can justify giving Ravenclaw house 150 points! I hope you're not playing favourites again like you did last year with Gryffindor," reminding all the houses of the previous school year's last minute events in the awarding of the house cup.
"Fuck me," Harry muttered, attracting some strange looks from the surrounding Ravenclaws as Padma gave him a sharp look.
"I'd also like to know Albus. There's no reason why the points were awarded in the points' log book," Professor McGonagall spoke sternly, taking her chance at getting some revenge for the previous year.
He watched as the headmaster silently stood up from his chair whilst fluttering his bright cyan robes. "Please calm down my friends, the points are quite justified," the aged wizard seemingly explained to the entire hall, even if he was facing the deputy headmistress and his voice had absolutely no need to be so loud for her to hear with her so close.
"Really? Please enlighten us headmaster," Professor McGonagall pushed as he mentally groaned.
A grandfatherly smile appeared on the headmaster's jolly features, "Mr. Potter has achieved something truly amazing for his age; something I believe that you yourself have often spoken highly about Professor McGonagall," the headmaster explained to both the staff and the population of the hall whilst everyone suddenly looked at him, their combined eyes staring at him which he pointedly ignored in favour of enjoying his evening meal, his mind running a mile a minute as to what was happening and how he should respond if this went down like he thought it would. "I felt that awarding Mr. Potter 150 points for becoming an animagus, a skill you have often said takes years to master, if not decades to achieve by adult wizards and witches, was easily worthy of 150 points being rewarded. Especially for a second year to master such a skill," the headmaster explained.
"Potter, an animagus? Don't make me laugh," Severus spat on reflex as several students giggled at the hidden insult.
"I must admit, I too find it hard to believe that Mr. Potter is an animagus, despite his superb skill in transfiguration. Becoming an animagus is an extremely hard skill to master, it took me just over 4 years to learn," Professor McGonagall seconded.
Realising that he had very little hope of keeping his ability secret with the whole hall hearing the headmaster's announcement, the cat was very much out of the bag, despite how much he wanted the bag to remain hidden away under a fidelius. Of course, he could lie and deny any knowledge of the skill, but that would only buy him a limited amount of time before he was eventually discovered. It would then become public knowledge that he had lied...thus damaging his reputation. And any rumours that he was an illegal animagus would be immediately investigated by the Ministry, ultimately leading to him being discovered and fined, and he had little that doubt some students would write home immediately to inform their parents of the latest gossip and events in the school... Also being caught red handed in breaking the law would alienate the ever stern Madam Bones, who he was on rather good terms with at the moment and wanted to remain that way for a long time to come.
In addition, he couldn't use the childish excuse of being ignorant of the law, after hearing both the headmaster's words and the events of the previous year. Plus he was Lord Potter-Peverell, if he was questioned by the Ministry his official status as Lord of those houses, rather than heir, would eventually be revealed to the world during the investigation. This would allow the ministry to prosecute him as an adult and to use truth serum on him. This could result in him revealing more of his secrets under interrogation and could even lead to him revealing his forceful recruitment of Rita, as well as being a parselmouth, if the right questions were asked. Both his and Sirius' political enemies would use the situation to their own advantage, leading to his name being smeared across the front page of the Daily Prophet, damaging his well cultivated reputation and undermining their growing influence before it got too strong.
On the other hand, he also had the opportunity for his reputation to soar to even greater heights amongst his peers and their parents they'd inevitably tell, especially after everyone had just heard both professor Snape's and McGonagall's remarks about the difficulty involved in becoming an animagus and how they strongly doubted his ability to become one at his young age. And, truthfully, a tiger was a rather impressive form in any case, and it was nothing to be ashamed about.
His decision made, it was time for some damage control and perhaps some opportunity seizing. He silently and slowly stood up with purpose, grabbing the entire hall's attention and that of the gathered staff. Closing his eyes his body started to glow with energy, his bones shifting and remoulding themselves, his muscles stretching to the muted silence of the Great Hall, as his body started to grow longer, his senses becoming sharper, his sight shifting, as his jaw began remoulding itself. Opening his new eyes, he started to gracefully prowl around the silent Great Hall, his highly sensitive nose picking up the smells of different meats which stirred his primal hunger. He glided gracefully, stalking between the house tables towards Professor Snape, whose mouth was hanging open, much like the stunned Professor McGonagall's.
Several cats suddenly gave him warning hisses from beneath the tables which caused him to instinctively bare his teeth in response and growl, showing off his sharp 4 inch canines causing several of the cats to quickly shoot out of the hall, whilst several owls flew to the safety of the rafters. Internally smiling at the response the animals gave him, he purposefully brushed up against his cousin who had a massive smirk on her features, her fingers running through his fur as he passed, whilst several of her braver neighbours followed her example and took the chance to stroke his fur as well.
"I believe I rest my case," the Headmaster announced smugly to the whispering Great Hall, as Tonks stroked him behind his ears causing him to purr at the pleasurable sensation.
"Professor McGonagall, I think you now know why I smelled like cat earlier," Tonks announced to the stunned professor as several of her year mates in that class with her suddenly chuckled.
"It's just an overgrown cat," Ron said dismissively, from where he was standing up on one of the benches to see better. He started to shift back to human form after hearing the insult.
"Mr. Weasley sit down, all of you sit down," the Deputy Headmistress barked, anger in her voice as students suddenly leapt into action around the hall. "And that's detention Mr. Weasley."
"What for?" the ginger haired idiot protested.
"For being an idiot," Harry added, just as he stood upright on two limbs, attracting several different looks from around the Great Hall. "Remember our first transfiguration lesson? With you, Neville, Dean and Seamus bursting in late to the lesson? There was a cat sitting stiffly on the desk?" he asked as Ron's face shifted into one of deep concentration and thought. Hermione rubbed her forehead in annoyance, whilst Ronald's older brothers just sniggered along with most of the Great Hall.
"I can't believe I'm related to him," he distinctly heard Percy say, getting his own chuckles.
"What is Professor McGonagall's animagus form?" he asked the confused boy as Hermione suddenly whispered in Ron's ear, the youngest male Weasley's face then morphing into one of horror, as his eyes darted to his Head of House.
"I quote, 'it's just an overgrown cat,'" Harry offered, using the same dismissive voice as Ron had just used moments earlier, causing several more students to giggle.
As he moved back to his seat he decided to remind everyone just why the tiger was considered so dangerous a predator, and why so many eastern cultures had it as their symbol of power. "You know Ronald," he announced, his voice carrying across the hall as everyone quieted down to listen. "It only takes 100 psi to snap a human's neck; a fully grown male lion's bite is around 650 psi, a tiger's bite, however, is around 1050 psi, that's almost eleven times what is required to kill a human. In many parts of the world tigers are the apex predator, killing anything that crosses their path," he lectured to the great hall. "I seriously doubt that a household cat can pop your skull like it's a balloon, right professor?" he asked the head of Gryffindor house.
"Indeed," Professor McGonagall agreed.
"What is psi?" another student asked.
"PSI is a measurement of exerted force, PSI is short for pounds per square inch," Harry offered in explanation as he sat down next to Padma, recalling the details easily from his tiger fact book. No sooner had his bum touched the wood of the bench, that the first of his housemates' many questions were launched at him.
Ravenclaw Tower (Evening)
Barricading himself in his dorm room to get away from his ravenous housemates' insatiable curiosity and their demanding questions, his mind once again went over the day's rapid fire events. The scheming headmaster had set him up today with his little performance piece in the Great Hall, played him masterfully, and had forced him into publically revealing his animagus form to the student body and in reality, likely the whole of magical Britain as letters winged home. He silently transitioned into the tiger, before curling up on his bed, his tail wrapped around him. His tiger form offered a refuge for him at the moment, a clarity of thought and purpose that cut away the bullshit; plus transitioning into that form often enough would allow him to reduce the overall time it took as he grew more and more comfortable with it. Hopefully, in time, he'd be able to transition as fast as his godfather could. Turning his mind back to current events, the only reason he could come up with to explain all this was that the headmaster wanted to cover his ass from any political consequences; but that was an awfully weak pretext to out him like that. Was this retribution for refusing McGonagall as an escort?
But that didn't quite fit either as his magic enhanced mind started to work it out, searching for a better fitting motive to explain the elderly wizard's behaviour today. After a bit of intense thought he settled on the simple, yet most likely answer of a power play, or a better term for it would be 'power display,' to remind him of his place.
Ever since he had come to Hogwarts in his first year he had outmanoeuvred the older wizard in their silent battle of wits, with each meeting Harry coming off the victor. Of course, an objective analysis of the facts would put down these victories not entirely due to his burgeoning skill and acumen, but mostly because he had been both underestimated and poorly understood by the Headmaster. It was a lethal combination that even a master politician like Dumbledore with a century of experience couldn't overcome easily or quickly. That was an advantage he no longer had and it left him feeling acutely vulnerable; his armour was nearly gone.
For the first time he had lost handily in their private little cold war and the headmaster had ruthlessly exploited his victory, forcing him to publically reveal his animagus form and had thus lost the surprise of a potent ability, one that may have even saved his life in the future. Now his enemies would be prepared for it. That wound cut deep.
The game had changed and the Headmaster was now taking him seriously, rather than treating him like any other second year student who was no threat to the man nor capable of seeing through his games. The headmaster was now playing the political game with him, he noted with distinct amusement at the thought of the great Albus Dumbledore treating him like a worthy adversary. Along with amusement, though, there was also the anger boiling beneath the surface, as a part of him wanted to rip the old man apart with his jaws and shred him with his claws.
The real question now was how should he respond? Should he roll over and play dead? Should he submit to the old man's authority and pray his attention moves elsewhere? Or should he withdraw back into the shadows to lick his wounds? He thoughtfully lowered his feline head onto his front paws, while carefully considering his options. Or perhaps should he counterattack?
'Counter attack,' he quickly concluded. He was a predator now. He would be no one's prey. He was Lord Potter-Peverell. His course now decided, the question was how to make the old wizard bleed, in the proverbial sense. What did the old wizard value the most, but was exposed and vulnerable enough that he could easily attack the man through it? After all, he was smart enough to recognise that despite his recent successes and victories, he and Sirius were still new players on the political battlefield of Great Britain, with very limited influence. That would change, in time, but right now they needed to be realistic about their position and its limitations. Therefore the Headmaster could not be confronted directly or even politically, he was just too strong in that arena.
'Where to strike?' he thought, as he looked around his dorm room, before the answer suddenly came to him. 'Hogwarts,' he concluded with glee, as he decided to take a page out of Lucius Malfoy's own playbook, his feline jaw shifting into a cat like grin of pleasure as he started to plot his revenge. However, unlike the murderous pureblood lord, he wouldn't use an ancient and deadly basilisk to achieve his goals; he would use something far more subtle and wouldn't resort to violence. In many ways the truth could prove a far more potent weapon than violence.
He wanted to have the moral high ground after all...
Professor Snape's Office
"Severus, I would like to see you tomorrow night, it's important," the Headmaster stated seriously whilst standing in the doorway of his private office and connected quarters.
"Yes, Headmaster," he quickly agreed from his desk as he looked up from his paperwork. "Now will you tell me why you asked me to make that little scene over the 150 house points given? You know I lost face there with my students," he said, while playing the guilt trip card.
"I just thought it was for the best to remind Mr. Potter that I'm the one in charge around here," the aged wizard offered in explanation, with a smug grin on his face. "He's gotten awfully big for his boots of late; I thought it would be best to teach him a lesson in humility, one which Sirius can't protect him from."
He considered the older wizard's answer, but already knew that there was a lot more to it that remained unsaid. Rather than indulging the Headmaster's need to boast and gloat over his victory, he decided to take another route. "Understandable I suppose, he has been rather arrogant this year. Hopefully this lesson will be enough," Severus expressed levelly before adding thoughtfully. "You know he will seek retribution for this."
"I'm sure he'll try," Albus expressed with a confident grin. "I have to admit I'm rather curious to see how he goes about it. I wonder if he'll try to prank me? The suspense is rather exciting, don't you think?"
He valiantly resisted the strong urge to roll his eyes in disapproval at another batty scheme that he inevitably would continue to be caught up in, whether he liked it or not. "Is there anything else?" he enquired from his chair, suppressing a tired sigh.
"Oh, yes," the grandfatherly wizard's face lighting up like a muggle Christmas tree. "I just received a new sweet called a cherry drop," offering Severus a red sweet which he grudging accepted from the offered packet, the rich juicy cherry taste rolling over his tongue.
"Hmm... They're surprisingly good," Severus voiced in agreement, whilst he sucked on the cherry flavoured sweet. "Far better than your preferred lemon drops," he voiced offhandedly, as the headmaster suddenly gave him a sour look at speaking ill of his most favourite candy.
"I've ordered the house elves to buy some more, I would like you to add the regular combination of potions to them, just like you normally do with the lemon drops," the headmaster instructed.
"Of course, headmaster," he readily agreed whilst suppressing a bored sigh. "Is there anything else?"
"No, I'll see you tomorrow night, we have much to discuss," Albus expressed seriously, before ruining the look by having another sweet.
Midnight Lord
Hogwarts - Tuesday Morning
He patiently waited in the Deputy Headmistress' office for his godfather to finally arrive, so he could make his escape from this insufferable school for a couple of hours and the never ending questions... 'What does it feel like to be a tiger? Does the world look different? Do you get hair balls?' were just a few of the many, many questions he'd been asked. He was grateful to the head of Gryffindor house for allowing him to hide here in her office until Sirius arrived, rather than continue to be hounded by his ever curious housemates. Already several of his more ambitious peers had taken up the challenge of becoming an animagus for themselves, under the logic, if he could do it, then so can I.
Personally, he was perfectly fine with them trying to replicate his success, since copying was said to be highest form of flattery, so it fed his growing ego quite nicely. Then there was the additional fact that he had done it first, as a mere second year, so his 'brilliance and prestige' couldn't be easily taken away from him, unless a first year did it somehow. And if it helped to promote some healthy drive and competition amongst his peers, he was game, since it would show who had the most potential and ability in the house.
On the other side of the coin, if they tried and failed, it may be even better for him, as it would also have the effect of increasing his own prestige and status and would remind everyone of the difficulty of the skill and just how impressive his accomplishment truly was. Plus if they got a less notable form, like that of a toad or a worm for instance, it would also benefit him by the comparison. So he was just fine with other students trying to copy him. He might even assist them if he felt like it, or they offered something valuable in exchange for his time... after all his time wasn't free, any minute he spent helping another individual meant one less spent helping himself and working on his many, many side projects with actual tangible value. Of course, there were some exceptions to this policy, like Luna, who he felt some kinship towards.
"Out of interest Harry, when did you start learning to become an animagus?" Professor McGonagall suddenly asked from her work desk, ending the comfortable silence that existed before.
Already expecting the question and prepared for it, he took an additional moment to further tailor his answer to the situation and the person asking. "Just before starting this school year," he offered back thoughtfully, before adding to it. "It was one of the many goals I'd set myself, for this year," the older animagus recomposed herself at this shocking news... "So 6 months all told, give or take a few days. However I did do some reading and research over the summer to begin the process and prepare myself for the challenge ahead."
"That's an impressive feat of magic Harry, especially to achieve the transformation in such a short span of time. But, I guess you had Sirius to help you out, to guide you," the cat animagus offered back. He felt like her offhanded remark about Sirius' help cheapened his success somehow.
"No actually, I took an entirely different route than Sirius and my father did," he offered back casually, whilst restraining his brewing anger and preventing any bit of it from showing on his face. He lazily turned a page of the book he had borrowed from the professor to further enhance the casual nature of his response.
"Oh, what was that?" the deputy headmistress asked, her personal interest stirring.
Smiling as he answered, "I didn't use the standard revealing potion," he said with a hint of smugness shining through. "I used intensive meditation and self understanding to unlock the ability from within. It is said that by going through this much harder, more traditional route, the wizard is granted a deeper connection and understanding with one's animal form. That was appealing to me. The modern potion shortcut actually makes that impossible."
Before she could reply with her many additional questions, the stone fireplace suddenly sprang to life cutting her off, the red and orange flames changed to a magical green colour, announcing the incoming floo connection. Just as quickly as the flames changed colour, his godfather came marching through the magical flames, a proud smile on his face with an excited sparkle in his eyes.
"Well done pup," Sirius praised with a boyish grin. "I guess I won't be chasing your tail this summer after all."
He grinned with pride as Sirius gave him a lopsided hug, "Thanks, I wanted to surprise you this summer with it, but someone decided to announce it to the entire school instead," he offered back with a hint of bitterness as Sirius' face took on a slight frown.
"Indeed," Sirius expressed in agreement.
"So you agree with my idea then," Harry asked as he put on his outer robe, whilst he closed the loaned transfiguration textbook.
"Oh yes," Sirius confirmed, as Harry spotted the look of interest Professor McGonagall gave him at this cryptic exchange.
"We should get going," Harry prompted as he made to leave.
"Deputy Headmistress," Sirius spoke in a formal tone to his old head of house, as he made ready to leave. "We do not require nor desire an escort. In light of recent events it is made clear to me that the staff of Hogwarts does not respect its students' right to privacy, after such private information was shared in such a public forum without Harry's permission. You will be receiving a formal complaint over this incident and on the advice from our lawyers, formal charges will be pressed against the school for invasion of privacy and breach of protocol regarding the heir of a Most Ancient and Noble house. This is the second time in two years my heir's right to privacy has been violated so egregiously," the dog animagus announced formally to the stunned Deputy Headmistress, whilst handing her a thick, sealed letter. "I'm also strongly considering removing my heir from Hogwarts permanently."
"Let's go Harry," Sirius barked as the two of them made to leave the office without a backwards glance, leaving behind a stunned Deputy Headmistress.
Midnight Lord
It took her several stupefied seconds to fully recover her wits from Sirius' announcement, as she quietly watched the troublesome pair disappear through her office floo, leaving her alone in her office with only the crackle of burning wood for company. However, she had no time to waste just sitting there, the headmaster needed to be informed about these latest events right away as she hurriedly left her office, holding the damn letter in hand.
'What the hell am I? A glorified secretary?!' she mentally grumbled, whilst slamming her office door behind her.
Striding through the near empty halls as she expertly navigated the magical staircases, she quickly arrived at the pair of stone gargoyles guarding the entrance to the headmaster's office and private chambers. "Milky Bars," she voiced, giving the two stern faced guardians the necessary password as they silently moved aside, granting her access and revealing a spiral stone staircase leading up to headmaster's office.
Pulling up the hem of her skirt, she hiked her way up the stairs just to be greeted by the same old unassuming wooden door, before she could even knock however the headmaster's voice filled the air. "Minerva, come in," the aged wizard granted, as the magical door opened by itself.
"Albus we have a problem, a very big problem," she announced right away, not giving the aged wizard a chance to offer her one of his damn lemon drops.
"Oh, what is the matter Minerva? Shouldn't you be accompanying Mr. Potter and Lord Black to the Ministry for registration?" the old headmaster enquired with a curious expression.
"That's why I'm here Albus, Lord Black is pressing formal charges against the school for invasion of privacy and breach of protocol," she stated angrily, throwing the letter on the desk, as the headmaster's grandfatherly persona finally slipped away.
"I would have preferred a prank," the aged wizard expressed with a tired sigh of disappointment, as he looked over the letter.
"Pardon me? What do you mean prank? This is not some type of game for your amusement, Albus," the head of Gryffindor house lectured.
"Nothing Minerva, just a rogue thought," Albus said with wave of his bony hand dismissing the issue.
"So what are we going to do?" she demanded, knowing that it would be the headmaster that ultimately decided the school's stance on the issue.
"I would not worry too much about it Minerva," he offered with a reassuring smile and sparkle in his eyes. "This is nothing but a political move to apply pressure to the school, which can easily be dismissed on account of the Chamber of Secrets being opened and the attempts on Mr. Potter's life and additional security methods were added to monitor the students' safety. Ultimately, we will just make a deal with them behind closed doors and make it go away. There is nothing to worry about, trust me."
Ministry Of Magic
Sirius calmly lead him though the impressive maze that was the British Ministry of Magic, the pair of them attracting many curious looks from passing wizards and witches alike going about their daily affairs, dressed in an assortment of different styles and many coloured robes. However, instead of being led to the Ministry Registration and Records Offices, the department in charge of registering and recording known animagi, he was being led straight to the Magical Law Enforcement section of the Ministry.
They passed through a series of security checkpoints, where his wand was carefully examined and matched to ministry records to confirm his identity by Ministry security wizards. The two wizards in charge of the checkpoints were dressed in matching black robes, with a simple black leather vest beneath it offering a small modicum of spell protection, but nowhere near dragon hide. On their black robes was a shining bronze capital M, with wand going through the centre, the tip glowing, with the words Ministry of Magic beneath it.
Sirius, noticing his interest in the pair of wizards, offered further insight into their role, "Ministry Security Wizards are a branch of the law enforcement department. Their job is to provide internal security to the Ministry and other important locations, like St. Mungos. They also deal with petty crimes in some cases, whilst the Aurors deal with the more dangerous assignments. You could say the MSW are mainly passive in their duties, whilst the Aurors are more proactive in theirs with much wider powers and purview of responsibilities."
The checkpoint wizard gave Sirius a sour look at his brief explanation. "Of course MSW are much more likely to retire with all their limbs intact," Sirius added with a smile as Harry casually watched the paper airplanes fly above their heads, carrying messages between the different departments.
He considered the explanation for a second, "That's interesting," Harry noted, as they were waved through the security checkpoint, whilst realizing that it was a bit like the makeup of a Quidditch team. The Aurors were like the 'seekers,' the most high-profile team members, the most visible, the most published. Whilst the other officers made up the rest of the squad, fulfilling the other critical support roles. Thinking more about it, as Sirius effortlessly guided them through the halls, he realized that more and more of the magical world's structure was separated by rank, status and prestige as they passed several Aurors in their trademark blood red, robe uniforms.
Like their MSW counterparts, the capital M with lit wand was on their left chest, but it had the additional symbol of a set of scales, and rather than bronze, it was silver. This acted as another indicator of their supremacy over the MSW ranks, visually marking the divide between the two ministry branches.
"Good morning, Claire," Sirius offered in greeting to the pretty, young receptionist as they entered Madam Bones' reception room, the receptionist looking up from her work with a broadening smile.
"Lord Black, what a pleasure to see you again," Claire offered back with a flirtatious smile, "And who is this handsome young man with you?"
Clapping Harry on the back, "This is my godson and heir, Harry Potter," Sirius announced proudly with his own smile, pulling him gently forward so that he could shake the young brunette's hand.
He offered his own charming smile in return, not to be outdone by his godfather, "Good morning Claire, it's a pleasure to meet you," Harry offered back in his own greeting, hoping it was acceptable to use her first name.
"We have an appointment with Madam Bones for 10 o'clock," Sirius continued, after all the necessary pleasantries were exchanged between the trio.
"Of course," she nodded. "Give me a moment to announce you," Claire offered back as she got up from her desk. He discreetly watched her most pleasing behind dance across the floor, also finding his eyes drawn to her firm, sculpted legs, before he looked away, choosing to instead focus on his godfather rather than get caught peeking.
"Sirius, why are we here?" He asked carefully, casually leaning on the marble topped reception desk as they waited.
"Solving your animagus problem," Sirius voiced with a smirk as Claire made her way back to them.
"She'll see you in just a moment," the receptionist announced.
"Thank you," the two of them said in unison, as Claire gave them another friendly smile.
Midnight Lord
Slytherin Common Room
"Potter is just an overgrown cat if you ask me. I could become an animagus if I wanted to, but why would I want to become a simple beast?" Draco expressed with disdain to his two friends, Crabbe and Goyle sitting by his side, and frankly anyone else who was even remotely interested in listening to his opinion, as the two goons chuckled like the mindless minions they were.
"What idiots," Tracy voiced, from her seat on the black leather couch, in the dimly lit gothic style common room.
Smiling faintly in agreement at the assessment, "Indeed," Daphne agreed with her childhood best friend.
"You found anything yet Daphne?" Tracy asked eagerly from her seat, looking over to her best friend.
"Bits and pieces," she voiced evenly, teasing her friend with the information she had found as she causally flipped a page of her animal symbolism book. "The tiger mainly symbolizes the ideal of balance in nature, according to the eastern cultures. It's both negative and positive. It's safe to assume that in magical terms it's neither light nor dark in magical alignment, but rather a neutral force, so grey if anything, rather than black or white," she theorized.
"That certainly fits Harry's personality," Blaise added thoughtfully from her side as he rubbed his chin. "He's often playing the role of balancer in our group, and his opinion is often one of cool logic while advocating moderation."
"Yeah, it does," Tracy seconded from her chair, as she slipped her legs up onto the seat.
"What about you Tracy, found anything of note?" Daphne asked from her place, flicking her blonde hair back over her shoulder.
"Personal strength and willpower, but the tiger is also linked to the elements of shadow and fire. The shadow implies the need to hide or seal away a part of yourself from prying eyes, so it implies privacy. Whilst fire, at the same time, implies passion, aggression, or dark anger when provoked," Tracy offered, before blushing slightly at her next statement. "Then there is the powerful sexual hunger of the tiger and the need to dominate," the Slytherin trio fought the need to blush at this, as mature as they were, they were still quite young.
Several long seconds passed as the trio composed themselves before she spoke up again, "That certainly fits I think, he is one of the more powerful students in our year, arguably the most powerful," Daphne agreed with a minor nod. "But I've never seen Harry get extremely mad, or angry before, but he is an extremely private individual, so that fits the shadow part alright. And it is well known he lurks, plans and manipulates with the best of us, like any true Slytherin does, even if he doesn't wear green and silver..."
"That's true," her betrothed agreed, as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If I were Harry, I would try to hide this information," the lone male Slytherin added.
"Yeah, we've all seen him annoyed and irritated, but we've never seen anything that might suggest dark anger," Tracy offered, studiously ignoring the sexual part and no one else caring to bring it up.
"But do you remember girls, what happened in our first year? On Halloween he killed a bloody mountain troll for Merlin's sake, and as far as I can recall, he didn't seem all that upset about it either," Blaise voiced calmly, as they looked at each other.
"That fits the predator stuff I'm reading about, of the tiger being both a powerful hunter and protector," Tracy voiced.
"It also says that tigers represent great physical strength and prowess," Blaise added. "It's well known that Harry works out daily, intensively. He probably works out more than any other student in the school."
"He certainly isn't fat, unlike some boys we know around here," Tracy voiced with a mischievous smirk, whilst gesturing behind her.
"We should ask Padma," Blaise suddenly announced to the pair.
Looking over her left shoulder, "Any reason why?" Daphne asked, wondering what her betrothed had in mind.
"The tiger has different meanings and symbolism in the Indian culture than it does in the Chinese sources. So far we have only looked at Chinese sources, and Padma is from India. Who better to ask?" the Italian boy reasoned.
End of Chapter