Chapter 38 Animagus
A/N ok! Summer is OVER and my muse is BACK! ^_^ thank you for being patient, chapters should come regularly again now.
Thank you all for your suggestions for Snape's and June's Animagus forms, but I found a site online where you put in a few personality traits and out pops and animal, and I liked it, so I went with it. ^_^ I hope you guys like the animals. it sure was fun for me to find them all.
Last time, on HPWST: Draco is playing Seeker for the Quiddich Team this year, since the Slytherin's kicked June off and she refused to rejoin when they apologized. The introductory class for TACT, Teens Against Crappy Teaching, went off well, with Zachariah Smith mouthing off a bit. Occlumency went well too, with June's mind flying as Snape pushed. After the lesson, June and Snape discussed Animagus training, and Snape talking to McGonagall for her, about a possibility of acquiring her as a teacher.
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Friday, June went through her classes as usual, with one difference. Four times that day, someone came up to her and handed her a list. First was a Slytherin, Draco to be exact.
"Wednesdays are clear, I made sure. And I have most of Saturday clear too, the Hufflepuff's have the field after noon." Draco smiled, "so you can sleep in and we'll still get to spend time together. Of course this also means that I'll probably skip out on our patrols a little earlier then usual, what with homework and waking up at the crack of dawn."
June smiled, "no problem." She slipped the parchment into her Transfiguration book, and they headed off to class.
Second came as June walked to the grounds for Care of Magical Creatures. She had gotten separated from her group when she dropped her Defense book and a few dozen papers flew out from between the pages. I really have to stop sticking things between the pages…
Cho stopped her in the hall on the first floor. "I had to change a few things, I had set up half of our practices to be on Wednesday nights, but I got it all worked out, and I got most Tuesdays freed as well, just in case it gets switched, like you said." She handed June a list on lavender colored parchment and dark plum ink.
"um, thanks Cho." As she took the parchment a waft of perfume hit her. It smelled pretty, a little strong, but pretty. June stuck the paper in her Defense book, with the rest of the notes she had picked up a moment before.
The third was during lunch. June was about halfway through a truly delicious chicken pot pie, when Ron Weasley plopped into the seat next to her. June froze with her fork hanging in the air in front of her face, the rest of the Slytherin table had similar looks of flat out astonishment, some fading into anger the longer he sat there.
"wow, you guys have a horrible view over here." Ron said, looking around.
June's mouth snapped closed. "what are you doing here?"
"oh," he brought his gaze back to June, and handed her a list. "our schedule for the next three months, Angelina hasn't scheduled past that point, but we'll let you know if things change. You know, its going to look awfully funny with no one using the Pitch every Wednesday night. But I'm sure you guys thought of that." Ron grinned, "I better go, I think they're starting to take aim." And he bounced off.
June watched him go, confused amazement shining in her eyes. She shook her head and returned to her meal, sticking the list in her History book.
The last person approached as she left her last class of the day. One moment she was alone, the next Zachariah Smith was walking next to her. He thrust the paper at her, she took it, and he went up the next flight of stairs. This was odd, since he should be heading to his common room at this time of day, which was in the dungeons, like Slytherin. June shrugged, glanced at it, and stuck the parchment in her Healing book.
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Severus Snape sat in the staffroom, stirring his tea and flipping through a Potions weekly magazine.
Minerva McGonagall plopped ungracefully in the seat next to him, and sighed. "not even a month in, and this is already the longest year I've ever lived."
Snape smirked as he closed his magazine. "Minerva, how would you like to come to my office for a cup of tea?"
Minerva looked down at his full cup of tea, and over to the pot of tea with steam slowly rising from the spout. She shrugged. "sure." Like this year could get any more complicated…
They were both silent during the short walk to Severus' quarters, and he warded the door after they were inside.
Minerva narrowed her eyes. "What's the big secret? I assume it has something to do with the students, something you don't want Dolores to know?"
Severus' lip curled at the mention of her name, but gestured for Minerva to sit with a nod.
"as you know, I just had my first lesson with Miss Potter. It went fairly well, and while I'm not sure if she'll ever have the skill to block the Dark Lord, she had a very good start."
Minerva nodded. Severus informed Albus of all of this, and he tells her everything, as his second in command.
Severus leant forward, "how is Miss Potter doing in your class?"
Minerva sat up a little straighter. "She's doing very well, as usual. She's very good with a wand, she goes through the motions naturally, she has excellent pronunciation and her essays are well researched and she shows a remarkable understanding of the subject that I haven't seen since her father attended Hogwarts. Why?"
Severus smiled a little, "she wants you to teach her to become an Animagus."
Minerva's lips puckered. "she's a Prefect, she's taking three elective classes, she has Occlumency lessons, her little Defense club, and O.W.L.s in a few months. She wants to learn a highly complicated form of Transfiguration that takes over a year if you dedicate all your time to it?"
Severus smirked, "apparently."
Minerva leaned back in her chair, frowning. "if she thinks she can handle it, then I'll do my best to help her. She has some reading to do first."
Severus stood up, "would you like me to call her in here? She just finished her last class of the day, so she's probably in the Common Room doing her homework."
Minerva smiled, "bring her in. can I use your fireplace? I need to get those books."
Severus waved at his fireplace as he took down the wards on his door and made his way to the Slytherin Common Room.
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Snape entered the Common Room to a familiar sight. It was Friday, very few of his students did their homework on Fridays, so there were paper airplanes flying through the air, trash on the floor, students using the furniture as jungle gym equipment. Not a book in sight. Except the Arithmancy book propping up the broken leg of one of the sofas.
June was no where in sight, and she was always the first out of her uniform, so she was easy to spot. He sent the nearest girl to her Dorm to bring her down.
Sure enough, coming down the steps was Juniper Potter in a plum colored skirt and lilac peasant top with plum colored stitching.
June and her clothes…
"Miss Potter, were you busy?" Snape asked with a smile.
June smiled back, "just working on an essay for Charms. Nothing I can't do later. You needed me sir?"
Snape gestured for her to precede him out of Slytherin. "You asked me a favor the other night, during Potions, and I have some reading on the subject I'd like you to look at."
June grinned and rushed out ahead of him. They entered Snape's rooms just as Professor McGonagall exited the fireplace.
"Ah, Miss Potter, just the student I needed to see." McGonagall smiled.
June grinned, "so you'll teach me to become an Animagus?"
McGonagall gave her a strict look, "if you can convince me that it would be a good idea, then yes, I will teach you." June opened her mouth to start convincing, but McGonagall held up her hand to stop her. "in order to do so, I want a written report on the reasons you want to become an Animagus, the process to becoming an Animagus and a time line for how long you think it would take. You need to convince me that you can handle this extra burden on your work load and that I will not be wasting my time." McGonagall smiled, "I have some books here for you to read and study in preparation of your essay, and I want it no sooner then one week from today. I want you to take your time on this Miss Potter, I want you to be absolutely sure that you are making the right decision." McGonagall placed her hand on June's shoulder, "if you decide not to take on this task this year, I will be here next year."
June nodded.
"now," McGonagall placed her hands together, "you have the books you need, I will see you in class on Monday, and don't forget that you have a test on the transfiguration of inanimate objects to living creatures."
June smiled, "yes, Professor."
McGonagall gave Snape a nod, and made her way out of the dungeons.
5…4…3…2…
"Oh my GOD!" June squealed and jumped around the room for a bit. When she calmed down enough, she gave Snape a really tight hug and said 'Thank you' about a hundred times as she gathered all the books McGonagall had brought into her arms.
Snape watched calmly as she exited his quarters and skipped back to her Dorm.
Severus smiled, and shook his head.
Teenagers.
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June was sitting in her dorm, reading her books on Animagus as she had been doing for the past four days. She was reading an Indonesian author's advice on the preparation before attempting transformation, when she found this paragraph;
It was once believed that only certain people could become Animagi because not everyone has an animal form, but I discovered differently. Everyone has an animal form, but not everyone has the ability to become an Animagus. The ability is rare, as it takes a lot of study and a fair amount of power. Coupled with a strong mind and a good teacher, one can become an Animagus in less then a year. But, before you take a year to dedicate your self to this line of study, you should be aware of two things, what animal you will become, and if you still want to go through the process. I had a student once, who spent two years working to become an Animagus, and when he finally transformed, he was an anteater. Needless to say he was disappointed and rarely, if ever, used his hard earned talent. What I learned from this, was that it would be better to know ahead of time exactly what you are getting into. It took me about six months, but I created a simple spell that would reveal the animal within. Incant Dalam Hewan silently as you wave your wand in a circle over the heart of the one who wants to know their inner animal. This can be done on ones self, but it's a tad uncomfortable a position. Out of the persons heart a shadow of an animal will appear, it will not be colored, or have any distinguishing marks, as an Animagus form will have, it just gives you an idea of what you'll be turning into.
June sat up from her book, pushed her glasses up on her nose and closed the book. She practiced saying the incantation aloud a few times, before taking her wand in hand. Slowly, carefully, June pointed her wand at her chest, and moved it in a circle. In her mind, as loud and firm as she could, she thought Dalam Hewan!
As the book described, it was a very easy spell, and it only took June one try to get it to work. Out of her chest a cloud of white smoke emerged and started taking shape.
June stood with her mouth open, watching the ghost of her animal form float before her for a moment, before dissipating like a breeze. June smiled.
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The next day was Wednesday, TACT meeting.
June was very excited to show a few of her friends the spell she found, but she wanted to ask permission first, she didn't want people hounding Professor McGonagall for Animagus lessons.
After her last class, Care of Magical Creatures with the Gumby-woman, they've moved on to Knarls now, basically hedgehog with a temper, she headed down to Snape's office.
The door was open, so she just walked in and closed it behind her. Snape kept marking papers for a moment, then looked up and smiled at her.
"how can I help you? Don't you have a meeting to prepare for?"
June grinned, "that's been ready for over a week, its their first lesson! I'm thinking of doing a little 'get to know you' game first, to get people to get out of the House mentality. But, that's not why I'm here." June stood next to her Potions Professor so he would know this was not strictly school related. "I found a spell in one of the books Professor McGonagall gave me that projects your inner animal and I was wondering if you thought it would be ok if I showed a few of my TACT members."
Snape narrowed his eyes. "you tried this spell and it worked?"
June nodded, "yes. It's a very simple spell, even the author said that your very basic level wizard should be able to perform it after two or three tries. I could tell them Sirius told me about it, and I only plan to show a few of them, not the whole class. What do you think?"
Snape sat back, "so, you know what form you'll take if you become and Animagus?"
June sighed, "yep. Do you want to see what form you would take?"
Snape smiled a little, "I always did wonder. You're father being a Stag, as a teenager I hoped to be something more impressive. But, right now, I find my curiosity is quite powerful."
June smiled, "do you want me to do it, or would you like me to teach it to you?"
Snape gestured to her with a smile, "I'll let you practice on me for when you perform it for your friends."
June smiled and pulled out her wand. "ok, keep your hands down, I need a good shot at your heart." June pointed her wand straight at Snape's heart, and slowly, moved the tip in a circle around it. Dalam Hewan
A burst of smoke floated out of his chest, and she stepped back as it took form.
Snape frowned, June giggled. It was a porcupine. The smoke porcupine turned and scuttled, its quills rising and falling as it changed poses. After a few seconds, it faded away in a wisp.
Snape turned his face back to his papers, "I think there's something wrong with your spell. Feel free to use it on your little friends."
June was holding her face perfectly straight, mostly, as she nodded and headed toward the door.
"and Miss Potter?"
June turned.
"No one is to be informed of this."
June nodded and ran out of the room, laughing uncontrollably.
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June walked with the rest of the Slytherin's to the fifth floor, she watched on the Marauders Map as the Hufflepuff's made their way about a corridor and a half ahead of them, the Gryffindors making their way down were almost there, and the Ravenclaw's were, predictably, five minutes early. Luna had been shown how to get in a few days earlier, in anticipation of this little Ravenclaw habit. The coins had worked like a charm, the instructions writing out neatly for where the room would be, and what to look for. Daphne had found a spell she connected to the list of members, the door would stay visible until all the members were inside, and another so that if one member was inside, the door would only be visible to members.
June smiled as she watched everyone enter before her. Always a good idea to make an entrance.
June made went in last, and they parted for her again. She walked right up to the front where her four seconds were standing.
June smiled. "first, I'd like to thank each House for getting me those Quiddich schedules so quickly, it'll be much eaiser now if I need to change the meeting day for any reason. Next, I'd like to discuss a little issue I've noticed around the castle." June gazed out at them, and as usual, everyone was separated by house. "The House issue. You all act like warring countries who can't cross borders on threat of death. So, we're going to partner up, and I'll pick them. To insure no one of the same house will be partnered together, I've put the names of the sixteen Gryffindors in the purple pouch, and the rest of your names in the orange pouch." June smiled as everyone looked incredibly uncomfortable. "first, I'll announce what we'll be doing. How many people know how to stun?"
Everyone looked around, but no one raised their hands, until Hermione raised her. Then Blaise, Daphne, Millie and Draco raised their hands.
"Figures." Zachariah Smith said quietly.
"What was that Zach? May I call you Zach?" June asked with a dangerous smile.
He backed down a little, then stepped forward, "I said, it figures that every Slytherin present knows how to stun."
June's smile widened. "And why is that?"
He shifted slightly uncomfortably "because of their parents."
June nodded, "and this is why we're pairing up. But, let me clear the air for my House first. As Slytherin's, we live in a very… interesting habitat." There were a few chuckles from the Ravenclaw's. "From the first day in our new House as First Years, we are told that the rest of the school is out to get us, so the older students teach the younger ones useful spells. A few years ago, none of us were any good at Stunning Spells. It has nothing to do with our families, and everything to do with how other houses treat us." June looked around at the faces of her 'students'. They all had guilt written across their foreheads, every single one of them had picked on a Slytherin at some point.
June smiled, "but my point is, that here we are all equal. So, we'll be working on Stunning Spells today. For the duration of this lesson, we shall cover the floor with those pillows," June gestured to a corner that was piled high with fluffy pillows, "so no one gets hurt. Those who already know how to use stunning spells just volunteered to be the one who is stunned over and over, the rest of you will have to be fast and accurate to be the one doing the stunning." June held up the purple pouch, "now for the fun part."
June reached into the pouch and pulled out a strip of parchment. "Pavarti."
Pavarti stepped forward and waited. June put her hand in the orange pouch and pulled out another strip of parchment. "Luna."
Pavarti's lip curled as Luna floated over to her side, they went off to one side together.
"Colin and Michael, George and Anthony, Alicia and Ernie, Ron and Cho, Neville and Marietta, Dennis and Blaise, Fred and Terry, Hermione and Padma, Dean and Hannah, Angelina and Daphne, Lee and Justin, Seamus and Susan, Lavender and Millie, which leaves, Ginny and Draco." June smiled as everyone paired off, a lot of them looking quite disgruntled. "if you have a problem with your partner, too bad. Next time, I'll partner you up differently, in which case some Gryffindors may be together, due to the sheer number of you guys. But that will be decided on paper, so be prepared to be with someone I think you won't like. Now, everyone get into a place where you have enough room to fall."
June watched as everyone scrambled around, making sure they had enough room. "now, the incantation is 'Stupify', and the motion is a quick jab forward with your wand. like this, Stupify!"June jabbed her wand at the nearest person to her, which happened to be the coupling of Ron and Cho Chang, and Cho dropped like a rock. June smiled and walked forward. "I'll be going around reviving people, but if you want to give the reversal a try, just wave your wand in a clean sweep down the body and say Enervate" June smiled as Cho sat up and gave her a half glare, half suspicious look. "well, get to it!"
June walked around for about an hour, watching as people dropped, helping those who had yet to stun their partner, and reviving people whose partners couldn't. for the first half hour, Neville had been dropping the quickest and most frequent, as his partner, Marietta, barely gave hi a chance to rise before stunning him again.
June watched for a bit, then made her way over. "Marietta, you have to give your partner a chance to get up before you stun them again."
She frowned, "well, maybe if you gave me a partner with a little talent, I wouldn't be so bored."
June smiled, "Stupify." And she dropped. "Enervate." Her eyes fluttered a little, and she started to sit up, "Stupify." She fell again, just as she had been doing to Neville. "Enervate." She started getting up again, this time even slower. June gestured to Neville.
Neville jabbed his wand at her, "Stupify."She dropped. He took a step closer to her, and waved his wand down her prone form, "Enervate."
Marietta sat up, and June let her get fully up that time. It took about three full minutes. A few of the others had slowed down to watch with interest.
June spoke loud enough for everyone to hear, but never took her eyes off of Marietta's. "Do not judge your own strength on the measure of a cheep shot. Being stunned several times in a row is not easy on the body or the mind; give your partner the chance to recover a little before you attack them again. In this room, we do not cheat, we do not pick on people. Forget what you think you know about the person standing across from you, for I know none of you know each other well enough to judge. For example, Marietta," June was still staring her straight in the eye, "what do you know about your partner, Neville."
Marietta looked out at the crowd and back at June, "he's not very powerful, magic wise. He stumbles, he has memory problems, he often gets locked out of his Dorm because he can't remember the password. He's the only Heir to the Longbottom's, the matriarch being his grandmother." She smirked like she had proven something, but it faded when she noticed June was wearing the same kind of smirk.
June steps next to Neville, and puts her arm through his, "can anyone else tell me something about Neville here, that his partner may have missed about him?"
"He's a Gryffindor Prefect, so he can't be that bad in school." Ernie said.
"He's really good at Herbology. Professor Sprout is always saying so." Hannah spoke up.
"He's shy, and quiet, so he doesn't get noticed as much as others might." Draco said with a smile."
No one else said anything. June smiled, "His parents were my parents friends. His mum and my mum were pregnant at the same time. We have the same birthday." June turned to Neville, "would you care to add something?"
Neville was blushing bright red at this point, and shook his head.
June, still smiling turned back to Marietta, "now, let's practice for a bit longer, we still have about twenty minutes until the next part."
Everyone got back to work, and Marietta was a lot nicer to Neville, especially since he got her twice more before she got him again. June walked around, watching people. As it got later, and they started to wear down, the couples started talking. Draco and Ginny were doing a kind of dance, they had finished stunning spells pretty early, laughing when they hit the other with something. When more had stopped stunning and were using harmless prank spells on each other, June called their attention.
Smiling, June addressed them. "Since we've all gotten off topic, now is a good time to stop. Before we all rush back to our different corners of the castle, I want to play a little game with you." June's smile widened when she noticed everyone was still next to their partners, instead of re-forming their house groups. "I know some of you are still pretty young, Dennis being the youngest, but its never to early to think about what you want to do with your life, so, for homework, I want you to talk to your partner now, and give me a few paragraphs on their future plans. You can go as shallowly as career, or as deep as family details. Everyone who does well will get a special treat, and if you put no effort or don't do it at all, you will be used for a practice duel in our next lesson." June grinned sinisterly, "so either do a good job, or study up on your spells."
They all laughed, separated, and sat on the cushions, some taking notes as they talked.
While everyone was getting better acquainted, June walked around, tapping a few people on their shoulder, asking them to stay after.
Slowly, everyone finished up and made their way back to their common rooms. The people June asked to stay, came and sat with her, chatting, waiting for everyone to leave. Soon enough, the room was empty except for the eleven people June tapped.
June warded the door, making it so the others couldn't come back. Standing in front of her, were her friends. Fred and George were comparing notes on the Ravenclaw's they were each partnered with, Ginny, Ron and Hermione were all standing together, laughing about something, and Daphne, Draco, Millie and Blaise were discussing what attack spells they should learn next. Neville and Luna had been talking to June about Marietta, but when June noticed the last person leave, she silenced them.
Everyone noticed when June stopped talking, they had been waiting for it.
"ok, I was reading a book," June smiled as she saw more then a few eyes roll, she'd been doing little else for the past few days, "and I found a spell in an Advanced Transfiguration book that will tell you what animal you would turn into, should you become an Animagus. Anyone interested?"
Many mouths dropped, and after a few seconds of silence, a loud, "hell yeah!" broke through. Fred Weasley was the first to step up.
June laughed as everyone automatically got in line. "You don't need to stand in line! Come on, stand so everyone can see everyone else's animal."
June started with Fred as everyone crowded around to see. Dalam Hewan. June went through the motions as Fred stood absolutely still. The usual cloud of smoke came out and immediately took form. Everyone laughed as the unmistakable shape of a Fox formed. George was next, always right behind his twin. His cloud took a second for someone to recognize, but Luna said in a dreamy tone, "what a lovely Bobcat."
Blaise and Millie were next, and when they stepped back, they had decided never to become Animagus.
Blaise growled, "there must be something wrong with that, of all the animals! and it's a reptile to boot!"
Millie frowned, "I don't think Crocodiles are really reptiles, but its better then mine." Millie put her face in her hands, "nothing is worse then a Gorilla."
Ron almost burst laughing when Neville's came out a floppy eared rabbit, but was quickly silenced at the sight of his Bison.
A lot of them were holding in their laughter when Hermione almost started crying at the sight of her Beaver, and no one was surprised to watch Luna's butterfly float around before disappearing. Ginny was very pleased with her Hummingbird, as was Daphne with her Doe.
And no one, no one, was as mad as Draco when a Zebra came galloping out of his chest.
They all left, chatting and moaning about the animal they got, none of them convinced that it would be worth the trouble to learn the skill, except perhaps Luna, who kept having June perform the spell on her again and again.
No one thought to ask June what her form was.
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Thursday passed as it usually did, a blur of classes and homework, until it was time for June meeting with Snape. Her friends in Slytherin told her to have fun, which they thought she would, since the cover story was Potions.
Snape and June spent two hours working on her Occlumency, and there was no progress made. She had hit a wall. Snape kept getting past her defenses and she couldn't push him out.
"its possible that you just don't have the talent for it." Snape said with a shrug. "You're not defenseless, and you could hold back the Dark Lord."
June frowned, "I've never had something I was bad at before."
Snape rolled his eyes, "you're not bad at this, your just too emotional, you wear your heart on your sleeve, trust me, in you, it's a good quality."
June laughed, "except when I have to go up against an evil mass murdering psychopath who would like nothing more then my head on a platter."
Snape smiled slightly, "maybe we're going about this the wrong way. you have a good mind, and you have the basics down, maybe subterfuge is the best bet."
June frowned, "you want me to fake my thoughts?"
Snape laughed, "No, I was thinking more along the lines of a mask. You'll have a few emotions and a few memories to wear at the front of your mind, harmless but emotional stuff, so he won't think to look deeper. A few memories of Draco, a few of me, a few of classes and family, things he would already know or wouldn't care about, but that he thinks he can use against you."
June nodded, "that sounds doable. How does it work?"
Snape started toward his Lab, "well, you start by organizing your thoughts. The easiest way would probably be on paper. You don't have to detail it out, just put little titles, like 'Draco and I hanging out by the lake' or 'Preparation of Sleeping Draught'."
June frowned, "but Draco and I spend every Saturday by the lake, how would that distinguish one memory out of them all?"
Snape smiled, "It wouldn't, that's the point. General everyday things like class and hanging out with your boyfriend are exactly the kinds of things you find in an average teen's head. I would know."
June nodded. "So I should just write down a whole bunch of random thoughts that I don't care if everyone, even the Dark Lord, knows?"
"Exactly." Snape said with a smile.
They spent the next hour chatting and brewing potions, then June headed off to bed.
"Juniper?" She turned. "how far have you gotten on that essay for Professor McGonagall?"
June smiled, "I'm taking my time on it, like she told me. I have a few notes, and it looks like I should be done by next Wednesday, if the reading goes along as it has been."
Snape nodded, "so, do you think your going to do it?"
June grinned, "of course."
Snape smirked, "good. Because we wont be doing another Occlumency lesson for awhile. I want you to take your time with that list, make it as long as possible. I also have a few more books for you to read on the subject of protecting the mind and dream direction. We won't have another meeting until after Christmas."
June frowned, "but that's three months away!"
Snape laughed, "get out of here brat, enjoy the break while you have it. I'll give you those books tomorrow, come here after your last class."
June saluted, "yes sir!" and ran out of the room.
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~Saturday~
June sat in the stands of the Quiddich Pitch, reading a book and watching Draco try to catch the Snitch. At an average practice session, June would catch the Snitch about three times per hour, with her team mates trying to block and impede her. Draco had been practicing for almost six hours now, and has caught it twice. Everyone was staying out of his way, the sky was slightly overcast, so the conditions were perfect. For a Seeker. Draco kept getting distracted by the Quaffle and the other Chasers. They had a game in four weeks, against Gryffindor. A team that had all four of the resident Weasley's playing, including Ginny as their Seeker.
Speaking of which…
June could see the Gryffindor Quiddich Team heading out for their turn on the field, right on time. A little blob of red coming toward the field. June waved at Draco, who told the Captain, and the Slytherin's started clearing the field. The Gryffindors headed up to June before practice, they were all in TACT, so they knew she wasn't spying, but they didn't trust the other Slytherin's.
Ginny plopped down next to her, and Ron sat on her other side. The Twins sat behind her, making June very nervous, and the three Chasers sat in seats around them.
"so, how are Slytherin's chances for the Cup this year?" Ginny asked as she leaned back.
June smiled, "well, they booted their prize Seeker, so they're training a new one from scratch. If he can pull through, it could be an excellent season. If not, it looks like Gryffindor's year."
Ron grinned, "It is Gryffindor's year. We've got the best team in the school, no newbie is a match for Gin, and with my superb flying and blocking, there's no way we'll lose!"
June slapped Ron on the back, "that's the spirit! Think like a Bison!"
Ron's ears went red and Ginny started laughing. The Twins were being suspiciously quiet, but June was distracted.
"You know, you never did tell us what you got." Ron said, his arms crossed and his face in full sulk mode.
Ginny stopped laughing, "Hey, that's right! What did you get?"
June smiled, "guess."
Ginny smiled, they had played this kind of game all summer. "give me a hint."
June grinned, "ask yes or no questions, and I'll answer honestly."
Ron started, "is it embarrassing?"
June smiled, "nope."
Ginny was quiet, but Fred had a question. "Is it a reptile?"
"No."
"Is it a bird?" George asked.
"Yes."
They all smiled.
Ginny grinned; "is it a small bird?" she must have been thinking of her own Hummingbird.
"No, it's defiantly not small."
"Can it fly?" Ron asked.
"Yes, it can fly."
Fred spoke up next, "can it swim?"
"Ooh, good question." George said with a grin.
"Yes, it can swim." June smiled.
"You're a duck?" Ron asked incredulously.
June laughed, "no, I said it wasn't embarrassing."
There are other birds that can swim Ron," Ginny said with a roll of her eyes. "Swans, geese, seagulls, loons, and quite a few that I don't even know."
Fred grinned, "Well, only one of those options aren't embarrassing."
George nodded. Ginny smiled. Ron looked confused.
"Well, what is she?" Ron asked after they'd all be quiet for awhile.
"A Swan" all four said together.
~JP~JP~JP~JP~
June and Draco sat by the lake, staring out. Draco usually did this while June read, but today, June was thinking about her Animagus form. What would it be like to fly? To swim on the surface of the water, just floating and paddling along? She imagined a swan, elegant and graceful, beautiful.
This memory did not get put on her list.
JBJBJBJBJBJBJBJBJBJB
How was that? I'm sure it wasn't worth the looong wait, but its much better then the drafts I had been writing. . they were coming out very… moody. I don't work well in 110* weather.
So, what did you think of the Animagus forms?
This didn't have a lot of Umbridge, I know, and we'll see more of her in the future, but June's not quite as… mouthy as Harry. We're still in her good graces. And its not like she's like Starkid's Umbridge, going off on everything for no reason. We'll start seeing educational decrees soon. ^_^ I'm sure we all remember how fun those were in the 5th book. They may be a little different, but still with the same goal; total domination.
If you'd like to see pictures of each of the Animagus forms, they're posted on my facebook, just search for Juniper Potter if you aren't already my friend.