Reviews:
DZ2 : Problem is that nobody, tiger or not, would willingly eat any of them.
The sous : I do have a planned story but it will probably be a while before I start writing it.
Masso 2010 : Thanks, a fun fact is that when I wrote the first chapter and hadn't yet settled on a name I had labeled it tiger as I had always intended to make Harry a tiger animagus. I was thinking about making him a black tiger but I thought that white worked better, pure white with dark black mixed in, just seemed perfect. Also about your earlier comment regarding Selena, when she is a tattoo she is just a regular tattoo and part of Harry's skin. There are three thing I can think of in regards to this:
1) Some of Harry's stripes are in a certain shape
2) She's hidden under his fur
3) Sirius had tattoos but you couldn't see them in his form.
Chaos Snow Kitsune : Our conversation may or may not have had an effect on the story (wink wink), glad you liked the teasing.
BMS : Thanks for you help, as for making him magical...I am thinking about that but I am not sure yet.
Chapter 25 -
Harry found that he rather enjoyed Daphne and Tracy's company, the two girls made for a far more entertaining train ride than Ron and Hermione ever did, the fact that they were better looking was absolutely not part of the reason why. Once the girls had gotten used to him they began revealing more about their personalities, both girls were witty and smart. Daphne was slightly more talkative than Tracy who was a little shy but eventually got used to his presence.
Harry found it to be a refreshing experience to be able to talk how he liked without dumbing himself down or having someone complain about his language or ruin the conversation in some way or form. Neither girl would complain if he swore, as a matter of fact once they realised that he had no problem with swearing they eased up enough to actually swear themselves.
Harry had learnt some basic things about the girls, apparently Tracy was considered a half-blood because one of her grandparents was a muggle and the pureblood requirement for being a pureblood was to have at least two sets of magical grandparents plus two magical parents. Due to her blood status she was looked down on in Slytherin, not hated but more like a second class citizen as far as everyone was concerned. Daphne on the other hand was a pureblood member of the Greengrass family, a family that was nearly as rich as the Malfoy family but with a slightly longer history in wizarding Britain. The two girls were also best friends and had been so since they were children, Harry was under the impression that it was Daphne's presence that made life more bearable for Tracy in Slytherin but did not comment on it.
Harry did not reveal anything important to the girls, just basic information about himself. Namely that he lived with muggles he disliked for a few years and was ignorant of the wizarding world until recently and he also mentioned how he had recently moved into his godfather's home. He even explained his tattoo on his left hand but did not mention his Selena tattoo as the girls could not actually see it. The trio had also started discussing school.
"I think potions class might actually be likeable if not for the fact that Snape can't leave me alone long enough for me to actually make the damn potion." Harry said.
"Yeah," Tracy frowned. "for someone who doesn't like you he sure seeks you out."
"Poor Potter," Daphne said as she gave him a pitying look. "Malfoy, Snape, dark wizards, you can't help but attract trouble." She said with a small smile.
"Yes, that's what happens when you're as perfect as I am, everyone wants a piece." Harry said with a fake smile.
"Yeah well..." Tracy was interrupted as the door opened to reveal a small blonde girl with blue eyes.
"Daphne, I..." The girl stopped and trailed off when she saw Harry sitting in the compartment. "H...Harry Potter!" She gasped out.
"Hello," Harry said as he gave her a charming smile and took her hand in his own before giving her knuckles a small kiss. "might I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"
"A...Astoria!" The girl squeaked. Harry was suddenly surprised when Daphne began laughing, the girl's blushing face was now red for another reason as she glared at Daphne. "What?!" She demanded.
"I am glad that someone has finally been able to render you speechless," Daphne chuckled, Astoria suddenly went back to blushing.
"I take it that you two know each other," Harry said, "are you two related? Sisters I'm guessing."
"Yeah, they are." Tracy answered for Daphne. "Astoria over there is starting her first year."
"Hmm, I hope you enjoy your time here." Harry said to Astoria.
"T...thank you," Astoria said, recovering as quickly as she could, a memory suddenly pushed itself to the front of her mind. "oh is it true that you have become an animagus this summer?" She asked.
"How did you know?" Harry's eyes narrowed, he was sure that Kingsley would have been intelligent and smart enough to know how to discreetly register him.
"W...well," Astoria was slightly intimidated now but pushed on as she knew that it was not her that Harry was mad at. "me and a few first years were talking when we overheard some people talking about it."
"Who?" Harry frowned even as his mind began guessing who it was, Ron's name came up on the list of people. Harry did wish that he could have done the animagus transformation on his own without letting anyone know but he did need at least one experienced person to help just so he did not end up with a permanent paw or tail.
"We heard Malfoy and this red headed boy talking about it." Astoria answered, pretty much confirming Harry's guess. "So...is it true?"
"Yes," Harry sighed as he made a mental note to find Ron and cut the redhead's tongue out of his mouth and sew his lips shut plus a kick in the balls for bad luck. "I am."
"That is impressive." Daphne complimented him while Tracy had her jaw dropped slightly.
"You're an animagus at fifteen?" Tracy breathed out with disbelief. "That's incredible!"
"Can I see?" Astoria asked in a hopeful and excited voice.
"Well...it's kind of a big form so I can't really show you now," Harry said apologetically. "find me tomorrow when I have more room and I promise to show you."
"Fine." Astoria said, slightly disappointed but trusted him just enough to take him at his word.
"Astoria, not that I am not glad to see you, but wasn't here a point to your visit?" Daphne asked.
"Oh...right, the train's nearly there so I came to get changed into my school clothes." Astoria said as she gestured to her trunk which was up with Daphne and Tracy's.
"I will just go out so you three can get changed." Harry said as he stood up. "Take your time, oh and keep the door locked and window clothes, I don't want to give into the temptation of seeing three beauty's like you with less clothes." Harry added as he walked out. Astoria blushed and Tracy gaped while Daphne shot a stinging hex at him that Harry barely managed to avoid before closing the door.
Harry eventually arrived in the great hall after riding a carriage with Daphne and Tracy to the school and pretending that he did not see or hear people trying and failing at being discreet as they were talking about him. Harry sat at the Gryffindor table as was required for him as part of the feast, Harry was well aware that thanks to the tournament last year he was given a lot more freedom then he would have this year so knew that if he did not want to spend his entire year in detention then he should at least make it appear like he was obeying the rules.
"Hi Harry," A voice said just as Angelina and Alicia sat opposite him while Katie slid into the seat next to him. "how are you doing?" Katie asked.
"I am doing great, how was your summer?" Harry smiled.
"Eh..." Katie shrugged. "same old, some old."
"Just a regular summer for me." Alicia commented.
"Me too," Angelina nodded. "now what is this we have been hearing about you becoming an animagus?"
"Oh Merlin on a bike," Harry sighed. "shall I assume that the whole school knows about it?"
"With the speed of the rumor mill they will by the morning if they don't know by now." Katie replied. "So is it true?" She asked.
"Yep," Harry nodded, he sent a small glare in Ron's direction before turning back to the girls. "I can show you guys when we get back to the common room."
"Oh what animal is it?" Angelina asked.
"I'll surprise you," Harry grinned before he turned to Alicia. "prefect huh?" He asked right before he gestured to her prefect badge.
"Yep," Alicia nodded with a small bit of pride. "tattoo huh?" She asked before gesturing to Harry's left hand.
"Yep." Harry nodded.
"Why that?" Angelina asked as she pointed at it.
"Well you know how my mothers name was Lily?"
"Yeah." Katie nodded.
"Hence the flower." Angelina said as she pointed to it.
"Is the deer supposed to have something to do with your father?" Alicia guessed.
"Right in one," Harry nodded. "my father was also an animagus and could turn into a stag." Harry pointed to the stag head that was alternating its gaze between the three chasers, Harry was pretty sure that it was only the lack of legs and body that kept the stag from running up and down his whole body.
"Like father like son eh?" Angelina grinned.
"Well," Harry smirked. "not exactly." Harry said as he imagined what his father would be like upon seeing
"Oh, the sorting is starting." Katie pointed out as she gestured to the front of the hall, one by one the first years began getting sorted. The only sorting that Harry paid any actual attention to was Astoria because she was pretty much the only kid he knew of the lot, the hat seemed still for several moments before it eventually settled on Ravenclaw. Astoria had a look that was somewhere between relief and disappointment before she smiled and walked towards the Ravenclaw table.
Once the sorting was done it was time for the yearly welcoming feast, Dumbledore stood up from his chair as the hall went silent and began his speech. Dumbledore's speech went on for several minutes before it looked like it was nearing to a close.
"Tryouts for he house Quidditch teams will take place on.." Dumbledore was interrupted by a clearing of the throat, everyone watched as a woman stood up and walked in front of the table and stood on stage. Dumbledore did not move for a moment before he say down as if he did not mind what was happening.
"Thank you Headmaster," The woman said, she was dressed entirely in pink and had a face like a toad, Harry was not often one for judging people by their looks but this was one case where he was totally judging by their looks. "for those kind words." She continued, her voice was high pitched and girly, Harry for some reason or the other felt an almost unnatural level of dislike for this woman despite barely knowing her. All he knew was he wanted to punch her in the throat and set her on fire. It was then that he remembered that she was Madam Umbridge, Fudge's undersecretary. He didn't like her then either. "It is lovely to be back at Hogwarts and to see all of you happy faces smiling up at me." Harry frowned and looked around, he noted how the teacher was also apparently either blind or delusional as nobody was smiling at her, in fact most if not all people looked like they did not like her. Harry wasn't sure if they were experiencing the same unnatural dislike of her or if it was merely the fact that she was talking to them all like they were five year olds. "I am sure that we will all be the best of friends." She smiled.
"She means 'pity friends' right?" Harry asked the chasers.
"I do not have that much pity in me." Katie replied as various people in the hall began talking, Umbridge cleared her throat several times before silence returned to the hall.
"The Minister and Ministry of magic have always, always, considered the education of students to be of incredibly vital importance." Umbridge continued speaking. "You are all born with rare gifts that need to be nurtured, trained and honed by careful instruction. I do believe that..."
As she continued Harry was only half focusing on her words, mostly because he felt like he would rather focus on literally anything else. But he powered through just enough to understand the basics, it was unsaid but blatantly obvious that the Minister had sent her to Hogwarts, likely because of Dumbledore's claims about Voldemort and it was obvious that the Umbridge was here to take other the school.
"Alright, show us." Katie said as Harry and the other Gryffindors got back into the common room, Harry couldn't help but notice Ron and Hermione quickly make their way up to their rooms instead of spending time downstairs with the rest, the same way he noticed that Hermione's arm was in a sling. "Come on Harry."
"Show us what?" Neville Longbottom asked.
"Harry's going to show his animagus form." Alicia explained.
"Blimey, you mean the rumor was true?" Dean asked.
"Well...it is this time." Harry replied right before his body shifted, Harry was soon replaced by a white tiger. All the students gasped and looked at Harry in awe, Harry pulled his head back and let out a roar, not as loud as he could make it but just loud enough to be intimidating. After a few moments of the students gazing at him Harry had transformed back into his human form. "Impressive huh?" Harry grinned just before several people began cheering for him. "Thank you, thank you. Hold on guys, I'm just going to go upstairs, I will be right back." Harry said right before he walked up to the fifth year boys room.
Harry when he entered he saw Ron sitting on his bed, Ron was looking through his trunk and looking at his prefect badge. Harry did not know what Dumbledore was thinking by making Ron a prefect, Ron had just as many if not more detentions as Harry plus his work was undoubtedly worse. Harry understood that after last year he was not likely to make prefect but he had thought that perhaps Neville or Dean would be chosen, maybe even Seamus but not Ron.
Ron, who was smiling proudly at his badge, had not noticed Harry, nor did he notice Harry slowly and silently closing the door before he placed several privacy charms to ensure that the two would not be disturbed.
"Hey Ron," Harry said as he leaned against the door and casually twirled his wand in his hand, Ron jumped slightly and looked towards the voice when he saw it was Harry he relaxed slightly. "I learnt something interesting on the way to Hogwarts, do you know what?"
"What are you on about?" Ron asked, looking confused.
"What I am on about is the fact that on the train ride a first year came up to me and was talking to me about how she and her friends had overheard Malfoy and a 'red headed boy' talking about the fact that I am an animagus," Harry said as he glared at the redhead, "I know you were shit at keeping secrets but you couldn't even last a day?"
"Piss off." Ron said as he put his badge away, he stood up and confidently walked over to Harry. "I am a prefect." He said with a smile.
"You're also an idiot," Harry said as he stopped leaning on the door. "you do realise that because of you the whole school will be talking about me and because of you Kingsley had wasted a lot of unnecessary hours 'discreetly' registering me instead of saving time registering me like a normal person?" Harry asked, Ron's smile faltered for a few moments before he brought it back up at full force.
"I didn't mean to tell Malfoy but it happened, so what are you going to do about it?" Ron said in a challenging voice as he pushed Harry so Harry was against the door. "I am a prefect and McGonagall is not exactly as fond of you as she used to be so you'd better stay out of my way Potter." Ron warned, what he did not expect was for Harry to start laughing.
"Oh I am so sorry," Harry chuckled. "but it almost sounded to me like that was a threat."
"Watch it Potter, I am a prefect and ..."
"You think this gives you power over me?" Harry cut him off in an amused voice before he tutted his teeth. "Ah, poor sweet uneducated little Ronald, prefects can't give detentions, I remember that from Percy who we both know would gladly have handed out detentions like sweets if he could. Second of all you're not as smart as me or as book smart as Hermione, nor are you at the same magical level as either of us, heck I think your sister is probably stronger than you. You going to throw a punch? Fine, go on then, you'd get in trouble as well and you would be doing it to the guy who fought a dark wizard who was ten times better than you will ever be. What are you going to do?
Ah wait, your power is in taking points, isn't it? Of course, I am in the same house as you so when I lose points then you and Gryffindor suffer as well. I believe you are allowed to take no more than thirty points from a student in a day, is that correct? Let's say you take thirty from me everyday because I tell you about how you're an idiot and how your mother would have been better off throwing you away and keeping the stork, you think the Gryffindors will care? No, they will hate you for costing them points. So Ronald, what exactly was your leverage against me?" Harry smirked as he barely managed to hold in his laughter while Ron turned red.
"Fuck off Potter!" Ron snarled as he turned away. "You arrogant prick," He said as he walked off. "your mother should have..." Ron found himself cut off as he fell face first to the floor. Harry who had closed the distance quickly kicked Ron between the legs before hitting him with a body bind, the red head cried out and wheezed in pain as his hand snapped to the sides of his body, taking away the chance to aleivate the pain.
"Don't..." Harry kicked Ron in the side, "...talk..." Harry kicked him once more, "about my mother!" Harry finished with a final kick. He flicked his wand and Ron rose in the air before hanging upside down with his head at about Harry's chest height. Harry threw a silencing spell at the red head's mouth so he didn't hear him. "You know something Ron," Harry said as he yanked his hair. "I never liked you," Harry hissed "you were always a pain in my side that I had to put up with, first year..." Harry punched Ron in the face, "second and third," Harry punched him two more times, breaking Ron's nose, Ron cried out even though he couldn't be heard. "last year." Harry added before he punched Ron one more time, "There are levels of torture that I hope you give me an excuse to use, but right now you're just a prick so I won't kill you, all I can do is pray that you give me a reason to do so."
Harry dropped Ron on the bed and stunned him, Harry obliviated him and removed the part where Harry assaulted him and replaced it with the belief that Ron had simply insulted him before he left. Harry made it look like Ron had simply fallen asleep in his school clothes and had also reluctantly healed the damage he had inflicted on Ron. Harry was tempted to have Ron remember what happened but that was just inviting more trouble for him. Harry hit Ron with a sleeping charm right, he left the silencing charm as he knew it would wear off by morning time and if Harry and the others had a night without Ron snoring then all the better. The sleeping charm wasn't particularly powerful but should Ron happen to oversleep and miss the first couple of lessons or get waken up by someone and forced to go to classes then Harry would not say anything.
Harry smirked before he undid his charms on the door and walked back downstairs while making a mental note to hit Ron with some prank spells in the morning before he left.
A.N: Hi guys hope you liked the chapter. Just want to say a couple of things:
1) Thanks to everyone who has been reading, it means a lot.
2) I was having a very interesting conversation with someone and they pointed out how a few people don't like OC characters but still like Daphne Greengrass who isn't known beyond existing. Anyone want to comment on that?
3) Also I know I have a couple of people who read multiples stories that I have written, thanks for that, but can you all do me a favour and please stop asking me to upload for my other stories? I don't mean to be rude but I will upload when I upload, that means when I have the time, energy and ability to do so. Some stories are easier to write than others, for example I am currently shooting out chapters for this story but for stories like dark lord Potter or Trickshot I have to occasionally take a break to stop myself from getting sick of it and to allow myself to come up with ideas. I'd rather still like the story and upload when I want instead of treating it like an obligation and growing tired of it. I will upload when I upload, just be patient please.
Thanks for reading, I hope you all liked the chapter, feel free to leave a review.