Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
AN: Just a short chapter that's kind of lighthearted before we get started, on the heavy chapter coming around the bend.
Moody's House, Scotland, Near Strontian Village, 7/20/1997, 21:25
Harry sat on the ground in the spot him and Bill usually practiced their occlumency waiting patiently for the moon to appear in the sky.
The last few days had been quite hectic when the ministry workers who would be at risk from death eaters were brought in, they brought quite a few children with them. But they were small enough to stay with their parents, the only new additions from Harry's year group had been the Patil twins.
The Gryffindor chaser trio and Oliver wood had arrived, but they brought their own tents and set them up at the teenage side of camp mad-eye, the also brought with them more strength training exercises from 'Puddlemere United' and the ,Montrose Magpies, which Oliver and Alicia were members of respectively, Harry eagerly added these new excercises to the morning P.T, much to the displeasure of the rest of the camp.
Lessons were going well, Harry had made the group do dodging drills before lunch and had a training session after lunch. This was just like in fifth year he would teach the group the a new spell, and since the spells he was teaching were quite deadly, he had them practice on some training dummies he had acquire from Moody.
After Harry saw they could perform the spell satisfactory he would pair them off randomly and have them take turns sparring. Sometimes he would do one on one, or two on one but he was just trying to assess there skills when fighting another wizard.
Nobody really stood out so far, but he was seeing improvement across the board, and he was feeling better about the D.A's chances of fighting on their own, and not as another arm of the order of the pheonix.
Though there were still a lot of improvements to be made, last week Harry had run a raid drill with the assistance of Susan, Neville and Tonks. The results were depressing, him and Neville had dressed in hooded robes with a smiley face mask on their faces and entered the boys tent. Harry let off a noise maker spell that sounded like a cannon blast and woke the whole tent up, then Harry and Neville started firing stunners into the groggy group of teens they made sure to hit Bill Weasley first who was the only experienced fighter in the tent, only a few of the teens were even able to find their wands before they were stunned, Harry and Neville had stunned all ten people in the boys tent in under thirty seconds. They would have been dead if this were a real raid.
Harry had bound them all and levitated them outside by the campfire. The more depressing news was the occupants of the girls tent were already there waiting for them also bound and unconscious.
"How long did it take you?" Harry had asked Susan.
"Twenty-three seconds, the only one who put up a fight was Luna." Susan answered.
Nodding he ordered them to awake the camp.
When all the bound prisoners eyes were open and they noticed the four figures in black robes, some of the girls shrieked and most of them wiggled around trying to free themselves from the ropes they were bound in.
"Well Skull, what should we do with them?" Harry asked Bones in a deep menacing voice.
"I don't know Lightning, that performance was pathetic." Susan said having magically altered her voice to sound really creepy.
"What time is it?" Harry asked Susan.
"Three thirty-two, morning P.T?" Susan suggested now in her own voice.
"Right." Harry said be fore taking off his mask, Susan and the others did as well. Then Harry addressed the terrified group still tied up on the ground.
"We are at war, the wards of this place should not be taken for granted and if this had been a real raid you would all be dead! This very tactic is how the Death Eaters Strike, it's how they attacked many of our families in the past. The fact that most of you didn't even know where your wands were was fucking pathetic! You should always have your wand within reach at all times, expect more of these drills in the future the fact that four people took down almost two dozen without being hit by a single spell is unacceptable." Harry had ended his speech there and had the camp do morning P.T almost two hours early.
When Tonks had told Moody of this drill, the 'Order of the Pheonix' ran a similar drill, the outcome wasn't much better there and the order could be seen running around the track at four in the morning two days after the D.A had run their drill.
Harry's camp were now sleeping with their wands under their pillows, and during the next drill three nights later, Harry and Neville had to fall back under the barrage of spell fire hitting their shields when they entered the boys tent. Unfortunately when they left the tent it was to find the girls camp bound and unconscious by the firepit once again. Harry took off his mask and looked at Susan. "Well your in charge of the girls, I'm going back to sleep" Harry said cheerfully. . Him and Neville returned to the boys tent and went back to bed, Harry smirking to himself knowing Susan wrath would be directed at the sleeping beauties, who prevented her from going back to sleep.
Susan was of course pissed at Harry the next day put had vented a lot of her anger on the members of the girls tent, but she still shot dirty looks at Harry at Harry for leaving her with overseeing the P.T while him and Neville got some shut eye.
Now it was finally time to take this infernal leaf out of his mouth, he had brought the wood box with the crystal vials containing the other two ingredients and a sterile vial to mix the potion up in.
He had been starring at the sky and waiting for the clouds to part for almost an hour now, he was laid on his back relaxing in the cool Scotish night air when the clouds finally parted and the moon shined brightly down on him.
He quickly took out his wand and cast 'amato animo animato animagus' and cancelled the sticking charm on the leaf. He plucked it out of his mouth and placed it into the sterile vial.
Taking out the vial of undisturbed dew he had collected at Hogwarts and kept under a stasis charm, he added one teaspoon into the vial with the mandrake leaf and watched the leaf almost instantly dissolve turning the solution a dark green color.
Harry then plucked a hair from his head and dropped it into the solution which turned the solution a light black color.
He removed the final ingredient from the last vial, the deaths-head hawk moth cocoon which for an insect was enormous. Harry pushed that into the vial and placed the cork tightly in the vial, and then shook the potion mixture seven times and watched the chrysalis dissolve into the black liquid, and turn the potion to a dark midnight black.
There was enough potion there for maybe a mouth full and the color matched the description for what that potion should look at this stage.
Harry opened the box and gently placed the potion back in the box and closed the lid, taking out his wand he dug a two foot hole in the earth and placed an impervius charm on the box before he gently placing it in the hole and carefully covering it in dirt.
He then placed a small orange flag over where the potion was buried. The instructions said he was to place the potion in a dark undisturbed place, what better place than a hole in the ground, that's where he found the moth chrysalis, so at least one of the ingredients was at home there. He placed a notice me not charm over the area and smiled step three complete, now he just had to wait for a thunderstorm.
It was summer time in Scotland one of the rainiest countries in the world he would not have to wait long.
/A/D/W/F/
Number twelve Grimmauld Place, London, 7/22/1997, 19:00
Narcissa Malfoy was going stir crazy, every few days Severus would visit and give her news, and fill her in on the happenings of the world. Severus would bring her food and keep her company when the dark lord was not of need of him.
But that still didn't help relieve the stress she was under, she had been worrying for her son ever since she had gotten word that he had run away.
She hadn't heard anything from the order or Potter yet, she half expected Harry Potter to turn up on his seventeenth birthday and kick her out. Severus had informed her that it was Potter threatening Draco that caused him to run away to France. She had also heard what Potter had done to Theodore Nott and knew he was going to become very a dangerous wizard. He wasn't like the rest of the light side he didn't seem to have any problems casting to kill and she hoped he wouldn't show up here and kill her in her sleep.
She had only spoken to him once but that conversation had definitely not endeared her to him. She had insinuated he would die before Lucius was released from prison and in her defense she was half right. Hopefully that conversation would not come back bite her in the bum when Potter did finally show up here.
She had found out from Severus that Draco had been tracked to France by the dark lords forces, but the death eaters couldn't enter the property so they were staking it out and waiting for him to come out of the safety of the wards, if Draco was anything like her husband he would cower behind his wards until doomsday if he had too.
She had spent her days here cleaning up her aunts old home and making the place fit for habitation, she had tried calling Kreacher but the elf had not answered no doubt on Potter's orders, so she had done it herself, it helped to pass the time.
Still she was safe for now so she would just take it one day at a time and hope she survived this war.
She would wait a little while longer and then she would send Potter a message to meet with her, she could help him a lot with accomplishing his goals to defeat Voldemort, she just hoped he would help her get her son out of France in exchange for her help.
/A/D/W/F/
Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England, 7/23/1997, 23:00
"Well are we ready to go, Corban?" Voldemort demanded.
'Most of the department heads are under our influence now, but a lot of employees have stopped coming to work and the Ministry is in a state of chaos at the moment." Yaxley answered nervously.
"Which employees have gone missing?" Voldemort asked curiously.
"Every muggleborn employee we have, all the clerks and secretaries have gone, as well as the head of the goblin liaison office and a bunch of small department heads. On top of that the device that monitors underage magic was stolen and it was created over three hundred years ago and we can't find a way to duplicate it." Yaxley explained.
"They know! The order must know I'm close to taking the ministry." Voldemort said in annoyance.
Well this would speed up his taking of the ministry, but it would not give him the chance to capture a large portion of his opposition, the element of surprise was lost. Still he would have the might of the ministry so he could find all of these people's homes from the ministry records and just capture them later on.
"How long Yaxley?" Voldemort asked impatiently.
"By the first of August my lord." Yaxley answered.
"Very well, will the taboo be ready to put into effect by then.
"Yes my lord it is ready now." Corbin answered promptly.
"Very well, any news on Potter's were abouts?" Voldemort changed the subject.
"No, he has vanished since the sixteenth of June, he was seen leaving with A list or Moody and the Bones girl." Yaxley answered.
"And Draco Malfoy?" Voldemort asked.
"He hasn't left the wards of the Malfoy summer home in France, he must know our people are there and is staying put." Yaxley said.
"After we take the ministry I will have Lucis lead a team into the house and deal with the little coward once and for all." Voldemort said.
"Yes, my lord." Yaxley said eagerly.
"That will be all." Voldemort dismissed.
Yaxley nodded and bowed himself out of the throne room.
Voldemort hated having to wait but with Severus' cover blown he did not have a source inside the order had obviously been working hard all summer to prepare for his takeover.
Then there was Potter, he had at first been glad that the connection between their minds had been severed, but now he wished it was still there so he could track the boy down. Potter presented a danger to him not only because of the prophecy, but also the damage the boy had done to his reputation.
Potter had destroyed his body when he was but a babe, the boy had been made famous for his mudblood mothers sacrifice. He had been in exile for thirteen years for that mistake on his part, and the boys legend only grew because of that night.
Then the boy escaped him at the graveyard when he returned to a new body. Their wands connected and everyone of his death eaters saw Potter's wand over power his own. The boy had done the impossible and slipped right through his finger tips.
Then last summer Potter had hurt him very badly, when he had entered the boys mind and he had been in a weakened state for months, he could not have his death eaters think he was bested by the Potter boy.
He would track the boy down soon but first he needed a better wand, Potter's shared a core with his and he would have to overcome that hurtle if he didn't want a repeat of the event in the graveyard.
Yes he needed a powerful new wand, perhaps one made of elder.
/A/D/W/F/
Moody's House, Scotland, Near Strontian Village, 7/24/1997
Harry jerked awake as a flash of lightning illiuminated his tent followed by a crash of thunder and rain started falling heavily on the tents roof, he jumped ou of his rack and ran out the tents door and sprinted barefoot to where he had buried the box with his potion in the ground.
He arrived to the spot and hastily skidded to a stop, with a flick of this wand the box burst from the ground and Harry deftly caught it.
Sitting down on the wet ground, he lit his wand tip and carefully opened the box, the potion was blood red and looked exactly as described in the recipe he had gotten from Horace Slughorn.
Pointing his wand towards the tents he cast a messenger patronus which said "Susan I need your assistance just follow my patronus and he'll lead you to me."
Harry had to wait ten minutes before he saw his patronus leading a very soaked Susan Bones to him it was still raining pretty heavily and every so often lightening would flash lighting the area up for a milisecond and he would hear thunder boom loudly shortly after.
"What in the bloody hell is the idea, waking me up and dragging me out into the rain, this better be important or you'll be eating your bits for breakfast" She said in a very annoyed tone.
"My animagus revealer potion was just completed, I was hoping you would be with me when I took it. I might need you to get help if it goes wrong and tell me what my animal is if it isn't obvious to me when I transform." Harry explained hoping she would agree.
"Sure I can do that, why are you only wearing your underwear by the way? Susan asked blushing but stealing glances at his bare chest none the less.
Harry's eyes widened almost comically, he had completely forgotten he ran out of the tent in only his boxer, he blushed and answered "I was in a hurry alright." Harry said embarrassedly.
"Well the calisthenics are certainly doing you some good, are those abs? Susan asked innocently.
"Alright, alright just please stop." harry begged his face resembling a tomato in color.
"Fine, but your always making crass comments around Tonks, I don't see the big deal." She said
"I'm just messing joking around with tonks. She's not gawking at me in my underwear." Harry said grumpily.
"She will be when I tell her about this." Susan muttered.
Harry ignored her last comment and got back on task "When I take the animagus potion I'll have to do the animagus spell, then I am going to change, you have to get me to focus on you, remind me I am a wizard and I need to change back. If my animals instincts takes over could be stuck in whatever form I take." Harry told her very seriously.
"Why did you pick me for this?" Susan asked looking very apprehensive.
"Because I trust you more than anyone, are you ready?" harry asked taking the vial and preparing tp drink.
"Yes, I'm ready." Susan said her voice contradicting her confidence, though she did feel rather warm inside at Harry's last statement, his words really meant a lot to her.
"It'll be fine.", Susan." Harry reassured her.
She nodded at him and then she quickly lit her wand so she would be able to observe his transformation.
Harry tipped the potion back and drank it down quickly, and cast 'amato animo animato animagus'.
The first thing Harry felt was Pain everywhere, radiating from his stomach to his chest and his spine. Just as suddenly he felt new sensations pass through him, he could feel his body reforming, his torso seemed to stretch, and his vision seemed to sharpen he could see very clearly even as dark as it was, pale yellow fur sprouted from his chest and a darker gold fur with a smattering of large black spots covered his arms.
His arms seemed to thicken and his muscle structure reformed, his spine seemed to stiffen and reshape and he fell forward, no longer able to sit like a human, he put his hands out to stop his fall only to see they weren't hands anymore, they had changed into large paws with sharp nasty claws protruding from each toe, he tried to speak and it came out sounding like a deep "Rooow."
As suddenly as everything started it stopped and a multitude of smells were assaulting his senses, he could smell a fruity smell that he knew was familiar, turning he saw a human, sniffing again he knew it was a female he was familiar with. Standing on all fours he felt very powerful, opening his mouth he let out another "Roooow" and walked towards the female, now he sensed fear, prey she smelled like prey.
Susan watched in shock as Harry drank that potion and cast a rather long spell on himself, he began to change before her eyes into a great big Leopard, He stood on four legs about navel height and had to be a good five six foot long, the only way she could tell it was Harry was the markings on his forehead a cluster of spots sort of resembled a lightning bolt, that she could make out even in the insubstantial beam of her wand light.
Her observations were over when Harry started stalking towards her and let out a roar that sent a chill up her spine.
"Harry." she said as calmly as she could.
Harry continued moving towards her and sniffed her then sat on his haunches staring at her.
"You have to change back, now." Susan said smiling at Harry and running her hand through the fur on his head and finding it was quite soft, then she heard the unmistakable sound of him purring. She giggled at the list humongous kitten purring like a kitten.
Harry smelled Susan and heard her say his name, he could smell the fear she was radiating and he wanted to attack, his instincts were telling him this was prey, "No" Harry screamed in his mind and forced control over himself, and walked up to her sat on his haunches like a dog would and looked at Susan, he could visibly see her relax and examine him some more. Suddenly he could remember why he was here and what he was doing. He heard Susan tell him he needed to change back and then stroked his head, Harry wanted to groan at the feeling it gave him, but it came out sounding like a purring sound you would hear from a housecat, Harry thought of his human self and yearned to be back in that form.
Susan watched as the leopard shrank before her eyes his skull seemed to shrink into itself, the fur receded and his back seemed to limber up and his legs changed back to human legs. Within less than thirty seconds Harry Potter sat were a large leopard had been.
"That was amazing,how did it feel." Susan asked curiously.
"It hurt a lot at first but that went away pretty quickly, then I kind of don't remember much until the leopard wanted to eat you and I has to force myself back in control, Then I remember everything." Harry explained happily.
"You wanted to eat me? Susan asked horrified.
"Yes you smelled of fear and the leopard saw you as prey." Harry explained soothingly.
"You try seeing a leopard stalking toward you and not being scared shitless." Susan shot back.
"I wasn't making fun of you, Harry said I was just telling you what the leopard was thinking." Harry soothed.
"Okay, I'm sorry I snapped at you." Susan said.
"Thank you Susan, you have helped me a lot. I owe you one for this." Harry said genuinely.
"Yeah sure now can we get out of this rain, I'm freezing?" Susan asked.
"Yeah, you wouldn't be so cold if you had had come only in your underwear like I did." Harry said with a grin.
"In your dreams Potter." Susan said blushing at the thought.
"Now that the idea's in my head there is a good possibility it will be ." Harry agreed.
"Don't start Potter, I know your just trying to get me back for earlier. Now come on I'm freezing." Susan said grumpily.
"Okay, let's get back we both need a shower." Harry said.
Harry picked up the box he had stored the potion in and flicked his wand to fill the hole in the ground with dirt, he then stood up and lead Susan back towards the tents.
Harry could see very well now, not as good as he could as a leopard but better than before, this could definitely come in handy. The rain was still coming down hard but the thunder and lightning had stopped, Harry sped up he was starting to get cold, they quickly made it back to the tents and Harry stopped in front of the boys tent.
"Thanks again Susan,I'll see you in the morning." Harry told her.
"No problem. It was pretty awesome, even though I'm soaking wet and you were planning on eating me." Susan Susan said tiredly.
"Where the hell have you been?" Said a voice inside the boys tent.
Harry looked to the source of the voice and found Bill Weasley looking at him expectantly.
"Lightning?" Harry said as if that explained everything.
"Well I'll just go now, see you tomorrow Harry." Susan said and quickly dashed into the girls tent.
"She must not know Fleur is waiting up for her." Bill said with a grin.
"Awesome." Harry grinned and headed towards the shower.
He was stopped halfway there by a question from Bill. "Is she at least on the potion Harry?"
Harry looked at Bill confused for half a second before chuckling and saying. "Me and Susan are not shagging, I don't even like her that way." Harry said calmly.
"Then why did you come back in only your underwear? And for that matter why was Susan talking about you eating her?" Bill asked skeptically.
"I woke up to lightning striking, that meant my animagus potion was ready. I just got out of bed and ran to where my potion was stored. I called Susan to watch over me while I changed, in case something went wrong with the transformation. Well that and to help me take control of my animals instincts." Harry said and then walked into the shower room and let the warm water flow over him. Leaving a gaping Bill Weasley behind him.
/A/D/W/F/
Moody's House, Scotland, Near Strontian Village, 7/31/1997, 00:01
Harry woke up to the sound of a cannon blast before he was hit in the face by a confetti spell. his wand was in his hand and he sprung to his feet and was nearly knocked of his feet by the sound of "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" being screamed at him by at least thirty people. He was suddenly grabbed under each arm and hoisted to his feet courtesy of the twins.
"Huh." said Tonks "He does sleep in boxers, I thought Bones was lying about that." she continued and took out a camera and snapped multiple pictures.
"What the hell Tonks?" Harry exclaimed.
"There are teenage girls all over this camp, these picture will fetch a hefty price, I might even make posters." Tonks said happily.
Harry freed himself from the twins and pulled on The shirt and jeans that were laying by his bed. Then he glared at Tonks. "I will get you back for this." Harry threatened.
"Just try it Potter" Tonks said with a smirk before saying happily. "Well hurry up your lot, the cake is set up by the fire, Moody gave us two days furlough for Harry's birthday and Bill and Fleur's wedding."
Everyone gave a loud cheer and headed back outside to the fire, where a table was set up with drinks, snacks and a large cake.
Once Harry was dragged outside and the 'Happy Birthday' song was sang (horribly off key), everyone got some cake and started mingling, Lavender brought out a wizard wireless and got some of the girls dancing to the weird sisters and Seamus brought out several bottles of 'Ogdens' firewiskey, and started pouring shots.
Harry tried to turn down the booze but ended up succumbing to peer pressure like teenagers the world round are prone to doing. Once he got over the burning effect he got to feeling quite nice under the influence of the Burning liquor, and he ended up sat by the campfire with Neville, Susan the twins and a bunch of the others that didn't want to dance. He just sat there drinking and talking for a few hours.
Harry noticed around three in the morning that quite a few had passed out around the campfire and he decided it was time to take a walk to his favorite spot, where he always went to get some peace and quiet.
He had just plopped down at the spot he usually practiced occlumency about fifteen minutes ago and was looking up at the stars and sipping from the glass of whiskey he had brought with him when he felt someone plop down beside him.
"Getting to crowded for you back there, Bones?" harry asked not even having to look to know it was her, he could tell by her scent now, another side effect of the animagus transformation that would be useful.
"Yeah, that and Lavender and Seamus just started snogging by the campfire, I left when I seen her hand go down the front of her pants." Susan said disapprovingly.
Harry grinned and took another swig from his cup that was quickly getting empty. "Yes it truly is a happy birthday!" Harry cheered.
Susan snorted and took the glass from him before taking a swig and then casting a refilling charm on it and taking another large gulp.
"So why haven't you tried dating anyone from the camp." Susan asked passing him back the glass.
Harry took a swig and answered. "The same reason you've turned down McMillan, Thomas and Goldstein, we're at war." Harry took another swig and he had to cast the filling charm again.
"Well that's only part of the reason." She said taking the glass and taking another large drink. " The other reason is they only want to get in my knickers." She finished and took another swig.
"That would be a really bad decision on their part." Harry said with a snort.
"What's that supposed to mean am I ugly or something?" She demanded hotly.
"No, your pretty hot actually. The reason that would be a dumb decision is that Mad-eye Moody is your guardian." Harry said with a shiver.
"Thanks." said Susan blushing at the compliment.
"You've had enough to drink." Harry said before he snatched the glass back and drank another sip, he tried the refilling charm but it wouldn't work.
"You can only refill the glass so many times" Susan said now that the liquor was effecting her she was slurring a bit.
"Really? Dammit Bones you drank all my liquor." Harry said with a laugh as he flopped on his back and looked at the sky. Susan soon joined him.
"What are we going to do if we win this war anyway?" Susan asked.
"I don't really know, I haven't tough much past it honestly." Harry said.
"I still want to be a healer." Susan said sleepily.
"I do know I don't want to be an Auror anymore, I had thought I might like to become a healer. before..." Harry left his sentence hanging.
"Tracey, she really liked you." Susan said sadly a tear running down her cheek.
"I really liked her too." Harry admitted sadly.
"We'll pay them back." Susan mumbled.
Harry heard Susan breathing slow down and he could have sworn he heard a cute little snore. He glanced over and saw she had fallen asleep, and chuckled.
He let her be for now and gazed at the sky, watching the stars was peaceful, he was really comfortable the summer air felt wonderful on his face and his eyes felt heavy, he soon fell asleep as well and had a drunken dreamers sleep.
/A/D/W/F/
Moody's House, Scotland, Near Strontian Village, 7/31/1997, 11:00
Tonks went down to the boys tent having not found Harry passed out by the fire pit with the others, entering the tent she only saw one bed that was occupied. The problem was it was occupied by two people, she couldn't make out the male in the bed as the girl was sprawled over him, but she could clearly see blonde hair that matched that airhead Lavender Brown.
Raising her wand she cast a 'aquamenti' charm and soaked the two, they both rolled out of the single person rack, and both of them were were starkers.
Lavender shrieked as she fell waking half the camp up that had been sleeping outside. The male turned out to be Seamus Fiinigan, who was trying desperately to cover himself.
"Get dressed you two, we have to go have a talk with your parents." Tonks ordered.
'Moody will never let me hear the end of this one, teenagers really were like Rabbits.' He thought to herself as she marched the two out of the tent.
Seamus and Lavender received a round of applause and wolf whistles from the teens waking up out by the firepit as soon as Tonks marched them outside, Seamus looked like he had just won the order of Merlin, Lavender on the other hand looked completely mortified.
Tonks shook her head, she would have to find Potter later, the rabbits needed dealing with first.