The canonical characters from the "Harry Potter" books and movies belong to Joanne K. Rowling, as does the Wizarding World and all associated concepts. Ms. Rowling is utterly unaware that I or my stories exist, and is probably happier for it. This story is written to serve as nothing more than an outlet for one of my hobbies. I'm doing it because I felt like it and am not planning to realize any sort of monetary award for it.
The plot for "Harry Potter & The Search For Peace" is mine.
Hermione saw Ginny and Luna waiting for her in the corridor outside the Transfiguration classroom. She moved past them, their footsteps telling her that she was followed. She led them to the Headmistress's office. "I need to talk to her," she told the gargoyle in a firm voice. It remained unmoved. "Come on, I really need to talk to her. She is not Dumbledore; I can't guess her passwords." But the gargoyle had not waited for her to finish her sentence. It sprang suddenly to life and hopped aside as the wall behind him split in two; the password was Dumbledore.
"Come in," Professor McGonagall's voice was heard and the three girls entered the room. "Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, Miss Lovegood. Why are you three here?" McGonagall asked when she noticed the three girls standing in front of her. She took in the fury in Hermione's eyes and concern in the other two pairs. Something major had happened.
"Professor Macdonald has been kind enough to remind me that I am not worthy to be the partner or even friend of Harry Potter. I am miserable know-it-all and it is because of me that her best friend's son has not been replying her. I slowed him down during the war and even now I am influencing his decisions."
The fury in McGonagall's eyes was so powerful that it would have frightened even Voldemort. The fact that Hermione had used much kinder words than Macdonald had was not hidden from her. She called for a house-elf and sent him to ask Mary Macdonald to join them. She asked them to conjure chairs for themselves and sit down. The minutes passed silently and then there was a knock on the door.
Mary Macdonald looked at the occupants of the room and knew that she was in trouble. McGonagall's eyes were emitting fire. "At the beginning of the year, I had made it very clear that bullying of any sort will not be tolerated at Hogwarts. Then why, Professor Macdonald, have you been ignoring the school rules?"
"Professor…Minerva, Lily and I were friends. I have every right to contact Harry, to meet him. And this girl here….," Mary began but couldn't finish.
"This girl here has fought against Lord Voldemort since the age of twelve, along with Harry," Mary Macdonald had invoked the wrath of Ginevra Molly Weasley and that was never a good thing. "What were you doing at that time?" Ginny asked, "Where were you when James and Lily Potter were killed? Why were you not helping Remus in meeting Harry? Where were you when Harry's broom was jinxed? When he fought Voldemort in his first year, second year, every year except the third? Sirius broke out of Azkaban for Harry. Sirius lived on rats for months to be near Harry. Harry saw Cedric die. He saw Sirius die, Dumbledore. Where were you? Where were you Professor?" Ginny spat the word.
No one said a word. It was not needed. Ginny had said everything that they wanted to say. She had all the questions everyone else wanted to ask. Hermione was glaring at the Transfiguration Professor while Luna's eyes held a mix of anger and pity. McGonagall, on the other hand, looked disappointed. Mary had not seen that expression on her face even after the worst of Marauder's pranks.
"Miss Granger, Miss Weasley and Miss Lovegood will be taking their Transfiguration lectures with me from now," McGonagall said, "If I hear a repeat of such an event, the consequences will not be pleasant. And I might warn you, Professor Macdonald. You should find an answer to Miss Weasley's questions before you make an attempt to meet Mr Potter."
"Only Hermione can write such a detailed letter," Ron chuckled. He and Harry were in their house at Godric's Hollow. They were in the living room, both sprawled on the floor. Barney had flown in with Hermione's letter just as they were finishing their dinner. Hermione had written to them about the incident with Mary Macdonald and its aftermath. "They are lucky, you know. No one teaches better than McGonagall," Ron told Harry.
"I don't understand what this Macdonald thinks of herself. You read the letter she wrote to me, didn't you? I am your mother's friends and I want to meet you. That is what she wants to say? It has been seventeen years and that is what she wants to say? I am glad Ginny put her in her place." It was not as if Harry didn't want to meet her at all. But the attitude of the woman irritated him. In any of her letters, Mary Macdonald had not tried to apologise or explain her absence from his life. She just reminded him that she was to Lily what Sirius and Remus had been to James. But that wasn't true. James, Sirius and Remus (and Pettigrew before he joined Voldemort) were brothers. They would have died for each other. Harry remembered that night in Shrieking Shack. Sirius had wanted to kill Pettigrew for the betrayal but Sirius had not denied Harry's accusations. I as good as killed them. I persuaded Lily and James to change to Peter at the last moment, persuaded them to use him as Secret-Keeper instead of me... I'm to blame, I know it...
"Have you given it a thought? Animagus?" Harry blinked in surprise at the sudden change of subject. He looked at Ron and could see the blue eyes filled with understanding. Of course, Ron knew what he was feeling.
"I think we should at least try. Maybe we could ask Hermione?" Harry wondered aloud.
"Nah! Let's not involve her this time. Let's surprise her later. And she is already involved in too many things – NEWTs, head girl and the book she is writing about the war."
Harry nodded. Hermione had taken her father's suggestion to heart and had begun writing the book after they had returned from Australia. She had written letters to Kingsley and McGonagall and had asked their permissions to include incidents that occurred at the Ministry and Hogwarts. They had given their permissions readily and the book, according to Hermione, would be ready to publish by they first week of December.
"Mickey," Harry called and waited for the elf to appear, "Are there any books about Animagus here or in Potter Manor?" Mickey nodded. "Can you please bring them for us?" The elf disapparated and was back within a minute carrying approximately ten books. "I can bring more, Master Harry," she said. Harry shook his head, dismissing the elf. He picked up the first book – A Beginner's Guide to Animagus.
I read the process of becoming an Animagus as released by J.K. Rowling and I really feel it is too much of a trouble. There is no way that the Marauders did all those things and no found out. The process in this story will be as imagined by me.