title: No Take Backs
rating: PG13
keywords: harry/hermione
category: romance
summary: When Harry and Hermione finally make that connection, what Harry gets is more than what he bargained for.
a/n: this one is the longest so far, i think. it cause me much sorrow. espeically when my comp deleted more than half of it and i had to rewrite it. anyway, here's the project. it get serious in this one. and the rest of them should be a little like this one. READ AND REVIEW!!!
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CHAPTER FOUR
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Harry sat next to Malfoy in potions. It was Snape's wonderful idea to pair the Slytherins and Gryffindors up to make a potion that Snape himself had concocted. Harry was wary of anything taht Snape would make, but since it was worth a grade, he had to do it.
Malfoy read and wrote down the ingredients to the potionas Harry sat next to him chopping roots up to add in the potion. Harry reached up to grab another root when he looked down at Hermione who was paired up with a Slytherin that had never rememerbed seeing in the class before.
A smile crossed Harry's face as he thought back once again to the night two weeks ago when he and Hemione had made love. Harry thought about that night often. Even if he didn't feel like thinking about it, he still thought about it. And ultimately he always succumbed to the thoughts. Harry looked back down at his roots so he wouldn't cut his hands. But his thoughts were still stuck on Hermione.
Hermione looked down and saw Harry smiling. She knew what he was thinking about. And there were times during the day that Hermione found herself smiling for the same reason.
"Miss Granger," Snape said as he looked up and found her staring openly at Harry. Hermione tore her eyes away from him and got back to her work.
Sometime just beofe the end of the class, Snape walked around the room handing small vials to the students and examining their potions. He then walked to the front of the room when he was done and crossed his arms. He stood there for a few moments before speaking.
"Now I want you all to fill your vials and drink them. This potion should take effect immediately, and you should be surprised to see what it does. Although I don't think that the males in this room will enjoy it. I made this to humor myself."
The students all drank the potion at the same time. Harry and Malfoy both sneered at the taste. Harry looked down to see what looked like a small spasm go through Hermione's upper body. Her partner looked over and asked her if she was alright. She noddd and looked down at Harry, smiling reassuringly.
Snape laughed heartily from the front of the room. The students looked around and saw what Snape was laughing at. Their fingernails had all turned a deep shade of red. It looked as if their nails had been painted. Malfoy jumped at the sight of his nails. He cursed loudly, catching Snapes attention as he did this.
"Language, Malfoy," Snape said through narrowed eyes.
Hermione and the rest of the class gathered their things as Snape dismissed them, still laughing from behind his desk.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked as he met up with Ron adn Hermione in the hallway.
Hermione looked down quizzically at her nails. "They aren't red like everyone else's."
"Maybe you didn't add something to your potion," Ron said as he looked at Hermione's bright purple colored nails.
"My partner's nails turned out just like everyone else's. Maybe I'm just worrying about nothing."
The three of them walked in silence to tranfiguration. Professor McGonagall sat behind her desk looking happy. She smiled when she saw some of the students coming in with bright red nails. She furrowed her brown in question when she saw Hermione's nails which were different from everyone else's.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all sat down at their table and waited for Professor McGonagall to begin her lecture.
"Put your things away, please," she began. "We have a guest speaker today. I'd like you all to follow me outside. It's such a lovely day that we'll be having class out there."
Harry and Ron shrugged at each other and followed Hermione outside.
McGonagall led them to a spot in front of the castle and ordered them to sit down. They waited for a few minutes before a large hawk began to fly in from the west. It swooped in low and just before hitting the ground, turned into a man.
The man walked over and shook McGonagall's hand and turned to face the students.
"My name is Victor Shanks and I'm here to talk to you about animagi. As most of you know, animagi have to be registered and go through extensive training. I'm hre today to answer your questions and above all things, check to see if you show any of the neccesary characteristics to become an animagus."
A blonde boy at the back of the group raised his hand. Victor called on him. "How long does it take to become and animagus?"
"Well, some people take years to do it. But there have been some that have mastered it within months. It varies between the people."
"How long did it take for you to become an animagus, Professor?" Hermione asked. The students shifted their gazes to McGonagall as she pondered her answer.
"About two and a half years."
"I took eight months, if I rememeber correctly," Victor said.
"What's it like being an animagus? Does it hurt?" Ron asked.
"It only hurts at first. Your bones and muscles have to get used to the change. But it's quite the experience."
"Can anyone do it?" Neville asked.
"I'm afraid not. It's a quite rare ability, and only a handful of people are found to be able to do it. How many are there in the world right now, Professor?" Victor asked.
"I think the last count was up to forty," she replied.
"There, you see. Are there any other questions?" Victor waited a few moments to see if any other students had questions. Since no one did, he then moved on to his next subject.
"I will now split this group into two sides. I will take one half and Professor McGonagall will take the other half."
Ron and Harry were split into Victor's half, and Hermione was taken with McGonagall. They all formed a long line leading up to their teacher, and everyone waited patiently while questions were asked and simple tests were performed.
Ron was next in line. He left Harry talking excitedly with Neville about animagi. Ron walked up to Victor and waited while Victor filled a dropper full of a blue liquid. he handed it to Ron.
"Take this," he said. Ron did so, and then stood there while Victor looked deep into his eyes.
"Have you ever been known to transfigure any part of your body willingly without a wand?"
"I've tried, but never succeeded."
"Do you ever feel like you're looking at the world through someone or something else's eyes?"
"No."
"Thank you, but I'm afraid there's nothing there."
Ron walked away as Harry walked up to Victor. Victor walked up to Harry and looked into his eyes. Victor's brow furrowed slightly. He blinked and tried to get a better look.
"Have you ever knowingly changed any part of your body?" Victor asked.
"Without my wand?" Harry asked. Victor nodded. "Yeah. Before I found out I was a wizard, I used to grow back out my hair after a bad hair cut."
"Do you ever have visions of looking through something else's eyes?"
Harry stood and pondered the question for a few moments. A realization came to him and he smiled. "The other night I had a dream that I was deep in the forbidden forest. It was dark and foggy. I could hear leaves crunching beneath my feet, and a low growling sound. Everything seemed so big to me."
"Harry, I think you've got it."
"Got what?"
Victor reached over and grabbed a piece of parchment and an ink quill from a makeshift desk that had been set up in the middle of the field. He handed them to Harry and offered him a chair that magically popped up out of thin air.
"Have a seat," Victor said to Harry as he sat down in another chair opposite the desk. "I want you to write down your name, the name of your house, and then I want you to write down a list of animals that you think you think you would like to become."
"What are you saying?"
"You've got the skill, now let's see what your writing brings up."
Harry shrugged and began to write. Victor stood up and walked over to where Professor McGonagall was standing with the last of her students in her group. Victor waved Neville over to where they stood.
"You'll be taking your test with Professor McGonagall. Please go get in the line."
Neville nodded and walked back to talk with Seamus Finnigan. Victor walked back over to Harry who was busy writing on the paper.
"Hello, Hermione," Professor McGonagall said as Hermione stepped up to her teacher. "How are you today?"
"Good as far as I know. Let's get this over with, shall we?"
"Alright."
McGonagall gave Hermione a dropper full of blue liquid and after she took it, McGonagall stepped up and peered into Hermione's eyes. "You know, your irises are purple," she said suspiciously. "Have you taken anything lately?"
"Snape made us take a potion that he had us make today."
"Yes, I've seen the students running around with red nails. But I haven't seen purple yet. Not on anyone except for you."
"I dunno. Maybe I'm ill and it's jsut acting up," Hermione said hopefully.
"Maybe. Anyway, let's get this test finished. Have you ever..."
Victor walked up to Harry who was finished with his writing. "Let me see whaat you have," he said, taking the paper from Harry. The paper read:
Harry James Potter
Gryffindor
Animals-
dog
lion
tiger
owl
wolf
horse
Victor gave the paper back to Harry. He smiled at him and reached out to shake his hand. Harry took his hand, and instead of a handshake, his dream began to flash before his eyes. He could see the forest clearly. He could hear the leves and the...the growling.
Harry's dream ended and he opened his eyes.
"Harry, would you like to do this? Would you like to become an animagus?"
Harry stared open-mouthed at Victor. He looked over to his right to see that everyone was through with his test and were walking back to the castle. McGonagall smiled and waved Harry and Victor off.
"Yes. Yes, I would."
"Good. We start now."
"Now?"
"Now. I want you to make your hair grow out like you did when you were younger."
Harry thought about his hair being long again like it was when he stayed with the Dursleys. He opened his eyes and saw that his hair was long and falling in his face. He tucked it behind his ears and looked at Victor who was beaming with joy.
"Make it short again," Victor said.
Harry closed his eyes and imagined it short and spikey. Shorter than it had been before he had started the exercise. He opened his eyes to the feel of his hair off of his forehead. He reached up and ran a hand through his hair. It was barely an inch long.
"Well done. I can see already that this won't take you very long at all. What about your body? Can you distort it in any way?"
"I never tried," Harry said as he willed his hair back and forth between long and short. "This is amusing."
Victor laughed. "So it is. I want you to try and stretch your fingers as far as they will go, and then see how far you can make them grow."
Harry stuck out his hands and stretched his fingers. He felt a burning sensation in his hand as he watched his arm, and not his fingers grow. He stopped trying to make anything grow at all, and threw his arms, which had sprung back to their normal size, down at his sides.
"I want you to work on that growing excersize. It's good to know that you can make your arms grow already, but you alos need to make your fingers grow. Work on this, and I'll contact you soon. Within a few days."
Victor made all of the chairs and the desk disappear. He turned himself into a hawk and flew off from the direction in which he came.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Harry sat on his bed that afternoon writing a letter to Sirius. He talked about how Victor had determined that he could become an animagus, and how the handshake had brought back his dream. He asked how long it had taken his father to become an animagus. Harry asked Sirius how he was, and concluded the letter with a 'love, Harry'.
A knock sounded on the door, and Harry yelled, "Come in."
The door opened and Hermione came walking in. She sat down next to Harry and layed her head on Harry's shoulder. Harry folded his letter and tossed it over on his bedside table.
"What's wrong, Love?" Harry asked as he wrapped his arms around Hermione.
"Nothing. I think it's wonderful that you get to become an animagus."
"Yeah, it's going to be great." Harry laid back on the bed and pulled Hermione with him. She curled up to his chest and laid one arm across. She sighed happily and closed her eyes. "I love you, you know that?" Harry said softly, taking Hermione's hand into his own.
Hermione opened her eyes and looked up at him. "I love you also, Harry."
Harry leaned his head down and kissed Hermione's forehead.
"As much as I love laying here with you, I have to go to the owlry. Would you like to come with me?" Harry asked.
"Of course." Hermione got up and straightened out her clothes and hair as she waited for Harry by the door. Harry grabbed his letter and he and Hermione walked out the door together, hand in hand.
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A few days later Harry got a letter back from Sirius.
Dear Harry,
I hope you are well. It doesn't surprise me that you are going to become an animagus. I remember your father being the first of us to make the transformation. It took him about five months. But he was already an easy learner. I hope your training goes well. I have been under the weather a bit lately. A nasty cold, it is. But I'll be fine. Say hello to Ron and Hermione for me.
Sirius
Harry closed the letter and tossed it in his bag. He looked up at Hermione who had her head laid down on the table. He looked over at Ron who shrugged his shoulders and resumed talking to Seamus.
"Love, are you alright?" Harry asked, reaching over to run his fingers through her hair.
"I think I'm coming down with the flu or something. I don't feel well at all."
Harry gave her a sympathetic smile. "Would you like me to take you back up to the tower?"
"Yes, would you? I don't think I'm going to make it through dinner," Hermione said weakly.
Harry nodded, and stood up from the table. He and Hermione walked along the length of the table until reaching the end where they joined. Harry put his arm around Hermione and helped walk her through the corridors.
Upon reaching the last turn of the hallways until reaching the staircase that would take them to the tower, Harry stopped. He listened intently.
"Harry, wha-"
"Shhh....listen."
Hermione listened as well. They could hear the faint sound of rustling clothes and kissing. Hermione leaned up against a wall and clutched her stomach. Harry walked over to her and raised her face to meet his. She smiled as much as she could, but Harry could see that she was in a lot of pain.
Harry stretched his arms quickly and tucked his long hair that he had forgotten to shrink from animagus training behind his ear. He picked Hermione up, cradling her like a child that had fallen asleep in their parens' bed. He made sure she was okay with the way she was being held, and then he walked swiftly around the corner.
A small scream was heard as Ginny jumped away from Malfoy, pulling her robes together. Malfoy straightened up quickly, but said nothing as Harry rushed by on his way to get to the tower.
After the first staircase, Harry's arms began to burn with the effort.
"God, I'm out of shape," Harry said as he looked down at Hermione. She had her eyes closed and bit her bottom lip. He noticed that her skin had turned an even whiter shade of pale.
Harry found a new strength in his muscles and he picked up the pace. Soon he found himself standing in front of the portrait hole shouting the password. No sooner had they entered than Hermione jumped out of Harry's arms and ran to the bathroom.
Harry stood outside of the bathroom while Hermione sat on the tile inside being sick.
"Do you need some help, Baby?" Harry asked. Hermione exited the bathroom and smiled weakly.
"I just need to lay down." Hermione went and laid down on her bed. Harry walked over and joined her. He threw a protective arm lightly over her middle, and she placed a kiss on the tip of his nose. She brushed a few stray strands of hair out of his face and closed her eyes.
"I love you," she mumbled before falling into a deep slumber.
Harry stayed awake while Hermione slept. He memorized everything about her from the way her hair fell over the pillow to the way her lips parted as she breathed. A few hours after Hermione had fallen asleep, some of the girls came in their dorm to find Harry laying there.
Harry closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
"If someone were to come in and find him there, they'd be in a lot of trouble," one of the girls said.
"Yeah, but look at them. I for one can't kick him out."
"Just draw the curtain and quit talking about it," another girl said as she walked over to the bed, drawing the curtain.
"There, you see? Problem solved."
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Harry found himself standing on the front lawn of the castle with Victor one saturday afternoon for animagus training. The wind was blowing heavily, and Harry found himself agitated into shrinking the hair that he had enjoyed leaving ear-length.
"Have you been working on those excersizes that we covered last time?" Victor asked. It had been a month since their first animagus practice back when Harry had learned that he could become one, and they had had six practices since then. Victor had told Harry that by the time their next practice was over, he would know what animagi he was becoming. It was really the animal that chose the person anyway.
"Yes, I did. I can do just about anything with my body that you would have me do. Now when will we know what I am?"
"Right now. I want you to concentrate on the dream of running through the forbidden forest and let the transfiguration take over your body without your control.
"Is that all changing into an animagus is? Just letting the animal take you over?"
"Of course not. Now try it."
Harry closd his eyes and threw himself in his dream. He could once again feel the crunch of the leaves beneath his feet. A breeze blew and he could feel it seeping through his hair. The ground was foggy and the air misty. He could smell all of it and see all of it with a new clarity. And then there was that low growling sound... But no matter. He was running quickly and blindly through the forest, the wind carrying him wherever he could go.
Harry opened his eyes to meet a smiling Victor.
"Well, what am I?" Harry asked eagerly.
"Something that reflects what's in here," Victor said, tapping on Harry's chest. "It shows that you are brave, wise, and strong." Victor stopped to let Harry process this.
Harry nodded.
"So tell me what you felt when you were in your dream," Victor said.
"I could feel and smell everything like I had never before. Everything was so clear." Harry paused to smell the wind as it whipped through his hair. "Everything -is- so clear."
Victor nodded satisfied. "Harry, you're a wolf."
"A wolf?" Harry said quietly. "Wouldn't that make me a warewolf?"
"No. The difference is control. You have control, but warewolves don't. That being said, let's begin the excersizes."
Harry nodded and began to do what Victor told him to.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Harry sat in the Gryffindor common room on and early morning just before breakfast. The quidditch team had been called to a meeting and since the moment Harry had been called down, he still hadn't completely woken up. If it weren't for the Ravenclaws not being able to compete at their last game, the teams wouldn't have had to have a game on the last week of school. Normally at this time in the middle of June they would be relaxing and enoying the summertime. But not this time.
Hermione and some of the other girls came walking down from the dorm. Hermione saw Harry and walked up to kiss him goodmorning. She waved goodbye to him and walked out of the common room as quickly as she had come.
Ten minutes later Harry went and sat down at the table between Hermione and Ron. He yawned loudly and reached out to get some bread.
"What was the meeting about?" Ron asked.
"We have practice after lunch. I'm excused from all afternoon classes."
"You're so lucky. I have to go through transfiguration with that ruddy old- " Ron was cut off by the feeling of Hermione's hand against his chest. He touched where she had hit, and expressed his dislike for her.
Breakfat went on without any further problems and they soon found themselves in the middle of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Lunch came none too quickly and soon Harry was dismissed to go off on his quidditch practice.
Hermione and Ron walked to transfiguration together in silence. Upon reaching the class, they saw taht there were several empty spots from where quidditch members were gone for practice. Hermione sat next to Ron and listened as McGonagall began her lecture immediately.
-=-=-=-
Harry walked out onto the practice field with his broom hung over his shoulder. The Weasley twins were walking to his right and they were in good spirits. They chatted happily the entire way there. Upon getting to the field, Harry had a feeling in the back of his mind that he was not able to shake.
The seven players mounted their broomsticks, and a second year Gryffindor that they had pulled out of class threw the quaffle into the air. Immediately the players began to toss the quaffle back and forth to each other, going over drills, while the bludger raced around like mad, trying its best to knock everyone off of their broomstick.
"Beat the bloody hell out of it, George!" One of the new second years yelled.
George hit the bludger and it raced off.
-=-=-=-
Hermione sat taking notes over the transfiguration that Professor McGonagall was demonstrating. Hermione wass actually quite bored with it. Harry wasn't in class to keep her amused, and Ron was currently in a trance. She yawned loudly, covering her mouth as she realized what she had done.
"Perhaps you'd like to try this, Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall said as she looked at Hermione.
"I uh...er," Hermione stuttered.
"No excuses, Miss Granger. Down here right now."
Hermione slowly stood from her chair and walked on shaky legs down to where McGonagall stood at the front of the class.
-=-=-=-
Harry zoomed around the quidditch pitch. He turned his head back and forth looking for that one tiny glimmer of gold. He hadn't seen it so far. But they'd only been out there for about a half hour, so it was no matter.
Harry could hear the yelling from his teammates as they tossed the quaffle back and forth, throwing it in the goal. Harry smiled and yelled with his friends. He turned his head to the right to look at Fred when he saw it.
That gold glimmer.
Harry zoomed off at the speed of light to just below where Fred rested on his broom. He kept gaining speed, going as fast as he could until...
-=-=-=-
"Now, Miss Granger, what is the first step?" McGonagall stood there waiting as Hermione looked clueless. McGonagall tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for an answer.
Hermione looked up and saw that Ron was now awake and smiling. He looked at her and quirked his eyebrow. Hermione gave him the look of death. He was going to get the hell beat out of him after everything was said and done.
"I don't know, Professor." Hermione said honestly.
"I won't take that for an answer. If you feel the need to sleep in my class and not pay attention, then we'll see what you know. Or there's always detention."
Hermione looked around the room. She didn't know what to do. Everything was so confusing. She felt light headed all of a sudden. She looked up at Professor McGonagall. Words were coming from her lips, but Hermione didn't hear anything.
And soon all she saw was darkness.
-=-=-=-
Harry kept diving for the snitch. He could almsot feel it in his hands. It was right there.
"Harry! Watch out!" George yelled loudly.
Harry looked up as he grabbed the snitch. A rabid bludger came hurlingat Harry, hitting him in the stomach. Harry fell backwards off of his broom and reached forward to grab the handle. It slipped out of his grip and he fell.
Harry looked up at the sky and everything slowed down. He saw the bright blue and the clouds that passed. He felt himself screaming in the back of his throat and soon he felt nothing but the hard gound and the feel of the snitch falling out of his grasp.
-=-=-=-
Hermione opened her eyes slightly. The bright light of the room was blinding and she shut them again. Voices were coming from somewhere nearby. She braved the light and opened her eyes again.
The hospital wing. That's where she was. She looked over to see Madam Pomfrey standing near a large cabinet, talking to Professor McGonagall. Hermione strained her hearing to try and listen to what was being said, but the low tones of their voices made that impossible. Hermione gave up and looked around the room.
She gasped quietly when she looked in the bed to her right. Harry was laying there shirtless with bandages wrapped all around his chest. His head laid on a pillow with his mouth slightly a jar. He looked to be sleeping peacefully.
Hermione turned her head back to where McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey had been standing. McGonagall turned her head to see that Hermione was awake. She turned back to Pomfrey, mumbled something, and then began to walk over to Hermione.
She sat down on the edge of the bed and opened her mouth to speak.
"I'm glad you're awake. You were out good for a while there."
"Yeah. I just don't know what happened. But what's wrong with Harry?"
"He was hit with a bludger and knocked off of his broom during practice. He fell about thirty feet before hitting the ground."
"Will he be alright," Hermione asked as she looked over at
Harry.
"He has a concussion and five broken ribs. But he should be alright in a few weeks."
Hermione smiled weakly. "But that's not why you came over to talk."
"No, it's not. Hermione, if you were wondring why your nails turned purple and why you've been sick lately, I have your answer," McGonagall said as she adverted Hermione's eyes.
"What is it?"
"Hermione, there's no easy way to tell you this, but you're pregnant."
Hermione closed her eyes and reached a shaky hand up to pinch the bridge of her eyes. A tear slipped silently from her eyes and down her cheek. She took in a shaky breath and layed a hand on top of her stomach.
McGonagall squeezed her hand lightly and got up to leave.
Hermione rolled over to see that Harry was awake. His head was turned to the side and he was smiling at her. Having heard every word that was said, he wasn't upset. He reached up a few fingers to his lips and turned his hand around as if he were to give the kiss to her. She smiled and reached a hand out, not able to touch his fingers, but still able to convey her message.
Harry pulled his hand back and layed it at his side. "No matter what you choose, I'm behind you every step of the way." Harry smiled again and closed his eyes, leaving Hermione to her own thoughts for the night.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
END CHAPTER FOUR
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a/n: so i think that i like this chap. its by far the longest, and the most intense. tell me what you think and spread the word about the fic. i need some charity. talk to me about it. message me on AIM at CURSEoftheSCOTS
thanks to all of you who have reviewed so far. it kept me going.
rating: PG13
keywords: harry/hermione
category: romance
summary: When Harry and Hermione finally make that connection, what Harry gets is more than what he bargained for.
a/n: this one is the longest so far, i think. it cause me much sorrow. espeically when my comp deleted more than half of it and i had to rewrite it. anyway, here's the project. it get serious in this one. and the rest of them should be a little like this one. READ AND REVIEW!!!
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER FOUR
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Harry sat next to Malfoy in potions. It was Snape's wonderful idea to pair the Slytherins and Gryffindors up to make a potion that Snape himself had concocted. Harry was wary of anything taht Snape would make, but since it was worth a grade, he had to do it.
Malfoy read and wrote down the ingredients to the potionas Harry sat next to him chopping roots up to add in the potion. Harry reached up to grab another root when he looked down at Hermione who was paired up with a Slytherin that had never rememerbed seeing in the class before.
A smile crossed Harry's face as he thought back once again to the night two weeks ago when he and Hemione had made love. Harry thought about that night often. Even if he didn't feel like thinking about it, he still thought about it. And ultimately he always succumbed to the thoughts. Harry looked back down at his roots so he wouldn't cut his hands. But his thoughts were still stuck on Hermione.
Hermione looked down and saw Harry smiling. She knew what he was thinking about. And there were times during the day that Hermione found herself smiling for the same reason.
"Miss Granger," Snape said as he looked up and found her staring openly at Harry. Hermione tore her eyes away from him and got back to her work.
Sometime just beofe the end of the class, Snape walked around the room handing small vials to the students and examining their potions. He then walked to the front of the room when he was done and crossed his arms. He stood there for a few moments before speaking.
"Now I want you all to fill your vials and drink them. This potion should take effect immediately, and you should be surprised to see what it does. Although I don't think that the males in this room will enjoy it. I made this to humor myself."
The students all drank the potion at the same time. Harry and Malfoy both sneered at the taste. Harry looked down to see what looked like a small spasm go through Hermione's upper body. Her partner looked over and asked her if she was alright. She noddd and looked down at Harry, smiling reassuringly.
Snape laughed heartily from the front of the room. The students looked around and saw what Snape was laughing at. Their fingernails had all turned a deep shade of red. It looked as if their nails had been painted. Malfoy jumped at the sight of his nails. He cursed loudly, catching Snapes attention as he did this.
"Language, Malfoy," Snape said through narrowed eyes.
Hermione and the rest of the class gathered their things as Snape dismissed them, still laughing from behind his desk.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked as he met up with Ron adn Hermione in the hallway.
Hermione looked down quizzically at her nails. "They aren't red like everyone else's."
"Maybe you didn't add something to your potion," Ron said as he looked at Hermione's bright purple colored nails.
"My partner's nails turned out just like everyone else's. Maybe I'm just worrying about nothing."
The three of them walked in silence to tranfiguration. Professor McGonagall sat behind her desk looking happy. She smiled when she saw some of the students coming in with bright red nails. She furrowed her brown in question when she saw Hermione's nails which were different from everyone else's.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all sat down at their table and waited for Professor McGonagall to begin her lecture.
"Put your things away, please," she began. "We have a guest speaker today. I'd like you all to follow me outside. It's such a lovely day that we'll be having class out there."
Harry and Ron shrugged at each other and followed Hermione outside.
McGonagall led them to a spot in front of the castle and ordered them to sit down. They waited for a few minutes before a large hawk began to fly in from the west. It swooped in low and just before hitting the ground, turned into a man.
The man walked over and shook McGonagall's hand and turned to face the students.
"My name is Victor Shanks and I'm here to talk to you about animagi. As most of you know, animagi have to be registered and go through extensive training. I'm hre today to answer your questions and above all things, check to see if you show any of the neccesary characteristics to become an animagus."
A blonde boy at the back of the group raised his hand. Victor called on him. "How long does it take to become and animagus?"
"Well, some people take years to do it. But there have been some that have mastered it within months. It varies between the people."
"How long did it take for you to become an animagus, Professor?" Hermione asked. The students shifted their gazes to McGonagall as she pondered her answer.
"About two and a half years."
"I took eight months, if I rememeber correctly," Victor said.
"What's it like being an animagus? Does it hurt?" Ron asked.
"It only hurts at first. Your bones and muscles have to get used to the change. But it's quite the experience."
"Can anyone do it?" Neville asked.
"I'm afraid not. It's a quite rare ability, and only a handful of people are found to be able to do it. How many are there in the world right now, Professor?" Victor asked.
"I think the last count was up to forty," she replied.
"There, you see. Are there any other questions?" Victor waited a few moments to see if any other students had questions. Since no one did, he then moved on to his next subject.
"I will now split this group into two sides. I will take one half and Professor McGonagall will take the other half."
Ron and Harry were split into Victor's half, and Hermione was taken with McGonagall. They all formed a long line leading up to their teacher, and everyone waited patiently while questions were asked and simple tests were performed.
Ron was next in line. He left Harry talking excitedly with Neville about animagi. Ron walked up to Victor and waited while Victor filled a dropper full of a blue liquid. he handed it to Ron.
"Take this," he said. Ron did so, and then stood there while Victor looked deep into his eyes.
"Have you ever been known to transfigure any part of your body willingly without a wand?"
"I've tried, but never succeeded."
"Do you ever feel like you're looking at the world through someone or something else's eyes?"
"No."
"Thank you, but I'm afraid there's nothing there."
Ron walked away as Harry walked up to Victor. Victor walked up to Harry and looked into his eyes. Victor's brow furrowed slightly. He blinked and tried to get a better look.
"Have you ever knowingly changed any part of your body?" Victor asked.
"Without my wand?" Harry asked. Victor nodded. "Yeah. Before I found out I was a wizard, I used to grow back out my hair after a bad hair cut."
"Do you ever have visions of looking through something else's eyes?"
Harry stood and pondered the question for a few moments. A realization came to him and he smiled. "The other night I had a dream that I was deep in the forbidden forest. It was dark and foggy. I could hear leaves crunching beneath my feet, and a low growling sound. Everything seemed so big to me."
"Harry, I think you've got it."
"Got what?"
Victor reached over and grabbed a piece of parchment and an ink quill from a makeshift desk that had been set up in the middle of the field. He handed them to Harry and offered him a chair that magically popped up out of thin air.
"Have a seat," Victor said to Harry as he sat down in another chair opposite the desk. "I want you to write down your name, the name of your house, and then I want you to write down a list of animals that you think you think you would like to become."
"What are you saying?"
"You've got the skill, now let's see what your writing brings up."
Harry shrugged and began to write. Victor stood up and walked over to where Professor McGonagall was standing with the last of her students in her group. Victor waved Neville over to where they stood.
"You'll be taking your test with Professor McGonagall. Please go get in the line."
Neville nodded and walked back to talk with Seamus Finnigan. Victor walked back over to Harry who was busy writing on the paper.
"Hello, Hermione," Professor McGonagall said as Hermione stepped up to her teacher. "How are you today?"
"Good as far as I know. Let's get this over with, shall we?"
"Alright."
McGonagall gave Hermione a dropper full of blue liquid and after she took it, McGonagall stepped up and peered into Hermione's eyes. "You know, your irises are purple," she said suspiciously. "Have you taken anything lately?"
"Snape made us take a potion that he had us make today."
"Yes, I've seen the students running around with red nails. But I haven't seen purple yet. Not on anyone except for you."
"I dunno. Maybe I'm ill and it's jsut acting up," Hermione said hopefully.
"Maybe. Anyway, let's get this test finished. Have you ever..."
Victor walked up to Harry who was finished with his writing. "Let me see whaat you have," he said, taking the paper from Harry. The paper read:
Harry James Potter
Gryffindor
Animals-
dog
lion
tiger
owl
wolf
horse
Victor gave the paper back to Harry. He smiled at him and reached out to shake his hand. Harry took his hand, and instead of a handshake, his dream began to flash before his eyes. He could see the forest clearly. He could hear the leves and the...the growling.
Harry's dream ended and he opened his eyes.
"Harry, would you like to do this? Would you like to become an animagus?"
Harry stared open-mouthed at Victor. He looked over to his right to see that everyone was through with his test and were walking back to the castle. McGonagall smiled and waved Harry and Victor off.
"Yes. Yes, I would."
"Good. We start now."
"Now?"
"Now. I want you to make your hair grow out like you did when you were younger."
Harry thought about his hair being long again like it was when he stayed with the Dursleys. He opened his eyes and saw that his hair was long and falling in his face. He tucked it behind his ears and looked at Victor who was beaming with joy.
"Make it short again," Victor said.
Harry closed his eyes and imagined it short and spikey. Shorter than it had been before he had started the exercise. He opened his eyes to the feel of his hair off of his forehead. He reached up and ran a hand through his hair. It was barely an inch long.
"Well done. I can see already that this won't take you very long at all. What about your body? Can you distort it in any way?"
"I never tried," Harry said as he willed his hair back and forth between long and short. "This is amusing."
Victor laughed. "So it is. I want you to try and stretch your fingers as far as they will go, and then see how far you can make them grow."
Harry stuck out his hands and stretched his fingers. He felt a burning sensation in his hand as he watched his arm, and not his fingers grow. He stopped trying to make anything grow at all, and threw his arms, which had sprung back to their normal size, down at his sides.
"I want you to work on that growing excersize. It's good to know that you can make your arms grow already, but you alos need to make your fingers grow. Work on this, and I'll contact you soon. Within a few days."
Victor made all of the chairs and the desk disappear. He turned himself into a hawk and flew off from the direction in which he came.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Harry sat on his bed that afternoon writing a letter to Sirius. He talked about how Victor had determined that he could become an animagus, and how the handshake had brought back his dream. He asked how long it had taken his father to become an animagus. Harry asked Sirius how he was, and concluded the letter with a 'love, Harry'.
A knock sounded on the door, and Harry yelled, "Come in."
The door opened and Hermione came walking in. She sat down next to Harry and layed her head on Harry's shoulder. Harry folded his letter and tossed it over on his bedside table.
"What's wrong, Love?" Harry asked as he wrapped his arms around Hermione.
"Nothing. I think it's wonderful that you get to become an animagus."
"Yeah, it's going to be great." Harry laid back on the bed and pulled Hermione with him. She curled up to his chest and laid one arm across. She sighed happily and closed her eyes. "I love you, you know that?" Harry said softly, taking Hermione's hand into his own.
Hermione opened her eyes and looked up at him. "I love you also, Harry."
Harry leaned his head down and kissed Hermione's forehead.
"As much as I love laying here with you, I have to go to the owlry. Would you like to come with me?" Harry asked.
"Of course." Hermione got up and straightened out her clothes and hair as she waited for Harry by the door. Harry grabbed his letter and he and Hermione walked out the door together, hand in hand.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
A few days later Harry got a letter back from Sirius.
Dear Harry,
I hope you are well. It doesn't surprise me that you are going to become an animagus. I remember your father being the first of us to make the transformation. It took him about five months. But he was already an easy learner. I hope your training goes well. I have been under the weather a bit lately. A nasty cold, it is. But I'll be fine. Say hello to Ron and Hermione for me.
Sirius
Harry closed the letter and tossed it in his bag. He looked up at Hermione who had her head laid down on the table. He looked over at Ron who shrugged his shoulders and resumed talking to Seamus.
"Love, are you alright?" Harry asked, reaching over to run his fingers through her hair.
"I think I'm coming down with the flu or something. I don't feel well at all."
Harry gave her a sympathetic smile. "Would you like me to take you back up to the tower?"
"Yes, would you? I don't think I'm going to make it through dinner," Hermione said weakly.
Harry nodded, and stood up from the table. He and Hermione walked along the length of the table until reaching the end where they joined. Harry put his arm around Hermione and helped walk her through the corridors.
Upon reaching the last turn of the hallways until reaching the staircase that would take them to the tower, Harry stopped. He listened intently.
"Harry, wha-"
"Shhh....listen."
Hermione listened as well. They could hear the faint sound of rustling clothes and kissing. Hermione leaned up against a wall and clutched her stomach. Harry walked over to her and raised her face to meet his. She smiled as much as she could, but Harry could see that she was in a lot of pain.
Harry stretched his arms quickly and tucked his long hair that he had forgotten to shrink from animagus training behind his ear. He picked Hermione up, cradling her like a child that had fallen asleep in their parens' bed. He made sure she was okay with the way she was being held, and then he walked swiftly around the corner.
A small scream was heard as Ginny jumped away from Malfoy, pulling her robes together. Malfoy straightened up quickly, but said nothing as Harry rushed by on his way to get to the tower.
After the first staircase, Harry's arms began to burn with the effort.
"God, I'm out of shape," Harry said as he looked down at Hermione. She had her eyes closed and bit her bottom lip. He noticed that her skin had turned an even whiter shade of pale.
Harry found a new strength in his muscles and he picked up the pace. Soon he found himself standing in front of the portrait hole shouting the password. No sooner had they entered than Hermione jumped out of Harry's arms and ran to the bathroom.
Harry stood outside of the bathroom while Hermione sat on the tile inside being sick.
"Do you need some help, Baby?" Harry asked. Hermione exited the bathroom and smiled weakly.
"I just need to lay down." Hermione went and laid down on her bed. Harry walked over and joined her. He threw a protective arm lightly over her middle, and she placed a kiss on the tip of his nose. She brushed a few stray strands of hair out of his face and closed her eyes.
"I love you," she mumbled before falling into a deep slumber.
Harry stayed awake while Hermione slept. He memorized everything about her from the way her hair fell over the pillow to the way her lips parted as she breathed. A few hours after Hermione had fallen asleep, some of the girls came in their dorm to find Harry laying there.
Harry closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
"If someone were to come in and find him there, they'd be in a lot of trouble," one of the girls said.
"Yeah, but look at them. I for one can't kick him out."
"Just draw the curtain and quit talking about it," another girl said as she walked over to the bed, drawing the curtain.
"There, you see? Problem solved."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Harry found himself standing on the front lawn of the castle with Victor one saturday afternoon for animagus training. The wind was blowing heavily, and Harry found himself agitated into shrinking the hair that he had enjoyed leaving ear-length.
"Have you been working on those excersizes that we covered last time?" Victor asked. It had been a month since their first animagus practice back when Harry had learned that he could become one, and they had had six practices since then. Victor had told Harry that by the time their next practice was over, he would know what animagi he was becoming. It was really the animal that chose the person anyway.
"Yes, I did. I can do just about anything with my body that you would have me do. Now when will we know what I am?"
"Right now. I want you to concentrate on the dream of running through the forbidden forest and let the transfiguration take over your body without your control.
"Is that all changing into an animagus is? Just letting the animal take you over?"
"Of course not. Now try it."
Harry closd his eyes and threw himself in his dream. He could once again feel the crunch of the leaves beneath his feet. A breeze blew and he could feel it seeping through his hair. The ground was foggy and the air misty. He could smell all of it and see all of it with a new clarity. And then there was that low growling sound... But no matter. He was running quickly and blindly through the forest, the wind carrying him wherever he could go.
Harry opened his eyes to meet a smiling Victor.
"Well, what am I?" Harry asked eagerly.
"Something that reflects what's in here," Victor said, tapping on Harry's chest. "It shows that you are brave, wise, and strong." Victor stopped to let Harry process this.
Harry nodded.
"So tell me what you felt when you were in your dream," Victor said.
"I could feel and smell everything like I had never before. Everything was so clear." Harry paused to smell the wind as it whipped through his hair. "Everything -is- so clear."
Victor nodded satisfied. "Harry, you're a wolf."
"A wolf?" Harry said quietly. "Wouldn't that make me a warewolf?"
"No. The difference is control. You have control, but warewolves don't. That being said, let's begin the excersizes."
Harry nodded and began to do what Victor told him to.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Harry sat in the Gryffindor common room on and early morning just before breakfast. The quidditch team had been called to a meeting and since the moment Harry had been called down, he still hadn't completely woken up. If it weren't for the Ravenclaws not being able to compete at their last game, the teams wouldn't have had to have a game on the last week of school. Normally at this time in the middle of June they would be relaxing and enoying the summertime. But not this time.
Hermione and some of the other girls came walking down from the dorm. Hermione saw Harry and walked up to kiss him goodmorning. She waved goodbye to him and walked out of the common room as quickly as she had come.
Ten minutes later Harry went and sat down at the table between Hermione and Ron. He yawned loudly and reached out to get some bread.
"What was the meeting about?" Ron asked.
"We have practice after lunch. I'm excused from all afternoon classes."
"You're so lucky. I have to go through transfiguration with that ruddy old- " Ron was cut off by the feeling of Hermione's hand against his chest. He touched where she had hit, and expressed his dislike for her.
Breakfat went on without any further problems and they soon found themselves in the middle of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Lunch came none too quickly and soon Harry was dismissed to go off on his quidditch practice.
Hermione and Ron walked to transfiguration together in silence. Upon reaching the class, they saw taht there were several empty spots from where quidditch members were gone for practice. Hermione sat next to Ron and listened as McGonagall began her lecture immediately.
-=-=-=-
Harry walked out onto the practice field with his broom hung over his shoulder. The Weasley twins were walking to his right and they were in good spirits. They chatted happily the entire way there. Upon getting to the field, Harry had a feeling in the back of his mind that he was not able to shake.
The seven players mounted their broomsticks, and a second year Gryffindor that they had pulled out of class threw the quaffle into the air. Immediately the players began to toss the quaffle back and forth to each other, going over drills, while the bludger raced around like mad, trying its best to knock everyone off of their broomstick.
"Beat the bloody hell out of it, George!" One of the new second years yelled.
George hit the bludger and it raced off.
-=-=-=-
Hermione sat taking notes over the transfiguration that Professor McGonagall was demonstrating. Hermione wass actually quite bored with it. Harry wasn't in class to keep her amused, and Ron was currently in a trance. She yawned loudly, covering her mouth as she realized what she had done.
"Perhaps you'd like to try this, Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall said as she looked at Hermione.
"I uh...er," Hermione stuttered.
"No excuses, Miss Granger. Down here right now."
Hermione slowly stood from her chair and walked on shaky legs down to where McGonagall stood at the front of the class.
-=-=-=-
Harry zoomed around the quidditch pitch. He turned his head back and forth looking for that one tiny glimmer of gold. He hadn't seen it so far. But they'd only been out there for about a half hour, so it was no matter.
Harry could hear the yelling from his teammates as they tossed the quaffle back and forth, throwing it in the goal. Harry smiled and yelled with his friends. He turned his head to the right to look at Fred when he saw it.
That gold glimmer.
Harry zoomed off at the speed of light to just below where Fred rested on his broom. He kept gaining speed, going as fast as he could until...
-=-=-=-
"Now, Miss Granger, what is the first step?" McGonagall stood there waiting as Hermione looked clueless. McGonagall tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for an answer.
Hermione looked up and saw that Ron was now awake and smiling. He looked at her and quirked his eyebrow. Hermione gave him the look of death. He was going to get the hell beat out of him after everything was said and done.
"I don't know, Professor." Hermione said honestly.
"I won't take that for an answer. If you feel the need to sleep in my class and not pay attention, then we'll see what you know. Or there's always detention."
Hermione looked around the room. She didn't know what to do. Everything was so confusing. She felt light headed all of a sudden. She looked up at Professor McGonagall. Words were coming from her lips, but Hermione didn't hear anything.
And soon all she saw was darkness.
-=-=-=-
Harry kept diving for the snitch. He could almsot feel it in his hands. It was right there.
"Harry! Watch out!" George yelled loudly.
Harry looked up as he grabbed the snitch. A rabid bludger came hurlingat Harry, hitting him in the stomach. Harry fell backwards off of his broom and reached forward to grab the handle. It slipped out of his grip and he fell.
Harry looked up at the sky and everything slowed down. He saw the bright blue and the clouds that passed. He felt himself screaming in the back of his throat and soon he felt nothing but the hard gound and the feel of the snitch falling out of his grasp.
-=-=-=-
Hermione opened her eyes slightly. The bright light of the room was blinding and she shut them again. Voices were coming from somewhere nearby. She braved the light and opened her eyes again.
The hospital wing. That's where she was. She looked over to see Madam Pomfrey standing near a large cabinet, talking to Professor McGonagall. Hermione strained her hearing to try and listen to what was being said, but the low tones of their voices made that impossible. Hermione gave up and looked around the room.
She gasped quietly when she looked in the bed to her right. Harry was laying there shirtless with bandages wrapped all around his chest. His head laid on a pillow with his mouth slightly a jar. He looked to be sleeping peacefully.
Hermione turned her head back to where McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey had been standing. McGonagall turned her head to see that Hermione was awake. She turned back to Pomfrey, mumbled something, and then began to walk over to Hermione.
She sat down on the edge of the bed and opened her mouth to speak.
"I'm glad you're awake. You were out good for a while there."
"Yeah. I just don't know what happened. But what's wrong with Harry?"
"He was hit with a bludger and knocked off of his broom during practice. He fell about thirty feet before hitting the ground."
"Will he be alright," Hermione asked as she looked over at
Harry.
"He has a concussion and five broken ribs. But he should be alright in a few weeks."
Hermione smiled weakly. "But that's not why you came over to talk."
"No, it's not. Hermione, if you were wondring why your nails turned purple and why you've been sick lately, I have your answer," McGonagall said as she adverted Hermione's eyes.
"What is it?"
"Hermione, there's no easy way to tell you this, but you're pregnant."
Hermione closed her eyes and reached a shaky hand up to pinch the bridge of her eyes. A tear slipped silently from her eyes and down her cheek. She took in a shaky breath and layed a hand on top of her stomach.
McGonagall squeezed her hand lightly and got up to leave.
Hermione rolled over to see that Harry was awake. His head was turned to the side and he was smiling at her. Having heard every word that was said, he wasn't upset. He reached up a few fingers to his lips and turned his hand around as if he were to give the kiss to her. She smiled and reached a hand out, not able to touch his fingers, but still able to convey her message.
Harry pulled his hand back and layed it at his side. "No matter what you choose, I'm behind you every step of the way." Harry smiled again and closed his eyes, leaving Hermione to her own thoughts for the night.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
END CHAPTER FOUR
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
a/n: so i think that i like this chap. its by far the longest, and the most intense. tell me what you think and spread the word about the fic. i need some charity. talk to me about it. message me on AIM at CURSEoftheSCOTS
thanks to all of you who have reviewed so far. it kept me going.