CH 10

Harry was dumbfounded he just couldn't believe what he was seeing. After staring wide-eyed into the box for a moment he looked up to the Headmaster who sat behind his desk with a curious look of amusement on his face.

"Sir," Harry breathed when he finally found his voice "Sir I can't take this!"

"Harry let me explain. That case and its contents were left in care of all Hogwarts Headmasters until it's true owner arrived to claim it. I believe that time has now come, after all you have called upon its aid twice before and accomplished things others thought impossible."

"But sir"

"No buts Harry! Since you arrived at Hogwarts in your first year, you have repeatedly proven your courage and tenacity and in just a few hours today, you have proven your power and control, add on your newly found heritage and I am sure that this, is yours."

Harry reached into the case and pulled out an exquisite sword, silver and jewels glittered from the hilt and around it a scabbard set in scarlet and gold.

"If anyone has the right to carry Griffindor's sword Harry, it's you after all you are his descendent."

"Sir I, don't know what to say."

"Just promise me one thing, keep it in your dorm until you need it then summon it, just like you did your broom in your forth year."

At the mention of Harry's forth and arguably worst year at Hogwarts, Harry's face grew grave but he still promised as asked. As he was about to leave Dumbledore caught his attention again,

"Oh and Harry?"

Harry turned to find Dumbledore had moved to his phoenix so silently Harry hadn't even heard.

"I suggest we keep your heritage a secret for now."

"But sir what about . . .?"

"Harry" he said raising his hand to stop Harry's response "You may of course tell Miss Weasley I wouldn't expect anything else but I suggest for now that she is all you tell."

"Yes sir!"

"Very well Harry, you may leave!"

"Good night sir."

As Harry made his way back to the common room his mind was awash with thoughts about his day, things he'd found out, some of which he understood but there was still the question of his wand, why had it suddenly become so hard to use while his own 'wand-less' magic became so easy. His chain of thought was interrupted however as he reached the portrait hole to Griffindor tower.

"Neville, what are you doing here?"

"Huh? Oh hi Harry. The Fat lady's gone so we can't get in!"

"Don't worry about it. She's probably gone to see Violet or one of the other portraits she shouldn't be long it's still too early for her to abandon her post."

"Anyway Harry?" Neville began as Harry lent back against the entry portrait "Just what is the new password anyway?"

"Neville how was you going to get in even if the Fat lady had been here?"

"Someone usually lets me in if I'm here long enough!"

"Well the new passwords 'Godric's Might' so try and . . ." but Harry stopped when he felt the portrait move behind him, so as he was about to enter he thanked the Fat lady, but stopped when Neville caught his attention.

"Harry? How did you open the entrance and who're you talking too?"

"The Fat lady who else would" but stopped as he saw Neville's face "What?"

"Harry, the Fat lady's not here, remember?"

"She must have come back!" but when he looked he found the portrait empty "Then, how?"

"Maybe someone opened it from the other side when they heard you tell me the password!"

"Yeah . . . anyway lets get in, I'll find out later."

As they entered the common room they found it as expected to be rather full. People all over the room were catching up on what had happened over Christmas, a few were frantically trying to finish homework and Harry was surprised to see Hermione, who wasn't studying sat next to Ron having a quiet laugh about something, and it wasn't long until he spotted Ginny that he figured out what. Ginny was sat surrounded by a large group of girls, all laughing and bombarding the now highly embarrassed Ginny with questions about Harry and their engagement.

Chuckling to himself Harry shot up to his dorm before anyone could see him and deposited his 'new' sword in his trunk. When he came back down from his room he spotted Neville talking to group of fifth years that he noticed with a groan included Colin. As he made his way over Neville spotted him and quickly prevented Colin from attacking Harry with questions.

"Weird thing Harry, apparently no one's been near the entrance for the last hour so there's no way anyone could have let us in."

"Then how did we? O.K. I think I'll speak to McGonagall tomorrow!"

"Hey Potter!"

Harry quickly snapped his head round to see who yelled only to spot Ginny trying to get his attention.

"Stop playing prefect and get over here!"

"Good luck."

He made his way over ignoring the stifled giggles of the group and soon caught the look in Ginny's eye that said she wanted out, now.

"Hey Gin" he said as he quickly kissed her ignoring the group around them "Listen, can you meet me in the Library In 5 minuets?" and when she nodded he made his way back towards his dorm "Oh" he said stopping short of the stairs "And bring your Ansestrall O.K?" and he vanished to his room, Ginny watched him leave with a grateful yet quizzical expression.

"Where is he?" She thought as she walked through the Library, when she spotted him sat at the table furthest from the door.

"Harry what are you sat back here for?"

"I needed to speak to you in private so I came here!"

"So what's wrong?"

Harry took a deep breath and waited till Ginny had sat down "About the way I was acting this morning"

"Harry I already told you"

But he interrupted "Gin? Let me finish, it had nothing to do with our engagement. It was something I discovered today."

"What's wrong?" Ginny's face suddenly took on a look of apprehension.

"Relax Gin it's nothing bad. I think!"

"Harry what are you talking about?"

Harry took hold of Ginny's hand and smiled at her "I'll show you but I'll need to use your Ansestrall!"

"Sure but, wont it get a bit cramped in here?"

"Ginny, I'll be focusing on one person so only one will appear!"

"Oh. Alright." She pushed the open box towards him but before he lifted out the orb he concentrated on Godric Griffindor.

Once again the mist began to appear but this time it was different, instead of being surrounded by purple, the mist was a deep red and was focused in one spot out of which stepped,

"Griffindor!" Ginny gasped.

Harry put the orb down and relaxed as the mist vanished. He turned to see an astonished looking Ginny and behind her, he groaned and his head hit the table.

"Harry what's wrong?" When all he did was point behind her she turned and came face to face with "Mione? What are you doing here?"

When Hermione snapped out of her shocked daze she noticed what Ginny had said "Oh Neville told me there was a problem with the common room entrance and I needed to speak to Harry about it but." She stopped when she spotted Harry with his head down on the table "Harry? Are you alright?"

"Mione don't take this the wrong way but I need your word that you will tell no-one what you saw. Not even Ron!"

"Of course, but why not Ron?"

"Dumbledore made me promise to tell no-one except Ginny and that includes you and Ron!"

"Is that why Dumbledore wanted to see you?"

"That and a problem with my wand" then seeing the look in Ginny's eyes "but that's been dealt with. Oh he also gave me something he said belonged to me by rights." With that he opened the case Dumbledore gave him.

When they saw what was inside Ginny gasped while Hermione looked slightly confused "Why would he give you a sword?" but by now Ginny had recognised the sword and was literally bouncing in excitement.

"So it's true then, you really are a Griffindor." She said after she'd calmed a bit.

"You mean that's Godric's sword?" Hermione asked as she finally caught on.

"Yeah but I have to get it back to my dorm without anyone seeing."

"Why didn't you use your cloak?"

"Forgot. Anyway we'd better go I'm tired and Mione, we've got a test tomorrow remember?"

"Yeah, I'm all ready. But about the portrait hole."

"I'll speak to McGonagall tomorrow."

"Alright. We'd best get back!"

The next morning came quicker than most wanted and soon enough Harry, Ron and Hermione were sat in Transfiguration with the rest of Griffindor and Slytherin.

The morning paper had reported on a Death Eater attack on a muggle village but of course Harry already knew and was now extremely tired from lack of sleep.

The test was carried out behind a screen away from the rest of the class, which Harry was grateful for, as this would mean no one would see him doing wand-less magic. Although Dumbledore had informed McGonagall about Harry's new abilities she was still shocked when he did a perfect Transfiguration with no wand.

"Right then, as I'm sure you all know the Death Eaters have begun attacks again. So it has been decided that we should give you as large an advantage as possible. Mr Black?" Professor McGonagall was looking toward the back of the room and it was only then that Harry spotted the large black dog sitting by the door.

"Sirius!" Harry called out as the dog began to walk toward McGonagall, half way though it changed into Sirius to gasps of surprise from around the room.

"Mr Black has kindly agreed to help over the next few weeks while we attempt to turn some of you into Animagi." She stopped to let this sink in.

"Professor?" Hermione asked raising her hand "What if we don't have an Animagi form?"

"An excellent point Miss Granger, those of you who don't have a natural form will working with me on wand transformations while the others will work with Mr Black. But first we need to check to see if you have a form."

She reached behind the desk and pulled out what looked like an old lantern (the kind you see on steam engines).

"Now when I call your name you should come forward and step in front of the lantern, when I turn it on it will create an image behind you of the form you can assume. So, slytherin's first."

As the Slytherin's stood one by one in front of the lamp it appeared that no one was that keen on training with Sirius but after he changed back and forth between his forms the mood started to lighten, then the first Slytherin with a form was found, Milisant Bulstrode was standing before the lamp and behind her the image of a bull dog.

Harry could practically 'hear' Ron grinning behind him, the rest of the Slytherin's passed through and several had forms including Crabbe and Goyle (a toad and sloth respectively) but Harry was pleased to see Malfoy didn't have a form and he returned to his desk muttering under his breath.

"Griffindor's next."

Once again students began to step in front of the lamp, which did nothing for a while, but soon images began to appear. Shamus it turned out was a dog while Neville a cat pleasing both Sirius and McGonagall and then it was Hermione's turn.

She stepped in front of the lamp and an image of her appeared followed by a second. "Professor what does that mean?" She asked,

"It means you are a dual Animagi, you have two forms, I haven't seen one for about twenty years."

It was then that the first image changed leaving a large brown owl in it's place. As the first image finished it's change the second also changed into a white leopard.

Hermione returned to her seat with a huge grin on her face and as Ron was called Sirius leaned over to her "Show off!"

As Ron approached the lamp he heard a comment from the Slytherin's side of the room "This should be good, what do you reckon a mouse?" It was obviously Malfoy and Ron was fuming. He stepped before the lamp and image of Ron appeared.

'Please don't be a mouse!' was all he could think, the image however was looking straight at Malfoy when it changed. It was no mouse, before them stood a large white tiger.

"Well, Mr Weasley" McGonagall commented, "It seems you're a dark horse or should I say snow tiger, a rather rare and powerful form."

"Mr Potter? Your next!" Harry took a steadying breath and stepped before the lamp. His image appeared followed swiftly by a second, "It seems we have two dual . . ." But she stopped when a third image appeared "A Multimagus? There hasn't been one in over a century!"

'Oh great' thought Harry 'why always me?'

The first image glanced around the room then looked straight at Sirius and changed into a large black wolf with deep green eyes and a white lightning bolt across it's forehead.

Then the second image began to change and Harry didn't want to look when he heard a gasp from McGonagall. When he did, even he was shocked, there before him was a magnificent white phoenix with a golden lightning bolt on it's head. Once she had recovered from her shock Professor McGonagall explained that no one had been able to change into a magical creature since Merlin himself.

Now all eyes were set firmly on the third image and Harry was dreading what it would become when it changed into a large golden lion, behind him he heard Hermione comment on how fitting it was.

"Well Sirius, it seems you'll have your work cut out with this group!" McGonagall joked when everyone's attention was caught again when the lion roared and did what no one expected . . . It opened it's wings!



A/n

I know I said no more until after new year but what can I say I was board at work so merry Christmas and please review review review.