After Harry's first Transfiguration lesson he casually approached Professor McGonagalls table, Hermione and Ron close behind him. He had told them that he had something to tell Professor McGonagall and now he grew angry. He waved them away and told them he would catch them up. After they left he turned to McGonagall.

"Erm, Professor?"

"Yes, Potter?"

"I`d like to know something. When can somebody become an Animagus? I mean, I'm interested in Anmagi and want to know some certain things."

"Hm, I thought so. What's your next lesson, Potter?"

Harry was perplexed. She thought so? "After lunch double Potions, Professor."

"Good, follow me, Potter."

She walked out of the classroom and down the corridor. Harry followed her fast stride and wondered where she would lead him. Maybe I can begin training immediately? Or maybe I will punished for this stupid idea.

They reached the stone gargoyle hiding the stairs to Dumbledore's office. Surely Dumbledore already had suspected that Harry would go the same way James Potter once had gone. Professor McGonagall gave the password ("cockroach cluster") and the gargoyle sprang to life.

They ascended the stairs and McGongall rapped the door to Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore baded them inside and McGonagall quickly took a seat beside Flitwick. Harry looked around, there were already some teachers in here, but why? Snape looked at Harry with an inscrutable stare, Flitwick was happily sipping his tea and right beside Snape was Professor Sprout, apparently unhappy. Maybe the long distance between her and her plants and flowers were putting her on a strain.

Dumbledore showed Harry a chair right in front of the five wizards and Harry sat down.

"Well, Harry. What can I do for you?" Dumbledore asked him with a kind face expression.

"Um, I asked Professor McGonagall when someone can become an Animagus because I'm interested in becoming one." He replied with a small voice. He felt five gazes on him. He forced himself to look right into Dumbledore's deep blue eyes.

"Yes, Minerva, that will be your assignment."

Minerva McGonagall nodded curtly and Harry looked at her. What kind of assignment? Harry knew that Professor McGonagall was an Animagus, and Dumbledore said that it would be her assignment. Maybe she would teach me how to become an Animagus? Probably, but what about the others? Surely they should be at lunch, but why are they here with me?

"Harry, we have this little meeting today to discuss some things concerning you. It was pure luck Minerva and you found us, but I think it is better like this. As you may know Voldemort is looking for you to end what he once had begun. And we cannot guard you all the times. We must concentrate our forces to beat Voldemort but guarding you at the same time makes our efforts useless. You wondered where our new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher is? Well, Moody is combing the country for Death Eaters, not successful yet but I think he will be after a short time. Well, straight to the point. We me met today to prepare you. If we want to defeat Voldemort, we have to make sure that you are save. And as I already said guarding you and fighting Voldemort at the same time won't help either side. In spite of that you will get special preparation training. Each teacher in this very room will teach you his most prized skill, or merely the most important of the magical branch he or she is teaching. You asked to become a animagus, this shows that you are ready to fight, ready to face the evil. We will help to strengthen you, but the willpower must come from you. And that is the plan: After dinner every day you will have a double lesson with one teacher. Today you will have your first double lesson, and every other Monday also. Minerva will teach you how to become an animagus, then on Tuesday Filius will have his turn, Wednesdays it will be Professor Sprout's duty, Thursday Severus has the privilege and at the end of the week the honor will be all mine. You will meet Minerva at the transfiguration classroom right after dinner. Don't be late!"

Harry nodded and looked at the teachers before leaving. Flitwick was overflowing with happyness, Sprout was watering flowers standing in the Headmaster's office, McGonagall looked at Harry with her eyes full of pride and Snape gave him the usual glare. Harry finally left and walked down the stairs towards their potions classroom.

But he suddenly stopped. How I am supposed to have potions when Snape is sitting in the Headmaster's office? He laughed and turned, now walking towards Gryffindor Tower and entered ("paper tissue!"). The common room was crowded, an unusual sight during class. The Gryffindor fifth-years were in a very good mood. Snape was everyone's least favourite teacher, and Snape almost never cancelled his lessons.

Harry found Ron and Hermione sitting in a corner far away from the others. Hermione was reading a rather big book about - Harry bent a bit to see its cover - potions. What else. Potions was cancelled and she had to catch up.

Ron instead was positively gleaming.

"Harry! Potions' cancelled! Potions' cancelled! Hooray!" He behaved like a raving lunatic. Harry silently shook his head at his best friends and girlfriends behaviour, catching up just after the lesson was cancelled was downright nerdy, but screaming all over the place like a madman was hardly better.

He sat down beside Hermione and they intertwined they fingers. She smiled at him and he felt his heat rise. Everytime she smiled at him he was feeling good, calm and like nothing could go wrong. She put the book away and soon they were chatting happily. Eventually Ron joined them (he finally stopped bellowing).

"Harry, how did you know potions was cancelled? I mean, I haven't seen you since you went to see McGonagall after transfiguration."

"Well, I know. And I know that Flitwicks, Sprouts and McGonagalls classes were cancelled, too."

"How do you?" Hermione asked him with interest.

Harry told them the short version of what happened in Dumbledore's office, that he wanted to strengthen Harry so he could look after himself and that protecting Harry was weakening their offense.

"And after dinner every Monday McGonagall will teach me how to become an animagus."

Hermione's head yerked up, she had opened another book while Harry had told them. But now she seemed alert.

"How to become an animagus? Are you sure? I mean, it is supposed to be pretty hard. Only seven people have done it this century."

Ron now spoke. "I think Dumbledore knows what he says. If he thinks Harry is capable of becoming an animagus, he will be right. And Harry's dad was an animagus, too. He might have a knack for this. And" He grinned broadly at them "You want to tell me that your darling, your love cannot do this?"

Harry hit him on the shoulder to shut him up and Hermione was blushing a little. She rested her head on his shoulder and continued reading. But he was sick of studying and lifted her up, much to her surprise. He carried her to a separate armchair and he sat down, putting her into his lap. She mock-protested but rested her head again on him. Harry heard Ron laughing but he couldn't say anything. Hermione's charm had him in its clutches.

They spent almost an hour relaxing in the armchair, Ron was gone. They kissed ever so often and he had his arms around her. He truly loved her with every inch of his body.

"Hermione, you are the wonderfullest human be-" but he never finished because Hermione already catched his mouth with hers.


***


This evening Harry walked down to the transfiguration classroom, finding the door wide ajar. He entered it and saw Professor McGonagall already waiting for him.

"About time." She closed the door and turned to him.

"To become an animagus is very difficult. Only few wizards are capable of it. In order to become an animagus we have to check if you can do certain things. Every wizards did these, but we have to look closely at you: How strong these things were and how often they happened." What did she mean? What things?

"You probably know that underage wizards are performing accidental magic in their first years of puberty and even before puberty. Well, this accidental magic shows if a wizard is capable to perform wandless magic. Yes, Mr Potter. Wandless magic is required to become an animagus. You have to tell me what kind of accidental magic you have performed in order to see if you can become an animagus."

Harry looked at her in amazement. He treid to remember, when was the first time he did accidental magic? He told her about his hair and how it had grown back in one night. He thought back some more, yes there it was. He remembered everything, he told her about Dudley's birthday and that he had set free a boa constrictor, he also told her about the times Dudley's gang had tried to beat him up but he had somehow managed to fly up on the roof of the school. He looked back in the past and found even more. He told her about the summer holidays before his third year, his Aunt Marge had angered him a great deal. He had blasted her glass of wine and later on he had almost blown up her. Then he had to flee, but this time he hadn't used accidental magic, no he had used real magic. But not with a wand. The pure thought hit him: He already had performed wandless magic! He had opened the cupboard with his things with just a thought, no incantation, no flick of his wand. But he was sure he did it and that it was locked. He had thought about the alohomora spell and suddenly the door was open. Just like that.

He told her everything and she merely nodded.

"Yes, every kind of accidental or wandless magic in our youth shows us where our strengths lie. I shrinked myself when my parents shouted at me." Harry had to smile, Professor McGonagall never told them something that private. "But in your case, Mr Potter, there are some more things. You had to regrow your hair overnight, that could be a sign that you are capable of becoming an animagus. Or maybe even that you are a natural, like your father. Your other accidental magic - well, to be honest I'm not good at wandless magic but it seems that you could be good at wandless magic. But today we are here to teach you how to become an animagus. Well, right now we will look up animals you could become and when you have decided what animal you want to become we have to do research over this specific animal."

McGonagall had a pile of books on her desk and they started to look throufh them. Harry had thought about what animal he wanted to become but he didn't know which animal yet. They searched through three books without finding anything. Professor McGonagall was almost desperate.

"Well, why not. Look through this, Potter."

Harry took the book she offered him and already saw why Professor McGonagall gave it to him. The title was 'Gryffindor's Animals and other brave Creatures'. Harry looked at the first page, his eyes widening. He saw a picture of a flying lion. The lion was flying over a wood and its wings were flapping. A lion with wings??? Harry read the text beside the picture.

The Golden Griffin

A golden griffin is a creature with lion body and pheonix wings. It is three quarters lion and one quarter pheonix. Although the golden griffin is one quarter pheonix he has no pheonix abilities despite the ability to fly.

Harry looked at the smooth wings and how well the griffin soared through the air. He had decided. No, the griffin had.

He looked up to tell Professor McGonagall his choice but she already looked at him, a small smile on her face. She lent him the book so he could research the golden griffin properly. He grabbed the book and headed back to Gryffindor Tower.

Ron and Hermione were anxiously waiting for Harry and when he finally returned Ron immediately started to question Harry.

"How did it go? I mean what animal you'll become?" Ron's eyes were shining with excitement.

"I'm going to become a golden griffin animagus." Harry wanted to continue but he couldn't because Hermione had thrown herself at him, hugging and kissing him. After they parted again Hermione whispered in his ear.

"Oh Harry, I'm so proud of you! An animagus, you know that only a handful wizards can do this?" He embraced her again and laid his lips on hers. He slipped his tongue in her mouth, meeting hers. They kissed for a while, sometimes interrupted by Ron who was yelling "get a room!" at them. Finally they stopped but just to look for the most comfortable armchair in the common room. After they found and sat in it they started again. Harry felt her hands on his body and he shivered, she was driving him mad. He let his hands wander, touching her skin. She has so soft skin! But his mind was driven mad by another thing: Her tongue was doing incredible things with his tongue! He moaned with pleasure.

They did this for half an hour but Harry had to put a stop on it. He reluctantly let go of her.

"Hermione, we should stop now. I-I have to prepare myself for tomorrow, doing homework and so on. We have to stop." To his amazement she laughed.

"Oh Harry! That was my line! What's happening to you? But I like this change. But wait a moment, I wanted to ask you something." She sounded rather serious.

Harry looked at her, right into her chocolate brown eyes. "Yes, 'Mione?"

"Would you- would you go with me to Hogsmeade this weekend? We have a Hogsmeade visit scheduled this weekend, and I thought it would be nice-" She was babbling and Harry had to laugh. But he caught himself in time and replied.

"Of course, my love. I would never decline such an offer from you. I'm so happy to be with you."

Hermione stopped babbling and drew him into a kiss. This time Harry had to remind her of his homework twice, but they stopped eventually. They worked on their homework together, laughing and chatting idly.


***


It was the Friday before their Hogsmeade visit, and they had to endure another double potions lesson. Snape was as insufferable as ever, making snide remarks about Harry (not about Harry's potions though) to entertain the Slytherins. Deducting points for shredding his roots to loud and looking at a fellow classmate in a bad way was hardly fair, but Harry ignored it. Malfoy was mocking Harry ("Potty and Mrs Know-it-all, what a couple!") but only Crabbe and Goyle were laughing. Everyone else in the room thought the same: Hary and Hermione were the best-looking couple of the whole school and everyone wanted to be in Harry's or Hermione's position.

Except for Potions the classes were uneventful. The theoretical Defence against the Dark Arts lesson with Snape contained taking notes on the behaviour of vampires and Ron was whispering under his breath how much Snape looked and behaved like a vampire, making Harry snigger. Amazingly Snape never ever took points from them, he just sat in front of the class and they had to read things or he read them something aloud.

Fred and George had scheduled a meeting of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team in the early evening, right after Harry's lesson with Professor McGonagall. They met in the common room to discuss who'll be the new capitan. Harry voted for Alicia, she was Head Girl and she knew how to lead a larger group. But in the end Fred won (with three votes). Harry thought that it doesn't matter, I just have to continue catching the snitch. No special tactics for this, eh?

The Keeper tryout was immediately after the meeting and soon the whole team emerged down to the Quidditch pitch. They prepared everything and Fred let the crowd in, with them Harry saw with delight, Ron. He gave him a double thumps-up but Ron just smiled sheepishly.

Fred had them run through different tests. They had to show their speed, they had to show how good they could turn around and most important of course they had to show how good they could keep. Ron was quite good he could catch almost every ball thrown at the goal posts with his long arms and legs. Fred was impressed and George was cheering. Even Alicia and their fellow Chaseresses weren't upset, they were cheering Ron, too. Fred told the others that Ron was the new Keeper and thanked them for trying. After the crowd was gone he announced that Quidditch practice would be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Harry's head was swimming, he had so much to do! He remembered the first week of the new term. Professor Flitwick wanted to improve Harry's dueling skills (and he was surprised that Harry was already pretty good). He taught Harry confundus-class charms and how to fight against the confusion of a confundus-class charm. Next week Flitwick wanted to move on unfair situations and how to master them (including two on one, three on one and even more) and later pain curses. On Wednesday he had been taught by Professor Sprout. He had to learn plants and their efficiency. Some plants were dangerous, other were very valuable. He especially learned everything about plants used in potions so he could use the information for his special lesson with Severus Snape. Snape made him learn the most complex potions ever been and Harry had a hard time memorizing them. Snape never let him brew anything, just scribing and reading. But Friday's lesson was different, it was in fact the best lesson besides animagus lesson. McGonagall must have said something to Dumbledore, because Albus Dumbledore had started to teach Harry how to perform Magic without a wand. In the first lesson Harry had to focus on his magical being, his magical self. It was hard, similar to yoga, but after almost an hour Harry thought that he could feel everything magical in his body. He was exhausted but his magical abilities felt strangely refreshed. He anxiously anticipated the next lesson with Dumbledore. Performing magic with a swish of your hand or just a tought. Dumbledore had done this, he had lightened the candles with just a look.

But he forced his mind back on the reality. The whole team was still backslapping or hugging Ron who looked pleased with himself. They descended the Quidditch pitch and soon they all were back in the Gryffindor common room.

It was finally Saturday, the day of the Hogsmeade visit. Almost every Gryffindor was going (well, everyone from Third-Year or higher). Harry was wearing his new robe with the Gryffindor colours. And Harry had Parvati secretly cut his hair yesterday right after the Qudditch meeting. It was now short and his scar was clearly visible. Parvati had told him that he looked handsome with it (and blushed furiously). He never thought that he would look handsome, but he had to agree that he looked acceptable with his new robe and his haircut. Hopefully Hermione thought the same.

They left Hogwarts castle and went towards Hogsmeade with their fellor schoolmates. Hermione beside him wore plain Hogwarts robes, open in the front, showing a plain button-down shirt and jeans. He knew she was very beautiful even if her dressing was hiding most of it.

As they came nearer they could see Fleur near the Three Broomsticks already waiting for Ron. Her Veela appearance was still affecting Harry, but he not as strong as it had last year. And he knew why: I got the better girl.

She was flinging her arms around Ron and they kissed soundly. Harry had to grin and he saw that Hermione was grinning, too. Ron was a lucky bloke, nearly every boy would want a date with Fleur Delacour, but then she was lucky too - unlike Roger Davies Ron was not drooling all the time, no he was behaving naturally.

To give Ron and Fleur some privacy he grabbed Hermione and kissed her. She giggled and kissed back They kissed for a few moments but the time they looked up Ron and Fleur were already waiting for them. Harry's ears went quite pink. He laughed out loud to break the arkward silence and the others chimed in.

They first went into Honeydukes so Ron could replenish his stock of Chocolate Frogs. Harry tried some of the new inventions (cakes that had the same tastes like Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans but the taste changed after every bite, or the throwing gum that could be thrown and found its way into the thrower's mouth with big loops). But his mind was in Hermione's approaching birthday. He wanted to buy something very special, but he wasn't sure what kind of present a boy should give his girlfriend. Ron would keep Hermione busy so Harry could look for a birthday present if Harry gave Ron the sign they arranged.

But Harry was still thinking what to buy and so they just went to the Three Broomsticks. While sipping his butterbeer and listening half-hearthy to Fleur who was talking about her teaching job in Hogsmeade Harry suddenly had an idea. He excused himself and nodded to Ron with a very pointed look. Ron nodded back and Harry left the Three Broomsticks.

Harry walked down the street to look for the thing he had thought of. He was now in one of the parts of Hogsmeade where a Hogwarts student was an unusual sight. He took the left street and saw what he was looking for. He read the sign in front of the shop. 'Madame Malkins Robes and Dress Robes for every Celebration'.

He entered the shop and was greeted by an elderly and kind woman.

"Oh hello my dear. Are you looking for something special?"

"Er, I'm looking for a dress robe, for my girlfriend."

"Ah, a present? Well well, follow me, I'm sure we will find exactly the perfect robe for your dear girlfriend."

She dragged him through the whole shop and Harry was slightly panicking. What was I thinking? I don't know her size! Harry never had to worry about sizes, his muggle clothes he had before he went to Hogwarts were cast offs from Dudley and they were not fitting at all. His Hogwarts robes were all hand-measured. But he couldn't bring Hermione with him, presents are secrets till they were given.

"What's your girlfriend favourite colour? I mean, what colour should the dress be? It should look good with your dress robes, too."

He thought back, last year she had worn a light blue dress and she had looked marvelous.

"Light blue."

"Well, I think we have some nice dress robes in this colour. Wait here." And soon she was showing Harry different dresses and Harry tried to imagine Hermione wearing the dresses. They looked through dozens of dresses but in the end they found the perfect one; A light blue and glittering dress with a long hem and a low cut neckline. On the backside there was a small hole right on the small of her back. He marveled at the dress and the old woman told him that every Madame Malkins dress is bewitched to change its size to the size of the wearer. He was satisfied and paid 25 galleons. He transfigured the dress to something smaller and put it in his pocket.

He went back and told them that the cue to the loo was enormous but Hermione looked rather unconvinced. Harry smiled innocently at her and soon her gaze was full of love again.

It was time to return to Hogwarts and Fleur kissed Ron goodbye. Ron was looking at her with a longing look while they walked towards the castle. Harry tried to cheer him up by telling him that the Yule Ball was soon and he could go with her. Ron's mood seemed to brighten and Harry asked Hermione if she would go to the Yule Ball with him, stuttering like mad. She accepted and they want along arm in arm.

Looking for a beta reader!!! Reviews of every kind are appreciated!