"Professor Dumbledore, I would like to know how to register as an
Animagus," said the lanky sixth year.
"Register? Splendid! What animal can you become?" Dumbledore asked, happily.
"A boar," the boy said.
"Marvelous! That can be quite useful you know, especially in rural areas."
"Yes, sir, That's what Professor McGonnagal said, Her brother chose boar, and she considered it before choosing a cat instead."
"A cat?" Dumbledore asked, barely maintaining his composure.
"Yes, she showed us on the first day of class. A speckled tan cat, rather like my mother's at home."
"I see," said Dumbledore, his mind on the stray that had been hanging around lately. "Thank you Tholmes, I'll have the proper scrolls sent to Ravenclaw's common room by tomorrow."
"Yes, sir," the boy said as he left, puzzled by the usually kind Dumbledore's abrupt response.
That evening, the cat leapt onto the arm of his chair just as he sat down with a chocolate frog. Scratching Minerva between the ears -in her cat form she seemed to like it- he sighed.
"You know, kitty, it's starting to get colder outside," he smiled mischievously, "and I'm going to have to close the window. Now my two choices are to lock you in or out. It's your decision, what will it be?" Minerva purred and rubbed her head against his hand. Ordinary cat behavior, if this was an ordinary cat. Albus ran a finger down her back and leaned close to her face. Yes, those green eyes were Minerva's eyes.
"I'm on to you, Minerva," he whispered into her ear. The cat smiled sheepishly. "Why don't you turn back so we can talk?"
Minerva obliged, but forgetting that she would be much larger than her feline form, ended up in his lap. She almost toppled over, but Albus's quick arm around her waist saved her.
"I was just getting ready to plan what to say to you," he said, "but it seems that won't be necessary."
"I suppose not," she smiled, tracing the short gray streak that had started growing in his long auburn beard last summer. He grabbed her hand and pulled it out of the way. Both leaned forward and their lips met. Albus Dumbledore thought that nothing could ever be more pleasing than that kiss, but it was quickly overshadowed by the realization that there was more to come.
**(*)**
"Register? Splendid! What animal can you become?" Dumbledore asked, happily.
"A boar," the boy said.
"Marvelous! That can be quite useful you know, especially in rural areas."
"Yes, sir, That's what Professor McGonnagal said, Her brother chose boar, and she considered it before choosing a cat instead."
"A cat?" Dumbledore asked, barely maintaining his composure.
"Yes, she showed us on the first day of class. A speckled tan cat, rather like my mother's at home."
"I see," said Dumbledore, his mind on the stray that had been hanging around lately. "Thank you Tholmes, I'll have the proper scrolls sent to Ravenclaw's common room by tomorrow."
"Yes, sir," the boy said as he left, puzzled by the usually kind Dumbledore's abrupt response.
That evening, the cat leapt onto the arm of his chair just as he sat down with a chocolate frog. Scratching Minerva between the ears -in her cat form she seemed to like it- he sighed.
"You know, kitty, it's starting to get colder outside," he smiled mischievously, "and I'm going to have to close the window. Now my two choices are to lock you in or out. It's your decision, what will it be?" Minerva purred and rubbed her head against his hand. Ordinary cat behavior, if this was an ordinary cat. Albus ran a finger down her back and leaned close to her face. Yes, those green eyes were Minerva's eyes.
"I'm on to you, Minerva," he whispered into her ear. The cat smiled sheepishly. "Why don't you turn back so we can talk?"
Minerva obliged, but forgetting that she would be much larger than her feline form, ended up in his lap. She almost toppled over, but Albus's quick arm around her waist saved her.
"I was just getting ready to plan what to say to you," he said, "but it seems that won't be necessary."
"I suppose not," she smiled, tracing the short gray streak that had started growing in his long auburn beard last summer. He grabbed her hand and pulled it out of the way. Both leaned forward and their lips met. Albus Dumbledore thought that nothing could ever be more pleasing than that kiss, but it was quickly overshadowed by the realization that there was more to come.
**(*)**
