Chapter 7: Pranks, Surprises, and A Belated Birthday
Harry became comfortable in living at the Burrow as usual, but surprisingly found that Ginny was an early riser like him and they would do morning runs together. She would watch as he did his practice of katas, but couldn't get the nerve up to ask him to teacher even though she thought that he looked very graceful doing them. He also sent letters out to Dudley, Sirius and Remus assuring them that he was all right and to congratulate Dudley on passing his test in karate. Sirius and Uncle Remus, as he found out that was what he used to call him, became much closer with their letters and gave Harry the nickname Bambi for being the son of Prongs.
Harry and Ginny would also have long talks at the creek, before everybody else woke up and he found that she had as bad a mischievous streak as the twins as he would constantly hear her name being yelled at from all of her brothers for her stealing their socks. She had this habit when she was younger, but after her first year she hadn't done it for a while, then with her letters from Harry and something her mum gave her she started back up much to the dismay of her brothers. Harry also distinctly found out that Ginny had the same temper as Mrs. Weasley, when she woke one morning very late to find all her clothes dyed pink. With nothing else to wear she dressed quickly while cursing the unknown fool who did this in a very un-ladylike manner. Everybody stared in shock when she came to the kitchen visibly fuming in a pink tee shirt and shorts. All of her brothers and Hermione were red faced with holding back their laughter as she looked like she was about to kill Fred and George who were professing there innocence at this prank. She turned around quickly with a death glare as Harry came in snickering, " I didn't think that you liked pink that much Gin, or I also would have dyed your hair that color."
The rest of them couldn't hold it in after that statement and started to laugh hysterically when Ginny furiously hissed, "You are so dead Harry!!!" She had just reached for her wand, but Harry had run out the back door as he laughed, "You'll have to catch me first, Gin." Ginny was quickly dashing after him while yelling, "Harry get your arse back here and change my clothes back!" Molly was stunned that her daughter would talk like that and was going to scold her, until she saw what Harry had done and realized that she would have to save Harry or the poor boy wouldn't ever make it to school the next term. That had been a very enjoyable day as Harry had effectively lost her and hid while the rest of the family laughed at Ginny looking for him all day, but when he returned to his room late that night with a wicked smile on his face and found a seething Ginny sitting on his bed with her wand tapping very fast in her hand, he knew that he was going to regret ever changing the color of Ginny's clothes.
The rest of the family had heard her yelling at Harry that night for long time, but were afraid of being caught in the crossfire to intervene on Harry's behalf, but they all had a good laugh the next morning when a triumphant Ginny came in with normal colored clothes next to a mournful and pink skinned Harry Potter. The whole house rang with laughter for the rest of the day as the twins proceeded to tease Harry about how they didn't know he was in touch with his feminine side.
The following day Harry woke up very abruptly from a huge black grim- like dog licking his face. "Padfoot stop! You're drowning me!" pleaded Harry as he pushed the dog away from him. The dog barked once with a smile on his face, then jumped off the bed and transformed into a dark haired man with dark blue eyes flashing mischievously. Harry wiped his face with the sheet and said, "Ugh, doggy slobber!"
Sirius couldn't keep from laughing at the look on his godson's face. After Sirius stopped laughing Harry put his glasses on and gave a big hug to his godfather. "I've missed you and I am glad that you are at the Burrow," said Harry. "Why are you here and are you all right?"
"Actually, I came here on your birthday, for a surprise, to find you in coma from a Death Eater attack," replied a furious Padfoot. "I wanted to stay, but Dumbledore had a task for Moony and me." Harry gave a small smile at Sirius, before saying, "I understand that you and Uncle Remus are busy, but I wish it was different."
"So do I, Bambi, but until my name is cleared we will have to take pleasure in the small moments that come to pass," stated a sad Sirius. He pulled his godson into another hug, but right then the door opened and Ginny came in asking, "Harry are you ready to go for our run?" She no sooner had the question out of her mouth, than she went pale as a ghost and stammered, "Sir.. Sir.. Sirius Black!" Ginny fainted dead away onto the floor.
Harry bounded over to Ginny and scooped her up on to the bed. He then picked up his wand from the nightstand and said, "Ennervate." Ginny's eyes fluttered open, but before she could say anything or scream Harry clamped his hand over her mouth. "I know this is a shock for you Ginny and I am sorry that I forgot to tell you, but Sirius is innocent." Harry quickly explained, "He was never my parents secret keeper and he never murdered anybody. It was Peter Pettigrew who became my parents' secret keeper and who faked his death along with the thirteen muggles to blame Sirius. Pettigrew or Wormtail as is his nickname is an unregistered animagus that can transform into a rat and hid here at the Burrow for twelve years posing as Scabbers. Sirius is my godfather and also an unregistered animagus that can transform into a dog by the name of Padfoot or Snuffles."
During the whole explanation about Sirius, Ginny's eyes had widened bigger and bigger with shock until the last two sentences. At that point her face became very red and her eyes narrowed as they looked at Harry. He became deathly pale and gulped when he saw Ginny's eyes narrow at him. Harry quickly glanced at the door to see if he could make it out in time, but she grabbed the hand that had been covering her mouth and lifted it off. Harry realized that he was caught and just lowered his head for the verbal beating he knew was going to happen.
"Harry, I can not believe that you kept this from me," hissed a furious Ginny. "Didn't we say that there wouldn't be any secrets between us when we wrote to each other or was that just a lie and you where revealing only what you thought I could handle." Ginny had her hands on her hips with a hurt look on her face waiting on Harry to respond. He winced at what she had said and realized how badly he screwed up.
"I can only tell you how sorry I am Gin. I have had a lot of things on my mind and complete forgot to tell you about Sirius. I really wouldn't keep this from you and I hope you know that I just feel awful that I forgot something like this." Harry gave his best puppy dog look to Ginny and she couldn't help the smile that crept out on her face at the way he looked.
"Alright, I will forgive you this time, but don't let it happen again," said Ginny and Harry breathed a sigh of relief. Ginny turned to Sirius and started to laugh at the look on his face with Harry laughing also when he saw his godfather's face. Sirius was in shock at the way Harry reacted to Ginny, but he realized that his godson was in love with this girl and couldn't be happier. Once the two teenagers collected themselves and Harry finished getting dressed, with Ginny turned around again, for his morning exercises Sirius said, "Harry, now that you've explained my history to Ginny would you mind telling us why you are angry and don't want to talk with Albus?"
As the questioned was asked a fire blazed in Harry's emerald eyes and with a scowl on his face he harshly replied, "No, I can't explain that right now. You'll have to wait, because I am not in a forgiving mood when it comes to Dumbledore." Harry turned away from their shocked faces and walked out the door to begin his run. "Do you know why he is acting this way towards Albus?" Sirius asked Ginny. She sadly answered, "I don't know exactly why he is angry with Professor Dumbledore, but I do know it has something to do with the Headmaster keeping secrets about Harry's past from him."
Sirius blanched for a moment, but quickly schooled his features hoping that it was unnoticed. Ginny though did notice the look that flashed on Sirius' face and suspiciously asked, "You know something don't you?" He sighed that he was caught. "I only found out about this on Harry's birthday when both Dumbledore and myself visited here. He talked with me and told me some of the things about Harry's past that he was going to tell him, but couldn't because he was in the coma," answered Sirius while staring at the door his godson had just exited. "Maybe I should go talk with him." Ginny shook her head and said, "I've come to know Harry some with the letters we've been sending each other and the talks that we have had together. I know that he wouldn't want to be badgered right now. I believe I know where he will end up and I'll get him to come back here, but please don't leave because I know that he missed you and would want to see you again."
Sirius transformed back into his dog form and they both went downstairs. Ginny made a small basket with breakfast and went outside to the stream where they would meet at for the last few days. When she crested the hill that went down to the stream she saw Harry going through his exercises that looked like he was doing an exaggerated dance that she had been seeing him do these last few days. Ginny approached him slowly as to not startle him.
Harry had went through his run and then started on his katas to keep his body practiced, but found that his anger slowly ebbed away as he did the exercises. He noticed Ginny coming down the slowly and couldn't help admire how beautiful she had become. Her hair darkened from the bright red to a deep auburn that was flying behind her in the breeze. She has also had a growth spurt and matured in specific places, but he definitely let that thought drift deep down in his heart, so he wouldn't mess up this friendship. Harry finished up his katas and turned to Ginny as she sat down near the stream with breakfast laid out for both of them. He took the seat next to her and said, "I'm sorry I snapped at you and Sirius. What Dumbledore kept from me is just a very sore spot. I also haven't been getting much sleep." Ginny worriedly asked, "Are you still having nightmares?"
Harry ran his hand through his already messed hair and sighed, "Yes, I am still having nightmares, but not as many as I was before, but that isn't what has kept me up. I keep having that feeling I told you about that something was missing and is getting closer. It keeps getting stronger and seems to have taken residence in the back of my mind." Ginny just nodded at him as he was finishing up breakfast and tentatively asked, "I know Sirius brought this up and you don't have to tell me, but would like it if you could at least confide in me like you always did this summer with what your mad at, because it seems to be eating you up inside and I am worried about you."
Harry looked thoughtful for few minutes and then quietly said, "I guess if I wanted anybody to know it would be you first and I hope you will still be my friend after I tell you this." Ginny heart left for joy when Harry said he wanted her to be the first to know, but then became worried again when he said the second part, but before Harry could start she took his hand to give it a comforting squeeze and stated, "No matter what you tell me Harry I will always be your friend and be right here for you."
" Thank you Gin. That means a lot to me," said Harry while slightly smiling. "To start with I was only in a coma until two days after my birthday. Why I didn't wake up then was that my ancestors visited me on the dream plane. It was there that I found out that I am heir to the four founders of Hogwarts and they gave me some extra powers, which they said were my heirlooms. So now I am just as powerful if not more than Dumbledore, who knew all about my ancestry. They also gave me their knowledge of these powers and abilities." Ginny was stunned at what he had told her and couldn't think of what to say. "How do I come to terms with all this power when I couldn't even save Cedric?" asked Harry as unshed tears welled up in his eyes. She felt a tear fall down her own face as she hear this last question and saw how hurt Harry was that he couldn't have saved Cedric. Ginny leaned in and gave Harry a soft hug while quietly saying, "It is not your fault. You didn't have these powers before and from what you told me you wouldn't have been able to do anything. Please let it out Harry don't keep this bottled up inside or it will end up killing your spirit. I know Cedric would have wanted you to live your life and not dwell on the past." She felt the tears soaking through her blouse as she heard him cry, but didn't care because she knew that this is where she needed to be for him.
They stayed like that for a while, before Harry whispered, "You are the most caring person that I know and it is an honor to have you as my friend." Ginny let go of Harry and flushed an amazing red color. "Why are you blushing Gin?" asked Harry. Ginny shyly answered, "It is because of what you just said. Harry leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on her cheek and as he looked her in the eyes said, "I meant every word of that. You are an amazing person Ginny Weasley and you probably helped me more than you know. I don't think I have cried, since I have been five years old. Thank you for that."
Ginny was in shock that Harry hadn't cried almost his entire childhood and realized that it was the Dursleys that probably forbid him to cry. She shook her head of the bad thoughts that she was having towards them and gave Harry a wicked smile before asking, "Do you want to help me with a prank?" Harry couldn't help the evil grin crossing his own face, but said, "I believe the twins have corrupted you. I don't think they want the fun to end after they graduate this year, but what do you have in mind?"
"Fred and George never corrupted me Harry." Ginny stated, "I am the one that gave them most of their ideas. I am also one of the owners of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Now why don't we mess with my delightful twin brothers a bit? They are over by the lower field practicing Quidditch. Do you know any good spells that we could use on them?"
"Yeah! I know a spell that we could use and I know something else that would help," replied Harry whose evil grin became even wider. They silently crept over to the field while he told Ginny how the spell would affect Fred and George. As they hid in some bushes Harry aimed his hand at the twins and whispered, "Inversio." There were yells of surprise from Fred and George. They both dropped their beater bats and held on to their brooms for dear life. After a few minutes Harry took the curse off them and they landed shakily to the field to fall over once they touched ground. He then again whispered, "Marauders Signio!"
A big flashing red and gold "M" was lit up in the sky above them. The twins looked up in horror at the symbol before Fred said, "It's the Marauders. They must have found out that we stole the map, but we have to warn Harry." George just nodded his head in agreement as they made a mad dash to the house. Harry and Ginny fell out of the bushes laughing hysterically.
It was at this point that Ron and Hermione found their friend laughing so hard that tears were coming out of his eyes. Ginny was also giggling hard enough that she was gasping for air. The others couldn't help, but smile at the pair of them laughing. Ron curiously asked, "What is so funny?" Harry just pointed to the lower field where the symbol was still flashing and the twins' stuff looked hurriedly discarded. Hermione put everything together in her mind and a sly grin came over her face as she asked, "You actually pranked Fred and George?"
Harry was just able to get control of himself and said, "Let's just say that I turned the twins world upside-down." After saying this Ginny fell over clutching her sides laughing even harder. Ron and Hermione also started laughing at their friend's humor. They all collected themselves enough to walk back to the house when Mrs. Weasley yelled, "Breakfast is ready!"
Upon entering the kitchen Harry saw the twins nervous looks around them and with a twinkle in his eyes innocently asked, "Fred and George were you playing with fireworks this morning, because there is a flashing "M" hanging above the lower field." The twins looked at Harry with outright panic on their faces, before jumping up from the table and running up to their room. The four teenagers just started laughing all over again while the adults looked on with amusement. Snuffles padded in from the living room and was shocked to find Harry laughing so hard, since he was angry just a few hours ago. He transformed back to human form and asked, "What did you do, Harry?"
"Why do you think I did anything, Sirius?" smiled Harry innocently. Sirius smiled back at Harry and replied, "Only your Dad could have answer that innocently and have a mischevious twinkle in his eyes at the same time." Harry sighed dramatically, before stating, "Oh well, my cover is blown. I guess I will have to tell you what I did to the twins." The rest of them eagerly listened as Harry explained, "Gin and me saw Fred and George practicing quidditch in the lower field, so I kind of placed a spell on the twins that turned their world upside-down and then sent a flashing letter "M" above them once they landed. They thought the Marauders were after them for er.. liberating the map from Filch."
Hermione, Ron and Ginny were still giggling through the explanation, but Bill, Charlie, and Sirius started laughing too after Harry finished telling his prank. Once Sirius stopped laughing he said, "Harry, that prank is worthy of a Marauder and I think it is high time that you and the others started a new generation of Marauders, because I am sure that the school will need some laughs through this year."
Harry had a wicked smile on his face as he looked at his godfather, before he turned to look at Ron and Hermione, who had shocked expressions. Harry then turned to behold a solemn Ginny with a very sly twinkle in her eye, before she deadpanned, "All those poor Slytherins." At this everybody cracked up into laughter. Molly calmed herself and said, "Harry we are going to celebrate your birthday tonight and one of our traditions is the birthday boy or girl gets to pick what they want for dinner."
Harry flushed at this and mumbled, "You don't have to go to any trouble Mrs. Weasley. Anything you cook I will enjoy." Molly sternly stated, "Nonsense! Now, what would you like for dinner?" Harry suddenly had a brilliant idea and said, "Give me a minute to discuss this." He then motioned for Sirius and Hermione to follow him. They all curiously saw the three of talking under a silencing spell in the corner for few minutes, before they took the charm off coming back with mischievous smiles on their faces. Harry then stated, "You will all be in for a treat at tonight's dinner. Mione, Sirius, and myself will take care of dinner, but Mrs. Weasley if you could make one of your famous chocolate cakes I would be grateful."
Mrs. Weasley blushed at Harry's compliment, but answered, "Alright, I will go along with your idea, but we can't all fit in the kitchen to do all the cooking for dinner and the baking of a cake." Harry replied, "Don't worry Mrs. Weasley. We will be going into town an hour before dinner and bring it back. The four of us will go with Sirius as a guard dog and be back in no time."
"Oh okay! I can see that you have a plan, so go have fun and the lot of you can leave at four this afternoon to go into town," said Molly. "Great!" exclaimed Harry, "Sirius can you come with us up to Ron's room. I would like to ask a former Marauder something?" asked Harry mysteriously. The four teenagers and Sirius went up to Ron's brightly orange room as Harry locked the door and put a silencing charm on the room. All eyes were on Harry wondering what he was going to ask, Harry turned to Sirius and said, "Now that we are going to be Marauders, we need to become animagi. I know you have objections to that Mione, but we will all register after we graduate."
Hermione was still looking doubtful, but her eyes were shinning with the idea to learn. Hermione then fearfully questioned, "What if we are caught?" Harry paced the room while thinking hard. He then stopped and replied, "I can use the excuse of needing something extra for my personal protection from Voldemort, which Ron and Hermione flinched at, but surprising to Harry neither Sirius or Ginny seemed to care, and the Death Eaters. You all can use the excuse of being my friends and always in close proximity to me whenever I seem to be attacked. This way everybody could get away after hopefully surprising them."
"Bloody brilliant Harry!" exclaimed Ron while smiling. "Ron! Stop cursing!" admonished Hermione, but she also couldn't help grinning at Harry's idea. Sirius stood up and said, "Ok, I want you all to know that all wizards and witches can become a animagus, to test you out I have this with me. It is called an Animastone and will tell you if the ability is there. Ginny you will be first."
Ginny walked up and took hold of the stone while Sirius placed his wand, which he received back from Dumbledore, on the stone and said, "Animorgus Revelous!" The stone glowed for a minute before a picture of a red-feathered and white tipped Falcon with red marks on the face came out of the stone. "Yes!" exclaimed a practically radiant Ginny. She was beaming at everybody in accomplishment. Sirius asked for Hermione next. She couldn't keep the huge smile off her face, because of the brown Eagle Owl with a white-feathered chest that was her animagi form. Ron nervously came for his turn and was soon jumping around the room with excitement when his form of a red Fox with a black tipped tail came out of the stone.
When Harry went next everybody was watching him with hope. Sirius said the spell, but was shocked when a Royal Phoenix of white feathers, gold tips, green eyes and a black lighting bolt on its head came out of the stone. Then the stone's picture changed to an Imperial Arc Griffin, which had snow-white fur, a golden mane, tail, claws, and fangs; green eyes, and also a gold lighting bolt on its head. The stone kept glowing much to all of their shock, as another form came out, and it was a Dire Werewolf, which is a six-foot tall werewolf on all four of its paws. It had a cover of raven black fur, except for the silver fur of flames at its paws and tail; green eyes and red lighting bolt on the forehead of the animal. The stone stopped glowing and all of them gaped a t Harry's forms including himself. Even though he knew he was already an Animagus from his ancestors, he didn't know that he would have more than one form or that they would all be magical creatures.
Harry lowered his head dejectedly just shacking it back and forth. He felt a hand give his arm a slight squeeze, before he looked up to see Ginny giving him a small smile. Harry smiled back at her, before sarcastically saying, "You would think by now I would be used to the fact that nothing normal ever happens to me." She gave him another small smile that showed her understanding. Hermione with awe on her face though informed, "Still Harry, this has never happened before now. Every wizard or witch has only one form. I think you could be the first multi-animagi. Also nobody, but Merlin and Godric Gryffindor has ever had a magical animagus for their form."
Harry scowled, "Ok, we already know I am a powerful wizard, because I survived till now. Can we please continue with the lesson?" He turned from her with an angry and hurt look in his eye. Hermione walked over to him and gave him a hug while saying, "I'm sorry Harry. I know that you hate being famous and I just reacted out of shock. Please forgive me." Harry gave her a hug back while nodding his head. Sirius cleared his throat loudly to get the teenagers attention and stated, "The next thing you need to do is point your wand at yourself and say 'Animagi' followed by your animal. The reason it takes so long and there aren't that many animagi is that people can't take the pain. It will be painful at first, even when you complete the transformation, but once you get used to it you will not even need your wand and you will only have to picture your animal in your mind and you will become that animal in a second. The same with transforming back, as you will have to picture yourself in human form. Let's practice!"
Everybody spread out in the room and tried the spell with different degrees of progress. Harry decided on the phoenix form first and was able to turn his arms into wings and his legs into claws, before he had to transform back. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were able to get their arms to transform, before it was too painful to hold. All of them were groaning after their attempts as they helped each other to their feet. Sirius then said, "Keep practicing about an hour every day and you should be able to get the full transformation by the time you are in school. Hopefully by Christmas there you will be animagi with no pain at all. Harry, I want you to practice one hour a day with each of your forms unless there are any problems, so you will have a better arsenal against any Death Eaters that attack." Harry nodded his head along with the rest of them, because they could see the logic in his command.
"Now, we need to come up with code names, so nobody will know it is you doing the pranks," continued Padfoot with a smile on his face. Harry happily said, "I will be called Ashwolf for at least two of my forms; I think Gin should be Flame, because her feathers looked as if they were on fire; Mione could be Wisewing, since she is so smart; and Canis can be Ron's code name, for his fox form." His friends had big smiles on their faces at the choice of nicknames that Harry had suggested. "Alright, I think we should stop here for the day, because we have to get to town and pick up dinner," informed Sirius. Harry asked, "Padfoot could I borrow the stone incase we happen to add more Marauders to our group?" Sirius beamed, "No problem Harry," as he handed over the special stone.
They all retreated to their rooms to change into new clothes, before meeting in the kitchen to inform Mrs. Weasley that they would be leaving for town now, so she didn't worry. Padfoot led the gang of friends out of the house and down into town.
A/N: I hope everybody likes the chapter and will keep giving me reviews. I love
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Harry became comfortable in living at the Burrow as usual, but surprisingly found that Ginny was an early riser like him and they would do morning runs together. She would watch as he did his practice of katas, but couldn't get the nerve up to ask him to teacher even though she thought that he looked very graceful doing them. He also sent letters out to Dudley, Sirius and Remus assuring them that he was all right and to congratulate Dudley on passing his test in karate. Sirius and Uncle Remus, as he found out that was what he used to call him, became much closer with their letters and gave Harry the nickname Bambi for being the son of Prongs.
Harry and Ginny would also have long talks at the creek, before everybody else woke up and he found that she had as bad a mischievous streak as the twins as he would constantly hear her name being yelled at from all of her brothers for her stealing their socks. She had this habit when she was younger, but after her first year she hadn't done it for a while, then with her letters from Harry and something her mum gave her she started back up much to the dismay of her brothers. Harry also distinctly found out that Ginny had the same temper as Mrs. Weasley, when she woke one morning very late to find all her clothes dyed pink. With nothing else to wear she dressed quickly while cursing the unknown fool who did this in a very un-ladylike manner. Everybody stared in shock when she came to the kitchen visibly fuming in a pink tee shirt and shorts. All of her brothers and Hermione were red faced with holding back their laughter as she looked like she was about to kill Fred and George who were professing there innocence at this prank. She turned around quickly with a death glare as Harry came in snickering, " I didn't think that you liked pink that much Gin, or I also would have dyed your hair that color."
The rest of them couldn't hold it in after that statement and started to laugh hysterically when Ginny furiously hissed, "You are so dead Harry!!!" She had just reached for her wand, but Harry had run out the back door as he laughed, "You'll have to catch me first, Gin." Ginny was quickly dashing after him while yelling, "Harry get your arse back here and change my clothes back!" Molly was stunned that her daughter would talk like that and was going to scold her, until she saw what Harry had done and realized that she would have to save Harry or the poor boy wouldn't ever make it to school the next term. That had been a very enjoyable day as Harry had effectively lost her and hid while the rest of the family laughed at Ginny looking for him all day, but when he returned to his room late that night with a wicked smile on his face and found a seething Ginny sitting on his bed with her wand tapping very fast in her hand, he knew that he was going to regret ever changing the color of Ginny's clothes.
The rest of the family had heard her yelling at Harry that night for long time, but were afraid of being caught in the crossfire to intervene on Harry's behalf, but they all had a good laugh the next morning when a triumphant Ginny came in with normal colored clothes next to a mournful and pink skinned Harry Potter. The whole house rang with laughter for the rest of the day as the twins proceeded to tease Harry about how they didn't know he was in touch with his feminine side.
The following day Harry woke up very abruptly from a huge black grim- like dog licking his face. "Padfoot stop! You're drowning me!" pleaded Harry as he pushed the dog away from him. The dog barked once with a smile on his face, then jumped off the bed and transformed into a dark haired man with dark blue eyes flashing mischievously. Harry wiped his face with the sheet and said, "Ugh, doggy slobber!"
Sirius couldn't keep from laughing at the look on his godson's face. After Sirius stopped laughing Harry put his glasses on and gave a big hug to his godfather. "I've missed you and I am glad that you are at the Burrow," said Harry. "Why are you here and are you all right?"
"Actually, I came here on your birthday, for a surprise, to find you in coma from a Death Eater attack," replied a furious Padfoot. "I wanted to stay, but Dumbledore had a task for Moony and me." Harry gave a small smile at Sirius, before saying, "I understand that you and Uncle Remus are busy, but I wish it was different."
"So do I, Bambi, but until my name is cleared we will have to take pleasure in the small moments that come to pass," stated a sad Sirius. He pulled his godson into another hug, but right then the door opened and Ginny came in asking, "Harry are you ready to go for our run?" She no sooner had the question out of her mouth, than she went pale as a ghost and stammered, "Sir.. Sir.. Sirius Black!" Ginny fainted dead away onto the floor.
Harry bounded over to Ginny and scooped her up on to the bed. He then picked up his wand from the nightstand and said, "Ennervate." Ginny's eyes fluttered open, but before she could say anything or scream Harry clamped his hand over her mouth. "I know this is a shock for you Ginny and I am sorry that I forgot to tell you, but Sirius is innocent." Harry quickly explained, "He was never my parents secret keeper and he never murdered anybody. It was Peter Pettigrew who became my parents' secret keeper and who faked his death along with the thirteen muggles to blame Sirius. Pettigrew or Wormtail as is his nickname is an unregistered animagus that can transform into a rat and hid here at the Burrow for twelve years posing as Scabbers. Sirius is my godfather and also an unregistered animagus that can transform into a dog by the name of Padfoot or Snuffles."
During the whole explanation about Sirius, Ginny's eyes had widened bigger and bigger with shock until the last two sentences. At that point her face became very red and her eyes narrowed as they looked at Harry. He became deathly pale and gulped when he saw Ginny's eyes narrow at him. Harry quickly glanced at the door to see if he could make it out in time, but she grabbed the hand that had been covering her mouth and lifted it off. Harry realized that he was caught and just lowered his head for the verbal beating he knew was going to happen.
"Harry, I can not believe that you kept this from me," hissed a furious Ginny. "Didn't we say that there wouldn't be any secrets between us when we wrote to each other or was that just a lie and you where revealing only what you thought I could handle." Ginny had her hands on her hips with a hurt look on her face waiting on Harry to respond. He winced at what she had said and realized how badly he screwed up.
"I can only tell you how sorry I am Gin. I have had a lot of things on my mind and complete forgot to tell you about Sirius. I really wouldn't keep this from you and I hope you know that I just feel awful that I forgot something like this." Harry gave his best puppy dog look to Ginny and she couldn't help the smile that crept out on her face at the way he looked.
"Alright, I will forgive you this time, but don't let it happen again," said Ginny and Harry breathed a sigh of relief. Ginny turned to Sirius and started to laugh at the look on his face with Harry laughing also when he saw his godfather's face. Sirius was in shock at the way Harry reacted to Ginny, but he realized that his godson was in love with this girl and couldn't be happier. Once the two teenagers collected themselves and Harry finished getting dressed, with Ginny turned around again, for his morning exercises Sirius said, "Harry, now that you've explained my history to Ginny would you mind telling us why you are angry and don't want to talk with Albus?"
As the questioned was asked a fire blazed in Harry's emerald eyes and with a scowl on his face he harshly replied, "No, I can't explain that right now. You'll have to wait, because I am not in a forgiving mood when it comes to Dumbledore." Harry turned away from their shocked faces and walked out the door to begin his run. "Do you know why he is acting this way towards Albus?" Sirius asked Ginny. She sadly answered, "I don't know exactly why he is angry with Professor Dumbledore, but I do know it has something to do with the Headmaster keeping secrets about Harry's past from him."
Sirius blanched for a moment, but quickly schooled his features hoping that it was unnoticed. Ginny though did notice the look that flashed on Sirius' face and suspiciously asked, "You know something don't you?" He sighed that he was caught. "I only found out about this on Harry's birthday when both Dumbledore and myself visited here. He talked with me and told me some of the things about Harry's past that he was going to tell him, but couldn't because he was in the coma," answered Sirius while staring at the door his godson had just exited. "Maybe I should go talk with him." Ginny shook her head and said, "I've come to know Harry some with the letters we've been sending each other and the talks that we have had together. I know that he wouldn't want to be badgered right now. I believe I know where he will end up and I'll get him to come back here, but please don't leave because I know that he missed you and would want to see you again."
Sirius transformed back into his dog form and they both went downstairs. Ginny made a small basket with breakfast and went outside to the stream where they would meet at for the last few days. When she crested the hill that went down to the stream she saw Harry going through his exercises that looked like he was doing an exaggerated dance that she had been seeing him do these last few days. Ginny approached him slowly as to not startle him.
Harry had went through his run and then started on his katas to keep his body practiced, but found that his anger slowly ebbed away as he did the exercises. He noticed Ginny coming down the slowly and couldn't help admire how beautiful she had become. Her hair darkened from the bright red to a deep auburn that was flying behind her in the breeze. She has also had a growth spurt and matured in specific places, but he definitely let that thought drift deep down in his heart, so he wouldn't mess up this friendship. Harry finished up his katas and turned to Ginny as she sat down near the stream with breakfast laid out for both of them. He took the seat next to her and said, "I'm sorry I snapped at you and Sirius. What Dumbledore kept from me is just a very sore spot. I also haven't been getting much sleep." Ginny worriedly asked, "Are you still having nightmares?"
Harry ran his hand through his already messed hair and sighed, "Yes, I am still having nightmares, but not as many as I was before, but that isn't what has kept me up. I keep having that feeling I told you about that something was missing and is getting closer. It keeps getting stronger and seems to have taken residence in the back of my mind." Ginny just nodded at him as he was finishing up breakfast and tentatively asked, "I know Sirius brought this up and you don't have to tell me, but would like it if you could at least confide in me like you always did this summer with what your mad at, because it seems to be eating you up inside and I am worried about you."
Harry looked thoughtful for few minutes and then quietly said, "I guess if I wanted anybody to know it would be you first and I hope you will still be my friend after I tell you this." Ginny heart left for joy when Harry said he wanted her to be the first to know, but then became worried again when he said the second part, but before Harry could start she took his hand to give it a comforting squeeze and stated, "No matter what you tell me Harry I will always be your friend and be right here for you."
" Thank you Gin. That means a lot to me," said Harry while slightly smiling. "To start with I was only in a coma until two days after my birthday. Why I didn't wake up then was that my ancestors visited me on the dream plane. It was there that I found out that I am heir to the four founders of Hogwarts and they gave me some extra powers, which they said were my heirlooms. So now I am just as powerful if not more than Dumbledore, who knew all about my ancestry. They also gave me their knowledge of these powers and abilities." Ginny was stunned at what he had told her and couldn't think of what to say. "How do I come to terms with all this power when I couldn't even save Cedric?" asked Harry as unshed tears welled up in his eyes. She felt a tear fall down her own face as she hear this last question and saw how hurt Harry was that he couldn't have saved Cedric. Ginny leaned in and gave Harry a soft hug while quietly saying, "It is not your fault. You didn't have these powers before and from what you told me you wouldn't have been able to do anything. Please let it out Harry don't keep this bottled up inside or it will end up killing your spirit. I know Cedric would have wanted you to live your life and not dwell on the past." She felt the tears soaking through her blouse as she heard him cry, but didn't care because she knew that this is where she needed to be for him.
They stayed like that for a while, before Harry whispered, "You are the most caring person that I know and it is an honor to have you as my friend." Ginny let go of Harry and flushed an amazing red color. "Why are you blushing Gin?" asked Harry. Ginny shyly answered, "It is because of what you just said. Harry leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on her cheek and as he looked her in the eyes said, "I meant every word of that. You are an amazing person Ginny Weasley and you probably helped me more than you know. I don't think I have cried, since I have been five years old. Thank you for that."
Ginny was in shock that Harry hadn't cried almost his entire childhood and realized that it was the Dursleys that probably forbid him to cry. She shook her head of the bad thoughts that she was having towards them and gave Harry a wicked smile before asking, "Do you want to help me with a prank?" Harry couldn't help the evil grin crossing his own face, but said, "I believe the twins have corrupted you. I don't think they want the fun to end after they graduate this year, but what do you have in mind?"
"Fred and George never corrupted me Harry." Ginny stated, "I am the one that gave them most of their ideas. I am also one of the owners of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Now why don't we mess with my delightful twin brothers a bit? They are over by the lower field practicing Quidditch. Do you know any good spells that we could use on them?"
"Yeah! I know a spell that we could use and I know something else that would help," replied Harry whose evil grin became even wider. They silently crept over to the field while he told Ginny how the spell would affect Fred and George. As they hid in some bushes Harry aimed his hand at the twins and whispered, "Inversio." There were yells of surprise from Fred and George. They both dropped their beater bats and held on to their brooms for dear life. After a few minutes Harry took the curse off them and they landed shakily to the field to fall over once they touched ground. He then again whispered, "Marauders Signio!"
A big flashing red and gold "M" was lit up in the sky above them. The twins looked up in horror at the symbol before Fred said, "It's the Marauders. They must have found out that we stole the map, but we have to warn Harry." George just nodded his head in agreement as they made a mad dash to the house. Harry and Ginny fell out of the bushes laughing hysterically.
It was at this point that Ron and Hermione found their friend laughing so hard that tears were coming out of his eyes. Ginny was also giggling hard enough that she was gasping for air. The others couldn't help, but smile at the pair of them laughing. Ron curiously asked, "What is so funny?" Harry just pointed to the lower field where the symbol was still flashing and the twins' stuff looked hurriedly discarded. Hermione put everything together in her mind and a sly grin came over her face as she asked, "You actually pranked Fred and George?"
Harry was just able to get control of himself and said, "Let's just say that I turned the twins world upside-down." After saying this Ginny fell over clutching her sides laughing even harder. Ron and Hermione also started laughing at their friend's humor. They all collected themselves enough to walk back to the house when Mrs. Weasley yelled, "Breakfast is ready!"
Upon entering the kitchen Harry saw the twins nervous looks around them and with a twinkle in his eyes innocently asked, "Fred and George were you playing with fireworks this morning, because there is a flashing "M" hanging above the lower field." The twins looked at Harry with outright panic on their faces, before jumping up from the table and running up to their room. The four teenagers just started laughing all over again while the adults looked on with amusement. Snuffles padded in from the living room and was shocked to find Harry laughing so hard, since he was angry just a few hours ago. He transformed back to human form and asked, "What did you do, Harry?"
"Why do you think I did anything, Sirius?" smiled Harry innocently. Sirius smiled back at Harry and replied, "Only your Dad could have answer that innocently and have a mischevious twinkle in his eyes at the same time." Harry sighed dramatically, before stating, "Oh well, my cover is blown. I guess I will have to tell you what I did to the twins." The rest of them eagerly listened as Harry explained, "Gin and me saw Fred and George practicing quidditch in the lower field, so I kind of placed a spell on the twins that turned their world upside-down and then sent a flashing letter "M" above them once they landed. They thought the Marauders were after them for er.. liberating the map from Filch."
Hermione, Ron and Ginny were still giggling through the explanation, but Bill, Charlie, and Sirius started laughing too after Harry finished telling his prank. Once Sirius stopped laughing he said, "Harry, that prank is worthy of a Marauder and I think it is high time that you and the others started a new generation of Marauders, because I am sure that the school will need some laughs through this year."
Harry had a wicked smile on his face as he looked at his godfather, before he turned to look at Ron and Hermione, who had shocked expressions. Harry then turned to behold a solemn Ginny with a very sly twinkle in her eye, before she deadpanned, "All those poor Slytherins." At this everybody cracked up into laughter. Molly calmed herself and said, "Harry we are going to celebrate your birthday tonight and one of our traditions is the birthday boy or girl gets to pick what they want for dinner."
Harry flushed at this and mumbled, "You don't have to go to any trouble Mrs. Weasley. Anything you cook I will enjoy." Molly sternly stated, "Nonsense! Now, what would you like for dinner?" Harry suddenly had a brilliant idea and said, "Give me a minute to discuss this." He then motioned for Sirius and Hermione to follow him. They all curiously saw the three of talking under a silencing spell in the corner for few minutes, before they took the charm off coming back with mischievous smiles on their faces. Harry then stated, "You will all be in for a treat at tonight's dinner. Mione, Sirius, and myself will take care of dinner, but Mrs. Weasley if you could make one of your famous chocolate cakes I would be grateful."
Mrs. Weasley blushed at Harry's compliment, but answered, "Alright, I will go along with your idea, but we can't all fit in the kitchen to do all the cooking for dinner and the baking of a cake." Harry replied, "Don't worry Mrs. Weasley. We will be going into town an hour before dinner and bring it back. The four of us will go with Sirius as a guard dog and be back in no time."
"Oh okay! I can see that you have a plan, so go have fun and the lot of you can leave at four this afternoon to go into town," said Molly. "Great!" exclaimed Harry, "Sirius can you come with us up to Ron's room. I would like to ask a former Marauder something?" asked Harry mysteriously. The four teenagers and Sirius went up to Ron's brightly orange room as Harry locked the door and put a silencing charm on the room. All eyes were on Harry wondering what he was going to ask, Harry turned to Sirius and said, "Now that we are going to be Marauders, we need to become animagi. I know you have objections to that Mione, but we will all register after we graduate."
Hermione was still looking doubtful, but her eyes were shinning with the idea to learn. Hermione then fearfully questioned, "What if we are caught?" Harry paced the room while thinking hard. He then stopped and replied, "I can use the excuse of needing something extra for my personal protection from Voldemort, which Ron and Hermione flinched at, but surprising to Harry neither Sirius or Ginny seemed to care, and the Death Eaters. You all can use the excuse of being my friends and always in close proximity to me whenever I seem to be attacked. This way everybody could get away after hopefully surprising them."
"Bloody brilliant Harry!" exclaimed Ron while smiling. "Ron! Stop cursing!" admonished Hermione, but she also couldn't help grinning at Harry's idea. Sirius stood up and said, "Ok, I want you all to know that all wizards and witches can become a animagus, to test you out I have this with me. It is called an Animastone and will tell you if the ability is there. Ginny you will be first."
Ginny walked up and took hold of the stone while Sirius placed his wand, which he received back from Dumbledore, on the stone and said, "Animorgus Revelous!" The stone glowed for a minute before a picture of a red-feathered and white tipped Falcon with red marks on the face came out of the stone. "Yes!" exclaimed a practically radiant Ginny. She was beaming at everybody in accomplishment. Sirius asked for Hermione next. She couldn't keep the huge smile off her face, because of the brown Eagle Owl with a white-feathered chest that was her animagi form. Ron nervously came for his turn and was soon jumping around the room with excitement when his form of a red Fox with a black tipped tail came out of the stone.
When Harry went next everybody was watching him with hope. Sirius said the spell, but was shocked when a Royal Phoenix of white feathers, gold tips, green eyes and a black lighting bolt on its head came out of the stone. Then the stone's picture changed to an Imperial Arc Griffin, which had snow-white fur, a golden mane, tail, claws, and fangs; green eyes, and also a gold lighting bolt on its head. The stone kept glowing much to all of their shock, as another form came out, and it was a Dire Werewolf, which is a six-foot tall werewolf on all four of its paws. It had a cover of raven black fur, except for the silver fur of flames at its paws and tail; green eyes and red lighting bolt on the forehead of the animal. The stone stopped glowing and all of them gaped a t Harry's forms including himself. Even though he knew he was already an Animagus from his ancestors, he didn't know that he would have more than one form or that they would all be magical creatures.
Harry lowered his head dejectedly just shacking it back and forth. He felt a hand give his arm a slight squeeze, before he looked up to see Ginny giving him a small smile. Harry smiled back at her, before sarcastically saying, "You would think by now I would be used to the fact that nothing normal ever happens to me." She gave him another small smile that showed her understanding. Hermione with awe on her face though informed, "Still Harry, this has never happened before now. Every wizard or witch has only one form. I think you could be the first multi-animagi. Also nobody, but Merlin and Godric Gryffindor has ever had a magical animagus for their form."
Harry scowled, "Ok, we already know I am a powerful wizard, because I survived till now. Can we please continue with the lesson?" He turned from her with an angry and hurt look in his eye. Hermione walked over to him and gave him a hug while saying, "I'm sorry Harry. I know that you hate being famous and I just reacted out of shock. Please forgive me." Harry gave her a hug back while nodding his head. Sirius cleared his throat loudly to get the teenagers attention and stated, "The next thing you need to do is point your wand at yourself and say 'Animagi' followed by your animal. The reason it takes so long and there aren't that many animagi is that people can't take the pain. It will be painful at first, even when you complete the transformation, but once you get used to it you will not even need your wand and you will only have to picture your animal in your mind and you will become that animal in a second. The same with transforming back, as you will have to picture yourself in human form. Let's practice!"
Everybody spread out in the room and tried the spell with different degrees of progress. Harry decided on the phoenix form first and was able to turn his arms into wings and his legs into claws, before he had to transform back. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were able to get their arms to transform, before it was too painful to hold. All of them were groaning after their attempts as they helped each other to their feet. Sirius then said, "Keep practicing about an hour every day and you should be able to get the full transformation by the time you are in school. Hopefully by Christmas there you will be animagi with no pain at all. Harry, I want you to practice one hour a day with each of your forms unless there are any problems, so you will have a better arsenal against any Death Eaters that attack." Harry nodded his head along with the rest of them, because they could see the logic in his command.
"Now, we need to come up with code names, so nobody will know it is you doing the pranks," continued Padfoot with a smile on his face. Harry happily said, "I will be called Ashwolf for at least two of my forms; I think Gin should be Flame, because her feathers looked as if they were on fire; Mione could be Wisewing, since she is so smart; and Canis can be Ron's code name, for his fox form." His friends had big smiles on their faces at the choice of nicknames that Harry had suggested. "Alright, I think we should stop here for the day, because we have to get to town and pick up dinner," informed Sirius. Harry asked, "Padfoot could I borrow the stone incase we happen to add more Marauders to our group?" Sirius beamed, "No problem Harry," as he handed over the special stone.
They all retreated to their rooms to change into new clothes, before meeting in the kitchen to inform Mrs. Weasley that they would be leaving for town now, so she didn't worry. Padfoot led the gang of friends out of the house and down into town.
A/N: I hope everybody likes the chapter and will keep giving me reviews. I love
the input from my readers.
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