Chapter Five – Return to Hogwarts
The remaining two and a half weeks or so of the summer passed by quickly. Harry was quite looking forward to going back to Hogwarts, but he was also enjoying being where he was, for things seldom got boring at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. He was also enjoying Lupin's company, because besides Ron and Hermione, he was the closest friend he had left. He knew that Lupin had been one of his father's best friends, also, but no one could compare to Sirius. The main reason that Harry was looking forward to going back to Hogwarts so much was that it was too much of an emotional burden to be in Sirius's home.
But the summer did, eventually, draw to a close. New school supplies and books were bought, and everyone was cramming in their leftover homework assignments- all except for Hermione, of course, who had finished all of her holiday homework in early July. Harry couldn't help but feel sorry for Ginny, because she was entering her O.W.L. year, and even though the summer homework for those entering fifth year was not nearly as much as what they got during term, it was still well above average.
"Hermione," said Ron exasperatedly during one of his and Harry's homework sessions, "what the heck is a Havouri plant? And what effect do its quills have on- er- shelf mushrooms?"
Hermione replied by silently walking over to them and slamming One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi down on the table that they were working at.
"Oh, thanks," said Harry in equal exasperation. "Really helpful."
Ron was checking the table of contents in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. "What'd'you reckon it'd be under, Harry? Japanese plants, or plants and their relations to fungi?"
"Can't be Japanese," Harry said. "We did Japanese plants in fourth year, remember? They all had names like Wesaki and Venitami."
"Right," agreed Ron. "Plants and their relations to fungi, then?"
At this point, Hermione evidently got sick of their stupidity, because she said, "Oh, you two are so hapless. Try the index."
"Ah," Harry said. "Thanks."
To Ron's delight, the one listing for "Havouri" was indeed under "plants and their relations to fungi".
"Whoa," said Harry. "That is weird…"
"Too right," said Ron, for the plant that they were looking at was far from ordinary. It appeared at first to be something like a large ball of clay covered in purple and orange spikes. But undeniably protruding from the center were two bulbous eyes.
"Luna," whispered Ron, and they both cracked up. Unfortunately, Ginny was listening.
"I would have thought that what happened last spring would make you see that she's really alright," said Ginny huffily.
"Don't- get- us- wrong," Harry laughed, unable to stop. "We're not- saying we don't like- her, but her eyes- just-"
"Stick out a few inches," offered Ron, and he and Harry lapsed into fits of laughter once more. Ginny turned her back on them and walked away, muttering under her breath, "Immature."
"Okay, then," said Harry, finally regaining control of himself. "Three uses for the Havouri plant are…?"
"Er-" said Ron, looking very unusual with his nose in a book. "When dilated using bubotuber pus and single-malt whiskey mixed with chocolate without its quills and then squeezed, it produces Havouri juice- oh, wow, what an original name-, which is used in an Ungrowth Potion, whatever that is… and then the whites of its-"
"Hang on, hang on, let me finish copying that down," Harry interjected, and scribbled down the rest of it. "Okay, go on."
"The whites of its eyes, when planted, grow greygrass, the main food of nifflers." He paused and waited for Harry to finish, and then continued, "and its third use is that its roots are mobile, but when stationary attract Busini moss, which has over thirty uses itself. When the plant moves, the moss stays on, so it eventually becomes covered in it. For more on the thirty-two uses of Busini moss, see page one hundred forty-eight."
"You think we have to put down all thirty-whatever uses of Busini moss?" asked Harry.
"I don't care," said Ron. "Here, give me that, I need to copy it down…"
***
Before they knew it, it was September first. They packed their stuff in a Muggle car-thing that Mundungus Fletcher had somehow acquired that was rather squarish. It took Harry and Hermione a few moments to remember that it was called an SUV [AN: I don't know if that's what they call them in England, but- who cares!]. Mr. Weasley, of course, was fascinated by it.
When they arrived at the station, they loaded their trolleys and ran through the barrier that separated platforms nine and ten to get onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. The familiar scarlet steam engine dubbed the "Hogwarts Express" was once again anchored at the platform. They bid good-bye to Lupin, Moody, Tonks, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and boarded the train.
As Ron and Hermione set off towards the prefects' compartments (AN: Yes, they have two, Percy is quoted as saying that in either book 2 or book 1… can't remember which), Harry shook himself free of Ginny, leaving her with some fifth year friends, and, miraculously, found a compartment to himself.
Once he had decided on a seat, he sat down and pulled out his new copy of Advanced Transfiguration. Hermione had said that they started it in sixth year… and she was right about everything else….
And there it was, on page 567. The bold heading unmistakable. Human Transfiguration.
The reason that he had been so keen to do it out of Hermione and Ron's company was simply because he didn't want to be laughed at. Hermione could probably turn herself into thirty different animals if she tried, and Ron would give up too quickly. But his father and Sirius and even Peter Pettigrew (that evil, cheating, stinking…) had managed to do it, and in their fifth year, too. And now both his father and Sirius were dead, Pettigrew was, er, evil, and Lupin was a werewolf. So why couldn't he try as well?
Scanning the page, he found that most of what was covered in this book was turning another wizard into an animal of your choice, but he did stumble across one semi-useful paragraph:
A given witch or wizard may be transfigured into the animal of the spell-caster's choice, although it is impossible to transform a given witch or wizard into their Soul Animal, i.e. the form their Patronus takes, and/or the animal that they would transform into were they to become an Animagus. A witch or wizard can only transform into their Soul Animal at will (by becoming an Animagus). For more on Animagi, see page 1918.
Wondering exactly how long the section on human transfiguration lasted, Harry hurriedly flipped to page 1918. The first few paragraphs only told him what he already knew; they basically defined what an Animagus was, and how it was illegal to become one or attempt to become one without the knowledge of the Ministry of Magic ("Right," muttered Harry). What he wanted to know was how to become one.
He flipped over a few pages and at last found a page under a heading which proclaimed, "So You'd Like to be an Animagus?" the compartment door slid open and Ron and Hermione burst in.
Harry quickly shoved Advanced Transfiguration back inside his bag. Animagi would have to wait.
***
When the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station, it was only drizzling slightly, which Harry, Ron, and Hermione took as a good sign; all of their previous entrances to Hogwarts had been met with torrential downpours.
They boarded a thestral-drawn carriage, and as soon as Hogwarts castle appeared, Harry lost all memory of what Dumbledore had said about Privet Drive. He was home.
_______________________________________
AN: Major writer's block on this chapter!!! I forced myself to write, though, and I think it's gone now!! ^ - ^ If you're wondering if I put in the bit about the Havouri plant just to take up space, you're wrong. It will be important later…. Also, if you know me well, you can guess at the reasons for the page numbers… the first one is harder than the second one, though. Please review!!! ;D
--Juli