CHAPTER XV

The day before the end of the term, Harry sat in class restlessly, ready for a long break. The Yule Ball was set for tomorrow, a week before Christmas, so that all students would have the opportunity to attend before going home to their families. Many students would be remaining at Hogwarts anyway, because it was often less dangerous to stay at the school. Harry wasn't particularly excited about the ball; he was still carefully avoiding Ginny, so he doubted going to the ball with her was still an option. There was the clang of the bell. Harry blew out his breath and got up quickly, glad that he didn't have to think about classes for a while. He left the room, following Ron and Hermione out the door.

"Hey I'm going to go check on the potions guys, mine was looking sort of weird last time I checked," he told them.

Hermione looked instantly worried.

"Do you want us to come with you?" she asked anxiously.

Harry shook his head.

"No worries Hermione, on you go. I doubt anything's wrong, It's probably just my imagination."

She nodded and they waved, heading up to the Gryffindor common room. Harry shouldered his way through the throng of students getting out of various classes, looking at the floor as he walked.

WHUMP.

"Oof!" said Harry. Books and quills went flying as he ran into a girl, knocking her over.

"Oh I'm so sorry, I wasn't" he froze where he had been crouching to help he gather up her things. "Ginny," he said stupidly.

Ginny blushed and ducked her head, scooping things into her bag hurriedly. Harry came to his senses and helped her with the rest. He handed it all over, feeling very awkward. They both stood up. Harry shifted.

"Sorry about that," he said.

Ginny glared at him, tucked a piece of hair defiantly behind her ear and pushed passed without a word. Harry kicked the wall angrily and stalked off towards the potions lab.

Is it supposed to look like that? Harry wondered. The potions were fine except his, which seemed to have turned a shocking silver black and had midnight blue vapor billowing out of it. It looked sort of like someone had filled a tub of black liquid with mercury. Ginny's was also behaving strangely, instead of being the peaceful midnight blue, it was beginning to display splotches of mahogany brown and black in a sort of marbled pattern. The splotches would appear and then sink back into the midnight blue, but they were getting continuously clearer. Reaching onto the shelf, he pulled the animagus book off the shelf and flipped to the recipe.

When your potion is ready, it will take on the colors of the animals that you will become. For example: someone who becomes a calico cat will have swirls of yellow, white, brown and black in their potion. There should also be a strong cloud of midnight blue vapor floating above. This is what is left over from the first and second stages of brewing.

Harry looked up at his potion. Black like a shadowcat, silver like a silverwing. It was ready? Ginny's looked like it was getting there as well. How strange. He continued reading.

Ladle the entire potion into a porcelain bowl and let cool for five minutes. Perform animagus spell and wait another five minutes. Drink all of the potion at once. Resist any urge to stop and take a breath; otherwise the spell will be broken.

Harry was slightly uncertain, because his potion had not been brewing for very long, but it showed all the signs of being ready. He wondered if he should go tell Ron and Hermione. For what? Theirs isn't ready yet, and they'd have to leave the room anyway, he said to himself. Harry stared at his potion for a few seconds. He didn't know whether it would be good for it to leave is simmering when it was ready. May as well start he thought. Getting down the large porcelain bowl from the shelf, that had been there for when the potions were ready, Harry set it on the table. He extinguished the flame under his cauldron, and poised his ladle over it. Here goes nothing, he thought a little recklessly. He dipped the ladle in and began to scoop the entire contents of the cauldron into the bowl. It continued to steam. Harry set it on the table, waiting for it to cool. He spent the five minutes with the book in his hands, reviewing the spell. Hermione had insisted that they hold special sessions to learn the spell, because it was incredibly long. Harry had not been so appreciative then, but now he couldn't be gladder as he paced around the room, practicing the flicks and twirls of his wand, and muttering certain parts of the spell. The words came easily to his mouth, and he was confident that he knew it, but he still felt nervous. He checked his watch. One minute to go. Harry closed the book and put it back on the shelf. He went over, locked the door so that there would be no disturbances, and took a deep breath, staring at the watch. Ten, nine, eight Harry pulled out his wand three, two he raised it and pointed it at himself one. He took a deep breath, and began to speak the words that would give him the ability to change into an animal.

" nigresco nigrescere nigru"

It was a very peculiar sensation, he felt as though someone was alternating pouring hot and cold water on him. As he spoke words of the spell, he felt a very strange magic course through his veins, infiltrating his senses

"vigesco felis furvene commisocio"

Images of claws and feathers flashed through his mind and embedded themselves in his memory

" acalanthim argentus coagmentatio aevum facultas metamorphosis."

Harry felt himself begin to sweat.

" Nigresco nigrescere nigru, vigesco felis furvene commisiocio, acalanthim argentus coagmentatio aevum facultas metamophosis."

He repeated this once more before reciting the phrase that would seal the magic.

" Adnexui fugurae ipse adsugno effectus."

When, at length, the spell was finished, Harry set his wand down with shaking fingers, his body brimming with a foreign magic. He picked up the bowl and put it to his lips, swallowing one gulp after another. It was just about the most disgusting thing he'd ever tasted. He suppressed his gag reflex and continued to drink, desperate to take a breath but knowing he couldn't. When he had downed the last drop, he put down the cup, swaying slightly. He felt drunk. With difficulty, Harry kept himself upright and reached for the book on the shelf, falling to the floor just as he grabbed it.

Harry lay face down on the floor, admiring how pretty the smooth gray stone was. Pretty? He asked himself. Harry lifted his head slightly. His forehead ached where it had struck the stone. What had happened? He wondered if Ron had convinced him to have a little too much to drink. He didn't remember a party or anything. Harry rolled over and pushed himself up so he was leaning against the wall. His stomach rolled.

"Uhg."

Harry looked around. He was sitting in Professor Jeanne's back room. Seeing the three steaming cauldrons, and one empty one, he suddenly remembered why he was here. Picking up the book that was sprawled on the floor next to him, he opened it up to where he had left off. It took him several minutes before his eyes would focus properly.

The potion will take at least half an hour to settle. Be sure to drink lots of fluids, and do not attempt a transformation for at least one hour. Wooziness, headaches, nausea, a chills are common side-effects but if anything seemingly unusual occurs, or if a fever develops, seek medical attention.

Harry left the book on the floor and got to his feet slowly. He went over to the sink and drank from the faucet, feeling immediately better. Once he had recovered slightly, the sick feeling began to be replaced by glee. He was having difficulty believing that in an hour or so he would be capable of transforming into two animagus forms. He didn't quite understand how his potion had come to be ready so soon. This is going to weird, explaining this to Ron and Hermione, he thought. And Ginny, he added. Harry swayed again, this was definitely not an experience to repeat. Gripping the counter for balance, he drank from the faucet again and hobbled to pick up the book on the floor. He figured he should go and find Ron and Hermione before they got worried. He was shocked when he saw that he had been in there for an hour. Putting away everything, he exited the room laboriously, and locked the door.

Soaring, swooping, diving, dipping, skimming the grass with his wings, the little merlin continued to perform a set of astonishing aerobatics. If you were to look closely, you would see bright silver wingtips and flashed as they sliced through the air. He fluttered high, and then let himself drop, laying his wings flat to his sides, diving recklessly. This is almost better than broomsticks, thought Harry, thrilling in the adrenaline running through his feathered body. He spread his flight feathers and back-winged to almost a complete halt before rocketing back upwards. Almost everyone was in their dormitories getting dressed for the ball, but Harry had seized the opportunity to try his wings out because he hadn't gotten the chance to the day before. It was getting late, however, so he soared down to the ground and transformed into a huge black cat, trotting happily across the grass, tail held out behind him jauntily. When he reached the doorway, he stepped into the shadows and vanished into them, becoming shadow-matter and traveling silently down the corridors.

***

Ginny and Hermione giggled happily as they, and Parvarti and Lavender put their dresses on. They had spent the last few hours showering, then arranging each other's hair carefully, and applying make-up. Ginny was trying very hard to ignore her the ache in her chest. She should be going with Harry, but it looked like that was not to be. She had discussed it with Hermione earlier, who had been confused, but looked as though she had and idea what Harry was thinking. Ginny slipped the silky material of her robes over her head.

***

Hermione watched Ginny sigh and felt sorry for her. She knew what Harry had been thinking when he suddenly broke off any potential relationship with Ginny. He was trying to protect her. Idiot, she thought to herself.

***

Harry pattered down the halls with a towel rapped around his waist, his hair dripping. When he entered the dormitory he rubbed the towel through his hair and started to dress, putting on his crisp white collared shirt and buttoning it up, leaving the top button unclasped open. He tucked it into his black slacks and stood in front of the mirror. He figured he looked all right. He'd bought a very modern style of dress robes this year. They were long sleeved, but you left them unclasped in the front like a sort of coat. They were straight cut, designed to sit on the shoulders and be more slimming rather than draping. His appeared black, but they were really a very dark red, in the light you could see a touch of deep red colored material. It contrasted nicely with his white shirt. Harry mussed a hand through his hair. It was still slightly damp from his shower; everything was about three inches, laying all over his head. It gave his naturally wild hair a controlled chaos sort of look. It was forever falling in his eyes, where he would brush it to the side, giving him, as many of the Hogwarts girls commented, a "model" look. Harry shrugged and slipped on his boots. They were black and smooth enough to pass for dress shoes when all you could see was the bottom. He laced them up, and made his way reluctantly downstairs to greet Ron, who was nervously awaiting Hermione. Harry chuckled, and Ron glared. He noticed Parvarti and Lavender were eyeing Harry with considerable interest.

"You look nice Harry," he said.

"Thanks, you do too," Harry returned.

Ron really did. He was wearing the same style robes as Harry, but a very navy blue. Underneath he had a very light gray shirt, and dark gray slacks, almost black.

Down in the great hall, Harry waited patiently for Ron and Hermione as students began to trickle in. Harry turned to the Lavender and Parvarti. The both looked very pretty. Parvarti was wearing some draping smoky grey robes; with a feathery light scarf resting lightly on her shoulders. Lavender had on black robes with sparkles at the low v-neck and the hem.

"You two look nice," he commented.

They both preened and giggled.

"Where are your dates?" he asked.

"Oh we're meeting them here," giggled Parvarti.

Harry flashed them a half-smile without any real interest, because his eyes were drawn to a slightly more appealing sight. Hermione, Ron and Ginny had chosen this time to make an entrance. Hermione was looking positively radiant in a deep blue that began at the low square neck of her dress and gradually faded into a lighter blue until it reached the hem. The skirt of her robes was wide and had a small train, while the straps about an inch wide that crossed in the back. Harry smiled at her, but the expression was swept completely off his face as he looked at the sight behind her. Ginny was wearing robes of wine red silk that clung to her like water and draped in all the right places. The skirt flared lightly at the knees and fell to the ground, trailing behind her, accentuating her small waist. Harry's breath hitched as she turned slightly, innocently adjusting the strap of an elegant black stiletto heel. The back dipped low, cutting barely below the small of her back, exposing a creamy expanse of skin. She had left her auburn hair down, flowing over her shoulder in waves. She wore very little makeup, just enough to draw attention to her lips and eyes. Harry tore his eyes away from her and tried not look back. He went to get himself a drink to distract himself.

***

Harry sat, watching moodily as Ginny and Colin Creevy strolled out of the hall to the garden. He hadn't done much the entire night. He'd had a dance with Hermione and several other girls that had asked him, some of which he didn't know very well. He had barely spoken with Ginny. Just a polite word here and there when he asked her to pass him something at dinner and things like that. He wanted very much to ask her to dance, but he had come up with the idea that he couldn't show any affection beyond light friendship with Ginny, lest he put her in danger. Hermione, who had noticed this, was silently damning him for being so ridiculously noble. Anyone could see that Ginny was unhappy. Harry eyes followed them out. He hesitated, but against his perhaps better judgement stood up, and stepped into a corner shadow. He morphed into his shadowcat form, simultaneously dispersing into the shadows. He drifted silently through the walls of the castle until at last he emerged behind a bush on the grounds, his paws perfectly silent on the ground.

"keeping busy. I've had a lot of work lately," came Ginny's soft voice.

Harry heard her walk by, and picked up a faint smell of perfume. He sighed.

"Hmm, me too," agreed Colin. "They say it gets harder."

There was a scuffling noise, but Harry ignored it, intent on listening to their conversation.

"Urg, don't remind me," groaned Ginny. "I am so glad we have some time off for right now."

Colin made a sound of agreement.

"Are you going home for break?" he asked casually. There was a blank silence.

"My parents aren'tavailable," said Ginny at last, in a slightly strained voice.

Colin began to apologize for prying, but words were replaced by a yell, promptly followed by a terrified scream from Ginny. Harry cursed, and leapt out of the bushes in human shape to find Colin unconscious on the ground and Ginny struggling in the arms of two black hooded figures. Several others circled them. Harry yelled and exploded into action, aiming practices kicks and punches a selected people. He shoved a death-eater, casting a banished charm to send him shooting over the grass. He jumped and whirled, sticking out a leg and knocking two others over and hearing another scream. But by the time he landed those that weren't unconscious had disappeared.

"NO!" Harry shouted. Two of the three deatheaters were regaining conciousness. Harry grabbed one by the collar, shaking him violently.

"Tell me where they took her! TELL ME," he said in a scary voice. The hooded man whimpered. Harry shoved him roughly to the ground, but he scrambled up again, grabbed his conscious companion and pressed a trigger at his belt. They both portkeyed away promptly. Harry's heart was thumping hard. Harry felt his throat constrict. He transformed back into a cat giving a feral growl. Clasping his jaws around the throat of the unconscious deatheater he melted away through the walls, galloping as fast as he could toward the great hall, and Dumbledore, while dragging a full grown man. It wasn't particularily difficult. He was easily as big as the man, and much stronger.

***

Several people screamed very loud as a gigantic black panther drifted through the stone walls, dragging a black cloaked person by the throat. The screams soon drew the attention of everyone, including the staff. It trotted into the room, slowly taking the form of a man as it went.

"DUMBLEDORE!" shouted Harry, dropping the death-eater roughly. He was beginning to revive, so Harry obliterated his portkey with a spell.

"Bindus corpus," he whispered. Metal chains, instead of ropes, burst from his palm, wrapping themselves tightly around the half awake deatheater. Dumbledore parted the crowd, walking up to Harry with a horrified expression, one that the calm face barely ever portrayed. Harry eyes were tearing.

"Ron" he croaked, looking around for his friend.

"I'm here Harry," came Ron's voice from behind him, looking shocked.

"I'm so sorry Ron," Harry choked, "I wasn't fast enough, I couldn't" he faltered.

"Couldn't what Harry?" asked Ron in a worried voice.

"She's gone," whispered Harry turning, as though confused. "She's gone and it's all my fault" Harry looked down to where the deatheater struggling on the ground.

"all my fault," whispered.

He threw himself at the black-cloaked figure lying on the ground.

"WHERE DID YOU TAKE HER?" he shook the man like a rag doll. "Tell me" but before he finished he felt several restraining hands pulling him back.

"Calm down Harry!" shouted Ron. "Who's gone?

"Ginny! Ginny's gone," he said desperately. "They came and took her away!" he said, wiping a hand furiously across his eyes. The deatheater on the floor groaned. Harry whirled and pulled out his want. He sank to the ground next to the black covered figure.

"Harry don't" came Dumbledore's commanding voice, but Harry simply raised a hand. He pressed his wand hard at the deatheater's throat gripping him roughly by the collar.

"Tell me where they took her." He ripped off the deatheater's mask, "Or so help me, I'll kill you," he said dangerously.

"Of course I'll tell you where they took her you stupid boy," wheezed a familiar voice, "But get your hands off me damnit!" said Severus Snape.