McGonagal was in the middle of lecture as Harry flew into the room. The class snickered as Harry pantomimed sneaking oh so quietly into a chair next to Neville. He knew McGonagal would forgive him – she always had.
"Harry Potter," sighed McGonagal, turning around from the diagram she was drawing on the board. "Late for your first class, as always. Your excuse?"
"Sorry, professor," was all that Harry said as McGonagal resumed her lecture.
Hermione and Ron sat together at the table across from Harry and Neville's. Hermione questioned Harry with her eyes. He shrugged in response.
"Today, class, we will continue work on our distinguishing spells. Now with these spells, one can find what a transfigured item was originally. Although these spells are complicated," McGonagal said, eyeing the class, "they are very useful in a wide array of situations, and I'm sure you all are competent enough to handle the challenge."
Harry watched as Hermione looked at Ron. Ron turned back to her, grinned, and shrugged his shoulders. Harry looked back to McGonagal as Hermione was trying to stifle her laughter.
"Now I will hand each desk a transfigured item, and I want each pair to classify its previous form, transfigure it to its original form, and then change it into the form you got it in. We will trade objects throughout the classroom until this period is over. I expect a 2 foot essay by the beginning of our next class together on what you have learned over this past week. Now get to work." McGonagal passed the transfigured objects throughout the classroom.
Harry and Neville received what appeared to be an alarm clock. Hermione and Ron received an apple. Other members of the class got several tissues, quills, a cauldron... One table even got a talking parrot.
"Well, let's get to work than, shall we, Harry?" asked Neville, pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill with which to take notes.
Harry worked the rest of the class period, but he kept drifting in and out of what Neville was doing at their table. Once again Harry was thinking of Luna dead in his dream...
Harry was roused back to alertness by a small dog licking his face. It was black and shaggy, looking familiar to Harry. He was stunned to realization that it looked like Sirius in puppy form.
"Well," said Neville. "That was certainly creatively disguised. And now to turn it back..."
"No!" Harry shouted, causing everyone in the room to turn back and look at him. Hermione looked at him with concern and McGonagal ushered him up to the front of the room.
"Everyone, back to work, please," said McGonagal as she watched Harry slowly walk up to her desk, bringing the puppy with him so that Neville wouldn't have a chance to change it back.
"Well?" asked McGonagal.
"I just..." started Harry. He couldn't think of what it was he wanted to tell McGonagal, of how to tell her why he couldn't bring himself to get rid of the dog.
"Yes?" prompted the professor.
"Well, look at it," said Harry. "I can't."
McGonagal slowly nodded her head in agreement.
"I see what you mean, Harry, and I won't mind if you keep it in your room. But, please, do not disrupt the class again."
Harry smiled in appreciation and went to go back to his desk, sure that all problems had been resolved. McGonagal stopped him with an arm and a worried look. "I would appreciate it if you saw me after class, Harry."