November passed so quickly, Harry thought it hadn't even happened. He was swamped with D.A. meetings, regular classes, Occlumency lessons, Quidditch practice, and spending time with Mandy. They had become inseparable. It was the first time he didn't stumble and stutter over his words around a girl. He knew he was really falling for her. The first week of December arrived with a whirl of snowstorms and freezing castle corridors. The castle, as always, looked spectacular cloaked in its Christmas decorations. As the trio plus Mandy walked to D.A.D.A, they chatted about the extremely progressing talents of the D.A.
"Did you see Mark's shadow of a Patronus last night?" Hermione asked Harry. "He's really getting good. I've never seen a first year get that far with that charm."
"I know. He's really talented, but why wouldn't he be? He's related to my mum," Harry said, and everyone laughed.
Just as they got to Gloria's classroom, Harry's eye caught something in his peripheral vision in an abandoned classroom.
"I'll catch up with you in a second," Harry told his friends and went to go check it out.
He could have sworn he saw that eerily beautiful light that was the green flame torch. As he walked into the dark classroom, he didn't see much of anything. His eyes adjusted to the little light that filtered through the bottoms of the shades on the large windows. He saw chairs piled on top of desks, some rude word scribbled on the board, which was no doubt Peeves' doing, but no torch and no shadow of his mother. Just as he began to think his mind was playing tricks on him, he saw a thick book laying on the floor. He picked it up, and the title read The Full Guide on Becoming an Animagus. Harry flipped the pages of the book, and a scrap of parchment fluttered to the floor. He grabbed it and saw it was written in the same neat handwriting as the mysterious note from the Burrow. This note read:
Tell no one.
Harry quickly stuffed the note and the book into his bag and took one more sweeping glance around the classroom and thought, "What are you trying to tell me, Mom?"
He turned and booked it to class.
Later that night he told his friends he was going to bed and went to his dorm. He quickly pulled the curtains around his bed and pulled the book from his bag.
"Lumos!" he whispered and light erupted from the tip of his wand.
He had followed the note's instructions and had not told anyone. He didn't want to mess anything up. He opened the monstrously thick book and began reading. He skimmed over the introduction and the first chapter, which was the importance of registering your animagus. He slowed down midway through the second chapter and what he read fascinated him.
An animagus is the primitive animal form of ourselves. What is inside you will be portrayed in the most accurate light. Your animagus is all of the important aspects of your soul combined into the most appropriate animal. This transformation should not be taken lightly and performed with the upmost care.
"Well, Sirius and my dad certainly didn't read this book," Harry thought, a little awed by the power of the words.
He closed the book thinking he would learn to transform another night. Those few words had given him enough to think about.
"If no one knows my animagus, it will be a huge advantage to beating Voldemort," Harry thought, and it all suddenly became more serious.
He would not tell a soul. He couldn't imagine one of his friends being tortured for that piece of information. He wasn't even going to tell Dumbledore. He heard someone fall outside the door, and then he heard Ron's voice.
"Neville, are you okay?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, I just slipped," Neville replied.
"Nox!" Harry whispered and laid down to sleep.
The next Hogsmeade trip was scheduled for the Friday before Christmas break. Harry didn't really want to go. As Harry and Hermione sat in Potions the Monday before the trip, he told her so.
"Why don't you want to go?" she asked as she put the lacewig flies in her Polyjuice Potion.
Snape had lectured endlessly on the importance of the Polyjuice Potion, so they had just started brewing it two weeks before. From his own experience, Harry knew it would be ready when they got back from the holiday. Harry rubbed his hands together to keep them warm. It was exceptionally cold in the dungeons, even with the hot fires under the cauldrons, and Harry cursed Ron silently for not having to take this class anymore.
"I just don't feel like it," Harry said shrugging his shoulders.
"Okay, then. What are you getting Mandy for Christmas?" Hermione asked as she stirred the potion to a simmer.
"You are just full of questions- oh, bloody hell!" Harry exclaimed as he dropped too many lacewig flies in his own potion.
"No cursing in my class, Potter," Snape said sweeping down on him like a bird of prey. "Ten points from Gryffindor, and next time, it will be detention."
"I loathe him," Harry hissed, suddenly remembering the placid, nonchalant look on his potion's instructors face when he had begged for his help when Umbridge had them cornered.
Hermione made a "tut" noise and sat down on a stool next to her cauldron.
"You have to control your emotions," Hermione said. "How-,"
"I have!" Harry insisted, raising his voice a little.
Hermione cocked an eyebrow as if saying I told you so, and Harry sat down next to her in frustration, stirring his potion absentmindedly.
"What I was going to say before I was so rudely interrupted was how are lessons with Professor MacAllister going?' she asked.
"They're good. We have a make up lesson tonight because he was out last Tuesday."
"What lessons, Potter?" Draco asked arrogantly.
"It's the lessons where you learn not to eavesdrop on other people's conversations. Would you like to join, Malfoy? You obviously need practice?" Harry shot back.
"Well, then keep your voice down, scarhead. Everyone can hear you, even the people on the moon," Draco said, his eyes flaring in the pleasure of knowing something Harry did not.
Hermione quickly looked at Harry, her eyes wide in surprise.
"Is your potion done, Potter?" Snape demanded, interrupting Harry and Malfoy.
"Almost, sir," Harry said through clenched teeth, throwing a glance at Draco who was looking quite pleased with himself.
"Class dismissed," Snape said looking down his hooked nose at Harry in disdain, and everyone began cleaning up.
As Hermione held back to help Harry clean up his mess, Draco met Crabbe and Goyle outside the classroom. Harry was pleased to see that they hadn't been able to advance in any of their classes. Suddenly, Draco let out a long howl, and the Slytherins walked away laughing.
"Do you think he's talking about Lupin?" Hermione asked him.
"Yes," Harry said swinging his bag over his shoulder and exiting the dungeon.
"Do you think we should take some sort of action?" Hermione asked as she hurried along side of him.
Harry realized that he was walking very fast out of anger, and he slowed down.
"I don't know what to do," Harry said honestly. "We've bothered Dumbledore enough this year, and we don't really have a lot to go on. Draco and I fighting will seem trivial to him."
"It won't be trivial if something happens to Lupin, Harry," she said as they stopped at the hallway that let to her Arithmancy class.
"Thanks, Miss Sunshine," Harry said sarcastically, his temper flaring.
"I'm just say-,"
"I know. I'll do something," Harry said, getting impatient in worry.
His head hurt from all the questions that raked his brain. Was it that important? Should he tell anyone? Should he somehow check on Lupin himself? Should he do nothing? Hermione looked at him in earnest, and Harry sighed.
"I might code a letter, but let me think for a while, okay. Besides, it's probably not any immediate danger," Harry muttered, his voice wavering in uncertainty.
"Okay, Harry," Hermione said slowly and walked up the hallway.
"Hermione!" Harry called out, and she turned around. "When is the full moon?"
"Next Tuesday," she said and walked into her class.
Harry walked toward the owlery trying to figure out a way to code a letter. He thought this was the only way not to sound too worried and just check up on things. He reached the owlery where most of the messenger birds were sleeping. He pulled a piece of parchment and quill from his bag and began to write.
Dear Moony,
How are things where you are? Things aren't so good here. I'm having lighting problems everywhere, but that is probably due to the fact that my mother did, too. Our little friend that knows Kreacher seems to be no where in sight, and a certain "friend" has made some comments about you. Just wanted to update you on things here, and check on everyone. Write back soon.
Harry
Harry reread the letter and thought it was confusing, but he had no other ideas on how to word it. He called Hedwig down and attached the letter to her leg.
"Take this to Lupin, and be careful," Harry said stroking her brilliant white feathers.
She nipped his finger in understanding and took off out the window. Harry thought long and hard as he watched Hedwig soar over the Forbidden Forest. If he lost Lupin, he feared he would give up. Lupin was the last link to his parents, and with Sirius gone, Harry could not fathom what he would do without the last of the real Marauders.
Harry met with Professor Mac in the Transfiguration classroom at seven. Harry emptied his thoughts into his mini-pensieve, and they practiced for a half hour. After the third time Professor Mac had broken into Harry's mind, he stopped.
"Are you all right today, Harry?" he asked, a look of genuine concern in his crystal blue eyes.
"I've had a lot on my mind," Harry said slumping into McGonagall's desk chair.
Professor Mac gazed at Harry intensely as if trying to find something inside the young man sitting in front of him.
"I want to try something new with you tonight. Now, Dumbledore told me only to do this when you're ready, and I think you are. Would you like to try Legilimency?" Professor Mac asked him.
Harry was stunned for a moment, and then smiled.
"Of course!" he answered.
"Okay," Professor Mac said. "What I want you to do is clear your head like normal, then say the spell, and push with your mind."
"All right," Harry said, feeling excited and nervous simultaneously.
"I'm ready when you are, Harry," his professor said standing up straight suddenly looking very tall and formidable.
Harry cleared his mind of all thoughts.
"Legilimens!" Harry shouted and pushed hard with his mind.
Harry saw a flash of what he thought was a younger Professor Mac talking to a pretty dark haired witch at what looked like a wizarding school, but it wasn't Hogwarts. After that he blacked out.
"Harry!" he heard Professor Mac call. "Wake up. Are you all right?"
Harry opened his eyes and sat up slowly. He felt dizzy and very sick to his stomach.
"I'm fine. Just a little queasy," he answered.
"You gave me quite a fright, Harry, but you did fantastic! I've never seen anyone your age get it on the first attempt. You are an exceptionally talented wizard." Professor Mac said helping him off the floor. "That's all for tonight. You can go."
Harry walked at a snail's pace back to Gryffindor tower. He passed his friends in the common room, told them he was tired, and went to the dorms. He was dreaming before his head hit the pillow.
"So he's found him," a cold blast of a voice spoke.
"Yes, my Lord," an equally cold and calculating voice answered.
"Good. I knew Potter had more information we needed," the voice of Lord Voldemort said.
"Yes, the target will easily be taken care of," the other voice responded, which belonged to Lucicus Malfoy.
On the last day of classes, Harry told Mandy to meet him in the Room of Requirement at eight that night.
"Why?" she said, arching one graceful eyebrow in suspicion.
"You'll see," Harry said mysteriously.
They met as planned, and Mandy approached him with her two hands placed firmly on her hips.
"What are you hiding, Harry Potter?" she said a smile tugging at her lips.
"This," Harry said simply and opened the door that had appeared in front of them.
Inside was a warm, crackling fireplace with a very comfortable blue love seat in front of it. Shelves lined the back of the room with candles and assorted poetry books set on them. Soft music played from somewhere in the background. The room had become considerably smaller than when they met for D.A. meetings, and there was now a window with the snow tapping softly on it.
"Oh, Harry, this is wonderful!" Mandy cried in delight.
They walked in and sank onto the love seat.
"I wanted to do something special for you for Christmas," Harry said.
"It's wonderful," Mandy breathed looking around. "I thought tonight might be the night we exchanged presents, so I brought yours."
She took a small box from her robes and handed it to him. Harry unwrapped it and pulled out a small version of a stag. It was silver and as he held it in his open palm, it pawed the ground with its miniature hooves and flung its antlers back proudly.
"Thank you," Harry said not capable of saying much else.
"I thought you might like it because of your patronus," Mandy said eyeing him to see if he really liked it.
He caught her looking at him, and smiled.
"I love it," he said and pulled out a small gift of his own for her.
"This is for you," he said, and she took the box.
In it was a small, gold necklace with an emerald the same shade as her eyes, and it was roughly the size of a dime.
"Oh, Harry, it's beautiful! I love it, but it must have cost you a fortune," Mandy said.
"Don't worry about that," Harry said, relieved that she liked it. "As long as it makes you smile like that, it's worth it."
She hugged him, and then Harry said the words he had brought her here to say.
"I love you, Amanda," he said, and for the first time in his entire life, he felt like he had said the right thing to a girl.
"I love you, too, Harry," she said, tears misting her eyes.
He kissed her and then, like normal, something went wrong. The door burst open, and Dobby scurried in. Dobby immediately flung himself at Harry's feet, and Harry and Mandy broke away from each other.
"Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby said in his squeaky voice. "You must come to Professor Dumbledore's office quick, sir. Something has happened."
"What's going on, Dobby?" Harry said jumping to his feet. "Where have you been?"
"Dobby's been helping Professor Dumbledore, sir, but you must come quick, sir," Dobby said starting to pull on Harry's hand, his overlarge green eyes wide in urgency.
"Okay, I'm coming," Harry said and turned back to Mandy. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. Go, but write me over break and tell me what happened," she said looking concerned.
He kissed her cheek and hurried out of the room after Dobby with the tiny silver stag still clutched in his hand. They reached the stone gargoyle in record time and came to a halt. Harry's mind raced with thoughts of Lupin. He should have done more. He should have told Dumbledore.
"Dobby must go, sir. Professor Dumbledore will be needing Dobby," the house elf said as the stone gargoyle sprang to the side, and Harry heard people descending from the office above. Dobby disappeared with a crack, and as Harry stared at the now empty spot, he saw someone hurrying up the hallway.
"What are you doing here?" Harry said, extremely confused.
Before they could speak, Harry heard the elder Professor McGonagall's tight voice.
"How many people is this poor boy going to lose?"