Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Is that enough?

Authors Note: Here is chapter 3!

Chapter 3 - Animagus or Not?

We walked silently towards Dumbledore's office and I could feel Dennis' eyes on me.

"Do you know why I have to see him?" I asked and he shrugged.

"Well, then I know you will know why you are staring at my ass," I said and he went red and Dan sniggered. Creevey's had a thing for staring absent-mindedly at girls.

"Uh—sorry." He said and he turned left instead of right and I felt glad I didn't have to walk the whole way towards Dumbledore's office with him. We reached the stone gargoyle and saw Potter, Hermione, Ron, Neville and Luna Lovegood. We were shortly joined by Ginny and Luke.

"Any one know why we're here?" Neville asked. He still had a scar on his nose where the Death Eater had kicked him last year.

"I do." Luke said quietly and everyone looked at him.

"Well, why?" Ron demanded.

"He was forbidden to tell you." Came Dumbledore's voice from behind us and we all turned to see him and Professor McGonagall.

"Oh." Everyone said in unison.

"Move aside please." Dumbledore said and we moved so they could get forward.

"Tangy Apple." He said and the gargoyle sprang to life and moved aside. We all clambered on; two at once and shortly entered his office. He drew up 10 chairs and his office became slightly full.

"None of you, except of course Mr Queenie here and Professor McGonagall, know why you are here." He looked around at the 9 Hogwarts students.

"Harry, Miss Granger, Mr Weasley, Miss Weasley, Mr Longbottom and Miss Lovegood showed a brave battle late last year and will be rewarded with being taught to be an Animagus. The rest of you," his gaze was fixed upon me," will be put through a short, physical test."

I glanced at Dan and she had a frightened sort of nervous look.

"And--and when will this test take place, sir? Will we be late in being taught along with the others?" She asked in a voice so unlike her own. She had never (along with Luke and I) come face-to-face with Dumbledore, in his office. It had always been McGonagall or someone else.

"They will wait for you and the test will take place in the Christmas holidays while most of the school is away. I do hope it doesn't clash with you arrangements. Were any of you intending to visit home for Christmas?" No one said yes and he smiled.

"You do, of course all know what an Animagi is? Good, good. And that Professor McGonagall will start teaching you straight after the test. I'm not sure you will have become an Animagi by the end of the school year but I assure you, you may stay later than usual into your summer holidays to finish it."

"Sir, what is in the test? What will it be like?" I asked and Luke looked interested at my question then stared at Dumbledore.

"It is as close as I can get it to what these six did last year." I nodded then suddenly realised that this could easily be illegal I may get into terrible trouble but then I also remembered what Ginny had told about Potter's dad and his friends being illegal Animagi. He told us to practise as much jinxes and hexes as possible, to be ready by December 14th and then that we should get to the last class of the day.

"Well…that made my day even better. After reading that Fudge might not be Minister for long and that we're going to be Animagi, I feel like nothing can get in my way." Ginny said as we walked into the blaring sunlight.

After an enjoyable afternoon, we ate dinner chatting about what animals we love at that it would be cool to turn into one of them. (We didn't want to draw too much attention to ourselves because then all of Gryffindor would want to be an Animagi). We went to bed with our stomachs full and our emotions happy. I had a dream where I was a pretty little golden Labrador and I kept changing from human to dog…back and forward and then Dumbledore came and said I was mucking around with my power and took it off me. I woke crying and Ginny was at my side.

"What's wrong?" She asked worriedly.

"I had a nightmare that Dumbledore took the Animagi power off me." I whispered and Ginny cracked up laughing.

"A nightmare? About that?" She asked with tears of laughter in her eyes.

"Will you keep it down over there? It's bloody five in the morning." I heard Dan's voice and Ginny and I got dressed and entered the empty common room.

"So, what Animagi were you?" She asked, looking at the empty fire grate.

"A golden Labrador." I said, looking at the summer sun rising and reflecting off her auburn hair just as Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan came down the boys' stairs.

"Hi!" They said happily.

"Where's Potter?" I asked.

"Still asleep. He's squirming again," Dean said as he started for the door," come on."

We sat down in the Great Hall five minutes later. There was a few Slytherin's (that of Zabini, Draco and Pansy), Luna Lovegood sitting by herself, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Eddie Macmillan at the Hufflepuff table and only us four at the Gryffindor table.

"Some weather, huh?" Dean said trying to make conversation.

"Yeah. Do either of you know when the next Hogsmeade trip is?" I asked as the three, lone Slytherin's started barking loudly sounding a lot like the barking I had made in my dream.

"Nah. But dah, do you two want to come with us?" Seamus asked. They had clearly organised this whole conversation before they had come down.

"Sure. That is if you want to, Nev?" Ginny asked. I nodded just as Draco called Ginny over. We both stood up and he said that I might as well come too if I thought Ginny really needed protection.

"Well? Don't know why I came over. I was deep in conversation with Dean and Seamus." I said coolly.

"Then why did you come?" Pansy asked, clinging to Draco's arm like a leech.

"I wanted to know if you two wanted to come with Blaise and I to Hogsmeade on October 31st?" He asked. I was shocked and by the look on Ginny's face, she was too. And to my utter horror, Pansy looked shocked as well.

"B—but. You're Slytherin's. And—and we're Gryffindor's." Ginny stammered.

"I see your brain is working." Draco said coolly and Pansy sniggered.

"Draco, why do you want to go with them?" She asked.

"Because. Blaise and I think it's time for a change in the people we hang with. Crabbe and Goyle are dunderheads." Draco laughed and Blaise joined in.

"Don't you think Gryffindor's are a bit far-fetched?" Pansy asked and for once, I agreed with her.

"Well, Hufflepuff's are too stupid and there is no one we think are hot in Ravenclaw. You two are the closest we could get to our liking." Blaise said with his husky, male voice.

"Ah." Pansy, Ginny and I said together.

"So will you go?" Draco asked, with those grey eyes raised, waiting for a yes.

"Well…its just—" I droned on. I wanted to go with these fine young men but the only two Gryffindor guys I liked had already asked.

"Seamus and Dean have already asked us and we said yes." Ginny finished quickly for me.

"Well, that settles it then doesn't it. I guess they can't come after all. Gee, what a shame." Pansy said in a fake sad voice.

"Wait. Who would you rather go with—us or them?" Draco asked and I looked over at Ginny and I could tell she would rather go with Draco and Blaise. We both looked back at Dean and Seamus who were waiting patiently then I looked at the Slytherin's. There was definitely a difference in looks but the kindness…there was no mistaking it that Draco and Blaise wanted us for looks while Dean and Seamus wanted us for looks and our personalities.

"I hate to say it but…you two. But…what am I supposed to say to them?" I asked looking back at the anxious faces of my fellow Gryffindor's again.

"Just say that something has come up." Blaise said and for the third time I looked behind me. I walked over to them and told them the situation. They gave disgusted looks at me.

"So, you would rather go with back-stabbing Slytherin's than us?" Dean asked and he turned back to the table where there was now Dan, Luke and Hermione.

"Again I hate to say it but yes."

"Fine. Just fine."

"What's going on? Why's Ginny sitting with the Slytherin's?" Dan asked through a yawn.

"Come on." I said and she got up and Luke followed.

"Thanks. They got pissed at us." I said and sat down between Ginny (who was sitting next to an angry 7th year) and Dan (who had just sat down next to Pansy).

"It's not my problem. You're the one who said yes and I didn't say you could bring the whole flock of you." Draco said, looking at Luke and Dan.

"Sorry but you want to go with us then they'll have to come too." Ginny said and Dan gave us a confused look. I explained and she gasped.

"Why would you do that?" She asked and she left in a huff back to the Gryffindor table that was filling rapidly (with Ron, Potter and Neville now).

"Luke, I—"

"Don't even talk to me." He said and stormed back to Gryffindor as well. I saw Dan telling Ron, Potter and Hermione. What have I done? I have betrayed my friends for their enemy. Why did I do this?

"Are you coming?" Blaise asked seeing my miserable face.

"I guess we'll have to then wont we." Ginny said just as Ron came traipsing over.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" He asked Ginny with a raging voice like torrential rain.

"Weasley, they're sitting with us. Is that OK?" Blaise said and Ron shot him a nasty glare.

"Well, no it's not actually." He said and he made to grab Ginny's arm but Draco got there first.

Authors Note: Ron is an over-protective git smiles