Usual Disclaimer: This world does not belong to me. I just borrowed it along with its inhabitants. Thanks J.K. for lending me your ready made world of magic.
A/N: I thought I'd let you know that I am going away this weekend then I'm going abroad for a week next weekend so my fortnightly updates of this story will be interrupted. That is why I'm uploading this on a Thursday and the next update will be in around three weeks time. Sorry!!!!!! for the delay.
***********************************************************************
At the request, Harry reappeared as himself but before Ron could congratulate him once again for being 'best of show', he swayed on the spot before his legs gave way and he fell limply to the floor.
~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~
"Harry!" Ginny rushed to his side. On cue, the room provided a bed at one side of the room and it took Ginny, Ron and Hermione in their exhausted states to awkwardly lift Harry's limp form onto it.
"Oh, why did we think this was a good idea?" Hermione fretted.
"Because it is a good idea Hermione, this is just a blip, he'll wake up in no time. It's just exhaustion. We've been fighting the urge to fall asleep for a good forty-five minutes now. Harry just gave in quicker." Ron rambled, sounding much more confident than he felt.
"I hope you're right Ron." Ginny said, her eyes full of worry as she sat at Harry's side, clasping his hand in hers.
"I don't know Ron. Maybe we should get Dumbledore."
"No! He'd have to expel us. Let's give it half an hour."
"What if it's too late in half an hour? What if there's irreparable damage done by then?" Hermione began to get hysterical.
"Calm down Hermione, I'm not damaged goods yet." Came a croaky voice from behind her.
~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~
It was only mid-day when the Marauders made their way back to Gryffindor tower, having spent less time in the room of requirement than they had expected. After crawling sleepily through he portrait hole, they climbed the stairways to their respective dorms and crawled into bed, grateful for the warm blankets and soft pillows.
Their sleep was only interrupted when Hermione (who had remembered to set her alarm) woke them for dinner, after which they had gone straight back to bed, not to be woken until the next day.
~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~
"Transformus Animagus." Ginny said as boldly and as confidently as she could, standing in her ring of protection in the centre of the room of requirement the next day. She had volunteered to go before Ron this time and was determine to hold out until the spell was complete.
Her determination must have done the trick as she felt the silent explosion and the tingling all over her body as she took the shape of a tigress and stood before her three astonished best friends. Her fur was a deep red-orange and her stripes were contrastingly dark to the bright colour of the fur in between. She looked down and admired her huge paws, complete with sharp claws, with her deep coffee coloured eyes which remained unchanged in he animal form.
Seeing his little sister succeed in the task made Ron even more determined not to fail for a second time and he was not disappointed. It was not long before there was a multitude of animals filling the room. The newest addition being a majestic wolf with fur of the richest silver and a streak of coppery red coursing down the length of its back.
Their fun, however was short-lived as Ron and Ginny were dead on their feet, even more exhausted than they had been after their failed attempts the previous day. Harry helped Ginny back to Gryffindor tower and into bed while Hermione did similar for Ron, taking him to the boy's dorms.
Of course, being marauders the first thing they had tried out of the guidebook was the disabling spell to the wards which prevented male access to the girls dorms. Although to avoid any mischief, this only applied to the Marauders, for everyone else, only girls were allowed in the girls dorms. Naturally.
"Goodnight, my Ruby." Harry whispered as he lay Ginny's head on the pillow.
"Goodnight Harry, my Onyx knight." Harry smiled as Ginny drifted into a deep slumber. They had their new Marauder names.
"G'night Feathers." Ron mumbled sleepily through a yawn as Hermione tucked him into bed and gave him a kiss on the forehead.
"Goodnight." She whispered to his silent form, drifting into the land of nod. "Little Whisper."
When she and Harry met in the Common room they swapped their names and grinned at having officially become Marauders.
"Come on let's go to the library, I want to research the meanings of the animals we've become and about your multi-forms."
"There'll be plenty of time for that Hermione, come on let's go out!"
Hermione's eyes gleamed as she realised what he meant. He led her over to the nearest window and transformed into the raven, Hermione soon following as her owl form and they both flew out into the cold, bitter air which soon was full of fresh snowflakes.
Flying was the most wonderful experience. Neither could describe the sense of freedom and adventure that overcame them. They flew over and around the castle, admiring it in all its glory. The highest turrets were already thick with snow and, only a few hours after leaving the castle they returned to it, feeling the bitter winter cold.
"That was brilliant!" Hermione exclaimed as she transformed and shook the snow from her hair. "I'm soaked right through! It didn't seem that wet and cold as an owl!" She complained, shivering and wrapping her arms around her chest.
"Amazing!" Harry exclaimed, lost for words. He too was soaking wet and he shook his head, causing dripped from his hair to spray around him, gaining him some ruffled feathers from some disgruntled owls in the owlery where they had just flown in the open window. They had chosen to re-enter through the owlery to avoid the possibility that the Gryffindor common room would be occupied by the remaining Gryffindors.
"Hot showers all round I think!" Hermione shivered again as they left the owlery.
~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~
"The tigress is a creature of fiery temperament, fierce loyalty and great beauty." Hermione read quietly to them from her findings. She had spent the day in the library looking up information for them.
"That's you to a tee Gin." Harry commented.
"What about me?" Ron asked impatiently.
"Wolves are creatures who thrive on protecting their pack, their loyalty to whom they choose to protect is unwavering and they are creatures with great passion for life, especially surrounded by their pack."
"That's me" Ron grinned happily at being described this way.
"It also says the thing they hate most is to be laughed at." She smiled and Ron blushed.
"I suppose." He mumbled
"What about you 'Mione?" Harry asked. She blushed modestly and began to read what she had written about herself.
"Owls are also animals of great loyalty. They are highly intelligent and sensitive birds, known to be very alert and good at analysing situations and getting themselves safely and quickly away from danger."
"That's you all over." Ron praised his girlfriend, giving her a swift kiss. "What about Harry?"
"The Husky is a natural born leader but also playful and mischievous by nature when circumstances allow. These dogs work best as part of team but always better at the head, leading the way. The Panther is a creature of great stealth and speed. Aggressive yet intelligent these animals possess immense power and are intense by nature. Their power and intelligence serve as a combination, which give endless boundaries to what they are capable of. The Raven is a highly mysterious and intelligent bird. The stories and myths which surround it make it a creature which strikes fear in the hearts of those who cross its path. It is said that a Raven on your side is a source of great protection, but to be crossed by and unfamiliar Raven is a said to be a sign of doom."
"Well that's mostly Harry..." Ron said. "Except maybe the whole Ravens are evil symbols of doom thing."
"I didn't say they were evil Ron, I think it just means that Harry's not the best person to cross." Hermione corrected.
Harry was astounded at how well the description fitted every aspect of his personality.
"That's me all right." He said, looking slightly dumfounded at how their animal forms really signified them as a person. He now knew why he had so many animal forms. It would be impossible to find just one animal to describe his strongest characteristics. There were too many of them.
"I could find only one reported case in history of a wizard having multiple Animagus forms and that was Merlin himself." Hermione informed Harry, watching him closely for his reaction. "He had four. The next closest reference I could find was shapeshifters but I don't think you're one. Are you?"
"No, just the three animals are enough for me," Harry assured her. Merlin, he concluded, had obviously had a split personality problem, and would have related to how he, Harry, sometimes felt - torn between duty and happiness.
~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~
'Onyx, Feathers, Ruby and Whisper, The Marauders - Second Generation.' Hermione added a page into the Guidebook, ready for when they would put in their first entry.
"There. Now we just need something to put in it." Hermione smiled.
"That reminds me, there's a page I can't figure out." Harry said, as he remembered the blank page he had found. He flicked through the book. "That's strange." He frowned when he found himself unable to locate the page. He looked through it more carefully but was still unable to find it. "Never mind." He said handing the book back but still frowning.
"Mischief managed." Hermione said, letting the pages all go blank and putting the book aside. "You okay?" She asked, noting Harry's thoughtful expression.
"Yeah, fine. It's nothing." He said, trying to forget about the blank page but it still lingered in his mind as they decided to go for a jaunt outside.
"But where will we go?" Ron asked. "It's too dangerous to just go around the grounds, someone might see us."
"The forest." Harry said.
"The forest?" Ron gulped.
"Yeah, it's dark out so we should be okay until we get to the forest, then we can do what we like when we get inside."
"But still... The forest?"
"Yes Ron the forest." Harry rolled his eyes. "Don't worry we'll be more alert and able to get out of there in animal form. And besides," Harry's eyes gleamed, "we'll make sure we avoid Aragog."
Ron shuddered involuntarily.
"Too right we will!" He exclaimed. "Follow the spiders, ha!" He muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
Only Harry heard him and laughed.
~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~
The Marauders returned to the castle later that night, completely exhausted and grinning from ear to ear. They sat together, relaxing in front of the fire in their states of elation. They had ran, walked, played, stalked, flew, and made plenty of noise between them. Now all had felt the freedom of the carefree animal kingdom and knew their decision to become Animagi had been one of the best they would ever make.
Hermione watched Harry as he closed his eyes and revelled in the sense of freedom he had just experienced.
She was beginning to understand his need to be in the air. The freedom, the beauty, the lack of problems. She marvelled at the beauty of the world below her when she was in the air and she could really appreciate everything. She understood that flying was Harry's way of leaving everything behind.
~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~
Harry waited till he heard Ron's soft snoring fill the dorm before he sat up and pulled out the guidebook.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He whispered. Once again he carefully flicked through the book to find the blank page. "I knew it was here somewhere!" He found the page he was looking for. Why couldn't he find it earlier? "Now I know you're hiding something." He was talking to a book. He realised he was talking to an inanimate object but he carried on anyway. "What's your secret? Show me." He whispered. He frustratedly tapped the page with his wand.
Hello Harry
Harry's eyes widened as he stared at the words appearing on the page followed by a spell for...
"Time travel?" He muttered to himself.