Chapter 9
Animagus
"Um, yes, well, there's always that chance Potter," he said, nodding slowly. "But of course, if one is caught, they would be charged with large fines. As you might have already know, Sirius Black is charged."
'No he didn't,' thought Harry. 'But it's never going to make a dent in his fortune . . . would it?'
"As for Peter Pettigrew . . . mmm, I suppose he would be, because they were all friends at Hogwarts. Regardless, I am afraid just your word will not register an Animagus. Anyways, today, we will be determining, and choosing the animal that you might like to pursue in becoming one. Once you have found the animal, you need to understand how it moves from the most basic breathing to the movements of the animal. As well as eating behaviors and of course, the reproduction stages."
The class groaned at the last part, some of them clearly disgusted, but Hermione, Harry and few others weren't. "Of course, if you don't want to do the nasty parts of the transformation, then you can quit now. From here on, it is only on your own time. Given that you will, of course, be registered at the Ministry. Also, knowing your personality is important in finding and determining your animal."
"It would not make sense if one who is very energetic person to have sloth as its Animagus animal. Moreover, the traits of your appearance can also be a factor. The Ministry keeps tabs on the form of the animal, their markings and the appearance."
"So, you may need some help in finding your animal. You may want to think about the size, environment that your animal can take, and the usefulness of your animal. If you want to be underwater, all the time while being an animal, you can become some sort of fish. But if you want to be able to be on land and in water, you can think about being a frog or a turtle. Now if you want to fly, the answer is obvious, some sort of a bird. As for the size of your animal, that's up to you, although, being a worm won't help in completing the feat of doing big things such as lifting a chair. But if you become a gigantic animal like an elephant, then you won't be able to be in small spaces. That sort of thing you should keep in mind."
He paused here, looking at his parchment and taking a breath. "And lastly, the usefulness of your animal. We return to the worm-animagus. One person may want to dig underground and search for something. Alternatively, if you want to cover great distance, you can choose a bird. As well as choosing an animal that can, or prefer to attack, become a lion or an elephant. You all need to keep that in mind as well as your personality and your appearances. The findings may be long and hard, or easy and short for some of you."
"I suggest that you all start talking to your neighbors, I don't expect you to have your animal by the end of the hour. This is something you would do in your own time and at your own pace. Think of this as a journey in becoming one. Once you decided to pursue in becoming one and an animal chosen, you may approach me, McGonagall, or," he turned to Harry. "Someone you know who is an Animagus as well. If you want, I can pass out a test to find out more about yourself in personality sense. I would say it is entertaining as well as a learning experience. Who would like to take the test?"
Everyone in the class rose their hands in response, anxious to take the test. Professor Conan hid a smirk but seemingly, only Harry spotted that he was smiling.
"Very well, I will hand these test out today and you will get your results in a week or two's time. However, during that time, you may still want to find some possible animal to transform into," he said as he pulled a wad of parchment out of one of the drawers in the desk. He passed all of the parchment out to each student. When Harry got his, he found out that the test was six feet long. But he went to work, taking the test. The first question was, 'How do you feel when you saw the length of this test?'
He wrote down his answer, 'not too overwhelmed.' Sometime later, he and most of the class have completed the personality test. Harry sat back in his seat, waiting for some students to finish. He thought about his father, and Sirius being Animagus. He couldn't wait to become one, but how was he supposed to pick an animal that represents himself? When Professor Conan picked up one of the last test someone took, he cleared his throat.
"You may talk to your friends about different animals and that represents themselves. Begin," he set the test papers on the desk and then watched the class.
"Well," Hermione began, "I wouldn't know what to choose in the first place. What do you think that would fit me? I don't suppose an otter would. They're too playful to be my personality."
"How about an owl?" joked Ron.
"No, not an owl, I'm afraid of heights," replied Hermione. "How about you being a crab, because you're always in crappy mood Harry?" she smiled slightly. Harry shook his head in answer, feeling silly.
"No, I don't want to do anything with water. I need something useful. An animal that . . . can attack."
Hermione and Ron stared at Harry in a fearful way. Ron looked at Hermione hesitantly and back at Harry. Harry sighed, annoyed by the fact that they couldn't piece two and two together.
"Guys, don't you think I need something defensive because of Voldemort? And of course, his followers?"
"Oh, that would make sense," replied Hermione, scratching her chin with one finger. "Perhaps we all should?"
Harry shook his head in a definite no. "Why?" asked Ron.
"Because I don't want you two be involved in my battles. Pick something that is useful to you and that you can also get away fast."
"But Harry - " Hermione began.
"Please, I don't want you two to get hurt when I fight the Death Eaters and Voldemort. This is something I," he emphasized the word 'I'. "Have to do."
"Mate, if you're thinking of taking them all on, you're wrong!" argued Ron. But Harry only looked at him, irritated, and Ron seem to be backed away a little. "Mate, how about we have something that can fight, and get away at the same time? We do need to defend ourselves, right Hermione?"
She nodded in answer, pleading with him. Harry finally sighed, giving in. Ron and Hermione perked up happily that they won the argument.
"I knew you would see it that way," said Hermione. "But we will try to get away as fast as we can okay?"
"Yeah, I just don't want to see you two getting hurt," said Harry, incensed by the fact that his two friends won the argument. "So, you two need an animal that can fight back, and get away quickly. That I need something that can fight against them . . . ."
"How about something like a lion?" asked Hermione.
"No, the lion's too courageous, I need something sly. After all, I was nearly placed in Slytherin."
"Oh," said Ron. "I suppose, how about a - " The bell rang for lunchtime. Professor Conan spoke up before anyone could leave.
"From this point on, it is on your own except when I pass back your results in one week's or two time. Good day!" he dismissed them as he sat down in his chair behind the desk. When the trio packed up their bags, Hermione spoke.
"What animal were you going to say Ron?"
"Oh, a - a snake? Not just any snake, something like basilisk?" Harry looked abashed. "No?"
"No Ron, too big, and plus, I already have the gift to speak in Parseltongue. I don't really think I need to have something that does do with Slytherin. But that was a good idea though Ron," said Harry after a moment thought. When they walked to the Great Hall, they were still talking about choosing their animal's form.
"I know, we could talk to Sirius and Remus," said Harry.
"But how Harry?" asked Hermione. "We can't be writing to each other all the time."
"You're not using your brain Hermione, the mirror?"
"Oh! Of course, the mirror, we can use that," said Hermione earnestly. "And I suppose we'll have to take another trip to - "
"The library," the boys finished for her unanimously. Hermione smiled by the fact that they have some sort of routine in their lives.
"But why Hermione?"
"To look up animals right?" asked Harry, Hermione nodded. "Thought so."
"Oh . . ." said Ron, his mouth gaping open.
"You better keep that closed or you'll eat a spider," said Harry. Ron immediately closed his mouth in fear of actually eating one. "Oh Ron, how about becoming a spider?" asked Harry seriously.
"Are you mad? Become one of the one I fear the most?" asked Ron terrified.
"Just think, you just might get over that fear, and if you become like Aragog's size, then you can easily attack as well as running away."
Ron shook his head, shuddering at the mere thought of spiders. Harry sighed; knowing the answer was going to be the same.
"Okay Ron, not a spider. Perhaps that doesn't fit your personality either. So that wouldn't work too well," said Harry, thinking.
"Of course it wouldn't match my personality, I'd die if they were!"
"Oh Harry, I was meaning to ask you, why didn't you tell Professor Conan about the other unregistered Animagus?" asked Hermione.
"Oh, I just wanted to leave that up to you because of your deal with her," reasoned Harry.
"I see, well, thank you Harry," said Hermione. The three of them ate their lunch while talking about an animal or another.
"What are you guys talking about?" asked Mark, confused.
"Animagi, in our class today - " Hermione began.
"Whoa, whoa, slow down, what's Anima-what?"
"It's the ability to transform into an animal, but you only have one form to choose from. Then after your first transformation, you're stuck with that form, you can't turn into a different kind of animal," explained Hermione. "Right now, we're trying to choose an animal. But mind you, Animagi is not common, there's only ten known animagi in this century. So, we're just giving our shot at becoming one."
"Oh, can I be one too?" asked Mark.
"And me!" piped Ginny, listening in on the conversation. Hermione, Ron and Harry looked at each other cautiously and back at them.
"Well, you'll have to talk to Professor Conan and McGonagall," Hermione began. "But I don't see why they have to deny you that." Harry sighed, pent-up by the certainty that everyone he loved was putting themselves in danger.
"No," said Harry flatly. "It's enough trouble with Hermione and Ron trying to help me. I'm not - "
"Harry, this is war," said Hermione persuading him.
"A war that I don't want you guys to be involved in!" The Gryffindor table fell quiet at his outburst, as well as the Hufflepuff table. "Oh go back to talking would you!?" A murmur broke out after Harry talked. Harry exhaled large amount of used air, rubbing his temples. "Fine, fine, we'll talk to Professor Conan and McGonagall."
"Thank you!" chorused Mark and Ginny.
"I'm not saying there will be a chance for you to study to become one," said Harry.
"But if we tell them that this is for war's effort - " said Ginny.
"No," interrupted Harry, standing up from his bench. "No, I'm not letting you say that," he tore out of Great Hall into the corridor. He walked for great while and stopped many floors up away from Great Hall. He stared at the wall before him and slammed his fist into it. 'Damn, why can't everyone stay out of Voldemort's and my way!?' He leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor.
'Animagi business is something alright,' thought Harry. 'Dad, Sirius, Wormtail… they had honorable intentions of becoming one. I wish it was that easy. . .' he regarded. 'I hate this war, it's senseless and absurd.'
He sat there for how long, he had no idea. He was glad that there were no afternoon classes. The fact that he didn't have Divination anymore, but he supposed that he could talk to Firenze sometime. Also the fact that Trelawney had literally predicted his destiny was too much for him. The words Trelawney had predicted, the ever so called Prophecy. Crazy as it sounded, most of the Prophecy had come true.
Were Voldemort and Harry, already unable to live with each other. That they are becoming one, Harry shook his head. Pushing the bad thoughts out of his head, and he tried to clear his mind. Then his thoughts drifted back to Animagus. Would becoming an animal prevent that? After all, Sirius said that dementors had not effected him in his dog form as much as his human form did.
'Mmm, an intresting theory to try out,' thought Harry. He stood up from the cold stones, began his way to the Gryffindor tower, and met with Hermione outside the portrait. When he approached her, she stuffed a parchment letter into her book bag, looking abashed. Then he remembered his supposed guards and sighed.
"Harry, you really need to stop wandering off away from us!" reprimanded Hermione, looking reproached.
"I'm sorry," began Harry, with his usual bit of sarcasm. "I won't do it again. Now really, I do need privacy and it's not like I would turn myself in to Voldemort or something like that."
"But Harry, we care about you so much. It really hurts that you keep wandering away. If you wanted some alone time, you could just tell us where you are. That would satsify me at least," said Hermione. Harry looked at her, contemplating her idea and nodded.
"I'll try but when I do go off alone, I don't usually know where I am going, so I give you permission to use the map okay? Malfoy's a git," they entered the common room and Hermione nodded in agreement. "I'm glad we reached an agreement."
"Me too Harry," replied Hermione. "So, should we talk to Sirius and Remus?"
"Of course, of course, but I have a theory that I would like to share with all of you. Bring Ron, Mark and Ginny to the Room of Requirement, wait here," he went to his dorm and looked for the mirror in his trunk. When he found it, he had dug the mirror up and carried it down to the Gryffindor common room. He found that his friends were there waiting. "But first, I think we should talk to Professor Conan and McGonagall."
"I guess, to get it out of the way and for permission," said Ginny. Harry nodded and they all crawled out of the portrait's hole. The five of them walked to the Professor Conan's office and Harry knocked on the door.
"Come in," replied a voice and they all entered. When he looked up from his papers on the desk to the kids. "Ah, and what is it?"
"Professor, it's about Animagus," Harry began. "Ginny and Mark wanted to be one too." Professor Conan shook his head no.
"But Professor," Ginny started.
"I'm sorry Miss Weasley and Mr. Evans. But you two are too young."
"May I point out that my dad, Sirius and Peter started working on becoming one in their first year?" said Harry. "I don't see any reason why you should deny them. Earlier the better isn't it?" Professor Conan looked speechless and opened and closed his mouth trying to say something. "I think this is for Professor McGonagall to decide?" he nodded in answer. He stood up from his chair, took some floo powder. He threw some into the fire, and the fireplace blazed in green flames.
"Professor McGonagall!" Few moments later, her face appeared.
"Yes?"
"Can you come in here?"
"Of course Stan," she replied and her face disappeared and few seconds later. She came through the fireplace and stood up, dusting herself. For the first time, she saw other students in the office and turned to Professor Conan for explanation.
"They came here few moments ago, and," he waved his hand allowing kids to speak.
"I - Mark and I want to be an Animagus," Ginny began. Headmistress McGonagall looked at the two of them for a moment and shook her head. "But Professor."
"No, you two are not sixth years yet," Professor McGonagall said.
"Professor," Harry spoke up. "Did you know that my dad, Sirius and - "
"I know of them being Animagus, but they did it after Hogwarts," she said, but Harry shook his head.
"You were lied to professor. They started working on becoming one back in their first year," explained Harry. Professor McGonagall widened her eyes.
"Oh! It makes everything much more sense!"
"What did?" asked Harry, wondering what she was thinking.
"Back in their third year, I saw notes, many notes about becoming one. But I had thought it was for research purposes only . . . well, if that is true - no, I'm sorry, Weasley and Evans won't become one. I will see to it," said Professor McGonagall.
"Professor, I - but I'm a fifth year, what if it takes me five years? I want an early headstart on becoming one," said Ginny, determined. Professor McGonagall peered over her glasses at her and sighed.
"Oh very well, no, I'm sorry, not you Evans. Perhaps in your second year," she said, looking at him who started pouting. Ginny looked sympathetic but happy that Professor McGonagall had given in. "Alright Miss Weasley, you may begin your lessons in Animagus with your other two friends and of course, one being your brother. If you wish, you can take a personality test to determine what kind of animal you would like to become one. I believe that Professor Conan can take this from here?"
"Of course," replied Stan Conan, nodding his head. "Oh, and Potter?"
"What?" replied Harry.
"You haven't forgotten our appointment in the evening have you not?" Harry nodded.
"Of course, why would I forget?"
"Just making sure you haven't. Now, you four want to start working on becoming one?" The four kids nodded in answer, whereas Mark looked glum. "So, have any of you got a animal form in mind?" The teenagers shook their heads in answer. "Ah, having difficulty time in deciding one?"
"Yes professor, though I want an animal that can do a lot of damage," said Harry. "And I prefer that my friends have an animal form that can attack and able to get away fast."
"What prompted you these ideas?" asked Professor Conan, curious.
"Oh, you know, the war and stuff like that," replied Harry. "Voldemort (Stan Conan and Ginny winced) have me high on his target list as well as my friends. So I want to able to defend myself and be on the offensive as well."
"But Potter, you shouldn't initiate the first attack."
"Says who? Besides, oh nevermind. I made my mind up, I'm only choosing an animal that can do most damage."
"Very well, Miss Weasley, if you wish to take the test, you may do so today or tomorrow."
"Can I take it now?" asked Ginny.
"Of course, the rest of you, please leave," he dismissed Harry, Ron, Hermione and Mark. When they were out in the corridor, Mark began to complain as they all started walking to the library.
"It's not fair! I want to start working on my transformation."
"Perhaps we can teach you and pass on the lessons we've learned," said Harry.
"No Harry, he shouldn't!" said Hermione imperatively.
"Why?" asked Harry and Mark.
"Because, because that's defying the Professor's - "
"Hermione, my dad and Sirius started working on becoming Animagus at the end of their first year. Please, I don't want Mark to get caught up with this war as it is."
"No Harry, we can keep him protected."
"Hermione, look around you, do you really think he can be protected when he's got me last year? Have you forgotten the year before that, Hermione? My second year, and what about the first?" Hermione bit her bottom tongue, frustrated. "If Sirius hadn't broke out of Azkaban, and that Wormtail ran off during one summer and brought Voldemort back and then comes back to Ron at the Burrow? Do you realize how many people we don't really know, they can very well be a Death Eater."
"Stop it, stop it Harry!" Hermione's eyes began to fill to the brim of the eyes. "Fine! We'll do it, but if we're caught . . ."
"Hermione, you're brilliant and the only time we ever got caught was last year when that Cho's friend blurted to Umbridge woman. Do you really think we can be caught, after all of that we've been through? Remember our second year, when we brewed that potion?"
" . . . Oh I suppose we could," said Hermione, defeated. Mark smiled at Harry and Hermione, obviously cheered up.
"Thanks Hermione! That really means a lot to me," said Mark, Hermione returned a feeble smile back at him. Then they went to the Room of Requirement. Harry walked back and forth, thinking about the needing to use the room to research on animals and to talk to Remus and Sirius. The door appeared, and they all went inside the room. Mark's mouth opened at the sight before him. There were thousands upon thousands of books on Animagus, animals, and lots of plush chairs with a live fire going.
"Oh my goodness, this room will never cease to amaze me," said Hermione breathlessly.
"Same here Hermione," said Ron, awestruck.
"Well, let's get to work," said Harry lightly as he poured over the bookshelves, looking for a right book, when he found a book he wanted. He went to sit down in one of the big, plush chairs and took a book off the table which was, 'A Guide to Dangerous and Lethal Animals.'
An hour later, the door opened, and came through Ron's sister, Ginny. Harry looked up from his book, which he had been reading about alligators. "How'd it go Ginny?" Harry asked.
"Oh, the test was interesting," she replied, sitting down next to Hermione, looking at the bookshelves around her. "Oh, you're all looking up animals?" She stood up again and went to the bookshelves for a closer look.
"Yeah, I've read alligators, lions, venomous frogs, but so far, none of them is not right to me, if that make any sense."
"Yeah, you need an animal that matches you," Ginny said, looking over the titles one the spine of books.
"Oh, I think I found one for me!" exclaimed Mark, everyone looked up to him. "How about a Cheetah? I can hide, get away fast, and defend myself."
"Hmm, that could work," said Harry, thinking. "Cheetah are sometimes social, sort of like you, and you have black hair, and brown eyes. This could be mistaken for yellow eyes sometimes. Well, on the borderline anyways. What do you think Hermione?"
"That could fit him, but aren't Panthers better? That could disguise him better when he needs to hide, and don't forget Mark. Cheetahs can only run at top speed for ten to twelve seconds. I don't think you would want to tire yourself that fast."
"Panthers huh?" muttered Harry, turning some twenty pages in the book. One image grabbed his eyes but didn't stop the page in time, but the page he stopped at was a page on Coyotes. "Hey Mark, how about a coyote?"
"Coyote?"
"Yeah, this says that coyotes are very adaptable, and you could use the howl as to warn us."
"Hey, let me see that," said Mark, taking the book out of Harry's hands and read the page and looked at the picture, stifling a surprise. Then after a moment of altruistic silence, Mark looked up from the book and grinned.
"Well?" pressed Harry, waiting for an answer.
"I think this is my animal."
"Excellent, so Coyote for Mark it is. Oh, and I have been meaning to talk to Sirius and Remus, hang on." He took out the mirror from his pocket and spoke the two names he mentioned earlier to the mirror. Several moments later, he saw two faces appear on the mirror.
"What is it Harry?" asked Sirius.
"How's school going for you?" asked Remus.
"It's good so far, ran into a few glitches is all. But guess what we had for our lesson in Transfiguration today?"
"I wonder, why would Harry call us for a lesson in transfiguration? Have you learned another way to turn yourself invisible than the cloak or the one that Moody used on you?" joked Sirius. Harry shook his head, "Okay, okay, did you transfigure your hand into some type of animal by accident?"
"No Sirius," replied Harry, chortling slightly.
"Well, that happened to Sirius when he was at Hogwarts one time," pointed out Remus.
"Really? What animal?" asked Harry, curious.
"A platypus," replied Sirius flatly, and Ron, Mark, Ginny and Harry laughed. "Oh go ahead and laugh, you won't be laughing soon when it happens to you!"
"And how did you transfigure your hand into a platypus?"
"He was trying to curse Professor Snape into a platypus, but Lily pushed his arm and aimed at his left hand."
Harry stared at the mirror, unable to say anything else. Then Harry sighed, shaking his head. "Jeez Sirius, you never live it down."
"But he and I were partners in Transfiguration and we had to transfigure our desks into an animal," protested Sirius.
"Yeah Sirius, and you 'accidentally' aimed your wand at Severus," said Remus, shaking his head.
"Okay, enough of that, what is it you want to talk about?" asked Sirius, fed up with the story.
"We're working on becoming an Animagus. We just had the lesson on it today. We also took a test determining our personalities and - " rambled Harry.
"Whoa, slow down! They're offering you lessons in Animagus!? Who is your new Transfiguration anyways?" asked Sirius.
"Professor Conan," replied Harry. "Anyways, can you keep a secret?" Sirius and Remus looked at each other warily and then back at Harry.
"It depends," said Remus
"Of course," said Sirius at the same time as Remus but then they glared at each other. Harry exhaled, thinking what to do next.
"Depending on what Remus?" asked Mark, from behind Harry.
"If it's against the rules. Then I may have to see if it's honorable or not," said Remus.
"What if it's honorable intentions and our professors refuse to teach one of the students to become an Animagus?" asked Hermione. "Oh, and Professor Conan said that we can ask you to teach us some of basic training in becoming one because you went through that process."
"Hmm, well, who is it that they don't want to teach?" The kids looked at each other nervously until Mark spoke up.
"It's me they don't want to teach. They say I'm too young," said Mark gruffly.
"Hmm, well, it's only a few days start of school and you hardly have your grasp at magic. How about this, we'll start your training at end of December?"
"What? That long?" asked Mark, frowning.
"Well, I suppose that would work, " said Harry, thinking. "When I was here a few days at Hogwarts, I barely had much apprehend about magic. And that way, we can also provide you some lessons in Animagus."
"Now wait a minute, who's giving you lessons on Animagus?" asked Sirius.
"Professors Conan and McGonagall," replied Hermione.
"Oh, okay, so have any of you got an animal form picked yet?" asked Remus.
"We only found one for Mark's. It's a coyote, what do you suggest him to do?"
"Ah, coyote, good idea for Mark. Well Mark, you should start by finding a lot of books on coyotes, their behaviors, the pup stages, their skeletons, where the organs are. You also need to find out what kind of fur coyotes have," said Remus.
"A bonus if you could feel the texture of the fur type. James had to visualize the stag's fur while I and Pettigrew had counterparts of our form," explained Sirius. Through all of this, Hermione wrote down the important parts of learning about the animals.
"Well, let us know if any of you found an animal form, oh and just what kind of animal are you looking for?"
"I think mine should be something that can attack ferociously, because of my position in this war, obviously," said Harry. "And I prefer that Hermione, Ron, and Ginny should have an animal form that can defend itself, and some escape skills," Ron made a stuttering noise. "Because I really don't want any of you to get hurt."
"But Harry," said Ron. "What if I can't find a right animal?"
"There are a lot of animals to choose from Ron," said Harry.
"Harry, listen, this is your friend's choice, you shouldn't limit them," said Remus, interrupting their fight. Harry glowered at Remus and Ron.
"Fine, if that's what you think! I'm going back to work," he picked up the same book he was reading earlier and flipped a few pages backwards to the page that caught his eyes. Then he ogled at the picture, his arm began to move restlessly, tingling began to start through his arm and soon the tingling feeling covered from head to toe. Then the feeling disappeared.
"What? What is it Harry?" asked Ron, afraid something had happened.
"I - I think I found an animal for me," said Harry finally. He looked at the picture.
"Well?" asked Remus, who still haven't put the mirror away.
"It's a cougar," replied Harry, looking up from the book. "I had just got the strangest feeling."
"What sort of feeling?" asked Mark.
"A tingling feeling of sorts," replied Harry.
"That's what I had experienced, when you gave me the book, with the page on coyotes. Remus, did that happen to the others?"
"Yes, that is the feeling you should have, so you two did indeed find your animal form," replied Remus, smiling. In a moment Sirius returned from somewhere, one could assume he'd left earlier.
"What are you smiling about?" asked Sirius.
"Mark and Harry did find their animal form. The two told me they had felt the initiative feelings." Hermione had of course, wrote this important part of unofficial lesson down on the parchment.
"Did they really? What is the form for Harry?"
Harry answered, "a cougar."
Animagus
"Um, yes, well, there's always that chance Potter," he said, nodding slowly. "But of course, if one is caught, they would be charged with large fines. As you might have already know, Sirius Black is charged."
'No he didn't,' thought Harry. 'But it's never going to make a dent in his fortune . . . would it?'
"As for Peter Pettigrew . . . mmm, I suppose he would be, because they were all friends at Hogwarts. Regardless, I am afraid just your word will not register an Animagus. Anyways, today, we will be determining, and choosing the animal that you might like to pursue in becoming one. Once you have found the animal, you need to understand how it moves from the most basic breathing to the movements of the animal. As well as eating behaviors and of course, the reproduction stages."
The class groaned at the last part, some of them clearly disgusted, but Hermione, Harry and few others weren't. "Of course, if you don't want to do the nasty parts of the transformation, then you can quit now. From here on, it is only on your own time. Given that you will, of course, be registered at the Ministry. Also, knowing your personality is important in finding and determining your animal."
"It would not make sense if one who is very energetic person to have sloth as its Animagus animal. Moreover, the traits of your appearance can also be a factor. The Ministry keeps tabs on the form of the animal, their markings and the appearance."
"So, you may need some help in finding your animal. You may want to think about the size, environment that your animal can take, and the usefulness of your animal. If you want to be underwater, all the time while being an animal, you can become some sort of fish. But if you want to be able to be on land and in water, you can think about being a frog or a turtle. Now if you want to fly, the answer is obvious, some sort of a bird. As for the size of your animal, that's up to you, although, being a worm won't help in completing the feat of doing big things such as lifting a chair. But if you become a gigantic animal like an elephant, then you won't be able to be in small spaces. That sort of thing you should keep in mind."
He paused here, looking at his parchment and taking a breath. "And lastly, the usefulness of your animal. We return to the worm-animagus. One person may want to dig underground and search for something. Alternatively, if you want to cover great distance, you can choose a bird. As well as choosing an animal that can, or prefer to attack, become a lion or an elephant. You all need to keep that in mind as well as your personality and your appearances. The findings may be long and hard, or easy and short for some of you."
"I suggest that you all start talking to your neighbors, I don't expect you to have your animal by the end of the hour. This is something you would do in your own time and at your own pace. Think of this as a journey in becoming one. Once you decided to pursue in becoming one and an animal chosen, you may approach me, McGonagall, or," he turned to Harry. "Someone you know who is an Animagus as well. If you want, I can pass out a test to find out more about yourself in personality sense. I would say it is entertaining as well as a learning experience. Who would like to take the test?"
Everyone in the class rose their hands in response, anxious to take the test. Professor Conan hid a smirk but seemingly, only Harry spotted that he was smiling.
"Very well, I will hand these test out today and you will get your results in a week or two's time. However, during that time, you may still want to find some possible animal to transform into," he said as he pulled a wad of parchment out of one of the drawers in the desk. He passed all of the parchment out to each student. When Harry got his, he found out that the test was six feet long. But he went to work, taking the test. The first question was, 'How do you feel when you saw the length of this test?'
He wrote down his answer, 'not too overwhelmed.' Sometime later, he and most of the class have completed the personality test. Harry sat back in his seat, waiting for some students to finish. He thought about his father, and Sirius being Animagus. He couldn't wait to become one, but how was he supposed to pick an animal that represents himself? When Professor Conan picked up one of the last test someone took, he cleared his throat.
"You may talk to your friends about different animals and that represents themselves. Begin," he set the test papers on the desk and then watched the class.
"Well," Hermione began, "I wouldn't know what to choose in the first place. What do you think that would fit me? I don't suppose an otter would. They're too playful to be my personality."
"How about an owl?" joked Ron.
"No, not an owl, I'm afraid of heights," replied Hermione. "How about you being a crab, because you're always in crappy mood Harry?" she smiled slightly. Harry shook his head in answer, feeling silly.
"No, I don't want to do anything with water. I need something useful. An animal that . . . can attack."
Hermione and Ron stared at Harry in a fearful way. Ron looked at Hermione hesitantly and back at Harry. Harry sighed, annoyed by the fact that they couldn't piece two and two together.
"Guys, don't you think I need something defensive because of Voldemort? And of course, his followers?"
"Oh, that would make sense," replied Hermione, scratching her chin with one finger. "Perhaps we all should?"
Harry shook his head in a definite no. "Why?" asked Ron.
"Because I don't want you two be involved in my battles. Pick something that is useful to you and that you can also get away fast."
"But Harry - " Hermione began.
"Please, I don't want you two to get hurt when I fight the Death Eaters and Voldemort. This is something I," he emphasized the word 'I'. "Have to do."
"Mate, if you're thinking of taking them all on, you're wrong!" argued Ron. But Harry only looked at him, irritated, and Ron seem to be backed away a little. "Mate, how about we have something that can fight, and get away at the same time? We do need to defend ourselves, right Hermione?"
She nodded in answer, pleading with him. Harry finally sighed, giving in. Ron and Hermione perked up happily that they won the argument.
"I knew you would see it that way," said Hermione. "But we will try to get away as fast as we can okay?"
"Yeah, I just don't want to see you two getting hurt," said Harry, incensed by the fact that his two friends won the argument. "So, you two need an animal that can fight back, and get away quickly. That I need something that can fight against them . . . ."
"How about something like a lion?" asked Hermione.
"No, the lion's too courageous, I need something sly. After all, I was nearly placed in Slytherin."
"Oh," said Ron. "I suppose, how about a - " The bell rang for lunchtime. Professor Conan spoke up before anyone could leave.
"From this point on, it is on your own except when I pass back your results in one week's or two time. Good day!" he dismissed them as he sat down in his chair behind the desk. When the trio packed up their bags, Hermione spoke.
"What animal were you going to say Ron?"
"Oh, a - a snake? Not just any snake, something like basilisk?" Harry looked abashed. "No?"
"No Ron, too big, and plus, I already have the gift to speak in Parseltongue. I don't really think I need to have something that does do with Slytherin. But that was a good idea though Ron," said Harry after a moment thought. When they walked to the Great Hall, they were still talking about choosing their animal's form.
"I know, we could talk to Sirius and Remus," said Harry.
"But how Harry?" asked Hermione. "We can't be writing to each other all the time."
"You're not using your brain Hermione, the mirror?"
"Oh! Of course, the mirror, we can use that," said Hermione earnestly. "And I suppose we'll have to take another trip to - "
"The library," the boys finished for her unanimously. Hermione smiled by the fact that they have some sort of routine in their lives.
"But why Hermione?"
"To look up animals right?" asked Harry, Hermione nodded. "Thought so."
"Oh . . ." said Ron, his mouth gaping open.
"You better keep that closed or you'll eat a spider," said Harry. Ron immediately closed his mouth in fear of actually eating one. "Oh Ron, how about becoming a spider?" asked Harry seriously.
"Are you mad? Become one of the one I fear the most?" asked Ron terrified.
"Just think, you just might get over that fear, and if you become like Aragog's size, then you can easily attack as well as running away."
Ron shook his head, shuddering at the mere thought of spiders. Harry sighed; knowing the answer was going to be the same.
"Okay Ron, not a spider. Perhaps that doesn't fit your personality either. So that wouldn't work too well," said Harry, thinking.
"Of course it wouldn't match my personality, I'd die if they were!"
"Oh Harry, I was meaning to ask you, why didn't you tell Professor Conan about the other unregistered Animagus?" asked Hermione.
"Oh, I just wanted to leave that up to you because of your deal with her," reasoned Harry.
"I see, well, thank you Harry," said Hermione. The three of them ate their lunch while talking about an animal or another.
"What are you guys talking about?" asked Mark, confused.
"Animagi, in our class today - " Hermione began.
"Whoa, whoa, slow down, what's Anima-what?"
"It's the ability to transform into an animal, but you only have one form to choose from. Then after your first transformation, you're stuck with that form, you can't turn into a different kind of animal," explained Hermione. "Right now, we're trying to choose an animal. But mind you, Animagi is not common, there's only ten known animagi in this century. So, we're just giving our shot at becoming one."
"Oh, can I be one too?" asked Mark.
"And me!" piped Ginny, listening in on the conversation. Hermione, Ron and Harry looked at each other cautiously and back at them.
"Well, you'll have to talk to Professor Conan and McGonagall," Hermione began. "But I don't see why they have to deny you that." Harry sighed, pent-up by the certainty that everyone he loved was putting themselves in danger.
"No," said Harry flatly. "It's enough trouble with Hermione and Ron trying to help me. I'm not - "
"Harry, this is war," said Hermione persuading him.
"A war that I don't want you guys to be involved in!" The Gryffindor table fell quiet at his outburst, as well as the Hufflepuff table. "Oh go back to talking would you!?" A murmur broke out after Harry talked. Harry exhaled large amount of used air, rubbing his temples. "Fine, fine, we'll talk to Professor Conan and McGonagall."
"Thank you!" chorused Mark and Ginny.
"I'm not saying there will be a chance for you to study to become one," said Harry.
"But if we tell them that this is for war's effort - " said Ginny.
"No," interrupted Harry, standing up from his bench. "No, I'm not letting you say that," he tore out of Great Hall into the corridor. He walked for great while and stopped many floors up away from Great Hall. He stared at the wall before him and slammed his fist into it. 'Damn, why can't everyone stay out of Voldemort's and my way!?' He leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor.
'Animagi business is something alright,' thought Harry. 'Dad, Sirius, Wormtail… they had honorable intentions of becoming one. I wish it was that easy. . .' he regarded. 'I hate this war, it's senseless and absurd.'
He sat there for how long, he had no idea. He was glad that there were no afternoon classes. The fact that he didn't have Divination anymore, but he supposed that he could talk to Firenze sometime. Also the fact that Trelawney had literally predicted his destiny was too much for him. The words Trelawney had predicted, the ever so called Prophecy. Crazy as it sounded, most of the Prophecy had come true.
Were Voldemort and Harry, already unable to live with each other. That they are becoming one, Harry shook his head. Pushing the bad thoughts out of his head, and he tried to clear his mind. Then his thoughts drifted back to Animagus. Would becoming an animal prevent that? After all, Sirius said that dementors had not effected him in his dog form as much as his human form did.
'Mmm, an intresting theory to try out,' thought Harry. He stood up from the cold stones, began his way to the Gryffindor tower, and met with Hermione outside the portrait. When he approached her, she stuffed a parchment letter into her book bag, looking abashed. Then he remembered his supposed guards and sighed.
"Harry, you really need to stop wandering off away from us!" reprimanded Hermione, looking reproached.
"I'm sorry," began Harry, with his usual bit of sarcasm. "I won't do it again. Now really, I do need privacy and it's not like I would turn myself in to Voldemort or something like that."
"But Harry, we care about you so much. It really hurts that you keep wandering away. If you wanted some alone time, you could just tell us where you are. That would satsify me at least," said Hermione. Harry looked at her, contemplating her idea and nodded.
"I'll try but when I do go off alone, I don't usually know where I am going, so I give you permission to use the map okay? Malfoy's a git," they entered the common room and Hermione nodded in agreement. "I'm glad we reached an agreement."
"Me too Harry," replied Hermione. "So, should we talk to Sirius and Remus?"
"Of course, of course, but I have a theory that I would like to share with all of you. Bring Ron, Mark and Ginny to the Room of Requirement, wait here," he went to his dorm and looked for the mirror in his trunk. When he found it, he had dug the mirror up and carried it down to the Gryffindor common room. He found that his friends were there waiting. "But first, I think we should talk to Professor Conan and McGonagall."
"I guess, to get it out of the way and for permission," said Ginny. Harry nodded and they all crawled out of the portrait's hole. The five of them walked to the Professor Conan's office and Harry knocked on the door.
"Come in," replied a voice and they all entered. When he looked up from his papers on the desk to the kids. "Ah, and what is it?"
"Professor, it's about Animagus," Harry began. "Ginny and Mark wanted to be one too." Professor Conan shook his head no.
"But Professor," Ginny started.
"I'm sorry Miss Weasley and Mr. Evans. But you two are too young."
"May I point out that my dad, Sirius and Peter started working on becoming one in their first year?" said Harry. "I don't see any reason why you should deny them. Earlier the better isn't it?" Professor Conan looked speechless and opened and closed his mouth trying to say something. "I think this is for Professor McGonagall to decide?" he nodded in answer. He stood up from his chair, took some floo powder. He threw some into the fire, and the fireplace blazed in green flames.
"Professor McGonagall!" Few moments later, her face appeared.
"Yes?"
"Can you come in here?"
"Of course Stan," she replied and her face disappeared and few seconds later. She came through the fireplace and stood up, dusting herself. For the first time, she saw other students in the office and turned to Professor Conan for explanation.
"They came here few moments ago, and," he waved his hand allowing kids to speak.
"I - Mark and I want to be an Animagus," Ginny began. Headmistress McGonagall looked at the two of them for a moment and shook her head. "But Professor."
"No, you two are not sixth years yet," Professor McGonagall said.
"Professor," Harry spoke up. "Did you know that my dad, Sirius and - "
"I know of them being Animagus, but they did it after Hogwarts," she said, but Harry shook his head.
"You were lied to professor. They started working on becoming one back in their first year," explained Harry. Professor McGonagall widened her eyes.
"Oh! It makes everything much more sense!"
"What did?" asked Harry, wondering what she was thinking.
"Back in their third year, I saw notes, many notes about becoming one. But I had thought it was for research purposes only . . . well, if that is true - no, I'm sorry, Weasley and Evans won't become one. I will see to it," said Professor McGonagall.
"Professor, I - but I'm a fifth year, what if it takes me five years? I want an early headstart on becoming one," said Ginny, determined. Professor McGonagall peered over her glasses at her and sighed.
"Oh very well, no, I'm sorry, not you Evans. Perhaps in your second year," she said, looking at him who started pouting. Ginny looked sympathetic but happy that Professor McGonagall had given in. "Alright Miss Weasley, you may begin your lessons in Animagus with your other two friends and of course, one being your brother. If you wish, you can take a personality test to determine what kind of animal you would like to become one. I believe that Professor Conan can take this from here?"
"Of course," replied Stan Conan, nodding his head. "Oh, and Potter?"
"What?" replied Harry.
"You haven't forgotten our appointment in the evening have you not?" Harry nodded.
"Of course, why would I forget?"
"Just making sure you haven't. Now, you four want to start working on becoming one?" The four kids nodded in answer, whereas Mark looked glum. "So, have any of you got a animal form in mind?" The teenagers shook their heads in answer. "Ah, having difficulty time in deciding one?"
"Yes professor, though I want an animal that can do a lot of damage," said Harry. "And I prefer that my friends have an animal form that can attack and able to get away fast."
"What prompted you these ideas?" asked Professor Conan, curious.
"Oh, you know, the war and stuff like that," replied Harry. "Voldemort (Stan Conan and Ginny winced) have me high on his target list as well as my friends. So I want to able to defend myself and be on the offensive as well."
"But Potter, you shouldn't initiate the first attack."
"Says who? Besides, oh nevermind. I made my mind up, I'm only choosing an animal that can do most damage."
"Very well, Miss Weasley, if you wish to take the test, you may do so today or tomorrow."
"Can I take it now?" asked Ginny.
"Of course, the rest of you, please leave," he dismissed Harry, Ron, Hermione and Mark. When they were out in the corridor, Mark began to complain as they all started walking to the library.
"It's not fair! I want to start working on my transformation."
"Perhaps we can teach you and pass on the lessons we've learned," said Harry.
"No Harry, he shouldn't!" said Hermione imperatively.
"Why?" asked Harry and Mark.
"Because, because that's defying the Professor's - "
"Hermione, my dad and Sirius started working on becoming Animagus at the end of their first year. Please, I don't want Mark to get caught up with this war as it is."
"No Harry, we can keep him protected."
"Hermione, look around you, do you really think he can be protected when he's got me last year? Have you forgotten the year before that, Hermione? My second year, and what about the first?" Hermione bit her bottom tongue, frustrated. "If Sirius hadn't broke out of Azkaban, and that Wormtail ran off during one summer and brought Voldemort back and then comes back to Ron at the Burrow? Do you realize how many people we don't really know, they can very well be a Death Eater."
"Stop it, stop it Harry!" Hermione's eyes began to fill to the brim of the eyes. "Fine! We'll do it, but if we're caught . . ."
"Hermione, you're brilliant and the only time we ever got caught was last year when that Cho's friend blurted to Umbridge woman. Do you really think we can be caught, after all of that we've been through? Remember our second year, when we brewed that potion?"
" . . . Oh I suppose we could," said Hermione, defeated. Mark smiled at Harry and Hermione, obviously cheered up.
"Thanks Hermione! That really means a lot to me," said Mark, Hermione returned a feeble smile back at him. Then they went to the Room of Requirement. Harry walked back and forth, thinking about the needing to use the room to research on animals and to talk to Remus and Sirius. The door appeared, and they all went inside the room. Mark's mouth opened at the sight before him. There were thousands upon thousands of books on Animagus, animals, and lots of plush chairs with a live fire going.
"Oh my goodness, this room will never cease to amaze me," said Hermione breathlessly.
"Same here Hermione," said Ron, awestruck.
"Well, let's get to work," said Harry lightly as he poured over the bookshelves, looking for a right book, when he found a book he wanted. He went to sit down in one of the big, plush chairs and took a book off the table which was, 'A Guide to Dangerous and Lethal Animals.'
An hour later, the door opened, and came through Ron's sister, Ginny. Harry looked up from his book, which he had been reading about alligators. "How'd it go Ginny?" Harry asked.
"Oh, the test was interesting," she replied, sitting down next to Hermione, looking at the bookshelves around her. "Oh, you're all looking up animals?" She stood up again and went to the bookshelves for a closer look.
"Yeah, I've read alligators, lions, venomous frogs, but so far, none of them is not right to me, if that make any sense."
"Yeah, you need an animal that matches you," Ginny said, looking over the titles one the spine of books.
"Oh, I think I found one for me!" exclaimed Mark, everyone looked up to him. "How about a Cheetah? I can hide, get away fast, and defend myself."
"Hmm, that could work," said Harry, thinking. "Cheetah are sometimes social, sort of like you, and you have black hair, and brown eyes. This could be mistaken for yellow eyes sometimes. Well, on the borderline anyways. What do you think Hermione?"
"That could fit him, but aren't Panthers better? That could disguise him better when he needs to hide, and don't forget Mark. Cheetahs can only run at top speed for ten to twelve seconds. I don't think you would want to tire yourself that fast."
"Panthers huh?" muttered Harry, turning some twenty pages in the book. One image grabbed his eyes but didn't stop the page in time, but the page he stopped at was a page on Coyotes. "Hey Mark, how about a coyote?"
"Coyote?"
"Yeah, this says that coyotes are very adaptable, and you could use the howl as to warn us."
"Hey, let me see that," said Mark, taking the book out of Harry's hands and read the page and looked at the picture, stifling a surprise. Then after a moment of altruistic silence, Mark looked up from the book and grinned.
"Well?" pressed Harry, waiting for an answer.
"I think this is my animal."
"Excellent, so Coyote for Mark it is. Oh, and I have been meaning to talk to Sirius and Remus, hang on." He took out the mirror from his pocket and spoke the two names he mentioned earlier to the mirror. Several moments later, he saw two faces appear on the mirror.
"What is it Harry?" asked Sirius.
"How's school going for you?" asked Remus.
"It's good so far, ran into a few glitches is all. But guess what we had for our lesson in Transfiguration today?"
"I wonder, why would Harry call us for a lesson in transfiguration? Have you learned another way to turn yourself invisible than the cloak or the one that Moody used on you?" joked Sirius. Harry shook his head, "Okay, okay, did you transfigure your hand into some type of animal by accident?"
"No Sirius," replied Harry, chortling slightly.
"Well, that happened to Sirius when he was at Hogwarts one time," pointed out Remus.
"Really? What animal?" asked Harry, curious.
"A platypus," replied Sirius flatly, and Ron, Mark, Ginny and Harry laughed. "Oh go ahead and laugh, you won't be laughing soon when it happens to you!"
"And how did you transfigure your hand into a platypus?"
"He was trying to curse Professor Snape into a platypus, but Lily pushed his arm and aimed at his left hand."
Harry stared at the mirror, unable to say anything else. Then Harry sighed, shaking his head. "Jeez Sirius, you never live it down."
"But he and I were partners in Transfiguration and we had to transfigure our desks into an animal," protested Sirius.
"Yeah Sirius, and you 'accidentally' aimed your wand at Severus," said Remus, shaking his head.
"Okay, enough of that, what is it you want to talk about?" asked Sirius, fed up with the story.
"We're working on becoming an Animagus. We just had the lesson on it today. We also took a test determining our personalities and - " rambled Harry.
"Whoa, slow down! They're offering you lessons in Animagus!? Who is your new Transfiguration anyways?" asked Sirius.
"Professor Conan," replied Harry. "Anyways, can you keep a secret?" Sirius and Remus looked at each other warily and then back at Harry.
"It depends," said Remus
"Of course," said Sirius at the same time as Remus but then they glared at each other. Harry exhaled, thinking what to do next.
"Depending on what Remus?" asked Mark, from behind Harry.
"If it's against the rules. Then I may have to see if it's honorable or not," said Remus.
"What if it's honorable intentions and our professors refuse to teach one of the students to become an Animagus?" asked Hermione. "Oh, and Professor Conan said that we can ask you to teach us some of basic training in becoming one because you went through that process."
"Hmm, well, who is it that they don't want to teach?" The kids looked at each other nervously until Mark spoke up.
"It's me they don't want to teach. They say I'm too young," said Mark gruffly.
"Hmm, well, it's only a few days start of school and you hardly have your grasp at magic. How about this, we'll start your training at end of December?"
"What? That long?" asked Mark, frowning.
"Well, I suppose that would work, " said Harry, thinking. "When I was here a few days at Hogwarts, I barely had much apprehend about magic. And that way, we can also provide you some lessons in Animagus."
"Now wait a minute, who's giving you lessons on Animagus?" asked Sirius.
"Professors Conan and McGonagall," replied Hermione.
"Oh, okay, so have any of you got an animal form picked yet?" asked Remus.
"We only found one for Mark's. It's a coyote, what do you suggest him to do?"
"Ah, coyote, good idea for Mark. Well Mark, you should start by finding a lot of books on coyotes, their behaviors, the pup stages, their skeletons, where the organs are. You also need to find out what kind of fur coyotes have," said Remus.
"A bonus if you could feel the texture of the fur type. James had to visualize the stag's fur while I and Pettigrew had counterparts of our form," explained Sirius. Through all of this, Hermione wrote down the important parts of learning about the animals.
"Well, let us know if any of you found an animal form, oh and just what kind of animal are you looking for?"
"I think mine should be something that can attack ferociously, because of my position in this war, obviously," said Harry. "And I prefer that Hermione, Ron, and Ginny should have an animal form that can defend itself, and some escape skills," Ron made a stuttering noise. "Because I really don't want any of you to get hurt."
"But Harry," said Ron. "What if I can't find a right animal?"
"There are a lot of animals to choose from Ron," said Harry.
"Harry, listen, this is your friend's choice, you shouldn't limit them," said Remus, interrupting their fight. Harry glowered at Remus and Ron.
"Fine, if that's what you think! I'm going back to work," he picked up the same book he was reading earlier and flipped a few pages backwards to the page that caught his eyes. Then he ogled at the picture, his arm began to move restlessly, tingling began to start through his arm and soon the tingling feeling covered from head to toe. Then the feeling disappeared.
"What? What is it Harry?" asked Ron, afraid something had happened.
"I - I think I found an animal for me," said Harry finally. He looked at the picture.
"Well?" asked Remus, who still haven't put the mirror away.
"It's a cougar," replied Harry, looking up from the book. "I had just got the strangest feeling."
"What sort of feeling?" asked Mark.
"A tingling feeling of sorts," replied Harry.
"That's what I had experienced, when you gave me the book, with the page on coyotes. Remus, did that happen to the others?"
"Yes, that is the feeling you should have, so you two did indeed find your animal form," replied Remus, smiling. In a moment Sirius returned from somewhere, one could assume he'd left earlier.
"What are you smiling about?" asked Sirius.
"Mark and Harry did find their animal form. The two told me they had felt the initiative feelings." Hermione had of course, wrote this important part of unofficial lesson down on the parchment.
"Did they really? What is the form for Harry?"
Harry answered, "a cougar."