CHAPTER FOUR

After rummaging through the refrigerator and making him himself a sandwich and small salad, Harry grabbed a couple of cans of soda and headed upstairs to check out some of the items that he acquired at the bank. Specifically, he wanted to know how to mask his signature. Harry did not want to go through another trial like the last one. He wondered if it was a dark spell though. After some consideration, he doubted it, but figured it could be used for dark purposes and was doubtless quite illegal. Harry reflected, even the tickling charm has a possibility to be a dark arts spell if it's held on too much. Death by tickling? Sounds ridiculous, but it's possible. Although I can't quite see Tom using it as a method of torture. He goes more for the Cruciatius.

Looking over his dad's parchment notes, he noticed that the mask was in two parts. One part was a potion that required the wizard to soak his wand in it that would temporarily counter the signature coming from the wand itself. The second was a spell that blurred the signature. Harry did notice that while the charm was more or less permanent. His dad's notes did say that while it was possible to mask the signature from wide area charms similar and including the ones used by the Improper Use of Magic Office. He did say that the wand scanner used at the entrance of the Ministry of Magic would still pick up the signature with no trouble since it scanned at such a close range. As Harry read the list of ingredients, he noticed that he had everything on the list, since Snape insisted on a complete potions kit containing the ingredients needed for your current year and any previous years as well. The time needed for the potion was surprisingly short, only being an hour including prep time, brewing, and the soak. The soak actually took the least amount at a length of ten minutes.

Harry got started on the potion and while it was brewing, checked out his next favorite new item, the Animagus Guide. When he opened the book though, all the pages appeared to be blank. Since it was an artifact created by the Marauders, Harry considered the fact that the password may be the same.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Harry uttered with anticipation.

His eyes lit up as words appeared on the first page.

Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs

Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers

Are proud to present

The Animagus Guide

This guide was created as an aide to becoming an Animagus.

We originally became Animagi to help Moony in his monthly times of need. In here you will find not only detailed instructions and various aides to finding your inner animal. The back cover that looks like a mirror will act as an Animagus Mirror when activated to show you what your form will be. It is said that Godric Gryffindor was able to achieve two forms. No other multi-animagus have been found or at least were recorded or registered. Many Animagi are unregistered and there is no way to tell what the numbers are.

Please record your full name into the guide so your experiences can be added to the guide to further refine it.

At this point Harry could not wait to get started and grabbed a pen from his desk, since the quills and ink were still inside his trunk.

He wrote, Harry James Potter, son of Prongs.

Welcome Pronglet and prepare to become one step closer to being a Marauder. Your questions and responses can be entered into the Guide either written or verbally.

"Ok then guys, we'll continue shortly, I've got some work to do around here then we'll continue." Harry said and then closed the book without deactivating it.

Harry turned his attention back to the potion. It appeared to be ready. The color and smell were correct and the proper time had elapsed, leaving only the steeping of the wand in the solution. Harry dropped his wand into the vial and waited the ten minutes. He noticed that skin contact should be avoided in the instructions. Using some chopsticks that he had found downstairs leftover from whenever the Dursley's had last had Chinese takeout as tongs, he fished his wand out.

Harry was going to pat his wand dry with one of Dudley's old castoff shirts he kept around as a cleaning rag, when he noticed that the wand had seemed to absorb any residue left and was now bone dry.

Holding his wand with the tip pointed towards himself, he chanted the incantation required by the final step. The wand gave off a rainbow shower of sparks which left Harry with a strange tingling feeling all over that faded after a moment,

Harry mused as he mentally prepared himself for the final test. Here goes everything. If this doesn't work, I'm going to get a "letter" and that'll basically seal my fate at Hogwarts. Although I would say that now knowing the prophecy as I do, Dumbledore will do everything in his power to keep me there, one way or another.

Waving his wand in the proper movements, Harry cast a simple Evanesco spell on the cauldron and vial, disposing of the incriminating evidence neatly.

Almost holding his breath, Harry waited for the Ministry Owl to appear with his letter damning him for his underage use of magic. Seconds turned to minutes. Minutes stretched out to an hour. At that point, Harry felt fairly confident that there was no owl coming to seal his fate.

Reopening the Guide, Harry said, "Hey guys, I'm back and ready to begin."

Harry was then presented with a list of reference material that was used, all of which was available to him, either thru his various textbooks or books that he had purchased recently. He was also given several exercises to complete. The exercises included growing the fingernails out and back and changing his hair color and length. The time length stated for this initial stage as stated by the Guide could take up to a month to achieve.

Harry was both chagrined and elated when it only took him mere hours to complete all the exercises. Am I destined to never be normal in anything? Harry thought. At least there are some advantages though.

Harry had been able to get his hair to change its length from normal to that of a crew cut to as long as his waist as well as various colors such as brown, blonde, silver, and redhead. He decided to leave it about a quarter of the way down his back in his normal black color and tied it back with a strip of leather.

He decided to check further into the guide to see what else he could accomplish that night, even though it was going on eleven o'clock in the evening. The next exercise was to find his animal with the mirror. Harry studied the instructions on how to activate the mirror and open himself to it. The manual did say that he would change into the creature temporarily as it appeared in the mirror. That first change would be quite painful due to the imprinting, but all subsequent changes would not.

Harry cast a silencing spell on the room before he began so his cries would not be heard and his minders summoned.

Staring at the mirror, Harry concentrated on his breathing, slowing it and emptying his mind of thoughts other than that of the animagus mirror in front of him. Taking a deep breath and then holding it for a count of two and then letting it fully out, he repeated this beginning meditation several times until his only thoughts were on the mirror and his breathing was very shallow.

Harry reflection disappeared in the mirror and a dark misty cloud appeared. Harry waited with anticipation what animal would appear.

The Mist slowly cleared with three animals actually appearing then disappearing one by one. After the disappearance of the third, all three came back with two of them resting on top of the largest.

The first to appear was a phoenix, although the coloring was different than what he saw on Fawkes. The bird was snowy white except for the tips of the feathers which was a riotous pattern of blues, reds, and yellows. There was a black mark on his crest, which was in the same location as his scar, although luckily it wasn't lightning shaped.

The phoenix looked at Harry and spread it's wings in greetings. As it did so, a tremendous agony came over him similar to the Cruciatus but not quite as intense as he transformed in to the magnificent bird and then back.

The second animal was a wolf whose fur was a shaggy black with a white patch where his scar would be. Unfortunately this one was the same shape as his scar.

The wolf looked at Harry and its tongue lolled out of its mouth in an expression that he'd seen numerous times on Sirius. Again came the pain as the process repeated itself, although not as bad as the first time.

The last creature shocked and unnerved Harry when it appeared. It was almost a duplicate of the boa constrictor that he had seen at the zoo all those years ago except for a pattern of scales in a certain design. The snake appeared to be about ten feet long but it was hard to tell in the mirror.

The snake coiled itself in the shape of a "P" and looked at him, the tongue flickering in and out. The pain was even less than before.

In the mirror now was shown all three forms. The wolf was standing at attention with the phoenix on its back its wings outspread. The boa was curled around the wolf in a circle and its head was raised up underneath the wolf's. After a moment, they all disappeared and Harry saw his reflection in the mirror again.

Stunned by what he had seen, it took him a few minutes to collect himself. He was hoping for the wolf and was awed by the phoenix. Harry was not prepared for the snake though. After thinking about it though, he understood. The snake was one of his first positive introductions to the magical world, especially after Dudders got trapped behind the glass. That scene was as well etched into his memory as that of Draco, the Amazing Bouncing Ferret. Speaking of which, Harry resolved to figure out how Barty Crouch (masquerading as the false Moody) had done that. It was time Draco remembered what he really was.

Smiling to himself, Harry set down at his desk and pulled out a quill and parchment to write a few letters, the first couple going to the Daily Prophet and the Quibbler, the others going to various Weasleys and Hermione. After he was finished he folded them up and tried to give them to Hedwig. It took a while since she was a little agitated having been the only witness to his transformations. Before she left though, Harry asked her to wait and let him cast a disguise spell on her since she was so noticeable. The only thing that could be seen leaving his window that night was a nondescript brown owl.

Remembering something, Harry pulled the key that was in the safe deposit box that his father had left him and wondered what it was for. Shrugging, he grasped the key firmly and said those memorable words and felt that tugging behind his navel that he hated so much.

Meanwhile…

Remus has arrived at Hogwarts to confront Dumbledore, armed with the necessary documents and the iron will acquired during his month battles with his lupine alter ego.

Knocking on the door to the Headmaster's office, Remus heard the headmaster utter his permission to enter.

"Remus, how good to see you, although unexpected. Is everything all right with young Harry?" asked Dumbledore.

"Everything is fine with Harry and keeps looking better, at least for him. He and I have been to the reading of Sirius' will and found out a few things. Also Vernon and Harry have come to an agreement where Harry is to spend his time at Grimmauld Place except for two weeks each year during the summer."

Albus started to object at this point, but Remus just talked over him, his eyes boring into his.

"They came to this decision amicably and it is binding. Vernon and Petunia Dursley are his guardians, not you Albus and it was their choice to allow this. There is nothing you can do about it."

Remus handed Dumbledore the contract between Vernon and Harry.

At this the headmaster visibly wilted and sat back down in his chair and hung his head.

"Does Harry hate me so much then?" asked Albus.

"No" Remus replied, "Harry does not hate you but he and I both agree that you are prone to withholding vital information from him and treating him as a child. Harry never had a childhood and never really was a child to begin with after Lily and James died. Not providing information in a timely manner can have disastrous consequences for us all. I am perfectly aware that the destruction of the sphere in the Ministry does not destroy the Prophecy, only their recording of it. It definitely has to involve Harry and Voldemort and a way for one or the other to win. Otherwise, Voldemort wouldn't have been so adamant about retrieving it."

"Now back to business. Harry is going to go to Grimmauld Place next week whether or not you assist. But your assistance would be greatly appreciated, such as a portkey."

Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "I shall do ask you ask. I will provide a portkey to Headquarters to you for Harry. It will be set to go off promptly at noon on Monday".

With Remus's eyes still on him, he created the portkey from a Prefect Badge that was sitting on his desk. It had been retrieved from the student after his actions last school year.

"Remus, I will need that particular badge back afterwards. Professor Snape has not yet selected his new prefect from among the new sixth years."

To Be Continued…

Author's Note:

So I've finally shown which forms I think Harry should have. He shouldn't have to have just a single form. One cause he is Harry and nothing normal ever happens to him and they all express certain sides of his complex personality. The phoenix is his is dedication to the side of light, the wolf is his loyalty, and the snake of course is his Slytherin side showing through.

The letters will show up in the next chapter. I'll be nice and give a hint or two. Harry is a little ticked at the fickle wizarding world and has good reason to be. The medium that they seem to listen to the most is the news such as the Daily Prophet and less so the Quibbler. Of course gossip is huge too, but even that has to get its information from somewhere. Until next time…

And let I not forget the standard plea for reviews? It's what us amateur authors live for since you wont seem to send me any money!