CHAPTER 10: Preparations

If there was one thing that everyone began to notice about Harry Potter, it was that he was more determined than ever. He was doing all of his schoolwork, and excelling to the point that he even impressed Hermione. Harry's friends could tell that there was something eating at him, but didn't quite know how to bring it up. They had another problem as well, all of the teachers were being extremely difficult, it was the beginning of N.E.W.T.s.

"In case you haven't realized, N.E.W.T.s are a two year course, so even though you won't be taking the test for another year, you will need to concentrate, you will need to know this information for the test, and if you do poorly this year I will not allow you to continue next year." McGonagall had told them all during class during the first week, even though it seemed that many of the teachers were displaying the same sentiments. "And I'm afraid Miss Granger and Mr. Potter are still the only ones who have successfully transfigured their partners into inanimate objects." The Gryffindors began to realize that this was another common theme, Harry and Hermione were succeeding in everything.

Midway through the first week Harry had his first Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts. He walked into the class and saw a tall figure standing with his back to him. The man was wearing a black cloak, the hood pulled up over his head. Harry suddenly had a bad feeling and he pulled his wand, but his arm and his jaw dropped when he saw his teacher.

"Kingsley?" Harry asked, recognizing the tall black man as the Auror from the Order of the Phoenix.

"No, Potter. Professor Shacklebolt. I've been briefed on your unique situation, and I agreed that I should teach you the ways of an Auror. Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts is not something to be taken lightly, I will be using many of the same tactics I use with Auror trainees, so stay awake." Harry looked at the man in surprise, his usual soothing voice was harsh, and Harry suddenly understood why he made such a good Auror.

"Yes, Professor."

"Good, now that we have an understanding we will begin. I want to know just how good you are, I've never actually seen you duel. Let's begin." Shacklebolt drew his wand and Harry did the same. "STUPEFY!"

Harry saw him casting the spell and quickly casted a shield, which reflected the jet of red light back at the Auror. However, just before it connected the tall man turned and disappeared with a swish of his cloak.

"What th-" Harry started, looking around the room. He heard a sound behind him and dove to his right, just in time for a jet of fire to shoot past him and blow up against the wall at the far side of the room. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT, PROFESSOR?" Harry exploded, wheeling on the Auror.

"I told you, Potter, that I would be training you as I do many Aurors. I do not go lightly on them, because Voldemort and his supporters would not give them a chance. They won't give you a chance either, so I ask you to toughen up, and not to expect anyone to do you any favors. AGAIN! LUCEMUS!"

A bright light shot at Harry, he tried to conjure a shield, but it didn't matter, the jet was so bright it blinded him. Harry tried to blink it away for a second, but realized it was no good. He stood very quietly in the middle of the room, straining to hear something, anything. He heard a barely discernible sound behind him, like someone who was trying to step quietly. Without turning Harry pointed the wand over his shoulder and yelled, "VUR FENGSEL"

A fireball exploded from the tip of Harry's wand. It exploded and separate fireballs shot out from the original, making a jail of fire. Harry got his vision back, and looked behind him to see an empty jail cell.

"Estallie" Harry felt a force hit him on the back and propel him against the wall on the other side of the room. "Accio Wand." The wand slipped from Harry's grasp and flew right into his Professor's hand. "Well it seems that you've lost, Potter. But I am not surprised, this is only your first class."

"Maybe not. LUMOS!" Harry yelled, standing up but using the wall to steady himself. Harry saw Shacklebolt look down at the wand in his hand just as the wand tip ignited. Shacklebolt stumbled backwards, dropping Harry's wand. "Accio Wand!" Harry's wand flew into his outstretched hand. Harry looked down, amazed that it had worked. Last year he had made his wand light up, but his hand was just inches from it, this time he had done it from all the way across the room.

"Stupefy!" Yelled Kingsley Shacklebolt in his booming voice, catching Harry off guard. "Very good, Potter. But not nearly good enough. You show good ability to adapt, and that fire cell was an interesting touch, but you need to improve your knowledge of powerful spells, including defensive spells. Your assignment is to look up powerful defensive and offensive spells. You may use the restricted section. Enervate." Harry stood up and dusted himself off. "I'll see you next class." With that Kinglsey Shacklebolt walked out of the classroom.

Harry didn't wait long to leave the classroom either, he wanted to get back to the Gryffindor Common room, he felt suddenly exhausted from the duel and needed to rest. He must have been walking quicker than he realized because he soon found himself standing in front of the Fat Lady. "Godric." The portrait swung itself open and Harry walked in, he didn't expect to find anyone in this early, and was surprised to see Parvati Patil sitting on the couch, her head tucked in between her folding arms.

"Parvati? Are you ok?" Harry asked quietly, looking around to see if anyone else was within earshot, but nobody was even in the common room.

"What? Oh, yea. It's just that, those dementors on the train-"

"I know what you mean, it's the worst feeling in the world, like you'll never be happy again."

"No, its not that. Its just that-" Parvati looked up into Harry's eyes. "I thought you were dead. I saw you fighting them, and I was so afraid that something would happen to you that I couldn't react, I just froze. Then I poked my head outside and I saw one of them explode, and then you passed out. I was so afraid that-"

"Parvati, I'm fine." Harry said seriously, but she just tucked her head back into her arms. "Hey, come on its ok. Look at me" he said quietly, putting his hand underneath her chin to lift her head. Nothing is going to happen to me, and I'm not going to let anything happen to you either. Trust me."

Parvati stared into his eyes, as if she were searching to see if he was telling the truth. Harry saw that a tear had slid down her cheek and wiped it away with his thumb. "I have a confession to make. In our fourth year, I was hoping you would ask me to the yule ball. I had been asked by six different guys, but kept turning them down. I knew you didn't have a date yet, and I hoped that if I didn't have a date, than you would ask me."

"Why? You could be with anyone you want, why would you want to go with me?" Harry asked, puzzled.

"I didn't realize until the train ride. You always seem to be on the front lines, putting yourself in harm's way to protect others. The way you pushed me into the compartment to keep dementors away from me just proved how caring and loyal a person you are. I didn't even realize it, but you are just so easy to trust, so easy to follow. For some reason when you say something people follow you, including me. And nobody has ever had that affect on me."

Harry just looked at her, he had no idea what to say. He had always thought Parvati was the most beautiful girl in his class, but never even thought their could be anything between them. Apparently Parvati sensed his confusion because she touched his hand softly, than stood up and started to walk away, their hands only releasing when she slipped too far away.

"I need to get some sleep, I haven't gotten much the past few nights." She told him as she disappeared into the girls dormitory.

Harry awoke the next morning and went down to breakfast with Ron and Hermione. His thoughts were still on Parvati, he had never even thought about her as a girlfriend. Could he really like her? The bottom line, Harry knew, was that if she really liked him that she would be in danger. He couldn't let that happen.

The three friends sat down at breakfast chatting randomly when the owl post arrived. Hedwig soared in through the window and dropped a letter in front of Harry.

Mr. Potter,

I would like for you to meet me in my class room at 8pm tonight.

We will be starting your animagus lessons, it is difficult work,

So be prepared.

-Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts

Harry nodded to himself, stuffing the note into the pocket of his robe. All of his thoughts, however, were quickly forgotten as Parvati Patil sat down across from him.

"Good Morning, Harry." She said brightly. Harry was suddenly confused how this girl could be so cheerful and normal when just last night she had basically cried herself to sleep over him.

"Heya, Parvati. How're you feeling?" Harry was trying to get some kind of sign that he hadn't imagined last night's vents while being as subtle as possible. Unfortunately subtlety never was one of his strong points.

"Never better." She replied simply, her gaze headed in the direction of Hermione. "What's that on the cover, Hermione?" she asked, pointing at the Daily Prophet that Hermione was reading furiously. When Harry turned to look he saw a house that looked strangely familiar, but couldn't quite place it.

Hermione finally stopped reading and looked up. "The Ministry raided Malfoy Manner. Only Narcissa Malfoy was home, and she didn't put up any kind of fight."

"She's got the Slytherin qualities, never fight a battle you can't win." Ron said quietly, his eyes darting to the Slytherin table.

"Malfoys not there." Parvati said, she had looked for him as soon as Hermione mentioned the name.

"It says here that 12 aurors went into the house and arrested Narcissa, and then allowed other ministry workers to go in to check out what was there. They found a few pieces of incriminating evidence, but nothing particularly bad." Hermione told them. She knew they weren't big on reading, so she had given them the short version.

"Wait a minute! Why didn't they raid the house as soon as they caught Malfoy's dad? Why give them time to destroy or hide evidence?"

"Yea, Harry. You've got a point. Maybe Fudge was trying to give them that time so he could escape! And then went after him when he knew he couldn't buy anymore time!" Ron chimed in.

"Ron, Fudge is stupid, but I don't think he's a death eater." Ron, surprisingly, backed down after Hermione scolded him.

"I'll talk to Dumbledore, see what I can find out." Harry said quietly, so only his two friends could hear him.

The rest of the day passed relatively quickly. Snape had tried to trip him up with some very difficult questions in potions, but Harry, luckily, had taken to reading a bit ahead and answered them without a problem. Harry found that if he could answer these questions Snape pretty much left him alone, making potions a relatively enjoyable class.

By the time 8 o'clock rolled around Harry was pacing nervously in the Gryffindor common room. He really wanted to learn how to become an animagus, like Sirius and his dad. He knew he should be more worried about escaping Voldemort, but at this point it didn't matter why he was doing it, as long as he did it. Suddenly a thought struck him, what if he couldn't do it? Harry tried to put the thought aside as he walked to the transfiguration wing, it wouldn't help to worry about something that he had no control over.

"Welcome, Potter. Take a seat, I would like to go over a few things with you." Harry did as he was told. "You may not have what it takes to become an animagus, I believe it is imperative that you understand this. It is a very difficult branch of magic and many great witches and wizards are unable to do this." She gave him a long, calculating look. "That being said, I am almost positive that you will be able to transform. After all of the things that I have seen you accomplish, it would be surprise me if you did not posses this particular talent, if for no other reason then giving you another way of reeking havoc without getting caught." Harry simply nodded. "If you have no questions, we should get started."

"Professor, how do I know what animal I'm supposed to turn into?"

"I was just about to explain that. The first thing I would like to do is to list your qualities. The animal that you transform into will be one that exemplifies that which is inside your heart."

Harry had a brief thought of a snake, thinking about how he can speak parsletongue, but had to pray that he wouldn't turn into one. "Where do I start?"

"I think I can think of the first one. You are fiercely loyal, You always seem to want to protect everyone around you." McGonagall wrote that down, and then looked toward the ceiling. "I believe one of the first times I had ever seen you you were in a full dive towards the ground on a broomstick and caught Neville's rememberall. So I daresay that you ought to transform into a magnificent flyer. You also seem to be quite strong, in both body and mind, despite your, well let's face it, scrawny appearance."

"Professor, is it possible to transform into a magical creature?"

"Why, yes I believe that it is. However, it is very rare for one to do this and I doubt even you will be doing it, although anything is possible. If I am correct, you will not be turning into a magical creature, but I would like to perform a spell to see if I am."

"Er- ok, what do I have to do?" Harry asked.

"Absolutely nothing, Mr. Potter. Just stand still and hold out your wand." McGonagall pulled out her wand and pointed it at Harry, who was looking a bit confused. The professor put her head down and started muttering something under her breathe, after almost a minute Harry felt a tingling sensation in his fingers, and saw something shoot like a bullet out of the tip of his wand. He looked at the object, which was now soaring around his head, and saw that it was a bird, but it wasn't really a bird, it seemed like a ghost. The ghost bird let out a loud, high pitched "caw" and disappeared.

"So I was right, you will be an eagle. That is all for tonight. We will continue this a few times every week, I will notify you of the meeting times via owl post. I believe that we may be able to make some real progress, perhaps you will successfully transform by the end of the term. Professor McClaggan has agreed that you do not need nearly as many sword fighting lessons as we originally thought, so perhaps twice a week you will meet with him for sword training, you will be covering what you discussed with Professor Dumbledore as well."

"But Professor, doesn't it take years to become an animagus?"

"In the case of your father, Sirius, and Peter Pettigrew, yes it did take them years. However, they had to research and teach everything to themselves, I hope you would agree that you have a highly competent teacher instructing you. You also have been known to accomplish extraordinary things, I expect this to be one of them. Good night, Potter." Harry nodded and left.