It had been two years since the incident with the Animality potion. Through fifth year the childish insults remained between the Gryffindors and Slytherins. Draco spent the summer between fifth and sixth year with Professor Snape while the other Animalities spent it at The Burrow. Sixth year came and went and it seemed as if the entire house of Gryffindor no longer existed to the young Malfoy heir. Snape's status as a spy was put to a test near the end of sixth year and, in an elaborate ruse, Albus Dumbledore faked his own death at the hands of Severus Snape while Snape went into hiding with the Dark Lord Voldemort.
Seventh year began and Hermione Granger found herself as Head Girl with Blaise Zabini. The new potions professor, Professor Slughorn, was a lot easier to deal with than Professor Snape had been, but some people still missed the snarky bastard. Remus Lupin had continued to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor since the Animalities had unofficially chased off Dolores Umbridge. After a near death experience in the Department of Mysteries, Sirius Black managed to catch Peter Pettigrew and had been cleared of all charges against his name. He was currently the Assistant Transfiguration Professor, assisting Headmistress McGonagall by taking over the first through fourth year classes.
Despite the changes that had occurred, life continued. For the most part people were happy and, in the case of Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Neville and Luna, an important secret was being kept. They knew that Dumbledore was alive, but thankfully none of them were his Secret Keeper.
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Hermione walked slowly into the Heads' Common Room. Her eyes were dancing as she read the latest letter from her boyfriends Fred and George. She would get to see them in less than a month when she arrived at Number 12 Grimmauld Place, but until then, she had to make due with pouring over every letter. She mumbled a brief greeting to Blaise as she walked through the common room and was soon in the privacy of her room. She grinned, dropping the package of sample jokes onto her desk and nearly jumped out of her skin when a hoot sounded from the window.
Whirling around, wand aimed in defense, Hermione sighed in relief. "Goodness Nightshade, you nearly scared me to death." She re-holstered her wand and put her letter on the desk before making her way over to the owl perched on her window ledge. "What have you got for me this time, boy?" Giving the dark grey owl a treat, she ignored the impatient glare in his black eyes. "Are you waiting for a reply?" Nightshade shook his head, ruffled his feathers and took off out the window, leaving behind a shoebox sized package.
Rolling her eyes at the owl's behavior, Hermione picked up the package and went to her bed. Nightshade never waited for a reply and this was the first time he had ever left a package behind. She curiously tore it open and found rows of potion vials and a letter. Half of the vials held a clear liquid and had red caps while the other half held a blue liquid with green caps. Seven of the vials were purple capped and filled with a shiny black potion. She curiously picked up the letter, not even having to check the bottom of the parchment to know who it was from.
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Miss Granger,
While I still abhor the fact that I have to use you as a contact, I cannot complain that you have been indiscreet. Therefore I have decided to send you a gift with this warning.
Be prepared, He plans on striking Hogwarts at midnight New Years Eve. Cancel the parties and strike back. He's expecting an easy takeover. Prove him wrong.
The red capped potions are the perfected Animality potion. Give them to the Order and practice with the forms. The green caps are the cure. The fighting abilities granted will be an asset He will not be expecting. Enclosed are the ingredients and instructions to duplicate both.
Now for the gift... The seven purple capped vials will work only on those who have spent a generous amount of time under the influence of the Animality potion. I've adapted and perfected a variation of the potion with a few perks that I'm sure you will find particularly useful. There is no more of it, however. I have already destroyed the remaining variation and the notes on how to brew the potion.
I'm sure you will want to run along and tell your friends now. See you at New Year's...
S. S. - Nightshade
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Hermione frowned slightly and took one of the black potions from the box. A variation of the Animality potion? She'd be lying through her teeth if she said she wasn't tempted to take it. But she was Hermione Granger, after all. And Hermione Granger didn't take a mysterious black potion based off the words of a letter. She stared hard at the vial. It's taunting me, I'm sure of it...
Giving in to the temptation, Hermione popped the cap off the vial and downed it in a single go. She gagged slightly, the potion's taste reminding her of dirty laundry for some reason and doubled over with a stomach cramp. Oh God! He's poisoned me! I should have known! But then the pain was gone and she felt rather silly... But she also knew. She could feel it. Turning to her mirror, she looked exactly the same as she had moments before taking the potion and she marveled at Nightshade's genius.
Grinning, Hermione scooped four of the remaining six purple capped vials into her hand. A glance at the clock told her that it was almost dinner time, so she knew where to find those she for whom she now searched. Slipping the vials into a pocket of her robe, Hermione tore off out of her room and down to the Great Hall.
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A few startled shrieks from outside of the Great Hall drew the attention of nearly everyone to the doors as the Professors rose in their seats, hands reaching for their wands. They didn't have to wait long, however, as a moment later a shattering roar pierced the air as a large, tawny cougar burst into the Hall and leaped atop the Gryffindor table. Thankfully it wasn't quite close enough to dinner time for there to be anything on the tables yet and nothing was upset.
First and Second years that knew nothing of the situation screeched in surprise while the older students gasped as vague memories returned and four students shot to their feet in shock. The cougar roared again and charged down the length of the table, sliding to a halt in front of Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Ginevra Weasley. The stillness of the beast soon drew a quiet to the Hall and the sound of familiar laughter penetrated the sudden quiet.
Before everyone's eyes, the cougar shifted, turning into a hybrid of human and animal, a familiar hybrid of human and animal. Still laughing, Hermione then willed herself from the hybrid form to her full human form as the grins of her friends grew. She reached into her pocket as the whispers of the other students started and, in a moment as Headmistress McGonagall tried to restore order, slipped the vials to the other three with a wink. She got off the table as Minerva took ten points off of Gryffindor for the Head Girl's antics.
Giving her mentor a cheeky grin, Hermione casually strolled over to the Slytherin table and stopped beside Draco Malfoy. The silence from the Hall as everyone waited to see if he hexed her was impressive. Her smile growing, Hermione pulled another vial from her pocket and held it out to Draco with a challenging look.
"Well Moonshine... Are you ready to come back to us?"
Draco's expression was cool, calculating as he looked not at the vial, but into Hermione's chocolate brown eyes. After five minutes of staring, neither blinking, he lowered his head to look at the vial in her hand. The movement caused the tiny charm hanging around his neck to rub against his skin; a delicate reminder. A smirk formed on his features and he rose from his seat.
Placing his hand over Hermione's, Draco held it for a moment before taking the vial and walking beside her to sit with the rest of his pack at the Gryffindor table.
A/N: Well, Animality has finally finished. :sniffles slightly: I hope everyone had as much fun with it as I did. But this isn't the end! There is a sequel in the works:cheers: The sequel is called 'Chips of Chocolate' and the first chapter will be posted within minutes of this epilogue going up. Thank you to all my reviewers!