CHAPTER 10: The Hawk
Harry looked up at the ceiling of the great hall and froze. Dark ominous clouds were roiling overhead.
"Looks like quite the storm is coming," Hermione remarked flippantly. Harry quickly flicked his eyes down the Hufflepuff table. Susan was also staring at the ceiling. When she felt Harry's eyes on her she looked at him. Her eyes glinted with anticipation.
It was almost time.
They met later that day. Susan was a ball of energy, flitting nervously.
"Where are we meeting?" Harry asked
"Depends on the time." Susan decided with a nod "If it's before lunch we'll meet in the clocktower attic. It is a bit closed in, but it won't be as suspicious as going out on the grounds in the middle of class. Just say you aren't feeling well, the hospital wing is just down the hall after all. Closer to dinner I'm thinking the forbidden forest, in the paddock where Hagrid used to keep the hippogryphs. We can just say that we are going to visit him before dinner. If the storm doesn't start until after dinner then we should go with the flying class field. It's nice and open, plus none of the towers look out to it, so no one will see us." she listed. Harry nodded. "Honestly I hope it doesn't start until after dinner. Skipping classes would be way too much of a hassle. Plus there's no telling how long the transformation will take."
"Yeah." Harry agreed. Then he straightened up "but no matter what I'll be there. I promised." Susan gave him a grateful grin. Suddenly there was tinkling on the window beside them. Both teens looked over and stared out the window as rain slashed across its surface. Susan suddenly took a shuddery breath. Harry reached out and took her hand. "Everything's gonna be alright." he implored. The doubt that glittered in her brown eyes slowly melted away and she smiled. Then she gave Harry's hand a gentle squeeze.
"Thanks," she said. Harry nodded again. Then Susan let go, turning away for her next class. Harry stared after her for a moment before turning away himself.
Harry was staring out the window of Gryffindor tower with a scowl. It was almost curfew, yet despite the rain that had come and since went, not a speck of lightning. His leg bounced anxiously as he sat, having given up on his divinations homework.
"Harry?" Hermione said, looking up for her own arithmancy homework "is everything alright?"
"Great." Harry drawled, unintentionally sarcastic. Hermione's eyebrow rose. Snuffles suddenly whined and set his head on Harry's bouncing knee. The motions stopped. Harry looked down at the dog and smiled weakly. "I'm fine, I'm just-" Suddenly the common room was illuminated in bright light. Harry immediately shot up to his feet and bolted for the portrait hole. Hermione called after him but was drowned out by the booming peel of thunder.
Harry slipped on the wet grass as he came out from under the arch leading to the flying class field at top speed. Susan turned to him as he did with a wide smile.
"Did it work?! Is everything alright?!" Harry asked excitedly. Susan lifted the potion vial up to the light. As lightning flashed again and the rain began to fall once more he could see the blood-red potion swirling in the shimmery crystal phial. He grinned before his face grew stern. "Are you ready?" Susan nodded. Then she drew her wand.
"Amato Animo Animato Animagus." she incanted, wand pointed at her heart. Then she unstoppered the potion. As soon as Susan finished drinking the potion she shrunk before Harry's eyes, sprouting feathers. In seconds she was flapping her wings, rising through the air like a lightning strike. Harry gasped as he watched her dart this way and that. Finally, she swooped down and landed in front of Harry, blinking up at him. She was a beautiful hawk. Her eyes were startling red against her creamy feathers. On her cheeks was a smattering of brown feathers, imitations of her freckles. After a moment she ruffled her feathers and gave a screech. Harry winced as it seemed as though she was a bit irritated. Then she slowly returned to human form. She looked down at her hands and arms. Then she let out a whoop of laughter, slicking her wet hair out of her face.
"Oh, that was fantastic!"
"You were amazing!" Harry confirmed.
"What kind of bird was I?!" she asked excitedly "Everything was so clear and crips!"
"You were gorgeous." Harry said with a grin "You were a massive white hawk. With the most adorable brown freckles." Susan squealed in delight and threw herself into Harry's arms with a laugh. Harry spun them around twice before he stopped. Then on impulse he leaned down and capture her lips with his. Susan stiffened before she slowly melted into the gentle kiss. After a few seconds, they separated again. Harry slowly took a step back.
"Sorry…" he muttered. Susan shook her head.
"It was fine… brilliant even," Susan admitted. Harry smiled. Then suddenly another loud boom of thunder rippled through the air and the wind picked up. Harry yelped and pulled Susan back under the archway. The pair stood in the shade staring up at the clouds for a moment before Susan began to laugh again. "I'm an animagus!"
"Yeah, you are." Harry agreed, sharing her grin. Susan then rose onto her tippy toes and kissed him again. Harry rose up his arms to hold her steady before leaning down so she didn't have to balance on the balls of her feet anymore. After a few moments, they separated again.
"So… is that gonna keep happening?" Harry muttered, forehead still leaning against her.
"If you want it to," Susan responded.
"Well, I certainly wouldn't mind," Harry admitted.
"Even if I start bossing you around?" Susan argued. Harry straightened up.
"As long as you don't insult me to my face when your get upset."
"I won't," Susan promised. "And you won't become a bossy prick who tries to control everything I do yeah?"
"As if I could do that." Harry responded with a snort "I literally helped you become an illegal animagus. Short of joining the Death Eaters, I'll help you with whatever."
"Well, that's definitely never gonna happen," Susan said with a chortle. The pair were silent as another bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. After a minute the thunder finally came, quieter now. The storm was passing.
"So…" Harry began as he squeezed Susan's hand. "are we… a thing?"
"Yes." Susan confirmed, "I think so."
"Great!" Harry cried before He blushed a bit "Cause I've kinda had a thing for you… for a while now."
"I think I did too," Susan admitted. Harry snorted. Then he frowned.
"We probably shouldn't tell everyone," Harry said. When he saw Susan's cold expression he winced "at least not right away."
"Why not?" Susan demanded furiously.
"I have… pretty crazy fans," Harry admitted. "Remember what happened to Hermione in fourth year when everyone thought we were dating?"
"Oh right." Susan agreed, suddenly paling.
"Plus my aunt will probably put you through the wringer," Harry admitted. "She hated Cho automatically, and she never got a chance to defend herself."
"Wonderful," Susan whined sarcastically.
"I'm sure it won't be that bad." Harry insisted. Susan sighed dramatically.
"Why did you have to be famous?" she complained. Then she smiled. "But you know… I wouldn't have this any other way."
"That makes two of us." Harry agreed. He looked down at their linked hands and grinned wider "Couple of idiots aren't we?"
"Sometimes," Susan confirmed. Then she pulled Harry's hand. The pair walked through the halls of Hogwarts hand in hand until they reach the landing where Susan would go down and Harry would go up. They stood there, each unwilling the other to let go. Harry leaned down and gave Susan one last gentle kiss before whispering goodnight against her lips. He was a bit dazed as he walked up to the common room. As he walked through the portrait hall he was suddenly accosted.
"Harry!" Hermione cried before grabbing him in a tight hug. "My goodness we were so worried!" she pulled back, holding him at arm's length and looking furious. "Where have you been?! You just ran off right before curfew with no explanation!"
"Long story," Harry said with a slight smile. he looked down at the curious Snuffles and ruffled his hair. Then he drifted off toward his dorm humming a jaunty tune under his breath. The dog turned to Hermione and made a slightly confused whining noise. Hermione however was frowning after him with a gaping mouth.
"Harry has a new girlfriend." she suddenly declared. Snuffles' ears rose up and he turned to chase after his godson with a quiet bark.
"Harry, can't you just tell me what you're talking about?" Hermione whined. "Our potions essay is due in a week and I haven't finished my third draft yet."
"You can take a quick break." Harry insisted as he pulled her up to the seventh floor and towards the hidden room of requirement. He stopped dragging her and approached the wall. And then he chanted in his mind the most beautiful phrase he'd ever thought at the room of requirement.
I need a place where I can fly
Sure enough, the door materialized the same as it had before.
"Come on." Harry cried before he pulled Hermione through the doors. The girl sucked in a breath of awe as she saw the space behind the doors. The room had become a stunning cathedral-like dome of glass. Above their heads, magical clouds drifted through it, while a perfect blue sky was all around them. The floor was a field of knee-high wildflowers, making the entire place smell sweet of springtime. The Gryffindor prefect looked around in awe. Then a shadow flew overhead. She quickly rose her hand and squinted towards the sun before she saw it. It was a white hawk. It was wheeling high above them before it dove towards the ground. At the last second, it pulled up, skimming the flowers with its talons. Then it did a series of complicated twists and turns and even a loop dee loop before diving again. It unfurled its wings and landed on the grass a few feet from Hermione. Hermione stared at its flecked cheeks and golden orange eyes before suddenly it grew before her eyes and where the hawk had once been was Susan Bones.
"Hello Hermione!" she cried with a wide grin. Hermione squealed and rushed forward to give the girl a tight hug.
"I can't believe it! You actually did it! My goodness! You were beautiful!" Hermione cried.
"We were actually hoping you could tell us what she is," Sirius remarked from his place beside the door. He walked over with a smile, holding a book out to the girl.
"We've looked at diagrams for every white bird of prey were could find but none of them quite fit the mark." Harry agreed as he pointed to markers they'd left on the most likely candidates. Hermione looked through them all before frowning. "Can you show me again Susan?"
"Sure," Susan said before she drew her wand. With it pointed at her chest she slowly transformed again. Once the transformation was complete she shook herself out ruffled her feathers then turned her head back and forth and gave a little squeak.
"Can you unfurl your wings for me?" Hermione asked as she scanned the book again. Susan puffed out her chest before doing just that, stretching her feathers out as far as she could. Hermione hummed in thought. "You're right. That baring doesn't look like anything in these-hang on." Hermione said as she flipped to the last section.
"Yeah, I thought about that." Harry argued as Hermione read over the sections about albinism "but her eyes aren't red. Plus she's got freckles."
"She's not albino." Hermione corrected him before pointing to a section below that "She's leucistic."
"Leu what now?" Harry asked with a blink. Suddenly Susan changed back. She winced and rolled her shoulders.
"Sorry, that really itched," she complained before she scratched at her arms. "I could feel all my pin feathers pulling."
"What does leucistic mean?" Sirius asked as Hermione handed the book back.
"It's a genetic mutation that makes animals have predominantly white pigmentation. The loss is only partial though, affecting things like skin and some feathers without affecting eyesight. It's why Susan still has freckles and the baring under her wings. In fact." Hermione pulled the book out of Sirius's hands again and flipped to the sections on European birds of prey. "I think you're a northern goshawk."
"Really?" Susan asked before she looked at the bird and smiled. "Well? What do you think Harry?" the teen looked at it closely and beamed
"That's it!" he cried. "Thanks, Hermione!"
"My pleasure," Hermione said. Then she closed the book with a snap. "That's why you ran off last week, wasn't it? You were helping Susan with her animagus transformation."
'Yeah." Harry confirmed.
"So you've finally started dating have you?" Hermione asked with a grin. Harry choked on his breath and gave her a horrified look.
"W-what are you talking about?" Harry tried in panic. Hermione just rose an eyebrow.
"We're trying not to tell the whole school," Susan responded quietly. "Harry has some pretty… problematic fans."
"Susan?" Harry asked. The Hufflepuff rolled her eyes.
"Honestly Harry, Hermione was going to find out anyway. Not like we were gonna fool her for very long anyway. Might as well get her on our side now. She can help drum up alternative rumours."
"you've been talking to Dudley, haven't you?" Harry muttered.
"Hardly!" Susan cried "I met him at the slug club remember. I'd never even spoken to him before that."
"Right," Harry said with a nod.
"Well, you're right about Harry's fans." Hermione agreed. "I remember that well enough for two." then she shook his head. "Never mind that." she insisted. "How's it feel to finally be an animagus?"
"Amazing," Susan said truthfully. "It's so… freeing. When I'm up there everything is just so far away you know? Just me and the sky and the sun…" Susan said wistfully before peering into the clouds again.
"So when are you gonna do it, Harry?" Hermione asked. The teen flinched and Susan rolled her eyes.
"Harry says that he doesn't want to become an animagus."
"Why not?" Hermione demanded. Harry shrugged.
"He's afraid his animagus form will be a snake," Susan responded for him.
"Not afraid!" Harry parried "Just… concerned."
"What would that matter?" Hermione insisted. Harry shrugged
"Harry has been feeling like he and Voldemort have a lot in common lately," Susan said for the teen yet again. "So he's scared that if his animagus is a snake, it'll just be more proof that he is."
"Harry…" Hermione began with a worried frown.
"This isn't about me." Harry cut in coldly, giving Susan a slightly hurt frown. The girl gave him an apologetic but firm look. And Harry sighed tiredly.
"It must be great to finally not have to worry about messing any of the steps up." Hermione offered, artfully changing the subject.
"Definitely." Susan agreed. "Honestly the hardest part was the stupid mandrake leaf. I trained all summer, you know. My uncle thought that I'd developed a speech impediment. Course he thought it was a stress response because of… what happened to my parents." she trailed off, growing a little far away before shaking herself slightly "I thought I was doing pretty good by the end. But I didn't reckon on transfiguration."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked with a frown. Susan blushed.
"Erm…" she began "I actually went down a grade level that whole month I had the leaf in my mouth. Two actually. And I've been so focused on getting this done that I've kinda slipped on most of my homework this year. So my average in transfiguration is only an A."
"An A?!" Harry cried in shock then he laughed "Show McGonagal your animagus form and I'm sure she'd give you an O on the spot. She'd probably pass you right then and there, forget the exams."
"Yes." Susan agreed "before demanding I register and defeating the whole purpose of this in the first place."
"Right," Harry remembered sheepishly.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"Susan believes that the only way her aunt could have escaped is if she had an animagus form." Sirius piped up. "The thing is, Voldemort and the Death Eaters likely have a hand in nearly every department in the ministry by now, including the department of records. If Amelia had registered, they would have known about it and prepared for that when they came for her."
"So she must be unregistered." Susan insisted with a hard nod. "So I can't register either. The whole point of this is so that if the Death Eaters come for me I can escape. Not much point if the Death Eaters know what to look for. How many leucistic goshawks do you think there are in England?"
"Alright." Hermione agreed.
"So you'll have to get your average back up the hard way then." Harry reasoned. Susan nodded sternly. Then she smiled.
"Speaking of! Snap transfiguration study session?" she asked. Harry grinned.
"Course!" he cried "You're my favourite study partner." Susan laughed before she gave a quick kiss on Harry's cheek. The teen blushed. Both Hermione and Sirius gave him a smirk and he scratched the back of his head nervously. Then Susan walked towards the flat expanse of glass behind them as slowly the stone wall and door appeared again. Sirius became Snuffles once again and happily trotted through the grass, tail swishing. Hermione and Susan began chatting about the latest transfiguration lecture. Harry brought up the rear. He paused in the doorway, staring up at the beautiful blue sky and smiled before closing the door behind him.
"Harry?" Susan called with a worried frown. The teen turned around still grinning.
"Coming," he said before joining the trio feeling optimistic for the first time in a while.
A/N: Good evening my wonder full readers!
It's time for your weekly dose of drama!
ILoveGeorgeEads: thank you!
Anthro79: I'm sorry to say that unfortunately, Kreacher is not in this edition.
But never fear!
He will return!
And he will continue to be his same subtlely cranky self.
That's all for this week!
See you later!
Don't forget to keep on reading!
-TTC