25 Revelations of Magic
They were kneeled on the floor, knees touching. They held each other's hands, left in right, forming a loop. Harry's right hand to Hermione's left, through her, to her right hand which he held in his left. They were breathing deep, in sync, with barely any movement. One could believe they were in an odd staring contest, as they had yet to take their eyes from the other. But they still blinked, and their tails swished, but even that was in sync. Professor McGonagall sat to one side, in her animagus form, basking in the light of the full moon and watching intently.
She had been amazed when Hermione told her of Harry's idea. To use not only the bond but their change to accelerate the meditation to meet their forms? Quite the unique situation permitting it but the theory was sound. So she sat, watching, as they embraced the bond, on the full moon, meditating on their forms.
The tabby cat's ears perked and she sat a little straighter as she realized the pair's eyes had closed. Not in the slow blink they'd been doing for the last half hour, but fully closed. Watching them more attentively now, she realized not only had their breathing matched each other's, but now their heartbeats were in time as well. As she watched, she felt before she saw the changes around them.
Their fur and hair started to shift. She'd thought it was just a draft until she realized there was none. Her hair stood on end as the power washed over her. She watched in awe as the power built around the pair. Hermione's hair washed behind her, waving as if in a gentle breeze. Harry's hair stood on end, and as Minerva watched, power started to arc off of them and between them like lightning. The pair rose in the air on the power cascading from them, hovering three feet from the ground before they stabilized. They began to shift positions, orbiting around each other.
Harry and Hermione opened their eyes. Gone was their room, gone were the walls of Hogwarts. They sat in a glade, a gentle breeze bringing scents of fresh, clean forest air to them. They heard birdsong, and the rustle of leaves. The sun shone upon them, not hot, but warm and comforting. It was a place of perfect peace.
A noise came from in front of them, but it did not startle them. This was their spot, they knew, and only those that were part of them could approach. The brushes before them rustled, then parted to reveal their forms.
A pair of midnight black panthers strode from the undergrowth, sleek and powerful. Beyond black from nose to tail, the only difference was a lighter tuft on one's forehead, in the shape of Harry's scar and green eyes. The other had the warm brown eyes of Hermione looking at them. Smoke or shadow seemed to emanate from their fur, surrounding them in wisps as they walked. The cats circled once, before sitting before the pair and yowling. And the pair could understand them!
#We are your second forms, gifted to you when you protected each other from the werewolf.# One spoke.
#We started there, but truly became yours when you saved each other in the first task and bonded. We shall be the first you learn,# the second told them.
"Gifted?" Hermione asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
#You each had a form before this, a rather powerful one in fact.# Harry's form yowled.
#Very powerful, but magic knew the cost of your actions, and that you took them without hesitation. Your bond was born.# Hermione's panther continued.
#To help you, and to reward such dedication to each other, we were gifted to you by Magic herself.#
"Will we meet the others yet?" Hermione asked, "Or must we wait?"
#Of course young ones, they are eager to meet you.# Her form replied with a laugh.
*Indeed we are* a cry came from behind them. Turning, they spotted a great Gryphon approaching, it's majestic wings furled. The normally white feathers of its head shining golden in the light, while its great clawed feet turned the soil beneath them. He strode pridefully across the glen, before sitting before Hermione. *I shall be the second form you learn.*
$And I shall be yours, youngling.$
The pair turned to the familiar speech, sighting a magnificent dragon to their left, approaching Harry. It's sleek red shifting scales glinting in the sun. It was hard to pick one color to call him, as the scales seemed to shift from darkest purple to the brightest crimson. Not as large as the Horntail they'd met in the first task, but he was still impressive. Eight to ten meters from tip to tail, he was sleeker and less armored than the Horntail, with lither lines and an elegance to him.
"Second forms?" Hermione breathed, gently rubbing her cat's furred head. "How many do we have?"
$Normally a witch or wizard would have one form, though some older cultures can obtain more.$ Harry's dragon explained. $It is very rare to have a magical form, for it takes a great deal of power to call one. To have the three you have is unheard of.$
"Three?" Harry was confused. "There's four of you."
"I think he means three each," Hermione explained. "But how? We're not special or powerful or anything."
$You are who you are,$ the dragon explained, then indicated the cats. $Shadow and Midnight are the aspects gifted to you for your bond. While Fleet and myself were gifted to you when you accepted your roles, though you don't yet know them.$
"Roles?" Hermione asked. "What roles?"
*It is not for us to reveal, but you shall know in time,* Fleet cried. *For now, know you are on the right path.*
"And what is your name?" Harry asked, cautiously reaching out in wonder to stroke his snout.
$I am Blitz,$ Blitz said simply, nuzzling into Harry's hand. $And here are your last, but original forms, from before your bonding. Pyre is your form Harry, and the secret to your survival of the curse that struck you when you were young.$
A burst of blue flame flared before them, swirling in a small cyclone. Flames licked out but did not burn him. Carefully, he reached out, drawn to the flame. The instant he touched it, it died, and in its center remained a black and blue Phoenix. Similar in stature to Fawkes, Pyre looked back at Harry with the same green eyes and their gaze locked. It was several seconds before either moved, but when they did, they both smiled and nodded.
$And for you, my Lady, I introduce Grace,$ Blitz said reverently, nodding back to the other side of the clearing. Emerging slowly from the brush, a brilliant silvery white Unicorn entered. Its shimmering coat blinding them until their eyes adjusted. By that time, Grace was before a trembling Hermione, bowing to her. Her silver horn laced with gold touching lightly upon Hermione's shoulder. Looking back up, Grace met Hermione with matching chocolate brown eyes. Again Human and Spirit eyes locked, and again both smiled and nodded.
$They shall be the last forms you learn,$ Blitz continued. $For while they are your original forms, and we are but gifts from magic, they are more distant from you than we. As we are part of you already, they are as well, however they are not aided by magic. They hold more power than your other forms, and thus, shall be unattainable for some time. You may, however, always come here to visit them.$ Blitz grinned as each embraced their forms in order, caressing each before moving to the next. $But for now, your professor is getting anxious, so it is time to wake.$
"Before we go, I have one question," Hermione stalled. "I just was to make sure I understand all this. Originally our forms were Pyre and Grace, correct?"
$Yes.$
"Then, when we protected each other from Professor Lupin, Midnight and Shadow were gifted to us by Magic?" Hermione indicated to the two panther like cats.
$Indeed.$ Blitz nodded in confirmation.
"Then when we bonded, you and Fleet were gifted to us as well?" Hermione continued, "And because of that gifting, you four that were gifted will be easier to attain?"
$Very astute, that is indeed the way of it.$
"McGonagall's never going to believe this," Harry muttered as the jungle faded away.
McGonagall was staring in awe as they opened their eyes just as they landed softly on the floor, the power bleeding away as they sighed. She had long since left her own animagus form to better assess her students. Turning to her, Minerva saw the last vestiges of power leave their eyes as Hermione spoke excitedly.
"We found them Professor," her voice cracking with excitement, "and you're never going to believe what they are."
"Them Mrs. Potter?" McGonagall asked as she cast a few diagnostic charms on them.
"Them professor, three each," Hermione confirmed. "We each had one to start, very powerful ones in fact. When we saved each other from Lupin, Magic gifted us another pair. She also gave us a third pair, for accepting some role, but we don't know what that means and they wouldn't tell us."
"I see." Minerva was momentarily nonplussed, but continued, "Well, are you going to tell me, or shall I guess?"
"I think you'd be guessing for a while professor," Harry responded wryly. "All three are magical."
McGonagall sat down abruptly at that announcement. For the first time in their experience with the venerable woman, it appeared she was speechless. She sat, a stunned expression on her face, and opened her mouth as if to speak, but nothing came out. Hermione came over and placed a reassuring hand on the older woman's shoulder.
"Are you ok professor?"
"I think so," McGonagall finally responded. "Just a bit shocked I guess. Can't you two do anything normal?"
"I've been asking myself the same question since first year professor," Harry sighed. "It's not like we try to be difficult."
"No," Minerva sighed too, "I'll grant you that. So, just how unusual are your magical forms?"
"Oh, the first pair we'll learn are relatively tame ma'am." Harry told her with a hint of glee. "They are shadow panthers."
"Mr. Potter," McGonagall said sternly, "the fact you call such incredible magical creatures tame fills me with dread."
"Probably a good thing Professor. His second form is a dragon." Hermione said in a helpful tone.
"A… a Dragon?" McGonagall asked in shock. "Dare I ask what kind?"
"We will have to look it up to be sure," Hermione temporized, "but I'm pretty sure it's a Northern Firesnout."
"So only the fastest and most agile dragon known to Wizard-kind. Wonderful." She turned to Hermione, "And you are the same again?"
"No, I'm not a dragon," Hermione assured her favorite teacher. "I'm a Gryphon."
"My word." McGonagall fanned herself.
"You sure you want to know all three forms now professor," Harry asked in concern. "You're starting to look a bit shell-shocked."
"Just get it over with you insolent boy," McGonagall snapped, "it can't get any worse."
"Wanna bet?" Harry grinned.
"What could possibly be worse?" Fear traced into the deputy headmistress's voice.
"Well, Hermione's original form, the most powerful, is a Unicorn," Harry said softly, trying not to excite the transfiguration mistress.
"And we know how Harry survived the killing curse now," Hermione told the stunned teacher. "His original form is an Aurora Phoenix."
"Bloody hell," Minerva gasped, her mind trying to process the information and failing.
"Language Professor," Hermione chastised the elder woman with a grin. "What would your students think?"
"Mrs. Potter, if they had my awareness of Animagi, and had just been told a pair of teens had not one, not two, but three magical forms, they'd say much worse, I assure you."
"It's not that big a deal Professor," Harry said diffidently. "Yeah, more than one form is unusual, but you said it yourself; there are magical legacies that have multiple forms."
"I did indeed, Mr. Potter," McGonagall agreed, getting her balance again, "but they are non-magical forms. Magical Animagus forms take an extremely powerful and focused person. There are a handful of recorded instances of magical forms across history, but never has a wizard had more than one, or even multiple forms with one being magical. To have three… let's just say that I will never underestimate you two again."
"How does power correlate to a magical form professor?" Hermione asked, curious.
"Well, to be completely honest, we're not sure," Minerva admitted. "The most common theory states that it takes a certain amount of power to assume a magical form. Probably because of the abilities inherent in a magical form."
"But if magical power were a factor, how do so few wizards become animagi?" Harry asked. "I can't imagine that many don't want the ability."
""You'd be surprised Mr. Potter," McGonagall contradicted him. "As you've pointed out before, wizards are inherently lazy, and the Animagus transformation is a difficult one. Most don't think it's worth it."
"I wonder how many meet their form and think it isn't worth them?" pondered Hermione. "How many see a snake or a mouse or a swift and think it's not worth the effort."
"Probably not as many as you think," McGonagall countered. "The effort to even meet your form would discourage many."
"But why would power make a difference?" Harry asked again, "It doesn't take that much more power to transfigure a dog as it does a mouse."
"Well, the best explanation I've seen," McGonagall continued her explanation, "states that a wizard has no inherent magical power, but the ability to channel it from the world around us. It takes a certain amount of maturity to manage the flow, hence why we appear to stabilize at about age ten or eleven. 'Accidental magic' is actually that power leaking out in a barely directed burst. Now each magic user, be they witch, wizard, or magical creature, uses and can channel a given amount of power. Think of it as a pipe, the more powerful the wizard, the bigger the pipe."
"So the more magical the creature, the bigger pipe it requires to take on its abilities?" Harry asked cautiously.
"Precisely," Minerva confirmed. "To attain a given magical creature's abilities requires a much larger pipe than any normal creature."
"So almost everyone else has a small pipe, and we just have a really big one?" Harry asked for clarification.
"Not necessarily," McGonagall cautioned. "That's the cross section of those who wish to be an animagus. How that reflects the rest of the wizarding population, it's a guess at best."
"If magical Animagi were as powerful as you indicate," Hermione put in, "I'd guess a majority of the supposition is essentially correct. Most of the Animagus population tends to be top tier wizards and witches as they are more motivated in general."
"Possibly, but then you have exceptions to the rule, such as Professor Dumbledore and Peter Pettigrew," McGonagall countered. "Albus is a great and rather powerful wizard, but is not an Animagus. Peter on the other hand was a rather pathetic wizard who somehow managed to complete the transformation."
"With help," Hermione pointed out.
"True," Minerva conceded, then turned to Harry who'd gotten a distant look on his face. "Problems, Mr. Potter?"
"No," Harry said after shaking his head to return to the conversation at hand. "I was just wondering, do Animagi get a handle on wandless magic better?"
"Not that I'm aware of," McGonagall answered, perplexed. "Though I'm not aware if anyone has looked at that particular correlation before. Why do you ask?"
"Well, if you are correct in the assumption that in general Animagi have a larger 'pipe', wouldn't that correlate to an ease with natural magics since the animagus transformation can be done wandlessly? And with that ease, or at least familiarity, it stands to reason that wandless magic would be easier in general for them, as they already cast a rather powerful magic wandlessly. Plus the larger 'pipe' gives them access to the larger power reserves generally required for wandless magic."
"An interesting suggestion Mr. Potter," Minerva conceded. "Mrs. Potter, your thoughts?"
"I'm not sure professor," Hermione said. "It certainly makes some sense, but there are guesses piled on assumptions, any one of which could be false and cause the whole pile to collapse. If nothing else, we'll need to test and practice everything in order to even try to answer it."
"I agree, which means we have a lot of work ahead of us." Minerva grinned. "But for now, you two need to rest, I'll see you tomorrow."
