A/N: I do not own anything Harry Potter. Hi, everyone! I'm sorry for the long wait between chapters but I hope this will be worth the wait. I'm really trying to get in the habit of writing more and hope to have another chapter up within a timely fashion. I really hope you enjoy this chapter. Happy reading! XO

Chapter 64

Monday evening found Annie sitting in Professor McGonagall's office, willing her two feet into the paws of a dog with a wave of her wand. So far she had managed the task successfully three times but was still having difficulty mastering the spell.

"You need to annunciate more," Professor McGonagall instructed.

"Well, that's a little hard to do with a mandrake leaf in my mouth," Annie argued. "Why do I need to do this again?" And how long do I need to keep this here?"

"I've already told you it's to prepare you for nonverbal spells," her professor explained. "If you can master saying the spell with an obstacle, you'll be able to concentrate more on the effect."

"You didn't answer my second question, professor," Annie said, taking the leaf out of her mouth. "This tastes gross."

Professor McGonagall took off her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. "I've already informed you of that as well, Ms. Black," she said. "One month exactly. Every time you lose the mandrake leaf by either by swallowing it or by taking it out," she gave Annie a pointed look and the student placed the leaf back under her tongue, "the process starts over. Why don't you try the spell again?"

Annie nodded and concentrated hard on her feet. "Corpus mutatio," Annie muttered pointing her wand at her foot. She gasped as it turned into a paw. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to this feeling."

Professor McGonagall gave a proud smile. "It does take some time getting used to the sensation," she said, looking at the clock on the wall. "Ms. Black, I think we have time for one more transformation as it almost your curfew."

"Yes, Professor," Annie said pointing her wand back at her foot. "Corpus retro." In an instant her foot turned back into its human form.

"Now I want you to try this one nonverbally," the professor instructed. Annie looked at her as if she had three heads. "Don't give me that look. Give it a try."

Annie once again pointed her wand at her feet and closed her eyes, concentrating on the spell. She waved her wand and opened her eyes. Nothing happened."

"Now why didn't that work?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"I closed my eyes and wasn't focusing on the target," Annie answered. "I have to learn that focusing on the target is just as important as focusing on the spell."

"Very good," the professor praised. "Try it once more."

Annie screwed up her face in concentration. Her wand aimed at her feet, she willed the spell to work with a flick. In place of her trainers were two dog paws. Annie looked up at her professor with a wide grin.

"Well done, Ms. Black!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed. "Do you think you can reverse the spell?"

Annie nodded and stared back at her paws, focusing on the reverse effect. Moments later she had her two feet back on the floor.

"That was awesome!" Annie proclaimed, kicking her feet.

"I am very proud of you," Professor McGonagall said with a smile. She reached into her desk and pulled out a bar of Honeyduke's chocolate. "For your efforts," she said, sliding it across her desk towards her student.

"Thanks, professor," Annie said, tearing the wrapper and breaking off a piece. "I can't wait to show this to my friends."

"I'm sure they'll be very pleased," said Professor McGonagall, looking at the clock again. "You should get going. It's ten minutes until your curfew and I'd rather you not miss another session because you were placed in detention.

"Yes, Professor," Annie said, gathering her animagus book and stowing it in her bag. "I'll see you tomorrow in class."

"Have a nice night, Ms. Black," the professor bid as her student left her office. As Annie shut the door behind her, Professor McGonagall pulled out a piece of parchment and dipped her quill into an inkwell to start a proud letter home to Sirius about his daughter's progress.

It was the beginning of a new week and Annie was sitting at the Gryffindor table with Fred, George, and Lee eating breakfast.

"Hey, how's that whole mandrake leaf thing going for you?" Fred asked Annie as he reached for the rack of toast and some butter.

"I've been able to stick it to the roof of my mouth. See," Annie answered, opening her mouth to reveal the scrambled she had been eating.

"Try swallowing first, babe," George said with a laugh.

Annie chewed her food a bit more and swallowed. "Sorry. Now look." She opened her mouth once more so they could see the leaf stuck to the roof of her mouth.

"How did you manage that?" Fred asked.

"Are you allowed to do that?" Lee questioned, stealing the bacon off of Annie's plate.

"Hey, I read the chapter like four times on this and it says nothing about not magically sticking the leaf in your mouth," Annie answered as the owls came swooping into the Great Hall. A massive cloud flew over the Gryffindor table and landed right around Harry. Annie cocked and eyebrow in confusion and nodded her head for her friends to follow her over to see what was going on.

"Hey, Harry, what's all this?" she asked, sitting down next to him as he picked up a few letters.

"Fan mail apparently," he answered, picking a few letters and shoving them in her hands.

"This one thinks you're cracked, Harry," Ron said, reading one of the letters. "Said you should be locked away in St. Mungo's."

"That's a bit harsh," Annie commented. She passed a letter to Harry with a bright smile. "This one's from Uncle James and Aunt Lily. They said you're barmy and to never come home again."

"Is that so?" Harry asked with a laugh.

"Nah, they said they're proud and all that shit," Annie answered, picking up another letter. "However, this woman thinks you're both barmy and brave. Geez, lady, make up your mind. "Fred and George laughed as she balled up the letter and tossed it aside.

"Harry, this is wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed. "There are a ton of letters from people who support you. I think people are really starting to come around."

"And what do we have here?" a sugary voice sounded from behind the teenagers. "Mr. Potter, what is the meaning of all these owls?" Professor Umbridge asked with a plastic smile.

"Didn't realize it was a crime to receive mail these days," Fred commented.

"I'll alert mum, shall I?" George asked as Lee and Annie snickered into their hands. "Tell her not to write to us anymore because of Educational Decree number- what number are we up to now?"

"Unless you two would like to spend an evening in detention, then I would I would mind your business," Umbridge suggested crossly. Annie hissed and made a clawing motion behind Umbridge's back and the twins bit back their laughter. "Mr. Potter I am waiting for a response."

"Some people have sent me mail about an interview I gave to the Quibbler about Voldemort returning," Harry answered, showing her the copy of the magazine.

"Ah, I see," Professor McGonagall responded with a sniff. "And when did you find time to give such an interview?"

"Last Hogsmeade visit," he answered, as some of the other students looked on curiously at the exchange.

"Mr. Potter, you are hereby banned from all further Hogsmeade trips," Professor Umbridge declared as Harry's face fell into shock. "You will also be serving detention with me for the rest of the week."

"That's not fair," Annie interjected. "There's nothing against the rules about speaking the truth."

"Ms. Black, you will also be serving detention tonight and tomorrow for speaking out of term," Professor Umbridge scolded. "Now, I will be requiring that magazine. The Minister will be hearing about this." She stuck out her stubby hand and wiggled her fingers until Harry hand her the Quibbler. She gave a satisfied smile and marched away.

"Bloody bitch," Ron muttered to which Annie and the others agreed.

By mid-afternoon Educational Decree Number Twenty-Seven had been issued, outlawing the Quibbler in the Halls of Hogwarts. Everyone in the castle was buzzing about the article whether they had read it or not. Seamus Finnigan had even come around in his thinking and told Harry that he believed that the Dark Lord had returned.

"I don't get it," Harry commented as they sat in the common room the next day. "How are people reading the article?" I thought Umbridge was inspecting mail."

"She is," Annie answered from behind her Animagus book. "But people have found a way around that."

"Like how?" Ron asked.

Annie set her book aside and picked up her backpack. She rifled around until she pulled out what looked like a spare bit of parchment. She passed the parchment over to Ron who gave her a confused look.

"What's this supposed to be?" he said, flipping it over in his hands.

"The article," Annie answered, pulling out her wand. "Umbridge sucks," she said tapping the parchment. In an instant the parchment transformed so it showed the entire contents of the article.

"Woah!" Ron exclaimed as Harry and Hermione moved to read it over his shoulder.

"Luna smuggled me a copy," Annie said proudly.

"I'm sorry, what's so great about an article on Puddlemere United?" Harry questioned, looking closer at the article.

"Ron, pass it to him," Annie instructed. Ron handed the parchment over to Harry whose jaw dropped.

"You are wickedly brilliant, you know that?" Harry commented with a smile.

"I still don't get it," Hermione said, inspecting the parchment closer. Harry handed it to her and Hermione gasped.

"It's the article!" she exclaimed. "But how?"

"Quite simple really," Annie replied, accepting her work back from her friend. "I placed a charm on the parchment so that only the holder can read the article. Everyone else just thinks it's an article about Puddlemere United when they look at it."

And if Umbridge finds it?" Hermione asked, impressed by her friend's work.

"It'll only look like the quidditch article to her and Filch," Annie explained. "Honestly, I didn't even bother preventing Snape from reading it because as much as he hates Harry and I, he won't say anything because he's in the Order."

"That's really clever, Annie," Hermione replied as Annie tucked the parchment away.

"So is that how everyone is reading the article then?" Ron asked, going back to his Charms homework.

Annie shrugged. "Probably not. They're probably using simpler ways like swapping magazine covers, hiding it in books. You know, stuff like that."

"And you had to take the complicated route?" Harry asked.

Annie shrugged again. "I was bored and Transfiguration theories are fun."

Harry and Ron laughed.

"Nerd!" Harry teased, ducking as a pillow flew dangerously close to his head.

"Fuck off, Harry," Annie argued with a laugh at her own expense. "Says the one who's leading an illegal Defense Against the Dark Arts club."

"You tutor kids in Transfiguration," Harry countered.

"Remus taught you how to cast a Patronus."

"You're taking Animagus lessons with Professor McGonagall."

"You've beaten out Hermione in Defense Against the Dark Arts exams. Sorry Hermione," Annie added to the end, giving an apologetic smile to her friend. Hermione held up her hands to let her know the shot was okay.

"You were published in Transfiguration Today," Harry disputed.

"You- erm-" Annie scratched her head, trying to think of another point to make.

"You can't think of anything else can you?" Ron asked with an amused smirk.

"No, I can. Let's see. You, erm, you," Annie spluttered.

"She can't think of anything," Harry said with a high five from Ron. He turned to Annie who threw another pillow at him and stuck out her tongue.

"You're an ass," Annie said, disappearing behind her Animagus book once more.

"Shut up, nerd."