CHAPTER 3
After her break down the first night, things started looking up for Hermione. She still hadn't gone and spoken with Dumbledore like she'd told the girls she needed to do. She did, however, settle right back down into the studies.
There were a couple times she'd find herself crossing paths with one or all of the Marauders in the corridors. Whenever they'd pass, she was certain that she could feel their gazes following her, yet they hadn't said a word to her. Except Peter, of course, it didn't matter that she told his best friends off, she was one of the few who would sit and talk to him like an equal.
In classes, Hermione hadn't changed. She still made sure her hand was in the air for every question to which she knew the answer, she still had made sure that she'd read the text books before stepping foot into the class rooms. What made her usual tactics all the better is that James and Sirius, two who were usually not all there and rarely actually paying attention to what was going on, seemed to get irritated that Hermione got her hand in the air before they did, especially when they knew they knew the answer.
Within the middle of her third week in that time, when her hand shot up into the air to answer a question, the two Marauders ensured that their hands rose at the exact time and, what's more, made sure that they answered the questions to the same level of acceptance as Hermione. So far, it seemed that they had done that in every class except Transfiguration, as they had yet to have the chance to show off in that class.
That Wednesday they had Double Transfiguration with Slytherins right before lunch. Much to Hermione's amusement, the topic of discussion for the day was a continuation of the one given in their Third year on the animagus. She gave a slight glance over her shoulder to James and Sirius and cocked an eyebrow in an unspoken challenge. As though nothing had passed, she turned back in her seat and tuned into Professor McGonagall. This should be interesting.
"Settle down class," McGongall's sharp voice said to the seventh years as she entered the room from her office. "Now, I want you all to remember back a few year, yes I realize that many of you may find it difficult to do so, but I ask that you attempt it." She added, interrupting the raised hand of a petite Slytherin girl. "Who will be kind enough to remind us what a animagus is?" The older witch glanced around, her eyebrows rising in slight surprise as three hands rose simultaneously. She'd gotten used to Hermione's reactions but James and Sirius, which was a new development. Her gaze rested on the two boys of her house, her expression slightly suspicious, "Mr. Potter, if you will."
"Yes ma'am," He said before taking a breath, "An animagus is a witch or wizard who has went through the appropriate steps to be able to transfigure their bodies into that of one particular animal at will. The particular animal isn't able to be chosen but is decided by the magic that resides in the witch or wizard attempting the transformation."
McGonagall blinked in surprise but nodded, "Very good, Mr. Potter. Now, does anyone happen to know any the affects of such a transformation done by one who is less than qualified to attempt such a feat? Miss Granger?"
"There are many different side effects that can result if the spell is poorly performed or is performed by a witch or wizard whose magical capabilities in the Transfiguration area are in lacking. One such side affect is the splitting of the mind. In this case, the Transfiguration may take place but only in part, it is recorded that in some cases, the physical transformation goes as expected, but the mind deteriorates due to the unrecognized shape.
There have been other accounts where the transformation took place in the mind itself, leaving the witch or wizard with the mind of the animal that they were to become. In example, if the animal I was to become if I were to attempt to be an animagus was a raven, if the spell is not properly performed, there is a risk that my mind could transform into that of a raven leave me, for all points an purposes, brain dead."
"Excellent, Miss Granger," McGonagall said with a small nod. "Does any one know any other arising problems? Twice in one day, I'll count my blessings if you are actually intend to answer the question, Mr. Black."
Sirius gave a small grin, "Ah, come on, I'm a good kid. Anyway, another risk that applies when one is to become an animagus is that of dependence. There have also been reported cases of a person reverting to their animal forms and loosing themselves to that animal. I'll use Granger's example, if I may?" He asked Hermione, who gave a small nod.
"In these reported cases the person had went through some sort of difficult, life changing event, and rather than dealing with the consequences and getting the help they needed, they reverted to their animal forms and refused to return to natural form. After a certain amount of time, in most cases within three to six months, if the person has yet to return to their human form even once, they become trapped and unable to transform.
Using Granger's example, if something were to happen…say an extremely brutal death of some one she held dear-the gods forbid that ever happen-and unable to deal with the pain and stress of said death, she was to transform into the raven. If after the three to six month time period she did not return to her human form at least once for any length of time, she would be, as she said, for all points and purpose just another raven, no longer human."
McGonagall looked positively floored and shook her head slightly before giving a nod in approval, "Very good, Mr. Black, a very thorough answer." She walked around the classroom as she usually did during her lectures, studying each of her students. "And does anyone know why the Ministry keeps such close tabs on Animagi?"
To no one's surprise, Hermione's hand was up in the air, this time, however, it seemed to be trembling slightly. With a small frown of concern, the Professor gave a small nod for her to proceed.
Hermione cleared her throat, normally she would focus on the teacher as she spoke, this time, she focused on her hands. "The ministry likes to keep tabs on those who become Animagi for several, very obvious but very important reasons. For beginners, there's the natural right to privacy that most tend to hold dear. Depending on the form of the animagus, it is very possible for one to be where they are not permitted. Take the beetle, for example, it is small enough and common enough that it could land on the table right next to you and, if the beetle was actually an animagus, it could overhear things that needn't be heard.
Such issues have become even more increasingly acknowledged in the recent rise of You-Know-Who, where it is said that some of his followers posses animagus forms that would allow their gathering of information and thus, more followers easier. The Ministry requires anyone who has the desire to become an animagus to fill out a stack of about twenty different forms including the colors of the form, the specific details that would help to recognize one in their Animagus forms, as well as several contracts giving them permission to do random checkups on your where abouts."
"That is, indeed, a very big worry for the Ministry currently. Miss Granger, can you proceed to tell the class what types of things you mean about specific details and colors of the animal form?" McGonagall asked, admittedly impressed by the amount of knowledge the girl held.
"Yes, ma'am, before I was moved here, I had a very close friend who had just completed all the forms and contracts demanded by the Ministry and had only recently accomplished reaching his Animagus form of a wolf. In regular human form, to make it easier to picture the example's I'll shortly be using, Harry was a lanky figure, messy black hair, a lot like Potter's, vibrant green eyes an a peculiar lightning blot shaped scar on his forehead. When in wolf form, he was a jet-black wolf with the same vibrant green eyes and a fairly lanky figure, even for a wolf. He had a patch of white hair on the chest and an odd bit of white in the shape of a lightening bolt between the wolf's eyes. These particular oddities where what he had to list, in as much detail as one could possibly use, on those forms."
"Excellent. Mr. Snape, if you would be so kind as to inform the class as to what kind of animals generally relate with different types of people?" She said, not bothering to acknowledge the disappointed looks on the Marauders expressions, knowing she had to get others involved.
Severus Snape seemed to tense slightly but gave a small nod, "The animal, as Granger pointed out, is chosen by the magic within a witch or wizard, not by the witch or wizard. The magic within some one that makes this decision focuses both on the true personality of the person, how they really are, and also the portrayed personality, the way they portray themselves to the general public. As for my example, Professor, from the last two and a half weeks of having class with Miss Granger, I would presume that were she to attempt the animagus transformation, my guess is that she would take the form of a feline. Most likely one of the less domesticated type."
"Please explain, Mr. Snape," McGonagall pressed, curious to say the least.
"Cats of any kind tend to give of the air of superiority, even the domesticated one's who are far from it. In the natural world, it is not the male beasts but the females, such as a lioness, that protects the territory and follows the hunt. Felines are also probably the most viciously protective of their lands, their families, and the rest of their pride. Felines are observant creatures that do not turn away because the hunt is too much of a challenge, rather they tend to relish in that type of thing, out smarting their prey. Yet, if one of their own pride does something the other lioness adamantly disagrees with, she won't hesitate in letting the other know.
I, too, Miss Granger, am an observant person," he stated simply as the girl blinked in surprise at the analysis of her behaviors. "As in the natural world, Professor, Miss Granger tends to have many of the qualities of the dominant lioness in the pride, or one of the other of the large cats who have similar behavioral traits."
One of the rare smiles appeared on Professor McGonagall's expression as she glanced over the four who'd answered the questions most thoroughly, "Excellent. Twenty points to each of the four of you. I think that wraps up this class for the day. Class dismissed."
There was a quiet buzz around the room as everyone chattered excitedly about the different information they learned about animagi. Hermione slowly began to pack her things, she'd been unsure why she'd shared the bit about Harry, it was the best she could come up with for an example. What had surprised her most, was the accurate discription of her character that Snape had provided.
Without thinking about it she glanced up, pausing slightly when she saw the black eyes glancing in her direction once more. She gave a timid smile as she slowed down slightly, glancing the other direction noting that both Lily and the girls and the Marauders were waiting on her, "Go ahead, I'll catch up!" She said as she accidentally-on purpose dropped her bag, sending her belongings to scatter on the floor.
Lily glanced in concern as the girl spilt her things but nodded, giving the Marauders a pointed look as she led the way from the room, the girl had her reasons for wanting ot stay behind. Not that that meant that Lily wouldn't try getting it out of her later on.
Hermione sighed and knelt to regather her things, jumping slightly when another set of hands appeared and began helping her. She glanced up and gave a small smile, "Thank you," she said as she accepted her things from Snape and began to rearrange them in her articulate manner.
"You're welcome. I don't think we've properly met," he said in a quiet, reserved voice that caught her off guard.
"No, I don't think we have," Hermione agreed. "I'm Hermione Granger…please…I know I'm muggleborn but please use my name or that term over the other one."
"Severus Snape," He said, inclining his head slightly. "You were surrounded by those arrogant prats, I believe I was too rash in jumping to my conclusions that you would be like them. It was quite pleasant to see some one get through to them when even Evans can't seem to."
She gave a small smile and shrugged, "I was always tormented in primary school, as much if not moreso than what Black and Potter do to you, I couldn't just sit back idly while they did it to some one else."
"Nonetheless, thank you," He said, not sounding the least bit disgusted or strained to be thanking a muggleborn.
"You're very welcome. May I ask you something?" She said, tilting her head slightly.
"Considering you just did, I daresay that you can," he said with a wry smile.
"How did you know all that about me? How did you read me like that?" Hermione asked, her surprise was still evident in her voice.
"Your actions aren't as hidden as you may think, Hermione. I noted the unspoken challenge between yourself and Black and Potter on several occasions during the past few days, including today at the beginning of class. You are feline, through and through."
She smiled slightly and nodded, "I take that as a compliment, thank you."
"You should, and you are welcome."
Once she'd finish replacing everything in her bag she nodded towards the door. "If we don't get to lunch, everything's bound to be gone," she said with a small smile as she pulled her bag over her shoulder. "Are you coming?"
"You mean to say that you're willing to be seen walking with a Slytherin?" He asked, arching an eyebrow.
"I hardly follow the prejudices of my House, Severus," she said pointedly. "That is, as long as you don't have a problem being seen speaking with a Mudblood."
"I'm not Lucius Malfoy, of that I assure you," he said with a small smirk.
"Good to know," She said with a small laugh.
With that, the two from opposing Houses and histories, left the classroom for the Great Hall. "I don't think you know how much pleasure I took in seeing you hit Black, it was priceless," Severus stated with a smirk.
"You have no idea how much pleasure I took in doing it," she said with one of her own.
As the large doors grew nearer the Slytherin gave a small nod, "It was a pleasure meeting you, Hermione. I do hope our conversations do not end once we walk through those doors?"
Hermione smiled and nodded in agreement, "I was hoping the same. Don't worry, I'll see you around."
"I must thank you for that warning," He smirked, in an almost teasing manner.
She paused as she allowed Severus to open the door for her, laughing as she slipped through shaking her head as she made her way to her table and he to his. She sat down next to Lily again, noticing the shocked looks coming from the four girls. "What?" She asked, blankly.
"Did I just see you walk in, laughing, with Severus Snape?" Asha asked.
"Yes, I suppose you did," Hermione replied with a small frown, hoping this didn't turn into an explosion.
"Didn't he leave a head of us though?" Chaylse frowned.
Hermione shook her head, "No, he stayed behind to help me pick up my things. We basically just talked about my blow up at the prats and also about how well he seemed to read me."
"And…?" Asha pressed.
"And nothing, we had a good conversations. I don't see anything wrong with the guy, he's friendly when he's not being tormented," Hermione frowned.
Silence fell and the other girls shrugged slightly and returned to their conversations. Hermione shrugged as well and started to eat her lunch when she felt a nudge and glanced up to find Asha's dark eyes on her. "Hermione, can I talk to you?"
"Yeah," she said, catching the fact that the girl didn't want to speak infront of the others. She quickly finished her sandwich as she stook once more and pulled her bag over her shoulder, nodding to the others, "We'll see you in class."
Asha followed and when she was certain no one was around, pulled Hermione into an empty classroom, placing a silencing charm over the room and started pacing.
"Asha, are you alright?" She asked hesitantly.
"You have to swear that you won't tell a soul what I'm going to say," she said urgently and Hermione nodded in agreement. "Oh, Merlin…please don't laugh…is Severus really a nice guy when he's not around Malfoy?"
Hermione blinked in confusion for a moment then comprehension dawned and she smiled, "Asha…do you fancy a certain dark haired Slytherin?"
The girl blushed slightly and gave a sheepish smile, "You can't tell Lily or the others."
"Your secret's safe with me," Hermione said with a small smile.
"He's right, you know," Asha said suddenly.
"Who is, and about what?"
"Severus, about you being like a cat. We noted it before that you've got a bit of a maternal protection thing going on. Like when you stand up for Peter when the other's pick on him. You stood up for Severus when you disagreed with James and Sirius. You're brilliant. You're a protector," she smiled, giving her newest friend a small hug.
Hermione returned the hug with a thoughtful smile, and gave a small nod in agreement, "I guess you two are right."
"And we girls and your boys Harry and Ron are just your cubs," Asha giggled, earning a slightly glare that was dampened by the amused smile.