Back to School

"Did you have a good holiday, Harry," Professor Dumbledore asked as Harry walked into his office for his first Animagus lesson after Christmas.

"Yes, sir," Harry answered with a smile, "It was perfect. For a while I even forgot about the war, I'm looking forward to a time when I don't have to remember the war."

"Well, Harry, you must always remember the war. Even when it is over, because if we forget then we are doomed to go through it again."

"Yes, sir, how was your holiday?"

"It was splendid, Harry, very relaxing. Now lets see how much progress you have made."

Harry closed his eyes and concentrated on becoming a red fox, he watched as his body in his mind slowly transformed into a fox. Harry had expected to stop somewhere in between human and fox but the image progressed all the way to the image of the fox.

Harry asked Professor Dumbledore how he looked but all he heard a barking sound. He looked up at Professor Dumbledore who was smiling down at him.

"Well done, Harry, take a look in the mirror," Professor Dumbledore motioned to a full length mirror behind his desk.

Harry looked in the mirror, "I can't believe I finally did it." Looking back at Harry was an average size red fox; his chest and neck were white as was the tip of his tail, which was wagging happily. His legs and pointy ears were black and the rest of his body was an orange-red color. Harry the fox spun around in happy circles while looking in the mirror. Professor Dumbledore bent down and scratched Harry behind the ears; Harry again wagged his tail happily.

Harry concentrated and he slowly transformed back into his human form. Harry looked himself over in the mirror, everything was back to normal. Harry turned to his Professor and smiled.

"Thanks, Professor, I can't wait to show the others."

"You are welcome, Harry, now remember, Animagus is very difficult and dangerous magic. It should only be learned when concentration can not be broken," Dumbledore gave Harry a knowing wink, "run along, Harry, ten points to Gryffindor."

Harry was so happy now, he was an Animagus now and Professor Dumbledore had given him the equivalent of his ok to teach his friends. Harry was running down the corridors not paying attention to anything else but getting to the common room. Someone stepped out in front of a side corridor and right in front of Harry.

"Hey, Potter!" Malfoy's voice boomed down the corridor to Harry, "I finallyhave you alone and to myself."

Crabbe and Goyle stepped out from the corridor and took position behind Malfoy. Each one of them was cracking their knuckles while Malfoy sneered at Harry. Harry knew that there would be no easy way out of this.

"Malfoy, you know you don't want to fight with me," Harry said while he pulled his wand out of his robes, "just let me pass and you will not get hurt."

Malfoy laughed forgetting the power Harry had displayed before. Harry could sense that Malfoy was much more confident since returning from the holiday break. Malfoy reached into his robes and pulled out his wand. He cast the disarming spell but Harry had cast his spell a second before.

Harry was standing behind Malfoy now with his wand aimed right at Malfoy. Draco was searching around for Harry; he was yelling orders to his goons. Draco then turned around and started to walk down the hall muttering to himself. Before Draco finished his second step Harry reappeared.

"Holy cricket!" Malfoy screamed as he fell down from fright, "How did you…"

"Expelliarmus," Harry's spell sent Draco's wand flying down the corridor, "leave me alone, Malfoy, as much as I dislike you and your father I am sorry he is dead. You can not beat me." A breeze began blowing down the corridor and Harry's robes fluttered. "Now, go back to your dorm and hide."

Crabbe and Goyle were charging at Harry but he caused a strong wind and the two goons were effectivelystopping the two goons intheir tracks. Harry turned his back on Malfoy and walked down the corridor.

Harry eventually reached the portrait of the Fat Lady and said the password. When the portrait swung open Harry transformed himself into the fox and snuck into the common room. He saw Ron was sitting by himself at the fire bent down doing homework. Harry saw that no one else was in the room. He stalked Ron like he was a small Rabbit, and crept over to the couch. He suddenly jumped up onto the arm of the couch barking loudly.

Ron jumped to his feet, when he jumped he knocked his inkpot over and spilled it all over the table. His books fell to the floor and Ron fell over the couch backwards. Harry ran over to Ronwagging his tail.

"Bloody hell," Ron said to the fox, "How did you get in here?" Ginny and Hermione had come in from the portrait hole and saw Ron lying on the floor with the couch knocked over.

"Ron," Hermione screamed, "Are you ok?"

Harry saw Ginny and ran straight to her wagging his tail. He ran circles around Ginny as Hermione helped Ron to his feet.

"Get that bloody dog out of here, Ginny," Ron snapped, "it about gave me a damn heart attack."

"Now is that away to talk about your best mate, Ron," Ginny said as she picked up the fox. Ginny scratched behind Harry's ears as she set him back down.

"Sorry I scared you so bad, but you should have seen your face!" Harry spoke with a smile. Harry bent over double with laughter, Ginny laughed while also trying to scold Harry for scaring Ron. Hermione was amazed that Harry had finally managed to transform, Ron on the other hand was between anger and laughter. "How did you know it was me, Gin."

"Do you honestly think I wouldn't recognize you?" Ginny answered, "Besides, there is a very faint pattern around your eyes that look like glasses. Besides, what other red fox would be in here?"

"Harry! You could have… You really shouldn't…" Ron couldn't finish his sentences as he finally gave in and started laughing, "Ok, you got me mate, good job. So you are finally an Animagus? Wicked."

"Sorry Ron," Harry said laughing, "I couldn't help it, it was just a perfect opportunity. The best part is, Professor Dumbledore basically gave me permission to teach you guys how to do it."

"Really?" Hermione asked inquisitively, "What did he say?"

"He told me to remember it was difficult and dangerous magic, and that it should only be attempted when concentration can't be broken. Then he gave mea wink."

Harry told them all to decide what animal form they wanted to be and the next night they would start their training. Harry went to his dorm and came back with his book bag. He sat on the couch and pulled out a roll of parchment, then he began writing his essay for Snape's class. When he finished writing his essay he looked at Ginny who had fallen asleep, Smoke had curled up in her lap. Harry woke Ginny up and told her he was going to bed. They said good night and went to bed.

The next night after dinner the quartet made their way to the Room of Requirement which had four beanbag chairs in the center of the room. There was a bucket full of bottles of butterbeer and a table that had plates of cookies.

"Ok," Harry began, "Did you three think of what animals you would like to become?"

"Yeah," Ron said, "I want to be a Falcon."

"I chose to be aPanther," Hermione spoke with a smile.

"Ginny," Harry talked quietly, "what about you?"

"I chose," Ginny blushed as she talked, "well all I could think of was a Red Fox."

Harry blushed at hearing this and then nodded his head. He and his three friends got comfortable in their chairs. Harry looked at each one of them.

"First I just want to say that this probably won't be as easy for you as it was for me," Harry spoke honestly, "I had the added help of Snape teaching me to clear my mind. That is the first step, completely clear your mind of all thoughts but the animal you want to be."

The three Animagi students nodded their heads.

"Now close your eyes and concentrate on a picture of the animal you want to become. Don't think of anything else."

Harry sat there and waited for a while before he talked again.

"Ok, open your eyes," Harry spoke softly as to not scare his friends, "Did you all concentrate on your animals?"

The three of them nodded to Harry who smiled. He told them to all close their eyes and think about their animal again. When he asked if they were able to picture the animal exactly as they had before they all said no.

"We can't go on to the next step until you can repeat the image identically," Harry said with a smile, "each and every time. So keep practicing."

An hour had passed since Harry spoke last, finally Ginny spoke.

"I did it," Ginny smiled at her boyfriend, "my fox is in the exact same position every time for the last five tries."

"Good for you, love," Harry smiled back, "Ron, Hermione what about you?"

They both shook their heads, they were getting closer but they admitted there were minor differences. They spent the rest of their time relaxing and talking about their next Quidditch match against Hufflepuff. They knew that they would have no problem beating them, which meant that to win the cup all they would have to do is beat Slytherin. Harry sat there holding Ginny's hand smiling. The more he learned the more confidant he got that he could defeat Voldemort.

A month had passed since the first night Harry began teaching the others how to be an Animagus. Ginny had been the first to make any change, she was able to grow ears but would get stuck there. Hermione was next and she made a bit more progress, her arms had turned intolarge blackpanther legsand she grew a tail. Ron was able to cover his entire body in feathers, the ones on his back were dark grey and the ones on the front were black and white striped. He was also able togrow a tail but that was it. Harry knew it wouldn't be long now until all three of them were able to join him as animals.

Gryffindor had beaten Hufflepuff in their Quidditch match and now had to wait until the end of may before they got their chance at Slytherin. Neville and Seamus were beginning to be considered the best Beaters Hogwarts had seen in quite a few years. The three Chasers were able to score at will and seemed that they could read each other's minds while in the air. If Ron continued playing like he was he would have no problem joining a professional Quidditch team.

It was a cloudy Sunday morning in early February, Harry and Ginny were walking hand in hand along the lake. Harry could see the squid swimming in the lake and thought back to the mer-people he had met during the Triwizard Tournament.

"Harry," Ginny asked quietly, "what are you thinking about? You seem distant."

"I was thinking back to the Triwizard Tournament when I had to swim in the lake," Harry answered honestly, "and about what it's going to be like when I am out of school."

"Oh," Ginny smiled, "So what do you see in the future?"

"Well lets see here," Harry said putting his hands to his temples pretending to look into the future, "I havedefeated Voldemort, I'm working as an Auror and, wow, there is a beautiful woman in Grimmauld Place with me. Now isn't that kid the cutest, looks just like me."

"Harry," Ginny giggled as she rested her head on his chest, "who is the girl in the house?"

"It's you Ginny," Harry smiled, "I wouldn't want any one else there."

Ginny looked up into Harry's eyes and kissed him.

"Good answer Harry Potter."