Ch 15 Falling Growls

Hermione walked into Professor McGonagall's office with a strange excitement and nervousness. She would transform tonight and she couldn't wait to see what kind of animal she would turn out to be. She just hoped it was something useful.

"Are you relaxed Hermione?" McGonagall asked.

"A little nervous but I'm relaxed for the most part." She said back swallowing a forming lump in her throat.

"Its quite alright my dear. Well lets prepare, shall we?" McGonagall said leading Hermione through another door. The other room was way smaller and empty except for the thick midnight blue carpet. McGonagall removed her thick cloak and sat in the center of the carpet in black slacks and a sweatshirt. Hermione followed suit and sat directly in front of McGonagall.

"Now my dear close your eyes and clear your head of everything. Breath deeply and concentrate on my voice. When you are at a state of relaxation look inside yourself and find your magic, your energy. When you found it embrace it with your whole being. Concentrate on your magic and then sat the incantation we practiced." McGonagall said and Hermione did.

She brought herself to a point of total relaxation nothing on her mind except McGonagall's words. When she was so relaxed she thought she might go to sleep she concentrated on her magic. Her very being and it was deep inside of her and she felt a strange warmth and an obscene sense of power. She balled up her fists remembering the incantation McGonagall taught her before she spoke it out perfectly and clearly. She felt a sudden warmth spreading throughout her body before she felt a sort of prickle from the top of her head to the bottom of her toes. It wasn't exactly painful but it was uncomfortable. It felt like when you sleep on your arm and it 'falls asleep' and you get that prickling. Hermione opened her eyes only to see everything moving around her and suddenly her body starts jerking and expanding and shrinking and distorting and then she does feel the pain but it only lasts a second before its all gone and Hermione is still sitting panting. She opens her mouth to say something to her professor who suddenly looks much taller and is beaming at her with pride.

"Well done Hermione now you need to transform back and then we'll transform again. Now you have to think of yourself in human form and say the second incantation." she said still sitting there. Hermione looked down at herself and saw four furry paws. She then glanced around at McGonagall.

"Alright but just a quick peek. The mirror is over there." she said pointing to the opposite side of the room. Hermione sauntered over to the large mirror and glanced at herself. She was a cat. She had long silky brown hair. It was the darkest shades of brown without being black. Her original color and her eyes were cinnamon brown also the original color but on the top of her head, her identifying mark was a black ankh shaped spot. It was barely noticeable but it was there nevertheless. Hermione went back and sat again in front of McGonagall and she concentrated hard on her human form before again speaking out a perfect incantation. This time she was ready for the transformation so when the shock of pain came she was prepared. Then she was sitting again in front of McGonagall.

"Well done my dear very well done. Now when you transform you won't feel any pain at all and you only have to concentrate on what you want to be. Whether it is your animagus cat form or your regular human form. Now what do you say to you and I strutting around the castle for a bit?" she asked Hermione grinned nodding before she concentrated on her animagus form and very quickly she was reduced to the mass of a dark brown cat who was sitting across from a familiar tabby. Hermione bounced around a bit before following her teacher out into the nearly empty corridors. They walked around for what seemed like forever. They played around with some first years and then they wandered a bit with some other castle cats before they managed to make it to Dumbledore's office. They strolled right in and Dumbledore chuckled.

"Is that my granddaughter you have there Minerva?" he asked and McGonagall transformed back into a woman. Hermione followed suit and transformed back grinning like a mad woman.

"Hello grandpa. How are you this evening?" Hermione asked politely.

"Very well my dear. I presume things went well since you came in here transformed and then transformed before my eyes." he said eyes twinkling.

"Yes very well. I can transform now! I'm an animagus!" Hermione said doing a little dance on the spot.

"Excellent my dear. I hate to have to ruin your celebrations my dear but it is nearly curfew and I don't want you to end such a good night with a detention." he said his eyes twinkling and playful.

"Of course not grandpa. Goodnight and perhaps I'll come see you tomorrow" Hermione said giving him a small kiss on the cheek.

"And thank you Professor!" she said giving the woman a tight hug before she bounded out the door and skipped down the hallway.

When she reached the portrait of the fat lady she explained to her to open a little bit once she transformed and to speak a word of it to anybody. The portrait did as she said and she entered the common room in her new kitty form. She spotted the Marauders over on the sofa by the fireplace and Lily was with them. So Hermione sauntered toward them grinning. She rubbed herself on Remus' legs purring. He looked down out the cat with a confused expression on his face.

"I thought cats didn't like you Moony?" James questioned.

"Well they don't generally. it's a natural instinct for a cat to stay away from a dog and well you know." he said as he bent over and patted the cat on the head. Hermione thrust her head into his touch. He only touched her for a few seconds before leaning back on the couch. Hermione jumped up onto the arm of the couch and lay out observing them all. The boys talked of Quidditch for a while and Lily was observing Hermione. Hermione had told Lily what she had been doing in all her classes with McGonagall but she didn't share that she would be transforming that evening. She didn't tell the boys because she wanted to surprise them.

"I wonder what's taking Hermione so long. I got something for her and I want to give it to her already." Remus said glancing toward the portrait hole.

"You are such a romantic Remus" James said rolling his eyes skyward.

"Yeah you should take a leaf out of his book James Potter. He is very thoughtful of his girlfriend its what every girl wants in a man." Lily said raising an eyebrow at James. They weren't technically going out but Hermione estimated they would be by the end of the year or the start of the summer. Lily glanced back at Hermione who was still lounging on the couch. Hermione sat up and gave Lily a tiny wink before jumping off the couch and heading out the portrait hole. She transformed again before walking back in. She pretended to glance around the room before she walked towards them.

"Hey guys" she said before she sat beside Remus giving him a kiss.

"Hermione how was your visit?" Lily asked a questioning look in her eyes.

"Oh it was alright I'll tell you about it now I want to get that book I was reading since we're going to be down here" Hermione said leading Lily up to their empty dorm.

"Well was that you that cat on the couch?!" Lily asked excitedly.

"Yup it sure was. Watch" Hermione said before transforming into the brown cat. She rubbed around Lily's legs shortly before transforming back.

"Wow! That's amazing! Remus was so confused as to why you liked him. The last time he was around my old cat he got attacked!" Lily said.

"Well I definitely won't be attacking him in malice but I thought I'd go and lay myself out on his bed later. You know see how he reacts." Hermione said grabbing a book. Lily laughed and they both headed back downstairs.

"Hermione I have something for you" Remus said getting up and taking Hermione up to his dorm.

"Is it something the others can't see?" Hermione asked huskily running a finger down his arm. He grinned but didn't say anything. He opened the dorm door and led Hermione over to his bed. He sat her down and made her close her eyes before he placed something spherical into her hands.

"Okay open them now" he said and she did. Their in her hands sat a small bare tree. It was small and its pot was black marble. Hermione looked questioningly at Remus.

"What is it? " she asked.

"It's a tree of love. It was created by Italian wizards. The tree works by love and magic. We prick our fingers on the top and the tree will come to life" he said guiding Hermione's finger to the top of the tree were a very sharp thorn sat. He pricked his finger gently and a drop of blood stood on the thorn Hermione followed his movements slightly nervous. It didn't hurt too bad, but she sucked her finger nevertheless. Then she watched in amazement as the tree began to bloom bright red roses, at the top was a large white one and it was in full bloom.

"Wow its beautiful Remus" Hermione said kissing him gently.

"There's more about the tree though. The small roses represent our passion and desire for one another" he said smiling.

"Red hot. Well that's not to much of a secret Remus" Hermione said licking her lips. He smirked but continued.

"The white one represents our love and as long as we are both alive and out love is alive the white rose will be in full bloom. It will only die when one of us has died" Remus said looking serious.

"Oh Remus" Hermione said wrapping her arms around him. "I love it and I love you and our love will never die not even when we do. Which won't be for a long time."

"You are so special Hermione and I am the luckiest man in the world because I have you." He said and Hermione felt tears build up in her eyes as she saw a single tear slip out of Remus' beautiful eyes. They held each other for a while before they went back downstairs and shortly after they separated for bed but Hermione wasn't finished with her evening. Her and Lily went upstairs to find Denise and Mary in be already. Hermione quickly put on a short almost transparent black night gown.

"Are you really going to go spend the night with him again?" Lily asked grinning.

"Well I might be back but don't count on it to much." Hermione said grinning. Lily rolled her eyes and Hermione bounced from the room. She transformed outside the door and headed to the boys dorms. She was grateful that someone had left the door open a crack so she slipped right in. The boys didn't even notice her, they were all changing for bed.

"Did she really like it?" Sirius asked as he pulled on his sleep t-shirt. Hermione slipped quietly onto Remus' bed and laid herself out on his pillow.

"Yeah she liked it. You know if we are still together after we graduate I think I'll ask her to marry me" Remus said quietly.

"Are you serious mate?" Sirius asked disbelief on his face.

"Yes"

"Not all of us have commitment issues Padfoot. I plan to marry Lily the moment she realizes she is madly in love with me." James said a grin on his face.

"You're such a cocky bastard" Sirius said climbing onto his bed. Remus turned to do the same.

"That cats on my bed! Didn't you guys say it left." Remus said approaching the bed. Hermione was grinning.

"I think that cat has a thing for dogs" James said

"Well then why isn't it hounding Sirius. Who's cat is it anyway? Have you seen it before? Go on kitty shoo, back to your owner" Remus said backing shooing motions. Hermione just yawned and stared up at him.

"What am I suppose to do now?"

"Here let me get rid of it for you" Sirius said and he transformed into a giant black dog. Hermione glanced at him her attention now focused on the giant dog bounding towards her. He started growling when he reached the edge of the bed. Hermione got up and stretched leisurely before walking towards Sirius who's growls got louder. She stretched out and laid facing him. She slapped him gently on the nose with her paw. He surprised her by barking and taking a snap at her. Hermione yowled incensed before hissing at Sirius.

"Padfoot don't hurt the cat its owner maybe someone we know" Remus said. Hermione choose that moment to transform again and she was laid out facing the boys on her stomach a huge grin on her face propped up on her elbows.

-------Sorry for such a long wait. I hope you like it and just to tell you this story is going to be coming to a close very soon. Maybe a few more chapters. Well review and tell me what you think please and have a happy new year stick to your resolutions or try at least--

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