The Unforgettable Summer

by RedHal

Hedwig has been acting strange since the rise of Voldemort. Apparently, 15 years ago, he had tried a new spell and she and her husband had been the victims. Her plan had been to wait for Harry to turn 17, but with Voldemort back, Harry needs to be told

8. Animagi

Chapter 8: Animagi

Four weeks later (July 26th),

POP

An owl, a fox, and a panther stood in the Shrieking Shack

POP

Hermione and Ron replaced the owl and the fox. However, the panther was now a phoenix.

"Looks like SOMEONE needs more practice." Hermione teased the phoenix

POP

The phoenix was now a squirrel.

"Third times a charm Mate." Ron said.

POP

"Finally." Harry said. "Once I get more practice, I'll be able to handle what I transform into."

Flashback

"Now we drink this potion and see what animals we are." Hermione said.

Ron held up his goblet of goop.

"Polyjuice looked more appetizing." Ron stated with a look of disgust.

"You know," Hermione said knowingly. "You don't HAVE to drink it."

"We don't?" the boys asked hopefully.

"No. Unless you WANT to take three years to perform the transformations."

"I bet Dad didn't need to drink this stuff." Harry said after he downed the potion.

Ron and Hermione followed.

CRASH

The trio dropped their glasses as they all fell into a trance.

0000

A few minutes later,

Hermione groaned. Her eyes opened and she saw Ron and Harry getting up.

"Did you guys see anything?" Harry asked.

"Yeah." Ron said. "I saw a fox. Tricky little blighter kept running all over the place."

"I saw an owl." Hermione said. "It had to be a barn owl."

"How about you, mate?" Ron said.

"Name an animal, I saw it." Harry said.

"Harry!" Hermione gasped. "You're a multimagus."

"A what?"

"You can transform into any animal at will." Hermione explained.

"Wicked." Ron said in awe.

"Why me?" Harry asked nobody in particular as Hermione looked in the book.

"Because you're you." Ron answered.

"Here it is." Hermione said as she read. "Oh. Apparently, you're going to have the toughest time with the transformation. On a brighter note, you can be ANY animal. That includes magical."

"You could hang with the centaurs." Ron said.

"I'd advise against it." Hermione said. "Personally, I'd stay away from anything half-human."

"Too bad." Harry said. "I wanted to give those merfolk a piece of my mind about their tridents down there."

End Flashback

"Anyways. We're animagi now!" Ron cheered.

"And just in time. Tomorrow's the full moon." Harry said.

"Can you do it?" Hermione asked Harry.

"It's WHAT I transform into that's the problem." Harry said. "I could transform just perfectly."

As if to prove his point,

POP

A fairy flew where he was.

"Oh yeah." Ron said sarcastically. "Professor Lupin's not going to want a bite out of you."

POP

A badger stood in Harry's place.

"That could work." Hermione said.

POP

"This might be harder than I thought." Harry said in his human form.

0000

The Golden Trio snuck back to the school under the cloak to see two figures walking the halls.

"We owe Mrs. Elizabeth Potter so much." Dumbledore said. "By releasing Harry's potential early, she had enabled him to perform Occulmency without knowing it."

"Yes." Snape's voice came. "The Dark Lord has yet to reach the boy. He's getting desperate for information."

"Does Voldemort know that Harry is away from his aunt and uncle?"

"Not yet."

"Tell him that we have him in our custody now. Don't tell him about James, Lily, Charles, or Elizabeth."

"Anything else?"

"That's all for now."

TBC