Chapter 10: Animagi and Idiots

Hey guys!

I'm sorry it took a while to get this chapter up. School and about a million other things got in the way, but I really am going to try to keep updating regularly.

I hope you guys like this chapter! Special thanks to chocolatecheesecakes and bellatrixD :)

I don't own Harry Potter.

I passed most of the holidays in the library. I found that it was much easier to work when there weren't many people there. Elena and George (once he'd left the hospital wing) usually joined me at some point during the day, although George's main goal seemed to be to distract us. He usually succeeded.

I'd never spent Christmas at Hogwarts before. It was strange to wake up in an otherwise empty dormitory and walk through the deserted corridors, but at the same time, I kind of enjoyed the peace and quiet.

A few days after Christmas, I headed to the library after lunch, only to find Hermione Granger sitting at my favorite table in the back of the room. She jumped when I neared her, and when she lifted her head, I saw that she'd been crying.

"Can I sit here?" I asked gently. Hermione nodded, quickly wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

"I didn't think anyone else would be coming in here," she mumbled.

"I just thought I'd come up to finish my Arithmancy homework," I explained, sitting across from her. "What're you working on?"

She seemed to hesitate before answering.

"Muggle Studies," she said after a moment. "I have to write an essay on electronics."

"Aren't you Muggle-born?" I asked confusedly.

"Well, yes," she said. "I think it's interesting to learn about Muggles from the view of the Wizarding world. They see things so differently."

"I never thought about it like that," I smiled. "My mum took Muggle Studies when she was in school, but she still doesn't understand Muggle money. My dad always laughs at her."

"Is your dad Muggle-born?" Hermione asked.

I shook my head. "He's actually just a Muggle."

"Isn't your mum a Black?" she asked.

"She is," I nodded. "Or was. She was disowned."

"Oh." She looked surprised. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that."

"Why would you?" I shrugged. "I don't exactly broadcast the fact that my mother came from one of the most infamous pureblood families in existence. Most people don't know. Well, they didn't until a few weeks ago."

Hermione grimaced.

"About that..."

"It's all right," I assured her. "It's not a big deal. If the situation had been reversed, I probably would've been suspicious, too. I'm not mad at you or Harry or Ron or anyone. Except the gossips, but I can't really do anything about them. Besides, they can't really hurt me."

The bushy-haired third year chuckled. "Still, it wasn't fair for Harry to accuse you like that."

"It was a bit asinine of him," I agreed. "I mean, he started shouting at me in the middle of the Great Hall."

"Fair enough," Hermione admitted. "But he and Ron excel at being asinine when they want to be."

There was an odd tremor in her voice as she spoke, and when I looked at her closely, I saw her eyes filling with tears again.

"Here," I murmured, pulling a handkerchief out of my pocket and handing it to her. She muttered her thanks and wiped her eyes. I waited a few minutes before speaking again.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I finally asked, wincing at how stupid the phrase sounded. I didn't even really know Hermione.

"It's nothing, really," she said, her voice still choked-sounding. "Someone sent Harry a Firebolt for Christmas."

My jaw dropped.

"A Firebolt?" I repeated. "Like, a real, actual Firebolt? The fastest broom in the world? That kind of Firebolt?"

"Yes. The thing is, there was no note attached. So I thought that it could've been dangerous. I mean, it's a very expensive broom, isn't it? And-"

"You think Sirius Black sent it to him," I realized.

"Well, yes," she nodded. "He could've, couldn't he? He could've tampered with it somehow. I told Professor McGonagall, and she wants Professor Flitwick and Madam Hooch to look it over. I...I don't think I did anything wrong. Do you?"

She looked at me, biting her lip nervously as she waited for my answer. I smiled.

"I think you did the right thing. If Black really is after Harry, then it's possible that he sent the broom. It's a good idea to have someone take a look at it, just to be safe."

Hermione practically beamed. I couldn't help chuckling at how quickly she'd perked up. Remembering the reason I'd come to the library in the first place, I opened the Arithmancy book waiting on the table in front of me.

"Do you mind if I work here?" I asked.

"Oh, please," she said eagerly, clearing off enough space for me to set my parchment and ink on the table. "Do you like Arithmancy? I've only just started taking the class this year, but it's already my favorite, even if Professor Vector is really strict. It's so interesting how numbers have magical properties."

"I like it a lot," I grinned. "Makes a heck of a lot more sense than Divination, anyway."

"Exactly!" Hermione cried, prompting Madam Pince to shush us. She went pink. I pressed my lips tightly together to keep from laughing.

"Sorry," Hermione whispered sheepishly.

I shook my head, still struggling to contain my laughter. That was it. I was definitely losing my mind.

"Hello, Alyssa," Professor Lupin smiled as he opened his office door. "I was just about to make some tea. Would you like a cup?"

I nodded and sat in the chair that I was used to occupying by now. Lupin busied himself with the kettle for a moment before producing two chipped cups filled with tea. He handed me the cup patterned with roses and sat down across from me.

"What can I do for you today?" he asked.

"I just heard that you were..." I wasn't quite sure how to phrase it. He seemed to know what I was getting at, because he raised his eyebrows expectantly.

"Ill," I decided. "I heard that you were ill during Christmas last week, so I thought I'd come see how you were doing."

Lupin chuckled. "I'm much better, thank you. Did you have a good Christmas?"

"I did," I smiled. "I got a lot of new books. Speaking of books, though, I have a question for you."

"Oh, yes?" he asked. "I'm all ears."

I reached into my bag and pulled out the book he'd given me. I set it on the table and opened it to the page I'd bookmarked.

"It says here that Animagi have certain characteristics that the people themselves have when they're human. I guess it's like how Professor McGonagall wears those glasses, and when she's a cat, she has markings around her eyes. Right?"

Lupin nodded. "That's the idea of it, yes."

"What I was wondering," I continued, "is whether or not there's a way to recognize an Animagus, even if you don't know what characteristics to look for. Suppose there's a cat on the pavement and you think it might be an Animagus. How could you tell for sure?"

For a moment, Professor Lupin just stared at me. I wondered if I'd asked a question that was impossible to answer. But then he smiled.

"That's a very interesting question, Alyssa. I'm surprised that you've thought about Animagi in such detail. I think, though, that if you're interested in pursuing the subject, then Professor McGonagall might be able to help you a bit more than I can."

"You gave me this book, though," I reminded him. "So you must at least have an idea of how being an Animagus works."

He gave me another one of those long looks that I was so used to. Then he sighed heavily and chuckled.

"If the animal doesn't act much like an animal...say, if a dog stares at a house for hours on end, or if a stag walks right up to you...then there's a chance that they could be an Animagus. But, as I'm sure you know, there have only been-"

"-Seven registered Animagi this century," I finished. "But...you don't have to be registered to be an Animagus."

Something seemed to shift in Lupin's eyes. He looked wistful, sad, and worried all at the same time.

"That's true," he nodded. "Technically, you can become an Animagus without registering. But it is illegal, and if the Ministry found out..."

"It wouldn't be good," I figured.

"Exactly. Does that answer your questions?"

"I think so," I nodded. "So, an animal that acts a bit...human might be an Animagus, and if you want to become an Animagus, you should register with the Ministry."

"Summed up perfectly," he smiled. "Now, it's getting rather late. You'd better get back to your common room."

Right," I said, setting my empty cup on the desk. "Thank you, Professor. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Alyssa."

As I walked down the empty corridors, I couldn't help wondering if Professor Lupin had a bit more experience with Animagi than he was letting on.

"Do you ever stop reading?" Fred asked incredulously as he and George sat down across from Elena and I the next morning.

"Why would I?" I said absently, not bothering to look up as I turned the page of the book I'd borrowed from Dumbledore.

"I can't even read that," he said, craning his neck, trying to read the book upside down. "It's not even in English!"

"No, it's in runes," I sighed. "If you ever went to class, you'd know that."

"The life outside the world of academic boredom is so much more interesting," he stated, helping himself to bacon. Elena and George sighed in unison. George tugged the book away from me.

"Oi!" I protested, reaching for it. "I was just getting to the good part!"

"Join the real world for a bit," he said, grinning at me. "You can have it back after breakfast. Now, eat something."

I stuck my tongue out at him and reached for the nearest platter of food. I froze with my plate half-filled. Harry Potter was sitting further down the table. Our eyes met briefly, but he quickly looked away, becoming very interested in his eggs. Elena sighed.

"Don't let it get to you, 'Lyssa. Eventually, they'll all stop being stupid."

"Maybe," I said, hoping I sounded nonchalant. "It doesn't really matter, anyway."

"I thought you had blue eyes."

Elena, George, and I all turned to look at Fred. He was frowning at me. I raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry?"

"I thought you had blue eyes," he repeated. "I swear they were blue yesterday."

"Oh. They probably were," I shrugged. "They change. What color are they now?"

"They're...I don't know. Grey-ish."

His ears had gone red again, so I decided not to pursue the subject. George was smirking at his brother, who was determinedly avoiding his gaze. I glanced over at Elena, relieved to see that she looked as confused as I was. It was awkwardly quiet for a moment.

"Anyway," Elena said, in an effort to break the silence. "Are you ready for term to start again tomorrow, 'Lyssa?"

I shrugged. "It's just going to get harder this term. I swear, it feels like we just got back, and half the year is gone. Those O.W.L.s are just going to sneak up on us. But I am ready to see some more people. I have to apologize to Cedric."

"Why?" George asked.

"I was supposed to visit him during Christmas holiday," I explained. "I forgot to write to him and tell him I wouldn't be coming."

"Oh, not another one," Fred groaned. "Are you part of Diggory's fan club too, then? I have to say, Summers, I never took you for the kind of person who would worship the ground someone walks on. Especially someone like Diggory."

"You just don't like him because he beat Gryffindor at Quidditch," I snapped. "He felt really bad about that, he didn't realize Harry had fallen. He said that if he'd known, he wouldn't have caught the Snitch. It's not his fault."

"Oh, he said all that? I'm surprised he can string a sentence together."

I wasn't aware of standing up, but I found myself on my feet. Elena's eyes had widened. She grabbed my arm.

"No, I've had it," I said, shaking her off. "I've put up with this for weeks. Judging me is bad enough, but you can't go around saying whatever you like about my friends. They haven't done anything to you. Leave Cedric alone."

Fred sighed dramatically. "You two will be announcing your engagement any day now. What a perfect match! The Hufflepuff dunderhead and the Ravenclaw know-it-all."

"Hey!" George interrupted as I opened my mouth to retort. "Alyssa, would you mind accompanying me to the library? There's a book I'd like your opinion on."

Part of me wanted to stay and give Fred Weasley a piece of my mind, but my mind was working rationally enough to know that George was offering me an escape, which would probably be better for everyone. So I nodded and grabbed my bag, making sure to glare at Fred as I followed George out of the Great Hall. We didn't say anything for several moments as I waited for the urge to scream to disappear. He let me fume silently as he led me through the corridors, seemingly choosing his path at random. Eventually, my breathing evened out and I felt like I could talk normally.

"I don't like your brother," I said.

George chuckled. "I've noticed that, believe it or not. You know, he's really not that bad. He's just been acting strangely. I don't think he actually dislikes you."

"Could've fooled me," I muttered.

"I mean it," George said earnestly. "If you'd just get to know him, I think you'd like him."

"I don't want to get to know him," I scowled, stopping and leaning back against the wall. "And anyway, you're only saying all this to try and get into my good books."

"Why would I want to do that?" George asked, quirking an eyebrow.

I smirked. "Because you fancy Elena Michaels, of course."

George blushed, the pink in his cheeks clashing magnificently with his hair. My grin widened as I crossed my arms.

"...Am I in your good books?" he inquired.

"For now," I sighed teasingly. "I'm not going to tell her or anything. Although, I don't know how she hasn't noticed yet. You're not very subtle."

"Well, that's...yeah." He huffed and shook his head. "You're a piece of work, Alyssa Summers."

I laughed. "Funny, my mum says the same thing."

"I can't imagine why," he said with a grin. "I'd better go see how Fred's doing. If I leave you, you're not going to hunt him down and murder him, are you?"

"Can't make any promises," I shrugged.

He pinched my ribs as he walked past. I swatted at him, making him laugh.

"George!" I called as he walked away. He paused.

"Yeah?"

"...My friends call me 'Lyssa."