Animal I've Become

Chapter 4

Letters and O.W.L.S.

A/N: I want to apologize for the long update. I wanted to finish one of my other stories that was in progress before I continued on with Animal I've Become. Now that, that story is finished, you can look forward to updates more frequently. If any of you have interest in what that story was, it's called Saving Me and it's a Harry Potter/Resident Evil Crossover featuring Hermione and Wesker as the pairing.

Daphne Greengrass always had a little crush on Harry Potter. It wasn't because he was The Boy-Who-Lived and that danger and trouble seemed to follow him on a daily basis. There was just something about his eyes that were just so damn inviting. She could seriously loose herself in those emerald orbs of his.

However, ever since from returning home from King's Cross, Daphne found herself to be in a nervous wreck. 'What if he doesn't write back? What if he rips up the letter and refuses to write back because I'm in Slytherin', these and many other negative thoughts flowed through her mind as she anxiously waited for Connor, her owl to return to her.

It was a bit ironic really. At school she was known to her housemates and the rest of the student populace as the Ice Queen, meaning that she didn't give any male that approached her, or even showed the slightest interest in her the time of day. It also didn't help the matter when her house was Slytherin and she was looked down upon because she was half-blood. So she invented the "Ice Queen" persona so that she could focus on her schooling.

Daphne was so preoccupied with her thoughts that it took her a few moments to realize that Connor had returned and that he had a letter clamped in his beak. Biting her bottom lip, she arose from her bed and walked over to the desk where she pulled the letter from Connor's beak.

After taking a few minutes to get her breathing under control, Daphne sat down at her desk and unfurled the letter.

Dear Daphne,

I hope you forgive me, but I must ask this right away. Is this a joke? Did Malfoy or one of his cronies put you up to this? I'm sorry but I must ask for during the last five years at Hogwarts, I've only received negative things from Slytherin house. No one has said anything nice to me in the last five years so if this isn't a joke and you are writing to me in the hopes to get to know me, then I formally apologize.

But yes I have seen you in potion's class a few times, but in reality I'm too busy trying to do good so Snape won't fail me. Bit redundant really since he always fails me. I hope to change that this upcoming year though.

I want to do my absolute best this year. Since the only thing I know as of this letter is your name, How about in our letters we ask each other questions so that we may get to know things about the other? What is your favorite class at school? Your least favorite? As you can most likely guess, my favorite is Defense Against The Dark Arts, and my least favorite is Potions, although History of Magic can definitely give Potions a run for its money.

Harry

Daphne felt the butterflies in her stomach as she re-read Harry's reply. Her heart was jumping for joy at the fact that he at least wanted to take the time to get to know her. Grinning like an idiot, Daphne retrieved a quill, roll of parchment, and a bottle of ink from her desk before beginning to write her reply. A half hour later found Daphne finished and re-reading her reply making sure everything was in order.

Dear Harry,

I can guarantee that this is in fact not a joke, but I can see where you're coming from. I think your idea you mentioned about asking/answering questions in our letters in order to get to know each other is a very good one. I'd have to say my absolute favorite class would have to be either Transfiguration or Ancient Runes.

Hands down my least favorite class would be Divination. I don't even know why I picked that class, bit of a last minute thing I suppose. Who do you suppose our new Defense Teacher will be? Hopefully it will be someone who can last more than one year. (I rather enjoyed the class when Professor Lupin taught it. Well me and a few other Slytherin's, namely Tracey Davis and Blaise Zabini)

How's it adjusting living with your godfather now? I'm sure you're extremely happy. I know I would be. What do you want to be after you finish at Hogwarts? I'm leaning towards either a Healer or perhaps a teacher.

Looking forward to your next Letter

Daphne

Pleased with her response, Daphne folded it up and handed it back to Connor who looked at her slightly irked.

"Oh come on Connor, I promise after delivering this one, you won't have to back out till tomorrow" Daphne said while stroking Connor's feathers.

Connor gave a slight hoot of annoyance before taking the letter into his beak and taking flight, his talons squeezing onto Daphne's shoulders a little too tightly before he took flight out the window.

With Connor now delivering her second letter to Harry, Daphne got up from her desk and stretched, her simple white t-shirt rising up a few inches revealing her slim, toned stomach. She wasn't really all that athletic but that didn't stop her from keeping in shape. Sighing to herself, Daphne headed downstairs to see what her sister Astoria wanted.

...

Harry Potter awoke to his room painted gold from the rising sun. Blinking the light from his eyes, he sat up and slipped his glasses on, bringing the bedroom into sharper focus. Reaching up, he ran his fingers through his hair, which only made it look untamed. Once his brain was a little bit more awake, Harry saw that the owl which had delivered his first letter from Daphne was back with another letter. A smile crossed his lips as he walked over and removed the letter from the owl. He decided to read it later and placed it on his desk before offering Hedwig's water dish to Daphne's owl.

While Connor drank some water, he was being watched by Hedwig who wasn't sure what to think of this new owl. After drinking his fill, Connor gave a hoot of thanks before flying out of Harry's bedroom window. Harry smiled as he watched Daphne's owl become a speck in the distance before turning his attention on refilling Hedwig's water dish and poking in some owl treats into her cage. Once that was done, he headed to the bathroom where he took a hot, comfortable shower.

Upon finishing his shower and walking back into his room, Harry saw one of the tawny colored owls, which were usually the school owls. Biting his bottom lip, he walked over and removed the owl of it's burden. After the owl flew away, Harry looked down at the thick parchment like envelope that was in his hands.

'This can't be my O.W.L.S. results already, it's too soon. I'm also pretty positive that it's not my school list for the upcoming year, as it too is too early as well.' Harry thought to himself. Taking a breath, Harry slit open the envelope and pulled out the first piece of parchment which was written with the usual emerald green ink.

Dear Mr. Potter,

Here are your O.W.L. results. When your book list arrives near the end of August, included with it will be a list of classes that you can choose to replace the electives you chose for your third year. If you don't want to change classes then there is no need to worry about it.

Sincerely

Minerva McGonagall

Slowly, Harry pulled out the second piece of parchment and scanned it's contents, his breathing easy now that he knew that he did pretty good.

Astronomy-Acceptable

Care of Magical Creatures-Exceeds Expectations

Charms-Exceeds Expectations

Defense Against The Dark Arts-Outstanding

Divination-Poor

Herbology-Exceeds Expectations

History of Magic-Dreadful

Potions-Exceeds Expectations

Transfiguration-Exceeds Expectations

A feeling of satisfaction and pride came over Harry as he re-read his scores. While he didn't really care about Divination or History of Magic, he felt that on the rest he did really well. Smiling to himself, he headed downstairs to show Sirius what he got.

...

Sirius himself was in the kitchen with Remus talking quietly about the previous night's events when Harry came in.

"Morning Pup, have a good sleep?" Sirius asked as he sipped some coffee from his mug.

Harry didn't answer at first as he went to the fridge and grabbed the carton of orange juice and pored himself a glass before replying. "It was great and no nightmares which is great" he said as he sat down beside Sirius.

"Any mail from Hermione or Ron?" Remus asked as he set down three plates of chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, hash browns, and toast.

"Not yet but I did get my O.W.L. results and a letter from Daphne Greengrass" Harry said as he spread some marmalade on his toast. As he did so, he missed the look of curiosity pass between his godfather and Remus.

"Daphne Greengrass eh, you know her father was one of the very few who tried to get me a trial" Sirius said looking at Harry.

"Oh I know that, she said that in her first letter, I wrote her back last night and just got a reply this morning, I'll send her another letter later" Harry explained.

"So what're your feelings for a girl you don't even know who happens to be in Slytherin writing to you?" Remus asked.

"Well first I get the feeling that she's not like the other Slytherin's. In her first letter she explained that she was Half-Blood and that she gets looked down upon by her housemates. Also she mentioned that there quite a number of Slytherin's who actually wanted to get to know me but couldn't because of Malfoy and his father. I think it'd be kind of nice to have a few friends in Slytherin house, maybe then it would end this stupid and silly house rivalry" Harry said.

"That's...very wise of you Harry, now let's see those O.W.L.S." Sirius said smiling at his godson.

Harry slid over the piece of parchment with his grades and while he began to eat, leaving Sirius and Remus to look over his results.

"This is very good Harry, very good, while your Divination and History of Magic ones were the only poor ones, that necessary isn't a bad thing as only those like Hermione could of passed History of Magic when the rest of the class is dozing off. Also Divination takes a rather swift hand to fully understand it" Remus said as he passed the piece of parchment back to Harry.

"Thanks Remus and I'm quite proud of myself" Harry said, his emerald eyes shining with happiness.

After breakfast, Harry helped Remus with the dishes before he returned to his room to get a head start on his homework. Opening his trunk, Harry grabbed his books for Transfiguration and History of Magic, wanting to get those two essays done first since they would most likely take the longest. Sitting at his desk, Harry moved Daphne's letter to the side. He would read it after he finished his two essays.

...

An hour and a half later, Harry leaned back in his chair, glad to be finally finished with his Transfiguration and History of Magic homework. He had asked Sirius or Remus for help when he needed it, but that wasn't to often. Placing his essays and books aside, he grabbed Daphne's letter and opened it, a smile crossing his lips as he read.

After placing Daphne's letter with her first one, Harry grabbed a fresh roll of parchment and began to write his reply.

Dear Daphne,

It's nice to know that it isn't a joke, and I'm glad to hear that you and a few of your housemates actually enjoyed Defense when Lupin taught it. He's here visiting right now as a matter of fact. He was friends with Sirius and my dad back when they were in school. I know what you mean about Divination, I too kind of chose it as a last minute thing, but I think I'll be dropping it this upcoming year. It got to tedious when Professor Trelawney kept on predicting my "death" at every class.

As for the new Defense teacher, I know who it's going to be. She's very good with defensive magic so I'm pretty sure it will be a good year, unlike this past year with Miss Toad-Bitch. As for what I want to do after school, well I'm leaning heavily towards an Auror but who knows. Maybe after all this ends with me and You-Know-Who, perhaps I'll be too tired to go around fighting and catching Dark Wizards. If the Auror thing doesn't pan out, I think I'd like to teach at Hogwarts.

As for my usual questions to ask, I honestly can't think of anything off the top of my head. So how about in your next letter you tell me about your family?

Yours truly

Harry

Pleased with his response, Harry stood up and stretched before calling Hedwig over to him. His snowy white owl flew over to the window where she outstretched her leg so that Harry could tie the letter to it.

Once the letter was securely tied around Hedwig's leg, Harry stroked her feathers as he said, "Take it to Daphne Greengrass Hedwig".

Hedwig affectionately nipped Harry's earlobe before taking flight out of the open window. Harry watched her before his attention was brought back to the present by someone knocking on the door.

Curious, Harry left his room and headed downstairs to see his godfather Sirius Black talking with what appeared to be what Harry could only guess as a muggle. The man was easily 6'2 and was wearing a black leather biker jacket. The biker ensemble continued with black jeans, heavy black boots, and a pair of black leather gloves embed with some iron studs.

As if sensing his presence, the man turned to Harry, his blue eyes flashing slightly as he said in an American accent, "Harry Potter, we need to have a very long discussion".

A/N: End of Chapter 4. Please Read and Review!