Chapter Four

Hermione felt like she was in a dream; her feet were carrying her down the hall to Mafalda's office, it was like she had no control over them. Inch by inch, door by door, her and Ginny were getting closer and closer. The paintings on the walls seemed to mock her; stumbling down the hall, Hermione felt like the hall was getting longer and longer, and all her legs wanted to do was reach the end. She felt as though she was running, her breath caught in her throat and she develop a fine layer of sweat on her brow. And then they were there; outside her door, Mafalda Hopkirk, plain as day, dark as night. This was it.

Hermione shuddered, and with a glance at Ginny she knocked on the hard wooden door. It seemed like hours before someone opened the door, a million thoughts were running through her head right now. What if I failed? What if they found out about Christmas break?

The snow was falling, almost like puffy little clouds. Hermione watched them fall and swirl, twisting in the wind like dancers. They twisted around trees and under bridges, flew by windows and whipped up stray leaves. It had been warm for the end of December; the rivers hadn't yet completely frozen but the trees had lost most of their leaves and what remained were covered in the falling snow. Hermione had been studying her animagus notes in the Grimmauld Place library since noon that day; it was now a quarter after one at night. She knew she should go home but she was getting frustrated; she'd never studied a particular type of magic so long and not been able to use it. "Urgh!" exclaimed Hermione startling a nearby bird, This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of, if we don't practice, of course we won't be able to successfully transform without injury! It's absurd!

That's when Hermione got her idea; she glanced around at the white park to check for any muggles and found herself alone in the park. She smirked, most uncharacteristically for her, and disapparated with a *POP*.

Hermione had apparated to a forest south of England; it was a dark forest with trees everywhere some towering over the sun, others just reaching for the sky. She smiled; Hermione had picked this place because she knew that the trees would give some protection from the falling snow, therefore leaving the ground the dull earthy brown colour of dirt. Taking out her wand Hermione started breathing deeply, she knew all the fundamentals like to back of her hand, she had even studied the way McGonagall had transformed numerous times. She knew she was ready, all she had to do was focus.

Closing her eyes, Hermione couldn't help but notice how similar the procedure was to Apparation and the three D's. All she had to do was picture herself becoming her animal (a little difficult seeing as her first time and she had no idea what animal she would change into) and once she had that fixed firmly in her head she just needed to will herself to change, to feel it happening.

Hermione was just about to give up when she felt herself change; she could feel her body hunching over and her arms extending. She felt a funny tingle at her tailbone and her ears stated to extend. Before she could fully process what was happening, it had already happened. Now, Hermione would have been shocked if she hadn't of just transformed into an animal. Because that's exactly what she was now, an animal, but with the knowledge of her true self and how to return to it. Other than that, she couldn't think of anything else that mattered.

Shaking her head Hermione spun around, briefly catching a glimpse of her tail, she felt her eyes prick up, Tail? A faint voice echoed in the back of her head. Shaking the voice from her head Hermione bounded up a nearby hill on all four legs, Four legs? There it was again; blinking, Hermione realized she was hungry. Sniffing around on the ground she caught a scent of deer, scent of deer? Hermione growled, growled? What was wrong with her, she though pushing the voice from her head. Later Hermione would realize that it was just her inquisitive side poking through, but she was an animal now, and animals don't have voices in their heads. So, pushing that voice as far from her mind as it would get, Hermione picked up that scent trail again and started to follow it up the hill. She followed it as far as a pond before she realized that she was also thirsty, so she stopped for a drink; while she was drinking she thought she felt a tingling inside her head. Shaking the excess water and the tingling from her head, Hermione got distracted by a bird flying overhead, I bet I can catch that, she thought leaping up in the air.

Hermione paled, What if they had found out about last Christmas? The next morning, she had found herself in that same forest by the pond surrounded by feathers; she also had a funny taste in her mouth, but she got sick just thinking about it. Hermione had just turned to run away when she heard the door click open, she took a deep breath and turned to face Ms. Hopkirk. Only it wasn't Mafalda who opened the door, it was Professor McGonagall. Hermione's eyes widened, "Professor, what are you doing here!" squeaked Hermione.

McGonagall smiled, "I wanted to be the first to congratulate you; you have received the highest score I've ever seen, 112%." McGonagall hugged her, "I'm so proud of you Miss. Granger." And with that, Hermione fainted.

"What can I do you for ma'am Lestrange?" Moody growled, tearing his gaze off of Draco.

If Bellatrix was frightened, and Draco knew she was, she didn't show it, "I need a report drawn up." She answered calmly.

"For what? You might not of heard, but a Dark mark was cast over a muggle dwelling earlier today." Moody paused and glanced back at Draco, "You, uhh, you wouldn't happen to know anything about that, now would you?" He asked looking uneasy.

Bellatrix glared, "Most certainly not, in fact that's why I'm here." She responded, a pinch of fear edging its way into her voice, "Another one's been cast, only just a few minutes ago."

Moody looked at her suspiciously, Draco thought it looked almost like he was implying that she did it. His aunt must of thought the same, because she had suddenly drawn herself up to her full height and had a contagious sneer on her face, "If you are trying to imply that I was the one who cast it, then you're a fool old man. Why would I be here reporting it if I was the one who casted it? And why would it be hanging over Malfoy Manor?"

At her last question Moody's smug expression was whipped off his face, "I-is that so? Well that changes things then. Here, we were thinking it was just some depressed death eaters trying to bring back the good old days, when the death eaters themselves are being attacked."

"Wrong again old man, Draco and I were the only ones at the property other than the house elves and we're both still alive." Bellatrix said sneering once more, "And I'm guessing that no one was hurt earlier today either." She finished with a smirk.

Moody growled, "I suppose your right, still, this means I'm going to be needing to talk to some of your house elves Mr. Malfoy." addressing Draco for the first time in the conversation.

"Uhh, right." Draco mumbled, before turning to the empty space beside him and calling, "Hermi, Mitzi, come here" and with two loud *POP*'s the house elves were now occupying the empty space. "I need you two to go with this man and answer some questions about the last hour, okay?" Draco asked looking at the two of them, "He just needs some information about how The Dark Mark appeared over the manor okay? But you don't have to tell him anything you feel uncomfortable saying. If any questions like that come up, he can ask me directly." Draco told them, throwing a cold look at Moody. "But I want you two to come find me after two hours, whether he's one or not, starting when I leave okay?"

Yes Young Master Draco," The responded, Mitzi staring at her toes while Hermi was bobbing her head enthusiastically; she always did love coming to the Ministry.

Draco turned back to Moody and gave him another cold look, "Two hours will give you plenty of time, if you don't get the answers you were hoping for, then maybe you're looking in the wrong place." Throwing one last sneer Moody's way, Draco and his aunt made their way back to the atrium and with a *POP* disapparated to the Lestrange Manor.

Groaning, Hermione opened her eyes; she was lying on a couch somewhere. It was a pale cream and had a high back. The walls in the room were a darker cream, but it didn't make the couch look washed out. Looking around the room she saw Ginny crouched in front of her with a worried look, McGonagall clutching a tissue and Mafalda making tea.

When Ginny noticed that Hermione was awake she stood up, "Are you okay?" She asked, eyes full of concern.

Raising a hand to her head Hermione nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine." Then remembering why she was here, she stood up and turned on Mafalda Hopkirk, "I can't believe you did that to me!" she yelled, "Do you have any idea how much distress you put me through."

Noticing that Hermione was now on the verge of tears, Mafalda was at a loss for words, "I'm sorry Miss. Granger but it's not something I can just put in a letter. There's a process I have to go through when it comes to abnormal scoring like this." Stepping from foot to foot, Mafalda looked at her feet, "Now, if you like I can tell you why I called you in."

Hermione sighed, when she first read that letter she was petrified, now she was just irritated, "Fine, Ms. Hopkirk, why have you called me in?"

'Well, as Professor McGonagall said, you have received the highest score in Ministry records, with a 112%. Now, this is very unusual, so the Ministry would like permission to monitor some vitals during your first transformation."

Hermione thought back to Christmas and blushed, "Would it have to be the first transformation or just one of the first?"

Mafalda frowned, "Well I suppose not, but it would be more effective if it was the first one."

Now, Professor McGonagall had been watching this exchange take place, and she had come to know Hermione very well over her time at Hogwarts; so when Hermione glanced her way, she could see the smirk that had grown from her usually terse mouth.

"Now," Mafalda continued, "I understand that you still have your practical exam to take, but I just wanted to assure you that the Ministry has taken a special interest in your learning. I have taken the liberty to put together a small group of highly accomplished witches and wizards to oversee your training. It won't start until the summer of course, because, of course, Professor McGonagall here will be the head of it."

All Hermione could do not to pass out again was nod, she was in shock. Not only was her training going to be sped up and her first transformation monitored, but McGonagall somehow knew what had happened during Christmas. Hermione groaned, "Alright."

Mafalda smiled, assuming Hermione's groan was a groan of impatience, "Perfect, I'll send you an owl in a few weeks' time and let you know when and where your first lesson will be. Have a great day Miss. Granger.

Hermione and Ginny said their good byes and left, they walked back down the hall towards the lifts. Hermione's heart rate had just returned to normal when she saw a familiar blond head walking into a lift in front of them. She froze. It was Malfoy, what was he doing here? And what was he doing in the auror's department? That's when Hermione noticed another head with him. Bellatrix Lestrange! What, in the name of Merlin's sagged left-

"Hermione" Ginny asked, interrupting her thoughts, "Are you alright?"

Hermione's eyes narrowed as she pointed to the back of the disappearing heads.

Ginny squeaked, "Malfoy! Who's that with- Bellatrix! What do you think they're doing here?"

Hermione tilted her head, "I don't know, but I bet it has something to the Dark Mark this morning." And Hermione stomped off in the direction the auror department.

The door clicked behind Hermione as she and Ginny left Mafalda's office; sitting down, McGonagall let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding in. She glanced up at Mafalda, she was frowning.

"Why doesn't she want us to see her first transformation?" she asked, still puzzling over the conversation.

McGonagall just laughed, "Because she's already had her first transformation, you could tell from the way she fidgeted when you mentioned it."

Mafalda was stunned, "Fascinating. Just fascinating. Not even done her theory and already at least one successful transformation." She sighed, shaking her head. "112%, I still can't believe it, the highest score ever was 110% and that was yours Minerva. Absolutely amazing.

The Lestrange manor was a lot like the Malfoy one, only darker; Draco shuddered as it came into view. There was ivy growing all down the sides of it, and the trees were over grown. I suppose it has its own beauty to it, thought Draco, just in a more foreboding manner.

"Well," started his aunt, "I guess you'll just have to stay here until your parents get back."

Draco frowned, "Yes, where are my parents?"

"They're off trying to figure out what in the name of The Dark Lord happened earlier today."

Sighing, Draco lead his aunt through the front door, as soon as the passed the threshold she started shaking. He led her to the drawing room and called for some house elves to bring her some tea. The drawing room was similar to the parlor at the Malfoy manor, only bigger; it also had a piano. It was a big wooden thing, with snake carvings all around the outer shell. And as far as Draco knew, no one ever used it; but it had been a wedding present for Draco's parents, so she kept it. It was allegedly enchanted to create beautiful music by whoever played it, but there was a catch; once you played it, you couldn't stop. You were addicted, you couldn't sleep, and you couldn't eat. All you could do was play the piano.

Once Draco got his aunt calmed down and gave her some tea, he went upstairs. He spent a lot of his childhood here what with his mother taking care of the place while his aunt and uncle were in Azkaban. He had a nice room, it was on the fourth floor, but it had a cooling charm for the summers; he hadn't been here much since his aunt had broken out of Azkaban, so his bed was still done up in a childish manner. He had an array of snake and dragon stuffed animals piled on his pillows, and his bed was still shaped like sleigh. Draco was just thankful he was rich enough to of had a king bed even then. Sitting down on his bed, Draco ran a hand through his hair; it had been a long day, not to mention the fact that his evaluations with Bellatrix were tiresome.

Looking out the window, Draco saw that the sun had completely disappeared behind the horizon; all that was left were a few golden streaks stretching across the black sky. There was no moon tonight and the wind blowing through his window was colder than it should be, and not because of the cooling charm.

Frowning, Draco got up to look out the window. Looking out by the bay that the two manors sat on, he saw streams of mist inching their way across the lawn. Draco cursed, Death Eaters; having no idea if they were the ones sending up the Dark Marks or not, he ran down the old stairs to warn his aunt. But by the time he reached the drawing room Draco heard a knock on the door. Turning towards his aunt he whispered, "Death Eaters." And put a finger to his lips, as he crept towards the front doors. Yanking open the big double doors, Draco pulled his wand out and aimed it at the person standing on the porch.

Draco all but dropped his wand when he realized who it was standing in front of him, his jaw dropped about a foot, and he rubbed his eyes; Draco would never in a million years of thought he'd be standing in fount of this person ever again.

"I'm sorry Hermione, but I have no idea why Malfoy was here." Sighed Harry

"You must have some idea," she complained, "I can't think of a single reason why the prat and his aunt would be at the Ministry, especially in this department."

"Hermione, I have no idea why he was here, I'm sorry." repeated Harry, taking off his glasses and rubbing his temples.

"Urgh! Fine!" cried Hermione "Am I aloud back in my apartment now?"

Harry smiled, "Well that I do know, we didn't find anything in the building; so yes, yes you're allowed back in your apartment."

Hermione relaxed her shoulders, "Thanks Harry." Sighed Hermione turning to Ginny, "I need to grab Crookshanks, want to come back to my place for tea?" she asked.

Ginny smiled, "Thanks Hermione, that'd be great."

Hermione and Ginny said their goodbyes and made their way down to the apparation point, linked arms, and disapparated back to Grimmauld Place with a *POP*.