Chapter Eighteen

By the time Hermione woke up it was almost ten o'clock; she groaned and rolled over, she was still tired and very sore. Hermione frowned, why was she sore. Her brain was all fuzzy; it was too early in the morning, shaking it clear, she remembered what happened yesterday. Her heart leapt, she was at Hogwarts.

Rolling out of bed, Hermione went over to Dragon; his bandages were clean, but his nose was dry. Getting a bowl of water, Hermione wet his nose and his mouth. Feeling satisfied, she went down stairs to find some food.

She was a little late for breakfast, so it was just her at the table. She ate some eggs and fruit and drank some more pumpkin juice. Hermione found a Daily Prophet on the table, so she picked it up and started reading it. There was an article about some witch winning the wizard lotto, and an old man discovered another use for the peanut. Hermione threw it back on the table, there was nothing good.

Wandering out of the Great Hall, Hermione found Mafalda Hopkirk bustling down to the grounds. Hermione frowned, "Where are you going Ms. Hopkirk?" she called, chasing after her.

Mafalda spun around, "Oh, Hermione; I was just setting up for this afternoon. We were going to have you study transformations today. This week will be relatively boring I'm afraid; we need to find out how much you already know and where you're at."

Hermione stopped, okay, she thought, easy week, that's good, she'd have time to wander around the castle some more and take care of Dragon.

Walking back into the castle, Hermione spotted McGonagall, looking at some parchment, "Hey Professor," she called, trotting over to her, "How many other animagus's are there here?" she asked, looking around.

"Well, it's just Andromeda and myself."

Hermione frowned, "I didn't know she was an animagus."

McGonagall looked up at her from the papers, "Oh yes, it's a pureblood family legacy to become an animagus."

Hermione cocked her head, "But wouldn't the Ministry have that information then?"

"Ah, no, they look the other way. They've had this legacy for longer than this school's been here; the Ministry can't do anything about it, let alone prove it. Andromeda was registered of course, as have some of the others who've been disowned, but most don't." she said, as she bustled away.

Every one's really busy today, Hermione thought as she wandered down the Transfiguration Hall. When she pasted by her old classroom she couldn't help but remember second year; it had been a horrible year for her, she was too stressed. Hermione had been trying to keep up with her studies and brew a very advanced potion and try to find out who this Heir of Slytherin was.

Hermione sighed, it had also been a good year; she knew where all her classes were, but she was still young enough not to have the elective courses dropped on her. Boy, she though climbing the stairs near the library, third year was tough. She'd ended up needing to get a time turner that year because she was a big enough prat to try to take all the subjects. But she'd straightened out by fourth year; though that came with a whole cart load more problems. She still couldn't believe that the Ministry tried to re-instate the Triwizard Tournament.

Rolling her eyes, Hermione wandered into her room. The house elves had laid out some fresh towels for Dragon, and Crookshanks seemed to be off hunting to castle's mice. Dragon's cuts needed to be washed again, but they were healed enough now that Hermione didn't think it was necessary to re-bandage them.

Hermione mulled around her room for a bit, before heading back to the Great Hall for lunch. As she trumped down the stairs she wondered what this training would be like; she couldn't just tell them that she already knew how to do it perfectly, because well, she couldn't. She was still having those memory black outs, and Hermione was having a really tough time finding out why; which is really unlike her.

Growling, Hermione made her way into the Great Hall and sat down at the table; she was one of the first to arrive, so she got to choose her seat this time. She ended up choosing the seat to the right of McGonagall's High chair; so at least she'd know one of the people sitting beside her.

The only other person at the table was an old man who was reading the Daily Prophet that Hermione had threw down earlier. She wondered who he was, but before she could introduce herself, Mafalda Hopkirk bustled in; it looked as though she was almost swaying form side to side. Hermione frowned, but it then got replaced by a smile when Hagrid walked in and claimed the seat next to hers, "Hey Hagrid," said Hermione cheerfully, smiling up at him, "How's Buckbeak doing? I didn't get a chance to see him last night."

Hagrid swelled up in pride, "He's doin' great, so good of yeh ter ask Hermione."

Hermione blushed, she knew Hagrid was still thankful for all the work she did back in third year, even if he still didn't win his case. Hagrid didn't care about that anymore; he had Buckbeak back now, and that's all he cared about.

Once everyone had gathered at the table, Professor McGonagall stood up and tapped her glass. "Now," she started, "I'd like to welcome all of you to Hogwarts, some of you for the first time, and others, not." Looking around at everyone, McGonagall seemed to be eyeing everyone as if she were looking for doxy droppings in her attic; Hermione had to hold her breath to keep form laughing at that mental image. As if to save her, McGonagall continued, "This summer we will be helping young Miss. Hermione Granger," she said, gesturing to Hermione, "Complete her Animagus training. If any of you wish to watch the first lesson, for those of you who won't be working with her just yet, we're to be at the Quidditch pitch by one." Finishing, McGonagall sat down, turning to Hermione she said quietly, "Not you Miss. Granger; after lunch I would like it if you would come up to my office with Ms. Andromeda, just to get you two acquainted. I know you know her daughter, but I don't believe you've met her just yet."

Nodding and smiling, Hermione agreed, "Of course Professor, I've heard lovely stories about Tonk's mother; from Lupin of course, not Tonks." Hermione blushed quietly.

So after lunch, Hermione followed McGonagall and Andromeda up to the Headmaster/mistress's office; pausing in front, McGonagall called out Urquart and carry on up to the circular room. Hermione frowned slightly at the choice of password, but followed the two women up the stairs.

Once they were all seated in Professor McGonagall's office, she lowered her glasses and stared intently at Hermione, "Now tell me Miss. Granger," she said soothingly, "How many times have you really transformed?"

Draco's head hurt, and his whole body felt like that time back in third year when he got butchered by the bloody hippogryph. Lifting it up, he realized he still looked like his wolf; after transforming back into his human form, Draco rubbed his eyes. It felt like he'd downed a dozen bottles of firewhiskey last night.

Running a hand through his hair, he realized he was sweating. Grabbing the bowl of water next to him, he guzzled it all down before refilling it and doing the same. Now that he felt better, Draco tried to figure out where he was. He frowned; he had now idea.

Draco shook his head, where am I? he thought, looking around the room. He still didn't know; so getting of the bed, he wandered over to the door. Peering out, he saw that he was in some sort of castle; he was about to go back into the room and sleep it, whatever this head thing was, off, but then something caught his attention from the corner of his eye. The stair case just moved!

Draco fell on to the ground, he was back at Hogwarts! But how did he get here; Draco ran a hand through his hair. He'd figure that out later; first, he needed food.

Making his way down to the first floor, Draco passed by the Great Hall and wandered down a side passage. He licked his lips as he came up to the fruit painting in front of him. He was hungry; so tickling the pear on the painting, Draco stepped into the kitchen. He was about to call out when a house elf skipped up to him, "Hello young master, would yous be liking some foods, sir?"

Draco smiled, "Yes, please."

The house elf squealed and ran off, they always did seem to like giving the students (even if he wasn't a student anymore) food. Draco settled himself on to a nearby stool as he waited. He didn't have to wait long, because the next thing he knew, there were about five house elves surrounding him, and they were all trying to shove some form of food or drink at him.

Draco blinked, before accepting a cup of pumpkin juice and some beans with pork, "Thanks!" he called enthusiastically as the house elves drifted off to find more food.

By the time they let Draco leave, he had stuffed himself so full that he could no longer feel his head throbbing with every heartbeat. He was leaving the kitchen as he heard some people walking by; ducking into a small crevasse, Draco peered out at them. What was Hermione doing with his aunt and McGonagall? Draco narrowed his eyes and returned to his wolf form. He followed the small group own across the grounds to the Quidditch pitch.

Coming up to the Quidditch pitch, Draco saw that it had completely changed. The hoops had been taken down and there seemed to be a preppy dog show set up. Draco snarled, what the bloody hell, he thought as he climbed the stairs to one of the watch towers. Luckily the decorative clothes were still up.

Settling himself down in one of the front seats, Draco looked down at the group of wizards in the stands below him; it looked like they had parchment and quills with them. Draco cocked his head, what was going on here? He was about to go back to the castle when he saw McGonagall and Andromeda break apart from Hermione. They both walked to opposite end of the course and stood there for a moment. Draco frowned, the he saw the tiniest of movements; McGonagall nodded her head in Hermione's direction and, as if on cue both she and Andromeda simultaneously transformed into their animagus form. McGonagall's was obviously a cat, but Draco had never had a conversation with his aunt, let alone seen her animagus; she ended up transforming into a horse. Draco was thoroughly confused, how could someone from her background be a horse, then he saw her wings. Draco let out a sigh of relief; even though Andromeda was disowned, he still felt as though she should have a worthy form.

As he watched to two animals, running around on the course, they continued to shift from human to animagus form continuously. Draco was getting confused again, so he wandered down off the tower and towards Hermione. She seemed to be furiously taking notes about what they were doing. Draco shook his head, unless those notes were about their routine, he couldn't understand what she was getting from this. So padding up to her, he turned around and sat on her feet.