Chapter 12 - The Aniservian Charm

This question troubled Harry greatly over the next few days, even though he was kept very busy. At lunch on Monday, the last day of October, he sat thinking about it. He no longer had any inclination of asking Cho to the ball, so now he was left with very few possibilities. He had already ruled out Ginny (best friend's little sister), Parvati (worked out badly last ball), Lavender (would have heard from Parvati) and Hermione (who would be going with Ron no doubt).

But, in Transfiguration, something happened which blew all thoughts of the Halloween ball, and of going to Godric's Hollow, out of his mind. He, Ron and Hermione were sat in Charms, where Ron was muttering to Harry about Ginny's continued relationship with Dean, (which Ron was most displeased about), when the class began to be dismissed. The students around them started to get their books together, and Harry and Ron set to follow suit, before Professor McGonagall swept on them, requesting they wait behind after lessons.

When the three of them were the only students left, they walked up to Professor McGonagall, who was magically putting notes up for the next class.

"Sit down," she said curtly. The three of them complied, settling down in front of her desk. She addressed them directly. "The three of you will be happy to know, that Professor Snape informed me this morning of his completion of the Aniservian potion. I should like you three, in my office, tonight at 8 o'clock. Ok?"

The three of them agreed emphatically, and left the room, talking excitedly.

"Oh I wonder what I'll be!" said Hermione eagerly. "Maybe an otter, like my Patronus?"

Harry hadn't thought of this, but on reflection, it was a fair idea. Would he be a stag like his father? Thinking about it, Harry wasn't sure he would want to be one, but his thoughts were rudely interrupted by the Herbology test Professor Sprout was giving them that afternoon.

*

The three of them walked down to Professor McGonagall's office in the deafening silence that surrounds those who are nervous. Harry felt a thrill of foreboding as they stepped through the door into their Transfiguration classroom. Professor McGonagall was waiting.

"You may sit down, Miss Granger, follow me." Professor McGonagall turned and stepped through the door behind her desk into her quarters. Harry and Ron watched Hermione follow her through, before the door was shut behind her.

"What do you reckon she'll be?" Ron asked.

"I don't know," said Harry truthfully, "something clever I expect." Ron laughed.

"Yeah, probably." The conversation fell silent, but neither had to wait long. Hermione emerged with a broad smile on her face, and wasted no time on telling Harry and Ron.

"An owl!" she said excitedly. "Oh I can't wait, I'll get to fly anywhere I want! Oh, she says to send Ron in." Ron got to his feet, a gleeful expression on his face.

"Hope I'm something big!" he said eagerly, before turning and almost running through the door. Hermione sat down next to Harry.

"So what happens?" Harry enquired.

"Well, first she takes a strand of your hair, like for the polyjuice potion, and then she put it in this potion which she stirred three times with her wand." Hermione responded. "Then you drink some of the potion, and then she puts her wand against your head while saying an incantation, before putting her wand in this bowl of liquid of some kind. Then it rises up, and forms into your animal!"

"Did you expect to be an owl?" Harry asked.

"I didn't know what to expect, but deep down I thought maybe an owl." Hermione replied truthfully. "What do you think you'll be?"

Harry considered. "I don't know," he said honestly.

Hermione nodded approvingly. "Yes, I think its better if you don't go in with any expectations. Then you won't be disappointed."

Harry thought this made sense, and was starting to think about Godric's Hollow, when Ron stepped out of Professor McGonagall's office, beaming.

"A Great Dane!" he said happily. "A big powerful dog, just like I said!" Harry and Hermione laughed, but Harry trailed off as Ron continued. "It's your turn Harry!"

Harry got up, nerves jangling in his stomach, and stepped through the door into Professor McGonagall's quarters.

Harry's first impression was of how typically Professor McGonagall it was. Everything was neatly ordered, and Harry had a fleeting moment where he tried to imagine the ecstasy Hermione must have felt upon seeing this room.

"Sit, Potter." Professor McGonagall's sharp tones brought him back to his senses, and he sat down opposite Professor McGonagall, next to a round table. On the table was a bowl of shimmering liquid, very much like the consistency and colour of that of a penseive. In a cauldron behind McGonagall, was a bubbling cauldron, which was over a roaring fire, of which Harry could feel the intense heat. Professor McGonagall continued.

"I will now use the Aniservian potion to find out which animal you will become when you transform." Handing over some scissors, she continued. "I require a few hairs." Harry cut off a few, and placed them in her upturned hand, placing the scissors on the table. Professor McGonagall turned, and dropped the hairs carefully into the bubbling cauldron.

Harry watched the cauldron, as did Professor McGonagall. After a few seconds, there was a small popping sound, and she stirred it three times with her wand. After the third time, the potion turned a rich blood red, and she quickly dipped a goblet in to the potion, which she handed to Harry.

"Drink up, quickly now!" she said. Harry took a drink of the potion, which tasted oddly sweet. Professor McGonagall waited until Harry had drunk the goblet, before leaning over the table, and placing her wand against his head.

"Aniservius!" she said. Harry could just about see that the wand on his forehead was starting to glow, and Harry felt oddly as though he had dipped his head in cold water. Professor McGonagall moved the wand from his head, and dipped it into the goblet.

Harry watched in awe as the liquid swirled, before it rose up. Harry recognised it at once. Its wings lay by its side, its head perked up, beak out. It was in the prime of its life, and Harry watched as the liquid's colour changed too, so that the unmistakable red-gold plumage shone throughout the room.

"A Phoenix!" Harry breathed. But as Harry watched, the mixture started to change its shape and colour, it was forming something else... Harry's eyes snapped up to meet Professor McGonagall, who looked equally surprised. The mixture was becoming a lighter gold colour and Harry watched as four legs sprouted out of the mixture, and then a small tail, and a mane... Harry watched as the lion took full form, but then the liquid started to change again... Harry watched each change in fascination. First a phoenix, then a lion, then a hippogriff, then a thestral, then a serpent, then a stag, before finally sinking back into its bowl and becoming still.

Harry sat in silence for a moment, before looking up at Professor McGonagall, who was finishing writing down the animals that had appeared.

"What did that mean Professor?" he asked quietly.

"I'm not sure, hold on a moment Potter." Professor McGonagall rose, before walking over to a small fireplace in the corner. She threw on some Floo powder.

"Professor Dumbledore's office." She said, before stepping in. The fire went green, casting an eerie light over the room for a moment, and then she was gone. Harry was sat there alone for only a matter of minutes, before the slender form of the headmaster stepped out of the fireplace, quickly followed by Professor McGonagall.

"Good evening Harry." Dumbledore said quietly.

"Good evening Professor." Harry replied, staring up at Dumbledore's frowning face. "What did it mean Professor?"

"Unless I am very much mistaken," Dumbledore answered, "it meant that you will be able to transform into a number of creatures."

Harry's face lit up. "So I can transform into anything?"

Dumbledore smiled slightly. "No, I am afraid not, but from what Professor McGonagall tells me, you have one of the largest possible ranges she has heard of. You see, people who can transform into several animals are very rare, and most can only transform into just two or three animals. You on the other hand, will be able to transform into..." Dumbledore's eyes scanned the list quickly, "six animals."

Harry's heart started to beat slightly faster. "When will we start learning?"

"Thursday," said Professor McGonagall. "Every Thursday until you can do it. But I should warn you Potter, this will not get you out of your homework, as I told Miss Granger and Mr Weasley. You may go now."

Very happy, Harry strode out of the room, to find Ron and Hermione in each other's arms, waiting for him.

Ron went slightly scarlet, but recovered himself. "What kept you?" he asked quickly, but before Harry could answer, Ron had seen into McGonagall's office. "Why is Dumbledore in there?"

Harry explained to Ron and Hermione as they walked back up to the common room as to what had happened when Professor McGonagall had performed the charm on him. They were as excited as he was when he told them about the animals he could be.

"Wow!" Hermione squealed excitedly, "Imagine it! Whenever you are hurt, you could just use a Phoenix's healing powers! And when you want to get somewhere, you could fly as a Phoenix, or a Hippogriff or a Thestral!"

"Yeah," Ron chipped in, "Or you be a lion when you needed some power, or a stag for some ground speed. Why do you reckon you got a serpent though?"

Harry thought he knew, but he shrugged as if he didn't know. Harry was pretty sure his being able to transform into a serpent was just like his ability to speak Parseltongue: inherited from Lord Voldemort. Hermione seemed to understand this also, but didn't say anything.

In the common room Harry sat in a chair by the fire, thinking about this new development. Around him, most people were talking about the ball, especially as Ron and Hermione had just announced they were an item, and were going together. A fair few people asked Harry what he thought of them being together and he had to keep assuring people that he was ok with it. Eventually, he got fed up with being asked and went up to his room, and he soon fell asleep.