Disclaimer: Just to say as I did at the very beginning of the story that all the characters, (except a very few e.g. Leanne Filroy, Rena Holloway), places and general concept belong to JK Rowling, although much of this story and some of its smaller ideas (e.g. the chasm of life, wizarding post- its) and the story are my own ideas. I am in no way affiliated to JK Rowling or Bloomsbury etc etc and I make no money from films, books, merchandise (unfortunately) etc. Here endeth the lesson. On another note, there is a small radiohead reference, but don't worry, it's just a song name used as a metaphor ish. Something for you 'head fans to spot.

Chapter 26 Into the Grounds

"And Snape told you not to tell Dumbledore?" Ron said, astonished.

"Yep," Harry replied, "he said it twice just to make sure."

"So are you going to tell him?" Ron asked. Harry was glad Ron had voiced this suggestion and not him. He now had plenty of reasons to distrust Snape: the prisoners escaping when he was at the ministry, the letters L.V on that letter and now this. Hermione spoke up.

"I think you should listen to Snape," she said, but to Harry it sounded like she was trying to convince herself more than anyone else. "Dumbledore trusts Snape..."

"Do you?" Ron cut across quickly. Hermione frowned at him for a moment before she answered with a simple nod. Ron gaped at her. "But look at all the evidence!" he said angrily. "We know his task from Dumbledore was to work with Voldemort, what if he was actually working with Voldemort from the start? There's no other explanation!"

Hermione bit her lip and did not answer, before turning back to her revision. The exams were just a week off now and Hermione's hysterics were getting worse. She now snapped at any that interrupted her revision and peace in the common room, and was frequently the last to leave the common room. Harry and Ron could see her most weekend days hunched over books in the library, but had enough sense to leave her be.

Harry was trying to relieve the tension that was building around sixth years by holding Quidditch practises, but without a match with Slytherin for another couple of months, he had no reason to, especially with the burden of revision. He no longer had his lessons with Dumbledore or Snape, who had decided that Harry was not sufficient enough at Occlumency to fight off Legilimency, as long as he didn't let his emotions get the better of him. However, it was his lessons with Professor McGonagall that had survived the longest, and that he enjoyed the most.

He was now at the stage where he could transform his arms, legs and head into the respective parts of a phoenix, but he was still too big to fly like that. Ron had found it hysterically funny that Harry's scrawny legs couldn't support him. Ron himself could now change all four of his limbs into the legs of a dog, and he could make his nose go cold and black as a dog's.

Hermione was getting frustrated at her own lack of improvement. She was still too big to fly, much to her disappointment, and instead just flapped hopelessly on the floor.

The three of them therefore, headed down to Professor McGonagall's classroom with renewed vigour and will to succeed. However, as they were approaching the classroom, they saw Professor McGonagall back out of it and lock the door.

"Professor?" Harry said, the question implied in his words.

Professor McGonagall jumped slightly at his voice. "Ah! Oh its you Potter." She took a calming breath before answering his question. "I decided that we should hold this evenings lesson outside, as I think you are close to transforming."

Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione who both shot him excited looks, as they followed Professor McGonagall down the stairs, through the entrance hall, and into the grounds.

She lit her wand quietly as they walked on to the lawns. The crisp cold air caught Harry's face painfully, but he ignored it. Professor McGonagall turned and lit a torch bracket behind them, before calling Ron forward.

"Weasley, you first." Ron stepped forward, his face set. He closed his briefly, before opening them wide and flicking his wand up and down.

"Dane Aniservia!" Harry knew instantly that Ron wasn't going to do the complete transformation, but he also knew there would a lot of progress this time. He watched as Ron's arms and legs covered themselves in thick fur, and his head elongated slightly as his nose turned jet black. His ears moved upwards so they were protruding over the top of his head, and his mouth opened to reveal a huge, lolling tongue.

Harry and Hermione clapped hard as Ron changed back, blushing, but looking pleased with himself. Professor McGonagall congratulated him as well, before calling Harry forward.

"Just remember what you have to do Potter." Her voice was curt, but Harry was certain he could detect a hint of excitement in it.

Harry, like Ron, closed his eyes. He tried to remember how it had felt to be able to transform his arms, legs and head. Once he had that feeling, he tried to imagine everything from ground level. In his minds eye he was a phoenix, and he took off, soaring above the castle. Harry knew it was time. He opened his eyes before flicking his wand up, then back down again.

"Phoenix Aniservia!" he yelled. He had done it. He felt his whole body shrinking as he became bird sized, his head became a phoenix's head with its elongated long beak, his skin turned to thick golden plumage and his legs became thin and yellow, but were now strong enough to support his weight. He held his arms out beside him to admire the feathers that now stood there, and he knew he was now ready. He looked around him. Professor McGonagall was standing high above him, clapping hard, and so were Ron and Hermione. He turned away from them, and faced the lake. He bent his scrawny legs, and pushed, flapping his wings as he did it.

The feeling was breathtaking. He soared upwards, high above the ground with minimal effort now that he was up in the air. He opened his wings and twisted and turned, rolling over and over in the air. It was like being on his broom, but he WAS the broom...

He glided over the shimmering surface of the lake, diving down and skimming his feet across the black water. He then turned and shot upwards, sailing to the moon, his wings outstretched. He arced gracefully back and whipped around the turrets of the castle, a fireball of speed and epic grace. He turned and dived back down again, landing effortlessly on the ground. Righting himself, he transformed back.

Ron was simply looking stunned, Professor McGonagall was clapping, but Hermione threw her arms around Harry, practically crying with joy.

"Oh Harry that was wonderful!" she said, laughing now. Harry blushed, before encouraging Hermione.

"Go on, you have a go!" Harry stepped away from Hermione and stood beside Ron, (who was obviously trying to keep his emotions in check), and Professor McGonagall. Hermione, like Harry and Ron, closed her eyes for a moment before flicking her wand.

"Owl Aniservia!" Harry watched as Hermione's nose elongated slightly, and her head shrank into that of an owls. Her body sprouted feathers, and she started to shrink towards the ground; it was like watching Peter Pettigrew, but the other way around. However, her shrinking slowed much to early...

She was an owl, but about twice the size of normal. She flapped her wings desperately, and she managed to hover just above the ground, but she could do no better. She transfigured back, looking distinctly frustrated.

"I was so close that time!" she said, running a hand through her bushy brown hair. Professor McGonagall gave her a small smile.

"I would not worry Miss Granger," she said crisply, "I think you will be able to transform fully soon, and you too Mr Weasley." She straightened up slightly. "I'm afraid I will not be able to hold lessons with you for a few weeks, I will let you know when. You may of course practise until then, but you must be careful, transforming can go drastically wrong." She turned and started to walk up towards the castle. "You should return to the common room immediately, you have only a few days before your exams."