Disclaimer: Again, I don't own Harry Potter or anything from that world...

A/N: So another chapter... Haven't had many reviews saying if my chapters are bad so I'm assuming they are ok... Let me know! (hint hint *cough* review!) Thanks to those people who have reviewed/alerted/favourited my story! You guys rock! Xx

Chapter 5

Two weeks after the attack on Malfoy, Hermione was sitting in the library. She was studying for History of Magic, Charms and Transfiguration all at the same time. Her hand almost blurred as she wrote, her eyes flicking from side to side. She was trying to ignore the excited whispers and giggle from the first years that recognised her. Suddenly, she was distracted by a passage in one of the books. It was about Dark Wizards and their place in history. Hermione immediately thought of Malfoy. But, really, he wasn't all that bad, was he? He changed sides during the Battle of Hogwarts, although he could have done that to save his own skin.

Hermione put down her quill, suddenly finding that she couldn't concentrate on her work anymore.

She, Harry and Ron had all personally attended Narcissa Malfoy's trial at the Ministry. Harry spoke to the Wizengamot about how Mrs Malfoy had lied to the Dark Lord's face to save her son. She had been cleared of all charges.

The Golden Trio had even helped clear Draco Malfoy, not that he ever acknowledged that.

Hermione sighed. Why was she even thinking about this? He was still an arrogant prat, but Malfoy had woken up Hermione's curiosity and suspicions. He seemed to be his normal self, but there was something about him that had changed. Apart from the dead look in his once vibrant eyes, his whole... Something had changed. It was frustrating Hermione, she couldn't figure him out.

Hermione massaged her temples. She had to stop obsessing. There had been no more bullying towards Malfoy over the past couple of weeks, so she had no reason to be concerned about his wellbeing – physical or mental.

"Miss Granger?" She was interrupted

"Oh, Professor McGonagall. Is everything okay?" Hermione stood up, relieved to be spared from her thoughts.

"Yes, Miss Granger, everything is fine. I was wondering if I could ask you a bit of a favour..." And she told Hermione what she planned.

Hermione grinned.

Draco was waiting outside of Transfiguration. It was just his luck that seventh year Slytherins just had to have this stupid subject with those bloody Gryffindors. And that damn Granger was in Gryffindor. And speak of the devil...

Granger had just turned up, followed by a posse of scarlet and gold.

Oh, goody.

It wasn't that Draco wasn't thankful towards her – she had saved his life, and his arse, during the war and after, and helped him out a little this year already – she just annoyed him.

She was loved by everyone, it seemed. She was Gryffindor's Golden Girl, their Princess; they worshipped her. The Ravenclaw's admired her brains and adored her personality and the Hufflepuff's loved her thoughtfulness and loyalty. The Slytherin's on the other hand, hated the fact that she was smart, and that she was thoughtful. They didn't like her personality. But the main factor was that she was Potter's best friend. And many people in Slytherin still disliked Scarhead. There were a few – like Blaise Zabini, Theo Nott, and the Greengrass sisters – who actually didn't mind the Gryffindors or the bloody Golden Trio.

And Draco couldn't figure out why he didn't go out of his way to taunt them anymore. It had been his favourite pastime, trying to blow up Potty, Weasel or the Bush. Now, however, there was no point. There was no fun. Had he just grown up? Or was it something stupid, something sentimental that stopped Draco from causing them pain?

"Inside, please, seventh years." Professor McGonagall greeted.

Draco was relieved to be pulled out of his disturbing train of thought.

When everyone was in the classroom and seated, McGonagall looked around the room. The light glinted off her glasses.

"Today, students, I have planned for a special lesson. Now, I know that many people have heard of these people, but not many of you have actually seen one. I believe you have seen my transformation, however we have someone amongst us who can become one as well. I am talking, of course, about being an Animagus – to transfigure into an animalistic form."

There was an outbreak of muttering from the students. Draco rolled his eyes. This lot were easily excited.

"Now, you all remember my transformation. We have a student in our midst that spent half a year – by herself, I might add – training herself to transfigure. She was successful, although at the end of the war we had to fight for her registration and to keep her out of prison for "illegally" becoming an Animagus, thanks to Cornelius Fudge. Now, Miss Granger?"

Granger stood up and headed to the front of the room.

Ahh. Of course. The brains of the Golden Trio. Now, this was going to be interesting. Draco wondered which animal form she would take, but then quickly decided that it didn't matter.

"Miss Granger, if you please."

Granger beamed, then closed her eyes. She tossed her head a bit, then her body swirled around in a blur.

There were gasps of astonishment from the entire class except for Potter, Weasley – who had obviously seen this before – and Draco, but only because he was a master of the poker face.

Instead of Granger, there sat a beautiful, golden, regal lioness. She was smaller than the average lion, but still big enough to be entirely graceful like a normal lioness.

The fur at the end of her tail was the exact same colour and texture of Granger's hair. And her eyes. Her eyes were the same deep, emotional brown as the girl.

Oh yes, she was definitely Gryffindor's Golden Girl.

The Granger/lion stood up and began pacing in between the desks. Everyone stared, transfixed at the sight. When she returned to sigh next to McGonagall's feet, she roared.

Everyone jumped.

Then, with another shake of her head, Granger was back. And she was laughing.

"Thank you Miss Granger. Now, are there any questions about her transformation?"

Parvarti Patil raised her hand.

McGonagall nodded at her.

"Hermione, how did you have the time to do this?" She asked, wide eyed.

Draco rolled his own eyes at her facials.

Granger frowned, then looked at McGonagall, who nodded again.

Hermione thought about how she would tell her story. She looked at Harry and Ron, and silently asked them if she should explain everything. They understood, and nodded.

"Well, when Harry, Ron and I were on the run last year, we had a fair bit of free time on our hands. When we weren't looking for Horcruxes-" Hermione, Harry and Ron had explained everything about their hunt for Horcruxes, to make up for disappearing when the Wizarding world needed them most.

"- or thinking about what they could be, I read books. I had a magically enlarged bag that had been packed for days before we actually went into hiding, which was filled with clothes, bedding, potions, medicines, a tent, and books. I found a book about the art of the Animagus. I started to read that whenever I could. It described everything, in detail. The book explained that the process started out painfully, so I was reluctant to try. But after our close escape in Godric's Hollow, then again at the Lovegood's house, I started to think that it would be helpful if we could become an animal."

Hermione paused, and surveyed the room. Nearly everyone was hanging onto her words.

"When we set up our tent after that, I was pretty determined. I did everything the book told me and it was correct, it was hugely painful. It took me two weeks to finally turn into a lion."

"And it scared the shit out of us too!" Piped up Ron.

Hermione smiled. "Yes and scared them. I tried to teach Ron and Harry but it's really difficult to actually teach someone. Anyway, during the Battle at Hogwarts, I transformed a couple of times when I was needed. Like when Lavender was being attacked by Greyback. That was immensely helpful. But I made sure to Disillusion myself, so no one would see me. After the war, however, it seemed that Fudge was going to do anything to step up into power again, including arresting me. He had seen me become a lion by mistake, and freaked out. So when he arrested me, I sent a message with my patronus-"

"Wait, didn't they take your wand?" Asked Blaise from beside Malfoy.

"Well yes, but I conjured my Patronus silently, just before I was arrested."

"Wow. That is really powerful magic." Murmured Daphne Greengrass.

Hermione smile sheepishly. "Yeah, well, anyway, I was taken to the Ministry but Professor McGonagall, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Harry, Ron and the Weasley family were there to meet us. Kingsley demanded that they released me at once. There was a massive argument but they registered me, and well, here I am!" She finished.

And was met by dead silence.

"Wow!" Gasped some of the girls.

Then there was an outbreak of whispering again while Hermione looked slightly embarrassed. She wasn't used to the attention, but she was glad and relieved that it was to do with her magic. She was looking around the room when she spotted a pair of grey eyes watching her.

Malfoy.

Did she impress him with her magical abilities?

Then she wondered why she even cared.

The rest of the lesson passed by quickly with classmates asking Hermione questions about her experiences as a lioness, and one person asked to see her transform again, which she did. Hermione loved the feeling of being a lion. She felt so graceful, energetic and powerful, like she could take on the world. She was surrounded by her friends and the two boys she thought of as brothers, and she was being admired for her incredible magic

Hermione was happy.

She roared again.

A/N: So this was pretty fun to write. I felt like I should just pop this in here... I had this idea the other day and really liked it. Hermione really is the Gryffindor Princess right? Haha

Anywho, please review and let me know how I did. :P

Thanks!

KaylaKay

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