Disclaimer: In the immortal words of a toilet plunger wielding Rabbid… "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH"
Oh and JK Rowling… Warner Brothers… blah. On with the story!
Chapter 26 – I'm not an Animagus!
The day before:
A brunette girl sat nervously in a compartment on the train, her right arm leaning against the window sill, her fingers fiddling with her semi tamed hair.
Her left hand was wrapped around her stomach; a black leather bound book sat protectively between her and the world around her.
The teachers and aurors were patrolling the train, adding a level of security the Hogwarts express had never experienced before.
That left the returning prefects with free time during their return trip back to Hogwarts; something that was appreciated by all but one of those select students.
Hermione would have preferred such responsibilities, rather than having to sit and wait alone in the compartment. The eerie silence inside the cosy little room, contrasted greatly with the hustle and bustle of the rest of the train and the platform from which parents were fussing over their children.
The whistle blew and the train started with a lurch forward… Hermione felt suddenly trapped on the train; a veritable prison from which she could not escape.
Why was the girl so anxious and nervous?
As with many things in her life, they stemmed from a single source; a black haired, green eyed boy by the name of Harry Potter.
After her little epiphany over the winter holidays, Hermione had done quite a bit of thinking… something not uncommon to the girl. She wanted to turn over a new leaf, to make amends… to just become a better person in general. To do such a thing though, it was taxing, as the girl in question had to literally rewrite herself.
In a nut shell, Hermione had a long journey ahead of her, and she wanted to first find a way to rekindle her friendships with those she had pushed away.
Namely Harry and Ron.
Ron had not abandoned her, though Hermione got the impression that he was teetering over the edge. He would still talk to her, try to make an effort; Hermione was secretly impressed with the boy's loyalty.
At one point in her life she would have considered him the most immature emotionally stunted example of a Neanderthal, that she had the misfortune of associating with. Now though, she considered him… he was… he was Ron.
A small smile played across her features as she thought of the boy… and then a frown.
Her mind, reminded her of the other boy…
It was like a badly written soap opera, Hermione paused before realizing, that all soap opera's were badly written… and her life practically mirrored the classic cliché plot of any of those so called dramas.
She was the conflicted femme fatal, except with ungodly hair, and the boy's were her love interests. There was Ron, the safe, caring boy next door; goofy and immature, but with a heart of gold. And then there was the obscenely rich bad boy with a heartbreaking past and a sensitive side he liked to hide from the world, the all around hero, Harry Potter.
She could practically hear the sappy piano music playing in the background as she considered her choices. All she needed now was to get amnesia and fall for Draco Malfoy; if only to turn her triangle into a pyramid.
Her cynical thoughts were interrupted by a shuffling noise and the sliding of her compartment door.
She turned and scowled at the person it revealed.
"Happy belated New Year Mudblood." Draco said with a pleasant smile as he sauntered into the small room like he owned the place.
Hermione's eye twitched if only because he continued to call her a mudblood. It was easier to ignore it when she had others around her, something about having others taking offence on her behalf, took the sting out of the words.
"Malfoy…" She said with a scowl. Idly she noticed that he wasn't accompanied per his usual entourage. She felt a little disturbed by that.
"Now you don't sound too happy, what's wrong, holiday's got you down…" Malfoy said with a mock sympathetic frown. He had the gall to drag his luggage into the compartment and plop down across from the girl; like an old friend.
"Your not welcome here, go find your own compartment this one is reserved." Hermione said in scorn as the boy mocked her not a foot or two away. She cautiously felt the weight of her wand at her side with her right hand… she clung to the book with the other, deriving some comfort in what it represented.
Malfoy tracked her right hand as she reached for her wand… A genuine smile was on his face as he looked at the girl in amusement. Something was very wrong… There was something very off about the boy in front of her…
He had been arrogant before, he had been confident, he had been snide… but he had never been so… assured.
It was as if the boy in front of her was a completely different person. He held himself in a way she had only ever seen his farther manage.
"Oh come now Mudblood…"
"My name is Hermione…" Hermione interrupted in an angry tone
"Yes yes…" he mockingly brushed aside. "... It's just, for a moment there; I thought you didn't want me around." Draco said with wide innocent eyes.
"I'm not in the mood to deal with you Malfoy, just get out…"Hermione scoffed, crossing her arms and legs in a sign of dismissal. In reality, she just wanted to display her wand, and hug her book just a little bit more. Hoping the sender was here this once, to act brash and reckless.
This Malfoy was unsettling. What worried Hermione the most was the way his grey lifeless eyes stared into her soul. Somewhere deep down, she was afraid of him.
"Well, First… Ouch. Your words Hurt…" Malfoy said with a mocking sneer, he raised his hand and grasped at his chest as if he had a heart to break.
"Second… I don't have to go anywhere I don't want to go… Funny thing about public transport… wouldn't you say." Malfoy announced while leaning back in relaxation.
Hermione took a moment to reign in her emotions, feeling her face heating up in agitation. She seriously considering just up and leaving, when the compartment door opened for the second time.
The freckled, red headed visage of Ron Weasley appeared. He noticed Hermione and was about to say something in greeting when suddenly his eyes landed on the boy opposite her.
A deep frown marred his face as he took in the curious haughty stare of the blonde.
"Malfoy…"
"Hello Weasley, I hear your families actually making some money now… Congratulations." Malfoy smirked at the red head.
Ron stared at the boy for a second, his emotions swimming behind his eyes before he stood tall and proud... "Thank you Malfoy, It's nice to have money and a loving family, some people aren't as lucky." Ron stared pityingly at the boy.
Hermione watched in surprise as even though the blonde in front of him hadn't said or reacted physically in any way. A flare of pure unadulterated hate flashed behind the boy's eyes, at the subtle jibe.
Ron, instead of waiting around for the conversation to degenerate any further… turned to face the girl in the compartment.
"I was just looking for you, some of us have got a compartment near by Do you want to join us." Ron asked, clearly expecting the girl to agree… which she did.
"That would be lovely Ron. Good bye Malfoy; it hasn't been pleasant I'm afraid." Ron watched with a small smile as the girl effortlessly pulled her luggage from the compartment and walked out of the room imperiously.
"So long Mudblood." Draco waved cheerily. Ron stiffened and frowned. Hermione could see his fingers squeeze his wand just a tad tighter.
Taking comfort in that reaction, Hermione smiled and put a hand on Ron's shoulder to ease his anger; the insult not meaning as much as it did moments earlier.
They exited the compartment, and walked away; Ron turned back but saw that the compartment door stayed closed with Malfoy inside.
"I thought he was going to follow us or something…" Ron admitted in bewildered relief. He had sensed the offness too.
"Let's just be thankful he hasn't and be done with it." Hermione suggested, feeling much more at ease now that she had a friend with her.
"What was he doing there anyway…?" Ron asked curiously.
"Oh you know Malfoy, just trying to provoke a reaction…" Hermione said absentmindedly. Secretly she was wondering that as well. This had not been like their other encounters…
"Was he asking about Harry then?" Ron asked cautiously, his eyes looking about the train for eaves droppers.
Hermione frowned… "No?"
Ron turned at stared at her.
"No…? He didn't mention Harry at all; nothing?"
This was odd, considering the events of the Christmas holidays and the general nature of the Slytherin, the fact that no mention of the boy in question was asked… It raised quite a few flags.
Suddenly Hermione stiffened a little as she realized what they were discussing. Ron as well, that sureness he had before turned wary.
"What about you then…?" He asked.
Hermione knew what he was asking. She had been quite cross with him when he refused to play the spying game she had assigned him. He had been just as cross with her. At the time, she had seen it as the only alternative. She thought Harry would thank her in the end since she was looking out for his best interests. Now she realized how ludicrous that thought had been. She secretly marvelled at his forgiveness over how she had ousted his firebolt in third year.
"I…" Hermione started, she blushed a generous amount, earning a raised eye from the boy in front of her. "…don't plan to ask." She finished.
Ron starred at the girl in surprise. "You don't plan to ask...?"
Hermione blushed at his incredulous tones, but confirmed it with a shake of her head.
"You do know what happened over the holiday's right?" He asked.
Hermione huffed indignantly, smacking him lightly on the shoulder. "Of course I do you prat…." She scolded him, but with out any true heat in her words.
Ron starred at the girl; Hermione fidgeted under his watchful eyes. She imagined he was going to ask why the sudden change, maybe interrogate her on whether she was lying or not.
She was to be surprised though…
Ron beamed at the girl and enveloped her in a Hug.
"Glad to have you back Hermione…" He said quietly.
Hermione was startled for a moment at his touch, before hesitantly returning the hug.
He believed her. He took her word at face value.
She wouldn't have in his position, he really trusted her and he was willing to forgive so easily. Hermione hugged the boy just a little bit tighter… she had never realized just what kind of man he truly was.
"I never left Ronald…" Hermione said in humour, trying to find meaning for his words.
"I know…" He said with a smile as he leaned back to face the girl.
Something in the way he said it and the smile he was giving her, made the girl blush just a tad. She didn't entirely understand what he meant by it, as she was trying to be a new person after all… but that affection and deep insight were there. She knew he had just paid her an insightful and touching compliment.
She mentally tallied up another chalk mark for Ron in her mind.
… .. … .. …
The rest of the trip went rather well in Hermione's opinion. Ron had led her to a compartment with Ginny, Neville, and Luna.
Luna had looked up quickly, but she seemed disappointed at who had entered the compartment. Still she spared Hermione a smile but then turned back to her silent ponderings as she looked out the window. She was very quiet for the rest of the trip.
Apparently, Harry wasn't on the train, Ron having looked already for the boy before finding Hermione.
They passed the time in a comfortable manner, exchanging stories about their holiday's or other such tid bits.
They arrived in Hogsmead and took a carriage together to the castle. They were of course besieged by whispers and stares from the rest of the student body, Harry's name coming up often and his apparent absence, mentioned just as much.
Arriving in the great hall, Hermione was surprised to note that the boy was no where in sight.
Luna looked and upon seeing no sign of the boy of the hour, frowned, before she turned to stare at the far corner wall, about 15 feet up near where the enchantments for the ceiling began. She stared at the wall as if seeing past it and came to some conclusion before her face clouded over, morphing into the dreamy exterior she had made famous. She nodded to the group and headed over to the Ravenclaw table.
Dumbledore arrived and started and ended the return feast, never once mentioning Harry or the incident over the summer.
Luna seemed to take all this in with little or no effort before she joined everyone and left the great hall.
Hermione lost track of the girl in the crowd but could have sworn she had taken a left when she should have taken a right.
… .. … .. …
Ron had frowned at the lack of his best friend's presence through out the day. He bid farewell to Hermione as he went up to his room.
He entered to find Seamus and dean unpacking their things, and Neville watering his cactus thing that had squirted sap at everyone before…
Harry had obviously been here already as his trunk sat where it usually had, under his bed, indicating he had already unpacked.
'Was he avoiding me?' Ron crushed that thought immediately, at least the part where he was avoiding Ron solely. Ron realized the idiot was probably going to try to sneak in sometime later tonight. 'Probably brooding again…'
'Drama Queen…" Ron mentally huffed; then storing that title away, so he could remember to call Harry that when next he saw him. Ron turned to his own bed and started unpacking his mind wandering as he did…
Dean and Seamus were looking between Ron and Neville curiously; more Ron than Neville.
Ron could practically hear the question racing about their heads, but they had enough sense not to actually ask.
Eventually, everyone went to bed, seeing as it was getting late and the students needed to get back into their usual sleeping patterns; even if it was the weekend.
Ron however stayed awake. In his mind, he pictured how the meeting would go.
He would be bathed in darkness, the door would creak open. He would hear the tell tale footsteps of his friend trying to sneak in.
Suddenly the room would illuminate, and there would be Ron, staring at the boy mockingly, for trying to sneak by him.
Frowning, he considered the lighting… He would wake up Dean and Seamus then… Neville would sleep through anything.
Staring up and making sure the rest were sleeping, Ron waved his wand and incanted a silencio around the boys beds, while ever so gently closing their drapes around them to block out the light.
Nodding in confirmation… Ron looked over and suddenly thought it would be better to be sitting on Harry's bed when he revealed himself. To add to the shock value…
Getting up quickly, Ron switched over and sat on the boy's bed.
He frowned though….
"Is his bed softer than mine…?" Ron asked as he gave it an experimental press with his hand.
He would deal with that later; maybe switching mattresses at a later point when Harry wasn't around.
Back to his foolproof plan… He was going to reveal himself and bask in Harry's shocked surprise… then he would call Harry a drama queen for hiding from him and everyone…
Once Harry realized the error of his ways he would lay into the teen with some good natured ribbing.
This was the part he was looking forward to most. He had spent rest of his holidays, when he wasn't worrying about the guy, thinking up ways of teasing him.
He had even researched the name of the Icarus fellow in case he ever was in an opportunity to tell Harry he was trying to hard…
For the Luna scenario's he would call him cupid, or cherubic…. He had never really wondered what their names were. He had always called them fat flying babies in his head…
"Ron, what are you doing on my bed?"
Startled, Ron turned and stared at the sudden appearance of the boy in question. 'When had he come in?'
"I…" Ron said.
Harry frowned and took note that the boy had a glazed happy expression on his face before he had announced his presence.
A disgusted frown made its way on his face, as his mind came up with an idea that disturbed him greatly…
"You didn't… you know… on my bed did you…?" Harry asked in revulsion.
"What, No!" Ron cried in outrage at the insinuation.
"Shush, you'll wake everyone." Harry warned.
"I cast a silencing spell and closed their drapes…." Ron explained absently as he brushed Harry's warning aside. A blush was making its way on his face at Harry's insinuation.
Harry frowned once more at the new information and turned to stare questioningly at his sheets.
"Honestly Ron, I won't be mad, just… you didn't right?" Harry asked as he pointed his illuminated wand at the bed as if searching for signs of… evidence.
Ron turned an even deeper shade of Weasley red. How had his plan gone so completely to seed?
'Stick to the plan…' his mind advised.
"You're a drama Queen!" Ron cried with an accusatory finger pointed at the boy.
Harry stared at Ron in bemusement as he observed the pointing boy who was still seated on his bed.
"What…?"
… .. … .. …
It was a long and strange conversation that followed. Harry in confusion and Ron in embarrassment... for reasons he hoped would never be discussed ever again.
Harry had claimed to not be tired and told Ron he planned to go to the kitchens.
Really Harry just wanted to ask Dobby to dispose of his mattress and get him a new one. The thought had already been placed and he didn't want to have to sleep on it any further.
It was a shame, as it was a very comfortable bed. Very soft…
Ron had eventually decided to join him, deciding to distance himself from the bed in question as well.
The two made their way down the stairs to the common room. Harry and Ron decided to try out their disillusionment spells this time, and strolled out of the common room in a transparent blur.
As the two indistinct ripples in the air wandered the hallway, Ron finally asked.
"So… wings?"
The other ripple seemed to almost shrug. "Apparently so…"
"So are you an Animagus or something? Did you stop half way through your transformation?" Ron's voice asked as his outline seemed to turn and stare at the other outline questioningly.
"I'm, not an Animagus… wouldn't my arms have turned into wings then?" Harry's voice replied questioningly.
"Oh… I just figured you were like a griffin or a Hippogriff…" Ron stated.
"Aren't those magical animals, I thought animagi were always muggle animals?"
The indistinct shape that was Ron paused for a second… "Are they?"
"Well name me one Animagus we know who is a magical animal…" Harry challenged.
A sleepy painting mumbled incoherently as the two indistinct shapes moved through the corridor. A suit of armour looked around trying to spot where the voices were coming from, but just couldn't spot the two. The fact that the armour had no actual eye's eyes to see with didn't help.
"Remus…?"
"He's a werewolf, not an Animagus…"
"Close enough…"
"As close as Dobby is to a Giant…" Harry harrumphed.
"Well either way, who's to say you can't become a griffin or a hippogriff. When was the last time you saw Buck Beak do anything 'magical'" he challenged. Realizing that Harry couldn't see him make the air quotes around the word magical he lowered his hands, hoping no one was watching him make that blunder.
"Well then why do they teach us about it in Care of Magical Creatures class" Harry challenged back.
"Why do goblins do our banking… apparently they're all muggles, according to Dumbledore?" Ron pointed back.
"Touché…"
The two walked down the stairs toward the kitchens for a moment in silence…
"What were we talking about…?" Ron asked.
"I have no idea, why were we talking about goblins?"
Ron shrugged not realizing that Harry couldn't see the gesture…
Harry approached the portrait of the bowl of fruit, before looking around and dis-disillusioning himself.
Ron followed suit and tickled the pear gaining them entrance.
"They entered the room to find the house elves just as active as they ever were. Upon spotting the pair, the elves excitedly pulled them inside, and much to Ron's delight started to offer him sweets and other confections.
Harry asked for a cup of coffee, thinking he would need the caffeine to stay awake.
Ron asked for the same as he thanked the elves for the desserts.
"Harry Potter, Mr Wheezy…" Dobby cried in greeting as he bounced forward.
He had a sauce pan on his head. His ears just managing to poke out from under the iron cast ware.
"Hi Dobby. Why do you…?" Harry pointed at his own head trying t indicate at the pot.
"Oh's, Dobby is being on guard duty tonight… Ever since Ms. Luna's victory over the bad candies, we's elves have been vigilant. I is about to go on my patrol soon." Dobby stated proudly as he struck a commanding pose; he held a wooden spoon in his hand like a rifle that he carried over his shoulder.
"Bad candies… you mean Bob?" Harry asked in comprehension.
There was a collective hissing noise as all the elves frowned in anger and distrust at the name.
"Oh's we be not speaking the name of the lead Candy sir… He is just the Bad one..." Dobby stated significantly.
Ron snorted a little into his cup as he whispered into his coffee just loud enough for Harry to hear… "The you-know-who of the candy world… the gummy that must not be named."
Harry tried to stifle a laugh at that, though he stopped when he wondered if that would make Dobby his counterpart.
"Would you's be liking to join me sirs…" Dobby asked hopefully.
Harry was about to turn the elf down when Ron immediately replied.
"We'd be delighted to help…"
Dobby beamed.
Harry leaned close to Ron as he whispered… "We would?"
"Why not… what else we got to do?" Ron whispered back.
Harry frowned and saw Ron's point. This was probably good for a laugh.
Dobby suddenly appeared in front of the two boys, a pot in each hand.
"When in Rome…" Ron said, putting the coffee cup down and placing the pot over his head.
Harry laughed as he copied his friend.
They each reached out and pulled a kitchen utensil. Harry a spatula… Ron, a ladle.
Dobby beamed happily clapping his hands in glee. The wooden spoon still firmly in his grasp.
"To the Hunt!" The little man cried.
… .. … .. …
A few hours later…
Harry stared at the wreckage around them… A suit of armour who was missing its lower half; it was pulling itself along the corridor trying to give chase to the little gummy warriors as they retreated.
Peeves was stuck in a wall screaming bloody murder, and the floor was littered with thousands upon thousands of lemon drops that had been released from the fake wall that had hid them.
A painting of a nun was crying silently while Sir Cadogen tried to console her… reassuring her that they could repaint her home better and grander than before.
The old one had been washed away by water from an overzealous Ron with a watering charm.
Harry heard the mocking ominous laughter of Shirley the Occamy as he slithered away in freedom, promising sweet vengeance on all.
Harry could come to only one conclusion…
GONG
"OW, what the hell" Ron cried as Harry used his bent spatula to hit him on the side of his pot helmet.
"I blame you for this…" Harry elaborated as he crossed his arms amidst the destruction.
Somewhere the lower half of the suit of armour was running around in circles trying to find its upper half.
Ron looked like he wanted to defend himself but then paused and nodded, knowing it truly was his fault.
"Reckon we should run before anyone see's us?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded, before instructing a dizzy Dobby that they were never here.
"Yes Sir Mr. Wheezy!" Dobby cried back, having been confounded by accident.
He whipped his hand up in a salute but ended up creating another GONG as the wooden spoon in his grasp struck his protective cooking helmet. Causing the helmet to fall all the way down, until his head was completely hidden under the metal.
Harry wasn't sure how they had gotten into this situation, but all he knew was to never let Ron convince him to go Gummy bear hunting with Dobbyever again. It just wasn't worth it… He wasn't sure the castle could take the strain either.
… .. … .. …
Harry yawned as he walked to the great hall.
They had escaped back to their common room and to bed. Harry had wandlessly turned his mattress over when Ron wasn't looking just to be safe.
They tried to stay silent and just go to sleep but they were too wired from their adventure to do anything of the sort.
In the end they had just broken down laughing at their mini adventure… Glad that Ron's silencio was still holding strong as they stayed up the rest of the night.
Ron had filled him in half way though on the wizarding side of his little muggle incident.
It was pretty much how Dumbledore had described it.
The wizards and witches were panicking. Harry being such a prominent member of society, being exposed doing magic had led the magical world to believe their society was at an end.
Apparently Dumbledore had been doing more work than he had let on and was actively denouncing any hysteria, meeting the press often, making appearances with certain individuals, and in general, actively trying to calm down the public.
It had worked a tad, as now everyone was just angry at Harry. Him being the one to have caused the mess, no one mentioned the death eaters who had started the fight…
There also seemed to be some more pride in the public nowadays. The recent win against the muggle suppression levelling the field; even if the feet was accomplished by death eaters, the average wizard didn't care, as it proved that magic had proved superior once more.
Harry wasn't too sure on how he felt about that, but put it aside for later thought.
As to the anger from the wizarding world, directed at himself…Harry couldn't care less. He had been hated and reviled so much over the years, the public outcry did very little to bring him down. Especially not after watching Ron accidentally stick Peeves into the wall through methods unknown.
Harry had smirked as he passed by the crowd of students who were keenly observing the writhing poltergeists heiny as it protruded from the wall. Luckily peeves had not seen them as they had been disillusioned at the time, which Harry thought might have been a shame as Filch looked like he would rather shake the culprits' hands despite the damage they had caused. He was having quite a time mocking the poltergeist…
Harry turned the final corner and bumped into Luna…. Harry was about to comment on how the tradition continues, when he took in her frowning stare.
"What did you do…?" Luna asked archly.
Knowing she already suspected, he sighed and admitted… "I was hunting the gummy bears with Ron and Dobby."
She paused before frowning cutely. "Without me?"
"It wasn't planned…" Harry said consolingly to the upset girl.
"Promise…" She asked, after a moment.
"I promise…" Harry said with a smile. Tentatively reaching out he pulled her into a hug.
She hugged him back before leaning away and staring at him sternly.
"Next time, if you find yourself fighting Bob… you come get me." She scolded in warning.
"Of course…" Harry said with a smile. "Am I forgiven?" he asked.
"I'm still upset you didn't come get me…" She said sulkily as he led her into the great hall.
"What do I have to do to make it up to you…?" Harry asked charmingly.
"Take me on a hunt tonight?" She asked winningly.
Harry paused, remembering the havoc of the night before….
"How long until you forgive me if I don't…." He asked, trying to weigh his options.
"A long time…" she warned cheerfully as she took a sip from her orange juice.
Harry was about to try and explain how truly strange the night had been when they were interrupted by Susan's voice …
"Um… Harry?"
Looking over to his left he was surprised to see the girl in question sitting beside him.
"Hi Susan, morning to you." He replied cheerfully
"Hello Susan…" Luna chirped in a friendly manner on Harry's other side.
"Morning Luna… I was just wondering, not that you're not welcome…." Susan said trying to formulate her question.
"Yes…?"
"Well, again your welcome here anytime, just, why are you sitting at the Hufflepuff table?" She asked curiously…
Looking in surprise, Harry turned and looked at where he was… sure enough he was seated with the Hufflepuffs, the Gryffindor table directly behind them.
"I have no idea…" Harry answered back belatedly.
"You're rubbing off on me you know…" Harry warned, as he blamed Luna for his zoning out.
"It's a good thing, you'll see." Luna replied back cheerfully as she reached out for a blueberry muffin.
… .. … .. …
Hermione watched the pair as they sat themselves at the Hufflepuff table. Susan seemed to strike up a pleasant conversation with Harry and Luna as they ate breakfast.
Hermione had at first been a little annoyed that they hadn't come to the Gryffindor table, and Harry had ignored her completely. But she was also secretly relieved…
She had no idea how she was going to go about apologizing to Harry, especially with so many people around. She would approach him at a later time… she could think about her approach more till then.
That also let her process the other strange thoughts about the boy… like how he had become an Animagus…?
… .. … .. …
Harry huffed in agitation.
Almost everyone who had come up to him had asked him, like Ron, if he was an Animagus, and if so what kind of bird….?
It was getting very annoying having to tell them over and over again that he wasn't, and then having to be asked the question how he had gotten his wings otherwise.
In the end he just said yes... he was and walked away.
The rest of the weekend he had spent getting accosted with that question and getting back into the swing of things.
The student body in general weren't showing the same anger the rest of the wizarding world displayed, which was refreshing to Harry. They too had gotten used to the flip flopping nature of Harry's fame, and while certain people liked him more or less, they only really whispered about him behind his back.
If anything they were more curious… apparently, the student body in general thought that becoming an Animagus was cool and rebellious… Which everyone thought Harry was unfortunately.
McGonagall, was soon besieged by dozens of students wishing to learn more about the transformation. About which she was both pleased and wary about.
All this resulted in was a lecture the first day of class, where McGonagall had reiterated that anyone who attempted to perform the Animagus rites, would be putting themselves in danger and risking a year in Azkaban for illegally attempting the transformation, should they be successful.
That had started a few more rumours itself, about whether Harry was going to go to jail or not.
By Tuesday, Harry wound up thumping his head on the table in agitation from the sheer lunacy of it all. The fact that Luna and Ron, the only ones truly in the know of it all considered it funny, only added to Harry's exasperation.
… .. … .. …
It was Wednesday, Harry's final class had let out and he was looking forward to a nice hot meal and general avoidance of everyone. He had just entered his dorms to put his books away, when he noticed an owl pecking on his window.
Opening the glass paneling, Harry watched as the irritated owl flew over to his bed, deposited a package and flew off with an angry hoot.
Apparently it had been waiting for quite a while.
Going over to the bed, he looked at the package that was addressed to him in a familiar scribble.
Pulling the card out, He flipped it open to confirm the sender.
Hello Harry,
Haw are things fairing so far? I've been collecting a few articles over the past few days and thought you might want to be kept apprised of some of the muggle news…
Not much has been happening on my end, Laura sends her love and Emmy wants to see your wings but other than that, all's well.
I hope you enjoy the news as much as I have had reading it.
Love,
Remus
PS: I sent a pair of mittens over, it should still be quite chilly up there…
Harry smiled at the letter, and sighed in exasperation at the post script.
Opening the small cylindrical package, Harry turned it upside down.
A pair of mittens slid out causing a bit of paper to slide past the end of the tube.
Curiously, Harry pulled the paper out, only to stare in surprise at the multitude of pages being released.
He had news from every paper he had ever heard of... and some he had never known existed.
From "The Herald", to "The Sun"... though the page three's were missing for some reason.
On the top of the pile, which was dated the day after the… event; Harry was unsurprised to see his face on the cover; a still frame image taken from one of the video cameras.
The first headline… "Angels amongst us…"
Harry scoffed at the article, which was a load of religious tripe.
The second was a bit more reasonable and interesting to read. "A member of the 7800?"
It boiled down to the government's initial hesitation to referring to him as a member of their organization, and the government's explanation of the death eaters.
Apparently, some purists groups had sprung up to point out howmeasures must be taken to curb the group from posing a danger to decent folk everywhere.
Harry got the idea that Vernon Dursley probably would have gotten along just fine with those people who were being considered (thankfully) extremists.
…Although the attack had grown their numbers alarmingly.
The third article…"Harry Potter; Troubled delinquent."
Harry was a bit more agitated with that headline and article. They had apparently tracked him down to Surrey and taken some statements. This was an article from the Sun … he was starting to view it as a rival to the prophet in his scorn. They even mentioned St Brutus by name…
The forth however… "St Brutus Denies Harry Potter's enrolment."
A smile played across Harry's face as he read the article about how St. Brutus had denied having Harry enrol in the school, only excepting students who have been enrolled by judicial process; enrolment being reserved for the particularly troubled cases. Harry, having been officially confirmed to have never had a criminal record of any kind, seemed to denounce that virulent rumour.
Harry smiled at that, thinking about how the Dursley's would have to explain this to their neighbours …
Harry smiled as he read the next article.
"Family is confirmed to have slandered Harry Potter's name…"
Harry was openly beaming as he read an article about how the Dursley's had been confirmed to have started the rumours, and have openly been condemning the 'Hero' of the hour of being a no good punk. The family, being revealed to be his only living relatives, added further shame and condemnation. Apparently, they had taken statements from a variety of sources, including his old teachers and neighbours.
The neighbours, he didn't care so much about except for Mrs. Fig's comment on how Harry was the most upstanding and delightful boy she had ever had the pleasure of meeting. The rest were sheep who went with the flow. But Harry's teachers were quite kind; while describing him as an odd lad who sometimes had strange things happen around him, he was described as quite shy and smart.
Harry planned to save the article for prosperity.
The next article was a bit more troubling though…
Apparently the news papers had discovered that Harry Potter was no where to be found… Anyone with information on the boy was to contact authorities as he was needed for testimony, and to answer some questions that had arisen.
The following papers continued to talk about him in relation to the 7800, the government using him as an example of the positive members of the group, to balance out the criticism from their critics.
If anything it would at least prove to be an interesting new year…. of that Harry was certain.
AN: Half of this chapter was written while I was sleep deprived, thus explaining the randomness of the beginning. The rest is just general filler.
I had plans for this chapter but for the life of me I can't remember what they are, and the plot having changed enough that I couldn't use my outline as a guide.
Anyway, a lot of hints for things to come. And I'd like to point out, that Shirley is free….
I've been quite neglectful of the little guy. He'll be around though, you'll see.
Anyway, till next time.
Quazi
Ps: I left a couple updated pictures in my deviant account, for those of you interested. They have to do with the story…