Chapter 9
Harry was distracted this morning. To make things worse, he was distracted during Potions. His mind kept returning to Draco, wondering if he was alright. He glanced to the left to see the blonde's vacant worktable and looked even further to see Joseph, working as if he's made the assigned potion several times over. But after learning what he was able to create the day before, Harry wouldn't be surprised if he knew how to brew every single potion Snape was going to make them prepare this year. The door opened and Harry turned back to see Draco walk in.
"Focus on your work, Potter" Snape said, making Harry jump and look back at his cauldron.
Through the corner of his eye, Harry watched Draco approach Snape's desk. They talked for a while before Draco went to his station, and began working. Harry continued to watch Draco while the class continued, trying to work while gauging whether the Slytherin had completely recovered. He was so focused on Draco that he didn't notice Snape until he stood right in front of him.
Snape peered into the cauldron and sneered. "If this is the quality of potion you'll be producing as a healer, Potter…it'd be more merciful to just kill your patients on the spot."
Harry's cheeks flushed as Snape moved to check on the other students. He turned to see Hermione, Seamus and even Draco look at him with confused expressions before returning to their work. Harry spent the rest of the period trying to salvage what he had. In the end, Snape remarked it was in a better state, but still unusable. Draco was surprisingly able to finish his potion on time, despite being late. Just as Harry packed his things, Snape stopped in front of his desk and told him to stay. Harry sighed and sat a his desk while everyone else filed out of the classroom.
"Is this a joke, Potter?" Snape asked and Harry looked at him. "A few days ago, you asked if it was possible for you to gain enough credits that will let you be eligible to become a healer. The first class after asking that question, you perform like Longbottom. Was asking to be a healer a joke or have you found a new interest? Minister of Magic, perhaps?"
"I was very serious, sir" Harry replied. "I've just been distracted."
"About Quidditch, I'm sure" Snape said as he rolled his eyes. "I know you have certain responsibilities, but don't you think focusing on your future career is more important than winning the Quidditch Cup?" Harry merely nodded and Snape dropped three large books in front of Harry. "Study these well and I will see you during Potions club to test you. Clear?"
Harry nodded again before taking the books and leaving. He realized that he didn't ask how he would know which topics to study, but saw them bookmarked with the date of testing when he skimmed through the books. As soon as he returned to the common room, Ron and Hermione pulled him to the side.
"Harry, is it true you want to be a healer?" Ron asked and his friend nodded.
"I think that's great Harry, but why the sudden change?" Hermione asked.
"I've just been thinking about what I really wanted to do after graduating. I decided on becoming an auror back then because it was what people expected me to do" Harry replied and his friends nodded in understanding. "Do you think you can help me?"
He then showed the books to Hermione, and explained his arrangement with Snape."
These are really complex potions Harry" Hermione said as she went through the pages. "There are only a few people who can help you with these."
Harry sighed, knowing his friend was referring to the four Slytherin males. He wanted to ask Draco for help at first, but didn't think it would be a good idea. Harry could barely concentrate when in the same room together.. He's not that close to Blaise or Theo, and things between him and Joseph were tense, at best.
"Harry, is everything alright?" Hermione asked. "You've been acting differently, and not just recently. For the past few weeks, even."
Harry looked at his two friends, both looking concerned. He took in a deep breath, and lowered his voice. "I may…there's a chance that…I like Draco."
His two friends shared a look before leading Harry to Ron and Neville's room.
"Alright, you like Draco. What's the problem?" Hermione asked.
Harry then admitted how he really felt about the blonde. He also recounted the events of the day before.
"He really made that potion and gave it to a student?" Hermione said as she shook her head in disappointment. "He's Head Boy, for Merlin's sake."
"Wanker had it coming, anyway. If I had found out, I would've beaten him to a bloody pulp" Ron said, receiving a glare from his girlfriend. "Are you saying you wouldn't have done the same thing if you were in the same position and it was Harry or me?"
The couple argued for a while before Hermione returned her focus to Harry. "Based on what you said, it doesn't seem like he meant they were together. They've known each other since they were kids. That was what he probably meant."
"You shouldn't jump to conclusions, mate" Ron added. "And from what I saw, he probably likes you back."
As much as he wanted to believe his best friend, Harry couldn't. Draco's relationship was still too unclear to come up with a solid conclusion. Besides, the redhead has had more than his fair share of incorrectly read signals. The trio decided to let the topic rest for now before heading back to the common room to have lunch with their friends.
The Transfiguration classroom was silent, but the excitement in everyone's face was clear. Starting today, they would be trying to turn into their animagus forms.
Professor McGonagall then walked in and stood in front of the class, facing the students with a serious look."When you first try to transform,it will be difficult, but do not be disheartened if you fail to transform today. This process is extremely difficult, and should not be taken lightly. If done wrong, it could lead to dire consequences." She warned, staring at everyone pointedly. "After the initial transformation and after getting used to turning into an animal, the transformations will seem as natural and as seamless as breathing."
She then asked the students to stand and with a wave of her wand, all the desks and chairs were gone, pillows replacing them. She then asked everyone to sit on them.
"The first thing you must do is clear your mind" the headmistress said. "As we discussed, if you are distracted while trying to transform, you will fail and it could also influence your transformation. Once you clear your mind, try to visualize your form. When you feel that you can clearly make it out, recite the incantation in your mind over and over." Professor McGonagall looked at her students, calling their attention once more. "I must also warn that once you transform, you may be briefly taken over the animal's natural instincts. An example would be if one of you turned into a hawk and another, a rabbit, the hawk may try to hunt the rabbit. I urge you to fight against this instinct."
She scanned the room and once she saw everyone that everyone understood, she nodded and signalled for everyone to begin. The first several minutes of the class were silent. The last sound that was heard was of Professor McGonagall transforming her desk to a tank of water at the beginning. Harry sat on his spot, trying to clear his head of everything. Sadly, one specific blonde refused to leave his thoughts. He opened his eyes and looked at Draco, eyes shut, a peaceful expression on his face. Harry smiled at that, but his attention was caught by the sound of fluttering wings.
"Well done, Ms. Granger" Minerva said with a smile and everyone turned to Hermione's old spot, a silver barn owl now standing on top of it. The headmistress recorded the defining characteristic and set Hermione back down.
"Professor, why does Hermione's form have three red feathers on each wing?" Padma asked.
"As we discussed my dear, each animagus has a defining characteristic which helps everyone identify them from the regular animals and other animagi" Minerva explained. "The characteristic could be influenced by something physical. When I transform, there is a specific pattern around my eyes because of my glasses. Those red feathers could be from jewellery, wounds that were recently tended, or could even be due to a rash. There are some rare cases, though, when the characteristic was caused by something non-physical. What influenced it could have been emotional or psychological and it made it very hard to find the defining characteristic. A wizard was detained for nearly a week because of it as officials tried to figure out what the defining characteristic was. That is why it is important to clear your thoughts before attempting the transformation."
The class returned to trying their transformations and soon, a few more people were successful; Blaise turned into a scorpion, a green stripe on each of his claws. Neville turned into an Italian Greyhound with a long scar one of his front legs, an injury he received from one of the Carrows. The most impressive one so far was Joseph's; on his spot stood a black eagle, with a thing silver line going around its neck, making it look like he was wearing a necklace. The headmistress explained he had turned into Verreaux's Eagle, a large bird of prey native to Africa. It was an imposing sight until Theo turned into a rock sparrow, his tail feathers being a darker shade than the rest, flew around Joseph, chirping happily as it stood on the larger bird's head. Most of them kept themselves from chuckling, while the Slytherins made no attempt to do so.
Harry returned to trying to clear his head and Draco still remained in his thoughts. 'Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way. Maybe I just need to clear the thoughts that I feel are distractions.'
So he left thoughts about the blonde alone, and focused. He began visualizing his form and it started out as a large blob of white, but it began decreasing in size. As it decreased some more, the form was getting brighter. It began to take shape and it was like Harry could feel it getting closer. The light was almost blinding and then it was gone. Harry opened his eyes to see everyone staring at him. He moved towards the water tank and stared at the grey wolf with some fur on his forehead being white, making it look like a lightning bolt.
"Even as a wolf, you still have your mother's eyes" Minerva said with a smile.
Harry walked around, getting used to being on all fours. He stopped in front of Draco, who smiled down at him and ran his hands through Harry's fur. He returned to trying to transform and soon, Harry watched Draco shrink until he was smaller than the pillow he sat on. Harry stared dumbfounded at the grey rabbit with a gold tail. Draco got a hold of his bearings and he seemed just as surprised Harry. He complained, or at least Harry thought he was complaining, as all he was hearing were squeaks. It was then that Seamus had then turned into a fox and his body seemed to tense up when he saw Draco. Sensing danger, Draco bolted in the other direction and Seamus gave chase.
"Mr. Finnigan, stop chasing Mr. Malfoy!" Minerva yelled, trying to get order restored.
Everyone else scattered, either trying to catch Seamus or trying to not to step on Draco. Draco ran into a corner and saw the fox closing in on him. Just then, Harry jumped in front of Seamus and growled threateningly. Seamus backed off and looked around confused, as if he'd come back to his senses. Harry turned and lied down to be at level with Draco, who approached the wolf and nuzzled his cheek.
"I think that's enough excitement for today" the headmistress said. "Those who were unable to transform, please leave. The rest, try to turn back into a human."
"I'm really sorry" Seamus apologized for the nth time as the group walked back to the common room.
"It's fine, really" Draco replied.
Harry had also asked Hermione about the three red feathers, and showed him the two red bracelets Ron had gotten her.
"I'm surprised you still have it" Draco said to Joseph, who grunted in response.
"Have what?" Hermione asked and the Slytherin made no move to show anyone.
"Come on, don't make me use a spell" Draco said with a mischievous smile.
Rolling his eyes, Joseph slightly loosened his tie, unbuttoned the top three buttons on his shirt and brought out a silver necklace with the symbol for yin hanging on it.
"Draco got him that years ago" Blaise snickered. "He was even the one who said it was stupid."
Harry walked behind the group, and Joseph slowed his pace so he could walk beside him. "Professor Snape told me about your interest in becoming a healer."
"Yeah, but he's given me a ton of work" Harry explained. "I doubt I'll be able to catch up."
"You already have the wrong attitude for the job" Joseph stated and Harry looked at him.
"There will be times when there will be more patients than healers, times when you run out of a potion you need and have to start making it from scratch, there even might be a time you'll have to tend to several patients in critical condition" Joseph let that sink in for a few minutes. "The good thing about it is you're not alone. You'll have other healers, mediwizards and mediwitches helping you. And if you'd like, I would gladly help you get better at Potions."
Harry smiled and thanked Joseph, the two of them agreeing to meet in the library after dinner.
Harry sat at a table with Theo, Draco, and Joseph.
"You understand the basic principle of potion making, but that isn't enough to excel in being a healer" Joseph explained. "You need to know how the ingredients will react to specific ingredients and in certain conditions."
He then brought out a leather bound notebook and handed it to Harry. Skimming through it, he identified several of the ingredients they used in class, several notes written underneath them. They took into account how they would react if they were added whole or crushed, if the water was boiling or simmering, and what kind of reactions they would have to other ingredients. The notes were extensive and Harry just realized how much he needed to catch up.
"The reason for doing this is that some potions may not work on certain illnesses or people" Theo said. "You might have to create one that's stronger, but not strong enough to cause an overdose. A patient might have an allergic reaction to one ingredient in the potion, so you have to find an ingredient to replace it while not causing the potion to change drastically."
The Slytherins helped Harry come to a more in-depth understanding of potion making and the world of healers. At times, Harry would get distracted by the blonde sitting across him, but he'd just as quickly return focus to studying.
"Harry, come with me. I want to show you something" Joseph said as he stood and Harry followed him a few rows down. "These books will be helpful when you move onto the more complex potions." Harry nodded as he took one out and skimmed through it. "You seem to be very distracted. That's not a good thing to be when you're a healer."
"It's nothing" Harry replied.
"It's also not good to lie to the people you work with" Joseph returned. "It's quite obvious that you like Draco, but you shouldn't let tjpse feelings affect your work."
"Me liking Draco is not the main reason I'm distracted" Harry said, avoiding eye contact with the taller raven. "It's knowing I won't be with him because you two are together."
"You think Draco and I are together?" Joseph asked after a few minutes of silence.
"It's quite obvious, isn't it?" Harry returned.
Just then, Theo came looking for them. "Is everything alright?"
Looking at Harry for a few minutes, Joseph turned and grabbed Theo by the tie.
"What're you doing?" The brunette asked surprised.
"Proving someone wrong" was the taller Slytherin's reply before pulling Theo close, and pressing their lips together. They pulled away and Joseph unbuttoned the top buttons of Theo's shirt, bringing out a necklace similar to his with the symbol for yang.
"You couldn't have just told me you didn't like Draco?" Harry asked with a sheepish smile.
"I didn't think I'd get through that famous Gryffindor stubbornness with just words" Joseph replied with a smirk. "Besides, aren't you and Weasley the living embodiment of 'actions speaking louder than words'?"
"So, does Draco like me?" Harry asked shyly.
The two Slytherins looked at each other for a while, communicating through their stares
"Even we don't know" Theo finally said. "But you need to see if he does. You'll regret it if you don't."
"Luckily, there's an opportunity for you to find out" Joseph added and Harry looked at him. "The letter I received a few days ago was from my parents telling me to tell Draco that something is being done to Malfoy Manor and he should visit and take things he wants to keep. You should go with him."
Harry thought about it for a while. He didn't think he was the best choice for emotional support and maybe Joseph wanted to go because he and Draco were friends as children and he may have fond memories in that place. But the taller raven was right; this was probably the best time he would be able to find out if Draco likes him back. He agreed and they all walked back to the table. Best case scenario; Draco likes him back and they can start dating. As they continued studying through the rest of the night, Harry wished and prayed to Merlin and every other great wizard and witch that for once, things would go the way he wanted them to.