Hey Guys,

I seem to have developed an awful habit of not updating much, haven't I?

Sorry for that, hopefully next chapter will be up sooner :)

Minerva turned the corner on the way to her classroom. The corridor, usually so empty at this time of day, had a student standing in it. She saw the bushy brown hair and the stack of books she was holding in her arms. Miss Granger, she smiled to herself. The young girl reminded her so much of herself at that age, with such a desire to learn.

"Good morning." Minerva greeted her. "You're rather early to class, aren't you?"

Her student ducked her head sheepishly. "I, I didn't want to be late, Professor, and especially not for Transfiguration, and I didn't have anything else to do, and…" she trailed off.

"It's quite alright, Miss Granger, I do believe I was early for class once or twice myself, back in my Hogwarts days." She walked up to the door. "Shall we enter?"

Once inside the room, Minerva placed her papers on her desk and watched as this most eager of students chose a desk in the front row, carefully set her books on the surface, and took her wand out.

"Tell me, Miss Granger, why you are so eager to learn?" she asked.

"Well, it's an amazing opportunity to be able to study here, don't you think? I never even dreamed that I would get to be a witch and learn all sorts of interesting magic, and I've always loved learning new things anyways. I'm especially eager to start learning Charms and Transfiguration." Hermione answered.

"And why would that be?"

"Well, Charms and Transfiguration seem a lot like what magic is all about in the Muggle books. Making objects do strange and wonderful things, changing objects into other objects, turning people into toads, I've read all about things like that happening. Is it actually possible to turn someone into a toad?" she asked curiously.

"I suppose it would be, though I've never actually tried… maybe I will someday." The Transfiguration Professor replied with a faint gleam in her eye. "There are only a few more minutes before class, so I believe I shall get ready." Hermione frowned. What did she mean?

Placing her wand on the desk, the Professor began to blur and shrink. A second later, the stately figure of the Hogwarts Transfiguration Professor was replaced by a sleek gray tabby cat.

Hermione gasped. "You're an Animagus, aren't you, Professor?"

The cat leaped up onto the desk, curled its tail around its paws, and blinked at Hermione. She noticed that the cat had square markings around her green eyes, just like the glasses the Professor wore in her human form. "Those markings," Hermione outlined then around her own eyes with her finger. "Are they your Animagus markings? I think they are different for every Animagus… I've read about it."

The cat blinked again.

A thought stuck Hermione. "Professor, do you think that I could become an Animagus?" she asked excitedly. How amazing would it be to be able to turn into an animal just at a thought!

The cat tilted its head to one side and narrowed its eyes as if in deep thought. Just at that moment, the rest of the class started walking in. Hermione sighed. She would ask Professor McGonagall later.

.o.O.o.

The class settled in quickly, and looked around for the teacher. Whispers traveled around the room. "Perhaps she's forgotten?" someone asked hopefully. Hermione hid a smile, while simultaneously glaring at whoever had dared to suggest missing class was a good thing.

Suddenly the gray cat on the desk leaped off, and mid-jump flowed into the shape of Professor McGonagall. The class gasped, and immediately began to babble praise.

Once, they had settled down, the Professor got the class underway, starting by giving them a serious lecture about transfiguration. Professor McGonagall then set them a task – to attempt to change a matchstick into a needle.

.o.O.o.

Hermione said the incantation to herself, repeating it to make sure she had got it right. Pointing her wand at the matchstick, she said the incantation clearly. The matchstick shimmered and became shot through with splinters of silver. "Get ready to pack up, class." Professor McGonagall said. Hermione shook her head in frustration, concentrated fiercely on the matchstick, said the incantation, and willed it to become a needle.

The needle shifted and changed. It appeared to be a needle, albeit larger and thicker than a normal needle. Hermione was proud nonetheless. Looking around, she saw that no one else had managed to change to matchstick into a needle, even a flawed needle.

Professor McGonagall walked over to her desk, and quietly said "Well done." She then raised her voice louder. "Now class, I want you to practice this spell for homework. Hopefully next lesson you will be able to make at least some difference to the matchstick. See Miss Granger's excellent example, she is the only one out of all you who has managed to change her matchstick." She smiled down at Hermione. "Now, off you go, on to your next class."

The class got up and left with a great scraping and banging. Hermione felt a warm feeling of satisfaction rise up within her. She had been the best student in the class, and the Professor had praised her in front of all of them!

As she left, the Professor said "Miss Granger, to answer your question, yes, I do believe you are capable to become an Animagus. However, in a few years we shall see how you have progressed, and if you are still interested, I would be willing to tutor you in becoming an Animagus."

Hermione stood in the doorway, thunderstruck.

"Well, hurry along. Don't be late for your next class." The Professor smiled at her expression.

Hermione pulled herself together. "Yes, Professor, I, thank you Professor." She hurried off.

Once she had left, Minerva picked up the matchstick that Hermione had transfigured. It was a very strong transfiguration, not perfect, but very good. Few first years managed to transfigure something on the first try. There had been Albus Dumbledore, herself, and now… Hermione Granger. I would like to see where Miss Granger goes in the future, Minerva thought to herself. She is a wonderful addition to Gryffindor House, and I will be watching her progress keenly.

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Hope you enjoyed!