Chapter 7

Harry kept staring at his reflection. He couldn't believe that he was an owl. Well, he did change into a snake, but an owl? When did that happen?

He cocked his head to a side and his reflections mimicked it. The owl in the mirror was a smaller one. He wasn't an expert, but he thought that he was a great horned owl, albeit a smaller one. Because of his age, he guessed. His feathers were as dark as his hair and similar to his untameable hair, his feathers had a slightly ruffled look about them. His eyes were amber coloured but with an emerald circle present in the middle. There were two tufts of feathers on his head like horns that gave the name to the species of the owl. His legs now have powerful and deadly sharp-looking talons on them and his hands were turned into wings.

Wait a freaking minute. He had wings. It meant he could fly. Without a broom. Delighted by the prospect of flying, Harry flapped his wings, fully intended to have a little flight just around the room, only to lose his balance and stumble on the floor. Hedwig let out a series of hoots and barks. Dumbledore scooped the disoriented newly formed avian up from the floor and set him on the bed.

"I am afraid it is not as easy as Hedwig makes it look, Harry. You need to be comfortable within your new form first and familiarize yourself with the newly developed body parts. After that, you may try to fly." The old wizard brought out his wand, "Now, I am going to change you back to your proper form. Please, hold still. Oh, and one more thing…" He waved the wand and conjured a blanket over Owl-Harry. It almost drowned him in fabric. Another wave of the wand, and Owl-Harry started to stretch out to become bigger. Soon he was back in his human form. Harry looked down at himself and yelped to find that he was completely naked. He grabbed the conjured blanket and hastily wrapped it around himself.

After making sure that he was fully covered, Harry looked up to meet the incredulous stares of the two professors. "Er…" was all he could utter. Dumbledore conjured two comfortable chairs for him and Scamander and they both took their seats.

"You said that you were turned into a snake," Newt started, "but right now, you were an owl. Are you sure you haven't dreamt the whole thing, lad?"

Harry frowned as he tried to remember that night. Granted, he was a bit confused and freaked out when he woke up, but still, the night's experience was etched in his memory.

"Um… I was dreaming about the basilisk, having a nightmare, really, but I am pretty sure that I didn't dream about being a snake." He looked up to meet the gazes of the elder wizards, "When I woke up, I was scared, because I was trapped under something and couldn't get out of it. After a while, I managed to free myself from the blanket and found that I had no hands or legs. My skin was patterned like a snake's skin and I kept flicking out my tongue.

It scared the sh- um… stuff out of me at first. Then I remembered reading about the animagus manual. I tried to meditate like the book told but couldn't manage it at first. I kept imagining about Mal- er… someone having a slug as their animagus form and carrying their mansion as their shell over their slimy body. I remember it all, Professor. I don't think it was a dream."

As the two adults exchanged a thoughtful glance, Hedwig flew from her perch and landed on Harry's shoulder. She clicked her beaks and let out a series of soft hoots and then started to preen the boy's hair.

"Umm… Hedwig says I didn't dream about it at all. She saw me turning into a snake that night."

Professors Scamander and Dumbledore were having a hushed conversation between themselves. They turned their renewed incredulous stare at him when they heard Harry's comment.

"You mean you can understand her, Harry?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"Yes sir. I always seemed to know what she was saying. But, it… umm… kinda cleared up since I changed, you know. I can't explain it, but now I can understand her quite clearly."

"Fascinating," Newt Scamander had his eyes glued to the owl, "familiar bond, do you think?" He asked the older wizard.

"It is possible. It certainly explains the partial communication. Something that I myself share with Fawkes. But mutual understanding on this level is unheard of. Harry," Dumbledore turned towards the boy, "would you mind explaining how much you understand this lovely lady here?"

Harry frowned in thought, he lifted a hand to stroke the soft feathers on Hedwig's chest. "I am not sure, Professor. Earlier, it was kind of feelings, you know? Like hunger, annoyance and the likes. Sometimes she sent me images of stuff. Like the owlery, other owls, bacon. But since I changed, I can hear her pretty clear. Kinda like -" He paused, giving a fearful look at Newt.

"Please, do continue, my boy." Dumbledore urged him.

"Kinda like when I understood those snakes," Harry whispered.

The silence in the room was too deafening. Harry was fidgeting while sitting on the bed, thinking about how Newt Scamander would react after knowing him being a Parselmouth. He had had enough scorns for that to last him a lifetime, thank you very much.

The silence was broken by hearty laughter from Newt Scamander, Magizoologist.

"By Merlin's beard! When I decided to say hello to you this morning, Mr Potter, I truly didn't expect to experience these many magical wonders in such a short time. Accidental animagus with two probable forms, natural Occlumense, familiar bond, Parselmouth! You don't do things by half, do you, lad?"

Harry could only blush in reply.

"Do I dare to ask what your beautiful friend told you when you tried to take a flight?"

"Er… She told me that she would help me learn how to fly and hunt and stuff. But she refuses to feed me. She thinks I am too old and she is too young for me to be her chick. I need to hunt for my own food, but she wouldn't mind sharing an odd owl treat or two with me."

Again, Professor Scamander laughed out loud. Even Professor Dumbledore joined in with a small chuckle, much to Harry's embarrassment.

"Madame Hedwig is proving to be quite a witty lady. But I am afraid, Newt, your theory is not so sound."

Newt frowned hearing that, "Oh? Which theory is that, Professor?"

"An animagus with multiple forms, dear boy, it is simply not possible. It doesn't matter how powerful a witch or wizard is, they can't have more than one animal form. It is a tested and proven principle."

Professor Scamander opened his mouth to argue, but Dumbledore raised a hand to stop it.

"I know what you want to say - the myths about Merlin having more than one animal form. But that is all it is, Newt. Myth, stories without any proof. Our animal forms are just an outward projection of the most primal nature of our souls. Our magic enables us to embody that part of our soul by morphing our physical appearances to match our primal nature through meditation and practice.

It is also the reason why there is no magical animagus form. Our magic only helps us to acquire another form. However, it is not able to emulate the magic that is innate within truly magical beings such as a phoenix or a unicorn. The closer one's magic or soul comes to interact with such magic is through their wand. A wand consists of animal parts in its core, be they phoenix feathers, unicorn hair or dragon heartstring. However small the part is, it is still full of the same magic its donor has in their body. And it is that magic that resonates with our own, thus the differences in wands. We get to wield a wand whose animal donor matches the nature or power of our souls."

Albus Dumbledore truly missed the days when he was in a classroom and imparting knowledge to eager minds. Since he became the Headmaster, his entire being yearned to go back inside of a classroom for just a lecture or two. He was a teacher above anything. That was why he was glad to deliver this impromptu lecture on animagi slash wandlore. And he was happy to see his students – both the former and current, were eager listeners. It also paid to his gambit of taking Harry's mind off of his change, there was a certain mystery about the boy and he needed to solve it.

"'The wand chooses the wizard.' Mr Olivander said to me when I went there to buy my wand." Harry muttered, "So what he said actually meant that the wand core, the animal part is the one which connects to us, our soul, I mean, and helps us to cast our magic."

"Precisely, my dear boy."

"What about the wooden part, Professor?" Asked Newt.

"A safe conduit, if you will. A balanced medium for our magic, and our chosen animal brethren's magic to work in harmony without any severe effect. I believe Harry's dorm mate, young Mr Finnegan possesses a wand with a dragon heartstring core. Of course, my assumption is based on his affinity with fire-based magic. If I am to make another assumption, his wand wood is of oak. A strong, sturdy conduit to negate the unstable effects of the fire enthusiast and his core down somewhat. Can you imagine a dragon heartstring core with a mismatched wooden body in Mr Finnegan's hands? One with the ability to set anything on fire only because the boy pointed his wand in that direction?"

"Yikes!" Harry was well aware of Seamus setting almost everything on fire because of his miscasting. A mismatched wand able to create more havoc in that firebug's hands was a sure source of nightmare.

"Indeed."

Harry became thoughtful, "Voldemort also had a phoenix feather wand."

"Yes, he did." Dumbledore agreed, "You need to remember, Harry, despite his malignant tendencies, Voldemort was a powerful individual, and only the powerful witches or wizards can obtain a phoenix feather wand. However, I digress, we need to get back to the previous discussion."

"Yes, human soul and animagus form." Newt supplied helpfully.

"Precisely. A sole animal form is the indication of the soul of a witch or wizard. Multiple forms, therefore, will implicate…"

Professor Dumbledore abruptly stopped speaking. He was staring at the far side wall. Well, he was staring in that direction, but he was not watching anything. Because his mind was working at a very furious pace behind those eyes.

Harry dared to prod the thinking man. He was very much familiar with this type of situation. Spending time with Hermione Granger would do that to anyone, and if someone dared to break her chain of thought, then may Merlin have mercy on that idiot (*cough* Ron *cough*). He didn't know if the Headmaster would snap at him like the bushy-haired Gryffindor, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Hence, he called out in a low voice.

"Um… Professor?"

Nothing.

Harry and Newt exchanged a worried look. This time, it was Newt who called out.

"Professor Dumbledore?"

Again, nothing.

Newt Scamander got up from his seat and leaned over. He hesitatingly reached out and touched the aged warlock on the shoulder, "Headmaster?"

The faint touch seemed to send a shock to the Headmaster's system. He jumped a little and looked wide-eyed at the man who broke him out of his thoughts. He needed a moment to recompose himself.

"Forgive me, I seemed to have lost in thoughts for a moment." He gave Newt a nod of assurance, the man nodded in return and got back to his seat. Dumbledore took another moment to centre his thoughts, he was still scowling a little as he looked up to find the emerald eyes of Harry Potter.

"Harry, how certain are you that you have changed into a snake?"

"Prek!" Hedwig barked from her perch on Harry's shoulder.

"I am pretty sure, Professor," Harry replied with a frown of his own, then he shot a look at Hedwig before continuing, "and umm… Hedwig is telling me to tell you that she is not pleased that you didn't trust her words on that."

Dumbledore chuckled hearing that but stopped when the snowy owl puffed her feathers to make herself look even bigger.

"Do forgive my transgression, Miss Hedwig. I only want to ensure the safety of young Harry. You want your charge to remain safe and healthy, don't you, even when he is not your chick?"

Hedwig cocked her head before giving a soft hoot and bobbing her head in a way that signalled her assent to the Headmaster's comment. Newt could only shake his head at the highly unlikely display in front of him.

"As I was saying, Harry, if you are quite sure that you have turned into a snake before," He paused and gave Hedwig a little nod, "Then why didn't you turn into a snake just now? Why an owl?"

Harry bit his lip in thought, his hand on its own went up as he started to scratch Hedwig's head. Finally, he seemed to have reached a conclusion as his face brightened.

"Ah… I think I turned into an owl because I was thinking about Hedwig, Professor." He said excitedly. Then at the next moment, his face fell, "But how is that possible? You just said that no one can have more than one form. And I am pretty sure that I was a snake before." His hands started to fidget with the edge of the blanket around him.

Dumbledore didn't reply to his question, instead, he asked his own, "Would you mind trying your change once again, Harry? But do try to be the snake this time, would you?"

Harry nodded dubiously, "I-if you're sure…"

"I am indeed quite sure, my boy."

Harry got up to his feet as did his two guests. With a wave of his wand, Newt moved the conjured chairs against a wall to give more space to the teen who was attempting another animagus transformation.

Hedwig gave her not-chick an encouraging hoot before flying off of his shoulder and back to her perch. Harry smiled at his avian friend.

"Focus, Harry. If you keep thinking about Hedwig then you may once again change into an owl, as you've said so yourself."

Harry contemplated the comment for a moment.

"Um… Professor?"

"Yes, Harry."

"Can you conjure a snake? For, you know, to concentrate on it and stuff?"

"If you think that will help you."

"I think it will, Professor."

A wave of that strange-looking wand of the Headmaster and there was a viper on the floor.

~What is thisss? Where am I?~

Harry knelt to level himself at the clearly agitated reptile, ~Hello, friend, forgive uss for calling you from your home, but we need your help.~

Newt Scamander would have been down on the floor right beside the teen with a quill and a notebook in his hands if the Headmaster didn't have a strong grip on his shoulder preventing him from doing so.

"Fascinating, isn't it, Professor?" He whispered excitedly, "Makes you wonder why the snakes have a magical language of their own and other animals don't. There is so much to study and research."

"Yes," Dumbledore agreed with the Magizoologist, "if only the magical were not superstitious over a language."

Newt snorted, "Only in Britain, Professor. The Asian countries worship the Parselmouths. To them, they are the blessed ones. Even outside of Britain, the Perselmouths are revered, with their ability to become powerful healers."

"The stigma of Slytherin House and the unnecessary violence of Voldemort have turned Magical Britain away from a significantly important part of the magic," Dumbledore admitted sadly.

While the older wizards were having a conversation over the missed chances of learning from a Parselmouth, the younger one had managed to placate the summoned serpent to help him in his quest. The viper stayed still on the floor with its head reared and looking intently at the speaker. Harry, while looking at the snake, went through the same ripple he did like before and shrank within his blanket. Dumbledore cautiously went around the viper and lifted the blanket off the floor. A small snake, smaller than the summoned viper, raised its head from its coil. Newt Scamander leaned in excitedly and peered at the snakelet from different angles.

"A cottonmouth, I believe. Not a native of this country, mainly found in the swamplands of the United States of America. One of the world's few semi-aquatic serpents. Capable swimmer and relatively poisonous breed of the Viperidae species." Newt whistled, "That is quite an impressive form there, Mr Potter." He frowned and turned towards Dumbledore, "But how is this possible, Professor? You just said that none can have multiple forms. And yet here we are, witnessing a boy of what, twelve, first transforming into an owl and next to a snake?"

Albus didn't take his eyes off of the pair of snakes on the floor, who were having quite an intense conversation between them. His mind still occupied, he called out, "Harry, I am going to cover you with the blanket. Please turn back."

It took mere seconds for the boy to reappear blanket-clad. Dumbledore was about to banish the snake when he stopped him.

"Please, Professor Dumbledore, don't send her away yet. I promised her a meal before we send her back to her nest."

"I can help you with that," Newt jumped up and dug through his coat pocket, Harry was amazed to watch as the man's arm disappeared within the pocket almost up to his armpit. He wanted to ask about that but Newt straightened up and had a rat squirming in his hand. "Here you go, lad."

Harry offered the rat to the snake who didn't waste any time and lunged at the critter. Once the rat disappeared down the snake-gullet, Dumbledore banished it.

"Harry," Dumbledore called the boy, "Newt and I are going down to the pub. When you are ready, come down and find us. You have given us a lot to think about and I insist that we reconvene our meeting back at Hogwarts. Where it is safer from any and everything for this kind of discussion."

Dumbledore stopped at the door before exiting, he turned around and conjured a small cloth in faded purple colour. "When you come down, I want you to bring the thickest tome in your collection wrapped within this piece of cloth. We need to maintain the ruse of us discussing the tome of dragon breeding that you discovered after all."