Minerva had taken the Weasley twins, Luna, and Hermione to the side not long after breakfast as they still had some time before class and went over how far they were in their animagus studies.
"We can tell we're close, but there's just something blocking us from making the full change," Fred admitted.
George nodded in agreement, "Hermione thinks it's our worry of not being the same as animals even though each stage has been similar we've noticed differences."
"I agree with Hermione, but mine is simply because it wasn't the right time. I've always been close, but my inner self kept telling me it just wasn't time," Luna spoke up.
"Messieurs Weasley, I believe Apprentice Granger is correct, you're worried too much on being the same that you're afraid of finding something that makes you visibly different. You've already put in all the work, it's up to you to make the final change. Once you have the form, it is yours forever," Minerva explained to the twins before turning to Luna, "Miss Lovegood, if you believe it is now time, I will gladly observe and then take you to register at the Ministry myself."
Luna smiled at the stern witch and in a smooth motion she transformed into a mountain lion with silvery blue eyes. However unlike her friend who, when turned, was an adult of her species, Luna was a young puma.
"Luna, you're a puma! Also known as a mountain lion and they hold a world record for having the most names," the petite witch gushed.
Hermione was so excited she burst into her own form, walked around in a circle, then licked Luna on her sleek fur covered forehead.
"Well Miss Lovegood, it would appear that your form is just as young as you are. Perhaps while we are at the Ministry we can remind them you have some growing to do."
Luna purred as her species was one of the few big cats that could.
"Good job. Now turn back Miss Lovegood, Apprentice Granger," Minerva instructed.
Both witches were able to turn back swiftly with all of their clothes.
"Messieurs Weasley, would you like to try?" Minerva asked, knowing how boys were.
The twins looked at each other and after some silent communication nodded.
"Remember to embrace yourselves, fully," encouraged Minerva.
With encouragement from their favorite professor and having just seen their two study partners manage the transformation, the twins made to merge with their inner animal. Despite their misgivings both wizards turned into red foxes with one of their legs having black fur and their tails a blend of red, black, and tipped white. They were mirror images of each other in this form instead of identical though.
"At least your mischief is come by honestly," Minerva mumbled to herself.
The boys gave out loud barking laughs that were a bit whiny.
"If you would change back please," Minerva ordered.
George was the first one to make the change back, "Just remember what it's like to stand on two legs, Fred," with that bout of encouragement Fred was also able to make the change back.
"Congratulations gentlemen, you are animagi and your forms are the same. Hogwarts will pay for your registration fees, and you will be registered this evening. I will give you all a pass to get to class on the slim chance you are late," she said as she wrote the, "You will want to practice becoming familiar with your forms regularly, and I will happily help you while you do so. Every day, 20 minutes before dinner until you have it perfectly."
"Thank you, Professor," they chimed before they left.
"Always knew we liked sneaking into the chicken coop as tykes to mess with them," Fred laughed.
Once they had left Minerva allowed herself to smile, "Their forms are just adorable!"
The Weasley twins had DADA first thing. Barty, it seemed, had decided to continue to teach in a similar manner as last year, but less gruff and more refined. He was an instant hit and no one needed new books. Add to that he knew where most of them were progress wise in their education (and it was still the first half of the semester). Additionally, there were no mode educational decrees, allowing normalcy to return to the castle, or as normal as Hogwarts got.
"The first few weeks of this semester were wasted and we'll have to make things pretty intense to get where you're supposed to be. There will be less homework, but that just means I expect you to be better prepared for class! This is NEWT level and I'm sure you're all eager to pass with flying colors. Also don't be asking Apprentice Granger for help, she has her own studies to do."
A Hufflepuff in the back scoffed.
"Anything to say, Mr. Jefferies?" Barty asked darkly.
"I know she's an apprentice and all, but why would we ask a technical fifth year for help."
The Weasley twins glared at the wizard.
"Shows what you know," Barty growled reminiscent of last year's escapade, "Apprentice Granger took her Defense OWLs and NEWTs yesterday."
The class broke out in whispers.
"What? Did you think Madame Marchbanks came to flip her skirt in your direction?"
Many of the class shivered in disgust, the witch was older than Dumbledore.
"She came to test the Apprentice at the request of her tutor and master. You should all know Snape does not suffer fools lightly."
There was a murmur of agreement throughout the room. Many had dropped potions as they either weren't qualified because of his exacting standards, needing an O, or because they no longer needed potions. The Twins had made it and bunkered down after OWLs. They still brought home EEs and 3 Os each to their mother, but more so she couldn't force them to her choice of job for them. Two halves of a whole was their style. They decided once they finished NEWTs they would move as soon as possible to avoid her tirade.
"Anyways, she's already taken her exams and has agreed to keep the information to herself so no one can cheat," he lied.
If the student populace believed it, they would leave her alone 'knowing' she was a stifler for the rules. Barty stood firm that he'd look out for his pupil. The Twins knew better, but they also liked to do things on their own merits. At least they'd be able to tell the rest of Gryffindor that the new professor was like Moody (only a handful of students knew the truth).
Word spread fast that Crouch was a lot like Moody from last year without the shock factor (which made him even more likeable). The only one who seemed to have a problem with this was Neville.
"What's wrong, mate?" Dean asked.
"I can't believe they're letting Crouch teach here," Neville grumbled.
Hermione noticed this and decided that tact was key, "Neville, you know he was at the wrong place at the wrong time, right?"
"So?" the boy replied mulishly.
"So, he had nothing to do with that incident," Hermione said.
"He could have done something, he could have stopped them," he grouched.
"They would have killed him or he'd be where they are," Luna pitched in, "Mummy said she used to be friends with Andromeda Black, Bellatrix's younger sister, and she told me that Miss Bellatrix Black would just as easily turn on her friends as she would her enemies and no one was safe if they didn't do as they were told."
Neville mulled it over, having minor shock over someone as innocent as Luna, and her mum being friends with a sister of the crazy bitch that put his parents in the St. Mungos.
"Think of it like the troll incident," Hermione said lowly, "with Bellatrix being crazier than a troll and Professor Crouch as someone else since he was only 19. That's only 2 years out of Hogwarts. Your parents were two great aurors, which you know requires 3 years of intense training. Professor Crouch was, and still is, a civilian in comparison."
Neville glared at the table; in the face of logic he couldn't be mad at the wizard.
"I need to go to the Hospital Wing, I'll see you later," Neville said, getting up abruptly.
Hermione looked at Luna concerned and Luna just pat her hand.
"He'll be okay, he's still upset. Most wizards can't handle logic like that," she said comfortingly earning a quick quirk of the other witch's lips.
The Minister however was not having a good day, he tried to bluster to Lucius about how he was the Minister and what he said should be final only to be cruelly laughed at.
"If you want The Board to go to the Daily Prophet about how you appointed a pedophile in a school, be my guest; but don't expect any of my help with that. Ogden was all your idea," Lucius said before walking out.
The Minister stood behind his desk, now fiddling with his bowler hat.
Amelia Bones had done some digging, but since none of it was Official she couldn't go and haul the man out on his ass as she had wanted to and Fudge had already told her that since it wasn't official it was akin to smearing his good name. For Lucius to tell him otherwise, for once not in his corner, he didn't know how to handle it. Instead of crying about it, he poured himself a glass of fire whiskey and tossed it back, coughing a bit. This year was simply not his year.
It was much later in the day when Albus was looking for Minerva, but couldn't find her. He eventually asked a Hogwarts elf, who promptly disappeared and told him the Deputy Headmistress was not in the castle, but at the Ministry.
Albus of course didn't like that, not at all. So he saw himself to the Ministry through apparition as quickly as possible.
"Excuse me, have you seen Professor McGonagall?" he asked the closest security officer.
"Yes, sir. She was here with 3 students, they're all signing up at the animagus registry office," he replied.
"Thank you."
With that he quickly flew down the halls despite his old age and then slowed down once the office was in sight and let himself in.
"Ah, Minerva, there you are," he said.
"Albus, what are you doing here? Who is in charge of the school?" she asked him sternly.
He looked and noticed the students, two being Weasleys.
"I was looking for you –"
"Is there an emergency?" she asked quickly.
"Well, no, but I was hoping –"
"Albus, I am here with students. Hogwarts covers these registration fees as its in their tuition to avoid legal matters."
"What are your forms, if I might ask?" Albus side-stepped his deputy who's glare burns holes in him.
"No, thank you, Headmaster," Luna replied.
"Wiley," Fred replied.
"Ah, so a coyote?" Albus chuckled, "I expect nothing less from you."
No one corrected him, even though Fred hid his discomfort behind a grin.
"We will be back at the school soon, Albus."
"Of course, of course," he replied seeing himself out.
Luna stared at his retreating form with a direct serious gaze.
"His Greater Good is not the good of all mankind. Many chess pieces fall beneath his gaze as calculated risks," Luna stated sincerely, the lack of her normal airy tone almost creepy.
Minerva struggled with it before she sighed, knowing that was exactly why they didn't tell him what was happening with Hermione and Harry.
"His star is still bright, Miss Lovegood," she said instead.
The blonde nodded her head, "For now."
Hermione was decorating her new room in her master's private quarters. It was decided that even though she had them, she would continue to stay in the tower until she decided otherwise. It was also agreed that Luna and Harry would be frequent visitors while she lived there, so it was more of giving Severus time to acclimate to that fact.
A Potter look alike and Miss Lovegood, both students in his private and safe area, was not something he was ready for so soon.
Hermione was just putting the final touches on her dresser (mostly things Severus had gotten her for her birthday) when she felt his arms wrap around her waist.
"I see your belongings are as they should be. Shall I request your own bookcase from the elves?" he asked.
Hermione leaned back into him, leaning her head back so it rested on his chest.
"I would like that yes. Perhaps I can even keep them here as most of them are school books. I have my favorites, the rest I tend to borrow from the library."
"Hogwarts does have an impressive school library," Severus agreed.
"I noticed a lot of the NEWT Defense books, and other obscure branches of magic have been put in the restricted section or removed from the shelves altogether," she hummed.
"That would be Albus, you've been to his office before."
"Yes, to agree to be your assistant," she nodded.
"Most of the books in his office are actually those he pulled from the shelves. Madame Pince wouldn't hear of him burning them, but told him that if he truly felt that the students shouldn't have access to them to at least hold them in his office," Severus told her.
Hermione blinked hard, then blinked a few more times, "He's hoarding books?"
"Anything not considered Light magic," Severus nodded.
"Do you have the same books?" she asked.
"Most of them, some of them cost too much or are too rare nowadays," he admitted.
Hermione turned around in his arms and looked up at him, forcing him to look down into her eyes.
"I do not approve," she stated firmly, "How else would I know what not to do."
"Likewise is how the Dark Lord figured out what to do," Severus said.
"Nothing is printed without a counter, at least nothing that would make it to a school library," she pressed.
Severus hesitated before he sighed and nodded, "Always so perceptive," he kissed her forehead.
"Hey Sev?" she nibbled on her bottom lip
"Yes?" he asked with a raised brow.
"Do you have an animagus form?" she asked.
"I do. I am also a black jaguar. Similar, but a little different than your form," he answered.
"Can I see?" she asked, her eyes practically glowing from excitement, turning more golden.
"I suppose. I haven't been in my form in a while and it is, relaxing," he drawled.
In a moment Severus had turned into a black jaguar, his coloring much darker, more gray, than her brown, the spots a slightly different pattern. His eyes were still onyx black. Hermione quickly turned into her jaguar form and noticed he was a bit bulkier than her and a bit bigger height wise.
Without thinking she headbutted him and proceeded to use her facial glands to mark him. Severus froze and allowed this before he swept his tongue between her eyes. All was right in their world.
The next day Harry met up with her and Luna in the library, Greg met up with them soon after.
"Hey, Mia, can you help me with this assignment from Crouch?" he asked quietly.
"Professor Crouch, Harry." She corrected automatically.
"Right, it's not homework per se, but…"
"You want to do well, all things considering," she finished.
"Yeah."
"Alright what is it?" she asked.
"The Snake Vanishing spell," he answered.
"Vipera Evanesca." Hermione said.
"Yeah, vipera evcansca."
"Evanesca, Harry," she corrected.
"Evanesca," he repeated.
"Aside from practicing pronunciation, what else?"
"I can't find if it hurts the snake or not," Harry admitted with a blush.
"It won't work on a snake, or hurt a snake, if it's real. However no books say anything about it hurting any snake, summoned, or charmed," she admitted.
"Oh…"
"It doesn't," Luna answered, coming to his aid.
"It doesn't?" Harry asked kindly. He was a little jealous that Luna had been able to study being an animagus with Hermione and he hadn't. Of course he had to remind himself all the times he left Hermione out of something he was doing behind her back and remembered she was peaceful during every session she had with Luna.
"No. Most wizards forget, or purposely don't, give a snake, or any creature, nerves when summoning them so they can't be hurt. Or rather so they can't feel pain," Luna said, "My mummy said that it takes special care to summon a creature with nerves to feel."
"Oh okay," Harry said, feeling much better about the spell and muttering it under his breath with the proper pronunciation.
"Are we going to get together still? For our group?" Luna asked quietly.
"Do you want to? Crouch seems competent," Hermione replied lightly.
"He is, don't get me wrong it's just, it was like studying with friends and I would very much like to study ahead of my year group. It's not as fun just…"
"Going through it listlessly, I understand. I think we can squeeze it in, Luna," Hermione answered, "What do you think guys?"
"I would appreciate more time to practice," Gregory admitted softly, his cheeks pink.
"I think it would be good, maybe more of a study group now. Did you ever make the schedule?"
Hermione raised a brow at her brother.
"Of course, you did," he said fondly.
Hermione took out a galleon and told him all about the charms she put on them before reaching back into her bag and pulling out a sack full of them.
"I made them for the group, you can just charm this one and it'll let the rest know," Hermione admitted.
"Wow. That's real advanced stuff Mia," Gregory said.
Harry smiled, proud of his sister, "Mia has been doing advanced magic for as long as I've known her, Greg."
"You really are the brightest witch our age. If I liked witches I think I'd be jealous of Snape," Gregory admitted.
"Aw that's so sweet," Luna said.
"Thank you, Greg," Mia replied, "Was there anything you needed help with?" she asked.
"Yeah, this charm…"
As it would turn only a few people wouldn't want to continue with the study group. Which was promptly named Defense Association, the D.A. Hermione almost gave in to her whims and called it Dumbledore's Army, to be funny, but decided against it since they already had issues with the Ministry twice this year. They did not need to tempt fate.