Unexpected Animagus, Part 13

Competing Species in the Habitat of the British Changeling

Please Read and Review. I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I am doing wrong (to correct it).

Hogwarts
Sunday Morning

As Harry walked down the stairs, he was received by an enthusiastic wave of applause. The students who hadn't yet gone for breakfast were smiling happily at him.

Harry stopped, exhaled a lungful of air, and facepalmed irritably. "You are not helping." He grumbled, "but I'm not in the mood to argue." He pointedly ignored the Creevey brothers' frantic beckoning, and went to the Great Hall. As the portrait opened, he found Hermione about to enter, holding a folded napkin that clearly contained something.

"Ah, hi, Harry." She smiled, holding up the package, "I thought you'd prefer to eat somewhere else. Brought you some toast, bacon, eggs, and a treacle tart."

Harry's gloomy mood evaporated. "You are my hero, Hermione! Lets go to the Lake." His eyes gleamed. She got the message.

"With some luck, the giant squid will show up." She said.

Soon they found a good place at the shadow of an oak, protected from the chill wind, and more importantly, very far from any portrait, ghost, or student. They ate as they watched the Durmstrang ship, moored at some distance from them.

Harry threw a piece of toast to the water, and to his satisfaction, the giant squid grabbed it. "I'm eager to try that shape!" He said.

"You think you'll use it? It's very big."

"Maybe in deep enough water, I'm not sure if I could move in dry land. I have never seen the Squid venture out of the water, the most I've seen of him out of the water is when he and the Firsties are playing at diving."

While they talked, Hedwig landed before them, extending a leg. There was a small parcel tied to it.

"Must be from my Dad!" Hermione squeaked.

Harry took the parcel, and rewarded Hedwig with a big piece of bacon." Well done, girl! You're the best!"

Hedwig preened, took the offered bacon, and flew to a nearby branch to eat.

"Now, let's see what Mr. Granger sent." Harry opened the letter, as it was addressed to him, while Hermione sat next to him.

The letter was quite normal, but there was a small drawing of a dog's footprint at a corner. Harry tapped the letter with his wand. "I solemnly swear my intentions are not good." He said. As the text vanished, new words appeared on the paper.

"Hey, Prongslet!

Dan sends his regards, and a couple of years worth of his comic books. I read them last night, and took some notes, with Dan's input (gonna get some Sirius sleep as soon as Hedwig takes flight). Read the comics with Hermione and take notes by yourself before reading mine. I think you'll think of some ways to use the Changeling powers without revealing your new complexion.

I put a few spells on the books. Protection charms to prevent them from being stolen or even found. Depending on who read them last, everybody else will see old issues of either Marting Miggs, the Mad Muggle; or Teen Witch Weekly. You can change them back and forth just like the Map.

Also, I must apologize for the blatant bigotry in the Martin Miggs books, I just took the most common titles young wizards and witches read, and I do not agree with its ideas.

Anyway, I must try to convince Dan to let me read about the Joker. With that name I think I might get inspired!

Take care, you two, and remember:

CONSTANT VIGILANCE! (Chuckling) BTW, I've been talking to Moody and he will be assigning some detentions for either discussing plans with you two, or just Hermione to teach some useful spells. So, the regular schedule, I think. Harry, if you need to vent, talk to Moody, despite his looks and usual grumbling, he is a good listener when not pressed for time.

Your handsome Dogfather

Padfoot (and Dan Granger, who on my authority now holds the honorary Marauder title of Bookworm)

P.S. Title pending confirmation upon unanimous agreement of all Marauders in Good Standing. (Note to Myself, Owl Moony)

P. P. S. Destroy this letter, no sense on having it around where any busybody with a crooked nose could find it, right?

Hermione shook her head, "I hope Dad will convince Sirius to not try any of the Joker stuff, he would actually earn a harsh sentence…" Harry looked inquisitively at her, she exhaled, "Psycho killer clown. His body count would go into four digits if he was real."

Harry whistled. "I'll ask Sirius not to go that way. I wouldn't mind to have some bat-toys, but from the way you say it, the Joker would be a horrible role model."

Sitting straighter, Harry shred the letter to pieces, and turned the pieces into small stones. Both he and Hermione threw the stones into the lake one by one.

After making sure they were alone (again), the comics were returned to their usual size, and the pair spend a couple of hours reading them. It took way longer than usual, as they were both invested on analyzing the Changeling's actions, choices of animals, and tactics.

By the time they finished, the stack of notes was quite impressive. A simple code would protect them from most snoopers, and with some phony diagrams, they would look like Arythmancy or Ancien Runes notes.

"Hmm… Harry? Do you think Padfoot could spell a couple of notebooks like he did to the comic books?" She wondered idly as they were storing their notes.

Harry facepalmed again. "I'll owl him a copy of our notes and ask that."

Hogwarts,
DADA Rooms

Meanwhile, Mad Eye Moody paced agitatedly around in his rooms. His wooden leg rhythmically stomping against the cold stone floor, in sharp counterpoint to his staff. As soon as he had claimed the rooms, he had cleared a path from side to side of the room for the express purpose of pacing.

Thinking about the plans Barty Jr. had revealed. Of ways to tweak and adjust their own. If only that kid Logan was around… his Animagus form would be invaluable for espionage, tracking, infiltration and sabotage… but it would be better to not count on him, he had not seen hair nor hide of the green-skinned boy since his rescue. He shook his head, putting the thought away.

Still… Something nagged him. A persistent and annoying feeling he was forgetting something…

He sat down and lit a pipe. He had found some inspiration in the old Muggle stories about the great detective, Sherlock Holmes, and had used a few of his tricks in the past. It was time to emulate him once again.

Holmes used to refer to a particularly vexing mystery as a "three-pipes problem" meaning the time it took him to smoke three loads of tobacco. He took a small box from a drawer, and opened it after a cursory check. His rarely used pipe rested on a velvet compartment, and next to it, a tin of tobacco. The pipe had a couple of safety charms permanently imbued into it. A gift from an old friend, long dead.

He sat down to smoke and think. He was on the fourth pipe when he felt thirsty. He glanced at his trunk, where the inert body of Barty Jr. waited for the moment he would be turned to the DMLE for a long delayed and well deserved stay at Azkaban. A single dose of Draught of Living Death would keep the damned Death Eater out of action for as long as needed. Allowing him to keep up the charade. His face contorted into a poisonous smile at the thought of turning the tables on Voldemort and his servants.

Moody took his flask, and drank.

Suddenly, he went rigid.

He looked at his flask, then at his trunk.

"Merlin's tangled beard…" he grumbled, anger twisting his scarred face into a horror mask. "Magic-damned bastard! How could I be so stupid!?" He jumped to his feet, his pipe forgotten on the table. The pipe closed itself, putting off the fire.

Hogwarts
Gryffindor Dorms
Early night.

Harry felt a mix of anger and disappointment. It was clear most Gryffindors were happy to have an, admittedly, reluctant champion. The only exception was Ron Weasley, who seemed stubbornly set on either ignoring Harry, or glaring at him.

The young Animagus shook his head, as he applied some privacy charms to his bed. Moody certainly had an interesting repertoire, and teaching the spells to Hermione didn't break the rule about the schools staff being forbidden from helping the champions. And neither did she by teaching him the very same spells.

Harry liked how Moody thought. The man seemed to be as subtle as a warhammer, and he certainly had the reputation of being a no-nonsense man. But he could be very devious when it suited him.

After reviewing the day in his mind, Harry fell asleep.

Hogwarts
Monday

Harry wouldn't be able to evade the rest of the castle population indefinitely, so, he prepared himself to face the school's changing moods. Breakfast was a clear preview of how the year would develop.

Normally, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor Houses gota long very well, but today, they were exceedingly cold. Sneers everywhere. The only exception was Cedric Diggory, who waved and nodded friendly at him, to the clear displeasure of his housemates.

On the other hand, the Ravenclaws were also cold, but in an academic way. Harry felt like a bug under a magnifying glass. Only a small blond girl with slightly protuberant silver eyes seemed to look at him as a person, though her expression was curiously… vacant.

Harry turned his attention to the Slytherin table. Predictably, they jeered at him, no surprise there.

At least the visiting contingents were basically neutral, though Headmaster Karkaroff glared at him ocassionally.

Once seated next to Hermione, Harry spied the staff's table. A quick glance at Moody alarmed Harry a bit. The man looked positively annoyed, his magical eye spun continuously, and, if Harry guessed correctly, ocassionally fixed itself on Snape.

Moody's good eye set on Harry for a moment, and the scarred former Auror shook his head almost imperceptibly. Harry nodded once, just as minutely, and focused on his food.

The day promised to be long and uncomfortable.

Herbology class was a drag. Harry wondered if the Hufflepuff's glacial attitude would affect the plants in the glasshouse. The Bouncing Bulbs tried to escape their hands at every chance, and Harry had to struggle to keep his plants under control.

At least Care of Magical Creatures would be interesting. Supposing the Slytherins behaved. Harry sighed. And then Malfoy and his bookends arrived, his usual sneer set firmly on his face.

"Look, boys! A champion! You better ask him for his autograph now, I doubt you'll have much chance later on. The Tri-Wizard Tournament is quite deadly. Half the champions have died!" He chuckled nastily, "How long do you reckon will you last, Potter? I bet no longer than ten minutes at the first task."

Harry's face reddened for a moment, but Hermione grabbed his arm. She looked at Malfoy, about to say something, but Harry grinned like a wolf. "You're on."

"What?" Malfoy said, clearly surprised by Harry's answer.

Harry raised his voice, enough to be heard by both groups of students. "I said, you're on. I bet ten galleons I last longer than ten minutes in the first task."

Malfoy looked around. Suddenly, he was the center of attention, with no way out. Grumbling, he nodded.

"You heard, people. I'll contact the Twins later to formalize my bet, you do the same, Malfoy."

The blond opened his mouth to retort, but Hagrid's arrival stopped him. He was laden with a bunch of wooden cages, each one containing an abomination against the natural order. Blast-ended Skrewts.

Harry perked up immediately. Hermione glanced at him for a minute, knowing exactly what he was thinking.

To everybody else's horror, Hagrid told them that the creatures were antsy due to having lots of unspent energy, and the best way to deal with that would be…

"A walk?" Had the two groups of student rehearsed a full month, they wouldn't have reached such precise synchronization.

Malfoy looked particularly disgusted, "And exactly where am I supposed to put the leash? These things don't even have heads!"

Hagrid demonstrated, "'Round the middle, like dis." He paused and looked around, "Yeh might wanna wear yer dragon hind gloves fer dat. Er… Harry, yeh help me with dis one, 'e's really stubborn."

As the two struggled with the little monster, Hagrid took the chance to speak with Harry. After a few words, it was clear Hagrid believed him. So far, and apart from Hermione, Moody, Neville and Cedric Diggory, the giant was the only one in the school to believe him. It was a somewhat unexpected relief.

By the time the two of them had managed to leash the Skewth, the rest of the class was a complete Pandemonium. The few students who had managed to leash their Skrewts, were being dragged after them. Harry smiled at seeing Malfoy trying desperately to steer away from a puddle of mud. "You got this one, Hagrid?" He asked his friend.

"Sure. Got 'im."

"I'll go and help Hermione, okay?"

Hagrid nodded.

By the time class ended, Harry had managed to reach some instinctive rapport with the Skrewts, and was sure he could take their shape later on.

To everybody's surprise, Harry seemed to be a natural at handling the creatures. "Don't pull continuously, Neville. A sharp tug will be enough. If it tries to run, just pull the leash like this, got it?"

"Hermione, relax your grip a bit. These guys are very contrarian, if they feel you are set on going left, they will go right just because."

"Malfoy, you're doing great, keep it so." Harry grinned at seeing Malfoy's robes drenched in mud, and the blonde Ponce stumbling behind his Skrewt.

"Damn you, Scarheeeeead!"

After the last class of the day, Harry and Hermione returned to Hagrid's Hut for tea. Just for tea. They relaxed a little.

"Um… Hagrid?" Harry hesitated. "Could we, um… come check on you tomorrow, make the rounds with you? Check the animals?"

"Um? Sure, sure. Why?" Hagrid broke a piece of his stony scones, and the sound of his chewing was like a rock crusher operating.

"I'm, well… you know… people is getting nasty in the castle. About the Tournament."

"Yah need ta vent, don' cha?"

Harry nodded.

Hagrid thought about it for a moment. "Of course yeh can come, Harry. Hermione an' Ron are welcome too."

"Actually, we are not in speaking terms with Ron." Harry's shoulders slumped.

Hermione put her cup on the saucer, "He thinks Harry cheated somehow, to enter the Tournament, and we can't convince him otherwise. He is jealous."

Harry shrugged. "To be honest, I have more urgent things to pay attention to. He wants to badmouth me, fine, he is entitled to his opinion. I don't need fair weather friends, I have enough problems with You-Know-Who and his minions." He smiled at Hermione. "Thank you."

Hermione blushed, and for once, words failed her. Hagrid looked at her, then at Harry, and his warm laughter boomed into the hut. Under the table, Fang raised his head to see what was going on. A moment later, he returned to his place, and went to sleep.

Harry stood up, extending a hand to Hermione. "Time to go back." Hermione nodded, and gathered her stuff.

Before leaving, Harry turned back, and patted the half-giant's arm. "Thank you too, Hagrid. I really appreciate the vote of confidence."

Author Notes

None this time