November passed by without further incident. As December began, Harry headed down to take Hermione and Neville to see Hagrid. After explaining how to eat the rock cakes, all of them were able to enjoy them, having quite a happy time with the pleased Groundskeeper. Even Draco seems to forget that the man was a "half-breed" while eating the delicacy.

A few more letters were sent to Harry, but nowhere near the amount that was after the Prophet article. Harry was able to mostly ignore them since Pucey helped Harry by banishing them when he was done checking the mail.

When Christmas came around the corner, Harry received an owl from Uncle Vernon. He had sent his Uncle a letter with a permission slip to return home for the holidays.

Dear Harry,

I'm sorry to say that I don't think you returning home this Christmas is a good idea. I wouldn't be home much since I have to work extra on a special drill that is meant to replace the one that broke while carving a tunnel under the English Channel. I've been running into a problem with its durability and I was told if I don't get the problem fixed then I'll lose my job as Director of Drill Manufacturing.

I'm not entirely sure why I wrote all of that, but perhaps I just wanted someone to know what is going on. I haven't informed your aunt or cousin. I don't want to worry them so close to Christmas. I hope you understand, lad, that we want you home for the holiday, but we aren't sure if I will be home for it due to this issue. Dudley has already expressed interest in staying at Smeltings for the holidays. He said it's because he is practicing to join the boxing club.

Your Aunt is sad we will all be busy during Christmas, so why don't you send her a letter too? She'd be happy to hear from you, I wager. Her mood has changed towards you by quite a bit during your absence.

Make sure to spend the holidays investigating the project I told you about. With most children heading out of the castle during the break, you should have plenty of freedom. I do hope you find some good information, lad.

Enclosed with this is something special for you, I hope it gets to you in good condition. I'm not sure how these ruddy birds work for delivering mail. They don't seem very good with delivering packages, but perhaps I'm wrong. Let me know how well they treated it in your next letter.

Happy Christmas, Harry. We love you.

Uncle Vernon

Harry's eyes teared up as he pulled the letter close to his chest. The owl, which had landed next to him on the table, screeched and wiggled its leg, showing a small package tied to it.

"Oh, sorry." Harry sniffed, wiping his eyes and taking the package.

"Bad news, Potter?" Nott asked from across the table.

"No, just my uncle being all sentimental. This is the first letter that I've gotten from him… and probably the first Christmas I've ever spent without being at the Dursley's."

Nott nodded as if he understood, while Blaise leaned over to glance at the package. "What's inside?" he asked.

Harry opened the package to reveal a small drill—clearly a failed prototype from Vernon. A grin spread across Harry's face, while Draco grimaced. "Some sort of Muggle contraption?" he asked.

"It's a drill, Draco. My uncle works for a drill company. He says that they've been working on something big in the last few years, and he's designing a new drill for the company to help with it. It's not going well, though."

Draco snorted. "Silly muggles. Imagine if they had magic. They'd be able to dig all they want in the mud."

The comment made something spark in Harry's mind as his gaze fell on the small drill. Quickly pocketing it, he filed the idea for later to investigate during Break. What would happen if he added magic to the drill?

Breakfast soon came to a close as the group headed off to class. Midterm tests were just around the corner, followed by Christmas break. The halls buzzed with students cramming for exams, but Harry couldn't shake the growing sense of apprehension that seemed to settle deeper with each passing day, and it had nothing to do with the upcoming tests.

He only had two chances left.

If he didn't become an Animagus by New Year's… he couldn't forget what Madame Pomfrey had said. Her words echoed in his mind, each repetition tightening around him like a noose.

"A human mind cannot fit inside that of a simple animal, Mr. Potter."

Harry shuddered, shaking the thought from his mind. He had done his best to try to become an animagus. Tried everything he could, and when he couldn't progress, he would pour himself into reading and all of the books he could find. But now? He was entering do-or-die stage.

"So, I have detention tonight, Draco. You know the drill."

Draco scoffed, raising his arms in mock frustration. "Every week, Potter. Every week, you're in detention for some reason! What? Did you cut a deal with the Professors to do detentions instead of House Points? If so, you did the right thing. Better you don't cause us to lose the House Cup."

Harry grinned at Draco's antics, sticking his tongue out at him, "I'll never tell!"

Draco sighed again, this time with real exasperation as he walked with Harry back to the Slytherin Commons. Once they arrived, they found Snape waiting in the middle of the room. "First Years, I expressed to you at the start of the year that the Prince title was not allowed amongst all of you, to put you on a level playing field to learn magic. However, once you return from Christmas Break, I will allow duels between you for naming a Prince or Princess. Mind your manners and prepare your wands; for this dorm will change after the new year."

Professor Snape peered right at Harry as he said this, making the boy shudder. Harry then turned and slid past the crowd, into the dorms and hurried to his bed. Draco had remained out in the Common Room—probably to talk to people to get the support to become Prince.

§§Ssspeaker isssss worried about tonight?§§ Amber hissed gently. Harry didn't respond, but merely nodded. §§Ssssspeaker takessssss me tonight. Amber sssssshall help the Ssssspeaker.§§

Harry blinked at Amber's words, looking at her with shock. "But you aren't magic. How can you help me?"

The large snake's tongue flicked out, her eyes peering directly into Harry's own. Harry could see a tenderness within them. §§Even if I don't have magic, Ssssspeaker is ssssscared. Sssssshall not abandon. And if you sssssshould become a fox, then ssssssso be it. I ssssshall ssssstay by your ssssside.§§

Harry carefully lifted the snake, feeling the weight of her coils, which had grown considerably over the past few months. Amber had become much larger, and the shift in her size was a reminder of how much time had passed. Gently, he wrapped her around him, letting her warmth and the familiar hiss of her comfort him as he lay back on the bed. Quiet tears slid down his cheeks, unnoticed as he closed his eyes, wrapped in the protective embrace of Amber. Not even Draco's entrance into the dorm room stirred him, as the serpent held him close, offering the only solace he could find.

Harry marched down the hallway, feeling a lump building in his throat. Today was the day. If he didn't get it today, he'd only have one chance left. Walking up to the Transfiguration classroom, Harry sighed and grabbed the handle of the door, making his way within.

McGonagall looked at him from her normal spot in the center of the room as he entered. "Welcome, Mister Potter. I assume you understand there's only two attempts left?"

Harry dropped his head, giving a passive, "Yes'm."

"It simply means you'll have to work twice as hard this time, don't worry." McGonagall said gently, walking up and placing her hand on his shoulder. As she did, Amber poked her head from Harry's robes. McGonagall quickly withdrew her hand, but controlled herself before speaking, "Goodness! Harry, you brought your snake this time?"

Harry looked up at the Professor, meeting her gaze. "She wanted to come. Wouldn't let me leave without her, Professor."

Professor McGonagall's eyes widened with surprise. "And you can talk to her?"

Harry felt his blood run cold, remembering how Amber said not to let anyone know. However, his mind immediately brought a tidbit to the forefront, one that Harry latched onto faster than a starved piranha. "I-I think she's my Familiar, Professor."

McGonagall gave him a look that blended confusion and astonishment. "I see. If that's the case, then she should indeed be able to help. We'll have to see. Now, into the basin with you, child. The moon rises."

Harry nodded, hurrying to the basin and moving to sit within it. Amber coiled around his body under his clothes as Harry took a deep breath. McGonagall's chanting came quickly, the old woman having gotten more sure of it with each attempt. Harry felt the magic pool around him once more. In an instant, he was in the voidscape again.

However, this time, things were different. He felt Amber around his body, and when his eyes opened in the voidscape, he saw she was with him there as well.

§§A mindscape. I have read about them in books.§§ Amber hissed. Seeing Harry's worried glance, she shook her head. §§Do not worry, Speaker. Cat-Lady cannot hear us here.§§

Harry blinked, as the crimson and gray lights sparkled into existence once more around him. The gray light seemed to be excited however, rushing over to Amber and fluttering about her.

§§The gray light likes you, Amber.§§ Harry hissed, happy to be able to use snake speech again after hiding it for so long. There were too many chances he could be heard or seen, and Amber mentioned it sounded to others that he was hissing.

§§This is strange. You are not supposed to have others in your mindscape, Speaker.§§ Amber hissed, looking at the gray light.

§§It's not a person, though. It's helped me every time this mindscape, as you call it, has been entered.§§

§§The crimson feels like you, but the gray… is something else. I do not understand, but it smells of someone entirely different. I have never smelled the person the gray is from before.§§

The revelation sent a shiver down Harry's spine. Whose magic was this? He couldn't quite grasp it, and the uncertainty unsettled him. His mind raced for an explanation, and then a memory surfaced—the Sorting Hat's words from the start of the year. After a brief pause, he hesitated before responding, §The Sorting Hat said I had family magic. Do you think that's what it is?§§

§§I do not believe so, but I cannot be certain. The crimson would suit that far more than the gray, yet the crimson seems to be different. Coming from something that has bound itself to you. I shall investigate, Speaker, when we leave. But you are searching for something here?§§

Harry looked around. §§I mostly wander around and try to make contact with the voice I heard.§§

Amber let out a snakelike, hissing laugh. §§That is completely silly. Why not use your other senses? They aren't as strong as when you are a fox, but they are stronger than most humans'.§§

Harry suddenly realized his mistake. All this time, all this work, and he had been trying to use sight almost exclusively. Amber's head gently nudged his side, §§Your time as a fox has given you gifts, Speaker. Use them.§§

Harry got down on all fours, the two lights slowly rotating around him almost in curiosity. As if sensing his intentions, the gray light formed a pair of spectral fox ears on his head, and the red light pressed to his face, giving him a vulpine muzzle made out of red light.

He could feel the magic mixing with his own, his hearing and sense of smell suddenly increasing beyond what he was used to. It was similar to when he was in his fox form, yet different. As if he was wearing a mask. Closing his eyes, he suddenly could see the void around him; it revealed a beautifully green, familiar forest. A small forest he had gone to when he had first turned into a fox, near Privet Drive.

He recognized this place. It was familiar, as he smelled a strange scent, his new spectral nose flaring as he did. Still on all fours, Harry started to run. The faster he ran, the more the awkward movement became easier. It was like when he was a fox, the movement, speed, and dexterity far beyond his human self. His movement became faster, as he smelled a scent beside him. His ears twitched, hearing the rustling in the grass beside him. Amber was here.

He was moving faster, running through the forest at a blinding pace. He was comfortable here, rushing between trees as he felt the wind. He tasted it on his tongue, the scents of the forest beckoning him deeper and deeper. A sensation slid around his body, reminding him of when he flew on a broom. Here, he was free.

§§Speaker!§§ Amber's voice was heard as Harry's ears twitched. §§Speaker, follow the feeling with me!§§

Harry moved to run with the snake, the two rushing through the forest. They were pursuing something. Chasing it. But at the same time, they were running with it. The voice echoed, seeming to reverberate through his body. A familiar-sounding whisper, "Freedom. That is all I wish for."

Harry felt his mouth open, suddenly realizing that it was his voice that had spoken and that it was his muzzle that it had come from. He could feel the magic around him building, higher and higher as he embraced it, rushing through the wood as it shifted and became more prominent and wild.

"We are free." The voice- no, Harry said, as his body shifted in a torrent of wild magic. He felt a tail push from him, then a second, and a third. The magic burned within him, shining in his very soul like a sun that had just been born. Stopping the movement into the forest and looking up, Harry could see he was in a clearing. Feeling something build in his chest, Harry trusted the instincts and gave a long fox scream at the silvery light of the moon.

And everything was suddenly right.

With a rush of contentment he was wrenched from the mindscape, suddenly realizing he was back in the basin, sitting in the middle of the Transfiguration classroom. Everything was bigger, towering over him just like when he was a fox before. He could feel his magic pulsing and glowing within him, shining with scarlet, gray, and violet. He could see everything; the magic in the stone, the desks, even in McGonagall, who was examining him.

Harry flexed his new paws, feeling the sharp, molten silver claws glimmering on each one. His legs were slender and skinny, yet there was an unexpected power in them, a sense of latent strength he hadn't anticipated. Behind him, three tails twitched, each tipped in black, swaying with a mind of their own. They moved through the air with a fluid, almost unnatural grace. As he glanced to the side, Harry took in the sight of his snow-white pelt, its flawless coloration almost glowing. His face, partially visible, had silver whiskers standing out against the soft white fur.

"Some sort of fox, but definitely not a Japanese Kitsune, or a Chinese Huli Jing. It resembles a type of Grecian fox, yet I've never heard of one with three tails." McGonagall muttered, the witch looking closely at Harry before moving to her desk to grab a book.

Harry spun in place, seeing his soft tails flicking every so often. Amber was coiled beside him, watching the tails and playfully nipping at them as Harry gave a small chuff in feigned annoyance. It wasn't long before McGonagall spoke up again.

"Ah. Here. But this can't be right. A magical creature? There haven't been any magical creatures reported as animagi in centuries—if ever!" McGonagall's voice wavered with a mix of astonishment and awe. "But the white fur, the three tails... there's nothing else it could be. Come here, Mister Potter."

Harry, absorbed in playing with Amber, didn't immediately respond.

"Mister Potter," McGonagall called again, her tone sharper this time.

Still, Harry ignored her, lost in the moment. With a sigh of annoyance, McGonagall flicked her wand, and Harry yelped as he suddenly felt himself floating off the ground, caught by the Professor's spell.

Harry felt annoyed, his magic roiling. He didn't like being contained. He wanted to be-

Free.

Suddenly, Harry blinked out of existence for a brief second, only to reappear atop McGonagall's desk.

"Merlin!" The startled professor gasped, her eyes wide. She stumbled back in shock, tipping her chair over and crashing to the floor with a loud thud.

Harry snickered in a rather foxlike way as McGonagall looked up from the ground. "Oh wonderful. Another Marauder… and this time he has a magical animagus form. Merlin help us all." McGonagall groaned as she moved to pull herself up, righting the chair.

"Now, Mister Potter. As I was saying before, I believe you are a Cadmean Fox, also known as the Teumessian Fox. A type of Grecian fox that was said to be uncatchable; it seems that we now know why they developed that reputation. However, due to the overhunting of foxes during the Dark Ages, the species went extinct. Being able to be uncatchable didn't help when magicals bred a special breed of Crup which could specifically hunt down the Cadmean Fox despite their elusiveness. The breed too went extinct, but not before they lost their magic and muggles tried to keep the breed alive. According to the book, they were called Molossian Hounds. Now, will you turn yourself back, Mister Potter? You just need to focus on your human form and let your magic handle the rest."

Harry nodded, hopping off the desk to the stone floor. Focusing, he felt the magic inside of him shift slightly. There was a sensation of tingling, and suddenly he was in his human form once again.

The best part, in Harry's opinion, was there was absolutely no nausea or pain.

"That was wicked!" Harry grinned.

McGonagall gave a small smirk, "Indeed, Mister Potter. What is 'wicked' is the fact you are a type of extinct magical creature. No one on the list of registered animagi are magical creatures. I believe you are the first magical animagus in recorded history."

McGonagall's observation made Harry stop and think. "Does that mean that all animagi are forced to register with the Ministry, Professor?"

"No, and I believe I understand what you are saying. No one with a magical animagus form registered themselves; but that doesn't mean that none exist. Point taken, Mister Potter."

Harry nodded before asking, "Do I have to register?"

Professor McGonagall leaned back in her seat, taking off her glasses. "As a professional, I must inform you that being caught as an animagus without being registered bears a hefty fine from the Ministry." Harry slumped his shoulders, before McGonagall continued, "However, as someone who has advised your father, I recommend you do not."

"My father was an animagi too?" Harry latched onto the tidbit of information quickly, making McGonagall wince. Harry saw a scarlet wisp of magic wrap around her warningly.

McGonagall stopped, and breathed out. "I cannot say, Mister Potter. The same way that we cannot speak of what happened in this classroom to anyone else." The scarlet wisp of magic disappeared.

Harry nodded. So the Professor had taken a vow? It must have been important. Did his father have Feral Shifting Syndrome too? Unfortunately, Harry didn't think he'd ever be able to find out.

"We should cancel the vow, and inform Professor Snape." McGonagall said. "However I implore you, if you do not register yourself I recommend that you keep your form secret to only those you can trust when the vow is completed."

Harry nodded. "Would I be able to teach my friends how to become animagi as well? And if I can tell people after the fact, why would we make the vow in the first place?"

"The reason we made the vow was to hide the fact that I was performing the ritual in Hogwarts, under Dumbledore's nose. It was the ritual itself that couldn't be revealed when it's in progress, as it's an Old Rite from long ago. Thanks to magic itself protecting it, you will be unable to explain the ritual itself; however if someone had entered during the ritual, I would have been sacked immediately. Now that you are an animagus, there is no need to keep you beholden to a vow that could restrict you in the future. As for the animagus ritual for your friends, I believe that you can teach them the NORMAL method of it, Mister Potter, with the Mandrake leaf. The Old Ways are never to be spoken of to anyone. Any mention of it whatsoever and I will lose my job. Do I make myself clear?"

Harry nodded quickly. He had grown to enjoy Professor McGonagall's company; he didn't want to be the reason she lost her job. McGonagall gave a sigh, "Now, Mister Potter. Off with you. I will go down and speak to your Head of House immediately. Here is your note."

Harry took the note and nodded, heading out of the classroom quickly. But then, McGonagall stopped him before he made it fully out of the room. "Mister Potter?"

Harry turned back.

"Your father would be proud of you." Harry saw the Professor's eyes glisten as he beamed like a radiant sun. Closing the door, he left Professor McGonagall, the old witch smiling gently as the tears fell.

The next morning, after a quick meeting with Professor Snape and the rescinding of the vow, Harry returned to his dorm room to a Draco that was practicing oration in the mirror. Draco was carefully brushing his silver locks, speaking at his reflection, "I believe I am the right one to lead us- oh, hey, Potter." Draco saw Harry in the mirror, turning around. "What's got you in such a good mood?"

Harry grinned and closed the door. With a quick movement of his wand he locked it with the Colloportus spell he had learned from their "foray" into the Third Floor corridor. "I wanted to show you something, Draco. Watch!"

Harry disappeared, only to be replaced by the pure white three-tailed fox.

The silvery blonde's mouth hit the floor, the silver and gold hairbrush in his hand noisily clattering to the ground. "Y-you're an animagus!" Draco squealed out. The sound was surprising with Harry's changed ears, sounding like nails on a chalkboard. Harry let out a yelp, his ears folding back.

"Oh, sorry." Draco said quickly, then smirked. "This is amazing! Animagus transformations are really hard to do without dedication! But how were you able to speak for the past month with a mandrake leaf under your tongue?"

Harry turned back into his human form and smirked. He had planned for this question. "I guess I was just good at hiding it, you know?"

"Did you register at the Ministry?" Draco asked.

Harry shook his head, making Draco snort with an approving tone. "Good. The fools believe that you should register magic. Animagus forms are a right; you deserve to be able to hide it if you have one! That's what my father has always said. He even mentioned they barely even enforce the rule, too." Draco walked over and sighed. "The Malfoys have always had a hard time with the animagus ritual; our family seems to be naturally disinclined to it. I wanted to try myself one day."

Harry grinned. "Well, I was going to offer you an attempt. One of the teachers even said she'd monitor us to make sure we don't get into trouble."

Draco's eyes widened and he grabbed Harry's shoulders. "Who? Not Professor Snape, he barely tolerates you."

"Professor McGonagall!" Harry grinned back.

Draco gave another snort. "She'll probably blab to the entire Gryffindor House about our forms. Why should I?"

"She didn't and hasn't for mine. I trust her." Harry retorted, gesturing at himself as he did. "Besides, even if she did tell everyone, wouldn't it prove how powerful you are with magic?"

Draco rubbed his chin, as Harry grinned. He knew Draco would secretly love if the information got out. "Tempting, Potter. Very tempting. Alright, I'll join you in the ranks of the animalistically inclined. Though, I have to ask, why did you charm the extra tails?"

"I didn't. I'm some sort of magical fox. Professor McGonagall said it was named a Cademan Fox? It's also called a Teumessian Fox."

Draco froze in place. "You're a magical creature?" Draco asked, his eyes widening again. Harry swore that he looked like some sort of alien, with how wide they were this time.

Harry turned back into the fox, and tugged on that magical feeling again. Suddenly, he was behind Draco, quickly turning back to human and he jabbing Draco's side with a finger. "Boo!"

"GAHHH!" Draco shouted, falling face-first onto the carpet. "Bloody hell, Potter! Why don't you just give me a heart attack while you're at it!" Draco groaned as he moved to stand back up.

Harry snickered as he reverted to his human form. "I got Professor McGongall like that too, if it makes you feel better."

"You got Professor McGongall? There is no way in hell, Potter. You're lying."

"I am not!"

Draco slapped his forehead with his hand, giving a smirk. "Bloody hell, Potter. You're a menace."

"And don't you forget it."

And so Harry finally becomes an animagus! He worked hard for this, and now he was rewarded.

I hope that the portion about removing the vow makes sense; currently the laws dictate that knowing and performing the ritual isn't technically illegal, but Dumbledore hates the Old Ways and would have sacked McGonagall immediately if he discovered it. That's why the vow, and why it is now being removed. If it doesn't quite make sense, I could always go back and edit both the chapter where the vow was made and this chapter, but I'll leave that for you guys to give feedback on.

Beta'd by Angie, Kaminton, and Levitress.

Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling.