Year 3 - An Animagus At Last!/End-Of-Year Feast

2 1 0
                                    

Professor Quirrell taught our lesson in a chaotic, frantic disarray. He seemed even more on edge than he usually is. I was almost falling asleep when I heard the crash of lightning. Almost instantly after, McGonagall entered the class and 'asked' Professor Quirrell if she could take me from the lesson, rather she forcefully told him she would take me. He didn't object and I grabbed my books, following McGonagall. An electric storm at last. We made our way to Snape's class. Snape didn't have a lesson at this time so McGonagall sent me in to retrieve my potion. I swiftly snatched my potion from his ingredients and returned to McGonagall. We made our way outside, still protected from the storm and I followed McGonagall's instructions.
"Perform the incarnation one last time, then drink the potion." She told me.
I pointed the tip of my wand to my heart and said Amato Animo Animato Animagus. I felt the second heartbeat then poured the potion into my mouth. I swallowed and I felt like I was going to die. Everything looked like it was getting bigger. The pain died down quickly and I turned to McGonagall, who now looked like a giant. I looked down to my hands, which were now small padded paws with tiny claws. I could now see my nose clearly because it was farther from my face on my snout. McGonagall lifted me in her hands and pulled out a small mirror. In that mirror, my reflection resembled a hedgehog.
"Time to transform back Dutchman." She instructed.
How could I change back so soon? I have so much to explore and learn, but I wouldn't disobey her. She put me down and I transformed back.
"You'll see me for 30 minutes every day for the rest of the year after dinner to improve your transition between human and animal."
"Of course Professor. Thank you again."
"That was well done Dutchman. I'm pleasantly surprised." Snape said, as he approached from the doorway we'd come outside through.
Snape, pleasant, please, he must be joking. Honestly though, I completely brushed off the part that he said he was surprised because he told me I did a good job. You have to take Snape's words with a grain of salt, careful not to take it to heart.
"Thank you as well Professor. If it wasn't for your potions expertise, I'm not sure my potion would have worked as smoothly." I told him.
"I'm flattered. Now, don't you have a lesson to get to?"
"Yes I do, thank you Professors. I'll see you this evening Professor McGonagall."
I ran off to Divination. Once I arrived, Professor Trelawney stopped the lesson as I entered and sat in the seat between Cedric and George.
"Just as I'd thought. I knew you'd be late Rayne. Good to see our little hedgehog has made it unharmed." She said winking at me.
I don't recall having told her that I was working on becoming an Animagus. Nor have I even been able to tell anyone about my form. She is a peculiar person, but it makes this lesson even more worthwhile.
"Where did you go?" Cedric asked me in a whisper.
"I can't tell anyone as of right now, but I promise this summer I'll tell you three. Better yet, I'll show you." I said, giving them an over exaggerated wink.
Cedric rolled his eyes and giggled. Fred didn't even look at me while laughing and George gave me an odd look with a chuckle.
We worked with crystal balls. It was quite fun, but I've realized that they're a rather inconvenient and odd way to see the future.
George, Fred, Cedric and I left the lesson with smiles on our faces. We joked about the complicity of a crystal ball as we walked down the stairs. Someone bumped into me from behind and I used my arms to catch myself, forgetting that my wrist is still in a splint and bandage.
"Ow!" I squealed.
"Are you alright Rayne?" Cedric asked in a concerned tone.
"What happened?" Fred followed up.
"Let me see." George said, grabbing my arm before I could say anything.
"It's fine boys. I was bumped by someone in the stairwell, probably because there were too many people. I used my arms to catch myself and forgot I still have it in the splint." They looked at me unconvinced. "I promise I'm fine."
"If you say so." Cedric said.
Cedric and I split off from Fred and George to drop our books off in our dorms before heading to dinner. When we got to the common room, it was buzzing with people gossiping about something. I ignored it, went to my room and put my books away. I grabbed two books that I needed to return to the library; All About Knarls and Animagi: Mad Transformation For The Patient. I returned to the common room and the gossip only grew. Cedric wasn't back yet, so I went over to Vale to ask about it.
"Professor Quirrell hasn't been seen since lunch. Odd, don't you think? He's always so jittery. He looked as if he was going to explode earlier. A guy like him isn't usually found alone so it's strange that no one has seen him in hours."
I nodded along until Cedric came back. We said our goodbyes to Vale and headed for the library. We returned my books and went to dinner.
Gossip became even more wild when Professor Quirrell wasn't at dinner.
"Don't you think that maybe he was sick? That's a much more sensible reason to why he's not here." I stated.
"He would have told Dumbledore that if he was. Even he doesn't know where Quirrell is right now!" Thornton exclaimed.
I shook it off as I did most gossip. I finished eating and went to the hospital wing because the boys convinced me that 'it's better to be safe than sorry'. Madam Pomfrey told me nothing's changed, but just to be safe, I'll have the splint on until we head home for the summer holidays. At least there's no more quidditch this year so I'm not missing any of that.
                    ***
I entered the Great Hall and felt my stomach drop when I saw the green banners hanging in the hall. Seventh year in a row that Slytherin's won the House Cup. You'd think that what Harry, Ron and Hermione did would have given Gryffindor the lead. We all sat and listened to Dumbledore. He gave the house standings and the Slytherin table roared when they heard they were in first. That was until Dumbledore told us he had last minute points to dish out.
"First --- to Mr Ronald Weasley for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Their table lit up in cheers. I could see Ron flush with pride.
"Second --- to Miss Hermione Granger for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Hermione dropped her head into her arms. Gryffindor was up a hundred points now.
"Third --- to Mr Harry Potter... for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points."
I did the math quickly and told the people around me that Gryffindor was now tied with Slytherin. There'd never been a tie before.
"There are all kinds of courage," Dumbledore started with a smile. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr Neville Longbottom."
The only table that didn't erupt in cheers was Slytherin's. Neville was white as a ghost. Gryffindors looked like wild animals piling onto Neville as this was the most points he'd won for Gryffindor. With a clap of Dumbledore's hands, the banners changed from green to scarlet and the serpent transformed into a mighty lion. The downfall of Slytherin, so long overdue. The conversation never died down.
"I heard you know Ronald Weasley, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom, is that true?" A second year asked me.
"Well, yes and no. Ron and Neville are like little brothers to me. Hermione is a wonder and Harry, I can't speak much of him because I don't know him well."
"Have you talked with him?" A first year asked.
"Yes I have."
"I wish I was that lucky." Another first year sighed.
The feast was as delicious as ever. This set a whole new view for next year. I turned to Cedric.
"You know, Harry's only been here a year and he's already gotten himself in more danger than the two of us combined in our three years." I said, just kind of stating the obvious.
"I can't argue that." He laughed.
The next few days were spent packing and waiting for our grades. As I expected, I was at the top of my year. My motto is to shoot for the moon and catch the stars along the way. McGonagall brought me in for extra practice of my Animagus skills and helped me register with the Ministry. She told me to continue practicing over the summer holidays.
Before leaving the castle, Madam Pomfrey called me into the hospital wing to remove my splint.
"Now you have to be careful over the summer. Your wrist is still fragile." She told me assertively.
"Yes Madam. I hopefully won't be seeing you much next year." I said as I left.
"The same to you dear." She called after me.
I got my trunk, met up with George, Cedric and Fred and we were on our way back on the Hogwarts Express. Homeward bound you could say.

Forever... AlwaysWhere stories live. Discover now