Luck of Nines

31

     "You guys go ahead." Harry waved Nott and the others off, realizing with a smug type of pride that even Malfoy and his cohorts waited for him to join, "I'll meet you in the dining hall before astronomy at the very latest."

       Malfoy scoffed and marched off, the rest following after Nott gave a slight nod, motioning for the others to go, Phineas and Bulstrode throwing goodbyes before they got caught up in other conversations. Nott waited for a moment longer, locking eyes with him before giving one of his slight nods and leaving.

      The classroom slowly emptied out, before Flitwick approached him, "I didn't interfere earlier, but if Chipped Fang makes any vicious moves towards a student again in my class I'll have to ask that you don't bring them anymore." There would not be backing down on this matter so he just nodded.

Flitwick hummed, "Very well, that was your only warning. I'm assuming you don't know much about animagus."

It would be better to downplay his knowledge here, "I didn't even know the name until I found out that Mcgonagall was one too."

"Ah," Flitwick shifted, "I suppose we should start there with the... controversial part. Minerva is an animagus, according to wizard standards, but according to any others, she isn't. She belongs to a branch of what wizards like to call 'made animagus' but what many others call 'forced animagus'.  These are those who have discovered what wizard's like to call their 'inner animal form' and forced it to reveal itself. It takes great discipline and patience to not only find and bring it forth, but also to control it and balance suddenly having a new side to yourself which even they admit hadn't been there before- or at least admit it hadn't been so pronounced before. Her form is less a part of her true self and more a caricature of it. Imagine the challenge that comes with having an overemphasized part of yourself added to your own currently existing mind and yet still maintaining a rational balance of self. It takes immense control and understanding of self, which is why the wizarding ministry monitors forced animagus so carefully, the effect could easily drive a person from sanity."

Flitwick paused, fiddling for a second with the hem of his robe, "Animagus, true ones, though discover a part of themselves which was always there and always effecting them, it has slightly more effect than it used, but not nearly to the dangerous extent of forced. More like gaining more control over a muscle which had always been there. Natural Animagus are still much the same as before just with slightly stronger instincts and different physical capabilities. You would be considered one of these. An animagus."

A natural animagus. He quietly mulled over the information in his head.

"Like i said, unlike the so called forced animagus you won't be required to register with the ministry. Mostly that's because the pure blood families consider it a blood trait, something much like being a metamorphmagus for the Black family or having pale white hair for the Malfoy family that is passed down through generations, although no family has attempted to lay claim to it being originally theirs. If the ministry was allowed to regulate it, then they could regulate many other abilities, some of which the families prefer to keep hidden from outsiders, and as a blood trait they do not believe muggle borns would have it, meaning it's not a threat to them either. That's not to mention the suspicions many have that some family are just hiding their Natrual Animagus."

"You act like it's not a family trait?" He finally asked.

"Well forced animagus abilities are something only wand wavers- wizards that is- use, but Natrual Animagus come from more than just one species." Flitwick sighed, "We'll have to continue this conversation at a later time though, I have my next class coming up."

"One last question; how do you know so much about them."

"Oh," a faint softer smile flickered across Flitwick's face for a brief moment, "I knew one once, a long time ago, back when I was a Charms Specialized Curse Breaker Advisor for Gringotts in Egypt, if you'll forgive the long title," he seemed to forcefully drag himself out of the past then and continued quickly, "But of course in more recent history there is quite a few in the dueling circuits, and I met a few others in the South West part of USSR."

"Dueling? And do you mean Russia?"

"Though not communist, when the USSR was formed, the magical side of things took that as their chance to create their own group, Drumstrang being one of their three schools. As there is very little actual form of contact between the magical and muggle worlds, when the USSR fell apart it didn't effect the magical equivalent; The United Wizarding Block. Much like there being only two forms of Magical government in all of the American continents or how on the African continent there are far more sects of magical practice which each has their own government rather than dividing by territory, the magical world's systems don't always align with the muggle equivalent.  Although any more on that or dueling will have to be a topic for another time I'm afraid, it's far too complex and we both have things we need to be doing," Flitwick gave a stern look and, deciding not to push anymore, Harry nodded and left, scooping Chipped Fang up into his arms as he left.  Behind him Flitwick was quickly spelling away the remains of feathers which littered the classroom from when students had exploded or otherwise destroyed them.

I know it's a really short chapter, I'm a little busier than usual right now but I'll try and make the next one longer. -T.A.L.A.