An Animagus

An Academic jump

Draco found himself resting his chin on his knuckles, trying his damndest not to fall asleep. Or worse yet, slam his head on his desk. Which just almost happens, as his chin slips ever so slightly off his knuckles but catches himself before the loud incident occurs . Theodore Nott, his desk mate and one of his closer friends, jabs into his ribs with his elbow while he snickers behind his other hand. Trying not to get caught by Professor McGonagall, as she goes on about transfiguration spells. Barely batting an eye at the two Slytherins.

But from across the room, Draco could feel a glare. Somewhere from the Gryffindor table where "The Boy Who lived," it sits with all his little friends, a weasel, and a bushy headed Mudblood.

Granger levels him with a look, and when she looks back up to the front of the room, she flips her hair over her shoulder.

Draco felt delighted at the fact that he took away her attention to the lesson. If he isn't going to learn anything today, neither should she. He doesn't quite know why he feels this way. And he isn't going to poke at the thought for too much longer.

Class is over, but nearing the end, Professor McGonagall added more homework due to a few students. He wouldn't guess who, were not paying attention during her lesson. A few books to check out at the library and a single paper on what spells they find in them.

They are to write about one that peaks their personal interest,is what she said. And all he could care about was getting out of that classroom.

Though to be truly honest with himself, when the day ended he headed straight to the library, he opted on skipping the dinner to perhaps study alone in the library and just maybe read in the quiet atmosphere, surrounded but knowledge and no judgment. It may seem as though he'd be failing his classes with his lack of attentiveness.

But he is actually 2nd in almost all his classes. Coming 1st only in madam Hooch's quidditch lessons. He was born to fly. It was his favorite pastime at home in the desolate and cold Manor. When his father didn't have him studying; history, other languages, politics, and so much more, he hated it.

Books gave him an excuse to sit quietly and escape from the politics and judgment from others. Flying gave him that feeling of being free,weightless, and gave him meaning to life.

Entering the library, he found it empty like he had hoped. Searching for the multitude of Transfiguration spell books on his list.

He found one other in between the stacks. He could tell who it was, even when they were facing away from him. With all that hair, it couldn't be none other than Granger.

That one word put his foul mood back in place. But he wouldn't say he was surprised finding her here, with her nose in a book. She had a thirst for knowledge, greater than his own if he was honest.
She never looked up from the page when he passed down the row, finding a book that interested him, "advanced transfiguration." Same as the one her nose was in. When he passed by again to find himself a table in the corner, he saw what page she was so transfixed on.

When he reached a table to his liking. He put his bag down and opened the book to her page. First words he read "Animagus Transfiguration "

"Animagus (pl. Animagi) is a Witch or Wizard who can transform themselves into an animal and back again at will. It is a learned skill, unlike the hereditary skills of a Metamorphmagus. An Animagus Registry exists to keep track of those who have learned to transform in this way. Any witch or wizard who wishes to become an Animagus has to undergo a ritual-like process in order to achieve the ability. The process of becoming an Animagus is long and difficult, and it has to be done in a very specific way, it required skill, practice, and patience."

He glanced up from his reading to see that Granger had finally decided to sit at a table a few away. He watches her take out paper and quill and start writing. He only wonders what about. Until he noticesshe's still on the same page.

'This paper isn't due for another week. Why would she be working on it an hour after it's assigned?" He questions just under his breath as he looks down at the page and continues reading.

"The first step for becoming an Animagus was that the witch or wizard in question had to keep a single Mandrake leaf in their mouth for an entire month (from full moon to full moon) If the leaf was removed or swallowed, the witch or wizard would have to start over again.

At the next visible full moon (if the night happened to be cloudy, one would have to start over) the wizard had to spit the leaf into a phial within range of the moon's pure rays. To the moon-struck phial, the wizard or witch must add one of their own hairs, a silver teaspoon of dew that had not seen sunlight or been touched by human feet for seven days, and the chrysalis of a Deaths-Head hawk moth. The resulting mixture then had to be put in a quiet, dark place and could not be disturbed in any way.

The next thing that has to happen is for the wizard to wait for an electrical storm, whenever that might be. During this waiting period, the wizard would have to, at sunrise and sundown every day without fail, chant the incantation Amato Animo Nimo Animato Animagus with the tip of their wand placed over the heart. When, at last, there is a lightning storm, the wizard has to move immediately to a large and secure place, recite the incantation one final time, and then drink the Animagus Potion.

Once the process is completed, the witch or wizard would be an Animagus and for the rest of their life would have the ability to change between their human and animal forms at will, with or without the use of a wand.

However, if any part of this process is done incorrectly, it has the potential to backfire and cause the transformation to go horribly wrong (such as causing permanent half-human, half-animal mutations)."

He's not sure how much time had passed after he sat down, but when Nott nudged his side as he sat down next to him, Draco lifted his head to find the library filled with other students picking through the stacks or quietly gossiping amongst each other at the tables. When he looks through the crowded tables, he doesn't find a bushy haired girl. Not that he was looking, of course. "What did you find that was so good, you would skip dinner for?" Theo questions smugly. Setting his own bag on the table and leaning back in his chair. Draco just shows him the cover "Advanced Transfiguration"

"You can't seriously be starting on that paper already, Malfoy!" Theodore looks like he'd been punched with this information.

Draco scoffs and puts the book away. " Ready to go a few laps on the pitch? " he asks Theo. "Of course! I just got a new broom, I think I'll be even better than last year, I think Crabbe and Goyle are meeting up with Pucey and Warrington already."

Draco grabs up his bag as he stands and waits for Theo as he says, " I heard Marcus is looking for a new Chaser." Theo laughs and says," I think Urqhart may already have the position. Have you seen him on a broom?"

Draco nodded his head slightly as they headed for the Pitch.