The Bravest Snake

CHAPTER 16

As Harry curled up on his bed, hugging his pillows while the rain battered his window, he couldn't get his mind off earlier, when Hagrid told him how he really got the dragon.

''I won it,'' Hagrid had said. ''Las' night. I was down in the village havin' a few drinks an' got into a game o' cards with a stranger. Think he was quite glad ter get rid of it, ter be honest.''

''But what are you going to do when it's hatched?'' asked Hermione.

''Well, I've bin doin' some readin','' said Hagrid, pulling out a large book. ''Got this outta the library - Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit - it's a bit outta date, o' course, but it's all in here.''

That just didn't sit right with Harry. Hagrid was hiding an illegal dragon in his hut, and the only information he had was from an outdated book?! No, he needed to stop him. Hagrid wouldn't listen to him, though. He seemed to be attached to the dragon already...

A burst of thunder rattled the window panes, shaking the floor. Harry's grip on his pillows tightened. He wasn't afraid of storms, per se, but they felt like the day his parents died. He didn't remember the exact details of that day, but he could feel it in his bones.

Theodore Nott burst into the dorm, smiling wide. ''Hey Harry! I was just watching the storm in the Common Room - it's a lightning storm! You need that for your animagus thing, right?''

Harry smiled back, feeling a thrill of excitement. ''I do!'' He scrambled to drink his potion and placing his wand tip over his heart, he recited the incantation ''Amato Animo Animato Animagus.'' Closing his eyes, he waited for the fruits of his labor to take over.

Instantly, he felt a change in his body. He seemed to shrink, his skin feeling too tight on his body. With a shock, he noticed he was growing jet black feathers, the color of his hair. His nose seemed to enlarge into a sharp black beak.

Theo leaned over his small frame, holding out his hand. Harry leapt on it, reveling in his newly enhanced eyesight. Am I some sort of bird? I feel like one. Theo laughed when Harry looked around. ''You are kind of cute, you know? Your feathers are so nice and shiny too!''

''Oh, really? But what exactly am I?'' Harry asked then felt confused as to why Theo gave him a look of shock. ''What?''

''It's nothing. It's just... it's kind of weird hearing you talk. I'd expect you to make some sort of... chirp?''

Harry tried to chirp, but it came out as a harsh, grating sound, similar to an alarm clock. ''Er... well, I shouldn't do that if I don't want to wake anyone up. But, again, what am I? I'm some sort of bird, obviously, but what kind?''

Theo gently picked him up and carried him to their floor length mirror. There, reflected plain as day, was Harry as a raven. A big raven! He spread his wings, admiring the glossy sheen on his feathers. Wow, I wasn't expecting this. What a great Animagus form!

''I didn't really expect you to have a raven form, but since ravens are so smart it does kind of make sense.'' Theo smiled down at Harry. ''Are you like, the youngest person to ever become an Animagus?''

''I don't know, maybe? At one of the wizarding schools in Africa, Uagadou, students can become Animagi by the age of 14. It is a school focused on self transfiguration, though. I'd better tell Professor McGonagall about my results. She was the one who told me about it in the first place, so I bet she'll be pleased to see I achieved it so quickly.''

Theo slumped over his bed. ''Damn it, Harry. Youngest Animagus in this whole school probably, on top of the youngest person on a House Quidditch team! Save some accomplishments for the rest of us normal people, okay?''

Harry willed his mind to turn back into a human, doing so was easier than turning into a raven. Well, he was glad he was achieving so much this year. In Muggle schools, Harry had been unremarkable. He got good grades of course, and Dudley getting him into trouble was enough to annoy a few teachers, but he was glad that here in Hogwarts he could let his talent for magic shine through.

After Transfiguration the next day, Harry hung back to show Professor McGonagall his Animagus form. Her jaw dropped when he easily turned into a large raven, perching softly on her desk. ''Wow. Mr Potter - er, Harry, I can't believe you were able to achieve your transformation in such a short time! You really are your father's son, granted, James took a lot longer than you did. You've inherited both your parent's gifts for magic.''

Harry turned back to his human form, glowing with the praise. ''Thanks Professor. The books and journals you gave me really helped. I'm sure this knowledge will help me a lot through my magical career.''

McGonagall beamed warmly. ''Well then, I give 50 points to Slytherin! You deserve it.''

As Harry happily left, he nearly crashed straight into Hermione, Ron, and Draco pressed against the doorway. ''What are you guys doing here?''

''We saw you talking to McGonagall and Ronald couldn't resist, it was his idea - stop pushing me Ron! - and we heard talk of Animagi.'' said Draco sheepishly.

''Harry, when were you going to tell us you could turn into a raven? At 12 years old? That's amazing, I bet that's some kind of record,'' burst out Hermione. She seemed a little put out that he could do something she couldn't, but that didn't overshadow her pride.

''I - er, just finished the transformation process last night,'' Harry stammered, but Ron interrupted him. 

''A bloody Animagus huh? That's incredible!'' Then Ron's eyes turned pleading. ''Go on then, do it again! Show us!''

With a sigh, Harry turned back into a raven, relishing the feeling of heightened eyesight. It felt even better than 20/20 vision, which he never had due to astigmatism. He perched on Draco's shoulder, and allowed Draco to gently pet his feathers.

Then, one breakfast time, Hedwig brought Harry another letter from Hagrid. He hoped it would say, The dragon was all a bad dream, or something. But this letter had only 2 words scrawled on it.

It's hatching.