Harry Potter and the Order Of the Phoenix [53]
“Not until you tell us how it went tonight,” said Ron, with a smile on his face. Harry put his hands in his pockets, licked his lips, and told them about his date with Cho, with Ron and Hermione’s mouth gaping open the entire time.
CHAPTER 12- Transformation Training
The next day, Harry was anxious to get on with their plan. Even through Halloween was still a few weeks away, Harry couldn’t help but think about it, while having the same thing continually cross his mind: how are they going to get in Azkaban? Harry assumed that they wouldn’t just be able to walk in, go to Sirius and Lupin’s cell, and let them go. They had to think of a way to do it. Harry proposed this question to Ron and Hermione during Transfiguration,
“So how do you reckon we can do it?” he asked them. Hermione stroked her chin thoughtfully, while Ron just stared at him, as though expecting Harry to give him the answer.
“Well… we could… but… no. It’d take to long and…” said Hermione, inspiring interest in Harry and Ron.
“What’s your idea Hermione?” asked Ron. She sighed, looking as though she wished she hadn’t said anything.
“Well,” said Hermione, “we could follow in your dad’s footsteps Harry.” Harry’s face lit up.
“Of course!” said Harry excitedly. “We can become Animagi!” His father, Lupin, Sirius, and Peter Pettigrew had each become Animagi during their years at Hogwarts. They were each able to transform into an animal.
“Yes, but Harry, it takes many months, even years to become one! It took your dad almost his entire time at Hogwarts to become one!” said Hermione, trying to take Harry off the idea.
“Well, they didn’t have proper teachers, or help to do it. All they had was each other and books to learn it,” said Harry.
“So what are you saying?” asked Ron. “We enlist the help of a teacher?”
“Yes Ron, that is what I’m saying,” said Harry. He looked at Hermione, who now looked excited.
“That’s it! Of course! If we get proper help, we could probably become Animagi quickly. We may even have it down in five or six months-” she was cut off by Harry.
“Five or six month! But we have to do this in-” Harry suddenly realized that the entire class was looking at him. He wasn’t exactly surprised though, if someone else had been going on as loud as he was, he’d be looking at them.
“Do you have something to share with the rest of us Mr. Potter?” asked Professor McGonagall who was busy transfiguring a fish into a turtle.
“Um… no professor,” said Harry. Professor McGonagall looked at him suspiciously for a second, then retuned to her work, and Harry returned to talking with Ron and Hermione.
“But Hermione, we need something that will get us into Azkaban,” said Harry, much softer than before.
“Well, we’ll just need another plan for that,” she said, listening more to Professor McGonagall, and taking many notes. Ron, however, was looking slightly disappointed.
“Too bad, for a second there, I thought I might learn to do something that only I, not any of my other brothers, could do.” Harry and Hermione looked at him sympathetically.
“Well, even if we can’t use it to get into Azkaban, it would still be an invaluable technique to have, especially when we’re all Aurors,” said Harry. Ron’s face brightened up, and Hermione looked at him.
“You do realize that this will take months, maybe even years of work and practice, and we’ve got tests coming up soon and-”
“No it won’t Hermione,” said Harry. “Not with McGonagall teaching us!” All three of them looked up at Professor McGonagall in a new light.
“Well, it might be nice to know more about it, it could help me on the O.W.L.s,” said Hermione, trying to hide the fact that she really wanted to do this.
The rest of the class went by slowly, and Harry’s anxiousness to get started was getting higher. By the time the bell actually rang, Harry was gripping the front of his desk, with his eyes bulging out.
“Ah, finally!” said Ron, he had been waiting too. When the rest of the class had left, Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed up to Professor McGonagall who was