Harry Potter and the Galator
Chapter 13
The Powers Within
The next few weeks were spent trying to study with the group, quidditch practice and the newly added training regiment for the trio with Sirius and Professor McGonagall. The animagus training started a week after Harry broke up with Ellen. Professor Dumbledore persuaded Professor McGonagall to train the three of them, Lavender wasn't interested and Ginny was still too young according to Dumbledore. McGonagall would be with them three night a week and Sirius would observe them 2 nights a week or when Professor McGonagall was too busy.
Their first night of training was exciting and a bit unnerving for the three.
"Okay, I will be teaching you three the art of being an animagi. It is against my better judgment, but the headmaster insists that you learn especially due to the dangerous encounters with you-know-who." The three of them looked at each other and nodded.
"Well, first things, first. You must think about what animal you would like to turn into. Being an animagus is a very advanced form of transfiguration and most of it comes from within you. You will need to be able to concentrate and focus."
"Professor, how long do you suppose it will take us before we can change to our animagus form?" asked Hermione.
"Well Miss Granger, it will all depend on how well you can focus and the magic within yourselves."
"What do you mean the magic within us?" asked Harry.
"As you well know and have probably witnessed, that each and every wizard or witch have a degree of power and specialty. Take me for example, my specialty is transfiguration, Professor Flitwick is charms and Professor Snape is Potions. However, we all have the potential to learn each skill, but knowing how to work with the skill also depends on what you have within. The power you have within is basically where you draw the powers behind the spells and charms. The more powerful you are within the more potent the spells and charms are. Same thing with being an animagus, the greater your power, the faster you will be able to learn to transform yourself." The three of them looked at each other. Ron swallowed, Hermione scrunched her eyebrows together and Harry just stared at McGonagall.
"Are you three ready?"
"Yes, professor," they answered.
"Well then. I must tell you that only a few choose to become an animagus because basically they do not have enough power within, they choose another calling or because transforming yourselves can be very painful at first."
"Painful?" asked Ron nervously.
"Of course Mr. Weasley. How do you think it feels to change your form from a human being to an animal smaller or larger than yourself." This cased the three of them to swallow big.
Why didn't I think to ask Sirius how it felt? Harry thought. I wonder how Wormtail stayed a rat for such a long time. Probably out of fear he concluded.
As an afterthought Professor McGonagall informed them, "There are items that enhance your magical powers as well as inhibit them. There are items that help direct your powers such as your wand."
"Of course," cried Hermione, "without our wands our spells may not hit the intended target."
"Right you are Miss Granger."
"But professor, what did you mean about things that enhance our powers," asked Ron.
"Well, do you remember your first year?"
"You mean the Philosopher's Stone?" asked Harry. Professor McGonagall nodded. "Of course. The stone changes ordinary metals to gold and produces the elixir of life."
"Yes, however, the powers of the stone are limited to the powers of the bearer. A magical item, no matter how much power someone claims it has, will not draw any in the wrong hands."
"What other magical items have you heard of professor?" asked Hermione with interest.
"Well, there is the legend of the galator." The three of them looked at each other with wide eyes. "I see you've heard of it. It is said to be a very powerful amulet that had been in Merlin's family for generations. A lot of evil wizards have been trying to find it for ages but to no avail. Some say it's been lost or buried with Merlin himself. Some say it is not real. But I believe it does exist. We'll never really know, will we?"
"There are also Thor's hammer, Samson's hair and even the ark of the covenant," she continued. "Thor never realized that all the powers his hammer contained were within himself, same with Samson. If you know the story you'll remember that Samson suddenly lost his strength when Delilah cut his hair, right?"
"Why would Samson believe that Professor? After all his hair was part of him," asked Harry.
"Because he was told that his strength was drawn from his hair, so he never cut his hair. He believed it was true. So when his source of power was believed to be removed, he also believed that his powers were gone."
The three of them had their mouths in a shape of an O but without sound.
"There are also self-made talismans and other items that powerful wizards have charmed with their own powers, but there are limited information about any of them. There is Merlin's staff which is also thought to have its own powers." She paused to check if she still had their attention, and then continued. "It was said that Merlin's own grandfather, Tuatha, placed some type of spell on the staff even beyond the grave. Tuatha was a great wizard, but he also foretold that Merlin though part human would be greater than even himself. He placed a spell on the staff to help Merlin on a mission so to speak when he was about your age. So you see, even Merlin had his share of adventures when he was younger though none had ever been written about him."
"Wow" was all the three could let out. Even Hermione who usually had millions of questions or knowledge of many things was at a lost for words.
"So, you three ready?" All they did was nod.
"All right then, here's what you need to do first. Go to the library." Ron and Harry groaned. Professor McGonagall looked ate them sternly. "How are you supposed to learn about your animal if you don't read up on them?"
"Sorry," Harry said. But he didn't mind as much as Ron did.
"Your assignment for tonight is to choose your animal and read up on it. I will give you a note for Madam Pince to freely explore the library, even the restricted section just in case someone would like to do extra research on Animagus," she eyed Hermione fondly.
"Tomorrow you will meet Sirius on the third floor corridor. I will meet with you the next day at the same place and time. Make sure you set up your quidditch practice around this training, boys. That is all. Good night."
The three of them rushed out and made their way to the Library.
Harry's thought were filled with questions about the galator that he didn't dare ask McGonagall. He may have to pay Dumblefore a visit soon. He definitely needed to read that book Ron gave him.
Hermione was ecstatic. She was given free reign of the library. It was almost like a dream come true for her. Her head was filled of items she wanted to research, the galator for one. She held a smile all the way to the library.
Ron on the other hand was in deep thought on what type of animal he wanted to turn into and the upcoming pain he would experience. He was also feeling a little scared about his potential powers. What if I don't have enough power in me, he thought. Then he brushed those thoughts aside and promised himself to do the best he could like his mother always told him.