Okay um not much too say on this, sorry it took so long but the last few weeks have been hetic and my beta's comp was broken for awhile. Oh and I'm on a LotR marathon trying to watch all 12 disks completely. Neway I've almost finished typing the next chapter so I promise I will make time for it.
Nothing to say on the last chap it was all self explanatory and no major questions or common misunderstandings arised so here you. once again with the Dumbles babble but I think that's almost ending.
PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW CAUSE I LOVE FEEDBACK!
Chapter 12 - Animagi and Confrontations
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Harry stood in the center of the great hall with Sirius, Mcgonnagal, Dumbledore and Hermione feeling like an idiot. At that moment he had his eyes tightly shut and was sitting cross-legged on the floor, hands resting on his legs trying to call an animal spirit into his mind.
However each time his eyes closed and he focused as he had been instructed he could only make out his father standing on a hill, a dog, and a tiger standing by his side while a phoenix perched on his antlers singing a beautiful song. Annoyed that he couldn't keep his mind off Padfoot and Prongs' forms Harry once again cleared his mind only to find another image of the four animals, the white stag standing before them looking meaningfully at Harry as if to scoff at his inability.
Frustrated Harry jumped to his feet, his eyes snapping open as Dumbledore clapped his hands bringing himself and Hermione from their search. Now standing Harry looked beside him to find Hermione slowly opening her eyes, smiling he reached down and gave her a hand up, once steady thee two teenagers turned their attention to Dumbledore
Looking expectantly at the two Dumbledore slowly questioned what they had seen.
"A phoenix," Hermione said certainly her gaze shifting between their teachers and Harry in glee, her warm hazel eyes dancing with flames.
Seeing that Mcgonagal was about to comment Dumbledore quickly interrupted, "Interesting, though I should have expected it." He said before turning his attention to Harry.
Suddenly Harry felt like everyone in the room was watching him, which indeed they were. After a long pause Harry finally spoke, "I don't know, I just saw my dad standing with a group of other animals. A dog, a tiger and a phoenix, it was always the same I would either just see my dad or he would be standing with the others."
There was a long uncomfortable silence in the room at which point Harry quickly grabbed Hermione's hand for support feeling as if something was dreadfully wrong.
"Well?" he questioned eventually.
Eventually Dumbledore opened his eyes, "Harry this may seem pointless but it is extremely important, what colour are the stags eyes?"
Curious Harry closed his eyes and thought for a second bringing up the image of the stag until he could see every detail, quickly he studied the stags face until the eyes came into focus. Harry's eyes snapped open in surprise and his grip on Hermione's hand tightened.
"What is going on!?" Harry exclaimed, "I know about animugus transformations a form does not follow a family line, in fact it is rare for two wizards to have the same form at all no matter their relationship. Now tell me what is going on."
Just as Dumbledore was about to speak Harry held up a hand and cast a silencing charm, "First, I don't want to hear your excuses, I'm sure you have a reason however stupid and lame it might be but I don't want to hear it! I just want to know what is going on and you had better not keep anything from me this time!" Harry explained then with a wave of his had removed the charm and conjured five chairs. Pulling Hermione to a seat he took the seat next to her. Following suit Sirius took the seat on Harry's other side while Mcgonagal sat next to Hermione Dumbledore taking the remaining seat, which happened to be across form Harry.
Grasping Hermione's hand for support Harry beckoned for Dumbledore to start.
"You were right Harry, it was yourself you saw. However your form is not a white stag it is the white stag." Dumbledore paused here to gauge the reaction the announcement received.
Confused Harry looked at Hermione only to find her utterly bewildered, it was a look that rarely graced her features and Harry decided he liked it unconsciously trying to think of more ways to make it appear.
"Harry once again this goes back to the time of Godric Gryffindor. During this time it was not the lion that was thought of as the king or even the wizards there was only one being that all life bowed to. The white stag, he was respected and revered, not though of as an animal for he was as intelligent as a wizard, more so even, he was many centuries old, there at the birth of time and before. For the entirety of his rule peace reigned the land, No one dared to hunt the white stag not even the animals. Then one day a selfish dark wizard sought to destroy the wonderful creature." Dumbledore paused for a moment as if the story was painful to recall.
"He was chased to the end of the earth where the Salazar Slytherin destroyed his body over many days. When it seemed all was lost Godric Gryffindor finally caught up with his once best friend; for only a few years prior the Hogwarts four was broken. The only way to stop Salazar from brutally murdering the stag as if he were a common beast was a long and strenuous duel. For many days they battled never once stopping. At last Godric defeated Slytherin and raced to the stag's side desperate to save the creature. Alas nothing could be done. The stag's body had been irreparably destroyed and though he tried everything to heal the creature almost sacrificing his own life before the stag speaking in his mind stopped him. Grateful for all he had done to try and save his life the white stag promised to always protect Godric and his true heir for as long as they fought for good. With that the stag's spirit was transferred to Godric's body. That is why your animagus form is a stag as was your fathers and his fathers, same as your patronus, the power of the stag fights with you and will continue to do so as long as you fight for the good of the people."
Now finished Dumbledore looked up surprised at not being interrupted once and expecting Harry to be furious. Instead he found Harry and Hermione tightly grasping hands and looking surprisingly calm, "Are you sure there is nothing else?" Harry asked meeting Dumbledore's blue eyes.
Dumbledore smiled slightly and inclined his head.
"So the spirit of this stag is inside me?"
Once again Dumbledore nodded.
"Okay, that's kind of cool I guess." Harry said with a shrug before standing up, pulling Hermione to her feet as well. Immediately their chairs disappeared, "Come on we should keep training I have to meet with Professor Vector soon, I don't want to be late." Harry said turning around.
"Hold on!" Sirius exclaimed halting Harry and Hermione in their tracks, "You want to go to Arithmancy?"
"Sirius, I have a power, and I must learn complete control of it if I am to protect those I love, from myself and others." Harry began slowly turning to face his godfather, his thoughts never once leaving the black cuff he wore, "I have to face one of the most powerful wizards of this world, before I can even hope to defeat him I must be as prepared as I can, I must not only understand my own power and how it works but also his."
A sad smile crossing his face Harry slowly made his way back to where Sirius was standing, "I'm prepared to do anything I must for those I love, even die to save them, but one thing I must do is defeat Voldermort, you all know this. He threatens everything I love, so I'll fight him." Now Harry was standing directly in front of Sirius.
"If being strong enough to defeat him means studying, doing extra work, making the library my home, hell even becoming a know-it-all-bookworm then I will simply because I won't let him hurt anyone else. So to answer your question… yes."
Gently placing his hands on Sirius's arms he looked deeply into his grey eyes, "From knowledge comes power, but I need the love and support of those I love to have the strength to defeat him. I need you to support me even if I become nothing like my father. I'm not him Sirius I'm not your best friend and fellow marauder. I am not my father and I need you to accept that." Harry finished slowly knowing the cause of Sirius's outburst somehow instinctively. By the time he finished both men had tears in there eyes as did Hermione and Minerva, Dumbledore was just looking proud of the man Harry was becoming.
All Sirius could do was stare at Harry for a moment before turning around and leaving the great hall.
"He'll understand eventually. He has to." Harry whispered to himself as he returned to his position next to Hermione.
"Can we begin now?" Harry asked tiredly in a voice that surpassed his years. At that moment wanting nothing more then to return to his room and let Hermione hold him, just so he could forget about being an adult, just so he could be 15 year old Harry Potter who was confused and lost and wanted nothing more then to be a normal 15 year old teenager.
But Harry Potter was not normal so he raised his head, pushed the boy inside himself away and once again became the Boy Who Lived.
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Slowly Harry paced out to the Quidditch pitch it had been 6 hours since the Animagus lesson and his confrontation with Sirius. He'd let his godfather have time to think now it was time to talk and see what the verdict was.
Spotting a loan figure sitting in the Gryffindor seats Harry made his way up, "Sirius," he greeted softly.
"Hello Harry, I was wondering when you would turn up." Sirius greeted his gaze never moving from the pitch.
A look of sadness settling onto Harry's face he took a seat next to Sirius Black his godfather and after a long internal debate began to talk.
"Sirius I know you miss him, both of them in fact. But you need to accept it…" seeing Sirius was about to interrupt Harry quickly raised a hand, "And move on. You still have friends here but none of them will ever take my fathers place, not even me. Please Sirius I don't want to lose you."
After a long moment Sirius answered Harry's unspoken question, "I know it's just that I miss him so much, and you remind me of him in so many ways, over time I guess I just turned you into him. I forgot that while you are James's son you will never be him, no matter how similar you are."
Placing a comforting arm around Sirius's shoulders Harry spoke softly, "You haven't lost everything Sirius, you're free now and Moony is still by your side just like he has always been. You're not the only one left."
"You're right Harry, How about I get to know my godson even if he does seem as old as Dumbles sometimes, as much as I hate it." Sirius said trying to act normal through a forced smile and heavy tone.
"It's not that bad Sirius, I've missed out on stuff but I don't miss it. I have great friends, and yes I have to kill Voldermort. But as strange as it sounds I'm happy, even if I don't have time to be a 15 year old kid. I can't miss something I never knew." Harry said accepting the fact that it would take Sirius a long time to become his godfather.
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