98 Bats in the Belfry

Grindelwald's Room, Oct 18th

It was impossible. Well, obviously, that wasn't true, but it was certainly improbable.

And yet, it happened.

Viktor Krum, the person who had to repeat his first year Transfiguration class. The person who could just barely cast silently. The person who, admittedly, would rather play Quidditch than study, had, in his first ever attempt, found his animagus form.

The small bat that was Viktor Krum was frantically flying around Grindelwald's library as Harry, Calypso, and Kira watched in stunned amazement.

"Do you think he knows how to transform back?" Calypso asked as Viktor continued to fly haphazardly around the room.

"I doubt it," Harry said, his eyes fixed on the frantic creature. "If you can hit him with an Impedimenta or Immobulus, I'll cast the Homorphus Charm on him."

The two spells quickly flew from Calypso's wand, hitting the bat and freezing it in the air. A moment later Harry cast the Homorphus Charm, and a fully human Viktor Krum fell to the ground. Kira immediately canceled Calypso's immobilizing spells and rushed to Viktor's side.

"Are you alright?" She asked, frantically looking him over as if to make sure no parts were missing.

"I'm fine," Viktor said, shaking his head. "That was...unexpected."

"How did you find your form so quickly?" Harry tried to keep the envy out of his question, but he was having a very hard time understanding how his friend had transformed.

"I-I can't really explain it," Viktor admitted. "I tried doing what you said. I was thinking about what I felt most defined me, but I became distracted and just started thinking about how much I would rather be flying. I remembered the thrill of catching the snitch against Turkey, and then I remembered what I was supposed to be doing and I concentrated on changing. I wasn't sure what happened, but the next thing I know, my mind was filled with the image of a bat. I saw it flying, using its echolocation to find its prey, and I felt...happy. The next thing I know, I'm flapping my wings, and I'm practically blind. It was incredible, I couldn't see anything a few inches away from my face, but I knew where everything in the room was. When Calypso raised her wand to send the spells, I felt them leave her wand, and I knew I could have dodged them, but I assumed that you were trying to help and I let them hit me."

Harry listened carefully to everything Viktor said. Glancing over at Calypso, he thought he saw a flicker of annoyance before she schooled her face into indifference. Taking a deep breath, Harry used Occlumency to clear his mind. Viktor had found his form, and while he was proud and happy for his friend, Harry was now more determined than ever.