Whatever Doesn't Kill You

Harry's Room, Durmstrang, Oct. 30 th

"Do it again."

"I think that's enough for tonight."

"Do. It. Again."

"Are you sure? We've been practicing for a while. And I know it hurts."

"Of course it does," Calypso said irritably, "but since I can't cast the spell, you're getting more practice at Transfiguration. The only way I'm going to be able to keep up with you is if I have a better understanding of what the transformation feels like. I'm not going to fall behind and let you move on to the next stage without me."

Harry sighed. "Calypso, don't worry so much. I'll wait for yo–"

"No you will not!" she snapped. "If I can't keep up, you will not slow down for me. If you actually think that's a good idea, then you should just go back to Hogwarts!"

"I was only trying to be nice!" Harry spat.

"Well don't be. You came here to become a better wizard. That means you can't slow down your progress for anyone. You want to be nice? To help me? Then cast the spell again."

"Fine, see if I care." Harry said harshly, his voice belying his hesitancy to raise his wand. It had been almost a month since Harry and Calypso had gone to Professor Rosemburg and asked about the Animagus transformation. While Rosemburg had been rather dismissive of Calypso's chances at managing the process, he put up with her presence at Harry's request.

"Ready?" Harry asked, again.

At Calypso's confirmation, Harry raised his wand and slowly ran it over her arm. With a muttered incantation, he jabbed his wand into Calypso's hand.

Calypso bit her lip as the bones, muscles, and tendons in her left hand were reshaped and contorted in different directions. When the transfiguration was complete, Calypso took a deep breath and gazed at the fearsome bear paw and claws that her left hand had turned into. "I need to learn some partial transfiguration. Could be useful for a duel," she muttered while taking a swipe with her transfigured hand.

"Ready for me to change it back?" Harry asked after a few minutes of letting Calypso get used to the different appendage.

"Go ahead." Calypso lifted her arm up to Harry and let him cast the counter to the transfiguration.

When the transfiguration was complete, Calypso couldn't help but softly rub the back of her hand. "I can tell you're getting better at the spell, but it still hurts."

"Do you want to visit Lady Shluga?" Harry asked, leaning forward to look at Calypso's hand. "It doesn't look like any of the bones are misplaced."

"No, nothing feels wrong." Calypso flexed her hand a few times. "I think it's alright, just a little sore."

"Sorry about that," Harry said sheepishly. "I'm still not sure what I'm doing wrong. The transfiguration should happen instantaneously, but it's not for some reason. Rosemburg said he'd work with me this weekend, so, hopefully, I'll be able to figure out what I'm doing wrong soon."

A soft knocking on the door caused Calypso to swallow whatever reply she was about to make, and Harry stood up and opened the door, revealing Viktor and Kira.

"Err, hey Viktor," Harry said. "Do you need something?"

Viktor smiled. "Kira has just told me that you are trying to become an Animagus?"

"I hate to break it to you Krum," Calypso drawled, "but your girlfriend is a liar."

"Please," Kira said dismissively. "I overheard your meeting with Potter in the library. I didn't think you would actually try it, but when you started monopolizing Rosemburg's office hours, I knew what you two were doing.."

"And we would like to become Animagi as well," Viktor said, giving his girlfriend a look.

"No," Calypso said simply.

"I don't think it's up to you Rosier," Viktor said challengingly. "Unless you've been holding back a lot in transfiguration, I think it's Harry's decision."

"There has never been a Megara with the capability to become an Animagus, and Krum, you are more interested in flying on that twig of yours than actually doing work," Calypso said haughtily. "You both would just slow Harry and I down."

Kira's face turned red in anger at being reminded of her bloodline's less-than-stellar reputation for developing magical talents.

"Kira," Krum warned, seeing his girlfriend reaching for her wand.

"The truth hurts, Megara," Calypso said icily. "Now leave. Harry and I would like to get some more practice in tonight, and I doubt you would be able to do the magic involved."

Sensing that the situation could very easily devolve into an exchange of curses, Viktor turned to Harry for help. "I promise that I will work hard, Harry. You told me last year that you felt I had a talent in Transfiguration. I promise that I'll work hard at this. And who's to say that Kira cannot become an Animagus just because of her family's history? Kira, how long has it been since a member of your family has attempted to become an Animagus?"

"Over five generations," Kira snapped, not turning her glare away from Calypso, who returned the stare defiantly.

"Five generations is a long time. The talent easily could have entered her family in that time," Viktor argued.

"Perhaps Krum's right, Harry," Calypso said, causing everyone to fall silent in surprise. "Not about Megara, mind you- her bloodline is as worthless as a Muggle's -but perhaps we should allow Krum to practice with us."

Calypso's comment seemed to push Kira over the edge. Before Krum could stop her, Kira drew her wand and fired off a hex at Calypso. Without a second thought, Harry cast a protego over Calypso, causing the spell to redirect and strike an empty chair, scorching the back of it.

"Relying on Potter to fight your battles for you now Rosier?" Kira taunted. "How pathetic."

"Enough!" Viktor quickly cast Expelliarmus and disarmed Kira, preventing her from sending another hex. Kira met Viktor's eyes for a moment before folding her arms over her chest and sending a glare at her boyfriend. Turning back towards Harry, Viktor said, "I'm sorry about this Harry. Just...give us a chance. I promise you won't regret it."

"I'll help you, Viktor," Harry said, pointedly excluding Kira.

"Thank you, Harry." Viktor looked at Harry's destroyed chair and turned to Kira. "Don't you have something you would like to say? An apology, perhaps?"

"I'm sorry for your chair," Kira muttered. Looking as though she had just ate something foul, she added, "Will you please help me as well?"

"Why should he bother," Calypso said patronizingly. "You're not worth his time."

"If you help me, I'll help you Potter, " Kira said, speaking directly to Harry and ignoring Calypso entirely. "Viktor tells me Spell Creation is still your worst subject, and you'll only fall further behind unless someone actually takes the time to help you. And you know Professor Cherny won't bother with a second year."

"I can help him," Calypso interjected. "He doesn't need you."

Kira sent a haughty look at Calypso and snorted in derision. "It's quite simple Potter, would you rather learn from someone who's just slightly above average in your class or someone who's one of the best at the subject two years ahead of you? I can get you caught up with the basics and show you what you'll need for next year as well."

"Harry, please?" Viktor added. "Give her a chance."

"You'll help me whenever I have a question?" Harry clarified. "And once I get caught up, you'll continue working with me?"

Kira gave her boyfriend a very annoyed look, but, seeing Viktor's nod, she said, "Fine. But don't expect me to hold your hand Potter! I'm not going to be doing your work for you."

Harry thought about it for a moment. While he wasn't in any immediate risk of failing Spell Creation, he was still in the bottom portion of the class. Begrudgingly, he admitted that he could use some help, and Kira was one of the best in her year at the subject. "Alright, fine. You can work with us as well."

"Thank you Harry. Now, I've got to get to practice. Let me know when you want to start," Viktor said before pulling his girlfriend out of the room.

"What were you thinking?" Calypso snapped at Harry the second Viktor and Kira left the room. "Krum. Fine. He'll probably get bored of the work in a month and go back to chasing Snitches, but Megara? She treats both of us like shit!"

"I'm still behind in Spell Creation," Harry bit out, clearly unhappy. "I need help, and, as much as I dislike her, Kira is very good at the subject. With her help, I should be able to catch back up and maybe get ahead of everyone else by the end of the year. At the very least, I'll get some advice from her for my final project. Besides, if you're right, and she can't become an animagus, she'll probably give up soon anyway."

"It's not worth putting up with her," Calypso said irritably before an even darker look crossed her face. "Oh, Harry?"

"Yes?"

With a sharp upwards flick of Calypso's wand, Harry found himself hoisted up by his ankle and dangling in front of Calypso, his wand falling out of his hand to the floor. "I can protect myself from Megara!"

Harry looked at Calypso in shock. "What are you talking about?"

"She sent a lousy bruising spell at me, and I was looking forward to redirecting it right back into her smug little face when you cast that stupid shield charm." Calypso punctuated her point by flipping Harry so he was right-side up, yet still several feet in the air, and then casting a sticking charm on the nearest wall and sticking Harry to it.

"Calypso, get me down now!" Harry yelled.

"The Sticking Charm should wear off soon, Harry. I've never been that good with them. Have a good night." Calypso cast a silencing charm on the door before walking out of the room.

"Calypso!"