Chapter 13: Animal Antics

"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked as she entered the common room and Neville looked up from the book he was reading.

"He's already had breakfast and joined Professor Sirius, Professor Lupin and Jinelle Shafiq outside. It's Saturday, Professor Black's doing his Registered Animagi of Hogwarts thing. Look out the window, you'll see them."

Before Hermione could move, Luna dashed past her and flung the window open, leaning out so far that Ginny, who was hot on her heels, had to grab the back of her robes to prevent her from falling.

"There they are!" Luna pointed as Hermione joined them, reaching out to help pull the younger girl back to a safer position. "Over there, you see them?"

Hermione followed Luna's pointing finger and her eyes lit on four canines gallivanting around as several pupils watched them from a distance, the canine quarter being a white dog, a black dog and two wolves, one quite a bit larger than the other.

"I wonder if Headmistre… there she is!"

Hermione's eyes widened in shock as a tabby cat launched itself out of a bush and bounced off the black dog as it bounded past, knocking it off-balance so that it ended up sprawled on the grass, its paws waving comically in the air.

"Wha… bu… she… huh?"

"Probably payback for some of the pranks Professor Black pulled when he was a student here." Neville mused from beside her.

Hermione gave the distant animals a long, contemplative look and Neville shook his head slightly before leaning towards her so that he could explain quietly.

"Hermione, it's bad enough to the more traditional Purebloods that a Muggleborn is outdoing them scholastically. If you reveal that you are an animagi, they will take action against you and your parents, both legal and otherwise. Their pride would demand no less."

Hermione gave a slow nod of reluctant agreement, then raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"Aren't you…?"

"Not until I come of Age." Neville replied with a wry smile. "Or at least not until I pass my OWLs."

"Same here." Ginny grumped, watching the canine quartet with a wistful expression. "My mother would go mad if she found out about… LUNA!"

The blond girl had taken advantage of the distraction and hurled herself out of the window. As she fell, her form rippled and then she soared into the air.

"…and of course, since everyone thinks she's slightly strange anyway, she can get away with it." Ginny grumbled as the Ravenclaws behind them scrambled to the windows, eyes wide in amazement as they watched the second-year soar.

"I'll escort her to the DMLE this afternoon to get her registered." Filius offered from behind them, causing the trio to jolt in shock and Ginny to almost tumble out of the window before Neville pulled her back. "And Miss Granger, as much as it pains me to admit it, Mr Longbottom is correct as to why you should keep your form secret for now."

Hermione nodded in unwilling agreement with Filius' quiet addendum.

.

Draco Malfoy's fingers whitened as he read the morning's Daily Prophet.

.

Malfoys Now Second!

By Rita Skeeter

For several decades now, the Malfoy family has been regarded

as being the wealthiest of all Wizarding Households, holding on

to one Galleon in ten of the cash reserves of the Wizarding World.

Although they are still the wealthiest in terms of pure money, it is

no longer true that they are the wealthiest overall.

Once one includes property, business ownership and income that

is derived from Patents and sales, the Malfoys are now firmly in

second place with the Potter Family (sole surviving member being

Harry James Potter – aka The-Boy-Who-Lived) having overtaken

them and still getting richer.

But how did he get so wealthy, you may ask.

Part of the wealth can be attributed to the Basilisk that Harry Potter

managed to tame and teach how to speak. The Basilisk in question

not only acts as a most impressive security guard at The Pottery (the

rebuilt traditional mansion of the Potter Family) but provides income

via the selling of Basilisk Venom and shed Basilisk Skin, the former in

high demand by potioneers while the latter is the preferred material

for covering the walls of dueling chambers and ritual rooms.

That by itself would bring in a quite considerable of money, but Lord

Potter has set up a company called Evans Enterprises which takes its

name from Lord Potters mother, Lily Potter nee Evans. The company

specializes in communication and work in both Wizarding and Muggle

societies, although it ensures that the Muggle world does not become

aware of the Wizarding world.

The most recent action taken by Evans Enterprises is the installation

of modified telephones in Hogwarts, allowing Muggleborn children

to contact their parents without having to rely on Owl Post since the

Muggles do not have access or the ability to use the Floo system…

.

Slamming the paper down, Draco tried to calm himself, but his efforts were set to naught by the damned Boy-who-lived and his sickeningly sycophantic entourage entering the Great Hall. His fingers twitched with the desire to pull out his wand and start hexing, but the presence of several teachers was enough to convince him to wait for a better opportunity. Instead, he rose from his seat and stalked out of the Great Hall, not even caring that his minions were too busy eating to pay attention to where he was.

.

Narcissa paused mid-bite as her mirror chimed, then she sighed and put down her toast. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the communication mirror and spoke the activation word.

"Draco."

The mirror clouded and then the image of her son appeared on it.

"Mother… have you read today's Daily Prophet?"

Narcissa turned the mirror to show Draco the newspaper still folded on one side of the table, its restraining ribbon obviously untouched, then turned it back to face her. "What happened?"

"We are no longer the richest family, mother. Potter has more wealth than us."

"I… what?" Narcissa shook her head. "That can't be right. The last time we visited our account manager, he confirmed that we still owned more than one-tenth of the Galleons in circulation. The economy would have collapsed if anyone else did the same."

"That's because while we own a tenth of all the Galleons, Potter owns several entire businesses." Draco countered. "If the value of the businesses is taken into account, he owns more than us."

Narcissa frowned. "But… how could he… Draco, we own stock in several companies including the Prophet."

"And Potter has his company working in the Muggle world too!"

"That shouldn't be possible." Narcissa stated. "The Statute of Secrecy keeps the two worlds separate, but if Lord Potter is trying to sidestep it... I'll look into it. If it turns out that he's putting our world at risk…"

Draco smirked as his mother ended the connection.

If Potter was doing anything that resembled risking the Wizarding World, his mother would find out and then the damned Scarhead would be put in his proper place.

Perferably in Azkaban…

…which was still a bad place, even though there were only two Dementors stationed there.

.

.

"Welcome to the Animagi Registration Office." The beaten-down-looking man behind the desk droned. "My name is Krystopher Thistlewhaite. Are you here to register an Animagus form?"

"Yep." Luna chirped and the man sighed as he pulled a form out of the desk, then rose from his chair to grab a camera from the shelf.

"Please stand on the platform and demonstrate your form, unless you need more space or a special environment such as water or fire." He recited. Luna hopped onto the indicated stone platform and a moment later, a red-headed crane was preening. The man took a picture, then waved to the desk.

"Do you know what your form is called?"

"I call it Skydancer!" Luna giggled and the man sighed.

"What type of animal is it?"

"Luna Lovegood can take the form of a red-headed crane." Filius supplied from his position by the door and the man paused.

"Lovegood? As in Xenophilius Lovegood?"

"He's my father." Luna confirmed and the man gave a slight smile.

"I enjoy reading his magazine."

"Daddy will be happy to hear that!"

.

.

The vulture glided on the thermals caused by the massed caravans below, its eyes peering at the slowly-quieting trailer park and the area of it that had once been full of caravans but was now full of broken wood and metal that was slowly being cleared away. Several drunkards staggered back towards their homes but movement in a collapsed shed caught the bird's attention and it swooped down, landing lightly just in front of the delipidated structure.

Glancing round, the bird hopped forwards, then it rippled and expanded upwards, turning from a bird of prey into a jovial-looking elderly male.

"Hello there, little one."

In the corner of the shed, what had appeared to have been a pile of discarded canvas shifted, part of it lifting up to allow a pair of eyes to peak out suspiciously.

"Do you mind if I sit?" The man asked as he lowered himself to the ground. "My old bones don't do all that well these days. Perhaps I can interest you in some food?"

The eyes sharpened as the man pulled a small box out from his coat pocket, then unfolded it and unfolded it again. Within the space of a minute, the box had been enlarged into a small cloth-covered table, then the man lifted the cloth off to reveal several filled plates, jugs and glasses that couldn't possibly have been underneath the fabric.

"Magic, young one." He smiled at the shocked watcher. "My name is Gellert Grindlewald and I am what many would call a Wizard. It is my task to seek out those who have power and offer them new lives away from those who would harm them, such as those short-sighted fools who work for the government."

The canvas-shrouded figure slowly moved towards the table. As it entered the light from the lantern on the table, Gellert was able to see the bruises which covered part of the young boy's barely-clad body.

"Help yourself, but eat slowly. If you eat too fast, you will give yourself a stomach-ache."

The boy reached out and then pulled his hand back quickly, but Gellert simply smiled at him again.

"Eat, drink and relax. We will not be disturbed and although I wish to speak with you, I believe that it can wait until the pangs of hunger no longer trouble you."

The boy grabbed one of the sandwiches and crammed it into his mouth as Gellert sat as unthreateningly as he could. After several minutes, the boy slowed down and gave Gellert a measuring look.

"Why me?"

"Because you have a power greater even than mine." Gellert shrugged. "A power that many magic users fear and seek to destroy. A power known as Obscurial. As you saw, I can change and take wing, but you… you have the ability to change into a form of pure Magic, a form which makes you unbeatable and unstoppable… if the local Mages allow you to live long enough to learn how to use your power instead of having it use you. They hate Obscurials and one of their laws is that all Obscurials must die. They will eventually find you and wait for you to fall asleep before killing you, giving you no chance to fight back. However, my allies and myself… we can help you learn to control your power and use it to make a new life for yourself… away from the Mages of America. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to become an Earl or Baron of England? To live in a mansion with staff seeing to your every need? To be admired for what you can do rather than feared?"

The boy's eyes lit up and Gellert knew that he had his first weapon.

"Do you wish to use the name you were given at birth, or do you wish a new name?"

The boy looked thoughtful, then he gave the nod of someone making a decision.

"Call me… Kirk. James Kirk."

"As you wish, James." Gellert pulled hiimself to his feet and waved his wand, causing the table (and the few pieces of food still on it) to fold back down until it was once more simply a small box no larger than the palm of his hand. Scooping it up, Gellert pocketed it, then gave James a questioning look.

"So, do you wish to come with me, or would you prefer to make your own way through life with the Mages chasing you?"

"I'll come with you… for now." James tried to sound mature and Gellert smiled.

"Then come with me and we shall see about getting you some new clothes."

"Can I grab my comics first?"

"Of course."

James grinned as he followed the elderly gentleman into the night.