The New Me

Disclaimer: I don't own it. Any of it.

Warnings: None for this one

A/N: Hi! Wow, chapter 13 already... It's a bit longer than the last one, and I'm hoping to be able to get to the romance part soon. I haven't been able to get this one up earlier because of all the power blackouts we've been having on account of the snow storm, so yeah...
Anyway, I'm finally done with this chapter, and I hope you'll like it. And thanks for all the reviews, my goddess, I've gotten 206 already! Keep reviewing, 'cause I absolutely adore them!
Chapter 13 - Enjoy!

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Chapter 13

The image in front of Harry was of a huge coal black wolf with emerald eyes. And large green feathered wings. It had a white star on the top of its head, but other than that it was one massive black creature.

Suddenly, the image winked out and the brilliant light disappeared with it. Everyone in the classroom blinked to get their eyes used to the lesser light again.

“Dear Merlin, Harry. Did you have any idea?” Remus whispered in the silent room. Harry frowned at him, looking very confused.

“Why does everyone seem so shocked at my Animagus form? And yeah, I had a pretty good idea I would have that form.” Harry answered.

“Harry, no one has ever had that Animagus form before. It shouldn’t be possible.” Hermione said with worry in her voice.

“Why not? The creature itself can’t be that unusual, can it?”

“Are you completely oblivious, Potter? There hasn’t been a Winged Fenris alive for the past 100 years! The last one was killed in 1905 by one of Grindewald’s followers, they are an extinct species!” Draco Malfoy said with scorn in his voice. Harry frowned again, and seemed to be contemplating something. Like he was trying to decide weather to speak or be silent. Before he could speak however, Remus seemed to catch on to the fact that Harry had known he would take that form.

“Harry, what did you mean when you said that you had a pretty good idea that you would take the form of a Winged Fenris?”

“Because he told me, of course.”

“Who told you, Harry? Who could possibly know?” At the question Harry’s face shut down completely. His eyes were dead and glazed over, and he seemed not to be aware of the room around him.

“Harry? Are you alright?” Remus asked worriedly. Harry’s eyes widened a fraction, but still he didn’t move.

Suddenly, a muscle in his jaw started clenching. The air started to feel heavy, and sparks of magic were racing around Harry’s frozen body.

“Oh, no. Everybody get out, NOW!” Hermione shouted as she threw herself towards the door. Nobody moved. They just stared as the sparks of magic grew larger and larger.

“Moony, get them out! He’s going to have an attack, we need to get them out before he blows the entire room to pieces! MOVE!!” Finally Hermione seemed to be getting through to Remus, as he too realised the seriousness of the situation and started pushing all of his students towards the door, passed the brilliant column of light that had now enclosed Harry completely.

“Move your arses now! Run! Hermione, help me set the wards, I can’t do it in time myself.”

“Sure. On three – one, two, THREE!”

“Protego Maxima!” As Hermione and Remus shouted the spell together, a large bubble placed itself around Harry’s glowing body, just as he seemed to explode. Fortunately, the protection wards held and when the last of the light disappeared, they could see Harry lying unconscious on the floor.

“Oh, Harry.” Hermione whispered sadly as she made her way to her brother’s unconscious form. She gently levitated his body towards the stretcher that Remus conjured for her.

“Will he be alright?”

“I hope so, Moony. I hope so.”

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News spread fast at Hogwarts about what had happened to Harry Potter.

Students and teachers alike were speculating wildly about what had happened, but only two people seemed to know for sure. Hermione Granger and Madam Pomfrey.

And neither were talking.

Draco could not get it out of his mind how Potter had looked just before it happened. That brilliant display of power was amazing, if a little frightening. And just the fact that Potter’s Animagus form was a Winged Fenris! It was unheard of! Never in the course of history had that happened, not even Merlin or one of the Founders had had that form. Potter must be really powerful to be able to transform into such an exceptionally magical creature. It was said that the Winged Fenris and the Common Fenris were descendent from an Angelus and the first werewolf, making them almost pure magic.

“Draco, did you hear?” Draco was woken from his thoughts by Pansy’s shout, as she came running from the doorway towards the sofa where he was sitting with Blaise and Theodore Nott.

“Hear what, Panse?”

“Potter’s woken up!” At her exclamation, silence settled over the common room. All eyes turned towards the Slytherin Prince and his friends as Pansy got ready to share her information, being the unofficial Gossip Queen of Hogwarts.

“Oh? And why is this such a great event, Pansy? It’s not as if Potter hasn’t been in the infirmary before. I think he set some kind of record, actually.” Draco said in a bored manner.

“Oh, don’t be silly, Draco. You know that you want to hear what happened just as much as anybody else. Besides, don’t you want to know what it was that actually happened in class?” Pansy sounded smug.

“You have inside info, babe?” Blaise asked curiously.

“Of course. I talked to Granger. And she said…” Pansy was interrupted by the door to the common room slamming open.

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He was standing in a field, the sun shining overhead.
He felt more relaxed and content than he had ever done. All of the burdens of his past were gone and he felt lighter than he had in moths.

“I am glad that you feel that way, pup. It has troubled me to see you so sad.” Harry turned around at the deep voice. His face lit up in a brilliant smile as he faced the speaker.

“Zed!”

“Hello, pup. How have you been since last we talked?” The large Winged Fenris let his tongue loll out of his mouth as he waited for an answer. Harry’s face fell as he remembered the passed two years. For that was how long it had been since Zed had last visited him.

“It has been hell, Zed. He started doing it again, and it was all I could do to keep sane.”

“I am sorry to hear that, pup. I had hoped that he would not after I showed myself to him two years ago.” Zed sighed sadly. Harry didn’t want his Guardian to know that he had had his worst beating to date after Zed had left him.

“But I left as soon as I became of age, actually, my Aunt helped me escape.” Harry gave a small smile before turning serious again.

“Why are you contacting me now, Zed? And why in the middle of class? I wasn’t going to say anything about you, I promise.”

“Things are happening, pup. We are worried about you. You are going to have to face yet another adversary soon, in the form of…” Zed stopped talking, gaining a distant look in his eyes, and Harry knew that the Guardian Council were speaking to him. He sighed.

“I am sorry, Harry. I must go now, but I will speak with you soon again about this. It is time for you to wake up now, you have to go to the sentencing of your friend.”

“He’s not my friend! He never was.”

“But you considered him a friend once. It is important that you are there when he receives his punishment for what he has done.”

“I know that. When will I see you again?”

“It will be no more than two of your mortal weeks, pup. Try to stay out of trouble. And trust that snarky teacher of yours, he can do much to help you with what you have been through and things to come. I will see you soon, pup.” Giving Harry a quick lick on his cheek, the Winged Fenris spread his large golden wings and took off into the sky.
Harry stood watching until he had disappeared completely. The world around him slowly dissipated and he could hear voices talking quietly around him.

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“What do you want, Parkinson? I don’t think you’re here out of concern for Harry, more likely the case is that you’re fishing for information.” Hermione’s voice said scornfully. Someone sighed.

“Really, Granger. You couldn’t even consider the fact that we might be worried about him? You know, it’s not like you’ve done anything to try and get to know either of us since you were re-sorted. We would like to get to know you, you know. And why you were re-sorted in the first place, for that matter.”

“I don’t see how that is any of your business, Parkinson.”

“Come on! Can’t you just tell me something?”

“If I do, does it mean you’ll go away?”

“Sure. Now, spill!”

“Fine. Harry was re-sorted because the Sorting Hat wanted him in Slytherin in the first place, he merely talked it out of it, having just met the bastard known as Ron. I was re-sorted because…well, I’d rather not talk about it. Suffice to say, we are all glad to have him out of our lives. About today…well, that’s been known to happen before. As best as we know, he has a sort of fit, almost blows up everything within a 10 metre radius, passes out, and gains more magic. That’s about it. Will you leave now?”

Harry’s eyes fluttered open and he groaned.

“Oh, my head. It feels like a train hit it.”

“Harry! You’re awake, I’ll go get Madam Pomfrey right away! Parkinson – leave.” Hermione ordered, and surprisingly, was obeyed straight away. Rushing away to get Madam Pomfrey, Hermione failed to notice the frown on Harry’s face as he recalled her words to Pansy just before he opened his eyes.

“So, Mr Potter, you’ve decided to join us again? It was certainly about time, you have been unconscious for almost 6 hours! That is longer than any of the other times, is it not?”

“Yes. What time is it now?” Harry asked tiredly as he rubbed his eyes.

“Why, it’s nearly 4 o’clock in the afternoon!”

“Oh. Well, at least I still have some time to shower and change before we have to leave.”

“Leave, Mr Potter?”

“Yes. Hermione and I are going to the Ministry again, it’s time for Ron’s sentencing. We are expected at half 7 tonight.”

“Well then, let me just run some scans and I’ll let you leave.” Waving her wand over him in an intricate pattern, a parchment appeared next to her. She read the information and sighed with relief.

“It seems everything is fine, Mr Potter. Your magic level has increased again, like the other times, but that was to be expected as it has happened after each time. You are free to go, but I would like to come by tomorrow for another check-up. I will see you then, Mr Potter.” With a small smile, Madam Pomfrey left Harry to get ready.
Hermione came round the screen, a large smile on her lips. Harry glared at her, and she frowned.

“Harry? What’s wrong?” Hermione sounded worried, and as she reached out to touch his arm, he jerked away.

“You told her.”

“Told who what, Harry?” She frowned.

“I heard you. You told Parkinson.” Harry’s voice was cold, and he had a look of betrayal on his face.

“It’s not like I told her anything really important, Harry.”

“Yeah, you did. You told her about my ‘attacks’. No one is supposed to know, Hermione! I trusted only you and Madam Pomfrey with that, did you never stop to think why that might have been?” Leaving Hermione behind him, Harry stalked out the door to the Infirmary, making his way down to the dungeons.

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“Don’t say another word, Parkinson.”

The resident Hero sneered as he stalked into the common room, his eyes firmly on Pansy.

“And why would she do anything you want, Potter?” Draco said scornfully, glaring at Harry. Harry’s gaze swung towards Draco and he frowned before answering.

“Because Hermione had no right telling her what she did, and I’d prefer if she didn’t share the information further. Now, are you going to keep quiet, Parkinson, or are we going to have to come to some arrangement?”

“I won’t tell anyone if you’d rather no one know, but what will I get in return for my silence?” Pansy said curiously. Harry frowned before grinning slightly.

“How about I give you some inside information about MS class? I’m sure that Professor Millhouse will give us another assignment like yesterday.”

“Deal.”

“Good. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go change.” He got up and walked to the tapestry that lead to his and Hermione’s room, hissed the password, and disappeared from the common room.

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When Harry and Hermione arrived at the Ministry later that evening, things were still tense between them. Madam Bones greeted them with a grim face.

“Lord Potter, Miss Granger. It is almost time, follow me.” Turning around, she lead the way back to the courtroom and showed them to their seats. She then took her place at the Wizengamot judges’ bench.

“Have the prisoner brought in, please.” Mr Weasley called to the two Aurors standing on guard at the door. They left for a moment, before returning with Ron in shackles. It seemed that they weren’t taking any chances this time. Placing him in the chair and securing him to it, the Aurors backed off.

“We are here today to pass judgment on Ronald Billius Weasley for the long term abuse and threatening to take the life of Miss Hermione Anne Granger. Are all of the Wizengamot in agreement?” Mr Weasley asked in a grim voice.

“We are.” Madam Bones answered him.

“And what have you decided?”

“We of the Wizengamot, hereby sentence Ronald Billius Weasley to life imprisonment in Azkaban prison, without the chance of parole.”

“What?! No, I didn’t do it! Herm, tell them – tell them I didn’t do anything!” Ron screamed as the two Aurors took him away. Hermione just stared after him, eyes hard and her mouth set in a grim line.

“The Wizengamot would like to thank Lord Potter and Miss Granger for their testimonies that lead to the conviction of this prisoner. You may leave now. Good evening.” Harry and Hermione stood up and left the courtroom, walking silently back to the Apparition and portkey room to go back to Hogwarts.

“Are you still angry with me, Harry? I really didn’t mean to tell her your secret, please believe me?” Hermione glanced at him nervously through her lashes. Harry met her eyes and sighed.

“I’m not angry, Mione. Just a bit disappointed. I really trusted you and you didn’t keep your promise. Thankfully, Parkinson’s going to keep her mouth shut about it. When she promised, I sent a spell at her that will make sure that she doesn’t say anything.”

Hermione looked shocked at the admission. Then she frowned disapprovingly at him.

“Harry, I hope that you didn’t use Dark Magic on her. Like the Imperius curse?”

“Of course not! Who do you take me for, Voldemort? I used one of my own spells, and it’s just a variation of a magically binding promise. It just makes the person unable to reveal any of my secrets without altering their mind in any sort of way. You don’t have to worry, Mione, I’m not turning into a new Dark Lord.”

“Okay. Let’s just go back to school, I’m really tired. I can’t believe that it’s finally over.”

“I know. Grab hold and we’ll go. 3, 2, 1.”

And with a tug at the back of their navels they were on their way.

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Nearly two months passed without any trouble at all.

Dumbledore seemed to have decided to lay low and plan for a while, and had reverted back to his grandfatherly persona.

Harry and Hermione had made an effort to get to know the other Slytherins, and things were slowly changing for the better. The two former Gryffindors found out that Draco wasn’t a heartless bastard but actually had a dry sense of humour, that Pansy wasn’t an idiot Gossip Queen but an intelligent young woman with connections in all the Houses, and that Blaise was really quite dorky for a Slytherin.

The silver trio learned that there was more than just smarts and book knowledge to Hermione, that she could be quite sneaky and sly when she wanted to and that she had a really kind heart, despite the whole Ron-thing.

Harry, on the other hand…he was still a big mystery to the Slytherins. He could go from easy-going and joking to cold and cruel in a matter of seconds. He never let anyone other than Hermione touch him, not even a friendly brush of hands, without jerking away. He was very intelligent, and had a lot of knowledge about almost everything, which surprised them to no end, since he had always made out to be this oblivious care-free kind of guy.

He was also disappearing for long periods of time after classes each day, and no one could find out where he went. He would reappear late at night in the common room, looking completely exhausted, but refuse to answer any questions as to where he had been and what he had been doing. They decided to leave their new friend alone, not wanting to upset the fragile friendship that they had built over the past months.
Hermione, it seemed, had no such qualms.

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“I want to know, Harry! You can’t just keep blocking everybody out, what if something happens to you, and no one knows where you are or what you’re doing?” Hermione shouted at Harry in front of the rest of Slytherin House that had gathered in the common room. Harry’s face became totally blank, before he answered in a cold, tight voice.

“It’s no one’s business what I do, Hermione. I can take care of myself, I have been doing it for the past 16 years, after all.”

“That is where you’re wrong, Harry! I’m your sister, I’m going to be worried about you. And what do you mean, you’ve been taking care of yourself? Do I not count? Does Sirius and Remus not count?” Hermione’s voice sounded hurt, and Harry seemed to flinch a little when Sirius name was mentioned, having never quite gotten over his Godfather’s death.

“I told you why.”

“No, you didn’t. Not really. Please, Harry. Tell me what you’ve been doing.” She sounded weary, and tears started to gather in her eyes. Neither she nor Harry noticed the fact that the only ones left in the room besides them, were Draco, Pansy and Blaise. Harry scowled before sighing deeply and looking at the floor.

“I’ve been training, okay? In the Room of Requirement.”

“But why?”

“Because…I need to be prepared when the time comes. It won’t do to not be prepared like last time. It was pure chance that I actually succeeded, and I won’t leave it to chance again.”

“Prepared for what? What’s going to happen?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Harry!”

“No, Hermione. You can’t always know everything, just because you want to! Something’s are better left alone. Now, please, leave me be.” And with that, he completely disappeared.

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When Harry reappeared in front of the wall where the Room of Requirement was, he was really annoyed. As he paced three times thinking about the training room he usually used, his magic crackled around him.

The door appeared, and he stepped inside.

‘Are you alright, True Heir? What would you like today?’

‘I’m fine, Dearest. I’m just annoyed with Hermione, she always has to know everything, and she won’t stop until she gets it out of you. She should just leave me be.’ A warmth settled over him, and a wave of concern as well, as the Castle tried to comfort her charge.

‘She is only concerned for you, because she loves you. And she is not the only one that does so.’ Harry looked up in surprise.

‘What do you mean, she’s not the only one? Why would anybody else love me? And who?’

‘There is someone else who loves you. I have felt their feelings for you, even if they are not aware of the true nature of them themselves.’ Harry shook his head wearily.

‘Program nr 3 please, Dearest. I have some tensions I need to work out.’

He straightened up and squared his shoulders as ten DE dummies appeared, shooting hexes and spells at him. Dodging the bursts of magic, Harry readied himself for a long practice session.

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Draco was stunned when Harry disappeared from the common room.

“You’re not supposed to be able to Apparate inside of Hogwarts, are you?” Pansy said.

“No, you’re not. But then again, Harry’s always been special, hasn’t he?” Hermione answered.

“What did he mean, Hermione?” Draco asked (yes he now calls Harry and Hermione by their first name – they agreed that it would be for the best if they were going to try and be friends).

“Let’s just say, Harry’s childhood wasn’t very pleasant, and leave it at that. He really doesn’t want anyone to know, I doubt that he’s told me everything about it.”

“But, we were told that he was worshipped by his relatives, that they waited on him hand and foot.” Draco said confusedly. Hermione stared at him, before bursting into laughter.

“Oh my God! Do you mean to tell me that you thought he was treated like a prince, and that’s why you gave him so much trouble?” At Draco, Pansy and Blaise’s nods she stopped laughing, staring at them incredulously.

“What? You’re serious?”

“Um, yeah. We always thought he was rather…pompous and attention seeking, actually.”

“Harry’s always hated the attention. He never wanted to be the Boy-Who-Lived.”

“I believe that you are correct, Miss Granger.” They all startled at the Potion Master’s voice.

“Professor Snape!”

“Do you know where Mr Potter is now? He was supposed to meet me half an hour ago, but has yet to show.”

“Um, actually…we have no idea. He sort of disappeared.” At Snape’s raised eyebrow, Hermione blushed a little before looking down.

“It’s true, Sev. He somehow managed to Apparate away from here, and we have no idea where he is.” Draco said.

“What lead up to him Apparating? Miss Granger?”

“We had a fight, Professor. He’s really upset with me.” Hermione almost whispered.

“I see. And what was this fight about?”

“Well, I wanted to know where he has been disappearing off to, and he didn’t tell me at first, but then he admitted that he had been training in…of course! That’s where he is, he must be!” Hermione smiled at her own stupidity, shaking her head.

“Where, Miss Granger?”

“The Room of Requirement, of course. It’s up on…”

“The seventh floor, yes I know, Miss Granger.” Hermione blushed again at Snape’s tone.

“Do you want me to go get him, Professor?”

“No, Miss Granger, I will do it my self. Good day.” Then he left after nodding to all of his students, leaving them to wonder about why he had been looking for Harry in the first place.

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When Snape managed to finally get the door to the Room open, he was surprised to see Potter duelling what seemed to be several Death Eaters. Wandlessly and completely silent.

Suddenly, all of the DE’s froze, and Potter turned around, blood pouring from a cut on his cheek.

“Professor Snape? What are you doing here?” He seemed surprised, and Snape took a moment before answering.

“You were supposed to meet me in my office almost an hour ago, Mr Potter.”

“Oh. That was today?”

“Yes, Mr Potter.” Snape ground out.

“Sorry, I was a little…upset.”

“So Miss Granger and Mr Malfoy tells me. Are you ready for our meeting now, or should we reschedule?”

“No, no, I’m done here.” Waving his hand, the frozen Death Eaters disappeared.

Snape turned around and started walking, expecting Harry to follow him. When they arrived at Snape’s office, he opened the door and gestured for Harry to go inside. Locking the door and putting up a silencing spell behind him, Snape walked over to his desk and sat down.

“So, Mr Potter. Are you ready to talk about your childhood with me?”

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Ta-da! We finally find out what Harry's animagus form is *yay*
Please review and tell me what you think!
Love you guys and gals, and I'll see you soon!
Until next time
//LoveGD