New Beginings

***flashback***

Chapter 5

" So do you really think that Rem will let us take him out on the full moon?" Hermione asked Harry later that day during Charms. They were all working on silencing charms which made for good barriers against eavesdroppers. Not that Harry and Hermione needed to practice. Both had been doing Silencing charms since fourth year.

" He said he'd think about it. I think he would love to get out but he doesn't want to hurt us." Harry sighed.

" Even though Harry told Remus that he and I can change into any animal and you two are able to change into bats and you've got that vampire strength." Draco said bored.

" That's not all I can change into." Hermione huffed. The boys looked over at her curiously.

" What's that supposed to mean 'Mione?" Blaise asked. Hermione looked uncomfortable.

" As it so happens Fred and George aren't the only unregistered Animagi."

" You're an Animagus!" Harry shouted.

" Yes and it's a good thing that we have a strong Silencing charm in place otherwise the whole class would know."

" So what's your form?" Draco asked.

" A raven."

" Cool. Mine's a badger." Blaise said offhandedly.

" Say what?!" Draco demanded. Blaise shrugged.

" It's no big deal."

" So you two are the only ones who aren't Animagi." Hermione said to Harry and Draco.

" Well..." they both hesitated.

" All right. Out with your forms." Blaise laughed.

" I'm a snake." Draco confessed. The others turned to Harry who still looked hesitant.

" Oh fine! I'm a Phoenix!" he snapped.

" But Harry, normal wizards aren't- " DRaco started.

" Aren't supposed to be able to become magical creatures. Yeah I know. Dumbledore told me."

" Dumbledore knows?" Blaise asked.

" Yeah he helped me with it last year. Said I was a true Gryffindor for being able to. I'm not sure what he meant by that though seeing as the symbol for Gryffindor is a lion."

" Harry one of these days I'm going to force you to read Hogwarts, A History. Until then I guess I'll just have to tell you." Hermione said exasperated. " Godric Gryffindor was an Animagus. His form was a phoenix. That's what Dumbledore meant. That's why you were able to pull the Sword of Gryffindor out of the Sorting Hat in the Chamber of Secrets! That's why your magic is white! You are the heir of Gryffindor!" Harry stared at her dumbfounded.

" Wow." was all he could say.

" Hey do you guys realize that we have the same Animagus forms as the Founders?" Blaise asked.

" Huh. Now that you mention it. We do." Draco said thoughtfully. " That means you are supposed to be a Hufflepuff!"

" Shut up!"

" Hey do you think that if we tell Remi about this he'll go out with us?" Harry asked the others.

" Well it's possible." Hermione said hesitantly.

" Good I'll ask him about it after dinner."

Professor Flitwick then announced that they were going to individually come up and preform the Silencing Charm before him. He called up Harry and told him to preform the charm then yell at the top of his lungs to see if anyone could here him. Harry cast such a powerful charm that he was awarded five points to Gryffindor and no homework. A very smug Harry walked out of the class ten minutes later and to the Great Hall for dinner. Harry sat down next to the twins and cast a quick silencing charm.

" Hey do you guys wanna come with the four of us and Rem during the full moon? We're all Animagi and we thought we'd let him get out a bit. Plus we know that the two of you are the fox and the wolf that were in here earlier." Harry smirked.

" Hmm.. what do you say Fred wanna run with a werwolf during the full moon?" George asked his twin.

" Well I suppose it wouldn't hurt." Fred grinned. " Course we wanna go! How often does one get to run with a werwolf?"

" I knew you'd say that." Harry grinned. " Now all we have to do is convince Remi that it'll be all right."

" Come on Remus! What could it hurt? All six of us are Animagi. We are all perfectly capable of handling you in your werwolf form. I've sat with you during the transformation. It's not like back when you were in school Rem. You'll take the potion first and you won't be a danger to any of us!" Harry pointed out ten minutes later in Remus' office.

" Harry it's not that I don't think you guys would be in danger from me, it's that you might be in danger from Death Eaters if you were found out." Harry scoffed.

" Oh come on Remus! Even if we did run into Death Eaters it's not like I'm gonna march up to one of them and introduce myself." Lupin smiled at that.

" You really are just like James. Laughing in the face of danger. But you have your mother's tenacious stubbornness." Harry smiled. " All right Harry we can go out on the full moon. On one condition."

" What?"

" You don't use your phoenix form. You can change into any animal right?" Harry nodded. " Good, then don't become a phoenix. You'd attract way too much attention if you were spotted."

" Ok Rem. I promise."

" Good. Now don't you have homework to do Cub?"

" I'm going." Harry laughed hugging Remus tightly. " We'll meet you in the forest just before the sun finishes setting Sunday night." Remus nodded his consent and Harry went back to his dorm.

By the time Sunday rolled around Harry was itching to get out. With all the extra studding and training that he and the others had to do Harry was getting snappy at just about everyone. Snape was being merciless this year. Choosing to have them preform the most complex potions ever. Harry was just glad that Snape had agreed to let him(Harry) keep his(Snape) old potions book. Thinking back on it Harry realized that this had been the most eventful first week of school. First the new powers, then the thing with his aunt,training, finding out that he was heir to Gryffindor, then there was finding out that his and his friend's Animagus forms were the same as the Founders. Harry wasn't sure what to make of that one. Could it be possible that the others were related to the Founder too? Harry thought it over. And then there was yesterday and the trial of Draco and Lucius Malfoy.

***FLASHBACK*** Harry stood with Draco and Lucius waiting with them to be called into the court. The full Wizengamot was present. Not that this surprised Harry. After all this was the trial of Lucius Malfoy, right hand of Lord Voldemort. They entered the courtroom and Harry watched as Draco nervously sat next to his father in the same chair Harry had sat two years previously. The chair looked like it was about to chain Draco in as it had done his father but Harry shot a look at the Minister that clearly said ' Don't even think about it.' Harry, being there to vouch for Draco and Lucius, well mainly Draco, conjured a more comfortable chair and sat down. The Minister began by calling roll and then asked the prisoners for their full names.

" Lucius Malfoy." the elder said cooly.

" Draco Lucius Malfoy."

" Witness for the Defense?"

" Harry James Potter Gryffindor." Harry said clearly. This caused an uproar from the Wizengamot. Lucius shot a look of wonder and respect at Harry while Draco just shrugged. It was old news to him.

" What is the meaning of this?!" the Minister demanded. " There is no way you are related to Gryffindor!"

" On the contrary Minister." a voice said from beside Harry. " Harry is telling the truth. The Potters are direct descendants of Godric. In fact Godric was Harry's great-great-great-grandfather."

" Very well. Addition witness for the Defense?"

" Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." When roll was finished Scrimgeour read off the charges. Harry only half listened. He was rather bored so he let his gaze rome the courtroom. Eventually it landed on Draco and Harry decided that it would stay there. Draco really did look good. He was in his best black jeans and a dark green t-shirt that set off his eyes. Lucius had given him a disapproving look but Hermione had said that he looked good enough to eat and said he should be as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. She was right. Draco looked totally at ease even bored but Harry could still feel tension from him so when Draco felt Harry's eyes upon him Harry gave him a reassuring smile. Draco returned the smile and Harry felt the blond relax.

" Mr. Potter - er.. Gryffindor-" the Minister said clearly confused as what to call Harry now.

" Potter is fine." Harry spoke.

" Right. Mr. Potter you are willing to vouch for both Lucius and Draco Malfoy?"

" I am."

" And why exactly are you willing to do that? After all the elder Mr. Malfoy has tried to kill you many times and the younger Malfoy has been your school rival ever since you arrived at Hogwarts. He has shown nermourus times his hate for you and tried to murder the Headmaster last term."

" Yes emphasis on tried Minister. I was there that night and Draco was hesitant the whole time and as you can obviously see Dumbledore is still with us. As for Lucius Malfoy, well although he worked for Voldemort-" there was a collective hiss from the Wizengamot, " Oh come on! Grow a spine!." Harry snarled. " Although Lucius worked for Voldemort he never actually fired off the Avada Kedavra. In fact the worst he ever shot at me were stunners and a few disarming charms." Harry left out the part that he was pretty sure Lucius was going to use Avada Kedavra on him during second year when he tricked him into setting Dobby free.

" And I would like to add that both Lucius and Draco swore a Wizard's Oath to be completely loyal to Harry this summer." Dumbledore said calmly. Harry,shocked, shot a glance at Draco. The blond gave just the slightest nod. ' It's true Harry. It was Father who insisted that we swear the oath.' Draco told Harry telepathically. " If either one of them was to go against that oath they would be instantly killed."

" Yes Dumbledore all of us are aware of the rules that go with a Wizard's Oath." Scrimgeour sneered.

" Very well. This court is in recess until we reach a decision. If you gentlemen will kindly wait outside."

Harry and the others rose and went to wait outside. Waiting for them outside was Hermione, Blaise, the Weaslesys, Lupin and Pansy Parkinson. Pansy had defected over the summer and since she was never actually a Death Eater she was never charged. Harry and Draco were immediately surrounded by their friends while Lucius and Dumbledore waited quietly in the corner.

" Well?" the twins demanded.

" They're deliberating." Harry said.

" Yeah but I have a feeling they are going to let us go. They wouldn't want to get on the bad side of Prince Harry Gryffindor." Draco said shooting Harry a look that said he was going to use that title all he could.

" Prince?" the twins said.

" Gryffindor?" everyone else said.

" Er.. yeah. Apparently Godric Gryffindor was my relative. And he was also a wizard prince." Harry said suddenly finding the floor very interesting.

" Wicked!" the twins said.

" Oh Harry that's wonderful dear." Molly said hugging Harry. Harry awkwardly patted her on the back.

" Harry are you sure that it was a good idea to share that secret with the Ministry? After all there are probably Death Eaters working for them." Hermione asked nervously.

" It was a very good idea that Potter let out that secret." Lucius said from his corner. " Now the Dark Lord will really start to take Potter seriously. It will also be the very thing that gets Draco and myself out of lifetime sentences at Azkaban. The Minister, such as he is, will not dare go against Potter now that he has told them who he is. After all right now Potter has more authority that the Ministry. Potter! What is the color of your magic?" Malfoy Sr. snapped suddenly. Harry hesitated.

" Whitish-silver." he finally said. Malfoy nodded. Everyone gasped except Draco Hermione and Blaise.

" I thought so. So you are Godric's true heir. And also the most powerful wizard here. Indeed the most powerful wizard on this Earth. May I speak to you privately for a moment?" Harry hesitated but then remembered that Malfoy had sworn to not harm Harry so he joined Malfoy in the corner and allowed Lucius to cast a silencing charm. " Potter am I correct to assume that you are an Animagus?"

" Yes sir."

" A phoenix?"

" Yes sir."

" And Ms. Granger and Mr. Zabini? Are they Animagi as well?"

" Sir, you should ask them that not me." Harry said cooly. Malfoy Sr. nodded and removed the charm long enough to call Hermione and Blaise over.

" Mr. Potter has confirmed that he is indeed a Animagus and he has told me his form. My question for the two of you is whether you are as well." Hermione looked to Harry and he shrugged.

" We are." She said simply.

" And your forms?" Lucius pressed.

" A raven."

" A badger."

" A phoenix, a raven, a badger, and a snake. Have you given it some thought that all of you may be related to the Founders?" they nodded.

" But Draco is not." Harry said. They all turned to him. " Well he can't be the heir to Slytherin. Voldemort is. Dumbledore told me." Lucius nodded.

" Yes. He is indeed. However it is not common knowledge but Salazar had another heir. A daughter that he had before the Dark Lord's ancestor was born. I would look at the records at home but I can not go to the Manor at present. As it is I am unsure if the daughter was a Black or a Malfoy."

" I can find out." Harry said. " Sirius left the Black fortune and all to me."

" If there is something that shows Black lineage it would most likely be in the vault at Gringotts."

" Or on the tapestry in the living room." Hermione pointed out. Harry nodded.

" If only the Basilisk was still in the Chamber of Secrets we could see if it would obey Draco." Blaise stated. Harry and Hermione shot him dirty looks. " Er.. oops. Sorry."

" It wouldn't work anyway. Draco can't speak Parseltongue. No I don't believe that that trait was passed to Salazar's daughter." Malfoy said. " If in your findings Potter you discover that Draco is indeed the heir the four of you all be descendants of the Founders and therefor the strongest witch and wizards around. Though I think that Mr. Potter would remain the strongest. Unless either of the two of you have white magic as well?" Blaise and Hermione shook their heads no. " Very well. Potter let me know what you find out." Just then an aid called for them to come back into the courtroom. Mrs. Weasley gave Draco a quick hug and they went inside. The four of them sat again but this time no chains bound Lucius.

" We of the Wizengamot have reached a verdict. We accept the Malfoys' decision to defect. However we must insist upon punishment. We reached the conclusion that House Arrest and a fine of 1000 galleons to Mr. Lucius Malfoy. Since the Dark Lord is no doubt still after you Lucius, you will serve your house arrest in the protection of the Order of the Phoenix. In the matter of Draco's punishment you will also be fined an additional 500 galleons."

" That punishment is acceptable as long as the 1500 galleons go straight to St. Mungo's fund for a new ward for the patients who are permanently spell damaged. And if Voldemort and I decide to duke it out before the six month are up Lucius may leave the house to help" Harry said leaving no room for debate.

" Er... of course. Very well you may leave." the Minister said dismissively.

" Yeah like I'm gonna let the Ministry get their greedy hands on that money." Harry muttered

***END FLASHBACK***

" Harry! Finally!" Hermione's voice suddenly called. " Sunset is almost over. We should change forms."

" Sure thing. You three go ahead. I want to wait till Remus is here." He watched as they each changed into their Animagus forms. Draco however didn't change into a snake. He changed into a large black dog.

" My gift to you and Remus." Draco said telepathically.

Harry could only nod. He knew if he tried to speak his voice would come out horse and he would start to tear up. Hermione the raven perched herself on Harry's shoulder and they all waited for Remus and the twins. Fred and George were the first to arrive. They stopped when they saw the Black dog and both of them petted it before transforming. Fred was the fox and George was the grey wolf. The dog and the wolf sat on either side of Harry and Fred sat next to George and Blaise by Draco. They all faced the school waiting for Remus. Finally he could be seen walking hurriedly towards them. When he got to where he could see them Harry motioned for Hermione to leave his shoulder. He looked straight at Remus when he transformed. Remus Lupin stopped dead in his tracks when Harry transformed. Tears formed in his eyes as he took in the dark brown stag that stood before him and the big black dog next to him.

" Thank you Harry, Draco. All of you." he sniffed and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. " Right we only have a few minutes but who is who? How bout I call to each of you and you come forward?" The dog barked in agreement for the others. Harry and Lupin immediately noticed that it was nothing like Sirius' bark had been. " Ok. I know Harry is the stag. Draco?" the dog came and sat next to Remus and received a pat on the head. " Blaise?" the badger wandered forward. " Hermione." she landed on his shoulder. "Fred." the fox wound itself between Remus' legs. " George." the wolf stood and put its paws on Lupin's shoulder and then sat at his feet. " Ok guys. Now wait over there by the tree while I transform." When the transformation was done the all headed to the Whomping Willow. Fred being the smallest went and hit the knot with his paw then led the way through the tunnel to the Shrieking Shack. Once they were sure that Hogsmead was settled down for the night they set out among the town. They wrestled with each other and ran for miles and miles. Finally Harry sensed that it was almost sunrise so they made their way back to the Shrieking Shack.

" Man that was a blast!" Draco exclaimed when they had all transformed back. Everyone agreed and then it was time to return to the school for they all had class and Harry had to teach for Lupin since he had passed out and was now being levitated back to the castle by Hermione. They all said goodbye and went their separate ways but not before each downing a Pepper Upper potion to get them through classes. Harry was just glad that he was taking on the class on a day that they had a test. That meant he didn't have to try and stay awake long enough to actually teach something. Though he was very relieved when Remus took over after lunch allowing Harry to go back to the dorm to sleep for he had the afternoon off.