[22] My Much Awaited Moment

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ÍROAS

I am walking in the dark and narrowed corridor in the middle of the night, following Harry and Ron who's now rather paler as they are being led by the Hogwarts Caretaker, Filch to Professor McGonagall's office. I'm still covered with what I officially called the Cloak of Darkness which made me help camouflage myself in the shadows and not be seen.

Upon our arrival to the office of the Head of Gryffindor House, I decided to join them inside and eavesdrop for a moment before I take my lead. - 'They are so doomed.' I thought to myself, still feeling guilty for my stupidity and being naïve.

'If only I noticed Filch's shadow immediately, I should have been able to warn them earlier to hide from him.' I internally scolded myself.

The three of them waited for the professor while me, still literally hiding in the dark just in the corner of the room, did my best to make no sound. - 'Good thing Mrs. Norris isn't here.' I thought. I remember Harry telling me his suspicions about the cat. My friend thought she could smell or sense him even if he's under his invisibility cloak. Suddenly, I felt the approaching figures and the sounds of rushing footsteps then could be heard, getting nearer. The office door barge opens revealing an 11-year-old paled boy and a stern-looking woman. I raised my eyebrow in confusion to the boy as I didn't expect him to be here at this moment. But then, I noticed that they didn't close the door, which is perfect for me if I wanted my early exit, unnoticed.

"Harry!" said the boy who came with McGonagall, and walked towards the scar-headed Gryffindor.

"Neville!? What are you doing here?"

"I've been looking for you to warn you about Malfoy. I overheard him saying that he'd catch you for having a drag..." before Neville could finish his sentence, Harry gave him a warning look to stop. I could feel the tension and nervousness radiating from the three Gryffindor boys.

I decided to stay here until McGonagall let them go. I kept listening to their conversation, or rather the professor's disappointed speech. I feel like she knows I'm here as she keeps taking glances to where I stood whenever she's mentioning how upset she was.

But I stayed silent in the shadows and contemplated for a moment, realizing how unfair it is for Harry and Ron to be punished just by themselves, I should be punished with them. I was about to lift my cloak when a sudden sound of bang and crack coming through the open window diverted my attention.

With curiosity reigning over me, I walked towards the hole of the room and when I saw what's causing all the sounds from the outside. Anticipation rushed through me and a smile crept upon my face.I looked at Professor McGonagall and saw that she didn't notice anything because of her disappointment.

I waited for a minute or two for her to notice the lightning storm but she's rather too busy scolding my three friends. I then decided to leave the office and do this on our own without her guidance for the final step.

I ran as fast as I could towards the Gryffindor dormitory, not minding the sounds I am creating and being caught by someone. I called off the pitch-black clouds that hid me from the eye as I felt the sudden weakness of my body.

I managed to conjure that cloud for about an hour because I only summoned a small amount of it, enough to cover my body entirely.

Upon my arrival to the common room, I immediately saw Hermione on the couch who's looking very much anxious, waiting for me to come back as she too noticed the storm we have waited for months. When she saw me coming from the portrait hole, she instantly jolted up from her seat and frantically came closer to me.

"Let's go!" I exclaimed with traces of excitement and nervousness carved on my face. She nodded and together, we burst out of the room and ran towards the place where we needed to be.

We first went to where Professor McGonagall stored the Animagus potion. Upon our arrival, we carefully retrieved the phial that by now had a blood red liquid. Hermione and I exchanged glances with each other and off we went to our next spot.

We followed the route McGonagall has taught us to get to the place she reserved for our transformation. When we were getting closer, we saw a tall and stern looking lady keenly standing in front of the door, waiting for us to arrive. When she noticed me and Hermione, she signaled us to hurry.

Arriving to where she stood, the lady then immediately opened the door and together we walked inside the large and abandoned empty room.

"Do you have the potion?" Professor McGonagall asked. We both nodded and showed her the blood red liquid inside the small glass container.

"Okay now! For the last time, recite the Animagus incantation then drink the potion. You will feel an immense amount of pain and intense double heartbeat. But don't worry, that's normal. – now do it!" I exchanged glances with Hermione and gave a reassuring smile which she greeted back instantly. Different emotions running on her face but nervousness surely dominates them all. Together we started the words,

"Amato Animo Animato Animagus" we recited and drank the Animagus potion.

As the rush of liquid trickled down my throat, my body immediately felt the burning sensation as though my body was thrown into a bath filled with boiling water. I let out a bloodcurdling scream and desperately grasp the air. The double heartbeat had made it worse as it brought a new set of pain which made me release more ear-piercing noises.

I could now feel my breathing getting heavier every tick of the clock and the beads of sweat now drenching my clothes. As my vision started to be swollen by darkness, I let out my final breath of exhaustion. Then nothing.

I woke up from a rather solid and prickly grassy ground as I feel no more excruciating pain and the intense double heartbeat. I pushed off my body from the ground and examined the place. From where I stood, colors of green and blue indulge my vision. I could only see the color of the jungle that is filled with forest green colored trees and leaves all over the place. Not too far to my left, the burbling sound of the clear blue waterfall could be heard and seen which makes this place more tranquilizing.

I started to move my feet and roam around the wilderness but not long after, I was greeted by a massive ash gray colored rock, as high as a two-story house, perfectly stood and beautifully carved by nature. I looked at the top and there, I saw a black winged, four-legged figure. I narrowed my eyes to the animal, trying my best to see it clearly.

Then, to my utmost surprise and amusement, it stretched out its large, black and strong beautiful wings, with a touch of gradient blue and violet to its upper part. It jumped into the air and soared high up and flew above. It stayed there, circling around over me, until little by little the black animal dove down and gracefully landed in front of me.

I examined the features of the animal as it step closer and put his proud and deadly face right up close to mine,

Its entire body has a shiny coat of raven black fur, it has a long body and tail, hind legs that are both larger and slightly longer than the front, a small head with strong jaws and a pair of sea green eyes with a partial dark brown in the lower center part of its left eye.

I smiled happily to my Animagus Form and stoked its neck gently.

"Not a Pegasus eh? But it's okay, you're cool! I mean I'm cool... I mean..." I released a sigh of confusion and softly touched its disordered part eye.

"We're both cool!" I said in finality and smiled even bigger and brighter.

I'm enjoying my time with my Animagus form here in what I called now 'My Paradise' when suddenly the scenery shifted to a white small room, and by the time I looked around, the creature beside me was now gone and the lady I last saw in my dream stood in front of me with a blissful smile carved upon her face.

"Good Job young hero! You and your friend made me proud." She said happily which made my blood rush in my cheeks.

"Err... thanks. But, why am I here again? - Wait! I didn't look at the mirror."

She patted my head and smiled even brighter. "That is not the reason why I summoned you." I release a breath and calmly look to the person right in front of me.

"Then why am I back here? Because the last time I'm in this room is when I got myself in danger. – Wait, am I?" I nervously asked, anxiously glancing at the Night Walker.

"You overthink too much. The reason I send you here is just to congratulate you. You and Hermione are the youngest witch and wizard to become a successful Animagi. You never failed to amazed me, young hero, even before..." but she abruptly stopped halfway, realizing what she's going to accidentally spill.

"Before what?" I immediately asked, but my tone just revealed my hopelessness, not really expecting her to answer.

"Anyway, I know you are aware now that you are the first to have a mythical and magical Animagus form." She stopped momentarily, "And I do not want you to reveal it." She continued, changing her tone to serious mode along with her face that has a trace of authority.

"Yeah sure, my animal form would attract the press, and I clearly don't want that to happen. But why don't you want that?"

"You could say there are people I do not want you to meet, yet."

"Uhm... and who are you in my life to stop me meeting people?" I asked, emphasizing every word and not minding the rudeness of my voice.

"You still have the attitude. I see... I am not the enemy here, but the people who might recognize your face when you showed yourself to the public."

"Okay – okay, I got your point lady! But how could I possibly hide my wings? They're even bigger to my animal body."

She then released a sigh as though telling me that the answer was pretty obvious, "You could retract them onto your bones, young hero. Just think about it and it will happen." She explained to me. I diligently nodded but a thought slipped through my mind,

"Wait! How did you even know my Animagus form?" I questioned her, which made me earn a smirk from her.

"I knew it even before you decided to be one, as I could see different paths at once." she explained which made my face more muddled and confused than before, "And I must say, your fath... I mean someone will be disappointed because he expected you to be either a horse, a dolphin, or a Pegasus." She finished. I exhaled with frustration and just stayed my gaze on her.

"And who is that?" I asked, but she just smiled at me, "Good Bye, Íroas." and with that, she vanished into thin air. Leaving me again when I'm asking her a question. The room then started to get fuzzy, but before I was pushed out of this place, I once again remembered my Animagus Form with delight and excitement.

"A winged panther!"  

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