Hermione and Ron immediately inched closer to their friend and exchanged a hopeful look. They knew there were things Harry wasn't telling them both and they understood to some degree, but he'd always told them and it had always been the three of them on their adventures, and it hurt that he was keeping secrets.
He grinned at them. "I tried an animagus meditation last night!"
Hermione's mouth dropped open. "No!"
"Yes!" Harry continued to grin. "And I saw my form!"
"Blimey, Harry!" Ron muttered, slumping back against the table. "I didn't even know you wanted to be an animagus!"
Harry gestured at him. "I convinced Sirius to let me try because I want to be there for Remus and he only agreed if Aunt Minerva agreed so…I've only just started. But I was thinking…" his green eyes met theirs tentatively, "I was thinking we could all do it? I mean, it's a good defence if you do come across a werewolf and it gives you a useful way out if you're in a sticky situation."
"I'd love to!" Hermione said immediately. She was sure her parents would agree especially if Professor McGonagall was on board.
"I don't know," Ron said uncertainly, gesturing with the knife, "I mean, you have to be a powerful wizard to become an animagus and I don't think I…you know Transfiguration's not exactly my subject."
"Nonsense, Ron!" Hermione said as Harry plucked the knife from Ron's hands and placed it safely on the table, muttering something about it taking an eye out.
"If the rat can do it, you can." Harry said firmly.
Ron brightened, apparently not bothered by the comparison to Pettigrew although Hermione suspected if she'd made the comment, he'd have erupted.
"So, what's your form?" asked Ron eagerly.
"Yes," echoed Hermione, desperate to know, "did you really see your form? What was it?"
Harry took a moment to check the food before turning back to them. "You can't tell anyone ever. Sirius wants me to keep it a secret."
They both nodded in understanding.
He broke into another smile that lit up his whole face. "A raven."
"A raven?" Hermione immediately ran through the attributes of a raven in her head and wondered at how apt a form it was for Harry. "That's wonderful!"
"It is?" Ron asked.
Hermione kicked him and then glared at him for good measure.
"I mean, it is." Ron hastened to say.
"You'll be able to fly!" Hermione said authoritatively. "And ravens are known for their cleverness and problem solving, Harry." She frowned. "I've never understood why the totem for Ravenclaw was an eagle when a raven would have been better."
"But Harry's a lion! A Gryffindor!" Ron protested. He picked up a slice of bread and started munching on it. "Why would he be a raven?"
"Hey, standing right here!" Harry pointed out. He checked on the sausages and turned the mushrooms and tomatoes.
"Sorry, mate." Ron said insincerely. "Just…I get the flying but a raven's not a lion. I want to be something big and powerful."
"And totally useless." Hermione pointed out exasperated with him. "A raven can fly anywhere undetected. It can spy easily. It can get in and out of places quickly. It's a great form!"
"A lion is a better form!" argued Ron. "It can take down a man and scare any attackers!"
"I wanted a flying form." Harry interjected before Hermione could continue the argument. "And I've chosen the form now so that's that. No lion for me, Ron, so you can be the lion."
Ron smiled happily. "Maybe I will, mate."
Hermione refrained from rolling her eyes.
"This is about ready." Harry said, dishing up the tomatoes and mushrooms. "The sausages just need another few minutes."
"I can't believe you found your form so quickly." Hermione praised him, folding her arms. "It's supposed to be quite hard to reach the meditative state required."
"Meditation?" Ron's face dropped. "I'm screwed then."
"Or there's a potion." Hermione informed him crisply. "But you don't get to choose your form with the potion. You turn into your form – whichever one best suits your personality at that point in time. The meditation technique is supposed to give you more options but it is more difficult." She wondered at what the other forms Harry might have had.
Harry shrugged and smiled again softly. "I think I only achieved the meditation thanks to Luna. She kind of showed me the way."
"Luna?" Hermione asked, frowning.
"Luna Lovegood." Harry said, moving back to the stove to get the sausages from under the grill.
"You don't mean Looney?" Ron spluttered around a mouthful of bread.
"Oy!" Harry waved a spatula at Ron. "She has a name! Anyway, this is done. Why don't you go get your brothers and your Dad?"
Ron heaved a self-suffering sigh and left the kitchen,
Of course, the Lovegoods owned The Quibbler and Luna must have accompanied her father, Hermione thought slightly miserable at how happy Harry had seemed in mentioning the other girl. She tried to remember what Luna looked like and came up with blonde and pretty but not conventionally pretty, prettier than Hermione since she didn't have awfully big front teeth and bushy uncontrollable hair.
She bit her lip and rubbed her arms.
Hadn't she decided she wasn't going to do this? She wasn't going to crush on Harry or think about him as a potential boyfriend. She wasn't.
Even if Harry would make a great boyfriend.
Even if Harry was very sweet with her.
Even if she might possibly want Harry as a boyfriend.
The plastic kitchen door slapped against the plastic wall and the Weasley twins barrelled in along with Ron.
"Harry, Dad says can you put a plate together for Bill and Charlie and him?" Ron said sitting down at the table.
Hermione scowled. She had a feeling Ron had probably been asked and it was so like him to push the task off onto someone else. She opened her mouth to argue, caught Harry's eye and his silent message not to say anything and subsided with a huff.
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