7 August 1991, Wednesday – Animagus
The sunny weather made Hermione opt for a park the next morning, and Harry didn't mind either way, as long as they stayed together. Since they already knew both the Legilimency and Occlumency books by heart, they only read the book about Animagus magic, while still keeping their minds on Occlumency exercises. This seemed to actually enhance their understanding. "We've read that using Occlumency can help one learn faster and better," Hermione said, seeming glad to have that side benefit.
"Yes, I remember. I think it helps us both make better progress with this book. I actually feel like I'm ready to look for my 'inner animal' and try to envision myself that way."
"So am I! Let's go to the library after lunch and see what we can find about various animals."
"Are you sure we should try it already?" While the explanations were simple enough, the book clearly stated that only fully grown wizards and witches were even potentially able to transform, and only the most powerful really succeeded.
Hermione shrugged. "The only real warning there is that the first few times may turn extremely exhausting, yet there's no mention of any other danger. You either succeed and transform, or fail and stay the same. It clearly states that one can't transform only a part, like a limb or only the head. For that, one needs a very different magical discipline."
They were sitting on a bench. Harry was holding Hermione's shoulders in a kind of hug, trying to keep her close, so they could read together from the same book. Hermione's arm was wrapped around his waist for the same purpose. They used their free hands to leaf through the book and point at any interesting paragraph or drawing. To passers-by, these hands could seem like they belonged to the same person, as they worked in perfect coordination.
Back at the library, after lunch, they started scanning books about animals. As the Animagus transformation seemed to be a very exotic form of magic, they also started with some exotic animals. They scanned books about wildlife in Africa, the Far East, the Americas and even Australia and New Zealand, but none seemed to stir anything, although they liked some of the pictures very much. Hermione was delighted to see images of some lion cubs playing in the sun, just as Harry liked the Cheetah running at full speed, but these were just aesthetic preferences.
Not finding anything in those books, they tried the least exotic animals – the domesticated European ones. Harry was surprised to find so many kinds, yet none seemed to really attract him. "The only animal that made me feel a slight stirring inside was that big dog, but it was nothing like I expected after reading that book. Maybe we should check with some more animals, those resembling dogs?"
"I also felt a bit closer to the dog, but not quite. Let's see…"
Hermione brought some more books, describing various kinds of dogs and their closest relatives – the wolves. It was the Arctic wolves that made both Hermione and Harry gasp in surprise. "I think it's this – the white wolf," Harry said.
"I feel the same. I wonder if it means anything about us."
For some unexplainable reason, Harry liked it when she used the 'us' to refer to them both. It gave him a sense of belonging, but also something else, that he couldn't define. It still felt nice.
"What's our next step, then?"
Hermione thought for a bit. "We can't try it anywhere near other people. We need to find a place where people don't normally come and can't see us. We may still need to use some extra caution, like that 'notice-me-not' charm."
Harry gave it a thought. "There's a small park, a few blocks away from my hotel. I've seen nobody in there. It has no playground and not many flowers – mostly a small grassy area and a few trees. We may try there if you want."
It took a ride in the Underground and some walking to reach that place, but it proved to be more than adequate. A tall hedge surrounded that park, making it hidden from passers-by as well as from people looking through the windows of nearby buildings. The trees in the park were tall and leafy, making it relatively dark. Some wandless casting made it as secure as they thought they needed.
Hermione seemed excited and frightened all at once. Harry was not quite sure about himself, yet when Hermione asked, "Do you like to try first?" he just nodded.
"You remember what you need to do, don't you?" she asked him.
Harry recited the steps needed to achieve the transformation, as they'd both read that morning. He was actually surprised to remember so well after a single reading. Hermione nodded her approval. "Go among the trees, as deep as possible and try it there. Don't try to keep it for long, or it may exhaust you," she instructed him.
Harry followed the instructions. He went to the middle of the copse of trees, concentrated for a moment and a few seconds later, a magnificent white wolf was standing there. Hermione didn't dare to come near, but even from a distance, the big white wolf was a sight to behold.
Harry transformed back a few seconds later and stumbled back to where Hermione was sitting. "It really is exhausting. I feel like I've just run several miles."
Hermione hugged him tightly. "You did very well. According to the book, only adult wizards and witches are powerful enough to try this transformation, and very few succeed."
Harry smiled at her. "I like your hug. It feels like you're also helping me recuperate faster with that hug. I wonder what it means."
"I'm your friend. It's natural for friends to help each other, don't you agree?"
Harry nodded. Hermione continued talking. "It's my turn now. I hope I'll do no worse than you. I don't really feel powerful enough."
She still walked determinately to the same spot Harry had used. A moment later, a white she-wolf stood there, seeming a bit surprised. She turned her head to Harry, as if verifying that he was watching, and then turned back into a very exhausted Hermione.
Harry didn't wait for her to come back. He ran forward as soon as she returned to her human form and hugged her tightly, practically preventing her from falling out of exhaustion. Hermione leaned onto him for a while, and then hugged him back, tightening the hug as the seconds ticked away.
They didn't seem to want to part. Harry kept hugging her tightly, yet slowly moved them both to the nearest bench, where he made sure she sat securely before sitting at her side, never letting go of her.
Hermione just closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. A few minutes passed before she opened her eyes again. "This hug is really invigorating," she said softly. "I felt like I had barely had enough power to breathe, after transforming back, and now I'm almost back to normal. Do you think that our friendship is the cause?"
Harry gave it a long thought. "Well, we are friends, and I feel like we're becoming closer every day since we met, but I'm not sure about it being the power that invigorates us. It must be something else, something bigger than that, I think."
She rested her head on his shoulder and let herself enjoy the moment. She already had some suspicions about the way their relationship was advancing, and it was really advancing at an unexpectedly fast rate, but she didn't yet know what it meant. She was just content to hug Harry and be hugged by him, for the moment.
Harry was also content. Cuddling with Hermione and hugging her was a new experience. He didn't yet know what it meant, but he found that he liked being with Hermione tremendously better than being with Selma, despite considering Selma his friend.
They couldn't stay that way for long, though. "It's getting late, and I need to go home, Harry. I think we both need to recuperate some more before we try that again."
"I will only try it when you say you're ready." He then remembered their previous subject. "Don't forget to exercise your mind, though. We need to try Occlumency tomorrow. I'd like both of us to have impenetrable mind shields by the time we reach Hogwarts."
She smiled tiredly at him. "That's why we shouldn't waste our energies on Animagus transformation just yet. We know we can do it. We may find better opportunities to master it during the school term."
Harry still escorted Hermione to the train station, which gained him a kiss on his cheek for the effort. He really liked it.
Back at the hotel, Selma insisted on getting her share of "Harry time". He wondered if Hermione would agree to this kind of evening entertainment with Selma, once their relationship deepened, as he was now expecting.
8 August 1991, Thursday – Occlumency
They spent the next morning in that same library again, revising both their Legilimency and Occlumency, until they felt they were ready to test each other. "You go first," Hermione told Harry.
Harry concentrated. He immediately found himself in her mind, so it seemed. It still looked like a very well-organized museum, yet there was nothing of importance there. He could see her school books since she first attended school, and some of her early childhood toys, but no matter how hard he looked, there was nothing that he could identify as recent thoughts or memories. He then spotted a side door, almost merging with the wall. He opened it cautiously and was rewarded with multiple memories, including one where Hermione was checking her new bikini in front of a full-size mirror. Harry withdrew quickly, feeling a bit embarrassed by it.
Once he regained his colour, he gave her his opinion. "The museum idea is very good, and I almost failed to find the right way, but that door, although not quite evident, was a giveaway. I think you should put some more doors there and some traps behind each. That will make it harder to reach your real thoughts and memories."
"And what did you see in there, that made you blush?" she asked teasingly.
"Well… I… You… I mean, I saw you checking your bikini in the mirror." He blushed some more just saying it.
"That was yesterday evening, after I saw that girl in your memory. I wanted to see how I could compare with her."
"But she was fully clothed," he objected.
"She seems to really have a nice figure." Hermione wouldn't relent.
"Yours is much nicer!" he said. "Oops! I should have not seen that. Sorry."
Hermione shrugged. "When we started with this, I knew we would be unable to keep any secrets from each other, so I don't really mind now. I'll probably also see you naked, you know." He thought he heard some mischief in her voice.
She turned silent for a moment. "Your shield is very nice. A football. I wonder what made you think of it. You must protect its seams, though, and the place where they inflate it, as these are weak spots. I'd really like to know how you managed to find yourself on that roof, though."
They spent the whole day checking each other's mind shields until they could no longer penetrate the other's mind in any way, not even when pushing a lot of power into it. As expected, they also learned some more about each other until then. Just like before, they didn't use wands, not even thinking of them. Well, they were in a Muggle library, so it was forbidden.
Hermione was pleased. "I believe you are well protected now, although I'm not yet sure you really need it. Just keep practising, as only practice can keep your shields in top condition. Without practice, they may deteriorate."
"Your shields seem even better than mine, and please keep them up, once we go to Hogwarts. They are important for both of us."
Hermione checked her watch. "It's still early. Mind inviting me to a nice film at the cinema?"
Harry smiled and offered her his arm. He knew he was going to like the rest of the day very much.
Much later, when he escorted Hermione to the train, he couldn't remember much of the film they'd seen, but he could remember how Hermione's face reflected her emotions during each and every scene. Her joy, her worries, her confusion, and her other emotions showed clearly on her face during the film. He enjoyed watching Hermione much more than watching the film. As far as he was concerned, he got full value from his ticket.