jadedsirius @ 2002-08-23 22:57:00

Current music:

Queensryche - Silent Lucidity

The first Animagus class seems to have been a success. The students were enthusiastic (most of them) and cooperative (again, most of them).

After Professor McGonagall and I gave a brief outline of the course expectations, Minerva gave a short history of Animagus research and her formal training to become an Animagus.

I, of course, came to the ability in a more non-traditional way; but our different routes to learning to transform ourselves gives us a unique perspective in teaching the course, which is a first for Hogwarts.

What it comes down to is determination; if you want something badly enough, you will find the will to work for it. It took me nearly three years of clandestine work, but I finally mastered the art of transforming. It took Pettigrew longer; I was much better at transfiguration than he was. Not that transfiguration skill means that you are an Animagus; but it helps. Transforming your body is just an extension of transforming an inanimate object. That was the approach I took, and it worked for me.

Not that anyone should attempt to teach themselves to be Animagi; what we did was very dangerous and foolhardy, and a lot of hard work. It wasn't glamorous at all. My point is that if you have the determination and a certain amount of skill, you can achieve almost anything.

We performed a few simple tests; nearly all the students showed at least some aptitude, and we won't be excluding anyone who wants to continue with the course right now. I look forward to the next session.



Last night was also the full moon, of course; I felt Remus' absence most acutely since if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be an Animagus, and probably still in Azkaban. Despite our... talk... the other night, Remus will always be my best friend and when he didn't return to the castle by midnight I grew worried. I took my animal form and went after him. I knew he had been out in the forest tracking a harpy that the headmaster wanted dealt with. Those harpies can be vicious, even to a full-grown werewolf. Their poison doesn't affect other magical creatures, of course, but harpy's wounds are still slow to heal.

It was lucky I did; I met him just coming out of the Forbidden Forest, carrying the dead harpy in his jaws and quite badly wounded. I couldn't touch the harpy, of course, its blood would poison me, even in my dog form. The best I could do was to support him as best as possible and help him to his rooms.

He was quite badly injured, but there wasn't much I could do for his wounds until he transformed back. So I settled for lying beside him, by the fire, and keeping him warm the best I could until the moon set. Then once he transformed back to human, so could I, and then I took care of him. I considered staying, but I probably don't have that right anymore, so I left just before dawn, after watching him sleep.

I know it's the right thing, but god I miss him.

~Sirius

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