Chapter Text
Hermione Granger was an intelligent, hard-working student, perhaps one of the most intelligent and hard-working students that Hogwarts had ever seen, since the likes of Lily Potter nee Evans. Those that had taught both young women found the similarities nearly uncanny, what with how much Hermione loved to apply herself when it came to her studies. The two young women could have been twins with their work ethic, as well their kindness, stubbornness and driven personality. Hermione never backed down from a challenge, no matter how insurmountable, always pushing herself to be the best at every subject she studied.
To make her academic reputation even better, she had never cheated or flunked any of her tests, not even one, during her entire tenure at Hogwarts. Sure, she might’ve... bent the rules slightly in her Third Year when she used a time-turner but she considered that more along the lines of ‘outside-the-box’ thinking. Besides, it technically wasn’t cheating, as she had permission to use it from her teachers. If both her Head of House and the Headmaster of Hogwarts knew and approved then it couldn’t possibly be cheating, so there.
And now, with the threat of Voldemort gone and the school rebuilt – albeit, a few areas still needing some work – she could now enjoy her Seventh and final year at Hogwarts. Harry would also be there, thankfully, after she convinced him to return – although, he was rather reluctant about it. Ron on the other hand, outright refused to come back to Hogwarts to complete his final year, as in his words, ‘Why do I need to go back? We beat Voldemort! We’re heroes, Hermione! People will be tripping over themselves to give us a job!’
Such a thought made Hermione scoff. What an idiot. Didn’t he realise how important it was to complete his schooling career? Not just for his job prospects but for his own benefit? She had tried to convince over and over again but Ron had refused to budge. Oh well, she wasn't in charge of his life. If he wanted to waste his chance at a proper education, who was she to stop him? Besides, at least Harry was returning with her this year. She wouldn't be completely alone.
Just a few weeks before school came back, she and Harry received their new badges promoting them to Head Girl and Head Boy of Hogwarts, the highest honour they could receive. Hermione was ecstatic, seeing it as a chance for them both to prove themselves as outstanding students, to cement themselves outside of their accomplishments during the war. Harry was less enthusiastic. He reasoned that it was less about having earned it and more a gesture for the new and returning students, and for their parents. Having two thirds of the Golden Trio in charge would certainly add a sense of security for those still spooked by the war.
He felt he was once again being used for his reputation, to which Hermione argued that this time it was a reputation that he had well and truly earned, not only by stopping Voldemort and his army once and for all but through his natural leadership skills and pragmatic attitude. The blush that appeared on Harry's face after hearing that made her day.
After much coaxing and several more compliments, Harry eventually said yes, to which he received a very enthusiastic Hermione hug for his troubles. Hermione quickly wrote back saying that they had both accepted the role with great pride. She promised that they would both do the best they could to uphold the rules and to act as worthy role models for the younger students to confide in and look up to.
Which was why she was so torn about what she was about to do. If anyone ever found out about this new scheme she had come up with, her perfect reputation, her accomplishments, her triumphs, they were all going down the toilet.
Ever since Professor McGonagall's lessons in Animagus magic at the beginning of the year, the ability to change between her human self and her inner animal was something that fascinated Hermione. It had always been a dream of hers to transform into a cat, ever since she was a little girl, and finally getting the chance to learn how made her inner child beam with happiness. She was nearly heartbroken when she learnt that the craft of becoming a true Animagus would take years to master and even then most would simply never achieve it. It nearly made her want to cry in the middle of class as one of her longest-held dreams shattered before her very eyes.
So, after the lesson ended, Hermione went straight up to the library, to the section that held any and all information regarding Animagus magic, and poured through every book she could find. There had to be a way to make certain that she became an Animagus. After centuries of study and practise, there had to have been someone who made a sure-fire method that anyone could use.
That was when she had found a rather old, and somewhat decrepit potion book in the Forbidden section that held a ‘shortcut’ to becoming an Animagus. Or at least, that was what a rough translation told her, assuming that 'magical man-animal' was simply a primitive phrase for Animagus.
Against her better judgement, ignoring the many warnings plastered along the sides of the page as well as her own common sense, Hermione took it anyway. Perhaps due to being friends with Ron and Harry for so long, their habit of breaking the rules had rubbed off on her.
As soon as she got back to the Heads' dorm room – one that she shared with Harry – she had begun reading the potion book thoroughly, listing any and all ingredients and memorising the recipe. It took her weeks of study, preparation and thievery but eventually she managed to find the time to brew the potion in secret. The mysterious concoction sat in her room bubbling away for several days, until eventually Hermione spotted the light twinkling on the surface that told her it was ready.
She couldn’t help but feel a slight disappointment as she held up a small beaker filled with the misty liquid. The sunlight from the window shone through it and in doing so Hermione could see little clouds swirling within, making shapeless forms that occasionally twisted into almost animalistic silhouette.
‘Is this really it?’ Hermione thought to herself, gazing upon the potion that would apparently help her achieve her Animagus form. She imagined that it would’ve been a little more... glamorous. After all, it did take her an entire week to brew! A week that was filled with toil, trepidation and anticipation.
Despite knowing that she followed the recipe to absolutely perfection, she still harboured some apprehension as to what she was about to do. The book described that the transformation would be relatively quick and painless and that there were no guarantees as to which animal form she would inhabit. Hermione hoped that it would be a cat, but any four-legged animal would suffice - unless it were a toad, of course.
Should she even be doing this? Ingesting a potion brewed from a recipe in an old, decrepit book wasn’t exactly the smartest thing she'd ever done. In fact, it was rather the opposite, it was downright foolish. However, the thought of her being able to become an Animagus was just too exciting to pass up.
Shrugging her shoulders, Hermione uncorked the potion.
“Here we go,” she muttered, before placing the opening to her lips, and gently tilting the concoction up, allowing the viscous liquid to flow into her mouth.
Hermione cringed as she fought the urge to gag, her eyes trickled with tears as she forced herself to swallow the thick liquid. It took her many brave gulps - and many, many thoughts about becoming a little brown tabby cat - to finish drinking the potion.
Shuddering as she felt the liquid travel down her throat and come resting in her stomach, Hermione stood in front of the mirror, looking over herself carefully for any changes. However, when nothing happened within the first ten seconds – unlike the near instantaneous transformation from the Polyjuice potion – a small frown marred her face. She didn’t even feel anything change within her body, apart from a mild discomfort in her stomach from the foul liquid she just drank.
“Great...” Hermione grumbled to herself, a tinge of anger in her voice, “I knew it was too good to be true.” An annoyed sigh escaped her lips. “I wasted so much time with that bloody potion.”
With that, Hermione turned away from the mirror, making sure that everything was in pristine condition, before she made her way over towards her little sling-bag and hoisted it over her shoulder. She left her dorm, trying her best to get this misadventure out of mind as quickly as she could. Which would be easy, because it was nearly time for her next class. More schoolwork was perfect to take her mind off of the disappointment that was the supposed miracle Animagus potion. It was clearly just another failed experiment and, like always, she would have to do it the hard way. At least the potion hadn't turned her into a toad.
However, what Hermione didn’t know was that the potion did indeed work, it just needed time to properly set in. As she walked to her next class, the potion's magic was absorbed into her body, infiltrating her magical core and quickly deciding the animal form that best fit. The changes that it would bring were definitely going to garner some attention and they would change Hermione’s life forever, for better or for worse.