The Headmaster's Only Mistake

The Hunt

All of them shook their head except for Luna. "She was walking around the grounds before bumping into Mr. Hagrid. Apparently she learned something important."

There was a scoff and they all turned to face Draco, who was arriving with Blaise. 

"What could she learn from that oaf?" Draco scoffed, rolling his eyes. 

Hermione finally stopped pacing and looked up. She did a head count and nodded firmly.

"I know what the cerberus is hiding." 

That captured everyone's attention. She proceeded to explain everything, how she had  bumped into Hagrid, mentioned the three  headed dog, how he said it was his, and how the thing it was hiding was between Dumbledore and a man called Nicholas Flamel.

"But the problem is, I don't know who Flamel is."

All of the Slytherins shared a look before bursting out in laughter.

"What's so funny?" Hermione asked with a frown.

"Do you really not know who Flamel is?" Blaise asked, snickering. Hermione shook her head.

"He's only the most famous alchemyst ever! He found the twelve uses for Dragon Blood and created the Philosopher's Stone, a stone whose elixir can make you immortal and can turn base metals into gold and silver." Daphne explained. Mr. Flamel was a common topic in Slytherin house, as most aspired to be as great as the ambitious man that had cheated Death.

"Do you think that's it, then?  That Fluffy is hiding the stone?" Mandy asked, biting her lip.

"Probably." Hanna agreed.

"Either way, stone or not, cerberuses are rated XXXXX creatures by the ministry. There shouldn't be one is school." Susan huffed.

"But why is the stone here, in a school full of students who will most likely end up visiting the corridor at some point, and not in Gringotts, or at Mr. Flamel's home, where it has been for the last few centuries?" Terry asked.

Hermione bit her lip. "I'm not sure, but there's no safer place than Hogwarts, right?"

Harry almost snorted.

···

Harry walked around the silent castle with a peaceful smile on his face. It was the dead of night and the moonlight was filtering through the windows, shining on Harry's face and illuminating his path as he made his way to the owlery. The moon wasn't full, but even if it was, Harry wouldn't've minded, as he had given both Remus and Rafael a dose of his modified wolfsbane potion, which had been approved by Severus. Besides, he had the werewolves' friendship ring.

Harry stopped as he reached the wooden door and hesitated for only a moment before stepping in. He let out a soft whistle and he heard the ruffle of a few feathers before a snowy white owl landed on his shoulder.

"Hello, Hedwig. Do you fancy going hunting?" 

Hedwig nipped his ear.

Harry laughed slightly before exiting the Owlery and making his way to the entrance hall. He looked down and saw Medusa slithering beside him quietly, just as he had asked her. Once he reached the doors, Harry let himself and his familiars become shadows, something Mortem had taught him, and slipped outside. He ran quickly, making sure not to leave the shadow he had created.

It would not do well if an insomniac student or late working teacher were to look out the window and see him running into the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the night.

Harry only left the shadows until they were well into the forest and past the centaurs. He reached an open clearing the moon hung over and stopped, letting himself return to his physical aspect.

$Is Fawkes going to join us?$ asked Medusa, coiling herself up his leg and onto his shoulders.

Harry didn't say anything but let out a loud, low, whistle that could have easily been mistaken for the howling wind.

Nothing happened for a few seconds before a small branch suddenly burst into flames. A soft trill echoed through the silent forest and Fawkes glided downwards, landing on Harry's left shoulder, as the right was currently occupied by Hedwig and Medusa. The three animals regarded each other with curiosity,  heads tilting in a way that made Harry giggle. It was such a human gesture, it was strange to see it on animals.

Medusa slithered upwards and liked the air around Fawkes before turning to Hedwig. 

They seemed to share a silent conversation before Hedwig hooted, #We like her.#

Harry grinned widely, pressing a soft kiss onto each of his familiars' foreheads.

"Come on, I need to transform." Fawkes flapped off into a branch while Hedwig grabbed Medusa with her claws in a practiced fashion before flying off and circling over Harry..

$Hell yeah! WOOHOO! We should do this more often, 'Wig, it's so fun!$ Medusa hissed as Hedwig flew into the canopy.

If an owl could roll their eyes, Harry was sure Hedwig would've done so.

#You say that every time we fly together.# Hedwig told the snake boredly.

$You are no fun.$

#I will drop you.#

The two animals continued to banter and Harry could see Fawkes' amused expression.

'Your other familiars are very interesting, hatchling.' Fawkes trilled through their mind link. Harry winked at her before pondering for a moment, if he should run free in his dog form, or slither along with Medusa as a snake. Finally deciding on his reptilian form, Harry turned back to the task at hand.

"Oh god, this is going to hurt." he muttered to himself. He hadn't transformed his physical body for eleven years, it was bound to be painful. 

Harry imagined his body shrinking and slimming down, his arms retreating into. his torso until they were no longer there and his legs merging into one to form a tail. He imagined his smooth skin turning scaly and black and his face turning flat and triangular.

And just like he imagined, he did. Harry's body shook in pain as his body morphed into a snake and only stopped once Harry was in his animal form.

$Let's hunt!$ he announced, slithering forward, his pack following behind him. 

···

An hour or two later, Harry lazilly slithered around the forest floor with Medusa. The birds were perched on low branches and chirping to each other. The remains of their hunt, a few rabbits, mice, possums, and pixies lay on a small, bloody clump in the ground.

#You must head back to the castle, hatchling.# Fawkes trilled. #You need your sleep.#

Harry nodded his snake head softly and allowed Fawkes to pick him up with one claw and pick Medusa up with the other. She and Hedwig shared a conversation before Hedwig flew off and Fawkes burst into flames, re-appearing on Harry's bed.

Harry transformed back into his human body and snuggled into the covers while Medusa slithered into her cage.

The soft song of a phoenix started to fill the room, lulling Harry to sleep with a smile on his face.