A movement beside the rock surprised him and a green mottled snake uncurled, rising, its hood flaring.
"Hi." Harry said to the snake, not wanting to appear rude since he'd already said hello to the raven.
"Hello, Speaker." The snake hissed. "The Seer guided you to Raven and so you found your way. The others will appear soon."
Others?
A lion stalked out of the high grass behind the rock and lay down at Harry's feet; a black puppy similar to Sirius's form padded in from the forest side by side with a black wolf cub. And finally, a black stallion walked out of the trees, a white lightning bolt upon its forehead.
"We all represent who you are, Harry James Potter." The snake informed him.
Harry nodded. He was surprised by the number of pack animals, he realised. Lions usually had prides; the stallion would have a herd; the wolf and dog, a pack. The lion and the stallion probably also indicated his leadership potential. He wasn't sure whether the wolf or dog would be an Alpha – and was the dog a Grim like Sirius? Did Grims have packs and Alphas?
He took a deep breath and moved towards the puppy.
It immediately perked up and ambled up to him, rubbing its head against Harry's hand as he tickled it. It seemed openly affectionate, eager, playful and lovable. Harry laughed at the puppy's antics as it left him to chase after a butterfly. He remembered how his Aunt Minerva had talked about him turning into a puppy when he was a baby. That's who the puppy represented, Harry realised; his baby self.
Well, he wasn't a puppy anymore and he moved on despite the aching disappointment of knowing that he wouldn't change into something close to Sirius's form.
The wolf cub slunk closer, suspicious as it sniffed Harry's hand and gradually it relaxed as Harry petted it. He once again recalled his discussions on the forms that might be available to him and how his Aunt Minerva had indicated a wolf was a possibility because of Harry's relationship with Remus; he was part of Remus's pack. But it wasn't just that, Harry thought, as he registered the thin wiry body of the wolf beneath its short black fur; the wolf represented the part of him that wanted family and pack, to belong. It represented the wounded animal he had been at the Dursleys, half-starved for food and affection. Harry hugged the wolf closer but knew he would never change into it. He was part of a pack now; part of a family; he wasn't the lone wolf any longer.
The stallion was the next to approach. Harry rubbed its nose and gazed into its dark eyes. The stallion would protect and defend his herd, yet it retained a wild spirit that embraced freedom and whose spirit wouldn't be broken. The stallion was the representation of the leader Harry hoped to be, Harry realised. Some echo of the stag his father had been yet different enough to make his own mark. But he wasn't there yet; the stallion represented his potential, the man he wanted to become.
The horse delicately snorted and bumped its nose against Harry before it backed away, returning to the trees.
The lion padded over next. It obviously represented his courage and bravery, both the leader of the pride or the nomad outcast, nobility – the latent Gryffindor inside of him.
But he wasn't just a Gryffindor.
His eyes flickered to the snake which no doubt represented his inner Slytherin; the desire to prove himself, the ambition that burned within him to excel and win; the cunning that had enabled him to survive the Dursleys…
But he was neither one nor the other. He was both. He had once chosen to be a Gryffindor but stood in front of both animals he couldn't deny either of them.
The snake hissed lowly and sank back into its coils, its hood lowered.
The raven cawed and drew his attention. Harry held out his hand and the raven flew to him.
"I hoped for a flying form." He told the bird as it looked at him with surprisingly intelligent eyes. What had Luna said to him the raven represented?
A trickster…like the snake.
A warrior…like the lion.
A defender; a bird that flew free, spirit unbroken…like the horse.
A bird that played with…wolves and dogs.
"You represent all of me." Harry realised out loud. "You're my true self. That's what Luna Saw…she Saw you…me…"
The raven spread its wings and everything went black…
"Harry!" Sirius's panicked voice yanked Harry back to consciousness. He blinked hard and was surprised to see Sirius looming over him – he looked huge. And why was Hedwig, who was perched on Sirius's shoulder, so big?
What was going on?
Harry opened his mouth to ask and squawked.
He squawked! Harry moved and immediately lost his balance; he flailed his arms and caught sight of black wings.
Oh Merlin!
He'd turned into his animagus form! Hedwig landed beside him and propped him up.
"Don't panic!" Sirius said hurriedly as Remus entered, his mouth dropping open in shock. "I can fix you!" He drew his wand and shouted a spell.
Harry fought with his animal instinct not to follow Hedwig into flight and flee from the light zooming towards him. He felt the spell hit and cried out as his body began to transform back painfully.
He lay on his bed, panting in the aftermath.
"I'll get some pain relief potion." Remus said, leaving again swiftly.
Sirius ran a hand over Harry's hair. "Sorry, Harry. I know that spell hurts but it was the only way to change you back quickly."
Harry nodded. "I didn't mean to change! I was just meditating and then…"
"And then you found your form." Sirius smiled at him. "You always were a natural. We should have suspected the meditation might lead to this."
Harry nodded. "I saw the puppy."
"You did?" Sirius brightened. "You should have seen your Dad's face! He was more annoyed that you weren't a stag than the fact that you'd managed to transfigure yourself."
"I had the option of a horse – a wild stallion." Harry said quietly. "And a wolf."
"No cat?" asked Sirius teasingly although his grey eyes were wide with shock. "Minnie will be disappointed."
"A lion." Harry said. "There was also a snake."
"So many…" murmured Sirius, his brow lowering in concern.
Harry explained what he thought each animal represented – Remus turned up half-way through and Harry downed the pain relief potion gratefully before he concluded with why he'd gone with the raven form.
"It suits you, Harry." Remus agreed. "I think you probably owe Miss Lovegood a thank you for showing you the way. My only concern really is how you're going to learn to fly as you master your form."
As though she'd heard them, Hedwig barked from her perch across the room.
"Well, there's an offer I don't think you can refuse." Sirius said brightly.
Harry laughed. "Thanks, Hedwig."
Hedwig barked again and stuck her head under her wing.
"And that I think is her hinting we should all get some sleep. Busy day tomorrow with the Quidditch match." Sirius leaned over and kissed Harry's forehead. "No more animagus meditating unless we're in the room with you. Goodnight, Harry."
Remus ruffled his hair. "Goodnight, Harry. "
Harry nodded. He watched as they both left, turning the lights out as they went. He'd found his animagus form! He fell asleep with a wide smile on his face and dreamed of flying, free and happy.
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