It was a few months after their 1st secret transfiguration meeting with Minerva when they first time stood nervously in front of an empty Transfiguration classroom. The torches along the walls flickered, casting long shadows as they waited.
And now after several months that feeling of intimidation and unfamiliarity though had decreased still persisted, especially seeing how Remus was getting affected by this secrecy. James rocked on his heels, hands shoved into his pockets, while Sirius lazily leaned against the desk. Peter, however, was fidgeting uncontrollably, while waiting for Professor McGonagall. Peter muttered, glancing at the door. "McGonagall is terrifying."
James smirked. "It'll be fine. She's strict, yeah, but she's fair."
Sirius exclaimed, "Fair doesn't mean patient, mate."
As if on cue, the door swung open.
Professor McGonagall strode in, robes billowing behind her, eyes sharper than a hawk's as usual.
James straightened up immediately. Sirius, despite his usual arrogance, stopped slouching. And Peter looked ready to faint. He was on radar these days, seeing how he was not improving at all.
McGonagall glanced over them, eyes unreadable, before sighing. "Alright, gentlemen. Since I have clearly lost all sense of reason and agreed to this madness, let me make one thing very clear, unless you are fully prepared to commit to the discipline and patience this requires, you are free to walk out that door right now."
This statement was minerva's casual. She would repeat it everytime she would teach them, like a broken record on repeat and they were pretty used to it except Petter he would always panic whenever he heard this statement and would look towards the door. But his will to show off and pretend was at its peak even in this age.
McGonagall studied them carefully, and after a long moment, she nodded.
"Very well. Let's begin."
It was after they suffered from many malpractice that Minerva sat them down and started,
"Boys… I told you that You cannot simply wish to become an animal," she explained, tapping the blackboard with her wand. A series of notes appeared in elegant, swirling script. "It requires absolute mastery of self-transfiguration. If you lose control of the magic—"
She paused, then flicked her wand. A book on the shelf behind them exploded into a flurry of feathers.
Peter yelped.
"That," McGonagall said coolly, "is what happens when the transformation goes wrong. Do I make myself clear?"
James swallowed hard but nodded and Sirius's expression faltered just a little. Peter, pale as a ghost, barely whispered, "Crystal clear."
McGonagall continued. "Before attempting any magic, you must first discover the form you will take. The Animagus transformation is deeply tied to your personality. You cannot choose your animal—it chooses you. Your task is to meditate and visualize yourself, reaching deep into your magic to uncover the shape within you."
James blinked. "That sounds… vague."
McGonagall arched an eyebrow. "Oh? Then by all means, Mr. Potter, tell me a simpler way to manipulate ancient, soul-bound magic?"
James coughed. "No, no, vague is great. I love vague."
McGonagall sighed. "Close your eyes. Focus. And for once, Potter, do not try to rush ahead of the process."
Another series of weeks passed by but still nothing worth calling an achievement happened.
"Patience!" she snapped one evening, pacing in front of them as Sirius tried to hide his still-furry hands behind his back. "You are not brute-forcing this! You must ease into the magic. If you fight against the transformation, it will reject you!"
"But how do we know it's working?" Sirius asked, rubbing his temples.
McGonagall sighed. "You will know when the magic recognizes you. It will feel… natural. Like slipping into a second skin."
It was only after the start of the new academic year at Hogwarts, that something happened. Remus was totally cut off from the trio and nothing important was worked up towards the creation of the map they were trying to come up with and Remus was looking into it on his own now.
For the transfiguration first real success came unexpectedly. And It was James. He stared at his own reflection in a nearby window, muttered, "Great. Because these antlers feel real natural."
Then later One evening, while practicing alone, something inside him clicked.
There was a rush of magic, like wind surging through his veins, and suddenly—he was on four legs.
He stumbled, blinking, the world sharper, larger— And then he saw himself.
Not in a mirror, but in his reflection on the windowpane.
A stag. He was a stag.
James's heart raced in his chest. He could feel the power in his limbs, the strength, the grace.
He let out a breath—and shifted back.
The moment he reappeared in his human form, his eyes were shining.
He had done it. And now he knew the others would soon follow with his guidance and support.
So, Sirius was next.
Unlike James, who had struggled with control, Sirius's transformation was instinctive.
One night, frustrated after another failed attempt, he stormed out of the classroom.
And then—it happened.
A flicker of magic, a shift—and suddenly, he wasn't walking on two feet anymore.
He glanced down, heart pounding, at his massive paws.
His fur was thick, black as night. His senses sharper than ever.
He was… a dog.
A huge, shaggy black dog.
A grin (or whatever the dog equivalent of a grin was spread across his face.
Finally He had done it too.
Peter, however, took the longest.
It wasn't until weeks later, when he finally stopped overthinking, and seeing that potter and Black had managed did he manage it himself.
And when he did—it made sense.
His form was small, overlooked, but quick. A rat.
At first, he had been disappointed. But when James clapped him on the back and Sirius laughed, calling him "our sneaky little rat", he couldn't help but smile.
Because even though he was the weakest of them, even though he had struggled the most—he had done it.
On the night of their last lesson, all three of them stood in front of McGonagall, grinning like madmen, it was almost the mid of the year now.
McGonagall, arms crossed, surveyed them carefully. "I assume you are all quite pleased with yourselves."
James grinned. Sirius flashed a smirk. "We're Animagi now. Officially." Peter, still slightly dazed from his last transformation, nodded enthusiastically.
McGonagall sighed but, for the first time, her expression softened. "You have accomplished something remarkable," she admitted. "But do not let that accomplishment turn to arrogance. Magic—especially this kind—is not a game."
Then McGonagall met James eyes. "You started this journey to protect your friend. Never forget that."
She turned to leave, pausing at the door she said with a smile and her eyes filled with proud tears of happiness and a sweet soft smile playing at her face. And for Merlin's sake, try not to get yourselves killed."