"Perhaps the best way to stop your friend's teasing is to show him exactly what you can do in your form," Minerva said. "And to do that, you must first get complete control of transforming between human and bird. You should be able to change forms in the blink of an eye. So, that's what I want you to do: transform back and forth as quickly as you can five times. After that, we'll rest, review your progress and continue."
With a nod, Harry concentrated within himself, felt the sparrowhawk and changed.
ooo00ooo
Harry roared with laughter as Teddy finished telling the tale of his latest, greatest prank.
"You should have seen them! Every single one of them was convinced that they were totally naked. They were grabbing everything that they could – bags, books, one even ripped the shield from one of the suits of armour! Professor Flitwick was trying to get them back in class, but they were refusing, trying to hide from everyone and race back to their common room at the same time. It was hilarious!"
"And the best part was that they were doing it to themselves," Lachlan, Teddy's best friend added.
Harry clapped Teddy on the shoulder. "You truly are your father's son; a Marauder through and through."
"Why do I get the feeling that I'm glad that I missed hearing that particular story?" the Headmistress asked in a dry voice from directly behind them.
Harry swung around on the bench, a smile still on his face in direct contrast to the looks of horror that now graced the faces of Teddy, Lachlan and their three friends.
"What you don't know can't get anyone in trouble," Harry replied.
Minerva cocked an eyebrow at him. "Are you saying that someone deserved a detention, Mister Potter?"
"Absolutely not!" Harry protested. "All I'm saying is that hearing a story, out of context, or worse, a part of a story is never a good thing."
"I'll take your word for it," she deadpanned, her gaze sweeping over the students before settling back on Harry. "There is, however, a purpose to my seeking you out, Mister Potter."
Harry sat up slightly straighter. "Yes?"
"Professor Sinistra has brought to my attention that there is a rather rare astronomical event due to happen in a few days," she said. "I believe that it's called 'The Convergence' and only occurs once every five thousand years."
"Sounds like something that could be very educational," Harry replied cautiously.
"I'm glad that you see that, Mister Potter," a pleased-sounding Minerva replied. "Therefore, you should have no problems accompanying Professor Sinistra and her NEWT Astronomy class to Greenwich to see the event."
Harry stared at her. "Greenwich. With a bunch of pure-blood teenage witches and wizards."
"Yes, Mister Potter. Precisely. Thus, why the inclusion of a chaperone who knows the muggle world intimately is vital," she replied.
Harry simply stared at her.
Finally, Minerva sighed. "If you agree to do this, I'll even sweeten the deal by allowing a single fourth year Astronomy student to accompany the excursion."
Beside him, Teddy perked up, a huge smile on his face.
"Say yes, Uncle Harry!" Teddy exclaimed grabbing Harry's arm.
"I'd love to help out," Harry said, smiling at Teddy.
"Thank you, Mister Potter," Minerva smiled. "If it helps, consider this as payment for me helping you with your 'little' problem."
Harry's head spun to stare at her as she casually turned and strolled away, the corners of her mouth turned up in what Harry took as a massive grin.
ooo00ooo
"Dad?" Jennifer asked, her voice scratchy and soft.
It was enough, though, to have William spinning away from the window he was gazing out of and rushing to her bed. His first impulse was to sit on the side of the bed itself; instead, conscious of his daughter's injuries, he settled for the chair.
"I'm here, Jenn," he said, grasping her hand.
Jennifer blinked at him before her eyes shifted slightly to take in the room around her. William's eyes misted over slightly as tears formed – this was the most lucid his daughter had been since she'd first woken, however briefly, a week ago.
"I'm in the hospital?" she asked, confusion evident in her voice and her furrowed brow.
"You are. You're on the mend; you're going to be alright," he assured her.
"What happened? Why am I here?" she asked.
William hesitated, unsure whether it was wise to tell her so soon after her waking.
"Dad?" Jennifer insisted.
"You were … you were shot," he finally said.
"Shot?" she repeated, wide-eyed. "When? Why?"
"You don't remember?" William asked, his policeman side half-hoping that she did while his parental side hoping that she didn't remember something so traumatic.
Jennifer shook her head. "No. Kinda remember leaving work, then … nothing"
"That's okay, Baby. It happened a number of weeks ago," William replied before rushing past the second part of her question – no need to tell her that the current theory was that she was targeted as a warning to him, especially as it didn't seem like a mugging gone wrong. "It was pretty bad, Baby; we nearly lost you. If it hadn't been for Bruce …"
"Bruce?" a confused Jennifer asked.
"Bruce. Banner. Your cousin," William clarified.
"Bruce? I haven't seen Bruce in years. He was there when I was shot? I don't remember," she trailed off.
William shook his head. "No. Bruce wasn't there then. He happened by, completely by chance, just after. He saved you, Jenn. If it wasn't for him, you wouldn't have made it. You'd lost so much blood, he had to give you some of his just to get you to the hospital."
Her head moved around then as she searched the room.
"Where?" she asked.
"Where is he?" William asked, to which she nodded. "Bruce couldn't stay. He headed to New York, I believe. He left you an address if you want to talk to him or see him once you're better."
Jennifer nodded. "Yes, I'd like that."
William fished out the piece of paper his nephew had given him and placed it on the table beside her bed, sliding the edge of the phone over it so that it didn't blow away.
"There you go, it's there for you when you're feeling better," he smiled.
.
.
.
📖For everyone who wants to read it in full📖
👇🏼It will be available on my Ko-Fi👇🏼
‼️ko-fi.com/skyarc/shop‼️
—————————————————————
✅Subscribe now if you want to get all the PDFs available on my page.✅