After Dumbledore had finished his visit Draco had arrived and Harry had spent most of the evening making sure his lover was very much whole and unharmed. Some of his techniques for doing so involved making sure Draco was completely mobile and as responsive as before, at least that's what he told Draco and then Draco had laughed at him for about half an hour.

He couldn't help it if his thoughts were completely one track sometimes; the vampire and the incubus seemed to be the two creatures that had the greatest sway over his behaviour and Draco was nothing if not very attractive. They had actually had some sleep eventually and Draco had left early, needing to be seen in his house common room as if he was actually living there. Since the full, fabricated story about them having been boyfriends since the end of sixth year and lovers since Harry's change had not yet been released, appearances had to be maintained.

Harry had spent most of the rest of the time before school pacing. He was very glad that his first scheduled lesson was Transfiguration, but he was still a complete wreck of nerves. It was ridiculous really, since the only one who would be able to see him was Professor McGonagall, but it felt as if he was walking into the lion's den.

Straightening his robes, he sat down at his desk and looked at the mirror where it stood a few feet away. It felt very strange to be back in uniform. He had to try very hard not to fidget. Nothing felt normal anymore, but he was willing to try and fake it.

"Transfigurations classroom," he said eventually when he had all his courage balled up into something usable.

The mirror instantly displayed the interior of Professor McGonagall's domain and Harry was quite surprised by how much he could see. It was not like looking into the Mirror of Erised where he could only see an image; it was more like looking through an opening into the room rather than at a flat surface, he could even smell the classroom.

As he turned his head, his view moved as well so that he could look around and he experimented for a little while. It must have taken some complicated spells to set up the connection and he was impressed with the sophistication of the devices. He wondered absently what Professor McGonagall would see when she looked into her desktop mirror, but it was rather pointless speculation, and he put it aside as he heard the classroom door opening.

The chatter that surrounded him as the rest of the class made their way to their seats almost made him feel as if he was actually in the room. His nerves were still raw, but he found himself relaxing, at least partially.

"Welcome, class," Professor McGonagall said as she strode in from the back of the room, and Harry turned so that he could see her walking, "today we will be starting on the theory of the Animagus transformation. Although you will not be expected to learn the actual transformation, you will be expected to understand why and how it may be achieved for your exams."

Harry was graced with a small smile as the woman reached her usual teaching spot behind her desk and looked at him through the mirror.

"Yes, Mr Malfoy," Professor McGonagall said and Harry could not help turning his head to look.

Draco was sat towards the front of the class next to Pansy and was as immaculately turned out as ever. Harry had to sit on his sudden desire to attempt to step through the mirror as his more possessive nature decided to make itself known. Sitting through Transfiguration with a hard-on for his lover was not Harry's idea of fun, but he was rapidly coming to the conclusion that that was what he might have to do. If it was always going to be like this, he was not sure he'd ever pass his N.E.W.T.s.

"Would it be possible to arrange for extra tuition in the area if we find we have an aptitude for it, please, Professor?" it seemed that Draco could be remarkably polite if he set his mind to it.

"We shall have to see, Mr Malfoy," Professor McGonagall replied, but her tone was nowhere near as harsh as Harry had heard it in the past when dealing with Slytherins. "This is a very difficult area of study, but if any of you show serious promise and dedication I may be able to assist you in your goals."

Draco gave a polite nod of his head at the reply. It was such a difference from the spoilt brat most of the school had come to know and love that Harry almost laughed. He stopped himself just in time, remembering that Professor McGonagall would be able to hear him.

"There are special books for this section of the course," the woman continued, indicating the pile of tomes on her desk, "and they will not leave this classroom. They are restricted reading material and you will sign out one between two whenever you come to this lesson, and sign it back in at the end. All homework on the subject will be done here at pre-arranged times."

Harry looked at the book on his desk, which had been delivered by a house elf that morning, and realised that he was being given a privilege to have it. He took hold of it and ran his fingers over the gold lettering on the cover as the others were handed out in the classroom.

"Before we open our text books," Professor McGonagall's voice brought him back to the present, "can anyone tell me the three stages of the Animagus transformation?"

The answer leapt into Harry's head, since this was a subject close to his heart. He almost didn't put up his hand, since he did not really want anyone to remember he was there, but then he realised he was going to have to interact at some point. Dipping into the famous Gryffindor courage he lifted his arm.

"Mr Potter," Professor McGonagall said and he could tell from the look in her eyes that she was pleased he was taking part, "please enlighten us."

His name caused a ripple of sound to move around the classroom, and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise, but a stern look from McGonagall silenced the rest of the room and he relaxed again.

"Meditation, realisation and transformation," he said in as steady a voice as he could manage.

His tone was deeper than his normal speaking voice because of the nerves and the fact that not all of his other aspects were completely asleep, but at least he sounded human.

"Very good," Professor McGonagall said with a smile, "five points to Gryffindor. Mr Potter is perfectly correct. The first stage is meditation and can take from between four and twelve months to achieve. It is the stage where you would learn to feel your animal, but not perceive it completely. This is the time where a person finds out if they are capable of the transformation at all. It takes a great deal of concentration and hard work to find your animal to begin with.

"The second stage is realisation where the feel of your animal is translated into recognition of what it actually is. This is by far the longest stage of the process and the fastest on record was thirteen months, however, no one who has registered their success at the first stage has ever failed at this point. Of course the third stage is the most dangerous when you combine the Animagus spell into yourself and use it to channel your form into that of your animal. Several fully trained wizards have died at this point throughout history when they failed to cast the spell correctly."

Harry couldn't help wondering how long his father had taken to learn the Animagus transformation; he had a feeling it had been nowhere near that long. Of course he doubted that the marauders had worried about all the safety measures involved either, which would have undoubtedly sped up the process.

With her ominous warning given, the professor turned to her copy of the text book and flicked it open.

"Please look at page 24," she said in her usual efficient tone; "today we will be discussing the theory behind finding your animal."

Harry dutifully turned to the right page and tried heroically to ignore that half his brain was still trying to decide exactly how to ravish Draco as soon as physically possible.

Everything was fine as Harry copied down the notes Professor McGonagall put on the board and listened to the discussion going on in the room; that was until towards the end when he glanced around the room. Pansy was leaning against Draco pretending to read something from the book they were sharing, but every instinct in Harry said she was doing nothing of the sort. Draco for his part was ignoring her, but that was not the point.

Everything came into sharp focus as Harry glared at Pansy even though, at a logical level, he knew she couldn't see him. The smell of pheromones alone, that the girl was giving off, were enough to make him want to rip her head off.

He stood up before he could stop himself as his incubus failed to comprehend that there was no way he could get to Pansy anyway. That someone else was touching what was his in that way was unthinkable to him and he wanted to snarl and attack.

"Off," he managed to growl out before he lost it completely and the view in the mirror disappeared.

The little whore had been rubbing herself against his Draco and part of Harry wanted to rend her limb from limb. It was so strong that he almost lost it and totalled his desk in his fury, but he just about managed to hold it in and dragged himself to the bathroom instead.

After dunking his head in a basin of cold water, he felt together enough to look at himself in the mirror, but even as he did so he could still see the glow in his eyes. His incubus was very annoyed and he knew he was not going to be able to rejoin the lesson any time soon.

It took him fifteen minutes and three dunks in the basin before he decided he was ready to return to the other room. He was still not calm enough to activate the mirror again, but he was in a state of mind to at least think. He picked up a piece of parchment and his quill, quickly scribbling down a note:

Professor McGonagall,

I'm sorry for leaving so abruptly, but I saw something which set off my incubus. I did not wish to disrupt your lesson so I cut the connection. If you would not mind sending a note with the homework assignment I would be very grateful.

Thanks,

Harry

With a quick flick of his wand he summoned Dobby and sent the elf off with the message. He was glad that he had a free period next, because he needed the time to put himself in the right mindset for Charms. He was surprised when Dobby returned in under ten minutes with two sheets of parchment.

"Professor McGonagall is asking Dobby to deliver these, Harry Potter, Sir," the elf said and held out both sheets.

"Thank you, Dobby," Harry replied in as calm a tone as he could manage, "you may go now."

The elf vanished with a small bow. Harry looked at the first sheet and was surprised to see a note back rather than the homework assignment.

Mr Potter,

thank you for the apology, but it was unnecessary. For a first time back in the classroom I believe you managed remarkably well. Rest assured I also noticed the situation with Miss Parkinson; most unbecoming of a young lady. I have assigned both of them to new partners to prevent it happening again.

Miss Granger has offered to share her notes for the few minutes you missed and I have enclosed the homework assignment. I will see you again later in the week.

Yours,

Minerva McGonagall

Harry felt some of the tension leaving him and he had to smile at least a little bit; he could just imagine what Professor McGonagall would have said to Pansy. It was not a complete solution, because Draco was still out there and so was Pansy, but it was better than nothing. His incubus was still annoyed, but he was better able to control it now.