"The first step for becoming an Animagus," read James, the next day. "is to identify what animal you will become. The animal should suit your personality and ideas."

"How can we ever know what animal suits us?" asked Peter.

"Wait...it says more. 'Close your eyes and concentrate on your strongest emotions, strongest likes and dislikes, and if you have enough strength of mind, which most people do not have, the animal will come to your mind.'"

"Let's try it," said Sirius.

James, Sirius and Peter closed their eyes and concentrated. Rolling his eyes, Remus continued his homework.

"No animal came to my mind," whined Peter after a few minutes.

"Same here, Peter," said Sirius drily.

"Do you think I should be a bird of some sort?" asked James hopefully. "Because my greatest liking is Quidditch, you know."

"No, James, I do not think you should be a bird," said Remus firmly. "It's not that sort of liking they mean at all. A bird has nothing to do with your personality."

"Looks like this will take longer than I thought," said Sirius.

James glanced at his watch and yelled.

"I have got Quidditch practice in two minutes! Dorcas is awfully particular about punctuality."

"Go, then," said Remus. "And never mind about your Animagus concentration."

"We'll come to support you, James," said Peter.

"Yeah, come on, Moony," said Sirius, and he and Peter dragged Remus to the pitch behind James.

--------------------

Since that day, whenever they got time, James, Peter and Sirius closed their eyes and concentrated.

During a particularly boring Herbology lesson, when they were doing Mandrakes, Sirius stopped paying attention and closed his eyes.

He thought of how much he loved James. And Remus and Peter too. He would do anything in the world for them, especially for James. Then he thought of how much he hated most of the rest of the world—his parents, Bellatrix, Narcissa, Regulus, Snape, Avery, Mulciber, Lily. He thought of how much he hated his last name.

He loved James. He loved Remus and Peter. He hated Snape. He hated Regulus. He hated...

"A dog," Sirius gasped suddenly, coming back to earth.

"What exactly do you mean, Black?" asked Professor Sprout.

Then Sirius realized that the entire class was staring at him. Apparently the teacher had been asking him some question after which he pronounced the irrelevant words.

"I'm sorry, Professor, what did you say?" asked Sirius contritely.

She repeated her question, and luckily, Sirius knew the answer.

The class were uprooting and planting Mandrakes in groups of three or four.

Sirius joined his friends.

"I'm a dog," said Sirius in a low voice.

"How do you know?" asked James.

"I saw it in my mind, clear as anything..."

"What were you thinking of before you saw it?"

Sirius hesitated. "Well...actually I was thinking of how much I love you guys and hated those Slytherin gits and my family."

James stared at him. "But I don't hate my family—what will I think of?"

"It's not like that, James," said Remus, exasperated. "It's because Sirius had especially strong hatred that this line worked for him. It won't work for you. And a dog fits Sirius, doesn't it, loyal, fierce and with fierce affection towards limited people?"

"I wish you'd stop, Remus," said Sirius uncomfortably. "James'll come up with his animal—and with luck, Peter too."

"I don't think I shall," said Peter desolately.

"You will," said James confidently. "We'll all be Animagi one day."

"What confidence," was Remus opinion, as he turned his attention to the Mandrakes.