There was something moving through the forbidden forest. Large paws pressed into the mud leaving tracks. It moved stealthily. Big yellow eyes observed the surroundings. Heavy lower jaw hung open. Enormous teeth. It had a long beard. Black ears flicked back. Listening to the forest and the creatures. Whiskers stretched on end. The tiger stopped. It lifted a back paw. Scratched its right ear. Licked its lips. Sniffed.

It could smell sweets.

Belly lowered. The tiger crept forward silently. Spied its prey between trees and through brambles. It's long tail twitched. The corners of its mouth tried to smile. Tigers did not smile. They did not walk through the forbidden forest at Hogwarts either. But this one had stalked Akira Hericho half an hour last weekend too. Waiting for the right time to catch just her eye.

The bracken behind Akira trembled. Snagging on the orange fur. A branch cracked. The tiger froze.

Akira had been coming to the forest for a bit now, never really entering, but she enjoyed being around it, she had multiple ideas of what she can do with it, it was off limits of course. But really that just meant there was good stuff inside! The fears of Werewolves inside wasn't a threat, just go on a non full moon! Giant spiders? She isn't scared of spiders! She was...but as long as they don't know they can't hurt her! Dementors? Not allowed to attack her, unless they did, in which case that was bad.

She wasn't sure if she'd ever venture in, but there must be something there, she wondered if anyone ever fully explored it, there must be right? And what if there was a thing to help with her attempts at being an animagus inside? It was more then likely, so she could go in and find out! And if she can't figure out another way to become an animagus, and it wasn't fully explored, she could be first to do so!

She was partly worried of something trying to escape, surely the Groundskeeper can't keep everything in and do lessons right? It was alot of responsibility, so if something managed to get out and onto the school grounds, she couldn't blame him, it must be difficult being full time teacher and manager of the grounds and forest. Not to mention dangerous! He could be scared of spiders also!

She heard a snap and movement! She was right! A spider was breaking out and going to eat her!

She turned around quickly and started to scream, dropping her bag, a mixture of books and bags of haribos dropping out. "DON'T EAT ME MR LION!"

With a giant leap the tiger jumped out of the forest. Right at Akira. It jumped past her. Its enormous paws left tracks in the mud. Tigers could not laugh. But this one tried to cover a laugh. It circled her. Its tail swung about. It licked its lips. Stretched and yawned. All big shiny teeth. It sat and stared at Akira. Until she stopped yelling. Then the tiger changed. It shrank. The fur faded. The tail shortened. The eyes darkened. The ears broadened. The beard lengthened.

Professor Singh was crouched as he finished transforming. He got to his feet. Smiled and bowed to Akira.
"Greetings Miss Hericho." The transfiguration professor spoke. He was dressed in fine deep amber robes with a high neck. The cloth was decorated by intricate pattens in gold thread. He wore a plain black dastār on his head. "I did not alarm you, did I?

Akira cried out in fear of her life as the Tiger leaped, surely this would be the end of the Queen of Sugar!

But it did not come! Akira whirled around to stare at the Tiger, too scared to tear her eyes away, if her fate was to be eaten by Mufasa, then so it would be! But she was not to turn, and in some respects she was grateful she stared Simba in the eyes. As it transformed, its body melding into that of the Transfiguration professor! She was saved! It wasn't Scar all along!

Her fear quickly turned to curiosity and excitement, rushing forwards to look around the professor.

"You're an Animagus! Aren't you?" She asked as a million questions started to whirr inside her head, this was even better then she thought! She was certain he may of demonstrated his powers before in class, or mentioned it but that didn't matter! She couldn't remember it! But this was so much better, now she can get better answers that she had been looking for!

He delighted in her reaction. Professor Singh did not perform his ability to his classes. He was not a show off. It was not in his nature. He had taken over teaching from Professor Hughes. The older students knew. But Akira did not. She was a second year.
"I am." Professor Singh said. "Is it something which interests you?"

The question was unrequired. Professor Singh knew Akira was interested. He had helped untransfigure her last year. He had heard concerns from the Ravenclaw head of house. He looked out for Akira. She was a budding animagus. So she would need to be good at his subject. He would always encourage interest in Transfiguration.

"Yes!" She replied excitedly, practically shaking with excitement as she took a bouncy step back. This was just what she needed! She had spoken to Rigel after finding out he was an Animagus but she hadn't found out much from him, so now she could ask a professional! And the Transfiguration professor at that! This was the perfect opportunity! All the things she could do!

"Can you transform at any time into your animagus form? Ooh does the diet match the form you've taken so like if its a horse you can't eat meat? Does it hurt at all? How much of human characteristics are taken when you turn? Do you get any animalistinstinctswhenyouturn?Isitlikeflexingamuscle?" She took a breath finally after the barrage of questions, so many more to ask! However the most important one was the next one!

"Can you teach me to become an Animagus?"

"Are you hard working?" Professor Singh asked. "Dedicated? Patient? Disciplined?" Becoming animagi was not easy. It took a long time. A lot of waiting. A lot of doing over. It was complicated magic. Then at the end you might turn into a slug. A great disappointment for most. Many failed along the way. Professor Singh had tried to teach someone before. They had given up. Studied other magic. Impatient. Akira was tripping over herself to ask questions. Next year she would study the basics in transfiguration class.

The professor started asking questions, all about her skill at stuff, thats all patience was right? A skill? Some said it was a virtue but its more or less a good skill then anything. Same with dedication, that was another skill, one she wasn't that dedicated to practicing in though... But she can do all three! Oh wait, all four! With enough motivation! And the potential for turning into a cool animal was certainly something that would get her motivated! If nothing else cause she can then sneak about the castle and find out where the heck (Sorry mum) some of her sweets were disappearing too.

Also because it was awesome!

"Yes, yes, yes, and yes! I can do all of those! Please teach me!" She practically squealed with unbridled enthusiasm!

It was impossible not to smile. Akira's enthusiasm was legendary at Hogwarts. Along with her love of sweets. Now she looked like she had eaten a giant bag. She beamed. Bounced.

"It takes skill to become an animagus." Professor Singh warned. "A lot of practice and patience. You must be prepared for disappointment. We do not choose the animal we may become." Older students had asked before. Set on the path. But given up. Busy with their exams. Akira was younger. Less experienced with her magic. It would be a very long path for her. Would she stick at it? Would she try to go it alone? There was great risk. She would need to be cautioned before they began. Shown the consequences. He had thought this through.

"I will send two books to your dormitory. The Animal Inside and a much harder book called Nature, Denature. That one is written for students four or five years ahead of you. Read them well. We will talk about them at length." He lifted a finger. "Dedication. Patience. Discipline." He reminded her.

Akira could barely suppress her scream of delight, her body bounced on its heels as she hurried to bow to the Professor, as best and low as she could while still bouncing ecstatically on the spot. This was happening! She was going to learn how to become an Animagus! This was perfect!

"Thank you thank you thank you!" She started to squeal in happiness. She did take in the rest but it was hard to not feel elated at this. This was perhaps one of her happiest moments, right after discovering you can put strawberries on cheesecake. Or that banoffee pie was a thing. She could do with some banoffee pie, but after this! AAAAH! "I will do my best! I will make sure I read them within the next few weeks! I swear! I can do this!"

Ooh the amount of stuff in those books! They were for older students however, she understood what he was saying, but it was so exciting! "I am prepared for what I may become. I hope not to be a slug though." They were gross, and it would mean she is involved with a horrible spell she is grateful to never be on the receiving end of. She did think about what she was likely to be however, since her talk with Frank Sellaphix. She figures it might be something like a raccoon, although Red Panda's are cute! Ooh but could it be linked to her patronus? If she can cast one.

Which she cannot.

"Everyone hopes not to be a slug." Said Professor Singh. "But even slugs have their uses."

He bowed back to her. "Until the ready hour." He placed his hands in prayer and transformed. The tiger crept back into the forest. Belly low to the ground. Tail balanced. Pleased with what it had done.