Mockingbird

Apparently, ‘almost ready’ by Fate and Death’s standards was seven long months. In that time, Harry spent time with Teddy, Andy, Hermione, and Ron. Harry had been secretly compiling a photo album with pictures of all of them.

Teddy being the most adorable baby on earth, Andy and Hermione’s academic debates, and Ron thrashing Harry at chess. Pictures of them being a happy family. Harry wanted to remember and look back on the times he had with his family. Harry had even managed to obtain photographs of the Golden Trio at school, along with a few of Neville and Luna included, and even a rare few of the DA.

While some could call Harry sentimental, the people he was surrounded by were the first people to accept him for who he was, and actually care about him. Harry loved them and they loved him, and that was good enough for Harry.

Harry was in a somewhat state of shock. Death had just waved her hand and gave him access to Animagus form. He felt the animal’s presence hovering on the edge of his consciousness, its thin, leathery wings flapping in nervous agitation. The massive skeletal body quivered with anticipation, as well as the residue feelings of shock that flittered through his body and mind, affecting the Animagus as well.

Harry had never thought that an Animagus animal would have a presence in Animagus’ mind. His thoughts were taken into an abrupt halt as Death began to speak.

|| Very rarely does an Animagus have the form of their animal in their mind. As your animal is a magical one, and the added effect that it is under my domain, and you have meet one before, creates a mental animal. It should also help you with the first few transformations and allow you to speak with the creatures that are your animal. ||

Harry gaped at her, then shook his head to clear his thoughts and , ignoring the indignant whinnying that erupted from the beaked animal’s mouth, he started on a slight rampage.

“Yes, that is all well and good, but a Thestral?! I don’t even understand how I managed to have a Thestral as my Animagus Animal! I know they’re not overly dangerous and are only classified a serious threat because they can only be seen by people who’ve seen death, but really?! It’s not that I have problem with my Animagus form, I just have no fucking clue how I got one as my Animagus Animal!”

*Because, Harry. Thestrals represent darkness and death, and you have been touched by death several times. Not to mention that Thestrals are very blunt and intelligent creatures, they thrive in the darkness, just like you do. Thestrals are also powerful in their own right, and their capabilities are often underestimated. You should be proud to have such a magnificent creature as your Animagus form. Now, I suggest trying to shift, I’ll clear a space for you,* Here Fate lifted her hand and snapped her fingers from where they had been previously resting on Harry’s shoulder, and the room flurried until there was a massive space in the center of the room.

Pushing Harry into the center of the empty space, Fate stepped back to give him room, and stared sternly. Shifting sheepishly, Harry closed his eye, and reached his metaphorical mental fingers to touch the Thestral that resided within his mind. He pleaded with it to help him; Harry had meant no offense. Harry found that he instinctively he knew facts about Thestrals that he’d never been recorded before, and slightly relished it.

The Thestral before his mental being snorted softly, before stepping forward and melding with him. On the outside, Harry felt his body shifting into a different, more horse like form. When he opened his now milky eyes, Harry saw things in much greater clarity, and even observed that souls of Kreature and the various Muggles that live in the surrounding buildings.

Opening his mouth to say something, he noticed his voice sounded slightly different. Pushing it aside in favour of showing off just the slightest bit.
§ See, I can fucking cooperate with my animal. I can fucking shift. Booyah. §

|| Harry, || Death said amusedly, || Only I can currently understand you in this form, though Fate can understand a few words. You are speaking the language of the dead, spoke only by the dead and creatures favoured by me. ||

§ I knew my voice sounded different. Fuck. I can speak this in human form as well? §

|| Yes. || Death responded with a slight smirk. She was clearly enjoying Harry’s apathetic response to the new revelation. || Though it will be significantly harder. In your Thestral form, the natural language they speak is that of the dead. Alive humans were not meant to speak the language of the dead, so it will take practice. ||

§ Yes, § Harry said, his apathetic tone gaining a slightly panicky quality to it. § So, um. How do you, uh, ya know. Change back? §

Death burst out laughing, and after a few moments of trying to stifle it, Fate joined in. Harry stood there extremely disgruntled, his wings shifting in agitation.