Timmy the dog and Professor Antimony have never been seen together. Julian has told his brother and sister that he thinks that Professor Antimony is an animagus and is Timmy.

6 – Together Again!

Dick shook his head, and Anne looked puzzled. She said, "I don't understand, how can she be Timmy? What is an … an animagus?"

"Haven't you covered that yet?" said Dick. "You will soon. Professor McGonagall is one: she can turn herself into a cat whenever she wants; that's what an animagus can do. It's a difficult thing to do – make yourself into an animagus I mean – so there aren't many."

"So it's not the same as a transformation spell?" asked Anne.

"Oh no," explained Julian. "If you transformed yourself into, say a dog, then you wouldn't be able to transform yourself back. That happens occasionally, and if the spell doesn't wear off quickly they have to be rushed to St Mungo's to be transformed back. Father told me that there is a witch in St Mungo's who made herself into a squirrel and ran up a tree. When she was eventually caught it was too late: they transformed her back, but she remains convinced she is a squirrel. She begs for nuts, and when they give them to her she runs into the hospital grounds and buries them."

"That's awful!" said Anne.

"Father was kidding, I think," said Julian, though he sounded uncertain.

"Oh, he told me that story too," said Dick. "Only he said that it was a long time ago and that it was because of her that when someone is doing something crazy we say that they are 'nuts'."

Anne had to laugh at that. Then she said, "I still don't understand about Timmy and Professor Antimony. She is a witch, not a wizard, and Timmy is a boy dog. If she transformed wouldn't she become a lady dog?"

"Anne has a point," said Dick. "Isn't that one of the limitations of magic: you can't change a witch into a wizard or visa versa?"

Anne said "I remember George telling me last summer that she had hoped to turn herself into a boy – just for a short while to see what it was like - but it wasn't possible."

"Professor Dumbledore says that half the things said to be impossible aren't so at all, it's just that nobody has found out how to do them yet," said Julian.

"Sunday lunch, hurry up!" said Anne's watch in its scratchy little voice.

"Come on!" cried Dick, "I can't think straight when there's food in the offing!"

The others laughed, but they too were hungry. "Let's go, and no more of this talk for now. I vote we find a quiet spot this afternoon and carry on then," said Julian, and off they went.

After a long after-lunch powwow they finally decided that there was nothing they could do but wait and watch. "At least I might catch up on my prep," grumbled Julian.

….

The school days dragged by, but things changed the next Sunday when Julian, Dick and Anne went into the Great Hall for lunch. The four children always sat together to eat, but there was no sign of George. Anne went up and down the Gryffindor table, stopping to talk to various friends, and returned shaking her head. Nobody knew where George was, and she never missed Hogwarts meals, especially not Sunday lunch!

"Hagrid isn't here either," said Dick.

"Yes, but what of it, he is often away," said Anne.

"Because, silly, we could speak to him; he is on our side, I'm sure of it." Dick had scarcely said this when Hagrid came striding up the Hall between the long tables and halted right in front of Professor Antimony. His enormous back was to them, but some sort of discussion or argument seemed to be going on between Hagrid and some of the professors. Then he turned and strode back down the Hall.

"He winked at me, I'm sure he did," whispered Anne, but her brothers were sure she had imagined it. Still, something was 'up', that was clear.

The buzz of conversation around them gave way to the clatter of cutlery when the food arrived: sliced ham and beef; piles of roast potatoes hot from the oven; great bowls of steaming new potatoes, gleaming with melting butter; a profusion of vegetables; big jugs of thick gravy; heaps of Yorkshire puddings and much, much more. Even by Hogwart's standards this Sunday lunch was something special. Indeed, so busy were Anne, Dick and Julian loading their plates that they did not notice George's arrival until she sat down in the empty place they had left for her.

Anne, sitting opposite her, was the first to notice that George was smiling. Anne said to her, "You look happy, what has happened, what is going on?" George said nothing, but pointed towards the professors' table with the serving spoon she was holding. A man wearing a dark suit was taking the empty chair next to Professor Slughorn.

"Is that Uncle Quentin?" asked Anne.

"Yes, Daddy is an old friend of Professor Slughorn. They've been friends since they were students here, even though they were in different houses. The good thing is that Daddy has removed the secrecy charm he put on me. He says it is 'unlocked', but will take time to wear off."

"Well I got that right at least!" crowed Julian. "I thought it must have been his doing. When did he put it on you?"

George took a deep breath and struggled to speak. Finally she said, "The last day of the hols. No more questions now, Julian, you'll have to wait a while longer."

"Sorry, George, of course we'll wait," said Julian, though really he was as eager as anyone to know more.

Grinning mischievously, Dick said, "Can I tell George your pet theory now, Julian?"

Before Julian could reply, Professor Dippet called for silence. "This afternoon there is to be a magical ceremony here in the Great Hall. Professor Slughorn will tell us more."

Professor Slughorn slowly raised his considerable bulk to standing. "Thank you, Headmaster. A rare magical ceremony is to be held in this very hall, starting at three o'clock. We shall attempt to break a particularly powerful curse. Seventh-year students may attend; others must have the express permission of their head of house."

As he sat down, Professor Dumbledore shot to his feet. "I should like to add a further caveat if I may: we shall have honoured guests in school this afternoon, they must be treated with the utmost respect: no staring, pointing or other rudeness. Best behaviour, everyone."

He sat down and excited chatter began at once on every table. What was this 'powerful curse', who could the 'honoured guests' be? It was all very mysterious! George agreed that the ceremony must be the reason why her father was there. "I don't think he quite counts as an 'honoured guest,' though," she said.

Anne had an idea, and keeping her voice low so as not to be overheard by their fellow Griffindors, she said, "My guess is that it has to do with breaking the curse Professor Dumbledore mentioned last week, and the honoured guests are centaurs!"

"The food is getting cold on our plates," said George, "let's eat."

"Rather!" said Dick, "And no talking with your mouth full!" All four laughed at this as they always did and set to with gusto. Around them everyone was doing the same.

Sometime later, as they were finishing their spotted dick and custard, Fleamont the house prefect came to talk to them: "Dumbledore says that you four should attend. He didn't say why."

"Who else is allowed?" asked Julian.

"Only seventh years and prefects. So think yourselves privileged." And off he went.

"He's very grumpy," said Anne.

"That's because he thinks we know something he doesn't," said Dick, grinning.

"But we don't – not really!" she cried.

"Shush, Anne," said Julian. "It's past one o'clock already, we'll all know in less than two hours."

…

A crowd of pupils - George, Anne, Dick and Julian amongst them - waited outside the main entrance to the school to see who the 'honoured guests' might be. At long last a motorcar drove in through the school gates. It was gleaming white with a great long bonnet, and everyone from the Muggle world knew at once that it was a Rolls Royce. Dick whispered to Julian, "That's a Silver Ghost or I'm a squib." The Headmaster and Professor Slughorn were there, waiting to greet their visitors, but its doors remained shut. Then a tinkling bell was heard and two wizards arrived on bicycles, one carrying a camera. "Make way for the press," one called out.

Only when the cameraman was in position did the chauffeur get out and open the door of the Rolls Royce. Nobody was surprised to see the Minister of Magic step out, resplendent in his robes of office. He was followed by several notables, including heads of ministry departments, the Chief Warlock and the Head Healer from St Mungo's hospital. Professor Slughorn shook hands with each while the photographer took lots of pictures, and then he led the party up the steps and into the building.

"So much for your centaurs," Dick said to Anne. "They aren't here are they?" he teased.

But Anne smiled back and said, "Look behind you." There, coming up the slope from the Forest they could see Hagrid with Professor Dumbledore and Professor Antimony walking with several centaurs. Among the centaurs was the grand lady centaur or centauress whom they had all met in the forest when they gone in with Hagrid and Timmy.

Professor Dumbledore broke away from the others and came over to speak to George. "Miss Kerrin, you have a role to play in this ceremony. You will please join us." George said nothing, but left the others and walked next to the professor up the steps into the school.

"Well!" said Dick, "She might have said something, even if her secrecy charm hasn't worn off yet."

"I'm sure she said what she could," replied Julian. "But it does look as though Anne was right: it must be to do with our Timmy."

"And there are centaurs, so I was right about that too," added Anne.

"OK, you win," conceded Dick, and brother and sister shook hands.

"Time to go in, time to go in!" shrieked Anne's watch.

They found the Great Hall transformed: the long house tables were gone and a narrow red carpet ran down the middle of the hall right to the far end. The carpet was bordered on both sides with various seats facing inwards to form a narrow aisle: wooden benches for the seventh formers and prefects; little deckchairs with house elves sitting in them; dining chairs for the professors; comfy armchairs for the high-ranking wizards and witches; and low couches for centaurs to lounge on.

A prefect led them down the aisle to three upright chairs near the middle. "I'm sure the Hall never seemed so long before," said Anne, puzzled.

"It's been magically stretched," explained Julian.

At the far end of the Great Hall the professors' table had been replaced by a simple platform or stage. As the great Hogwart's clock struck three Headmaster Dippet came on to the empty stage and made a long and boring speech thanking everyone for coming. By some magical arrangement all in the Hall could see and hear him clearly, despite the awkward layout. Julian quietly explained to the others that this was a very tricky bit of magic. "They needn't have bothered," Dick joked back in a whisper.

Then Professor Slughorn took to the stage. "Today we have come together to break a curse which has kept two individuals apart: a spell which prevents them from being together, a spell which says that no one can see both at the same time." He paused for a moment. "Great progress has been made in lifting this curse, and now, acting together, we shall finally break it and free its two victims. My colleague Professor Antimony is one victim, and here she is."

Professor Antimony came and stood in front of the stage and was joined by the centauress, who towered above her. Professor Slughorn continued: "As some of you will know, the curse-breaking ceremony requires each victim to be with a close friend who is unrelated to them. We have gone better and have friends of a different species. So at the other end of this hall we have Timmy the dog with his friend and owner young Georgina."

Everybody turned to look, and there indeed was Timmy together with George. Behind them stood a grinning Hagrid. Professor Slughorn continued, "As you can see we have managed to get Timmy and his former owner into this hall at the same time. The centaurs must be thanked for that. Now, we – all in this hall – shall bring them together. We can only do this by wishing it. … Begin!"

The centauress placed her hands on Professor Antimony's shoulders and they began to walk step-by-step down the red carpet. At the far end of the Great Hall – which seemed a very long way away – George put her hand in Timmy's collar and began to walk up the hall. Though everyone wished them on, both pairs began to falter and their steps became slower and slower.

"It isn't working," said Anne, almost in tears. "We need to do more; we must do it for George and Timmy."

Dick stood up, and for a moment it looked as though he was going to shout at George. But instead he began to clap. Anne and Julian joined him and they began to clap too. There was a murmur of disapproval around them, but then all the house elves stood up and began to clap, rhythmically and together. George and Timmy began to move again. 'It's working' thought Anne, and so did everybody else. Soon everyone was clapping together, and Timmy and George and Professor Antimony and the centauress almost ran towards each other and met in a huddle right in front of Anne, Dick and Julian. Everybody cheered: the curse was well and truly broken!

Afterwards there were celebrations, and Dick was widely praised: Professor Dippet awarded him a hundred house points; Uncle Kerrin slapped him on the back and told him he was a credit to the family; Professor Dumbledore praised his 'bold initiative' and told him he was a true Gryffindor; Professor Slughorn shook his hand and thanked him; and Timmy gave him a big lick.

Only George did not seem happy, she feared that she was loosing Timmy to the professor. But Professor Antimony took George to one side. "George, your father has told me all about you and Timmy. Timmy was my dog, I had him as a puppy and we loved each other. Then someone put the curse on us out of spite, and that's all you need know. … I am so glad that Timmy became your dog; he could not have had a better owner. Now, do you think it fair on Timmy to have to choose between us?"

George had not expected this question: perhaps she need not loose Timmy? She thought about it and reluctantly she shook her head.

The professor continued, "There is an alternative: we share Timmy. You have him throughout the holidays and he comes to me when you are at Hogwarts? Remember, I am only teaching here for this one term."

George cheered up; this would mean that the Famous Five would be together again, just like before! "Oh, thank you, Professor, that sounds wonderful! Can I go and tell the others?"

"Others? Oh yes: your three cousins. Yes, off you go."

Professor Antimony let Timmy have the run of Hogwarts for the rest of term. He spent time with George and the other children, with the professor and with the centaurs. Never has there been a happier dog!

THE END