MAGIANIMA // Hermione Granger

Scars

Mud splattered up the walls of the small cottage Atlas's godmother - Minerva McGonagall - owned, as she kicked the ground. It was late August, a couple of days until the beginning of a new year for Hogwarts, a year the girl herself would be attending. She hadn't before, even when the girl had hit the age of eleven she had elected to not attend the school and had instead, studied from her home in Hogsmeade village. She saw no need in the school environment, the comfort of her home had been just fine and so she remained, studying most hours of the day but when breaks would come around she'd socialise with the locals. Most people had enjoyed her company and she would always greet them when they passed. The main folks she visited would be the local butcher and his daughter, the baker a few steps away from her home, Postmaster Gasper and then the beggar that would often sit outside Hogsmeade Trainstation. 

Things had changed slightly in recent weeks though, most of the inhabitants of Hogsmeade had grown quite distant, Atlas herself had become more closed off and the general air around her as she traversed through the village would be unwelcoming. This was because she saw no need in conversing with folk who threw all of their previous views of her, previous memories and friendly chats out of the window just because her family name hit the not so kind headlines of the Daily Prophet. She'd have thought after so many years of getting to know her their weak wiled minds wouldn't have succumbed to the views of the common crowd. I.e. Atlas Magianima Black was to be avoided at all cost.

Never mind that. Though she did not attend the school, she had still gone through the same curriculum, even having a headstart when she had gone through an early manifestation of her magic at the tender age of a mere five summers old, two years younger than the average child. Atlas held an innate talent for Defence Against the Dark Arts, was bright in the ways of Potions and Alchemy - due to years of guidance from Professor Dumbledore himself - incredible at Transfiguration and had a bond with most magical animals she met.

There was a reason as to why she was so exceptionally good at Transfiguration. Why she studied it so vigorously and it wasn't just because her godmother was a teacher of the subject.

It had happened when she was twelve, searching through her godmother's old bookcases for the nth time since her adoption. Atlas had always held an admiration for the woman, always wanted to be exactly like her so when she had stumbled across a book of old notes, pertaining to the Animagus Ritual she followed it, read it, studied it, experimented and then when a lightning storm came, she downed the Animagus Potion she had prepared and pressed her wand over her heart, reciting the enchantment that would forever change her life and perception of the world.

Performing the ritual was illegal if not accounted for by the Animagus Registery but Atlas was a young witch, whose alias as a shifter she did not want exposing to the whole wizarding world, especially when she had enough unwanted attention brung to her because of her name, so she had come to an arrangement. A deal with the Minister of Magic, he would personally keep her abilities a secret until she came of age but if she were to use her powers in ways that went against the ministry, his tongue just might slip and her name just might be printed in great big bold ink against the next days Daily Prophet.

The threat had been taken seriously. 

And yet, despite all of this, despite all of the secrets she wanted to keep hidden and her lack of need to attend a school, she would be attending Hogwarts for her first but also third year. All because her father had escaped Azkaban prison and Dumbledore had personally requested her attendance. 

Who was she to decline a second time? She was a mere orphan of the first wizarding war, taken in by her previously mentioned godmother, Minerva McGonagall. Her abilities may be outlandish and noteworthy but she couldn't really deny the invitation of one of the greatest and most respected wizards of all time again.