The holiday break was over, Myla had told anyone about her duplication and didn't plan on telling Halle or Seika until she worked out a few kinks. She was sitting at a table in the common with her two best friends.

"What do you think about this cheer?" Halle asked showing a slip of paper; the other two studied in.

"I like it," Myla said as she read through it again. "We can really get the audience involved without distracting them from the match."

"We should have some tumbles in this one," Seika suggested. "I really do like being a flyer, and want to do more."

"Excellent," Halle smiled pulling the paper back to her. "How's the animagus coming along, Myla?"

"Two more weeks or the next electrical storm and I should be good," Myla answered. "Been reciting the incantation every sunrise and sundown ."

"Why do you want her to be animagus so bad?" Seika asked. 

"Myla already invented a potion in first year," Halle answered. "To achieve to be animagus takes great skill and patience...I fully believe she can achieve."

Seika breathed deeply. "I do hope it goes right, I don't want to face Professor McGonagall if it goes wrong."

"Don't you worry about a thing," Myla and Halle assured; they looked at each other and smiled. There was a toppling sound, and they all looked over to see Neville bunny hopping into the room. Myla went over, saw his legs were locked and led him over to the couch where Hermione, Ron, and Harry sat. 

"Who did this to you?" Myla demanded as she sat him on the couch.

"Malfoy," Neville answered looking away. "Met him outside the library. He said he'd been looking for someone to practice on."

"You have to start standing up to people," said Ron. "He's used to walking all over people, but that's no reason to lie down in front of him to make it easier." Myla thumped him in the forehead without taking her eyes off Neville. "MYLA! OUCH!"

"There's no need to tell me I'm not brave enough to be in Gryffindor," Neville whimpered. 

Harry gave Neville a chocolate frog. "You're worth twelve of Malfoy. The Sorting Hat chose you for Gryffindor, didn't it? And where's Malfoy?" In stinking Slytherin."

Neville slowly unwrapped the frog, he looked like he was going to cry. "Thanks, Harry...can someone undo the leg locker?"

"I know the counter curse," Seamus offered, turning his head their way. 

"No, that's all I need is to have my bloody kneecaps on fire," Neville denied; Seamus stood up angrily. 

"I don't appreciate the situation, Longbottom!" Seamus snapped. "Besides if anyone cares to notice my eyebrows have completely grown back!"

"You are just going to blow them off again next week," Myla commented crossing her arms; Harry noticed Neville smile; tears had welled up in his eyes, and Hermione performed the counter curse for Neville. 

"You better hope it's not your eyebrows!" Seamus shouted; he stormed out of the common room.

"I think I'm going to go to bed," Neville said getting to his feet, he held out a card toward Harry. "You collect these, don't you?" Harry took the card as Myla followed Neville up to the common room. "Mimi, I kind of just want to be alone."

"But Neville," Myla protested as she got in front of him. 

Neville stepped around her. "Even after everything the others said, I'm not sure if I belong in Gryffindor."

"Of course you," Myla confirmed as she continued to follow him.

"I stand out in Gryffindor, I'm nothing but a crybaby like Pansy says," Neville said his voice wavering. 

"You belong in Gryffindor," Myla said. "And it's okay to stand out."

Neville turned to face her, tears rolling down his face. "Of course, it's okay for you to stand out in Gryffindor, you are mad brilliant. Even gran can't believe I am in the same house as you." Myla tilted her head as she took a step up. "But for me, it's plain embarrassing and depressing. At this rate, I am never going to be good enough for Gryffindor."

"You are a first-year," Myla reminded him.

"And you aren't?" Neville asked as he leaned toward her. "Youngest potion inventor in history?"

Myla put a hand on his face; this made his eyes grow wide. "Neville, everyone is different and on their own paths in life. Don't compare yourself to others, especially me. You are going to be one of the bravest in Gryffindor; you just don't know it yet due to the fact we can't see into the future. The Sorting Hat put you in Gryffindor 'cause he saw the potential in you and believed this is where you would flourish best; being put in Gryffindor was fate, not a mistake."

Neville looked down. "I just want to try to be as great as you."

Myla laughed a little getting him to look at her. "I have the great potential of being the first Weasley behind bars in Azkaban; your greatness will come in time, and it will be unique to you and you alone." Nevill removed her hand from his cheek.

"So it wasn't a mistake the sorting hat didn't put you in Ravenclaw?" Neville asked.

"The sorting hat wanted to put me in stinking Slytherin," Myla corrected. "Sometimes I do feel like a wolf in sheep's clothing, but I need to trust the hat with the decision that it made and so should you." 

Neville smiled a little. "If you ever end up in Azkaban, I'll frame that mugshot on my bedroom wall."

"Thanks," Myla smiled; he turned to go. "Nev?" He looked back to see her holding up Trevor. "You may want him."

"Perhaps I should stand up to you before I stand up to Malfoy," Neville said taking his toad; he then went to his dorm. Myla decided to go the door as well, on the bridge passage; she overheard the trio talking about the Philosopher's stone. 

***

The next morning in DADA, they were working on werewolf bites, and the trio told her about the stone.

"No wonder Snape is after it," said Harry. "Anyone would want it."

"And get this," Ron began. "He is said to be six hundred and sixty-five and his wife said to be six hundred and fifty-eight,"

"Woah," Myla breathed. "If I had the stone, I wouldn't use it for immorality...but turn enough things gold and I can buy potions ingredients for months without worry."

"Forget potion ingredients," Ron scoffed. "I'd buy my own quidditch team."

"You'd buy the Chudley Canons?" Myla asked.

"Buy my favorite quidditch team," Ron dreamed with a big smile. 

"I'm going to play," Harry revealed, he was talking about the match Snape was referring in. "If I don't, all Slytherins will just think I'm too scared to face Snape. It'll really wipe the smiles off their faces if we win."

"Just as long as we're not wiping you off the field," said Hermione.

***

Myla spent the next week training for the animagus potion, cheer practice, and regular school. Myla had gotten a better hand of duplication; she would have a duplicate stay behind in the dorm doing homework while her real self went to class. Every time Myla's duplicate disappeared returning to the main body, a whole sort new of knowledge filled her brain. 

Game day came around; this time Myla was cheering with Alma, Benedict, Phong, and Stu. 

"LET'S GO GRYFFINDOR LETS GO! LET'S GO GRYFFINDOR LETS GO!" Everyone cheered loudly as the team marched onto the field. Right off the bat, it was obvious that Snape was favoring Hufflepuff. He had awarded Hufflepuff a penalty because George Weasley his a bludger at him

"HEY YOU GRIFFIN FANS!
STAND UP AND CLAP YOUR HANDS!

"GO GRIFFINS GO!"

The Gryffindor fans clapped their hands in response. "GO GRIFFINS GO!"

At some point, Harry dove spectacularly; causing the Gryffindors to cheer loudly. Myla looked over to see where her twin sat; even from a distance, she could see a fight breaking out. Everyone started to cheer louder, Myla looked back to see Harry holding up the snitch in his hands. 

Back in the common room, Ron filled Myla in on the fight. "And I gave Malfoy and black eye! And Neville...Never seen him like that? Absolute madman to take on Crabbe and Goyle single-handed!" Myla was checking out the tissue stuffed up her brother's nose. 

"Nevillle?" Myla gasped in surprise. 

"Surprised me too!" Ron exclaimed. "He's out cold, no need to worry, Madam Pomfrey says he'll be alright." For the rest of the evening, Myla partied with her fellow Gryffindors; even Percy was having a good time. Seamus, Dean, and her played a round of darts, Pavarti, Lavender, and Myla danced with each other. 

Myla was now lying in bed; she getting in some reading before turning in for the night. The curtain opened for a second, Myla looked up as Hermione sat on the bed.

"What are you doing on this side of the dorm room?" Myla asked as she sat up, crossing her legs. "You always pretend to not see this door."

"It's about the Philosopher's Stone," Hermione answered. "Snape's trying to force Quirrell to help him. Harry heard Snape ask Quirrell about his hocus Pocus. We reckon there other things passed Fluffy; loads of enchantments. As long as Quirrell stands up to Snape, the stone is safe."

"Those two seem to be having a load on interactions," Myla said. "The Halloween feast, the library when Harry was sneaking around, and now this."

"Qurriell is a lot tougher than we've all thought," Hermione said as she stood up. "Do--"

"Yes?" Myla asked sitting up together.

"Do you want to study together?" Hermione asked with her eyes closed, Myla could tell it was hurting Hermione's pride to ask. "I know exams are weeks away--"

"I would love to study with you," Myla cut her off.

"You do?" Hermione asked. "We are both aiming for the top of the class"

"You are aiming for the top of the class," Myla corrected. "I'm aiming to beat Malfoy." Myla held out her hand. "Let's set up a schedule to study together."

Hermione smiled taking Myla's hand. "Let's beat Mafloy together."

****

The next morning, Myla was walking with Neville, he had a bit of a black eye, and he was telling her all about the fight.

"I never felt braver jumping in and helping Ron in the fight," Neville admitted. "It felt so good just swinging on Crabbe and Goyle!"

"I don't doubt it," Myla said. 

Neville grew down. "But if I can continue this I could end up in Azkaban as well."

"We can be cell buddies," Myla offered, Neville gave her a weird look. " Cell buddies for life." This got Neville laughing.

****

A few weeks have passed of intense studying with Hermione and other things, it had been an entire month with the mandrake leaf in her mouth. She kept the potion under her bed; she had placed books in certain spots around the bed to avoid any chance of light hitting it. It was the middle of the night, and Myla was rereading the section on ghosts for the DADA exams in weeks to come while her roommates were sound asleep.

BOOM! 

Myla looked out the window to see lighting flash in the distance, rained had now started yet; but there was no time to waste. Myla quickly got out of bed, fishing out the potion from underneath. Bringing it out; she could see the potion was blood red.  The rain started by the time she got to her feet, and grabbed her wand as the storm continued on. She then went and stood in a more open space of the room.

Pointing the wand at her heart as she's been doing for weeks. "Amato Animo Animato Animagus." She drank the potion, and immediately started to feel fiery along with an intense double heartbeat; she did her best to keep quiet to not disturb her roommates; then the image of a creature popped into her head, and Myla took the chance. Myla felt her body transform from arms and legs to wings and claws. Hopping over to the mirror, Myla was in shock; she was mainly chestnut brown with blackish spots on the upperside, and buff narrow streaks on the underside, she had a tail long brown tail with black bars and black tips. Bright yellow eyes and feet. The closer she looked, the more she noticed, two dots on either side of her, just like her earrings. 

"You're a kestrel," a voice said, Myla transformed back to see Seika. "My uncle is a huge fan of birds, whenever at the park; he makes to look for kestrels." They looked back in the mirror. "Are you going to register?"

"I know the consequences," Myla informed. "But I'll save registration for a better time after Hogwarts."

"It's the Azkaban I'm not worried about," Seika admitted. "What if something bad happens?"

"I'll be careful," Myla assured. "Always am." Seika pulled Myla into a tight hug.