Growing Wings

Whenever I'm alone with you,

You make me feel like I am home again.

- The Cure, Love Song

Growing Wings

~~

"Your- your mother? Hermione, are you sure?" Harry asked tentatively. Martha did look something like Hermione, but it couldn't possibly be.

"Look at her, Harry, I look like her, the hair, the eyes. Pictures don't recognize the people looking at them unless there's a strong emotion. Either that or Alliptonites have a sixth sense," she sobbed. Harry looked up to her face and noticed a single tear falling down onto her cheek. He swiped his thumb over it and she hugged him around his chest, leaning her head under his chin. He kissed the top of her head and ran his hands through her hair as he patted her. She let her tears flow freely onto his shirt, and Harry didn't care.

"You're going to try and find her, right?" Harry asked. He felt Hermione shake her head.

"I'm going to help, and so is Ron, and anyone else." She pulled away and looked serious.

"No, just you and Ron, Harry, no one else. I don't want anyone to know before they see my... wings." She hesitated on the last word and looked down shamefully. "I just want to tell Ron."

Harry grabbed her by the shoulders, and looked sternly into her eyes.

"Hermione, listen to me. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Your mother is a beautiful person, and you'll turn out to be beautiful too. Hell, Beautiful is already an understatement to describe you. Don't think you're a monster, because your not. Your Hermione and just because your going to grow wings shouldn't stop you from being as human as you should be. You're surrounded by people who love you, don't forget that."

Hermione's eyes were full of tears. She didn't know what to say, and had to stop herself from goggling at Harry's words. He smiled at her, and continued, "No one is going to get you down, 'Mione," he bent down towards her ear and whispered, his lips brushing against her skin, "I won't let them."

Her skin pricked and he wrapped his arms around her, carefully under her shoulder blades. She sobbed and dug her face into Harry's chest.

"H-h-how do y-you do it, H-harry?"

Harry was puzzled.

"Do what, Hermione?"

She sniffled and her sobs subsided a little.

"It's not fair to you. It's just not."

"Hermione, you're babbling, what are you talking about? What's so unfair?"

"You have to deal with the weight of the Wizarding World on your shoulders, and I can't even handle my wings. I'm sorry, Harry, I've been such a coward. I should handle this better."

"No, you've handled this better than I would. I don't know what I would've done."

She smiled and sniffed. She returned her attention to the book.

"I have to know where she is. Isn't there any references in this book?" She flipped to the back pages, but didn't find anything.

"We should ask Dumbledore," Harry said.

"We should. But don't you think he knew Martha's my mother? Dumbledore is the one who sent me to the library."

"So he wants you to find out yourself?"

"Maybe. You never know with Dumbledore."

A silence fell upon them, then Hermione checked her watch. She looked up at the stairs behind the couch, and then back at Harry, who was flipping through the book now. She nearly jumped when the portrait door swung open and in came Ron.

Hermione crinkled her eyebrows and asked him in a motherly fashion.

"I thought you went to bed two hours ago! Where've you been?"

He yawned and replied casually, "Out with Lavendar."

Appalled, but quite interested, said, "Doing what?"

"Relax, Mione, She was just helping me with some Muggle Studies. Seamus and Neville were there, too. If you suspect something go ahead and ask them!"

Hermione laughed.

"Ron, I don't care if you shagged her rotten, I just didn't know you were out. Sorry if I sound worrisome." I'm going to do it, now... if I don't do it, it's because I'm scared. What kind of Gryffindor am I? Her expression changed to one of real worry.

"Ron, sit down, please. I need to tell you something."

Ron, with an expression identical to Hermione's, slowly sat down with his hands on this knee's in a chair across from them. Harry put his hand over Hermione's, and she tensed up. She looked up at Ron, who eyed their hands and smiled at her.

"Ahh, is this what you were going to tell me? Figures, you two do look so simply adorable together," Ron said, putting on a Mrs. Weasley act. He sounded more like Lavendar or Parvati in a gossip fit.

Hermione smiled and said, "So, you're not upset?"

"Why should I be upset? I'm happy for you two."

Her smile broke into a grin.

"Thanks. But there's even more news than this."

"You're going to get married, now?" he said mock-seriously.

"NO! Ron, it's about my back."

"I thought you said the nurse gave you cream?"

"Well, it's not exactly just an itch. It all started last summer..."

~~

...So now, I'm going to grow wings."

Hermione finished about half an hour later. Ron stood gaping at what she just explained. She looked uneasily at the ground, and Harry put his arm around her. She put her hand to where his hand lay, and he laced his fingers around hers.

"So your mother is this lady in the book?" he asked.

Hermione shook her head.

"Wow... not your everyday History of Magic homework assignment." He saw her smile a little and lightened up.

"Don't worry, Mione, whatever help you need, I'll be here. Except now, now I'm going to bed, and try to consume what you just told me."

He got up and stretched, and walked up the stairs. Hermione watched him walk, but he turned around and asked her, "What are your wings going to look like, Herm?"

"I don't know yet. Guess we'll have to wait and see."

"Would you be able to fly?"

"Well the book says only few are successful, but can't, because of Muggle protection and stuff, but I probably won't. You have to be a certain weight for your wings to carry you, and I'm not going to sacrifice my health for that."

That was one thing Harry loved about Hermione, she wouldn't give anything up unless it was for something practical.

"Well, goodnight, Hermione. Goodnight, Harry."

"G'night," they both called out.

"We should head to bed, too, it's almost two, and if I fall asleep during Potions, Snape will have my head served on a platter."

Hermione giggled.

"You're right, I'm so tired. What a night this has been, huh?"

Harry nodded and stood up. He offered his hand to her and she took it. They walked up the steps till they had to part to their separate dorms. He kissed her briefly and they said their goodnights. Harry watched Hermione walk into her dorm and walked into his. He clamored around for his pajamas, took off his glasses and then crawled into bed. He sighed and closed his eyes.

What am I going to do?