Angels Among Us

Angels Among Us

Chapter 1: Discovery

Harry always knew there was more to Hermione than met the eyes. She was always beautiful in his eyes. She always seemed to have this aura around her that he could see -- all different colors of the rainbow swirling together. He was about to discover the reason behind this.

* * *

Hermione was an angel on earth -- born as we are. She had wings to prove it, but being an angel she had the power to turn her wings ivisible. Only people that knew this were her parents and Dumbledore. She never told Harry or Ron. She wasn't supposed to.

Even though her wings were invisible, once a month she needed to stretch her wings. To do that, they needed to be visible. She was always very careful when she did this, but one time she wasn't so careful. She was spotted by Harry.

* * *

Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room. They were studying for the upcoming N.E.W.T.s.

All of a sudden Hermione arched her back, screamed in pain and contorted her face in agony. She fell to the ground.

"Hermione!" Harry and Ron shouted in unison.

Hermione pushed herself to her feet. Harry reached to put an arm around her shoulders. She swatted his hand away -- hard. As she did so her nail drew blood from the back of Harry's hand.

"Hermione!" shouted Ron.

"Are you okay Hermione?" asked Harry.

"Fine," she moaned, "just a sharp pain ran up and down my back. That's why I didn't want you to touch me, Harry." In truth she was thinking, "My wings, I forgot to stretch my wings last week when they were supposed to be. My clothes are restraining them." When Harry went to help her up she slapped his hand away so he wouldn't feel the wings beneath her robes.

"I'm going to bed," she said. She walked to one of the bookshelves, pressed the Hogwarts emblem on it and a passage opened to the Head Boy/Head Girl dorm.

"I'm going to bed too, Ron," said Harry. He followed Hermione through the passage.

Hermione was already in her dorm room when Harry entered their private common room. He went and knocked on her dorm door. "Go away, Harry," she called. She couldn't hide the pain in her voice.

"She's in pain," thought Harry, "I'd better see if she's okay." He opened her door. By that time Hermione had allowed her wings to be revealed.

She was standing with her back to the door. When it opened and he saw her gleaming white wings, Harry's jaw dropped in shock. "Hermione?!" he whispered.

"No," she said quietly as she turned to face him.

"Why do you have wings?"

"You weren't -- humans weren't supposed to see them."

"What do you mean -- human's weren't supposed to see them? What are you?"

"Sit down Harry. It's going to be difficult to explain."

Harry sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm listening," he said.

"I'm not a human, Harry. I'm an angel. I was born flesh and blood, like a human. I will live, age, and die like a human. After that, I will join my kind in heaven."

She stopped talking and waited for some sort of response from Harry. When he didn't respond she asked, "What are you thinking Harry?"

"I always knew there was more to you than meets the eye."

"What?"

"You've always had this aura around you."

"What do you mean?"

"Whenever I sit beside you, I feel this energy, this force around you. Sometimes, if I look hard enough, I can even see it."

"Describe it to me."

"Well, it's made of bright colors, all shades of the rainbow. It has nice soft edges. It's very beautiful to see.

Can I touch them?"

"What?"

"Your wings, can I touch them?"

"Just be very gentle. The feathers are very delicate." Harry stood up as Hermione spread her wings. He reached out and his fingertips gently grazed the soft feathers. He had never felt anything so soft -- not even a duckling's down.

Hermione gasped slightly. "What's wrong? I didn't hurt you did I?"

"No. I can feel the sensations of every feather. Not even the wind is that gentle on them."

As Harry watched, a single feather fell from one of Hermione's wings. At the same time, a single tear rolled down Hermione's cheek. "What's wrong?"

"As I said, I can feel every feather. When I lose one, it's like losing an arm or a leg. The tear is an automatic response.

I need to stretch my wings, Harry. I need to fly. It will prevent anymore feather loss."

"Go. Fly. I'll wait here." He watched as Hermione opened the window and jumped out. With a couple of flaps of her wings, she was soaring around the grounds. Harry watched her through the window. After half an hour, she disappeared. "Where did she go?"

She had flown around to Dumbledore's window. She knocked on it three times and Dumbledore opened it. She flew in and bowed. "Professor, Harry knows about us, well, about me."

"What happened?" asked Dumbledore.

"I was preparing for my flight when he entered ny dorm. He saw my wings. I told him what I am."

"How did he react?"

"He said he could feel, and see my aura so he always knew there was something special about me. I think he might be a Gifted."

"Return to him now, and tell him I will see him tomorrow."

"Yes sir."

"Tell him not to tell anyone else." With that Hermione flew out the window.

She returned to her dorm and saw Harry siiting on the bed. "Harry."

"Where were you? I was getting ready to get my Firebolt and come to look for you."

"I just went to see my Angel Lord."

"About what?"

"You discovering what I am."

"And what did he or she say?"

"He'll be meeting with you tomorrow."

"Who is he? Do I know him?"

"I cannot answer that. I'm sorry. Harry, how do you feel?"

"About what?"

"About me -- about this."

"You've always been, you always will be -- my best friend. Just because you're an angel, it doesn't change anything. Don't be afraid to show me your wings anymore."

"Now that you know already, I won't be. It's late Harry. I'm tired. I want to go to bed."

"Good night, Hermione, My Angel."

"Good night Harry. And Harry..."

"Yes?"

"You can't tell anyone about this. Not even Ron."

"I won't." Harry opened the door and went into his dorm. He climbed into his pajamas and went to bed.

* * *

The next morning at breakfast, Dumbledore walked down the Gryffindor table to where Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting. "Harry, when you're done eating I'd like to see you in my office."

"Yes sir."

"This is the password," Dumbledore said handing Harry a piece of parchment.

After Dumbledore left, Harry looked at Hermione. "Is he..." Harry mouthed. Hermione nodded.

After eating Harry walked to the stone gargoyle. He looked at the parchment. "Sugar Quills," he said. The gargoyle moved to the side. Harry climbed onto the moving stairs.

He was about to knock. "Come in Harry," called Dumbledore before Harry's hand touched the wood.

Harry opened the door. Dumbledore smiled at him. "You wanted to see me, sir," Harry asked.

"I did Harry."

"What about sir?"

"You saw Hermione when she had her wings out?"

"You know Hermione has wings?"

"Of course I do. I am called an Angel Lord, Harry. I am an angel as well, but I am sent to guide the other Earth-born angels.

Miss Granger told me that you can see her aura. She confessed to me that she thought you are a Gifted."

"That's true. I can. It's all bright rainbow colors and has nice soft edges."

"An angel's aura is as unique as the angel itself. Sometimes the aura is smoothe, like Miss Granger's, sometimes they have jagged edges. Sometimes the aura is bright colors other times it is dark."

"How many angels are there on earth?"

"There are thousands of angels all over the world."

"Are all angels good?"

"No. There are good angels and Dark Angels."

"How can I tell if an angel is a good angel or a Dark Angel?"

"Look at the aura. The darker the aura, the more evil, or the darker the angel. Also, the smoother the edge the more good an angel is."

"If there are good Angel Lords, are there Dark Angel Lords?"

"Yes."

"Dumbledore, sir, can I see your wings?"

"Yes." Dubledore stood up. He revealed his wings. They were silvery in color, just like his hair and beard.

"They're outstanding sir."

"Why thank you Harry. Harry, Miss Granger told me you could see her aura. She thinks you are a Gifted."

"A Gifted sir?"

"Gifteds are humans blessed with some divine power. They are able to see angels' auras.

In order to tell for certain if you are a Gifted, I must ask you if you can see my aura."

Harry concentrated and eventually he saw a deep blue glow surround Dumbledore's figure. "I can see it sir."

"Describe it to me."

"Well, it's deep blue and silver. It has a few spikes, but mainly smoothe outer edge."

"Very good. Miss Granger was correct. You are a gifted, Harry."

"I have one question sir. Is it possible for a Gifted to become an angel?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"It takes a Gifted to feel the strongest, purest emotions."

"Like what?"

"If it is strong, pure love, the Gifted will become an Angel of Light. However, if the emotion is that of hatred..."

"The Gifted will become a Dark Angel."

"Correct. Harry, I don't want you to get your hopes up that you can become an angel. I have only seen two Angelic Transformations in my time as Angel Lord.

I feel the power within you, however, so if anyone can transform, it's you.

I think you should now return to your friends."

"I have one more question. Who were the transformations?"

"One was Minerva McGonagall, the other was Lord Voldemort.

"Before you go Harry, I have an exercise for you. I want you to train your Aura Sense. I want you to look for auras around the other students and faculty."

"I'll do that," Harry replied as Dumbledore escorted him to the door.