Angels Among Us

Angels Among Us

Chapter 2: An Angelic Transformation

As the days since Harry met with Dumbledore passed, Harry became even more aware of the presence of angels. At least one quarter of the students had auras and ten percent of the staff were angels.

The auras of all these angels varied greatly in appearance. Some were very dark, others were bright. Some were very smooth, others were very jagged.

One day Harry noticed that Malfoy had an aura too. His was very black and appeared to be very solid. It was so solid, Harry couldn't see through it. It was also very jagged.

Malfoy's aura also seemed to radiate darkness. The halls seemed to darken as Malfoy passed. Harry was sure he'd never noticed that before.

Malfoy noticed Harry watching him. He walked over and shoved Harry into the wall. "What are you staring at Potter?"

"Nothing. Just admiring your robes."

"Wishing you could afford something so nice?"

"Something like that."

Just then Professor McGonagall walked out of her classroom. "What's going on here?" she asked.

"Nothing," said Malfoy in a lazy drawl as he released Harry. He retreated down the hall. Harry glared at Malfoy's back until he couldn't be seen.

"Okay Mr. Potter, into my classroom. I want to know what that was about." Harry followed McGonagall into her classroom.

"I know about the angels on Earth. I know you're one. Malfoy's a Dark Angel.

How do you know about us, Potter?"

"I'm a Gifted, plus I saw Hermione's wings. I've already visited Dumbledore about this last week."

"I see. What happened in the hall?"

"I was staring at Malfoy, watching his aura. He caught me and shoved me against the wall. He threatened me."

"I see. I'd best advise you not to to pick a fight with an angel. If they ever attacked you with their aura you'd be in serious trouble.

Madame Pomfrey could do nothing if you were hurt by an angel's aura. Only an angel can heal aura damage.

You'd best be on your way Potter, an heed my advice."

"I will." Harry left McGonagall's classroom. He went back to the Gryffindor common room.

He sat in a corner far away from everyone else. He pulled the feather that fell from Hermione's wing from his Transfiguration book. He rolled the feather in between his thumb and forefinger. "It would be so cool to be an angel," he thought.

"Knut for your thoughts," said Hermione as she approached him from her spot in front of the fire.

"Hey Hermione," said Harry glumly.

"What's wrong?"

"You -- your kind are so lucky."

"What do you mean?"

"Angels have an aura to protect them if another angel uses their aura to attack them.

Humans and Gifteds don't have that defence. If an angel attacked me, I'd be at their mercy.

Plus, it would be so cool to have wings."

"Being an angel isn't as glamorous as you may think."

"What do you mean?"

"Having to keep a secret for your entire life, trying to find a time and place to fly where no one can see you."

"I get your point."

"Besides, auras don't just vary in shape, color and brightness, they vary in strength too. The more solid an aura appears, the stronger the aura."

"Wow."

"Wow what?"

"Malfoy's a Dark Angel. I saw his aura. It's almost completely solid."

* * *

Three weeks later, Hermione had to stretch her wings again. She had allowed Harry into her dorm to watch her.

He was watching from her window when he saw a dark shape swoop towards her from around one of the towers.

The moonlight reflected off of a head of platinum blonde hair. "Draco!" thought Harry, "Hermione's in trouble."

Harry ran to his dorm, grabbed his Firebolt from the closet, blew out the window with the Reductor curse, and flew off.

When he got close enough he could see that Draco's wings were not white and feathery. They were black and leathery and rather demonic looking.

He saw a dark blade of Draco's aura stretch toward Hermione. He saw Hermione block it with her aura, and some of the dark energy broke off. "Way to go Hermione!" he hollered.

Both Draco and Hermione turned to look at him. Draco's lips curved upwards in an evil grin. "You should have stayed out of this one Potter. I'm way more powerful than a lowly Human!" One of Draco's attack spikes launched towards him.

"Harry no!" shouted Hermione. She swooped in front of the the attack.

Harry watched as the attack spike tore through her aura, then her shoulder, then ripped her wing apart. The attack spike then retreated back into Malfoy's aura.

"Hermione!" Harry screamed as he saw Hermione plummet. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion as Harry pulled into a dive. He didn't think he'd ever catch her, but when she was ten feet from the ground, Harry grasped the back of her gown. He hauled her up in front of him.

Harry never noticed the second attack spike come at them. It sliced the tail end of Harry's Firebolt. They were sent careening out of control.

When they were five feet from the ground, Harry half slid and half jumped off the ruined broomstick. He pulled Hermione with him. He twisted in the air so he took the most of the impact.

They rolled about two feet after they hit the ground. When they stopped, Hermione's other wing stuck out at an odd angle. It was most definately broken.

Hermione opened her eyes. "Harry," she said weakly, "I don't think I can survive this."

"Don't you dare talk like that you're going to make it." He brushed her cheek with his hand. She closed her eyes and tilted her head into the touch. She then went very very still.

"Hermione! Hermione, don't you dare give up. I need you here with me."

Harry took one of her hands in between his. "Hermione, if you can hear me squeeze my hand." She squeezed his hand weakly. "Fight for life Hermione. Don't give up. I'll get you to Dumbledore."

Harry looked at her aura. It was fading. Harry didn't want to think about what that meant. Her hand and arm suddenly went limp.

"Hermione! You can't do this to me. You can't die on me. You can't can't leave me."

Harry was crying. The tears were flowing freely. He moved his glasses and wiped the tears away fiercely.

"Hermione! Come back to me. Fight Hermione. I need you." He looked at her aura again. It was very faint, barely visible. "I...I...I love you Hermione. Please come back to me. I need you."

* * *

Draco hadn't left. He watched the scene below. "This is sickening," he thought, "I will end her suffering, and destroy Potter at the same time." He launched an attack spike at the couple.

* * *

Hermione's aura was almost gone. Harry laid her head on the ground. "Good-bye," he said. He placed his lips to hers.

The moment their lips touched, a bright solid green aura enveloped the two of them Harry felt an excrutiating pain from both of his shoulder blades. After the pain subsided, Harry felt extremely confined in clothes that were normally way too big for him. He also felt like two extra limbs had grown from his shoulder blades.

Harry felt his jumper and robes tear from his back as his wings unfolded. Each wing spread nearly seven and a half feet long.

Harry noticed that long fingers of his aura were "licking" at Hermione's injuries.

* * *

Malfoy noticed Harry's transformation a little too late. He couldn't recall his attack spikes in time and they plowed into Harry's aura.

Malfoy screamed in pain as his spikes shattered into shards of darkness when they hit Harry's aura.

Harry had fogotten about Malfoy's presence when he was concerned about Hermione. Malfoy's scresms of agony made Harry glance skyward.

He saw Malfoy flying away dizzily. "You're not going to get away that easily Malfoy," Harry thought. He scooped Hermione into his arms and flew after Malfoy.

A few minutes later Harry soared in front of Malfoy. "You think you can just fly away after attacking Hermione and killing her!" Harry shouted, "Well I don't!"

One lone attack spike shot out of Harry's aura. It penetrated Malfoy's aura, cut into his shoulder, the ripped into Malfoy's wing.

He recalled his attack spike and watched Malfoy plummet. "What am I doing?" he thought, "If I kill Malfoy, then I'm no better than him."

Harry watched as a long finger of his aura snaked around Malfoy and gently lowered it to the ground. Harry then felt Hermione's arm snake around his neck. "Harry," she said weakly.

"Hermione?!" Harry was so surprised he almost dropped Hermione. "I thought you were... dead. I could barely see your aura."

"I was almost -- but then I felt this surge of life surround me. It strengthened me -- revived me.

Harry, I can't feel my left wing and my right is very very sore."

"Both of your wings were badly damaged in your battle with Malfoy" Harry didn't want to tell her that her left wing had been completely ripped off.

"How bad is it really? Tell me the truth."

"Your right wing is broken in two, maybe three places."

"And my left?"

"Your left is..." He couldn't tell Hermione that her wing was almost completely severed from her shoulder.

"Tell me Harry."

There was no way for him to soften the blow. "I don't know if it can even be saved. It was almost completely cut off."

He felt Hermione press her face into Harry's neck and felt the warm wetness of her tears. "Don't worry. I'll get you to Dumbledore. If anyone can think of a way to save your wing, he can."

* * *

Dumbledore had seen everything -- from Hermione leaving her dorm to Harry's duel with Malfoy. He was also out stretching his wings.

He approached Harry. "Harry," said Dumbledore.

"Dumbledore, sir," said Harry.

"I am proud pf you Harry. I said that if anyone could ansform, you could. You have once again proved your strength to me."

"Sir, I almost killed Malfoy."

"I saw Harry. I saw everything that transpired this evening."

"But I almost killed Malfoy. Aren't you angry?"

"Who started the duel?"

"Malfoy."

"Exactly. Usually an angel dies in an angel duel. You showed mercy to your opponent. For that I am very proud of you.

Now, I will worry about Mr. Malfoy. You get Hermione back to her dorm to rest."

"Sir, one of Hermione's wings was almost cut right off. Is there a way to save the wing or will it have to be totally removed?"

"Let's land. I need to see the damage" They landed. Harry placed Hermione's feet back on the ground. He stood facing her with his hands on her shoulders to help her stand up.

Dumbledore walked around behind them to survey the damage. After a few minutes he spoke. "Good news," he said.

"Yes Dumbledore," said Harry.

"The wing is repairable."

"That's good," sighed Hermione.

"The bad news is we need to find a very powerful Angelic Healer."

"Where is he or she? VAre they far?"

"Relax Harry. There's a healer here at Hogwarts."

"Who is he? Do I know him?"

"You both know him, very very well."

"Who is he?"

"You Harry. You are a healer."

"What must I do to repair her wing?"

"You must wrap her in your aura for at least an hour a day for the next month, that will heal the physical damage.

It will also take a lot of time for the full strength to her wing -- at least two months after the damage is repaired."

"How do I wrap her in my aura?"

"I'm not sure how it's done exactly. I've never done it myself.

Now I suggest you get her to the hospital wing for something to help her sleep. Tell Madame Pomfrey to keep her there for a couple of days so she can rest and recover.

Remember to hide your wings inside the castle."

"What do I tell Madame Pomfrey happened to her?"

"Tell her that I will see her in a few minutes."

"Okay." Harry scooped Hermione into his arms and flew back to the castle. He made his wings disappear. He then summoned a shirt from his trunk. He put it on.

Hermione had a bit of trouble making her wis disappear, but with Harry's support she was able to do so. Again he scooped her into his arms and he carried her up to the hospital wing.

"What happened here Mr. Potter?" Madame Pomfrey asked as Harry laid Hermione on a bed."

"I don't know," said Harry, "but..."

"I do," said Dumbledore as he laid Draco on a bed near the door. "Mr. Malfoy ambushed Miss Granger out in the grounds. Harry ambushed Malfoy.

The curse Malfoy used on Hermione was weak. She woke up en route. I thought it best she still be brought here so you could see if there is any lasting harm and to let her recover completely."

"I see. Well, I'll check them both over and see what I can do.

Mr. Potter, I think you should head to your dorm and get some rest too."

"No," said Hermione from her bed, "Please don't leave me Harry."

"I think in this case we can make an exception to the rules, don't you Poppy," said Dumbledore.

"Please Madame Pomfrey," said Harry.

"Please," begged Hermione from her bed.

"What am I supposed to do -- enlarge the bed so they can sleep together too?"

"No I don't condone that. But move one bed close enough to the other that they can hold hands if they want to."

"Fine." Madame Pomfrey levitated one of the empty beds so it was next to Hermione's.

"Thank you Madame Pomfrey," said Harry. Madame Pomfrey went into her office mumbling about this being a hospital, not a dormitory.

"Well, I'll let you get some rest," said Dumbledore, "Good night Harry. Good night Hermione."

Good night Professor," Harry and Hermione said.

Harry walked over to Hermione's bed. He wiped away some stray strands of hair from her forehead. He gently kissed her lips. "I love you," he whispered as they broke apart.

Harry transfigured his clothes into pajamas and climbed into the bed next to Hermione's. He rolled over so he looked in Hermione's direction. A smile was spread across her lips.