Wings:Book 1)
Summary: Bookworm know it all Hermione Granger has a secret-she's actually an avian-human hybrid. Living with her grandfather Marius and sister Laetitia, Hermione has to brave the world of magic, while keeping her true self secret.
I do not own Harry Potter or the Maximum Ride series which is the inspiration for this story. Laetitia is mine however.
Chapter 1)
March 14 1982
Marius Black took a deep breath as he looked around his townhouse home. A forlorn feeling settled in his chest.
He had been in his twenties when he met his wife Jean. She had been fresh out of school, young and beautiful. His happiest day was 1942, when Jean had given birth to little Mary. He had been fighting in the war at the time, and when he got the letter saying she was pregnant he had insisted on going home.
"I'll come back to fight, but not even Hitler will stop me from seeing my wife have my first born."
Mary Samantha Black was born in later May, and Marius had weeped with joy. He had returned to the battlefield, returning to his wife and child in 1945 when the war ended. He watched as his daughter studied to become a dentist, and became engaged to a man named Michael Granger who was also a dentist. Michael came from nobility, but preferred to work for a living. He gave her away at her wedding, and watched as she struggled to have children. He met Michael's parents-a man named Thomas and a woman named Adrienne Delacour. She was French, Marius had learned and the two had bonded over similar backgrounds. He also met his brother, Eric.
He had watched as the her belly had grown with a child, as she gave birth.
He was there, as the doctor broke to them that child hadn't survived and had held both daughter and son-in-law wept. Shortly after Adrienne lost her husband, before returning home to France to reconnect with herself and her family.
He watched as history repeated itself with a second child. Again, it was lost. Then, he lost Jean. He moved in his daughter, son-in-law and his brother at their insistence. Tragedy had hit once again, not too long after as his daughter and son-in-law had lost their live in a car crash.
That had been a week ago. Eric, who adored his older brother, had thrown himself in his studies. He wanted to be a dentist like them.
The old war veteran took a deep breath.
He wondered briefly why he was still alive. He was 65, had outlived his wife, his child and grandchildren.
Ding dong
Groaning, he pulled himself out of the chair.
He opened it to see a young girl, about ten years old. She was holding a child, and Marius' breath caught.
Her eyes were familiar, the same whiskey brown that he and his daughter had.
"I'm Laetitia. This is you Marius Black? Cause if you are... We're your granddaughters."
He moved out of the way. "I am. Come in."
He took the two girls to the sitting room. They sat down in the large, overstuffed chairs.
"Now, I was present for both of my grandchildren's births. So could you please explain how you are both still alive." Marius inquired sternly.
The older girl-Laetitia- took a deep breath.
"The doctor Mum had worked for a company called the Institute of Enhanced Beings. The Institute's goal is to create a new breed of humans. They believe that humanity is dying, that the planet will be ravished due to an impending apocalypse." The girl shrugged. "Of course, they don't believe that it'll be anytime soon. Using experiments, the Institute works with women-some aware and willing, some aware and not. Most aren't aware, like Mum and Dad. The experiments are meant to 'evolve' the baby inside. Sometimes, the genetics of animals were used. Both of us are experiments."
Marius felt sick. "What did they do?" He croaked out.
Laetitia took a deep breath. "All experiments have much faster healing than the average human, enhanced memory and brain capability, enhanced reflexes and instincts. Eye sight has also been improved as well as night vision. My sister and I were the first successful…"
"First successful what?" He managed to grit out,lead in his gut.
She stood, and spread a pair of dark brown wings. "Avian-Human hybrids. All others ended up short lived, or more bird than human. Our bones are hollow,but strong, and we have air sacs. Our lungs and hearts are bigger and our blood is unique because it combines bird and human. We have six limbs, two legs, two arms and two wings. We burn calories quicker, and our body temperature is much higher than the average person." Laetitia said. "It took me nearly ten years to escape, and I doubled my efforts nearly three threes ago when I realized that this little girl and I have the same eyes."
"How did you realize that I was your grandfather?"
"The doctors keep files on everyone. I managed to find our files, besides we have the same eyes, and then it was only a matter of robbing a couple stores for clothes and food. Oh, I nicked some wallets from the doctors. I took out their money, so I only used , I've seen the papers."
Marius stood. "I'll have to called Adrienne, and Erik."
-April 3rd 1982
It had been nearly a month since the two girls had come to live with them. The fact that they were part avian had been kept closely underwraps, but the story of the doctor and the kidnappings had gotten out. Adrienne had been thrilled to meet her grandchildren, and had helped him get birth certificates figured out.
Laetitia became Laetitia Adrienne Granger, partially because she had inherited her grandmother's and father's dark gold curls. Hermione, who had inherited her bushy brown curls from her grandmother,became Hermione Jean Granger.
Tired of all the press, they decided to move temporarily to France. Nearly a week ago, they had discovered that the girls were both magic. After some arguing-and meeting the magical Delacours- it was decided that Laetitia would attend Beauxbatons, and Hermione Hogwarts.
Of course, then they had to explain magic and the wizarding world to the two girls. The fact that girls were avian-human became known only to the Delacour's, Madame Maxime-Beauxbatons' headmistress- and the teachers there. Hermione was enrolled into a local Muggle school, as was Laetitia.
Hope you all liked it, and I'll see you soon.