Sorry I haven't posted for awhile, I've just started back at school. Hopefully Next chapter will be posted sooner.
Huge thanks to my beta! Thanks!
Chapter 6: Suspicious
The next day rumors spread like bush-fire around the school as everyone discussed Harry Potter.
"Did you see how he just ran out of the hall?"
"I heard from Jeffrey, who heard it from Dean that he saw these black things coming out of his back."
"I heard that he's been cursed and is now a creature of evil. What? I did!"
Hermione, Ron, and Ginny rolled their eyes at the absurd rumors, but refused to voice their opinions.
"Do you think he is all right?" Hermione whispered to Ron at breakfast after Colin Creevey repeated the 'dark creature' comment at the Gryffindor table.
"Hopefully…" Ron mumbled back, biting into a piece of toast at the same time.
Hermione nodded and shifted when she felt someone watching them. She looked up in time to see Professor LeRoy staring at her from the Teacher's table. Hermione had a flickering thought that their new professor knew something.
"Come on, Ron." She whispered as she stood up.
"Mione, where are we going?" Ron whined as he followed the bushy-haired prefect.
She walked right up to Professor LeRoy, who was seated between Hagrid and Professor Snape.
"Miss Granger, how may I help you?" The smile on LeRoy's face was one of polite inquiry. The hard light in her eyes betrayed her knowledge of the situation.
"Professor, I was wondering if you could help Ron and me with something." Hermione stared back at the woman and watched her smile grow.
"Of course." The professor set her goblet down and stood. She waited until they moved and followed them out into the hall. Once they were in a safe, empty hallway, she pulled them into a shadowy corner.
"Harry is fine." She stated calmly and watched Ron and Hermione both sigh in relief. "However, he does need rest and recover before he can join everyone else later today.
"What happened?" Hermione's eyes widened as she panicked at hearing the words 'rest' and 'recover'.
"He got his wings." The professor smiled proudly; as if she were telling them that her son had just won first place in the Spelling Bee.
"What?" Ron choked out as Hermione only stood there and gaped at her.
Finally, Hermione managed, "But, doesn't he need his mate for that?" When Aura nodded, she added, "Who is it?"
"Well… You see, Harry hasn't met him properly yet." Aura's face took on an uneasy look.
"What do you mean?" Ron asked, taking over for Hermione, who seemed to have gone into shock.
"You'll see. But, for now, we have classes." Aura walked calmly off and left the two standing there staring at each other questioningly.
"She didn't say where he is!" Ron hissed angrily.
Harry lay peacefully in the strange bed, savouring the smooth texture of the silk sheets on his raw back. His fingers combed through silky silver-blond hair while the silver-grey eyes of his mate looked at him adoringly. Harry felt his heart skip a beat and he felt light swirl around them, shifting soft black feathers, and causing them to tumble gracefully around them; were setting a perfect image.
"I love you." A voice whispered in his ear. He shivered, craving more of this mystery person who somehow seemed so familiar.
"Harry?"
A voice gently roused him and he blinked sleepily from his daze. "Hmmm?"
Aura's face came into view and she smiled. "Nice of you to finally wake up." As she spoke, she placed the tray of food she was carrying across his lap. "Here, eat. You need your energy."
"What time is it?" Harry yawned, sitting up.
"A little after breakfast. I brought you some food before I go to class." Aura brushed a stray lock of hair off his cheek in a motherly fashion. "I'll come back later to check on you. Rest for now." She ordered then left him to eat his breakfast.
Harry picked up a piece of toast and delicately bit into it. He thought back to his dream. He couldn't help the smile when he thought of that mysterious person; the one who had made him feel whole…
He tried to go back to sleep after he ate, but was too restless to. He finally identified the bed as belonging to Aura, simply because she had brought some of her personal effects with her.
The first clue had been the books written in Harpy language, which luckily he could now read. There was also a portrait of a female who Aura identified as Harmony, the first Queen of the Harpys.
Harmony was a proud woman with a soft face and rosy cheeks. Her lips were a soft cherry colour, and her golden hair hung in delicate strands around her slender shoulders. Harry took some time to study her wings; they were a beautiful bronze, fully displayed and glittering.
From Harmony's picture, Harry's gaze drifted to their second queen, Rowena. She seemed to have a more delicate build than Harmony, with a round face and liquid blue eyes that drew one's attention to her. Her lips were thin and pale while her hair was a dirty blond, cut short to brush her shoulders. She had amber wings and held them so that her body was half covered.
Harry's favourite portrait was the one of a beautiful Harpy and what appeared to be her mate. The nameplate read only "Selene, the Harpy, and Alvaise, her mate".
Selene was beautiful. She appeared to be about seventeen when she had been painted, maybe a little older, with creamy skin and a thin, delicate body. Her dark red lips contrasted with her bright golden eyes as she stared up at her lover. As he watched the animated portrait as the two subjects hugged each other and whispered softly into the other's attentive ear. Selene's hair was a vibrant black; black like the midnight-black wings that flapped lazily behind her.
Alvise was a strong man with stronger features. His hair was curly and dark, tendrils of it brushed below his ears. He occasionally scanned the room, the light catching his cobalt blue eyes, before he returned his gaze to the beautiful harpy that he never seemed to release from his arms.
The painting of the backdrop was as unique as the subjects. They resided in a pale rose backdrop with creamy white flower petals falling gently around them. It was all too perfect and Harry felt a longing deep in his Harpy self.
He sighed for what must have been the hundredth time as Alvise picked Selene up and spun her around. Watching her face light up and listening to her sweet tinkling laugh was beginning to seriously depress him.
"Harry?"
His gaze finally left the couple and turned to Aura who was standing in the doorway. It was of little interest to him that she was holding fresh clothes.
She saw the object of his attention and smiled. "Do you like the picture?"
Harry was slightly startled to see that she had moved into to the room and was placing the clothes on the bed. "Yes, it's a beautiful picture." He whispered as his eyes returned to the Harpy and her mate.
"Selene was once a third cousin. Before…" She trailed off and sighed. After getting herself under control she continued. "Before Voldemort murdered Alivse." Her voice caught on a sob as she finished in a rush, "She took her own life to be with him."
"Oh…" Harry didn't know what to say to make Aura feel better so he kept his gaze on the portrait and gave her time to collect herself. He understood without having met the couple exactly why they would go to any lengths to stay together.
Aura sniffed a few more times then went back to being Aura. "This is another reason why Harpies are so protective of anyone who falls into their lives. Harpies, their mates and children; we care for them all and try to make sure none are hurt."
Harry gave her one of his charming little brat smiles and said, "And here I thought I was special to you because I'm the closest thing to a baby you have to spoil right now."
She suddenly brightened and threw the clothes at him. "Get dressed; you seem well enough to go to dinner." Then before he could protest at what she had laid out, she darted out of the room.
He finally climbed out of bed and looked at the clothes she left. "Thanks, Aura." He muttered sarcastically as he pulled on the tight slim fitting black pants that hugged his body in all the right places. The pants didn't need a belt, but there was a dragon-skin belt sitting on the bed. His shoes were made of the same fine dragon-hide, strong but with an elegant touch.
By the time he pulled on the sleeveless black leather shirt which showed off his curvy body, he was ready to die from embarrassment. He was convinced that pimps didn't dress their whores this badly.
The mirror immediately began cooing to him in a sexy voice. "Oh, darling boy, you do look ravishing. If only I were your mate and not a neglected old mirror!"
He finally overcame his embarrassment long enough to get a good look at himself. He did, in fact, look good. He admitted this to himself somewhere between straightening his glasses and fluffing his still messy, but silky, hair so that it would fall over his scar and cover it.
"Are you ready yet?" Aura called.
Harry was headed for the door when he notices something that had slipped his attention earlier. The bathroom door was open and revealed an ash-white marble room. It was normal, nothing much out of place, except the clothes hanging over the bath.
Those clothes had belonged to him before they had been ripped and coated in blood. Aura's cloak was also coated in it. Looking at the soiled items, Harry felt sick. His stomach heaved and he felt dizziness swamp him; he managed to grab the doorframe and stay upright as he began to suck in great lungs full of air to keep from passing out.
Aura seemed to have grown impatient with him not answering her because she chose that moment to stroll back in. "Harry, what are you…" She forgot to finish the sentence as she spied him still clinging to the doorframe, pale and obviously ill.
Aura rushed to his side and steadied him. It was then that she noticed the bloodied clothing she had hung up earlier and forgot to wash. Grimacing, she eased him back to bed while murmuring, "Come on, Harry."
"What happened? I didn't think I would lose that much blood!" Harry looked up at her hysterically. He felt empty and sick all at once.
"Harry, don't worry." Aura soothed. "When your wings appear, you tend to lose blood. With yours ripping through so quickly, you lost a bit more blood than a Harpy usually does."
He calmed down enough to take in Aura'a words.
"Now, I think it is best that you stay here for a bit longer. Aura commanded lightly.
"N-no, I want to see Ron and Mione." Harry protested.
Aura sighed. "Only if you promise not to over-do things. The second you start feeling off, I want you to go back to your dorm."
Harry agreed and followed Aura shakily from the room. They headed for the Hall and by the time they got there, Harry had calmed down enough tot act normal.
"Aura…"
"Yes?" Aura turned her head to Harry.
"I-I don't have my school robes." Harry knew that most people didn't wear their uniforms to dinner but he felt better when he wore his, it hid his curvy body and he felt much better.
"You don't need it." Aura brushed it off lightly and opened the door for Harry.
Harry nodded to her and slipped in, walking hurriedly to the Gryffindor table. As he passed the other tables they fell silent and watched him, lust creeping into their stares.
He sat beside Hermione and smiled weakly at Ron who sat across from them.
"Where were you?" Hermione demanded in a motherly tone.
"I'll explain later." Harry mumbled, his cheeks flushed. He didn't appreciate the attention from everyone.
Hermione and Ron quickly noticed his nervous actions under the lusty gazes.
"Hi, Harry!" Ginny joined the Golden Trio and smiled at Harry.
Thrilled that she hadn't gone all weird on him also, Harry returned her cheerful smile. "Hey Gin." His Harpy self crowed unhappily when he noticed the jealous looks directed at Ginny, Ron, and Hermione.
By the time dinner was over, it had become interminable. Ron, Hermione and Ginny quickly swept him out of the hall and headed for the Gryffindor common room.
"Where were you?" Hermione repeated when the four settled down in a far corner where they could have privacy.
"Aura's room."
The three gave him strange looks.
"When I left the Hall yesterday night someone tripped me and I fell. Somehow it caused my wings to appear. It hurt like hell." Harry added bitterly. "Anyway, I found Aura and after my wings appeared I passed out. I was in bed all day because I lost a lot of blood." Harry shuddered at the image of the bloody garments.
"Oh Harry, are you alright?" Ginny asked in a worried tone that reminded Harry of Mrs. Weasley.
"Yeah, I'm fine now." He smiled.
"So you have your wings now?" Hermione asked her eyes alight with awe.
"Yeah, they're bloody painful too." Harry winced.
"Can we see them?" Ginny whispered. Harry thought about it and agreed.
They all quickly made their way up to the 6th Year boys' dormitory. Once there, Harry locked the door before concentrating, and a ripping pain shot through him. It wasn't as agonizing as the first time they had appeared.
He was pleased to note that the shirt seemed to have a Harpy spell on it because his wings emerged and spread out; not as big as Aura's wings, but they were still beautiful.
"Wow…" Ginny and Hermione whispered together, they held out their hands and let their fingers stroke the coal black feathers.
"They are beautiful." Hermione murmured, and then flushed.
"Bloody hell!" Ron yelled in surprise.
"Shhh, Ron!" Ginny scolded, reminding Harry even more of Mrs. Weasley.
Harry put his concentration into bringing his wings back in and afterwards felt drained. He sat on his bed and was soon hugged by Hermione.
After a moment she pulled back. "Harry, aren't you suppose to come into contact with your mate for your wings to appear?" Suspicion crept into her curious tone and Harry looked away sheepishly.
"Well, you see…um…, Aura reckons it was my mate who bumped into me. That's how the wings came. But, I never saw him."
There was a moment of silence, broken by Ron's snickers.
"Ronald!" Ginny and Hermione snapped.
Harry smiled at his friends and lay down. "I don't know about you three but I'm tired!" He yawned. He was soon sleeping.
The mystery person was back. Harry felt content in the warm embrace. "I won't leave…" At the three words he felt like nothing could touch him, not even Voldemort.
TBC…
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With Love, SiriusBlack's Angel.