Winglets Contest

Hermione looked in the crowd for Ginny. "Have any of you seen Ginny this morning? She said she would meet Aurora and me."

Harry looked curious. "You don't think it was because of her partner right?"

Ron chuckled. "Nah, how bad could her partner be?" Then his eyes brightened. "Do you think its Neville?"

Hermione hit Ron's head with a book. "No matter, Ginny's partner couldn't be as worse as mine."

Then Professor Seadra signaled for silence as Hagrid opened the large box he pushed in. Harry hoped fervently it wasn't a big dangerous man-eating animal.

Hagrid smiled proudly as Professor Seadra gave Hagrid a thumbs up sign, suddenly she whistled and a beautiful white silver lining passed everyone in the hall.

"This is a Winglet." Professor Seadra said as the beautiful purely white bird with tinges of light silver perched on her fingers. It has a small yellow beak and bright green eyes, its body was long and wings delicate.

Hermione looked stunned. "That doesn't look like a winglet. It's too beautiful!"

Aurora smiled. "A winglet has many different looks."

Professor Seadra smiled. "This is my trusted winglet for many years, you may wonder why it doesn't look like an ordinary winglet. That is because when it was in its egg I took special care of it. How a winglet looked like depends on you."

Then Hagrid took out another cage, inside was a small white bird that looked like a mix between a dove and a pigeon. "This is an ordinary winglet."

Professor Seadra cleared her throat. "What colour or shape your winglet turns out to be will depend on the care you give it."

Harry looked as Aurora and Hermione started a long discussion on winglets. "Aurora, Hermione… they are giving out the eggs already!"

All the students were positively radiant with excitement, raising their own winglet! Winglets were a type of messenger pigeon that only the very rare and exclusive used.

Harry heard Draco at the other table boast of having many winglets in his house.

The girls went to queue up for the eggs, Professor Seadra said it was because she was scared the boys would break it.

The eggs were the size of an ostrich egg. Each was unique and different. Aurora got an oval-sized pale blue egg with two small spots. Hermione's egg was slightly larger yellow in colour.

Aurora smiled as she sat down with the egg. "Whatever is inside, it's sure heavy!"

"I have no experience whatever with winglets." Harry said remembering how Hegwid (I think I spelt this wrongly) have not returned from her last trip.

Aurora's eyes widened. "Me too!"

Ron on the other hand was trying to snatch the egg from Hermione, as Hermione wouldn't let Ron touch it. "You will break it!"

"NO, I wouldn't! If you carry the egg, what about your precious books?"

"You carry my books."

"Hermione!"
Then Ginny appeared she looked nervous and fidgety. Her egg was a pretty pink. "Hermione, Aurora help me!"

Harry and Ron looked up. "Why not us?"

But Hermione, Aurora and Ginny had disappeared.

"What's wrong?" Aurora asked concernedly.

Hermione nodded. "And why didn't you ask Harry or your brother?"

Ginny turned slightly pink. "Because if I tell them, they will freak!"

Aurora looked muddled. "What is it then?"

Ginny gave Hermione the envelope from the matching hat.

Hermione paled and gave the envelope to Aurora. "Draco?"

Ginny nodded. "See can you imagine what will happen to Ron if I tell him this?"

Aurora looked at the Slytherin table. "You will have to work with Draco…"

Ginny sighing sat down and looked at Hermione and Aurora. "Any ideas?"

Aurora's eyes brightened. "I know I can switch partners with you!"

Hermione shook her head. "I have read this book (aurora and ginny rolls eyes) about the tradition and it is said whoever your partners the decision is final. Professor Seadra and Dumbledore probably have the master list of partners."

Harry and Ron frowning looked at the three girls talk fervently. "What are they gossiping about?"

Ron nodded indignant. "I am her brother and she can't trust me."

Harry smiled. "Well at least Hermione let you touch the egg now."

Ron waved his fist playfully at Harry. "I wonder how to take care of the egg though."

"Me too." Harry said looking at it. "I hope someone from Gryffindor wins."

The three girls came back then. Ginny looked at Ron nervously. Harry smiled assuringly at her.

"Hermione, you better take the egg first or it might get crushed." Ginny said nervously looking at Hermione.

Hermione took the egg from a shocked Ron. "Ok…Ginny tell Ron."

"Ron… you know we have a partner from a different house right?" Ginny said looking everywhere distractedly.

Ron nodded, then his eyes widened. "Oh so you took Cedric is it? Well I don't like that guy but it's alright."

Ginny stuck her tongue out. 'Er actually he is from Slytherin."
Harry looked at Aurora who nodded. "Draco?"

"Ron! Ron!" Hermione and Harry said, as Ron turned slightly dizzy. "Wake up!"

Aurora smiled at Ginny. "Ron will be fine, I think. You better go to Draco now."

Ginny paled several more shades. "Ahhhh…. I was hoping Ron strangled me to death or something."
Draco who was sitting with several Slytherins was boasting about something. "Go with me Aurora."

Aurora nodded and followed Ginny to the table.

Draco, Crabbe and Goyle looked up. "Look what the cats brought in." Goyle said.

Draco looked at Ginny's egg and her envelope. "Yes?"

Aurora gave Ginny a slight push and Ginny threw the envelope on the table and ran away. Aurora gave Goyle a glare then walked back to Ron, Hermione and Harry.

"Stupid Matching Hat." Ron was muttering as Hermione tried to calm him down.

Harry smiled at Aurora. "So how it go?"

"Well if Draco can read, he should know from the envelope that he is Ginny's partner." Aurora smiled.
Ron muttered some more incoherent replies. Hermione shook her head. "Looks like I will be the only sane one taking care of this egg."
Ron glared at Hermione too. "I'm not insane."

Hermione smiled. 'I know but your mad."

Ron smiled then, "Ok the victim here is Ginny." Then Harry saw Ron's eyes twinkled. "I will think of something."

Harry had a gut feeling that something had to do with him taking part too. Then Professor Seadra announced that the winglet would hatch in two days and a panel of judges will decide who had the best winglet, etc.

"I will take care of it first." Aurora said as she carried the egg and walked in a different direction. Harry looked confused. "Aren't you coming to Potions with us?"

"I have to meet Professor McGonagall." Aurora said as she exchanged a look and smile at Hermione and walked off quickly.

"Do you find Aurora secretive?" Harry said suddenly, he found that Aurora only showed a side of her that she wanted to show.
"NO!" Hermione said suddenly.

Ron looked at Hermione in surprise. "Is there something you are not telling us?"

Hermione turned pink. "Of course not. Come on Professor Snape is testing more poisons today, he might poison one of us if we are late."

Harry and Ron exchanged looks as Hermione sprinted off with the egg and her books.

Professor Snape gave a dry sinister smile to the Gryffindor class and a wider smile at Slytherin. "So we meet again."

Harry felt too soon. Harry and Professor Snape locked eyes. "Today I am testing your knowledge on Antidotes."

The whole class groaned except for the Slytherins prepared for a good show.

Professor Snape unveiled a cloth off his table. Four crystal vials stood on the table and shimmered lightly when revealed. "These are the four antidotes." Professor Snape gave a sort of grin. Then he unveiled a smaller table. Four dark small vials stood there and gave a cool sort of dreary feeling. "These are the four poisons."

Professor Snape looked at the class now. "This is the spring test I have planned." Professor Snape said. "You have learnt how to identify the symptoms of the four poison and the antidote. I will pick four students to try the poison, which I will not tell you the name, and to identify the antidote. You have only one try." Harry thought Snape's eyes flitted over him.

"All those who fail will not die of course." Harry thought Snape looked disappointed at that thought. "But will be unconscious for a day, the price you will have to pay for not learning your poisons and antidotes properly." Neville gave a small yelp.

Harry wondered if this "spring" test was sprung on especially during the winglet contest. Professor Snape then began picking his "victims."

Hermione was the only who raised up her hand. Professor Snape of course ignored her as always. "Any OTHER volunteers?"
Professor Snape then gave a small smile. "Looks like I will have to pick then. Neville."

Neville sighed and timidly went in front.

Professor Snape scanned the room, Harry knew he had to pick one Slytherin too. "Marco Pollouri." Professor Snape finally said. Marco was the top student from the Slytherin fifth-years. The Slytherins gave a small clap.

Then a small knock was heard on the door. Professor Snape looked furious at being interrupted on his "poisoning" spree. "Come in."
Harry looked as Aurora came in, she held a note. "Good morning, Professor Snape."

Professor Snape looked angrily at her. "What's good about the morning? And why are you so late? Have I seen you before?"
Aurora shook her head. "I am Aurora, the new student. Professor McGonagall wanted to…"

Professor Snape shushed her as he took the note. "Fine, you have a good excuse this time. What's your last name?"

Several of the Slytherins sat up, some thought Aurora was Dumbledore's niece or something others thought she was part of the secret service.

Aurora didn't speak at all. "Professor Dumbledore said that I don't have to tell anyone." Aurora said finally.

Professor Snape looked mad but he didn't say anything. "Ok Aurora with no last name, you will be part of the spring test too."

And Aurora stood in front of the class. Hermione and Ron looked at Harry as Professor Snape sort of gleefully announced the last of his victims.

"Harry Potter."

Well what do you think? Please leave some feedback and reviews for me. This is my first fanfic and it means a lot to me! Really, thanks for reading! I really appreciate it! Love angelurnatic…