Title: Hermione's Helping Hand

The Golden Phoenix Egg

The next day Hermione moved from her room into Severus room. She needed the spare room so that she could get it ready for when the baby came. Severus didn't mind, which meant that their marriage had reached the level that they could sleep in the same bed without wanting to kill each other. Hermione then cleared the room and went to visit Tonks.

" And why are you visiting her?" Severus asked her.

" Because she has all the good books!" Hermione said.

And she left.

Hermione dropped by the Lupin private quarters, but Remus told her that his wife had left for Hogsmead.

" Why did she go?" Hermione asked him.

" She went to get something's for the baby."

" Thanks!"

And she rushed out the door.

Hermione rushed out of the castle and went into Hogsmead. She entered the village, which was mostly empty due to the fact that school was out. She looked in windows until at last she had to ask Madam Rosmerta where the shop was that sold baby clothes.

" The shops across the street," she told her.

" Thanks!"

Hermione left the Three Broomsticks and went across the street to a shop that screamed baby clothes. It was a large shop that was made of lavender and pink, and had a large teddy bear in the window. She opened the door, a little bell ringing when the door hit it. When she closed it, a witch in blue robes appeared at once.

" Yes, how may I help you?" she asked.

Hermione opened her mouth, but suddenly ran out, throwing up. The witch appeared at her side with a glass of water.

" Are you okay, mame?" the witch asked.

" Pregnant!" Hermione muttered, taking the glass and taking a small sip.

" Are you going to be all right?" the witch asked.

Hermione nodded.

" Just led me back in," Hermione told her. " I'm looking for a witch with bubblegum hair."

" What's her name?"

" Tonks!" Hermione said.

" Wait here," the witch said.

She entered the shop and five minutes later Tonks appeared. She helped Hermione sit down and helped her with the glass.

" Your still suffering from morning sickness, Hermione," Tonks said. " What are you doing away from a bathroom?"

" I went to see if you had those baby books," Hermione said. " Remus told me that you had left for Hogsmead when I dropped by."

Tonks took out a bottle of blue potion and gave it to Hermione.

" This will give you relief for several hours," Tonks told her. " That's how I'm able to come here."

Hermione took a swig of it and at once looked better.

" Well I better get going," Hermione told her.

Tonks placed a hand on her shoulder.

" Why don't you come in and get some shopping done," Tonks suggested. " It will get your mind off of Malfoy."

Hermione smiled, grateful for a friend like Tonks.

" Thanks!"

When Hermione reentered the shop, she smiled at the witch and Tonks brought her over to where she was at before Hermione interrupted her. Hermione looked over everything that they had, but since she didn't have any money on her, she couldn't get any of them.

" Madam White will allow you to charge it to your Gringotts account," she told her. " Just pick out what you want and then tell her what your vault number is."

Excitement at once flooded her at those words, and she at once moved to ' shopping mode.' She laid the things down and giving Madam White her vault number, told her to deliver the things to her quarters.

" Very well!" Madam White said, writing down Hermione's information. " They shall be delivered as-soon-as-possible."

" Thanks!" Hermione said.

Tonks led Hermione out of the shop and they both chatted as they returned to the castle. They had just passed the gates when Hermione led out a moan, clutching Tonks's shoulder.

" What's wrong, Hermione?"

She moaned again.

" I don't know!" Hermione stated. " I've never felt anything like this before!"

Suddenly Hermione let go and Tonks had to drag Hermione back to the castle.

" What happened to her?" Madam Pomfrey asked, when Hermione was brought in.

" I don't know!"

Hermione moaned again, but deep inside she was filled with fear. She was only a month along and she feared that she was losing the baby. She didn't think she could take losing him or her. She felt them dragging her, but then suddenly she heard a voice in her head. It sounded soft and reassuring.

" You must calm down, Hermione," the voice said. " You're not losing the babies!"

Hermione gasped at those words, just as a warmth spread through her. For Tonks and Madam Pomfrey they shielded their eyes as a bright light encased Hermione. It was red, like the flame of a phoenix and for Hermione; she could feel a change coming over her. She felt her clothes burn away and be replaced with new ones. A tug told her that wings were sprouting.

" Oh my god!" Madam Pomfrey commented, when the light disappeared. " She's a-a fairy!"

Hermione looked at her.

" What are you talking about?"

Suddenly she clasped her hand over her throat. Her voice had changed, though she couldn't understand how that had happened. She walked over to a mirror and almost fainted. Her simple robe had turned into an outfit that covered almost her entire body. She wore matching shoes, which was blue, like her outfit, and she had red hair. She turned around to see blue and pink wings, which really moved.

" Okay, this is official weird!" Hermione said in her new voice. " I'm okay with the morning sickness, but this I'm sure wasn't covered in a manual."

" How did this happen?" Tonks asked.

" I have no idea!" Madam Pomfrey answered. " But I'm going to have to inform Minerva."

Tonks looked at her.

" And tell her what? That Severus Snape's wife transformed into a fairy, and not the little kind."

Madam Pomfrey glared at her.

" Well what do you suggest that I say?"

" Nothing, lets just hid her, and then see what happens. The last thing we need is Malfoy to find her like this."

" All right!" the Matron said.

Tonks made a robe appear and draped it over Hermione's body. They were just about to leave when Tonks noticed an egg on the floor, next to the entrance. It looked like a phoenix egg, but they couldn't be to sure.

" Lets take it with us and see what Remus thinks about it," Tonks suggested.

The Matron picked it up and they left.

Hiding Hermione turned out to be the easy part. Explaining what had happened to her without Malfoy knowing turned out to be a lot harder. They all stared at them, as though telling them that this was some joke they cooked up. Tonks at once informed them that she wasn't amused by their lack of interest.

" But this is impossible?" Ron said. " I mean, who ever heard of a witch turning into a fairy."

Tonks growled at him.

" Look, I'm telling you what we saw," Madam Pomfrey said. " We have her hidden in a cupboard next to her quarters, but since Severus isn't here, he doesn't know."

" And how do you suggest telling him?"

Tonks let out a sigh, which told them that she would be the one that tell him.

" And what about this egg?" Minerva asked.

" It came when Hermione changed, so I guess she and the egg are connected," Tonks answered. " I was hoping that Remus would be able to help us."

" I can try," he said. " But don't expect any miracles."