Shiver

Shiver


Layla had slept peacefully after having Harry touch her wing. Not stirring once while Madame Pomfrey had Harry move her wings this way and that, making the skin look like it was stretching painfully in it’s current state.

Once Madame Pomfrey was sure that everything was as healed as it was going to get, she left Layla in Harry’s hands, letting him know to floo if something happened.

“Your wings are very beautiful, Layla. I wish you could see them.” Harry kissed her cheek, then settled down on the bed, pulling her close to him, party lying on him as he fell asleep.

*

“Severus, I asked you because there is something I think you should know about Layla.”

“What?” Severus was sitting in Albus’ office, having taken the offered tea to help calm his nerves.

“She has come into an inheritance of sorts. Apparently, she was adopted, her parents being magical creatures themselves.”

“And, you know this how?”

“Because I owled her parents a few hours ago and they responding, sending a copy of the adoption papers as proof.”

“And, the inheritance she came into…?”

“She seems to have grown wings. Black feathered, wings. I have yet to figure out what she is, but I think when she is fully awake we’ll be able to find out for sure.”

“That won’t be necessary, Albus.”

“Why is that, Severus?” Albus took a sip of his tea, waiting for the other man’s answer.

“Because if I can get into a close enough proximity to her, I will be able to tell what she is by smell alone.”

“And, you’ll be able to tell if she’s your mate then, won’t you?” he gave a sharp nod.

“Yes.”

“Well, then I will keep you posted and let you know when you’ll be able to see her. I'm sure that Harry needs time to adjust to this as much as Layla does.”

“As you wish, Albus.” He winced slightly, the pain still in his stomach, but not as bad.

“Are you doing ok, Severus?” he was concerned for the other man’s well being.

“I will be fine. It’s lessened by some degree, so it’s not as painful as it is annoying. It’s nothing I can’t handle.” The unspoken ‘for now,’ hung in the air between them.

*

By the time the sun had risen, Harry had a few hours of sleep accounted for. He awoke when he felt the body lying atop of him shift and move off of him.

“Layla?” she looked over her shoulder.

“What? I just have to pee.” Harry nodded and leaned back down, ready to go back to sleep. But something stopped him.

“Layla?” he called to her through the bathroom door.

“Yeah?”

“Didn’t you have wings earlier?” Harry was looking at the bathroom door in confusion. The door opened and Layla stepped out, wingless.

“I… I thought I did…” Harry rolled out of bed and walked over to Layla, turning her around so he could look at her back. There were no scars or anything to indicate that there had been wings there, or any other damage there previously. Her back was bare, and he couldn’t explain it.

“But… they were here… just… here…” he traced over the spot between her shoulder blades where her wings had been earlier. As he traced over the non-existent lines of where her wings should be, Layla gasped and arched her back.

“What the-!” Harry was hit in the chest as two wings sprung forth from Layla’s back, through the lines he had been chasing.

“Looks like I have my wings back…” she gasped in painful breaths.

Harry could only nod, staring at the wings in amazement.

*

“Are you sure, Poppy?”

“Yes. I certainly believe that whatever creature Layla has turned into, Harry is her mate.” Poppy took a small bite out of the plate of biscuits on Albus’ desk. They were sitting in his office, she had come to tell him about what had happened after he left. She took another bit of the biscuit and sipped at her tea.

“How did you come to think this?”

“Because when I lifted Layla’s wing up to see the damage done to her side, it caused her great pain. So, I asked Harry to lift if up while I would quickly apply a healing salve to whatever damage I would find. But, when Harry lifted her wing, she started to purr and didn’t feel any pain. If my research on magical creatures is anything to go by, Harry is her mate, from her reaction. It’s the only plausible conclusion I can draw from it.” Albus sat back in his chair and slowly stroked his beard, deep in thought.

“You know what, Poppy?”

“What, Albus?” she was prepared for a foggy answer.

“I think that a certain someone around here is going to find his hands full, very soon.”

“And would you perhaps like to tell me who this ‘certain person’ is, Albus?”

“You’ll find out in time.” She rolled her eyes and stood up.

“Yes, well, speaking of time, it’s about time left. Good day, Albus.” She walked out of his office, leaving him to his thoughts and his phoenix.

“Well, my boy. It looks like it’s better than we expected, isn’t it?” Fawkes flew off his perch to fly around the office, trilling happily at the news.

A/N: like it so far?