Inamorato

A/N: I'm really fond of this particular story, so I'll be writing it quickly. Pretty please go the extra three inches to review!

Also, this chapter is for Ipnightmare, who reviewed within an hour of me posting Chapter One & sending out my e-mail alert to the update. Thanks for being so interested in my story!

To ThyLadyX: Two things. One...LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL!!! lol. Two...because I'm in the process of writing chapter 5 & the title is no where near being explained...I will tell you now. It means "Beloved". I like strange words! ^_^ Oh & later, when I offer prizes for "100th" and "200th" review and stuff, that form of cheating gets you disqualified! Just so you know, lol.

To galaxybaby: Honestly, does Albus Dumbledore ever react to ANYTHING?

To Night The Storyteller: Honestly? I don't know. If I did...well, I still wouldn't tell you, lol, cause you'll find out eventually! Mwah-ha-ha...I'm evil! ^_^

To Tachimaru: Thank you! I strive to please & you're most welcome. I wish more authors would offer e-mail alerts. I find it to be quite simple to do & see no reason why other authors don't offer the same service!

To Nikki: Thanks for reading, sweetie!

To all my readers: I hope you enjoy! ~FA

~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry awoke the next morning to muffled shouts. Ah...his entourage had arrived to retrieve him. Nothing but a large group of wizards and witches - or Harry using magic in some way - could produce that particular tone from Uncle Vernon. Harry cautiously got off the bed in much the same way he had the previous night. He knew someone would come up to retrieve him personally and to help him move his things. He figured he had a few minutes at best, depending on how long the screaming had been going on for before it woke him up, so he started grabbing his few scattered possessions from around the room and shoving them into his trunk.

Hedwig hooted softly when Petunia shrieked something unintelligible and Harry grinned. "I know, girl. Don't worry, they're here to take us home." Hedwig hooted again and seemed to preen a bit at that and Harry's grin widened. "Glad to know you approve of us leaving."

Harry finished packing everything he owned and paused, briefly considering using the invisibility cloak to hide his wings until reaching the safety of Grimmauld Place. Before he had a chance to dig it out of his trunk, however, there was a knock on the door. Harry hesitated for a split second, then said. "Come in. But brace yourself...I look different."

He heard Tonks' melodious laugh as the doorknob turned. "All grown up now that you're 17, Ha..." She trailed off as the door swung wide, revealing him and his new...appearance. "Well Merlin, Harry...you weren't taking the mickey after all, were you?"

Harry grinned sheepishly and his cheeks flushed a bit. "Yeah, no. Sorry about not wearing a shirt. I couldn't quite figure out how to get one on..."

"Tonks! Harry!" Remus's voice carried up the stairs. "We've more than overstayed our welcome! Come on!"

Tonks growled and Harry bit back a grin. "Remmy!" She shouted back, sounding annoyed. "I love you dearly, but you need to stop being so bossy and get up here to help me!"

There were some murmurs from below, then the sound of several pairs of feet climbing the stairs. "Really, Tonks." Remus's voice was teasing. "You're an Auror...what could you possibly need help...with..."

"Hi, Remus." Harry was still a bit pink in the face and his voice was apologetic as he greeted them. "Mr. Weasley, Kingsley, Moody..." He smiled sheepishly. "Having some issues getting a shirt on. Any chance one of you knows a spell or something to help?"

Remus nudged Tonks aside and stepped closer to Harry. "Harry, did this happen yesterday?" He reached out a hand and lightly touched one of Harry's wings.

His wings instantly flared outwards and Harry winced when the one Remus wasn't touching almost knocked Tonks over. "I'm sorry!" Harry apologized, bringing them close to his body again. "I don't have great control over them yet. And yeah, I went to sleep the day before yesterday, woke up briefly on the morning of my birthday in a lot of pain, and then woke up again in the middle of the night last night to find I'd...changed."

"S'alright, Harry." Tonks smiled. "Can't expect you to get the hang of something so...large...right away." She tipped her head to the side. "I just noticed," She continued, peering closely at his face. "Your eyes are so different. The wings distracted me at first."

Remus circled Harry, taking in all of the changes in his almost-godson. "I've never seen anything like you, Harry. Not in all my years of travel." He peered at Harry's eyes intently. "That gold ring around your pupil looks vaguely familiar, though." He tipped his head to the side. "Actually, so does the sheen of your hair. I think I remember seeing someone once whose hair shone like that...although theirs was tinted green, not gold." He nodded his head at Harry's wings. "Are those the biggest change?"

"Nope." Harry replied with a grin. "I'm surprised none of you noticed." His grin widened when they all began to stare at him more intently. "I bet Ron and Hermione notice it before the wings." After a long, expectant pause, Harry finally gave in and said. "My scar!"

When everyone's eyes snapped to his forehead, he laughed. "It's gone!" Moody growled. "That scar should have marked you for your entire life, Potter. It can't be gone."

"And yet," Remus intoned softly. "It is. Quite obviously, now that it's been pointed out." He took a moment to ponder this, then said briskly. "Well, obviously we're all out of our depths on this one. Shall we adjorn to the house and see what Albus has to say?"

After some murmurs of agreement (and a temporary disillusionment charm on his wings), Harry and his things were led downstairs, where they then proceeded to take the Floo to Grimmauld Place. A special, restricted channel had once again been opened, this time only between the two houses and only for an hour. Still, the Dursleys were less than thrillled, though smart enough to say nothing.

Harry stepped (oh alright, half-fell) out of the fireplace and into the kitchen at Grimmauld Place. Tonks followed with his things, then the others walked through the doorway. They'd Apparated instead. The second his feet touched the floor of the kitchen, his wings reappeared. Disillusionment charms didn't work inside the house. A precaution Moody had insisted on, and one which Harry was mildy uncertain about right at this moment, because he was still shirtless and his wings were still, um...very noticable.

Hermione and Ron burst into the kitchen. "Harry!" Hermione shrieked happily, hugging him tightly. She pulled back to smile at him, and her jaw just about hit the floor.

She opened her mouth to say something and Ron hollered. "Oy, mate, your scar! It's gone!"

Hermione nodded vigorously. "I was just about to say that." She peered closely at Harry's face, still standing in the circle of his arms. "Come look at his eyes, Ron. They're sooo odd."

Ron walked over and peered over Hermione's shoulder at Harry's eyes. "You're right, 'Mione." He stated, nodding his head for emphasis. "Did you see his hair? It's gotten longer and the color's off a bit."

Hermione stepped back out of the hug and examined Harry from the top of his head, to his toes. "You're right. His hair and skin have both changed color slightly. And would you look at those wings!" There was a note of awe in her voice.

Ron tipped his head to the side. "Yeah, they're definitely different." He grinned at Harry. "So, how was your summer, Harry? Relatives treat you alright?"

And in that moment, Harry loved both of his friends more than anything else in the world. He laughed. "Yeah, Ron, they were okay. They mostly ignored me, so it wasn't too bad. Although," He added, stretching his wings a bit. "Sprouting these was a bit painful."

He grinned at Remus and the others who were staring, dumbstruck, at them. "I told you all these two would notice the missing scar before the wings."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry and his friends had a few hours in which to catch up on how their summers had gone before Albus Dumbledore arrived and sent for Harry. "Come on guys."

"Harry, wait!" Quickly, Hermione cast a simple charm and a shirt appeared on Harry, with opening around his wing-joints so he was clothed at last. "I'll teach it to you later." She said, in response to his grateful look.

The three of them headed down to the parlor and when they entered, Harry frowned. "Come!" Dumbledore gestured to the sofa and chairs across from where he was sitting. "Let's talk." Ron and Hermione sat on the sofa, while Harry stood. "Is everything okay Harry?"

"Um..." Harry gestured vaguely towards his wings. "They make it a bit difficult to sit, is all."

"Ah." Dumbledore nodded sagely, then pulled out his wand and conjured a high ottoman, which Harry gratefully sat on, letting his wings hang down the back edge of it. "There. Much better."

"Thanks." Harry grinned. "Sooo...what kind of freakish thing am I now?" Harry tipped his head to the side as the Headmaster studied him. "I hope it's something cool. I don't want to be a lame creature."

Ron snorted and Hermione muffled a giggle with her hand. Albus' eyes twinkled merrily behind his glasses. "Harry, my boy, with wings like that I'm sure you're a magnificent creature." He looked thoughtful. "Although, to be honest, it must either be very rare or quite foreign to Britain, for I've no idea what you are at all." He beamed at them all. " Ah, well. At least we have young Hermione to assist us in researching what you are!"

Harry sighed, fearing this would happen when neither Remus nor Hermione had had any idea what he was. "Okay, so where do we start looking to figure out what I am?"

Albus handed Harry a small, black book with the Potter's crest on it. "This details your family's lineage. Whatever you are, it should be somewhere in that book."

"Thanks." Harry replied, passing the book instantly to Hermione, who accepted it as though it were a treasure she couldn't wait to explore. "Is there anything I can do to help narrow the search down?"

Hermione nodded. "Oh yes, Harry. I'll need a list of all the changes to you physically, and any thing else you notice that's different. Foods you suddenly crave, or can't stand. Differences in your magic. New gifts. And any allergies you develop. Okay?"

"Of course, 'Mione." He smiled weakly. "I'm gonna go lie down, okay? I feel kind of peaky." Harry stoop up and left without waiting for a reply.

~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Yay! We're getting closer to revealing some interesting truths about Harry's new self! Soon, I promise. I just can't help drawing it out a bit. Makes things more interesting. Please go the extra three inches to review! I love reading them & they truly make my day! Also, leave your e-mail & I'll add to my mailing list, where I alert to updates. ~ FallenAngel