Lips of an Angel

Well, this is my first upload to the harr potter section. And this is the first time I ever used a beta, but she's wonderful and I think I love her. < GBY sidhenecromancer! >






Lips of an Angel

Max looked out of the airplane window nervously. Funny, he thought, he had his own wings and yet was forced to fly with artificial ones. He pushed his long, stark-white hair away from his pale eyes. He did not enjoy flying in the airplane, and the nervous look on his face proved this. America was nice, but why did he have to move to such a silly new country? True, he was born there, but he was not one to admit such. The young man looked to his mother and smiled.

“Mama, why do we have to move again? They wouldn’t have found Daddy at our old home. . . ” Max’s mother, Andrea, looked at him condescendingly. “Maxie, it’s important that we hide again. Daddy’s special and there are people who can hurt him and you. After all, you’re special as well.” Max nodded. “And after all, Maxie, your birthday is coming soon.” Max smiled at this. His birthday. He was going to be seventeen! To anyone who happened to look, he could pass as a ten year old, what with his childlike voice and tendencies, it was an easy mistake to make. He was about five feet tall and just below 100 pounds, with a young voice. He also, more often than not, called his parents Mama and Daddy, and they didn’t seem to mind. A tinny sort of voice came over the intercom, announcing that the plane was landing and everyone should put their seatbelts on and whatnot. Max did so, looking about nervously as the plane shuddered into descent. He closed his eyes, muttering something unheard by everyone around him.

Max’s mother had suddenly come to a halt before an odd little wall. She pulled out her wand and tapped on a few of the stones in a peculiar sequence, which caused a doorway to open. Max yelped and hid, venturing out slowly and carefully as he looked into the new doorway, seeing what looked like an entirely new part of town. “Mama, why did you not warn me? I didn’t know a whole wall was going to open up! That was really weird. So what are we doing?” Andrea answered. “We’re going school shopping. This isn’t like your school back home. It’s . . . different.” Max was intrigued. “Oh, really? How? Do we have to wear silly uniforms or something? I’m content with the robes that I see those other children purchasing.” Max’s mother chuckled nervously. “Ah, no. It’s a bit more different from that. Maxie, sweetheart . . . It’s a boarding school” Max’s eyes widened. He disregarded her statement as he proceeded into the next area. He looked around a little more, noting the many people looking at him. ‘Jeez,’ he thought, ‘A boarding school? I’m going to be away from Mama and Daddy for ages. Who will protect me and give me soup when I’m ill and help me brush my hair? Will they try to take me away?’ There was a look of fear and worry on the boy’s face as his mother followed. “Max, it’ll be different, but you’ll be more accepted here. And I’m sure you’ll do well at school. Oh, and you don’t have to hide them.” She added the last statement as she saw Max rolling his shoulders again. The boy looked at his mother with questioning eyes before closing them and muttering something. A pale glow was emitted from his back as two long, pearl-white wings slid through slits in the cloth. The boy sighed in relief as his discomfort was eased. The boy noticed a few people looking his way, but he just fluffed his wings and continued on.

Max and his mother came to a shop called Ollivander’s and entered, looking around curiously. Max instinctively pulled his wings in as he looked. There was a man studying something carefully, though whatever it was, Max couldn’t see what it was from where he was standing. Andrea made a noise in her throat and the oldish man turned to look at them, his aged eyes lighting up. “Well, well! I didn’t expect to see you so soon. Or late, I should say. He needs a wand, I imagine?” he asked politely, waving a hand in Max’s direction. Andrea nodded, and Max shied a bit, behind his mother. “He’s a bit old for a first wand, I believe, but there aren’t many good shops where we’re from, and he hasn’t seemed to need one. But it’s a requirement for his new school, so here we are.” She replied. Ollivander nodded. “I see. I have your special here. I trust he’s used one before?” Max now poked his head up, looking. “I never have. I’m used to going wandless.” It was at this time another young blonde man came into the shop. Max looked over and hid behind his mother. The other blonde scoffed a bit, mumbling something to the oversized people walking with him. Max whimpered as the blonde sat down in a chair in the shop, apparently waiting for someone. Ollivander turned to Max and smiled. “Alright, young man. Try this one; I think it may suit you. Twelve inches, firm, oak and. . .” Ollivander turned to whisper into Max’s ear, trying to keep the secrecy so valued by Andrea. “. . .Angel’s feather.” Max’s eyes widened and he nodded, holding out his hand to receive the wand. He took the slim wooden item in his hands and gave it a bit of a flick, gently yet expertly, though he had not used one before. Nothing exploded, so Mr. Ollivander deemed it worthy of such a fine child. Max nodded as his mother paid in money he had never seen before, and they left the shop. Max felt eyes on him as he left, for the other young blonde boy watched him. One of his oversized companions looked at him, and the boy simply stared back.

It became a long day after that. Textbooks and robes and shoes and other school things were duly purchased. They then passed some sort of shop where Max saw little animals. When he saw this, he turned his pale golden eyes to his mother, who couldn’t resist that llok he could display when he chose. “Alright, Maxie. Go on in and pick one out.” Max smiled brightly and ran into the shop. There weren’t many people inside, so Max could looked around. He saw a very pretty owl in a cage, and smiled. The animal cooed at him, which made him smile even wider. The owl was pretty - black with gold eyes. He went to the counter and smiled up at the person in charge. He slowly spoke, and softly, with the air of a young girl, rather than a teenage boy. (Though, it is quite difficult to tell the difference with poor, sweet Max.) “Sir? I saw a pretty owl in a cage. I don’t have the money, my Mama does, could you watch the bird ‘til I can bring her in?” The shop owner smiled down benignly at him. “Sure, little one. Which one do you have your eye upon?” Max crossed the shop and picked up the owl’s cage. Staggering slightly under its weight as he brought it over, he placed it as gently as he could on the counter. “I like this one. I think it likes me too.” The shop owner’s smile never faded. “A sure thing, little one. Go get your mum.” Max dashed out of the store to get his mama. “Mama, I found an owl. It’s pretty and black and I like it a lot.” Andrea smiled a nod and Max took her into the shop. She paid for the owl, and little Max carried it proudly. After just a few seconds, there was an odd, familiar pain in Max’s stomach.
He stopped in his tracks, looking to his Mama with questioning eyes. The area of his belly felt like one empty pit. “Mama! My body is hungry.” he whined. Andrea sighed a little. She knew after all. At least part of him was human and needed sustenance, just as humans did. “Maxie, dear, it's time to eat.” Max nodded. His Mama took him to a small pub and bade him sit down. He did so, pulling his knees to his chest protectively. He was uncomfortable being here, with all those people around. It was scary. They all stared at him like he was a demon or something. Andrea came back with another person, who asked them what they wanted to eat or drink. His Mama smiled. “A butterbeer, pumpkin juice, and uh, I don’t know, something sweet for my little one.” The other woman smiled and went off, shortly bringing the two their lunch. Max took a drink of his juice and smiled. It was turning out to be a good day.
Weeks passed, and Max found himself at a train station, rolling a sort of cart that was loaded with all his things: trunks, a crate and one very flustered owl in its cage. Max was searching his surroundings, his heart aflutter. His mother had left him alone here! He whimpered, finding platform nine and ten,but not 9 3/4. He looked around, seeing a lot of people right near platform ten. Then one by one, they began to disappear. Max pushed his cart as fast as he could toward them. The Other Blonde was there, looking at Max strangely. Max’s eyes were wide with fear. “Nine and three-quarters?” Was all he said. The Other Blonde smiled a little, pointing to a bit of wall. “Through here.” He noticed Max’s face and sighed. “Just push your trolley through. You’ll go right in.” Max looked at him weirdly, but decided to try it. The people gave him room, and he dashed straight on, going right through the bit of wall. Max squeaked a little and stopped short. The people he had previously been speaking too came through. He smiled a little and turned, his cart gone. It was now he became frantic, looking around for at least his owl. Some red-haired girl came to him and said, “Don’t worry; they’re already on the train.” Max nodded in thanks and she left. The little boy boarded the train and walked all down the length, looking for a place to sit. There was one empty compartment, and Max decided he would sit there.
The train had started to move when he heard people approaching. Max got nervous, gluing his eyes to the window. The people got closer and closer, causing young pretty Max to panic. A throat cleared, and Max turned to see The Other Blonde. He smiled softly, a forced smile, a nervous smile. “Hello.” he said, nodding to him. The Other Blonde had a sort of angry smile on his face, which thoroughly unnerved Max. “This car’s for Seventh-Year’s only.” Max nodded, speaking softly. “Then I am exactly where I’m meant to be.” He hadn’t meant to sound rude, which the Other Blonde decided he did. “Listen, you stupid little girl. I’m sitting here. Don’t you even dare to speak to me in that manner.” Max nodded. “That’s very well, I did not mean to. But I am not a little girl.” The Other Blonde seemed confused. “Well. Right. Sure you are.” Max laughed. It was not something he often did, but the sound of young Max’s laughter was beautiful, an unadulterated child’s laughter. “Yes. I am sure. Quite sure. My name is Max. And yours?” The Other Blonde smiled a little. “Draco. Draco Malfoy.” Max nodded. “Right.” he said shortly.

Max had ceased to speak as the train dredged onward, Draco had fallen asleep. Max heard someone call out that it was time to change into their robes. Max stood up, finding his trunk, and changed into his in a small area that was obviously marked ‘changing.’ He came back to his seat to find a still-sleeping Draco. He tried to rouse him, to little avail. He shook the other’s shoulders, and bit his lip when this did not cause him to wake. He looked around, twirling his fingers in a bit of Draco’s hair and giving a light tug. Draco awoke with a start, a mumbled “Not yet, Mum, I want more sleep.” Max put his fingers to his own lips, stifling a giggle. “You need to change into your robes, we’re going to be arriving soon.” Draco’s face went even whiter than normal. “Right. Hey, you pulled my hair! How rude.” Max smiled. “It was a last resort.” Draco’s face suddenly turned bitter. Scary was the word Max would’ve used. “You pulled my hair. Don’t ever do it again, you stupid brat.” Max’s pale golden eyes were wide, and he turned away to the window, hoping with all his heart he didn’t end up rooming with this rude boy.