Rouge Ailé

~text~ is Star speaking.

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Harry walked into the Great Hall, flanked by his two best friends, Hermione and Ron, as they headed towards the Gryffindor table for lunch. The Boy-Who-Lived-To-Defeat-Voldermort rolled his eyes at his friend's current bickering, which was nothing more than an argument about Ron's study habits.

"Honestly, Ronald," Hermione scowled at him as the red headed boy began eating his lunch. "You can't honestly believe that Quidditch is better than doing your homework. Flying brooms will not help you during exams or when you need to study. I'm tired of taking notes for you in class and letting you cheat off of me, so you better start pulling your own weight." She looked over at her other best friend pleadingly. "Harry? Help me out here."

Harry paused, his spoon midway to his mouth, and frowned. "Erm, I agree with Hermione," was all he said before shoving the spoonful of soup into his mouth. Hermione glared at him.

"Harry!"

"Merlin, 'Mione, just relax," Ron grumbled around the food in his mouth. "So what if I rather go flying than studying? It helps me loosen up more. Where's the problem?"

Hermione's eyes went round. "Problem? Problem! Oh, Ronald!" she groaned in irritation, and stood before stomping away to head down to Care for Magical Creatures class. Early.

Ron frowned, then looked over at Harry. "Blimey, Harry, what did I do now?"

Harry shrugged, too tired and distracted with thoughts of the upcoming Quidditch game with Slytherin to pay attention. "Dunno, but I reckon we better finish our lunch quick. 'Mione will be more upset if we don't show up soon."

Ron nodded in agreement and began to eat faster. Once both boys were finished, they stood up and headed down to their class with Hermione.

"Oh, lookie here," a deep drawl came from behind them. Harry and Ron turned to see Malfoy strolling towards them, with Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson at his side. "It's the two Gryffindorks. What's the matter, Weasel? Mudblood not around so you have to snog Potty here instead?" Blaise smirked.

Ron grew red in the face and his fists balled underneath his robes. "Shut up, Zabini," he spat, eyes flashing. "Don't you dare call Hermione that!"

"Ooh, I see we hit a nerve," Pansy crooned in an annoyingly high pitched voice. "Weasel not getting enough in bed then, I see?" She laughed.

Harry growled, his lips curled in a snarl. "Shut your trap, Parkinson. We don't have time for your stupid games and childish name calling today. Go annoy someone who cares."

Pansy and Blaise smirked. "Oh, poor Potty. The red head Weasley bitch not enough for you either?" the dark haired Slytherin snickered.

Harry's fists clenched around his wand. How dare they talk about Ginny like that? They weren't together anymore, but that still didn't stop him from getting angry at anybody who insulted her. "Shut the fuck up, Zabini!" Beside him, Ron's teeth clenched together as he fought to keep his temper down. He knew that if they continued any further, spells would be flying soon and the professors were most likely going to come and put every one of them into detention. And Ron couldn't deal with another detention this week. Neither could Harry.

Just as Harry began raising his arm, he felt a hand clamp down onto his shoulder. He looked next to him at his best friend, noticing the frown on his face. "Let's just go, Harry," Ron murmured, the anger still etched onto his face. "They're not worth it." Ron turned to give the Slytherins one last hateful glare before walking off. Harry nodded and followed Ron, glancing back at the Slytherins briefly. Blaise and Pansy were still standing there looking smug with themselves as the Gryffindors walked away. But Harry noticed that the blonde haired Ice Prince of Slytherin was gazing after them, his stance frozen and his lips set in a tight line.

Harry frowned. Malfoy hadn't even said anything during the entire argument, he thought, recalling how silent the blonde haired boy had been. Harry looked at him one more time before he and Ron turned the corner, and the Slytherins disappeared from view.

The boys walked outside and headed down the trail towards Hagrid's Hut where some students had already arrived for class early. Harry glimpsed Hermione among them, and motioned for Ron to stay back a bit. He started towards Hermione. "Hey, 'Mione," he said from beside her. The brunette looked at him.

"Yes?" Her tone was polite, but he could still tell the annoyance behind it.

"Listen, Ron is sorry for what he said to you." He knew that Ron had said no such thing, but he wanted for his friends to stop fighting and admit their love for each other already. As oblivious as he was to most things, he could easily tell Ron's infatuation with the bookworm girl and he knew that it was just as easily returned.

After seven years of knowing him, Hermione could tell Harry was lying right away. She knew that Ron hadn't said that and she guessed that he probably didn't even know what their fight had been about. Knowing the red head, he probably thought that she was just over reacting again. Hermione knew the truth, and narrowed her eyes at Harry.

"Well, you can tell Ronald that I don't accept his apology," she said curtly. "If he wants to say sorry, he has to say it to my face." She knew that that was doubtful of happening, but she was really getting tired of him. No matter how cute he looked or how talented he was on a broomstick, he was still stubborn and oblivious to the most obvious of things. Hermione sighed. Why'd she have to fall for him?

Harry frowned, seeing the raging war within Hermione's eyes. He sighed too. So much for wanting to help.

He noticed that Hagrid had joined them now and that class was starting. He glimpsed the Slytherin Trio from earlier a few feet away from them, and scowled at them before turning his attention to the Professor.

"'Ello, class," Hagrid said, clapping his soot dirtied hands together as he grinned. "Now, today's gonna be a special class. Yer lot are gonna be takin' care o' some amazin' creatures. Ha' anyone 'eard o' Rouge Ailés?"

Hermione's hand shot up into the air and everyone in the class rolled their eyes at her. Hagrid smiled at her. "Yes, 'ermione?"

"Rouge Ailés are the French words for Red Winged," she began. "They are creatures with blood red colored wings like a dragon's, but unlike a dragon they do not have scales nor do they breathe fire. Instead, they have the body of a small rodent similar to a rabbit though they are carnivores. They have a tail like a cat's and various colored eyes. There are different types of Rouge Ailés that all possess diverse elements such as wind, fire, water, earth and other elemental types. They are extremely rare creatures and only live to be about twenty years old. But they are extremely harmless creatures; their tempers each depending on the type of element they possess."

"Fantastic!" beamed Hagrid. "Ten points to 'ryffindor. Now, d'yer know 'ow to pick their names?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes. Unlike other pets such as dogs or cats, no mere human can pick the name of a Rouge Ailé if they choose to have one as their pet. The animal already has their name. With a Rouge Ailé, if one is to try and maintain the creature the owner must be 'chosen.' Indications of these creatures are still unsure to how a Rouge Ailé actually manages to 'choose' their owner, only that by 'choosing' them they expect their owner to give full care to them."

Hagrid beamed again. "Well done! Couldn' 'ave said that better than me self. And tha' class, is what yer gonna be workin' with today. This lesson will be on how to care fer sucha creature. Now, I'm not assignin' partners, but if more than one of yer catches a Rouge Ailé, both of yer 're expected to care for it. In a momen', I'm gonna let yer go into me garden and look aroun'."

"But Hagrid," Harry asked, jogging to keep up with Hagrid, who was leading them towards his gardens out near the back of his hut. "How do we know if a Rouge Ailé 'chooses' one of us?"

Hagrid smiled at him. "Oh, yer'll know, 'arry," was all he said with a secretive smile and then looked out into his garden where a group of furry creatures with tiny red stumps for wings were crawling around curiously, as if searching for food. Harry thought that they were rather cute and they almost all looked alike except for a few minor details such as coloring on the fur. He heard most of the girls in the group begin to coo and sigh over the creatures.

"Aw! Aren't they cute?"

"I can't wait to have one."

"Ooh! I want that one!"

"No, I wanted that one!"

"Aren't they such darlings?"

"They're babies, now," Hagrid warned them. "So b'careful with them." Then he let the students go.

Harry walked around, careful not to step on any one of them accidentally. He kept an eye out as many people begin snatching up one of the babies and begin talking to them. He almost smirked at their behavior, which was much like a parent's attention towards a baby.

As he walked along the garden, he quickly noticed that many of the babies had been accounted for so far and that there were not much left. Just as he had decided that there were no more baby Rouge Ailés, Harry heard a small whimper about a foot away on his left. He looked down and crawled forwards to brush away some grass, only to reveal a small baby Rouge Ailé with black fur and a tiny green star between its gray colored eyes. The baby Rouge Ailé was curled up into a tiny ball the size of a human's outstretched hand, and its watery gray eyes glanced up at Harry as he approached.

Harry instantly smiled at the small pet and reached out to stroke its fur. To his relief, the animal cooed and leant into his touch. Harry's eyes sparkled. "Hey, little buddy," he chuckled, scratching the animal behind its ear. "What's a cute thing like you hiding away here, huh?"

The gray eyes looked up at him as if he understood and the tiny head tilted in curiosity.

~I was scared.~

Harry froze at the unexpected, small voice in his head. He looked down at the animal, whose gray eyes still bore into his. He cleared his throat. "What for?" he whispered back.

The pet's eyes gleamed with unshed tears.

~I saw so many things thumping on the ground.~ The small animal sniffed. ~I was scared I'd get trampled.~ The animal stared back at Harry. ~Why can you hear me? I tried calling out, but no one else could hear.~

Harry frowned, thinking it through before he remembered Hermione's speech about being "chosen."
"I think...you've chosen me," he whispered, in awe.

The creature tilted its head again, the tears now gone with only sniffs to be left behind.

~I have? Oh good.~ The small body seemed to sag in relief.

Harry gave a small smile. "My name is Harry. What's yours?"

The baby Rouge Ailé beamed, uncurling from its little ball and swishing its tail like a dog's. ~I'm an Ètoile. But my friends just call me Star.~

Harry grinned. "Star? That's a beautiful name. But, you can talk to others of your kind?" Star nodded.

~They're the only ones besides you who I can talk to.~ Star suddenly grinned, revealing sparkly white baby teeth with sharp canines in the front. ~Harry. I like that name. Do you want to play with me?~

Harry paused. "Erm, well, I dunno. I think I have to take you back to Hagrid now..."

~Race you!~ And Star took off.

"Wait! Star! Come back!" Harry cried, frantically looking though the grass and being extra careful with where he planted his feet. His heart was beating fast in his chest as he looked around and found no sign of Star. "Star! Star!" he cried. He walked faster and his eyes darted everywhere for any sign of a black furry body.

He trailed a bit ways off from the group near Hagrid's Hut during his search, but he took no notice. He was too intent on finding Star. About twenty sixty yards from where he had first found Star, he noticed a familiar blonde haired figure stoop down low to pick something off from the ground. Harry was about to ignore Malfoy and continue his search for Star when he suddenly saw what Malfoy was holding.

"Star!" he cried out, rushing forwards. Malfoy glanced up at his approach, but made no sign of giving up the small bundle in his arms. "Merlin, how could you scare me like that, Star?" Harry whispered, the relief dripping heavy in his tone. "I though I lost you." He reached out for the baby Rouge Ailé, but Malfoy stepped back.

"No way, Potter," Malfoy sneered, holding Star closer to his chest as if protecting her. "I found her, so Star is mine."

Harry glared. "No way, Malfoy. She's mine first. I found her and she's already chosen me," he said, smug.

But Malfoy glared at him. "Yeah, whatever Potter. She's already spoken to me, which means she's chosen me, not you. Now bugger off."

Harry's glare turned fierce and he was about to retort back to Malfoy when Hagrid suddenly burst into view. "Ah! I see this lil' one has two daddies to take 'are of her now." He chuckled.

Malfoy and Harry froze, both slowly turning their gaze over to Hagrid. Harry gulped, pleading that what he had just heard wasn't real. "Um, Hagrid. What did you exactly mean by that?"

Hagrid looked at him. "Oh, I forgo' to tell yer, 'arry. Yer and the other students hafta look afta' whichever baby Rouge Ailé has chosen yer for the next seven months and watch afta' them as a grade." He beamed, looking at the two boys. "So now both of yer are daddies now."

Harry's eyes went round and his head tilted slowly to Malfoy, whose eyes caught his as they both looked at each other. Then, simultaneously their eyes landed on Star who, as if sensing them, smiled a cute, tiny grin.

~Hello Daddy Harry and Daddy Draco.~


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Hahahaha, I find that last sentence rather funny myself. Anyway, hope you liked! This story will get better, I promise!

This will be just another short story to keep me occupied while I think of more ideas for Summer Ecstasy. I'm not really on writer's block. I just wanted to write this plot bunny before it disappeared.
Please review and leave any comments. : )

Sorry for any grammer mistakes.