30 Burning

As they entered November, the weather turned very cold. The mountains around the school became icy gray and the lake like chilled steel. Every morning the ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch field, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaverskin boots.

The Quidditch season had begun. On Saturday, Harry would be playing in his first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. If Gryffindor won, they would move up into second place in the house championship.

As Nova lay unconscious in the Hospital Wing, he was unaware of the events going on in the castle the following days. While resting the school somehow found out about the events of the fight with the troll. Though it probably had something to do with the fact that his last attack incinerated the roof of Ravenclaw tower giving the students a bird's eye view of the events that followed.

After a day or so, Hermione had woken up in the Hospital Wing, as she came to and realizing where she was at. She sat up and look around the room, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Nova laying down next to her a few beds over. As she laid in the bed, she tried to recall why she had ended up here but couldn't remember anything that had happened after she picked up Nova's wand. When she saw him sleeping, Hermione had a large headache. As her head throbbed she started to recall how she had met Nova and the damage that he had done. She began to remember everything that had transpired between them and how he had somehow made her and her family forget how he had appeared. After the headache had subsided, Hermione looked down and noticed the clothes that she was wearing just a simple gown. She immediately panicked and then looked over at Nova before blushing red. Though she felt irritated that he had lied and manipulated her and her family, Hermione also felt a warm, happy feeling deep inside her, but she didn't know why. Hermione then tried to get up to leave but was noticed by Madam Pomfrey and was told to lay back down.

As Madam Pomfrey fussed over hermione and checked to make sure she was in good health, Hermione looked Nova over. His wings were wrapped and bound like a mummy while extended out over two beds on each side. He had signs on his face like he was recovering from some scratches and bruises.

After being release, Hermione quickly ran back to the Gryffindor common room in order to get some proper clothes on. While she got dressed, she happened to look herself in the mirror. And what she saw made her gasp. Her skin was now smooth and soft, and had a soft rosy look to her cheeks. The mess of untamed hair was now softer looking albeit still a little on the bushy side. Hermione also noticed her brown hair now had soft reds, mixed in and the tips of her hair had a soft sunset color to them. Shocked by what she saw she was trying to understand what had happened and wished she knew. As she continued looking in the mirror, she noticed that she had a bit of a more mature look to her, it was like someone had sculpted any excess fat on her body and moved it to other areas making her seem more feminine in appearance. Another thing she notice was her face was different, it still looked the same but her buck teeth were now normal teeth and were straight, while her eyes were still brown they had an orange ring around her pupils.

She decided she was going to have to talk with Nova about it, since he might know. When she went to the common room, Hermione had found Harry and Ron sitting in the common room doing their homework for once. They duo had noticed Hermione coming towards them immediately got up and ran over to her.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked.

"Yeah we saw you turn into a ball of flames." Ron stated.

"What?" Hermione said. And then she listened to everything that had happened and how Nova reacted to her being missing to Percy the Weasel, and what happened to her when she blacked out. Hearing all this Hermione knew she was going to have to have a long sit down with Nova to get answers out of him.

Hermione had become a bit more relaxed about breaking rules since the incident with the mountain troll, and she was much nicer for it. The day before Harry's first Quidditch match the three of them were out in the freezing courtyard during break, and she had conjured them up a bright blue fire that could be carried around in a jam jar. They were standing with their backs to it, getting warm, when Snape crossed the yard. Harry noticed at once that Snape was limping. Harry, Ron, and Hermione moved closer together to block the fire from view; they were sure it wouldn't be allowed. Unfortunately, something about their guilty faces caught Snape's eye. He limped over. He hadn't seen the fire, but he seemed to be looking for a reason to tell them off anyway.

"What's that you've got there, Potter?" It was Quidditch Through the Ages. Harry showed him. "Library books are not to be taken outside the school," said Snape. "Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor."

"He's just made that rule up," Harry muttered angrily as Snape limped away. "Wonder what's wrong with his leg?"

"Dunno, but I hope it's really hurting him," said Ron bitterly. The Gryffindor common room was very noisy that afternoon. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat together next to a window. Hermione was checking Harry and Ron's Charms homework for them. And surprisingly there was little that she had to correct. At first she thought there would be a lot of errors but that was not the case, and even if they did have mistakes she would never let them copy. But they did ask her to read it through, they got the right answers.

Seeing the change in the two Hermione asked what had made them so focused on the school work.

To her surprise it was Ron that answered, "After the thing with the talking troll, we kinda realized that we needed to focus harder on the subjects so neither of us will feel entirely useless."

Hearing what Ron said, Harry nodded his head in agreement. After all, when Nova had asked them to help, he was unable to even hit the club with his spell. Which he found greatly embarrassing, since it was so large.

"Since you two have finished your homework, why don't we go and visit Nova and see if he is awake?" Hermione suggested.

Harry and Ron quickly packed up their stuff since they were tired of studying and writing, and even though they had decided to try to improve they still really wished Hermione would have helped them more.

Soon they arrived at the Hospital Wing were they met Hagrid.

"Hello Hagrid, what are you doing here?" Harry asked.

Noticing the trio started to talk to him, Hagrid lifted his hand and showed some bloody bandages, "Since Professor Dumbledore, asked me to help heal the dragon boy, I figured I ought to use it as practice when I get a pet dragon one day."

"How is Nova?" Hermione asked. As she looked down at where Nova was laying.

"He seems to be doing alright. Madam Pomfrey has already taken care of the human part and healed him, the only thing that is taking its time is the dragon side of him. Though the wings have stopped bleeding as much they are still torn and broken the splints I put on are holding and the bone has showed signs of healing."

"It is kinda cool when you look at it though." Ron said. "I mean to be able to fly around as you please without a broom. Just think at how great Nova would be at Quidditch."

"Don't talk about it right now, Ron, I am starting to get nervous again."

"Why don't you read the book again?" Ron suggested.

"Snape took it remember. I think I should go see if I could get it back." Harry said after thinking a little, and walked out of the Hospital Wing.

Seeing Harry leave Hermione, then turned to Hagrid, "So do you need any help?"

"No I think I have it handled." Hagrid said.

Hearing Hagrid's response, Hermione then reached out and tried to touch Nova's wings, and as she did an overwhelming pressure suddenly encased the castle. As the air in the castle started to shudder a small flame formed in the area where Hermione's hand touched Nova. Soon the flame, grew in size and completely engulfed Nova. Unaware of what just happened Hermione turned and saw Ron just about collapsed on the ground coughing up blood and Hagrid was on his knees staring wide eyed at what he was seeing. Now what Hermione was witnessing was happening all around the castle, no one was unaffected. Not even the ghost who started to move as if through molasses.

The flames gradually died out and as they did the pressure around the school faded like mist being blown away in the wind. With the flames gone, one could see that they had burned away all the bandages and healed all the breaks and tears on the wings.

Then with strong movement, the wings started to flap as if testing themselves and checking their condition. As if feeling that they were alright they suddenly folded themselves and went back into Nova leaving just a strong muscular back.

Seconds later, Nova opened his eyes, and pushed himself up out of the bed. As he stood up, and looked around Nova saw that he was in the hospital bed once more. Then from where he was standing, he saw Hagrid and Ron who were in a bad way. The first thing he noticed was that he felt stronger, and when he looked at the passed out Hagrid and Ron, he could see deep within their being. Giving a wide grin, Nova understood that something had happened and his ability to see souls had returned. Observing Hagrid, he saw a rock colored figure standing over a small silhouette, which he understood as Hagrid being half-giant, and for Ron all he could see was a small dog that was the same color as his hair.

Nodding his head, he then looked over at Hermione and opened his eyes wide in shock to what he was seeing.

"You are Hermione? Right." Nova said.

Seeing Hermione nod her head in agreement. He started laughing out loud in excitement. When he saw Hermione, he was completely shocked. As he looked into the depth of her soul he saw a otter swimming around in her core and in the center of the area that was her soul Nova saw a phoenix with a set of wings that were gently flapping about and a single tail feather. That tail feather made Nova ecstatic since it showed that the soul fragment was awake and upon seeing it Nova couldn't help but reflexively hug Hermione and spin around with her while laughing.

Cough, Cough

"Mr. Nova, I understand that you are happy but it seems that if Ms. Granger gets any redder she may pass out."

Hearing the voice, Nova turned and saw Dumbledore standing in the doorway.

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