Hidden Wings - Part I

The Silverwing

Professor Dumbledore and several members of the Order were present, as well as all of the Professors except Severus and Remus.
The headmaster had tried to come up with a new solution, but things were getting tight.
"I heard Mr. Malfoy telling Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle, that Lucius Malfoy wants to know what is causing the absence of so many Professors", Professor Flitweak had squeaked earlier.
Several Professors had confirmed this.

"Poor Jessamine", Hagrid had sniffled, "she must be so scared."

Professor McGonagall had awkwardly tried to place a hand on his shoulder, which was difficult since she was barely half his height.

"We will find Ms. Lince", she had said confidently.

Mrs. Weasley had been so stunned to find out that the last Silverwing had been in her house.
"She didn't appear like one in the slightest", she had said confused.

Molly and Arthur Weasley had determinedly searched the Forbidden Forest, but with no luck.

"Mr. Malfoy is trying to get Mr. Fudge to investigate here", Kingsley Shacklebolt now said.
"And he wants more dementors positioned around Hogwarts."

Nymphadora Tonks opened her mouth, when suddenly Professor Dumbledore raised his hand.

Then they all heard it.

Hoofbeats.

"Severus and Remus must have found her!", Hagrid exclaimed in a whisper, his eyes shining hopefully.

Nobody replied, as all eyes were at the door. The tension in the room was so thick, a knife could have cut the air. Barely anyone had seen a Silverwing when they had still roamed the forests; they'd always been shy creatures. That was why everyone held their breath as the hoofbeats grew louder-

The door knob turned and slowly the door opened.

And Professor Lupin entered.

He looked at their expecting faces and nodded.
"Severus and I found her", he confirmed and stepped aside.

Behind him stood a beautiful silver horse, its fur gleaming in the light of the torches.
Its eyes were a vibrant green, and between the white hair on its forehead, a silver horn spiraled into a sharp tip. When it entered the room fully, large wings came into view. Folded carefully along the slim body of the Silverwing were silver feathers with a white tip each.

The magical moment was destroyed when a gruff voice behind the Silverwing said: "Ms. Lince, would you be so kind to move so I can step into the room."

The Silverwing nickered apologetically and stepped further into the room, its wings bumping into the tables. Startled, it moved backwards again and Professor Snape just had enough time to jump aside before being squashed by an equine behind.

He glared at her.
"Five points from Slytherin, for almost crushing a teacher."

Professor Sprout laughed, but quickly changed it into a cough when black eyes shot daggers at her.

The Silverwing nervously stood in the room, aware of the stares. Professor McGonagall was gobsmacked. Hearing her student was a Silverwing and actually seeing it was quite another cup of tea.

Mrs. Weasley got up, her eyes as wide as saucers. "Oh my", she whispered, "I never thought I'd get to see this day."

The Silverwing flicked its ears forward curiously and cocked its head slightly.

"She is not able to transform at the moment", Professor Lupin informed everyone, "she will probably be in her human form by tomorrow morning."

"Thank you for finding Ms. Lince", Professor Dumbledore sent a relieved look to Professor Snape.

The Silverwing snorted restlessly, as it could not move much in the cramped room.

"Minerva", Professor Dumbledore instructed, "could you and Pomona show Ms. Lince the room we have prepared for her?"

The Silverwing nickered nervously.
What was the room?

Professor McGonagall stepped up to the Silverwing and, still awed by the sight before her, explained: "We have tried to transfigure a room for you that will resemble a forest as best as possible."

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She and Professor Sprout had some difficulties leaving the room because the Silverwing could not move much and was blocking the doorway.
But alas, that problem was solved and the Silverwing trotted behind the two Professors down the corridor.

After a few minutes, they turned left at a fork, which was illuminated by bright, golden torches. Looking back a few times, Professor McGonagall made sure that her student was alright, since the narrow hallway might make her feel claustrophobic.

While focusing on finding the right way in the underground labyrinth, the stern-looking woman mentally went through all the clues that could have shown her that Jessamine Lince was actually not a human.

Her handling the troll in her first year.
Healing Mr. Weasley in her first year.
Displaying more healing abilities while helping Poppy and healing the petrified in her second year.
Befriending several creatures while helping Hagrid in her second year.
And added to that, having a wild osprey and a blackbird as friends.

Professor McGonagall shook her head at her own blindness.
The poor girl, she thought, always pretending to be a muggleborn and dealing with the hostility from the other Slytherins, just to keep her secret safe.

And then the orphanage came into her mind.
What a horrid place.

She wrinkled her forehead in disgust and shot a glance at the Silverwing behind her.
Professor McGonagall had no words to describe the effect of its presence on her, but it made her feel- safe. And pure, like no evil thought was left in her mind.
And when she thought at her colleagues' faces, she could tell they felt it too. It even affected Severus. His eyes seemed to be calmer, less full of hate, although they were still carefully guarded.

After a few more turns, they were on their way up again, and finally ended in front of a door.

Professor Sprout opened it, and the two Professors stepped inside and turned around, waiting expectantly for the Silverwing's reaction.

It stepped inside and froze, its green eyes wide.

The walls of the room were barely visible since they were covered in leaves, and trees grew out of the green, grassy ground as far as the eye could see. A soft breeze caused some flowers to slightly sway in the wind, which carried the sounds of crickets and birds to the ears of the Silverwing.

Suddenly, a brown feathery ball shot out of the canopy and fluttered in front of the Silverwing's head.

Esma chirped exitedly and Professor McGonagall watched amazed how the bird seemed to have a conversation with the winged unicorn. It neighed happily and the bird landed on its head, with a satisfied expression in its bird eyes.

At least that mystery was solved why Ms. Lince always seemed to talk to the bird.

"The room extends several miles in either direction", Professor Sprout said and pointed around her.

"The ceiling is enchanted to resemble the sky outside, but we would not recommend flying higher than a few meters", Professor McGonagall added, being in her teaching-mode again.

The Silverwing tilted its head slightly in thanks. The blackbird fluttered off her head, chirping, and the Silverwing whinnied excitedly. It pranced across the grass, then broke into a gallop before disappearing into the forest, the blackbird right behind her.

Professor McGonagall stared after the two, and said flabbergasted: "Did you expect this?"

"No", the stout woman replied and shook her head in disbelief. "I never would have expected that there was a Silverwing that had survived."