Written for the First Line Challenge. The first line comes originally from one of Melusina's excellent Pirates of the Caribbean stories.

"Sparrow?"

Harry looked sympathetic. "I'm afraid so."

"Your wings could be quite useful." Hermione neither looked nor sounded sympathetic in the least.

"A bloody sparrow?"

"What's wrong with that? Honestly, Ron, it's not as though you're something awful. Like a rat."

"No, just a sparrow."

"Well," Harry said, "you're not likely to be hunted when you change."

That wasn't much comfort. Hunted they might be, as fox and snake, but at least Hermione and Harry could keep some dignity. Ron thought he should be used to the lack by now.

Bloody sparrow.

"All right," he grumbled. "Let's practice it again."

~END~