Hello to you all and thank you for your patience with me in getting on with the sequel to Lord of the Light, Master of the Phoenix. Sorry it has taken so long, but as usual life seems to get in the way of want I want to do. Add to that, the computer problems I have been having and well... Anyway on to the next chapter...
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry and Co, so don't sue.
Harry Potter
And
The Green Flame Torch
Harry Potter blinked back the tears as he stared down at the book he held tightly in his hands. The photo of his parents smiling and waving was nearly more than he could bear and he quickly snapped the book closed and put it away. Taking several deep breaths to calm his emotions, Harry sighed tiredly as he rose to his feet and crossed the room to the connecting bath.
After splashing water on his face and grabbing a towel, Harry caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. The past two years had changed him to the point that it was hard to remember what he had once looked like.
The face staring back at him no longer revealed a likeness to his father at all. Gone was the short black messy hair and glasses. His face had become much more defined and his eyes reflected the soul of someone that had seen more death and destruction than any one person should ever have to see in a thousand lifetimes, much less one, and his shoulder length hair was so dark that if the light hit it just right, it appeared to have tinges of blue.
His body had gone through many changes as well. He now stood well over six feet tall, and had a well toned and muscular body from all the training he had been doing. His mind had been extended as well, since all four of the founders had insisted upon teaching him the ways of the oldest and most ancient forms of magic along with the most advanced forms he had been studying before coming to Avalon.
A gentle knock on the door pulled his attention out of the past and back to the present. There would be time enough later on to dwell on everything else, but for now he had a job to do, and with a flick of his wrist, Harry walked out the bedroom fully dressed and ready to take on the world.
Now however, watching as children seemed to flood the streets, laughing and preparing for the next school term to begin, James felt a deep sadness as it only reminded him of his own failure and mistake with his own son. Why had he been so hard on Harry? Why had he been unable to just be glad that he finally had his son back? These questions and so many more, hampered his ability to sleep at night, as well as occupied the majority of his waking hours as well.
Harry would have been starting his seventh year had he not disappeared almost a year earlier. Choosing to go with some strangers, rather than stay at Hogwart's with his family and friends. Just thinking of how he had pushed his son away, tore at his heart and he found himself blinking rapidly to hold back the tears.
"James?" Sirius called out for the third time, wondering what his friend was so deep in thought about as he crossed the room and placed a hand on James shoulder to gain his attention.
"What's up?" Sirius asked as he took in the sad look on the other man's face.
"Just lost in thought." James sighed as he moved across the room and slumped tiredly into his chair.
"What brings you here?" James asked as he waved his hand and a chair appeared for Sirius to sit in.
"You're the one that wanted to see me." Sirius said with a frown as he sat back and studied the look on his friend's face.
"At least that's what Lily told Alex." Sirius added.
"Your right. Sorry." James said as he shuffled the papers around on his desk, looking for the letter he had received only a short while ago.
"Do you know anything about this?" James asked as he skimmed over the letter before handing it over to Sirius to read.
There will be an attack today on Diagon Alley.
Sirius frowned as he stared down at the ragged sheet of parchment and the short sentence written in handwriting that seemed familiar, yet he couldn't seem to place.
"Where did you get this?" Sirius asked as he continued to stare at the writing, struggling to place who had written the letter.
"It was delivered this morning while I was having breakfast with Lily. It was delivered by a blue phoenix." James added.
"A blue phoenix?" Sirius asked in disbelief.
"I have never heard of a blue phoenix." He added more to himself than to James. "That makes two of us. But I was hoping that you might be able to shed some light on who might of sent it and more so if it is legit or not." James said as he raked a hand through his hair.
"I don't have a clue who wrote this, but I do wonder why you think I would." Sirius asked as he sat up a bit straighter and wondered just exactly what he was being accused of.
"But more importantly what the hell are you going to do about it?" Sirius asked as he rose to his feet and moved to the window.
"I can't do anything about it." James growled angrily.
"As you have sent most of the auror's to stand guard at Hogwart's." James said as he turned to glare angrily at Sirius.
"At your request, so don't you dare try to lie this at my feet." Sirius said as he turned from the scene below to glare at James. He should have known that James had not forgiven him entirely for not stopping Harry.
James was just about send a scathing retort back at Sirius, but before he could utter a single syllable, a huge explosion rocked the very foundation of the building that they were both standing in, knocking them both to the ground.
"Great Merlin." Sirius whispered as he crawled to the shattered window and peered down on the crowds of screaming people.Virginia Weasley stood frozen in fear in the middle of the street, watching in horror at the scene unfolding before her. One second everyone had been going about their business and the next running for their lives. Curses, hexes and charms were flying through air, no one caring who they hit, as long as it gave them that precious few seconds of time to escape with their lives.
It was only when someone dove toward her and shoved her to the ground that she shook off her fear and began throwing every hex she could think of at the death eaters that were attacking.
"Duck!" Ginny screamed at the tall man that had saved her life just a moment before as she caught sight of a stray curse heading straight in their direction.
"Thanks." The stranger dressed from head to toe in black said as he ducked and then flung a curse back at the one that had been aiming for him.
"Where the hell are the auror's?" The stranger gasped as the fighting seemed to go on forever with the ones fighting against the death eater's gaining ground with no end in sight.
"Rumor has it they are guarding Hogwart's." Ginny said as they both ducked another curse.
"By the time they get here, we will be dead." The stranger grumbled as he clapped his hands together and great dark billowing clouds suddenly filled the sky. The great clashes of thunder rolled with a deafening roar and for just a moment, it seemed as if everyone paused to look up as lightening begin to flash.
That split second in time was all the stranger needed as he spun on his heal, grabbing the girl around the middle while at the same time using his other hand to cut sharply through the air.
Ginny was so surprised from being grabbed from behind, that before she had a chance to protest, a brilliant golden light surround her and her captor and she felt herself being swept into a strong current of magic so overwhelming that she fainted.Harry paced anxiously back and forth across the large room, while worriedly wringing his hands together as he waited as patiently as possible for Helga to decide if Ginny would be alright.
"Well?" He asked as Helga rose to her feet.
"Calm yourself child." Helga said as he beckoned him to her side and gave him a brief hug.
"Your lady will be fine. She was just a bit overwhelmed in the backwash of the spell you cast." Helga added with a gentle smile; Surprised that it had taken as long as it had for Harry to find a reason to bring Virginia to Avalon.
"Now I believe Salazar is awaiting you in the Potions Lab." She said as she guided Harry toward the door.
"Run along and I will stay with her." Helga said as she stopped any protest that Harry would have made by gently closing the door before he could utter a single syllable.
Knowing it would be useless to attempt any kind of argument, Harry swore softly as he turned and made his way slowly to the potions lab. Salazar was apt to be a trifle put out by his lateness, but at the moment Harry could care less as he mind was fully engrossed by the beautiful red head lying in his bed.
Helga sighed softly to herself as she checked Virginia over one last time and after assuring her self that the young woman was indeed just sleeping, pulled a chair close to the bed and settled down to wait for the moment she would awaken.
Virginia was sure to be confused and have many questions when she awoke and it would not due to find that she was alone.