Phoebe's Magic
Chapter Two
DISCLAIMER: I own only my ideas.
Skipped the Yule Ball, sorry, but it basically goes like in the movie except Ron is still mad at Harry, so they don't talk or anything, and it hurts Harry that Cedric goes with Cho but Harry makes a mockery of the Tournament tradition by dancing with Phoebe instead of a human girl.
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Harry gasped as he woke in the middle of the night. "Phoebe…?" She wasn't curled up with her head on his chest, she wasn't in her small form and snuggled into his neck – she wasn't even in the room. Phoebe's not here… Phoebe… "PHOEBE!"
He leapt from the bed, ignoring his robe and racing out of the dorm in his pajama pants and barefoot. He called for her in the Common Room before running out of Gryffindor Tower. "Lady Guardian!" he called, frantically knocking on the frame of the Fat Lady.
"What are you- What's the matter, dear?" she asked, having been ready to shriek for her sleep being disrupted.
"Someone's taken Phoebe!" he answered, tears welling in his eyes. "I can't find her!"
"Your little youngling?" she asked, getting a nod. "I can't help you, child. I don't know anything. I'm sorry," she apologized.
"It's okay, ma'am," Harry murmured before taking off down the stairs. "Phoebe! Phoebe!" he called as he ran down the hallways. "Phoebe!" he called in Parseltongue before finally collapsing from exhaustion somewhere on the Third Floor. "…Phoebe…" he choked through a sob.
"Harry?" a tentative voice called. "Is that you?"
"Neville? I…I thought you were in bed?"
"Well…we were…until you shouted for your dragon," was the lightly stuttered answer. "I…I got something for you yesterday, too. It should help in the next task!"
"Er…sorry for waking you…" Harry mumbled before looking up at Neville's outstretched hand. "What is that?" he asked, watching the seaweed-like thing.
"It's gillyweed! It'll let you breathe underwater for an hour!"
"And…how's that supposed to help me?"
"Well, you know that the next task is in the lake, right? And the Merpeople took something precious from you, right? Well, this'll help you!" Neville answered.
"'Something precious'… Phoebe! That's where she is!" Harry realized, looking up at Neville gratefully. "Thank you so much, Neville! But…how did you know?"
"Er…that…well, that I can't tell you," the timid teen answered as he pulled Harry up from the floor.
"I don't care actually. I owe you one…no, two! You're helping me with the task, and you helped me find where Phoebe is…though I still can't rest easy…" Harry said, mumbling the last part. I wonder who Cedric's precious person will be.
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Harry groaned as he put on the quite skimpy uniform that was provided for them. I'm glad they gave us pants and a hoodie to put on over it, or we'd all freeze! …I wonder what Cedric will look like… Harry blushed at his last thought before thinking about Phoebe. She'd better be okay, or I'm going to have to kill someone.
Harry's eyes were fierce as he walked down to the Black Lake, the gillyweed in his pocket.
"Good luck," Bagman said as each came by him until he got to Harry, who pulled him down by the collar of his cloak.
Harry stared straight into the wizard's eyes before snarling, "If Phoebe is hurt, I'll strangle you with your own intestines." He shoved the man back before stalking off, his every step purposeful as he came closer to the water. He was still snarling as he pulled his hoodie off and kicked his pants to rest with his shoes.
"Harry?" Cedric asked, lightly touching the teen's shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"They took Phoebe," the teen growled. "I want my sunshine back," he continued, still snarling.
Cedric gave a little smile and wrapped Harry in a one-armed hug. "She'll be okay. She has you coming to save her. Good luck," he said before going back to his starting place. 'They took Phoebe,' he mouthed to Fleur and Viktor, watching as the Veela and Bulgarian paled.
As soon as Harry was able to jump in the water, he pulled the gillyweed from his pocket, swallowed it, and dove in. He ignored the slight pain of the gills being cut into his neck then connecting to his lungs and webbing growing between his fingers and toes as he started swimming. Thanks, Neville, he thought toward his roommate for not only getting the plant for him but telling him everything about it.
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When Harry came to the end, he saw Hermione, Gabrielle, Phoebe,…and Cho. He winced at the pain that struck through his chest before going to his youngling. Using his wand, he sliced through her ropes and held her close. She's not breathing!
"It is a spell, young one," a Mermaid said as she swam up beside him. "A stasis charm, nothing harmful and nothing more."
"For Bagman's life, it better not be," Harry growled, watching as Cedric came up. He gave another small wince and looked away, holding Phoebe even closer. He felt eyes on him and looked up to lock green with grey. He gave a small smile and said, "Don't worry; I'm staying until everyone comes."
'Hero,' Cedric mouthed to him through his bubble charm.
Harry grinned and motioned him toward the surface. Cedric sighed, but did so, Viktor coming soon after him to take Hermione. Harry smiled at that before continuing to look around. Where's Fleur? he wondered, looking through the seaweed and arches to try to find her. "Where's the Veela?" he asked aloud.
"She had been trapped and had to be rescued. She is not coming."
Her sister won't be staying here, the teen resolved, bringing his wand out to cut her ropes as well, grabbing her around the waist and swimming with everything left toward the surface. He suddenly felt a tentacle wrap around his ankle, getting a soft cry of pain from him at the sharp stinging.
He pushed Phoebe and Gabrielle toward the surface, hoping they would get there as he was pulled further back. Oh crap, he thought as he felt his gills sealing up and the webbing between his fingers and toes degenerating. He quickly pulled his magic behind his back and willed, Explode!
He was flung bodily from the water and through the air. He landed with a rough thunk on the dock, coughing to get the remaining water from his lungs as Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor came over to him, Phoebe flying like a rocket and beating them all.
"Are yoo okay?" Viktor asked as they helped the teen stand.
"Vou hav ze grace of a flying anveel," Fleur said with a laugh before kissing both of his cheeks and Phoebe's head. "Vou did not hav to save my seester! But I zank vou so very much!" She hugged him tightly, getting many 'ouches' from him, before going to hug her sister as well.
Cedric only smiled at him as he kept an arm around the teen to help hold the blanket on him. When the others had left, he asked softly, "Why did you look at me that way?"
"If I told you… No, I can't risk your happiness for my selfishness," Harry answered, murmuring the last part softly.
"But…wanting me? You think you are selfish because you want me?" Cedric knew he had hit the proverbial nail on the head when Harry bit his lip and looked down.
A soft, humorless laugh echoed from Harry before he said, "I want a family… I want parents, and grandparents, and sisters, and brothers, and my little Phoebe… I want someone to love me for who I am and not what I can do for them… I want to live so far away from a place where the only reason I don't have scars is because of my magic and Ragnarok… How can I say I'm not selfish when so many others do, too…when so many others have the same wishes I do…?"
"But…Harry…"
"No… You have Cho. I can't take you away from her." Harry stepped away, nearly breaking down at the keening cry of sadness that Phoebe gave.
Cedric snorted. "You think she's my precious someone, don't you? They brought her here because they saw me dancing with her at the Yule Ball! They brought her here because I took her to the Ball as my date!" Cedric placed his hands on either side of Harry's face and forced the teen to look at him. "I'm not brave enough to destroy tradition by dancing with a dragon youngling…like you are," he added as he softly stroked the younger teen's cheekbones with his thumbs before leaning down to gently press his lips against Harry's shock-frozen ones.
Harry felt Phoebe's nose nudging his back, and he got the clue. He leaned up on his toes and wrapped his arms around Cedric's neck, giving a tiny moan at the softness of Cedric's lips. He moaned a bit louder when the wet warmth of Cedric's tongue slid across his lower lip then into his mouth.
"You queer!" Ron's voice echoed.
Harry held his arms tighter around Cedric's neck to keep the older teen from pulling away, but the Hufflepuff only held him tighter. "Don't let me fall," Harry murmured against Cedric's lips.
"Not if I can help it," was the equally quiet reply.
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Cedric kept his arm like a steel band around Harry's waist, and Phoebe stayed by Harry's side in her full size like his guardian angel, spitting her black fire at anyone who tried to upset the couple.
"Mama," she called softly as they passed by a door, but she stopped, looking straight at the door. "There's someone here, Mama."
"Can you… Professor Moody?" Harry asked, feeling the magic around the man. "He's never felt right, Phoebe…"
"He's never smelled right, either," she replied as Cedric looked at Harry curiously.
"What can you hear?"
"Portus… What's that?" she asked, looking at Harry with adorable confusion all over her face.
"He's making a Portkey… What else can you hear, Phoebe?" She answered him, and Harry's jaw dropped open. "Cedric, we have to go…now!" he hissed at the Seventh Year, grabbing him by the hand and running down the hallway. Phoebe easily kept up by flying beside Harry.
"This way," Cedric whispered, pulling him down another hall. "Pine Fresh," he said to the painting. "It's the Prefect's Bathroom. We're lucky no one's in here."
Phoebe sniggered, and Harry knew what was going through her head. "Phoebe! You nasty-minded youngling!"
Cedric grinned. "You wouldn't have said anything if you weren't thinking it, too," he murmured as he brought his face close to Harry's then kissed him tenderly. "Seems like Phoebe has the right idea in mind," he said with a laugh, the water already filling the giant tub. "This is where I was going to tell you to go to figure out the secret of those eggs…until yours hatched, anyway. I'm still trying to figure out how that happened…"
"Isn't it enough that it did?" Harry murmured, slipping his robe off before blushing slightly.
Phoebe snorted before giving a draconic grin. "Silly Mama," she said with a laugh before stepping in front of Harry and stretching her wing upwards to block him from view. When Cedric looked at her questioningly, she had the wish to be able to speak English.
Harry forgot about his privacy when his youngling started thrashing her head, seeming to try to scratch at her throat. "Phoebe! What is it?" He kneeled down to put her head in his lap and gently ran his hands over her throat with one thought, Help her!
"Thanks, Mama."
"Ph-Phoebe?" Harry whispered, shocked when the words tumbled from her mouth. "…" He was speechless, his mouth hanging slightly open.
"Flies, Mama, are better caught with honey," the youngling said with a laugh, using the tip of her tail to push his chin up. "I can still speak my natural language, too!" she made sure to tell him.
"Don't scare me like that ever again," Harry scolded softly. Phoebe looked down, her body slumping. "I'm happy that you can speak like this, little sunshine," he reassured. "You just scared me something awful…"
"I understand, Mama," she mumbled.
Harry tapped her nose with his index finger. "Phoebe, you had the wish to be able to speak English and not just understand it, am I right?" She nodded. "Why?"
"Well…it'll help when people are confused… I'll be able to talk to them…and people won't treat you like an outcast, Mama…" Phoebe answered, saying the last part softly.
"Those jealous people can rot for all I care! You're my baby, Phoebe! You're my number one priority!" Harry replied, a fierce light in his green eyes. "I'm proud of you, Phoebe."
Cedric smiled at his small, slightly-feminine-bodied boyfriend. He stepped over and gently pushed Harry's deep-black hair out of his eyes. "You're a good mother, Harry," he said softly.
"What about me?" Phoebe asked emotionally, giving a few fake sobs.
"You know you're a sweetheart, Phoebe," Cedric answered, laughing when she tackled him and nuzzled his cheek.
Harry smiled before quickly undressing and slipping into the water while Phoebe kept the Seventh Year busy. He laughed when Cedric looked between him and Phoebe then pouted. "Sorry, Cedric," Harry said, still laughing.
"You're not sorry at all," Cedric replied before grinning. Leaning over, he whispered to Phoebe, "You know what a cannonball is?" She nodded. "Will you help me get Harry back?" She nodded again but was giving a mischievous smile.
Cedric used magic to be rid of his clothing while Phoebe ran in front of him and in Harry's view. He jumped in the water right after her well-performed cannonball. Cedric laughed with his successful revenge when he looked to see Harry pouting, suds decorating the Fourth Year's dark hair from the wave that had splashed him in the face.
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"What had you so worried before we ran?" Cedric asked Harry softly as they relaxed in the water, the older holding Harry closely to his chest.
Harry sighed, leaning his head on Cedric's shoulder.
"If you can't trust your lover, Mama, who can you trust?" Phoebe asked, tilting her head to the side. She still felt a little disheartened but understanding about Harry not wanting her to talk in English unless he spoke to her in the language first. She knew that he was scared that people would try to take her from him and try to experiment on her.
"He's not my lover…"
"Yet."
"When did you become so wise, little sunshine?" Harry replied with a smile before tilting his head so that his lips brushed Cedric's ear as he said, "Phoebe heard Professor Moody turning the Tri-Wizard Cup into a Portkey… We don't know where it goes, but I don't want to take the chance that it's somewhere horrible… Moody hasn't felt right to me since he stepped into the Great Hall at the beginning of the year…"
"I understand, Harry," Cedric replied, tightening his hold for a few moments. "But…I don't want you getting hurt, either! We can protect Fleur and Viktor together easier than if it were just you alone… You're always alone in the end, Harry, and I'm tired of it," he added, whispering the last part.
Harry gave a soft hum of thoughtfulness at Cedric's last statement. "…Cedric… How did you know?" he finally asked.
"Hogwarts Grapevine," was the easy answer.
Harry snorted. "'Three men can keep a secret if two are dead,'" he quoted softly before adding, "'The only man one can trust is a dead one.'"
"…You can trust me…" Cedric murmured, getting a nod of agreement from Phoebe. He reached over to scratch a certain spot on the dragon's head, getting a draconic smile of contentment.
"I…didn't mean it like…like that…" Harry quietly whispered, almost as if talking to himself.
"I know…I'm just making sure you know that you can trust me."
"Me, too!"
Harry smiled at his boyfriend and youngling before leaning over to kiss Phoebe's forehead then turning around to press his lips against Cedric's willing mouth.
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Harry stood up on his toes and kissed Cedric one more time, softly saying, "I'll see you tomorrow," before disappearing behind the Gryffindor Portrait.
"Good night, lover-boy," the youngling teased with a draconic smirk then slipped through the door to go up to bed with Harry. "Mama?"
"I don't…have a very good feeling, Phoebe…" Harry murmured when her concerned expression came into view of his paler-than-normal face. "I'm worried about him…"
"You love him, Mama," she replied softly, giving a small smile when Harry's eyes widened.
"How can you be so sure…?" he asked quietly, looking down.
"You can't see yourself with him, Mama…but I can, and I love the way you two are together… Will I be calling him Dad soon?" she answered, asking the last part playfully.
"Phoebe!" Harry scolded, his blush ruining the effect of his voice as the young dragon burst with laughter.
Harry sighed happily as he climbed into bed after getting his pajama pants on. Giving a soft, small moan as he stretched before snuggling into the blankets, he ignored Phoebe's sniggering as the dragon followed his example. Harry held her close after he covered her with the blankets, enjoying the feel of her head on his chest.
"What's wrong, Mama?" she whispered, turning her head to look in eyes that created the birth of her own eyes' color.
"How can I love him…when everyone I love gets hurt?" Harry asked in barely above a whisper, curling up around his youngling as he trembled.
"Mama… Haven't you noticed that everyone who loves you gets hurt, too? Well…I didn't mean that like it came out but… Grr… You get my point!" She growled at Harry when he laughed at her for mixing her words up. "I love you, Mama, and so does Cedric. If you think loving us will get us hurt, then you're wrong," she continued when the wizard calmed his amusement at her expense. "You'll try your hardest to keep us safe because you love us. We love you, and that is why we will do the same for you.
"We can protect each other if you open up to us, Mama… And Cedric isn't a pushover. He's survived this long, hasn't he?" she finished, raising an eyebrow with her last question.
Harry stared at her long and hard before finally smiling and hugging her close. "I thought I was supposed to be the wise one," he eventually stated with a small laugh.
Phoebe nuzzled Harry's cheek. "Good night, Mama."
"G'night, little sunshine."
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"Good morning, love!" Cedric greeted with a smile as he hugged Harry tightly, lifting him from the ground to spin in a circle. As he sat him back on his feet, the Hufflepuff pressed a kiss to the younger teen's lips.
"Mmm… Morning," Harry replied through a quiet moan, tucking his head under the taller teen's chin. "I could get used to this," he added with a little grin.
"Mama, you're going to be late for class if you don't hurry and get something to eat," Phoebe informed, herding them with her wing into the Great Hall.
"Where's Fleur and Viktor?" Harry asked as he looked around the hall.
"They're sitting with Slytherin for breakfast. Do you want to join them?" Cedric replied, smiling as he kept an arm around Harry's waist.
Harry grinned as he spotted Fleur, and he put a finger over his lips to signal to Cedric and Phoebe. He tiptoed once he got close to her before grabbing her shoulders and whispering, "Boo!" in her ear.
Fleur DeLacour shrieked. "'Arry Potter!" she scolded, knowing that it was not working from the grin on his face. "Vou scared ze life out of me!"
"You're still breathing!" he replied cheerfully as he sat opposite her with Cedric sitting to his left and Phoebe coming to his right. "Good morning, Viktor," he said to the Bulgarian sitting beside the Veela.
"Good morning. Did yoo both sleep vell?" he asked through his muffled laughter as Fleur smacked his shoulder.
"Better than I have in a long time," Harry answered as Phoebe nuzzled his cheek. He fixed a plate of country-fried steak, fried sugar ham, and grilled chicken for his little youngling before fixing his own plate.
Cedric looked at Harry with mild worry, knowing that nightmares plagued his sleep, before turning to Viktor and Fleur. "I would have slept better if not for Cho trying to slip a love potion to me in the form of tea. I always drink a cup before I go to bed," he said, also explaining that it helped him sleep.
Lime-emerald eyes glowed in fury, but only Phoebe saw it because Harry kept his head down. "Are you okay, Mama?" she asked softly after swallowing the bite of ham in her mouth.
Harry leaned over and softly kissed her forehead. "I'm fine, little sunshine," he answered just as softly before hearing the beat of owl wings. "Mail call," he said as he spotted Hedwig. He moved his hair from his right shoulder before Hedwig landed there. "It's been a long time since I've seen you, girl," he said to the snowy owl. "I'm sorry for that. This year's been absolutely hectic."
She nipped his ear affectionately, showing that she was not mad at him. Harry smiled as he took the letter from her leg and fed her a few strips of bacon. She nipped his ear again before leaving.
Cedric smiled when Harry's eyes lit up as the Gryffindor read the letter he had received. "What's got you so happy?" he asked softly.
"My godfather caught the guy who framed him!" Harry replied quietly, not forgetting the warm comfort the older teen had given him when he had told him the story behind his parents' deaths. "He's turning him in at noon and wants me to be there to be a witness and to give memories…" Harry frowned slightly, anger clouding his eyes. "Dumbledore doesn't know…or the old man would try to stop him…"
"It'll be fine, Harry," Cedric murmured as he wrapped an arm around the teen and held him close.
"Do you think you could come…?" Harry asked in a voice barely above a whisper.
"I…I can't… I'm sorry, Harry… We have to present a project to Professor McGonagall…" the Hufflepuff answered sadly. "I'm sorry, Harry," he repeated.
Harry smiled at him. "It's okay, Cedric," he replied truthfully. "You don't need to apologize."
"But… Are you sure you'll be okay?"
Phoebe used the tip of her tail to smack the back of his head, getting a laugh from Harry.
"Okay…I'll take that as a 'yes'," Cedric grumbled as he rubbed his head.
"Phoebe will keep me safe! She's my knight in shining scales!" Harry said with a laugh, Phoebe sniggering beside him while Cedric continued to grumble among Fleur's and Viktor's added laughter.
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Well…there's Chapter Two for the hungry readers! XD
Now…REVIEWS, PLEASE! ^.^