Chapter 2: Dealing with Life

The journey from the train station to Privet drive was bearable, Harry's only thoughts were, how am I gonna get away from the body guards to train? Refereeing to the order members, likely stationed out side the house.

'BOY!' shouted the old man, his uncle, the bully, the walking pudding. He struggled to hide a smile as an image of spotted dick came to mind.

'Get your stuff and don't show your face until you can leave for good. Understood? Good' Vernon stormed off without waiting to see if Harry had understood the missive or not.

Laying in his bed after studying all day and wondering what had happened to his beautiful Hedwig. She should be here now, unless she left me. No she wouldn't, she knows I love her and I know she loves me.

How right he was for that moment a white light shone like an exploding bulb and in the place of the ruckus stood a phoenix that reminded Harry of Hedwig.

'Hedwig? Is that you?'

The Phoenix nodded

Harry was filled with questions, 'But how!?'

A song permeated the room swelling the atmosphere with the emotion of love and Harry understood her.

Harry my heart, I travelled to meet with the phoenix leaders to ask permission to join them as a phoenix and so to aid you in your quest to vanquish the evil. They granted me the right and so I have returned to you as a phoenix.

'Whats it like, being a phoenix, and whats fire flight like?' Harry asked earnestly.

Fire flight tickles and being a phoenix well you feel this warm sensation of love inside more than anything before, no doubt, no hate no remorse, just love, forgiving, nurturing and enveloping. As far as I can tell, we don't eat any thing, we sustain ourselves on our magic. I believe I will miss mice the most, well ok maybe bacon.

Laughter erupted from Harry before he realised he could be over heard, he didn't care, there was hope for his part of the mission to be complete in the first week now after all.

'Hedwig, what do you know about the charm used by tom on his follows, called the dark mark?' and so Harry and Hedwig talked late into the night, but all anyone could ever hear was a symphony of music to sooth the hearts and souls of humans and beasts alike.

Meanwhile at the Burrow in the depth of night, Ron and Ginny went outside to practice in the near woods. The obscuring charm did the job as well as a few others. Sweat both dripped of each other after several hours later, for the work out and the repair that was needed to never let any one suspect.

As soon as they were back in, a quick shower and Ginny got to writing letter. Being one of the founders of the potter appreciation society did have a few perks, she knew lots of witches all across the globe, all in various positions, some of power, some of influence and some were just in the right place. Pig was getting a work out like no other, Molly was afraid of what her daughter was up to. She knew Ginny had just been dumped by Harry. Molly was thankful to Harry for not dragging her into this war, but she was now afraid Ginny would desire revenge for her broken heart.

'Ginny dear, I'm worried..' Molly started

'Don't be mum,' Ginny interrupted, 'I'm writing to the other witches out there saying that he is free and that if any of them hurt him, then well, there is lots of pain involved, from a broken heart and from me.'

Molly shocked by the maturity and loyalty, 'You still love him don't you.' It wasn't a question, and both knew that.

'I will do what I can for him mum, that's all I can do. After all it seems this war wont end without Harry, he is the focus in every major attack after all.'

'I know dear and it worries me too, I fear for him. I just hope he will make it out the other side and still be capable of loving someone.' Molly confided in her only daughter.

As her mum left the room, Ginny thought back to work now, let us see who can give us the layout to Mcnairs home.

Ron was enjoying life at the moment, funny that in a state of war, he was actually enjoying himself. He had recently gained a boost in his magical ability, he found the more he trained the stronger he felt. He was waiting on Ginny to give him some of the layouts. His job was strategy, who to go after and why, how to go after them and how to hit them. He decided to help the twins at the shop and achieve a few goals, get some spying equipment, get some money and get to listen to the crowds chatter. At the moment Rons life was good, now if only he could keep it like this feeling for the rest of time then he would be content.

Neville had received a letter form Hermione the 1st day of holiday. Already showing the location of a gun store, along with information about the security cameras and traps. Neville loved his gran, well he thought he did, but he definitely knew he loved Luna and she was the most important part of his life now. He had a chance to do something in this war, not to be a burden but to be a hero. He slipped into the night and the next day found him practicing various charms on the weapons. He carefully followed Hermione's notes after he found the devastation that one of the guns could do, he was getting used to it, and was looking forward to the first encounter. He was also happy for the sole reason that his procurement of the items had gone to a mystery file. None of the cameras showed anything, no sensors were tripped, it was as if one minute the guns were there and the next they weren't. He even waited in the shadows after the police arrived to see if he missed anything. He only left when the police left the scene baffled. They had been called by an anonymous caller saying the store had been robbed, everything was most confusing for the poor police men. Neville was happy he was working towards a goal, he was working to make life safe for Luna and himself.

Luna, bless her, as wacky as she seemed, she was not, and she had a sharp mind when brewing. Her 'holiday assignment' was to brew restoratives, and healing potions of all sorts and types. Harry had given her a list of what Madame Pompfry used the majority of the time on most cases. It was easy for her to practice for her father never really paid much attention, he was sadly going further and further into is own reality and away from reality. Luna loved him, but he was not the reason she was working and fighting in this war. No it was that shy boy named Neville, always polite, he never put her down or told her she was being silly, he was there supporting her. It made her feel again, for too long she had disassociated her mind from her body, but now there was a reason to be whole again, and she wanted to know all about sex and the pleasure of 'it'.

Hermione was sad, she enjoyed research, she enjoyed the feeling of achievement, but at this moment she felt sad for Ron was not there. She had a job to do, the first one already done within moments of getting home. She felt Neville must have obtained the correct items, now for her bit. She went next doors, to see an old friend well neighbour really, they had grown up together in the street, they were completely different, but they had something in common, their street. A young woman, looked to be about Hermione's age opened the door.

'Hi, is Richard in?' Hermione asked.

'Whos asking?'

'An old friend, I'm Hermione.' Hermione smiled hoping she could win this thing over.

'give us a minute.'

A few moments later after some muffled yelling and pounding of soles on stairs the door opened to reveal a young man.

'Hiya Richard, good to see you, any chance we can talk quiet like?'

Laughing 'six years you been missing as far as I can tell then one day you just pop up, coarse we can talk, good to see you too herms.' He said smiling and hugging her.

As they walked past the bus stop they walked into an old church yard and stopped inside the porch made of rough flint and mortar.

'Whats this about herms? You in deep shit?' Asked a concerned Richard.

'You could say that.' A smile playing on her cheeks. 'Look I'm not allowed to say anything of the situation, but lets say there is a small private war going on that's killing hundred across the country. I need something that can give them bastards a shock they soon wont forget. You still keep your old stuff?'

'look I got the stuff, but I can help'

'no you cant, I'm a veteran by all standards now, been in enough fights and got enough scars to prove that.' Hermione looked sad, she would never have smooth skin, she hoped Ron would still stay with her.

'alright, tonight I'll bring you the shit, 3 grades, flash bangs, grenades and home made high explosives. Got to love the Irish, they certainly knew how to make a bomb.'

'lucky those years have come to pass, now we face a different enemy. Hope I havn't caused too much striff at home.'

'Ahh forget it, one drunken night and life long mistake. Yeah I know its my own fault for being Catholic but its my faith.' He said.

'I know and I've never said anything either about it. It is your choice and as long as you are happy with yourself then I am glad.'

They parted ways never seeing each other later that night, they both knew the risks with this style of life, friends soon become memories.