See chapter one for warnings/disclaimers/summaries, etc. *Italics are for parseltongue.
RECAP: Harry has just publicly announced at the victory dinner that he will be leaving and snuck off to Hogwarts to rescue his lover. After freeing Eris, who was trapped as the Mirror of Erised, and Basil, the playful basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets, Harry prepares to retrieve his next lover.
"Fawkes? Could you lend a hand, please?" Harry spoke clearly and with authority.
There was no answer for a good minute or two and then a brilliant, scarlet-plume flashed before their faces, before the Phoenix in question materialized before them.
Basil squeezed Harry's neck a little tighter, but didn't speak, only watching with her dark eyes as the Phoenix flapped his gorgeous wings, hovering beautifully in front of them.
"Grab ahold of me," Harry instructed Eris. "And don't let go." He waited as Eris scooted around to stand in front and after a moment, nudged him, so that Eris was standing on his foot. A wandless featherlight charm also insured that he'd be comfortable, as Eris carefully held on.
Harry reached out and grasped the long, gorgeous tail feathers with one hand, just as Fawkes took flight with a powerful beat of his scarlet-plumed wings. They soared up and out to stand in Myrtle's bathroom once more, aided by flashes of phoenix-fire.
Harry released his hold on the tailfeathers at once and checked Eris, then Basil, who was nearly half-choking him with the sudden upward motion. He was fine—it wasn't the first time he was making that particular trip anyway—and managed to ease her off of his back to stand on her own, wobbly feet. "There we go, that wasn't so bad, was it now?" He soothed.
Basil clung to him, her face red and her lips in a definite pout. "I don't want to do that again," she cried.
"Me neither," Eris said, plaintively.
Fawkes shook himself all over, his feathers ruffled. He threw a dark look over one shoulder and Harry caught the expression.
He fought to keep from smiling and just barely managed. Fawkes could be touchy at times, but Harry had long-since learned to read his moods and the reasons behind them. The phoenix had likely felt abandoned and frustrated, which often resulted in a relapse of less-than-stellar behavior. Harry was sure that he'd have his work cut out for him, keeping track of his growing harem of sorts.
"Fawkes, behave," Harry said, sternly. "And change back. It's been forever and a day since I've seen you properly." He turned to tend to his two lovers, cuddling them both close for a moment, before bestowing a kiss upon each pouting mouth. "It wasn't so bad," he soothed. "It was quicker than all of that walking and you know we have to hurry."
He'd traveled by Fawkes' flash before and it had most definitely been much smoother than that, but he wasn't about to mention such a detail in front of the other two. Whatever was bothering his Phoenix, he'd deal with it when it was just to two of them. They all deserved to have some privacy and what few secrets kept their dignity intact. He would never take that from them.
Harry turned to cast a look over one shoulder, checking to see if Fawkes had made any progress at all. He perked a brow, meaningfully. He would not make his request again and he didn't like being ignored.
Eris sniffled, relaxing somewhat when Basil decided to hug him along with Harry. He pinked, faintly, but after a moment, rubbed his cheek against her shoulder and sighed. He'd been scared to death to think of meeting her—after hearing about Harry's harrowing adventures when she'd been under that horrid imperious spell. But now he could see—as he often did—that Harry's strong, kind heart had looked past the outward appearance and seen something beautiful inside. He was glad that Harry had opted to save her instead of kill her.
Basil made a soft hissing sound in answer to his sigh and snuggled closer, seeking the warmth that came with him. Her body would always be sensitive to cold and even though she'd lived in the pipes and the freezing cold Chamber of Secrets for so long.
Leaving them to each other, Harry turned around to fully face Fawkes. He crossed his arms over his chest and tapped a foot, the picture of tempered impatience as the change he'd requested finally happened.
The brilliant, colorful wings stretched out to their full wingspan and fluttered, before magic of a lovely, crimson shade began to wisp and swirl around each appendage. Wings became arms and the large beak recede into a thin, narrow face, while the elegant plumage became a mixture of tri-color hair and soft feathers all twined together. From the crown of his head to well past his waist, Fawkes' hair was several shades of red, orange and yellow—crimson, sunset and marigold.
Unlike the others, Fawkes appeared fully clothed. It was a smart suit of stark black and crisp white, lending credence to his golden skin and black eyes. Shiny booted feet gleamed, adding to the imposing image as Fawkes' scowl completed the barely tempered aura. He had one hand shoved into his trouser pocket and the other holding a thin, rolled cigarette in hand.
He appeared far older than any of the others and when he felt Harry's gaze on him, he met the brilliant gaze squarely.
"What are you doing?" Harry sighed. "You know that I would have come to you sooner if I could. Fate enjoys toying with my strand of life." He pinched the offending thing from Fawkes' fingers and banished it at once. "You told me you quit."
"…I did."
"Oh?"
Fawkes' shoulders hunched halfway up to his ears and the feathers mixed into his hair, seemed to bunch together, as if ruffled.
"I thought so," Harry said, matter-of-factly. "What did I tell you about that?"
Fawkes leaned away, looking down his nose at Harry, taking advantage of the height difference. "That you don't like it?" He snorted. "There's many things that we don't like, but we don't always have the opportunity to-"
"It's a nasty, disgusting habit and it will kill you," Harry snapped. "Just because you have a bit more magic in you than others, doesn't mean your life is automatically extended because of your ability to reincarnate yourself once a month." He held out a hand. "The rest of them?"
Fawkes eyed him for a moment and then the bravado faded. His shoulders slumped and his feathers went limp. He didn't protest when Harry dug out the rest from his pocket and incinerated them on the spot. He'd expected as much, if he'd lived past the terrible war-and if Harry had survived as well.
Harry perked a brow.
Fawkes huffed, but he knew what Harry was waiting for. He struggled inwardly for a few moments, before instinct took over and he simply couldn't help it. When he opened his mouth, a sad trill filled the hallway.
Harry sighed and reached for him with both hands. He hugged the taller figure to him and stroked a hand through those tri-colored locks, a mixture of feathers and silky strands. "I don't want to see that again," he murmured into Fawkes' ear. "You are important to me. I care about you. I love you. I have survived and bargained with Death to be here with you, please don't rush into her arms because you're unhappy with me."
Two hot tears sizzled down Harry's neck. He muffed the sound of surprise in Fawkes' shoulder as the unexpected healing coursed through him. His magic surged to the surface at once, soaking up every single available benefit it could from two fresh Phoenix tears.
They stood there, wrapped around each other for another long moment, before Harry kissed his cheek and gently stepped back. "We have to get the others," he said, a touch of regret in his voice. "As much as I cannot wait to spend time with all of you, time is the one thing that we still do not have to spend as we like."
Fawkes sighed and nodded. He cracked his neck to the side, keeping his head at the odd angle. "Who are we picking up next?"
"Who?" Harry echoed, a mysterious smile settling on his face. "Why Fawkes, my dear, surely you already know?"
A/N: Hey everyone! I'm glad folks liked Basil. She was fun and cute to write and apparently she will get along quite nicely with Eris, so hurray for that! Less stress for Harry, LOL. Anyway, onto the next chapter. Here we go for lover #3! Congrats to daithi4377 and the anon "n" who guessed Fawkes. Good job, guys!
As before, y'all are welcome to offer any guesses for who's next. :P Enjoy the madness and thanks for reading!~Scion