A/N: I would just like to apologize to my readers and my reviewers about the lack of updates. I post this story at harrypotterfanfiction and I keep forgetting that I have posted it here. That is my fault and I would like to thank chickchat303 and others who have pointed that out. I plan on updating this story so that you can continue to read it. Please continue to leave feedback. I know my story is a little strange and sometimes doesn't fall in the bounds of Harry Potter so much. I've also had reviews at the other site that said there are a few errors throughout the chapters. Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to edit and update the chapters so if you see any mistakes please let me know. Also I know that this isn't much magic and spells but I hope toward the end of this there will be a bunch of it. Right now I'm focusing on relationships and the like. I hope that you continue to read and review. Once again, I'm sorry for the lack of updates. If you wouldn't mind, I believe I will start updating on every Thursday - once a week. However, this week it will be today - Wednesday. I hope that you enjoy this chapter and the others to follow. Thank you.
Chapter 4 – The Relationship Element
The babbling brook, that actually seemed to be babbling on and on about how endless it was, was cold beneath Harry's feet. His black dress shoes were sitting beside him, black socks stuffed inside. The black dress robe he had been wearing had been lost somewhere along the way and the top button on his white shirt was unbuttoned. The soft summer breeze made the trees rustle above him and the sound from them seemed to drown out everything the brook was saying.
Fleur and Bill's wedding had gone off without a hitch. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had never been so happy. And in a miraculous turn, Percy had shown up, although still not staying a word to any of them. Ron and Ginny were proud as anything to give Percy glares and whispered amongst themselves, talking about him as if he weren't even there. There was a huge turn out from friends and family. It made Harry smile to know that there were so many people that came to join in the celebration. Tonks had shown up – dressed in a lilac gown with hair to match. It hadn't seemed to phase Lupin. All he could do was smile and grasp her hand as if it was going to be their last waking moment together. Even Ron and Hermione had come to some sort of agreement, not arguing once during the entire ceremony.
Harry had wanted to stay away from everyone, sorrow filling him that he had broken off his relationship with Ginny. Fred and George had kept him occupied – bringing with them fireworks especially made for the occasion. It made the crowd "ooh" and "ahh" at certain times and then burst into laughter at other times. Harry had even seen Mrs. Weasley become different around Fleur. It seemed as though their relationship had blossomed over the summer months he had been gone. The shock had finally sunk in after Fleur kissed Mrs. Weasley on the cheek and thanked her for the 'lovely wedding gift' – at least that's how he translated it and apparently how Mrs. Weasley had as well.
There were very few members from the Order of the Phoenix in attendance – Lupin and Tonks and Mad Eye Moody were just the ones he saw. He had been hoping that Isis might be in attendance, but there was nothing to indicate that she had been invited. Harry was sure that she was quite busy at Hogwarts, trying to prepare the school for the coming school year. He still hadn't received a letter indicating what his dream had meant. Hedwig still hadn't returned and Harry was sure she was patiently waiting for Isis to respond.
"I thought I'd bring you a piece of the wedding cake."
Harry slowly looked over his shoulder to see Ginny standing behind him with a plate in her hand. Her pale yellow summer dress was billowing around her as the breeze blew. Her auburn hair had been pulled back with a simple yellow ribbon and stopped hiding her beautiful features. Atop her head was a crown of daisies. The smile she wore was wide, but Harry knew she felt awkward after everything that had happened only months before.
"You didn't have to do that, Ginny," he replied simply. "I wasn't really hungry."
"Mum is worried about you. I told her that I would take care of the problem." Ginny walked over to Harry and sat down beside him. "I see the brook is up to speaking about his problems again."
Harry chuckled, the awkwardness still lingering between them. "He hasn't stopped since I got down here."
Ginny held out the plate with the piece of chocolate cake and Harry took it. Their hands touched for the briefest of moments, but after the brief touch it felt like his entire body was on fire. He hadn't forgotten what it was like to be with her, but he knew it was better to be apart. It was the only way to keep her safe – to keep anyone safe. If Voldemort knew that he was involved with someone, he would stop at nothing to make sure that Harry's weaknesses was exposed and destroyed. That was why he feared for Ron and Hermione. There was no way he could protect all of them. He wasn't even sure he could protect himself.
"I miss you." Tears were starting to pool in her eyes. "I've missed you since you left."
There was nothing Harry could do except wrap his arm around her shoulders. He rested his head atop hers as she leaned into the warmth of his embrace. Sobs wracked her body as he stared out into the woods.
Why was love so difficult? Even his mother and father didn't have the chance to explore what could have been a beautiful relationship. Much like his mother and father, he and Ginny had grown up together at Hogwarts. Each had watched the other mature into a grown man and a grown woman. Ginny had always been so nervous around him and he had always denied that there was any feelings toward her. Little did they know that the relationship would be something that could have been something beautiful. He loved her and there was no denying it. There was no lying to himself any more, but he needed to protect her and to make sure she was safe. Until Voldemort's demise, it was the only way he could love her.
"I've missed you too, Ginny."
She looked up at him, her eyes glistening from tears. "I'm not going back. I wanted to tell you myself."
He looked at her confused. "You aren't going back to Hogwarts?"
"There are too many memories there that I don't want to remember." She paused for a moment. "It was the place where the best thing that happened to me died."
Harry couldn't respond – his tongue feeling like lead in his mouth. His throat was dry and he felt as though his heart was going to pound out of his chest. He looked at her as her gentle touch on his cheek awoken something in him that he had pushed away deep inside.
"I fear that this might be the end of you, Harry." She tried to fight back the tears but couldn't. "I think Voldemort might win."
"Don't say that!" He wouldn't be denied the thought of a happy life – a happy future. "I'm going to survive and Voldemort will be destroyed."
Before their discussion could continue, Harry felt a cold chill run down his spine. It had seemed that the cloudless sky above was turning black from an incoming storm. As he looked above, he noticed that it was not a storm rolling in but Dementors patrolling the skies.
Harry quickly stood, taking a hold of Ginny's hand and helping her up. He kept her close, not certain if he could keep all of the Dementors at bay. Even his Patronus wouldn't be strong enough to dodge as many floating in the sky for long.
Pulling his wand quickly, Harry pointed it high above, ready for the battle to come. Ginny wrapped her arms around him – shaking in fright. The brook had grown silent as if somehow knowing that his rambling was no longer needed.
Ginny screamed as a Dementor came soaring down with its black ghost-like figure shifting about without thought or care. The Dementor was preparing to make its kiss known to both of its unwilling participants and ready to leave their bodies lying near the brook, soulless. Just as Harry was about to shout 'Expecto Patronum', he stopped and watched as the grass around them seemed to catch on fire. The Dementor must have seen the same thing and stopped quickly, unsure of what was going on. The flames didn't spread as Harry thought they would. Instead they grew upward, making a barrier between Ginny and Harry and the Dementors that soared above.
Harry slipped away from Ginny's embrace and moved toward the fire. There was no heat inside of the box of fire – it was cool and not hot like one would expect from a raging fire. His outstretched hand touched the flames, not getting burned in the slightest. The fire cracked as the Dementors tried to break into the burning barrier. He laughed, finding the entire scenario unbelievable.
"Harry, what's going on?" Ginny asked confused. "Did you do this?"
"No!" Harry's fingers danced in the flames, still untouched and unscathed.
"There's no heat. How is this fire being maintained?"
And just as soon as the flames had been created, they extinguished themselves. The sky was blue once again and there was no sign of the Dementors. He looked down at his hand that had touched the cool fire, as Ginny linked her hand with his.
"This is why I ended us while I could." Harry continued to look above, waiting to see a Dementor come toward them at the speed of light. "I can't always protect you from what is coming. If I had some idea, some inkling of what was going to happen, I might be able to. But, Ginny, I can't be with you and have the thought lingering in the back of my mind that I could be the cause of your death. It's hard enough to live with the fact that I still feel responsible for my parents' death."
It had been the first time he had spoken the words aloud to Ginny. The guilt of his parents' death hung high over his head every day he woke. It was the thought of revenge that willed him to continue on – to move past the pain and regret of the things he couldn't do.
"Harry, I can't presume to know what you feel, but you are not the cause of your parents' death." Her hand squeezed his. "And you won't be the cause of mine."
This time Harry felt heat and not the cold chill down his spine as he had before. It was as if the entire world had been engulfed in fire. He looked above to see the same bird that had been following him and Lupin on their way to the Burrow soaring in the cloudless sky. It looked as though it was on fire, its wings a beautiful orange and red with its body a bright yellow. Lingering just above where they were, Harry knew now that it was watching over him. Had Isis sent it to make sure that he was alright? Did Lupin know anything about the strange bird?
"Ginny, let's get back to the party. We've had enough excitement with the Dementors. Your mother would kill me if something happened to you."
Ginny smiled at him warmly, the tension between them lessening. "Don't worry about mum. She loves you as if you were her son. And I love you for being you."
The bird soared away as Harry and Ginny walked hand-in-hand toward the wedding reception. So many thoughts lingered in the back of his mind. Lupin had told him it was no use in stressing anything that wasn't important at the time. At the time, Ginny was the only thing that mattered. When they returned to the party he would have to tell Lupin of the events that had just occurred. Maybe he would find out what the bird was that was guarding him from anything that Voldemort seemed to be throwing at him. It was just the beginning, but he was more than ready for it.
"How could you let him wander by himself!" Tonks screamed at Lupin. "Harry could have been killed!"
Lupin sat at the wooden table in the middle of the Weasley house, listening to Tonks scream at him. "Harry is fine, Tonks."
"If it hadn't been for…" She stopped abruptly as Harry walked into the room. "If it hadn't been for the miraculous fire that just suddenly appeared, he would have been killed along with Ginny. We can't just allow him to romp around the woods alone."
Harry sat beside Lupin and watched as Tonks paced the room. She was still wearing her lilac dress but her hair had turned a bright shade of red. Harry knew Tonks was angry by just her hair color alone.
"You're acting like his mother," Lupin scolded.
"And you aren't acting like anything. If Sirius could see you now…" She sighed as she looked at Lupin's expression and began to regret what she had started to say. "I'm sorry."
Tonks took the empty seat next to Harry and put her head in her hands. Her job as Auror was becoming a 24/7 affair. She was constantly being sent everywhere without cause or reason. There was no time for a personal life and it was Fleur and Bill's wedding that had given her some time alone with Lupin. It had been the first time in months they could actually see each other for more than five minutes before she was whisked away again.
"I know it is your job as an Auror to look out for everyone's well-being, Tonks." He stood and moved behind her. His hands kneaded her tense shoulders. "But there has to be somewhere along the lines that you can take time to take care of yourself."
Lupin gently kissed the top of her head and she leaned back against him. Harry watched as Lupin wrapped his arms around her and held her as she cried. It was what he did with Ginny as soon as he explained to everyone what had happened. He had been sure that Mrs. Weasley would yell at him for putting her daughter in danger but once again had been proven wrong. Mrs. Weasley thanked him for saving Ginny and had quickly turned back to the party, afraid of spoiling the day's events.
But Lupin had grown worried about what had occurred. He knew it was odd for the Dementors to just wander about freely, looking for Harry. Harry had explained the wall of fire and the bird that seemed to be watching over him. Lupin was unfazed about that little part of his story. It was as if he had expected something like that to happen.
"You know the only thing that matters is Harry's well-being." Tonks sighed. "There is no time for anything else."
"There are other people seeing to that – I being one of them." He smiled at her as she looked up at him. "You need to worry about you…and our child."
Harry's eyes went wide. He glanced over at Tonks and Lupin in utter astonishment. It had been at Dumbledore's funeral that he noticed the growing relationship between Lupin and Tonks. There had been a large debate about them ever getting together because of Lupin's change into a werewolf. But now Harry was shocked to find out just how involved they were. Was he the only one who knew of the news?
Tonks smiled at Harry and grasped his hand. "Listen to us. You came downstairs with questions and we're sitting here discussing our lives. What can we do for you, Harry?"
"You're going to have a baby?" Harry asked, still in shock.
All either of them could do was smile. Lupin was the first to respond. "You are one of the first to find out. We didn't want to tell anyone in fear of something being said. Tonks knew that she would be relieved of her duties as Auror if anyone found out."
There were too many questions floating around in Harry's head to grasp anything that was going on. Everything seemed to be in a whirlwind – all of it happening too fast. In just the few months that he had been at the Dursleys, everything had changed. Harry was beginning to wonder if Hogwarts would be the same way. Would everything that he had grown used to be changed enough that he would recognize it?
"You won't tell anyone will you, Harry?" Tonks asked, concerned about her secret getting out.
Harry shook his head. "You're secret is safe with me. I promise."
Harry, again, felt the heat as he did earlier in the day. He quickly got up from his seat and noticed the fire bird in the sky, illuminating it more than the moon ever could. He felt a firm grasp on his shoulder and saw Lupin standing behind him.
"The phoenix," he simply said.
Harry shook his head. "That isn't Fawkes. I've seen a phoenix, Lupin. That isn't one."
"The Fire Element's phoenix if you will." Lupin noticed the bewildered look on Harry's face. "I know that I had said that the Four Elements was only a myth, but apparently I was proven wrong. Isis informed me that the tale is true. The Four Elements do exist and apparently are here to protect you."
More protection. Although there was more protection than Harry thought he would need, he knew it would not stop Voldemort from trying to kill him. He was thankful for all of the help but knew he was traveling the path to the end by himself.
"Come, Harry. All will be explained in due time." He turned Harry toward the stairs and toward bed. "I think it's time for you to get some sleep. Soon you'll be back at Hogwarts and there will be no time for resting." They stood at the bottom of the stairs. "Do you want me to come up with you?"
Harry looked back at Tonks, sitting at the table, her hair now a shade of blonde he hadn't seen before. Her anger had diminished and she was waiting patiently for the last few minutes she could have alone with Lupin.
"I'll be alright," Harry said. "Besides, Ron and Hermione are waiting up for me."
Lupin just nodded and watched Harry solemnly walk up the stairs, lost in thought. What else was in store for him? The thought had entered his mind of being afraid of approaching the doors of Hogwarts. Then he thought of Ginny and how she had grasped his hand near the brook and the look of horror on her face as the Dementors attacked. It was her beauty and belief that he would return to her that willed him on. He liked to think that maybe the relationship that he once had with Ginny was on hiatus instead of totally over and done with.
Harry ran up the rest of the stairs and toward his room. Maybe some time soon he would get the response he needed in order to feel better about the year to come.
"A phoenix other than Fawkes?" Hermione questioned. "Is Lupin sure about that?"
Harry was silent once again, sitting on his bed and looking out the window. The fire bird, Harry now knew as the Fire Element's phoenix, was soaring in the black sky, watching over him and protecting him from any harm. He had been oblivious to Hermione's question until Ron hit his leg, garnering his attention.
"I'm sorry. What did you say, Hermione?"
"I asked if Lupin was sure that it's a phoenix flying out there. I would think Professor Dumbledore would have known about it. I believe Fawkes is the only known phoenix in existence. Don't you think one of the most powerful wizards that the Wizarding world has ever seen would know about another phoenix?"
"Why does there have to be an explanation to everything, Hermione?" Apparently whatever truce Ron and Hermione had at the wedding about not arguing was now null and void. "It's here to protect Harry. You think you would be happy about that!"
Hermione sighed and laid down on the bed she was on. "I didn't say I wasn't happy that there was someone, something else, protecting Harry. I just think that someone should be explaining to him what exactly is going on."
"Maybe its better that he doesn't know," Ron rebutted. "The more secrecy, the less Voldemort knows."
Harry agreed with the both of them. He wanted to know what exactly was going on, but knew that the less he knew the better off he was. There would be a time and place where he would find out everything. Isis promised he would know the things he needed to know when he needed to find them out.
Just as he thought about Isis, he heard the fluttering of wings and the gentle tapping against the window pane. Harry looked up to see Hedwig perched on the windowsill. He quickly opened the window and she flew in and sat herself on Harry's bed. Ron and Hermione quickly joined him on the bed, impatiently waiting to see what was in the note. Harry gently took the note from Hedwig and opened to see the note in beautiful calligraphy-like handwriting. Instead of the normal black ink used by almost every wizard, Isis had seen to it to scribe the note in red ink.
"Read it out loud, Harry," Hermione pressed.
Ron shook his head and rolled his eyes. "It's a private note, Hermione. Maybe Harry wants to read it first before he lets us know what's in it."
As Hermione and Ron sat on his bed and argued the point, Harry began to read the letter to himself.
Dearest Harry,
I am sorry that it has taken so long for me to respond to your letter. Hedwig found me with due speed but I was not at Hogwarts as I had told you. Set, my friend's owl, had to bring me the letter and in turn had to return my response to Hedwig. Please do not fault your owl, seeing that it is my fault that I was not where I was intended to be.
Your dream must have been most troubling, but it was filled with information that I needed to know. Thank you for giving me the most vivid details that anyone has transcribed to me. It was as if I was inside of the dream and reliving it myself. Voldemort is growing in power and now that I know he is on the hunt for the Four Elements, I am able to get this information to the people who need to know it. Wormtail will never be able to complete Voldemort's task, seeing he is not strong enough to bewitch the holders of the Four Elements.
What are the Four Elements you ask? It would take too long to explain to you on parchment, but when you return to Hogwarts I will give you the answers that you seek. Know that the Four Elements are here to help you. It is an ancient myth and one that only the darkest of times would bring forth. Seeing that you are in danger, Harry, it is up to the Four Elements to try and help in any way possible.
As for the fire bird you are continually seeing, I have told Lupin to tell you what it is. I am sure that you are aware of what a phoenix is and of the presence of Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes. However, I am also sure that you know that the bird that is following you is not Fawkes but is indeed the Fire Element's phoenix – a patronus of sorts. Once again, it is hard to explain exactly what it is in the short amount of time I have to write this letter. The Fire Element is one of the strongest of the Four Elements. It is able to protect you when need be. Let it, Harry. Let it protect you and the ones you love until I am able to do it myself.
By the time this letter reaches you, it will only be one week before you are to return to Hogwarts. The professors here are waiting with anxious breath to teach the children who are coming this year. The curriculum will be changed from previous years but will teach you everything you need to know.
I look forward to seeing you again, Harry. Lupin keeps me informed of your well-being and assures me that you are in the best of care. Say hello to Ron and Hermione for me. I look forward to seeing Hermione again and meeting Ron for the first time. If you need anything else before you return to Hogwarts, I promise I will respond more quickly this time. I will see you in one week's time.
With much sincerity,
Isis
Harry folded the letter and put it in his pocket. Hedwig brushed her head against his arm and he gently stroked her head before she fluttered off and back near her cage. Hermione and Ron had finally stopped arguing and looked at him with baited breath.
"What did she have to say?" Ron asked.
Hermione inched herself closer to Harry but also, in turn, inched herself closer to Ron. "Did she say anything about the Elements?"
Ron pushed her off of him, annoyed with how close she was to him. Hermione screamed as she nearly fell off the bed. He quickly caught her and she clung to him as if she was near death. Harry eyed the two of them, knowing that there was something more between them than just the friendship they had started almost seven years ago.
Harry tried to ignore Ron holding Hermione to continue on with his story. "She didn't want to explain what the Elements were in her letter. She said it would take too long, but she told me the same thing Lupin did – it is a phoenix and is controlled by the Fire Element. Also, she's relaying the information I gathered from my dream about Voldemort seeking the Elements to the people who need to know."
"So the Elements are real?" Ron was shocked. "Fred and George told me about them when I was a kid. The three of us always thought it would be cool to be one of them, although we had thought they were a myth. I guess we could call them superheroes like the Muggles have in comic books. There were always stories about them saving wizards and witches. It was kind of hard to believe at the time, but now it all seems different."
Ron didn't know how right he was. Everything was different. Nothing was as it should be yet it all felt right. Feeling the heat again, he knew that the phoenix was high above, watching over him, Ron, and Hermione.
"It's only one week until we go back," Hermione said, still clinging to Ron as if she was going to fall again. "Are we ready to face what's coming?"
Harry was more than ready. He was ready to get back and find out everything that was going to happen. He wanted to find the Horcruxes and go back to Godric's Hollow. It would be at Hogwarts where his life would start again and quite possibly end. But he knew that he would give it everything he had. He would give his life to save the people that he loved. It would start at Hogwarts as it had seven years ago. The Boy-Who-Lived would be the Boy-Who-Killed-Voldemort. He would make sure of it before the year was up. The relationship between him and Voldemort would come to an end, whether or not he survived.
