Chapter 3- The Legend's Death and Rebirth
Hermione Granger had graduated first in her class, and had been one of many people involved in the Dark War. She was extremely dedicated, to both her work and her friends, which she had an empathetic bond with. She found that out during her summer break before their 6th year…
She had just received a letter from Ron, who had just been informed that his brother Charlie had been involved in a terrible accident. One of the more aggressive dragons he looked after had gotten loose, and in an attempt to sedate it, he had been hit with the Norwiegen Ridgeback's tail. He was dead upon impact. And what was shocking was that she could feel the emotions written in the letter. She's owled Professor Dumbledore immediately, and consulted every book she could get her hands on. When the reply came, she had been relieved to find that it was quite normal for her to be experiecing things that were not "normal." It's what is most commonly refered to as Wizard's Puberty. Many witches and wizards go through it as they go through their natural puberty, but others are later, often as a reaction to something tramatic. He said that it would be a good idea to inform her friends of her discovery, so it wouldn't be as much of a shock when she could read them like a book.
Ron had thought it was funny, how she could tell what a person was feeling just by looking them in the eye, and often joked about her becoming like Professor Trelawny. She had hated him for it. Harry said that it was a gift that she would need later in life, and to ignore Ron. He had been right.
When the attack had come, she could feel everyone's panic and fear, and they were easy to block out, but it was Harry she had problems with. She could feel everything he had been going through during the battle, and knew before anyone else that Harry had lost part of himself. That was also part of the secret she'd been keeping from everyone…
She finished her second letter, and once it was sealed, picked up her wand. With a simple little flick, the envelope was shimmering with a dark blue light, which died down to a dull glow. With a smile she attached it to Hedwig's leg, gave the owl a treat, and brought her to the window.
"Take the charmed one first, then deliver Harry's." she said softly.
Hedwig nodded and nipped at her friends fingers before taking off, disappearing from Hermione's sight. With a sigh she turned back to her room, and for the first time, throught about what it looked like.
The floor was a dark wood, and like the rest of Hogwart's rooms, the walls were stone. Where she stood, she was directly in front of the patio doors, and to her left was the door to her wash room. It was exactly like the Prefects bath, with the exception that it was a single, and had an enchanted floor: It looked looked like rippling water, and changed with the inset tub. The bedroom was straight across from her, normally with the giant double doors closed, and decorated in the Griffindor colors. She had a large mohagany canopy bed, sheer red curtains surroundign it, and dressed in shimmering gold blankets. There was a tapestry hanging on the far wall, of the Griffindor Crest, and smaller banners of red and gold along the other walls. Her bed was against the right hand wall, a fire place across from it on the left. Her dresser and wardrobe were set on the far wall, and there was a large set of mirrors and a dressing curtain in the front left corner by the fire place. She had a small table and chairs set on the right hand side of the fireplace, which was surrounded by a small collection of her favorite books. They were all charmed with a fire-proofing spell, and she smiled as she noticed 'Hogwarts: A History' sitting in a glass case on the center of the mantle.
The sitting room was smaller, compared to the bedroom, and had a fireplace against the wall closest to the hall and patio doors. It had a few picture frames on it, and a large Griffindor banner above it. All along the wall that divided the sitting room from the bedroom was a bookshelf, with a mirror set in the center. It was covered in books, jars with miscellaneous contents (one of which being her Blue Bell flames), and a few other little collectibles. There were seats all around, as well as small tables. To anyone else, it would have looked like a mini library, but to Hermione, it was home.
She smiled back out side, watching a few first year students kicking an enchanted soccer ball around, others flying on their brooms. She turned away with a brisk step, waved her wand at her bedroom doors, and picked up her cloak and a small stack of books before leaving the room completely.
"Mr. Edwards! No flying in the corridors!" she shouted as a boy wizzed by on his broom.
"Sorry Professor Granger, but I gotta catch it!" the boy replied, turning around to look at the group of kids following him, but only met a steely-eyed glare.
"I don't care what you have to do Mr. Edwards, but there is to be NO flying inside, is that clear!?" she said, voice sounding much like a certain Transfiguration professor…
"Yes mum…" was the defeated reply as the boy landed and walked back outside.
"That's better."
~!*^*!~
Glowing red eyes looked up from the large, ancient book levitating in front of a dark figure, and narrowed at the scene displayed in a mirror across from a large bubbling cauldron. With a flick of a slender wrist, the book was sent flying back onto the shelf it came from, and the figure seemed to float over to the mirror, eyes flashing dangerously.
"So you've finally decided it's time have you? Well we'll just see how 'happy' your reunion with Mr. Potter is…" the beings voice dripped as it whirled around to face the cauldron. "You should have never betrayed the Dark Lord… and I'll make sure that you wish you really were dead!"
~!*^*!~
The moonlight danced playfully over the large lake and seemed to catch on something wading out a bit in the water. Upon closer inspection, the form of a clydsedale sized black and silver-blue dragon could be seen, and it was looking straight out in front of itself, as another being.
Silver-blue eyes glittered in the light as he brought his hands up above his head, wand pointing straight up at the moon, eyes never breaking contact with the glowing sphere. He drew his arms out in an arch, and crossed his wand over his chest then back out and up in one fluid motion, graceful as a Juliard dancer, and then held his arms down at an angle. With a quick turn of his feet, he made a full circle, and a wisp of green light trailed after his wand. With speed only granted to magic, the light took on the translucent form of a snake, and swirled around its master, leaving a trail of dark blue in its wake as it shot up at the moon. It weaved in and out, in what Muggles called the infinity symbol, and the two halves flared in blue light before exploding in a shimmer of glittering light. The figure smiled and turned to look at the dragon that had spead his wings out behind him, taking in the moon rays.
"You remember that, don't you Keya (A/N: Pronounced KEE-YAH)?" the fae like boy said as he walked over to the dragon, his toes leaving ripples in their wake, "That's what that Mother used to call you home from the forest, isn't it?"
The dragon seemed to purr as he rubbed her muzzle and long neck, hand trailing down the length of her body as he walked back to the sandy shore. The Manor stood up on the hill before him, the long winding path that lead to the lake lit by torches, and lined with an old wooden rail that never weathered. He smiled at the sight of the massive house all lit up like there were actually people in it. But then he remembered that he did live in it, and that it was home.
As a cloud passed over the moon, the screech of an owl cut through the air, and looking up past his dragon, the boy saw Hedwig flying down towards him. His brow furrowed in confusion, and once she landed, he noticed that one of the letters was glowing a dull blue. Once untying it from her leg, he read the name written on it, and smirked. It was his name, in her hand writing.
"An anti-open charm, huh? She must have something important in here." he said, pointing his wand at the seal. "Abicere Phoca." [1]
The blue light shimmered for a second before disappearing, and he pulled the letter from the envelope. The writing seemed to glow, and he decided it would be best to read it up in the manor, where he could consult his books if necessary. He patted his dragon on the shoulder and disapperated into his study. Sitting down in the chair by the fire, he began to read.
"Dear Mal,
I got your letter, and I'm a little concerned, not only for him, but for your safety as well. I know that these past three, almost four, years have been hard on you, they've been hard on me too, but I don't think it wise to come back just yet. I got an owl from Sirius, and he thinks Harry's going through Wizard's Puberty, and I agree, to a certain extent. I've already gone through it, as has Ron and yourself, and I was pretty sure that Harry had too, but recent events point in the other direction.
I'm sure you've 'heard' about the little spell he had during Quidditch practice, but Sirius says that he's changed completely. I haven't seen Harry lately, but I don't think it's normal for him to be as dark as Sirius discribes. He says that he broke down the night of the Quidditch episode, claiming that it was all his fault that you're 'dead' and that everything was his fault. He also says Harry's been making regular trips to Knockturn Alley, and recently 'reclaimed' what Harry calls the Dragon's Blade. I've tried researching it, but can't find anything on it. I haven't had a chance to talk to Albus yet, but I'm sure he'll know what it is. You don't have any ideas as to what Harry's doing, do you? I know you've kept tabs on him since the funeral.
As for this whole thing with you cancelling the auction, I think Harry knows something's up. He knows Lucius is dead, and as far as he knows, you and your mother are too. Why would your father want everything kept as is, if there isn't anyone to use it? He doesn't seem to be asking too many questions about it though…
I don't have much more time to write, I have class in about 10 minutes, and I want to get this to you right away. Harry's birthday is in only 2 weeks time, and we need to discuss what we're going to do about your reunion. Write me as soon as possible.
~Hermione"
Quickly laying the letter aside, he pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill, and set to writing his reply.
~!*^*!~
Harry pulled out a large green glass bottle and uncorked it. Sirius watched through narrow eyes as his Godson poured himslef a shot of the clear liquid and downed it before recorking the bottle and returning it to its place in the cupboard. He did not like the fact that Harry used a potion to aide him in his sleep, but knew that it was probably the only thing that let him sleep peacefully. It had only been a few days since he'd came to visit Harry, and already he knew that there was something definitly strange going on with him. The athame he'd picked up in Knockturn Alley a few days ago never left his desk, and was charmed so that only he could touch it. He also seemed to spend an enormous amount of type stiffling through an old book that Sirius could only make out as a Book of Shadows. Although it had shocked him to the core, he understood that Harry had looked into the old Muggle religion of Wicca, and seemed to believe much of it. He'd learned later that Harry's chosen dieties were those of ancient Egypt and Greece, and that he kept his own Book of Shadows.
Although it wasn't taught, the ancient religions were very strongly based on real magic, and in some cultures, an actual witch or wizard was what Muggles refered to as their High Priestess or Priest. He'd also learned that Wicca was becoming a very popular conversion for Muggles. He had a long discussion with Harry one evening about how he had gotten into it.
"I had found a 'spell book' in a muggle bookstore one day, and it intrigued me with its rhyming and purpose, so I looked up Wicca, which was mentioned in the introduction of the book. I found that much of it is based on old Witches and Wizards, from before Muggles were afraid of magic. They would gather together to preform healing spells or rituals for others, or just to honor the dieties that gave them their power. It was all very primitive of course, but its basis was in real magic. When I really thought about it, I realized that although we had been taught all about the different parts of our wizarding powers, and about the dark arts, we had never been given something to believe in. The Dursleys had been Catholic [2], and when I thought about their beliefs, I came to the conclusion that our magic had to come from somewhere. Believing that there are higher beings who grant us these powers and all this knowledge is something that was like second nature. It gave me something other than the past to think about."
Although Sirius didn't see things the way Harry did, he understood. Everyone has to believe in something, whether or not it's God or not doesn't matter. There has to be something for one to put their faith in, or else there's only scientific reason, which in the case of magic, there isn't any of. Muggles understand religion, and if that's what Harry needed in order to cover his real magic, then so be it.
~!*^!~
The sun filtered through the bedroom window like it was trying to tease the sleeping red-head in bed. It was rewarded with a loud groan and the sleeping boy turning over, eyes shut firmly and face down in the pillow.
"Ah ain' ge'in up yeh." he mumbled as his owl started buzzing around the room. "Shu' up Pig!"
A pillow soared through the air at the owl, who dodged easily, and Ron sat up, sratching his head while he yawned into the sunlight. He was built much like his brother Bill, in the fact that he was tall and thin, but he was also all muscle. His freckles had faded to a certain extent, his hair was still unbelievably red, and his blue eyes had turned more to a grey-blue. He stretched and pulled on the sweatshirt lying next to his bed, then headed out into the hall. He was greeted by the sight of a woman's bottom sticking out of the hall closet. With a smile he walked past, smacking her playfully as he moved into the bathroom.
"Ronald Weasly! Give me a heart attack why don't you!" she yelled as she whirled around to fall right into his arms.
"Now where would the fun be in you dropping dead in the middle of the hallway?" he retorted as he kissed her lightly.
"Ron…"
"Let me shower, then we'll go out for breakfast."
" 'kay… that 'muggle' place we like?"
"Sounds good to me. I'll be out in few luv."
He kissed her again and turned to the bathroom, shutting the door soundlessly behind him. She sighed and moved back to the closet, where she pulled out a new set of towels…
"Ron, hon, you forgetting something?" she asked as the water turned on and she heard him step in.
"Don't
think so, why?"
"Because I have your towels."
"Oh. Well come on in then."
She walked in and placed the towels on the counter before a wicked idea made its way into her head. She silently slipped off her clothes and when she was sure he was facing away, she opened the shower stall door and slipped inside. He didn't notice her until she wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his shoulder blade.
"Jesus! What the hell do you think you're doing woman?! Are you trying to drown me!" he sputtered as a spray of water found its way down his throat.
"You
said I could come in."
"Stupid woman."
He turned around and kissed her fully, her body feeling incredibly hot against his cold one as he ran his hands up and down her back. She could do nothing but smile as his kisses wandered down her neck and shoulders, and she giggled as he ran his fingers over her sides.
"Ronald, if you keep this up, we'll never get to breakfast before lunch."
"This is a good enough breakfast for me…"
~!*^*!~
Sirius stood out on the balcony, his shoulder length black hair pulled back in a low pony tail and watched the sun rise. He sighed and leaned his weight on the banister, eyes flickering over the quiet street below. He knew Harry would be asleep for awhile, but he couldn't help but think about the nightmares that had been waking the poor boy for the past 3 years.
He's done a fine job of hiding his stress, that's for sure. the animagus thought as he started to lose himself in the memory of the past few days. (A/N: this takes place 2 days after "Mal" got his letter from Hedwig, which was one day after Hermione mailed it. It's now a week and a half from Harry's birthday)
When they had returned from Knockturn Alley, Harry had pulled out a Pensieve, and told his Godfather to look into it with him…
-flashback-
^What are we going to be seeing Harry?^ Sirius asked, looking at his Godson a little confused.
^Just watch Sirius, you'll see.^
As they watched, Draco Malfoy stormed past, his robes flying out behind him as he threw open the door to the Potions room. Snape jumped out of his seat and upon seeing the boy, walked around his desk to the center of the room. Malfoy slammed a pendant of sorts onto the nearest desk, and glared at the Slytherin house leader.
"Where did you get that Draco?" Snape asked coldly.
"My Mother mailed it to me this morning. Said something about it not being safe with her any longer. What the hell is so important about this damned jewel that scares her!?"
"That
jewel is no ordinary stone Mr. Malfoy." a new voice said as Professor
Dumbledore walked into the room. "That is what many have grown to call the
Narcissa Diamond. Your mother's always
worn it around her neck, am I correct?"
"Yes but-"
"That is not the real form of the pendant, but to be safe, your mother charmed
it to look like such. Touch it with
your wand and say 'Abicere Phoca'."
Malfoy did as instructed and the diamond flared a bright blue. Draco watched as the silver casing around it shifted forms, into that of a dragon like cross, the diamond set in the center. The dragon turned its head and stretched its wings, a small sound like a yawn coming from it. He picked it up to look at it closer, and the pendant was now solid, but warm.
^Harry, what is this?^ Sirius asked as Snape pulled a small wooden box from under his desk.
^Just watch, you'll understand in a minute.^
"Mr. Potter, there's no need to keep that cloak on." Dumbledore said with a smile.
Harry pulled off his invisibility cloak and glared at Malfoy, who looked like he'd just seen a ghost. Without saying a word, he pulled a small bundle out of his pocket, and slowly pulled the black cloth off. Snape's look darkened as he got a good look at what it was Potter was holding.
"Headmaster, is that the Dragon's
Blade?"
"Yes Severus, it is indeed."
"And how did Potter get his hands on it?"
"It was a gift," Harry interupted, "from my father. Like my invisibilty cloak, he had entrusted it to a close friend
and said that in my 6th year I was to have it."
"Headmaster?"
"It's true. The Potter family have long guarded the Secret of the Dragon, as have the Malfoys. Mr. Malfoy, what you hold in your hand is one half of the Dragon's Eye Diamond. It is an ancient stone that was found in the skelleton of a Dragon, or rather , in the eye of a dragon skull. At one point in time, your family and the Potters worked together to keep the balance between the Light and Dark sides of magic. When the final battle against the Dark Lord of their time was defeated, the diamond split into two halves, both identical in power and look, and each family kept a half. They were placed in their magical settings to protect the two halves from falling into hands of a dark wizard, bound by blood. The blood of a Potter and the blood of a Malfoy. No one but you two will be able to touch these items, unless of course someone has your blood."
Dumbledore sat down and motioned for the boys to do the same. Neither sat.
"During the battle the diamond created a blade unlike any the world has ever seen. It surpasses even that of Excaliber, which rest in my office. It also called upon the Five Elements, represented by five dragons. It is said that when the stone split and the settings were created, the diamond shifted one into the athame Harry holds, and one stayed. Legend says that should the two halves ever come together, the blade will be come complete and once again call upon the Elements. Unfortunately, you can't just put the two together and expect it to happen. The holder must allow it to happen, or they will not merge."
"Then
Potter and I must actually work together in order to create this blade?"
"Yes Mr. Malfoy, that is exactly what I am saying. Although I don't think it possible until you both learn of your
true powers, and that is not for another year or so."
"Then if Voldermont attacked right now," pointed out Harry, "And Malfoy joined
him, would the two halves work against each other?"
"No, I don't think so. You see Harry, Draco has no intention of helping You-Know-Who, and has in fact been supplying us with some very useful information.
Harry turned to stare unbelieving at Draco, who just smirked and stood up, placing the pendant in the box Snape had set out for him. Dumbledore smiled and stood, said he would see them both at dinner, and left. Snape turned back to his desk and set to finish grading his papers.
^Malfoy was the spy in the Inner Circle?!^ Sirius demanded, looking at Harry with narrow eyes.
^Who the hell do you think it was, Snape? Voldermont let him in, thinking he was going to spy on Dumbledore for him, and the information he got was good, but Lucius Malfoy was Voldermont's right hand man, to use a Muggle expression. Who better to get information from Lucius than his son^
"YOU'RE the informant?!" Harry asked flabbergasted (@__@).
"Don't look so surprised Potter. The information had to be coming from somewhere, didn't it?"
The scene changed to that of the final battle, and Sirius could only watch as memory Harry screamed out in pain, tears streaming down his face as Malfoy fell backwards into his arms. He saw that the silver eyed boy was wearing the diamond.
"Malfoy, you IDIOT! Why the hell did you-"
"Potter,
for once in your life think of yourself for a change! You're the one who has to live through this, to keep the
balance."
"But the Malfoy's were the-"
"You don't understand Harry… you never did…"
"Malfoy!"
"I don't have much longer; The dragon can't hold him back forever Potter. Just believe in yourself, and in your
friends, that's what will help you. And
Potter… * cough * I never hated you… I… I couldn't…"
"MALFOY! Hold on, I'll get you-"
"There's no TIME Harry! Just remember
that I… * gags on the curse * remember that I love you Harry Potter, that I
always have and * gag * that I always will."
"NO! Draco, you can't die! You just
can't! Who will be there to torment me,
to insult me, to occupy my every thought!?
Don't give up! Just hold ON!!"
"I'm
sorry Harry… I'm always going to be with you, in here *points to Harry's heart
*."
"No, Malfoy stop talking like that! I
won't let you die! I- I LOVE YOU!!"
"I know… I've always known… from day one, you and I have been in love with eachother, but were too wound up in hating one another to notice. I'm sorry Harry… protect the pendant for me… I… I love you."
With one last shuddering breath, Draco's eyes closed, and the pendant around his neck started to glow. Malfoy's body faded away in a shimmer of blue light and the pendant took off into the sky like it was following him to heaven.
"NOOOOO!!!! MALFOY!!!!" he screamed, his eyes flaring bright green as the dragon whipped its head around, nailing Voldermont in the chest.
Harry pulled his wand out and with an anguished cry, called the Dragon's Blade to him. It was glowing a bright blue as he glared at where Voldermont now stood, and he moved slowly in front of the dragon. Voldermont's red eyes glared at him, and then widened as he brought the blade to rest on his upper arm.
'Voldermont's got your blood in him Potter.' Draco's voice echoed in Harry's mind, 'you can't touch him physically, but you can touch yourself…'
"You may have my blood Voldermont," he spat, glowing eyes narrow and sparking, "but you don't own me!"
The shrill cry of a Phoenix cut through the air and Fawkes landed on Harry's shoulders, his wings spread out in a huge arch of flames. Harry didn't feel them, he only felt sure of what he had to do.
He pressed the blade into his skin, making a deep gouge and then ran it across his other arm, his palms, up his forearms, along his collar bone, and finally in an "x" over his heart. He didn't feel the pain from the wounds, but knew that Voldermont did. With a cruel smile he held the tip of the blade at his heart.
"If you and I are the same in blood, then when I die, you die!"
"Are you really willing to give up the life you've made Potter?!" Voldermont spat.
"If
it brings an end to the pain and suffering you've caused, then yes, I'd do
anything! I love my friends, more than
anything in the world, and I won't let you hurt them like you've hurt countless
others!"
"You're a FOOL boy! I cannot DIE,
because I am ALREADY DEAD! Avedara
Kedara!"
"Phoca Oscurus Eturnus In Lux Et Ablocare Pax Adstare In Mundus!" [2] Harry shouted as he plunged the knive, and his wand, into his chest.
The dragon and Fawkes screamed, the phoenix's flames completely surrounding Harry as his life blood slowly started to drain out of him. The dragons eyes were narrow ice blue slits as it growled at Voldermont, who's wand had shattered as he fell to his knees, and it slowly circled around him. With a roar it spit a blue fire at him, and as Fawkes cried down into Harry, it tore the Dark Lord's body into pieces. Harry screamed throughout all of it, but noticed all the wounds but the one in his chest were healed. He felt hot tears cascading down his face as the dragon lowered its head to look at him straight in the eye.
"Fawkes, please, just let me die! I- I need to be with him!" cried the slowly dying boy.
No! You will not give up your life just to be with Master! He wants you to live, to move on! He gave his life so you could live yours! a female voice said in his head.
"I don't care! I have no life without him!!"
If you die, who will keep the evil sealed away!? Who will protect the Dragon's Eye Diamond if you are dead Harry Potter!? Who will look after the Blade, which you yourself had annointed with your hearts blood!? You will bring the Master more pain by dying than Voldermont did by living, and I will NOT let you hurt him!
By now Harry had realized that it was the dragon's voice he was hearing, as well as the Phoenix Song from Fawkes. The bird had wrapped his wings around Harry, and was trying to pry his fingers off the blade's hilt. When the jewel-eyed boy met the dragon's gaze, he saw Draco, and nodded.
Lowering her head, the dragon pulled the athame from Harry's chest, and it shot a bright blue beam of light at the wound. Fawkes cried harder as the light tried to keep the wound open, and as Harry pulled his wand from his chest, he saw that it was surrounded by fire. Behind the dragon, a similar fire appeared, covering Voldermont's shattered wand, and the great beast moved so Harry could see what was happening. Slowly the flame spread into a circle around them, and ghostly apparitions appeared before Harry.
"Cedric…" Harry whispered tiredly as the grey form of his friend walked over and kneeled in front of him.
"Malfoy wouldn't want you to kill yourself for him Harry, he loves you too much to let you die… Think of Ron and Hermione… the rest of the Griffindors… the whole school… they love you like you were their brother, well maybe not Slytherin, and they love you for who you are inside, not because you're the 'Boy Who Lived'…"
Cedric ruffled his hair and standing, disappeared, leaving Harry to stare unblinking at the forms of his parents. This was the second time he'd seen them like this…
"Oh Harry…" his mother cried, kneeling down next to him and wrapping her arms around him, his head resting on her surprisingly solid chest. "It's finally over… you're finally free…"
"We can finally rest, knowing that you're protected and safe." said his father, pulling both of them into his arms, "Tell Sirius and Moony that the Marauders will continue to make mischief in Hogwarts, if not in form, than in spirit."
"James! Harry, don't tell them anything but that we're glad they were there for you, and hope that they will contine to be there should you ever need them."
"We're proud of you Harry. You've grown up so much… I'm sorry we weren't there for you when you needed us."
"Mum… Dad… don't leave!"
"We can't stay Harry… Never let go of your love Harry. I promise, it's not the end of everything, it's only the beginning of your life. You're not here for anyone but yourself now. You don't have to fight anymore."
"We Love you son… we always have, and always will, remember that."
His parents faded away, and Harry lapsed into wracking sobs of grief. He'd lost his parents to Voldermont, and now he'd lost the man he loved. What was there to be here for, if everything he'd known was now unimportant?
"I love you Harry Potter…"
Looking up, Harry saw a VERY solid form walking towards him, and when it fell to its knees in front of him, he was staring into silver-blue eyes that seemed endless. He couldn't speak, couldn't think, couldn't do anything as Draco's lips touched his, and as suddenly as it had come, it was gone. Harry found Draco's eyes disappearing, and as the boy completely disappeared in a flurry of blue light, he let the comforting darkness consume him.
"I promise you Luv, I'll come back to you… even if it's the last thing I do…"
-end flashback-
Sirius was jolted out of his thoughts by the familiar hoot of an owl, and shook his head clear as it sounded again. Looking around he found Hedwig sitting on the railing next to him, a letter tied to her leg. The sound of the slider opening brought him back into reality completely, and he blinked as he saw Harry standing there, dressed in nothing but a pair of tight jeans and socks. His Godson smiled and untied the letter from his owls leg.
"Harry- I think we should get together for a few days for your birthday, you know, to catch up. But we definitly need to go clubbing. Muggle clubs… yes! That would be so perfect! I've been to a few of those… very cool. As for Ron and I ever becoming a couple… I don't think so. He's already involved with someone, or didn't he tell you? And I take it he's finally learned how to use a phone? As for me pining over him, well, I guess I still like him, but I think it's more a brother-sister thing as opposed to a relationship type thing. And don't bother looking into the Auction, it's been cancelled. Oh, and I said it's a pity they were going to auction the Manor's contents off because they could easily be used by either the Ministry or Hogwarts. The DATDA class would certainly gain… I'm thinking the Underground for where we go clubbing. It's right in London, but I'm sure you know that. Well, I have to run! I'll talk to you soon Harry!!
Love,
Hermione."
Harry smiled and picked up a small piece of parchment and his quill. He wrote a short reply and sealed it in an envelope. Hedwig held her leg out for him, but he just tapped her beak and moved to the storage closet. Sirius watched in amusement as he pulled a small stone bowl from one of the shelves and set it on the coffee table. He tapped it with his wand, and bright green flame appeared out of no where.
"Hermione Granger, Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." he said, tossing the letter in. "Sorry Hedwig, but I need her to get this immediately. I'll send you with a letter some other time, when I have more time to wait for a reply."
~!*^*!~
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore smiled at the preening phoenix perched behind his desk. Fawkes had been prepping himself for days for what looked like an unbelievable burning day, and he'd never seen the bird so concerned.
"What are you getting ready for Fawkes?"
The bird stopped his preening for a second and looked at his master, then continued. Albus sighed and left his office for the Great Hall as the dinner bell rang. As soon as he was gone, Fawkes flew out the open balcony doors and up to the Astronomy Tower. Lifting his head high and spreading his wings, he burst into flames of red and gold, and started to sing. The embers from his fire swirled around him before bursting upward onto the wind, carrying the song with them. He only hoped that it reached the ears of the Ancients…
~TBC~
A/N: So… uh whatcha all think? This is probably the last chapter I'm going to get out before Christmas, unless I can avoid my family and write one… not very bloody likely! Anywho, I thought that I would make this a little longer than I had originally planned, and I hope it all makes sense. I had one hell of a time writing that part about how Harry sees Wicca/Religion in general fitting into the Wizarding World… being that religion isn't touched on in the books, I had nothing to go by. Creative license is a good thing, sometimes anyway. As for my footnotes, they're below.
[1]- "Abicere Phoca" is literally "Abandon Seal" in latin. I downloaded one of these cheesy translators, and it's really a piece of crap, but it suits its purpose I suppose.
[2]- I really have no clue as to what religion the Dursleys are! Being from the US, I'm not all that familiar with religions in the UK, and what region is primarily what religion, so on and so forth, etc, etc, etc… If anyone would like to help me out here…
[3]- Again I'm working with my stupid translator, but here ya go!
"Phoca Obscurus Eturnus In Lux Et Ablocare Pax Adstare In Mundus!"
Translation= "Seal Darkness Forever Into [the] Light And [let] Peace Be Present In [the] World!"
Please note that "the" and "let" I could not translate, so that's why they're in the little bracket thingies… um… I'm not sure if Latin sentence structure is the same as English, but I have to work with what I've got, so I did it the easiest way I've knew how.
Has anyone figured out who the guy in the Manor is? And why does he have a dragon? What happened to Narcissa Malfoy for her to send the Dragon's Eye Diamond to her son? Why in the hell was Malfoy's ghost not transparent or grey like Cedric, Lily and James? And finally, the question I'm dying to ask: What's the deal with Fawkes?!
If anyone thinks they know the answer, send it my way! Just something to think about while I'm busy with the next chapter or two…