Authors Note: Thanks again for all the support!

Shadow Phoenix

Chapter 10

Separation

"Please Draco, stop grumbling." Harry begs his friend. Draco had been in a downright disastrous mood ever since he found out how Harry had gotten grounded and found out who had tried to kill him in the process. Draco had found out the day after Harry had turned Professor Quirrell into a pile of ash, or rather, let the man turn himself into a pile of ash! "I'm sorry I didn't talk to you about it like I promised after that thing with the troll but I swear I thought it would be a boring night watching my dad stand guard in front of a door that was hiding one of Hagrid's pets. And I swear that after I found out that whoever was after that stone managed to hurt my dad as badly as he was, I felt bad enough that Ron and Hermione were with me to face that! I couldn't bloody well drag you into it too! What if something would have happened to you?" Harry says

They are sitting on Draco's bed in his room, Draco had uninvited Harry in his anger and didn't want to see him at first even though Harry finally wasn't grounded anymore. He still did though since Harry had hinted that Draco is more important the Ron and Hermione. After all, even though he was reluctant to take them towards danger he did, but apparently didn't want to do the same with Draco, meaning his safety was more important to the slightly smaller boy. Still Draco only glowers, even if the slight blush is destroying the effect, and asks, "And what if it had been the other way around? How would you feel knowing that I'd gone there with only two other students as back up? Without even giving you a chance to help? Would you not be pissed?"

Harry frowns for a moment, "I wouldn't let it get to that!" He grumbles, "And you wouldn't anyway, you're a Slytherin through and through you never take risks. You're way too smart for that."

"But what if I did?" Draco insists, "And worse, what if something would have happened to me in that case? Because that is what I worry will someday happen to you if you keep that up! I'm scared Harry! I'm terrified to one day wake up and be told that you bloody went and got yourself killed in one of your stupid adventures."

Their eyes meet for a moment and Harry sighs, "I'm sorry Draco. But it's still not the same. I can do things you can't and you've got to learn to trust me a little. I promise you, I won't let myself get killed by anyone! I'll always be there for you no matter what!"

"You can't promise me that." Draco insists.

"I can because I know how strong Voldemort is in his parasitic stage, how I know doesn't matter, but I know how much that will increase when he's fully back and I also KNOW for a fact that I'm way more powerful. And believe me I know that power isn't all but I also have knowledge that he doesn't have and I'm not stupid to be tricked that easily and I swear that with that big of a power difference I might very well be a toddler and still win against him, which I might point out I DID! Who else should be able to hurt me now?"

Draco stares sceptically at his friend, "And how can you know that?"

"I'm not supposed to tell but if you swear to stay quiet and to fully forgive me I'll tell you!" Harry smiles hopefully.

Draco frowns, "I promise to stay quiet about it as always but I refuse to promise to forgive you until I know if this is good enough for the offence!"

Harry sighs and hopes for the best, "Albus' Phoenix Fawkes is switching with others. Or rather they switch themselves. There are four of them and all of them, like Fawkes was in the story, even though the story wasn't all true since he most certainly has never been in some small village around here and he's been way older when he first changed into a Phoenix, but he was a Shadow Phoenix while he was a little bit depressed but only slightly so don't worry about me still being one it's really a tiny thing that would keep me like that and I'm fine, just to turn back I'd have to be like over the moon with happiness and Fawkes said I'll get there eventually. Anyway, as you might just have gotten even though my rambling might have been confusing, I can understand their trills and they understand me even speaking English. They basically understand every language unless it's a magical one like they assume Dragons have and Parsel, you know snake language, is a magical language too. They taught me things that way and by letting me see their memories in my dreams nearly every night since the troll attack. I learned things, things most wizards can't do because a Phoenix animagus is usually way more powerful than average and the younger the more powerful it seems but there are only five of them me included. Also, there is no such thing as a true born Phoenix which is why they don't consider me an animagus and will make sure I won't get in trouble should I ever get busted for not being registered. I learned that I'm more powerful than any of them because no one of them was as young as me and there are some things they are still keeping because they think I'm too young to be told but I know that I can call them should I need them and that they have great power too, all of them and that Voldemort isn't as powerful as any of them because he's not a magical animagus even though as I said they don't consider me one. And now the biggest secret. They all can still turn into humans. They just don't like it and prefer to keep that ability to themselves and never really change but they did recently just for me. They haven't explained why they don't change to me yet, that's one of the you're too young to know things but they can turn into wizards and I swear no matter their rules, if, by some wired accident, I do die, I will be reborn and I promise you, I will change back into a human and come to be with you again as alive as I am now so you can kick my ass and kill me all over for dying because guess what, I'll be back AGAIN! You literally CAN'T get rid of me! Even if you get fed up with me being around and want to kill me just to get rid of me, I'll still annoy the hell out of you got it?" Draco stares at him until Harry adds, "But I could lose you! I could lose any one of my friends and I don't want it. But Dad and you, I couldn't bear to lose either of you so please don't be mad I saved dad and made sure that the one that hurt him is gone and please don't be mad that I didn't let you join and risk your life because I swear, I don't want to live long enough to lose you and it's hard enough to know that seeing that I'm immortal and you're not I will at some point but I most certainly don't want to live all eternity knowing that you could have had a longer happier life had I not risked it! I'd always be a shadow Phoenix if that happens!"

Draco can see tears in his friend's eyes and grabs him to hold him close. Harry hugs him too before asking, "Does this mean I'm forgiven?"

Draco sighs, "Yes you are. But I'd still like some notice before you throw yourself into danger."

"I might." Harry replies, "But I think I'd be too scared you'd still come after me."

"Just promise to stay careful in case there is some way to kill a bloody Phoenix." Draco mumbles, "I really don't want to lose you."

"I promise but considering that one of the Phoenixes that is teaching me is too old to know any language even though her magic lets her understand all of them, she herself has never learned one. Anyway, I think that proves that I'm going to get pretty damn old!" Harry looks sadly. "I just wish you would too!"

Draco just holds him and mumbles, "Maybe they know a way and will teach you one day."

Harry shakes his head, "That's something I know, they all saw people they loved die. That's why it's so rare for a Phoenix to stay with someone like Fawkes does with Albus. They'll start too care and lose that person again."

"But it you'd turn again if you'd die young, what would happen then?" Draco asks. "I don't think I'd want you to be eleven years younger than me either."

"Phoenixes age differently." Harry replies, "At least if they stay in Phoenix form. If I'm reborn after dying, I'd just have to stay a Phoenix for about a day or two and time it about right and I'll be the same age again. A Phoenix matures within less than a week and once grown they hardly age at all. In theory, I aged about a day or so while I was with dad when I didn't change from Felix at first. But it was only a few months so no one notices that I'm a little younger than I should be. If I'd stayed that way for a few years someone would have found it funny that I was still looking like a five-year-old. The thing is however, if I don't stay a Phoenix after being reborn and be a human and wait a few days the Phoenix side would age and be grown that's why even when I was five, Felix looked like a mature grown Phoenix. The human side adapts when in Phoenix form the bird side doesn't! That's why if I'd turn now and stayed Felix I wouldn't even die of old age until I'm about a thousand or so."

"Does your dad know about that?" Draco wonders.

"What do you think?" Harry grins.

"He does?" Draco asks sounding insecure.

"Nope." Harry grins mostly meaning the part about the aging, "Doesn't have a clue, at least not the aging part and you better not let my Phoenix friends know that you know."

"I already forgave you." Draco points out confused, "You don't have to spill your guts anymore!"

"I know." Harry shrugs, "But's is nice to have someone to talk about that doesn't know everything already and is learning it just as I am. And I trust you."

Drago hugs him again, "Okay, in case I get pissed again just remind me that you've got one good and I'm not allowed to be pissed."

"Really?" Harry asks wondering if it's going to work or if Draco will just claim that he didn't mean something of that magnitude no matter what Harry did.

"I swear." Draco replies with conviction and Harry smiles.

"Let's hope I won't have to remind you too soon." Harry grins at him, "Now, I think it's been ages since you got to fly with Felix."

They run outside and fly for some time and Harry is happier than he's ever been and even wondering himself why he's still all black. He can't imagine that it's possible to be any happier than he is right now. Later that night they are watching the stars lying outside on the grass of the quidditch pitch. They know they should go inside since Severus will pick up Harry soon. He's never spent a night anywhere without his dad and for the first time even considers that staying with Draco might be nice, but at the same time is glad that he can go home to his own room and listen to his Phoenix friend's trills lulling him to sleep and giving him great dreams.

He still dreams somewhat normal dreams between those that they give him to teach him something but ever since they started to teach him he hadn't had a single nightmare about the Dursleys and he's sure that it's because of them. They're keeping away the nightmares while letting his brain process what needs to be worked through.

While they lie there Draco watches his friend for a while and says, "I wish I was as strong as you."

"Why?" Harry questions.

"Then I could always be with you and wouldn't need to fear anything." Draco sighs.

"What are you scared of?" Harry wonders. "You know I'd protect you."

"I know." Draco says looking back up at the sky. "And when I'm with you, especially when we're up there flying, I don't fear anything. I know you'd flash me away if anything even remotely dangerous happens. Like you did that time the wind nearly blew me off my broom. The broom might have broken but I landed so softly on the bed it didn't hurt at all. It felt like something warm was still cushioning me. Like you were protecting me from getting hurt at all and ever since I don't fear anything when you're with me." He looks accusingly towards Harry before saying, "But I keep having to share you!"

Harry chuckles before he says, "If that is all." He turns to look at Draco, "Want to see a trick I learned? I just need you to find me a stone in a colour you like. It doesn't even have to be a stone but the harder the better so don't give me clay or something like that."

"Wait here." Draco says and grabs his broom leaving the boy alone for a little bit. Once Draco returns he holds out an Emerald that is still in its natural state and hasn't been shaped to be used as a jewel. "Does this work?"

Harry takes it and looks at it with a frown before holding it back to Draco saying, "It'll do. Hold on to it a moment I need one more thing."

Draco is about to ask something when Harry turns into Felix and pulls a small black down feather from his chest and holds it out in his beak to Draco. "You want me to hold this too?" Draco asks and Felix nods. Draco takes the soft down feather. It feels warm and soft and he watches Harry change back while Draco is still holding the stone and the feather. "Is something wrong with the Emerald that you frowned?" Draco asks before Harry can change again and make a discussion impossible.

"I just wasn't expecting you to use something valuable and worry that you'll get pissed if you don't like what I'll do with it. Why do you have it anyway?" Harry questions taking back both, the stone and the feather.

"I found it on one of our travels when I was smaller." Draco replies with a blush. "It was the first journey after I met you. When I saw it at a market where mother was shopping, I had to have it because the colour was like your eyes. It reminds me of you and I thought if you want to do something with it, it will remind me even more. I do hope I'll get it back though."

"Is it okay if the shape changes?" Harry asks. "The colour will stay but it will be more like a properly cut jewel after I'm done."

"Just don't let it be girly so I can wear it." Draco orders.

"Promise." Harry replies holding the stone in one hand and the feather in his other, "I'll try my best since you're supposed to wear it." Harry looks at the stone for a moment before saying "I really hope you'll like it."

After that Draco is surprised to see Harry's eyes glow right before the stone in his hand glows too and Harry moves the feather towards the stone, slowly the stone changes and seems to move like it's alive, it's starting to turn into a chain of small round Emeralds that link into each other and move into a long circle that will easily fit over Draco's head without hanging to low. In the middle a snake starts to form and grow moving around the chain and eventually moving its body around the tiny feather and curling up and stops to move. The snake's mouth is close to the feather but instead of biting into it, it seems to hiss towards whoever might have dared to come close. Like the small Emerald snake is protecting its treasure. "Do you like it or do you want me to change it into something else?"

"It's nice." Draco replies with a blush taking it from Harry's hand and already pulling it over his head, "It really is beautiful and I'm grateful, but it doesn't make it better that I have to share you."

Harry grins at the petulant sound of his friend's voice and says, "Does it change anything if I tell you that the feather is connected to me as well as the stone by now? Whenever you're touching any part of that necklace, I'll feel it. And if you call my name while holding it, I'll hear it. I'll hear whatever you say while your touching it. But don't worry I made sure you have to want to touch it so if you're just wearing it and your neck is touching it, I won't hear everything. Just if you think of me and want me to hear you while touching it, it'll work."

"Really?" Draco asks.

"You can try it whenever you want this summer." Harry replies, preferably during the evening so no one will notice. But whenever you want me to come, just call me and I'll be there. And if you're ever in danger, just call my name while touching it and I will come to you, or I'll just do this…" Harry grins and stands up moving a few steps away before focusing his magic on the feather he left with Draco and flashes it to himself. The next second Draco is standing next to Harry and looks towards the place he had been a second ago before he stares at Harry.

"Does this work even when we're not together?" Draco asks.

"Yes," Harry promises. "It will always work. We just need to agree on what you say when you want me to come and what you'll say for me to get you away from wherever you are and to me."

"You're name when you should come and I'll use the name you should come as." Draco suggests, "And just danger when I need you to get me out of whatever is going on."

"Sounds good." Harry replies and sighs, "But I think we need to get back. Dad will get worried if we stay out too long."

"You sure you don't want to spend a night or two here?" Draco asks. If Harry could get used to spend some time apart from his dad he could try and spend half his time with Harry with his own parents and the other half with his godfather to be with Harry's dad. That way he could spend all his summer with Harry.

"I don't know." Harry replies worriedly.

"Dad got tickets to a Quidditch game in Spain." Draco points out. "Mum isn't interested in going so we have a spare. If you can bare to spend some time away from your dad you could come with us. I'd love to see a professional game with you!"

Harry frowns but only replies, "I'll think about it."

As expected Severus is already waiting impatiently for them but at least he doesn't complain about them having been outside so long. Still he and Harry leave the manor soon after. Draco just sighs and looks sadly towards the fireplace after Harry disappears through it.

"Did you tell him about the ticket you made me buy for him?" Lucius asks.

"I did." Draco sighs again, "He said he'll think about it."

"Don't look so upset." Lucius tells him, "He might choose to come."

"And spend three days away from his dad all the way in Spain?" Draco questions, "He couldn't even spend one night here!"

"Don't worry." Lucius grins at his son before he teases him, "We can always invite Blaise."

Draco just leaves grumbling. Not knowing that Lucius had used their sons delay to discuss the matter with his own friend. Or that Severus agrees that Harry needs to get used to leave the house a night or two and agreed to go with them to Spain and possibly try and talk Harry to spend the last night alone while he'll leave early. He's even considering to leave while Harry is with Lucius and Draco at the game and not telling him about it so he'll have to spend one night there alone but fears that Harry will just flash to him should he not be warned which is why he decided to try and motivate Harry to stay with them a bit.

Back at spinners end Harry is rather quiet thinking about the invitation but unable to feel comfortable about going alone. "You're okay?" Severus questions.

"I'm fine." Harry sighs, "Draco invited me to a Quidditch game in Spain. He wants me to spend some nights there."

"Lucius mentioned it." Severus says, "He offered that I'd stay too but I thought I might go to a congress where some potioneers are meeting the day of the game. But that's back here so you'd have to stay one night alone there."

"I didn't know something like that existed." Harry wonders.

"I haven't been to one for years." Severus explains, "It usually goes all weekend and while you can go for just one day, it'd be pointless to go for just a few hours and I couldn't just leave you alone all day which is why I never went since you came to me."

Harry watches him and says, "The whole weekend?"

Severus hears the worry in Harry's voice. "Don't worry, the last day is usually the most interesting."

Harry still looks thoughtful, "I think I could go alone. I can still flash to you if something is up, right."

"How about you give it a try next week and just spend a night with Draco at the manor." Severus replies, "If it gets too much to do for longer I'll come with you to Spain and if you're fine you can try to go to Spain with them. I don't feel comfortable to leave you for that long without at least trying how you'd feel after one night anyway."

"Okay." Harry mumbles.

Severus and Harry agree on a possible day for the test sleepover and send a letter to Lucius to ask him if he may stay that night with Draco. Lucius does give permission right away but doesn't pass the information on to surprise Draco.

Draco is very happy once Harry appears and he's told that Harry will be staying the night with them. Harry does get his own guest room but Draco offers to share should he get lonely.

Apart from lots of fun before going to bed and Draco waking up with Harry in his arms nothing happens that day or night and Draco sees no reason to complain about something he enjoys which is why Harry is going with them to Spain while Severus is going to the congress even though he too would rather go with his son and be close to him.

Both of them miss each other but manage to even make it through a long weekend without each other and Draco is glad to be at the Quidditch game, between the Spanish national team and the English one, with Harry and to watch the professionals fly. Draco is confused however when he notices Harry frown. "What's wrong?" Draco asks.

"I just can't believe the game is still going on. I saw the snitch trice from here. And right now, he's right behind one of the seekers." Harry replies.

"Really?" Draco replies, "Well not everyone is as good as you are."

Harry just sighs and starts to whisper to Draco how he'd caught the key at the end of last year and promises to show him a Phoenix on the hunt someday.

A little later one of the seekers starts to dive and everyone around Harry is getting exited. Even Lucius and the Spanish minister that is sitting with the English one right behind Harry and Draco is starting to talk to them about the seeker probably having seen it.

"It's a faint." Harry just says board. "The snitch is at the goal on the other side." Harry doesn't even notice the reporters that are close by listen in and starting to look at the goal posts before suddenly writing. Draco too has spotted the snitch now.

"He might not have spotted the snitch yet but just look Mister Potter." The Spanish Minister is saying trying to cut favours with the English celebrity Lucius brought along. "Our seeker is amazing in his dives, he dares to go very close to the ground and still pulls out unharmed where others would crash."

Harry watches how the seeker the Minister talked about pulls up a good one and a half meter above ground and looks at Draco who just shrugs like he once again wants to say 'Well not everyone is as good as you are.' But he doesn't and the Minister says proudly, "Speechless, aren't you?"

"That's one way to put it." Harry sighs not wanting to upset the man."

After the game the Spanish Minister having heard ahead of time who would be joining the English Minister and his friend arranged for the two boys to join the Spanish team on the field for a little training and even asks the seeker to show Harry his dive again and to give Harry some pointers. After hearing that Harry asks if he may show them how he does it. That way the professional seeker will know what he might need to practise.

Draco just grins and the professional seeker agrees easily enough. Harry just looks at him saying, "I'm afraid I didn't know I'd get a chance to fly and didn't bring my broom, mind if I borrow yours?"

"Sure, but be careful. It's a Nimbus 2001 and very fast." He replies.

"Didn't look that much faster than my Nimbus 2000 at home." Harry shrugs "But I promise to keep it in mind."

The professional holds out his broom for Harry to take. Instead of going closer and taking it though, Harry jumps holding out a hand and shouts "Up." And even though it was in someone else's hands and isn't his own, it comes to him fast enough for Harry to catch it and move under himself before he drops back down.

"You better take notes." Draco grins towards the professional seeker that gapes even from that little stunt and now looks at Draco for a moment before looking back up seeing Harry fly a good three dozen feet above the highest seats before he drives down at full speed.

The closer he gets to the ground the more worried the others are getting, "He needs to slow, the broom is too fast for him." The professional seeker says.

"Harry never slows." Draco just replies calmly picking up a small stone from the ground, "Just watch and don't worry."

Harry is about ten meter above ground when Draco throws the stone towards where he is diving too. The stone would hit Harry at the head about an inch above the ground but instead Harry pulls out in time to catch it with ease and pulls up with before he stands on the broom trying the trick he did during his first game again just this time he jumps up while surfing on the broom and lets himself fall back onto it to hold on before he spins in the air and comes towards the professional and with a turn in the air lets himself fall onto his own feet next to the seeker and holds out the broom while the wind from his fast approach is still felt by them. "Nimbus 2001 you said? You were right it is faster when properly used. I've got to get one." He looks at Lucius asking, "What you think? Will dad let me get one?"

"There are reporters in the stand meaning your stunt will probably end up in the daily Prophet." Lucius points out. "And let me point out that this wasn't a proper match."

"I know." Harry says calmly, "But I'm older and did pull out a tiny bit sooner and didn't hang upside down after it to catch something that was touching the grass. It was much safer and I'm way more experienced! On top of that Dad will know that I'm fine before he sees those pictures and have no reason to nearly get a heart-attack."

Everyone's jaw seems to drop at once. Well, everyone's but the Malfoys' "Sure you're more experienced then when you were five but I still believe your dad will still consider it too risky and be a tad bit worried about you taking such a risk and to be frank, you would get board on a broom like that against others that don't have it."

Harry frowns before saying "You're right, can you get the Slytherin team those brooms? Maybe that way they'll be a challenge?"

"Cocky brat!" Draco grins, "I know that the seeker isn't as good as you since no one is, but our team isn't THAT bad! And they all have a better aim then you!"

"I know I know." Harry grins back, "But I did hit the goals two out of three times last time I had to play with the chasers."

"How close were you?" Draco questions.

Harry blushes, "I could NOT touch them."

"Just about not I guess." Draco grins.

"All right my aim sucks thanks for announcing it to the world." Harry says pointing at the reporters, "I'm still a better seeker then you!"

"Harry," Draco grins, "After the stunt you just pulled without breaking a sweat, that's probably the worst insult ever!"

Harry just grumbles while Lucius grins looking at the still shocked Spanish Minister and the seeker that was supposed to give Harry some pointers and asks, "Anything else you're trying to teach the boys? If not we'd like to take our leave, my wife will be waiting at our dinner reservation."

"Teach him?" The seeker mumbles, "I'd rather like to learn that. How did he dare to go that fast, that close and how on earth did he pull out of that? It should be impossible."

"It's Potter," Draco grins, "He survived a killing curse, you really think he cares about possibilities?" After that Draco takes Harry's hand saying, "And now let's go I'm starving and we have to stop at a Quidditch supply store to get ME that broom!"

"If you insist Draco." Harry agrees and goes with his friend and soon after they are gone and a few days later, after Severus read a very interesting article about his son in the daily prophet, Harry is grounded for taking unnecessary risks on a to him unknown broom.

Authors Note: The next year will only be one chapter long. Same goes for third if I remember correctly because neither year will have as much going on as the first and the fourth where this story will find its end. What do you think will happen about the chamber and the diary that in cannon Lucius gave Ginny? Will it find its way to the ginger girl or not? If yes, how will it end up there if not, will the chamber be opened differently? Will the Basilisk get free and start killing or will the students be safe? And while I mentioned third year, what about Sirius? Will he ever get out of Azkaban or will he be stuck there? And who will teach defence for the next year or two? Will Lockhart be in this story and if he is, how will Draco react to the pretty boy who tries to give Harry advice on being famous? Or will Remus be there for more than one year? And will the Spanish seeker ever get over the shock of what he saw and heard from Harry about his flying skills or will he just be happy for the rest of his life that his professional career will most likely have ended before Harry's starts his own, meaning he won't have to battle it out with that boy!