Chapter 21- The cycle of Life and Death

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Harry's POV:

Dear Ginny,

I was going to start this letter off with the news and details of us beating Bulgaria, but when we got back to the Preserve we found out Zeus, the Magister (Chief) Dragon of the Preserve, had died. The sudden news brought me back to when our grandparents died and I found myself miserable with that same feeling.

Usually when a Dragon dies, we immediately harvest it. "Harvest" is a fancy term we use to hide the fact that we collect his body, skin his hide off, drain his blood, salvage his organs, and grind his bones and horns into Dragon powder all in an effort to make money. The whole process is not exactly something I enjoy, but I'm happy to report that the Magister Dragons, by thousands of years of tradition are off-limits. His siblings will be responsibility for taking care of his body in some sort of ceremony.

Harry looked up away from Ginny reading the letter to see Professor Dumbledore, with a small tear running down his grief stricken face. For some reason, Harry suspected that Dumbledore personally knew Zeus.

Not much is known about the Magister Dragon burial ceremony, which is rather amazing after several thousands of years of Dragon research. The only part we do know is that wizard and witches are briefly allowed to pay respect to the Magister Dragon. I never been much for funerals, but this meant a great deal to me so I got dressed up in my old formal dress robes that Fred and George got for me, and went with the staff to pay my last respects.

When we got there all of the Dragons at the Preserve seemed to be in attendance outside Zeus' cave. It was rather an amazing sight to see this many Dragons gather around together without the fighting. Even Hagrid's grandkids seem to be behaving themselves. Although, I could sense Ginny had to be warned by her Mom, Norbert, not to sneak up on me from behind and blast a fireball at my dress robes. The little git!

Harry noticed a small smile on Ginny's face after she read that last part.

We all went into Zeus' cave and then walked past his younger siblings and mates to the cave where Zeus' body laid. Jane placed a ceremonial wreath of a colorful and once thought extinct Alpine mintbush, which Jane's mother, Wendy, grows in the dragon preserve's greenhouse.

Side note to all of this: I know Professor Sprout and Neville would love to have a bud; so I'll ask Wendy tomorrow for one and the instructions on how to grow them.

Professor Sprout excitedly interrupted the reading to speak.

"Miss Weasley, would you be so kind to inform your brother that I would love to have some buds and I would also like a five foot essay on whatever he can learn about them."

Harry watched, as Ginny's smile grew even larger. No doubt, she was enjoying the fact that she would once again have to tell her brother to write another essay.

"Yes ma'am, I would be more than happy too."

After Jane put down the wreath, the staff turned around and started to leave. I couldn't believe it; I asked Charlie why we couldn't stay any longer. He told me that we couldn't, which just brought up memories of Bill and him telling us at dinners about all the great times they had with our grandparents. Remember that, Ginny? I used to be so jealous… and I still am.

I didn't want to leave, especially after spending so little time with him, so I ducked behind a stalaglites or stalagmites. I can never tell which is which. Charlie and Jane didn't seem to notice, as they were still sad over Zeus. Then I slowly made my way back to the main chamber where Zeus was, and found a good hiding spot behind a bunch of rocks to watch him and the rest of the dragons.

To make a long story short, Apollo, Hades, and a couple of the younger Dragons dragged Zeus into a small back chamber of the cave. They then pierced an eardrum-rupturing wail before lighting the whole cave up with fire. It made the whole place smell of burnt Dragon meat. Even with my ears ringing from the wail and me smelling a merlin-awful scent of burnt dragon I still couldn't help myself. I started crying, I'm not ashamed to admit it as memories of our grandparents came rushing over me. After I gather myself, I decided I needed to get back and started to slowly make my way out of the cave. Unfortunately, Apollo caught me before I made it outside and he kicked me out of the cave with his paw, for what I assume, before Hades could see me. My tail bone is still sore. Then Apollo went to the entrance of the cave and made another ear-piercing wail to the Dragons assembled outside. They all in return wailed along with Apollo. The noise was so loud it busted my eardrums and I had to go to the Hospital Wing to get them healed. You have no idea how disgusting Ear Drum and Ear Wax healing potion taste like.

Harry watched as Ginny stopped reading to make a disgusted face with her tongue sticking out, as she no doubt imagined how horrible the healing potion tasted.

After the wail, all the Dragons outside walked or flew back to their caves. What bothers me the most after they all left was the look I saw Hades give Apollo. It just sent shivers up and down my back, because I'm pretty sure he's up to no good.

Now that I sitting in the hospital writing this letter do I realize what an idiot I am. Instead of spending this last week to get to know Zeus better, I spent it beating Vicky Krum. All of this because of my stupid jealousy over HER.

"Excuse me, who's… HER?" interrupted Professor Sprout to Ginny.

"Hermione Granger," announced most of the students in reply causing Hermione to stare down at the table in embarrassment.

"Oh…"

I feel like such a loser. Worse during the Quidditch match you could tell that Vicky gave me a wide berth around my goal. Apparently, and I have a good idea who tipped him off to avoid me.

Ginny stopped reading to glance over at Hermione fidgeting in her seat under the stare from a great many people. After a few silent seconds, Harry watched as Hermione gave Ginny a pleading look for her to continue reading Ron's letter.

Not that I hadn't trained all week to knock him off his broomstick if he ever got close enough to me. Luckily, he didn't. After Charlie beat him to the Golden Snitch with a score of two hundred twenty to forty, the teams met on the field for handshakes and that's when I finally realized how stupid I was. He was lied and cheated on too, so we talked for fifteen minutes and I sorta of buried the hatchet between us. Not that I like him or anything, but I decided I can't change the past no matter how much I want too. Now for my next lesson at growing up and getting a clue, I'm going to buy Padma Patil a dozen candy roses to apologize for me being the worst-date-at-a-Yule-Ball ever when I get back.

Harry noticed Hermione had turned her head immediately to scowl at Padma, Lavander, and Parvati as they giggled in response.

Oh… speaking of stupid things I do, I want to apologize about congratulating the team on winning against the Slytherin. Tell Neville, I've been there and not to take it so hard on himself, because the real reason why Gryffindor lost is due to poor leadership. That's right – I said it!

Harry was completely in shock.

I've learned a few things about being on a National Quidditch team. Like after practice, they have pitchers of cold water and fresh pumpkin juice for us, or when it's cold, butterbeer. Neville, if our captain cared anything about winning; he would've have supplied you with some at all them Merlin-awful hours he picks to have practice. Ginny, make sure you tell Neville and the rest of the team that.

The students and Neville chuckled at Harry frowning at Ginny. He swiftly stood up and defended himself.

"Ginny, you tell your brother that I might not want him back on my team, because obviously he's turned into a pampered crème puff!"

The Great Hall busted out in laughter.

Finally, I guess I need to apologize to Hagrid for not taking any Dragon pictures this week, but under the circumstances…well, he will understand.

Hagrid nodded his head in agreement, a little bit sad over the news of Zeus.

"I brought the pictures off the Bulletin Board, we can use them instead," added Neville handing a bunch of old moving pictures to Hermione.

Hermione used the same spell that Professor Flitwick used to enchant them to the size of a big screen TV floating in the air for everyone to see. The pictures brought laughter or awes from everyone present.

Harry - I have a poster and a news article about the match for you. In fact, we were so good that after the match they offered Charlie a $1000 Galleons a week and me $750 Galleons a week to be on the national team.

The Great Hall gasped in surprise at Ron's good fortune; everyone except Hermione, who seemed to have made a gulping noise in fear.

First thing in the morning, however, I'm going to owl them our answer - a definite No.

The Great Hall erupted in chatter, as they couldn't believe Ron turned down so much money, only Hermione was happy in relief.

On the 'Anti-Dragon Business' front, a big fat dragon egg, zilch, zero! Other than skipping a few curfews and having a few scrapes with the local vampires, nothing. By the way, you can't swing a knuzzle without hitting a vampire in Romania. The whole place is filled with them, and I had to use Fred and George's Ten Ton Tongue Toffee on a few of them myself, just to avoid a few barfights. I shoot the candy into their mouths with my wand and they start to accidentally bite down on their own huge tongue with them teeth of theirs. That always sends them crying off into the night.

Harry watched as Ginny paused to click her jaw trying to imagine what that must've looked like.

So tell Fred and George, we need more candy. Director Vargas said he's even willing to pay for them; as it's cheaper to buy and use, then to constantly pay for property damages. You burn one bar to the ground and it's like you're out of control Weasley. Hey, I didn't even start that fire, but do they listen to me – NO!

By the way - Harry, I need some answers about that 'Note' I sent you. We can all feel something is about to go down, but we don't know what. We keep searching but without an idea or direction to go in it's a needle in a haystack. I've been bragging about all of you, so don't make a Lockhart out of me. Give us some answers and soon!

Yours Truly,

- Ron

PS: Tell HER, nice try on the magical reading charm on her letter, but it caught Jane instead. You can tell HER after Jane read it, I grabbed it and resealed it with Spellotape - unread! That and Director Vargas has now created new counter-spells and wards to keep out anymore tampered mail because of it.

Hermione hanged her head in another week of rejection as Ginny apologetically handed her back the letter she wrote, with Spellotape wrapped all over it.

PPS: Charlie just told me that Professor Dumbledore worked with Zeus during his twelve uses of Dragon Blood research days and that they were close. Please inform him and offer my condolences.

PPPS: Stop with the extra work assignments'! Here's Professor Flitwick essay and I don't want anymore. I still have to do Hagrid's twenty foot one.

Harry could've sworn he saw Ginny wickedly giggle after reading that last part.

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"Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, you want to be treated like adults in the Order - fine. I want answers, not excuses! If Rookwood and Dolohov are involved you can bloody believe V..Vol..Voldemort has a hand in this." Professor McGonagall said in her office catching Harry and Hermione off guard with her bluntness and language.

"We got a majority of it translated; its Ancient Welsh symbols." Hermione quickly pointed out as she handed over the parchment scroll and their scrolls of translation and research.

"Mr. Rookwood was born in London, but his father raised him in Welsh." Professor McGonagall commented to their findings while looking over their work. "This is definitely his handiwork."

"It's a medical research document for healing, but this symbol keeps stumping us." Harry added, pointing out the symbol on the parchment scroll.

"Have you tried Celtic or old Druid symbols to decipher-," asked Professor McGonagall, but got interrupt by Hermione.

"Yes ma'am, plus Latin, Hebrew, Ancient Egyptian, Scandinavian, and even Ancient Chinese – nothing!" Hermione answered, as she finished Professor McGonagall's possible suggestions.

"It certainly looks Pre-Medieval times. Hmm, I think Professor Dumbledore might be of some help on this. He's done a great deal of study on the Ancient Dark Arts and symbols." Professor McGonagall offered and then stood up from her desk and took them all down and over to the Headmaster's office.

As they enter the Headmaster's office, Professor Dumbledore was talking to Hagrid about Zeus.

"He was one of the largest Romanian…"

"Albus, sorry to interrupt, but we were wondering if you might know what these symbols are."

"No interruption, please come in Minerva…Oh, and Mr. Potter and Miss Granger too. I take it this is about the research." Professor Dumbledore warmly stated, and then stood up to take the scrolls from Professor McGonagall.

"Hello, Harry, Hermione," Hagrid greeted them warmly.

"Hello, Hagrid," they replied in unison as Hermione set beside Hagrid while Harry walked over to Fawkes.

"Hello, Fawkes, I've missed you." Harry greeted him and then started to pet the feathers of the phoenix. "Not much longer toward your burning day."

Professor Dumbledore's eyes and face immediately lit up as he put down the scroll and walked over to a Headmaster's portrait.

"Headmaster Scamander - please tell Vargas that we have translated the scroll and to send all search teams to look for exotic and illegal Class A trade-restricted Magical Creature traders. I'll have Remus Lupin and Alastor Moody to update him personally and to assist on the search."

"Yes, Headmaster," replied Headmaster Scamander's portrait as he immediately got up out of his armchair and left his portrait.

"What is it, what's the symbol?" Harry asked, as he was no longer patient on waiting to know what the symbol was.

"It means to rise from ashes."

"A phoenix." Hermione guessed first, looking at Professor Dumbledore than back at Fawkes with a stunned Harry standing beside him.

"Yes, Miss Granger, a phoenix." Professor Dumbledore declared, as he was looking older and more tired than before. That though was reinforced by the fact that he walked slowly back to his desk.

"He plans to use the healing powers of a Phoenix," remarked Harry, now realizing Voldemort's plan.

"Yes, unlike unicorn blood, phoenix's tears are the most remarkable healing powers to have without severe side effects." Professor Dumbledore explained to them while he set down into his chair with a lost look about him.

"He would almost be invincible."

"Yes, Harry, and now we must wait and hope that they can be found and stopped in time."

"Professor, I want to help. Send me to Romania with Remus and Mad-Eye-," pleaded Harry as he walked up to Professor Dumbledore's desk but being cut off by him before he could finish his request.

"No, Harry, it's too dangerous for you."

"Then I'll go," Hermione volunteered, as she stood up and walked over to beside Harry in front of Professor Dumbledore's desk.

"No, Miss Granger, this line of work is best left in the hands of…"

"Ron - I know he can do it," Harry stated as he confidently looked at everyone in the room.

"I hope so, Harry, for all of us… I hope so." Professor Dumbledore stated with a good bit of uncertainty that was shared by many in the room, except Harry.