AN: I do not own Harry Potter.

Rated M: Mature

Runic Animagi

Updated: 1/10/10

Chapter 35: Reborn

Fuck, my head and body hurts. What the hell happened? Did I die? Would it hurt this much if I did? Probably not …then where the hell am I, and what the fuck happened?

"I need to see him again Headmaster," demanded a familiar feminine voice that sounded both firm and sad, and I tried to remember where I knew it from since everything seemed so confusing and fuzzy in my brain.

"Of course Miss Greengrass," spoke an old tires sounding voice that also shook some semblance of recognition or nostalgia. "However, there has been no change in his condition …Dobby left just an hour ago, and Fawkes has been keeping a careful eye on our friend."

"I know …Dobby came to get me," she responded emotionally, and I wondered why it affected me so much that I seemingly would have done anything to make her feel better, and tried to move to get their attention. "Wait …the pile of ash is moving!"

Then I heard it, a sound so pure and uplifting my whole being slowly seemed to awaken …the song of a phoenix. Fawkes, I recognized the sound, and instinctively knew the phoenix responsible for reasons I did not know. Everything else was still fuzzy in my head, and I could barely feel my body except to know that it was very weak and sore, and seemed to be lying within a pile of burnt ashes based on the distinctive smell and feel. I slowly tried to open my eyes, but could only see fuzz and glowing colors and had to blink the several times as I tried with great difficulty to sit up within my bed of ashes …which didn't strike me as weird at al for some reason.

I could feel, smell, and breath the moment my groggy head penetrated above the bed of ashes and took in the outside air as I shock my head to help clear it unsuccessfully. The fuzziness was quickly leaving my tired eyes, and the glowing shapes of two people became slightly more defined despite the unusual angle I seemed to be observing them from. They were quick to crowd around me and towered over me looking down as my vision slowly began to make out and see the specific characteristics besides the different colored glows that they each sported.

"Oh Harry," cried the familiar sounding female voice that I could now tell belonged to a beautiful bronze skinned young woman with long and at the moment very frazzled inky black hair and the most amazing watery violet eyes.

"I'm not sure if he understands what's happening," spoke the older man, whose long white beard was dirtied with my bed of ashes I just emerged from as he looked at me with great concern in his watery bright blue eyes, "or who he is."

"Harry, you have to come back to me," pleaded the crying girl almost desperately, and it triggered some unusual tingling feeling throughout my small body that made me shiver slightly and take more notice of myself and where I was. "I love you Harry Potter."

Harry Potter? Is that supposed to mean something to me, I can't remember, but I can feel the young woman's love and need almost stronger than anything else, and brought with it a renewed tingling sensation going through my whole body. My naked bird body, which I noticed after giving myself a quick once over, was funny looking and I tried to remember anything that makes sense.

"You must remember little one," came a melodic and beautiful sound as Fawkes the Phoenix spoke into my mind and gave me a long searching look, before breaking into the most beautiful, sad, wonderful, and terrible song all combined into one …and I instantly began to remember everything.

I was Harry James Potter, born to James and Lily, and protected from Voldemort by runic seals of love and protection and sacrifice. I am the Boy-Who-Lived, the Chosen One, the Prophesized Vanquisher of Voldemort, the Runic Animagi, and now the Phoenix reborn. Yet incomplete without my Daphne, my equal, my love, my reason for fighting and living, bonded to my soul and magic for always …it is for her that I exist and live.

I sang my own phoenix song after all my memories returned to me, instantly causing the only two people presently in the room to simultaneously weep and smile together at the lamenting and yet hopeful song of renewal and rebirth. I sang with all my strength and love for my Daphne, and watched transfixed as her pale bluish green aura slowly started to get brighter and lighter the more I sang to her. As I continued to sing the tingling sensation I now knew and recognized as my magic grew along with my phoenix body until I was almost the size of Fawkes and had to stop from fatigue.

"Oh Harry, I love you too …so much," cried Daphne much happier than only minutes previously as she obviously understood some of my song's meaning and began carefully running her hand over my now feathered head and body causing it to shiver excitedly in response as the tingling feeling once again grew, "and you are the most beautiful midnight black phoenix."

I truly enjoyed the attention and care I was getting in my Phoenix form, but would rather be with Daphne as myself, and slowly started to stretch my wings and flew down to the small sofa recognizing the Headmaster's office easily. I closed my eyes and focused on the growing tingling feeling of my magic which was much wilder than I ever remember it being, but was able to use every ounce of strength I had built back up as my magic grew and strengthened until my whole body felt like it was growing, stretching, and changing. I remained sprawled out on Albus' sofa after returning to my normal wizard self still wearing the basilisk cloak and sword, the only part of my outfit to survive the fire and rebirth in the ashes as a phoenix, and with an exhausted and battered face and body that looked much better then the last time I saw it.

"Daph," I whispered hoarsely and moments later was practically jumped on by my beautiful Slytherin fiancé as she kissed me soundly and with no apparent end in sight as her arms clung to me in desperation and her wonderful body had me pinned to the sofa …not that I wanted to be anywhere else or was able to move myself.

"Oh Harry," she cried emotionally between heavy and desperate long kisses that thankfully went uninterrupted, and which I was more than happy to share with her …just now really realizing the outcome of the final battle and that Voldemort was truly dead and gone and with it the Wizarding War.

"Are you alright?" I asked in a whisper, my voice still rather sore and tired along with the rest of me as I stared into her beautiful sparkling and watery violet eyes and felt my love for her grow even more.

"Other than having a matching lightening bolt scar on my forehead, and people calling me the Girl-Who-Lived …I'm fine now that you are back," she answered with amusement and complete love and trust that resonated to my very core and brought the happiest smile to my tired face.

"You are most definitely …fine," I answered with a lopsided grin before capturing her lips in another searing kiss filled with love and passion, but eventually had to be interrupted by the clearing throat and amused twinkling eyes of Albus Dumbledore.

"I am so proud of you Harry," he spoke heavy with emotion and fatigue, looking every bit his true age but still at least healthy and alive, "and I must thank you for saving my life …I will forever be in your debt, as will the rest of the Wizarding World."

"Thank you sir, I'm just glad it's over …and you're both okay," I answered emotionally as I hugged Daphne to me greedily and got a happy smile from the twinkling eyed Headmaster.

"So am I Harry," he answered back warmly, "I thought we lost you there at the end. It seems your animagus form was quite helpful in keeping you with us."

"Yeah it was," I breathed out with a slight laugh, despite being beyond tired and sore. "How long have I been out of it?"

"Three days actually," he answered with a relaxed smile, "and many people are rather anxious to see and hear from you both."

"You haven't seen anyone yet?" I asked Daphne in surprise, only to find her asleep in my arms with her head nuzzled into my chest breathing calmly for what must have been the first time in days.

"She woke up two days ago, and hasn't left your side but to shower, eat, and check in with Dobby …I think this is the first time she has slept since coming to," responded Albus fondly and with his warm smile lighting his face. "You look pretty tired too Harry …why don't you rest for now and I'll go get Madam Pompfrey and tell her to come up soon to treat your injuries."

"Thanks Albus," I responded gratefully before closing my eyes and trying to do just that while I could.

The next thing I remember was waking up about an hour later with Daphne sprawled on top of me, and using my chest as her personal pillow. It just felt so right to be with the one I loved more than anything, and after watching her sleep peacefully above me for several long minutes I looked around the familiar yet currently empty Headmaster's office. The sofa we were lying on was very soft and comfortable, and I was just about to close my eyes again when I heard the distinctive pop that signified Dobby's arrival.

"I'm so happy your safe Harry," squeaked the crying elf quietly, not wanting to wake Mistress Daphne as he reached out and squeezed my free arm, "Dobby will talk with you later …and get Winky to make your favorite pizza once the nurse and Dumblydore are done checking on and interrogating you."

"Thanks pal," I responded gratefully before he instantly popped out of the office just as I heard footsteps approaching signaling their arrival.

"How could you not get me the moment he came back and woke up?" came the unmistakable voice of the hospital wing matron Madam Pompfrey, just as the office door opened to allow the nurse, Headmaster, and Deputy Headmistress into the cozy office.

"Probably because I wasn't even awake for five minutes," I answered evenly, and causing all three new arrivals to quickly stop their conversation and the two women to gasp in surprise at my improved condition, or possibly the position I was currently in with my girlfriend on the Headmaster's sofa.

"Mr. Potter?!" came the simultaneous exclamations of the two women as they looked at me and Daphne with wide yet watery eyes filled with compassion.

"Hi Madam Pompfrey …Professor McGonagall …how are you both this fine day?" I asked before getting confused for a moment. "What day is it exactly?"

"It's eleven p.m. Monday night, June 16th," replied Albus with twinkling eyes as neither woman could do more than stare at first until Madam Pompfrey finally came out of her shocked stupor to come forward to do her medical scans.

"Can you wake up Miss Greengrass?" came her stoic question after getting back into her healer mode to examine her most frequent patient.

"I'd rather let her sleep …she really needs it," I answered with my best puppy dog eyes to which the hospital matron caved and agreed to work around my currently sleeping human blanket.

"Yes …she does," agreed Madam Pompfrey before running her many magical scans with a confused expression on her face, "I can't seem to fid any injuries that haven't already begun healing on their own …the only thing is your low magic levels, but even those seem to be healing well. How do you feel?"

"I feel pretty good …but I am still rather tired," I responded honestly, and then felt Daphne slowly starting to move and wake up, so I planted a chaste kiss on her lips while giving her body a slight squeeze, "hey Daph, it's time to wake up."

"Don't wanna," she mumbled into my chest as her body wiggled suggestively trying to find a comfier position or just trying to get me all worked up in front of others …because it was most definitely working.

"I'm sure you don't Miss Greengrass, you look quite comfortable to us," teased Albus, and instantly got Daphne to jump awake, and had I not been holding her she would have easily tumbled off the sofa before she realized where she was and smiled somewhat guiltily at our three guests.

"Albus really," mock scolded Professor McGonagall, who had her usual stoic face but with a slight upturn of her lips forming the smallest of smiles she tried desperately to hide.

"Since you're awake, can I get the both of you to sit up so I can give you some healing potions that should help speed up your recoveries?" added Madam Pompfrey with her own hidden smile directed at us, before she handed us both a restoration potion we both immediately downed and quickly began to feel even better.

"So …do I even want to know how many we lost?" I asked looking primarily at Albus as I grabbed and squeezed Daphne's hand for comfort.

"We lost three more students who bore the dark mark …Marietta Edgecombe, Cormac McClaggen, and John Schneider," started Albus sadly, "they must have been new recruits …and also one teacher …Severus Snape."

"Yeah, I saw Yaxley kill Snape after he killed Nagini trying to save my life," I added regretfully, knowing Albus would want to know how his friend and spy died fighting for our side like a true hero.

"Thank you Harry," responded Albus grateful to know the truth. "The Order also lost seven members, though I think you only knew Hestia Jones, Dedalus Diggle, and Amos Diggory. The aurors were also hit very hard and lost over two dozen, but I don't think you knew any of them. We had several serious injuries, but they have already or should make full recoveries …Remus, Hagrid, Professor Firenze, Professor Harding, Kingsley, Nymphadora, and Bill Weasley."

"So there were obviously still werewolves in the forest that Remus, Hagrid, and Firenze fought?" I asked needing to know how that group fared since they went in my place.

"Only a few …but Firenze assured me they got them all with the help of the Centaurs, and Remus got Greyback which is where most of the injuries occurred," continued an explaining Albus helpfully, knowing that I needed to know the whole story later but giving the basic details now.

"Good for Remus …he needed that," I responded happily, "do the students know what happened?"

"Your friends knew a lot more than most at first," started Albus with his amused twinkling eyes. "The rest of the school found out Saturday morning after a wonderfully accurate front page story appeared in the Daily Prophet describing the battle in it's entirety …although the roles the two of you played was rather downplayed if I do say so myself."

"Those elves make great reporters," I chuckled happily and with pride, happy to not be overly glorified and proud at the coverage and accuracy of reporting my elves now gave the Wizarding World.

"And great interviewers," added a smiling Headmaster, "of which I'm sure you will be asked as I was."

"Something tells me my interview is already written and just waiting on my authorization," I continued. "Dobby is rather efficient."

"Yes …and he spent a lot of the last three days watching over both of you," responded Albus happily.

"I saw him for a brief moment before you all arrived," I answered his unasked question about the great elf's lack of presence currently.

"He's a remarkably loyal friend to both of you," chuckled Albus shortly, "and speaking of friends …you both have had several asking about you and hoping to see you."

"As well as the Ministry, and reporters from other news outlets," added Professor McGonagall with a sympathetic gaze.

"Uggh," I groaned in defeat, knowing I would have to do some type of public statement or appearance for the Wizarding World's government and people regardless of how little I wanted the extra attention.

"I'm sure it won't be that bad Harry," consoled Daphne supportingly, but with a bit of amusement in her tired voice.

"Well, you'll probably have just as much of your own seeing as you're now the Girl-Who-Lived," I teased back and planted a soft kiss over her faded lightening bolt scar like she had done for me countless times.

"It's getting late …why don't you go back to your rooms and get some much needed and deserved rest," spoke Albus again with his amused and twinkling eyes and knowing grin, "if that's alright with you Poppy?"

"Of course, just promise you will come see me if you need anything," acquiesced Madam Pompfrey to which we gratefully nodded and quickly bid everyone a good night and practically raced back t my suite for some late night pizza in our own bed.

We barely had enough energy to eat and have a small talk with Dobby and Winky about everything we missed, finding out that three elves sustained only minor injuries and to read the few Daily Prophet's that we hadn't read while recovering. Every one of us was rather emotional that the war with Voldemort was finally over, and that we had remarkable survival rates on our side. They all expressed their fear during the final moments of my duel with the dark lord, both Daphne being hit and surviving the killing curse due to the runes of love and protection, as well as those runes breaking down and killing me to complete the sacrificial element. Their and my relief now that I know what happened when I survived by finally completing the phoenix animagi transformation was evident in all of us, but was rather interesting and I wondered if when better rested I would be able to duplicate it.

Daphne and I finally crawled into bed by almost four in the morning after the long night of talking, and asked to not be woken up in order to really rest and finish recovering. We were both very clingy and couldn't seem to go for seconds without touching one another and making sure the other was with us and doing okay, and fell asleep hugging each other close. I had never felt a greater need than I did at that moment for personal contact with Daphne, and was glad she wanted the same, falling asleep in moments.

We didn't wake for almost eleven hours at around 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, and continued to stay in bed cuddling and eventually sharing our love for one another more physically. By the time we actually got up, showered, and dressed it was very close to dinnertime and the leaving feast for the current school year. Neither of us really wanted to leave and face the crowded students of the school and would have much preferred a quiet romantic dinner away from prying eyes and ears, but knew that we would have to make an appearance and the leaving feast was always very special.

Dobby had brought us each one more round of rejuvenation potions which we happily took even though we were both feeling infinitely better after the long night of resting and being together. We gathered our courage, and slowly made our way down to the feast while being pointed at and talked about by almost every portrait we passed on the way. Luckily, it had taken us a bit to leave my suite and we didn't encounter a single student or teacher on our way and realized with dread that they were all already at waiting in the Great Hall for dinner. With one last kiss and hug of comfort and support, we pushed open the doors to the Great Hall and entered as all talking ceased as every head turned towards us.

The Headmaster, for reasons I'll have to yell at him later for, was the first to jump to his feet and begin the applause and congratulations, which were soon joined by every single person in the Great Hall. The noise and cheering quickly became deafeningly loud and continued the entire time as we were instantly surrounded by those closest to the doors and then joined by seemingly the rest of the school. It took over twenty minutes of shaking hands and being congratulated by nearly everyone until Dumbledore eventually took pity on us and successfully got everyone to be quiet enough to ask us to join the teachers and him at the Head table as we were honored for our actions and role in permanently defeating the threat known as Voldemort.

I had rarely been so red faced and embarrassed in my entire life, and knew that for Daphne it was even more surprising and unfamiliar …but she was still a Slytherin, and much better at controlling her emotions although not completely. All of our friends also came up to give us hugs and their words of congratulations, or in Hermione's case, a scolding for my stupidity and not including her all the while crying her eyes out in appreciation and gratitude. Sophia and Tracey actually gave me kisses on my cheeks in appreciation before both giving me hard slaps to those same cheeks for putting Daphne in so much danger. I didn't really know what to do, but thankfully at that point I was close to the teacher's table where I was engulfed in hugs from Remus, Hagrid, Professor Harding, Professor McGonagall, and even Albus who was beaming proudly at me.

"Before I can let these two wonderful young people sit down, I must first say that all of Hogwarts owes you both a debt of gratitude that may never be able to be repaid," started Albus after hugging us both and guiding us to our seats without letting us actually sit in them. "And I myself owe you Harry, a life debt I would gladly pay a thousand times over for taking up the fight against Voldemort when I had failed. Without you I would have been killed, and with it …so too would the school and people I most love and cherish have fallen. I wish you and your wonderful fiancé all the happiness in the world, and hope you get to live older than me with each other at your side …to the future Mr. and Mrs. Potter!"

Again the applause and shouts of congratulations were unbelievably loud and went on for several minutes before we were finally allowed to sit among the clapping teachers, or crying in Hagrid's case. There were several looks of the utmost respect directed at me and Daphne from the teachers and older students, actually realizing the extent of the Headmaster's words and how hard this school would be without his twinkling kind eyes leading us. I thought Hagrid was going to drown poor little Professor Flitwick with his bucket of tears, but the happy Charms Master didn't seem affected at all and was proudly clapping and exclaiming his thanks along with the rest of them.

"In light of these events, I am awarding the House Cup to both Gryffindor and Slytherin to share," announced the Headmaster to another round of applause and celebration, and surprisingly without any loud complaints since the absence of all Death Eaters, and because of Daphne's and my public relationship, things were finally looking up for unity between the four houses of Hogwarts. "Now, let us eat and enjoy this tremendous feast."

It ended up being a blessing sitting up at the Head table for the feast, since none of our fellow students could badger and ask us a million questions about the final battle. They still however spent a good portion of the long and wonderful meal staring at the two of us eager to learn more about what happened. At least the teachers kept the topics of conversation mostly about other matters, including our end of year test results of which they were all quite proud and complimentary. Most saying that we were already capable of taking practically all of our NEWT exams, but neither of us wanted to finish school too early since we both loved and enjoyed the old castle and our friends within it.

"Would you both consider teaching positions after you graduate?" asked Albus fondly and with a knowing glint in his twinkling eyes. "I have heard from both Remus and Sarah (Harding) that you are the best students in both subjects by far …and they have each only committed to teaching one more year since they both want some time to themselves. I would love to have you both as members of the staff, and I know the students would as well."

"Summer's off?" I asked curiously and got several smiling teachers nodding their heads in response. "What about maternity leave?"

"As much as you want," answered Albus quickly once he realized that we were both seriously considering the offer, and apparently not wanting to lose us without a fight, "and I'm sure we could work on renovating a wing or tower of the castle to better accommodate a young or growing family."

"Let us think about it this summer …we'll let you know at the start of next year, answered Daphne, not one to rush into things and needing to get a lot done this summer …the biggest being our wedding, and my official coming of age and assumption of several Wizengamot seats.

That night we had a small party in my suite for our friends that we wouldn't get to see much of over the summer. It was a great time had by all, even if Daphne and I had to answer a lot of questions about the final battle mainly from Hermione and Tracey who seemed to want to know everything. Dobby spent a lot of the night talking to Blaise and Sophia who were both interested in doing some more work for the Daily Prophet over the summer, which I was quite glad to sign off on and give the okay. As predicted, Dobby had already written up my interview and statements about the final battle to give to the various media outlets, and after I approved them was told that they would show up at breakfast tomorrow before the Hogwarts Express left to take us all back to Kings Cross Station for the summer break.

The party didn't go too late so that everyone could get back to their dorms to pack, and for Daphne and I to enjoy our last night together probably for a few days or maybe even weeks since we would both be quite busy preparing for our wedding once school officially let out. The Daily Prophet interview and statement wasn't too bad, and came off positive with a unifying and love theme that was discussed and well accepted at Hogwarts and on the train ride home. We had all stuffed ourselves with breakfast knowing how long the ride would be, and expanded the space in our train compartment we used as we sat, talked, and enjoyed our last bit of time with everyone. By five in the afternoon, I was saying my final goodbyes to everyone as we pulled into Kings Cross station and tried to de-board the Hogwarts Express to find an utterly packed and chaotic Platform 9 ¾'s. The entire area was practically crawling with reporters and well wishers hoping to meet or get a glimpse of Daphne or I …just fucking great, as if the random students glares and attention wasn't bad enough.

"Daph, I'll do crowd control …you just find your parents and Delia and get the hell out of here," I spoke before planting a long lingering kiss on her beautiful lips savoring every second of it. "I'll see you Friday night at six for dinner with you and your parents …I love you, be safe."

"I love you …and you be safe too mister," mock scolded Daphne rather playfully before capturing me in another swift kiss. "Some of those reporters and parents look like they would sooner kidnap you than just thank you."

"Oh …don't worry about me dear, I'll be fine," I teased back with a wicked smirk that I considered very Slytherin worthy.

"Just place nice sweetie," chided Daphne with a smirk of her own that just made me want to grab her, kiss her, and take her home with me.

"I will, I promise," I added and reached out to bring her into another passionate kiss, not wanting to let her go, "call Dobby if you need me for anything."

"I will, I promise," she responded identical to me, and with a slight mocking tone that went well with her beautiful smirk.

I then braved the crowd and jumped off the train with a flourish and into the heavy throng of people, before quickly began pushing my way away from both the train itself and the fireplace and barrier exits. I gave a wave and wink to Damien and another to Daphne when she quietly an unnoticed by the others met up with her dad and followed her mother and sister through the floo. Now with my distraction job over, I conjured a small pedestal underneath me that elevated me above all the others trying to squeeze up next to me to either shake my hand, pat me on the back, or ask a million unwanted questions. Once everyone in the large crowd could easily see me I had to stifle a groan at feeling like that putz Lockhart, but quickly squashed that thought knowing there way no way out of at least saying something.

"Voldemort is gone," I announced loudly and clearly for everyone to hear eliciting gasps at first followed by ear splitting cheers. "And now, so are the days were it is my job to save you all …goodbye!"

AN: I always wanted Harry to tell everyone off after defeating Voldemort! Don't worry, in true Rowling style I have added an epilogue to cover and wrap up the ending nicely. Plus, I don't have anything else in this story to really write a sequel and wanted to stop all chances of being asked to. I think that's where her epilogue came from too …genius!