CHAPTER 37:
The Birth of the Fire Witch

From the cradle to the grave
From the palace to the gutter
Beneath the dying waves of the sun
Lie fingers of love
~Neil Finn

On Easter Sunday, Ginny descended the stairs from the girls' dorm after preparing herself for the trip. The plan was to portkey to Egypt and come immediately back. During the last week she had been having Floo calls with the other witches and wizards who would be assisting on the incubation and ignition project, and the adults involved did not believe an advanced in person meeting was necessary. They did, however, give her specific dress requirements, which explained the current look she had as Harry, Ron and Hermione waited for her at the bottom of the stairs.

"You look really pretty," Potter said as his voice caught in his throat.

Ginny was wearing a white dress that could have been the softest leather. The bodice was tight to her curves and the skirt was full around her supple legs while the sleeves were loose but tapering to her forearm. On her feet she wore white dancer-like shoes, and her hair had small detailed braids to accentuate her facial features.

"That would be a good wedding dress," Hermione said approvingly since weddings were still on her brain.

Ginny looked down at herself. "I think I get to keep it. It is a nice dress. I almost feel like a princess. Too bad I can't stay in Egypt longer than a day."

"So you're just going there and back?" Harry asked.

"That's the plan," Ginny said with a big smile to show her uncertainty as to anything else.

Ron had a thinking look on his face, and he turned to his sister like a curious dog. "Gin, can you really start fires with your brain?"

Hermione started to tease him for falling for his sister's joke, but she was soon silenced.

"No, I can't," Ginny said as she waved her left hand in the air between them and covered it in sparkling flames. She winked at them, and the others saw the flame go out.

"That's… amazing!" Ron said, clearly impressed with and proud of his sister.

"I wouldn't have been able to find my magic without you, Ron," she said as she remembered that it was thinking about his teacup that had been the key to unlocking her power.

"Does Remus know you can do that?" Harry had to know.

"Absolutely." Then she cheekily added, "He's the only person I can't burn with my fire. Good for him, but not so good for you. Thankfully, I have enough self control not to burn my Quidditch captain's broom out from under him even when he's being an unforgivable prat."

She put her hands on her long skirt to lift it as she walked and excused herself to go meet Dumbledore for their appointment with the portkey. The confidence with which she left masked the nervousness and excitement she was feeling inside.

Back in the common room where the trio remained, Hermione asked Harry, "Why would you ask her about Remus?"

"Because she loves him," he admitted while he watched the door as if he could still see her.

Both Hermione and Ron reacted at the same time with surprise expressed at different noise levels.

Granger had said relatively softly, "So that's who she meant!"

Meanwhile, Weasley said loudly, "Why does everyone else know more about my sister than I do?"

"I don't think we know much of anything at all any more," Harry declared, his eyes still on the door where Ginny had left.

###

Together, Ginny and Albus Dumbledore had walked beyond the protective wards of Hogwarts to the places where they could use the portkey. Like her, his robes were in ceremonial white to honor the birth. The other witches and wizards participating would also have their whites.

"Are you feeling any effects from last night's full moon, Miss Weasley," he asked in a way that seemed off hand but wasn't.

"I made sure to keep my own company, and I tried to get some rest for today's travel," she said.

"Very good. Before we go, take this to settle your stomach. The trip will be longer than other trips you have done before, and it would not do you well to be sick on a pleasurable journey," he said as he held out something that looked like a wrapped piece of candy.

Ginny took the candy but reminded him that she had been to Egypt before.

"Our journey is to a very specific place, so it is better to take all precautions. Are you ready? Then we shall be off," Professor Dumbledore said before they both touched the official portkey.

###

In Luxor, Remus Lupin made it in as the last of the crowd of reporters to arrive since he had to wait until after he was completely human again. He doubted there were any other werewolves there because he just couldn't smell it on any of them. It might have been more convenient had he spent the full moon in Egypt, but he didn't want to do that for the first time in a strange place.

The normal types of people who showed up to officious events were all gathered in the seating and reception areas. A few people seemed genuinely interested while others still were bored. He tried to mingle and get quotes to drop into the article. He also took several photographs so that he had the basic journalistic intentions covered.

The hatching room was set up similarly to an ancient Greek amphitheater. In the center was a circle of heated sand surrounded by a barrier of rocks. At a few places within the small dune where more rocks and elevated steps like poles that were likely there for the benefit of the human animal keepers who would not be able to tread on the sand or the rocks. There were also two water taps so that steam would be generated to increase the heat underneath the eggs.

Remus had informed Albus Dumbledore and the Weasleys that he would be in attendance at the ceremony. He had kept that little detail from Ginny, though, and he justified his actions that he didn't want to distract her when she had such an important day. It was a lie, of course. He was less worried about her performance with the phoenixes than his own bumbling through their relationship. So he was sitting quietly in the back of the room when the procession of witches and wizards came to stand in front of the birthing sands.

Ginny walked out as the centerpiece of the group of seven, which consisted of three females and four males, one of whom was Dumbledore. Each of the people was wearing white ceremonial robes, but two things set her visually apart from the others. She had no wand in her hand, and her hair was showing brilliant red and tumbling freely down her back except for a few braids here and there. She looked so lovely that Lupin's breath caught in his throat at the sight of her.

The Fire Witch could not see the people who had come to watch. The heating and light at the level of the hatching sands made so that the view of the people blurred into a haze. She only vaguely heard the preliminary speech from the officiant, and that ended in him telling the attendees that they had protective goggles to wear should the heat become too intense for normal viewing. Oddly enough, the seven who would be helping with the hatching did not get that particular item of safety gear.

To make a concession for the noisiness of fire, the movements of all involved were coordinated with deep rumbling bells. After three slow rings, the wizard at the far left of the platform started a red jet of flame from his wand and aimed it at the center rocks on which the three rainbow colored eggs were waiting. At the next sound, the wizard on the opposite side added his jet of flame to the target. When the next sound came, a female witch on the left side added her magic to the growing fireball. The action continued in pendulum motion until it got to Ginny, who stood as the centerpiece of the group.

The other witches and wizards seemed rather stoic about their job, but the young witch began dancing on the sand, which might have been unexpected to some. She moved her body with suppleness and grace akin to that of a martial artist flowing through all her poses. She did an en pointe turn and bent her arms to send forth three sparkling, glowing orbs of energy that went straight to their targets of the eggs.

She bent her head low to the sand, and Ginny rolled her arms forward in supplication. From the edge of the sand where she had her head bowed low, a flame wave erupted out of the ground and rolled to its final destination with the eggs. The eggs themselves seemed to take on a glow as move of this burning energy was added to them.

Ginny's beauty in her dance was enough for Lupin to stand up and take a wizard photo of her in motion with her left hand outstretched to her side and her right arm over her head as she directed more fire toward the eggs so they might achieve ignition. The three-quarter pose she had was enough to show her physical prowess while partially obscuring her identity with her hair and arms covering some of the details of her face. It was the kind of photo, if he got it just right, that would sell a record number of papers.

After Remus took the photo, Ginny seemed to falter and fall to the sand with her hands palm down within it. The other wizards seemed to keep steady at their tasks without her, but the suspicious body posture belied that something was wrong with her, though the werewolf could not know what that was unless he asked her mind to mind. Trying it at this particular point seemed rather frivolous, though, so he refrained from doing it.

Had Remus asked her, she would have told him that the sands were still too cold. The magic they were creating together looked impressive and entertaining enough to those watching, but it just wasn't quite right. The egg keepers kept warning her with bells and short musical melodies to get back up and take her place with the group, and supposedly they knew what was best for the birds. Ginny knew there had been a miscalculation, though. One of the eggs barely had a spark of life in it, and to bring it forth would take the type of intense heat that the others were not prepared to create.

She stood to her feet and took control of the fire dance completely. She did a kick turn to the three on one side of her, and she reached out with her hand to coax the threads of the other magics into her grasp. Once she had them in her left hand, she swayed to the right to seduce the other three pieces of fire magic to come to her. Combining and growing the magic together, she stretched out her arms until she had a glowing orb like a miniature sun in the room with them. She bowed forward and released the fire orb as a gift to the phoenixes that would be born.

When she stood up from her small supplication, Remus saw her smile gently. He also saw Albus Dumbledore looking at her in surprise. It was a look that Lupin had rarely ever seen on the man's face. The other witches and wizards doing the spell together also looked at her as she swayed, this time without the grace of her innate fire dance. Ginny seemed to stumble down, and then she put her hand on the sand again as if waiting for a sign.

Remus stood up again from his seat in the back of the room because he was compelled to get closer to Ginny. His human wizard side was worried for the young woman he loved. Meanwhile, his werewolf nature was rejoicing that she had come, that most fearsome flame entity that had loved him. As he walked slowly closer to her, he allowed his human body to see with his wolfish eyes, and Remus whimpered.

Ginny's internal colors, which had usually appeared to him in various reds, oranges and yellows, were dimmer than normal, but she had changed. She was white with the spectrum potential to become a rainbow. It was intoxicating to see, and he had to have more of it.

The red haired witch was not aware of the werewolf who came to her as a magnet drawn to its pole. She listened instead to the life that was still figuring itself out in the distance in front of her. Her last act had energized the eggs enough that they were starting to find their consciousness. Then she got the slamming crush of hunger and a need for more fires than had already been made. The babies were ravenous and calling to her.

Ginny opened her eyes and looked up as she knew the one thing she had to give them so they could reach ignition. It was simple, really. She just had to have faith in herself that it would work, and she had to be brave enough to take the leap. For three weeks she had purposefully been falling off brooms. It would be just as easy and more than crazy. But something within her assured her it would be enough.

On unsteady legs, Ginny returned to standing. Then with the grace of a mountain goat, she hopped across the sand until she had landed on the tiny elevated steps that rose above and around the central egg hatchery. She kept hopping from step to step until she'd reached the one that was at the highest point she could find while being centrally located to the eggs. The fire orb still burned white orange down below like the miniature star it was created to be, so Ginny could no longer see the eggs. She just knew they were there on faith.

She wobbled on the step positioned at the top of a long pole, standing on one foot with her white skirts being whipped about her by the fire winds. Her brow started to sweat, and her nose started a small trickle of blood as she looked down. And then Ginny fell.

Remus rushed forward to stand by Albus, and he clutched at the older wizard's forearm for dear life. He was breathing shallow and fast as he watched her descent. But then he saw it, and he let all the stress flow away from him. He could no longer see the girl who was Ginny Weasley, but he could still see her energy, this time burning the full rainbow spectrum. She was floating down upon the phoenixes like an angel sent to bless them into heaven.

Lupin let go of Dumbledore's arm, and stepped apart so he could watch her further. If anyone had been paying attention to his face, it would have shown an expression of supreme bliss. He watched as the fire around the phoenixes was engulfed by Ginny's energy. He let out a sigh of pleasure and peace, and only after did it occur to him that others were not so happy to be seeing Ginny's transformation into the energy state.

"What's wrong?" Moony asked Dumbledore with worry.

The old wizard looked at the people watching in the stands and the officials around them. Several of them were arguing back and forth. "They think the girl was a ritual sacrifice. They think they've been duped."

"She's not dead," Remus scoffed. "I can see her. She's right there."

Dumbledore looked at him with yet another surprised expression. "Is that so? She's beyond normal human vision. Even I can't see her now."

Lupin shrugged. "I'm a werewolf. I can always see her."

"Might I..." Albus started as he raised his long fingers toward the other man's head, "use your eyes, Remus?"

The werewolf agreed, and then the old wizard put his fingertips on the younger man's temple. After the connection had been made, Remus could feel Dumbledore behind his eyes. He started off by staring at his own hand, so that there would be a gentle starting point to acclimate the wizard to their temporarily shared vision. Then Remus slowly scanned his eyes up the sand until he rested his eyes on the swirling bright rainbow of flames dancing around the phoenixes.

Dumbledore let out a moan, and leaned into the werewolf as the sight of it made him suddenly weaker. He did not break contact, though, because he didn't want to lose his chance to see what no other human in the room was seeing.

Within moments, the eggs that had surrounded the newly born phoenixes started to crack. The ignited firebirds broke free of their restraints and shot into the air above the hatching grounds, twirling and dancing in triple spirals. They played and darted in and out until they were lured to the front of the sands with the food that had been placed there for them.

Dumbledore reluctantly pulled out of Lupin's mind, and they both went closer to the front to hear the officiant's responses to the audience questions. They had both already heard the beginnings of lies he was telling the audience. On the way there, one of the phoenix acolytes was scurrying past Remus, and the werewolf grabbed him forcibly by the arm.

"I need you to get food and blankets. Bring it down here now!" he ordered.

"But I'm supposed to take care of the birds," he whimpered.

"We have a witch who is going to need critical care soon, and if you don't help, you'll not have long to enjoy your regrets. Do it now," he said with a threatening low growl.

The questions from some reporters were about the success of the birthing with many photos taken of the new phoenixes proudly preening behind the officiant. Then a few astute ones started to ask about Ginny.

"What can you tell us about the young witch?"

"Was she a sacrifice for new life?"

"Did she really have to die to make this complete?"

The officiant didn't know what to say and stumbled over all words that could come out of his mouth. Remus strode on to the platform with confidence and pushed the man out of the way.

"I can speak for the Fire Witch," he said, looking down on everyone with a werewolf's disdain. "Her Elemental magic exists, and it is strong. She is not dead. She has moved into an energy state so the phoenixes you see before you could be born. Without her valor, this event would not have happened."

"Who are you to speak for the Fire Witch?" asked one wizard with his journalist's quill poised at ready.

"Remus Lupin," he said. Then he took an opportunity since he was already being free and easy with the information. "I work for the Quibbler, and we have had special dealings with this witch. We may have an exclusive interview for you all very soon."

He backed away from the podium while Dumbledore looked at him in concern. "Are you sure that was wise?"

"No," he admitted. "But this is the place where legends are born. If we're going into infamy, let's do so spectacularly. Contact Molly and Arthur, and let them know she is okay. I will stay here with her until she becomes corporeal once more."

After a moment, Lupin shook his head. "That was not something I ever expected to say."

Dumbledore looked out to the sands again where he could no longer see Ginny since he did not have the use of Moony's eyes. "I have seen the magic she has done where she has transformed herself into energy. It began shortly after your last visit to Hogwarts. In all the times I watched her, it was as quick as Apparition. I fear if she stays in the energy state too long, she will not be able to return."

Remus nodded his agreement. "I have faith, Albus. I will wait with her. Clear the area so we can have some privacy, and make sure that boy brings extra portions of food."

"What will you do?" the older wizard asked.

"I will eat. I will write my article, which will be brilliant. I will wait. And then... if Ginny has not returned to me before too long, I will go hunting for her." Lupin then sat down near the sand and dismissed his old headmaster with a wave of his hand.

Albus Dumbledore left the birthing grounds without another word.

###

All over Europe and North Africa, the news outlets started running their articles about the phoenix birthing. The papers with late Sunday editions quickly put some into press to share on the headlines the discovery of such existing and strong Elemental magic. There were also conjecture and opinions as to the nature of the witch's power. Was she even human? Some of the more whimsical sources wrote opinion pieces that dared ask the question if the witch herself was a phoenix who had used a charm to make herself appear human to the masses.

No matter which sources were printing or discussing the articles, the one thing that stuck with all of them was the appellation that Remus had given her in lieu of sharing her given name with the rest of the world. The curiosity of the Fire Witch's identity was aided by the fact that the photos that had been taken of her were of such poor quality as to seem like those of a hoax. The best images were the ones that Remus himself had taken.

Xenophilius Lovegood got Lupin's article and photos by express owl and immediately went to work. He had not expected such a positive turn, but he knew not to miss an opportunity when it came to him. The curious outcry was enough that the Quibbler had to be printed twice to meet the demand, and many other news sources sent owls or tried to make Floo calls to ask to borrow the photograph. It had been the biggest sales boon to the newspaper since his exclusive interviews with Harry Potter over the return of Lord Voldemort.

Elsewhere in England, things were also taking interesting turns. At the Burrow, Molly and Arthur waited impatiently for the news and were quickly assured by Dumbledore who appeared in their Floo that Ginny had been absolutely brilliant and not to believe the reports of her demise. Bill and Fleur had been visiting, and the French witch clapped excitedly for her sister-in-law's success. Then he informed them that Lupin was still with Ginny to make sure she'd come out of it okay.

"He sees her so differently than we do," Albus said with awe. "It is not merely with his emotions, but somehow the werewolf has tapped levels of perception that most of us don't have. He let me see for a few moments, and it was earth-shattering."

"But she'll be okay?" Arthur asked to be certain.

"He seems to think so," the other wizard said before ending the call.

Farther away still in Hogwarts, both Hermione and Luna received copies of their respective newspapers with the reports about the Fire Witch and the birth of three completely new phoenixes. The two witches compared articles while Harry and Ron looked on with interest. One thing that they all seemed to agree upon was that the photos from the Quibbler article were spectacularly good.

"I can almost feel the heat coming off the page as I look at her," Ron said in awe.

"She's beautiful," Harry sighed, and he did not fail to notice the Quibbler article and photo credit given to Remus.

###

On the birthing grounds in Luxor, Remus waited for Ginny long after the sands had started to grow cold. She still burned brightly in her energy state, but he needed her to come back to him. He needed it more than anything because it had moved from want to need. He did not worry. He was just impatient for her to return.

So he sent out his thoughts to her with all the love that he had inside them. If the telepathic link worked through these forms, he hoped she would receive it as the gift he was offering to her. Then he rose from the floor, taking his robes in one fluid motion and casting them aside until he was almost completely naked. He removed the rest of his articles of clothing and then took on his own wildest state of being. Remus became the werewolf that Ginny had always wanted him to be.

Moony saw her and loved her as he always did, and in his loneliness he called out for his mate to return to him. He let out the werewolf howl that reverberated in the room and set the bells in sympathetic motion. He wolf-sang again until the sound filled the chambers to let her know he was there and that she should find him.

The color of the swirling energy slowly changed from the peaceful way it had been to a more curious hue. It reached itself out to find the source until it first found the singing werewolf. Streams of energy started moving toward him like a current of water, blending as more of it coalesced together. He kept singing his song to her until all the energy of her being surrounded him completely.

The werewolf then asked with everything he knew for her to come back to him, to be with him as his most precious above all others. Her energy started to change and darken, finding its way into the visible spectrum of light. A body seemed to form in the light as if something blurry started to come into focus.

As she reached her solid state, taking in a new breath, Remus changed himself back into a man who held her gently in his arms. He moved her delicate body to the blankets he had requested for her, and he wrapped her in them as he waited. He was rewarded after many breaths when she put her gaze on him.

"Remus?" Ginny asked weakly.

"Yes!" he said with a wide smile that almost broke his face. Water filled his eyes as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"Where are we?" she asked, her tiredness palpable.

"Egypt," he said softly, looking at her in admiration. "Future generations will wish they could have been here this day, and forever your name will be on lips of werewolves for whom you will be their guiding star."

She smiled drowsily at his poetry, but her eyes were closed as if she would fall into her healing sleep. Ginny murmured, "You are the only werewolf I want, Remus."

"Then it shall be so until the end of time," he said as he curled beside her on the floor in the dark.

A/N: The lyric quote is from "Fingers of Love," performed by Crowded House on the album Together Alone. This is probably one of my all time favorite Crowded House/Neil Finn-penned songs.

Special shout out to xoRetributionox for being so consistent and awesome with the reviews on this back half of the story. Thank you!