Authors Note: Thanks for the support and sorry for the late update. My brother was there with the kids yesterday and the little ones are rather demanding of their favourite Aunt's time and that cut down on my time in front of my laptop considerably.
Shadow Phoenix
Chapter 7
Starting school
The next couple of weeks Severus keeps an eye on the Headmasters Phoenix or rather Phoenixes and even asks Albus if he could get anything out of 'him' since Harry claims to just have liked the thrill and that he said to have no idea what it was about."
He also starts to have an eye on Quirrell who is acting strange and Severus is worried about the Philosophers stone being in the school and even considers warning Harry.
Harry enjoys school but he is a bit surprised that his scar keeps hurting when he's in his defence class. He is happy however that Wood, the current captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team tells him that he's on the team during breakfast on his first full day as a Hogwarts student and Harry happily tells Draco, who mentions that he's not on it yet but that he's going to try out. Harry wishes him luck and he and Ron are often with him around the castle but most of the time outside and away from the noises or in Harry's room in Severus' quarters.
Everything is rather quiet in Harry's life until Halloween. That morning during the charms lesson Harry, as usually, pretends not to be able to do what he's supposed to do until someone else manages it. No one told him to hold back but considering how the students of the school reacted to his name that first day, even those that saw him around the castle in past years, he rather not test how they react if he does everything at the first attempt even though he knows he could do it. He can feel his magic wanting to do the spell he says and has to force it back to stop it every time and he just hopes that someone gets the bloody feather to fly already. He hears Hermione, the girl from the train, correct Ron who mispronounces it dreadful and Harry is glad someone else does because he knows that Ron will be upset about it and as usual is proven right about it while Hermione shows Ron that she was right and lets her feather float. Professor Flitwick is still busy praising her when Neville blows up his feather and Harry just calmly tells the Professor that he'll need a new feather.
After that class, which luckily is the last for the day, Ron complains about how annoying Hermione is and how everyone knows that is the reason she doesn't have any friends. Right after that she walks past them clearly crying. "I think she heard you." Harry says worriedly. He knows how it feels to be alone and wishes to help her but isn't sure how while his friends drag him towards the great hall. Draco constantly grumbling about stupid house tables and the stupid hat not listening to him.
Harry just takes his hand for a moment and says, "Don't worry, we still have a bit before we have to sit down and I'll stay with you until then."
Draco smiles at him but then sighs, "Don't worry Harry. Just sit down and have fun tonight okay? But tomorrow, we go flying. That's way better anyway."
"You don't have a broom." Harry points out.
"But you have one." Draco says, "You can borrow it me. I know that Felix sometimes shows up when I fly alone, you know that Shadow Phoenix that used to be around your dad all the time and hardly ever shows up now? Maybe he'll join me if I fly without you annoying him."
"Don't start a fight with him Malfoy." Ron grumbles.
"Sure." Harry says, "I'll borrow you my broom and go spend some quality time with my dad so you can fly alone and be sure Felix won't stay with dad while I'm there, he doesn't like me very much as you know. And don't worry Ron, that Felix runs of when he sees me is an insider joke thing between Draco and me, he isn't picking a fight."
But the night doesn't stay peaceful. Shortly after Harry hears some of the girls talk about Hermione who apparently is still crying in a girl's restroom somewhere Professor Quirrell runs into the great hall screaming, "Troll! A Troll!" He runs further to the head table before slowing and says, "I thought I'd tell you." Right before he faints.
Everyone screams and is about to run around when Albus Dumbledore's voice shouts much louder "Quiet," He gets quieter as soon as everyone calmed a little and says, "Everyone stay calm! Prefects, take your house to your dorms, teachers with me."
Harry is going with Ron and the rest of his house after waving a nervous looking Draco who mouths the word flash and Harry assumes he wants Harry to come to him later to see that Harry is save.
They aren't far when Harry remembers "Hermione, Ron she doesn't know. Stay with the others I'll go find her."
"You can't go alone." Ron says. "What if something happens?"
"I'll be fine." Harry insists "Just go back."
"No Harry I'm not leaving you to walk around alone." Ron replies and drags Harry along to sneak from their group to find Hermione.
Luckily Harry heard the other girls and knows where to look for her. He runs followed by Ron towards where he knows she is and while getting close, he notices a strange scent. "What's that smell?" Harry wonders.
"Don't know!" Ron says as they turn the corner and right back where they came from. "But I think I do now!" Ron says after having seen the huge sickly green looking Troll.
"You think?" Harry asks sarcastically before looking around the corner and sees the Troll walk into the girls restroom. "Oh no. He walked right into it."
"Into what?" Ron asks. "Hey we could lock him in."
"Yeah great idea." Harry sighs rolling his eyes, "And since Hermione is in there he's even got a snack."
"You do realise that you're spending too much time with Draco?" Ron grumbles.
"I wouldn't need to be sarcastic I you'd think." Harry says and then they hear a scream. "Hurry." Harry says and runs towards the scream, Ron right after him, even though he's a little paler now.
They rush into the room and see the Troll hit a stall and hear another scream. "Hermione stay down." Harry screams and takes some rubble to throw it at the Troll trying to think of something he can do without showing Ron and Hermione he's a Phoenix that can just grab the troll, flash him wherever and drop him before flashing back.
The troll doesn't seem to feel the rubble so Harry uses some magic to jump high enough to ride on the troll's shoulders and while holding on, accidentally gets his wand stuck in the troll's nose. At least that seems to get his attention and he tries to shake Harry of and eventually grabs Harry's leg and he's hanging upside down. Now that plan is out too since he knows from his first time flashing while being a human with Draco that when someone holds on to him, they flash along just like if he's holding on to them. Scared Harry looks at the Troll and tries to avoid the hit from his wooden club he is swinging.
"Ron do something." Hermione screams.
"And what?" Ron asks.
"Swish and flick." Hermione says reminding him on the levitation charm.
Ron tries but as usual it doesn't work. The troll swings at Harry again and for a moment it feels like time slows while Harry wonders if he's going to be with his real parents should he die. Before he can't wonder too long he remembers himself right after catching the snitch for the first time. He remembers being on his father's arms and asking if him dying would be bad. He remembers how Severus had said, "Harry, you dying is the worst thing I can imagine and I would be devastated to lose you."
The club is an inch from Harry's face by now and it's too late to avoid getting hid by moving out of the way like he had before. Harry doesn't hesitate with secrets, they were to protect him, not to stop him from staying save and he knows his dad would agree to anything that kept him alive. He changes in the troll's hands, effectively getting free from the grip that had been holding on to a human leg instead of a bird's one. Next, he flashes to the club holding onto it and with the strength of a Phoenix he pulls it from the troll's hands and swings it right back against his head. The troll goes down and stays down and Harry quickly turns back and looks at Ron and Hermione, "Please don't tell anyone I'm an animagus."
After that he takes his wand back and wipes it off mumbling about how disgusting it is. He's just done when Albus, Minerva, Quirrel and Severus rush into the room. On Albus' shoulder is one of the Phoenixes, it's the first one Harry had seen. The calmer male. "Harry." Severus says and pales more than usually, "Harry are you hurt?"
"I'm fine dad." Harry says and gives him a hug before whispering "They know about Felix, I had to, we'd be dead otherwise."
Severus just nods and holds him tight. Harry feels that his back is tightly wound and wonders if it was due to the worry but when he steps back he sees blood on his father's leg he looks questioningly but Harry's dad just shakes his head a little.
"What happened here?" Minerva asks sternly.
Harry just looks beggingly towards Ron and Hermione and Hermione says, "It's my fault. I read so much about trolls I thought I could fight it. Harry and Ron came after me and if they hadn't saved me I'd be dead."
"That's not correct." Harry says, "We, I mean Ron and I said something we shouldn't have about her. We didn't know she'd hear and she ran off crying and I heard at the feast that she was still here and worried since she couldn't know about the troll. I'm sorry."
"It was just me who said it." Ron mumbles. "I was just jealous that she's better than me with spells."
"I hope you realize how lucky you are." Minerva chides them "Not many first years are able to fight a troll and live to tell the tale. Five points for each of you for unbelievable luck." She's about to turn when she adds, "And five points from Gryffindor your petty jealousy Mister Weasley, don't let it happen again and now off to bed."
In that moment Albus' Phoenix flies up enough to flash without taking the old man with him. "Professor?" Harry asks Albus remembering the blood on his father's leg, "May I stay with my dad tonight?"
"Of course." Albus says with a gentle smile, "I'm sure this whole thing was rather scary."
"Thank you, Professor." Harry says and walks towards his dad when a Phoenix appears. Albus looks at it and it seems like no one notices that it's not the same as before. Even though firstly it's a female one and secondly, she's barley touching Albus enough to hold on to him and her wings aren't completely folded like she's ready to fly off at any second. "I'll go with dad now." Harry adds wondering why they switched so obviously.
He walks towards his father's private rooms while Hermione and Ron go towards Gryffindor and they are just around a corner when the Phoenix flies of after Harry and lands on his shoulder, this time apparently planning on staying considering that she seems to relax, at least a little. "Ah right, I wanted to ask Severus something, excuse me please." Albus says towards his other two colleges and walks after Severus and Harry.
They stay silent until they are in Severus' private room. "I wonder what this with Fawkes is about." Albus replies, "You wouldn't know anything about it Harry my dear?"
Harry doesn't reply and just worriedly looks at his father's wounded leg. In that moment, the Phoenix thrills again and this time Harry doesn't hear words instead of it as he usually does. He does however see things in his mind, like it's a different language, one that uses pictures rather than words. He sees a woman, a young one but it seems to be thousands of years ago, considering that she seems to be living in a cave and wearing furs. She is however crying onto a wound of an older male and it's healing. Harry also feels a wish to heal while she is crying even though she's smiling. Harry looks at the Phoenix when the images stop right when she stops thrilling. "May I now?"
The bird thrills again and he feels impatience coming from her and considers it to mean that he may. He goes over to his father moves the robe out of the way and wishes to heal him like he felt her do during what must have been a memory. He feels the tears come and drops one on the wound under the shocked eyes of Albus and his dad. They all watch the wound heal right away.
"How did you?" Severus asks shocked.
"Phoenix tears." Harry says and shrugs.
"But you're not transformed." Severus states the obvious.
"I know." Harry replies calmly. "But she told me that I could do it like this too."
"She?" Albus asks. "I thought Fawkes told you."
Harry looks at her and the next moment he hears her thrill and sees spread her wigs moving them with sparks coming from it. The thrill is louder und urgent and Harry covers his ears until it stops. "Did you hear something?" Albus questions. "Because we certainly only saw that it looked like Fawkes was thrilling."
"I think she asked Fawkes here." Harry says with a cheeky smile on his face and is proven right. The energetic male is the fastest, but keeps flying around the room. He's followed by the calm female that sits down on the back of the chair by the desk while the other male is the last to enter and appears on Albus' shoulder. "And I meant all of the Phoenixes you believed to be one." Harry goes on while the female that had called them rests on the back of the comforter.
Albus stares at them. "You mean, they're all Fawkes."
"I'm not that stuck-up guy." The energetic one grumbles.
Harry grins and says, pointing towards the only one that is still flying, "He said he's not that stuck-up guy so no, they are not all Fawkes. That is Fawkes." Harry says pointing to the one that is on Albus' shoulder. "He was with you the first time I saw you but ever since they switched. I don't know if they did before."
"We did not." Fawkes thrills.
The calmer female one says, "But you should sit down and ask them for some snacks since this might take a while. I believe Fawkes would die for some grapes again."
Harry looks at her before he turns to Albus saying "She said it might take some time and to get some snacks and that Fawkes would die for some grapes again."
"I wouldn't die for them." Fawkes replies sounding stuck-up and flies from Albus' shoulder and to everyone's shock turns into a very old looking man that wears a strange white cloth around his hips and a golden fabric tied like a belt around the top of the cloth and hanging down elegantly at the front. "I would however appreciate some grapes, preferably with a good wine. I haven't had proper human food since my first life circle ended."
He moves his hand and a throne like golden chair appears and he sits down on it before looking at Albus, "What are you waiting for and don't you dare offer me any of those disgusting sweets. You're just as much of a silly old sugar addict as my father had been."
Severus and Albus are staring at him for a little longer before Albus calls for a house elf to ask him for the requested fruit and then some treats for Harry and Severus and possibly some more gusts as well as some wine if they can find any.
Harry sits down on his father's lap on the comforter and Albus takes a place on the couch where he soon is joint be the next Phoenix that changes also. This time it's the calm Phoenix that changes into a very young female that appears to be in her late teens or early twenties. She is wearing an old-fashioned Kimono and siting very straight with a white painted face and only the middle part of her lips is a dark ruby red. Severus stares at her just like Albus does. Albus is the first to snap out of his surprise and asks, "And may I ask you for your name?"
"I'm Li Jing." She replies with a slight bow of the head. "I was born in China about 4000 years ago. I'm the third oldest Phoenix alive. Fawkes, it older though."
"I don't know how long ago I was born." Fawkes explains, "But I do remember that it was somewhere that you now call Mexico. I did however flash, after my parent's death, towards a lovely young Egyptian maid and later married her. When the Egyptians saw me change, they believed me to be the son of their sun god and made me their ruler. Which means I was the first Pharaoh which was essentially a very bad miss pronunciation of Phoenix that I never bothered to correct."
"And may we know about your two companions?" Severus asks holding Harry tight.
The one that flew the whole time changes and in front of them is a strong looking young man with a sheath but no sword in it. He's dressed in what looks like some of the portraits around the castle are wearing. But only those in the really old pictures from the time Hogwarts was build. "You may know my name, but I fear the first one doesn't have a proper name since she is from a time before Humans had names."
"Or lived in houses or had any decent behaviour." Fawkes replies, "She still doesn't bother with words and only communicates with pictures but luckily our magic translates well from our words to pictures for her, so we don't need to bother with such an odd communication."
"She's still the most powerful of us." Li points out with a gentle tone, "But she's hardly using it and never interferes in human life anymore. She might however use it to protect our chick, or, well I'm sure you'll see soon."
Harry feels Severus hold him tighter when Li calls him their chick and sees the hyper man, who still must say his name, grin at him. "Of course she would protect our chick, after all, we do have such a cute little chick and he's all ours, I wish we could just snatch him up."
Feeling the amusement in the man's voice he doesn't take it serious but Severus clearly does and glares at him holding Harry even tighter while stating, "He's NOT your chick. Harry is still MY son."
"Ah," the man says and sits down on the arm of the comforter moving his hand to pull Severus' face to look up at him and says, "The same enticing glare my beloved Sal, had. I must keep a close eye on you."
Severus keeps glaring and Harry feels a slight movement from him before the other man pales, "I see you're also as feisty, I promise to retreat if you promise not to hex me there!"
Harry looks where his father wand is and more importantly where it is pointing towards and sees that the tip is currently touching the other man's most private area. "I think that sounds reasonable." Severus drawls and the other man steps back, "And next I'd like to know your name since you still failed to give it to us."
"My apologies, it must have slipped my mind." The man says.
"Story of his life." Fawkes mumbles. "But then again, it can't slip from his mind, since he barely has such a thing."
"Hey," The broad hyper man grumbles, "I most certainly do have a mind and a well working one you spoiled brat."
Fawkes is about to say something when a jolt of magic hits him and the other man and Li says, "That's the other reason she might use magic for, those two constantly get into an argument when they see each other. It's rare enough but if we have a meeting and are together she keeps us, or rather them, in line."
"I think the fact about him not having a mind is true, he forgot to give us his name, again." Severus growls still holding his wand at the man's midsection.
"I'm so very sorry, but the fault is with Fawkes this time for distracting me." The man says before bowing towards Severus saying, "Godric Gryffindor, at your service."
Severus just groans, "It had to be him? Of all the founders, why did it have to be him to be immortal?"
"Because I'm the most powerful?" Godric states, "But Sal was pretty powerful too. And good he was creative, beat me in every duel because of his sneaky little tricks. I always teased him that I only lost due to his sexy rear end distracting me but he was good just amazing. And his determination! It's just incredible."
"Why are you here?" Severus grumbles still holding his wand to the same spot and holding on to Harry tightly with his other arm.
"To tell you that we will protect our chick and you by extension." Fawkes explains.
"Also, he's not an animagus, he's a Phoenix no matter if his body had it's bird form or human form. He is and will always be a Phoenix." Li goes on.
"It seems the body never fully changes back after the first transformation but that is kind of a theory since no one of us ever tried to do anything Phoenix like before our first change happened. But it does seem that the younger we were while changing, the more powerful we are now." Godric points out. "And right now, Harry is the youngest which means that once his magic has fully developed he'll be more powerful than the first and can help me piss off Fawkes."
"He'll rather kick you when you get to annoying." Fawkes say before both get shot by another burst of magic before the last Phoenix that is still in a bird form thrills again.
Harry remembers his own lessons that he already had and sees some he was present in as Felix when he was younger as well as learning to read and write from his dad before he says, "They want to teach me to dad. But don't worry, you are my family and they wouldn't want to take you away from me."
"That is right." Fawkes says, "There will come a time where it will be helpful to know what our race is capable of and with the combined knowledge we can give him, he wouldn't need this school."
"However, he is able to make friends here and while we have some things in common with him that others don't, they have the same age and life experience as he has and he does need to have some friends his age." Li adds, "That is why we left him with you when his magic brought him here. We had a long talk about taking him with us and raising him ourselves or leaving him here as we did. We all agreed that our first life circle with our human family was the happiest and what defined us the most which is why we all agreed that it be best for him to have that experience."
"We will leave for now however." Godric states. "You know what you must now and rest assured, no dark lord will get to harm our chick and no one else will either." Godric grins towards Severus and adds, "And if you, my handsome dark snake, need anything, Harry will know how you can find me."
Severus just glowers and grumbles, "I very much doubt that will ever happen."
"I must say, I really do love that glower." Godric says and flashes right next to Severus without turning first and kisses his cheek before flashing away.
"Harry dear," Severus grumbles, "Please let me know when you see him around Albus again so I can hex the blasted idiot."
"Okay." Harry says agreeably.
"I hope you know that he can flash faster than our little baby chick and that your hexes won't hit unless he lets you get your revenge?" Fawkes just laughs and adds, "But if it pleases you I'll gladly aid in your quest and give him a few good hexes for you. After all, that brainless swordsman is the weakest of us so I'm able to beat him easily."
"Stay out of it Fawkes." Li sighs. "And you Harry my dear, it is getting dreadfully late for a boy your age. You should rest, and we will leave for the night."
With that all changed Phoenixes returned into to their bird form and leave them alone and Severus sends Harry off to bed.
Harry is just in his room when he remembers Draco and how worried he must be by now. He quickly turns into Felix just in case Draco isn't alone and flashes towards him. He shows up in Draco's bed, the drawings around it closed and he feels Draco's arms around him right away, "Finally, what the hell took you so long?" Draco whispers and Harry can feel the tears from Draco's face on his wings, "I was worried sick."
Harry turns back into a boy and hugs him back before he directs his magic instinctively around them to make sure no one hears what he's saying. Draco sees a shield move around them and flash before it seems to disappear. He looks questioningly towards Harry who grins, "Just to make sure no one hears me. I'm sorry, I'm so late but on my way to Gryffindor I remembered that Hermione was crying and wasn't there and Ron and I went to find her. I wanted to go alone so I could go as Felix and flash her to safety and then go turn somewhere close by and get to safety too but Ron insisted to come with me. We did find her but she wasn't alone. The troll had found her. Ron and I tried to fight it but in the end I had to turn to safe us all or he'd have killed us all. I turned into Felix and won hands down with ease. When the teachers came, we told them what happened leaving out that I was Felix and Ron and Hermione backed me up and keep quiet about it too from now on I think. But dad was there and he was hurt I still don't know why I'll have to ask him tomorrow but I had to go with him so I could heal him with Phoenix tears and then I could go to my room and be alone and came straight away."
Draco glares at him and Harry just grins thinking that Godric has a point, the glare looks rather nice. "You faced a troll and didn't even think about getting some proper help with you like, oh let's say your dad, or at least an OLDER student? Like in one that would actually know how to do magic? Do you know how dangerous that was?"
"I was fine!" Harry says, "Ever seen a troll beat up a Phoenix?"
"But you're not a real Phoenix." Draco complains, "You don't know the limits yet and it's bloody dangerous and I don't want you to find out the bloody limit when you die! Harry, you have to promise to be more careful or at least ask me to come too when you risk your life so I can talk you out of it or get proper help for you myself."
"Fine." Harry says, "Next time I'll take you too." He grins and gives him another hug. "But I'm glad you weren't there, I would have been worried about you."
"I worry too you know." Draco grumbles but blushes, happy that Harry at least wants him to be safe. Even though he clearly missed the point since he had never wanted to come along but stop him from going altogether. "I was so scared when you didn't show up shortly after I got here."
"Don't worry," Harry says, "I'll be safe I promise."
"You better be." Draco insists. "If you dare to die on me I will find a way to resurrect you even if it's only to kill you!"
Harry just chuckles. "Don't worry, I'll be careful. I know I can't let myself die anymore. Dad would be devastated!"
"Dad." Draco glares at him. "Your DAD would be devastated? What about me? I need you too you know! Just thinking about losing you hurts." Draco grabs his shoulders and holds him to make sure he looks at him and says, "Promise me, you've got to promise me that you will be more careful and that you won't die on me!"
Harry looks at him for a moment and then pulls the slightly taller boy into his arms and says, "I won't die on you. I swear Draco Malfoy, you won't get rid of me. I'll always be there for you!"
"You better be." Draco mumbles holding him tightly and Harry can feel a tear drop from Draco's face onto his shoulder. "I can't lose you my Harry."
They stay like that for a while until Godric shows up in Phoenix form and thrills, "Your dad wanted to see if you were able to fall asleep and noticed you gone little chick, he looks very nice glaring like that."
Harry sighs, "Dad noticed me gone. I've got to go."
"Can you, understand him?" Draco asks confused how Harry suddenly knows about his dad knowing him gone.
Harry looks from the Phoenix to Draco and the male bird thrills, "It's okay little chick, he's kept your secrets before."
"Yeah." Harry says, "I do understand him. And he told me that Dad wanted to see if I was able to fall asleep and now knows that clearly, I didn't. He also said that he's glaring so I better go back before he gets too mad."
"He'll still love you, you know?" Draco tells his worried looking friend, "He might get upset but you said yourself, losing you is the worst to him so you don't have to worry about him getting upset enough to let you go, he'd lose you that way after all. He'd never do that."
Harry looks at him and smiles saying, "Yeah, I think I do know that. Thanks Dray!"
"Dray?" Draco grumbles but only gets to hear a "See you tomorrow!" Before he sees a flash of blue and yellow flames and his friend is gone. Draco sighs, at least it was more yellow then usual even when he's in a good mood. But still far less than half.
The bird flashes right after Harry and both appear within less than a second in Harry's bedroom and Severus just glares at them, "Considering that the burning chicken was still here I assume this wasn't to teach you anything or am I wrong? Because I would not be pleased with nightly lessons."
"Draco was worried with the troll and before we left the great hall made clear that he wanted me to flash to him to show him that I was safe." Harry explains, "He was rather worried since it took so long and I had to calm him again."
Severus sighs and opens his arms, "Next time tell me before you flash away, I was scared when I found you gone."
Harry runs up to hug his dad and says, "Don't worry, I'll be careful, always."
"You weren't today." Severus grumbles.
"Neither were you." Harry points out, "Or how did you get your leg hurt. Was that the troll too?"
"No, that was Fluffy." Severus growls.
"Fluffy? Who or what is Fluffy?" Harry wonders.
"I'm not supposed to tell you but, since it's you, I'll better warn you." Severus sighs, "You remember what the Headmaster said at the start of term? About the third floor?"
"Sure." Harry says, "Is off limits."
"That's because Fluffy is guarding the entrance to something important down there, something that the dark Lord wants to have. He's not fully back yet so you don't need to worry. He's much too busy getting past Fluffy to worry about you." Severus calms him, "But he is moving again for the first time since he killed your parents. And that's why you must be very careful. He is around and even if he is busy otherwise, he will use every chance he gets to harm you. Do stay away from the third floor."
"What is that something?" Harry questions, "I meant hat thing that Fluffy guards."
"That is a secret." Severus replies, "And as with every secret, the fewer know, the better it is." Harry just sighs knowing that he won't find out anything else. "Let me worry about that, you better worry about beating Slytherin in your first quidditch game soon. I know my house team is very good. I hope you're up to the challenge."
"Is your seeker any good?" Harry questions.
"Kind of." Severus sighs, "But nothing compared to you I fear. But, I do hope for you to win at least as much as I hope for my house to win, probably even more. Just don't tell Draco or my other snakes, they might get overly upset with me."
Harry just grins at his dad before he says, "You know dad, when the troll had me, he tried to kill me and for a moment I wondered again if I'd see my parents if I just let him." Harry sees his dad pale considerably and that he's about to say something but Harry is faster adding, "But I couldn't see them if I die, could I? Because my dad is right here and dying would be bad because I'd lose you! I don't know my real mother and father, they aren't my parents as much as you are, after all, you are my dad. And I want to stay with you!"
Severus just holds him tighter with tears in his eyes and says, "Then you better never forget that and never even think about letting anyone take you from me again understood?"
"Yes daddy!" Harry grins and holds on tighter. "I love you."
"I love you too." Severus says, "But now you really need to go to bed, it's getting late, do you think you'll be able to sleep?"
"I'll make sure he'll rest." The Phoenix thrills, "We have our own way to let our chick rest and make sure he learns at the same time."
Harry tells his dad what the Phoenix said and Severus just glares at him, "Fine, we'll try it but if he appears tired tomorrow I swear I'll have fried Phoenix for dinner."
The Phoenix thrills amused and all harry hears is amused laughter before he finally agrees. Severus reluctantly leaves his little boy but keeps the door to his room open a little and stays close to make sure Harry won't flash away again.
Severus hears the Phoenix thrill unable to understand it and looks into the room about 15 minutes later. The bloody bird is still thrilling and he worries that Harry won't be able to sleep but while looking inside he sees the boy sleeping tightly and for once, completely relaxed in his bed. He smiles at his little boy. His posture had improved over the last few years but he had still been curled up a little but now all four limbs are stretched from him and he seems to be fast asleep.
After that Severus too goes to bed and hopes that Harry will be fine the next morning.
Authors Note: Next chapter you'll get to see Harry's first Quidditch game and how things go with the buckling broom now that Severus is Harry's dad. Will Hermione and Ron still claim that Severus tried to kill Harry? Will Harry believe it? And what about the Phoenixes? Will they help and what exactly are they teaching him? And what will Ron and Hermione do now that they know Harry's Feathery secret? Will they keep it or will one of them spill it? And how will Draco react when Harry now also befriends Hermione? Will he accept a muggleborn as easily as a Weasley or will he try to talk Harry out of it.