Harry Potter and the Dark Sigil

Chapter Eighteen: Phoenix Fire

By: Harry's Mum Lily

Disclaimer: I would like to thank Coqui for beta reading this for me. Thanks to all you wonderful reviewers too. Sorry this chapter took so long. Coursework kept me from it, specifically tests. Enjoy. There will be a brief note at the end of this chapter. ~HML~

…to deliver the last Potter to them…

Sirius Black

Chapter 19

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Only a really powerful Dark wizard could have survived a curse like that.

Ernie MacMillan

Chapter 11

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The Quidditch final had already begun by the time Ron and Hermione entered the stadium. They had just begun to look around for seats among the sea of scarlet and gold when they heard a faint sound, like a click, behind them. They both turned around but after close examination, found nothing unusual. They had turned back to the match when a glowing, bright light caught their attention. The light seemed to fill the entrance in front of them and they fell back, momentarily startled by its appearance. They watched the swirling, iridescent cloud that had now filled the entire entrance. Within the cloud faint shapes were taking form and Hermione and Ron were almost sure that they had caught a glimpse of Harry within the swirling mist.

They stepped a few feet away from the void before them and noticed that no one, apart from themselves, seemed to have noticed the strange glowing portal that now filled the gate before them. They turned back toward the portal, which had now become opaque, and saw Harry and several others, though it appeared that none of the figures on the portal's other side could see them. Ron and Hermione saw Harry taking leave of the small group that had gathered around to see him off. He appeared to be well and he walked calmly toward the portal and his own time. It quickly became apparent, however, that something was amiss, for not three feet from the portal Harry's eyes became possessed of a dark and fell look and he moved swiftly in the opposite direction to attack a wizard in red, who they both recognized as Godric Gryffindor.

Ron and Hermione watched the scene that played out before them with mounting horror and fear, unable to tear their eyes away from it and unable to move or make a sound. They stood transfixed, watching as Harry advanced on the wizard before him. Their hearts quailed as they saw Harry cut down the young wizard who had rushed to Gryffindor's aid.

"No…" Hermione whispered over and over as she watched Harry advance once more toward Gryffindor.

"It can't be…Harry would never…could never…" Ron's voice reflected his shock.

They saw Gryffindor fall back, his ankle twisting under him and Harry raising the sword, which glinted in the sun's light. The sword was held suspended in midair as if Harry was unsure of his next move.

"Don't do it, Harry! If Gryffindor dies then you will too!" Hermione shouted as she ran toward the portal determined to stop Harry at all cost.

At her shout, a part of the nearby crowd noticed something odd was going on near the entrance of the pitch. Dumbledore came hurrying down from his seat followed by Professors McGonagall, Snape and Lupin. Ron went after Hermione, who was standing just inches from the portal frozen to the spot and her eyes wide in terror. Dumbledore and the others stopped a few feet from the portal, surprised by what they saw. Harry stood poised over the fallen figure of Godric Gryffindor with a sword upraised and aimed for Gryffindor's unprotected heart.

"Do not go in there, Miss Granger. The spell that created the portal is going unstable," Dumbledore said, watching the portal wavering in and out.

"But Harry…" Hermione said, her eyes full of anguish and longing.

"He must now choose for himself… we are not allowed to help him, not now," Dumbledore eyed the now trembling sword that glinted in the failing light of the sun, hoping that Harry would be able to defend himself against whatever magic held him bound.

They stood before the portal waiting for something to happen, hoping against all hope that Harry could still save himself.

Harry struggled with the dark shadow that had taken control of his actions. He could not allow the creature within to kill Sir Godric, for if the creature was successful in its attempt then he, Harry, would never be born and the world he knew would be no more. He grappled with the creature mind to mind, trying to throw it's mental spell off long enough to gain control of his actions once more. Soon the creature that had somehow become a part of him released its hold on a small portion of Harry's mind. The wall that has stood between his spirit and the shadow demon was breached. His spirit flew through the gap and took hold of the demon, trying to force it to leave his body. For a brief instant, it looked like he would be successful in driving the demon out. He'd gained control of his actions once more but the demon attacked his spirit again, trying to force it back into the mental prison it had created. Harry felt his control ebbing away as the shadow demon struck him a powerful blow, leaving three parallel and deep gashes in his side. Harry hissed as burning pain and a sudden, piercing cold began to permeate his body. He stumbled back in shock and nearly fell to his knees.

Still he disparately held onto control of the arm and hand, which held the sword of Gryffindor. The demon tried to swing the sword at Sir Godric's unprotected body as its master was ordering it to but Harry resisted the whispered command. The sword's tip wavered and as it did so, Sir Godric attempted to move out of its path only, to discover that he and the others were caught in some spell that prevented them from moving. He recognized the feeling of the magic…

"You!" he glared at Slytherin, who sneered back.

"Yes, I am the one who arranged all this. You are far to trusting and naïve, Godric, but now your time is done. This school will at last be cleansed of the filth you have allowed to taint its sacred halls," Lord Salazar turned to look at Harry, an evil grin on his face and added silkily, "Finish him now, Potter."

Harry's arm moved a quarter inch and sword came closer to Godric's body but then it stopped as control returned to Harry again. Harry could feel himself growing weaker and weaker, the hand holding the sword was slowly slipping from his control. He knew he hadn't the strength to hold out much longer and that if he didn't do something soon all hope would be lost.

"Do as I have commanded!" came the order from Lord Slytherin.

The demon within attacked him with renew intensity and at the same time Harry felt something pierce his body. He staggered from the two nearly simultaneous blows and felt his control slipping another few notches. If he didn't do something and soon, he would kill his ancestor and his whole family. The world he knew would be plunged into Darkness forevermore.

"But what can I do? What could possibly help me now?"

His knees began to buckle and control over his body wavered again, this time nearly slipping from his grasp completely. Disparately, he tried to think of something, anything that might help him drive out the demon, restoring his body once more to himself. Then, like a faint glimmer of light, he remembered something Sir Godric had told him several weeks ago. He had been asking about what other powers the sword held and Sir Godric had told him that it had the power to drive out demons from a body.

"This is a very dangerous spell," he'd said then. "Because the person possessed of a demon must be severely wounded by the sword for it to work and not many people survive the wound received. Many feel the risk is not worth the price."

Harry felt the sword shudder in his grasp, its hilt suddenly cold and slippery with sweat. He could see the demon waiting to spring at him for the final time and knew what he must do. The world around him was beginning to dim and he knew he could not allow Sir Godric to be killed. For the sake of this world, for the sake of his own and for the sake of his parent's sacrifice he had to be the one who took the blow that was meant to kill Gryffindor. The thought frightened him beyond anything that he had ever experienced and his body trembled in reaction to his fear but he knew there was no other way to stop Slytherin's shadow demon. Briefly he wondered if the same thoughts had run through his own parents' minds and if they too had seen their brief lives flash in front of them.

The shadow demon, sensing what Harry was about to do, sprung upon Harry's back its venomous claws outstretched. It wrested control away from Harry but not before he had reversed the blade so that it was facing his own body. The demon's howl of triumph as it plunged the blade into its victim turned into a scream of terror as it realized too late what Harry had done. The scream filled the clearing with an unearthly sound and Harry saw the demon explode into shards of darkness. He came back to himself and the sword fell from his now nerveless hand. Harry fell to his knees as the clearing around him began to dim and as his blood stained the snow below bright scarlet.

"Forgive…me…" Harry whispered in a voice full of pain as Sir Godric rose before him.

The world was quickly dimming around Harry, but before all fell into darkness, he thought he saw Sir Godric mouth the words I forgive thee. Harry smiled and then he was beyond all fear or caring.

"No…" Professor McGonagall whispered hoarsely as Snape slowly moved forward. Ron and Hermione stood to shocked by what they had just seen to move or even speak. So absorbed were they by the images in the portal that they failed to notice the arrival of Cornelius Fudge nor did they note the look of horror mixed with triumph on his face. Fudge stood behind them but had a clear view of what was going on both sides of the portal. He smiled an evil smile and his heart leapt for joy for it now appeared that he had not failed his master after all. Dumbledore and Potter had fallen into his master's trap just as Voldemort had said they would. All he had to do was arrest them both and see to it that they were sent to Azkaban as traitors to the cause of Light. Voldemort would then have his worst two enemies captured and the resistance would dissolve with lack of strong leadership.

"Then the world will be ours for the taking," Fudge thought as he watched the group beyond the portal.

As they watched, a bird with vivid red and gold plumage flew into the stadium, singing and winged his way toward the portal. He heard the call of his long time friend who was in mortal danger. Fawkes flew unerringly toward the portal and then through it to land beside Harry whose eyelids fluttered open weakly the moment he had arrived.

"Fawkes…" he whispered but not in any language the others had ever heard. "Not me…save him…must not die…wrong time."

His gaze rested on the slumped form of Will who was breathing shallowly. Fawkes looked questioningly at Harry then, at Harry's weak nod, he approached Will and began to heal the deep gash in his chest. Harry smiled weakly at Fawkes and then slumped forward, clutching the wound in his chest. Within a few moments he was unconscious from the loss of so much blood. Sir Godric tried to rouse him but to no avail. Turning away from the two unconscious students, he turned to Lord Slytherin, his eyes full of fury and his usually warm voice as cold as a winter's night.

"Leave this place and never return on pain of instant death. You are hereby banished from this castle and holding forevermore. Witnessed this day in the year of our Lord 1095. Sealed by magic in view of these witnesses."

"I will return here. There is nothing you can do to stop me and you cannot banish me forever, Gryffindor. I now place a curse upon your house. All the heirs of your blood shall die young until none are left to stand against me whilst mine own house shall grow stronger as the years pass. Never will Slytherins and Gryffindors meet in friendship. One day I will return and on that day you will suffer my wrath!" Lord Salazar glared around at them all and then Disapparated from the clearing.

Sir Godric stared at the spot where Slytherin had stood a moment before and felt a sudden foreboding in his heart. A noise at his feet distracted him, causing him to look down. Christlina was helping Will slowly to his feet.

"I live?" Will looked dazed, and then he spotted Harry's slumped form on the ground, blood turning the snow beneath him crimson. "He tried to kill you, sir. We must… "

"He was possessed of an evil shadow demon, young Will. He did nothing here that was of his own free will save for the healing of yourself. He fought off the demon but at great cost to himself and called the phoenix to his side, telling it to heal you instead of himself."

"He saved my life…" Will glanced down at Harry's nearly lifeless body, disbelief written clearly on his face

"He saved us all. Slytherin, in his mad lust for power, would have killed us and destroyed two worlds, " Sir Godric looked at the portal and saw it was beginning to waver. "Come… we must still get these two home before the portal closes. There is no time to heal him here and his only chance lays with them."

Will, Christlina and the others noticed the people on the other side of the portal for the first time. They all looked pale and shocked by what they had just seen. There seemed to be a small gathering on the other side of the gate, all but one looked anxiously at them. Will looked at Christlina and she nodded.

"We will take him through the portal, sir. He has saved my life and I must now return the favor."

Sir Godric looked down at them and smiled.

"We shall go as well," the soft voice of Lady Helga said as Sir Godric looked in surprise from one woman to the other.

"We may be able to help the others," said Lady Rowena, studying the gateway. "A new gate will have to be built for those that accompany Harry through so we must needs all be there."

Sir Godric smiled at them.

"So be it. We shall all accompany young Master Potter back to his own time." Sir Godric knelt down and lifted Harry's limp body from the bloodstained ground. "Come."

The group slowly made their way toward the portal with the body of Pettigrew floating behind. They stood for a moment before the portal, looking at the great crowd of people on its other side. They stepped through it coming out instantly on the other side as if they had simply walked through a doorway. The instant they crossed the threshold of the portal and stepped into the future, the portal vanished in a flash of light leaving behind only a small glyph of two intertwined snakes. No one noticed this however. They were all too intent on Harry and his wounds. Two stretchers were conjured and Harry and Peter were placed upon them. They were taken to the Hospital Wing. Harry, who was still unconscious, was given a potion to ensure he would remain asleep while Madame Pomfrey and Lady Helga tended to his wounds, which were life threatening. When at last they emerged from the Hospital Wing several hours later they were both exhausted but believed that Harry would make a full recovery, though it would be several months before he would be able to leave the Hospital Wing.

"Headmaster, he'll need complete bed rest for awhile. I know it is an unusual request and one that is not often made but I believe he should be allowed to stay here most of the summer. Those Muggles he lives with will never allow him the proper rest or food. It would be for his own safety, Headmaster, and would guarantee a full recovery from the injuries he has suffered these many months."

Dumbledore's face grew thoughtful. Dare he risk it? Always before Harry had been sent to spend the summer holidays with his only living relatives, the Dursleys. He had to do this in order to renew the massive protection spells that had been placed around him and which were anchored there. He looked down at Harry's pale face, still deep in thought. He knew that the Dursley's could never be made to understand what Harry had been through this year and he also knew that they would never allow Harry to relax once he was back with them. After several minutes of thought he decided that the risk was worth it. Hogwarts castle was protected and with all the professors still there over the summer holidays, Harry should be safe enough. He could stay in the room off the Great Hall, which was the most heavily protected room in all of Hogwarts.

"I will make the arrangements for him to stay here for the summer until he is strong enough. Then, if he wishes, he can go to the Weasley's for the rest of the holiday," he added, smiling at Ron who grinned back.

Madame Pomfrey gave Dumbledore a look that plainly said that A visit to the Weasley's was not something that she thought would do Harry any good but she returned to the Hospital Wing to watch Harry, taking Ron and Hermione with her. Dumbledore turned to the three founders and their companions noticing all of them were looking around the castle with curious expressions on their faces.

"You are welcome to stay here for a bit as my guests."

"Thank you, sir," Will said, as he eyed the aged Headmaster deciding that Dumbledore reminded him of his favorite uncle, Samuel.

"We want to stay whilst Harry recovers," said Lady Rowena. "He will want to know that we are all well, I think."

"That he would. He always worries for others before himself." Dumbledore said quietly, looking at Will. "Come to my office and we will see to your rooms. I'm sure we can find enough room for you all."

He rose from his chair in the outer room and the others followed him.

Harry was dreaming again. He was back at Godric's Hollow with his parents. They were laughing high above him, their voices carefree and easy. The sky above him was of the deepest blue and white clouds moved overhead forming strange shapes, which Harry laughed at. He was lying on his back in the tall grass with flowers bobbing above him. He watched a butterfly land on a nearby flower and giggled, reaching out his hand for it, but it fluttered away. He sat up and looked around him. He saw his parents sitting on a blanket. The sun was shining on his mother's hair turning it to burnished bronze. He began to stumble toward her, laughing and calling out something that sounded like, mum. He stumbled toward his parents and as he did so he saw a dark shadow hovering over them. He cried out a warning to them but they vanished from his sight. The field around him changed from vivid green to dead black and the sun's light was shuttered. The air around him turned chill and, looking up, he saw Voldemort's glowing red eyes hovering above the place where is parents had been a moment before. His glowing eyes turned into a huge Dark Mark that was hovering above the house that had once been Harry's home. He ran to the house suddenly aware he was in his own body again.

He raced through the front door, which stood open, swinging loosely on one hinge. He stopped dead in the center of the hall, suddenly unsure whether he wanted to go forward. Slowly he walked down the large entrance hall and into the living room. It was a wreck. Everything in the room had been thrown against the walls by the force of magic that had been released in the room and everything on the walls burnt beyond recognition. James, his father, lay in crumpled heap against the wall, his wand several feet from him and still faintly glowing. Harry's heart contracted at the look of resignation on his father's face. Harry walked through the room and into another hall where another door stood blasted open be magic. Harry stopped at the entrance of this room, knowing what he would find when he looked into it. He started to turn away, unwilling for some reason to go on, when a faint call made him turn around.

"Mum?" he called out, sorrow etching his voice.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and then with a sigh entered the dark and shadowy room. His mother lay sprawled at the foot of the crib, which had once held him, her vivid red hair pooling around her. There was a strand of it lying across her pale face and her eyes were staring mutely up at him. He knelt down beside her, tears in his eyes and running down his cheeks. He knew that the cry could not have come from her. He looked around, his tears making the room around him blur, and finally he saw who had made the cry. A few inches from were he knelt and partially shielded by his mother's body, he saw himself and the family cat. The cat had snuggled down next to the slumbering infant and it was the cat that had cried. It's bright eyes looked up at Harry and it mewled again. Harry reached out a hand and stroked its fur and it began to purr. Baby Harry snuggled close to it and sighed in his magical slumber. The spell, which had shielded him, glowed faintly around him and Harry could see that the faint glow had been tied to an even stronger spell set by his parents. A new spell that they had been developing for the protection of all but they had only ever used it this one time and in order to protect Harry's own life. Harry's eyes widened as he read the traces of the spell.

Suddenly the room around him began to fade and he thought he heard someone enter the room.

"Remember what you have seen here. Remember the sacrifice that was given," he heard a faint voice say.

"I will remember," he thought as the room in his dream faded and he began to hear familiar voices around him.

He knew that he was home again and alive. Voldemort and Slytherin had failed to destroy him and this time there was a chance to stop Voldemort's full rise forever. Harry swore by his parents' love that he would stand between the Darkness and the Light. He swore to defend the Light with his last breath. Voldemort may have left his mark upon his body but his soul was still his own.

Fin

Author's Note: This is the final chapter of the Dark Sigil saga. I am currently at work on the sequel of this story, which will be called Harry Potter and the Staff of the Phoenix. The plot of the story is secret but it will involve the merpeople, giants, Sirius' freedom and a quest to a stronghold of the Dark Lord as Harry searches for the second weapon of the Light. I hope you will enjoy it as much as you did Dark Sigil. I will be taking a brief break before posting the sequel so look for it in about two weeks ~HML~