Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to J. K. Rowling and Warner Bros. The author does not claim or imply the rights to any item related nor belonging to the Harry Potter universe.

Chapter IXX

Phoenix Song

Harry felt numb as he clung on the back of Lucius Malfoy's robes in order to stay on as they cantered across the countryside.  The voice of the screaming Meg still rang clearly in his mind along with terrible ripping of metal as the train had smashed through the small car.  His only hope now for this night to be redeemed was for Voldemort to be dead and Dumbledore triumphant when they got to wherever they were going.

It seemed as if the moon stood still, as if little time had passed.  The horses and riders crashed into a thicket set in the bowl of a valley and Harry hung on tighter.

As they rode through the trees, it seemed more ominous than the Forbidden Forest.  There was dark magic at work—he could feel it.  There were no birds, no crickets, just the feeling of hidden eyes watching as they wound through the knarled branches.  Salazar was riding in front with Lucius following close behind.  Harry turned around to see a long line of Death Eaters behind him.  Their masks still made him shudder.

They seemed to be approaching a clearing when a cloaked figure darted out from the brushes and stood in the center of the path.  When it moved, Harry got a glimpse of a silver hand.

"Salazar," the figure piped up, "what are you doing here with so many of the Dark Lord's Death Eaters, hmm?"

"None of your business, Pettigrew." Salazar sounded disgusted.  "What I come to see him about is my business, not yours." He sounded so much like an agitated Snape.

"Ah, but the Dark Lord is busy. Too busy for you."

"Busy, Pettigrew?" It was Lucius this time.  "I thought he told you to speak to Salazar with more respect."

Pettigrew's beady eyes shifted to Lucius.

It was then that Harry realized something: evidently, Dumbledore had not yet fought Voldemort.

"But he is busy all the same, though—he may see you, Salazar.  He is speaking with your cousin as of…" Pettigrew's eyes had remained on Lucius, despite the fact he was speaking to Salazar; however, he seemed to have noticed Harry.  He stopped in mid-sentence.  "You have brought Harry Potter with you?"

Salazar nervously glanced back.  "Again, it is none of your business, Pettigrew.  However, we shall wait for the Dark Lord to see us when he is ready."

Pettigrew's black rodent-like eyes were darting back and forth between Harry, Lucius, and Salazar.  Madly, Harry wondered why Salazar did nothing as Pettigrew retreated into the woods. He was going to give them away!

Harry's heart pounded as he thought if there was anything that he could do, but it was only a few minutes before Pettigrew returned.

"The Dark Lord wishes to see you, Salazar."

"Just me?"

"No," Pettigrew said in a squeaky voice, "You may all come.  Follow me," and they followed after the short dark figure into the clearing.  "My Lord," he announced.

The light of the moon lit the clearing and in it stood a solitary, tall, skeletal thin figure that had hands like white spiders.  Facing him was Professor Snape, though his face was hidden by one of the white masks, and what looked to be another Harry Potter.

"Salazar seems to bring another Harry Potter with him, my Lord."

All moisture left Harry's mouth and seemed to come through the palms of his hands as that familiar white face with red eyes turned to him.  An odd expression seemed to cross his countenance as he looked between the two Snapes and Harries.

"What is going on here?" The tone of voice was quiet but furious.  His eyes scanned over all of the mounted Death Eaters next.  "Salazar, what is the meaning of this?"

Salazar's body seemed to shrink away at the question.  Harry glanced over at Dumbledore and Snape.  Snape had taken out his wand and Dumbledore seemed poised, waiting for a reason to give himself away.  There was nothing that Harry could do at the moment; Death Eaters surrounded him and all had their attention on him.  Salazar slid down his horse and bowed before Voldemort, however, Voldemort just brushed past him and walked over to Harry.

"Lucius, is this Harry Potter?"

"I believe so, my Lord.  I took him from Hogwarts this evening.  My son, Draco, helped me." Harry could feel Malfoy's body tense.  He also hoped that Professor Snape had just heard this line.

"Tell me this as well: why are all of my Death Eaters out and clearly very busy without my knowledge?" He spoke then over his shoulder, "Is this your doing, Salazar?"

Salazar's voice sounded meek. "Yes, my Lord."

"Why?" Voldemort withdrew his wand.  He was so angry that he didn't let LeSal get out a word before saying, "No, there's something I want to know first.  Tell me—enlighten me, if you will, on why there are two Harry Potters?"

"Um…. I don't know, my Lord." LeSal's voice was shaking.  "I don't know.  Lucius brought him to me to give to you.  I don't know…"

"You don't know?" Voldemort chewed upon the words.  "You don't know.  Well, I happen to know something that you don't, and something that Severus doesn't appear to understand, either: there happens to be only one Harry Potter."  Harry looked over to Snape and Dumbledore; they had begun to approach Voldemort.  "This is an example of why I have power and you don't; because I understand simple things such as this.  Now since there is only one Harry Potter, then one—or both—of your Harry Potters are not the real Harry Potter.  And if one happens to be real, I can guarantee that the one holding the fake Harry Potter, will be severely punished." He seemed ready to spit.

Voldemort stepped right up to the side of Malfoy's horse and placed his wand under Harry's chin.  "Now tell me who you are." He spoke softly and close to Harry's face.

Harry looked straight into those red eyes and refused to answer.

"My Lord," Lucius suddenly spoke up. "If it is parseltongue you are trying to speak to him, this one understands.  I discovered he was a parselmouth while taking him from the school.  He set a snake on my son." Voldemort had been speaking in parseltongue…

"Indeed?" Voldemort smiled a horrible smile.  "Well, Salazar, seems you're the lucky one.  Your cousin, on the other hand, who might his guest be?" When he turned to look at Severus, he seemed surprised that he had come nearer.  Voldemort lowered his wand momentarily.

It was then that Harry thought of something he could do and it made his heart pound heavily in his chest at the thought.  He had to even this out.  Voldemort was full strength and now had his Death Eaters at his side.  It was an utterly insane plan, but if he acted quickly while Voldemort was still close enough…

Glancing briefly over at Dumbledore, who had drawn out a wand, Harry jumped off the back of the horse, landed straight on top of Voldemort and knocked him to the ground.

He was horrible and bony and seemed to be hard to find in his expansive black robes, but Harry managed in finding his wand hand.  Harry's scar was burning and it only became worse as Voldemort placed on hand directly on his scar and seemed to release an energy that caused excruciating pain.  But Harry felt the smooth wood of Voldemort's wand, and he gripped it tightly refusing to allow anything to make him let go.

Voldemort was still holding the wand and he managed to point it directly at Harry.  The whole night was blocked out.  It seemed as if the Death Eaters, Snape, and Dumbledore had all vanished and it was just he against Voldemort.  The pain in his scar seemed almost too much to bear but somehow, through the blur of his tears, he was able to focus on one thing, and that was keeping hold of Voldemort's wand.  Then he closed his eyes and imagined himself standing near Snape and Dumbledore.  Gathering all the strength he could muster, Harry yelled out the spell to Disapperate.

At the same exact time, a chilling voice cracked the air, "Avada Kedavra!"

There was brilliant flash of light, both green and red.  The wand burned hot in Harry's hand as the two spells coursed through it at once.  It felt as if the wood was about to split.  A jarring feeling that caused his scar to hurt worse than he ever dreamed imaginable, ripped through him.  It ran down his arm, directly into his chest where it threatened to take his breath away.  Just as this happened, there seemed to be another flash of light from behind him.  An outside white light and he found himself being whisked away.

His whole body seemed to spin until everything became still and he felt cool forest moss under his head and body.

A choking sensation pushed its way into his throat and he had to roll over as he threw up.  When he moved his hand up to wipe his mouth, he came to realize that he was still holding the wand.

He forced himself to sit up and Snape was staring at him, a look of relief nearly coming to his face—then another expression as he saw the wand Harry was holding.

Voldemort's face suddenly bore a similar look of surprise, but one of horror as well.  Harry realized that the outside spell that had broken whatever magical lock he had been held in with Voldemort had come from Dumbledore and it seemed that Voldemort now understood that he had a powerful wizard standing before him and he was without his wand.  His red eyes were wide and his lipless mouth hung slightly ajar.  He stared for a moment at his wand in Harry's hands before he turned his attention to the Harry that stood before him.  That Harry lifted a wand, an old and worn one that looked as if it had been carved from a piece of driftwood, bleached by the sun.

There was a spectacular flash of light, like a star exploding.  It was one of the most brilliant things Harry had ever seen and as it faded, there stood Dumbledore, white beard glistening in the moonlight and robes of a deep purple, shimmering.

The wide-eyed expression that had been displayed on Voldemort's face was now twisted.  He looked—afraid.

"Salazar!" he screamed.  "Bring me your staff!"

LeSal had taken up a position apart from Voldemort, the Death Eaters, and Dumbledore.  At the mention of his name, he seemed to panic, but he abruptly stopped and instead of running away, his face contorted into a poisonous grin.  The stone in his staff grew in brightness, just as it had before he had killed Fudge, and he pointed it at Voldemort.

"Traitor!" Voldemort screeched.  "Death Eaters," in a very undignified way, he seemed to scramble over to Lucius Malfoy.

Harry was prepared to watch the death of Voldemort when he came to realize something:  Avada Kedavra alone could not kill Voldemort.  That is what he, as a baby, had proven.  He had to be destroyed another way and it was doubtful whether Salazar had the knowledge or ability to carry it out.  If he did succeed in casting Avada Kedavra, Voldemort might once again be reduced to an invisible wraith and wander for another ten years before finding a way to return.  He had to be stopped now and Dumbledore had to be the one to do it.  Then, quite suddenly, Salazar was knocked off his feet.  A giant snake was wrapping itself around his legs.

The next few seconds were a blur.  Malfoy fell off his horse and yelped as Voldemort pressed one of his fingers into his left arm then promptly snatched Malfoy's wand and faced Dumbledore.

Severus Snape rushed over to Salazar who had, in a flash of green light from his staff, managed to hold off Nagini.  He now stared stunned at a gray haired woman with no legs that lay in place of the snake, dead.

All the while, the mounted Death Eaters were creating a circle that was fast enclosing Dumbledore and Voldemort.  Snape left LeSal's side and rushed over.

"Where are the others?" LeSal yelled out.  "We need to summon the others.  We need to send someone for the others!"  He had stood up, staff ready.

The others… Moody, Lupin, Sirius.  Harry struggled to his feet.  This was wrong.  Voldemort still had his Death Eaters and soon there would be more.

Someone had to get the others.  Gripping Voldemort's wand, Harry thought of the grounds outside of Hogwarts and tried to Disapperate.  Nothing happened. He looked at the enchanted woods around him, remembered feeling the strange powers as he had ridden through.  He needed to get out of there.

Instantly, he spotted Malfoy's loose Magus Mare and he forced his overtaxed body to run toward the Death Eaters and lunged for the animal's reins.  It pitched and screamed before Harry could get a foot in the stirrup and climb up.  Once in the saddle, he managed to catch a quick look from Dumbledore and that was all he needed.  It was up to him to get help.

He fought briefly with the Magus Mare before spurring it off into the forest.  As he disappeared, he knew someone had come to notice he had taken off and he heard someone shout, "Impedimenta!" but Harry was able to turn and block the jinx.

He urged his mount on, though it seemed to be fighting him at nearly every step, but it was good to have the mare for it seemed to know it's way through the woods.  He ducked his head low by the mane to keep his face from being torn by the claw-like branches.

As soon as he broke free into a field, Harry found himself confronted with Death Eaters Apparating before him, ready to head into the thicket.  Again, Harry concentrated on the grounds of Hogwarts and tried to Disapparate.  Just as he heard some curses being sent his way, he felt himself being pulled away from the scene.

The Magus Mare traveled with him.  There was no telling how far he had gone but all Harry was concerned with, besides feeling relieved at seeing the school, was finding Sirius and Lupin.

Just as he was about to dismount and head through the front doors, he spotted a large dark figure moving at the edge of the Forbidden Forest with a boarhound at its side.  Harry galloped across the lawn.

"Hagrid!"

"Harry?" Hagrid lifted his oil lantern.  Immediately, he spotted the cut on Harry's chin and no doubt the Malfoy's mare was suspicious.  "What's wrong? What happened?"

"They're in trouble: Dumbledore, Snape.  Where's Sirius and Lupin?  I need to find them."

"Dumbledore in trouble?" This made Hagrid panic.  "Where is he? Oh, God.  He's out against…"

"I need Sirius and Lupin and some aurors," Harry interrupted.

"They're at the Ministry.  But don't you go.  I'm going to…"

"There's no time." Harry's whole body was trembling with adrenaline.  "The Ministry, where is it?  I'm going there now."

"They'd be at the Minister's house.  Near Diagon Alley, but down Hogsmeade Avenue, right of Gringotts.  But Harry you can't Appar…"

Harry couldn't stay and have Hagrid help him.  There was something strange happening—as if he could sense what was going on back in the clearing.  Praying that he could Apparate such a distance, Harry imagined Diagon Alley as he held Voldemort's wand and Disapparated again.

The journey wasn't easy this time.  It was long and the spinning was so horrible that he was about to be sick, yet could still feel the Magus Mare beneath him.  Then he worried about splinching.  All of him seemed to be coming along, but he didn't know about the horse.  He knew Magus Mares were capable of Apparating with their wizard riders but—it was loyal to Malfoy, so what if the mare got splinched?

All four feet of the mare's hooves landed with a clatter on the cobblestones of Diagon Alley.  It reared up in frustration of having been taken so far from its master, but Harry was not ready to climb down off its back yet.  He didn't know how far the Minister's house was and he'd get there quicker with four strong legs under him rather than two wobbly ones.  He was already fighting the light-headedness that came before passing out.

Gringotts loomed ahead, and Harry forced the mare into a canter, turning right down Hogsmeade Avenue.  The mare's iron shoes were sending out sparks as they pounded the cobbles.  Harry began to pass massive buildings: a library, a wizard's museum, and the very building that housed the Ministry of Magic.

Then he saw a large mansion.  It looked like a Tudor manor he'd find in the countryside.  It was gated and a very surly looking wizard stood guard.  Harry pulled up in front of him.

"I need to see the Minister immediately." His throat felt raw from the cold night air and it was burned from stomach acid.

"On what business?" The wizard was eyeing him cautiously and Harry knew he must look a fright.

"On business of Albus Dumbledore," Harry replied.  "He has guests here tonight, and I need to see them now.  Something horrible has happened."

The guard's eyes widened and he turned and spoke into a box in the wall behind him.  It glowed as he spoke and he heard Mr. Weasley's voice respond, "Oh Merlin! Harry Potter? Let him in now."

The guard did as Mr. Weasley asked and with a tap of his wand to the lock, the gate swung open.  Harry kicked the horse and went galloping up the drive.  Then the same strange feeling he had had before flooded through his mind.  Suddenly, it was as if he could see what was happening back in the clearing.  There was a sound ringing in his ears.  A beautiful sound that he had only heard twice before: once while in the Chamber of Secrets, and the other when he faced Voldemort last: phoenix song. A circle of Death Eaters surrounded him.  Beyond this circle, he could see a dark figure lying motionless on the ground—Snape.  LeSal stood over him, staff shining a bright blue.  Within the circle, standing to face him, was Dumbledore.  He was frightening and glorious at the same time.  His eyes were blazing with a powerful light and a whole glow seemed to emanate from his body.  But then it began to fade.  The light in Dumbledore's eyes dimmed as a look of pain crossed his face.  He motioned to grip his left arm, but somehow managed to bring himself to keep his wand steady.

A shrill shriek of a laugh went out, "You're too late! You're an old man Dumbledore, and you're too late!"

"Harry!"

Harry had to shake the image from his mind as several familiar voiced called out his name.  The mare skidded to a halt before them.  A pair of strong hands helped him down from the saddle.  When he was placed on the ground, his legs gave way beneath him and the same strong hands carried him inside.  He spotted a dragon's tooth dangling as an earring.

"Dumbledore!" Harry blurted out. "He's in trouble."

"Trouble?" he heard Lupin's voice.  It was hinged with worry.

"Voldemort's got all his Death Eaters.  Dumbledore needs help.  It's all gone wrong…"

He'd gotten his message out.  He heard people scrambling around him.  Wizards hurrying out the door.  He thought he glimpsed Mrs. Weasley's face.  This made him feel safe enough to let the darkness that had been fighting to overpower him, sweep over his eyes.