A/N: Bleh! I felt like I had to force that last chappie out. Anyway, I hope this one is much better...and if you haven't read the revised version of five, you'd better go back and do so, I've added quite a bit...And, this is going to be a long chapter, yay!!!
Chapter Six: Phoenix Tears
He sat quietly, huddled next to the rock, watching with wide eyes. It was almost as though he were watching himself...no some future part of himself. He had seen this boy before, in dreams he had had, just before his uncle had left. For some reason, as he stared at the scenes passing before his eyes, he felt at ease. The weight on his chest was nearly non-existant, and if it weren't for the whispered words, he knew he would have forgotten all about it.
Those words...echoing over and over again, in the black language of Mordor...he closed his eyes for a moment, but that only made the voice grow in intensity. And then it overtook him once more, and he clapped his hands to his ears...
Ash nazg gimbatul!
"Harry! Harry, wake up!"
Harry frowned, keeping his eyes closed, his mind still echoing those words. Then, Ron's voice penetrated his consciousness and he sat up abruptly, opening his eyes as he did so. It was still dark inside the dormitory, and from the heavy breathing coming from the other bunks, he concluded that he hadn't woken anyone else.
He gave Ron an tremulous smile when he saw the other boy giving him a concerned look. It didn't work. Ron looked at the other bunks, and then grabbed Harry's arm, pulling him to the stairs and down into the common room. Once there he pointed at a chair, and Harry meekly complied, still groggy from his dream, a dream that he couldn't even remember.
"Now, tell me what's wrong Harry," Ron whispered urgently, "Come on, you know I won't tell anyone. Is it about..." he glanced around nervously, "You-know-who?"
Harry sighed and shook his head. If only it were that simple. "No, it's...about something else. All I can remember is this voice saying these odd words." He stood up and began pacing, becoming more and more agitated as he spoke. "It's been happening for most of the summer. I had been having dreams about Voldemort," he went on, ignoring Ron's flinch at the name, "and then, quite suddenly I wasn't. And all I remember are these weird words. And I..." He stopped, not wanting to tell Ron that he'd heard the same voice outside of his dreams. That would cause him to worry more.
"And you?" prompted Ron.
"And I...didn't have a dream the night I wore that necklace I got. In fact, almost as soon as I put it on...I felt peaceful..."
Ron just shook his head and sighed, then looked over at the portrait hole. Harry automatically looked as well. The portrait had just swung open, and Hermione climbed stealthily in, carrying a couple of books. She made as if to go to the girls' dormitory, but stopped when she saw him and Ron. Her eyes widened, and her lips opened, but nothing came out. Then, she got a stern look on her face.
"And just what do you two think you are about, being up so late?"
Ron sniggered. "What about you?"
"What about me?"
"What are you doing up so late...and out after curfew?"
Hermione sniffed the air and turned her head, and Harry began to wonder what argument the two of them had had. Then, she grinned at them both and walked over to sit on the couch beside Ron.
"I was in the library researching those runes. I'm the top student in Ancient Runes, so the professor asked me to help. But only out of sight of the other students. He and Professor Dumbledore don't want anyone else to know about that box and pendent. So, I've got permission from both of them to visit the library at night, as long as Filch, or Madam Pince don't see me."
Harry blinked and frowned, and then wondered if maybe he should tell them after all about that book he'd found. He had it sitting on his nightstand (otherwise Ron would ask questions) and it gleamed at him nightly, right before he went to sleep. If it were so important that Professor Dumbledore was encouraging a student to sneak around...but then he remembered that he was the only one who could see the book for what it was.
"That's pretty odd," Ron said, voicing Harry's thoughts. And then he filled Hermione in on what Harry had told him.
"Hmm...well, I haven't found anything in the library having to do with those runes...but it's obvious that necklace and your dreams are connected. I think we should go to Professor Dumbledore."
"I'll go tomorrow," Harry said. "I really will," he insisted when they both gave him sideways glances.
"Right, well, I suppose we'd better all get off to bed," Hermione said after a while.
Harry shook his head. "I won't be able to go back to sleep...you two go on ahead..."
His friends gave him another searching glance, and then went off towards their respective dormitories. Harry sighed as he sat down in the chair again, his brow furrowed with worry.
He didn't know when it was that he had fallen asleep, but the next morning, the sound of several voices ringing in his ears woke him. He sat up with a start, as he realized he'd fallen asleep in the chair, and that his feet were locked together. He looked up to find George and Fred, chuckling to themselves. With a roll of his eyes, he took his wand and preformed the counter-curse, and then quickly went upstairs to change into his robes.
His eyes fell on the golden book, and he snatched it up and put it with the rest of his things. Then groaned as he recalled what class he was going to have to take first today. The only class he hated worse than Potions was Divination. Hearing about his gruesome and terrifying death got a bit old after the second time.
Potions hadn't been as bad as he had thought it would, even with Malfoy being his normal snide self, and Snape as well. It had been a bit of a relief to go into the same old routine, though he was certain by the next class he would be back to resenting it full-force.
He finished getting his stuff together and walked back downstairs, nearly running Ginny over in the process. She gave him a small smile as he apologized and helped her pick up her dropped books. Then he walked with her to the Great Hall, as everyone else had already departed. (Ron and Hermione had left a note saying they were going to the library and would meet him at breakfast).
"How're classes going for you?"
"Good, I suppose, though I'm still a bit foggy on some aspects of Arithmancy. Hermione's promised to look over my homework with me later." She gave him another smile. "And how about you?"
Harry shrugged. "The same as always I guess. I still haven't been to Divination, Care of Magical Creatures or Transfiguration yet, so I don't know how they'll turn out."
"You know, I would've thought the Slytherins would be more happy that the Bloody Baron was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Ginny remarked as they passed the Slytherin table, where several of them were trying to stay as far away from the ghost as they possibly could.
Harry nodded in agreement. "But then, he's not exactly what I expected," he said, recalling the first class. "I think he very probably knows more about the history of this place than anyone still living today...including Professor Binns."
"Yes. Um...did you see the notice about voting for a new Team Captain?"
Harry shook his head. He hadn't and he encouraged her to go on with what she was saying.
"Well, it seems that the team can't have try-outs for a new keeper and a new chaser until they get a captain. The voting is open to everyone in Griffindor."
Harry grinned slightly. "I already know who I'm voting for," he said, thinking of Katie Bell. She was quite possibly the only one who could control Fred and George, and hold the whole team's interest. And, she wasn't going to graduate until next year, unlike Alicia and the twins. (A/N: Yes, I made that completely up...sorry...)
Ginny smiled once more at him before she went off to join her fourth year friends, and he sat down beside Ron, who was busy shoveling food into his face. Harry shared an amused look with Hermione, before he too began eating.
Transfiguration that day went smoothly, as Harry performed all the required tasks--almost as well as Hermione. By the end of the class, he had successfully turned himself into a teapot and back, causing Ron to grumble under his breath. He still had steam coming out of his ears, and a bit of a glassy look. Even Hermione had looked surprised.
Divinations, to his very great surprise had actually been bearable. Professor Seeyer had explained to the class that, while not a true seer, she was gifted in the area of predicting the future. In fact, any dimwith with enough imagination could do such, and she had told them that she was indeed such a dimwit. Lavendar and Parvati had both looked quite disappointed.
Seeyer had then gone on to explain that crystal balls were useless, and that anybody could see animals and shapes in tea leaves. The only true way to predict the future was by the stars, or by visions. So far, only Centaurs had managed to do the former with any semblance to accuracy (and even then, they were as often as not wrong). Of the latter, there were a few living humans, but the visions were so often fogged and non-understandable that none were able to pinpoint exactly what it was that was being seen.
She had then winked and told them to go on and do exactly what they had done in the past years. That everyone would believe as they chose. Harry had a feeling she knew more than she was letting on.
Now, he was standing with the rest of the fifth year Griffindors, and Slytherins, waiting for Hagrid to show up. So far, he was only five minutes late, but if he took any longer, Harry knew things would start to get nasty. Malfoy was already causing trouble.
"Hey Potter," Malfy said, his voice smooth, "Been having any nightmares lately? How about fits?" He sniggered, and Grabbe and Goyle quickly joined in.
Harry did his best to ignore him, but Ron wasn't so controlled.
"Why don't you just shut up, Malfoy. No one wants to hear your screeching."
Things probably would have got way out of hand right then and there, had Hagrid not walked up to them, followed closely by Dumbledore. Malfoy quickly motioned Crabbe and Goyle back, giving Ron a dirty look before turning his attention back to the approaching men.
To Harry's (and the rest of the class) surprise, Fawkes was sitting on Dumbledore's shoulder. When the phoenix caught sight of Harry, it let out a sweet note and then fluttered over to land on his shoulder, rubbing his head against Harry's cheek. Several of the girls let out awed noises, and a hush fell over the rest of the students. Malfoy gave Harry a calculating, if surprised look.
"All righ' now, all righ' now," Hagrid said in his booming voice, "Today, as you can see, we're goin' a learn abou' the phoenix, one of the most magical, and mysterious creatures in existence. Professor Dumbledore has kindly allowed us the use of Fawkes here." He indicated the bird on Harry's shoulder with a wave of his giant hand.
Professor Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling.
"All right, now Professor Dumbledore is going to take over this lesson, because he knows more about phoenixes than anyone alive today. Professor." Hagrid stepped aside to allow Dumbledore to have center stage, so to speak.
"To start off," Dumbledore began, "Who knows what phoenixes are famous for?"
Hermione's hand went instantly into the air, along with a few other students. Dumbledore nodded at her first, and smiled slightly.
"Well, their song has the ability to strengthen flagging spirits, but only if the heart is receptive to it. I'm not sure what that means," Hermione admitted, "And their tears can heal any physical wound. They're tail feathers contain a lot of magic, and are often used in the making of wands. And they burst into fire every once in a while to renew their life, as they are immortal creatures. Other than that, not much is known about them."
Harry placed his hand on his own wand, as a sudden image of Voldemort being trapped in the fibrous cage came back to him. He quickly shook the image off and turned his attention back to Dumbledore who was speaking now.
"Very nicely put Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, "And very true. Even I, having had Fawkes all my life, still do not know everything. There is a legend that they are not from this world at all, and their magic is indeed greater than anything I or anyone else can comprehend. Even so, these creatures have consented to living amongst us, and will quite often choose a human partner. Fawkes, has been in my family for years, having once chosen my many times great-grandfather.
"I still have not discovered what it is about a person that would make a phoenix choose him or her, only that they have never chosen one who has turned out evil.
"Phoenix tears are an incredibly potent healing device, as Miss Granger said, but, if crystallized they have the same effect as their song has. There has only been six of these found, as it is a very complicated process, and they are dangerous if in the wrong hands.
"And now, I want you each to come up, slowly to Fawkes and simply speak with him. You can even pet him if you like. Afterwards, I and he, shall take our leave and Hagrid will give you your assignment."
As everyone came forward, Fawkes fluttered to the ground and stood regally. Dumbledore walked over to Harry and said, "Please come by my office later, I wish to speak with you." Harry nodded, remembering that he had something he needed to say as well.
A/N: Hmm..well it didn't exactly come out like I wanted it to...*wrinkles nose* Anyway, I'm going to put a hold on this story while I write out the prequel...mostly because that'll give me a chance to set the back ground for this story, and so that I don't...get sidetracked...it might even make this story more understandable.