Chapter Six - The first Task

Two days later they woke up to A peaceful morning but it was not light out yet. The day before they had gone to Diagon Alley to get these rest of the supplies for the quest. When they had finally gotten downstairs to have breakfast they found that Dumbledore was already there. "Ah I see you are awake. I was just about to wake you. I have taken the liberty of packing your tent with the supplies you will need then I packed it down so it will fit in your backpack. Let's eat breakfast so we can get going and I have arranged for someone to look over the house while you are gone," Dumbledore informed them when they cam down. "Thank you Professor you didn't have to do all this for us," Harry replied as they sat down. Once they were done and the plates cleared they started to get everything ready to go. "Everyone take hold of the portkey that will take us to the desired location of the portal which is only known to a select few know of" dumbledore told them directing them to touch the small rubber ball he was holding. Soon the were swirling and moving thru space and landed hard on their feet. They stood up to find themselves suspended in the air. Arabella screamed because she is afraid of heights. "don't worry Bella we are ok," Sirius said trying to calm her down. "The Portal is straight ahead so go ahead and mount you brooms your have 48 hours to return here with the cloud dragon before the portal will close, good luck to you all," Dumbledore said sending them on their way, "follow the stream of glowing white smoke." "ok everyone stay close to each other until we are through the portal," Sirius said not want to lose anyone as they begin to fly into the portal. It seems to take age to get thru the portal they were greeted a with a beautiful world like their own the only difference was the sky was a bright purple with silver clouds all over. A strange glowing white cloud was streaming in front of them. "that must be the cloud we are supposed to follow. Let's go but stay close we don't know what is out here besides the dragons although they won't hurt us there might be something that could," Sirius said looking around cautiously. "how do you know that the dragons won't hurt us," asked Harry. "I asked Dumbledore if the dragons were a threat to us and he replied that the dragon and wizards were great friends before they were hunting and some lost the ability to talk so the wizarding world moved them to these realms to protect them so they would not harm us for our long history with them," Sirius replied, "let's go." As they continued to follow the stream of glowing white smoke they saw some beautiful sights beautiful glittering waters with me folk constantly jumping up to say hello and glittering mountains coming out of the waters. Soon they were coming upon a island that glittered and shown like a diamond. "We must be getting close," Sirius said but before he could say anything more two dragon appeared in front of them almost making them collide with each other. "Halt who goes there?," asked the dragon on the right.

"My Name Is Harry Potter a Phoenixia who is in search of the Great Phoenix set by The earth realm wizarding world I seek counsel with King Khonsu," Harry replied to the dragons.

"Wait here While we inform Our king and ask if he will grant you counsel," the dragon on the left told him, "Olat stay here and Watch them till I return."

"Olat is that you name that is a unique name I like it?," Hermoine said trying to make conversation while they waited for the other dragon to return. "Yes miss I was named for a famous dragon who was a gallant solider for our colony, we are the last of our kind to survive here in this realm none of our kind remains in the earth realm that is why you have never seen one of us. You are probably wondering how I know you are thinking this that is because some of us have telepathic abilities," Olat told them, "We are called the cloud dragon because even though we are white we can match the sky and clouds perfectly with our skin as well as those who are riding us. Oh here comes Timum with your answer," Olat said sounding proud of his kind. " The King will grant you counsel, follow me to his castle," Timum said beckoning them to follow him. They followed him to the castle and along the way they saw that there were many statues of people from their world Hermoine exclaimed that they were the great wizards of their past most of whom were Aurors. Soon they were coming up to a castle that seemed to be made of nothing but silver lined clouds the six of them were in awe at the site. The mote around the castle was filled with the most beautiful purple clouds. Once inside the castle they were instructed to get off their brooms and follow the house elf to the king's chambers were the would have counsel with him. From the outside the castle seemed to be the same size as Hogwarts but on the inside the place was huge it seemed as though it took the an hour to get to the king's chamber. When they arrived at the king's chamber they were informed that the king would be with them soon. As they were looking around the room the hear some noise behind them,

"Welcome Phoenixia of the foretold it is an honor to have you in my kingdom," King Khonsu said welcoming them. "Thank you Your Majesty, It is an honor to be here," Harry replied bowing to the king the other following his lead. " Oh No need to bow young Phoenixia it is a great honor to have the foretold in my kingdom. I know all about your quest for the power of the great Phoenix even though I don't not what to give you a task to perform so that I can send one of the chosen ones with you. I must to prove that the one chosen by your realm is worthy of the chosen ones from my realm," King Khonsu told Harry, "Now I must ask who is your chosen one from your realm to receive the gift and one of our chosen ones who will be shown to us." "May I present to His majesty My Godmother from My Realm Arabella Black chosen to receive the gifts from you honor," Harry said introducing Bella to the king. " No need to be so formal call me Khonsu, Harry. Come forth Arabella so that I may see you. Nice Godmother here Gentle and kind she is Harry and may I ask that her husband step forward as well so that I may see who will be receiving one of the chosen ones from my brother clan the Blue Mist Dragons of the sea," asking that Arabella's husband step forward Sirius stepped up to Khonsu, " What a fine man he is a wonderful pick for my brother clan, no wonder he was chosen I sense that he can also change into an animal from like the chosen ones of my brother clan. Now back to you Arabella." "Yes Your majesty" Bella said looking at him in awe. "Look into the mirror on the wall and tell me what you see. What ever you see that is your quest to find in my kingdom, do you understand?," Khonsu asked of her. " Yes, I am beginning to see something it looks to be some kind of stone hidden in a dark place. The color of the stone is white and it glows," said Bella looking deeply at the mirror, "But may I ask what is this stone that I must seek?" " Oh Yes Quite a great task that is, the stone that you see is the stone of honor, that is guarded by the griffin and sphinx who will test your honor of your family with a riddle from the sphinx and you will have to calm the griffin to sleep with a lullaby passed through your family. Do you understand this quest?", Khonsu replied to her. "Yes I understand but how will I know where to look for this stone your honor," Bella asked the king, "And Do I have to do this task on my own?" " First I will mark a trail to where the stone is located and second the only person that can go with you is the chosen one for my brother clan who is your husband the others must stay here I am afraid though," Khonsu said answering her questions. "that's is fine by me, your honor, as longer as I have someone with is cause something happens," She said with a sigh of relief. "OK Then you and your husband will have an hour before you leave to get what you need and to relax a little also so I can prepare the trail for you to follow. Dunky come here please?," the king called. "yes Your Majesty," Dunky the house elf called, who had appeared right after the king called him. "Can you get Mister Harry and his other three companions comfortable in the guest suites please. Harry your wife and your friends will be comfortable here until your godmother and godfather return you will also have full range of the castle and will join me for dinner," Said Khonsu letting Harry and the other feel welcome, " and don't not worry I will make sure no harm befalls you godparents." " Thank you Khonsu," Harry said just before he gave his god parents a hug and followed the house elf and others out of the room. " Your majesty thank you for such a kind welcome into your kingdom and for taking could care of our godson," Sirius said politely thanking the king. " Your quite welcome considering he is the savior to us all your realm and mine. Do not worry it will all be revealed piece by piece at the end of each task. I cannot tell him my piece until the task is complete," Khonsu continuing, " are you ready the trail is complete." " Yes we are," Sirius and Arabella replied together. "Then Follow me to The South West Corridor," the king instructed them, From there you will see the trail and can also take off from there on your brooms. Good luck and return soon.," The king told them just before he turn to go check on the others. Sirius looked at Bella to ask her if she is ready but she had already mounted her broom, "Let's go Sirius so we can get back to our godson." And with that she took off with Sirius close behind her. Following the blue trail of clouds to the temple where the stone of honor lay beneath in the depths of the temple. On their way they decided that they would take their anmagi forms in the temple until they reached the sphinx would give them a riddle to solve. All while they were flying Bella was trying to think of the lullaby her mother used to sing to her when she was going to sleep it had been an Irish lullaby that she would sing.

"Bella There's the temple. Let's land in that clearing over there then transform and go in. have you figured out the lullaby," Sirius said looking at her.

" yes I have remembered it," she told him, "Let's go." They landed and attached their brooms to their packs then returned the packs to their backs. They transform into their animal form Sirius of course pad foot a huge black dog and Bella into a Black Panther. Slowly and cautiously they entered the temple and begin to descend into the temple. They had gone about five flights down when they noticed ad yellow glooming from down the corridor and they decided to change back to human form. Slowly they approached the room which contained the sphinx.

" Who are you and why have you come? ," the sphinx asked.

" I am Arabella Black And I come In search of the Stone of Honor. So please dear Sphinx give me your riddle so I may continue?," she told the sphinx. " Alright, Arabella Black. Here's my riddle but answer wisely for if you answer wrong run for your life and only you may give me the answer although you partner may help you come up with the answer," said the sphinx, " Here's the riddle:

The higher I climb, the hotter I engage, I can not escape my crystal cage.

Now talk it over so you don't answer wrong but remember only you can answer me Arabella Black."

" Sirius I know what this is we don't use them but they are used by muggles when someone is sick it like our heat charm to tell us of a fever," said Bella.

" Think Bella and relax If you do it will come to you," Sirius told her calmly trying to get her to slow down and think. "I got it Sirius I remember now," she said, "Sphinx, I am ready to answer your riddle."

" That's amazing I have never seen someone ready to answer a question this quick, but go ahead just remember what happens if you answer wrong," the sphinx replied.

" My answer is a Thermometer Non Magic folk in my realm use it to check for a fever," she answered the sphinx with her voice shaking.

" That is correct. Most wizard and witches do not know that. How do you know of such a thing if I may ask," the sphinx inquired of Bella.

"when I was keeping an eye on my godson I had to live in muggles society and learn their ways until my godson returned to the wizarding world for good. May we pass?," she told the sphinx.

" Yes continue good luck and see you on your way out," she said motioning them in to the hallway that leaded to them Griffin.

"Well Sirius one down one to go hope my lullaby works on this griffin," she said sounding a little worried. "You will be fine Bella," Sirius assured her.

Finally after about 10 minutes of following the hallway the reached the chamber which held the griffin.

"You have come in search of the stone of honor have you not?," they heard as soon as they entered the chamber but could not see anyone or anything that has spoke.

"Yes we have," replied Bella.

"Only the chosen one must touch the stone and the only way to get to the stone is for the chosen one to sing me a lullaby if I like the song I will go to sleep letting you pass but remember the only the chosen one may touch the stone or else I will be awaken and not very happy," said the griffin, "When you are ready you may began you song if I like I but don't not fall asleep I may ask you to sing it again only slower so I can go to sleep do you understand."

"Yes I understand. Why do you get comfortable so I can begin," she said trying to relax so she would sing the lullaby right,

"Over in Killarney, Many years ago, Me mother sang a song to me In tones so sweet and low. Just a simple little ditty, In her good old Irish way, And I'd give the world if she could sing That song to me this day. Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li, Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Hush, now don't you cry! Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li, Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, That's an Irish lullaby.



Oft, in dreams I wander To that cot again, I feel her arms a huggin' me As when she held me then. And I hear her voice a humin' To me as in days or yore, When she used to rock me fast asleep Outside the cabin door. Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li, Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Hush, now don't you cry! Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li, Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, That's an Irish lullaby."

"GOOD MY favorite song, Please sing it again but slower," the griffin exclaimed.

"Over in Killarney, Many years ago, Me mither sang a song to me In tones so sweet and low. Just a simple little ditty, In her good old Irish way, And I'd give the world if she could sing That song to me this day. Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li, Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Hush, now don't you cry! Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li, Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, That's an Irish lullaby.



Oft, in dreams I wander To that cot again, I feel her arms a huggin' me As when she held me then. And I hear her voice a humin' To me as in days or yore, When she used to rock me fast asleep Outside the cabin door. Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li, Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Hush, now don't you cry! Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li, Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, That's an Irish lullaby."

When Bella Finished the second time the could hear the Griffin softly snoring and a door open if front of them a bright light shone from the room exposing the Stone of honor, Sirius motioned for her to go and get the stone so they could leave. Slowly she move into the room as not to disturb them Griffin who was peacefully sleep to right. She could finally see him and he was beautiful but huge. Cautiously she pick up the stone and put in her backpack and they made their way out of the temple. Saying good bye to the sphinx of course and then heading back to the Castle of Khonsu once again following the trail he had mad for them only they made this trip through the dark yet beautiful starry night.