Harry nodded, "Yes, something needs to be done. Isn't he the other prefect on patrol right now?"
Ginny confirmed Harry's question, "Yes he is. He is also out of bounds. Just because he's on patrol doesn't mean that he can let his friends roam Hogwarts at night. Neither does he have the authority to be in the Restricted Section."
"He might have gotten a note from Snape to clear him in the Restricted Section." Harry pointed out beginning to grin. "If we catch him looking at the wrong book or at something he shouldn't, I can nail him for that."
Harry and Ginny stood up and quickly headed for the library. "Do you think he's doing something for Voldemort?" Ginny asked.
Harry shrugged, "I don't know. Even if he is, I doubt that we'll be able to prove it well enough to justify such a charge."
As they approached the library they slowed down their pace in order to keep silent. When they arrived they found the doors open and voices whispering in the Restricted Section. Harry could make out some light coming from between the shelves and the outlines of Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle leaning over a book.
"What's wrong!" Came Malfoy's indignant voice. "For some reason the book keeps changing the writing."
"Use a revealing spell!" Goyle suggested.
"Did I say that the book was hiding information Goyle? It's distorting it. Use your brains!"
Harry motioned for Ginny to silently follow and then proceeded to quietly walk into the library towards the Restricted Section. Abruptly a dark shadow crossed over Harry's mind and swallowed his senses.
!@!@!@!@
Ginny stifled a gasp as Harry silently collapsed to the ground. Looking around to make sure that Malfoy and his cronies had not noticed, she dragged Harry's unconscious form between one of the shelves.
Kneeling next to Harry, Ginny nudged him and tried to wake him up. Had he fainted? Never, Ginny thought, he's faced worse. Next she took up his left wrist to chafe it, hoping that it might revive him. The skin was cold as ice.
Ginny cringed. Don't die now Harry, she silently encouraged him. The ring that Harry wore flickered and drew Ginny's attention to it. Ginny reached out a finger and gingerly touched it. It was warm.
Ginny suddenly felt the urge to talk to the ring. This is so stupid, Ginny observed, I'm desperate though, any port in a storm. "Do you know what to do?" Ginny whispered to the ring as she once again touched it.
A faint whisper seemed to resonate from the ring. "Miledy bids you to breathe life into Phoenix Lord."
With a puzzled expression on her face, Ginny stared at the ring. What did it mean. Ginny felt her thoughts forcefully turned towards her father and his Muggle interests. Ginny finally got the point. Mouth to mouth rescue breathing. Disgusting Muggles! Ginny thought angrily, and I thought the Chamber of Secrets was embarrassing! So much for a romantic first kiss. Ginny sighed and leaned forward.
!@!@!@!@
The blackness slowly melted away and Harry felt himself beginning to regain his senses. It had seemed an eternity in the blackness. The feeling reminded Harry of not being able to breathe. Breathe! Harry attempted to breathe deeply. Before he could though, air was forced into his lungs from someone's mouth that was firmly clamped on his. Harry attempted to gasp and also found that someone was pinching his nose. What was Malfoy doing to him?
Harry began to struggle wildly, or at least wildly for someone who was too weak to do much. Abruptly the pressure was gone and Harry opened his eyes. Ginny was leaning over him and blushing. "Hello Harry. . ." she said as red suffused her cheeks.
Harry sat up weakly. "What happened," he asked quietly.
"Well," Ginny explained in a nervous whisper, "you collapsed and stopped breathing. Then your ring sort of told me to um. . . do rescue breathing on you."
"Good thing you know how," Harry whispered weakly. He then turned his attention to the ring to ask what happened. The answer came back. He had foolishly walked in against an opponent without considering other dangers. He had left his mind unguarded. Nosyl Sharod had struck out using Voldemort's limited power. "I feel so stupid. I should have been more careful."
Ginny shrugged, "You're only stupid if you don't learn from the experience."
"I've learned my lesson tonight," Harry whispered as he slowly stood up. "Let's get him now."
Ginny also stood and they made their way back to the aisle from where they could observe Malfoy and his friends still looking at the book in the Restricted Section.
"Stunning spells I think," Harry whispered.
Harry and Ginny quickly shot them at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. Harry felt the strange pull of the foreign power. However, this time he was prepared and it could not hurt him. Carefully, Harry and Ginny walked over to the knocked-out forms of the three Slytherins.
"We'll take them to my office," Harry said. "I might even be able to have Malfoy ousted as a prefect."
Ginny grinned. "That would be absolutely marvelous."
"Ron will be overjoyed as well, I imagine," Harry said. He walked over and picked up the book the Slytherins had been studying. It was entitled, 'Power.'
Casting quick levitation spells, Harry and Ginny brought Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle back up to Harry's office. Harry walked over to his desk and carefully placed the book on the desk and then turned his attention to the Slytherins who had been dumped on the floor. As he sat down he motioned for Ginny to revive all of them. She quickly did so and then took a seat.
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle sat up dizzily. "Out for a bit of late-night reading?" Harry said.
"Yes, in fact we were," Malfoy said defensively. "We have a note from Professor Snape."
Harry held out his hand, "Let's see it then."
Malfoy pulled a slip of parchment from his pocket and handed it to Harry. Harry quickly read it.
I Professor Snape hereby give Draco Malfoy permission to research for a potions project in the Restricted Section. Severus Snape.
Harry raised his eyebrows and then looked at the book that had been recovered. "This doesn't look like a potions book to me Malfoy."
"We weren't able to tell what the book was and we thought it might be what I needed." Malfoy crossed his arms smugly.
"Indeed," Harry replied. "I think you were trying to get at this book on the orders of Voldemort or another Death Eater. This book obviously has nothing whatsoever in common with potions." Harry picked up the heavy tome and thumbed through it. "However, this book does seem to contain what Voldemort would certainly be interested in."
"Prove it." Malfoy smirked.
Harry smiled thinly at Malfoy and set the heavy book down. "I don't need to."
"What do you mean?" Malfoy asked nervously.
"I could have you expelled for the deeds that don't need to be proven. Being in the Restricted Section and looking at the wrong book, neglecting your prefect duties of patrolling, allowing two students to be out of bed with your full knowledge, and misuse and abuse of authority and privileges." Harry answered.
Malfoy's face paled considerably but he responded with a sense of arrogant pride. "Then expel me Potter."
Harry laughed. "That would be too good for you Malfoy. Not only would it take effort on my part, but it would let you loose on the world. I prefer to have you where I can watch you. I know that you also wish to learn how to be a competent wizard. You're not much use right now. So you will stay here, no matter how bad it gets, if you can. If I let you."
"Then what are you going to do," Malfoy inquired angrily, full well knowing that Harry was right and angry that Harry had the advantage.
"First, I'm going to recommend that you be stripped of that prefect badge," Harry said. "You're a very poor authority figure and your arrogance since you got that badge had been unbearable. Next, I am going to assign you to personally to see to it that every single restroom in this school, excluding restrooms in dormitories, is kept spotless."
"Even the girl restrooms?" Malfoy asked, aghast.
Harry glanced at Ginny who shook her head, and then responded, "Only one girl restroom Malfoy. Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. If I get a report of a dirty restroom, I'll double your detention. Is that clear?"
Malfoy nodded sullenly.
"Good news though," Harry said in mock re-assurance. "Your two friends, Crabbe and Goyle will have the pleasure of helping you. No one else may help you. Did I mention that you weren't allowed to use magic?'
Malfoy's mouth dropped open in astonishment. "That's not fair!"
"Look at it this way Malfoy," Harry said wisely, "you will have first hand experience in an honest profession for once. Make the best of it. I'm sure that Filch will be more than glad to help you find the necessary cleaning supplies. Lastly, each of you lose fifty points. That's one-hundred and fifty points away from Slytherin."
Malfoy was too shocked to respond and his two cronies remained silent.
"Now go to bed!" Harry instructed the Slytherin trio.
They left, leaving Harry and Ginny alone. "You sure punished them!" Ginny said, snickering.
Harry smiled, "Hopefully that will keep them out of the way for a while. It's late and I'm sure you're tired too. I'll tell you what I find in this book in the morning."
Ginny smiled tiredly and stood up. "It should be interesting if Voldemort was after it." She left and Harry picked up the book and began to read. Somewhere within, was the key to the whole mess, or at least, a clue.
After several hours of reading Harry finally came across what Malfoy or rather, Voldemort had been looking for.
Although the Dark staff Nosyl Sharod was extremely powerful, its sister-staff was much more powerful in its own right. While Nosyl Sharod wielded Dark power, its sister, Miledy Faisia wielded the power of the Light. Not only does Miledy have its own great power, it is capable of drawing upon the mighty power of the human race. For that reason, and many others, Miledy Faisia has stood as a symbol of the mighty Lords and Ladies of Phoenix since the dawn of time, and has been wielded by the Lords and Ladies many times. Despite this fact, none have ever seen Miledy strike out with its full capacity of power, for the Lords and Ladies of Phoenix are not powerful enough to wield Miledy's full power.
The Lord of Phoenix who is noted for wielding more of Miledy Faisia's power than any other is the sorcerer named Seilftrist. It was he also who last wielded Miledy Faisia before its disappearance. Seilftrist's title was unique. He was often classified in the ancient records as not merely a Lord of Phoenix, but Lieutenant to the High Lord of Phoenix. Many have wondered about this title because there has never been a High Lord of Phoenix, therefore, how could Seilftrist be Lieutenant to him?
Experts theorize that there is a before and after life for at least the nobles of Phoenix, and that the High Lord specifically sent Seilftrist to save the day, preserving himself to come to mortality at another time. Yet, still sending one powerful enough to accomplish the task at hand.
Harry stopped reading and set the book down. "Why me," Harry said to himself. "Why me?"