~ Chapter 13: OWLs! ~
"Oh no…" Hermione stopped, and cringed when Sirius looked belligerently at the twins.
"Bloody hell," Fred whispered, his eyes were tightly shut, afraid to look at Sirius or at the window.
"Couldn't you guys just climb the stairs like everybody else?" Fenix's unmistakable voice emerged from the open window.
"Thank you, Merlin!" George heaved a huge sigh of relief.
"Don't just stand there!" Fenix narrowed her eyes, as sweat trickled down her neck. "Using sheer mind magic to keep myself aloft is no easy task!" the twins hurriedly caught both her hands and helped the small woman back into the bedroom.
"You must be Remus's assistant! I'm Fred, and this is my brother, George," he introduced themselves and the twins gave her a florid bow.
Whack! Sirius delivered a mind blow to Fenix and the twins. Fenix shot an angry look at Sirius who looked back at her innocently.
"Why in hell did you do that?" Fenix stepped forward, her silver eyes staring icily at her oathbrother.
"Do what?" Sirius blinked his eyes innocently.
"Remus, would you please get off the bed?" Fenix advised the puzzled Professor. He hastily got out of the way when Fenix stood near the edge of the bed while the rest looked warily.
"Are you absolutely sure they're not a couple?" Ginny whispered urgently to Hermione. The bushy-haired Granger confidently nodded her head.
"Don't take me for a fool, Sirius," Fenix said softly. "I may be irrational at times but I'm not a fool. You think I couldn't trace the link back to you?" her fingers suddenly shot out to grab a piece of Sirius right arm.
"OUCH! Dear God woman! Why must you always resort to pinching?" Sirius jerked out from her reach.
"Because that's the best weapon a woman can have."
"I don't think a pinch would be of any use to the Dark Lord or the Death Eaters," Ron muttered.
"Do you think so?" Fenix gave a grim smile. "What if I were to clench my mind upon a beating heart?" Ron stared mutely at her. "I am a Healer too…" she reminded him.
"And the Death Eaters are still mortals," Harry replied absently. Fenix raised an eyebrow at the green-eyed boy.
"Aren't we feeling bloodthirsty today," the Fire Master said blandly. Harry just shrugged, popping a Chocolate Frog into his mouth. She turned back to Sirius.
"You shouldn't let your emotions get the better of you," she said gently. "Nothing could happen to me unless it is time," she sat down beside Sirius, leaning against a wall covered with giant posters.
"Is it safe for me to sit now?" Remus asked Fenix politely.
"Yes, I don't bite, you know, unless if I go wolf," Fenix replied casually, then raised an eyebrow at her oathbrother. "Well, why don't you get started first and then they can have a go. There must have been things happening around since you got yourself stuck."
Remus gingerly sat himself near the Fire Master and tried to restrain his wandering eyes. For no apparent reason, he found himself severely attracted by the woman's unique pair of eyes. Sirius began telling the company of what had happened to him since he fell into the archway, with the natural talent of a storyteller and Remus raptly listened to his friend's narration. Occasionally, Fenix would insinuate several things but she kept quiet most of the time. Then the students and Remus filled in what had been happening since Sirius's 'demise'.
"Hermione's father said that you could kill those Dementors without the aid of the Elementals," Harry said, his green eyes tinged with a bit of amazement.
Fenix narrowed her eyes slightly. "Yes…" she gave an encouraging look at the youth.
"So how did you do it?" Harry asked urgently and she smiled at his enthusiasm.
"You're a little too young to have those kind of thoughts you know," Fenix informed him with a faint smile. Several snorts erupted from all around, including her bondmates.
"So are you going to tell them or do you just want to sit there and look mysterious?" Sirius teased her, his face bearing a bored expression.
"Sirius," Fenix said warningly to her oathbrother.
"What are you going to do? Turn me into a toad?"
"Nope. I'm going to turn you into a flying cockroach instead."
Remus carefully contained his mirth and cleared his throat. "So how did you eliminate them?"
"I'll get you later." Fenix gave a sidelong look at her oathbrother and answered the question. "The ingredients are simple: hope, love and Life. The Dementors can't really understand these human emotions. But of course, when one gets a glimpse of them, the natural emotion that is fear always overwhelm the other emotions. That's how humans like us can fall prey to them easily. They fear one thing, to cease existence. I may be digressing but I think this can be quite useful," Fenix paused to massage her shoulder.
"The elves are resistant to them because they are magic and protected by something other than themselves. The other thing is that they are immortal… well not quite," she gave a little frown. "Elves have much longer life span compared to humans, like they could still be hurt by a sharp blade and may die from it. Returning to the subject, another method to exterminate these Dementors is to get a sacred knife. The swords the elves use are something like the ancient tools of the Celts. But of course, they were the ones whom created the ancient tools in the first place. One reason why I'm immune is because I've experienced Death over and over again. They don't understand why I could be so willing to die and embrace Death," Fenix said and her eyes took on a distant look.
Sirius gave a blank look at her. Is that why she's named Fenix? It must be… she is a Phoenix after all…
"I used all of these information and amplified it in my mind and forced the Dementors to…well the most accurate thing I would say is that I let it glimpse through my life, duties and Death. In short, I simply overloaded their beings."
"Hah! Got themselves fried by their own specialty!" Hermione snorted.
Harry suddenly stood up, took Sirius's right hand, and slowly turned the palm upwards. A strange silver five-pointed star gleamed palely. Fenix smiled and held out her own palm for them to see.
"A mark of our oathbinding," she explained.
"So you are kin now…I wonder what we're going to do later," Ginny abruptly changed the subject.
"I thought it was already obvious," Fenix answered the girl, exchanging a brief glance with Remus.
"Lessons?" Hermione squealed out delightfully.
"Yes," she answered brightly. And you get to teach me too. You people ought to tell me what to expect from Hogwarts, before I manage to do something foolhardy." Fenix said then gave Harry a penetrating look. "However, Harry must learn to shield his mind immediately. Why don't you kids find something to do while I discuss how we are going to do this with the Professor?"
"You mean we have to learn that too?" Ron asked dubiously.
"Yes, that way, you guys can always practice together. Although, I seriously don't think you will need to," Fenix said casually to Ron, "your mind's naturally blocked."
"Maybe that's why he can be a little thick sometimes," Fred muttered to his twin.
Ron's ears turned red and he growled under his breath. "I heard that…"
One by one the youths got out of the bedroom, and the wolves followed them out, and left the adults staring at themselves.
"Do you always look this tired, Remus?" Fenix began softly then turned her head swiftly at the door.
: Is there by any chance those kids have created something that would allow them to listen to our conversations? : Fenix asked the two men with a bemused smile hovering on her lips.
: Ah…The Extendable Ears, : Remus began, easily communicating using mindspeech. : Almost had forgotten about this little invention of theirs. : He looked curiously at the two who was staring at him in amazement.
"What?" Remus asked in irritation.
"How are you able to…" Sirius began, tapping his index finger on his forehead.
"I was listening to the wolves pretty carefully, and got the knack of it. But you will show me the ways of this communication, won't you?" He requested, looking at Sirius.
From the corridor, they could hear Fred's voice demanding. "What in the world are they talking about?"
"Shhhhh! Keep your voice down dummy!" Ginny's voice said.
: Don't look at me, Moony. Ask her, she's the expert, : Sirius hooked his arm around Fenix, holding her tightly.
: Gods, Sirius! Is this how siblings should be behaving? : Her mindvoice sounded a little annoyed. : I feel like I'm your girlfriend! :
: Well, you were my friend first before you became my kin… : Sirius said lightly, raking his fingers to mess her long hair. : Actually, I wouldn't really know. Never had a female friend this close before, : then he pouted. : If you don't like me then, you could always hang around Moony there. :
: Serves you right, : Fenix wriggled from his embrace to sit side by side with Remus. : He has much more sense than you to do anything inappropriate to me. :
Remus smiled wickedly, his left arm began snaking about her shoulders and was a little surprised by his own actions. Fenix had automatically leaned against him. Remus smiled gently, looking at her head. It feels good holding her…but of course…I had been spending most of my childhood with the two most notorious boys…
Fenix was not even aware of her own actions until she sighed contentedly and her eyes focused at Sirius's grinning face. Dear Sungod! Fenix was aware that she was blushing as she felt the heat rise to her face. She took a moment to examine the situation. It feels right to be held by him, she thought dreamily.
: Back to my question then, : Fenix began, not even moving her head. : Why are you looking so careworn? :
: It's the transformations, I believe. However, I don't think it's all that's affecting my health. How much do you know about werewolves? : Remus answered her.
"I can't hear a single thing," it was Fred. "Are you sure, these are not defectives?"
: Harry, : Fenix reached a thought to the boy. She felt a jerk of surprise then a tentative: Yes? :
: Are you with the twins? :
: No, I'm in the kitchen, : his mindvoice echoed in her mind, tinged with perplexity.
: Would you mind telling them not to bother listening in? We're using Mindspeech. It's easier to communicate with this. If I could not find words, I could always show images, : for an instant, she showed Harry how she had shielded his mind for him.
After a moment, Harry answered. : Looks pretty complicated. Anyway, I'll get them to come down to the kitchen. :
: Thank you! Where are the wolves? :
: They're inspecting the kitchen I guess… I couldn't think of any other reason the way they're examining the magical stuff about. :
: Oh, I see. : Fenix released her link with the boy.
: Sorry, : she lifted her head to look at Remus sheepishly. The wizard regretfully let his arm fall from her shoulder. : I don't really know much about a werewolf except that this occurs every time it is a full moon. Is there a cure for that? :
: Before I was stuck in prison there wasn't. I think they have concocted a potion to prevent the transformation or something that would make them less dangerous, : Sirius informed his oathsister, his fingers tracing the scar on his palm absently.
: Now I get it! : Fenix spoke up, her exaltation clear in her mindvoice. : Your natural defense system is rejecting them. To it, your transformation is the normal thing to occur--:
: While the potion is regarded as an invader? : Remus hazarded. Fenix reached out a hand to touch his arm. Her eyes went distant as she Looked into his body system. She gave him a thorough check-up before continuing her sentence.
: It seems so. How many years had you been taking the potion? :
: Near to five years. :
: That's a hell lot of residue to burn up. It's going to take a lot of Healing and water to clear them up. The next full moon will be on…next Friday. Don't fight it this time. Your own transformation will help clear up the toxic effects of the drug. :
: I'll be here to help, : Sirius said in determination.
: We'll also be there, : Wind's soft mindvoice penetrated their thoughts.
: Fenix, how is it that they are able to listen in? : Sirius asked, his irritation turning his link to Fenix a subtle brown color.
: It's a peculiarity of theirs. I have my own suspicions as to whether they are really wolves or something else. :
"All right, we've solved Moony's little problem. Now how do we handle the big one?" Sirius asked, as he looked under the bed and pulled out a trunk.
"How do the wizards shield their minds?" Fenix began, helping Sirius to drag the other trunk and opened it. She helped Sirius unpacked some of their stuff while listening to Remus carefully.
"They usually do so by Occlumency. Snape-- he is the one with greasy black hair-- tried to teach the boy. Either Harry had simply refused to listen to him or Snape was teaching Harry in a way the boy couldn't comprehend we would never know," Remus began as Fenix cocked her head to one side and examined the mental images and flavors that he showed her.
: You're excellent in mindspeech, : Fenix congratulated him. : But the means you showed me seem very convoluted. : Then her face turned thoughtful and Remus stared in surprise at what she was holding in her hand and stared wild-eyed at her hand when the sword vanished.
"Was that the dagger?" Sirius asked curiously. "It looked bigger somehow. "
Fenix shook her head. "No, that was my sword."
"Merlin's beard! Are you keeping something from me?" Sirius demanded.
"Don't be alarmed. It's just one of my responsibilities as a Hunter. You ought to know just by the name what my alternative occupation is."
Sirius shook his head in disbelief, as he hung a black suit on a hanger.
: Well, I think only Harry could learn how to shield using my method. Ginny, she however is susceptible to invasion. And you want to know something, : Fenix spoke up, catching the attention of both men. : I can't imagine what or how I'm going to teach the students. :
: Don't worry, I'll think of something. Somehow, it seems to me that you are able to duplicate all the hexes and jinxes even without a wand. I think you would be able to show the students something on the process. :
: Isn't he being cryptic? : Fenix asked Sirius.
: Never mind. I know I'm babbling. Maybe when we first teach the company here, you'll get the idea of what I'm talking about, : Remus said, standing up.
: Speaking of wands, have you seen mine, Fenix? :
: It's in the black box where I've wrapped it with the dagger, : she answered.
"Oh no!!!" Hermione's voice shrieked out shrilly.
"What is it this time?" Remus asked in annoyance.
"There's only one answer to that," Sirius said impassively, tucking his wand in his pocket.
"What?" Fenix asked curiously.
"It's the Ordinary Wizarding Level results," her oathbrother answered, opening the door for both of them.
"That sounds strangely familiar," Fenix mused as she walked down the stairs unhurriedly. "It sounds like O' levels in the…Muggle world. Now I understand Hermione's reactions. I didn't even want to look at my exam results when I got the certificate."
"Oh…so how did you fare?" Sirius asked from behind.
"I only peeked at my results when I got home. Didn't flunk anything…" Fenix answered. Sirius snorted derisively. Fenix almost casually gave Sirius a mind-slap that his head went ringing for several seconds.
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Ginny looked at the three students. Mrs. Weasley was getting excited by the moment.
"Oh…come on now Ron…surely you did no worse than those two…"Mrs. Weasley pleaded excitedly.
"Hermione, why don't you go first?" Ron whispered.
"I'M NOT!" the young woman wailed.
"Man…isn't she nervous?" Fenix muttered as they all gathered in the kitchen. Fred passed her a glass of pumpkin juice that she sipped carefully. How curious…never in my life did I ever use pumpkin for juices…not bad…not bad at all…
"The sooner you look at your results dearest, the more time you can use to brood over what electives you want to take once school starts," Mrs. Granger squeezed her daughter's shoulder in comfort.
"You have to make your decisions by Monday, I'm afraid," Professor Lupin looked apologetically at the three students.
"What?" Hermione yelped, looking at the Professor with round eyes. She quickly grabbed her envelope and ripped off its seal.
"What am I going to do…what am I going to do?" Hermione muttered, shakily getting her certificate out. Mr. Weasley peeked at her results while he handed her a very bulky package.
"Congratulations, Hermione! I believe this package contains all the necessary advise to help you make your decisions," Mr. Weasley gave her a kind smile.
"Well boys," Mr. Weasley looked down at Harry and Ron who were looking at the envelopes with varying degrees of trepidation.
: Harry, don't keep us in suspense! : Sirius complained.
Ever since the beginning of summer, Harry was determined more than ever to become an Auror. But am I qualified enough? And more than that…can I tolerate Snape for two more years? Huh, if I can't, maybe I'll have a chance in the national Quidditch teams…
Harry was the next one to rip off the seal and Sirius peered down his shoulder to look at his godson's results. What Harry saw in the certificate made him feel as if someone had knocked him silly with a bludgeon. I received an 'O' for Potions? It couldn't be…the Potions paper was tough…how could I even get an 'O'?
"Yo guys?" Fenix waved her hands repeatedly at Harry and Sirius. The young wizard looked blankly at her. "What's wrong? You really looked like your head's smacked right against a board."
"I think there must be some kind of mistake…I can't have gotten an Outstanding grade for Potions…."
"WHAT MISTAKE BOY?" Harry's certificate suddenly screeched in indignation. "THERE AIN'T NO MISTAKES IN YOUR GRADES. YOU EITHER BELIEVE IT OR NOT!!!" The certificate then calmed itself and returned to its original state.
Fenix took the certificate and read his grades softly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Student: Harry Potter
House: Gryffindor
School: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
O.W.Ls
Care of Magical Creatures E
Charms E
Defense against the Dark Arts O
Divination A
Herbology E
History of Magic A
Potions O
Transfigurations E
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
O-Outstanding
E-Exceeds Expectations
A-Acceptable
P-Poor
D-Dreadful
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Unbelievable," the twins muttered.
"Well done!" Sirius cheered.
"I guessed he achieved more Distinctions than I ever had during the course of my studying…"
"You mean in gaining your Master level?" Hermione asked.
"No…I mean in Muggle studies…" Fenix corrected.
"We don't have schools like you, Hermione," her mother explained. "We're apprenticed to a Master, or to other Mages when there's no Master close enough to teach us."
Harry was still a bit stunned. Ron had handed the envelope to his mother, covered his face with both his palms, and feared for the worst. Mrs. Weasley's eyes watered instantly. She dropped to her knees and hugged Ron tightly.
"You make us so proud!" she gushed, while Ron turned scarlet.
"Merlin's beard!" George swore as he looked at Ron's certificate.
"Hard to believe, isn't it?" Fred said in a skeptical voice.
"Stop that! He's your brother and you should be proud of him!" Mrs. Weasley yelled.
"We are mom!" the twins protested in defense.
"Do you think Professor Snape will accept us?" Hermione piped up, looking questioningly at Professor Lupin.
"Should have known what you were thinking…" Sirius grinned at Harry and the boy returned a tremulous smile. Mrs. Weasley however turned a cold stare at Sirius. Then she turned to Harry; her eyes looked at his almost in a plea.
"There are other occupations, Harry. More high-paying jobs and much safer…" she began but Harry shook his head.
"It's all right, Mrs. Weasley. I've thought about this for years now," he said confidently to her. She was about to make a further protest when Mr. Weasley interrupted her.
"It you're really determined, none of us will stop you. But it isn't going to be an easy road, and judging from my own son, he seems determined for it too!"
Mrs. Weasley looked helplessly at the three youths. "Just think about it again…"
Harry looked back at his certificate. Hermione's right…even if I did get an 'O' I doubt that Snape would accept me for his NEWT class…all I could do now is just apply and see if I'm accepted… Harry blinked, suddenly feeling cheerful. I have Sirius back, who is alive and happy, isn't lonely or bored because of Fenix, and I had managed to best Hermione in at least one subject…
"Hey, guess what Hermione?" Harry began as he stood up.
"We got through the OWLs…we did it…WE DID IT!" Ron cheered, giving his best friend a tight hug and absently kissed the shorter Hermione on the top of her head.
"How sweet…" Mrs. Granger smiled.
"I think the term is cloying…" Fred smirked.
"Be nice."
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