~ Chapter 14: Impregnable Barriers ~

They held a celebration that night, dining on Asian dishes that Fenix had superbly prepared and on top of that, delicious chocolate pudding. They retreated to the living room as Fred conjured mugs of Butterbeer for everyone, but Fenix strangely declined the proffered mug, so George conjured her a big glass of mango juice upon her request. The three going-to-be-sixth-years students were sprawled on the wooden floor, carefully reading the handouts that were given to them. Harry had already partially filled in his form; mainly his particulars and he had already ticked on the subject 'Defense against the Dark Arts'. Sirius had advised the three of them to take their time to read the handouts.

Fenix, out of sheer curiosity, sat next to Harry, looking through at all the leaflets. She read the details on the pamphlet on Healing. "Funny, you people use magic in Healing."

"Your Healing is a form of magic isn't it?" Sirius asked her lazily.

"Well…yes…I suppose…but you people make potions…for example to grow bones…I use my life-energy."

"Each to his own, I guess…" Sirius responded.

"All right, children!" Mrs. Weasley called out. "Better go to bed!"

"But mom!" Ginny protested, "we're holiday-ing!"

"Molly, go easy on them…" Mr. Weasley said gently but his wife firmly shook her head.

"They need their rest and they better get their biological clocks upright again. School term's coming soon and they better get used to waking up on time," she stated and looked at each of the youths, twins included. "Be up at seven-thirty. I want you down by eight. Is that understood?"

Ron sighed as he began to stock away the pamphlets back in the package. The staircase was filled with murmurs of conversation as the youngsters unwilling went to bed. "And no chit-chatting!" Mrs. Weasley warned them. The four parents took their leaves from the rest of the company to retire. Sirius had changed into his nightclothes while Fenix had washed up and wore something much more normal than her Hunter gear. She wore a blue short-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of Bermuda shorts, to reveal nice, shapely and muscular calves.

"We have to do something about your wardrobe," Remus said thoughtfully.

"Hmmm?" Fenix inquired as she scratched Silver's neck.

"You can't really wear Muggle clothes in Hogwarts…"

"Why not?"

"Because you will stand out, sister. Even if you're too short to be noticed by anyone bigger than you," Sirius said, stretching against the couch.

"I get your drift, there aren't too much people who are fond of Muggles…but wearing something like the…I think her name's Professor McGonagall…it really takes a hell lot of fun out of running," Fenix complained. "And a hell lot more harder to move around silently…"

: Just go into your full Hunter mode, : Wind suggested. : You'll look impressive, and intimidating enough that no one would dare to get into trouble with you--unless they're crazy of course, to take an opponent they don't know anything about--and your Hunter gear's strange enough not to be mistaken as Muggle clothes. :

Fenix thought about the suggestions of the female wolf carefully. "It's plausible, and I would be a lot more comfortable in being me than try to act like something else."

Remus nodded his head. "But it would be best if you come prepared with something…witchy-like…just in case…"

"All right…maybe I'll get Mrs. Weasley to help me…" she answered, sitting closely to the werewolf. All the while, she had been Healing Remus bit by bit. Now as the full moon was drawing closer, Remus's health had deteriorated. It was tough work but she could not suppress the feeling that he needed help so she gave it to him.

: I don't think he realizes what you're doing to him, : Sirius whispered in her mind, as he engaged a conversation with the other man.

: That's good…keep talking to him, : Fenix replied.

: You're attracted to him aren't you? : He suddenly asked and she felt her insides churned uneasily inside her. He gave a silent chuckle in her mind.

: That was the first time ever that I had just saw someone being slapped with that love-at-first-sight nonsense. :

: Whatever. Are you coming to bed with me or are you sharing with Remus? :

: Why don't you go and share a bed with him? : Sirius asked her teasingly.

: That's not a bad idea actually. : She answered and gave him a lofty look. : That way I could Heal more of him. :

: If you're serious… : Sirius then suddenly broke off his conversation with Remus and asked the man if he would stay close to Fenix through the night. Remus flushed slightly while Fenix stared at Sirius impassively. Serves you right if I do choose to turn you into a cockroach…

: Better not…you'll be sure to squash him with a broom… : Silver advised her. Fenix snorted. He deserved it…

: So how about it? : Fenix asked Remus, her face immobile. He blushed even harder.

"Aren't you joking?" Sirius asked her in bewilderment.

"No…I am damn serious." She answered, staring intently at the Professor's light brown eyes, looking confusedly back at her. She got up, strode to the kitchen to pour Remus a glass of water, and handed it to him.

"What I would do won't rid you of the curse or blessing of the moon, this would help leech away the deleterious residuum in your body. If we do this for the next several nights, I think your transformation would be less painful for your body and your mind," Fenix spoke quietly, as the two men listened carefully to her words.

: We'll just try it for one night, but you will be sleeping between us both, : Sirius said firmly.

: I thought you said you'd be sleeping in Remus's? : Fenix asked archly.

: I lied. There's no way I'm going to let my friend sleep with my sister alone. :

: What say you? : Silver asked the slightly confused werewolf.

: Just for one night… : he answered dubiously.

**********

These two blokes really took their time in getting to sleep…Fenix thought to herself, watching the two slumbering form at each of her sides in the pale moonlight that entered the bedroom. She reached out and took Remus's hand in hers. The werewolf jerked slightly but the contact had not awakened the man. I hope he doesn't have his wand in handy…Nice thing to happen first thing in the morning if he instinctively blow us off…maybe I should built a protective shield later.

I wonder what's the time now…when we went up it was eleven…since my naps are short…it's probably two in the morning. The two wolves were curled up on the floor where she had made a pallet for them to sleep in, breathing steadily. She let her Sight guide her to the man's deeper anatomies and began her work, carefully dissolving the impurities to be dislodged and to be excreted as waste.

It was slow work, but she felt a little satisfaction as she listened to Remus's breathing. His breathing seems clearer now…maybe a little exercise would be good for him. Fenix felt the world slowly turn as it came nearer to dawn.

: Krill? :

: Yes, lady? :

: What time is it? :

: It's three thirty-nine. :

: Thank you. :

There was one thing she ought to do before she let herself drift off to sleep, still holding Remus's hand. Within her mind, she sought out the link of Aldren's mind. I hope he isn't on duty…

: Finally! : Aldren's mindvoice said in her mind, tinged with relief.

: Sorry, I took so long to call on you. We're there by the way. Are you on patrol now? :

: I'm taking the dawn watch today. So everyone's all right then? Where's Sirius? :

: Yes, we're all fine. Most of us are already deep in slumber…except me of course, : she answered with a small smile. : Sirius's beside me by the way…and I'm certainly one lucky woman tonight…I've got two men sleeping beside me. :

: So the Elementals told me. Is the potion for werewolves really that harmful? :

: I don't really know. This could be just an isolated case but it might not be. Oh yes, I wouldn't be coming home for quite a while. :

: Yes, we already know. Father sends you his love by the way…I think he wants you to visit the Grove when you can…preferably with Sirius, his godson and your…fiancé… :

: Aldren! : She protested, while the elf laughed throatily.

: Giselle's thinking of getting herself transferred to any clinics or hospitals here; she and my brother are becoming really inseparable. :

: That's good…You better get your rest…be careful all right? :

: All right Winterstar… you do the same… :

The night was silent. Fenix had thought that Aldren had released his link but she heard his mindvoice again.

: Sirius is lucky to have you as his oathsib. I wished we could have been something much closer but I knew you loved my cousin…and now I do not wish to contaminate our friendship with bad memories…but I still have to confess Fenix…I loved you and I still do…but your love for me is much different than what I wanted…but it is the truth…I do love you, : Aldren whispered sadly in her mind. Fenix was speechless, her throat constricting and she felt despair from her own heart and from Aldren's.

: Do not feel sad about it…I want you to be happy…if you find happiness in the man that you're Healing…then I'm happy… : Aldren quickly released their link, leaving Fenix to contemplate his words. Fenix rubbed at her temple tiredly, trying to swallow down the knot in her throat. It was no use and she lay still on the bed, silently crying. Sirius suddenly turned to face her, lying on his side. I hope he's asleep…

Sirius was not. The bond between them had strengthened and he was aware of her slightest change of mood. He tenderly caressed her cheek, comforting her. He moved closer to her, and she instinctively buried her face in his chest.

: You heard? :

: Yes. :

Fenix slowly let her barriers drop, weeping silently against his chest, not letting go of Remus's hand. Sirius gently stroked her hair and encouraged her to tell him what had caused her sudden sorrow. She told him in images of what had happened on the night that she turned eighteen. She introduced Sirius to images of her parents and of a lover, an elf, cousin to Aldren. She showed Sirius how the three of them died to protect her from a deliberate murder.

: It was a difficult time for Giselle and me. She had to work so I had told her that I would be fine and I would live with my friends…it was she who introduced Aldren to me and he recognized me being his cousin's lover. My mentor, a friend of my mother's, was worried about me and had sought the help of the Elves. That's how I became really involved with the Elves. Aldren's father, Mineif had adopted Luis and he took me under his wing and finished my education, : she fell silent, as Sirius held her until she fell asleep. But Aldren's words haunted her in her sleep, and she felt somehow that something very wrong would happen.

**********

Dawn came, and Fenix woke up, held by Sirius and she still held Remus's hand. The terrible feeling of premonition did not go away. Instead, it had intensified. She sat up and got from the bed as unobtrusively as she could. She took her towel and was surprised to see Harry outside the bedroom.

: Fenix, I think you have to teach me shield my mind as soon as you can. : Harry said, his eyes looking deeply into her eyes.

: Why don't you wait in the kitchen? I wish to bathe. :

Harry nodded and waited restlessly in the kitchen and played with Crookshanks to distract his mind from the troubled sleep he had been having. About fifteen minutes later, Fenix came down wearing a long skirt with a white blouse that made her look unearthly. His skin prickled uneasily.

: What's wrong? : She asked the boy as she prepared a bit of breakfast.

: It's my dreams…they don't make sense but I do not know why I keep feeling a sense of foreboding. : Harry gulped down his fresh orange juice.

: We'll eat something first and then we'll start our lessons. To tell you the truth Harry, my dreams were plagued by the same feelings. :

**********

The rest were still in bed and the two people took to the living room.

: This is relatively easy. I do not know how exactly Professor Snape taught you but the basics are important. You first have to empty yourself of all thoughts and emotions. Think you could do that? :

: I should be able to. :

Harry gave her a nod when he felt that the objective had been accomplished. : All right then. You could just close your eyes. The first thing we are going to do is to find your ground and center. So, this is how it is done. :

By the time that Harry had solidly connected his ground and his center, Mrs. Weasley was already out of bed. She had not bothered them after first seeing Fenix's stern expression and Harry's trance-like manner. Next, the Fire Master showed Harry how to spin himself a web, how to make it strong and flexible. It had taken them most of the morning for Harry to master the technique of shielding his mind successfully without her help.

**********

Professor Lupin was testing Harry's shield against with his Legilimency spell. No matter what he did, trying to use his wand or mindspeech, he could not get through Harry's tough barrier.

"What if Harry's talking in mindspeech and he tries to go through? Would he succeed?" Professor Lupin fretted.

"You have to test it then, Sirius you talk to Harry while Remus tries to ram him with the Legilimency thingy…" Fenix instructed as she watched Harry.

"Don't concentrate too hard, Harry. Just relax and take it easy. No point in getting yourself a blinding headache," she advised.

Professor Lupin tried several ways to break into Harry's mind when Professor Dumbledore Apparated in The Burrow.

"I didn't know you would start to train him this early," the Headmaster looked curiously.

"Actually, I didn't expect Harry to take on the techniques so easily," Fenix informed the Headmaster.

"Would you test him? You're the better expert," Professor Lupin moved away to stand beside Fenix.

It took about half an hour before the Headmaster proclaimed his satisfaction that Harry could now control his mind from outside influence. Harry breathed a sigh of relief and sank down onto the floor in exhaustion as the Headmaster exchanged a few words with Mrs. Weasley before Apparating out of the household.

"Exhausting work, wasn't it?" Remus wiped his forehead.

"I feel like my head's been crammed with information of ten history books," Harry groaned and Ginny gave him several packets of Chocolate Frog to revive a bit of energy.

Fenix sat down on a wooden stool, fanning her face with her hand. The feeling of impending doom is still there…Fenix sighed and looked blankly at Remus's back, and brooded about her sense of premonition. It seemed to her that Aldren was at its center.

***********