Chapter 11: Retribution and Aftermath
All of Phoenix's friends, Peck, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Harry, Seamus, Dean, and Neville heard the bone-chilling laughter, and all of them, though they all couldn't hear each other, said the exact thing.
"Oh no..."
Even all the teachers had heard the laughter. The House Heads made their students go to their dormitories and then went out to meet up with others. Eventually, all of the teachers and the 7 remaining Team Matrix members had gathered in the hall, quietly talking about what to do with the new threat when the oak doors, which had closed themselves after Phoenix entered earlier, had burst open again. Every head once again turned to the newcomer and gasped at who it was.
Dumbledore.
And BOY did he look angry. Seething would be more like it.
With the flick of his wand all of the stunned Death Eaters in the hall were bound together with invisible, unbreakable ropes and Dumbledore continued walking towards the congregation of teachers and Gryffindor students (muttering things in which the words "tricked" and "foolish" were heard), who parted to let him in. Looking from one face to another, he spoke in a barely controlled voice, the rage apparent in it.
"What is the status of the situation?" He said, cutting right to the point.
Harry spoke.
"All students from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw have been evacuated and are currently in their respective dormitories. We haven't had any sign of Phoenix or Peck, however."
Dumbledore nodded, immediately catching on that Team Matrix decided to lend a hand. Hermione piped up to provide one more crucial detail.
"Oh! Just a few minutes ago, we all heard laughter that we concluded was Yo- Voldemort's sir."
Again, Dumbledore nodded.
"This is grave news indeed."
Again, someone spoke. This time, it was Professor Mcgonnagall.
"Albus, I'm pretty sure Phoenix was the one who was on the receiving end of the Dark Lord's wrath, as I saw Peck on the floor outside of the Gryffindor Common Room before I came down here. I quickly brought him back into the common room of course, but he was alive, which was an indication that he hadn't faced..." she took a deep breath, then sighed. "Voldemort."
For the third time in the few short minutes he was with the group, Dumbledore nodded.
"Well then, we must find Voldemort at once and force him out of the castle. Now don't worry." He said, noticing the look of apprehension on every face present. "We will all stick together and do this as ONE." He said, emphasizing that last word.
Everyone nodded and took out their wands, Team Matrix included. Obviously, they realized that their WARS were useless, since Phoenix would've undoubtedly tried it and of course, failed.
"Come."
And thus, everyone followed Dumbledore out of the Great Hall in search of ol' Voldemort. Of course, since Dumbledore knew the school so well he could walk the halls blindfolded, his search was very systematic, covering every hall and corridor on the first floor, then moving on to the second, and the third. However, halfway through their search of the fourth floor, Dumbledore stopped and motioned for the others to do the same. Once he was sure everyone had stopped moving and was waiting for further instructions, he called out.
"Tom! You can lower your wand now. A surprise attack won't do you any good."
The students and teachers heard a sigh and an oily (even oilier than Snape's) voice respond.
"How did you know I was here, and must you call me that?"
Dumbledore chuckled slightly.
"Of course Tom, it is your name. As for your first question, the walls told me. Yes Tom, they speak to me."
A cloaked figure stepped around the corner as students and teachers (except Dumbledore) alike gasped. Dumbledore raised his wand.
"Now Tom, you either leave my school at once, or I will make you do so."
The man (or was it a thing?) laughed.
"You may be powerful Dumbledore, but I assure you: you will not be able to make leave this school of yours."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow over his half-moon spectacles.
"I take it you will not leave on your own free will?"
"Of course not."
"Very well. Students! You may want to get back. Same goes for the teachers."
Again, Voldemort laughed.
"Oh ho! Since when did I say the students are safe?"
Dumbledore paused.
"You will not harm my students."
"Oh, I won't?"
"No you will not."
Voldemort chuckled.
"I've already taken care of one of your students. Why shouldn't I... finish the job?"
"Because you won't have a chance to."
Dumbledore then leapt into a fury of spell-casting, shaking dust from the old walls of the school and shrouding the hallway in a fog. The students and teachers, who had ducked for cover, could hear bangs and explosions and shouts from the two duelers and could see the light from explosions and sparks and multi-colored streaks that were spells. Apparently, Dumbledore was always one step ahead of Voldemort, who was doing his best to avoid the spells sent his way. And of course, since you can't apparate within the school, the Dark Lord couldn't teleport his way to safety. Therefore, he wasn't able to cast the killing curse, as he was doing his best to find the proper blocking spell to each attacking spell Dumbledore launched at him. Finally, it appeared that one of Dumbledore's spells struck the twisted wizard, as there was a cry of defeat and the spell-casting had stopped. When the dusted and debris had settled, the onlookers could see the defeated wizard, barely standing, glaring at Dumbledore.
"You haven't seen the last of me, old man."
With a loud bang, a painfully bright light filled the hall, blinding the teachers and students, and when they were able to regain their vision, the most feared wizard in all of Britain was gone.
A cheer rang through the hall. It was louder than the bone-chilling cackle that was heard only minutes before. It was loud enough for the entire castle to hear. And it got louder when the students in their dormitories and the Hospital Ward joined in. It was a cheer that petrified the remaining conscious Death Eaters with fear, for it meant their imminent defeat. It was a cheer that brightened the down morale of the injured, some of which attempting to stand to cheer further. It was a cheer that made the surviving Team Matrix members smile, as they had accomplished their first real mission with flying colors.
It was a cheer that ultimately meant light had conquered dark in this battle of wizards and witches.
However, the high spirits of Ginny Weasley quickly dropped when she saw Phoenix several yards ahead... and he was not moving.
"Oh no."
Ginny, ran up to the boy and knelt by his side. Since she was experienced and checking vital signs (what do you expect from a girl who had to live with six wild brothers?), she immediately put two fingers to his wrist. Nothing. Frantic, she tried his neck. Again, nothing. By now she was downright desperate, and she brought her ear down just right above his barely parted mouth, trying in vain to hear breathing. Finally giving up, she started sobbing, hugging the limp boy as if her life depended on it. Her friends (as well as the teachers), noticing her sobs, ran over to her to see what was wrong. Looking up, eyes bloodshot, she turned to her concerned friends and motioned to Phoenix.
"Dead."
Silence. Total, utter silence for a good 15 seconds, interrupted by Ginny's intermittent sobs. Harry was the first to react.
"No..."
The truth had finally hit him, and it had hit him hard.
"NO! No. No no no no no no NO!"
Ron's face was just blank, as if he had been hit by a truck and was still dazed from it. Dumbledore walked up to Ginny, who was still grabbing on to Phoenix.
"Ms. Weasley. I'm afraid holding on to Mr. Blazen will do you no good whatsoever. However, perhaps Poppy can do something more useful with your friend, perhaps find a way to prevent his death, if it hasn't already happened."
Ginny's eyes widened.
"B-but he's already DEAD! W-why do you think V-Voldemort laughed? He ki-kil-KILLED him Professor!"
That was all she was able to get out before she broke down sobbing again, holding on to the boy harder than ever. It may not be apparent as to why she was taking Phoenix's loss the hardest. Perhaps it was because he had helped her with so many things, be it academic or social. Perhaps it was because he included her in everything he and his friends did. Perhaps it was because he was such a free spirit, and that touched her. But most likely of all, perhaps it was because she harbored feelings for him.
However, this was seemingly not apparent to Dumbledore (but then again, it's Dumbledore, so he probably knew anyway), who sighed and raised his wand.
"Please forgive me for this. Stupefy."
Ginny, struck with the spell, stopped sobbing and became limp, though she was still breathing. Bending down, Dumbledore gently removed her arms from the boy and conjured a stretcher, upon which he placed Phoenix and floated gently in front of him. When he was done, he started walking slowly with the stretcher towards the Hospital Ward.
Peck was on a couch in the Gryffindor Common Room, one of the few that was still intact anyway, when he heard the portrait swing open, indicating that someone had entered.
Now you must remind yourselves that Peck had been hit with the Avada Kedavra Curse, and had miraculously survived, so he was still quite unstable, most likely too unstable to brave the long trip to the Hospital Ward. Therefore, Mcgonnagall decided it would be best that he stayed in the Gryffindor Common Room to recover enough so that he could go to the Hospital Ward for better medical treatment. In his mind, Peck thought he was recovering quite nicely and would be ready to leave the common room in about half an hour.
However, his thoughts were interrupted when he saw that the newcomer was none other than the Head of Gryffindor House, Professor Mcgonnagall. Nodding so that she knew he acknowledged her presence, he greeted her.
"'Ello Professor. What's up?"
"Mr. Smith, Mr. Blazen, your friend, is in an extremely critical condition, if not dead. Normally, I would say he was dead without thinking otherwise. However..." she looked at Peck pointedly before continuing, "YOU were able to survive the killing curse, so maybe Phoenix had done the same."
The poor boy nearly fell from his position on the couch and onto the hard floor.
"You-you're kidding, right?"
One look at the sad expression on his Transfiguration teacher's face told him otherwise.
"Where is he now?"
"The Hospital Ward. Now Mr. Smith, I do not want you to-"
"I'm going."
"But you're not ready to make the journey, it would be well-nigh impossible."
Peck, indignant at the comment, gently swung his legs over the edge of the couch and, using the end for support, slowly and wobbly got into a standing position.
"Do not tell me what is impossible Professor."
(A/N: sighs The ONE good scene in Pearl Harbor, and it wasn't even about the bombing... stupid director...)
Mcgonnagall nodded and offered her arm to the weakened boy, who gladly took it.
"Now, I'm not saying I'll be able to make it to the Hospital Ward in five minutes, but I'll make it, just you see."
Ginny, who had been taken to the Gryffindor Common Room by her friends under orders of Professor Mcgonnagall, arrived after Peck had left and was taken up to her dormitory by Hermione. Once there, she was Enervated by her friend, and her eyes snapped open. After she became somewhat aware of her surroundings, she realized Phoenix wasn't there.
"Phoenix! Where-?"
Hermione quickly hushed her.
"He's in the Hospital Ward. No you can't go." She added, answering Ginny's unasked question. The distraught girl sighed.
"Is he going to be okay? Is he?"
"I don't know Gin. I really don't know."
After the remaining Death Eaters had been taken out (which involved storming the Slytherin Common Room) and tied up with their comrades, the clean-up process had begun. Students had been allowed out of their dormitories and were helping the teachers in any way they could. All except for the Slytherins of course.
Even some people who had been taken to the Hospital Ward for minor injuries were back up and running again, helping out as well. The castle was buzzing with activity, everyone scrambling to fix the damaged school. The more advanced students were repairing statues and removing craters while first years were running errands and carrying supplies around for the teachers.
Dumbledore was part of the clean-up effort as well, clearing up hallways in the same systematic fashion he used when searching for Voldemort.
True to their word, the members of Team Matrix who had entered the common room's of other houses allowed memory charms to be placed on them so they would forget the entrances to the other common rooms.
As this was going on however, one member of Team Matrix was having an internal battle of strength. Which would be stronger: will or death.
After he was hit with the curse, the next thing Phoenix remembered was that he was thrown into utter darkness. Darkness that was so dark, he couldn't even see his hand if it was an inch in front of his face. He tried calling out "Whoa... where am I?" But he heard nothing, not even a whisper. However, his brain was still functioning, so was his mind.
'Alright, this is getting freakier and freakier by the second...'
It was then that he realized he couldn't move. He couldn't even wiggle his toe or blink an eye, not that he could tell whether his eyes were open or closed.
'Okay, this is definitely NOT good. How the hell am I supposed to get out of this mess?'
It was then that he heard maniacal laughter, very similar to the laughter he heard right before he was hit with that green curse...
'Oh no. Not YOU again...'
Peck was still walking towards the Hospital Ward with Mcgonnagall while everyone was scurrying around trying to fix up the place. Even though they were going at a slow pace, it was steady nonetheless. Trying to strike up a conversation, he turned to his teacher and posed a question.
"Professor? Why do you think the Death Eaters did an all-out siege on the castle?"
Mcgonnagall pondered the question for a moment, then turned to look at the boy.
"If I am not mistaken, the Dark Lord is getting more and more desperate to get rid of Mr. Potter before he graduates from this school and becomes even more of a threat to him. Apparently he was so desperate that he was willing to risk his entire army of Death Eaters to kill the boy."
She paused for a moment, then smiled at Peck.
"However, thanks to you and your friends, that gamble turned out to be unfavorable for him."
Peck stopped walking so he could make a deep and flamboyant bow.
"Why thank you m'lady. You are too kind."
Mcgonnagall chuckled for a moment before she and Peck continued walking towards the Hospital Wing. Finally, after about 10 more minutes, they reached it and Peck slowly let go of the professor's hand. He then started a very wobbly walk towards a bed at the far end of the ward. That is, until he was stopped by Madam Pomfrey.
"Mr. Smith, I'm afraid you cannot visit your friend. He is in critical condition and must be left alone."
Now under any other circumstances, Peck would've blown up at Pomfrey and demanded that he be allowed to see Phoenix. However, he had grown wiser since his last visit here, and he figured that calm reasoning would most likely be more effective.
"I must admit Madam Pomfrey, you do have a fair point. However, Phoenix has been my best friend for over 7 years. Now, do you honestly think I'd be able to live with myself if Phoenix died and I wasn't able to say goodbye? Put yourself in my shoes Miss, imagine that it is you who wishes to visit a dying friend who's been so close to you for years. Wouldn't YOU want to have the right to say goodbye? Wouldn't you?"
Apparently, that seemed to work, for Madam Pomfrey, who seemed close to tears from Peck's small speech, nodded.
"Very well, but you have only five minutes."
Peck smiled.
"That'll be plenty time for me. Thanks."
Hobbling over to Phoenix's bed. Sitting down slowly next to Phoenix's head, he smiled weakly.
"Hey dude. What's up?"
Sighing slightly, he continued on.
"Alright, you don't need to tell me. It's obvious what's up. You're close to death and probably can't hear me, so you need me to shut up and allow you to concentrate. However, that ain't gonna happen. I'm not gonna let you go without saying goodbye first."
He then paused only to give Phoenix a stern look.
"Now don't take that as encouragement to give up. I won't allow you to put in a substandard attempt at surviving this. And if you DO make it through, you're gonna have some happy friends, let me tell you."
Peck paused for a moment, then snickered and leaned over to whisper in the boy's ear.
"And I'm sure you'll make a certain Weasley girl extremely happy when you come out of this.
After that last comment, Peck grinned. Getting up from his position, he ruffled his friend's vivid red hair and started walking back towards Pomfrey.
"Thank you. Now if you don't mind, I do think it would help if you gave me some medical attention: I'm still quite weak."
"Certainly, right this way..."
Phoenix sighed to himself when he heard the laughter grow louder. Apparently, Voldemort hadn't lost the power of speech, for speak he did.
"Oh, but of course it's me. Who else would it be? Your friends? They aren't your friends, really, since they allowed you to die alone."
Phoenix made an attempt to glare at the twisted man in front of him.
'My friends would've done their best to protect me had they been with me. It was my option to go searching alone.'
"But was it really? Now, if your friends were real friends, they would've been adamant that you wouldn't go alone."
Phoenix mentally laughed.
'The only one with me at the time was Peck, and thanks to Paul, he wasn't in any condition to accompany me.'
"Are you sure? If he was truly your friend, he would've made every attempt he could to go with you. However, he only cared about his health and not yours."
Phoenix tried to mentally flick off the man.
'Now you listen here Voldie, and listen good. I, being a real friend to Peck, allowed him to stay where he was to rest. I didn't force him to go with me. I cared about HIS health and not my own, and that is apparently YOUR opinion of how a real friend should act, so therefore, I AM a real friend towards Peck. So shut your ugly mouth and don't TELL me that Peck isn't a real friend.'
"Ah, ah, ah. Not so fast my dear friend. Peck, although glad that you would allow him to rest, would have been adamant to go with you and not accept your offer."
Of course, he knew sweet-talking to Phoenix would be useless, as his friendship with Peck was far too strong to overcome with just talking alone. Therefore, he had silently cast a demoralization spell on Phoenix, thus making his job ten times easier. It wasn't a spell which you would use a wand for, it was sort of a mental aura thing. So, after that last little comment, Phoenix was starting to feel the effects of the spell.
'As much as I hate to admit it, you have a point...'
Voldemort grinned.
"But of course I have a point. You see, I can be a real friend to you. I can stand up for you no matter how weak you are or I am. I can do everything a real friend should, unlike your fake friend Peck."
Phoenix paused, perplexed.
'But you tried to kill me...'
"Oh no, I only did that to bring you here, so that I could talk to you while you weren't under the influence of your friends. I would NEVER try to kill you. Come with me and you will lead a happier, longer life. Stay with Peck... well, I can't guarantee anything."
Phoenix tried to nod.
'Alright...'
However, at that moment, it seemed that Peck had finally made it to the Hospital Ward and to his bed, for Phoenix started to hear his friend talking, and started to remember how amazing his friend was, and how wrong he was to abandon him, and how horrible Voldemort was to lie to him.
'You're lying to me...'
Voldemort, apparently unhappy that Peck had gotten through to him, was starting to lose concentration on his demoralization spell.
"Of course I'm not you idiot boy. I'm your REAL friend. Peck is just trying to get you back under his influence again."
'Did you or did you not HEAR him speak? THAT WAS NO LIE YOU DUMBASS! PECK IS MY REAL FRIEND!"
It was then that he realized he was able to speak. Voldemort sighed in exasperation.
"I can't believe that you would believe him-"
"YOU SHUT UP THIS INSTANT! I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO INFLUENCE ME ANY LONGER!"
He then realized that he was able to regain control over the rest of his body.
"NOW WHERE THE HELL AM I!?"
Voldemort sighed again.
"You are in the shadow realm, one of my favorite places. However, I don't understand why you didn't die, as you should have."
Phoenix narrowed his eyes.
"So you DID try to kill me..."
"Of course I did you idiot boy. Why else would I cast the killing curse?"
"I demand that you shed light on this place."
Voldemort laughed.
"I couldn't shed light here even if I wanted. Did you not hear me when I said this is the shadow realm? You'll just have to get used to what little light you have."
Phoenix, hearing his voice long enough to have an idea as to where he was standing, promptly walked up to the man and aimed a punch for his face.
WHAM!
"Bingo... and a point goes to Blazen as he pulls off a hit against Voldie..."
Voldemort glared at the boy.
"Since I can't use my wand here, I'll have to kill you with my own two hands..."
Phoenix grinned.
"Not today. Today I live, since I have something worth fighting for: friends. What do you have that's worth fighting for? Power? Pah, power can only go so far. In the wise words of Clarence the Angel: No man's a failure if he has friends."
Crossing his arms over his chest, Phoenix stuck his tongue out at Voldemort.
"Who the hell is Clarence the Angel?"
Phoenix sighed and shook his head sadly.
"Voldie, Voldie, Voldie. You really should watch more movies. Ever heard of the classic called 'It's A Wonderful Life?"
"No."
"I rest my case. Now bring it on you oversized fungus."
Ginny had finally recovered from her sobbing and contented herself with laying in her bed and just staring and the red and gold curtains around her. Hermione had fallen asleep on the bed next to her, as she had stayed with the distraught girl so she didn't feel alone. However, Ginny felt so alone, she would have been better off if she had been in Antarctica. Well, better off there if she knew Phoenix was alive anyway. She was an idiot! The same day she found some... feelings for the boy was the same day she lost him. Oh, the irony, the IRONY! She sighed.
'Oh, what a cruel world this is. I may as well go down there to say goodbye to him.'
Sitting up, she prodded Hermione on the shoulder to wake her up.
"Hey, Hermione. Wake up. We're going down to the Hospital Ward."
Hermione's eyes snapped open and she too sat up.
"Are you sure you want to?"
"Yes."
Hermione gave Ginny a stern look.
"You aren't going to cry at the sight of Phoenix, are you?"
Ginny raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you say that?"
"Isn't it obvious? You love the boy half to death! No pun intended. I'm not dumb you know. There is NO other explanation for why you were crying so hard when you saw him and why you refused to let go of him even after Dumbledore asked you to. He had to stun you for crying out loud!"
After Hermione's brief speech, Ginny's cheeks were glowing.
"Is it that obvious?"
"What? Are you worried about the other boys noticing?"
"Sorta..."
"Don't worry, they're boys: they wouldn't notice someone's affection towards another person even if it was in the form of a radioactive tap dancing pineapple."
Ginny giggled a bit, then gave Hermione a weird look.
"What?"
"Radioactive tap dancing pineapple?"
Hermione shrugged.
"It works for my point, and that's all that matters, now are we going or not?"
Ginny nodded and the two set off out of the Gryffindor Common Room and down towards the Hospital Ward.
Phoenix went into a fighting stance as he readied himself for Voldemort, who was doing nothing.
"What? Aren't you going to attack me?"
"No."
"Aww, is wittle itty bitty Voldie too scared to attack big buwwy Phoenix? Huh?"
Voldemort glared at Phoenix.
"No. I'm formulating an approach of how to attack you so that you're obviously superior melee fighting skills would be useless."
Phoenix started clapping.
"For anyone who heard that, mark your calendars: that's probably the first time Voldemort admitted he stinks at something."
"I did not say that, I said you're melee fighting skills are obviously superior to mine."
"I know, you said you stink at melee fighting."
"I did not."
"Yes you did."
"No I didn't."
"Yes you did."
"NO I DIDN'T!"
"Prove it... wimp."
"Did you just call me a wimp?"
"Damn straight."
"Okay, you die now."
"You can talk the talk, Voldie. But can you walk the walk?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Phoenix sighed.
"Dude, you HAVE to get out more often. In other words, you can make threats, but are those threats just threats? Or can you actually do what you threaten to do?"
"Huh?"
"Is your pea-brain incapable of comprehending my basic explanation? Now are you going to attack me or not?"
"Just because you insulted me, I WILL attack you."
Without further ado, the most feared wizard in all of Britain charged at Phoenix, who easily sidestepped him and punched him in the ribs. Finished with his counterattack, he jumped away so Voldemort couldn't hit him with his brute strength. Not that he would've been able to do so anyway, as he was staggering away with his arms at his side, glaring at Phoenix.
"You little pest. The nerve of you to actually do such a thing?"
"What? Did you think I was going to paint a target on my face and wait for you to punch me? Hell no. Get used to the fact that I'm better than you and get used to it quick."
"You are not better than me."
"Oh ho old man! You told me just a moment ago that I had superior melee skills! Are you going to go back on your word? Even after I was able to give you a blow to the ribs?"
"This time, you won't be able to."
And before Phoenix was ready, the man jumped him and tackled him to the ground.
"Crap..."
Ginny and Hermione finally made it to the Hospital Ward and approached Madam Pomfrey.
"How's Phoenix doing? He's not... dead, is he?"
Madam Pomfrey shook her head.
"Actually, he isn't. I did a heart test and found out it's beating. The beating is practically nothing, and it's only once every ten or fifteen seconds, but it's beating nonetheless."
Ginny raised an eyebrow, and nodded.
"Well, can I see him?"
Madam Pomfrey sighed.
"Peck just asked to see him not half an hour ago, but I guess you can. Five minutes, nothing more."
It was Hermione's turn to raise an eyebrow.
"Peck's here?"
"I sure am."
Both Ginny and Hermione turned to see Peck in one of the bed's, head propped up with a pillow. Fortunately, he wasn't in any casts, splints, or anything else of the sort.
"Peck?"
"Yeah?"
"Why are you here?"
"To get better."
"I mean, how'd you come down? Weren't you in the Gryffindor Common Room?"
"I walked down."
"Aren't you weak?"
"Mcgonnagall helped me."
Hermione shrugged.
"Whatever. Gin an' I are gonna see Phoenix now."
Peck laughed.
"Ah, I gave him a little pep talk a while back. Hopefully it got through that thick skull of his. Just kidding, his skull's not thick." He quickly added, noticing Ginny's death glare.
Nodding, Ginny pulled Hermione along as the two girls walked over to the farthest bed, which was still curtained off. Hermione sat down in a chair next to the bed, but Ginny sat down on the bed next to Phoenix. Looking at his face, she noticed something odd.
"Did his face have an expression of concentration before?"
Hermione shook her head.
"Must've moved."
"Which means he's alive!"
Hermione sighed.
"I'm not dumb Gin."
Ginny shrugged.
"Ah well, it's still good to say it."
Looking down at Phoenix, Ginny put a hand on his forehead.
"Whatever it is that you're concentrating on, I hope you pull through Phoenix, I really do."
She then leaned down and planted a soft kiss on his forehead.
"Good luck."
Standing up, she walked over to another chair and prepared herself for a vigil that would most likely last a long time.
Voldemort was having a field day with Phoenix trapped, doing swing punches to his head and bending his legs in ways they shouldn't be bent. However, Phoenix had a plan. He was giving Voldemort the illusion that he was getting weaker and weaker. That was not the case: all those years of he and Peck roughhousing had an effect on him. Therefore, good ol' Voldie was getting more and more precarious with his hold on Phoenix when all of a sudden-
WHAM!
Phoenix gave him a kick to the back of the head, which really reduced Voldemort's grip on him, allowing him to get up, grab the man's arm, and twist it behind his back. Pinning it down with his knee, he did the same thing with his other arm. He then grabbed both wrists with his hands and stepped on the back of both of Voldemort's knees.
"In pain yet? No? (WRENCH!) How 'bout now? Not yet? (POP!) Oh, that didn't sound comfortable. Man, will this be entertaining to tell my friends when I get out of here."
Voldemort, who was still writhing around in pain, was unable to answer.
"Geez, you look like your arms are twisted in odd angles. Oh wait... never mind: they are."
Holding down both arms with one hand, he used his free hand to squeeze a pressure point behind Voldemort's head where it connected with his neck.
"If this doesn't hurt, I dunno what will. I mean really: your knees are in pain, your shoulders are in pain, and your neck is in pain. Can it get any worse? Actually, it can: I'm pretty sure the humiliation that you're getting your butt kicked by a 16-year old boy is pretty painful."
Suddenly, there was a tap on his shoulder. Turning around, Phoenix saw a fist moving quickly towards his face, barely dodging it, he saw it was... Voldemort?
"What the-?"
Both Voldemorts laughed. Yes, there was two. The one that wasn't pinned down prepared to strike again, but Phoenix jumped away before he could attack. The first Voldemort got up and brushed himself off.
"You are a fool. I never told you why I liked the shadow realm. I can summon minions of the dark at will."
"Why'd you summon yourself?"
Voldemort shrugged.
"Because I felt like it. Now, it's time to show you the true power of the shadow realm."
About 50 Death Eaters materialized out of the shadows.
"Oh shit..."
By now, the school was pretty much cleaned up. Clean enough, in fact, that classes could commence again. However, Dumbledore didn't feel that classes should start just yet. He summoned everyone into the Great Hall. Once everyone was assembled (except Ginny, Peck, and Phoenix: they were still in the Hospital Ward) at their respective tables and looking at him, he nodded slightly and stood up.
"As you all know, we were attacked by the entire force of the most feared wizard known to us: Voldemort."
There were quite a few shudders in the crowd at the name, but everyone was silent.
"Several students have been killed in this attack, and several have been injured."
He waited for this to sink in, as there was a murmur among the students, and several quiet sobs were audible.
"However, those who have been injured are all on the road to recovery, some fully healed in fact. All that is, except one."
Again he paused. When the crowd had finished quietly chatting again, he finished what he had started.
"Phoenix Blazen."
Several quiet jeers and snickering broke out. Hermione even heard one boy say "Serves him right." This, however, was quickly silence by a look from Dumbledore.
"Not one student here has the right to laugh or mock this young man, for without the aid of Mr. Blazen and his friends, this school may very well have fallen and would be under Voldemort's control right now."
Dead silence.
"Ah, so now you see just how helpful Mr. Blazen is. Now you all probably wish you never mocked him and his friends. Yes, I've noticed your cold attitudes towards Mr. Blazen and his comrades, and I've kept my mouth shut, as I knew he didn't mind. But even after you saw him in the midst of battle, rescuing you from the attack, you still dare laugh at Phoenix."
Again, dead silence. Dumbledore noticed several students hanging their heads in shame.
"However, my reason for bringing you all here was not to reprimand you. I ask that you all have a moment of silence in honor of this student and make a silent prayer that he is able escape the clutches of death and once again be among us."
Everyone nodded and looked down, eyes closed. The staff did the same as they all did a silent prayer that Phoenix would make it back alive.