Black Phoenix
by
Draco's Daughter
Disclaimer: Lemme see, I have one set of Hardback Harry Potter Books 1-5, I have paperback set of Harry Potter 1-5, DVDs of the three movies, the soundtrack for the first Harry Potter Movie, all five of the books on tape, and that's about it. All OCs are mine unless otherwise stated.
Black Phoenix is winding down. I love twists and turns, especially when it's in a story like this! I'm planning on two, maybe three, more chapters after this one and then I'll move on to the sequel. After that story the fun part begins! We get to see more rider stuff!
On a Darker note, I wish that &#ing flamer left their name so I could really rant! WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS! I'm on, what, my twentieth run through the Harry Potter Series while awaiting the sixth book! Harry Potter has been the only thing that has kept me "normal" through Vacations, slow summers, breaks, and school itself! This is one hell of a bad year for me. FLAMERS SHOULD GO ROT IN HELL! (turns into a half-dragon/ half-human creature and breaths fire on all flamers, then turns back with a hollow, demented look on) With that task completed I can rightfully take my place in the Dragon's Heaven.
Griffer: It's the Apple Cider talking (blows out the flame that's on his tail)
Last time:
"That thing, a spy? Ha! He's not the spy, I am."- Josh
Chapter Seven: Betrayal
Harry pulled out his wand but Josh was faster.
"Expelliarmus!" Josh shouted as Harry's wand soared out of his hand. Josh caught it expertly. He was smiling evilly.
"You're not defeating me that easily," Harry said, preparing to take Josh on barehanded. The wizard before him laughed.
"You've no hope without a wand, boy! Lord Voldemort will take control of the wizarding world and I will have my reward for bringing you to him," Josh said. Thick ropes appeared and tied Harry tightly to where he couldn't do anything. Helplessly he toppled over and hit the floor hard. Josh walked over and loomed over him. "Funny really, all those times that we were together you never once suspected that I might be a double-crosser. Not even that idiot of a Light Elf, Jamal, suspected me. Griffer was also too stupid to see anything beyond that big beak of his."
The Griffin and Light Elf in question sneezed at the same time Josh insulted them. They looked at one another and shrugged.
"Uh, Jamal, who's guarding Harry?" Griffer asked. The pair stood silently for a moment then they both turned and ran to Harry's quarters.
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"Crucio!" Josh said. Harry's body was wrapped in pain from the curse. He withered in agony and yelled out all of his injury. Josh's laugher was intermingled with the screams.
"You, why are you working for Voldemort? When I met you, you seemed like a normal person," Harry asked, quietly. Josh laughed, it wasn't filled with the fun of before but cool hatred and malice.
"My parents both left me on my own when they realized that I had magic. Never took a liking to the fact I was a wizard. The only thing that kept me alive back then was my hatred for them and the grief that they cased me. Jamal was the unlucky one that found me and decided that he was in need to a new challenge. When I graduated from Hogwarts I made myself a promise that I wouldn't sleep until all the muggles, as well as my parents, were put down like the dogs they are. Voldemort needed new supporters and spies in new fields. I was more than happy to help him get him his goal because it is my goal as well. When he found I had connections in the Council through Griffer and Jamal he leapt at the chance. Adrian, no matter if he used to be in the council, was no use because his connections in the council were dried up when the Dark Elves were banned from it. Their ideas were too radical for Crytallin, but I was still here with Jamal. I had private meetings with Kanu, discovering the locations of the rebel Nundus. I researched the locations of the most deadly Chimeras and Manticores. Hell, I even looked up the spells that would set the rocs free from their immense underground cages in Madagascar. It was all falling into place, until you showed up. At first it seemed like the perfect way to get you back to Hogwarts, take you there myself in the night. Unfortunately, Griffer was by your side and never let you out of that damn Griffin's Gaze charm. He could keep tabs on you even through doors and walls. That Griffin ruined everything. But now he's to busy to save you. He's still thinking that idiot imp is the spy. I'm afraid it's time to go back to Hogwarts, Harry," Josh said. He seized the ropes and harshly pulled Harry up. He was about to disapparate when the door burst open and a blur of gold entered. Griffer had pounced on Josh but the wizard was too quick. He hit the griffin across the beak with some powder which blinded him. While Griffer was trying to get it out of his eyes, Jamal sliced through Harry's bonds with a concealed dagger. Josh pointed his wand at them, preparing to perform a curse. Just then the Imp bounded in and bit Josh hard on the wrist. The man screamed and began flailing his arm around to get the little creature off. Harry dived and grabbed his wand from Josh. The imp was finally thrown off and Griffer had gotten the powder out of his eyes. Josh looked around, he was cornered.
"Give up, boy! Even if you are one of Voldemort's, you'll never beat all of us," Jamal said, his eyes flashing as he drew his sword. Josh laughed.
"I don't have to," Josh said. He reached into his robes and pulled out a vial and tossed it hard on the floor. In the blink of an eye, smoke filled the room. Harry, Griffer, and Jamal were coughing from it as they herd Josh's cold laughter. When the smoke cleared, Josh was gone.
"Jamal, go get Rune and Asad and search the plaza! We have to find him! Imp, alert Crystallin to Josh's betrayal. Tell him to lock the plaza down, all transport circles must be disabled until the search is over," Griffer said. Jamal raced out the door, sword still in hand. The imp saluted Griffer and raced off as well. Griffer then turned his attention back to Harry. "Did he hurt you?"
"He used the Cruciatus Curse," Harry replied, Griffer winced, his bird face contorting into one of understanding.
"I've been unfortunate enough to have an experience with that particular curse several times in the last fifty years. Harry, this is very important, what did he say to you?" Griffer asked, looking dead serious.
"First he said that he was the spy then he attacked me and said that he would take me back to Hogwarts, I didn't understand at first, why would I need to go back to Hogwarts?" Harry started. Griffer thought for a long moment.
"A Binding Charm. It's got nearly five thousand uses. It's mostly used to keep things together, like the House Elf's use for it, many also use it to keep a certain person from stepping foot on property or keeping them from attacking. Dumbledor probably has put one on Hogwarts grounds. Voldemort can't put a foot on Hogwarts soil under certain conditions. I see it now, Dumbledor has it to if you are off of Hogwarts grounds that Voldermort can't take his seat of power. The idea being, that you are the only one with the power to stop Voldemort if he comes. Continue, sorry, I kinda slipped back into council mode," Griffer said. Harry began again and he finished the story quickly. Griffer just nodded now and again.
"By Isis, how was I so naive? I was living with the spy for ten years, I should have paid more attention to him, noticed how long it took him to get our supplies at Hogsmead. He didn't want us taking the Hogsmead tunnel because that place isn't as easy to stage an ambush than the longer route, with more open country," Griffer muttered something under his breath that Harry was sure was some kind of Fantastic Beast obscenity. At that moment, Hermione, Ron, and Vanessa burst in the door, out of breath.
"We just ran into Jamal and heard that you were attacked!" Ron said, breathing hard and clutching a stitch in his side.
"Yes, Josh is the spy. He's been leaking secrets to Voldemort for a while now," Harry replied, inviting them all to sit down.
"Wasn't he that young man who spoke at the council? The tall one with dark brown hair?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded. "He looked and sounded like such a nice man."
Griffer snorted and said, "No Fantastic Beast out of it's first fur or scales is fooled by appearances, unlike humans who seem to enjoy it."
"Then how can you explain the fact that Josh is the spy and you've been living with him while he was a spy?" Hermione asked, narrowing her eyes.
"I was never around him enough to really study him. Jamal always kept him busy. The kid's nineteen for cryin out loud. He didn't want to be cooped up where I could fully study him," Griffer retorted.
"You speak of him in past tense like he's already been killed for a traitor," Vanessa said, sitting next to Harry on the bed.
"It's only a matter of time until Asad, Rune, and Jamal find him. They've never failed yet," Griffer replied. "Now, I have to relay the information to Crystallin. I don't want Harry away from this room until I get back, understood?"
"On my honor," Vanessa replied. The others just nodded.
"Josh really attacked you?" Ron asked, still amazed.
"People seem to like to do that, don't they. In my first year it was Quirrle, Second it was Tom Riddle, then it appeared like Sirius, after that Barty Crouch, then Bellatrix, and now Josh," Harry replied, ticking them off on his fingers.
"Dat's lots of peoples," came the little voice from under the desk. Harry called out in shock. He had forgotten about the imp. The creature crept out from under the desk and leapt in the center of the group.
"I thought you were supposed to be telling Crystallin all that stuff Griffer said to do," Harry replied. The creature smiled.
"Already been there done dat. Griffer said: 'Go watch Harry'. So dat's what I do. I listen to him, ya knows. I'm like his right hand imp," The creature said, puffing out his chest.
"He acts like Percy," Ron said. Harry and Hermione laughed at the resemblance. Vanessa and the imp both shared blank looks. "Never mind." Ron had noticed the look on the two others in the room.
"Well, whoever this 'Percy' is, it must not be very good to act like him," Vanessa said, sitting straight.
"Percy is my brother who is a pompous git," Ron replied, Vanessa and the imp nodded.
"HEY!" Came the imp's reply to fresh laughter.
"Do you have a name? I mean, everyone else seems to have one, but I've never heard yours," Harry asked. The imp looked like he was shuffling his feet.
"Well, imps are in the lowest Kindred of de elves. Right dere with Fairies and Pixies and stuff. House Elves is a step above us. Well, ya see, House Elves have names but we don't unless a human or one of the higher kindreds gives us a name, it's our curse you might say," The imp replied, twisting the little knotted belt that held his loincloth on. Harry picked the creature up and set it on the bed between himself and Vanessa. She moved to make room.
"Let's see. A name for you," Harry began, he looked around the room for inspiration.
"You is going to give me a name?" the imp asked, his eyes shining like he was about to cry.
"Well, as soon as I find one," Harry replied. He then saw it, the perfect way to describe the creature before him. The imp, instead of 'finger nails' he had long talons. Harry smiled. "What do you think about Talon?" The creature smiled at him.
"Talon. Me is from now on, Talon," The imp said, puffing his chest out again.
"At least it's not Weatherby," Ron said. The room was filled with laugher again. Vanessa and Talon didn't understand the joke, but it was funny anyways.
"Ron, can you understand him?" Vanessa asked as soon as the laughter died down.
"A little," Ron replied as Talon raced around the room, proclaiming his name to inanimate objects and to the group.
"Hey, Vanessa. How can we understand what the other monsters are saying while Ron can't?" Hermione asked. Vanessa bit her lip.
"First, you never refer to a Magical Creature as a 'monster', it's very disrespectful. Second, the answer is this, Harry has ridden Griffer, thus establishing a true connection between them and allowing Harry to understand the languages of Fantastic Beats. Have you ever ridden any Fantastic Beast that you could understand?" Vanessa replied.
"Well, I understood a Unicorn awhile back but I never rode her," Hermione replied. Vanessa bit her lip again.
"You had the right species, just not the right one. There's a unicorn out there somewhere that's waiting for you, Hermione. You've got to find him or her," Vanessa replied.
"I understood that one Unicorn, Ricky, really well, all the other Fantastic Beasts were a little fuzzy," Hermione said.
"Then you must wait for Ricky's invitation to ride him. That's how Death and I met. I was in trouble and Death appeared to help me out. He invited me to ride him and ever since he's never been far from me. You Ron, have you ever met a creature you could understand fully?" Vanessa asked, turning to Ron.
"No, not yet. I can understand Talon somewhat, just little snippets here and there," Ron replied, looking around the room to avoid Vanessa's eyes.
"You just haven't met your creature yet. He or she is out there, somewhere. You'll find it when you are supposed to," Vanessa replied warmly.
"You speak like one who has had experience with this," Hermione said. Vanessa smiled at her and nodded.
"I met Death by chance a few years ago. He taught me everything about the riders that I know and I learned quickly from what he taught me. Quickly I learned that riders can only understand other monsters once they've ridden their destined creature," Vanessa explained.
"Griffer was the first I ever understood, even though I've ridden a Hippogriff before. I wonder if Hagrid knows about all this," Harry said.
"Hagrid doesn't know much about the riders. If he did he would have been looking long and hard for the perfect dragon," Griffer said. He walked back in slowly. His lion gait prominent in the gloom.
"You know Hagrid?" Harry asked.
"Everyone in the Forbidden Forest knows Hagrid. He's always been a close friend of many of us. The centaurs kicked him out of the forest last year for helping out Frenzie. Personally, the Centaurs don't really understand that Hogwarts is under Council protection. After the events with Frenzie and Grawp the Council summoned Morgan for trial. It was for his attack on Delores Umbridge and his denial of Hagrid going into the forest. Stubborn as a mule, that one," Griffer replied, shaking his head.
"And what exactly did the Trial decide on?" Hermione asked.
"Morgan has to find a way to make it all better with Ms. Umbridge. We're still working out the details with a representative of the Centaurs," Griffer replied.
"Has Morgan fulfilled the conditions yet?" Harry asked.
"Unfortunately, no. He is very stubborn and when we told him that he had to make it up to Ms. Umbridge he became quite angry with us. Morgan said that 'The day I apologize to a human is the day centaurs everywhere become slaves to them'. If I didn't know better then I say that Morgan was really half-mule instead of half-horse," Griffer said with a snort. So, a sleepless night was spent in the plaza. The four friends, imp, and griffin spent their time talking and discussing.
A/N: I had originally planned this chapter to be much longer, but I just haven't got time! I've been really busy lately. Right now we're working on "Romeo and Juliet" Acts in my English class. Basically we are assigned an act and we have to redo it in the style of our choosing. Our group has act III and we chose Lord of the Rings and I'm the only one of us with the Reference material to do it (i.e.: A copy of the RJ script, LOTR books, and the movies). So, I spent four hours typing scenes I-III and I've still got to plough through scenes IV and V. We also have to get our costumes and props. Yep, we get to kill off Tybalt and Mercutio. They are represented by Boromir and Lurtz, the Uruk-hai. ;p My only role is the Prince represented by Legolas. So, wish me luck!
Luv to the Reviewers!
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A.J. of Gryffindor: You kind complements drive me to thank you greatly. (hands ya a golden griffin feather)
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DawnRising: YAY! Finally! Youare arepeat reviewer! Luv ya always! Please consider my contest! (begs with Frodo's killer hobbit puppy-dog pout
Yep, that's everybody! The Title contest is still running but I'm to lazy to repost the guidelines in this chappy. So, just go back to chapter six and read 'em. So, until we meet again I've founda new phrase: Carpe Noctem (Seize the night!)
A Note to those who have me on Author Alert: Pleeeease review! I love to hear what you guys have to say! I don't bite..... much. Carpe Noctem!