Black Phoenix

by

Draco's Daughter

Disclaimer: I thought you all knew by now that I don't own Harry Potter! All Original Characters belong to me, although Griffer belongs to himself. (rubs Griffer on the head)

Yay, Chapter Nine is here! (boogies) If you couldn't tell, last chapter focused on Ron and the Dragon, Michal. Michal is named after my favorite dragon artist: Michael Whelan. I have two of the four bookmarks that featured his art. If you wish to see what Michal, the dragon, looks like: look at the cover of Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly (which BTW was drawn by Michael). There is reason to believe that Mr. Whelan is good enough for the picky Mrs. McCaffrey. n.n

"You know how hyperactive those Jack Daniels are. All those pills should have calmed him down."- My Grandmother (cuz my sister's Jack Russell Terrier swallowed eight anti-depressants)

"To a ten-year old, I'm huge."- Captain James Hook, Hook

Chapter Nine: The Grandest Army in the Realms

The celebration for the council's decision dragged on. No matter if it was somewhat small in council standards, Harry felt that it was one of the best parties he had been to. Crystallin stopped by and gave his congratulations but had to leave because he had to call the dragon tribal leaders together to get their promises to aid the battle with their best fighters. Even so, those who were celebrating with them were having a good time. The tension that the council had brought was gone and even Nashuck had come to say his apologies.

"Well, now all we need to worry about is how many soldiers each tribe, pack, or herd will send," Griffer said with a smile. The group laughed at the comment.

"I'm just glad you three are alright," Lupin said, looking at Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

"We're capable of taking care of ourselves by now, besides we all have had plenty of help," Harry said, he nodded towards where Griffer was laughing with Jamal, Janus the Hippogriff, and Dumbledor.

"Old Griffer. He's always been there for a Hogwarts student in trouble. I recall a time when your father and Sirius were lost in the Forbidden Forest and they unfortunately ran into a bit of trouble with the Acromantulas in the forest. Griffer jumped in and saved them. Their description pales in the comparison of the real person. Of course, I never believed them because the thought of a Griffin saving a human intentionally was unheard of," Lupin replied. As a werewolf, Lupin naturally could understand and speak the languages of Mythical Beasts flawlessly. It was one of the few perks of being a werewolf. Some people had suggested that Lupin represent werewolves in the council. Unfortunately, there was a lot of support for Alan Randolf but Lupin had some support among the werewolves.

The celebration dragged on for hours until it was called to a halt by Dumbledor who had some things to discuss with Crystalin. Harry was glad for the break. He and the rest of the group were headed out to the clearing they had eaten lunch in the previous day with Griffer and Jamal for further discussions of the whereabouts of Josh.

-

The wizard in question was actually still in the plaza. He had used the disappearing trick to confuse Jamal and Griffer into believing he was out of the plaza and it had worked. Josh had laid low for a while before slinking around in the shadows again. He had listened in on the final council meeting and planned to report to Voldermort personally. Quickly he pulled out a small mirror. The frame around it looked like twisted thorns and dead vines.

"Voldermort," Josh whispered. The mirror's smooth surface fogged up from Josh's breath and then slowly began to ripple and contort. Finally the image of a dark room surfaced and the frightening face of Lord Voldermort appeared. Josh inclined his head to signify a bow.

"What do you have for me?" Voldermort asked, his voice like icy venom.

"Crystallin and the council are in favor for Dumbledor. They are hoping to create 'the grandest army in all the realm' or something like that. They believe that they can stop us. Harry Potter will be returning to Hogwarts as well, my lord. He and that foolish griffin, Griffer, are both going back. The best course of action is to assemble your allies at Hogwarts and settle in for a Siege. Knowing Crystallin he will make true his words at any cost. Dumbledor will probably count on it. If we act quickly enough we can defeat both the Council and whatever Dumbledor comes up with in one battle," Josh reported. Voldermort cupped his chin in a slender white hand as he pondered Josh's words.

"Alright, we will assemble many of our allies at Hogwarts and we will await this "Grand Army". Stay where you are and gather as much information on what types of creatures come to aide Dumbledor and how many there are," Voldermort replied after a few moments of silence. Josh nodded as the surface of the mirror rippled and contorted again until it only reflected Josh's face. The spy tucked the mirror back into his robes and peered around the corner of the alcove he had hid in. Rune and Asad were still standing by the transport circle. They were talking in a low whisper but Josh was catching some of their conversation with his fine tuned ears.

"Rune, if you're having strange memories go to Crystallin and just ask about them," Asad said. His face showed concern for his fellow guard.

"I can't just go to Crystallin. I only receive flashes of memories when I close to the Potter boy. The only other times it occurs is around Lord Dumbledor," Rune replied.

"I'm serious, whatever you're remembering you're probably not supposed to. Whenever I receive those flashes I go straight to Crystallin and ask for guidance. He performs some of his special dragon magic and I feel better," Asad said. Josh smirked. He knew that Rune was a new guard. He had only been there since last June or July. Josh didn't understand fully about the guards around the plaza. They all seemed to be famous witches or wizards that have died, but that was impossible...

-

"So Ron, you're now a dragon rider, congratulations," Vanessa said after Ron finished his account of his fight with Michal.

"I'm impressed, never thought you had it in ya," Harry added.

"I never thought I even be a rider. You were always the one to do everything," Ron replied as he nodded towards Harry.

"When the riders were first formed there were exactly four. A Griffin Rider, a Dragon Rider, and a Unicorn Rider. Unfortunately, the fourth has been lost during the ages," Griffer said as he scratched at a Chizpurfle that had logged itself in his fur. The dragon that they had been discussing soared high over head and arced low towards them. With inborn grace the large creature landed with a dip of his head as a bow.

"Ron, Griffer, I am pleased to find you all in good company," Michal said.

"Pull up a patch of grass and make yourself at home," Griffer said with his griffin "smile". Michal settled down and wrapped his spiked tail around his body like a cat.

"You're Michal? The Dragon we're talking about?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, it was very odd. My ears wouldn't stop ringing so I had to go find out who was talking about me," Michal said with a dragon version of Griffer's smile. Of course, Michal had more face muscles than Griffer around his mouth.

"For the time being, we should really be worrying about what's guarding Hogwarts," Hermione replied. She was feeling just a bit left out in the rider business.

"We know that there's Nundus, Maticores, Chimeras, Rocs, and, of course, Voldermort's trusted lackies and Death Eaters," Harry said, ticking each group off on his fingers.

"The real question is: How many of each are there?" Griffer added, dipping his golden head.

"We know there's at least two Nundus. I didn't see any Manticores or Chimeras," Hermione said quickly.

"Looks like we've got a mission on our hands, Michal," Griffer said, he stood and stretched like a great cat while opening his wings. "Off on a mission, won't be back until late. Don't wait up." With those words of parting, Griffer took off while flapping his great eagle wings. He ran up a well-placed rock and was into the sky in the blink of an eye. Michal followed Griffer's lead into the sky with, instead of feathered wings, leathery ones that made a great slapping noise in the air.

"Where do you think they're going?" Hermione asked. The other three could only shake their heads.

"It's likely they went back to Hogwarts to find out how many creatures truly are there," Vanessa said, her hair flying back in the new wind created by the combined forces of Griffer and Michal.

-

Michal and Griffer were gone for a week. In that time, warriors began arriving. Two dragons each from the ten tribes, Ten Unicorns from all over arrived a day after the dragons, twelve Re'ems came from the plains, Five Earkings from Germany, werewolves from every breed and type, and numerous others. When Griffer and Michal returned they both slept for an entire day and night. When they woke up their story was grim. Voldermort had amassed a very large force at Hogwarts which meant that Josh was still around, spying for Voldermort. It was all up to the last act of the play, the last movement of the symphony. The Plaza of the Heroes was nearly at its breaking point for accommodating all the warriors. Harry, Hermione, Ron, Vanessa, Rune, Talon, Death, Michal and Griffer would be the advance party, taking the passage that Dobby had showed them to escape through. It was the natural choice, thus making it the best way to sneak into the castle and get the jump on Voldermort's forces. The group had been planning in advance and in the time Griffer and Michal were gone, they all had a bit of training in the usage of swords. Ron and Vanessa were taught how to use bows because they rode on dragons and naturally would have to use a weapon with a very long range. So the group was set. They all ran through their best spells, charms, jinxes, and hexes before accepting the ancient weapons Jamal offered them.

"Elf blades, the finest Light Elf steel. The bows are made of the finest wood from the ancient trees in the Light Elf Princess's grove," Jamal said as he handed them carefully made swords that looked like they should be in a museum. They appeared to resemble the Japanese Kantanna but had better grace and a more fluid motion to them. The bows had a curve like the crescent moon. Each one had a beautiful gold leaf design on them like ivy upon an oak. Jamal produced sheaths for the swords and quivers full of arrows. "You may keep them once this adventure is over, one never knows when one might need a good blade or bow." The four bowed their heads to Jamal and he nodded back.

"Come, we must leave now to make it in time," Michal said. Ron and Hermione rode on Michal while Vanessa mounted Death. Griffer knelt before Harry as the young wizard got on. Talon was speaking with another green imp. The other imp had wings though. Talon bowed before the other imp and scrambled onto Griffer's head. The four riders took off once again, this time becoming the first true riders in over a thousand years. Jamal stood next to Crystalin.

"Do you believe that they are the ones to become the next riders? DO they truly have the mark of the rider upon them?" Jamal asked. Crystalin looked at him.

"Dear elf Lord! Do you doubt the very thing you said to me? Harry had the mark upon him, I saw it in his eyes and his soul is bold and brave. As I once heard from a human: 'A candle never lost anything by lighting another candle'. Harry is the start, with Vanessa by his side he can bring about the Rider's return. If not, we will try until we find the correct one," Crystalin replied.

"All out hopes lie on the shoulders of one so young and one whose past is so mixed and terrible, he will have to face too many dangers that we should have never put him in," Jamal replied.

"Ah, there's the catch. We never put him in anything. He came of his own free will. Griffin spell only works on the willing and that's a fact. Yes, we never asked Harry if he wanted to bring about the return of the riders but I was never asked to be a dragon king, just like you were never asked if you wished to be an elf lord, it's in our blood. Harry's runs deep, deeper than I can find. You must trace his family on his father's side, I have a suspicion," Crystalin said, trailing off into thought.

"'The wheels of the dragon's head turn quickly,' once said a wise elf queen," Jamal replied with his puckish smile returning to its proper place. Crystalin shared in the smile.

-

Wings beat together as one, four riders flew into the moon light. To face whatever dangers lie ahead was the true quest. It wouldn't be fair to say that the journey was over, no, the journey was just beginning. You see, the realm of magic is not the same as ours. It is a complex and difficult thing to understand. Harry Potter let everything he had been hiding, everything that troubled him, leak out as the wind his face. The ride as just begun, yes, only begun. When one wants to receive the triumph at the end, one must work hard and long. It is not by cunning, wit, or strength but by the courage of one's heart that compels one to take up the quest. This is what we mean when we speak of all the great quests, the courage to face danger and the courage to overcome whatever obstacle stands in the way. It has been so since the beginning of time, so shall it stay until the end. Wit, cunning, and strength fail in the end but courage remains. Courage is the flame of one's eyes, the blood that runs through one's heart. For Harry Potter, courage resided in his very soul. Some may argue in years to come that his courage was foolishness, idiocy, and even just a cry for attention. But no one chooses whether they want to go on the quest of a lifetime, no one chooses to have to be the one who rescues the world from danger. No, Harry Potter only did it because he was the only one capable of doing it, he was the only one who destiny had chosen. Harry Potter did it because he did not have strength of arms, or the cunning of a fox. He had courage, and courage is all that mattered in the end. Courage to face certain death. Courage to change the world. Courage to stand up to the greatest evil of our time. Courage to defeat it.

A/N: Forgive the lateness of this chapter. It took a while to finish it. It's late because it wasn't ready the week it was supposed to come out and because my parents went to Cancun and I was left here with my Grandmother. She doesn't have a link to the internet so I couldn't upload it when I was supposed to. I hope it hasn't made you believe that the story would never be finished! The Griffin forbid! Oh well, I've been reading The Chronicles of Narnia lately and so I'm bursting with new ideas. Errrr, blast the durn beep! My Grandmother's security system is kinda wacky and it won't stop beeping. Makes me wanna scream after a time. Oh well, I guess I'll see you all Next chapter!

Reviews:

Shadow101: Everything has been worked out and I've no more to say to you.

DawnRising: Perfectly alright for your lateness. I am happy that you enjoy my humble frolick in the realm of Harry Potter. I think Ron'll become one of the greatest Draagon Riders ever, but that's becuase I'm the authoress! Danka for the review!

See you all in, Black Phoenix Chapter Ten: Back to the Beginning