Black Phoenix
by
Draco's Daughter
Disclaimer: Nope, Harry Potter ain't mine. All orginals are though. Ok, nothin to see, move it along.
Ok, this is the LAST chapter. I've really been surprised about the popularity this fic has brought me. It's thanks to you guys! You readers who love moi! I love ya'll back! Ok, I wrote this around Valentine's day so if I get kinda gushy on ya, then IT'S THE HOLIDAY'S FAULT! You know that we celebrate valentine's say because a man named St. Valentines was beheaded on February 14 back in Rome (see devil horns and a halo) It's ok, I'm an angle, really, the horns are just there to hold the halo up.
Griffer: (eyes grow to the size of dinner plates) MEEP!
"Nothing says 'valentines' like a bald damsel."- Colin Mockery
Chapter 12: The Final Battle
Harry sat at the edge of the woods with Griffer. The griffin shuffled his wings and swung his head from side to side. He was very impatient to get going again. His leg had been healed by Jamal the night before and the Griffin was itching to get back into the fray. But the plan was for the dragons to lead the attack again. The dragons would use their fire to drive Voldermort's army over to where the bulk of Crystalin's army was waiting. Harry, Griffer, and Hermione were to lead the attack. Ron and Michal had both gone with the dragons. Lupin and Sirius were busy rigging a trap in the forest. Harry was finding it hard to concentrate with Hermione to his left muttering curses, jinxes, and counter-curses under her breath. It was equally difficult with Griffer on his right twittering and shuffling impatiently. One was nervous, the other voracious for battle. Harry himself wasn't nervous, nor did he thirst to be back among the fray. He only wanted for this to be over and done with so he could once again resume a "normal" existence. It would be difficult though, his dead godfather alive again, his newest friends were griffins, dragons, elves, and, of course, Vanessa's strange heritage. How can one deal with all that? Knowing that not everyone trusts the creature that saved your life on many an occasion, knowing that the next possible girlfriend in your life has an evil, maniac Dark Elf as her father, and knowing that, no matter what, nothing can go back to the way it was. Once you begin changing the very principles of society as you know it, there is no going back to your previous life. No, there is no going back. Past the point of no return at this stage in the game. When the world around you is depending on you, one must rise to the occasion and beat down whatever challenges come to meet you. Harry did indeed feel like Atlas, with the world upon his shoulders.
Waiting on the edge of a battle was one of the most frightening experiences in the world, no matter what the storybooks say. But when the call is sounded, when the trumpets roar, your courage appears and you can face whatever is out there. It seemed like an entire age had passed before the dragons in their multi-colored scales took to the air with roars and calls that shook the ground, sky, and the trees. Griffer's excitement was beginning to wash over him. The tip of his lion tail quivered as he began to shudder slightly. The griffin stood up and rearranged his wings once again.
"Harry, you should mount up," He said, excitement lacing his voice like icing on a cake and his tail was flicking back and forth. Harry welcome complied and settled down onto Griffer's back. During their time together, Harry had gotten very confident in the fact that he could ride a Mythological Best without a saddle. After all, a broom was a long stick that could be really thin in some cases. Griffer's body was more like a barrel and thus Harry had much more to hold onto. Harry had gone from a full-fledged saddle to just a slight harness and rope combo. Harry knew that riding was safe as long as you kept your wits about you and didn't allow your courage room to roam. Harry took in a deep, steadying breath and mentally prepped himself for the clash that was about to occur.
Ron and Michal were having an easy time in the air. Michal's white-hot flame was touching the cool grass of the grounds and driving the flame-fearing wizards and beasts towards the trees. Ron had been using the bow he had been given to great effect. It was easy to pull back once you got the hang of it as well as the feel of the bow. He had learned how to calmly nock an arrow and fire it without any distraction driving the arrow off its course. Accuracy was all that mattered. Michal had been teaching Ron the art of patience since they had met one another. Ron was having a hard time learning it when he had been in Hogwarts but the Dragon was grounding it into him harder than any teacher ever could. It took lessons worth of teaching to show Ron a spell, but with Michal, discipline was required to keep one on the dragon and fire a bow. The saddle only saved you if you knew how to use it, and Ron had to learn to use it in record time. Only a few days as a rider had taught him much. With careful precession, Ron hit one of the wizards in the leg, stopping him from getting away. Neither Dumbledor nor Crystalin wished to kill anyone who was in the service of Voldermort. Even if the Ministry didn't press charges against the soldiers, then Crystalin certainly would at the Plaza of the Heroes. Even if human law couldn't provide justice, Mythological law would for a place that is violated and is under Council protection, the council had the grounds to press charges against the violators. The only condition was that Muggles weren't counted in their charges. It was against Council law. Muggles were no concern of Crystalin's and so; he always let the ministry handle those situations.
If Ron and Michal didn't soul-merge early on, they wouldn't have been able to do the feats that they were performing. Riding a dragon was difficult enough, but trying to cast a spell or fire a bow was next to futile if you didn't totally trust your mount. Soul-merging was the only way to bring about that trust. Ron was becoming more confident in his Dragon riding skills with each ride that he took. It was the same for Harry. Harry was becoming quite the rider himself. His confidence in his own ability and his trust in Griffer was growing every time they set out together. The only difference between Ron's riding and Harry's was that Ron would always need a saddle. Griffer and Michal were two totally different creatures. While Griffer's build was slightly like a horse's when in flight, Michal's was similar to a snake. Michal could writhe and twist in midair like a great snake, while Griffer could do the more powerful flight of an eagle. But, when it came down to it, a beast that could breathe fire commanded much more respect that a half-lion/ half-eagle.
As Ron and Michal brought the battle closer to Harry, Griffer, and the rest of the Army's hiding place, there was almost a musical hum to the air, as if the earth itself was holding its breath. Ron began to imagine that things were slowing down slightly. The fire burned slower, the air was softer, and the sounds were diluted. Then, just as the world began to slow, Harry and the others leapt out of the woods and the Dragons' fire ceased. Ron could see the short distance between the two armies and also saw the clash when they hit each other, like two waves colliding into one another. The beginning ripple brought the world back into real time. Everything was a whirl of color, light, and sound. Loud battle cries, spell work, and the roars of various Mythical Creatures filled the air. The twang of bowstrings, clash of blades, and the various sounds of the spells were the background sounds for the battle.
Again was a long, bloody battle that carried the day. Finally, it appeared to be over, when everything slowed once more. Harry saw him, Voldermort was there. His robes billowed as he walked, his face contorted into a cruel snake sneer. From within his robes he drew his wand. Harry sheathed his sword, swung off Griffer, and pulled out his wand. Both of the opposing forces stopped and stepped back from the pair. Griffer stepped in front of Harry, almost like Harry was a cub he was protecting.
"Step aside, Griffer, this is my fight," Harry said. The Griffin turned to face Harry once again. No matter what the Griffin's natural tendency was, no matter what he could and could not fee, no matter what he said, this was Harry's battle. Harry knew it and Griffer knew it, but Griffer was unwilling to let Harry do what he had to do. A griffin is a loyal creature, once befriended, and will never let the ones that they love come to injury or death. Griffer saw Harry as something more than his friend; it was something closer to a brother.
"No Harry, I can't let you fight him, he is stronger than you," Griffer said. 'He is also stronger than I,' The creature thought.
"Griffer, you are my protector from many things, no one can protect me from him," Harry said. Jamal was standing on the sidelines. The elf felt a breeze flow through his hair and knew that Harry was right. No one can protect anyone from their destiny, be it to die upon the hand of their most trusted friend or live to a ripe old age and die a quiet death.
"Griffer, come," Jamal said. The way he phrased it was not a statement, it was a command. Griffer looked at the elf with questioning eyes. It was as if the griffin were saying "are you insane?" Jamal's face was set. Griffer took a look at Harry and then back at the sneering Voldermort. The griffin hung his head in grim defeat and left from his position in front of Harry. He didn't go far though, only a few steps away.
"Now that your pet is taken care of, Potter, I can get to the business of killing you," Voldermort said, beginning to circle. Harry joined him.
"Not today, not on this battlefield," Harry replied. He had learned much in his time with Jamal and Griffer. He knew that Voldermort was strong at this point and it would take just one more year before the grandest battle, the battle for the wizarding world, would take place.
"Don't be so sure, Little Harry," Voldermort replied. Wordlessly, they bowed to one another to begin a wizard's duel. But, everything was cut short by a burst of bright red flames and the familiar sound of Phoenix Song. From the flames appeared Albus Dumbledor and his faithful pet, Fawks. Voldermort looked first at Dumbledor, then at Harry. "Why you little!" He announced as he began the wand movement for the Killing Curse. He was stopped by Dumbledor.
"I will not have further battle on my school grounds. Voldermort, take your army and go," Dumbledor said. Now, the one thing that Voldermort can never understand, nor accept, is kindness. He didn't know what it was and it was poison to him. Voldermort let out a cry of anguish as he turned on his heel and ran. Whatever wizards that were loyal to him fled as well. The creatures were all rounded up by the dragons.
"You knew that was going to happen, didn't you?" Griffer asked. Harry shot his friend a puckish smile and a sideways glance.
"Planned it last night, Dumbledor knew Voldermort would be coming to finish me off today," Harry replied. Suddenly he remembered Vanessa and shot off towards the entrance hall. Griffer realized it too and raced after him.
Harry caught up with a battered Vanessa on the steps to the doors. She had black bruises as well as bleeding cuts on her arms, legs, and a few on her face. She smiled weakly at him.
"How did this happen?" Harry asked, gently touching some of her wounds.
"Adrian couldn't best me in combat, I guess we're just too alike, I defeated him, we've won the day," She replied weakly, Vanessa then promptly fell forward onto Harry in a dead faint. She had passed out.
"Shit," was all Harry could say.
One Week Later
The clean up of the school had been a long process. St Mungo's was having an influx of patients from the battlefield. The elf healers had their hands full with the wounded creatures. With some help from Hagrid, most were up on their feet and back to their homelands in a few days. Some healings took longer than others. Vanessa's wounds had proven much worse than on first sight. Madam Pomfry had patched her up as best she could. Vanessa remained unconscious for five days. In that time, Harry never left her side. The only time he left was if someone made him. Classes did not resume for that week because the students needed time to recover. Dumbledor gave away no details of the fights nor what had taken place before hand. It was all for the best in his eyes. The only ones that would know where the ones that participated in the fight.
When Vanessa finally did awake she was shaken still. Harry was very attentive to her and even if no words passed between them, he would never leave the hospital wing for hours on end. He was anxious to hear her side of the battle as well as her explanation she owed him, but also understood what must have gone through her mind. Fighting against one's own father is as mentally damaging as it is physically. Once Vanessa's mind was collected she told him her tale. That day Harry would remember. Madam Pomfry had declared that Vanessa was well enough to head outside for a time. So, Harry and Vanessa had taken refuge under a tree by the lake. Griffer was there, just inside the tree line.
"Nessa, I understand if you don't want to tell me, I won't hold it against you if you don't want to talk," Harry said as he moved his fingers in a small circle on her upper right arm.
"No, I've never told anyone else my story. It will make me feel better if someone else knew it. After I tell you my tale, you may make your judgment of me, I can take whatever criticism you have," Vanessa began. "My mother was a Hogwarts student. She was in her prime, a smart woman with no time for love. Adrian, my father, was the dark elf that enchanted her. She believed that he loved her. It was not so, Dark Elves are manipulative creatures. He raped her. That was when she became pregnant with me. Immediately after I was born my mother died, I had no name, no parents, I was nothing. Fortunately, Dumbledor cared enough to name me and find me surrogate parents. My current employer is the woman he chose to be my mother. There, go ahead, give me your worst."
"Just because you may not be full blood something doesn't make you half the person you are. I'm not exactly a "pure blood" myself. My mother was a Muggle and I've lived with my Aunt and Uncle for most of my life and they aren't the best of people to live with, we're in the same boat, essentially," Harry replied. From that moment, they saw each other in a different light. From that moment forward, they could both relate much more than both being riders. There was no stop to them now that everything was right again. Vanessa's miss-matched eyes were no longer traps but shining orbs of understanding. Her eyes that showed who she was showed her heritage. For it is known that mismatched eyes are usually a sign of half-elfism. One eye from the mother, one from the father.
As for Adrian himself, well, he was taken away by the Council and was now awaiting trial for his crimes, past and present, against Hogwarts. One day he would take his revenge, but that is another story for another time. His part in this tale is over for the time being, but know that Adrian has another part to play.
The elusive Josh had inspired another hunt, this time lead by Ministry officials. Dumbledor "let slip" Josh's double act and the boy was now on the run from both the Council and the Ministry. Trust me; he won't forget what Harry Potter did to him. He'll never stop until he sees Harry out of the way, forever.
All good things come to an end, as well as the School year for Harry Potter. Vanessa had returned to her employer and Griffer had returned to the forest he called home to await his next adventure. Harry had hoped to see the griffin before he left but it was too busy with exams for any flying.
"It's strange, I always feel some form of longing at the end of the year, but this year I'm wishing for the summer," Harry said as he, Hermione, and Ron were all sitting in a compartment on the school train. It was winding its way back to Kings Cross and they were enjoying their memories from the most memorable school year ever.
"Why, Harry? What do you have up your sleeve for Dudley?" Ron asked eagerly. Harry gave the puckish half-smile he had learned from Jamal.
"Ron," Hermione said as she hit Ron upside the head. The red-headed member of the trio became red about the ears as his anger flared up.
"What was that for?" He asked. Harry couldn't help but laugh as Ron and Hermione had yet another argument.
"Guys, this summer I think Griffer and Jamal have something up their sleeves. Griffer was dropping hints all last week and Jamal promised to send me an owl once 'preparations were complete'," Harry replied.
"Who knows, as long as I'm not included, I've had enough adventure for a lifetime," Hermione replied to fresh laughter around the compartment.
"Beware Talon," came a voice from the luggage rack. All three looked up to find Talon sitting on Harry's trunk. They gave mock screams at the sight of him as the imp cackled insanely. Yep, this summer was going to pre pretty interesting...
Back at Hogwarts
Griffer and Jamal sat at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Sirena sat on Jamal's lap. All three looked as if they were having a good time.
"I wonder if they've discovered Talon yet?" Griffer asked. His smile was again on his face. Jamal and Sirena nodded.
"Well, there's allot of work to do before next school year, we'd best get started," Jamal said. Griffer sighed.
"Now the hungry lion roars and the wolf behowls the moon, whilst the heavy ploughman snores with weary task fordone. Now the wasted brands do glow, whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud, put the wretch that lies in woe in remembrance of a shroud. Now it is the time of night that graves all gaping wide, everyone let's forth his sprite in the church way paths to glide. And we creatures, that do run by the tripe Hecate's team, from the presence of the sun, following like a dream, now are frolic. Not a mouse shall disturb this hallowed house. I am sent with broom before, to sweep the dust behind the door," Griffer recited as Jamal and Sirena got up and walked onto the battle scarred grounds of Hogwarts. No matter how many days it had been after the battle, scars of dragon-fire were deep and difficult to rid the ground of. Luckily, Hogwarts had light elves to take care of that. Jamal slipped his hand around Sirena's waist.
"Through the castle give glimmering light, by the dead and drowsy fire. Every elf and fairy sprite, hop as light as bird from brier. And this ditty, after me, sing and dance it trippingly," Jamal said. A dozen or so fairy orbs fluttered past and at least ten light elves came out of the nearby trees.
"First, rehearse your song by rote, to each word a warbling not. Hand in hand, with elfin grace, we will sing and heal this place," Sirena replied as she kissed Jamal's check before they both set off to help their fellows. Griffer let out a sigh as he stood and began walking back into the forest. He stopped and turned to his audience.
"If we shadows have offended, think but this and all is mended- that you have but slumbered here, while these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, no more yielding but a dream. Gentles, do not reprehend, if you pardon, we will mend. And, as I am an honest Griffin, if we have unearned luck, now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, we will make amends ere long. Else the Griffin a liar call. So, goodnight unto you all," Griffer said, he began to walk off but turns around again. "Give me your hands, if we be friends, and Griffer shall restore amends."
Fin
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A huge thank you to everyone who reviewed. You all rocked my world. Big thanks to
Gunsniper-nightmare and DawnRising for reviewing multiple times
and because they made me see this through.
Big thanks to J.K. for writing such a wonderful tale,
and an even larger thanks for my muse, Pan, for inspiring me to write this.
So, Give me your reviews, if we be friends, and Draco's Daughter shall restore amends.
A/N: Shakespeare's fault for the final bits of Griffer, Jamal, and Sirena. Don't hurt me Shakespeare's ghost! Sequel should come in a month or so.
Title Contest
After much thought, I've decided that "Destiny's Riders" (submitted by Lady Sienna) will be the title of Black Phoenix's sequel. Thanks to everyone who submitted.
Review Replies
Gunsniper-nightmare: Wait till the sequel for that one. Harry and Nessa will get together, just a matter of them finding time and a way to get together for a while.
Well, this is the 3rd ever fic I've completed. Tell me how I'm doing! Any who review this chapter will get personal e-mails from me if you have your email displayed in your account. For anonymous reviews, please leave your e-mail so I can contact you. Luv yas!
Draco's Daughter