A/n: Do you believe that I'm updating? For some reason, won't load the address of the yahoogroup correctly, so go to my author's page where the link is if you wanted it but couldn't find it. Once again, thank you to my beta reader Chava, who was instrumental in getting this thing posted. Now, on with the show!
Harry Potter and the Prophecy of the Phoenix- Chapter 16
Time seemed to slow so much that an eternity or two seemed to pass before the sun finally managed to peak into the horizon and the rest of Harry's dorm mates began to become restless with the knowledge that it was time to arise from their peaceful slumbers.
Falling victim to an interesting dichotomy, Harry had found himself too exhausted to get up from his bed after the horrible vision, but he had been too alert to even fall back into a doze. Any time that he had come close, his mind would immediately wander to the fact that Neville was blissfully unaware that his life was about to be flipped upside-down. This thought would cause his heart to beat painfully loud and fast in his chest, chasing away any wanderings into his subconscious.
Even though he had been awake for hours, he was the last to drag himself out of bed, and he found that he was oddly stiff and that his robes seemed almost-unbearably heavy.
He was vaguely aware that even though the others were beginning to leave, Neville was running late as usual.
Momentarily forgetting about the other events from the night before, he called out Ron's name.
Ron was either not ready or unwilling to talk, and strode out of the dorm as if he had not heard Harry.
Harry sighed with a mixture of regret and annoyance before addressing another member of his dorm.
"Dean, could you tell Hermione not to wait for me to go to breakfast and that she'll understand shortly."
Dean frowned quizzically but consented without argument, and soon Neville and Harry were the only occupants of the room.
Somehow, Harry's legs managed to carry him over to Neville, who was frantically searching through his things and tossing various items aside as if in a panic.
"What are you doing, Neville?"
Neville was too preoccupied with his task to notice the strangeness in Harry's voice.
"I can't find my Potions essay. I know that I put it somewhere. It took my forever to do, and we have Potions first thing."
"Accio Neville's essay."
A roll of parchment flew from under Neville's bed into Harry's hand. Harry allowed himself a brief moment of pleasure both at simply being allowed to use his wand as well as performing the spell flawlessly.
Neville's cheeks colored as he had not even considered using magic to aid him, and he reached for his essay gratefully.
"Thanks, Harry. Snape would have killed me if I didn't turn it in."
Harry just managed to hide a wince at Neville's choice of words and knew that he could not stall any longer.
"Neville-" It was the only word that Harry could choke out before his vocal cords were paralyzed.
Neville had already taken a couple steps toward the door, figuring that he could just squeeze in breakfast without being late to class, but he turned back at the sound of his name. He had been so distracted by his missing essay that although he had looked at his fellow Gryffindor, he had not seen that something was obviously wrong. A shiver of foreboding traveled down his spine.
"Harry, are you all right?"
Neville admitted to himself a split second later that it was a stupid question. Harry was obviously not all right, but the answer Neville received alarmed him nonetheless.
"No."
"Do you need me to get Professor Dumbledore or Madam Pomfrey?"
"No."
Harry was beginning to believe once again that the Sorting Hat had placed him in the wrong house. He could not seem to work up the courage to tell Neville what had happened.
"What's going on, Harry?"
Harry's mind flashed suddenly to the image of Neville's picture self banging desperately against the glass of the frame, and a sudden surge of determination filled him.
"Neville, your parents were killed last night. I'm so sorry."
Neville did not speak at first, clearly in shock, and Harry berated himself immediately for being too abrupt.
Harry was startled out of his self recriminations by Neville erupting with anger. Backing away from Harry he hissed, "You're lying. You couldn't possibly know that."
Genuine sadness glittered from within the emerald eyes as Harry spoke at a barely audible decibel, "I wouldn't lie to you, Neville, especially about that."
Neville stared at Harry for a moment, the anger faded suddenly as Neville realized the significance of Harry's words and then sunk onto the bed as if the bones in his leg had been removed.
An uneasy silence filled the room with Neville unable to speak and Harry feeling that anything that he could say would be intrusive.
Finally, Neville met Harry's eyes again and managed the word, "How?"
Taking the question as an invitation, Harry sat beside him on the bed, uncertain that his own legs would be useful for much longer.
"Are you sure that you want to know?" Harry questioned softly, choosing to interpret the question as Neville wanting to know how his parents had died instead of how Harry had known that his parents had died.
Neville nodded mutely in response.
Thinking that it was the least he could do, Harry told Neville everything, leaving out only the vision of Bellatrix and Voldemort and the actions of Neville's picture counterpart.
Neville was studying his hands when Harry had finished as if they were the most impressive things to have ever existed.
"Do you want to hear something horrible?" Neville paused, but did not wait to receive an answer. "I used to hate visiting them. My gran used to force me to go every holiday, but they didn't even know me. I thought that it would be better if they were dead, that it would be easier."
Harry could see the pain and the guilt in Neville's eyes, and he felt a surge of empathy toward his peer's situation. However, before Harry could put voice to any number of thoughts that were screaming through his skull, McGonagall entered the dormitory.
"Mr. Longbottom-" The rest of her statement was cut short as soon as she saw the tears glittering vividly in Neville's eyes, waiting to leak down his cheeks as soon as the shock had worn off.
In the short moment that it took for her to compose herself, she noted Harry's presence and deduced what had occurred.
"Mr. Longbottom, Professor Dumbledore has requested your presence immediately. Mr. Potter, perhaps you should come as well."
"No." Harry voiced softly but firmly. Right now, he knew that Neville needed all the help that the headmaster could give him, and he would not deprive Neville of that need by dividing the headmaster's attention.
McGonagall had cocked an eyebrow in surprise, and Harry knew that she was going to need more than a flat denial.
"Would you please tell him that I'll come by his office after classes?"
He pleaded with her silently to understand, and it was to his great relief that she nodded.
"Come along then, Neville."
Neville stood, albeit shakily, and Harry acting on pure impulse reached out to put a hand on his shoulder and blurted, "Neville, if you need anything…"
"Thanks." The response was automatic and distracted as he walked dazedly to join McGonagall.
Harry found that he could not rise until the pair had completely exited the room, and when he finally did, his legs almost collapsed from under him.
He steadied himself on the bed, both wanting and fighting the exhaustion ready to lead him to the realm of oblivion.
It was then that Harry's eyes fell upon Neville's essay, the one that had seemed so important to him not too long ago.
Before he knew it, the essay was in his hands, and Harry was on his way to Potions, steeling himself for Snape's reaction to his inevitable tardiness.
It was years of practice that allowed Snape to preserve the look of disdain on his features as he eyed to pair of empty chairs that should have been occupied by a pair of Gryffindors.
He allowed himself to bathe in an anger directed towards himself for ever entertaining the misguided notion that joining Voldemort would lead him to greatness. It was this anger that crept into his voice as he spoke.
"Well, it appears that Potter has decided not to grace us with his presence this morning. Contrary to his opinion of his own importance, we will continue with the lesson without him."
Snape was well aware that the statement was overly harsh, especially since he was almost certain that Harry's absence was related to Neville's. In fact, he felt a sort of relief that both boys were obviously in Dumbledore's capable hands, but he knew that some sort of condescending, arrogant statement was expected at the very least from Draco Malfoy. Considering his father's rank in the Death Eaters, Snape had to be very careful to preserve his cover in the young man's presence.
He had already taken a great chance by reporting to the headmaster that Malfoy had been responsible for the curse that had knocked Harry off his broom. Thankfully, Malfoy had assumed that Potter himself had reported the incident, and for the moment Snape was safe.
Judging from the equally furious expressions from the present members of the "golden trio" and the arrogant smirk on Malfoy's face, he had been successful distracting the class from noticing that he had neglected to berate Neville for his absence.
Even though he had earned the reputation of being a cruel, greasy git, he was not a monster and would not use a boy's newly dead parents as an insult.
"You just wait for them to be dead for a few years then because you've used Potter's parents against him several times," a voice in his head mocked.
"Shut up. That's different." Snape argued a little half-heartedly.
"Is it?"
Choosing to ignore the voice, Snape began his instructions and had just finished them when Harry entered the classroom.
"So, Potter, you finally decided that my class would be worth your time this morning."
Harry would not raise his eyes and mumbled an, "I'm sorry sir," that was just audible.
"Ten points from Gryffindor, and you'll meet me down here tonight for detention."
Startled green eyes met his, but Harry seemed to be the only one who had noticed the abnormally low point deduction.
"Yes, sir." Harry replied as he took a seat at an unoccupied table with a meekness that Snape knew was an act.
The fact that Harry's movements had a lethargic quality did not escape Snape's notice, and he was half-tempted to order him to the hospital wing. However, that certainly was not an option if he wanted to keep his cover intact.
Maybe lady luck would smile upon him and have Harry's potion blow up in his face so that he would have no choice but to send the boy to the hospital wing. Harry did seem distracted enough to make such an error, and he had not had the benefit of Snape's instructions.
He spun sharply and stalked over to his desk, knowing that it would not be that easy. After all, Harry was supposed to be with Dumbledore and definitely not in Snape's classroom. Why the boy had chosen to come to class instead of being where he should be was beyond him.
The reason struck him like a bolt of lightning, and it was all he could do not to curse Harry's stupid Gryffindor qualities aloud. He was self-sacrificing to a fault, and Snape was certain that Boy-Who-Lived or not, that would be what finally killed him.
"But he already knows that. He's said it to you before."
With a low growl, Snape forced himself to concentrate on the essay in front of him.
Harry blinked at the potion bubbling in front of him and realized that he only knew one thing about it.
It was quite pink.
What exactly it was, how he made it, or if it was even supposed to be pink, he did not know, but it was definitely pink.
"Well, Potter, would you kindly give us a demonstration."
It was obvious that Snape's unctuous words were not a request, so Harry obligingly dipped a vial into the potion and hoped that pink was good.
He took it in one gulp, and his world exploded. The inside of him felt like it was going to burn its way out through the skin, and he was vaguely aware of smoke pouring out of his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
In that moment, any thoughts about changing his mind about Snape vanished. The greasy git had poisoned him.
It did not matter in that moment that he had been the one who had brewed the potion.
A coughing spell brought him back into reality, and he could see the smirk twisting itself around Snape's lips.
"The smoke was a couple shades too blue. Five points from Gryffindor."
Harry could not respond even if he had wanted to. He was still coughing up smoke, and his eyes were still stinging and watering.
However, from Snape's nit-picking remark, it appeared that pink had been good.
He also felt… better, more alert, like the exhaustion he had battled and nearly fallen to in defeat had never been an issue.
Immediately he felt a twinge of guilt at assuming the worst in Snape's intentions, but it was only a twinge. The experience of the potion had not been especially pleasant, and Harry was certain that Snape did not regret that fact in the least.
He packed his things away, planning on questioning Hermione about what he had taken as soon as they were out of the classroom.
Being as unobtrusive as possible, Harry approached Snape's desk and slipped the two scrolls on the desk.
"Stay, Potter."
Harry stopped his retreat, feeling his stomach drop with a feeling of foreboding.
Snape shot a glare at the stragglers, including Hermione, and they made their way from the classroom post haste.
"Energizing Elixir."
"What?" Harry blurted before he could stop himself.
The smirk returned to Snape's lips, "The potion you just ingested. It's called Energizing Elixir. It's a stronger variant of Pepper Up Potion, but when it wears off, you will feel worse than before."
Harry gaped at the man, not knowing how to respond.
"I suggest that you get going or you will be tardy for your next class as well. I'll see you tonight for detention."
Harry rushed out, relieved. That was by far the strangest encounter that he had experienced with Snape yet.
Harry stormed toward Dumbledore's office more furious than he had ever been in his life, and he was severely regretting not cursing Professor Trelawney while he had the chance. What the old bat had said had been completely out of line. Even Snape had not been so insensitive.
He wanted to scream, wanted to blow something up, wanted to do something.
Instead, the fury was festering inside of him, manifesting itself as a chaotic flashing behind his eyes and an unhealthy shade of crimson coloring his features.
When he burst into Dumbledore's office, the elder wizard looked up at him in surprise.
"Harry, I wasn't expecting to see you for at least an hour yet. Shouldn't you be in Divination?"
The mention of the subject resulted in a renewed surged of anger, and if Fawkes had not landed on Harry's shoulder at that moment, it was quite possible that Harry would have lost control magically and emotionally.
Dumbledore waited patiently while Harry took a moment to collect himself.
Harry's voice had the timbre of forced control when he finally spoke, "I couldn't stay in Divination. My sticks showed that a great disaster would strike if I did."
The corners of Dumbledore's lips twitched. "Did they really?"
Harry shrugged, frustrated that Dumbledore appeared to be finding humor in a situation that was definitely not funny, "Professor Trelawney agreed. If they didn't, they should have."
"I see. Why don't you sit down and tell me what happened."
A few moments ago, sitting would have been intolerable. His emotional levels had been too high to endure being confined to a seated position.
However, he could feel the phoenix's magic inside of him, slowly assuaging the anger despite its deep roots.
He sat begrudgingly, trying to put together the words correctly to properly convey the severity of what had happened.
"Harry?" Dumbledore prompted, watching in amazement the story that was flickering across the young man's eyes.
"Professor Trelawney."
He bit out the words as his anger surged, silencing any other comments that would have followed.
Dumbledore nodded calmly, hiding a sinking feeling that he knew where the conversation was heading.
"Professor Trelawney had the nerve to tell the class that she had seen what happened to Neville's parents but couldn't do anything because her inner eye had also shown her that it was meant to happen and made a big deal about her inner eye being such a burden."
Harry broke off his tirade, but before Dumbledore could formulate a response, something else in Harry burst.
"I wish that she would have seen it. Then she would know that predictions of deaths and disasters should not be used just to make Divination more exciting. It's not a game, and she shouldn't treat it like one!"
Tears threatened to break from his eyes, and he was not exactly sure where they had come from. It seemed that the waning anger was giving way to feelings of despair and helplessness.
Fawkes trilled several notes, and Harry felt some of the tenseness melt from his body as a warm blanket seemed to settle inside of him.
Dumbledore felt a surge of empathy for the younger man as he realized that Harry's anger was not just because Trelawney had abused her power but because that abuse of power had hit so close to home.
"I will have a discussion with Professor Trelawney about having more discretion with what she sees."
There was a tone in the headmaster's voice that promised the conversation would not be a pleasant one.
"Now, I believe that we have some other unpleasant business to deal with."
Harry nodded reluctantly and gave him the details of the dream and the vision within the dream. Somewhere in the deep recesses of his mind, he noticed that his tongue seemed to feel heavier the further he went into the description.
"Harry," Dumbledore spoke gently when he had finished, "do you remember the discussion we had about playing the hero? It was not your responsibility to inform Mr. Longbottom about his parent's untimely demise."
"Is Neville all right, sir?"
Dumbledore sighed inwardly.
"His grandmother came to get him this morning. He'll be back when he's ready, but I need you to understand that you don't need to bear burdens that don't belong to you."
"But it did. I saw exactly what happened. I had to tell him. He deserved at least that much."
Harry's words were now starting to slur, and Dumbledore narrowed his eyes critically observing him.
"Harry, are you all right?"
Harry nodded, but his head felt entirely too heavy even though it was beginning to feel as if it was filled with cotton.
It was actually a nice feeling. He was feeling warm and relaxed, and he knew that he was not far from slipping into a peaceful sleep.
The vestiges of slumber that had begun to take hold were pushed violently aside. He would not give in to his body's weakness in the headmaster's office.
"Thanks, Fawkes, but I think that it's time to get off now."
Fawkes trilled a couple notes in dissent, and Harry could feel the influence of the phoenix's magic grow inside of him again.
"Professor-"
Dumbledore had to work hard to suppress the smile that wanted to assert itself at the petulance in Harry's tone. It was almost as if Harry was tattling on the phoenix.
Having pity on Harry, Dumbledore rose to help him.
"Come on, Fawkes. That's enough now."
Dumbledore's proffered arm was pulled back in surprise as Fawkes responded with a hiss that would have made any feral cat proud.
"Well, it appears that I've been overruled."
Although Harry could not see the smile that had finally broken onto Dumbledore's face through his heavy eyelids that had somehow dropped over his eyes, he could hear it in the latter's voice.
His last thought before he descended into a blissful state of unawareness was that Dumbledore really had a strange sense of humor.
It was only a few hours later that Dumbledore approached Harry's slumbering form that had been comfortably tucked into a transfigured bed in the corner of his office.
Fawkes had curled up into a ball on Harry's stomach, and looked up questioningly at Dumbledore's presence.
"Fawkes, it's time for Harry to wake up now."
Fawkes looked at him defiantly and let out a few squawks of argument.
In complete contrast to his earlier response, Dumbledore appeared anything but amused. Raising an eyebrow, he responded sternly, "I understand and agree that Harry needs to sleep, but he also needs to eat. He's skipped breakfast and lunch today, and I will not allow him to miss dinner as well."
Fawkes flew to his perch at the implied command but continued to make noises similar to a human muttering under his breath the entire time.
Ignoring the disgruntled phoenix, Dumbledore called out to Harry in an attempt to wake him, and when Harry did not stir, he called out to him a second time a little louder.
This time Harry did stir. His face crinkled up as if wincing against the intrusion, and he pulled his covers closer as if clinging to the sleep itself.
The reaction was just so normal that Dumbledore seriously considered just letting him sleep, if only to allow Harry to hold onto that normalcy for a few moments longer, but the fact remained that Harry had to eat.
He called to Harry again, and this time, Harry's eyes blinked open.
Harry blinked a couple times in disorientation before his brain properly interpreted Dumbledore as being the figure beside him. A rush of embarrassment shot through him as he shot up in the bed.
Ignoring the dizziness that accompanied the action, he stared to stammer out an apology.
Dumbledore held up a hand to stop him. "There's no need for an apology. It was really quite amazing. I don't believe that I've seen Fawkes so protective of anyone other than me and perhaps not even me."
A flush burned through Harry's cheeks as his mind fished frantically for an appropriate response. He was saved from such a response as Dumbledore changed the subject completely.
"I believe that we're due in the Great Hall for dinner. I'm sure that your friends are worried."
When Harry stood, the world twisted violently around him, and he would have collapsed back onto the bed if not for the firm grasp on his shoulders.
"Harry?"
The world oriented itself though it seemed to tremble in the outskirts of his vision.
"I'm all right. The potion must have worn off."
"What potion." Dumbledore still had a grip on him, not liking the pallor that had taken over Harry's face when he had stood.
"Energizing Elixir. We brewed it in Potions, and Professor Snape had me demonstrate."
The dancing of Dumbledore's eyes was wild enough to make Harry dizzy.
"Indeed. Well, then I'll have to insist that you go to bed immediately after dinner."
"I can't. I have detention with Professor Snape tonight."
"Your detention will be rearranged. Don't fret. Professor Snape will understand since he is partly responsible for why you will be unable to make it. Do you feel up to eating in the Great Hall? Because if you're not, we could eat here."
Harry almost took him up on his offer. He could avoid the inevitable gossip for a little while longer, but eating alone with Dumbledore meant that he would be under the headmaster's scrutiny throughout the meal.
The truth was that even though he had not eaten all day, he was not especially hungry, and he knew that he would not get away with eating meager portions in Dumbledore's company.
"I'll be okay in the Great Hall."
Dumbledore looked doubtful but released his grip on him. "All right, but I want you to promise to go straight to bed afterwards."
Fawkes chimed in a couple of notes of agreement.
"I don't think that's going to be a problem." Harry promised before he was interrupted by a yawn.
"Potter, Weasley, my office now." McGonagall ordered crisply, breaking the uneasy silence that had permeated the trio's dinner and had extended to the walk back to Gryffindor Tower.
From the clipped tone in her voice and the disapproving scowl on her face, Harry correctly deduced that arguing the point that he was supposed to go straight to bed would not be in his best interest.
However, he could not figure out what they had done to earn their Head of House's ire. Certainly she could not be this upset over their fight, especially since they had taken the first steps towards a resolution with Ron choosing to sit with them at dinner, and he could not think of any school rules that they had broken recently.
He shot Hermione a combined apologetic and confused look before he and Ron dutifully followed McGonagall to her office.
"Have a seat."
It was an order, not an invitation, and both sat obediently.
"What the two of you pulled today was completely unacceptable. I know that you were not the only two involved, but it was the two of you who instigated the whole ordeal."
Harry's mind whirled but could only churn out the question: what was she talking about?
"Staging a walk-out on a professor in inexcusable, no matter your intentions."
"What?" Harry blurted, whipping his gaze to Ron and not finding the equally confused expression that he had expected to see.
"Harry had nothing to do with it, Professor. It was my fault."
"Indeed, I have it on good authority that he was the one who started the whole thing."
Technically, Ron found that he could not argue and did not. Harry had in fact been the first to leave Divination and had supplied him with the idea of how of get out of class.
"However, you will not be punished this time. I've spoken with Professor Dumbledore, and what Professor Trelawney did today was equally unacceptable, not to mention that she sought me out to congratulate me on the progress my students were making in her class. She was quite impressed with the accuracy of your readings this afternoon. You took advantage of her today, and it will not happen again, understood?"
"Yes, professor," both responded mechanically.
"Good." The sternness faded a bit from her face. "I want you to know that I understand and appreciate what you were trying to do, and I know that Mr. Longbottom is going to need the continued support of his house. I know that I can count on all of you to do that."
Again, both affirmed her statement, and Harry was sure that he heard a bit of pride leak out in her last comments.
"That will be all, gentlemen."
Harry managed to get walk outside and part of the way down the corridor before his surroundings began to dance around him again. He stopped to lean against the wall and close his eyes, just wanting to steady himself enough so that he could make it to his bed where he could collapse in peace.
"Harry?"
It was the first word Ron had spoken to him all day, but Harry could not help but wish that Ron was not there to see this weakness.
"It's all right, Ron. The potion's just worn off from this morning."
Ron muttered an insult against Snape that did not quite breach the fog in Harry's brain before moving his arm around Harry so that he could support him.
"Do you think you could tell me why we just got yelled at?" Harry questioned as they started once again towards Gryffindor Tower.
"Parvati and Lavender were the only two that actually had Divination today. The rest of our sticks had terrible premonitions, and we had to leave immediately. Mine said that I was coming down with a terrible illness and had to see Madam Pomfrey immediately. The crazy old bat had no right to say that about Neville's parents."
Harry knew without Ron telling him that Ron had been the next to leave and that the others had followed.
Thankfully, they had reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. Before Harry could pull the password up from the dredges of his brain, Ron had spoken it, and the two of them were on the way to their dormitory.
"Harry?" Hermione spoke, rushing to them.
"He's fine, Hermione. The potion Snape made him take wore off. I'm taking him to bed."
Harry's spirits sank. Ron had seemed almost normal for those last few minutes, but his voice had taken on a hardened edge again.
Still, Ron helped him up to the dormitory and to his bed where Harry gratefully swapped his robes for his sleeping attire. He climbed beneath the cover, but before he fell into the oblivion that awaited him, he managed, "Ron, I'm sorry."
"You owe me an explanation."
"I know."
He slipped from awareness, knowing that even if he had wanted to put up a fight, he would not have been able to.
Harry awoke to the sound of the phoenix song in his head, and the words, "You've got to be kidding me," actually left his mouth before he could stop them.
Luckily, it seemed that his outburst had not disturbed anyone.
Harry sighed quietly and tried to silence his mental vituperations against his being disturbed once again. After all, something terrible must have happened if they were being summoned now when it was not a normal meeting date and it was a few hours later than they usually met.
He should just be thankful that he had not seen anything this time.
The ease with which he slipped out and headed towards the chamber seemed to indicate that he had done this entirely too often.
When he entered the Phoenix Chamber, he found it unoccupied except for Fawkes, who was waiting for him on the perch.
"What's going on? Where is everyone?"
"You're the only one who was called tonight, Harry?"
"What? Why?"
Resentment at being rudely awakened was stirring inside him, especially since Fawkes had forced him into slumber only hours before.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I gave you all the time that I could, but time is quickly running out."
Fawkes sounded sincerely apologetic, but Harry's irritation was still growing.
"Time is running out for what?"
"Harry, do remember me telling you that you had much to learn about your animagus form? You'll need to learn if you are to succeed in your plans to return."
Harry was not quite ready to be placated.
"Why haven't you taught me before now?"
"You weren't ready before. You are now. Will you let me teach you?"
Resignation finally replaced his irritation.
"I don't have a choice, do I?"
"Of course you have a choice, but you only have one good one."
If birds had been capable of smiling, Harry was sure that a small, knowing smile, not unlike the one that graced Dumbledore's face from time to time, would have crept onto the phoenix's face.
"All right, where do we start?"
"We start by ignoring anything about magic you ever learned as a wizard. While magic itself does not differ between our two species the way that it is viewed and the way that it is used is quite different. Humans see magic as something extra, something outside of being defined as human, but for phoenixes, magic is an integral part of our very essence. Without it, we would cease to exist. As a wizard, you were taught spells and use a wand, all strategies to separate your identity from your magic. As a phoenix, you must see how the magic works within yourself in order to use it. You'll find that this philosophy will aid your in your wandless magic endeavors as well."
Fawkes paused for a moment to see if Harry was still following.
"I must warn you that the process is difficult and may take a while. Frustration in this case will only impede your progress. Now, close your eyes, and we'll begin."
Difficult was a severe understatement Harry found after trying to visualize his magic for a couple of hours and failing, and though he did not want to end the lesson in defeat, he had to return to Gryffindor Tower before he was missed.
He stopped short when he saw a figure sobbing at the foot of the Fat Lady's portrait. Quickly, he consulted the Marauder's Map and found that the other dot right outside the Gryffindor Tower was labeled "Neville Longbottom."
He pulled off his invisibility cloak and approached Neville, his heart aching in empathy for the other young man.
"Neville, what are you doing here?" Harry asked gently.
"I couldn't take it out there anymore. There was nothing to do but listen to people telling me how sorry they were and about how my parents were so incredible before they were cursed. At least here there's work that I can do. I flooed back as soon as I could this morning."
"But why are you out here?"
"I couldn't remember the password, and she wouldn't let me in. I just-"
Neville could not finish, but Harry understood. He reached out a hand to help Neville up and then spoke the password to allow them both entrance.
Neville collapsed gratefully onto a couch in the common room, and Harry sat beside him.
"Harry, you said that if I needed anything, I could come to you?"
"Of course."
"I want you to teach me to do a patronus."
Harry did not know why Neville had chosen that particular spell, but he could see that whatever the reasons were, learning the spell was very important to Neville. He could see it quite plainly in the other's face, and he would not deny him something that he found so important.
"I'll do my best, but I'm not a teacher. I can't promise you anything."
"Thanks." Neville sighed. "I'm going to go get ready for class. I want to get to breakfast early."
Harry understood his reasons all too well. If Neville could make it to breakfast early enough, he could avoid the large crowds and the majority of the gossip and whispering.
He leaned back into the couch, actually feeling a bit better that there was something that he could do to help Neville when Hermione's voice broke through the silence.
"Harry James Potter! What are you doing up so early!"
A/N: Well, the chapter was extra long. The next chapter will come out when it comes out, but hopefully it won't take as long. Now for the reviewers:
Thanks to: athenakitty, BoodRedSword, fiddy, Haunting Darkness, Illucia, Iniysa, krazymelmo5385, KuTiExAzNxAnGeL, Maxx77, Mella deRanged, mickeymoose, ocpawnmaster1, okonic, ranger2, Rocky235, sasinak, shadowsylvia, slycat-blaze11, stayblue, tia, Twinlakeshgrl, venus2438, Victoria (Vky)
Wrentruesong- Thanks for the real life attitude. I look forward to hearing from you again.
oasis-He does suffer a lot, but it's not too much is it?
Melindaleo- Yes, I will still post here, but the chapters will also be in the yahoogroup. Harry has to die, but he doesn't have to stay that way. Please continue to read.
Spirit Mornea- Thank you though I don't see how it's like OOtP. Sorry to keep you waiting.
Von- Yes, you did leave two reviews, but I don't mind a bit! I thought about the clothes, but I didn't want to go there. The revelations will be fun though.
Jenelf- I'm sorry about the mistake in your name. Harry can't tell Dumbledore because Hogwarts has ears, and complete secrecy is needed. As for Neville's parents, I still don't know why it happened…
Duende- Do not apologize for your English! It's very good, and it's just amazing to me that someone in Spain is reading this. That's just too cool.
Chibi-bex- You won't figure out what's going to happen to the walls until the sequel... sorry. As for the pink flamingo prank, I'll see if I can fit it in. Are there flamingos in England?
Shapeshifter- Med school is hard, but it's worth it. I have read your fic, but I need not to be lazy and actually review it. I'm sorry. I promise that I will.
Lily Skylo- Yes, poor Sirius. He will get his revenge for the invisible hair, and I agree that the room design technique is very convenient.
Thundering Light- Okay, I take it back. I'll try not to second-guess myself. Thanks.
zorrox-Yes, but he gets into trouble when he tries to be too strong. Please no stalking. I'm doing the best I can, but the story will continue. I promise.
EriEka127- The last part… Well, Harry saw Neville's parents being killed by Bellatrix, who was given the prililege of killing them by Voldemort.
gaul1- I'm not telling…
charliepotter1- The next chapter will not be so depressing… I promise!
kateydidnt- My poor muse. It does not enjoy your torment. I thought about the letter, but it would seal again when Harry is reborn, so that wouldn't do Harry any good. Who says that it will actually take a couple of months? I could have more tricks up my sleeve. Both Harry and Albus are carrying burdens that they don't necessarily need, but they can't seem to give them up can they. By the way, it's your turn again!
HermioneGreen- Harry will not tell Dumbledore. It would ruin the story.
baasheep- Did I know before that you lived in England? That's so cool. It's amazing to me how many people are reading this. You're absolutely right. There is a reason why Harry was able to get as far as he did for the stag transformation, and it will be explained later. Forgive me this time too?
Arizosa- I'm glad to be back. Yes, but Dumbledore doesn't know that. He's trying to protect Harry, and Ron was being… Ron.
