Authors Note: I think it is time for everyone to get to know Phoenix. He is just so evil....kinda like my own brother! J/k! I hope that you enjoy this chapter. Please read and review.
Chapter 8: Discovered
It was midnight and the Slytherin Common Room was pitch black. Phoenix stood staring out the large window that overlooked the Forbidden Forest. As far as he was concerned, he had been watching his sister from afar for too long. He had people spy on her, but so far he had not been able to find out where she disappeared to after classes. He hadn't been able to get close enough to any Gryffindors yet to put them under his mind control spell. He had to use a spell after all since Rayne was able to negate any real mental power he had. Today was the day he would pick the lucky Gryfindor girl who unknowingly would be providing him with information about his sister. He knew he had to choose someone who was close to Harry and his friends, so that they wouldn't grow suspicious.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dark figure sneaking across the wall near the fire place.
"And where are you going, Draco?" Phoenix asked evilly.
"Out." Draco replied shortly.
"No, your not." Phoenix said sneering.
He raised his wand and said "Immobilus."
"Draco, you have known Harry Potter for Seven years now. I know you want to hurt him for all the embarrassment he caused you and you family. Lord Voldemort, hasn't done anything for you. So why are you sneeking off to tell him what has been going on here. Why help someone who doesn't care if he lets you live or kills you?" Phoenix hissed.
"My father will not appreciate you holding me up. You will regret this." Draco tried to threaten Phoenix.
Phoenix just laughed.
"Just let him try. I know who your father is; in fact why don't you just tell him exactly what has been going on. You have no idea what you are dealing with." Phoenix walked up to him and slapped him across the face.
"I have had enough of this chit chat. You will help me find a Gryfindor girl to spy on Harry Potter and Rayne Solara. You will romance her, and get her to tell you exactly where Rayne is hiding. Phoenix told Draco in a superior tone.
"I will not take orders from you. I only answer to Lord Voldemort. My father will make sure you suffer for this." Draco hissed at him.
Phoenix walked up to him, grabbed the collar of his shirt and brought him inches away from his face.
"Fine, I am sure you can't wait to find out the fate of the others who didn't see eye to eye with me." Phoenix's evil grin said it all. He could smell the fear oozing out of every pore in Draco's body.
Phoenix dropped Draco on the floor, and continued to speak.
"You will obey me now. As for your father, deliver a message to him for me. It is simple so even you can remember it. Tell him that Merrick is back, and your father better take a good look at his loyalties. You will tell only him and tell him nothing else other than those words. If you do, you will find out the fate of your housemates. You will then report back here and we shall choose the girl you will seduce." Phoenix then paused and stared at Draco. "Well, what are you waiting for. GO!" He hissed loudly.
Draco didn't know what else to do. He ran straight out of the Common room to deliver Phoenix's message to his father.
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After everything that Harry had found out about Rayne, he was beginning to worry about why Dumbledore would allow a person such as Phoenix to come to Hogwarts. Rayne had made him promise to keep everything between them a secret, but still didn't Dumbledore know everything. How could he overlook this......or maybe, he didn't. Dumbledore did bring her here. Harry couldn't help but wonder if maybe once Dumbledore found out Phoenix had his sights set on Hogwarts, he went to Rayne, knowing she was the only person who could negate his powers. He imagined that Dumbledore would rather to be able to keep an eye on Phoenix's plans while he was under Hogwarts roof. Either way, he coulldn't understand why Dumbledore would put his students in such jeopardy.
Harry was also starting to wonder how Rayne fought Voldemort off from his dreams every night. He had decided that since she wouldn't tell him, he would have to find out for himself. He knew Rayne thought that he wasn't ready to know, but he knew he had to find out. So that night after they had gone to bed, he began to fake a nightmare. He began thrashing around. Rayne was awakened and went into action. First she called his name and started shaking him. He continued to thrash about. That is when he felt her pin his arms down, she leaned over him. Then she brushed his hair out of his face and he could feel her lean over. He heard her whisper "Legilimens" and suddenly he felt the warmest feeling he had ever experienced. He opened his eyes and realized that Rayne was not only now in his head, but was in full contact with his lips. Now he understood. Rayne used Voldemorts greatest weakness against him. She poured all her passion and love into the kisses she placed on his lips, hoping to release him from his nightmares. Harry suddenly out of nowhere started returning the kiss. Rayne stopped dead.
"Harry, I..." she started, but before she could get another word out, he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug and captured her lips again.
This was the first time someone had kissed her, willingly and without reservation. When he finally broke the kiss, he just starred at her, still tightly holding her to him. Finally she broke the silence.
"Harry, what was that for?" she asked him. "For trying to save me yet again."
Rayne just looked at him.
"Harry there was nothing to save you from. I thought you were having a nightmare, but I couldn't find Voldemort in your head. You were thrashing around as if he was there, but he wasn't." Rayne said with confusion written all over her face.
"I know." Harry whispered back.
"What!, wait a minute are you trying to tell me that you were purposely trying to get me to save you so you could find out how I did it?!" Rayne looked him straight into his eyes.
Harry could see the hurt in them.
"Rayne I made a promise not to question you. You refused to tell me how you kept saving me, so I decided to find out for myself. Please do not be angry." Harry pleaded with her.
Rayne suddenly let out a giggle.
"Angry, I am actually impressed. I would have done the exact same thing in your situation." Rayne said truthfully.
Harry smiled at her.
"So are you going to explain it to me now, or am I going to have to try that trick again." He asked.
"Harry, it is so complicated that I am not sure if you are ready." Rayne said with a worried look in her eyes.
"Try me." He said and leaned into her, placing another kiss on her lips.
He didn't know why he did it, only that it felt so right.
"Are you sure you want to hear this?" Rayne still had second thoughts about telling him her mission.
"Are you questioning me?" he asked.
"NO! I would never; I made the same promise, remember." She said offended.
"Spill it Rayne." Harry whispered in her ears.
"Harry, there is one thing more powerful than you mothers love; the one thing that will drive Voldemort to his death. Actually, it is the mixture of three things. Passion, Devotion, and True Love. A mother's love is a gentle kind sacrificing love. True love is that of the one person whose soul you were meant to bind to, your soul mate. Mix that love with the devotion of a true friendship and the passion of the heart and you have a mixture more powerful than anything Voldemort could ever dream of. It will be his undoing. But it must come from you. You are the only one who can defeat Voldemort as I am sure you remember from the prophecy at the end of your fifth year. Remember the part about powers which he knows not. Well that Harry is where I come in. I am here to train you to fight, but to also teach you how to use the gifts you have to defeat Voldemort. I must unlock your Passion, Devotion, and find your soul mate for you. I am not sure why Dumbledore asked me to perform this task, but I know that he is the wisest of the wizards and would never steer me wrong. I was sent here to help you find the person who can set the three factors into motion. I saved you with passion and you witnessed for yourself how Voldemort screamed in agony. Imagine, Harry, the power of passion along with devotion and true love. Three things Voldemort has never and will never know. His death eaters are devoted to him only in fear. They hide rather than die for him. True devotion would mean you are so devoted to that person, you would die rather than lose them or leave there side. You would sacrifice your life for them just so they could live. That is why I must help you find your soul mate. Do you understand the importance of why I told you we can't tell anyone and it just need to be you and me. If word leaks out that I have found the key to Voldemorts undoing, and I am training you. They will massacre us the very first chance they get." Rayne had a tear running down her cheek.
Harry reached over and wiped it away.
"Rayne, Thank You. He said. "I understand the sacrifice you have made to come here and help me. If Dumbledore feels you absolutely have to help me, there must be a very good reason. I have a feeling I know what it is. But I would rather not jump to conclusions. I do know that what I felt when you kissed me was passion. It was a wonderful feeling, deep and warm. If that is not what passion is, I can't wait to find out."
"Harry, passion is uncontrollable. It is ravenous and hot, yet gentle and romantic. I know it is a far better feeling than deep and warm. I hope that you actually do feel it, so you can know it when you find it in your soul mate." Rayne said looking toward the window.
"Rayne, how will we find my soul mate. I haven't even had a real girlfriend yet and I am in my seventh year." Harry said worriedly.
"Harry, I am going to teach you a spell that will help you recognize your soul mate, but I am afraid that I am not the best one for this as I can't bring myself to look for mine." Rayne said sadly.
"Why not, you don't seem to be afraid of anything." Harry said watching her thinking to herself about her last statement.
"Actually, I am a hopeless romantic. I am kind of hoping he finds me. My prince charming that will come and sweep me off my feet. I want him to find me Harry, it is just the way I prefer, so while I will teach you how, and only you will be able to see them. I hope you understand why I will not practice the spell with you." Rayne told him quietly.
"I can accept that, as long as while you are waiting for prince charming, you will settle for sleeping next to me?" He said with a lopsided grin.
"I can accept that." She said.
"What will they look like, I mean, how can I tell?" He asked.
"Well, there is this spell that can be cast that will make a mark on your soul mate that only you can see." Rayne explained, "Whatever mark you picture in your mind when you cast the spell will be the mark that will appear. It will last for twenty four hours. You have until then to find your soul mate. The one with the mark on the back of there left shoulder, because that is where the mark appears." Rayne then hesitated. "After you cast the spell, if you do not find them, you must wait to do it again."
"How long?" Harry asked.
"Well, the spell will only work on valentines day. Rayne said very carefully as if she was trying to break some bad news to him. "You can only perform it once a year. So basically, we have one shot at this."
"Valentines day is 6 months away!" Harry exclaimed.
"How am I supposed to prepare if I do not get to find this person for 6 months!" Harry said getting worried.
"Harry, I think that is what I am for." Rayne smiled.
"I guess your right, but what if I don't love them." Harry said looking at her.
"You will have to learn how." Rayne said gently.
"In the meantime, would you mind settling with me instead of your soul mate for now? I am willing to accept the fate I am dealt knowing that there is someone else meant for you, but at least I am an OK alternative." Rayne asked him.
"I would rather that than anything." Harry said to her, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her tightly. He wasn't sure exactly when he started to fall in love with her, he only knew that right now, he wouldn't trade this moment for any in the world. He felt so at peace.
He knew there had to be more to Dumbledore's placing them together than this. He could feel it. Dumbledore would not make me wait six months to find someone who could save the world. He would send her to me and then let us discover it for ourselves. He was willing to bet anything in the world that on Valentines Day, he would cast that spell and the mark would appear on Rayne. It had to be. He would wait to find out, but in the meantime, he was going to treat her as if she was the one. Then a thought struck him. What if she wasn't? What if the mark didn't appear on her? He would have fallen in love with her and both there hearts would be shattered. Having to give her up to be with someone else would be the most painful experience of his life. Maybe, he could show her that he didn't need his soul mate to perform the three tasks. Maybe he just needed her. He was torn. He noticed she had fallen asleep next to him. She looked so peaceful, the poor girl hadn't slept in years, and yet now she looked as if she felt safe and secure for the first time. He shared that same feeling. Suddenly he realized that she needed him as much as he needed her.
"I don't care if she isn't my soul mate, for all I know, she could be. I will never leave her alone in this world again. I will protect her at all costs." He vowed silently.
She had spoken of devotion well he had decided that she was the only person he planned on being devoted to. He was still a little shocked at his new found feelings for her, but he thought about what she had been through and how she had sacrificed everything to come to him even though she knew he may be destined for someone else. He also realized it hadn't even occurred to her that she might be the one she was helping her look for. His mind was made up. As of tomorrow, his world only consisted of Rayne.
