In the Phoenix's Eyes

Author's Note: Well, I got my favorite song on (Zoo York - Paul Oakenfold) and my plot outline in front of me. Yes. I actually wrote out the rest of my fic...somewhat. Like, I summed each chapter into a paragraph and stuff. I think you all may be pleasantly surprised by the outcome. I meant to update sooner but I decided that I wanted to go and visit my friends in Chicago...so that's where I've been lately. Enjoy!

In the Phoenix's Eyes

- - Tremble - -

Mr. Dumbledore-

I think I finally understand what you meant with your parting words two months ago... When we first met, I had this strong urge to call you Gandalf. Just like I had pictured the wizard, that was what you looked like. I realize now that only are your appearances the same, but your personalities are also alike. Both of you like to speak in riddles. His mission, as one of the Istari, was to protect Middle Earth. That task was divided into a few different ones. One of those was to guide Frodo.

I'm sure you know the tale of the Lord of the Rings. Chances are that you were probably great friends with Tolkien, too. I wouldn't be surprised because Gandalf is described so vividly in the books. Either way, he had to guide Frodo, who had this great burden to carry. Literally. This isn't too different from what's going on here. You have taken it upon yourself to guide Frodo, better known as Harry. Just like in the books, no one accomplishes anything alone. You told me that...not in those words, but it came down to the same thing.

And that's where I'll stop referencing Tolkien's work.

I understand what it is that you keep asking me in my head. I have my friends that I will protect, even though they insist that they don't need it. Harry is a part of those friends. How could he not be? As for the Order...I'll help in any way I can, and that's all I can promise.

All the best,

-Xander Harris

Dolores Umbridge sneered as she finished the letter. This Xander Harris character was interfering in her plans. She had heard the name before, but at the moment couldn't quite single it out. Either way, he was writing to Dumbledore about protecting Potter...and about Lord of the Rings, and that made him a threat. The protecting Potter part, not the yammering about the popular fantasy trilogy.

What was particularly interesting to her was this talk of an Order of some sort. If her assumptions were correct, then it was exactly as the Minister had feared. Albus Dumbledore was plotting against the Ministry of Magic by setting up an army. She just needed some proof of that. More proof than just this letter.

- - -

"Xander!"

Xander and Anya were walking through Hogsmeade. The town was very...pink, and Anya couldn't help but giggle whenever a random cupid flew past them.

"Xander!"

Anya frowned. "I think someone is calling you, dear."

Xander looked around at the students that were also strolling through the romantically decorated town. After a few moments he turned back to Anya and was about to speak when he got interrupted by Hermione, who had walked up to them followed by a lady with very ridiculous-looking glasses that Xander would have possibly paid her to take off. He didn't get the chance to bring that up, though. Instead he smiled at his cousin's best friend. "What's up?"

"Oh, not too much. I think you'll find it interesting that Harry is on a date with a girl." Hermione replied with a grin.

"Is she hot?"

Anya elbowed her fiancé. "Very shallow, Xander."

The man laughed. "Sorry, is she capable of intelligent conversation?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Not from my point of view- she is however talented at flipping her hair."

Xander snickered at that.

The lady with the obnoxious glasses quickly grabbed a pen from her purse. "What else can you tell me about this girl?"

Hermione turned to the lady and after saying a few quiet words, the lady disappeared into the Three Broomsticks. "Sorry, that was Rita Skeeter. Ex-inquisitive reporter for the Daily Prophet. She's here to do an article about Harry for me. Oh, Luna! Would you keep Ms. Skeeter company in the Three Broomsticks for a few minutes? I'll be in there in a moment."

Xander blinked, trying to figure out what exactly she had just said, while Anya moved up to Xander's ear and without bothering to lower her voice too much, whispered, "What's wrong with her?"

Hermione looked taken aback for a second before pointing to the girl that had just walked into the pub. "That was Luna. Her father owns The Quibbler...that's where the article will be printed."

"I thought you said that the lady worked at the Daily Prophet?" Anya interrupted.

Xander sent an apologetic look to Hermione, who was looking at Anya strangely. "Would you care to join us? Harry and Cho should be around soon enough, and I assume you're here to see him anyway."

"I wanna meet this girlfriend of his." Xander replied with a shadow of a smirk on his face.

Hermione's eyes widened. "Xander...he'll kill you if you do anything! Harry has been after her since, what, third year, I think?"

After a few more minutes of Xander showing off his evil side, they managed to find their way inside into a booth where Rita Skeeter sat rather impatiently playing with a quill while Luna was reading a new issue of the Quibbler, this time holding it sideways, with her head tilted slightly so that if one took the time to make sense of it, they would have realized that she was reading it upside-down, but in an awkward position.

"I'm Xander Harris."

Rita Skeeter looked at the hand offered to her suspiciously then looked up to Xander with a raised eyebrow. After a second of hesitation she shook it and leaned back in the booth watching as Xander then greeted Luna with Anya following suit, and completely ignoring her. She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Have we met before?"

"So you're Harry's cousin?" Luna asked in her dreamy voice. "He always talks about you, you know."

"That's absurd!" Rita said suddenly giving Xander a look that said the complete opposite of what she voiced.

Xander sighed. "No...not really. It's true...and here he comes!"

Everyone turned around to look as Harry walked in looking rather miffed. He squinted in the darkness of the pub and Hermione had to wave him over. When he saw Xander, Harry suddenly brightened and rushed over two them. Two minutes later everybody had greeted everyone else and had a butterbeer (or Firewhiskey in the case of Rita and a gillywater cocktail for Luna) in front of them, except Xander who had asked for a bottle of water. Xander took a sip of the water and looked at Harry innocently. "Where's your girlfriend?"

Harry shot a glare at his cousin, although he was still smiling. Harry hadn't expected him to show up and after his date with Cho, he was very glad he had decided to come. After all, Xander was getting married soon to Anya, he had to know something about girls.

"Pretty girl, is she, Harry?" Rita asked.

"We're not here to talk about Harry's love life. One more word and the deal is off." Hermioen said irritable.

"I don't know what deal you're talking about. All you said was to meet you here, and here I am."

Anya suddenly looked thoughtful and looked from Xander, to Harry, to Rita Skeeter then settled her gaze on Hermione. "Ms. Skeeter, you're going to be writing another story today."

The reporter snorted into her glass of alcohol. "Little Miss Perfect would never allow it." She glared at Hermione menacingly.

Hermione smiled sweetly and iced her voice in sugar almost imitating Umbridge. "As a matter of fact, that's exactly what Little Miss Perfect does want."

Rita stared at her. So did Harry. Anya and Xander joined in the staring as well. Luna, on the other hand, was singing "Weasley is Our King" dreamily under her breath. The song caught Xander's attention and he turned his stare at Luna. The girl noticed the attention and smiled.

Harry managed a squeak while Rita and Anya were still looking at Hermione as if she had just told them that a pack of rhino's stampeded through Hogsmeade carrying Dumbledore on their backs.

The ex-demon opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. She opened it a moment later and in a hushed voice asked, "I thought this was the evil bitch that wrote false stories about Harry last year?"

Everyone quickly snapped out of their trances at that. Harry now sent a shocked, although somewhat appraising, look at Anya and Xander flushed.

Hermione nodded. "Yes, she is. I want her to write a story." She sent a sharp look at Rita. "The true story this time. All the facts exactly as Harry tells them. He'll give you all the details, all the names of the Death Eaters- everything."

She looked like she would have continued but Rita interrupted her, shooting a miffed look at Anya. "There's no market for a story like that. No one wants to read that You-Know-Who is back-"

"Who?"

Xander shook his head slightly, silencing Anya.

Rita continued. "-the Prophet won't print it. Even if Fudge wasn't leaning on it, it would come out to the same thing. It's against public mood. The last Azkaban break-out already has people worried enough. People are not going to listen to what they want to listen. The Daily Prophet exists for one purpose, and that is to sell itself."

Hermione didn't seem too incredibly put down by this fact. "Well, that's quite all right because the Daily Prophet is not who will be publishing this story."

"Witch Weekly is the same story, you silly girl. Besides, it's turned into a bit of teenage girl squeal-fest showing the latest good looking–"

"No, no. None of that. Luna's father is going to publish it." Hermione began.

Again, she was interrupted by the reporter. "You want me to write a story for some silly little village newspaper?"

Luna stirred her gillywater cocktail. "No, The Quibbler."

"The Quibbler? That's even more rubbish than Witch Weekly!" Rita exclaimed, cackling. "Are you daft? Do you really think people will take this anything that newspaper writes seriously?"

Xander had had enough with this lady. She was annoying him in the extremes and he didn't like her glasses. "Well, I'm not in on everything that's going on, but as far as I see it, you–" he pointed at Rita. "– have no choice but to write this unless you plan on having Hermione tell the Ministry about that bug thing you can do. So I'd suggest you keep your mouth shut and just do the interview so that we can get this over and I can hang out with my cousin. Somewhere far away from you, preferably."

Rita glared.

"Okay, Harry?" Hermione asked her best friend. "Ready to tell the public the truth?"

Harry smiled to himself at Xander's last sentence and then nodded. "I suppose."

"Fire away, then, Rita," said Hermione serenely, taking a sip of her butterbeer.

Not three hours later, the interview had been finished and everyone walked out of the pub, heading back to the school. Harry had rather wanted to spend some time with Xander in Hogsmeade, possibly going to Zonko's, but dinner would start soon and Xander had told them that he and Anya would be staying until Sunday evening. So instead, he, Xander, Hermione and Anya had ended up walking together to the castle. Hermione had invited Luna, but she smiled vaguely, told them that she wasn't sure when her Dad would get to printing the article, and then she disappeared.

"By the way, I haven't thanked you yet for the Christmas present. You really didn't need to–"

Xander cut his cousin off with a wave of his hand. "Just glad you liked it. I didn't know if this Padfoot fellow was just trying to get me to hate you or not."

Anya put Xander's arm. "He's very trusting."

Hermione and Harry looked at each other then back to Xander with a combination of amused and serious looks. Hermione spoke. "You talked to Snuffles?"

"No...Padfoot. I got a letter from some guy who calls himself Padfoot by toucan."

Harry grinned. "You wouldn't happen to be Nighthawk, would you?"

- - -

Xander and Anya ended up sitting at the staff table. Xander had ended up between Snape and Umbridge, while Anya chatted animatedly with Dumbledore and Sprout. As Xander sat down in his seat he looked over at Snape with a cheerful smile. "Hey there, Snape! Nice seeing you again."

Snape had been hard-pressed for words and simply replied with a, "I see you've decided to enlighten us all with your presence again, Harris."

"I couldn't have you missing me too much." Xander grinned. Snape was an interesting character to say the least. He couldn't figure Snape out, but it made talking to him that much interesting. While the Potions professor seemed to have a genuine dislike for Harry, he didn't seem to mind Xander too much.

Umbridge had watched the two guests appear in the Great Hall with Potter and Granger. Quite a few of the students had greeted the two visitors and she narrowed her eyes and she saw Dumbledore smile softly when the man had quickly entertained most of the female population imitating the strange way that Harry had his hair. Swooning over a random person that is not affiliated with the school was not allowed in Umbridge's school. Unfortunately, Dumbledore found this amusing...and this was his school, not hers.

When the man sat down, she quietly listened with interest as Snape called him, "Harris." So this was the person that had sent DUmbledore that letter. He was American, how very intriguing.

Xander turned to her smiling politely. "I think you're the only one here that I haven't met, yet. I'm Xander Harris."

"Dolores Umbridge." Umbridge said in her sickly sweet voice and a not very becoming smile. "You may call me Dolores."

Xander nodded. "Pleasure to meet you, Dolores. Call me Xander. I've heard about you, actually and I hear that you teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. I'm really interested in knowing why you chose that subject to teach, really. The post is supposedly haunted or something, right?" He smiled to himself. This was called in society 'polite conversation.' Harry had told him about Umbridge's questioning of every teacher and thought it would be fun to do that to her. If she was smart enough, she'd catch on eventually.

Umbridge laughed her simpering little laugh and took a sip of her pumpkin juice. So he had heard of her. "It's a fascinating topic. Hopefully you've only heard good things?"

"It's actually been a mix of both. Don't be offended, though. Even the best teachers aren't like by every student. Take Professor Snape, for example," the staff table's volume suddenly lowered and the teachers, including Dumbledore and Snape, turned to look at Xander. This wasn't all out staring, because they all continued in their own conversations, but they kept glancing in his direction wondering what exactly he had to say. "He's apparently the best in his art, and although plenty of the Slytherins seem fond of him, I heard a group of students grumbling about something or other and that his class was much too difficult. I couldn't help but think that this was terribly unfair because Severus is simply teaching the curriculum and if they are going to be so immature and not do their work so that they understand what's going on...well, who is to blame then?"

Snape's expression turned into one of disconcert and he turned a questioning expression on the largely amused Headmaster. Harry, who had sat down as close to the staff table as possible, suddenly found himself looking down at his food doing everything possible to keep from laughing at the Professor's baffled look.

Umbridge seemed pleased at his answer. Apparently she had taken it as a compliment and found this Xander Harris character interesting. She wasn't going to disregard his letter, though. No, he would be a lovely asset to the Ministry. Obviously the man was close to Dumbledore and he was somehow tied to Potter...and this Order.

"So, Xander, may I ask why you and that young lady are here?"

"I find that writing letters isn't enough. I'm sure you understand the need to keep in touch with family."

She seemed to realize what he meant, but couldn't help and ask, "Family?"

Xander's smile widened and looked vaguely mischievous. "So you haven't heard? Harry and I are cousins."

Umbridge's eyebrows shot up. Interesting what the Minister would say when she told him this bit of news...

- - -

Nighthawk-

Harry tells me that you two had an interesting weekend. Talked a bit about obscure and irrelevant things and that you shared a few words with Umbridge. Sounds like a grand time. I wish I could have a few words with Umbridge myself, but I can't see that being possible for the foreseeable future. Albus, on the other hand, said that your 'words' with Umbridge were very polite...and amusing. Perhaps it's better than what I would have done, which is something along the lines of strangling. Congratulations on refraining from any homicidal courses of action!

Albus suggested that perhaps it is high time that we meet and quit corresponding through letters and strange names. I agree with him, and I thought perhaps you and your fiancee would be interested in dinner. Then I remembered, silly me! I'm on the run and cannot be seen under any circumstances! This might seem rather inconvenient, and I assure you it is. So instead, I wish to invite you to my home for a drink, I'm told that your fiancee is one Anya Jenkins. If 'Anyanka' means anything to her, then she will know where the House of Black is located. If I'm simply yammering on about something you are unaware of...please excuse me and send an owl back, asking for directions. Otherwise, I rather hope that you two will be able to make it next Wednesday evening around six or seven? Great.

-Padfoot.

- - -

"How do you know all these people?" Xander grumbled, as he and Anya walked passed a few houses. They all looked alike and rather foreboding. He half expected a vampire to pop out and attack them, but luck was apparently on his side at the moment. Strangely enough, they hadn't encountered any vampires since coming to England. This didn't ease Xander's paranoia, though. He was, after all, from Sunnydale.

"It comes with living for over a thousand years, Xander." Anya replied, looking around. "Ah. There it is!"

"Where?"

Anya pointing at a spot between numbers 11 and 13 Grimmauld Place. "Focus! Think...twelve."

"Twelve Grimmauld Place?" Xander asked, but suddenly a door appeared between the houses and a man, standing in shadow, stepped out, looked around casually, then motioned for them to come on it.

"Heya..Padfoot, I'm guessing?" Xander asked looking somewhat uncomfortable.

The man smiled. "I'm sorry, no. Sirius is in the kitchen yelling at the pots. I'm Remus Lupin, but I can safely guess you're Alexander Harris."

Xander nodded and shook hands with Remus. "Harry's mentioned you. Um..this is my fiancee, Anya Jenkins."

Anya smiled and shook Remus' hand, too. She suddenly narrowed her eyes. "You're a werewolf, aren't you?"

"Er...yes." Remus looked taken aback.

"We have a friend that's a werewolf back home- well, not anymore. He went away a few years ago. Now he's searching for a way to control the wolfiness. Last I heard he was in Peru, and he's doing pretty well." To say that Xander felt awkward talking about this with a stranger was an understatement. On the plus side, the guy looked genuinely interested in what he was saying.

Remus studied Xander as he spoke. It was obvious he wasn't just making up something random and he was intrigued. "I've never heard of such a thing."

Anya shrugged and looked around. "Well, it's Peru. News travels slowly there and you guys are further from it than us."

Xander looked apologetic, but Remus simply smiled. "Just hang up your coats here and- wait!"

"FILTH! HOW DARE SUCH FOUL CREATURES- IN MY HOUSE! DIR- Anyanka?" screamed a portrait of an old woman from next to them, as soon as Anya opened the curtains. The old lady suddenly smiled, but it wasn't a smile of warmth. "Anyanka, darling! Have you come to help clean out my house of the unworthy such as my wayward son?"

Anya would have replied, but just then another man, this one with long dark hair ran in and froze as he saw that not only were there guests, but his mother was speaking -not screeching- to one of the visitors. He sent Remus a puzzled expression. Remus shrugged and silently counted to three. As one, both men shut the curtains and Sirius turned back around grinning and slapping his hands of curtain lint. He turned his gaze from Anya to Xander. "How you doing, Nighthawk?"

"I'm...pretty good, Padfoot. How about you?"

Padfoot's grin widened and he ushered them into the living room, followed by Remus. "Been better, I have to admit. Sirius, by the way."

"Xander. This is Anya."

Sirius nodded and looked almost apologetic to Anya for a moment before looking back at Xander. "You do realize that she's a demon, right?"

Anya made a very displeased sound. "Sirius Black! I'll have you know that I am an ex-vengeance demon!"

"So how did you manage that one?"

They talked idly like this for a few hours. Sirius had somehow produced three different kinds of wine, some brandy and firewhiskey. Most of it lay untouched, however, as they seemed much more involved in their conversations.

"It used to be a solid iron ball, and now they got cheap and instead of solid iron, they just put sounding plates inside of an iron shell. Granted, it's still the same effects, if not better, but they're not exactly as traditional now, are they?" Anya demanded.

"Some wizard enchanted a pair of them not too long ago to follow him around hitting each other so that he could do other things while listening to them. He woke up one night fro ma bad dream and smacked his head into them. Currently he is at St. Mungo's recuperating." Remus mused.

Sirius suddenly laughed. "Only now do I understand how you two and Harry managed to talk about everything from Quidditch to forest fires and shampoo to whatever else you all spoke of within an hour. I can't even remember how we got from the topic of my mother to Chinese health balls."

"Someone mentioned iron plates...and that got Anya started." Xander replied with smile. He looked down at the table to pick up his glass of firewhiskey but suddenly froze as he realized there was a newspaper with a large picture of Harry on it. He instead picked up the newspaper and smiled. "Oh, so it did get published!"

Sirius looked at the newspaper in a praising sort of way. "This Monday, I believe. Fastest selling issue of the Quibbler ever. Apparently Umbridge gave Harry detention for it and took 50 house points off, though. He really didn't seem too distressed about that, though. At least, that's what Dumbledore said."

Remus looked up. "You talked to Dumbledore?"

"He was also told me that Xander made an example of Snape and his great teaching? Dumbledore seemed.."

Suddenly there was a flash of fire from behind Remus, who jumped, and a tall figure appeared with a beautiful bird floating next to him.

Anya alone managed to speak. "How many times did we say his name?"

charmed-angel4: I...honestly have never had either Marmite or Vegemite. I've heard plenty about both, but I've never even seen a container of the stuff. (I feel so terribly American at those words.) Hope you liked the chapter, and I'm ecstatic that you liked that particular quote! Thanks for the review!

Calen: I don't think you can actually..you know, take the Hellmouth anywhere. Either way, that's not going to happen. The Scooby Gang is not going to come to England in this fic. Thanks for the review, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Morrolan: Thanks! Here you go! I'm happy you enjoy the fic!

LaRosaMinuit: Yes. Willow will go bad! That's all I'm saying! Thanks for the review, and I hope you like!

russle: To make itals, save your file as HTML. And now, you can quick edit on Good luck with that! Thanks for the review!

That was my horrible attempt at a cliffhanger. Three guesses on who that myserious character is that just showed up. -rolls eyes- I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. The next one will be up soemtime in August, because I'm leaving for Mexico in a few days and I shan't be back until August 6th. Then again, I may be in good mood and write up another chapter before I leave. We'll see. I'm hoping that the events of the Potter-verse are easy to see even though they're not being rewritten. (That'd be pointless, and I did a little of that in this chapter. Bad Kandice!) If you got lost, let me know, and I'll either fix it up, or explain in the next chapter for you.

Feel free to review! I love reading everyone's comments!