Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling and there I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 10. The Scarlet Phoenix

Godric walked along in brooding silence a pace behind that of his former best friend. The periodic glares of disgust Salazar aimed at Ahawn made Godric's blood boil. Ahawn, on the other hand, pretended not to notice Salazar. He had been practicing the talent of ignoring his father's friend for as long as he had known him. But Godric was not fooled by Ahawn's cool exterior. And he had only allowed Ahawn accompany him because he did not trust his son to stay out of trouble in the caves.

Hermione Granger walked as far left of Salazar Slytherin as possible, her friend the ever helpful Ron Weasley followed bleakly in her footsteps. Godric knew they were brooding of the possibility of not being able to find the order.

They walked on in complete silence. The tension was becoming almost unbearable.

"Father." Godric looked down to see Ahawn's larger than life grey eyes looking up at him. It had to be Ahawn to break the silence!
"Hmm…"
"Why would my mother leave me to die in the woods?"

A question so innocently stated but it was asked in the most unfortunate of circumstances. Godric stiffened and his jaw tightened as he saw Slytherin check his pace so that he could overhear Godric's reply. The bastard would enjoy this!

"Father you haven't answered my question," Ahawn drew himself closer so that all Godric could see was two very large puppy dog eyes.
"It isn't the time to discuss this," Godric replied in a deep voice hoping to scare Ahawn off the subject.
True to his character Ahawn persisted, "But if I never ask in difficult situations you'll never answer."

Godric stopped short, so did Slytherin (it was too great an opportunity for him to miss). 'The little runt is deliberately putting me on the spot,' Godric thought incredulously.

Ahawn stopped with him and was looking rather bemused and eager to hear his father's reply. "What would make a mother throw her baby away?" Ahawn continued.
'God, he's so innocent at times,' Godric thought. It almost broke Godric's heart to reply.

Godric had always been of the opinion that witch mothers were more attached and loving than a muggle mothers. Death amongst baby muggles was frequent, wizards did not have the same mortality rates as their medical experience and magic could cure many illness muggles often died of. Godric knew the philosophy of many muggles was have as many children as you can and one might outlive you. It was sad but true. Furthermore muggles were way too judgemental; poor Ahawn was a bastard and a wizard and that would not have boded well for him if he had grown to live with muggles.

"Ahawn, you know muggles don't accept the wizarding world."
Ahawn pursed his lips slightly and waited knowing there was more yet to be said. "Why would a mother throw a baby away even if he is a wizard?"
"Why would a father have a daughter burnt at a stake if she is only accused of witchcraft?" Godric returned.
"I sense there is something else you are not telling me," Ahawn accused, "I don't understand why you persist in lying to me."
"I'm protecting you,"
"But…"
"ENOUGH!" Godric snarled, he had caught Salazar watching again and he wasn't going to tell Ahawn the whole story in front of his co-founder. "The subject is closed for now."

Godric regretted snapping at Ahawn but he knew it was the only way for him to make his son to be quiet. Ahawn hung his head and tried to attempt to straggle behind. Godric wrapped his arm around Ahawn's shoulder and bent down to whisper into his ear. "We'll speak in private later, I promise." Ahawn nodded glumly at this and Godric knew that he was sulking about being yelled at… Ahawn had never liked to see Godric mad, his course of action was always to sulk…

"LOOOOK!" Ron cried. Everybody's heads snapped up. In the distance in the sky was a motif of a large scarlet phoenix just above Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Hermione and the students of Hogwarts gave a cheer. It must be the order! Hogwarts had been reclaimed.

Making their way hurriedly towards the doors of Hogwarts the students nearly scrambled over their feet in their haste to see what had happened at their precious school. Hermione was the leader.

With a small bark of triumph Godric followed from a distance and gave Ahawn a tight squeeze.

At the tops of the stairs was a wizard as elderly looking as Merlin himself. Godric looked at wonder at the flowing white beard and the gaudy robes. He watched as Hermione and Ron approached and started speaking in unison. The old wizard smiled and nodded in Godric's and Salazar's direction before descending the stairs to welcome them.

"I believe we have not met," the old wizard said, "I am Albus Dumbledore the headmaster of this school. I thankyou for looking after our students while the castle was in the hands of… Voldemort's followers."

All the students around them cringed at Voldemort's name. But Godric did not flinch.
"I believe special thanks are required for your looking after of Mister Potter is in order." At this Albus Dumbledore offered his hand. Godric accepted without any qualm but Salazar hesitated and looked at the old headmaster as if he might catch the black plague.

"I'm Godric Gryffindor, my son Ahawn and my co-founder Salazar Slytherin."
Albus Dumbledore didn't look the least bit surprised by Godric announcement he merely nodded and gestured behind him at a wizard and witch who stood behind him, who went quite unnoticed. "Professors Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape."

"Pleasure…" Slytherin murmured sarcastically looking up at the phoenix in the sky.

Godric bent his head forward and entered the cave. He had come straight here hearing that Hogwarts was now liberated. When his eyes became adjusted to the dark he realised with a shock that Harry Potter was nowhere to be seen. Indeed the cave was empty apart from his cloak, which he snapped up off the floor and Salazar dirty great big snake, Zayit, who seemed to raise her diamond head in bemused before continuing with her nap.

Lacking any skills of parseltongue, Godric marched out from the cave mouth. "HARRY!"
There was no answer. Swearing to himself Godric briskly jogged to the cave where he had left Rowena and Helga and was immediately meet with large inquisitive green eyes.

Harry curled himself into a tight ball and felt the warmth of the blanket seem into his body. It was early morning and a part of his mind was wondering how Professor McGonagall would take it if he was late for transfiguration. He didn't care in the slightest… he was warm and he was safe.

Time passed slowly but Harry surely made his way further into wakefulness. Starting a strange noise nearby, Harry sat bolt up right. Rubbing his green eyes furiously Harry was suddenly wide awake and was stunned to find himself quite alone in a cave.

Memories flooded uninvited into his mind. He remembered racing to Professor Snape's room and hammering at his door… he remembered the curses that seemed to burn his insides, he remembered his helplessness and his reluctance to accept Snape's help and he remembered the tall broad man, who Hermione had called Godric Gryffindor.

Feeling sick and agitated Harry, crawled to the entrance of the cave for he felt he didn't quite have the strength to stand on his two feet.

Just before Harry reached the cave mouth however there was a strange noise. Harry froze to listening. It sounded like… hissing? Inching ever closer to the mouth of the cave, Harry eventually came nose to tongue with the creature. A long red tongue flickered touching the tips of Harry's nose. Harry baulked and jumped backwards.

"Thee doessss not like ssssnakessss?" The long green body sway majestically and Harry came eye to eye with large yellow eyes that shone like gold. Harry took another large step backwards. The snake that was before him was even larger than Voldemort's pet, Nagni.

Blinking furiously Harry made a step to pass the large green snake. The snake seemed to laugh lightly and moved its head in Harry path. "Introductionssss…I am Zayit…"
It seemed like Harry had no choice. "I am Harry," he said stumbling over his words in parseltongue.
The snake, Zayit waggled her large diamond shaped head and flicked out her long red tongue. "You'll find your friendssss in that cave…" Giving Harry's shoulder a nudge so that he nearly fell over, Zayit uncurled herself and slithering slowly into the cave.

Harry finding his feet and feeling much better seeing the sunlight walked briskly towards the cave which the snake had indicated to him. He heard voices before he reached the entrance and paused.

"I do wish Godric would stop snapping at Salazar each time they look at each other," a woman's voice sighed.
"Hmmm…it's too much for Godric to admit he was wrong," replied the other.

Harry chose that precise moment to sneeze. He heard the two women scramble to their feet and rush to the cave mouth with shouts of, "Who goes there!"

Harry jumped to feet away as he came face to face with the women he recognised from the dungeons. "I'm sorry…" he murmured, "I thought this was where everybody was…"

The woman in yellow who was nearest to him smiled and lead him into the cave. "How are you feeling dear?" she smiled and even in the dim light of the cave, Harry could see that her smile was genuine.
"Fine, I guess."
She sighed lightly and found a comfortable place for Harry to perch himself. "Where is everyone?"

The woman smiled again and poured Harry what looked like an herbal tea and tore of a hunk of bread. "This may be shock dear, but I'm Helga…."
"Hufflepuff and your companion is Rowena Ravenclaw…" Harry said interrupted taking his tea and bread.
Helga and Rowena both nodded their head and Harry bit furiously into the hunk of bread.
"They've gone to find the Order of the Phoenix," Rowena Ravenclaw announced.

Harry stopped in mid slurp and lowered his tea cup. "I hope they do," he said despondently.
"I'm sure things will look up soon." Helga placed a comforting arm around Harry's skinny shoulders.
Harry looked at her with large green eyes in uttermost disbelief. "I don't know if there is much hope left."
"Of course there is hope," Rowena said in gentle rebuke, "Have faith…hope keeps our courage strong, our friendships firm and our ability to fight for those we love sturdy."
Harry smiled thinly and took a sip of tea with an audible sigh; he had supposed that Ron and Hermoine had gone with them. "I hope they're alive…"
Neither of the women commented.
A few moments passed before someone raced into the cave. Harry stood instinctively and was nearly bowled over by an anxious Godric Gryffindor.

"Why are you up?" Godric snapped angrily. "I thought you would have learnt your lesson last time."
Harry looked at the founder of his house in trepidation. "I – I – I…" He glanced back at Helga and Rowena for a little help.
"Have faith in your own capabilities dear Godric," Helga sighed with a slight laugh, "the boy is as fit as he could possibly be."
Godric sniffed loudly and sneaked a look in Harry's direction. "He could be better…"