Folks sorry for not getting this out sooner, life has been unbearable this last month or so. So many things to do and no time to do it all. But I'm gona try to keep up on posting from now on. BTW this chapter is a bit shorter , but keep in mind it's also a transition chapter.

Chapter 3

Burn baby BURN!

The next morning after Harry and Sirius had made sure that everyone was out of number 12, they portkeyed to the old house and began to prep it to create the largest bon-fire London had ever seen.

After a few hours of prepping and removing items they thought might be of value Harry and Sirius lit the kitchen on fire and portkeyed out laughing the whole time of what the papers would read in just a few hours.

A few hours later

Albus Dumbledore was sitting in his office wondering 'What in Merlin's name is going on'. His headquarters had been devastated, more to the point that he'd been named as the arsonist as well. He picked up the copy of the Daily Prophet he'd just finished reading, the headline and article read.

"Leader of Order of the Phoenix Burns own headquarters"

By Rita Skeeter.

This morning Londoner's, in muggle London were shocked to find a home that was set ablaze on a street where none should have been. The home located at Number Twelve Grimwald Place never existed until today. Apparently a wizarding home of great age was found blazing in a multi colored array of fire this morning. A symbol of a red phoenix also blazed high in the air. The symbol is of the legendary Order of the Phoenix, of which Albus Dumbledore is said to be the leader of.

This reporter was sent a full description of what had caused the fire by an eye witness that had apperated onto the street just moments before the blaze started.

Apparently, Albus Dumbledore stood outside the home after removing the charm hiding it from its neighbors yelling, "YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING WELPS, YOU'RE NOTHING BUT SNIVILING COWARDS." Then set blaze to the home.

Reports from Aurors on the scene have identified the wand signature that caused the blaze; however refuse to make comment on possibility of incriminating Albus Dumbledore.

On a happier note no bodies except an old house elf were found in the blaze.

So the question dear reader is "Has Dumbledore finally gone off his rocker?" I'll let you decide that.

Just a few miles away from Dumbledore's office a group of nearly twenty had been laughing relentlessly for nearly two hours.

"I can't breath" Ron cried out.

"I think I wet myself" Mrs. Weasley chocked out.

Many more similar statements went on like that for nearly another hour.

Nearing lunch time Hermione found Harry in his room quietly reading a book.

"Harry?" she called "Would you take me flying?"

Harry's attention was immediately turned towards his girlfriend.

"You want to go flying?" He asked.

"Yes, I do" she replied matter-of-factly.

"Ok let's go!" Harry jumped up and dragged her out of the room.

An hour later still flying around the large estate, they both spotted Hogwarts in the distance.

"Wana chance it?" Harry asked pointing to the old castle.

"I don't know Harry, he might catch us." Hermione replied.

He pondered this for a moment, and decided against it. It would do him no good to get captured before he'd had time to train.

As the two headed back to Potter Castle, Harry felt Hermione's arms close around him tightly. It felt good to have her care and love him yes he knew it was love. The type of love that was everlasting. He leaned into her embrace and sped the broom up a bit faster to get home for some "snogging" time.

Albus Dumbledore sat in his study long into the night, pondering the events of the day. He'd lost most of loyal order members, they simply refused to respond to his call as well Number 12 had been burned to the ground and he was being blamed for it. Harry Potter was still missing without a trace as well. What was he to do? Well a plan of action came into the old man scheming mind.

"First I have to bring the boy out into the open, to do that I must use a means of threat to him. I'll have one of his precious friends kidnapped. Yes that's what needs to be done. I'll have Miss Granger taken from her family's home. The boy wouldn't be able to resist coming out to rescue her." Albus pondered his spoken thoughts.

Meanwhile a large red bird sat listening to the old mans thoughts and decided it had enough of the old man's evil scheming. With a flash the bird disappeared.

Albus looked at where the bird had just been. "Must have gone for a fly" he thought.

Moments later the bird reappeared next to a snowy white owl.

"Great white one. You must allow me to bond with your master. It is dire and things are going to come to pass that he will require my assistance. Please allow this." The red bird spoke to the Owl.

"A dual bond to a wizard most interesting wise one. Yes I will allow it, so you've finally left the old fool?" the owl responded.

The large red bird nodded and burst off in a bright flame.

Harry Potter was sitting in his private study with his now girlfriend sprawled out in his lap. The two were just lounging about savoring a few moments together when a large red bird appeared on the table in front of them.

"Fawkes!" Hermione yelled.

"Young one please tell your mate to not be alarmed. I am not here on Albus' count.

I am here to ask for a bond with you, I have left the old fool and you need protecting.

You and your mate are in grave danger from him." The bird mentally spoke to Harry.

"He just spoke to me Hermione. He said to not be alarmed, he's left Dumbledore and wished to bond with me to protect us." Harry noted.

"Ok, but how can he speak to you Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Tell her that the day I brought you here I initiated the bonding young Harry, this allows us to communicate." Fawkes sung out.

"He says that the bond he's initiated allows him to speak with me." Harry answered.

Hermione looked interested at this, yet nodded her approval to allow what was going to happen be done.

Harry nodded to Fawkes to get on with it, and moments later where was a great flash of white light that surrounded Harry and the Phoenix.

"Young one, I have completed the bonding, things you must know now. You now have the ability to speak to me directly as well as you now share one of my born traits. You are now able to travel by fire. I will teach you how to use this., but for now I must inform you of a plan by the old fool. He's decided to take your mate and use her to get to you, you must not allow him to have her. He's not in a mind to keep her safely, he will harm her if he doesn't get you.. There is more you must know but I must reset for now. Be well." Fawkes noted.

As the bird flashed out letting Harry know he would be with Hedwig Harry pondered the information he had just gotten from the bird. He could fire travel now, but more importantly he had to keep Hermione safe.

Harry told Hermione what Fawkes had told him and they went about plotting how to frustrate the old fool as Dumbledore was now referred to. He wouldn't get his way, and Harry would make sure of it.

A week later the house group that was staying at Potter Castle sat in the large dining hall discussing ways to battle both Voldemort and Dumbledore. After reveling what had happened with Fawkes the week previous the group had decided to not chance anything.

Harry's Birthday came with much excitement as he would be granted his place as head of the Potter family and would be recognized as an adult from that day forward.

And he would be able to do something he'd been dreaming of for a long time.

On his birthday he would propose to Hermione. Even though they had only been officially together for a short time, he knew she was the one. He also knew that he didn't know how much time he had left and he was going to do everything to make the most of it.

The day had arrived, Harry was 16 years old, the head of a very prominent family in his world, and he'd just received the official documents to prove it.

He was absolutely dumbfounded what Sirius had told him was nothing.

He'd consulted Sirius about his plans that day for what he was gong to do, his godfather actually whined that Harry was being a traitor to the bachelor marauders. However he still assisted in getting the perfect ring.

The party was going great, everyone was having a grand time, Harry had received many great gifts, and now it was Harry's turn to give a gift.

"Hermione, can I talk to you for a moment?" Harry asked pulling her away from a few friends.

She followed Harry out to the terrace where he stopped.

Harry took her hand in his, bent down on one knee .

"Hermione, I know that we have only been officially together for a short time however there are things in life that we all must do, but in the mean time we have to make the most of what we have right in front of us. You Hermione Granger hold my heart, my very soul, I love you in ways I never knew existed, and that's saying a lot as before you I really never knew love at all. Hermione will you grace upon me the honor of being my wife, my equal, my love." Harry spoke softly to her, now holding out the ring to her to view.

Hermione was shocked to say the least, she had dreamed of this moment for a long time, but she honestly didn't expect it to happen for a few more years. But what could she do, she wanted it so much. So she simply said."Yes" meekly.

Harry was ecstatic. She had said yes. He slipped the ring onto her finger and she drew him into the most passionate kiss either of them had ever received.

What seemed like hours later they both came up for air, and decided to let the rest of the group know the news.

Walking in it looked like they already knew. Harry glanced a look at Sirius whom looked very guilty.

Harry shook it off and stood on the small stage that had been erected for the party holding Hermione's hand.

"Excuse me everyone, thank you for a wonderful birthday. But even more than that thank you for standing beside me. I now have the great pleasure to inform you that moments ago I asked Hermione here to be my wife, and she's agreed. So how about that I get a great birthday party and a wife to boot. Right now I'm the happiest man alive.. So lets turn this into an engagement party!" Harry spoke loud and clear. It was visible he couldn't be happier.

In the very early morning hours Harry lay in bed fully clothed, with Hermione head sleeping peacefully on his chest. The two nearly broke their promise that night to wait at least until a bit later to do anything "drastic". Instead they simply fell asleep in each others arms.