Chapter 15!
Harry instinctively pulled Jessica to him, shielding her with his body as the forms in the air darted towards them at warp speed. He stayed like that waiting for the attack he was sure was coming. After a few minutes he realized the creatures should have attacked them by now.
Jessica lifted her head from its position on Harry's chest and looked out into the field. Gasping at what she saw Jessica poked Harry's ribs telling him to take a look.
Hesitantly Harry released Jessica and gawked as he turned to the clearing. Dozens if not hundreds of Phoenixes littered the ground forming a tight circle around them.
Harry took them all in with wide eyes, he had thought that Phoenixes were practically extinct, but here were hundreds staring, unmoving, at the two Mystic Knights. All the Phoenixes were swan sized, scarlet birds, with long golden tails, beaks and talons. Except two, both sitting at the head of the group, one was blue with a silver tail, beak and talons. The second was pink, with a silver tail, beak and talons.
Harry had never heard of any such Phoenixes of that color, they were all supposed to be scarlet and gold. Instantly he realized that these two Phoenixes were different, in many ways, to the others and were probably the leaders of the groups.
"Why are they staring?" Jessica asked also noticing the strangely colored Phoenixes; she couldn't seem to take her eyes off them.
Harry shook his head, "I don't know, maybe they are waiting for us to speak."
"I don't think I can speak to Phoenixes, how about you?"
Harry chuckled, "Not that I know of, but I also didn't think I could speak to Fire Wolves either. If there's one thing I learned from becoming a Mystic Knight, is anything is possible." He took Jessica's hand and forced her to bow deeply as he was doing.
"I Harry Potter, Mystic Knight, and Hogwarts student greet you, and ask why it is you are here?" Harry was a little surprised when the words came out sounding like a Phoenixes trill.
The Phoenixes remained quiet, continuing to stare at the Gryffindor's. Finally after what seemed like a century, the blue phoenix spoke.
"Greetings Harry Potter, Mystic Knight, and Hogwarts student. I am Shirerton Wimbleing, but you may address me as Shire. My companion here," the blue phoenix nodded in the pink's direction, "is Kiararic Wimbleing, but you may call her Kiara."
Silence reigned again. Nobody spoke or moved for a few minutes. Jessica, never being the patient one, broke the silence.
"I Jessica Lock, Mystic Knight, and Hogwarts student, would like to offer my welcome, and repeat Harry Potter's earlier question of why are you here?"
Shire shared a glance with Kiara before turning back to Harry and Jessica, "Kiara and I," he began, "Being the leaders of all Phoenixes, also known as Phoenix lords, come to offer our allegiance in the upcoming war against Voldemort."
Harry was shocked to say the least, "What do you know of Voldemort?"
"We are just as much a part of the Wizarding world as you, young Harry. We know what the dark lord Voldemort is doing, and want to be of assistance during this dark time. Learning two Mystic Knights had surfaced we came to find you and offer our loyalty to the light side."
"Why?" Jessica asked, "Why do you come now and not earlier?"
Both Kiara and Shire shifted somewhat uncomfortably, and said nothing. However an ordinary Phoenix stepped out from behind the two and bowed to Harry and Jessica.
"Figgery Jiggery, Phoenix General, would like to ask permission to answer the young ones question, may I?" at Shire's nod, Figgery continued, "Until now none of the Phoenix lords felt the need to involve themselves in a war not their own. That all changed two days ago, when Voldemort's followers found the forest of Phoenixes, all the Phoenixes of the world lived there. Contrary to popular belief there are hundreds of Phoenixes left in the world, or there used to be. Anyway, two days ago the Deatheaters came to us and asked for our allegiance to Voldemort, when we refused they attacked killing all except which you see here. Now, with only a hundred of us left. We came to find you, the Mystic Knights, to offer our assistance during the war, for retribution against Voldemort."
"How many of you did Voldemort slaughter?" Jessica asked bluntly, ignoring the groups collective wince.
"Nearly five hundred, Miss." Figgery answered sadly, "We never saw it coming and didn't stand a chance. Our tears can't heal other Phoenixes, we were not able to heal any that were injured, and in our cowardice we left them to die. Fled for our own lives."
Shire bowed once more before flying to Harry and perching on his shoulder, "Will you accept our help, Harry Potter, Mystic Knight and Hogwarts student?" He extended one foot to Harry in hopes of agreement.
Harry hesitated at first but then smiled, "On one condition, you call me and Jessica by our first names only. None of that formal stuff, we are, after all, equals and should treat each other as friends."
"Deal."
Harry and Jessica emerged from the Forbidden forest an hour later, after forming an alliance with the Phoenixes. It was decided that Shire and Kiara would travel with Harry and Jessica at all times, and the Phoenix lords General, would stay with the army in the forest and do reconnaissance work. Although Mystic Knights could talk to the Phoenixes, they could not do so over distances, and had to be around the creature they wish to speak to therefore Shire and Kiara would remain in contact with the others at all times and report any news to Harry immediately. Shire and Kiara had stayed behind at the clearing to make sure all the Phoenixes stayed there and knew not to venture away, and would join the Gryffindors later.
"Harry Look," Jessica said, successfully breaking Harry out of his thoughts, "Hagrid's done it, he's healed the Wolf."
Harry followed her gaze and saw that Hagrid had indeed healed the Fire Wolf, for he was out of the cage and bounding around the pumpkin patch in good spirits. Laughing he and Jessica ran to Hagrid who was watching the Fire Wolf with glee.
"So he's all better then?" Harry asked watching as the Wolf leaped over a particularly large pumpkin.
Hagrid let out a hearty laugh, "Yep, I'd say so. He seems right cheerful now, where did you go off to Harry?"
"I went for a walk to clear my head," he answered then noticed Hagrid's surprised look when he turned to face Harry and saw Jessica, "I met Jessica on my walk and she accompanied me back here, I'm still a little tired, after all."
Hagrid didn't look totally convinced but let it drop and changed the subject, "Your Wolf over there healed quite nicely, didn't cause a fuss once."
"Good!" Harry said proudly before turning to look at the happy Fire Wolf again, "Good to see your doing better, thank you for trusting me."
The Fire Wolf halted its romp around the pumpkin patch and turned to see Harry watching him. He let out an eerie howl and darted towards the young Mystic Knight at full speed.
For one brief moment Harry thought the Fire Wolf was going to attack him, but realized that he was only coming to say hello when the Wolf stopped in front of him and licked his hand.
"Thank you young one, thank you very much."
"So you're feeling better then?" Harry teased, gently stroking the Wolf's head.
"Harry, don't tease the poor fella, you know perfectly well that he's feeling alright." Jessica admonished joining the conversation.
"Yes Harry, behave yourself." Kiara added as she landed on Jessica's shoulder.
Shire landed on Harry's shoulder and would have said something if, the long forgotten, Hagrid hadn't spoken up right then.
"Bloody hell," he swore staring at the two Phoenixes on the student's shoulders, "Those are Phoenix Lords, I thought they were extinct, where...how?"
'Great' Harry thought with a sigh, 'how am I supposed to explain this one.'
Here's another chapter for y'all. Not very long but at least it's something. Please R&R to let me know if I should continue or abandon this story. Cheers!