Chapter 10

August 1986

While the sun was shining glaringly from the sky and the gentle wind was breezing through the tops of the trees, Harry was filled again with an indescribable feeling of freedom. Gripping his broom tighter, he cheerily flew higher and higher. Whenever he flew he felt happy. Unfortunately he didn't manage to sneak into the park nowhere as frequently as he would have wished.

"Not so fast, Harry. I don't like this." Diamond hissed.

Harry laughed and gazed down at his little snake, who had curled herself tightly around his arm. Nell had got used to flying over the months but his snake absolutely didn't like it, if he decreased his speed or flew loops.

A moment later Harry landed on the ground. He lowered his arm and said,

"If you don't like it get off my arm and stay on the ground."

The black-silver reptile hissed angrily and slid off Harry's arm and wriggled into the tall grass in which the raven haired boy lost sight of Diamond rather quickly. Just as Harry wanted to climb on his broom again he heard strange sounds. It sounded like singing. Never before had he heard something like this. The singing was beautiful. Fascinated Nell was listening as well. Harry looked around and saw that something was shimmering through a few bushes. Curiously he began to walk in the direction from which the singing could be heard. He bent the green twigs aside and held his breath. It was a phoenix. With wide eyes Harry stared at the magical bird.

It was black but it wasn't a real black. When the light hit the feathers different colours shimmered through. Harry walked round the bush and kneeled down. The phoenix turned its head and they looked at each other. Black glistening eyes riveted on him. Carefully Harry reached out with his hand stroked over the soft feathers. The phoenix let it happened.

"You are beautiful, aren't you? Do you want to stay with me?" Harry asked and wasn't astonished in the least as the phoenix trilled and inclined its head.

"I'll stay with you," she sang.

Harry smiled but then he suddenly remembered something he had read in one of his books.

"Why can I understand you? I thought that it is impossible for a human to understand magical creatures."

"I don't know. I sense something strange in you, similar to a phoenix."

The answer surprised Harry but since it didn't make any sense to him he shrugged with his shoulders. He admired the brightly shimmering feathers and had an idea.

"May I call you Rainbow?"

"If you want; I like it."

The young woman stood motionless like a statue on the shore and stared with a blank gaze at the lake. Her long golden hair was dull and her eyes had lost their former twinkling. Cheerful laugher rang out to her and Alison flinched. She turned around and caught sight of two little children who were playing with each other.

For a tiny moment she watched them. Then she spun around and hurried away with long strides. Furious she hit with her hand against one of the trees which she passed. Giving a loud sob she slid slowly to the ground. She couldn't bear it to know that it had been her fault. If she hadn't gone to Cheltenham, she wouldn't have lost her child. Alison dug her nails into the bark and pressed her face against the tree. She had loved it to look at the lake, to run over the meadows and to roam through the forests but since that fatal day everything had only provoked an incredible indifference in her.

She could only think at her lost child, she imagined how he would have looked like one day and talked with him. Her despair and her self-reproaches haunted her even in her dreams.

Emily and Charlotte had tried to cheer her up but they didn't understand her. Even Severus didn't understand her. The last months they had only quarrelled. Alison began to sob as overwhelming fury at the war, that had killed her child, rose in her. What was the point of living on? She had lost her child. All of a sudden she felt strong arms which embraced her and while Severus pulled her close to him, she didn't struggle against his touch. Crying she clung to him. Blinded by tears she lifted her head. They held and kissed each other as if never wanting to let go anymore and Alison realized that her life did had still a sense.

The hurried steps of the children echoed through the dark castle as they ran down the broad staircase. A Death Eater, who had appeared at the bottom of the stairs, clicked disapprovingly his tongue and the two children reduced their speed while exchanging a look. The black- haired girl, who was almost a year older than the silver-blond boy at her side, walked ahead and led them through interlocking corridors to a small terrace. Going down the few steps, Caro entered the green lawn. Draco jumped behind.

"And what shall we do now?" he asked in a bored voice.

"Certainly it'll take forever until they've finished." he added and thought of the Death Eater meeting their parents currently attended. How he would have wanted to be there as well. That would be at least exciting instead of this waiting. Unfortunately Draco had only wrested the permission from his father to accompany their parents to the castle but now he realized that they could have stayed just as well at home. Suddenly a movement on the horizon attracted however his attention. He squinted and shouted:

"There is someone flying! Come!"

Caro's gaze followed his outstretched arm.

"Wait, Draco. You know that our parents have forbidden us to leave the castle."

But Draco ignored Caro's objection and began to run in the direction where he had seen the figure. Caro shrugged her shoulders and began to run, too.

Out of breath they stopped finally, cast their eyes heavenwards and admired the vertical flights. Draco whistled appreciatively and as the raven-haired boy landed on the ground a while later, Draco stepped out of the trees' shadow and asked,

"Who are you?"

The strange boy whirled around and stared at them with large startled eyes but he seemed to relax shortly afterwards.

"I'm Harry and you?" he answered.

"My name is Draco Malfoy and this is Carolina Lestrange."

"Caro," the girl interrupted him.

Draco nodded and continued,

"Nice to meet you. You are flying fantastically by the way. We're flying as well. What do you think of playing Quidditch together?" Draco suggested expectantly.

Harry smiled and said then,

:"Yes, that would be great. But we've to be careful because I'm not allowed outside. My father has forbidden it. Please don't say anyone you have met me."

Draco raised one eye-brow. Before he could however open his mouth Caro asked with a frown,

"Forbidden? Why? And what's your mother saying to this?"

Harry blinked at them.

"I don't know. I haven't a mother," he said slowly.

A loud angry voice caused the children to spin around.

"Draco! Where are you?"

"That's my father. We've to go. We certainly will come back.", Draco sighed while deciding firmly that he would persuade his father to take them along tomorrow as well to the castle of the Dark Lord; this time however with their brooms.

Harry nodded disappointingly.

"That would be nice but please say noting to your parents."

Caro shook her head.

"If you don't want it, we won't say anything. Bye Harry."

Draco still cast a glance at the raven-haired boy, turned around then as well and disappeared together with Caro between the trees.

Later in that night Harry tossed and turned restlessly in his bed. Since his thoughts were occupied with the today's happenings he just couldn't manage to fall asleep. He was so happy that he had met Draco and Caro. Finally he would have friends with whom he could play. He wondered if they would come tomorrow. Caro had given him however something to think about. For the first time in his life he thought about his mother and wondered why he hadn't any.

Where was she? What had happened to her? He refused to believe that she had left him. Pressing his pillow tightly to him he felt a painful yearning. But after what exactly he couldn't say. When finally falling asleep, he dreamed of a shadowy woman, who held him in her arms and sung him a lullaby. Her face however he couldn't see.

So deeply Harry slept that he didn't notice how the Dark Lord entered his room, stepped to his bed, stopped and regarded him. A thoughtful expression darted across his face. With six years Harry was now old enough to learn who counted to his endless enemies, including that old fool Dumbledore and above all the child had to learn his place in the world. The boy was intelligent and that would undoubtedly simplify his lessons. He would also teach him Parsel- magic.

Since Harry possessed this rarely gift it would be stupidity not to use it. Satisfied Voldemort ran his hand over his chin and thought exultantly of Harry being soon able to help him to rule over the world. At least in a few years, the Dark Lord restricted his expectations resignedly.