Thanks to my beta, Menecarkawan!
Author's Notes: Phaisanny was Al's Phoenix/Fire summon. He was mutated by the Phoenix people to be able to combine physically with that summon. It will be explained as the story goes. BTW, the Phoenix people don't possess an entirely human appearance like other magical beings. They will come up in the story later on. I just felt I needed to clarify it because this chapter might cause some confusion. Enjoy!
Song: 'This Is My Heartache' by m.o.v.e (From single Album 'Disco Time')
Ch. 16: Dangerous Methods
Hermione Granger still had nightmares from what had happened when Harry's image suddenly disappeared from the mirror. She and Ron had spoken to no one about it, but the memory still haunted them. When Harry's face disappeared, another image had replaced it. A head with a black veil covering its face seemed to be staring at them, studying them. The veiled person, that had almost reminded them of a Dementor, had spoken words that had scared them, almost in a whisper that had given them chills: "I will have you... I will have you..." The person had laughed maniacally and an almost disproportionate in size lilac hand covered in warts had started to protrude from the mirror, almost grabbing Hermione's face. Both Ron and Hermione had screamed and Ron did the most sensible thing any person could have done. He took the mirror from Hermione's hand and shattered it on the floor.
The redhead and the know-it-all were left trembling and looking so white anyone would have thought they had been drained of all the blood that ran through their veins. They had stared at each other for quite some time and Ron had hugged Hermione, trying to tell her everything was fine, but unable to believe it himself. Hermione had used 'Reparo' on the mirror a bit later, but hadn't dared try to contact Harry again.
It took weeks for Hermione to go to Dumbledore, but first she asked Professor Flitwick a question during Charms class. "Professor?"
"Yes, Miss Granger?" the teacher squeaked.
"Is it possible to use mirrors in such a magical way that you could cross worlds?"
Flitwick raised an eyebrow and looked curiously at the girl. "Many things are possible when magic is involved, Miss Granger, so yes. Even Muggles have concepts such as that in fairy tales, ignoring how true they are. May I know why you ask?" All the students fixed their eyes on Hermione looking quite confused. Ron, on the other hand, seemed determined, knowing why Hermione had asked.
"In case you are thinking I'm considering looking for Harry, no sir. You don't have to worry." No, Hermione wasn't considering trying to go through worlds herself. Her main concern was still the hand that had literally tried to grab her by coming from the mirror. Flitwick had only confirmed her worst fears. In the same way that they could contact Harry, there were ways for them to get to Harry or someone getting to them. She didn't think Harry could come out of the mirror like that, but had a bad feeling other creatures from that world could.
Hermione went to Dumbledore. She had decided it was time to tell the headmaster what had happened. She could still see that horrid hand coming at her. She hadn't imagined it. Ron had seen it too. They both had seen the hand coming out of the mirror.
XxXxX
The bushy haired girl sat in front of Dumbledore and the ancient wizard looked at her curiously. She had blurted everything and was waiting for an answer from Albus. He had paled as he listened to her story, and now he looked extremely tired. He removed his half-moon glasses and rubbed his eyes with the index and thumb fingers of his right hand. "Miss Granger... Are you sure about this?" he asked.
"Yes... sir... Ron was there. He can testify to it. It was..." The words that came to her mind were horrifying, terrifying, but she changed them a little. "It was truly disturbing."
"Maybe Mr. Potter is dealing with someone much worse..." Dumbledore said as he placed his glasses over his nose and looked into an empty spot behind Hermione's chair.
"What do you mean, sir? Is it possible that that man or whatever it was could get us if we contact Harry? Why didn't you tell me that contacting Harry could be dangerous? Surely you knew, right?"
Dumbledore shook his head. "I knew about the methods, but I honestly never considered anyone coming from there, which was foolish of me. If there is a way to go and there is a way to get back, there must also be a way of someone coming from there."
"I want to contact Harry, sir. I want to tell him what happened!" The girl suddenly looked terribly scared and placed her hands on her face. "What if that man got Harry?"
"I don't think he was getting Mr. Potter when he attempted to get you and Ron, but he must have noticed the connection between worlds and that, in itself, is something to worry about."
"Is there another way of contacting Harry then?"
"Water is another method. In fact, I thought you would use water the first time you came and asked for a method to communicate with Mr. Potter." The old wizard chuckled, but then frowned and went silent.
"Water sounds even more horrifying if I ever see a hand like the one I saw before coming at me again!" Hermione exclaimed sincerely. "Any other methods?"
"No, Miss Granger. There are not many. I'm sorry."
"Then what am I supposed to do, sir?"
"Simply don't contact him, Miss Granger. It's dangerous. Just leave things as they are. I will start dealing with the matter myself." Dumbledore stood from his chair, looking like the weight of years could crush him, but looking determined nevertheless.
"What will you do, sir?" Hermione asked, standing herself.
"Do not worry about that, Miss Granger. Is there something else you haven't told me?" The unique twinkle his eyes always made was there and Hermione gasped. "Yes?"
"Sir... It's about Harry. He doesn't look like Harry anymore." Hermione was surprised to see the headmaster laughing.
"So it happened already? My, that boy sure is fast!" Dumbledore laughed again.
"What do you mean, sir?" In her standing position, Hermione placed her hands nervously on the desk in front of her.
"Those who are taken for a mission to that world never return as they were, Miss Granger. None of them will be the same ever again." Dumbledore's blue eyes looked distant.
"But you returned normally! You didn't change, right?" Hermione kept blinking in disbelief.
"Oh! I did change, Miss Granger, although not physically. I'm curious about Mr. Potter not looking like himself, but it must be something similar. Something did happen, Miss Granger." Dumbledore smiled a little and at that moment, Hermione listened to a bird singing. Fawkes flew towards the headmaster, stood on the wizard's right shoulder, and pecked the wizard's ear affectionately. Hermione nodded in understanding and smiled back at the headmaster, before finally leaving the office.
She didn't obey the old wizard though. As soon as she was able to, the girl met with Ron and showed him the mirror. It was early the next morning when she did. The redhead nodded approvingly for they were going to try to contact Harry again.
XxXxX
The fire was still consuming the stable as they all watched with ghastly expressions. The man that had led the children to the stable was sobbing next to the young group that had just defeated a band of bounty hunters and had rescued a small group of children.
Some of the villagers came out of houses and shops. They stared at the fire, then at the winged young man that was kneeling with his head lowered. Dianeia knelt next to Harry and as difficult as it was for her to speak to him, she tried her best. "Harry... Wings... Er... Disturbing the villagers?"
Harry locked his eyes with the woman's and nodded. He wasn't going to snap at her even if he almost felt like snapping at everyone, but he was too numbed by what had just happened. As best as he could he concentrated and little by little, the wings disappeared into his bloodstained back. "Better?" he asked Dia, but his voice sounded weak, strained. She simply nodded at him before using a cleansing spell on the teenager's back and clothes to remove the sight of blood.
The crybaby in their group, Soshlan, was also sobbing. His whole body started to glow and dark gray clouds seemed to put themselves together above the stable. The elven fairy cried even more, falling on his knees, and causing a powerful holy rain to start pouring over the fire. All of the townspeople were surprised to see the flames slowly diminishing until there were only slight fumes rising under the rain that kept falling only over the stable. Soon the rain became a mild drizzle, then it stopped just when Soshlan stopped crying, using that strange natural power. He fainted afterwards and Neville picked him up, but Kroy freed the human boy from the burden, as he was stronger.
Neville looked at his empty arms and embraced himself while Luna approached what remained of the stable. Other villagers did the same and some started to remove debris, digging. The saddened man was one of them. He gasped and Harry glanced at him. "What's wrong?" asked the teen, getting on his feet and running toward the stable's remains.
"There's nothing... There are no charred bodies!" The man said looking aghast.
Kroy quickly clarified a point: "Nothing would remain of a vampire. Janryu was a vampire. He should have turned into dust when the burning ceiling fell on him."
Some of the townsfolk looked terrified at the knowledge that the one who had tried to rescue the two toddlers was a vampire, but nevertheless a frail looking woman asked nervously: "What about the children? There should be remains to bury..."
The stable man shook his head, still lifting burned pieces of wood. "There's absolutely nothing here. It's empty. There's nothing at all."
"Could they have been completely consumed?" an eight-year-old boy who was among the rescued children asked.
"Not possible," a middle aged man replied. "The fire wasn't there for that long, even if it had been some sort of magical fire."
"Could they be alive? Could they have been saved?" Harry asked with a trembling voice to no one in particular.
Kroy looked uncertain. "I don't want to give anybody false hope, but it's true that even if the vampire ended up as dust there should have been some remains of the children..."
Harry suddenly glared at Kroy. "Don't you dare call him 'the vampire'. Keep using his name."
"Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you," Kroy replied to the tensed Harry Potter.
Harry immediately relaxed a little. "And I didn't mean to snap at you... I..." Dia went to Harry's side and grabbed his hand to give him support.
They all ended up in the town's Inn after completely confirming that there wasn't a single charred body in the stable's remains. Neville asked Harry how long they would remain in that town, but Harry didn't feel like replying. Instead, The-Boy-Who-Lived kept to himself.
Seeing that Harry wasn't doing anything, Dianeia took the decision, eyeing Harry from time to time to see if he would complain. "Okay, we are going to take a break in this town. The people from this village have already taken the children to an apparent refuge they have. Kroy has gone with them to make sure the refuge spoken about wasn't made up by a bandit amongst the people. We already know we can't trust anyone." She eyed Harry for what had to be the tenth time and then turned to Nemaisse. "Are you sure of your decision of not joining the other children in the secret refuge?" Nemaisse nodded. "Good. As for what we will do if the shadow men come, we will hide, of course. Or at least, the younger ones will hide. I don't really have to hide..." Harry lifted his eyes and looked at her in a strange way when she said that, but Dia ignored it. "I still don't know for how long we'll remain here, but at least we will be able to recover from everything we've been through."
Right after Kroy came back, he gave a nod to Dianeia, confirming everything was alright. They ate in silence, but they barely touched their plates. Kroy took bits of his food, but chewed and made a face as if he was chewing something disgusting. Harry didn't even touch his fork like the rest, who at least fumbled with the food on their plates. Soshlan grabbed his fork and approached the plate with it, but let it drop, pushed the plate away, placed his arms crossed over one another on the table, and hid his face in his arms. At that gesture, everyone stopped eating and pushed their plates away too. "Let's just sleep?" Dianeia suggested and everyone nodded.
Soshlan suddenly blurted in a broken voice: "Today I am sixteen, but just ignore it." Nemaisse gave him a hug and Luna did the same, being copied also by Dia. Neville patted the elven fairy's back while Harry gave the boy a half smile. Kroy simply nodded, looking at Soshlan.
The beds in the flat like room they got were in separate bedrooms, but they had to sleep in pairs, as there weren't enough beds. Neville went to his room with Luna, Nemaisse went with Soshlan, and Dianeia escorted Harry to another room. Kroy went to a bedroom by himself and as he sat on the bed, he lowered his head, thinking that if Janryu had been alive he probably would have been there with him.
Dia tried to be careful in how she spoke to Harry. For some reason she was afraid he would snap at her, and that slight fear that nagged at her prevented her from acting normal. "Do you... Do you want to change to pajamas? Or... take a bath first?" Harry blinked at her, making her clear her throat. "Whatever you want will be fine. You can sleep in normal clothes if you prefer... I... I'll just sleep on the floor so that you'll be comfortable, alright? I'll have a bath first, though." She was about to leave him when his hand grabbed her left wrist. He gently pulled her to him, sat her on his lap, and made her face him.
"Why are you acting as if I am mad at you?" Harry asked curiously, surprising her.
"I... I just thought..." She went completely silent.
"You don't have to sleep on the floor. Whatever you really feel, state so. I won't bite you." The woman nodded, looking at the floor. "Is your race male dominant?" The woman nodded again and Harry sighed. "That explains it. Well, I don't feel any superiority over you and I'm not made of glass either. Yes, I feel terrible. I won't lie about it, but I won't snap at you, alright?" Harry's eyes suddenly held a mischievous gleam in them. "Do we both fit in the bath?" Dia blinked at that, but then she went into a laughing fit. After a little while they were bathing together.
Harry relaxed in bed with Dia, trying to forget all the events of that day. He almost had a conscience for being intimate with her that night, but at the same time, he felt he needed to release the accumulated stress and he couldn't deprive himself of that. In the morning, he had disturbing thoughts though. He had heard part of Kharainne's conversation with Dia, even when he hadn't been completely awake. "Dianeia?"
Sleep filled pink orbs fluttered open. "Hm?"
"If you were completely human, how old would you be?"
Dia straightened herself in bed looking horrified and nervous. "You heard us?" He nodded. "Oh no... I'm twenty-two, alright?" Harry gave her a look that almost made her feel guilty. "Alright, alright. If I had been human, which I'm not, I would have been about... twelve." She joined her fingers nervously, tapping them against each other.
Harry registered the words and suddenly flinched. "I'm sleeping with a twelve year old?"
"Hey! That is not true!" The woman clarified with a glare that she quickly softened. "Not true! Do I have the body of a twelve year old?" Harry stared at her curvy chest and shook his head. That only angered her a little and she started to tickle him. "That was not funny, Harry!" She suddenly looked worried and stopped the tickles. "Are you scared now? It's not like I have the mentality of a twelve year old... It's only that I am not fully developed internally."
"I understand," Harry replied with a sly smile and changed the subject. "Dia... Does having wings mean I can fly?"
The woman was thoughtful for a few seconds. "Not necessarily. You will have to test them. We'll have to look for a cliff..." Dia stated casually, pouting slightly.
"A-A cl-cl-cliff?" Harry stuttered with wide eyes.
"Of course!" she exclaimed as if it were obvious, flinging her hands to the sides.
"Can't we just use a tree?" he asked twitching.
"Are you losing your guts?" she asked raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms in front of her still naked chest. "If you fall I'll rescue you." She winked.
"Are you sure I can trust you?" he asked warily, making Dia renew the tickling attacks, but he asked her to stop as he heard someone calling him. He snapped his fingers, getting both of them dressed, and said: "A mirror... I need a mirror." Dia pointed at the body length miror in the bedroom and Harry went to it. "I'm here," he said, and as soon as he spoke those words both Hermione and Ron appeared. Dia was beside Harry in seconds, making Ron and Hermione glance at her, but they looked back at Harry.
"Harry!" Hermione started. "I'm so glad you're alright! I have to make this quick because this communicating method is not secure!"
"WHAT?" Harry reacted.
"Don't interrupt! Look! Remember last time?" Hermione was speaking as fast as she could. "The communication was broken due to some interference from a strange man or creature. He tried to grab me! Said that he would have us! His hand came through the mirror, Harry! That's all, alright?" Ron simply kept nodding behind the bushy haired girl. "We'll go now, alrig..." Hermione screamed and the communication was cut.
Harry was shocked. His breathing came with difficulty and he looked at Dia. "Can my friends be in danger? Even in my world?"
"I don't know, Harry. I really don't know," Dianeia replied with a troubled expression.
XxXxX
Albus Dumbledore was filled with concern. He had been having nightmares about Harry calling to him since before Hermione had gone to him. What Hermione told him made things worse and he felt that maybe Harry needed his help, but at the same time, he suspected something amiss in those nightmares. Even if it was some sort of setup for him, he had to go to Harry. Perhaps he could be of help to the boy.
He went to the Transfigurations teacher's office. She was surprised he had come to her rather than calling her to his own office so she quickly knew something was not right. "Albus?"
"Minerva, I simply wanted to tell you that I might disappear and I don't know if I'll be able to come back," the headmaster said, looking worn out.
"What do you mean by that, Albus? Where are you going?"
"I'll try to help Mr. Potter. I am not sure if he'll be able to handle the situation. He might need my help."
"How do you know that, Albus? Do you know where Mr. Potter is?"
"Yes, Minerva. I do know where he is. And what I know or rather feel, is because I've been having... strange dreams."
"Why didn't you say so? Why did you hide such a thing? Is that boy in danger? With Miss Lovegood and Mr. Longbottom?"
"They might be. That's what I'm going to find out."
"Albus, you are always interfering in that boy's life. Isn't it time to let him try to untangle this new web by himself? Plus dreams... That's odd..."
"I'll still try to do what I can. I might be able to help him in some way. Those children will come back alive, even if it costs me my own life."
"You're not young, Albus. Will you be able to handle the strain?" There was concern in the teacher's features.
"I'll be fine, Minerva. I've been through so much already..." He placed a hand on her left shoulder. "Be a good Headmistress. I'm sure you'll do brilliantly." The old wizard smiled at her and left her office.
Albus locked himself in his office and caressed Fawkes. "I have to go, my friend. I don't know if I'll be able to come back..." The bird chirped in an odd way, but the headmaster understood it and asked happily: "You want to come with me? Along with this wrinkled old man? You might be helpful, even if you're not Phaisanny... The phoenix that united with me in that world..." The bird chirped again and Dumbledore chuckled. "Yes, you might be able to show the same power. Thank you, Fawkes." Dumbledore slowly walked toward a small cabinet and removed a small stone, similar to the one that transported Harry, Luna, and Neville. The stone wasn't as powerful as the other one, but it was still useful. The old wizard walked to a mirror with the small rock in his right hand, and chanted with his eyes closed. Ripples formed in the mirror as he chanted. He opened his eyes and used the stone as a key. He had obtained that stone when he was a hundred years old, but never used it for anything. He had simply saved it as a memento, a replacement of the one that had been confiscated so many years before. The arm with the stone went through the mirror and soon the old wizard was swallowed and Fawkes went through the mirror after him.
He awoke minutes later, conveniently in front of a river. He was feeling very thirsty and he stood to have a drink of the clear water, but tripped in robes that had become too large for him. "Now, that was odd..." He spoke aloud and gasped at the sound of his voice. Something was not right. He went to the water and looked at his reflection. His reaction was of alarm. "No... This is not how it's supposed to be... Why have I taken this form?" Fawkes suddenly landed on the boy's right shoulder. "You still recognize me?" The bird made a sound that seemed like laughter. "I think we've been led to a trap, my dear friend. I wasn't supposed to look like this, as convenient as it may seem..." Albus did feel energy soaring in his body, energy that at his real age was simply not possible. He had his drink of water, still a little confused.
Wandlessly, Albus transfigured his robes into long black plants and a Chinese collar style long sleeved black shirt. He looked for a bladed rock and transfigured it into a knife that he used to cut his excessive mane of now auburn hair. He left it down his shoulders, but tied it in a ponytail with a string he conjured. After that, he started to look around because he heard the sound produced by someone approaching. He found himself surrounded by shadow men and he smirked in a very un-Dumbledore way. He raised his left hand, making it go ablaze and Fawkes combined with him, turning him into a completely fiery being. The fiery creature that looked like a giant fire falcon created a pyramid that grew and swallowed the shadow men whole. Albus returned back to normal and Fawkes was by his side. "You know, Fawkes... You do replace Phaisanny perfectly, but we have a problem." He caressed the bird's head. "I think I made a big mistake by coming here. He'll use my power against Mr... Against Harry. I have a feeling we'll be captured by a very dark being, my friend. And it might happen very soon."
Just then, a ray of light went through Albus' right side, making him gasp. He fell to the ground on his knees, blood coming profusely from the area the ray had gone through. He clenched his teeth and stood, facing a tall robed man with a dark veil covering his face. The man spoke. "I can't believe how easy it was to bring the mighty Al to my domains. I'm so glad that you were actually alive, but at your age, you weren't going to do nicely. Like the spell? Isn't it nice to be young again? I will combine my powers with yours to destroy the new so-called... heroes. I have measured that new boy's power and I cannot defeat him with my current level. I will increase my power by using you as my main energy supply, child Al."
"You will have to defeat me first, don't you think?" Al stated, easily healing his bleeding wound by stroking it with his right hand.
Nebureth prepared himself and started to invoke his magic while Al combined with Fawkes yet again.
Thank you very much to my reviewers: lovenotknown, alaskagirl24, and bandgsecurtyaw! Wouldn't be the same without your encouragement!
