The spinning stopped and for the first time, Harry entered Platform 9 3/4 not by the normal passage but instead through the floo that was on the side. Probably the way most wizarding families did it. He had never thought about it but obviously, the Weasleys did it differently because floo powder was a little expensive, especially when you had to move five children with them. Something nipped the front of his shirt right where on the tip of the wand of his crest was. Of course, he wore his favourite T-shirt with the Peverell Crest on it. Dawn tucked on his shirt making her disagreement with the way of travel known. It had been her first ride through the floo and obviously, the little madam didn't like it at all. Harry felt a small wave of discomfort the entire travel and quickly raised his hand nuzzling her under the beak. For a moment she put on the Phoenix equivalent of a pout before surrendering and raising her beak, cooing in a soft pleasing way. Dawn was a sucker for nuzzles and cuddles and he loved it.
His small familiar was in a pouch on his chest, only her head out at the moment, but she looked around with great interest. This was all new to her and obviously by the way she turned her head to the left and right after the nuzzle was finished she was fascinated by the many people around. A trilling coo came from her ever so tiny, while the hearth flashed green two times more and Sirius and Narcissa stepped out of the flames. Sirius had been hassled by his cousin to wear something appropriate, a long dark emerald robe with a huge Black Crest on the back. She hadn't been able to talk him out of duelling robes but it looked cool in Harry's opinion. He had a dangerous but cool look and wore it well. Next to him, Narcissa wore again the dark blue robes with silver lining and the Peverell crest. This was sending Harry off to school so she made clear she would represent House Peverell. Her hair was once more made in a perfect manner and she wore what Harry would call her public face, cold and calculated.
Sirius stepped up, placing his hand on Harry's shoulder. All his luggage had been shrunk and placed on a chain around Harry's neck. It had taken the boy a little bit of time to stop Dawn from playing around with it. Sirius grinned down at him, winking shortly.
"So Harry, ready to go back?" The man asked smirking a little bit. Harry nodded. He was a little sad though, something he had never really been before in going to Hogwarts.
"Yeah, but sad at the same time. I will miss you Padfoot. You too Narcissa. And Kreacher too." Narcissa's public face broke a tiny bit when she heard that and she smiled at the boy for a moment before she could put it into place again.
"We will miss you too Prongslet. But don't worry, Kreacher will probably come for his 'punishments' anyway. Hogwarts wards do not stop house-elves you know? So the ones in the kitchen could come around and all."
Harry shook his head but smiled. He had no idea up until now. There were house-elves in Hogwarts? How many were there? Why hadn't he seen any of them up until now?
Sirius grinned a little, continuing talking like he just felt the idea of his godson.
"Don't worry, they keep to themselves most of the time. Have only seen one once in a night back in our fourth year, cleaning our dorm room, while we slept. James had eaten something really bad and woke me with such sounding fart I swear the walls quivered from it." He laughed with his godson before he yelped a little and Narcissa put her wand away with a scowl on her face.
"We are in public Sirius. I will hex your mouth shut if you don't act dignified or at least try to." She hissed at him, before turning away with a huff. Sirius rolled his eyes before shrugging a little. Then they walked down the platform, quite a few people were around. The large red steam locomotive whistled pumping out big steam clouds. Sirius nodded to a few people left and right, mostly Lords of the Wizengamot and also some old friends from school. He was happy to see the flinches and worried looks that had followed him after getting his freedom had mostly left.
"Harry!" The boy turned his head seeing a bunch of red-headed people heading their way. He grinned. The Weasleys looked like they had hurried here. Fred and George were beelining towards Sirius while Ron came straight to him. Harry felt that Dawn duck her head into her pouch when she saw the taller boy come up to the black-haired one. Ron punched him slightly against the upper arm.
"Mate, good seeing you again, it's been too long ya know?" Harry smiled nodding at his friend. Ron had grown over the summer and while he had seen him, now it was more obvious than before.
"Yeah, you're right. I missed you guys." He tilted his head slightly, trying to look around over the shoulders of other people. He heard the dialogue from Sirius and Fred and George a little.
"Well, Mister Padfoot we."
"must say, we are"
"rather impressed. Looking sharp."
"A shame if something."
"Would happen to that outfit."
Sirius laughed loud before staring at them in a mock stern look. "Oh, really Mister Weasley and Mister Weasley. Would you dare to take up a prank war with a marauder?"
"Where is Hermione?" Harry asked, still looking around before returning his gaze to Ron. The redhead only shrugged pointing somewhere behind himself. Harry's hand cradled the pouch on his chest, feeling Dawn shuffle a little.
"Somewhere there in the back. She will come up she wanted to talk to someone." Harry nodded when he heard. While he wanted to see his other best friend they weren't glued together at the hip so there was no problem.
"Hi, Harry!" Ginny stepped forward, placing her arms around his neck and hugging him. He grinned, returning it with one arm the other still holding Dawn's pouch.
"Hi Gin, how are you?" He asked with a grin, stepping back. She smiled at him brightly nodding.
"I'm good how are you?"
"Wonderful. Ready to pummel Slytherin into the ground in Quidditch this year." Harry winked at her. She giggled, her blush unnoticed by Harry. Ron laughed.
"Yeah man, we will steamroll them this year." Harry grinned nodding at him. Ginny stepped closer again, her eyes on the pouch on Harry's chest. She pointed at it.
"Harry, didn't you say that would be healed by now?" Harry looked at her for a moment confused than slapped his forehead.
"Oh yeah right, sorry. es, well I think I have to confess something. I-"
"Harry!" A mop of bushy hair blocked his sight when Hermione hugged him from the side, making him return it with a happy smile.
"Hey, Hermione how are you?" Her hug was warm and happy, a contempt friendly hug before she stepped back smiling.
"Oh I am fine and you? Have you done all your homework? Have you seen there was a new book on the list, Wizarding Etiquette, what was that about? I mean there is no real class that would use something like that. But it, on the other hand, it is super interesting and-"
Ron chuckled cutting in. "Hermione, let the man answer at least before you ask a second question." Hermione blushed a little and smiled shyly.
"Sorry Harry, I just can't wait to return you know? So how are you?"
Harry smiled nodding at her. His eyes shortly followed Narcissa who was conversing with a tall woman with olive skin and dark black hair. Her eyes, while talking to her were fixed on Sirius like he was a prime steak or something. Harry knew why Lady Zabini stared at him this way and the annoyance on Narcissa'S face would grow.
"I'm fine thanks."
Ginny stepped next to him, leaning again him slightly.
"You said you had to confess something to us. Soooo?" She asked grinning at him. Harry sighed a little, holding his pouch. Hermione tried to look inside of it.
"Did she hatch?" She asked leaning closer very interested. Harry nodded, smiling a little. He turned to Ron and Ginny.
"Sorry you guys, but I had to lie to you. I...I never had an accident with a potion." Ron raised an eyebrow looking closer at him. Ginny frowned a little, leaning a little away to look at him. The steam locomotive let out a whistle.
"You did not? So what was it then? And why didn't you tell us?" She asked a little confused.
Harry took a step closer, huddling them together.
"I couldn't tell. Sirius and Narcissa knew because it would have been impossible to hide from them and Hermione found out, I made her swear not to tell anything. It is not that I distrust you guys but Professor Dumbledore said I should tell no one. So yeah it was only those three...oh and Daphne."
Ginny frowned even more now, looking at him confused.
"Daphne? Like Daphne Greengrass? Why her? I get it if no one should know that you kept it close but her before me or Ron? And what to tell?"
Ron looked mostly confused by now. "Yeah why the Slytherin?" Harry sighed. He should have kept that for himself, he just shrugged.
"I didn't mean to tell Daphne. After the thing at the Quidditch Cup, they stayed the night at ours, for safety. She missed the right floor and walked in on me changing." Harry blushed a little, while Ron started laughing and Ginny gasped.
"She walked in on you while you were naked? How rude!" Ginny called out, her face blushing a little when she imagined walking in on Harry while changing. His lean body, flat stomach and the muscles he had from quidditch. She blushed even more when she thought what his butt probably looked like, suddenly very aware of herself. She felt herself warm up a little.
Harry waved his hands, panic on his face.
"Nnononononono, I wasn't naked. I had still my pants on, only my upper body. Still quite embarrassing. And she had a long day, no wonder she missed the door. But yeah she saw and then I had to tell her because...yeah, she wouldn't let go." Ron stopped his sister from inquiring more and stepped closer.
"So what is the big secret. Don't tell us you can't tell just don't."
Harry smiled, nodding.
"Don't worry, it's no secret anymore, but you can't ask me how I got her, I can't tell you even no matter how much I want to and just don't push okay? And keep it down, I don't want it to be yelled out here okay?"
Ron nodded, tilting his head, slightly. His eyes went wide.
"Okay, dude. Wait did you say her? Do you have a girlfriend?"
Ginny gasped, twirling her head around while Hermione snorted. Harry jerked back panic in his face again.
"What? No! I...okay, just don't freak out ok?" He lifted the pouch and pulled it open. A dark-feathered head appeared, looking around and she made a small twitter sound. "Guys' meet Dawn."
Ron's mouth dropped wide open and Ginny gasped again and slapped her hand over her mouth. Her brother couldn't keep it in.
"YOU HAVE A BLOODY PHOENIX?" He almost yelled, making a few head turn. Harry groaned in annoyance and Hermione shot their friend a dirty look.
"Very subtle Ron."
The redhead stared at him flabbergasted before collecting himself.
"Sorry dude, I just...thats bloody awesome man! A Phoenix holy Merlin!" Harry smiled and nuzzled Dawn's small head. The bird chirped and cooed a little. Ginny still had problems closing her mouth. Hermione smiled fondly at Harry feeling a wave of protectiveness towards the small bird. Harry had written her about the bond but she could only think one thing.
"She is beautiful Harry. Dawn? What a wonderful name. May I say hello?" She asked her eyes fixed at her. Harry nodded, turning his torso a little towards her. Hermione carefully stretched out her hand holding for a moment an inch away from the bird. Dawn tilted her head slightly and then she lifted her head, letting Hermione nuzzled her chin. The brunette's eyes went wide.
"Oh dear, she is so cute. And her feathers are so smooth. You little girl are really really cute." She said to the Phoenix who in return let out a chirp of what Harry would think is Pride. He got better in recognizing her feelings through the bond. Hermione almost yelped and jumped when Dawn hopped from her pouch and landed on her stretched out finger. The small bird still couldn't fly but still spread her winds in a puffy way, to show off her radiant plumage. Hermione grinned stroking her side. Again the small bird cooed. Ginny and Ron stepped closer.
"C-Can we pet her too?" The girl asked, her eyes glued to the proud little hatchling. Harry smiled nodding.
"Yeah but let her decide. Hold your hand close. You will know whether she wants to be pet or not." Both Weasleys nodded, reaching out carefully. For a moment or two Dawn eyed her hands carefully before she turned her body towards them, letting them pet too. Ginny giggled and brushed over her feathers.
"Oh, she is really cute. And her feathers are so warm. That's a really nice feeling." Harry smiled nodding in agreement, while already now he felt the slight tugging of the bond. He wanted her close. Professor Dumbledore said it would mature and they wouldn't have the need for constant body contact but for now, being separated was something they couldn't endure very well. At the same moment he felt this little sadness, Dawn started batting her wings and chirping longingly towards him. Hermione jumped a little and Ron and Ginny pulled their hands back quick.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked worriedly and Harry smiled. He stepped forward and Dawn jumped towards him, clawing into the front of his shirt, nicking the skin underneath ever so slightly. Harry's arm came up, cradling her again, running his fingers down her back, before putting her back into her pouch.
"Sorry you guys, I think she wanted back to daddy. She has never been out of the house before and these are more people than she has ever seen before, it is a little much for her." Dawn tugged her head into her pouch and purred a little in the warmth of her daddy's body heat. Also, the pouch was enchanted to warm her. His three friends looked at the pouch a little sad but they understood.
"Hey, you guys!" All turned seeing Susan Bones and her Aunt come down the platform. For a moment Harry and Madam Bones made eye contact and the boy felt embarrassment overwhelm him, he quickly looked away. His face was beet red and he tried his best thinking about what he had seen a few nights ago. Suddenly the floor was very very interesting.
Three whistles came from the train signalling for all students to come on board. Harry hugged Mrs Weasley goodbye after shaking Arthurs's hand. He was even able to shake Madam Bones hand. Normally he would consider kissing her hand, just to keep up the joke he had repeated in every meeting with her since the first, but this time he just did his best not to die from blushing. She hid it very well, if she was uncomfortable at all, wishing him a good year, asking for him to look out for Susan. Harry agreed quickly and then he turned to Narcissa. Her eyes were fixed on something down the platform, a little wet like she fought back the tears and when he followed her gaze he saw two blond persons, shaking hands. Draco and his father. For a moment Lucius raised his gaze, staring at them over the platform and his face contorted to a sneer. Harry took up Narcissa's hand and held it close, to give her comfort and also hold her here. He shook slowly his head to her whispering.
"Narcissa don't. You know it will only be bad if you go over there." He stated, trying to comfort her. She sniffed a little and nodded.
"I know, I just...this is the first time I don't see him off and..." She sniffed again and Harry sighed, holding her hand closer.
"I know Narcissa, I'm sorry. He will come around, I believe he will do." Harry didn't think Malfoy would come around but he couldn't bring himself to tell her that. Feeling his sadness, Dawn stuck out her head and cooed at him. She saw Narcissa's face and started flapping her wings like she demanded to get body contact with her and chirped a little at her. Narcissa wiped her tears away and smiled at Harry. Like an instinct, her thumb brushed over his cheek and she smiled a little wider.
"I know he will. Thank you, Harry." She straightened her stance to keep smiling. "Now Harry, have fun in school, don't get in trouble and make House Peverell proud. And you Dawn, look out for him all right?" Narcissa tickled the small bird under her chin and she cooed as she would agree. Sometimes Harry wondered how much she understood. Narcissa laughed ever so slightly. Then she hugged Harry. He smiled returning her hug.
"Stay safe Narcissa. Thank you for being there this summer and keeping Sirius company. I know he is a handful and I already ordered Kreacher to keep him in check, but I think no one does it better than you. Also, he will probably grumble about me being away, you know how much of a drama queen he can be." Harry said in a light tone, while he tried keeping his own tears in. Narcissa laughed slightly, patting his cheek a little.
"Oh I think I can handle, but you are right. He will turn the house to ashes and shame if I don't keep an eye on him and no one whats that. So I wish you a happy year Harry." The boy nodded, sniffing a little. Damn saying goodbye and leaving home was a lot harder when you actually liked your home. Narcissa smiled and stepped back, making room for Sirius.
His godfather grinned brightly and pulled Harry into a bone-crushing hug, after putting Dawn's pouch carefully to the side. Harry laughed and cried at the same time while Dawn chirped excited and energetic. The ex-convict stepped back, laughing himself. He winked down.
"I wish you a wonderful year Prongslet. Call me every evening with your mirror!" Harry chuckled and shook his head.
"Padfoot we talked about it!" He said with a little choke in his voice. Sirius waved in defeat.
"All right, I know. But the one letter a week deal is not negotiable." Harry sighed with a wide grin and nodded, hugging him again.
"All right Prongslet, so don't get in trouble, unless of course due to a prank, in that case, it is okay. I expect Auntie Minnie to write to me often about what hell you raised this time." Harry chuckled into his godfather's chest, sniffing at the same time. "Have lots of fun, kiss many girls and oh yeah no fighting basilisks, fighting trolls or hunting escaped convicts." At the end of his chuckling sentence, Sirius got serious. "Remember, send me your Hogsmeade weekend plan. I will not mother you but I will be at the side, in case Bella or Greyback show up all right?" Harry nodded, they had agreed on this. Sirius smiled down at him turning his head to look at his feathered familiar.
"And you lovely girl, keep him out of danger and act as a lady magnet do you hear me? Year four is the one where everyone starts dating and I will be damned if my godson doesn't get a girl. Also, stay safe yourself Dawn and grow a lot you cute little flame." He nuzzled the top of her head and she cooed affectionately.
Harry hugged his godfather a third time, mumbling into his chest.
"Look after yourself Padfoot. And look out for Narcissa, she needs you. Don't prank Remus too much and don't make Narcissa too angry, she will hex you into a toad." Both of them chuckled.
"Goodbye Prongslet."
"Bye Padfoot. I will miss you."
"Me too Prongslet, me too."
Harry stepped back, following his friends inside the train. At the stairs inside, he turned his head, looking back. Mr and Mrs Weasley, Madam Bones, Neville's Grandma, Narcissa and Sirius stood all in a line and waved at them, calling goodbyes and all. Harry waved one time with a big grin before stepping inside.
Should he have told Padfoot that his hair was bright pink and the message 'Try to keep up old man' was written over his head? Maybe, but on the other hand, Narcissa would notice soon enough.
AN
Here we go, the school year is about to begin. Don't worry we will still see Narcissa and Sirius and all that, but this is already a really long summer and it must come to an end.
In case you wonder, no Harry will never talk with Dawn like with a human. Phoenixes can't talk in this story, but his bond lets him feel her feeling and therefore he can detect a lot about what she wants. Also, she can understand him quite well, at least what he want's from her.
Do keep the comments coming, should I have done something different?