Harry Potter and the Phoenix Song

Chapter one: Birthday visitor and unexpected guests

Number Four Privet Drive appeared to be as normal as anyone could hope. Its yard was uniformly trimmed. The vehicle in the drive was meticulously washed. There was nothing in its appearance to set it apart from any other home. However it wasn't any other home. For in this home lived a very remarkable boy. This was the home of Harry Potter. For years it has been widely believed (thanks mostly to Harry's uncle Vernon) that Harry was a student at St. Brutus's Center for Criminally Incurable Boys. The truth was, Harry was a student at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was also one of the most famous people in his world, thanks largely to the lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. The scar was a physical reminder of the dark wizard that had murdered Harry's parents, and whom Harry had faced himself several times.

Harry sat in his room watching his clock. It was 11:58, and in two minutes he would turn seventeen. While turning seventeen would be important to any boy, it was probably more so to Harry Potter. In the wizarding world one comes of age at seventeen. But more importantly Harry knew the protection given to him by his mother almost sixteen years ago would leave him at the stroke of midnight. Harry heard the sound of footsteps approaching his bedroom door. He turned as the door opened to reveal a girl with very bushy brown hair. "It's time," she said.

On the end of Privet drive a loud crack echoed through the night air. A tall thin man wearing a long cloak had just apperrated onto the street. Under normal circumstances he would have sent one of his followers, his Death Eaters, to dispose of a mere boy. However, these were not normal circumstances. This boy had managed to evade him four times in the past. It was his duty, his right, his destiny to be rid of him personally.

The cloaked figure slowly approached the door. The clock the house flashed midnight. He cautiously moved his hand to the door. As his fingers made contact with the handle a wretched smile inched across his face. He was about to fulfill the prophecy and achieve his goal. He would be unstoppable. Pulling out his wand the man walked into the house searching for his prey. After several minutes of searching frustration was beginning to set in. Finally he found his way to Harry's room.

The room, like the rest of the house, was deserted. Anger boiled inside of the man. It was at this point there was a popping sound and a scarlet feather appeared from nowhere. It had attached to it a letter addressed to a man named Tom Riddle. The man reached for the letter and opened it.

Dear Tom,

Sorry I couldn't be there to greet you.

Being my birthday I decided to go out tonight.

Trust me I'll be seeing you very soon.

That meeting however will be on my terms.

Sincerely,

Harry Potter

Rage filled the man's soul. The Potter boy had escaped again. Leaving the home Tom could not contain the emotions any longer. With a scream of rage the house exploded. People began to run from their homes to see what had caused the disturbance. He did not care. Lord Voldemort was furious.

Harry's scar gave a jolt of pain. He instinctively put his hand over it before smirking at the girl who entered the room moments before. "Harry, did it work?' Hermione asked. "Yeah it worked" he responded. "I knew it would" said a third voice approaching behind Hermione. This voice belonged to Ron Weasley. Harry's best friend. "I mean it had to didn't it?"

Harry and Hermione exchanged a quick glance before throwing the pillows off Harry's bed at Ron. Harry had been staying at number 12 Grimmauld place since the second week of summer. He stayed on Privet Drive long enough to both ensure the protection in place on himself would remain intact till his birthday and attempt to convince the Dursleys that they had to be out of the house by the time Harry came of age. Of course the latter had proved nearly impossible to the point where Harry eventually just stunned his family and entrusted them to the Order. He knew he had broken wizarding law by performing magic before he was seventeen, but at this point that didn't matter to him. He was gone before the letter from the ministry arrived, and frankly he didn't care anyway. The ministry was not exactly Harry's favorite group of people and the truth was he had more important things to worry about. Harry let his mind wonder on these things for the next few moments before turning to his two best friends and wishing them a goodnight. Very soon Harry would have to begin his journey. He just didn't know where to begin.

Hermione came busting into Harry's room early the next morning. "Professor McGonagall is here to see you." "McGonagall," replied Harry wearily, "what does she want." He dressed quickly and went downstairs. When Harry entered the room he could tell by the solemn expression on the professor's face this was no social call. "Potter," she began, "not long after Albus's death his will was read to a select few." Professor McGonagall's voice was beginning to falter as she spoke. Harry pretended he had not noticed as she continued. "In it you are mentioned twice. First you and your confidants are to have uninterrupted access to all areas of Hogwarts, including the headmaster's office if convenient to its current occupant. And before you ask Potter, yes that will be me." Harry allowed himself to smile. This statement also meant they would be allowing the school to remain open. "This is to be in effect immediately and remain so until you-know-who has been defeated. Secondly, Professor Dumbledore has left you his pensieve. You may collect it at your convenience." It was several long moments before Harry spoke. Beyond the fact that Dumbledore was wishing Harry to have access to the school, he had left him the most valuable and personal thing he owned. His memories. "Thank you, Professor. I will come today to get the pensieve. And thank you for allowing me access to the school." Professor McGonagall began to speak again. "If I can ask Potter, why would Albus need to allow you access to the school if you are coming back for lessons in a few weeks anyway?" Harry knew this moment was coming. He braced himself. "I'm not coming back, ma'am. Neither are Ron or Hermione." He could guess the next question and cut her off before she spoke. "I'm sorry; Professor, but I can't tell you why. It was between Dumbledore and me and I can't betray that trust." The stern old witch's face began to soften. "Harry, I understand that you feel a certain responsibility to continue with whatever it was you and Albus began. However, I must say I do not believe the headmaster would have wanted you to discontinue your education whatever the tasks before you are. And I don't suppose you are going to tell me why the two of you left the school that night?"

"No, Professor I'm afraid I can't. There are things going on out there that only I can handle." Harry could tell by the look on McGonagall's face that this response would not do. He took a deep breath. He had told Prime Minister Scrimgeour, he may as well tell his head of house. Turning his back he said, "Professor, the Daily Prophet is right. I am the chosen one." There was a sharp intake of air as McGonagall seemed to have the air taken out of her. Harry could have guessed her reaction before he turned around. For more than a moment she seemed to have lost all concentration. Her eyes began to fill with tears as her hand began to twitch. This lasted only a moment before she regained her composure.

"Surely, Harry, you can see why you would need to come back to complete your education. I mean you must realize that only a fully qualified wizard can defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Besides with all the extra security that will be around the school it will be where you are safest." She seemed to struggle with her words. Harry had known this would not be an easy conversation, and unfortunately he was correct.

"Professor, a fully qualified wizard can't beat Tom. But I can. It all has to do with the prophecy that was destroyed at the ministry." Harry paused briefly. He wanted to pick his words carefully. He did not want to let Professor McGonagall believe this was a decision he came to lightly. "Tom knows about the prophecy. He wants to get to me before I get to him. Believe me Hogwarts is safer without me there." There were now tears streaming down the face of Minerva McGonagall. She looked as though she wanted to argue, but she couldn't find the words. Inside she was a stew of emotions. She wanted to yell at Harry about how badly he needed to finish his education, to go out herself and kill Voldemort herself for inflicting so much pain on this boy, and to just hold Harry in her arms and tell him it would be alright. Outside she was in shock. She couldn't do any of those things. All she could do was stare at this boy, no this man she said to herself, that had the weight of the entire world on his shoulders.

Finally words found her, "What can I do?"

Harry considered this for a moment before he spoke. "For now there are two things I am going to ask of you. First, please allow Dumbledore's wishes for me to be fulfilled." Professor McGonagall nodded. "Of course," she muttered. "Second," Harry continued, "do not tell Ron's parents he isn't returning to school. Hermione told hers and they understood. Ron's will to eventually. But he wanted to wait until after Bill and Fleur's wedding to tell them so they could have one more worry free day."

"As you wish, Potter," she replied.

"Professor, please, call me Harry," he said with a slight smile.

"Only if you call me Minerva."

Harry thought for a moment before replying. "I'll see you this afternoon to collect the pensieve

…Minerva." Now he was definitely smiling.