Friday evening Minerva found herself sitting on the porch swing. The dire situation at Hogwarts physically hurt her heart, her soul. She loved the school and her students even if she didn't show it. Hogwarts would always be her school and now she would need to fight for its survival.
"There you are," Harry said gently as he sat down next to her. "Hogwarts still on your mind?" Minerva nodded sadly.
"Hogwarts has been a very important part of my life since I first walked through her doors," Minerva said emotionally. "I never noticed it encompassed so much of me. I feel anxious and unsteady right now and those feelings probably will remain until Hogwarts is taken back from Voldemort's grasp."
"We will fight for Hogwarts and we will surely win. You would never settle for anything else." Minerva smiled at that. "Do you trust me?" he asked with a grin. Minerva studied him momentarily before nodding her head again.
Before her eyes, Harry transformed into his Phoenix form. His golden and scarlet feathers were beautiful. Minerva smiled proudly at him as she reach out and touched him. Harry peck her hand affectionately which caused her to laugh. He turned and pushed his tail feathers into her hand and flashed them away.
They reappeared in a flash of flames in a field nestled with trees in a large circle. Minerva gasped in surprise as she saw Phoenix after Phoenix in the trees above them. The were singing beautifully and appeared not to be threatened by her presence at all. Harry switched to his human form and gave her a grin. He held his hands wide and said, "Welcome to Phoenix Nesting!"
"It is absolutely brilliant," Minerva breathed as she looked about in wonder. "I was not aware such a place existed."
"Not many are," Harry admitted. "It is a highly protected area for obvious reasons. Fawkes brought me here the first night I changed. I hadn't seen him since Dumbledore's funeral but he flashed in and asked me to hold his tail feathers."
"Fawkes is here," Minerva said hopeful.
As if he sensed her want, Fawkes flew down and landed near her. He trilled happily. "Hello Fawkes," she greeted friendly. "I wanted to thank you for being such a great friend to Albus. He loved you dearly!"
Fawkes trilled to Harry. Harry nodded and then moved to Minerva's side. He unbuttoned the top three buttons of Minerva's top and parted it slightly. She watched him curiously but said nothing. Harry is showing Fawkes my mark she realized. Fawkes moved closer and inspected the mark. He trilled happily before flying up towards the tree.
"Is something wrong," Minerva whispered, bewildered by the scene.
Harry smiled reassuringly and grasped her hand in his. "He has seen your mark before," he answered excitedly. "Before his first burning day."
Before Minerva could ask more, Fawkes returned with several Phoenix birds following closely. Fawkes landed in front of Minerva and the rest lined up horizontally. "Your mating mark is the mark of our protectors. Every so often a special soul is blessed with a mark. You are the first one I have seen bonded with the mark. Usually our protectors are born with the mark. Yours is much larger than most as well," Fawkes spoke to her. "You will need to pass a test to ensure you are truly our protector. If you pass, you will always be welcomed at Phoenix Nesting without your mate present."
"Very well," Minerva agreed nervously.
The Phoenix birds each delicately placed an egg in front of them and moved back. Harry looked as bewildered as she felt. "I need you to walk beside of the nestlings and see if you can feel or hear anything," Fawkes instructed carefully. "You must rely on your instincts entirely."
Minerva looked at Harry but he just shrugged his shoulders. Minerva nodded to Fawkes and moved to the first egg. There was nothing special to her so she walked to the next and then the next and so forth. Minerva's heart dropped at the thought of having limited access to this place. It was a magical place indeed. She was nearing the end of the row when she suddenly stopped. She knelt down in front of the egg and stared wide-eyed. "She called my name. She wants me to pick up her egg and hold her," Minerva said suprised. "Did you hear her too?"
"No," Harry answered suprised. He usually heard what the Phoenix birds were saying even in his human form.
Fawkes sung happily. "You passed! All protectors can communicate with at least one nestling. Pick her up," he trilled.
Minerva reverently picked the egg up and drew it to her chest. She watched suprised as the the egg hatched in her hands. A small golden and purple feathered Phoenix with brilliant golden eyes looked at her sweetly. Minerva cried silently as the small Phoenix laid her head on her mating mark. A blinding white light flashed around them.
"You bonded with me," Minerva questioned suprised by the suddenness of it all. Did she really have a Phoenix familiar now she wondered.
A happy trill errupted from the tiny Phoenix. "I have been waiting for you for a long time Min! My name is Amethyst and I am ready to go home now," she spoke energetically.
"Amethyst wants to go home with me," Minerva stated as she met Fawkes' gaze seeking his permission.
"You belong to her now. You are her human," Fawkes answered matter-of-factly. "Take care of her and bring her back on her first burning day. She has much to learn yet!"
"I promise," Minerva answered sincerely. "Are you ready Harry? We will have to send Ginger for some supplies for Amethyst."
Harry grinned and transformed into his Phoenix form. He flashed them back home. Amethyst carefully tucked in Minerva's shirt near her chest. Minerva's life just got more interesting it seemed.
