Bane

A/N: Harry sees himself as Firefox. He named himself after the two men that took him in and adopted him. He isn't going to correct those around him for calling him Harry. He doesn't see the point in it. Sorry for the confusion and how short this chapter is.

Disclaimer: see chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed, flames will be deleted unread.

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Chapter 15

The low afternoon sun peered through the newly cleaned lead paneled window. Firefox sat up in the heavy curtained ancient sleigh bed. At least his chambers were not Gryffindor red. They were, instead, blue and bronze, typical Ravenclaw colors.

Personally, he preferred leaf green and clear crystals, not quite Slytherin colors but close. Gryffindor red reminded him too much of blood and Hufflepuff colors reminded him of insects.

"Master Harry, youse be needing to get up. It's time. Youse wanted up an hour afore dinner served in the Great Hall. Youse wanted to attend," Dobby spoke beside the bed.

Looking over at the worried house-elf, Firefox yawned and then smiled sleepily at his small friend. "Thanks Dobby. Draw me a bath, will you? Did you hang up my robes?"

"Dobby did. Never have Dobby seen such robes. Which one did youse be wanting?"

"They were made for me by a special young lady who served me as you do. She had quite the talent in sewing. You think you or Winky can make those kind of robes for me?"

"Dobby cannot but thinks Windy can, or she would know someone who can. They would cost, though."

Firfox nodded. "Check into it, will you?"

After giving it much thought, he replied to Dobby's earlier question. "The green and crystal one in the middle. There should be a matching shirt and pants to go with it. It'll do to help me make the statement I want to make."

Firefox stepped out of bed and stretched. He liked sleeping nude as he did in his ekele. He never could when he lived with the Dursleys or later, in the boys' dorm. Sleeping nude was very freeing.

He felt several pops as muscles released, as he ran through a series of stretching. His futon was great, but he would have to get used to sleeping high off the floor again.

Grabbing up a lounging robe that he had Dobby put out before he lay down, Firefox was too accustomed to living in a free society. Lounge robes were for evening wear before going to bed or if one was ill. Nudity in the pools or in one's home was very acceptable, as long as one didn't flaunt it. Again, he'd have to relearn old lessons.

Dobby didn't say anything as Firefox went to the soaking tub, resting before a roaring fire. This tower had been sealed away and hidden from the rest of the castle. He doubted it had been used by anyone beside Rowena Ravenclaw after her death.

Salazar didn't know much about what happened after he died, but he knew his friends. They were very zealous about their secrets. He was positive the tower would have been locked down and not updated since. So no indoor facilities here. At least, until Firefox could get with the castle elves and plan one.

Thankfully, there were facilities not far from the tower on the seventh floor where the tower entrance was located.

'Right beside the Room of Requirements,' Firefox mused as he dressed for his grand entrance. 'Why am I not surprised?'

"Master Harry looks like something out of a storybook," came Winky's voice from the doorway.

"Ah, Winky," Firefox smiled as he turned. "Can you do hair? I am in need of a little help."

Winky hopped onto the small stool beside Firefox, and took the comb from him. "Winky does. What do youse want Winky to do?"

Firefox directed his little helper to braid a few small braids and adding small clips of crystal beads and feathers to his hair. That was another one of the things he now missed. Cera always did his hair for him, in spite of the many times he groused that he was nothing more than a dress up doll for her. He sighed, missing her deft ways.

"What happened to Master Harry's messy black hair that Winky remembers?" she asked as she added one final touch.

"When you work with the wild magic that runs underground, it leeches out your color over time. I'm just lucky the magic didn't change my eyes color to blue as it does to anyone that work with that magic," he told her, with a smile. "Thank you, Winky. You're the best." Then he gave her a wink as well as a saucy smile.

Winky eeped as she hopped off the stool. "Winky is doing what Winky was asked to do."

Once Winky tamed his long hair, Firefox felt more at ease. Dressed in a long flowing green robe and matching under tunic and pants that most of the mages favored in the Vale, Firefox thought he was looking more like Firesong before his face was disfigured.

The long mirror he was standing before wasn't one of those talking mirrors, he thanked the Star-eyed, that graced the many dorms in the castle. Dressed and now ready to face the Great Hall, he turned to thank his little friends.

Firefox chuckled as he exited his bedchamber. Kieryn was still lounging on the balcony and looked like one of the house-elves had groomed him.

The young gryphon raised his head and yawned before giving him an inquiring look.

"Sorry Kieryn, but you can't come with me tonight. The Great Hall has lots and lots of floating burning candles. And you and I both know that fire and feathers do not go well together. Tomorrow I will introduce you to everyone. We'll give them a show they won't forget."

Kieryn nodded and lowered his head. Firefox looked over to Dobby. "Has his room been made up?"

Dobby bobbed his head. "Oh yes, Master Harry. Dobby even enlarged the small window to make it a doorway for him to come and go. I'se been putting warming spells all over the room as youse requested. I find lots of old pillows and cushions to make a good nest for him. Youse gryffie surprised Dobby by making large balls of lights. Youse two owls are in the owlery. They'se fine."

"Wonderful!" he praised before he surveyed the sitting room once more. He gave a deep sigh before saying, "Well, no need to put it off much longer."

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The Great Hall was starting to fill up as students and faculty entered. Albus Dumbledore frowned. He still couldn't find who or what had caused the power surge last night.

Hagrid had reported that someone had attacked the acromantula colony and killed almost all of the adults and destroyed the nest. The centaurs were saying that the Demon Bane's Heir has returned. He couldn't get any more information.

Who or what a Demon Bane's Heir was, he wasn't certain. He prayed that it wasn't another dark lord. Tom and his followers were bad enough.

Standing, the aged Headmaster called for the dinner to be served when the Great Doors flew open without a knock. Standing in the middle of the entrance with his arms raised was a young man, at least Dumbledore thought itwas a young man wearing robes that were simple and elegant but more exotic than his.

"Good evening, young man," Albus greeted as he stood with his wand ready. "As you can see, we are just getting ready to start dinner. If you could wait in my office, I would join you shortly."

The young man had long snowy white hair that had been simply braided with beads and feathers for ornaments. Many of the girl students oohed and whispered as he stepped past them. He never looked at them as he walked.

Albus waited as the young man walked with a confidence of his worth and purpose. This was someone that knew what he wanted. The Leader of the Light peered into those green eyes that spoke of life and freedom and started to probe his mind.

:I wouldn't, if I were you: came a young man's voice in his mind. :What you are doing is not only unethical but rude and dangerous. Please leave before my defenses make you.:

Allbus blinked. Never had he been rebuffed before for a simple probe. Just who was this young person?

"Good evening, Headmaster, Professor McGonagall. Professor Flitwick. Professor Snape. Did you miss me? Sorry I am late," the young man spoke with assurance and in a very familiar voice, one some hadn't heard in over six months.

"Harry, my boy?"

"POTTER!"

Harry James Potter smiled. "At your service. I hoped I didn't worry you unduly?"

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Firefox stood in front of the closed Great Doors. It was time for a performance. As his father Firesong always told him: "If you must make a statement, do it with style and own the situation. Do not let it dictate you."

So he called for some power from the ley-line that ran into the castle. He still hadn't tapped into the ward stone yet and wouldn't, as it was too dangerous to do so. Pooling the magic into his raised hands he gave the doors a great magical push. Showy but fun.

He walked through the Great Hall, ignoring the whispers and the staring. He ignored his former friends that sat at the Gryffindor table, who were eyeing him with suspicion. He also ignored the Slytherin table, where they also eyed him like a gryphon eyeing a herd of deer. Salazar was walking by his feet and for some reason they were not noticing him.

:That is because I am doing it deliberately: came the answer. :You can't have all the fun.:

:Of course not. You are a cat after all. Toying with people comes naturally.:

Salazar didn't reply. Although Firefox did feel the snugness radiating off the firecat.

He felt the mind probe instantly. The old wizard was just protecting his school. At least that was what Firefox hoped.

With a quick rebuff and warning, the probe ended.

"Good evening, Headmaster, Professor McGonagall. Professor Flitwick. Professor Snape. Did you miss me? Sorry I am late," he said with a slight bow to each of the individuals, noting their start that he knew them.

"Harry, my boy?"

"POTTER!"

Yep. Professor Snape is still true to form tonight. Should he rile him up more? Nyahh. I'm supposed to be the adult here, even if he doesn't act like one.

Harry James Potter smiled. "At your service. I hoped I didn't worry you unduly?"

Albus Dumbledore sat stupidly back in his golden chair with his mouth open. The other professors also stared at him. Even Professor Snape was at a loss for words.

Harry smiled. His father was so right! If you to do something, do it with style.

Whispers and rumors started to run through the Great Hall as everyone took in the new appearance of the lost Boy Who Lived. He glanced over to the Gryffindor table at his shocked, former friends and smirked. His entrance was well worth it.

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A/N: I'll try to update soon but summer is approaching and I am sewing up a storm and really don't have time to work on my writing. Also I am currently working on chapter 20 and it isn't finished.

I'll try to keep my profile updated.

Until next time. – GF