Chapter 9
Harry walked into his dormitory with Terry Boot and Michael Corner. He was wondering what he was going to do about Goldstein. Malfoy was annoying, but he wasn't in Harry's dorm. Terry and Michael had explained that they were sorry for Anthony's actions, and that they couldn't believe he would do that.
Harry had laughed. "Why? Because he's in Ravenclaw?"
They had fidgeted. "Well… no, but he was always nice to us before."
"Well, maybe he just doesn't like me."
"Maybe," said Michael.
When they were going to bed, Harry went and looked out the window. His mother had said many things about Hogwarts, but she had always said her favorite thing about it was the view. He could see why; Ravenclaw tower looked over the Forbidden Forest, and over that, the moon rising.
He was half listening to the sounds of the night and Terry and Michael talking, when he heard their dormitory door open. Looking back, he found Anthony stalking over to his bed and drawing the curtains closed.
Grinning slightly, Harry turned back to the window. Suddenly, he saw a black speck flying over the Forbidden Forest. He couldn't explain it, but he felt an overpowering urge to go to it.
Michael and Terry had been talking about this muggle game called 'soccer' that Dean Thomas had been talking about, when they saw Harry slip out the door. They exchanged looks, then shrugged and continued their conversation.
Out in the common room, Harry was looking around to make sure nobody was awake. Seeing no one, he kept going. In the corridor, he turned left and started down the staircase. At the bottom, he turned right, and got to the Entrance Hall. He walked out into the night, and started jogging toward the Forest.
At the edge, he stopped. Up until then, there had been a haze over his mind. He hadn't known until then, but he now took out his knife and looked around. Something had been compelling him into going there, and he did not intend to be a magical beast's dinner.
He jumped as a shriek sounded out over the forest. His empathy exploded, and he felt something around him enormously happy. He started grinning himself, and looked around, trying to find the source of such joy.
~A few minutes earlier, over the Forbidden Forest~
The phoenix was flying out over the Forest, looking for smaller birds careless enough to be out at night. It would settle for a mouse or something if there was a chance, but the phoenix was not very good at hunting at night.
Phoenixes usually lived in mountain ranges, or perhaps in the fey realm. Phoenixes had been created when a fey bird had flown out of the fey realm and into the mortal, undergoing a transformation into a phoenix. Before that, birds in the fey realm had been undefined, just a lump of feathers with wings. When the original bird flew out into the mortal world, the magic in magical Britain had defined it as a phoenix. It had then developed the powers phoenixes had to that day, and lived happily in the Forest of Dean.
There was a downside to being a phoenix, though. Phoenixes lived a life not unlike that of a mortal that drank unicorn blood. It was a half life, and Phoenixes could not be fully happy until they had bonded with a mortal. That mortal would then be the phoenix's lifeline to the mortal world, and if that mortal died, the phoenix would be sent back to the fey realm and be forced to start over. Luckily, the phoenix could feel it's partner and when they would be born. There was only one mortal that could be their partner, in the timeline and only at once.
The original phoenix felt this compulsion, and sought out it's connection to its partner. It had to wait for three years, but it connected with him as soon as he came to magical Britain.
That wizard was Merlin.
The phoenix that was hunting above the Forbidden Forest had been waiting for eleven years. Suddenly, it felt its partner's gaze. Calling to him, the phoenix soared up higher so as to give it's partner a better view as to where the phoenix was. It's partner's gaze soon left, however, and the phoenix gave out a mournful cry.
The phoenix felt its partner come out of the castle, and was overjoyed. When it's partner was at the edge of the forest, it soared down with a cry of sheer joy.
~Present time, at the edge of the Forbidden Forest~
Harry was grinning, and searching for the source of the noise. He was suddenly dazzled by a flash of light from above him, and shielded his eyes. When the light faded, he looked up and saw a beautiful bird.
The bird was black with flecks of white running down it's back, and Harry suddenly knew with certainty that the bird was a male. That same bird seemed ecstatic at seeing Harry, and flew down to him. The bird landed on a branch slightly above Harry, but within easy reach.
Harry felt spontaneously calm. Looking at the bird, he could've sworn the bird was solemn as well. Harry felt compelled to touch the bird, as if it was his duty.
Slowly reaching out, Harry hesitated to see if the bird would allow it. It examined Harry's hand, and slowly bowed his head. Harry, taking this as a sign of consent, slowly lowered his hand onto the bird's sleek feathers.
Harry felt a shock run up his arm from the bird, and the bird gave squawk and ruffled his feathers. Harry felt no fear of the bird now, and reached out, grabbing the bird gently and pulling it to him.
"Hello, Rush," said Harry happily, and a cry of ecstasy sounded out over the Forest, seeming to originate from the castle.
~Inside the castle, a few minutes later~
Harry appeared in the castle, and with a burst of flame Rush appeared beside him. Rush perched on Harry's shoulder and they headed to the headmaster's office. When they got there, however, the gargoyles refused to move.
"Please move?" asked Harry tentatively, and nothing happened. Remembering what Professor McGonnagal had said to get them to move, he said, "Fizzing Whizbees?"
They jumped apart, and Harry and Rush strode triumphantly between them.
At the top of the staircase, Harry gave a slight knock. Hearing nothing, he walked in. He found the portraits, the instruments and everything else in place, the only thing it was missing was an old man and a bird behind the desk. Looking around at the portraits, he asked, "Have any of you seen Professor Dumbledore?"
"How did you get in?" asked an old woman in one of the paintings.
"I was here earlier today, I remembered the password and came in. I need to ask him about Rush," said Harry, and Rush gave a little chirp.
All the portraits gasped, as if seeing the phoenix for the first time. "Is that…?"
"A phoenix," said the old woman. "Dumbledore is in his quarters, I doubt he'll mind if this is your reason for being here."
Harry nodded and went into the door behind the desk. Inside, he found darkness. Feeling around for a light, he heard a ruffle of feathers and the light turned on, revealing Dumbledore standing there, fully dressed with Fawkes in his shoulder. "Hello, Harry."
"Professor Dumbledore! I was looking out the window when I saw a speck, I went to see what it was and when I got there, I met this bird, this phoenix, and I touched it and now it won't leave me. I named it Rush."
Dumbledore took a moment, presumably to translate this rambling nonsense, and said, "Let Fawkes meet Rush, Harry."
As if on cue, Fawkes flew off the headmaster's shoulder. Circling around Harry and Rush, he gave a cry of delight. He flew back to Dumbledore, feathers ruffled and satisfied.
Dumbledore smiled and said, "Fawkes likes Rush, Harry. I was sleeping when Fawkes woke me up with a phoenix song. Knowing Fawkes wouldn't wake me up for no reason, I got up and got ready for whatever would come. Imagine my surprise when you came in with a phoenix on your shoulder."
Harry nodded, as if he knew whatever the heck Dumbledore was talking about. "So, Headmaster, what do I do now? Do I treat Rush like an everyday owl? Or like a pet? I was thinking of treating him as a friend that, I don't know, sends messages or letters and all that."
Dumbledore smiled and nodded. "Yes, Harry, do that. Phoenixes are much smarter than owls. Owls may know where to go to deliver a message, but phoenixes can do that and so much more. I will help you and teach you about you and Rush, but for now, I suggest you go back to your dormitory. "It is very late and you should not be out this late. If you come across a prefect or Filch, just tell them you came from my office."
Harry nodded. "Thank you, Professor."
"No problem, Harry. I do enjoy meeting new phoenixes."
Harry grinned and walked out. On the spiral staircase, he shadow traveled to the top of the Ravenclaw tower. Rush appeared beside him, and they walked up to the door knocker.
"Where do phoenixes go when they flame travel?"
Harry laughed. "Where they mean to. Duh."
Harry could've sworn the door knocker smiled as well as it said, "Of course," and opened.
Harry walked up to his room with Rush, feeling very happy. Up at his dormitory, he found the rest of the boys sleeping, and crept over to his bed. He laid down in his bed, but was distracted by a flash of white.
Turning toward the flash, he found Rush hovering over his nightstand, and as he watched, a golden perch slowly rose up as if it was made of light. When it was finished, it looked remarkably like Fawkes' perch in Dumbledore's office.
Reminding himself to ask Dumbledore about it tomorrow, Harry rolled over and fell asleep.
~The next day, Harry's dormitory~
Harry woke up to a voices talking beside his bed. Turning, he found Michael and Terry crowded around Rush, and Anthony hanging back a bit but looking no less impressed.
"What is it?" asked Michael.
"A phoenix! Do you think it chose Harry when he left last night?" answered Terry.
"No way. A phoenix wouldn't choose Potter." said Anthony nastily.
"Then how come it's perched beside his bed? And why would it be here if it didn't?" said Terry, looking a bit annoyed.
"Maybe it chose one of us."
Michael laughed. "I may be Muggleborn, but I doubt it would come up to us as we are sleeping, choose us, and then just decide to go perch beside Harry."
Anthony had no answer for that, so he just scowled and walked down to the common room.
Harry looked up at Michael and Terry and said, "Thanks. Goldstein won't get over yesterday."
Terry smiled and shrugged. "No problem." He turned to Rush. "Did it choose you last night?"
Harry grinned. "Yeah. His name is Rush."
"Cool!" said Michael. "Where'd you get the perch?"
"I didn't, Rush made it last night. I want to ask Dumbledore about it later."
After a few more questions, Michael and Terry headed down to the common room. Harry turned to Rush and said, 'I wonder when they were awake."
Rush started to preen his feathers. Harry laughed and got dressed, and when he started down to the common room. Rush immediately flew over to him and perched on his shoulder, and they went down the stairs.
When they got there, Harry found out MIchael and Terry had been telling everyone about Rush. They were mobbed by the other students, all asking questions and trying to pet Rush. Rush tolerated a few, but when they got a bit too rough, he would snap at them.
When the students had slowed down a bit, Hermione and Padma came up to them. "Hey Harry." said Padma.
"Hi," said Hermione, looking at Rush. "Can I pet your phoenix?"
"You can try, but rush was just mobbed by all the other students, so he might be a bit apprehensive."
Hermione reached out tentatively, and after a few moments of waiting to see if Rush would bite her, she lowered her hand to his head. Rush ruffled his feathers and trilled, and Harry felt a wave of content come from the bird. He grinned, guessing that this was a phoenix thing.
Padma pet him as well, with no trouble. When they got that out of the way, Hermione asked, "Harry, when did he choose you? Did he fly in to your dormitory?"
"No, I went out to meet him. I just felt the need to go see the black speck I saw above the Forest."
Hermione looked horrified. "You went out past curfew?"
"I didn't have a choice, Hermione. I didn't even realise where I was until I was at the edge of the Forest," said Harry, a bit annoyed that she didn't understand this.
"Alright… if you didn't realise," said Hermione.
"Harry, do you even know anything about phoenixes?" asked Padma.
"No, I'm going to go to the library after lunch. Want to come?"
"Sure!" said Hermione, then blushed as Padma raised an eyebrow at her. Harry missed this however, he was stroking Rush. The phoenix had its eyes closed, and Harry smiled as Rush purred not unlike a cat.
Harry looked up at them. "Want to head down to breakfast?"
"Yeah, let's go," said Padma, and the three went down to the Great Hall.
When there, Ron came over, along with Susan and Neville. "Harry, what did you name your phoenix?" asked Neville.
"Rush. Rush, this is Neville, Ron and Susan," said Harry jokingly. Turning back to them, he said, "I saw him above the Forbidden Forest last night, and I went out to see what it was. It flew around me, and when I touched him, there was this big flash of light and then he wouldn't leave."
"Bloody hell, Harry, you just saw something and just decided to go check it out?" said Ron.
"Well, I didn't exactly mean to go see it. I was in some kind of trance, and when I came back to myself, I was at the Forest."
"Cool!" exclaimed Neville. "You should ask Dumbledore about it. I heard he had a phoenix."
"He does, and I went up to his office last night. He said he'd explain stuff to me today. Me and Hermione and Padma are going to the library to look up phoenixes, want to come?"
"I'll go," said Susan.
"Sure, just let me run up to the Gryffindor tower for my bookbag," replied Neville.
"I still have a ton of homework. I'll just meet you after lunch," said Ron.
Harry grinned. "Sure Ron, you do that. Let me know how much 'homework' you get done."
Ron grinned sheepishly, and went back to the Gryffindor table with Neville. Susan went back to the Hufflepuff table, and Harry went back to eating.
~In the MacLeod mansion, the previous night~
Crowley was finishing up with a demon deal in New York, when he felt a change in the wards around his house. Cutting off the deal, he traveled over in time to see a multicolored shield grow over his mansion.
As he watched, the shield was slowly swallowed by tendrils of darkness. Crowley hesitantly reached through. When nothing happened, he ran into the house.
"Lily!" he called. "Lily, where are you?"
"I'm here!" she replied, running out of their bedroom. "Did you see that?"
"Yes. I don't know what it was, but it was eaten by something dark. Whatever it was, I think the wards held it off."
Lily looked out the window again. Seeing nothing, she looked back at him. "If it didn't do anything to you, I don't think it does anything bad. Let's just leave it for now, alright?"
Crowley was a bit troubled about leaving a strange ward in place over his house, but he agreed. "Alright, Lily, but at the first sign of trouble, we're moving to a different house. Got it?"
"Yes, dear."
Crowley slowly let a breath out, and pulled her into a hug.
Well, that wraps up this chapter! I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. For my reviews:
Sakura Lisel: Ok. This is going to be a lengthy answer, so people who thought the same thing as me, just skip this one.
Voldemort attempted to kill Harry the same time as in canon, and I did this on purpose. The Order of the Phoenix was still operating, even if James and Lily were gone. Everybody assumed Voldy did it, but obviously, that's not the case. And if you guys remember, Voldemort wasn't the one that killed Neville's parents. That was Bellatrix. As for Neville being the supposed Boy-Who-Lived, that's easy. The prophecy said a kid that was born on July 31st, and as far as Dumbledore knew, that was Neville. Couple that with the fact that Neville's parents were killed, and it seemed obvious it was Neville that killed Voldemort.
Silver Dragonflymoon: Thank you.
Ana Luisa: Gracias, no sé lo que pensaste que era canon, pero no será lo mismo por mucho tiempo. Harry será un buen amigo de Neville, y lo ayudará con este negocio de Boy-Who-Lived.
Thank you! See you guys next chapter, Gridline out.