Chapter 13- What happened?

Disclaimer:

All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners i.e. J.K. Rawlings, etc. The original characters and plot are the property of their author i.e. J.K. Rawlings, etc. this work is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Not for sale or profit.

"Good morning first-year class. i'm your instructor Harry Potter hoping to be able to train you to deal with Tom Riddle a half blood known as Lord Voldemort…"

After the eeks and screams had subsided I continued, "The name of this course is Defense against the Dark Arts and the darkest of all is the half blood Voldemort." I again waited for the class to settle.

"Now this morning I will be dealing with basic wand safety and a simple spell that will start you on your road to defend against Voldemort and his robe kissing incompetent followers. Now I can see by your expressions that some of you have been raised to believe in his pure blood fantasy. I am not trying to disrespect your parents only there ideas in this area. I suggest two things for your consideration. The first is to open your minds and come to your own personal conclusions. Second is to recognize those who are led normally end up as sheep and are led to their slaughter.

"Yes Mr. McPherson."

"Professor the Daily Profit this morning stated there was a mass breakout from Azkaban conducted by the notorious killer Sirius Black. It also was reported that he wants to kill you, aren't you afraid."

"Yes Mr. McPherson I am terrified that they will catch him. You see this is another point where you must research and think for yourself. Now if I had believed that Sirius Black, my godfather, was dangerous to me I never would've spent this last summer vacation with him. Don't forget the oaths that magical godfathers take to protect when they take that possition. So let's get to wand safety and then our first spell 'Petrificus Totalus'."

Was I concerned that I was now turning loose a whole bunch of first years that had their first spell to play with. Was I sure that at their age the corridors and common rooms was the ideal places to practice. Maybe next class I'll teach them the counter spell.

/Scene Break/

We were into the next week and my younger students were clamoring for counter spells such as 'Finite' while one of my more studious types wanted to learn 'Protego'. Once the class realized what the spell was they were pleading that it be taught. Apparently some of the older Slytherin students were practicing their hexes on the younger students.

"Daphne, from the smile on your face it appears you had another successful class."

"Yes my birdie mate, McGonagall allowed me to teach the entire class and I believed I did quite well."

"Say did you two ever get any results from Snape over what kind of potions were in your food at the welcoming feast." Hermione asked. And as if the fates had demanded that the question be answered the doors to the great hall doors opened. A middle-aged lady with a monocle stepped into the hall followed by two Ministry law enforcement types. Madam Bones of the DMLE had arrived.

"Ah company, Amelia what a great pleasure to see you here at Hogwarts. Might I suggest we adjourn to my office..."

"Thank you Headmaster but I'm here to see Lord Potter." With that statement I raise my arm and gave her a short wave. We had started eating at different tables to keep Dumbledore upset while Dobby was monitoring our food for potions. The seats opposite Daphne's soon became suddenly vacant for the Ministry officials.

"Lord Potter, I'm Amelia Bones the Head of DMLE, might I have a word with you in private?" apparently this was going to be a formal word.

"Yes of course, please follow myself and my bonded Daphne, there is a room just off the entrance hall."

"I wonder what this is all about." Daphne whispered in my ear, at least I think she did, anyway I heard what she said.

As we took our seats around the table I raised my wand and recited, "Firmamento quod impenetrabile est silentium" (dome of impenetrable silence).

"I don't believe I've heard of that spell before Lord Potter but we have come here to ask you about the message you sent, with a phoenix no less."

"Yes, my familiar, I hope she wasn't a problem as she's a cranky old bird." Hedwig flashed in and proceeded to give me a look that demanded an apology.

"You stated that someone had tried to apply potions to you a Lord and his Lady. We both know that that would not be conducive to either of your well-being. You also stated you had turned the food over to the Potion Master Snape who was instructed to contact me, he has not. Have you any idea as to the purpose behind the attempt?"

I held up my hands to indicate that I surrendered and went on to inform Madame Bones…

"Madame Bones I sent the letter to inform you that the act had been committed, beyond that I expected nothing good from the actors involved. Factual information on who did what, I have none, but I could give you a bit of supposition if you wished."

"Entertain me Lord Potter."

"Please call me Harry and I believe this is something generated from Dumbledore and carried out by Snape. I of course would not insinuate that you should waste your time with a direct accusation. But I think it would be quite funny to confront Snape as to his findings. My recommendation would be in the Great Hall in front of Dumbledore just to see what happens."

"I see you're attempting a bit of manipulation on the master manipulator, but! I'm here, and why not". We headed back into the Great Hall.

Daphne and I resumed our places at the table while Madame Bones approach the head table and asked, "Professor Snape I believe you were given some food for testing, might we now find out the results of those tests?"

Snape did not appear to have an answer and look to Dumbledore. This did not go unobserved by Madam Bones.

Dumbledore did rise to the occasion, "Amelia I believe this discussion would be better discussed in my private office rather than here in the Great Hall."

"No Dumbledore, a potential crime has been discovered. I expect your Master Potions Professor to deliver the results of his tests to my office by tomorrow evening. Should he not comply I'm sure a full investigation will be initiated by my office of everybody involved. Goodbye Headmaster!"

/Scene Break/

Now I would never take credit for things that were apparently happening just because I'm Harry Potter, but...

Apparently my classes stirred up a lot of interest DADA as Slytherin house liked to attack the younger students and my teaching of 'Protego' did help. It didn't seem to matter that it was an advanced spell and not taught till latter years. One first year student succeeded and the race was on!

Further having one Of Hogwarts's beloved Professors, Professor Snape being caught up and told off by Madame Bones in public… Well things just looked that much better. However, the next thing I knew there was a DADA club formed and Daphne and I pressed into service. We were teaching defense spells, and a few offensive spells after class hours. This started with the younger years but more and more of the upper year students were stopping by at every meeting.

Madame Bones had gotten back to us stating that negative results were attained and delivered by Snape. His results were not believed by the DMLE but there were no grounds to progress further.

As time passed and classes progressed I just couldn't believe it, I really had no intention other than helping students learn defense. Suddenly I'm learning from Hermione, Daphne, and a number of other reliable people that I have half the school looking to me as some kind of a leader.

/Scene Break/

Meanwhile Dumbledore was meditating in his office and contemplating his own immortality. He decided that he was going to take down everybody who opposed and ruined his destiny. Dumbledore knew that Potter had visited the phoenix library as he had done in the past. Potter was not taking the bait over the dark objects nor was he interested in the prophecy. Maybe a few perks to that Weasley boy to dig up some dirt and start some rumors. Children under his care were of little concern any more, his main thrust was Harry Potter but…Tom Riddle had also done him dirty. Then there were a number of members of the Wizengamot who had stopped him for further taking over complete control. Assuming that he couldn't kill the lot of them maybe could make Potter a pariah in the magical community. No, it was better to make Potter the hero and have him kill Tom or maybe he could manipulate the Muggles to wipe out Potter and his other nemesis. Dumbledore congratulated himself on a new and brilliant plan. If he made this weekend a Hogsmeade weekend and let Hagrid know in advance that information was sure to leak. A brilliant plan! Now change the schedule so to put Potter and his slut as professors escorting the students in the village. Yes, now to add a few more of my problem people to this coming day in Hogsmeade and we all will be waiting to meet Tommy boy in the village.

/Scene Break/

"You know Harry this all seems to be really a waste of time."

"How is that Daphne?"

"Those who want to have a little tryst are not going to do it in front of us on the main street of the village. House rivalries are not the top of the agenda as Honeydukes and butterbeer are on the top of everybody's list."

"Daphne don't knock it, we can have lunch at Rose's Teabag Shop and a butter beer at the Three Broomsticks and still say we did our jobs as professors. If the Dark Lord and thirty or more of his assistant screwballs show up it's not like you and I are going to make a credible defense of the town."

Everything was quiet except for the students running from shop to shop getting all those things they just had to have. Daphne and I strolled down the main street and after a while decided to head for lunch when suddenly…POP, came from behind me.

"Me and my big mouth" flashed across my mind as I turned to see a Death Eater's wand pointed at me. As usual the idiot had to gloat before he unleashed his curse. "The dark Lord will reward me handsomely for killing you."

I unleashed a series of stunners with my left hand while drawing my wand with my right. As the Death Eater fell I heard behind me…

"Imperio", kill Potter!" The Death Eater should have thrown the killing curse rather than playing games. Then again he may have been one of many couldn't find the power to do the killing curse.

As I turned Daphne lifted her wand and pointed it at me. I was momentarily stunned as her wand lit up but she spun and blasted the Death Eater further down the alley.

"You don't mess with my bonded, asshole!" she screamed but suddenly the entire street was filled with POPs and Death Eaters.

I knew of at least three curses that I could throw down the street and eliminate every living thing on that street but the problem was a lot of those in the street were students or town residents.

Merlin! All the spell I knew from the library and which one was the one I needed, right now! Then I saw a phoenix circling over the street. Well I could transform into a phoenix but that took a bit of time transforming, flashing and then transforming again. I also was unable to cast any spells in my Phoenix form. With more than thirty Death Eaters scattered up and down the street how was I to get to them? Then a crazy plan came into my brain. it was not 'apperation' which took a second assuming anti-wards were not up, well it was a type of flashing, of sorts, as I combined a number of thoughts and…well... I just did it!

Oh boy did I flash, not as a phoenix but as Harry Potter. The extent that I did or didn't transform was later described to me by the students and Daphne. To me it was just like a phoenix flash. Arriving next to a Death Eater I stunned him and flashed to the next. It took but a minute before I had every Death Eater on the street focusing on me. In their panic to stop this dangerous new threat…spells and curses were flying everywhere. Of course the squad of Aurors arriving down the street didn't hurt with the odds or the confusion. Well it would've hurt if their spells had hit me but I was flashing so fast their spells passed right through me, or so I was later told.

Dumbledore arrived with a couple of his order members expecting to find a battle. He was shocked to find a clean up of stunned Death Eaters. His wards had shown Tom's forces arriving and then the Aurors. His timely arrival to save the day was embarrassing late.

/Scene Break/

The six-year was growing too a close and I can only shake my head. Defense club was one of the most popular activities in the school. Colin Creeve was making a fortune selling his Harry Potter photos. The Daily Profit had photos from the Hogsmeade village attack to some of the stunts that I pulled to impress the DADA club members to continue training on some of the more difficult tasks.

Tonight was the leaving feast and then tomorrow morning breakfast before the train departed. Daphne and I had planned on flashing and not taking the train. This was further reinforced by Dumbledore's… "Professor Potter, Hogwarts will need your presence over the summer break so I have…"

"Not happening! Harry and I are planning a very enjoyable summer so bugger off! Daphne was very emphatic in her view.

Something else that change over this school year was Daphne and my ability to talk mind to mind if we focused on doing so. The library said that this was a possibility due to our bond but we think it had a lot to do with both of us being silver phoenixes. Bottom line was, "Who gave a flying fart", what worked, worked.

"Harry enough of this yakking with the headmaster, let's flash home."

"Yes my love, after you!"

Dumbledore was a bit confused. Harry's bitch had said to "bugger off", how dare the hussy? Then there was a moment of silence, and they disappeared in a flash of light. How dare they, how could they? This is Hogwarts and nobody could 'apperate' from its grounds.

/Scene Break/

Well the summer started off with our apartment in Knockturn alley and glamour charms but then it then turned into a parks and roller coaster rides around Great Britain. We suddenly realized we had turned back the clock and were acting like kids, and we both felt great. Soon Daphne persuaded me and we visited a number of places like Las Vegas where we won a pile of money and enjoyed losing a bigger pile. Then there was a number of spas in Germany allow us to relax and soak in the soothing mineral waters as we enjoyed the Eiswein and Auslese. We even went over to the island to annoy Sirius and his girlfriend of the moment. We still enjoyed the sun, the sand and the sea. Of course there was each other to enjoy as well.

"So are we really going back for the seventh year?"

As I was contemplating it appeared the fates or whoever decides these things stepped in and Fawkes flamed onto the palm leaf roof of the cabana. Daphne and I transformed and joined Fawkes for a chat on the roof.

"Hi Fawkes, what brings you to the land of sand is sun?" Daphne chirped.

"Hatchlings, the ruling committee of phoenixes has determined that this is the time for me to spill the beans!"

"You're going to tell us everything?" I figured with all the people or entities that have there fingers in my life, someone would be holding back something.

Fawkes shook his head and continued as if I had not asked the stupid question.

"I joined Dumbledore a little after his sister died and he decided to make the world a better place. This is what he openly practiced and endeavored. Dumbledore's life has many facets and is quite confusing but he was on the road to be the pure in soul and in being the 'Leader of the Light', however, at that point in time there came what became known as Dark Lord Grindelwald. Judgment or the moral concept over killing is extremely difficult especially in judging innocence and goodness as they are just nebulous words. Actions in regards to killing can also be judged neutral as the act is again just a word. Many say it is the enjoyment of the act of killing that is evil or turning to the dark side. The act of killing can be determined as neutral when they do not destroy goodness or corrupt the soul. You could say that vengeance, hate and the enjoyment of killing corrupts the soul. These are all nebulous words that sum up your soul and have nothing to do with man's laws that are in effect at different times. I was with Dumbledore when he killed his Dark Lord. While everyone looks upon this as a great deed his act was soul corrupting."

"But his intent was to rid the world of the evil wizard Grindelwald." Daphne exclaimed.

"We do not read actions but the pureness of intent. Are you aware that Grindelwald rejected Dumbledore as his lover? Perhaps Dumbledore was blaming Grindelwald for Dumbledore's sisters death? That was only the beginning. During the first war with Voldemort, Dumbledore used his people as chess pieces not caring about their lives but only how their deaths could enhance his position or affect his desired outcome. Currently he expects Harry, through the goodness of Harry's soul, to give his life for the good of the wizard world. Dumbledore then expects to step in and have the winner killed for more power and to change the magical world into what he envisions. While what he envisions may be a noble intent his path is soul corrupting. Then there is a misconception he has over his immortality which is driving his actions. Why I remain in his company is solely to watch and report. It is now your turn to lead."

"But I've killed for what could be called revenge."

"You are still in the innocent and goodness stages and in our opinion you will not change. We phoenixes have been selected to maintain the library of knowledge and read souls. We only pass on guidance from above." Fawkes flamed away.

"Harry do you have the feeling that you have more questions than answers? The big question are we going back under Dumbledore's roof?"

"While I would love to stay here forever with you, we have been told that we have to do this last year at Hogwarts at least. I can only hope that this is going to be the year of the final confrontation. I'm looking forward to a carefree life with you, with travel and of course this island."

"While I love this island what are we going to do about Sirius. How we going to get him a trial? And a psychiatrist wouldn't hurt, I mean how many women he is trying to impress with his boyish charm?"

"Well, even though I agree with you, you have to admit it seems to be working for him."

"Let's see what's working for you Mr. Potter. I do believe there's an empty bed in our room."