The Crow: Phoenix Rising
By: Belcris
Summary: What if "the power the Dark Lord knows not" had nothing to do with love? What if it had everything to do with justice? Crossover of Harry Potter and the Crow.
Harry Potter created by: JK Rowling
The Crow created by: J. O'Barr
I do not own these characters and I do not seek to profit from this story. I only wish to pay tribute to two great authors.
WARNING: This story contains scenes of graphic violence, foul language, and death. Rape is implied. You have been warned.
Category: AU. Dark Fiction.
Chapter 2: What Rough Beast…
Warm sunlight on my face and a warmer body curled up next to me. If I open my eyes right now I know I'll see fiery red glowing hair. The strange thing is she doesn't smell like flowers anymore. No, now she smells of damp earth and the sickly sweet smell of rotted leaves. At least that's what I tell myself because I don't want to admit that she really smells of decay and death. That's why I don't open my eyes, because I know it's all a lie. She's gone now and this is just a dream I've created to soothe my own tortured soul.
"It's almost time for me to go," she whispers to me and I know she's right.
"I don't want you to leave," I whisper back, feeling tears form in my eyes even though I know it's a dream. "Please, don't leave me again, Ginny."
Don't look.
But I don't listen and I open my eyes to see her smiling down at me. She's so beautiful in her flowing white dress and her hair blowing out behind her. She smiles at me and leans in to kiss me on the mouth with lips that are soft as velvet, but cold as ice. I ignore the part of me that is screaming inside as I cup her cheek with my hand, running the pad of my thumb over the freckles I love so much.
I'm not kidding, Harry. Don't look.
"I've got to go, Harry," she whispers with a sad smile, slowly standing. "They're waiting for me. They're always waiting for me."
"They?" I ask, suddenly sure I know who she means.
Ginny nods and turns sideways, allowing me to see past her. They're all there, all of her attackers. Peter is missing though and I can only hope that after my visit to him in the waking world he will never return again. Tom is standing just behind the others and I promise myself that my visit with him will be really spectacular, but not until all the others are gone. I burn all their faces into my mind, noticing that Snape is missing. I'm not sure what that means, but I'll find out.
Come on, Harry. I'm warning you. Don't look.
Then, shaking all my belief that this is just a dream, Ginny starts walking toward the leering bastards and says clearly, "Listen to the Crow, Harry. You don't want to see this and I don't want you to see it. Close your eyes and wake up, my love."
"Ginny?"
She turned back right before reaching them and I could see the terror in her eyes now, but I could also see the love that was just for me. "Go, Harry. Avenge us and set us free!"
I turn away, I can't really help it. I clamp my eyes shut just as she starts screaming and thankfully the sound vanishes instantly. Opening my eyes again I find myself back in Grimmauld Place. I'm not sure which is worse, this place without Ginny by my side, or knowing that even in my dreams she isn't safe. Not that it matters, really. I mean, I'm dead, how much worse can it really get for me, or her? It's not like I can die again, so this is really about making those pricks pay for what they did and making sure that nothing like this ever happens again. Right?
Right! About time you finally figured it out.
I turn my head and see the Crow perched on the back of the dusty old chair I'm sitting in. "So, if I can't die again, then what is there to look forward to?"
I can't tell you that, Harry. You have to figure it out for yourself. I'm just here to make sure that Justice is carried out.
"And a bit of the ol' ultra-violence along the way wouldn't be out of place?"
I never liked that movie. I always thought the book was much better. To answer your question though, yes, if we have to break a few heads to see Justice served then that is exactly what we'll do.
I can't help but laugh at the bird's "words." Before I was brutally murdered by a psychotic madman, I would have never even thought about taking another life. Well, maybe Voldemort's life, but that was kind of a given considering it was prophesized and all. The thing is, getting killed really messes with your sense of what is and isn't possible. I mean, really, if you think about it, once you get past that whole dying bit, there really isn't too much that bothers you. Think about it, you're dead. What are they going to do if they catch you after you've killed all the bad guys? Kill you again? Big deal. Been there and done that. Dumbledore always said there were worse things than death and guess what, I'm one of them.
"What's on the docket today, Mr. Crow?"
Cute, Potter, says the pitch black bird, cuffing the back of my head with a single wing. We're going to go visit another of your "friends." We may have a few stops to make after that, but I can't see it too clearly yet.
"Sounds good to me," I reply, standing and stretching. "Do I have time for a shower and change of clothes?"
The Crow seems to think about that for a moment before nodding and I turn to head for the bathroom. A cleaning charm on my clothes will clean the blood and mud off them, but I really want a hot bath. Not that it will really change how dirty I feel, but I need to feel warm again and hot water is the best way to do that. I start stripping before I've even reached the bathroom. I can hear the sound of wings behind me and know that the bird is following me.
"You need something?" I ask as I enter the bathroom, naked as the day I was born.
No, just thought I would tell you one more thing before we start the day.
"Yeah," I say, checking to see if the water is hot yet. "And what would that be?"
Oh, just that it's MISS Crow and not Mister.
With that the bloody bird flies out of the room leaving me blushing and completely gobsmaked. Fortunately for me, modesty seems to be something else that I left behind when I died, so it doesn't take me long to recover. Not like I have to worry about a bloody bird seeing me naked in the shower or anything. Still, makes perfect sense that with all the other things that have happened to me over the years that the first female to see me starkers since I was an infant would be a mystical crow and not the woman I love.
"Just lovely," I mumble as I step into the shower.
It doesn't take long to clean up. Good thing too because the water didn't stay hot nearly as long as I would have liked. I guess the spells that keep the boiler hot have started to fade now that all the Blacks are dead. Doesn't really matter since I won't be staying here that long anyway. Once I've finished what I have to do, I'll be gone as well. I just hope it doesn't take too long because I'm tired and I want to rest. Once you're dead, sleep doesn't really help any. The rest I need will only come when I'm finally where I'm supposed to be. Till then I just have to keep trudging along.
Stepping out of the shower I look up at the mirror on the wall. Seems my makeup is permanent because even after scrubbing my face I still look like an insane mime. It's actually a good look for me, all things considered. The scars on my body, old and new, are a bit disturbing to look at, but I once again realize that I don't really care. Seriously, they're only scars and I won't be showing them off to anyone any time soon. Grabbing my robe I notice that it's really rather ratty. In fact, all the clothes are.
"Maybe there is some better stuff laying about this place," I mumble, walking naked from the bathroom.
After about half an hour I've managed to cobble together a few odds and ends, mostly from Sirius' old room. A long black leather robe and a pair of black leather pants are a great find. In life I never would have had the courage to wear something like this, but being dead tends to give one a sense of confidence they never had before. Down in the room I used to share with Ron I find a skin tight black t-shirt. I think it used to be mine, left behind after my last stay here. I don't remember owning something this tight, but I did grow a bit before my death. My last find is actually in Fred and George's old room, a pair of dragon hide boots with a sizing spell on them so they will always fit. That's just pure luck for me.
Making my way downstairs I wander into the study with my newly found clothing. Doesn't take me long to get dressed, though I do have to put up with several cheeky comments from that bloody bird. If I was still alive I would probably be blushing and stammering like crazy, but it really doesn't bother me now. Besides, I look good in black.
Now that you are all dressed up, can we get going?
"Yeah," I say, slipping on the leather trench coat. "Who are we off to see first?"
You want to know what's creepier than being an undead Avatar of Death and Justice? It's hearing that fucking crow laugh. I'm not kidding. It sent shivers down my spine and that's no easy thing to do when you're dead. Didn't help when it flew over, still laughing, and landed on my shoulder. The sound of that bird laughing in my ear was enough to make me want to run screaming, but that's not really an option for me any longer.
We're going to pay a visit to an old friend of yours.
"More riddles?"
Your life is full of riddles, so deal with it. Now let's get going.
Without another word we're gone. Traveling with the Crow is nothing like traveling with anyone else. There is no discomfort like there is with so many other types of magical travel. Instead we're just gone from where we were and then we're someplace new. It happens so fast that if you blink you'll miss it. I don't think even Apparition is as fast as traveling with the Crow.
We arrive at a rundown old house on the outskirts of a small village. The place has seen better days, but I don't really care. What's important is that one of Ginny's attackers is here and it's time for them to pay. That doesn't mean I'm just going to rush in like I did when I was alive. Instead, I look around to see if there are any other people around. It's pretty obvious that someone is inside given smell of food carried to me by the breeze. I just want to know how many are inside. I don't want an innocent to get hurt while I'm taking out the garbage. I'm here for Justice, not random acts of destruction.
"Is whoever lives here alone?" I ask the Crow as I try to get closer without being seen.
Unfortunately not. Seems he has two people in there with him. You have to be careful because they are innocents, Harry. In fact, you have to save them.
"I would have done that anyway," I mutter, sliding along the side of the house until I'm next to the rear doorway.
Luckily the door is open so I can see inside. There are three figures inside the kitchen. Two are young girls, Muggles from the looks of them. I'm guessing neither of them is older than nine or ten from the look of them. They are tied up in a corner on the opposite side of the room from the doorway. I don't think they've been hurt yet, at least they don't look like they have, but they do look terrified. Can't say I blame them considering who is sitting at the table with his back to them, sharpening a cruel looking knife that I'm sure he plans on using on his victims. I've really wanted to speak with Walden Macnair and now I'm going to get the chance.
I wait till he's done sharpening the blade before I make my move. Right as he turns to face the two young girls I push the door open and slip into the room. The girls see me, but he's too focused on them to pay attention to anything else. So it comes as a complete surprise when I pick up his wand from the table and stun him. I'm not sure the girls appreciate it though, since he fell on top of them. Still, he's out cold and not going to hurt them, so I think they'll forgive me.
It doesn't take long to drag Macnair's stunned body into the other room and tie him up. I can't believe what I see. This guy is one twisted individual from the looks of the things in here. It sort of reminds me of a magazine I saw in Dudley's room once. I don't remember the name of it, but I had nightmares about women in leather holding whips for several weeks afterwards. However, I can't think about that now, so I just drop the old pervert on the floor, remembering to stun him again so he doesn't wake up too soon. Once that's done I stepped back into the kitchen and released the girls. I hear the talking to each other as I walk back in. Turns out I was right, they are Muggles, or at least Muggle born. Macnair and a few Death Eaters had evidently attacked a local park the day before, killing everyone there except these two girls. The girls lived in a foster home, but from the sounds of it there is no one left to miss them now. That's probably why the Death Eaters chose that particular time and place to attack, they figured no one would care about a bunch of orphans getting killed. Macnair had hid the girls from the other Death Eaters and had obviously intended to torture them to death once he got them home.
"I'm not going to let him hurt either of you," I assure the crying girls. "I'm Harry, what are your names?"
The blonde one looks at me, I think trying to decide if she can trust me, but then whispers, "I'm Megan."
Taking it as a sign that it's ok to speak, the brunette finally says, "I'm Virginia, but my friends call me Ginny."
Damn, if that doesn't shake my world then I don't know what will. I swear it feels like someone just kicked me in the gut. It's all I can do to not start crying when I hear her name. I can feel the rage building in the back of my mind and I know that whatever the cost, I'm going to make Macnair pay for what he's done. I force myself to smile. I do a good job of hiding my anger because they smile back at me. Holding out my hands to the girls and helping them to their feet I just keep smiling, trying to reassure them without words that they are safe now. Then I guide them outside, away from the house, and ask them where their families are. Turns out both their families were killed by the Death Eaters, hence the reason they were living with foster families, so they have nowhere to go.
"I'll tell you what," I say, trying to comfort them as much as possible. "You wait here for me and when I get done I'll take you someplace safe. I've got some friends, family really, that will help you. Can you wait here for me?"
They both nod, but as I get ready to return to the house the blonde stops me. "Are you going to kill that man, Harry?"
I don't like to lie, and I'm not going to start now. "Yes I am. He's hurt a lot of people, including someone I love very much. It's time for him to find out what Justice really means."
"Are you a good guy, Harry?" asks the brunette.
"I hope I am," I reply, turning to the house again. "Wait here. I'll be back soon."
I don't wait for their reply, though I do cast a sleeping charm over them. I know this is going to take a while and I don't want them to be any more afraid than they already are. I may not like it, but this needs to be done and I need to know what Macnair knows if I'm to find the rest of his "friends." Not that I really need to, considering so far the Crow has been the one to find them all. Either way, Macnair is going to pay for his crimes. Stepping back inside, I realize that he's taken so much from so many that my loss is nothing by comparison, but that doesn't mean it is any less important. In fact, considering everything he's done, my loss is just the straw that broke the camel's back and this camel is going to make him pay for it.
Noticing Macnair's collection of "toys" on the kitchen table I pick up a few of the more interesting ones and his wand. Walking into the front room I cast several privacy charms before walking over to where he's laying. I don't think the girls need to hear this. Given the nature of the room with all its implements of sadism, it really doesn't take me very long to get things ready. Now it's just a matter of waking the guest of honor up. Simple enough, really.
"Envenerate!" I say as I cast the spell.
Macnair doesn't even wait to start screaming at me. He's not afraid. He's furious. Too bad for him that I've already chained him down on one of the more interesting devices in the room. It looks a lot like a rack from an old black and white horror movie. Before I woke him up I had already found the cranks that take the slack out of the chains, so Macnair isn't going anywhere unless I release him. Not that he really cares about that because he's demanding I let him go, or I'll "suffer the consequences when my Lord hears of this." What an idiot. Does he really think he's getting out of here in one piece? Several maybe, but definitely not one.
"SHUT UP!" I bellow, and now I've got his attention. "You seem to be under the impression that you're in control here. Well I'm sorry to tell you, but you're not."
"I don't know how you managed to survive when the Dark Lord killed you, Potter, but when he learns you are alive he's going to destroy you and everything you have ever cared about!" bellows Macnair.
I can't help myself and I start laughing in his face. "That's another mistake you've made, Wally. I didn't survive, and neither will you."
To prove my point I pickup one of the sharp knives I picked up in the kitchen and stab myself in the chest with it. The funny thing is, it doesn't even hurt when I do it, but I can see the look of terror growing on Macnair's face as I slowly pull the knife out. I know, rather overly dramatic of me, but the look on his face was worth ruining my new shirt. Besides, I can fix it later and now that he knows he's up against someone he can't bully, Macnair looks like he's about to piss himself.
Wait…he did piss himself.
"So much for being a big bad Death Eater," I laugh. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone. Unfortunately for you, you are going to tell me everything I want to know."
I don't need torture to get what I need from him. Whatever I've become, I can just take what I need from his memories. Laying my hand on his forehead I feel sick as the memories of torture and rape wash over me. I don't let it show on my face, but seeing Ginny violated by this monster is enough to make me want to throw up. Of course it's also enough to turn the burning rage I've been feeling into something far worse. When it's finally done and I have everything I need from him, I stand up straight and turn away from the disgusting piece of trash behind me.
"I know your secret now," I whisper, looking over the assorted implements of torture I've gathered from the other room. "You like to be in control and torture people because you can't get your wee soldier to stand at attention otherwise."
"Shut the fuck up, Potter!"
I don't even think about it, I just turn around and stab one of the thin daggers into the man's palm. A part of me, probably the part of me that remembers being alive, wants to throw up. The rest of me, the part that is now the Avatar of Death and Justice, tells that other part to shut up because this man has it coming to him. Either way, he's screaming like a little girl now. I think he's just figured out that this isn't going to end well for him. Of course, there is also a part of him that is enjoying this.
"Don't get your hopes up, Wally," I say with a sneer. "This isn't one of your Saturday night romps with Bella. I'm not here to play with you for a bit then let you hump my leg. There are no safe words this time. This time you are going all the way to Hell."
"Do your worst, Potter," he says, still trying to sound brave. "I know you don't have the backbone to kill anyone. I'll heal eventually and when I do I'm going to go after all your little friends, especially that Mudblood bitch, and I'm doing to have so much fun with them."
"Wrong answer, Wally," I laugh, picking up a very nasty looking serrated knife. "That Harry Potter died a year ago. I'm the new and improved Harry and I'm going to be sending you back to your master in pieces."
You know, to be honest, sometimes it scares the hell out of me what you can do with magic. For example, did you know that you can torture someone for hours and keep them alive with just a few simple spells? I didn't really know it either until it was all said and done. Four hours and thirty-five gift wrapped boxes of varying size later, Walden Macnair was dead. I don't know if I should be proud of it or not, but he was alive right up until the last ten minutes of those four hours. That's when he finally begged me to kill him and I granted him his last request. I spent the rest of those ten minutes addressing each of the boxes to Tommy boy and then drawing the symbol of the Crow on each card. I hope he appreciates the time and effort that went into his gifts.
A quick cleaning charm on my clothes gets rid of the evidence of what I've been doing. I don't want the girls to see me covered in blood. They've been through enough and I don't want to add to their nightmares. So, once I'm all cleaned up I walk over to the only box that's still open and press Macnair's wand to the Dark Mark on his left forearm. As soon as that's done I snap the madman's wand and drop it in the box before putting the lid on it. I know Tommy and his stooges will be here soon, but I can't stick around and play right now. I've got to get the girls to someplace safe. There will be plenty of time for playing later.
You feel better now?
"Fuck off," I practically grunt as the Crow lands on my shoulder.
Don't take your bad mood out on me, Harry. I'm not the one that just cut a guy, albeit a real monster of a guy, into thirty-five pieces. Though I did think the gift wrapping was a stroke of genius.
"What I did was disgusting," I growl. "Why didn't I feel like this last night, like I'm as bad as they are?"
Because last night was justice and today was revenge. You are not the Avatar of Revenge, Harry. Trust me, I've met that loser and you don't want to be him. No, you are the Avatar of Death and Justice. I chose you because you suffered more than anyone else while your attackers went free. What you did in there was more about making him suffer than it was about Justice.
"So, what you're saying is that I am just like them?"
The Crow actually nips my ear the way Hedwig used to when she wasn't happy with me.
Oh boo hoo. Harry Potter, the martyr, feels so bad because for once in his life because he did something naughty. Well excuse me if I don't want to attend that particular pity party. Walden Macnair was a dark and evil man who had escaped Justice for far too long. I know what he did to you and what he wanted to do to those girls, so pardon me for being rather pleased he's dead. Yeah, maybe you could have done it a bit differently, but in the end dead is dead and I'm not going to complain either way.
The damn bird is right and I know it. She brought me back to deliver Justice, not to indulge in a personal vendetta against a few people. Paying them back for what they did to me and Ginny is just a perk of the situation. If I start forgetting that I really will be just like them. Not that I really have time to think about it much. I've got to get the girls to safety before Wally's friends show up.
Thankfully the girls are still asleep where I left them. It takes a bit of careful maneuvering, but eventually I've got one in each arm. The Crow lands on my shoulder and we vanish just as I hear several loud cracks. Obviously I cut it just a bit close, but now I'm safe. This is the second time in two days that I've been here, but really there is no other place I could take the girls right now. Picking them up I absorbed their memories and I know that they have nothing to return to. I also felt my magic, or what now passes for my magic, stirring a bit when I picked them up. I'm not sure they were witches before I picked them up, but I'm sure they are now.
"Was that your doing?" I ask the Crow.
Call it a gift. They had the spark, but it had never really turned into a flame. I just fanned it a bit. They deserve to have something good come out of all this.
Smug bird actually sounds like she means it. "You do realize that you've put them right at the top of Tommy's list of people to kill, right?"
No response from the bloody thing. I decide to just ignore the giant feather duster. I have other things to do right now. This is the safest place I can think of for the girls and I'm hoping that having them here might pull Molly out of the funk she's been in since Ginny and I were killed. At least that's the plan. I just hope I can drop them off and get out of here before Molly knows I'm here.
"Who's there?"
I just had to jinx myself, didn't I? I really don't want Molly to see me like this. Hell, I don't want her to see me at all. She's going to lose it when she figures out what's going on. I remember what Mr. Weasley showed me last night and I don't want her to go through that again when I leave this time. It's not fair to her. Let's be honest, it's not even fair to me. I don't want to see her now. She's the closest thing to a mum I've ever had. I don't want her to suffer and I don't want to know that I'm the reason she's suffering.
Don't worry, Harry. I'll take care of it.
"A friend in need," was all I could think to answer.
Looking up I saw her standing there, the woman I considered to be my mum in all but blood. She looks so much thinner than I remember her and her eyes look so sad now. Still, I can see in her face that look of determination that I remember so well. I want to run to her and feel her hug me, one of her famous bone breaking hugs, but I can't. It would hurt too much if I did that and I've got too much to do to let my pain cripple me.
"Well pardon me, young man, but none of my friends run around with their faces painted up like it's Halloween carrying little girls in their arms," she replies, but I notice she doesn't even have her wand drawn. "Tell me who you are, or I'll have my husband out here and he'll deal with you."
"No he won't, Mrs. Weasley," I say softly. "He knows I've got too much to do yet before I rest."
That seems to shake her a bit, so I continue. "As for the girls, they're the ones that really need your help."
"Why would they need my help?"
"Because they've got no one now," is my answer. "Death Eaters attacked them and killed everyone that could take care of them. I can't take care of them, so I brought them to the safest place I know of."
Shit, that was a mistake. Molly rushes forward and before I can stop her she's reaching out for the girls. I feel it the instant her hand touches my arm and her memories start flooding into me. Oh God, her memories are like fire in my mind. The days upon days of raw grief she has suffered through since that night. It's too much for me and I can feel my legs giving out. It's all I can do to hold onto the girls as I fall to my knees.
"Are you alright?" she asks, that worried tone in her voice that she always had when I was hurt or sad.
"I'm alright," I say, though it's a lie. "They're just heavy."
Molly nods and takes the blonde from me. "Come on, let's get them inside."
I can't argue with her right now or I'll break down and tell her everything. I just follow her inside and into the front room. Carefully we set the girls down on the couch, the two of them now clinging to each other in their sleep. If I didn't know what they had been though today I would say they were just two little innocent girls, but I do know. I can only hope that Molly will be able to help them.
"Please," I beg. "Please, just take care of them. Tell your husband that Crow asked him to take care of them. They need a good home and I can't think of any place better than here."
"Hello?" Megan says, finally waking up. "Where are we?"
I kneel down next to the couch and brush a stray lock of blonde hair from her face. "Remember I told you I was going to take you someplace safe?"
She nods and I notice that Virginia is now awake as well. "Well this is the place I was talking about. This woman is Mrs. Weasley and she's about the nicest woman you will ever meet. If you don't mind, I would like you to stay here with her and her family. Would that be alright with you two?"
I watch the girls look up at Mrs. Weasley appraisingly. I glance at her myself and see that while the sadness is still there in her eyes, there is also determination. She's not going to let the girls go easily and she's going to make sure they are happy. That's all that I can ask for. I'll have to ask the Crow about getting some money to them for the girls to use at school, but that is going to have to wait for now. What I really need right now it to get out of here before I can't take it anymore. Being here, in this house, bring back too many memories of my old life and Ginny.
"Yeah," says little Virginia, "we'll stay if you think it's safe."
"It is," I answer with a smile, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "I can't think of any place safer for you."
We talk for a few more minutes, Molly answering as many questions as she can. I think this is going to be good for her. All her kids are grown now, or gone. This will give her something to fill the void in her heart and maybe allow her to finally heal. At least that's what I hope will happen. I can't really stick around to make sure though, since I'll be gone before too long. Speaking of leaving, I really should.
As I stand up to leave Megan stops me by grabbing my hand and pulling me down and wrapping her arms around my neck in a tight hug. "Thank you for everything."
Little Virginia is crying now, but she joins in on the hug and I can't help but hug them both back. "You two be good for Mrs. Weasley, okay?"
"We will," they answer in unison.
I lean a little further forward and whisper so only they can hear me. "You are my family now, just as the Weasleys are. When the time comes, you ask Mr. Weasley about me, about who I was. I'll be proud for you to bear my name as your own, my little sisters."
They both squeal, I find girls do that a lot when they are excited, and I am hugged and kissed by my two new little sisters. I hate that I will never get to know them better than this, but I will do everything I can to make sure they are taken care of. Maybe I can talk to Mr. Weasley again and see what happened to my trust account at Gringotts. If it's still there, maybe there is a way it can be turned over to the girls. They deserve it and they deserve to lead a good life.
"Will we see you again?" asks Megan as I finally turn to leave.
I hate it, but I tell them the truth saying, "I'm afraid not. I have a lot to do and when I'm done I'll be going away."
"Do you have to?" asks Virginia, tears in her eyes.
"Yes," I reply, smiling sadly at them both. "Someone is waiting for me and I can't keep her waiting too long. It's rather rude to keep a woman waiting, you know?"
The girls giggle a little bit, though they still have tears in their eyes. Unfortunately I think I've said a little too much because Mrs. Weasley is standing in the doorway to the living room with a look on her face that says she's almost figured it out. I've got to get out of here before she does, or all hell's going to break loose. I can't deal with that right now. I've got too much to do.
"You girls take care of yourselves and make sure you lead a good and happy life, alright?"
"We will, big brother," replies Megan, while Virginia just nods vigorously.
I can see Mrs. Weasley wanting to follow me outside to question me. In fact, I'm pretty sure she's going to stun me and sit on me until I answer her questions. Fortunately for me I've got a fast out in the form of a semi-Divine bird that can transport me straight through wards. So as soon as I'm out the door the Crow wraps a wing around my head and we're gone. I just want to get home, or at least back to Grimmauld Place since the place I just left behind is more like my home than anyplace other than Hogwarts.
"God," I murmur as we arrive back at Sirius' old home. "I need a long night's sleep after that."
Good. Get some rest and while you do that I've got some things to check out.
"Sounds good," I mutter, collapsing on the couch and pulling a dusty old blanket over me. "See you in the morning."
The poor boy is asleep almost as soon as his head hits the armrest of the couch. He's probably the first Avatar of Death and Justice that has ever been able to hold on to this much of his humanity and not go insane doing what is required. I respect him for that more than anything else. The world needs more men like him. Then again, they killed him so I'm afraid of what they would do to another one.
With a flick of my wings I'm back at the Burrow sitting outside a half open window. I want to hear Mrs. Weasley and the girls talking. I trust Harry's instincts almost as much as I trust my own, but I want to make sure they'll be alright.
"So you say Mr. Crow saved you from the bad man and then made the bad man go away forever?"
"That's right, Mrs. Weasley," answers Megan. "But his name isn't Mr. Crow."
Molly turns around to look at the girls with a smile on her face, but I can see she's afraid to hear the name they are going to speak. She's determined though, so she asks the question I know she's dying to ask. Her reaction to this will determine whether or not she's ready to deal with life, or she's going to hide from it.
"What is his real name, dear?"
"Harry," answers little Virginia. "I think he's an angel."
Molly hangs her head, then takes a seat in one of the empty chairs around the dining room table. Her face loses all color for a moment before looking back up at the girls and smiling at them. This is not a fake smile. It's a true and genuine smile that warms even my heart to see. It looks like Harry was right about her good heart and iron determination. She may have lost it for a little while, but it was never really gone.
"Yes," she says softly, a single tear in her eye. "If there was ever anyone I knew that could be called an angel, in every sense of the word, it was Harry. Let me tell you about the time he saved my daughter from a basilisk."