When the boys woke up in the morning, they both thought the windows had been left open. They could hear the wind roaring in their ears and felt a breeze on their skin. The heat of the nearby fire felt like a best friend to Takuya, making the boy's understanding of Harry great. They walked downstairs together, the few people still at school noticing the easy grace each boy had. When they entered the Great Hall, conversations stopped and people turned. Puzzled, both boys turned to see if there was something behind them, but they stopped when they caught sight of each other. Thin hairs covered both boys, from the bottom of the foot to the top of their now pointy ears. Their pupils were now mostly black, the irises reflective. Each boy had sinewy muscles coursing down their bodies.

-Well, that's new-

-Definitely.-

The boys smelled bacon and ran to their table. Much to everybody's shock, the boys were at the head of the table in less than a second. Ron came in and gasped at his friends. Though they were on the opposite side of the Hall both turned and looked at him. "They look totally different." Ron whispered. As he watched, the boys got up and ran, forms a blur. When they stopped next to Ron, Harry spoke up, "You don't need to shout it to the crowd you know."

"What do you mean?"

"We may look different but that doesn't mean you need to call attention to us."

"I barely whispered."

The two boys exchanged glances. "Weirder and weirder."

After Ron finished eating, the three went out to throw snowballs. Everything was fine until a gust of wind came by, blowing Harry and Takuya straight up. Harry was used to flying so he was able to get back in control, using his fire to make himself heavier. Takuya, only having flown with wings, was unable to stop. Harry thought hard, wishing he could help Takuya. As soon as he thought it, a gust of wind rose from his hand, blowing up to Takuya and whisking the boy down.

"I'm starting to wonder if Ebowamon gave us too many gifts." Harry said.

"Uuuuh, yeah." Takuya agreed.

"I get the feeling that it'll be useful though." Ron piped up.

With this, Takuya playfully punched Ron in the arm. Unfortunately for Ron, the muscles in the boy's arm were a lot stronger than usual. Without thinking, Harry leapt in the air after Ron, catching the boy easily in his arms. As soon as he finished this, Harry swooped down to the ground, setting Ron down safely.

"Ok so we can use wind, are stronger than normal, can hear conversations from a full room away. Boy it looks like Ebowamon likes us."

"I think," Harry began, "That we're getting everything right now while it adjusts. Kind of like when I was changing into a fire being."

"WHAT!?" Ron yelled.

"Oh yeah, you don't know yet." Harry and Takuya exchanged a look before Harry continued, "I died. See, Takuya carries spirits inside of him that he can turn into. When that Digimon you saw showed up, I accepted my death. When Agunimon realized he couldn't fuse with me because Takuya could die, Agunimon gave me a gift instead."

"What gift?"

Harry stepped back, Takuya standing next to Ron. "Nothing much!" Harry yelled, "Just, this!"

With that, Harry erupted into flame. His form lost all definition, a pillar of fire roaring merrily. After a few moments, Harry concentrated and the flame shrank, gaining human form. However, Harry did not return to his 'human' form, keeping a ring of fire around himself to show Ron. He walked toward the boy, slowly dimming the heat as he got near. When Harry was a foot from Ron, he lost the ring of flame, revealing the smiling eyes of Ron's best friend.

"Wha-what the? What happened to you mate."

"You don't want a visual Ron. Harry, weren't you overdoing it?" Takuya said

"'Eh, little."

"Come on, tell me." Ron said.

"Well ok, you do deserve it. Everything human about the boy known as Harry Potter burned away a little over a year ago."

"Huh?"

"I mean that literally. After that fight, my bones were slowly melting away leaving only the marrow." Harry turned and looked Ron in the eye. "Do you see it? It's hard to tell from a distance but this close up you should notice."

Ron looked and then gasped, "What's wrong with your eyes?"

"Nothing, I just don't have any human eyes. When I vanished the night after that fire incident, I was testing powers I had just found out about. I found out that the school was going to be attacked. Naturally, I tried to save those I could. Takuya, Marcus, Tai, Davis, Takato, Koji, Matt, TK, and Kari were all connected to fire, light, and hope. As such, they were able to fire travel with me. You've seen me do it before at your mom's."

"Oh yeah, when you skipped the floo powder."

"Shortly after I took the last group over, the nerve endings in my skin disengaged."

"I felt the pain he was in so I shared his pain. When I came to, I woke up in a bed with Harry's body covered in a sheet in the next bed over, cold as ice. Homer told me they had been waiting for me to tell them what to do with his body. I promptly decided that in honor of Agunimon's gift and how well Harry used it, his body should be burned. However, the flames did nothing to the flesh itself. In a rage, I dug a hole and threw him in."

"The bone marrow ash from my transformation became bones of fire. My essence floated out of the ice block my body had become and reformed above ground, reborn as fire. I tried to fly back and save you guys but I was blown into Takuya's hand. From there, I entered the Digital World and found my partner, Mokomon." Harry finished.

Ron stared, openmouthed.

"Oh, some things remain. When I was buried I was given two gifts. A globe of fire from Takuya's other spirit, BurningGreymon and Takuya's goggles." With this, Harry patted the goggles on his head, "The also dug out my wand and placed it along with my D-tector in my hands. Those four things were sucked in through the dead mortal tissue until they fused with the living fire within. That is why you have never seen me actively take them off, I can't. It is permanently attached to me. I can will them into being or out of it but they mean a lot and when I found out what they mean I cannot hide them."

Ron looked at Harry but the fireboy had eyes only for Takuya.

"Well, what do they mean?"

When Harry turned to Ron the human jerked back as if punched. Harry's eyes, though flames, still showed the emotions within, even more so than before. Ron saw fear, pain, death, life. "When a Digidestined wears goggles it means something more than just fashion. It signifies that that person is a leader, willing to do anything for their team. When I died saving as many as I could, I proved myself worthy of these goggles. They remind me of my sacrifice and why I am willing to make another."

"Why?"

"You." This time, it was Takuya who spoke. "He didn't die clinging to the hope that we would be safe. He didn't merge so as to allow me to fight. He wasn't thirsting for power or knowledge. No, there were three names in his mind at each sacrifice. One pulled him away from a life of being bullied because if he wasn't then his cousin would hurt them. The second is lying in a hospital bed, unable to be seen. The last one, the very first one in his mind… was you."

With that, both boys turned and walked back into the castle. Ron just stood there, realizing what he had done. Harry had died for him and how did he repay his friend? Doubt and anger. He never understood why Harry hung out with Takuya, thinking that he just wasn't good enough when all along, Harry had been thinking of him, not Takuya. On shaky legs, Ron walked into the castle…

…To find Hermione standing in front of him. "Her-hermione! You're ok!"

Hermione's eyes flashed and she grabbed him in a chokehold. "You die!" Hissed a male voice. As his eyesight began to fade, Ron thought he saw a flash wizz through the air.

"No you die, Bruce!"

Ron heard bones crunch and saw Harry leap onto Takuya's back in midair. The brunette's eyes narrowed and he turned into the very beast Ron had seen many times. Harry roared in anger and pulled out a sword of fire, thrusting it into the body of his friend.

Hermione's grip loosened, Ron falling to the ground.

"N-no! Har-Hakuya, don't kill her!"

Strangely, there was no blood, the hole from the wound closing up. Harry and the beast landed, as though waiting for something. "Kidnapping may be cruel but corrupting my friend and using her to kill my other one!" With that, Hakuya hit her in the jaw.

"Don't touch her!"

At this, Hakuya turned to Ron, silver armor glinting in the torchlight. His hair was a living flame yet his eyes were Takuya's brown. Pulsing gold and silver threads extended off into all directions, like neverending hair. This being was bred for war and yet, the combined voice spoke up, "I have to do what I can to save Hermione and you. If I don't do something quick, he'll corrupt her completely, killing all the students in the school."

Ron stood in front of Hermione, raising his hands out, blocking Hakuya. However, this had no effect as with a wave of the being's hand, Ron was lifted into the air. "Grab him my Valkyrie!"

Soaring through the air, Ron saw some of the threads around Hakuya flash. From out of nowhere, Draco Malfoy grabbed Ron, catching the boy in mid-air. Joe and Kari appeared and the three stood, blocking any attempt for Ron to save Hermione.

Hakuya was fighting as though any slip up would kill him. Fire and wind rained on the girl, at last knocking her out. Ron pushed, but the Valkyrie stood back, letting him go. Hakuya created a cushion of air, floating Hermione over to Ron. "Take care of her!"

Ron stared, seeing Hakuya and the beast circle something in the air. He wished he could see the same thing Hakuya could see, having to be satisfied by the intricate dance.

Hakuya flew off the beast, a gash across his face. In midair, the boy twirled, bouncing off a wall. The beast leapt and grabbed onto something, pulling it down with its teeth. Draco Malfoy leapt in and slashed the air near the beast with his huge talons. Before he crashed, the great golden wings opened and flashed in the light. Kari was making a pass, swiping whatever it was with a mighty blow. Joe was next, black wings flaring. However, he suddenly flew back, mouth bleeding.

"JOE!" Ron yelled.

"Are you alright Raven?" Hakuya hissed.

"Just a surprise blow m'lord." Joe said to the rider.

"Raven?" Ron asked.

"Yes little brother, I've seen this before." George Weasley was standing beside Ron, looking at the black winged boy. "I was there when they took down Randalf. Harry's controlling them through the threads in his body. When this happens, he is the Valkyrie Raven. Kari Kamiya is Eagle and Malfoy is Hawk. They look different than last year though. Raven, would water work on this thing you're fighting?"

Raven spun around, raptor eyes glinting.

George held out a barrel of water he had filled up.

In one swift motion, Raven grabbed the bucket and tossed it on Bruce. Ron could see the figure and so he leapt into action.

George stared as Ron jumped straight into the air. Forming under his body, a massive tiger appeared, paws ready for action.

If Harry could die for him, Ron could fight at his side. "Swerve behind!" Hakuya roared. The two leapt again, the claws of their steeds tearing into the cloak. The cloak fell away, revealing a skeleton. "Th-the sha-dows are co-ming." With that, Bruce, second of the shadows crumpled away to nothing. Ron's tiger vanished into air, leaving the boy missing his mount. Hakuya changed back into Harry, cold mind changing. The Valkyrie's armor fell away, wings now cloaks. Their eyes softened, returning to human shape. Even though it was mid-afternoon, those involved walked over to bed, falling into a deep sleep.