Warnings: contain character death and slash in later chapters. Will not be OotP and/or HBP combatable. Disclaimer: I own none of Potterverse. It's all owned by the wonderful Ms. J. K. Rowling. Feedback would be much appreciated as I'm a relatively new writer.

AN: Dialogue isn't my strong point, so be prepared for odd bits and pieces of talking that doesn't make sense. Professor Slughorn doesn't really speak here, but there's a reason for that, sowait till thenext update. Review responses can be found on my lj, the link is on my profile page. Thank you to all who reviewed, I love you all to pieces!

Chapter 7. Explanations

Severus looked around the Headmasters office, it was full of odd little knickknacks and even a big stuffed bird sat in the corner. Professor McGonagall had dragged Harry with her after they'd settled the dragon into the stables by greenhouse three. The other staff had herded students into the Great Hall away from all the excitement. It had been animously decided that Professor Slughorn and Professor McGonagall would take Harry to the Headmaster, who would explain all that fennsey business. Harry had been the one that insisted Severus accompany him. Now they were just waiting for the Headmaster to return from an emergency meeting in the Ministry.

"Pooh" went the fireplace and an old white bearded man walked out of the fireplace. He dusted himself off and looked up.

"Minerva, Horace, what brings you here on this fine morning?"

"We've come to present you with a Harry Finnegan, he's a fennsey, Albus! This could mean that…"

"Now, now, Minerva calm down, this only means that there's been an imbalance in the magic, it doesn't mean that Tom has been playing with forces we can't understand, nor counter. Now, let's see this fennsey of yours." Said Headmaster smiling calmly.

Harry peeked out from behind Professor Slughorn. He'd soon grown tired of the conversation and began looking around. Severus watched in interest as Harry petted the stuffed bird in the corner.

"Ah, you've found Fawkes, my phoenix friend." The Headmaster said amused.

At that the stuffed bird, sorry – phoenix opened his eyes and thrilled. It was the most wonderful sound Severus had ever heard, it reminded him of his mother's voice, of his father's long forgotten embraces and the warm feel of Harry's hand. Harry looked awed by the sound.

"We've been talking about fennsey this and fennsey that, but do either of you boys know what a fennsey is?" Dumbledore asked.

"No." "Nope." They both replied.

"Fennseys are what we call people who've been called by magic to correct an imbalance in magic as a whole. This can be caused by extreme time travel, some very dark rituals, alternate universe eruptions or any number of very dangerous disruptive spells or situations that break the fabric of magic and reality.

They're usually powerful wizards or witches, although there has been one squib fennsey. The British Isles have received the most of the fennseys, I'm not sure if it's because we disrupt the magic too often, or for some other less corrupt reason. Some even speculate that Merlin himself was a phoenix fennsey. As you know Merlin had the animangus form of a phoenix.

Fennsey have a part of their souls ripped out through some event and that part becomes a magical being. There have been Griffin fennsey, phoenix fennsey and others, even one basilisk fennsey. Fennseys are given a certain task by their companion, with that task they obtain part of their soul back. Losing the companion of course and gaining an animangus form in the companions shape.

Now these tasks are neither good nor evil, but always something vital to magic. That is why fennseys are so rare. They maintain the balance between magic and reality. I'm not quite sure on how you've been chosen, but not to worry, your companion will help you along on your task.

Now, where's that companion of yours and have you been given your task yet?"

"Um,… he's outside. He couldn't get in."

"Really? What shape is he then? Companions are usually quite small as they represent the size of the soul part and the fennseys magical power."

"Um,… he's a… ummm, a dragon, sir."

"A dragon, you say! Quite extraordinary, why I don't believe there's ever been a dragon fennsey." Dumbledore exclaimed in disbelief. This was a surprise, indeed.

"This is why, I believe we should exact the protocol in the event of a fennsey." Spoke Professor McGonagall primly. She'd gotten over her shock and dismay while the headmaster had explained things to Harry. Headmaster Dumbledore tried to calm her down. "There's no real need to conform to protocol, now is there?" They continued to discuss the need for the protocol with Professor Slughorn inserting comments in between.

Severus watched the teachers talk and pondered. "Does this mean that Harry is too special? Will he even want to be friends with me anymore? What if he'll just flaunt his new status and forget all about our friendship. This is going to be hell." He thought in misery. Harry would forget all bout him and go gallivanting with some other heroes. Bloody hell! He hated the whole fennsey idea already.

Suddenly he felt a small hand creep into his.

"You won't stop being my friend? Will you, Severus? You'll still want to stay friends" Harry asked in misery.

"What? What do you mean?" Severus asked in disbelief.

"Well, you heard the headmaster, he thinks that I could be evil and a part of my soul is ripped out and I'm a freak and I'll have to do something big and…" Harry wailed in distress.

"Oh, Harry, this is nothing bad, you'll just have to do some task and then you'll be just Harry again," Severus comforted his friend "- with a little extra." He muttered to himself thinking of the dragon. Severus was reassured by Harry's babble. Harry was still Harry, if a bit odder than before. Harry stayed true to his friend till the end, there was nothing to worry about.

A sudden silence returned the boys attention to the teachers.

"It's been decided that protocol will have to be followed." Headmaster Dumbledore grumbled, it was clear that he'd been expecting to win in this tug of war of wills.

"Fennsey who come from Hogwarts are given a choice, do they want everyone to know of their status or not. If they prefer to stay anonymous the castle will induce a memory suppressant to the whole castles population. It won't erase the memory, it'll just make it seem so insignificant that no one will talk of the issue to outsiders or even each other. This protocol was put up by the Founders themselves, they were aware that a fennseys task could be ruined by the public's knowledge of them. Which would you prefer?" Professor McGonagall asked.

Harry thought for a moment and then glanced at Severus.

"Will Severus and you three still know about me being a fennsey?"

"Yes, if you want we'll still know."

"I want the others to forget and Severus to remember, and maybe you three also. Just so someone older knows also." Harry said decisively.

"All right, we'll start the protocol now."

Severus watched as the three adults started chanting in an odd language. A small cloud of bright lights and smoke wisps appeared above Harry's head. Harry giggled. "It tingles." A moment later as the chanting came to a stop the cloud burst and send little wisps of smoke everywhere.

"It's done." The Headmaster said tired.

"Now I think it's time for you to go talk to your companion and find out what your task is, wouldn't you agree?" said Professor McGonagall and shooed them out of the headmasters office.

"Wicked!" Harry yelled in excitement, took Severus' hand and dragged Severus laughing with him.

Harry it seemed had already forgotten all his worries and was already excited by the adventure waiting.