It took three days to bring Harry Potter back to England and to Hogwarts. Because of his condition, being barely alive, Peter and Poppy Pomfrey had confirmed what Ginny felt in her heart. They felt that he should not be moved by any magical means due to the unknown magics that were within him. Fortunately, Minister Bones was able to speak to Prime Minister Blair who arranged a military plane to fly him home. Thankfully the crew was made up of people who were either wizards or already had knowledge of the Magical World.
It was a rather full flight, even for a C-130 Military Aircraft. Peter Pomfrey was of course on board as well as Ginny, who only left Harry's side long enough to restore Hogwarts to normal operations and have prepared for Harry's arrival.
The thought of Hogwarts needing to prepare for Harry's arrival intrigued her, though she did not spend a lot of time dwelling on it. She had repeatedly told Gabby, Sir Nicholas, and ever Hogwarts herself that Harry was dead, but rather in a deep coma and suffering from complete magical exhaustion. However, Gabby and Sir Nicholas insisted on continuing the preparations and Ginny let them since they seemed adamant about it.
Also on the C-130 were some of the most important people in Harry's life: Albus, Minerva, Fawkes, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Luna, Remus, Dora, Dobby, Winky-who arrived after learning about her Harry's condition and apparated at once, Mackrack, Bane, and Happy.
They landed at an old military base in Scotland which had a railroad line that connects to the line that would eventually connect to the line that ended at Hogsmeade. The Hogwarts Express was waiting at the base's train station where the group would depart from. After loading Harry, who was lying on top of a specially designed stretcher that would monitor and record his condition, the remainder of the group boarded the shortened Hogwarts Express for the trip to Hogsmeade.
When the train arrived at Hogsmeade Station, the group onboard the train could see that there were Aurors and Goblins keeping the large mass of people who wished to see their savior back so that Harry and his honor guard could exit the train. Also at the station were an additional eight centaurs who would serve as extra security Harry.
Filius and Hagrid, who were at the station already, had taken one of the school carriages and transfigured into an acceptable carriage to bring Harry home in. the carriage was an open design with a drop down gate on the back to easily load Harry's stretcher. In front and behind where Harry's stretcher would rest were bench seats which were where the others sat except for Remus, Dora, and the centaurs. Remus and Dora stood on small platforms on the back of the carriage so that they could overlook the area and provide extra protection for Harry.
Instead of the thestrals that normally pulled the school carriages, the carriage was pulled by eight unicorns, two male war unicorns led the pack followed by two female war unicorns. Following them were two more male unicorns and two more female unicorns. Hagrid later would say that he had no idea where the unicorns had come from, when he and Filius went to work on the carriage; they were already waiting at the carriage, harnesses in place, and waiting patiently.
Once the group arrived at the castle, they were met by the four house ghosts, Sir Nicholas, The Bloody Baron, The Fat Friar, and The Grey Lady. Sir Nicholas spoke as the chosen representative of the group of ghosts.
"Hogwarts has felt her master is near death, we have prepared all we can in order to aid the Lord of Hogwarts, Hogwarts can heal him, but he must come with us. Lady of Hogwarts, this is your choice and your choice alone."
"Do whatever you can Sir Nicholas. Harry has completed his destiny, now it is time to live, if he can." Ginny said to the ghost.
"That is not correct Lady Gryffindor" A non corporeal voice said. "Lord Gryffindor's destiny, and that of all of you, does lay in war, but rather in peace.. Your destiny is to rebuild the Wizarding World, and Lord Gryffindor is to lead you in your efforts."
Everyone was shocked to hear this, and many were wondering whose voice had spoken. Their question was answered when a ghostly form of an elderly, but loving, woman appeared. "I am Hogwarts. I will care for my Master. But in order to do this, you all must leave. Lady Gryffindor, seal the gates when you leave my grounds, I will do all you can for my Master and your soulmate."
Ginny nodded before moving over to her unconscious husband and kissing him. "Come on everyone, let's go."
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Once the Entrance Hall was cleared of living people, Hogwarts waved her hand and a second grand staircase appeared. The four ghosts lifted the stretcher and made their way down the stairs. Deep, deep underneath Hogwarts, even deeper then the Heart Stone Chamber or the Chamber of Secrets was another Chamber. It was actually built to harness and focus the magic of the earth and the lay lines up in the castle.
This Chamber was built so that the center of each of the lay lines ran thru the center of this room and thru a large slab table. In the middle of the table was an etching of the Hogwarts Crest inside of a Pentagram. At four cardinal points of the room stood a small altar with the north point bearing the crest of Godric Gryffindor, the south point bore the crest of Salazar Slytherin, the east with Rowena Ravenclaw's crest and the west with the crest of Helga Hufflepuff.
Once the four ghosts placed Harry on the slab, they each moved to their appropriate altar. Soon they were chanting in Norse, Druidic, Latin, and Middle English. As their chanting continued, the four altars began to glow and the bowls sitting on them began to fill with different items. The bowel on top of the Gryffindor Altar was filled with fire, while the bowel on top of the Slytherin Altar was filled with water. The bowel on top of the Hufflepuff Altar was filled with earth and the bowel on top of the Ravenclaw Altar was filled with swirling wind.
As the chanting changed tones, the four bowels rose and floated over to the altar where they all poured their contents together, washing over Harry equally. As the elements mixed, they became a white magical energy that spread over the slab from one edge to the other. Soon the energy condensed onto and into Harry's body.
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For four days the ghosts of Hogwarts chanted, for four days the magic of the elements and magic of Hogwarts poured into the Lord of Hogwarts, and for four days the world waited.
At the gates of Hogwarts, a small shrine was built where witches and wizards from all over the world came to pay their respects. Many of them left tokens of appreciation. At the Ministry of Magic, Minister Bones and the Wizengamot passed a resolution calling for a national moment of silence. At the Royal Estate at Balmoral, Queen Elizabeth and her family were in a state of mourning and prayer for their distant cousin.
At Phoenix Nest, no one slept. People continued with their normal assignments, but only half heartedly. Whenever word came from Hogsmeade, everyone would become quiet, praying for the best, but expecting the worse. In front of Gringotts Bank, another shrine, much like the one at Hogwarts, was erected; like at Hogwarts, a squadron of the Chairman's personal guards stood watch.
Albus, Minerva, Fawkes, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Luna, Remus, Dora, Dobby, Winky, Mackrack, Bane, Happy, Lord and Lady Disney, Arthur and Molly Weasley, Daniel and Emily Granger, Bill, Fleur, Percy, Penelope, Fred, George, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinet, Oliver Wood, Katie Bell, and Viktor Krum had all taken up residence in a small village of wizarding tents in a small private Glenn just inside the Forbidden Forest and mere yards away from the gates of Hogwarts.
Ginny refused to eat, drink, or sleep and remained standing at the front gates of Hogwarts looking at the castle. She was protected by extremely powerful wards created with a combination of Goblin, Elvin, Human, and Phoenix magics. Using her phoenix senses, Ginny watched as Hogwarts channeled all of her powers deep within herself. Ginny hoped that Hogwarts knew what she was doing, because she knew that she could not survive without Harry.
She was so intent in her staring that she didn't notice Fawkes land on her shoulder and begin to sing 'Fledgling, you need to rest. Your mate will be fine. Hogwarts will take good care of him'
'I know Fawkes, but I miss him. We should be celebrating, not waiting around for the other shoe to drop.' Ginny responded.
Fawkes was about to answer her comment when he felt something calling to him. It was not his familiar, nor was it either of his fledglings, no it was Hogwarts. Hogwarts needed his help.
'Fledgling, I must go. Hogwarts is calling for my aide. Please go and rest, I will bring him to you soon.' And with another burst of song, Fawkes disappeared. For the first time in four days, Ginny turned from her silent vigil and flamed to Glenn where everyone was staying.
Because of the weather, the central courtyard area of the tent village was turned into a rather large sitting room. Ginny appeared in the middle of courtyard and began to lose balance. Seeing her need to rest, Albus escorted her to the tent that Mackrack had left empty for her. After making sure she would be alright, Albus asked two of the Goblin Guards to protect the tent from all intrusions and then informed the rest of the family to leave Ginny to rest.
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Fawkes flamed directly into the chamber that Harry was in. When he arrived, he felt the ambient magic that was there, the four ghosts chanting, and the specter image that Hogwarts always portrayed. "Fawkes, thank goodness you are here. We have managed to heal my Lord, but there is still something I cannot repair."
Fawkes knew what was wrong immediately. 'Yes Spirit of Hogwarts, my fledgling has merged his phoenix abilities and his human abilities together, like his mate. However, this is not phoenix magic, it is the darkness that he defeated. It is infesting him. I must work quickly.'
"My Lord is a true phoenix then? This is extraordinary, please proceed mighty Fawkes. I feel that his soulmate is resting and will be able to help you in your task."
'I will do all I can Spirit of Hogwarts, but I must first gather ingredients. I will return soon.' Fawkes quickly flamed away to the Forbidden Forest where the centaurs and unicorns lived and grazed. He quickly flew up to the alpha male of the unicorn herd.
'Mighty Leader Brion, My fledgling is need of our help. I require blood freely given to help stop the dark poison that is within him.'
Brion looked at the phoenix and nodded his head in agreement. 'Fiery Fawkes, you speak well and we too have sensed the darkness. You may take our blood, freely given.' Brion used a sharp rock and cut his leg, letting it bleed. One of the centaurs came up to the unicorn and collected the blood in a small pouch which he gave to the phoenix. With a thrill in acknowledgment, Fawkes flamed away.
He returned to the chamber and immediately dove towards the unconscious form of Harry with his talons out, piercing Harry's robes and skin around his chest, causing Harry to bleed and moan in pain. As Harry bled, Fawkes used his beak and tore the pouch open over Harry's wounds and let the unicorn blood mix with Harry's. Soon after, a dark shadow rose up from the wound and hovering above Harry. Fawkes, who remained perched on Harry's chest, rose up and incinerated the shadow using his flame travel abilities.
As soon as the shadow was destroyed, Harry began to stir. Harry had been fighting an epic battle within his mind and soul with the evil that had used Lord Voldemort as a conduit. Seeing that her master was beginning to stir, Hogwarts lifted Harry from the slab and levitated him up and out of the chamber and finally into bed in the Lord and Lady of Hogwarts Suite. With her Lord and Master resting comfortably, Hogwarts entered a time of sleep, for she expelled a great amount of energy in the healing she just performed.
Fawkes and the house ghosts retreated from the Chamber of Magic and returned to their duties. The castle ghosts returned to their common rooms to rebuild their strength while Fawkes flamed to his familiar who was playing chess against the best chess player in the history of Hogwarts, Ronald Weasley.
'My fledgling is sleeping. Hogwarts has healed him!' Fawkes shouted thru his link with Albus. Albus smiled and jumped for joy as he told everyone what Fawkes had told him. Fawkes retired to his other fledgling's tent to rest. When he arrived, he saw that the snowy owl Hedwig was already on a perch overseeing his fledgling.
'Thank you, Fiery Fawkes. I do not believe that my other human could have survived without her mate.' Hedwig said using the natural telepathy all owls had with magical creatures.
'I know young Hedwig. They are very unique, they truly love each other. Now it is time to rest. Young Harry will return to us tomorrow.' Fawkes said. Both birds decided it was time to rest and quickly tucked their heads under a wing and fell into the blissful sleep that was waiting for them.