A/N: Hey guys! SuperXBrother is back with another chapter! I've decided to put some of the things down at the bottom so you guys can read the story sooner. But I know that you all will kill me if I don't place the Raven vs.. Snake votes up top. The pet is now here! For those who's idea was not used, don't worry. There might possibly be pets waiting for Harry at Stone Manor! Here is the points and enjoy the story!
House Points
Ravens-Twenty Four
Snakes-Eighteen
Hurry Up! The clock is ticking! The results will be revealed on Chapter Ten!
Thanks to
Harrlovesginny7, germanys warrior, buddygirl1004, ProfessorChris, Nightwing 509, nesciamema, Phynixfire, Jim Red Hawk, Sky Huntress, brittlovesyou, Floyd dickey, mduaben, rellenh, hptrump,
Pantherfan16, readsalot2002, octopus86 'Max, bagwoman, PhoenixWytch, Miz636, Mrdr-Mistress-Padfoot, Isashi Sanada, Talia, usernames are for losers, Thawk6, jbfritz, Bostongirl2012,
Semnet001, benperez31, crazy potter, Tronishire, Makeup Breakup
Last time on the Lord and Lady Phoenix…
The headmaster turned to a red bird sitting on a pedestal.
"I shall be off Fawkes. The order is running low again and needs more funding." He vanished. A second later an owl flew in from the open window. Fawkes trilled at the brown bird as it dropped an envelope onto Dumbledore's desk. Fawkes looked at the Gringotts seal printed on its front.
'Well,' he thought to himself. 'This day should be interesting.'
The Lord and Lady Phoenix
Chapter Eight
Golden Light
(Diagon Alley)
Harry stared at the sight before him as he laid on his back upon the floor. A small girl bawling her eyes out. She was tiny for her age, had a mane of flaming red hair falling to her shoulders, and was wearing second hand clothes. Harry thought she looked very cute. What really interested Harry, was those chocolate brown eyes being ruined by her tears.
"Um…hello." He began but the girl only cried harder. She wasn't even looking at him but rather the carpeted floor. She spoke out so quickly that Harry could barley understand what she was saying.
"Oh! I'm so sorry mister! I didn't mean to. I didn't…I couldn't! I…" Harry was shocked by how quickly such a small girl could blurt out words. Harry pulled himself off of the floor and replied,
"It's okay. I wasn't paying attention. I should have seen you coming. Why are you crying?"
"My brothers." she gulped out. "They are the meanest bunch of jerks ever!" Her tears were filled with a raging fire when she said this.
"They can't be all that bad." Harry said, trying to make her feel better.
"You don't have a clue. Bill and Charlie are never home and never visit. Percy is a ministry loving brat. And Ron is as stupid as you can get." Harry was surprised.
"Wow! You have three other brothers?" Harry noticed that her tears began to show signs of stopping.
'Just keep talking to her.' He thought to himself. Ginny sniffed and replied,
"Six actually. Fred and George are the best out of them all. They are the only ones who care about me. Mom thinks I can't do anything by myself. Dad thinks otherwise but Mom has a big temper so he caves in real easily. Everyone but Fred and George plays the older brother card. Those two know from personal experience that I can take care of myself." Harry didn't know what she meant but Ginny started to giggle. I'm Ginny by the way, Ginny Weasley. If you call me Ginevra like my family, I will hex you." She held out her hand. Harry laughed, shook her hand, and replied "I'm Harry, Harry…Stone." It wasn't a lie. Just not the entire truth. He was the last member of the Stone family after all. Ginny looked at him strangely because of his hesitation about his last name but she didn't press on the topic.
"So Harry… how old are you?"
I'm almost eleven. Next week is my birthday." Ginny pouted.
"Darn! Everyone in my entire family gets to go to Hogwarts before me." Harry wanted to make her happy. "Well don't worry Ginny, I'll write to my friend every week while I'm at school." Harry held a frightened look when he realized what he just said. "We…we are friends…right?"
"Course we are Harry!" Ginny almost shouted. "You've really talked to me. No one who I've talked to before has wanted to know me like you. And after all, you're my best friend now and there's no changing it!" She smirked.
"Really Ginny. I'm your best friend?"
"Course you are. Your also my first real friend!"
"Your first friend? But surly you must have had one before…your ten years old, right?"
Yes I am ten. But nope. Never had a real friend before. But now you have that honor."
"Really?"
"Well… there's this girl who lives a few hills over from us. We haven't really seen each other enough times to become friends. She's a bit weird but a nice girl. Doesn't have any friends because of her strangeness."
"Maybe we can be her friends when she comes to school."
"Good idea Harry. She needs to have at least one or two friends in her lifetime. School would be really hard for her if she went through it all alone." Harry tried to hide his thoughts but Ginny seemed to have seen his face. "Harry? Something wrong?"
"No. Not at all." Harry knew that this wouldn't be the last time he heard of this conversation.
"Oh… so why are you in here?" Harry and Ginny began a long conversation about books, Turned out that Ginny loved to read just about the same as Harry. They spent almost forty five minutes discussing favorite titles and authors until a loud voice bellowed out,
"GINEVRA!" Where have you been?" Both children jumped at the proud voice. Ginny stiffened and Harry heard her mumble,
"Oh no."
A tall but thin teenager strode into the fiction section. He had bright red hair, though not as vivid as Ginny's, and freckles along his face. Harry could only guess from Ginny's short description of each member of her family that this was her brother, Percy Weasley. He looked at Harry shortly with a blank face an stated,
"Ginevra, where have you been? Mother, Father and the others are concerned about you. Roaming off like that is not how a proper lady should act. You were told to stay with mother and yet you ran off for no reason and-"
"Only because of how you and Ron were acting!" Ginny shouted. "You two were jabbing about me like I wasn't on the same planet as you. You don't even include me in your annoying conversations about me!"
"Ginevra, your family would not act this way if you would learn your place." He turned to Harry and finally spoke to him. "Excuse me for my sister behavior young man. She still has not accepted the fact that she will be a lady one day and that she needs to mature into a proper one." He said this in a flat tone. Harry was annoyed at how this 'Percy' addressed his sister. Harry decided to speak in a friendly manner though.
"Ginny was not the slightest bit acting out of terms sir." Percy's shoulders rose proudly at being called 'sir'. "She simply entered into this section of the bookshop and we had a pleasant conversation. Isn't that right Ginny?" Ginny understood what he was playing at.
"Yes, of course. We were just discussing our favorite authors. Right Harry?" Harry was about to respond when Percy's eyes widened.
"Harry? Did you just say…what is your full name?"
"My name is Harry Stone." Percy's eyes deflated in failure.
"Oh…okay…so are you going to Hogwarts this year?" Harry noticed how easily he changed the conversation.
"Yes I am."
"Any idea on what house you are going to be in?"
"Well…" Harry wondered how to reply. "I don't know. All four houses seem to have a noble history and traditions." Percy's eyes were easy to read.
"Well of course Gryffindor is the best of the four."
"Why?" Percy was shocked at his one word question.
"Why? Why of course it is the greatest. Professor Dumbledore came from the house of Gryffindor! The house has produced the greatest witches and wizards in the world. How could you question it?" Harry was liking Percy Weasley less and less.
"Well, I have read Hogwarts A History. To me it seems that Gryffindor is the house of the brave."
"Exactly!"
"But bravery is not the only trait of the four houses. Just as bravery is not always the best choice."
"Wha-what do you mean?" Percy looked utterly shocked that Harry didn't agree about Gryffindor.
"I mean bravery is a good trait. But there are four traits in Hogwarts, not just one. Bravery is the trait that shows who can stand when all others have fallen. Hufflepuff-"
"is the house of imbeciles." Percy countered.
"-is the house of loyalty which is a key in a battle. Ravenclaw is the house of the intellectual. Intellect will allow you a key advantage over an opponent by allowing you to outsmart the spells they use. The final house, Slytherin-"
"is full of dirty, foul mouth-"
"is the house of the ambitious. Ambition will show who is the one that can rise above the rest to achieve something-"
"like becoming a dark lord!" Percy shouted.
"Percy, what about the new students this year that will be sorted into Slytherin? Do you think that they will begin training in the dark arts the second the welcoming feast is over. No, they will begin just as the other first years in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw will, as nervous students. Like it or not Percy, there have been many dark wizards out of the other three houses as well. Just as there have been many light wizards come out of Slytherin. Got it?"
"Tomfoolery." Percy muttered. "Come Ginevra, we must be leaving." Harry saw Ginny's face full of awe.
Percy left as quickly as possible. Ginny was about to follow when Harry shook his head and said,
"Watch this Ginny." He waved his hand and a light shot from it into Percy just as he was about to go into another corridor.
"Wh-what was that?" Ginny busted out, alarmed. Harry shrugged.
"Just a small memory charm. I made him forget that Harry Stone told him all of that. He only remembers that a stranger told him it. He also remembers going with you to the bookstore since you weren't technically alone."
"How can you do that? You don't even have a wand yet!"
"I read books." he stated simply.
"Your different Harry. I don't know what kind of different, but different."
"Sometimes different is good."
"I guess it is."
"See you later?"
"Duh! You're my best friend aren't you?" Laughing, she turned to walk out of the fiction section.
But then, something happened.
Albus Dumbledore was being squeezed in every direction. He was in the middle of Apparition. He saw space rip through time and time rip through space until his feet hit the lobby of Gringotts. He walked over to Griphook, ignoring the audience he attracted with his entrance, and steeped up to the counter.
"I would like to make a withdrawal on account of Harry Potter." He said just as simply as he always did. Griphook didn't need to for he usually came around once or twice a month. However, now he remembered the truth that Albus held no knowledge of. Denying the urge to yell at the headmaster, he replied,
"Very well Professor. However, we require you to come into a private room to discuss a matter of importance." Albus replied,
"Is it necessary? I am in a bit of a hurry."
"Yes it is sir."
"What is it about?"
"There are too many people about sir. It must be in a private room."
"Lead on." They walked through the many corridors until the Goblin said simply,
"In here please." Albus did so and sat in one of the two chairs. On the table next to them was a familiar piece of parchment he had almost forgotten about. The goblin made a gesture to the paper. "Do you know what this is sir?
"The document granting me the honor of being in charge of the Potter vault until Harry is of age, correct?"
"Yes sir it is. Now can you read me paragraph nine, section 'b' out loud? Albus rolled his eyes and did so.
Paragraph Nine
Section B
Any person, creature, or being that wishes to be granted the role of guardian to a one Potter Vault must follow these quotes exactly to the point.
These three rules are documented and quoted by a Lily and James Potter.
1. "Whoever controls the vault must inform the vault's inheritor by the day of their tenth birthday."
2. "The guardian must teach the inheritor about any and all responsibilities involved with becoming head of a vault."
3. "The controller must leave the vault completely untouched until the inheritor is of the age of seventeen otherwise known as coming of age. The only exception is if the inheritor is the only able descendent and is the one withdrawing the money.
Any breakings of the rules above shall result in complete termination of any and all roles involving the Potter Vault.
"Do you understand what the three rules Lily and James entrusted to us mean?"
"Yes I do." Albus had no idea what this had to do with him. The goblin sighed.
"Have you followed all three rules?"
"Yes I have."
"Have you ever broken even one small part of the three rules here?"
"No I have not."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes, now can we go to the vault.?"
"Albus, read this last sheet of parchment for me will you?"
Potter Family Vault
Amount of Money Since Lily and James Potter died on 31 October, 1981
85,974,585,894 Galleons 483,549,944 Sickles
574,332,029 Knuts
Amount as of Today
44,489,485,121 Galleons
293,794,078 Sickles
374,927,659 Knuts
"Albus, care to explain why so much money has disappeared?" Albus was so shocked that he couldn't speak. "You signed a contract stating that you wouldn't take any money out under any circumstance." Albus thought of a cover up story.
"Why young Harry asked me to take out that money." He said simply.
"The contract states he had to be with you when the money has been taken out. Besides, what could a ten year old boy buy with so much money?"
"I do not know. But it was not I who did so.
"Albus, we sent one of our humans to check on Harry after his tenth birthday. When asked about a inheritance Harry thought the man was mocking him. We have not had a reliable security system in Gringotts because the ministry and the Wizengamot denied any kind of law until recently. Because of that new law we immediately began reviewing the activities involved with the Potter Vault." Albus was sweating now.
"Listen it is a matter of importance that Harry's funds be watched." He tried to take control of the situation.
"Watched but not stolen! You knew that adding security would ruin your funds. You were strongly against any type of system. This is the only stealing Gringotts has ever experienced and we shall not have any more of it."
"Bu-but sir…it is for Harry's wellbeing and the greater good of-"
"The reasons why you acted as you have for the past ten years are not important. As of this moment, all bonds between Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore and the Potter Vault are severed."
"No…please…I must asked you to reconsider-"
"Albus, you have already trashed your grand reputation. I highly ask you to reconsider and not damage it any further. The only vault you are in charge of is the Dumbledore vault. Nothing more, nothing less. Understand?" The white faced Dumbledore sighed.
"I-I understand."
"Good. I ask you not to try anything because we are now constantly increasing security to make sure events such as this will not occur again. You will pay back all funds you have taken from the Potter Vault by this time next year, understand?
"Yes " replied Albus.
"Good, now since you have broken your contract, your punishment must be made." The goblin wrote down something on the contract which lit up. A second later Albus Dumbledore was standing wearing only a pair hot pink boxers. A floating camera papered out of nowhere and took a picture. Before Albus could do anything, it vanished into the cart tunnels. "Well, I believe that should be punishment enough for the both of us. You for your actions and me for not addressing this sooner. Good day Albus."
"Good day." Albus replied shocked at the thought of that picture. If it got out into the world…
He transfigured a new pair of robes and walked out of the room with what dignity he had left. Griphook nodded to the empty seat and then heard a strange buzzing noise. He searched around the room and finally found the source. He spoke,
"Aha! Thought you'd be here to listen in on our conversation. Listen…I have a deal for you…."
And then it happened.
Ginny turned around and tripped. Harry rushed over to her. He managed to catch her but gravity was not finished yet. The two children came crashing down onto the carpeted floor. Ginny was atop of Harry.
"Ouch! Oh…I am such a klutz. Sorry about that Harry. Thanks for cushioning the fall." She got off of him.
"It's okay Ginny. Accidents happ…" He looked at his right hand. He spot where his ring was supposed to be felt bare. He felt it. The rings belonging to his parents were gone!
"Harry? What's wrong?"
"The rings belonging to my parents, they're gone!"
"Don't worry Harry, they can't of run off. They are probably around in this room." They began searching for them. After five minutes of searching, Ginny called out, "Harry, I think I found them!" Harry zoomed over to her. There, in her hands were the two jeweled rings.
"Thank you Ginny, thank you. You don't know how much these mean to me. They belonged to my mom and dad." Harry took one out of her hand.
"No problem Harry. Um…can I try this one on?"
"Sure…but why?"
"Well…my family isn't he wealthiest and well…" she looked at the ring. Harry understood.
"I understand, go on then." She put on the other ring.
Then as if by pure magic, a strange aura glowed around the both of them. A golden aura. Both children's eyes became bright gold and then, the colors returned to normal. Both felt incredibly tired.
"Gi..nny…what was…that?" He breathed out.
"I…I don't know. "
"Oh well…we'll find out later." Ginny gave Harry the ring back and they walked up to the checkout counter. "I'd like to buy these books please." Harry took out the books which he had returned to normal size. He paid the price in Galleons and said, "Lets go Ginny." They left the shop.
Albus Dumbledore was not having a good day. His guardianship over the Potter vault was gone, just gone. He wore a hooded robe so none on the Alley would recognize him. Gringotts was nowhere near the top of his favorite places list. He was also in very deep thoughts about the day's events.
'How? How did they find out? I had made sure those wards would prevent anyone from the magical world from spying on Harry. There must have been a crack or something. The Dursleys wont like the money not coming either…' His train of thought was interrupted when he bumped into a young boy. The first thing Albus noticed when he looked at this ten year old was his magic. No underage wizard could possibly have this kind of power. Heck, he doubted there was any adult wizards containing the amount of magic the boy did. He had black hair and blue-green eyes. Albus gazed at the child's forehead. It was scar less. That meant Harry still did not know about his vault and Albus's plans were slowly working. They weren't stopped, but the money had helped speed up the Order's progress. This boy couldn't be Harry Potter. The girl next to him had to be a Weasley. She had both the red hair and the freckles.
"Sorry sir." the boy apologized. "I wasn't looking where I was going." Albus smiled. At least some of today's children still had manners.
"The fault resides in me as well. My attention was focused upon which pair of socks I would be purchasing at Madame Malkin's." He smiled at the child's confusion.
"Right…well lets go." He and the Weasley girl turned to walk away.
"Wait! Excuse me child but what is your name?"
"Stone." He and the red haired girl walked away. Albus was in confusion. 'Stone? I've never heard of the Stones. For this powerful boy to be a member of a family whose name eluded my vast mind? Very mysterious. I will have to look into this.' He walked into a side alley and Disapparited away.
Harry and Ginny ended walking into her family. Before the mother could scream one word Harry emitted the same white light that he performed on Percy. Surprisingly, the family was okay with Harry and Ginny shopping together alone after that.
Harry and Ginny both went to almost every shop whether it to shop or gaze. Harry only bought the basics the elders told him about. Harry said he already had a wand but it was at home. He treated her to ice cream and a candy called Bertie Botts's Every Flavor Beans. They were every flavor possible from chocolate and peppermint to spinach and tripe. Ginny knocked a curiously green colored one out of his hand. Her face was deadly serious when she told him not to eat that colored one. When passing by Olivanders
They finally stopped at the Magical Menagerie. It was an extremely cramped shop full of , animals, cages, and dung. The shop owner was an extremely old man who seemed to hate children. He snapped at them, barking to pick a pet quickly.
"Hurry up, hurry up. Haven't got al day."
"We just got here!" Ginny replied at the retreating form of the old man. They gazed at the numerous animals on sale. There were cats, bats, poisonous fire snails, jeweled turtles, Puffskiens, rats, owls, and rabbits. None of them caught Harry's attention. They noticed a door rattling. Harry told Ginny to keep watch while he opened the door to see what was inside. The shopkeeper was busy with a forgetful lady who kept changing her pet choice up at the front desk. Harry tiptoed over to the door, held out his hand, and muttered, "Alohamora." The lock silently, clicked open. Harry opened the door and almost screamed. Inside the rattling cage was a small animal. It looked to be only a baby. Its leathery skin was full of cuts and soaked in blood. Harry knew it was going to die soon if help didn't come. He cast the unlocking charm on the tiny cage and held the tiny horse creature in his arms. The creature was as cold as ice. It neighed softly. The horse nuzzled its small, bat-like wings into Harry's chest, absorbing his body heat rapidly. He ran to Ginny, who almost shrieked too. They had a silent agreement. Locking the cage and door, they snuck out the back. They ran to the end of the Alley through the back roads. Stopping at the end of Diagon Harry took off Dudley's coat and wrapped the skeleton horse inside it.
Harry told Ginny to be silent, and closed his eyes.
'Please Elders. Please heal this creature. It needs to grow and live. I beg of you.' The elders listened because all Harry saw then, was a golden light going from his body, into the baby. He blacked out for a minute and the next thing he knew, a wet tongue was licking his face. He opened his eyes and saw the baby horse sitting on him, making his face very clean. Ginny was next to him, laughing.
"Ginny?"
"Hi Harry, I see you've made a new friend." Harry looked down at the cost of another lick and said,
"Guess I did."
"By the way Harry, what was that golden thing? It was a lot like in the bookstore."
"I don't know." Harry replied truthfully. "I'll have to look into it. So what kind of creature is this?"
"I'm not surprised. They are really rare. This Harry, is a Thestral. They can only be seen by people who have witnessed death."
"Who have you seen die? Oh! I'm sorry Ginny. If you don't want to-"
"It's okay Harry. When I was little I found an old bunny. I kept him a secret from my family for about a month. Then one day, I was watching him on my bed. He went to sleep and never woke up."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay. Everyone dies one day. Just have to make the best of it."
"Your right Ginny." They saw the sun was beginning to set.
"Well, guess this is it."
"We'll see each other soon. Your parents have to take you to see your brothers off right?"
"So that means we get to see each other off!" The kids hugged each other and Ginny made the Thestral do a loop the loop when she kissed it. They walked back to the Weasleys and Harry sent out the white light one more time. The family vanished in the green blaze of a fireplace.
Harry walked back to the flying horse.
"Guess we'll take him back to Harry." cried a voice that made Harry jump.
"Ardoris! I'd forgotten you were there."
"I saw everything that happened there Harry, everything."
"Oh great." Harry replied sarcastically.
"Relax, I wont tell the elders. They're in your head so they already know."
"Great." He said again as they fire flashed away.
(Harry's Dream)
Harry was once again in the golden field of his mind. He asked the elders about the golden lights from the day but Salazar said,
"Once you build up your mind's defenses. Only then will we explain but you will find the majority on your own. This is extremely important info and we can't risk anyone finding a smidge about this.
Harry sat in the middle of the two foot high stone circle he had managed to build. Helga told him he needed to remember to balance his mind so the stones had no cracks at all. He soon added another eight inches when he heard a soft 'POP' in the distance. He opened his eyes and saw a structure that wasn't there a minute ago. It was a stone white arch. And on the other side he saw…no it couldn't be. He stood up and ran to the arch. It looked as though it was like the entrance of Vault X. He placed his hand on the image and felt solid rock. It rumbled as before and he then stepped through. It was the exact same as the first clearing, without the stone circle. He ran to the middle of this new clearing. There was a figure standing there, gazing at the field. He put a hand on the person's shoulder and the figure turned around. Brown eyes met green ones.
"Harry?"
"Ginny?" Then they both said at the same time,
"What are you doing in my dream?"
A/N: Wow. Harry's pet is a Thestral. Harry and Ginny might have a soul bond and are sharing dreams. What will happen next? You'll have to wait and do the challenges!
Bragging Rights Go To…
Tronishire-for-pet
Semnet001-for-Rita? and dreams.
brittlovesyou-for-meet the redhead
usernames are for losers-for-Ginny and Albus shocked
Jedi Knight 3-for-pet
Lysen5972-for-meeting and Percy
Maybe you should tell me-for-petBuddygirl1004-for-meeting
Brittlovesyou-for-Albus pissed.
Mduaben-for-Gringotts not telling Albus
Hptrump-for-bookstore
Bigmommak-for-weasleys
PhoenixWytch-for-bump in bookstore
Thawk6-for-Ginny and Harry
Challenges
1. Ravenclaw or Slytherin? (Chapter Ten)
2. What will happen with Hagrid and the Dursleys? (Next Chapter)
3. Will Hermione be bad?
4. What will the name of the Thestral be? (Next Chapter)
See you next time!