A/N: Wow! 119 reviews! This is amazing! Thanks, guys. I really am amazed at how many reviews I am getting. Sure, it isn't very popular, but I am just getting started. I have planned for the next two chapters to set up what I will do for when Harry goes to Hogwarts. Then the fun will begin. Hopefully, I will get some more followers to the story. You never know. I will take what I get. This isn't like Severitus' story, A Father's Sin, or Saerry Snape's Not Myself story. If I get even that many reviews, I will probably need to be sent to the hospital, because I would have a heart attack. But anyway, I will let you now read the chapter. Thanks for all the support, guys! Things will be picking up soon. I guarantee it.

Chapter Ten: Findings

After dinner had been served, Remus and Sirius pulled Harry outside, with the agreement of his guardians. Minerva watched the three go with a smile but Severus kept a suspicious eye on the two men. He didn't trust the remaining members of the Marauders, especially Black. That man was nothing but trouble in the past and no doubt Azkaban further unhinged his already corrupted mind.

"Relax Severus," Minerva said, seeing the muscle twitch in the younger man's jaw. "Sirius wouldn't try something like what you are thinking. I think Azkaban humbled him."

The Potion's Master snorted. "I sincerely doubt that, Minerva. Just wait. Once we think he is finally house-trained, he will turn back into the hellion we all knew and hated. He'll surely corrupt Harry."

Minerva hid a smile. Under the man's steel wall, Severus was very soft. She could already see the subtle changes in the man's behavior since Harry had come into their lives, especially in the first few days together. Harry's innocent personality and his natural curiosity was infectious. How could anyone have denied him at all? That was what puzzled Minerva whenever she thought of his years with the Dursleys. Did Petunia really hate Lily more than anyone had realized?

"How do you like it here, pup?" Sirius asked, plopping down on the ground. "Are you treated alright? I didn't see a whole lot, since I wasn't here long."

"Padfoot, honestly," Remus huffed, crossing his arms across his chest. "Of course he has been treated alright."

"Has anyone from the Ministry come around to check on you?" Sirius demanded, pretending to not have heard his friend talk.

Harry nodded. "Uh-huh. Merrick came around after a week and he stayed with us for a few days. He approves."

"Merrick Anderson, am I correct?" Remus asked. The boy nodded again. "He was in Ravenclaw, three years behind us. I had heard he always wanted to go into the Ministry."

"He said he will be coming back again, sometime next month, to check back on us."

"The Department of Magical Adoptions makes sure to keep sending a representative once a month for a whole year to be sure the child is healthy and happy in their new home," Sirius responded. "Unlike Muggles, we do care about how our children are taken care of. They are our future."

"And if Merrick agrees that this is the best situation for Harry, do you think you could lighten up a little, Padfoot?" Remus asked. "I know Severus wasn't the nicest boy when we were in school, but I do not think he would ever raise a hand to a child, and the same goes to Minerva."

Sirius exhaled and ran a hand through his long hair. Thankfully, before dinner had been served, Minerva ushered him into the shower, saying that he needed to be clean. After his shower, she presented him with a pile of clothes that she had Transfigured from some old books and made sure he ate plenty of food. Now all he needed was his freedom and he was set.

"Sure," he responded slowly. "If the pup is happy, I am happy."

Harry screwed up his face. "Pup?"

Remus chuckled. "That was Sirius' nickname for you when you were little. It stuck with him. It doesn't help that he spent a lot of time in his dog form."

"Why?"

"If a wizard or witch spends too much time in his or her animal form, eventually they become more like their animal," Sirius said, glaring at his friend. "Everything is affected, including their physical appearance."

"Notice how his hair feels now," Remus continued, smirking. "It feels like his…."

"MOONY!" Sirius shouted and he tackled the now laughing werewolf.

Harry stared wide-eyed at the behavior of the two men. You would think they were young kids again, the way they were acting. The wrestling match didn't last long, due to Remus' werewolf reflexes and enhanced senses and strength. Sirius ended up face down in the grass, his arms pulled back behind him.

"Say uncle, Padfoot," the werewolf smirked.

"Aunt," Sirius mumbled, his face screwed up in pain.

"That's not the password, Mr. Padfoot."

"Mr. Padfoot does not care. He will never bow down before a mangy mutt like Mr. Moony."

"Mr. Moony begs Mr. Padfoot to reconsider his words before Mr. Moony is forced to take necessary actions to silence the flea-bitten mutt."

"That's the pot calling the kettle black," the dog Animagus grumbled.

"Excuse me?"

Harry hid a smile as he saw Remus raise an eyebrow, his facial expression playful. The werewolf sent a wink in the boy's direction.

What is going on out here? Fawkes asked, circling high above the three. I thought I heard someone shout and went to investigate.

Remus was explaining about how witches and wizards can become like their animal forms when Sirius tackled him. Sirius was no match for Remus.

The phoenix chuckled. No, he would not put up much of a fight with a werewolf. Werewolves, even in their human form, are very strong. One of their biggest strengths is their sense of smell. All canines, for that matter, have a much better sense of smell than any animal alive.

Harry's eyes went wide and he turned his gaze back to the two men. Sirius was still being pinned under Remus. Harry would have given up as soon as Remus even tackled him. How could Sirius stand to have his arms pulled back? That would hurt. A memory flashed across his mental eye and he shivered, flashes of Dudley pulling his arms back to the point where they almost snapped off.

Enough, gentlemen, Fawkes warned, seeing the distress on his fledgling's face. You are supposed to be adults, not toddlers. Do you want me to go to Severus and concoct a story to make you leave?

The two Marauders pulled away faster than Harry could comprehend. He blinked. How did they do that?

"Sorry," both men apologized.

"We were being gits," Sirius mumbled.

"Utter idiots," Remus added, looking sheepish. Harry had to put his fist in his mouth to silence his giggles.

"We are ashamed..."

"… and mortified..."

"… of our behavior."

Harry couldn't help it. He pulled his hand out of his mouth and he gave in to his laughter, clutching his arms by his elbows. His three companions watched him before they too joined in. Fawkes had never felt such joy as he did then, finding a branch to perch on before he fell to the ground due to his laughter. Even when he stayed by Albus' side, he never experienced such emotion as he did with the young boy. Maybe it had to do with the boy's pure innocence.

The reason why he had settled down with Albus was because of his ability to transform into a phoenix. It was true; all magical creatures attached themselves to any witch or wizard who could become like them. They would pick up the ready-made bond they had with the human and stayed with them until their training was complete. With Albus, though, there was a complication. For some unknown reason, even to a phoenix like Fawkes, who lived for thousands of years, the man could not tap into his phoenix form or magic. Albus had become depressed when he had learned of this, but he got over it eventually. Fawkes continued to stay with him, watching over the man until he came across another wizard who had the capability to become a phoenix.

Fawkes recovered himself and turned an eye onto his fledgling, who was starting to quiet down his laughter, though giggles still escaped his mouth. Harry had the potential to become a phoenix, more so than Albus did. Maybe it was his character that made it possible to transform. The phoenix closed his eyes and sent a probe into the bond he shared with the boy. What he found was so shocking that he lost his grip on the branch and he fell down with a squawk.

Harry caught him, looking concerned. "Fawkes? What's wrong?"

Fawkes shook his little head. Nothing, fledgling. He turned to the two men and sent out a message for them to hear, not Harry. Round up Severus and Minerva and meet me in the living room later tonight. We need to discuss something very important.

Both men nodded. Harry frowned.

"What's wrong? Does it have something to do with me?"

Sirius grinned. "Nope, pup. You aren't that special."

"Thanks Padfoot," the boy grunted, sending a half-hearted glare at his godfather.

"No problem, kid." He looked up at the rapidly darkening sky. "Shouldn't you be heading for bed, kiddo? It's getting dark."

Harry increased his glare, suppressing the urge to yawn loudly. He really was tired, but he didn't want them to know. A minute later, a yawn escaped him.

Remus chuckled. "I believe it is bed time. Let's get inside before Severus and Minerva have our heads for not seeing to your needs, cub."

After Harry was safely tucked in to his bed, both Marauders pulled Harry's guardians into the living room, where Fawkes was already waiting for them. He was perched on his stand, staring out the large window.

I do not believe you have known that phoenixes have several different species as any other animal family does, Fawkes began. For us, we are split up due to what element we wield. A majority of the phoenix population controls the element of Fire, which you already know. Since there has been no documentation of our world, you would have no knowledge of this fact. There are five other different phoenix forms. These are Earth, Light, Shadow, Water, and Ice. Each form has their own special powers. The least popular of these forms are Earth and Shadow.

"What would an Earth phoenix do?" Remus asked, his curiosity skyrocketing. Sirius rolled his eyes.

They are attuned more into Nature than any other phoenix. Earth phoenixes could call upon earthquakes, if they were so inclined. They are dangerous most of the time. Also, they could call upon the trees and plants to assist them.

"And a Shadow?" Minerva asked, already dreading the answer.

A Shadow phoenix is the most unstable kind, Fawkes responded. They are very elusive, able to melt into shadows. They can even transport around in shadows. Just like Earth phoenixes can call upon the Earth if they needed, Shadow phoenixes conjure beams of darkness. Not all parties that are attacked by this beam have been killed. Just like it can kill, darkness can heal or do anything the castor wishes. I have recently found that our young Harry is a Shadow phoenix.

"Merlin," Severus whispered, a hand going to his mouth. "Do you know why, Fawkes?"

The Fire phoenix shook his head. No, Severus. Our forms are determined for us when we are born and the same is said for a witch or wizard who can turn into a phoenix. Shadow phoenixes are very rare and all of them are extremely powerful, just like Light phoenixes are. Not all Shadows are evil as well.

"Harry doesn't have it in him to be evil," Minerva said. "He's too much like his parents."

Exactly, but we must be careful when Harry reaches the age where his powers manifest themselves into him. Just because he cannot become evil does not mean he will not be tempted to use his powers for evil deeds. Even the rest of us have trouble with controlling our powers when we reach puberty.

"And that's why you are here now," Sirius said, his eyes showing that he understood what was being said. "You are here to help him transition into his Animagus form without repercussions."

For the most part, yes, Sirius.

"At least we still have a few years to go before Harry starts to mature," Remus responded, slumping back into his chair. "We can prepare him and maybe we can stop him before he does something he will regret later."

The others agreed.

End of chapter.