A/N: I won't try to explain my absence. Life is so unexpected and can rear its ugly head in the most inopportune moments. I do have some good news though. I'm almost done with my degree now. I just have to take the board exam and finish my intern. If you are interested in what I am doing, I am going for being a certified pharmacy technician. It's a ton of fun and I love it. Anyway, enough babbling about my life. You guys are here to read the next installment and I'll try not to disappoint you.

And in case you were wondering, Salina WILL NOT replace Fawkes. Fawkes and Harry will still have their bond and he will be a major character in the story, but Salina is around to help Harry with his transformation into a Shadow phoenix.

Chapter Seventeen: Halloween

Before Harry knew it, October had arrived. He was too busy having fun with his friends to have noticed the time difference. Fawkes visited as often as he could, which was about twice a week, and Salina hardly stayed in contact. Harry knew that she was busy with her own work back in the Land of the Phoenixes, so he wasn't too bothered. Not only that, but he was too excited to finally start training to become a phoenix. His dreams every evening reflected that, with visions of him as a Shadow phoenix, his plumage a mixture of black and gray, living in the Great Tree.

"Harry, Earth to Harry, do you read me?"

Harry snapped out of his thoughts, turning his head to glance at Susan, who wore a worried look on her face. The two Hufflepuffs were in the library studying for Astronomy, filling out star charts and their placements in the night sky.

"Sorry Susan. I must have dozed off."

Susan sighed and started to play with a pigtail in her hair. "You've been doing this often. We're all worried about you. What are you thinking of? What's going through your head?"

Harry glanced down at the table, staring at his star chart. He wished he could tell all his friends what was going on, what he was about to become, but he knew he had to keep that information a secret. No one was supposed to know how phoenixes came into being. The information would be dangerous in the wrong hands.

"It's nothing, Susan," he replied, feeling horrible about lying to his friend.

She narrowed her eyes but didn't say anything. She turned back to her chart and resumed labeling the stars. Harry watched her over the rim of his glasses for a short time then he turned back to his own chart.

(((((_))))))

"Professor Quirrel, why does your turban smell funny?" Hannah asked one day during Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

Quirrel stumbled, a hand stretched out to brace himself on his desk. "T-to protect m-myself from v-vampires, missy," he stuttered. "Now, b-back to our main t-topic of discussion. H-how do you p-protect yourself f-from curses in b-battle?"

"A counter-curse, sir," Lisa spoke, her hand raised in the air.

"P-perfect, Miss Turpin," Quirrel said, smiling slightly but it looked strained. "As l-long as you know the c-counter-curse, y-you can d-defend yourself a-against any curse t-thrown at you."

"I wonder if he has gotten used to the smell of garlic," Justin whispered, "because he doesn't seem to mind teaching us with that smell permeating the air around him."

"That or he uses a spell that lessens the smell of it," Neville replied.

"That must be it," Hannah said, smiling. "I know I don't blame him for trying to fend off vampires. They are creepy. I can't imagine being attacked by one." She shivered.

"He's lucky he hasn't been turned," Neville said, also shivering. "That would be the worst thing that could happen."

"But don't you have to die first, or something?" Susan asked.

Harry tuned out his friends and classmates. As intriguing as their conversation was, they were in the middle of class. They should be paying attention to the lecture and not talking amongst themselves.

((((_)))))

Halloween soon arrived and brought good spirits despite the reminder of what Harry had lost 10 years ago. The Great Hall was decorated with humongous floating pumpkins and flocks of fake bats (or so Cedric and Christian said). Their classes were even dedicated to the holiday spirit. In Charms, Professor Flitwick had the students changing the color of white pumpkins. Quirrel told them a story of how he came across a patch of cursed pumpkins that continuously attacked him. Severus had them brewing a potion that changed one's skin a different color depending on what color-changing ingredient they put in their mixture. Finally, Binns told them more boring goblin war stories, not even noticing that today was Halloween.

"Glad to be out of there," Ron said as soon as the class let out. He stretched. "I don't understand why the headmaster hasn't replaced this teacher. No one actually learns anything from him."

Hermione let out a sigh. "Professor Binns has a lot of information about history, more than most. If only you would pay attention, you would know what I am talking about."

Ron ignored her and rubbed his stomach. "Wonder what we're going to have for dinner. I'm starving."

Harry shared a glance with Hermione before he turned away from his friends to head toward his common room. Ron would never change, he had a feeling. He would always worry more about his stomach and lack of attention from others above anything else. Someday, that would hurt him in the friend department. It didn't help that his two friends, Harry and Hermione, were well-known (Hermione for being the resident genius of their year and Harry for being the Boy-Who-Lived).

Once he arrived at the Hufflepuff common room, he went up to his dorm and dropped his bag. It was a shame that the students couldn't wear something else during meal times, because the castle was stifling hot, which was slightly abnormal. As Harry had learned during the past years, castles generally were cooler than other buildings. He shrugged and walked out of the room.

Fawkes? he called out mentally, reaching for the bond flowing between him and the elder phoenix.

Hello Harry. What do you need? the Fire phoenix asked.

Nothing.

On his perch in the Headmaster's office, Fawkes smiled. He knew where this was going. There wasn't much his fledgling could keep from him. Fledgling, tell me. I know there's something you want to talk about.

I was just thinking about my parents. Did they know about me being a phoenix? Do they know about our bond?

Fawkes hesitated. He knew he had to word this carefully. Harry was still too young to know everything that concerned him. James and Lily knew of my affection for you. I would visit all the time and stand watch over you. I do not think, though, they knew you were a phoenix like me. As I have told you before, it is not common knowledge as to how phoenixes came to be, so therefore finding a way to become one has not been made known of.

Harry stepped out of the common room and made his way down the many staircases, continuing his talk with Fawkes. It wasn't long until he reached the Great Hall and he ended his conversation. Fawkes wished him a happy Halloween and closed his end of the bond, though he kept it open in case his fledgling needed his help. Harry's green eyes scanned the Gryffindor table for his two friends and noticed that Hermione was missing from her usual seat next to Ron. Dean and Seamus, two other first year Gryffindors, were whispering to the redhead and the younger Weasley was ignoring them.

"I wonder what happened to Hermione," Harry said as he sat down next to Neville and Susan.

Neville looked nervous and Susan got an angry look on her face. "Ron insulted her again," the red-haired Hufflepuff replied. "Hermione ran off crying and has been missing for a little bit."

Harry let out a sigh. It seemed as though Ron had a jealousy problem that stemmed from being the youngest Weasley boy and from being friends with well-known students. "I hope he outgrows this later in life, or he won't have any friends," the raven-haired boy said, spooning some mashed potatoes onto his plate.

"For his sake, I hope so too," Christian said, taking a seat across from Susan.

Just as Harry was about to take a bite of his potatoes, the front doors to the Great Hall slammed open and Professor Quirrel dashed into the room, looking disheveled.

"TROLL! There's a troll in the dungeon!" The DADA professor stopped in the middle of the hall, hands on his knees. He looked up at the staff table. "Thought you ought to know." Then he passed out on the marble floor.

Instantly, all the students began to panic. It was only when Dumbledore's wand let out a loud bang that everyone stopped trying to escape from the Great Hall. Harry and his Hufflepuff yearmates hadn't moved from their spots, waiting on Christian's word.

"Everyone, don't panic," the headmaster called. "Prefects, please lead your students back to the common rooms. Teachers, please follow me to the dungeons so we can get rid of this troll." He turned to Madam Pomfrey, the school's Healer. "Poppy, please wake Professor Quirrel and take him to the Infirmary if necessary."

Christian and the other Prefect, a slightly pudgy girl whose name Harry didn't know, started to guide the younger Hufflepuffs from the Great Hall. Harry caught Ron staring at him as the older Weasley brother led the Gryffindors toward the staircase. Then, as the redhead turned away, the raven-haired Hufflepuff felt his heart stop when he remembered Hermione wasn't around for the announcement.

"Wait, what about Hermione?" Harry whispered to Neville.

Neville went pale. "Who knows where she is? We should have told a professor about her being missing."

"It isn't too late."

Neville stared wide-eyed at Harry but the other boy began to move. He ducked out from the line, ignoring the calls he received, and ran toward the professors who were beginning to leave toward the dungeons.

"Professors!" Harry called, silently cursing his short legs as he tried to catch up to them.

His Head of House, Professor Sprout, turned around. "What are you doing, Mr. Potter? Go back to the common room at once."

"But, Hermione was missing during dinner! She doesn't know about the troll!"

Minerva, who had heard the conversation, walked over to them. "Do you know where she went, Potter?" she asked.

Harry shook his head at his adoptive mother. "No. All I know is that supposedly Ron insulted her and she hasn't been seen."

Professor Sprout put a hand to her chin. "Perhaps she is in the girl's bathroom, Minerva."

"I'll go searching for her." Minerva glanced around before lowering her voice. "Harry, please go back to your common room. I don't want you stumbling into the troll in case it isn't in the dungeons anymore. Call Fawkes to help escort you."

Harry nodded and used his bond to call Fawkes to him, who appeared in a flash of fire and feathers. The large bird hovered above his fledgling. Why did you call me, fledgling?

There's a troll somewhere in the castle and I became separated from the other Hufflepuffs. Minerva doesn't want me to go alone back to my common room.

Fawkes let out a trill and flew circles above the youth's head. I would be more than happy to oblige, fledgling. Let us not waste time. I do not want to come across that abomination with you around.

Harry agreed with the phoenix and the two began their way to the common room. Fawkes flew ahead to make sure the troll wasn't around and instructed Harry to follow him once the area was clear. As they neared the common room, they heard a loud roar.

Speed up, Harry, Fawkes replied, his mental voice sounding worried.

Do you think the professors are okay? Harry asked, worried about Severus and Minerva.

They are all extremely talented witches and wizards. Also, Albus is with them. A troll is nothing to worry about, fledgling.

Harry hoped so and he urged his legs into a slight jog down the winding corridor, meant to confuse anyone who didn't know where they were going. When another roar trembled down the corridor, Harry felt a numbing fear when he figured out that the troll was behind them.

He's scented us, hasn't he? he asked Fawkes.

It does seem so. Fledgling, keep going. I am going to attempt to lead him away from you. No matter what happens, head toward your common room and stay there. Do you understand?

Harry's mouth went dry but he sent his agreement to the phoenix. As the firebird vanished, he burst into a run and a couple of turns later he arrived at the entrance to his common room. The badger in the painting turned his beady eyes to the Boy-Who-Lived. "Honestly," he cried to the painting. The badger nodded and the painting swung forward.

"HARRY!"

Harry let out a cry as someone pounced on him as soon as he entered the common room.

"Where were you?" Hannah asked shrilly, her face pale. She was standing to the side with Neville and Justin. Harry looked down at the person clinging to him and noticed the red hair.

"I told Sprout and McGonagall about Hermione," he said. He rubbed Susan's back soothingly but his mind was still whirling. Was Fawkes alright?

Without thinking, Harry focused on his bond with the phoenix and was surprised when he saw a mental picture of Fawkes fighting with the troll. The phoenix was flying above the gray-skinned giant and was attempting to scratch the troll's eyes out.

Harry? The phoenix was surprised.Are you safe?

Yes. I made it to the common room. Are you okay?

Fawkes chuckled as he dodged the troll's club. He let out a screech and dove for the troll's face, this time his claws succeeding in landing a hit. The troll screamed.

I am well, Harry. The teachers are coming my way. I already alerted Albus.

Do you have a bond with him as well, Fawkes?

You can say that, but what I have with Albus is not the same as I have with you.

Harry was about to say something when he noticed, in the image, several different colored spells hurling toward the troll. The spells hit and the troll fell to the floor with a crash, unconscious. Feeling satisfied, Harry closed the image and reluctantly released Susan from the embrace.

The moment he let go, the portrait opened and revealed Professor Sprout. Her hair was slightly out of place but she looked unhurt. "The troll has been taken care of."

The Hufflepuffs cheered and the tension was relieved from them. Sprout sent a smile Harry's way and exited, sliding the portrait closed behind her. Harry translated the look as that Hermione was found safe. He let out a breath and headed for his dorm room.

(((_))))

End of chapter.

You have no idea how glad I am to have this chapter done. I tossed around so many different idea as to how to do the troll scene. I didn't want Harry to be too much of a Gryffindor like he was in the book but I didn't want him to be too shy and withdrawn. I hope you all enjoy this and forgive me for being so late with this update. Now I have to think what the next chapter will be like.