(Disclaimer: see chapter 1)

Beta: The amazing RedButterfly33. Thank you!

A/N: A huge thank you to my ever-faithful reviewer (you know who you are :) ) and also to HeartsGlow for some seriously helpful feedback! (Timeline was off and has been slightly adjusted due to said feedback, see chapters 0-3.)

11.

July 30th, 1998

"My Lord, I have two favours to ask of you."

Harry was kneeling in front of Voldemort on the cold stone floor, gaze lowered, wand extended submissively in front of him.

"Speak."

"Tomorrow is the day of our final battle against Hogwarts. It is also my birthday. Please, may I take my slave along? He is fully under my control and he could be of use. He can keep the enemy off my back. Also, I'd like to have him on hand for my amusement right away when we celebrate our victory."

Voldemort grinned with wicked understanding. "Be my guest. What else do you desire?"

"It's about my former friends," he spat contemptuously.

Voldemort heard the hatred in Potter's voice and saw that same hatred in his loyal subordinate's mind. The thought that the boy might be diligently practising Occlumency with his slave never entered his head. He raised one eyebrow to incite the other to continue, which, of course, the kneeling man could not see. "Well?"

"Should we encounter any of my closest friends tomorrow" - he sniffed like a nobleman at the sight of mudbloods - "I wish for the exclusive right to call them to account."

"Granted."

"Tomorrow is the day. The final battle against the Dark Lord's troops is upon us."

Nobody doubted McGonagall's words. There could be no further battles. The war had already taken so many lives that the side of light was simply incapable of scraping together enough fighters to charge into battle again after this last attempt.

There were about thirty people in the Hogwarts teachers' lounge. They were the last survivors of the Order of the Phoenix. Fawkes, the Order's symbol, sat mutely and sadly as always on his perch in the corner. Ever since Dumbledore's death, he had become very taciturn. No-one was surprised that he had stopped singing - there was no-one left who could have understood. And it was too late for his song to cheer them. They had lost too much to accept false hope any more.

"We all know that we cannot win."

Jaded, haggard faces accepted her words without surprise. A dull resignation prevailed that would have appalled many of those present just three months ago - before Harry Potter had joined the Dark Lord.

Before, there had been room for the furtive hope that once Potter had served his ten years in Azkaban, he would once more take on the Dark Lord and deliver the world from his evil. He was hated even back then, no doubt about it. He was a cold-blooded murderer who had abandoned the wizarding world. But maybe, after Azkaban, he would still be powerful, but crazy enough that he could be controlled.

There were rumours about a prophecy according to which only the Boy-Who-Lived could defeat the Dark Lord. Well, if that prophecy was correct, the wizarding world's future prospects were bleak. For the Dark Lord was stronger than ever. Worse, he now had Potter on his side, who was nearly as strong as the Dark Lord and at least as hateful and cruel.

There were new reports of Death Eater attacks on a daily basis, many of which were led by the Dark Lord's right-hand man. One was as bad as the other. Potter murdered with a stony face and without hesitation. The few who survived such attacks often only escaped by a miracle, most did not know themselves why or how.

One such survivor was Hermione. She shivered whenever she remembered the day she had faced Harry in battle.

- Flashback -

Three Death Eaters had surrounded her. Her wand was in the middle one's hand. Resigned to her fate, she closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable.

"Hold!"

The cold voice of the man who had once been her friend made her eyes snap open.

"This one belongs to me."

His cruel, cold smile made the blood freeze in her veins.

The Death Eaters respectfully stepped aside, while their leader raised his wand. A hissing sounded. Parseltongue, Hermione thought. Then all thoughts fled her, for a gleaming black poisonous snake was racing towards her and sunk its teeth deeply into her leg. Numbly, she saw Potter bending down to her. He spat on her wounded leg and the pain made her scream.

The last thing she heard before she lost consciousness was Potter's voice quietly hissing into her ear: "If you had not wrongfully locked me up, things might have been different." Later, she would attribute the sad look in those cold eyes to her imagination and the effect of the poison.

- End Flashback -

She had awoken that evening at St. Mungo's. No trace remained of the snake bite. No-one could tell her what had happened. But there had been rumours before of a traitor in the Death Eaters' ranks, who kept saving children, Muggles and a few random wizards and witches with the help of unfathomable tricks in the middle of an attack.

He never revealed his identity and most who heard of his deeds kept silent so as not to jeopardize his position. Still, among the Order and the Aurors, the rumour had long since been accepted as the truth and they were racking their brains as to how they could contact that wizard to achieve a closer cooperation.

Hermione was grateful to her secret saviour. But ever since that day, she had been brooding over Potter's words. Wrongfully locked up? Did he mean Azkaban? Had he gone so mad that he did not realize the murder of his relatives had been a massive crime? Or did he mean to imply he had been innocent of that crime?

She thought of Malfoy and his fight for an appeal of Potter's case. Many had seen it as proof of Potter's guilt that Malfoy was trying to set him free. Hermione hadn't been so sure. Why would a Malfoy risk his hide for a hopeless battle? That wasn't like him.

Finally, she had stopped poring over Malfoy's motivation when they had unceremoniously locked him up as a 'criminal's supporter'. There were more important things to worry about, such as the next Death Eater attack.

Soon, there would be no such 'more important things'.

Tomorrow was the last stand against the Death Eaters and their followers. Vampires, werewolves and perhaps snakes, as well, were expected to show. It was unknown what other magical creatures the Dark Lord and Potter might have seduced to their side.

Hagrid and Madam Maxine had ultimately succeeded in convincing the giants to stay out of the fight. Remus had brought a few werewolves over to their side. Since Potter's escape from Azkaban, Snape could no longer work as a spy and was thus able to provide enough Wolfsbane potion for everyone. In addition, he had developed several aggressive potions for use on the battlefield over the last couple of months, which had caused some serious damage amongst the Death Eaters.

Still, Hermione knew that McGonagall was right. The old headmistress, who after her predecessor's death had turned into a bitter and angry leader, now continued with her speech.

"We cannot win. Albus Dumbledore has fallen in the fight against Voldemort. Soon after, Azkaban was taken by the enemy and Potter switched sides. Our hope for victory is minimal; yet our thirst for revenge is great.

"We will fight.

"We are not cattle to be kept for breeding! Every man is worth exactly the same, be they Muggle or wizard, pureblood or halfblood, werewolf or vampire! We have no wish to live in a world where a man's worth is measured by his pedigree! We want freedom and justice! If we cannot have that, we choose death!

"But we will not go quietly. Let us show the world that the wizards and witches of Great Britain will not be suppressed. And so I call you all to this our last fight: Against the Death Eaters!"

Furious cheering answered her call.

"You should go."

"What for? I know he betrayed me. Why hope? If I hope again, I can only be disappointed again."

"How do you know you will be disappointed?"

"So far, everyone has been a disappointment - except for you, of course."

"But he is a phoenix and phoenixes do not lie. They are not capable of it."

"And yet he abandoned me. A week, Draco. An entire damn week!"

"Maybe something happened to him?"

"Even if he had burned, it shouldn't have taken him more than three days."

"And if he has died?"

"He is Dumbledore's familiar, only the old man's death could harm him. But even if Dumbledore died, Fawkes would probably survive it. Phoenixes are nigh on immortal! If he has died, though: what good is it to fly over there?"

"At least you would know he hasn't betrayed you."

"What good is that now?"

"I know you do not plan to survive tomorrow. If I... if my love doesn't suffice to keep you here... then... maybe Fawkes can do it? I know you loved this bird more than anything. After all, he was the only friend you knew for an entire year."

"Yes..."

"So please, do me a favour and go. We never get any news around here. Voldemort is keeping all information from you. We have the library to study; but never anything about the world outside this stronghold. You only get to go outside for a few hours when there is a battle to be fought. When it comes down to it, you are as confined as I am.

"You do not know what really kept Fawkes from you back then. I know you don't love me. But for the sake of our friendship: please, at least try!"

"Against Potter!"

More cheering.

"Against the Dark Lord!"

The loudest yells and screams yet.

It was the scream of despair. Hermione wondered how many of the wizards loudly professing their will to give their lives in the struggle for justice today would break tomorrow at the last battle's first curse and high-tail it out of there. A gentle, doleful melody from outside the window pulled her from her thoughts.

Fawkes had noticed it, too. He suddenly sat up straighter; then he shot out the window with great strokes of wing, quick as a disarming charm.

"Fawkes, where are you going?"

"Fawkes!"

"If only we had someone who understood him!"

"Fawkes."

"Harry Potter."

"You're alive."

"Should I not be?"

"No, it's fine."

Fawkes cocked his head. The other sounded downright disappointed.

"If you are not here for me, what do you want in Hogwarts? Have you become a spy now, as well?"

"Bah! I did come for your sake. Draco sent me. He said phoenixes cannot lie. Well, I guess I have just found the proof that there is one phoenix who can."

"You are not a real phoenix."

"I was speaking of you."

"Me?"

"'You can count on me, Harry.' Does that sound at all familiar?"

"I never broke my word. I always stood by you - until you abandoned us."

Fawkes stared angrily at the other phoenix. He knew he could not harm him. And yet he was filled with such disappointment and anger that he could have happily thrown caution to the wind and driven his beak into the green eyes of that phoenix sitting in such a reproachful stance before him on the roof of the West Tower.

"That is not true. You betrayed me to Dumbledore."

"To save your life."

Fawkes didn't think it was possible for a phoenix to utter a disdainful snort, but that was the only way to describe the throaty sound his opposite was now producing.

"Oh, so you did it for me? How magnanimous."

"Potter, what is this? You are the one who abandoned us!"

"I abandoned YOU?!"

"You joined Voldemort!"

"After you left me!"

"I never... Oh sweet Justice!"

"You finally catching on?"

Fawkes heard the bitterness in the other's voice and closed his eyes in horror.

"Three days, you told me, Fawkes. At most. And a week later, Voldemort came to get me - and still no word from you! If Dumbledore had kept his word and gotten my case reopened the next day, maybe I would not have fallen into Voldemort's hands. If you had not betrayed me to Dumbledore, I may at least have been able to warn you of the impending attack on Azkaban! If..."

"Albus is dead, Harry."

"…"

"He confronted Voldemort that day at the Burrow."

"…"

"The Weasleys got out of it alright, but Dumbledore fell in that duel."

"Oh..."

"He was my familiar. It is true, I had tied myself more to you than to him already, so his death did not take me. But I was weakened for two entire weeks. Then I finally burned and rose from my ashes with renewed strength. I rose and found myself in a world fighting a hopeless war. You had joined Voldemort. I wished I could fall back to ashes."

"You mean... you did not deliberately abandon me?"

"Of course I did not! You were more important to me than my own familiar!"

"Oh Fawkes...!" Tears sparkled in the animagus-phoenix's green eyes.

"Well, too late to cry over past mistakes now. You have already made your choice." This time, Fawkes was the one to sound bitter.

"What choice?"

"You turned your back on us. Well, if you believed I had betrayed you, I suppose you were lonely enough... that I can understand such a decision. Still I would not have expected it from you." He looked at Harry sadly. "I remember your words well: you would rather have died than joined Voldemort."

"That hasn't changed."

"What?"

"I may play his follower. But that does not mean that I am. Was Snape on his side? I carry the Dark Mark, but since my power is as great as his, he cannot fully control me with it. Voldemort believes he owns me... I tell you this, he will have the surprise of his life tomorrow!

"It was all Draco's idea, actually. He's also the one who showed me how to disguise a Stupefy as an Avada."

"YOU are responsible for all the miraculous survivors?"

"Fawkes, think!" Harry tiredly reprimanded him. "What, other than phoenix tears, could have healed something like that bite on Hermione's calf?"

"You are not on his side?" Fawkes sounded fairly awestruck.

"No! How could I be!"

"Oh Harry! I am so sorry!"

"So am I, Fawkes. So am I."

"What is it?"

"Looks like a phoenix."

"Huh? I know Fawkes is up there. But why?"

"No, another phoenix."

"There are others?"

"Ron, don't be stupid. Of course Fawkes is not the last of his kind. They may be rare, but they are far from extinct. I have to admit, though, that I have never seen another one, either..."

Hermione frowned. She tried to lean further out of the window to get a better look at the two magical birds. She nearly fell out the window as a result. Ron just so managed to grab her.

"They seem to be having a conversation," Ron stated.

"Do you think this is Fawkes's mystery contact from whom he always brought information to Dumbledore?"

"Could be; after all, phoenix tears would be a good explanation for your leg's healing."

"But who on Voldemort's side could be secretly keeping a phoenix?"

"I don't kno-"

"He's crying!"

"Who?"

"The other phoenix! ...And Fawkes, too!"

"Oh Merlin. That can't possibly be a good sign."

"You thought all those weeks I had abandoned you? And still you schemed against Voldemort?"

"It is the only reason I am still alive."

"For your revenge?"

"At first, yes. Now, not so much."

"What do you mean?"

"I have one more reason to outlive Voldemort, now. I may not die while he is alive, because that would mean abandoning Draco to the Death Eaters."

"Draco? Draco Malfoy?"

"The one and only. He is the only human who believed in me. Did you know he tried to get me freed?"

"Yes, the newspapers were full of it. I did not tell you back then because I thought it would only serve to distress you."

"How so?"

"Well, his fight was doomed from the start. If you had thought him serious, you would have felt guilty because of him. But if you had thought it all a plan of Voldemort's to further discredit you, you might have turned even more embittered. I did not want to risk that."

"Okay..." Harry wasn't sure what to think about that. But he was just beginning to regain his trust in Fawkes and did not want to ruin that because of a minor difference of opinion. It was just too good to have his old friend back.

"Do you have a plan for tomorrow?", he asked.

"Hum... Even if we did, there would be little use in telling you: If you have any ideas for improvement, I cannot convey them. There is no-one left who understands my language. No-one but you..."

"I am sorry to hear that."

"Yes..."

"Hm. Do you trust me enough to tell me the plans regardless? Then at least I can limit the damage from my side until the time has come to confront Voldemort."

"Let us be honest. We both know that the Order, Aurors and the various other supporters of the Light cannot win tomorrow without you. They all know that just as well as we do, Harry."

"What are you trying to tell me?"

"There is no plan."

"Oh Merlin..."

…

"Harry, I am glad you came. You have given me back hope."

"Yes, you too."

"How is that?"

"I need a lot of self-confindence for that one spell tomorrow. Otherwise, there's a risk of losing myself in the casting. Draco knows as well as I do that I like him, but do not love him. If I have ever given away my heart, it was to Hedwig and to you. If... if I hadn't known that you are on my side, I might not have been able to work my part of the spell. I felt so lonely. I know it's unfair towards Draco, he cares so much for me. But... I need you, Fawkes."

Were he human, Fawkes probably would have blushed. But the phoenix merely measured Harry with one long glance, then quietly began to cry.

"Harry, aren't there any people who are important to you?"

"Draco is the only one."

"And you don't love him?"

"I have been disappointed by people too often. I don't think I will ever be able to love a human. But at least I've got you..."

Tears streaked down Harry's cheeks, as well. It was only through Fawkes's words that he realized how emotionally stunted he had become.

The two phoenixes sat side by side on the tower for a long time, sharing their mute tears of sorrow. But finally, they tore away from their pain.

"I need to go back. If I make a single mistake tomorrow, it was all for naught. I should get some sleep... Besides, I need to say goodbye to Draco."

"Say goodbye, Harry?"

"He knows I don't plan to outlive Voldemort by much. Indeed, he finally surrendered the spell to me he found in the very beginning, but kept hidden from me. It affects our connection... If I let lose this spell, Voldemort is sure to snuff it - but, and this is why Draco did not want me to do it, there's a high chance I will die right along."

They shared a long, silent gaze. Then Fawkes spoke up. "Harry, if you die, I die. But remember, you are a phoenix; we don't wither so easily. Who knows? Maybe we will meet again tomorrow night in this life, after all."

"I wouldn't count on it. But it is nice to know I will not have to go on this journey alone. Until tomorrow, then - one way or the other."

"Farewell..."

A/N: I know there are several things wrong with this chapter. The least of them being Harry's exaggeration. (It was five days, not a week. But I'm sure it seems longer in hindsight. :P) Much more of a challenge to credibility is the fact that Harry never knew about Dumbledore's death (yes, Red, I agree). I know I thought it plausible at the time of writing, since none of the Death Eaters actually like him and they'd refrain from small-talk, and Voldemort did keep him as a trophy to be trotted out when it suited his whims rather than as an actual general (and he had an interest in Harry not knowing this fact); however, if Harry can take wing now, why not earlier? I have no excuses (and no easy fix), so... um, sorry? ;)