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Chapter 6

Harry had been staying at Grimmauld Place for a little over two weeks now and he couldn't say that it was boring. Oh, surely not. With Sirius, Remus and the twins in the house, that was absolutely not possible. He remembered very well why this was the case...

Flashback

"Harry…," said Fred quietly when they were going through the cabinets in the salon after the rest of the room had been cleaned spotless. "George and I wanted to thank you again. You know… for the money you gave us."

Harry grinned and looked to see if Mrs. Weasley was somewhere near them, but she was looking at the curtains on the other side of the room. "I hope you put it to good use?"

Now George's head popped up beside his twin. "Of course! We have already started to set up some things we want to test this year at Hogwarts."

"Well then, I hope you do something worthy of your reputation," smirked Harry who looked disgusted at the small rat's skeleton he had fished out from under the cabinet.

"Hell yeah!" they chorused. "We'll do something worthy of the Marauders!"

Sirius entered the room and looked over Harry's shoulder at the rat's skeleton. "What did Mr. Padfoot hear Mr. Shadow? Did someone mention the Marauders?"

Harry looked up. "Why Mr. Padfoot, Mr. Shadow thinks you are right. These two redheads said something about us I believe."

"Then Mr. Padfoot thinks he may have to warn Mr. Moony. Just in case."

"Mr. Shadow thinks that this may be a good idea Mr. Padfoot," answered Harry and looked at the twins who were both gaping at him and Sirius.

Sirius raised an eyebrow when they began to tremble. Harry smirked at what happened next.

"We are not worthy!" they screamed and threw themselves on the floor at Sirius' feet.

"Oh great Prankster and Marauder! Please…"

"… teach us your ways of mischief!"

Sirius chuckled with a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Ohh… that I can do…"

End Flashback

That had been three days ago and Harry could swear that the house had never been this colorful before. After the twins had found out that they were living with two of the original Marauders and one new Marauder, they had asked for a prank war.

And a war is what they got.

Harry had decided to only observe the first day, but on the second day, after being on the receiving end of one of the twins' pranks; having to spend the entire day with a lion's tail and dog ears; he had lost his temper.

Together with Sirius and Remus, he had planned his prank to get back at them, and the twins would surely never forget it. That's because they were still running around with green skin with a toy snake draped around their necks. Harry had made sure that it would last at least a week. Their screams had echoed throughout the whole house when they woke that morning to find themselves in an exact replica of the Slytherin common room at Hogwarts.

Harry chuckled and stroked Hedwig who was sitting on his shoulder and looking at him.

At the moment he was busy reading a letter that he had received from Draco after breakfast.

Dear Harry,

How are you? I'm fine at the moment and I can tell you that mother was overjoyed when she received a letter from Sirius telling her that he would like to meet with her.

I hope you will be accompanying him; maybe you can also pick up Fleur then. She told me that she starts working at Gringotts the day after tomorrow.

How are the weasels faring? Oops… sorry, I mean Weasleys of course. And Granger for that matter?

Mother said that you had been in the hidden Black library. Is there anything useful in there?

Well I hope I see you soon, and by the way… did you find out how to flash? I'm already able to transport myself in my form.

D.

Harry groaned when he read the last line and hung his head in disappointment. He had been trying to get flashing down since he had perfected his animagus transformation, but still couldn't get it. He hadn't thought that it would be this hard after how easily he had learned how to apparate.

It irked him to no end that he was able to apparate but couldn't use it when he wanted to. Sure, he had apparated in France, but there were totally different rules there regarding such things. That he wasn't able to do it here was something the British Ministry had made sure of. You needed to have a license because illegal apparation was recorded immediately. So he had been ecstatic when he found out that he could change into a Phoenix, but even then he had to adjust to his new body. He remembered that it had taken him a whole day just to jump around like a crazed rabbit instead of flying.

He sighed and left his room after sending Draco a quick reply, telling him that he would ask if he could accompany Sirius when he went.

He carefully stepped over a string that was in front of his door and jumped over the first stair that shimmered a bit when you took a closer look at it. He smirked when he heard a pair of disappointed groans from upstairs and looked up to see two mops of red hair disappearing behind the railing.

"Well… time to visit Regulus again and get his answer," said Harry to himself as he made his way down the stairs.

He quickly went down the hallway and opened the hidden door. The next instant he was in the room and looked around, but didn't see anybody.

"Mr. Black? Regulus?" he asked.

The ghost came floating through the bookshelves and smiled slightly at him. "I thought you wouldn't show up again," he greeted Harry.

Harry shrugged. "You said you needed time to think about your answer regarding Sirius and I didn't want to disturb your musings."

"How very nice of you Mr. Potter," Regulus drawled sarcastically. "Have you any idea how boring it is to be a ghost bonded to a single room?"

"Yeah, I can imagine," replied Harry smirking. "I'm always very polite, so well… sorry. And it's Harry, okay? Mr. Potter was my father."

"Only if you never, ever in your life call me 'Mr. Black' again… it reminds me too much of school," shuddered Regulus and Harry chuckled.

"Will do. And? What's your answer?"

"I…," Regulus hesitated. "I want to meet him."

Harry nodded. "I'll tell him. But you might have to wait a few days. At the moment every member of the house is totally engrossed in turning this place into a hospital."

"A hospital?" asked Regulus baffled.

Harry nodded. "Jup. Firstly, the hallway and the second floor are totally spotless and nearly every cabinet and every cupboard has been looked trough already. Secondly, two members of the Order were injured when they got here and had to be treated here. So now it's a hospital."

"What did you do with the stuff that was in the cabinets?" asked Regulus who seemed to be uncomfortable.

Harry shrugged. "We threw it away. But we aren't finished in the salon yet. There are still two cabinets we have to go through."

Regulus nodded and really seemed to be on the edge. "I have to talk to my brother at the earliest opportunity."

"That can be arranged," a familiar voice behind Harry said coldly.

Harry turned around. "S-Sirius? How were you able to get in?"

"I could ask you the same thing Harry," his godfather said in an unusually stern voice and glared at Regulus. "I thought I'd gone nuts when you opened a secret door next to my dear mother's picture."

Harry cursed quietly under his breath. He hadn't checked to see if anybody had been watching him when he entered the hidden library. But he thanked god that it hadn't been someone else.

"Sirius," said Regulus quietly. "You haven't changed a bit brother."

"Neither have you," sneered Sirius sarcastically. It was an odd expression on his usually cheerful face. "But you are dead. How could you little brother?"

Regulus sighed and Harry looked back and forth between the two Black brothers when Sirius suddenly looked at him in anger.

"What business have you got with him?" he spat and pointed a finger at Regulus. "I told you when we were in front of the family tapestry yesterday that he was a Death Eater, didn't I? And now I find you chatting with him in a hidden library with books no one should ever be allowed to read!"

Harry held his hands up. "I met him even before that! The second day I was in the house I went into this room. I got the information from Mrs. Malfoy's memories. Regulus suddenly popped up and I talked to him for a little while." He sighed when he saw Sirius' glare directed at him now and not at his dead brother.

"I knew he was a Death Eater before, so don't start with that please."

"Harry…," said Sirius quietly. "What am I supposed to think about you now? First you disappear for four weeks and turn up with a story about the Malfoys being 'light' and now you are chatting with a Death Eater in a library for the dark arts."

Now it was Harry's turn to glare. "Do you mean you don't believe me?! You wrote to Mrs. Malfoy yourself! You know that it's true that I was at their manor in France!"

"You could have made up that story about her changing sides," said Sirius and his eyes hardened. "In order to give them a valuable information source about the measures being taken against their master. To get information from the light side and give it to Voldemort."

"YOU THINK I WOULD BETRAY MY FRIENDS TO VOLDEMORT?!" Harry screamed and whipped out his wand in rage. "YOU REALLY THINK SO?!"

Sirius took a step back and took out his own wand. "In times like these, anything is possible," he said but his voice was quivering slightly. "He could have offered you something you couldn't refuse and…"

"Stop this Sirius!" interrupted Regulus loudly when Harry began to tremble in anger and clenched his wand so hard that his knuckles turned white.

"Offered me something I couldn't refuse?" repeated Harry, his voice as cold as ice as he looked at the floor. "Yeah… he could have done that. Do you know what I never would refuse in my life?"

Sirius said nothing but looked at Harry in panic when the air around them grew suddenly cold.

"TELL ME!" bellowed Harry and red sparks shoot out of his wand.

"I-I don't know," answered Sirius quietly.

"I would join Voldemort in an instant if he could offer me something I would never refuse," whispered Harry and Sirius looked mortified. "Have I ever told you about the Mirror of Erised?"

Sirius shook his head trembling and held his wand a little higher.

"That mirror shows you your deepest desire. It shows you a wish that comes deep from within your heart. Your greatest and deepest wish. Do you know what I saw in the mirror? Do you know which offer I would never refuse?"

He didn't wait for an answer. "I saw something I would never say 'no' to if somebody offered it to me. Not even if I had to join Voldemort to gain it. Any idea? No?"

"Harry… don't tell me that you really joined him to get your wish!" pleaded Sirius desperately and Regulus just sighed.

Harry broke out laughing, but it was a cold and empty laugh. "I'll tell you what I saw in this mirror," he threw him an icy cold look. "I saw my parents… alive and well. Smiling at me, laughing and caring for me…"

Sirius stood there petrified. "Harry I…"

"I'm not Peter Pettigrew," he interrupted calmly, but there was steel in his voice. "I would never betray my friends to the one who killed my parents. I would rather die than tell him anything. You of all people should know that Black!"

Sirius flinched and his wand fell onto the carpeted floor with a loud 'thud' as he buried his face in his hands.

"Very insightful Sirius," said Regulus drily. "Really well done."

"Shut up!" he snapped. "This is all your fault!"

"No, it's not!" Harry threw in. "Regulus may have been a Death Eater, but he was killed because he betrayed Voldemort you damn mutt! He sacrificed his life just like my parents to get valuable information from Voldemort."

"You… you are right Harry. Please… please can you forgive me?" begged Sirius and sunk down on his knees. "I… I don't know what came over me… I… when I saw you here with Regulus I felt betrayed. I was afraid that I would lose you too. I was afraid you would do it just like Pettigrew and betray Remus and I… and everyone else for that matter. Please… forgive me!"

Harry sighed and leaned heavily against one of the bookshelves. "Sirius… you are the only family I have left… please don't destroy our relationship because of something like that. I can forgive you, but I will need time to forget what you said." He was silent as Sirius nodded. "It hurt you know? It really hurt that you would think I would change sides and go to Voldemort…"

"Damn!" said Regulus and shook his head. "You really haven't changed one bit Siri. You always act before you think. You really need to work on your social skills!"

"Is it true?" asked Sirius ignoring his jab. "Did you really betray Voldemort?"

Regulus sighed. "Aye… that I did. It wasn't one of my brightest ideas to join him in the first place."

Harry snorted and Regulus threw him a pointed look which he ignored.

Sirius grabbed his wand and stood up again. "Why should I believe you? There is no evidence that you weren't one of his followers."

"I… this isn't something I want to reveal in front of Mr. P- Harry," said Regulus quietly and Harry frowned angrily.

"Well…," said Sirius uncomfortably and looked at Harry. "I think it would be the best if he stays to listen…"

Regulus shook his head with finality. "No."

Harry looked at the younger Black and nodded briskly. "Very well. I will take my leave. I'll see you at lunch then Sirius."

His godfather nodded and Harry left the room. He looked at his watch and sighed. It was nearly time for lunch, but he wasn't really hungry at the moment. He thought back to the words that Sirius had said to him, and anger followed by guilt, overcame him.

He stormed up the stairs and opened and closed the door to his room with a loud bang that rang throughout the whole house. He let out a scream of frustration and punched the wall so that it cracked slightly. He tiredly leaned his head against his arms and sighed.

"Damn it all to hell!!!" he cursed. "What's wrong with me and the people around me?!"

"Er… Harry? Mate?" he heard the voice of Ron. "What's wrong with you? Did something happen?"

Harry whirled around, his eyes wide as he saw Ron and Hermione sitting on his bed looking at him. They both had concerned looks on their faces.

"What are you doing in my room?" he snapped more rudely then he had intended to.

"We… we were waiting for you," said Hermione. "We wanted to talk to you."

Harry rubbed his head. "About what? Couldn't it wait until lunch?"

"Well…," said Ron and squirmed uncomfortably. "About you actually… you've changed mate. And I mean it."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I thought we already covered that on my first day here?"

"Yeah… but I mean… like when you think no one is watching you for example," Ron said quickly and Harry narrowed his eyes. "Or when you are around Dumbledore or my mum and even Snape for that matter. You behave like someone… well… you often behave like Malfoy."

"What's your point?" asked Harry, already tired of this conversation.

"Harry. We're just concerned, that's all," said Hermione in an attempt to sooth him. "You're able to handle Mrs. Black like she is an old friend and some of those books you've got here in your room are about more than just dark magic."

"I'll ask you again," said Harry calmly. "What's your point? Have you been waiting for me just to tell me that you believe I'm turning dark? That I'm changing into a pure-blood idiot like those jerks that believe themselves superior to everyone else?"

"Yeah!" blurted Ron and Hermione's eyes widened. "You…"

"Shut up weasel!" sneered Harry and looked at him coldly. "I'm a half-blood myself you idiot!"

"See what I mean?!" asked Ron angrily. "He already talks like a junior Death Eater!"

"Ronald!" Hermione scolded him. "Are you insane?! How can you even think something like that? We just wanted to talk to him about it, and now you are accusing him of being a Death Eater?"

Harry just stood there unmoving; his arms crossed tightly as he glared at Ron.

The redhead stood up. "He doesn't tell us anything anymore! He is treating us like air most of the time! What am I supposed to think?"

"It might be that he is just annoyed at your childish behavior!" Hermione countered and looked at Harry. "Since he's been here, he has never ignored me."

"I want an answer now mate," said Ron who turned to him. "Are you planning something against us?" Suddenly he took a letter out of his pocket and held it in front of him. "What's this letter about? Is this one of your new Death Eater friends?"

Harry's eyes flashed dangerously and he took the letter out of Ron's hands. It must have arrived shortly after he had left for the hidden library. He carefully read it.

My dear Harry,

I'm concerned about our special connection. You know exactly what I mean.

But you also know that those foolish muggles and mudblood-lovers would never stand a chance against us.

So I'm asking you now, and I'm asking you just this once. Join me!

Come and stand by my side. Be my equal just like it should be. I know that I didn't make a very good first… well… second impression on you, but we have so much in common.

Yes… we both were dumped like trash on some muggles and had to take up with this scum for years. We both grew up without parents and we both are half-bloods.

And for both of us, one person is responsible for our miserable life. This person is Albus Dumbledore. So I ask you to join me and take revenge on that old fool.

Consider your answer and send a reply within the next week. I'm waiting for you.

Tom Marvolo Riddle.

Harry's eyes had widened further with every line, but when he read the name that was signed on the bottom of the letter, he gasped. This couldn't be, could it? Voldemort was writing him a letter? He was writing him a letter and wanted him to join him? Not just that, but he signed it with his real name and didn't deny the fact that he was a half-blood!

"And?" asked Ron angrily. "What have you to say for yourself? This is obviously from a Death Eater!"

Harry's thoughts raced. Didn't Ron know who Tom Riddle was? Had he already forgotten their second year when they had rescued his little sister Ginny from him?

But his eyes grew cold when he looked at his best friend. "I don't have to answer your foolish questions. I don't know what this letter is about."

"Fine!" spat Ron and tried to storm off, but Harry held out his hand and stopped him.

"Listen Ron! And listen well!" he said quietly. "I don't want you to ever look through my stuff again. Is that clear? What letters I get and what things I posses are none of your concern. If you value our friendship - and I tell you that I do - then you won't do this again. Is that clear?"

Ron glared at him but nodded before he stormed out of the room. He looked at Hermione from the corner of his eye.

"Harry… I swear I didn't know that he would say such silly things!"

He sat down on the bed next to her and sighed heavily. "It's exactly like last year when my name came out of the goblet. I don't know what's going on these days... I know that I have changed, but how is it that I end up arguing with everyone?"

"Yes," said Hermione quietly. "You have changed. But still… why did you punch the wall when you first came in the room?"

"I had an argument with Sirius before," he answered. "I seem to be getting into them a lot at the moment as you can see."

"I'm just happy that I'm not at the receiving end of your ward," said Hermione slightly smiling. "You are scary when you are angry."

Harry chuckled. "I could never be angry at you Mione. You never give me a reason to even try it."

"And what about third year?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. "I remember that you didn't talk to me for a month because of a stupid broomstick!"

"I was an immature git back then," he said and flashed her a smile. "No… really. About your concern… I would love to tell you what's going on, but I need time. I need to make sure that the people I tell the truth will accept it."

"I understand," said Hermione and looked at him as she stretched her limbs. "At the moment you are just an enigma to me…"

Harry didn't say anything because he was enchanted by her elegant movements and his eyes wandered lower to where long brown curls that reached her mid-back accented her curves. She snapped her fingers and he looked up again, smiling sheepishly.

"What am I going to do with you Harry James Potter," said Hermione sighing.

"Give me a kiss?" he suggested grinning and dodged a pillow aimed at his head.

"Idiot!" Hermione scoffed.

"Love you too Mione," he replied sarcastically.

Hermione threw a mild glare in his direction and he tried to hide behind his bed but lost his balance.

Hermione yelled in surprise when he landed painfully on top of her and she grimaced slightly under his weight.

"Get off of me!" said Hermione sternly as she struggled to be free.

"Hermione…," whispered Harry, and she stopped struggling and looked at him questioningly.

He steadied himself on his elbows and adjusted his legs so that Hermione could freely move and stand up if she wanted to.

"I…," his eyes traveled down to her lips and back to her chocolate brown orbs. "I meant what I said…"

"Harry… you…," started Hermione but Harry silenced her with his finger.

"No Hermione… please don't."

She looked at him and her eyes softened as a blush made its way to her face. Harry's finger trailed down her face and slipped into the soft brown curls at her nape. Hermione still looked at him unmoving and suddenly he felt a hand on his back. He looked at Hermione's face again and could see that she had a slight green shimmer in her eyes that he hadn't seen before. But on the other hand, he had never been this close to her face before.

"Please…," whispered Harry and looked deep into her eyes for any signs of anger or fright. "Kiss me. Just this once…"

He leaned down to her and when she made no attempt to move away, their lips softly met. Harry gently nibbled at her bottom lip and she opened her mouth ever so slightly… inviting him to continue. He smiled against her mouth and deepened the kiss. His hands glided through her hair and gently over her face. He felt her hands trailing up his spinal cord and resting in his wild mop of hair.

After nearly a minute he broke the kiss and drew back to look at her.

"I can't believe it…," Hermione said with a flushed face, breathing heavily and looking at him wide eyed. "I just kissed you!"

Harry chuckled softly. "Well yes. I believe you did Mione."

"I… I'm sorry!" she stammered and her face turned the shade of a tomato. "By Merlin… what have I done?"

"I liked it…," said Harry and caressed her face. "Quite a lot actually."

Hermione looked at his lips and then into his eyes. "I… I really liked it too. But Harry we… I mean… you are my best friend!"

He sighed quietly. "I don't know when it happened Mione… but somehow you became more than a best friend to me… I think it started during the first task of the tournament. And then when I saw you at the Yule Ball… I know it's not right but..."

"Harry?" Hermione asked quietly, hesitantly. "Can you… can you kiss me again?"

"With pleasure!" answered Harry and leaned down again.

Suddenly the door burst open and he heard a loud gasp. He whipped his head around and so did Hermione.

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF MERLIN IS GOING ON HERE?!"

I know… I'm evil. I'm leaving you with a cliffie.

But seriously, I'm Sirius here. I think you can guess who entered the room, can't you?

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Dark Phoenix of Slytherin