Hi everyone.
I'm back a little earlier then expected.
I hope everybody kept reading and here is a new chapter!
Thanks to my beta knitchick, she really did a wonderful job.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Enjoy!
Chapter 10
Harry was lying on his bed at Grimmauld Place attempting to read a book about blood-magic and rituals. But it wasn't really working. For nearly fifteen minutes he had just stared at the words, lost in his own thoughts.
Tomorrow his fifth year at Hogwarts would start and he had a very bad feeling…
Something just wasn't right. He hadn't heard anything about Voldemort and his Death Eaters since they had visited Narcissa and Draco in the now burned down France Manor. That alone made him suspicious.
But there was something good too. Ron and Draco seemed to be getting along just fine now, even if they did nag each other most of the time. It had gotten on him and Hermione's nerves the first few days, but now they could be left alone without being afraid to find the room they were in crumbled to dust.
He sighed and adjusted his pillow when he thought back to last week when they had started training again. This time however there were four people. Hermione and Ron were using the Time Turner regularly while Harry and Draco were setting up schedules for them.
They had decided that they would just use Narcissa's Time Turner to tell them what to do and then leave them alone until the evening. The options of using the time turner in this house were rather limited, because they had to be careful that they didn't run into themselves; they just made two days out of one, instead of to going to the extreme that Harry and Draco had.
Fleur didn't train with them now because she had too much to do at Gringotts and Harry noticed that she seemed to have taken a liking to the oldest of the Weasley brothers. Draco, of course, teased her mercilessly whenever she was around.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Harry looked down at himself. He was wearing a pair of black jeans and no shirt. He shrugged and opened the door with a flick of his wand.
Just as he had guessed Hermione, Ron and Draco entered the room. Hermione stopped in her tracks and blushed bright red when she saw his state of undress and both Ron and Draco snickered quietly.
Harry grinned and stood up. He bowed formally to his girlfriend. "Sorry for my appearance young lady. I didn't think I would have visitors today."
She giggled, something she did more often these days, and gave him a peck on the nose. "It's quite alright young Sir. I… like your appearance just as it is."
Harry raised his eyebrows when she looked at his chest and she nodded, still blushing slightly.
"Well then…," said Harry and leaned forward to give her a real kiss. "I think I should do this more often."
"Are you finished now?" asked Ron who rolled his eyes. "We didn't come here to watch you snog Hermione."
Hermione sighed and glared mildly at him. "You sure know how to kill the mood Ronald."
Ron grinned and dodged a book Harry had thrown at him. "Somebody has to do it."
"Yeah… and why not just the weasel?" asked Draco.
"Do you want to bounce again ferret?"
Draco paled slightly. "No… once was enough."
Harry burst out laughing at the smug look on Ron's face and thought back to when the fake Moody had transformed Draco into a ferret. He clearly remembered Ron's look of pure bliss at that moment.
"So what is it?" asked Harry and sat down on the bed again with Hermione on his lap.
"We just wanted to know where you were," answered Draco. "It's nearly five o'clock and we haven't seen you since breakfast. Oh, and Mrs. Weasley is going barmy in the kitchen because the Hogwarts letters have arrived."
Harry looked at him. "You hang around Ron too much. You're starting to sound just like him."
Draco choked and Ron glared at him. He just shrugged and looked at Hermione who had made herself comfortable on his lap.
"They are a little bit late, aren't they?"
Hermione frowned. "You're right. Draco had gotten his letter weeks ago."
"What have you been doing anyway?" asked Ron now.
Harry looked at the books scattered on the floor around his bed. "As you can see I have done a little research. Sirius allowed me to take some books from the hidden Black library. They are actually quite interesting… if not a little bit disturbing."
Hermione bent down and looked at a potions book. A grin made its way to her face. "What have you got here?'Most Potente Potions' I sure know that book."
"How come?" asked Draco and raised his eyebrow. "This is a very advanced potions book. And it's restricted by the Ministry."
Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at each other.
"You see Draco....," said Harry and chuckled slightly. "Hermione here brewed Polyjuice potion in our second year. You have three guesses as to which book she got the recipe out of. Any idea?"
Draco stared at him and then at Hermione. "Did I hear right? You… you brewed Polyjuice Potion? In your second year?"
"Yes," was Hermione's simple answer.
"Whatever the hell for?!" Draco wanted to know and fell on the chair near the wardrobe. "In your second year! I can't believe it!"
"We wanted to know who the heir of Slytherin was," answered Hermione and looked through the book before putting it on the bed. "Do you remember when Crabbe and Goyle weren't their usual selves?"
Draco narrowed his eyes in thought. "You mean… when they didn't grunt and behave like trolls? When… one of them wore glasses just like… Harry! That… you were under Polyjuice then?"
"Right in one," smirked Harry. "We thought you were the heir of Slytherin then and tried to get some information from you. Hermione brewed the potion and Ron and I went to the Slytherin common room. Hermione was a bit… distracted."
"You can just say that I was spitting out fur balls at the time," grinned Hermione and Draco looked at her like she was crazy. "No, seriously. I collected cat hairs from Millicent Bulstrode's cloak and had to run around with a tail for over a week."
Draco smirked. "That's fitting."
Hermione rolled her eyes and stood up. Harry gave her a disappointed look but she ignored it and smacked him softly on the head when he stood up himself.
"We should get going. I'm afraid that if we wait any longer Mrs. Weasley will trash the kitchen," said Harry and grinned at Hermione.
"That's what I was going to say," she mumbled.
"I know love," he whispered into her ear. "I just wanted to be smart too."
"Come on lovebirds!" called Ron, who was already out the door without them noticing.
"Harry?" asked Hermione when he started to leave the room.
He turned around and saw her smiling from ear to ear. He raised his eyebrows questioningly.
"Don't you want to put a shirt on first? Personally I don't mind… but Mrs. Weasley will have a fit."
Harry groaned and retrieved a white shirt with silver lining from his wardrobe before finally going downstairs, his hand joined with Hermione's. When they reached the hallway they found Draco and Ron having a heated argument with the portrait of Mrs. Black.
"What's going on here?" asked Hermione and narrowed her eyes when Mrs. Black glared at her with malice. Mrs. Black looked from her to Harry and sighed while Ron and Draco huffed simultaneously and crossed their arms.
"Good day Lady Black," said Harry formally and bowed his head slightly. "Might I inquire what you are arguing about?"
She threw her hands over her head and glared around the room. "I wanted young Draco to see the errors of his ways! He is associating with blood-traitors and mudbloods, werewolves and muggle-lovers! This can't be tolerated from one of pure blood!"
"Lady Black!" snapped Harry angrily. "I won't hesitate to blow your portrait off the wall if you keep talking like that. No offence, but I thought you were a little bit smarter than that."
"What?!" she asked enraged. "But he is a descendant from the most Noble and Ancient House of Black!"
"And I will become Head of the Potter Family after Hogwarts, so what?" Harry wanted to know. "I'm descended from one of the old pure-blooded families as well and I don't act like a bigoted idiot!"
"But he is a Black now!" she raged.
"And so is your son Sirius." threw Hermione in. "You already drove him out of the family. If you keep harassing your own family like, soon there won't be any more Blacks left. Is that so hard to understand?"
Mrs. Black glared at her. "Who are you to tell me what to do mudblood?"
Harry, Ron and Draco had their wands out in an instant while Hermione looked angry and sad at the same time.
"Leave Hermione alone!" growled Ron angrily and Draco nodded.
"Don't insult my girlfriend again," said Harry in a dangerously low voice. "My patience is wearing thin and you are walking on very thin ice Lady Black. Now, I will tell you a little secret."
Mrs. Black looked at the three wands warily but said nothing.
"Your beloved Lord Voldemort who keeps rambling about blood purity is a half-blood himself," said Harry and Mrs. Black gasped. "He actually is lucky that he even has magic in his blood. His father was a muggle and his mother was a squib. So… why do you believe in someone like him?"
"Th-this can't be!" whispered Mrs. Black. "He is the heir of Salazar Slytherin. He can't be born to someone like that!"
"His true name is Tom Marvolo Riddle," said Draco. "And what Harry says is no lie. I once thought so myself. But take Hermione here for example, she is better than me – a pureblood – in school and get's every spell right the very first time she tries one."
Hermione smiled at Draco and Harry chuckled.
"Don't try to steal my girlfriend Draco," he warned playfully but with an undertone of seriousness.
Mrs. Black looked at each of them and then without another word the curtains around her painting closed.
"I think we gave her something to think about," mused Ron as he put his wand away. "She will hopefully be quiet for some time now."
"Thank god," said Hermione with relief. "Now… we really should go down to the kitchen."
"As you wish Milady," said Harry and opened the door with a bow. "After you."
Hermione smiled and passed him. When Draco and Ron wanted to follow her, Harry playfully wiggled his finger.
"I said Lady. I wasn't talking about you two," grinned Harry and closed the door behind him as he went down the stairs. He heard the two give an exasperated sigh and enter the kitchen when the door opened again.
"Ah, Harry. There you are. I thought we'd have to send a search-party out after you," greeted Sirius who sat there with his feet on the table.
"Here you three," said Mrs. Weasley and gave each of them an envelope. "Your letters. They are a bit late, but if you are quick I can get to Diagon Alley and buy your new things."
"Thank you Mrs. Weasley," said Harry and sat down next to Sirius. He opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.
Dear Mr. Potter,
The following is a list of the necessary items required for your fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please note that the train leaves King's Cross Station, platform 9 ¾ on the 1st of September at precisely Eleven o'clock.
On a personal note: I talked to Professors' Vector and Babbling. You will be required to take a test in both Arithmancy and Ancient Runes on the 3rd ofSeptember after breakfast.
And congratulations on making Prefect. Please note that you have to attend the meeting on the Hogwarts Express where you will be instructed in your duties. It will take place in the first car of the train.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress and Transfiguration teacher
Harry's jaw dropped when he read the last part of the letter and he quickly turned the envelope around. He paled when he saw a shimmering Prefect's badge that fell into his hand.
"Has Dumbledore gone nuts?" he asked quietly, and Sirius nearly fainted when he saw the badge.
Suddenly Hermione gave a scream of joy, dropped her letter and hugged him enthusiastically from the side.
"You too! Oh, Harry! I knew it! I knew you would be a Prefect too!" she said and all eyes in the room turned to the pair.
"Harry...," began Fred.
"-are you really...," continued George.
"A PREFECT?!" they asked together with wide eyes.
Harry tiredly waved the badge for everyone to see and leaned back in his chair.
"Wow, kiddo…," said Sirius who stared at him. "Your time spent sneaking around the castle at night is over now it seems. Congratulations."
Harry threw him a mild glare. "I don't know how Dumbledore can think that I'm suited for this position. I think he really is getting old…"
"Oh this is wonderful!" shouted Mrs. Weasley and gave him a hug when Hermione let go of him. "I'm so proud of you two. You will both do a very good job."
Harry grimaced when he heard some of his ribs being squished and patted her softly on the back. She smiled at him and then grabbed the book lists. She scanned them over and nodded.
"I will be back in an hour," she mumbled. "This is going to be expensive…"
Suddenly they heard a choking noise and they all looked over to Ron who was gaping at his letter with wide eyes.
"Has he finally lost it?" asked Draco casually and took the letter from him. He scanned through it and his eyes too widened in surprise. "How is this possible?"
"What is it?" questioned Hermione and carefully placed her badge on the table.
Draco said nothing and grabbed Ron's envelope. He turned it around and out fell a Prefect badge just like Harry's and Hermione's.
They both gasped and everyone else in the room stared at Ron open-mouthed.
"How?" asked Mrs. Weasley in a daze while the twins looked like they were having a heart attack.
Hermione frowned. "But… there are only two Prefects for every house… is this a mistake or something?"
"I got that position too, but I'm in Slytherin.", said Draco.
"Oh man…," sighed Sirius. "We are in the company of rule followers."
"Shut up Padfoot," said Harry lazily and locked eyes with Draco for a brief second. "It could be that it has something to do with the planned re-sorting…"
"WHAT?!" screamed Hermione. "There is a re-sorting?!" Her head snapped to Harry. "Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Uh… I kinda forgot?" answered Harry sheepishly. "I really hadn't thought about it since Snape told me… but I'm beginning to worry now…"
"I'm so proud of you!" gushed Mrs. Weasley after she finally snapped out of her daze. "Now everyone in the family has been a Prefect at some time!"
"And what about us?" asked George who seemed offended.
"Are we just some pets?" added George. "Or the nice little neighbours?"
Mrs. Weasley ignored them and asked Ron what he wanted to have as a present. Ron stared at her for a moment and then hesitantly asked if he could get his own broom.
Harry and Hermione smiled at each other while Draco was occupied with rolling his eyes and getting Hermione's cat Crookshanks away from his leg. After Mrs. Weasley said that she would see what she could do about the broom, she hurried over to the cupboard and took a small bag of galleons out of it.
"Mrs. Weasley!" said Harry when she was at the door. "Please use the money from my vault for our stuff."
He handed her his key, but she shook her head.
"No, Harry, I can't do that. This is your money," she tried to give the key back to him, but he was already back at the table.
"And you are going to buy mine and Hermione's books too. So please take it. Pay for all the books with it. It's the least I can do after you have always taken such good care of me," he smiled.
"Thank you," she said after a short time and smiled back at him, before leaving the kitchen in a slight hurry.
"So…," said Sirius. "I hope you won't be abusing your new position."
Harry smiled innocently at him. "Never! How could you even think that?"
He chuckled. "Your parents sure would be proud. And I am too for that matter. I never would have thought that Dumbledore was that crazy! I mean… he is a bit odd, but that odd?" They shared a good laugh and Harry stood up again.
He looked at Ron and Hermione. "I think it is time to finish your training." Their eyes lit up and they hurried up the stairs before Harry and Draco even could react.
"I haven't seen Ronnikins that eager to learn... ever!" stated Fred surprised.
Harry just chuckled and waved at Sirius before they followed them up the stairs to the attic that they used for training.
When Harry and Draco arrived they saw Ron and Hermione already sitting on the floor and looking at them expectantly.
"Well then," said Harry. "Let's give your animagus transformations a try. I'm curious about what you will be as neither of you wants to tell anything about your form. I sure hope that you researched your forms enough."
"I did," nodded Ron. "And I bet you will be surprised."
"So did I.," smiled Hermione.
They began to concentrate, and Harry and Draco looked at each other as a blue light formed around Hermione and a red light around Ron. They had both seen this before. It wasn't common that someone began to glow like that while transforming. They had only witnessed it when they themselves had transformed.
With a sudden gust of wind Harry and Draco had to shield their eyes. Harry's eyes widened when he heard a loud trill that sounded just like…
"Phoenixes!" shouted Draco after the light had faded. "They are Phoenixes!"
And indeed they were. Where Ron had been sitting moments ago was a red Phoenix just like Fawkes with blue eyes hopping up and down. It looked like fire was dancing on his feathers.
In Hermione's spot, there was now standing a beautiful dark blue Phoenix with brown eyes and the feathers shimmered like water.
"A Water Phoenix and a Fire Phoenix," whispered Harry as he petted Hermione's now feathered head. "Now we're just missing the earth one. Remarkable!"
"Yeah," said Draco and their two friends changed back into their human form.
"And?" grinned Ron. "What do you have to say now?"
"This is… unusual," said Harry after a while and Hermione frowned.
"Why?" she asked. "Being a Phoenix is great! By the way… what are your forms anyways? You never told us."
Harry nodded at Draco and in the blink of an eye a majestic golden Phoenix was in his place. Ron's and Hermione's jaws dropped when Harry too changed into his black Phoenix form and trilled softly before changing back again.
"Wha… how?" asked Ron baffled. "You… you are Phoenixes too!"
Draco nodded. "I'm a Lightning Phoenix and Harry is a Shadow Phoenix. You know… it is very rare to change into a magical creature. And now… we have four of them. Phoenixes no less."
Hermione frowned. "Harry… you said something about just missing the Earth Phoenix. Do you think that… that it means something that we all have a Phoenix as our animagus forms? And different elements at that?"
Harry shrugged. "I really don't know but…," He grinned mischievously. "We will use the Time Turner now, and teach you how to fly. Then…"
After was had only been one hour for the other people in the house, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco left the attic and grinned at each other.
"Now there is an Order meeting taking place. Just the Professors, Sirius, Remus and the Weasleys are there. Let's get on with the show."
They all nodded and changed into their animagus forms. Harry as a Phoenix nudged Hermione's head softly and she trilled softly.
'We can talk to each other like this', trilled Harry happily and the brown eyes of the blue Phoenix widened.
'Wicked!' trilled the red Phoenix that was Ron as he flapped his wings.
Draco in his golden Phoenix form trilled, slightly annoyed. 'Are we ready now?'
Harry nodded his head and they all rose into the air. They had trained with Ron and Hermione for twelve hours so that they could learn how to fly and now they soared down to the kitchen and with a loud bang burst through the door.
All the people there had their wands drawn but dropped them to the ground when they saw just what had caused the loud entrance. Even Dumbledore's wand rolled down on the floor and his mouth was slightly open when he looked at the four different colored Phoenixes soaring over their heads.
"What? Who? How?" stuttered Remus who had recognized Harry and seemed to have made the connection to who the other ones where.
They all settled on the table in front of Dumbledore who had a bright twinkle in his eyes when he picked his wand off the floor.
"Incredible," he remarked and petted each of them softly on the head.
They gave a trill and Sirius stood up to look at them better. He narrowed his eyes while everyone else was still gaping and then burst out laughing.
"I can't believe it!" he laughed. "By Merlin's Beard they are all Phoenixes!"
"What's going on?" asked Mr. Weasley in awe while staring at the four birds.
Remus joined Sirius' side. "If I have this right…," he said while looking at each of them. "This is...," he pointed at the red Phoenix. "... your son Ron. And this...," he pointed at the blue one, "... is Hermione, while this one...," he then pointed at the golden Phoenix, "... is Draco and the last one...," he petted the black Phoenix, "...is Harry."
"My son Ron is an animagus?! And a Phoenix too? All of them are Phoenixes?!"
The Phoenixes trilled and rose into the air again. With a loud thundering noise the golden one disappeared with a flash of lightning and the other three flew out of the kitchen through the door.
When they were all sitting in Harry's room in their human forms again, they started laughing.
"Did you see their faces?!" asked Ron and wiped away some tears. "Fred and George nearly fainted!"
Hermione giggled. "Even Dumbledore dropped his wand."
Harry meanwhile, glared daggers at Draco. "How do you do it?!"
"What?" the blond asked innocently. "Do you mean flashing?"
"YES!" shouted Harry. "I can't get it right and you make it seem so easy! But nooo, you won't even give me a little hint!"
"I won't tell you," smirked Draco. "Unless you still haven't gotten it by Christmas."
Harry pouted. This sure wouldn't be an easy task. But on the other hand would he have the help of Hermione now so he just had to work together with her and Ron.
"Well then. Let's head into our own rooms then," said Hermione.
"Yeah," added Ron. "I'm knackered after twelve hours of training."
"Goodnight," said Harry and kissed Hermione passionately.
She nodded and kissed him back before leaving the room, followed by Ron and Draco who each gave him a pat on the back.
Harry flicked his wand to change his clothes and slipped under the covers. After the training, he too was tired and drifted off to sleep after no more than five minutes
On the day of the 1st of September, a group of eight people made their way through the station at King's Cross. They were attracting attention, but not because of looking out of place, but because of their confidence and clothing.
The adults; Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, Remus and Tonks where chatting quietly and a huge black dog was running around like crazy, but nearly everyone of them looked at the four teens that where walking alongside them.
All four of them now wore new robes that Harry had secretly gotten for them in Diagon Alley. Ron and Hermione had protested at first, but after some coaxing from Harry, had accepted them as late birthday presents for the last year. Draco, of course, didn't get any robes from Harry, because he already had a whole room full of them.
Harry was now wearing a dark green shirt with a black and silver Phoenix that curved itself from his right arm, over his torso and back, a pair of worn out black jeans with a silver belt, some comfortable black dragon hide boots, and a midnight black cloak.
The black Phoenix pendant with emerald eyes he had gotten from Fleur hung around his neck and he smiled when he remembered that now every one of them had a pendant of the same sort. His prefect badge was shimmering on his chest.
Hermione wore very tight fitting dark blue jeans and a white top with a dark blue and white Phoenix that curled around her waist and back, and a dark blue cloak, together with white boots. Like Harry, she wore her own Phoenix pendant. Hers was a shimmering blue with brown eyes and her prefect badge was pinned to her robe.
Draco and Ron were wearing the same clothes as Harry. Draco's shirt was black with a gold and gray-colored Phoenix, gray jeans, gray boots and a very dark gold cloak. He too had a pendant in gold and silver.
Ron's shirt was white with a red and orange Phoenix; he wore blue jeans, dark red boots and a dark red cloak. His pendant was red with blue eyes.
All in all it looked like they were wearing some sort of uniform. And that was what they had intended. They wanted everyone to know, that they were friends now and stuck together. And other than themselves and the Order, no one would get the real meaning of their pendants and shirts.
Of course their cloaks where invisible to the muggles around them so that they wouldn't be considered insane for wearing something like that.
They casually stepped through the wall between platforms nine and ten, and arrived at platform 9 ¾.
They stood on the platform and smiled brightly when they saw the Hogwarts Express waiting there in all its glory and the curious looks the other students were giving them. Why shouldn't they? They didn't look like ordinary fifth years now and everyone seemed to recognize the new fourth member of the Trio in disbelief after a second look.
Harry smiled. "I think our time as the 'Golden Trio' is over, don't you think?"
Draco smirked. "Yeah. It looks like that. I never liked that nickname you three had. It reminded me entirely too much of Gryffindor."
"Well then," said Ron. "We have a train to catch."
"Hogwarts here we come again!" they chorused together and laughed.
So that was the tenth chapter.
I hope you liked it.
Don't forget the Reviews! I need feedback!!!
Dark Phoenix of Slytherin