Hi everyone!

I hope you all are well and are happy to see me again!

It took me a little longer then expected to update, because I had a lot of tests coming in school.

But here is the new chapter! And please don't forget to review! It's very important for me to get suggestions and tipps to improve my writing skills!

And as always thanks to my beta knitchick!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Enjoy!


Chapter 12

Harry entered Dumbledore's office and smiled when he saw Fawkes sitting on his perch near the window. The Phoenix trilled and looked at him curiously, but then nodded his head as if to say he accepted Harry.

"Well then Harry," said Dumbledore as he sat down behind his desk. "I believe you have some questions before we come to the real reason for our meeting."

Harry nodded and sat down on a conjured chair in front of the desk. "You knew it sir, didn't you?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled when he smiled at Harry. "Excuse me, but what did I know my boy? I don't think I'm following you."

Harry snorted. "Professor. Do you really want to tell me that you had no clue about Phoenix House, and which house we all would be re-sorted into when you sent us the Prefect badges?"

"Oh, you mean the fact that you, Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Black are all in different houses now?" asked Dumbledore, and Harry just nodded with a small smile on his face. "Indeed, I knew that it would come to this. I asked the sorting hat what I should do about the Prefects and he told me where he would put you."

"So… what is this all about?" Harry wanted to know. "I've never heard of the Phoenix House before."

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and folded his fingers. "You see Harry, the ancient House of Phoenix started shortly before any of the other houses. The four founders, Godric, Rowena, Helena and Salazar, had only the one house at first and all the students were in it together.

You must realize that there were only around fifty students at that time, so there was really no point in putting them in different houses. They were all in Phoenix House, so house pride and inner-house rivalry where very uncommon. There was competition, yes; but no rivalry or hatred. The motto was; 'All for one'. But you know how people act." Dumbledore popped a Lemon Drop into his mouth and Harry nodded.

"They started having differences and the founders began to play favourites, I believe," he said.

"Exactly," answered Dumbledore who seemed pleased. "Salazar Slytherin was the first to take the cunning and ambitious under his special guidance. Rowena Ravenclaw soon followed, and taught those with above average intelligence. Godric Gryffindor took those who were the bravest under his wing, and Helga Hufflepuff took all the rest. The Phoenix House no longer held any value because slowly the four known houses formed and the Phoenixes broke apart."

Harry furrowed his brow. "But why now? Why did the sorting hat decide that the House of Phoenix should come forth again? After more than a thousand years?"

Dumbledore smiled again. "Think, my boy. I'm sure you already know the answer."

Harry looked at the Professor deep in thought. He heard a quiet trill and then looked over at Fawkes who was staring at him as if to tell him that he was really being stupid for not seeing the answer. Then it clicked.

"Because… the Phoenixes have risen again…," he whispered and looked up. "We are the Phoenixes. Draco, Hermione, Ron and I. Is it that?"

Dumbledore nodded. "You all are in different houses now. Every one of you has the different traits of the four houses, but just those who have all four united inside of them are chosen for the House of Phoenix."

"You mean… that the Phoenix stands for something like… unity?" Harry asked.

"You heard the song our dear Gideon sang."

Harry stared at him. "Gideon? Who's… wait! The sorting hat has a name?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "Of course he has. You can't exist for over a thousand years without a name. Godric himself named him."

"So… Gideon was really the hat of Godric Gryffindor?" Harry asked. "Is it because of that, that I was able to draw the Sword of Gryffindor out of it… him?"

"Yes," said Dumbledore as he popped another lemon drop into his mouth. "But do you understand what the House of Phoenix means?"

Harry smiled. "That we have the chance to empower, because together we have great power."

"I see you really listened well to the song," said Dumbledore cheerfully. "Be that as it may, we have a new house and need to arrange some things. There is the question about the Head of House of course and the schedules. Oh, and we should not forget the Quidditch team now, should we?"

Harry grinned. "Professor, I think the Quidditch team won't be a problem. We already have three players in our house. I don't know about the other ones though. There are only eleven of us so it is a bit complicated."

"Indeed," said Dumbledore. "I think you should come up with something together with the Weasley Twins. Who do you think your Head of House should be?"

"You are asking me?" Harry wanted to know, and gave him a piercing stare. "Strange. You never cared about my opinion before."

"I know…," replied the Headmaster. "And I regret not having done so. Asking for your opinion was something I should have done the moment you first set foot onto Hogwarts grounds."

Harry raised his eyebrows. "I was eleven years old then and had no clue about the wizarding world. About what could you have asked my opinion, Sir?"

Dumbledore looked down at his desk. "Maybe what you thought about your living arrangements; what your first impression of our world was, and so on… I know now that your relatives didn't treat you the way they should have. I wanted you to grow up away from magic and live a normal childhood."

Harry snorted. "I'll eat my broom if anyone ever has a normal childhood with the Dursleys around. I would give that person the Order of Merlin, First Class, just for surviving."

Dumbledore eyed him sadly. "So now do you see what I mean?"

Harry nodded slowly. "Yeah… but you can't change it now Professor."

Dumbledore nodded and they were both silent for a short moment. Dumbledore coughed quietly and stood up. "I will see who is available to be a Head of House. And now…"

Harry just looked at him out of the corner of his eye because he was involved in a staring contest with Fawkes right at that moment. Or so it would have looked to anyone else. Harry was desperately trying to speak to Fawkes in his head like he had read Phoenix could do. And now he was an animagus, so it had to be possible to do it.

"Harry?" asked Dumbledore and his head snapped around because he hadn't seen that the Headmaster was behind his desk again.

"Sorry Professor. I wanted to try something," he pouted in Fawkes' direction and the Phoenix trilled in amusement.

Dumbledore chuckled and placed a stone bowl covered with runic symbols onto his desk. Harry looked at it and then up at Dumbledore with a slightly worried look.

"That is a Pensieve… I thought we were just going to talk about some things," said Harry quietly.

Dumbledore looked at him over his half moon spectacles. "Under normal circumstances yes, but of course where you are concerned, nothing is ever normal."

Harry nodded. "Professor, please tell me… why did you keep the prophecy a secret from me? I already guessed that it has to be about me, because I'm the only one Voldemort has marked as his equal." He touched his forehead and sighed. "Is it just because of this scar that I'm the Boy-Who-Lived?"

Dumbledore smiled sadly. "I see you have already given it much thought." He folded his fingers again. "You have to know that a part of the prophecy has already been fulfilled. Voldemort has marked you as his equal. The one who was born when the seventh month died to parents who thrice defeated him."

"But why me and not Neville?" asked Harry suddenly. "His parents also defeated Voldemort three times and he was born just one day before me."

Dumbledore tilted his head and nodded. "That is a question I've asked myself quite a lot in the last few years. The answer is simple I think; it was totally random. But I guess that he chose you because it was widely known in the magical community that the Potter's son displayed accidental magic at just three months old."

"Professor?" Harry threw in. "There could be something else. What if… what if Voldemort chose a half-blood like himself instead of the pure-blood?"

Dumbledore looked at him. "Indeed that could be one reason, now let's get to the prophecy. But first Harry... I'm curious. Who told you about it?"

Harry remained silent while debating how much he should tell him. "Professor, I think you will somehow find out for yourself, so I won't tell you."

A smile came to Dumbledore's lips and he nodded before his expression turned serious. "Now… as you may know, the prophecy is located deep inside the Ministry of Magic. It is in the Department of Mysteries to be exact. That is a highly restricted area that no one is allowed to enter without permission. Normally, only the Unspeakables are allowed to go there as it's very dangerous. The prophecy made about you was placed there sixteen years ago, but that one is only a memory. The real prophecy is right here, in this Pensieve."

Harry eyed the silvery substance in the bowl warily and sighed. He didn't really like Pensieves. He was of the opinion that memories should stay where they belong... in the head of the person who has them. He couldn't remember how many trips into a Pensieve he had taken with Narcissa and Draco, but he was never a fan of it even if it could be damn useful. It was just strange to see people he knew that where dead walking around next to you.

"Are you ready Harry?" asked Dumbledore and Harry nodded. "Then let's go." With a swish of Dumbledore's wand the Pensieve enlarged and they both dived headfirst into the memory. Harry blinked and looked around. They were in a room of some kind; it looked like it could be the backroom of a pub. Two people were there, but he couldn't see them very well.

"We are in the Hog's Head, a pub in Hogsmeade," said Dumbledore. "I was interviewing a new Divination Professor and I'm sure you recognize the witch that applied for the position."

Harry looked at who was without a doubt, a younger Albus Dumbledore, and snorted when he recognized the woman on the chair in front of him. She was wearing very thick glasses that made her eyes the size of golf balls and had scarves draped all over herself.

"Trelawney?" asked Harry. "Why are you showing me a memory of...?" His head snapped to the older Dumbledore next to him. "No! Tell me this is a joke!"

Dumbledore shook his head. "I wish it were, but please listen carefully. I told you in your third year that I believed she had made two real prophecies before now, didn't I?"

Harry nodded and looked at the younger Dumbledore who looked like he wanted nothing more than to leave, and Trelawney who had her head bowed in shame.

"I'm sorry Sybil, but I can't see how you are qualified for this position," said the younger Dumbledore in a friendly tone. "I thank you for coming, but I will take my leave now."

Just as Dumbledore got to the door, Trelawney's body stiffened and her breathing grew ragged. Harry balled his hands into fists; he had seen her do this in his third year too.

The younger Dumbledore stopped and looked at her in concern. "What is wrong?"

Trelawney didn't answer his question, but when she opened her mouth her voice sounded deeper than usual: "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born as the seventh month dies… born to those who have thrice defied him. And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal. But he will have power the Dark Lord knows not. And either must die at the hand of the other, because neither can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…"

Harry stared at Trelawney and sighed when the older Dumbledore gently grabbed his shoulders and pulled him out of the memory. They sat in silence once they were in his office again. Harry had his head in his hands and Dumbledore looked at him in concern.

"Damn that old dragon-fly!" Harry cursed and leaned back in his chair. "That ugly bug is one of the reasons that that shit-eating, snake-faced, old pedophile is after me!"

"Language, Harry," chided Dumbledore. "It was Sybil who made the prophecy, but you have to understand that seers can't control their visions."

Harry sighed and ruffled his hair. "I know… I read it in a book some time ago… but it still… well… it pisses me off…"

"Do you understand now why I didn't tell you the prophecy before?" asked Dumbledore gently and rose from his seat to put the Pensieve back into the cupboard.

Harry glared at his fingers but nodded. "I was too young and I can't imagine how I might have reacted if you had told me before my fourth year. But… thanks for finally telling me, sir."

"Do you understand what the prophecy means?"

A small grin slowly formed on Harry's face. "Yes… I believe I know what it means. But I don't think it's really necessary to know the meaning. It is how it is. But I don't have to fight him if I don't want to. Even if I don't want it another way."

"Very wise words and exactly what I thought you would say," nodded Dumbledore. "Tell me my boy. Is there anything else you wanted to ask me today?"

Harry stood up. "Yes, sir."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "And? What is it?"

He grinned. "Why exactly is the common room of the Phoenix in the same room where you found chamber pots when you needed a toilet?"

Dumbledore stared at him. "So it's in that room? The founders sure were full of surprises."

"Indeed," smiled Harry. "I just hope the scenery has changed a little bit. It would be uncomfortable to sleep between pots."

"Well then, off you go Harry," said Dumbledore chuckling. "Good night."

"Good night Professor."

Harry threw a last glance at Fawkes who ruffled his feathers and shook his head with what Harry swore was a smile. He opened the door and stopped when he felt something brushing against his mind.

'Use your element then you will succeed.'

He stopped in mid-step and looked back at the Phoenix who blinked at him innocently. He sighed and tilted his head slightly in his direction. With a little bit effort he could now feel the presence of the other creature 'What should I use it for?'

Fawkes trilled exasperated. 'Use it for what you have been trying to do for weeks. You are dense sometimes... I don't know how you ended up as a Phoenix.'

Harry's eyes widened and he jumped a little bit when he heard a quiet chuckle. He looked at Dumbledore who looked back with twinkling eyes.

"Did he say something interesting?" Dumbledore asked and grabbed another lemon drop.

Harry glared at Fawkes and held his nose high in the air with a slight smirk on his face. "No… not really. He is just getting on my nerves."

Fawkes gave an offended squawk but seemed to be amused and Harry smiled as he closed the door behind him. He looked at his watch. It was ten o'clock; curfew. He shook his head. He was damn lucky that he was a Prefect, otherwise he would be in real trouble if he ran into a teacher or that blasted cat of Filch's.

He slowly walked along the dark corridors and the familiar feeling of being home washed over him. For some reason, he didn't really want to go to the Common Room, even if he was interested in what it looked like. He shrugged and decided to go up to the owlery and send a letter to his godfather.

He had seen Sirius' face when it was time for him to leave for school, and Harry didn't really like it that he had to leave him behind, especially now that he had really gotten to know him.

When he reached the owlery he smiled as a fur ball crashed down on his head, and chuckled as he plucked it out of his hair.

"Hello Pig. I haven't seen you in ages," he greeted the tiny owl who flapped his wings excitedly. A short time after that Hedwig flew down to him too and nipped him gently on the ear. "Hi, girl. How are you?"

Hedwig hooted softly and positioned herself on his shoulder. He smiled and conjured a parchment and quill to write a short letter to Sirius. Before he started to write the actual letter he took out an envelope and drew a small phoenix in the bottom right corner with a short sentence over it.

You know how it goes Snuffles.

He tapped the words with his wand and they changed from black to red for a short moment before returning back to normal. He wrote:

Dear Mr. Padfoot,

If you can read this then you haven't forgotten the Marauders' Motto! Hurray to the old dog!

Now… how are you? I hope the house is still in one piece… I surely hope so, because I want to read some more in the library.

I'm sorry to say that I am no longer able to grace the Gryffindor Tower with my dashing presence. As you already know, there was a re-sorting and our dear old hat (his name is Gideon by the way) decided that I shall be trying my luck in a different house this year. I think you will be able to figure out which house I'm now in by yourself. You wouldn't be a Marauder if you couldn't.

I know I already said it at the train station, but please be safe and don't let anyone anger you. I know your temper Mr. Padfoot. Please give regards to our dear friend Mr. Moony.

Mischief managed.

Mr. Shadow

He folded the letter and put it into the envelope. He murmured a quick charm and the letters on the envelope started to glow again, followed by the whole letter. After he was finished, Hedwig presented her leg and flew off after Harry gave her a soft pat on the head.

He leaned over the railing and looked down at the Black Lake. Pig meanwhile decided to annoy him to no end by hopping up and down on his head. Harry just ignored him and looked over at Hagrid's Hut. Normally by this time there was always a light on, and he frowned when he saw that it was still completely dark. Hagrid had been at the sorting, so where is he now?

"You damn owl, stop that!" snapped Harry when Pig scratched him painfully on the ear. He flicked his wand and Pig sailed over to the other side of the room, where he gave a loud chirping noise as if he had enjoyed it.

"Who is there?" he heard a familiar voice from down the stairs.

He didn't answer and looked over to the staircase where footsteps could now be heard. A short time later the familiar silhouette of Hermione appeared in the doorway. She had her wand drawn and a small light at the tip of her wand illuminated her face.

"Hi Mione," said Harry, and she whirled in his direction.

"Harry! I looked for you everywhere!" she huffed and crossed her arms.

Harry raised his eyebrows and went to stand in front of her. "Why is that? You know that I had a meeting with Dumbledore."

She nodded. "I know. But I saw him not even five minutes ago near his office and he said that you had already left."

"So why were you looking for me?" asked Harry curiously. "I could have been in the new Common Room, you know. And it's after curfew already."

Hermione rolled her eyes as she took his hand and dragged him down the stairs. "Tonight is our turn. We have patrol until eleven o'clock."

Harry chuckled. "So you already read the scroll Davies gave us?"

"Of course," she answered. "We have patrol together on Monday's and Thursday's until eleven o'clock."

Harry smiled mischievously and threw his arm over her shoulder to whisper in her ear. "Do we have to? I know a fabulous broom closet on the sixth floor…"

Even in the darkness he could see Hermione blushing and chuckled as he kissed her cheek.

"Harry… you know that's not possible," she answered softly.

He shrugged and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Okay then, let's do it in the corridor."

"Prat!" she giggled and found herself enveloped in a deep kiss when she tried to turn around.

Hermione smiled and leaned her head on his chest. "What did Dumbledore say anyway? Did he tell you the prophecy? And did he say anything about the new house you're in now?"

Harry sighed and ran a hand through his messy black hair. "Yes… he told me about the prophecy, and yes… he also said something about the new house."

Hermione gave him a concerned look. "And? Are you okay?"

He looked at her. "I think so. I'm not going to worry too much about the prophecy now. I mean… Voldemort is already after me, so I only have three options anyways."

Hermione took his hand and they walked slowly through the castle. "And what are those options if I may ask?"

He chuckled dryly, even as the situation itself wasn't funny. "The first is that I avoid a direct confrontation with him and hopefully he gets bored or dies while choking on an apple or of old age. The second is hiding. And the third… well… I'm going to either kill him or die trying."

Hermione squeezed his hand. "Don't say something like that! You won't die because of Vo-Voldemort!"

"I might not have a choice," said Harry quietly and Hermione tightened her grip on his hand and sniffed softly.

"Why?" she asked in a monotone.

He looked her in the eyes and could see that she was scared for him. He stopped walking when they were near the Transfiguration classroom and caressed her cheek with his free hand. "Hermione… the prophecy regarding old Snake-face and I said something about that. Do you want to know what it said?"

She just nodded and held his hand like a lifeline so he proceeded. "It said: 'And either must die at the hand of the other, because neither can live while the other survives.' Do you understand?"

She looked at him with a frown on her face and gasped when she grasped the meaning of what he had said. "No… please tell me, that this isn't the prophecy! Tell me that you just made this up to scare me!"

Harry sighed. "I'm afraid it is. And I would never make something like this up."

"B-but… it doesn't say who will win…," whispered Hermione and looked at him wide eyed. "It just says that either must die…"

Harry nodded and leaned forward. He wiped the tears that threatened to fall out of her eyes away and kissed her softly on the forehead. "I know Mione. But prophecies can be very vague. If I decide not to fight him, I wouldn't fulfil that part, because I'll never face him in a battle of life or death."

"So you won't fight him?" asked Hermione quietly and looked down.

Harry shook his head slowly. "I will fight him, because I must and because I can."

Her head snapped up. "But why?! Why do you have to fight him? Why not Dumbledore or the Order?! Why you?!"

He looked directly into her eyes. "Because I have to. I have to do it for myself. I can't just sit around and wait till he is gone or everyone else is dead. He… he destroyed my life Mione. He destroyed the normal childhood that I could have had. If it weren't for him, my parents would be alive and this cursed Boy-Who-Lived sign that I'm wearing on my forehead wouldn't exist!"

His voice had grown angrier with every word and Hermione just stared at him. "I would just be a normal boy, I wouldn't be famous, and maybe I would even have siblings… the list goes on and on…"

"Oh, Harry… so it's revenge?" asked Hermione as she hugged him hesitantly. "You want to fight him because he is responsible for all of your suffering?"

He pressed his nose into her soft hair and inhaled her scent. It was a mix between vanilla and lavender. "I'm not sure… I just know that I'll go crazy if I just sit around and let others do the work. I will fight him, but not because of a stupid prophecy… I'll do it for me and the people I care about." He lifted her chin and smiled softly. "You know about my… what did you call it last year after the second task? Ah, my 'saving-people-thing' just kicks in when somebody is in danger. And that is the case with Voldemort."

Hermione chuckled softly and nodded. "Yes… I know that and… I also understand why you can't just sit back and watch."

"Thanks," said Harry and smiled down at her. He looked at his watch and grinned. "Hey… we should go back to our common rooms. It's nearly eleven."

Hermione looked up startled and grabbed his arm to look at his watch. "You're right! I didn't realize that we spent so much time talking and… DAMN!"

Harry actually jumped backwards a bit; staring at her in wide eyed disbelief as she slapped her forehead and began to use curse words that would have even put Ron to shame. He stood there and stared at her as she started pacing in front of him.

"Um… Mione?" asked Harry. She ignored him and kept cursing and he chuckled. "Hey honey! What's wrong with you, love?"

That quickly got her attention and she looked at him with a soft smile. "That was my trick you just used."

Harry shrugged. "It was the best way to get your attention." He leaned on the wall and crossed his arms. "So what's so wrong that it would make you curse like a sailor?"

She slapped her forehead again. "I made a mistake after the feast! That's what's wrong!"

He raised a single eyebrow. "And what might that mistake be?"

"I… I have no clue where the Ravenclaw common room is… because I didn't go there after the feast. I was in the library so… yeah…," she answered.

Harry stared at her. "But the common room is in a tower, isn't it? Just like Gryffindor."

She nodded. "Yes. But do you know how many towers this castle has?"

"Um… around twenty maybe?"

"Twenty-seven! So how long do you think it will take to look at every tower?"

He sighed and grabbed her hand. "I suppose it would take you until breakfast. Some brilliant Prefect you are." He playfully wiggled his finger in front of her face. "Hermione.... first day on the job and you don't even know where your bed is."

She blushed. "Well…"

He smirked and led her up to the seventh floor while she was staring at her hands in embarrassment. Harry stopped in the middle of the corridor and she looked up and blinked owlishly when she saw where they were.

"Harry? Why are we standing in the middle of the corridor that leads to Gryffindor Tower?"

He looked at the tapestry where Barnabas the Barmy was sleeping while the trolls seemed to be planning how to get him to leave the painting and stop trying to teach them how to dance ballet. "I'm looking for my common room."

Hermione stared at him oddly. "But… there is nothing here. Are you sure this is the right place?"

"Positive," replied Harry and closed his eyes.

The image of the corridor appeared in his head again, but this time he could see himself pacing back and forth while muttering 'Phoenix' each time he passed the wall. He opened his eyes and frowned before mimicking the action he had just seen in his head. He could feel Hermione's eyes on him and imagined that he must look really silly pacing and mumbling here. Suddenly he heard her gasp and looked at her. She stared at the wall that he had passed three times now. He smirked when he saw that a door had suddenly appeared there.

"Well. I said that my common room must be here somewhere."

"What… how… why?" stuttered Hermione and looked at the door and then at Harry like he had grown a second head.

"I guess this is the entrance to the Phoenix common room," mused Harry.

Hermione stared at him. "How… how did you know what to do?"

He shrugged and traced the expensive wood of the door with his fingers. "Dunno… I kinda saw it in my head when I closed my eyes."

Hermione said nothing and Harry slowly reached forward to open the door. He noted how heavy it was when he had to use both hands to open it. When the door was fully open, he took Hermione's hand and entered. What he saw made him smile like a Cheshire cat and Hermione gasped when she saw what the room looked like.

"This is just… just wow!" exclaimed Hermione and Harry nodded and looked around.

They were in a very large room with dark cream colored walls and an ebony floor, with more than fifteen large windows on each side. Everywhere on the floor were small points of light jumping around and Harry looked up at the ceiling. Billions of crystals where planted there, some in the form of big chandeliers and others the size of raindrops.

It was a wonderful view; that was certain.

Majestic crystal Phoenix statues projected out of the walls; and beautiful paintings of landscapes, people and historic events decorated the area surrounding a large marble fireplace on the other side of the room.

Two marble and glass staircases on each side of the entrance led up to the boy's and girl's dormitories, and when Harry took a closer look at them he could see that there were small crystals embedded there as well.

He chuckled when he spotted Fred joking with Hannah, Daphne and Padma on two of the white sofas near the fireplace; while the rest of the boys were spread out on the remaining three sofas. Blaise and Terry were playing chess, Ernie was reading a book and George was doing god knows what. The two new first-years, Rose and Euan, were apparently already in bed.

He was a little bit startled when he heard Hermione's squeal of delight when she saw the white, nearly overloaded bookshelves and the desks with comfortable chairs on her right.

"Yeah," he said and gave her a kiss on the cheek after he had finished admiring the room with a wild smile... "Welcome to the Phoenix Common Room."

"Beautiful..."

So that was that. I hope you liked it!

Give me feedback!

So... a small litle Review? Please?

I swear it motivates me when I know what people think about my story!

Dark Phoenix of Slytherin.