Hey everybody!

This chapter here is a little bit short, but I hope you like it anyways!

Enjoy!

Chapter 37

"C'mon Blaise!" shouted Harry and dodged a harmless stray-curse. "I didn't pair you up with Luna for nothing!"

Harry was currently out in the forest with his H.A. group – this time the real one. Ginny and Theo were facing off against Blaise and Luna in a duel, while Susan stood next to Harry and observed them.

Susan suddenly nudged Harry's side and pointed slightly to her left. "What's he doing there?"

Harry followed her line of sight and his eyebrows rose in surprise, when he saw Theo crawling through the bushes. When he looked closer, he saw that he a nearly completely transparent cord came out of his wand. Harry tried to follow the cord and saw that it was nearly all over the place.

His eyes wandered over to Ginny, who was not very far away from Theo. The youngest Weasley adjusted her wand and tipped it on her head twice. Then she started to vanish – having cast a Disillusioment-Charm on herself.

He smirked then and nodded when he caught Theo's eye and then started to look for Luna and Blaise.

He couldn't see his housemate anywhere, but Luna was clearly visible to him, hiding behind a tree. Harry was surprised when she nodded at the empty air. His eyes narrowed slightly and then he saw what he was looking for. First Luna went into the open without any protection at all. Ginny immediately sprang out of her hiding-spot and a rapid exchange of curses followed. He smiled when Blaise appeared directly behind Theo, who was looking at Ginny and Luna,

Just when he opened his mouth, Blaise's face took on a stunned look and he plummeted to the ground with a soft 'thud' and a surprised yelp startling Theo.

Now Harry's smirk turned into a grin and he gave a thumbs-up at Remus, who was casually stepping away from a tree. The man pocketed his wand and smiled. He noticed Ginny, Susan, Luna and Theo staring at him and titled his head. "What?"

Theo frowned and looked down at Blaise, who was struggling to get up, glaring at his feet that were bound together by an invisible force.

"Why'd you do that Professor?" the Slytherin asked. "I don't want to be mean, but you interrupted our training. I was ju-"

Theo snapped his mouth shut and looked at Harry with slight panic, when he realized, that he had just babbled about the H.A. in front of a Professor. Harry merely smiled and shook his head.

"Remus, what are you doing here?"

The werewolf helped Blaise to his feet and handed him his wand back which had fallen to the ground when the Leg-Locker-Jinx had hit him. "I was just curious about your little group." He gave the five members in Harry's group a small, but intent look. "And I wanted to test if you're aware of your surroundings."

The four who had dueled before all looked to the ground in shame while Susan looked slightly uncomfortable. She had only seen Remus because she hadn't been paying attention to the duel for a short time.

Remus then smiled once more. "I'm sorry, but could I speak to Harry for a moment? Alone?"

"I guess we can stop for today," said Harry at their questioning looks and they nodded.

When they were alone, Sirius stepped out of a nearby bush. Harry had to suppress a chuckle.

The dog animagus shook his head and whistled softly. "I didn't think you five put that much thought into teaching them. I haven't seen the other four groups, but I can honestly say that it's scary to see students fire spells that are beyond NEWT-level." He frowned. "Why'd you want us to take a look?"

Harry stretched his limps with a yawn. "Siri, you saw them. They are rather good, but their opponents are always the same. They know each other's fighting styles and therefore know how to react. I may be very creative when it comes to fighting and have no qualms about playing dirty, but I can't change my own style at will and that's why they're starting to expect what I'll do next as well."

Remus and Sirius looked at each other and then the latter one shook his head and sat down on a tree-stump. "Y'know pup, I still don't really know what you want us to do…"

"Well… you can't do much Siri with you being an escaped convict…," Harry saw him roll his eyes and sighed slightly, before looking at Remus. "But you can. You're our Defense-teacher and believe me, you only had one lesson with them yesterday and they all respect you a hell lot more than they did when you taught here in my third year."

"Ah," nodded Remus just and frowned slightly. "Listen Harry, it's not as if I don't want to help, but… as long as the H.A. is an…," he smirked softly, "an illegal group, I can lose my job if I help you." Harry exhaled in disappointment and the werewolf looked thoughtful for a moment. Then the amber eyes lit up. "But maybe you can legalize your group after Umbridge's trial."

Harry scowled. "That bitch's getting a trial, but Sirius here didn't?"

Said convict grimaced. "Yeah… that's justice, eh?"

"When's the trial anyway?" wanted Harry to know as the three started walking back towards the castle.

Remus sighed. "It's tonight. I get cold shivers when I think about it because we've to go to Azkaban for it. And the staff – safe for Madam Pince, Pomfrey and our dear Filch – is required to attend it."

Harry looked at his watch. It was quarter to five and he was supposed to go to a lesson with Snape. After that he would finally have his talk with Dumbledore. "When will you leave, and what about you Siri?"

"We'll leave at seven. And I'll come along as Snuffles, there's no rule stating that dogs aren't allowed in Azkaban."

"You're crazy. I expected you of all people wouldn't want to go there… ah, well have fun," he stated when they entered the Entrance Hall. "Don't get caught, Snuffles, kay?"

"Have fun as well, kiddo," smirked Sirius. "Give Snivellus my regards, yes?"

...HPHPHP…

"Potter!" Get yourself together!"

Harry groaned softly and stared down at the hand on his shoulder that was slightly shaking him. He blinked in hope of his vision getting a little clearer and then his eyes travelled along a black sleeve until he stared into a pair of obsidian eyes.

"Sorry, Professor…" he murmured, irked that his voice sounded so weak.

Snape shook his head and Harry massaged his temples while the Potions-Master once more guided him over to the sofa in his quarters. He promptly felt himself sink into the soft cushions and tried to drown out the ringing in his ears.

It had been three days since he had last been here and one day since Remus's first lesson which meant, that tomorrow Dumbledore would tell him the answer to his question. Harry shook his head. He didn't know why he had suddenly started to think complicated like that. He was sure that without the dragon-blood running through his body, he would simply say that it was Tuesday…

He looked up at Snape when the man pressed a cup of tea into his hands and cautiously sniffed it. He could have sworn he saw a small smile on the man's face then, but he was sure his imagination was playing tricks on him.

"W-what did you p-put in there?" he stuttered unable to keep his voice even and shuddered when a burning wave of pain shot through his body.

Snape sat down on a near armchair with his arms crossed. "How very observant of you, you're learning. I put a simple Calming-Draught and a Pepper-Up Potion in there – together with five drops of the Elixir. By the way, your occlumency-shields are down."

Cursing softly, Harry took a small sip and felt the pain start to ebb away; leaving just the soft tingling sensation he had become used to. He tried to raise his shields back up, but his magic was going wild. Without being able to calm it down he had no chance of protecting his mind. He shook his head and started the familiar procedure of counting in the back of his mind to protect his most precious and important thoughts.

They sat in silence while Harry drank the spiked tea, feeling his strength returning with every sip he took. When he looked to the man, he saw that Snape had somehow gotten a cup of something as well and shook his head.

"Professor… may I ask a question?" he asked, glad that his voice did no longer sound as if he hadn't used it in years.

"You just did,"

He rolled his eyes but continued after not getting a refusal: "Don't think I don't appreciate it, but why the fu-," he got a glare and smirked softly before becoming serious once more. "I mean, why d'you trouble yourself with training me?"

Snape placed his cup on the small table next to him and looked at him. 'Yep, that's definitely strange,' Harry thought. 'Last year I wouldn't have dreamed about having tea with Snape without killing him.'

"Because the Dark Lord probably knows about your weakness by now," replied Snape simply and took his cup once again. "And letting you get killed would not only mean trouble for me and the light side in general, but also crush the hopes of thousands of wizards and witches."

Putting his now empty cup on the table as well, Harry leaned forward, staring directly into the Professor's eyes. "That, Sir, was the standard-answer. I want to know the real reason." He waved his hand around. "If it was just because of that, you would still spit fire at me every time you open your mouth and surely would've insulted me every time I fainted."

Snape's hand holding the teacup had become very still now and Harry honestly had to try not to squirm under the man's gaze while his eyes bored into his own. This time it was an uncomfortable silence that arose between them.

Harry was startled when Snape suddenly jumped up and started pacing. "Potter, do you remember what I told you?" he asked then.

He simply looked up and raised an eyebrow, asking the Potions-Master to elaborate.

"About the prophecy, you dumb child," he drawled, but without any malice.

Harry titled his head and then nodded. "Yes. You were the one who told Voldemort the first part of it."

"Exactly," Snape stopped his pacing in front of the fireplace and continued with his back turned to him. "That is something I regret till this day. And that is exactly the reason I help you."

"I don't understand," said Harry, although he had his suspicions. He narrowed his eyes. "So you help me because you hope to take away the guilt you feel about telling Voldemort the prophecy? I never thought you'd be a person to be on a guilt-trip for so many years"

"NO!" bellowed Snape and Harry jumped slightly. "I help you, because you're her son!"

Harry's frown deepened. "You honestly want to tell me, you help me because of my mum?"

The Professor turned around, but didn't look at him. "Yes, I help you, because you're Lily's son. It's all I can do after I got her killed." The usually stoic man looked worn out now and let himself sink down on the armchair once more. "If I hadn't told Voldemort what I heard Trelawney say, she would still be alive."

Noticing, that he only talked about his mother it finally sunk in. Harry felt his eyes widen slightly and he opened his mouth, only to close it immediately afterwards. He had thought or rather known that Snape and his mother had been friends – at least according to the small stories Narcissa could tell him about his parents' life at Hogwarts - but that Snape had been…

"You were in love with here, weren't you, Sir?" asked Harry quietly, hoping that the man wouldn't kill him. "You loved my mum. And… that's why you hated my father, wasn't it?"

Snape didn't answer, but his body stiffened and he glared at him. Harry sighed softly. "You don't have to answer, Sir. I'm sorry; it was rude of me to ask you such personal questions. Can we… continue?"

The Potions-Master wordlessly handed him a vial with dragon-blood and this time, Harry really did squirm a little uncomfortable under the man's intent and glowering gaze.

He gulped the contents down, but before he was able to fully swallow them, he knew that he would definitely need the Elixir after that. Stars exploded in front of his eyes and feeling as if someone had thrown him into a pit of lava, he knew no more.

…HPHP…

He was walking along the cool, dark corridor to the Department of Mysteries. He knew this was wrong… he wasn't supposed to see this. What had happened to his shields?

He was walking with a firm and purposeful tread, breaking occasionally into a run, determined to reach his destination at last… the black door swung open for him and here he was a circular room with many doors…

Straight across the stone floor and through the second door… patches of dancing light on the walls and floor and that odd mechanical clicking, but no time to explore, he must hurry…

He jogged the last few feet to the third door, which swung open just like the others…

He now was in a cathedral-sized room full of shelves and glass spheres… his heart was beating very fast now… he was in the Hall of Prophecies.

Voldemort was determined to show him something it seemed... of course, what else, when not the prophecy? When he reached number ninety-seven he turned left and hurried along the aisle between two rows…

But there was a shape on the floor at the very end, a black shape moving on the floor like a wounded animal… Harry felt like laughing at the sight…

A voice issued from his own mouth, a high, cold voice empty of any human kindness… he was in Voldemort's head…

"Take it for me… lift it down, now… I cannot touch it… but you can"

That was a lie… he could take it if he wanted. The black shape on the floor shifted a little. Harry saw a long-fingered white hand clutching a wand rise at the end of his own arm… heard the high, cold voice say "Crucio!"

The man on the floor let out a scream of pain, attempted to stand but fell back, writhing. Harry was laughing. He raised his wand, the curse lifted and the figure groaned and became motionless.

"Lord Voldemort is waiting"

Very slowly, his arms trembling, the man on the ground raised his shoulders a few inches and lifted his head. His face was bloodstained and gaunt, twisted in pain yet rigid with defiance…

"You'll have to kill me," whispered Sirius.

"Undoubtedly I shall in the end," said the cold voice and Harry mentally frowned. "But you will fetch it for me first; Black… you think you have felt pain thus far? Think again… we have hours ahead of us and nobody to hear you scream…"

…HPHP…

"HE DIDN'T REMOVE IT?" exclaimed Harry and sat bolt upright.

A shudder went through his body at the abrupt movement and when Madam Pomfrey came bursting into the room and frantically looked around for a possible threat, Harry knew that he was in the Hospital-Wing.

The nurse's eyes fell on Harry. "Mr. Potter, what's going on here?"

He shook his head and with shaking fingers pushed his hair out of his eyes. Madam Pomfrey frowned and came over to him. She waved her wand over his chest and then placed her hand on his forehead. He rolled his eyes when she started to murmur more spells under her breath. Finally, she looked at him.

"There seems to be nothing wrong with you except a slight fever as a result from the strain on your body," her eyes narrowed. "What caused your outburst just now? Had there been other patients under my care, they would have gotten a heart-attack."

"How did I get here?" he asked slightly baffled.

"Professor Snape brought you here before he left for the trial of Dolores Umbridge." She pursed her lips. "It was that blasted dragon-blood again- Merlin I just want a month with you not being in my care!"

She glared at him. "Is that too much to ask for, Mr. Potter?" With a huff she handed him a small vial full of the Elixir of Life. "Drink up and rest."

He obediently swallowed the contents of the vial and handed it back to her.

Pomfrey gave him a look. "Sleep now or I dose you with a sleeping-potion!"

He gave her a small smile and waited until she went back into her office, before he stood up and changed his clothes with a flick of his wand. He took one last look at the nurse's office and then rushed out of the Hospital-Wing.

…HPHPHP…

"I'm going to have a very serious talk with the dear headmaster when I get back!" he growled and threw a Stunner against an innocent amour that was in his way. "He really must be getting old! How dumb can one get when sucking on too much Lemon Drops?"

He continued his tirade until the seventh floor and briskly paced in front of the Room of Requirement. He looked at his watch and hoped that his friends were still in there.

When he entered the room, he wasn't disappointed, and sighed in relief. His four friends were sitting near the fireplace, talking quietly, before looking up startled when he slammed the door shut with a huff.

He went over to the store cupboards between the library and the potions section, where they had their equipment, took out two vials of the Elixir of Life and fastened them on his belt, after casting an Unbreakable-charm on them.

After that, he stomped past his friends once more, to a small wardrobe near the door and took out five dragon-hide cloaks. "We have something to do. I don't really want anyone of you to come with me, but I know that I can't change your mind when I tell you what I'm about to do."

"Harry!" exclaimed Hermione, who had jumped up the second he had stormed into the room. "What are you doing? You belong into the hospital wing!" She rushed over to him and just like Madam Pomfrey put a hand on his face. "You even have a slight fever!"

"Doesn't matter now," he replied curtly. "I'm fine."

"What's this all about, mate?" Ron finally asked when he continued to gather various items that could come in handy. "You've lost me when you stormed into the room."

Harry slipped his boots on. "Voldemort's after it. We have to get it before he's able to lay a finger on the prophecy."

Draco spit out some of his Elderflower wine and looked at him „WHAT?"

"Don't tell me it's still in the Ministry!" pleaded Hermione wide-eyed.

Harry nodded grimly.

Draco groaned and smashed his glass against the wall. He threw his hands in the air, his expression furious. "I don't believe it! You told Dumbledore to remove it!"

"Well, it looks like he didn't do it," grumbled Ron and stood up to retrieve his own cloak from the wardrobe. "Barmy old codger... I even told him four days ago…"

"Shouldn't we get a teacher?" asked Neville. "We should tell McGonagall, Snape or Edison."

Harry shook his head. "The teachers are all at Umbridge's trial and Fawkes didn't arrive yet to take me to Dumbledore," he turned to Draco. "Inform all the members of the H.A… no… I've got a better idea. Bring one of the Twins."

"And Luna!" added Hermione and received a puzzled look from Ron and Draco.

Draco nodded and changed into his Phoenix form while Harry touched the fake galleon with his wand to alert the other members that something was up. With a bright flash the Lightning Phoenix disappeared.

"So then…" asked Neville with a frown, "are we going to the Ministry?"

Harry nodded and conjured a towel to dry the sweat on his face. "Yes, we are. But I tell you one thing. Be ready to meet several Death Eaters."

"Um… why?" asked Ron. "How do you know that they will be there? How d'you know what's going on anyway?"

Harry strapped his dagger on his wrist. "I bet you already guessed that my Occlumency shields once more are down, because of the dragon-blood I had to swallow an hour ago. Snake-face broke into my mind and that's why I know that the prophecy is still where it has always been." He snorted and shook his head with a small smirk. "And he showed me, that he held Sirius as prisoner in the Department of Mysteries."

"But you know that's not true, do you?" asked Hermione and too slipped in some combat boots.

He chuckled and threw one arm around her shoulder. "That's what I just said, silly. I'm not a naïve little kid. Sirius's with Remus and the other teachers. He decided to go on a stroll to Azkaban… don't know what has gotten into him."

She flushed slightly and gave him a peck on the nose. "But why are we going to run straight into the trap then?"

"Because," said Harry grimly. "I won't give Voldemort the opportunity to get the upper hand in this. And maybe... just maybe the Ministry finally realizes that he's back."

Ron chuckled. "So the Phoenix Squad is moving out, eh?"

Harry nodded. "I'm not exactly sure what he's going to do, but if some of his Death Munchers come to Hogwarts while we're in the Ministry, the H.A. will be able to handle them just long enough to get help. Let's get all the things we need."

They went into the different sections of the room, pocketed all the necessary things and didn't have to wait long before Draco returned with another flash in his Phoenix form, accompanied by Luna and George, who blinked at their outfits.

"What's going on?" asked George and his usual grin formed into a foreign serious expression.

"We need you to cover for us," said Harry when he stopped in front of a shelf and took out some phials with Pepper-Up Potions. "We are going to the Ministry and try to stop Voldemort to gain the upper hand in this war."

"A cover for what?" asked Luna without her usual dreamy voice.

"All teachers are at Umbridge's trial at the prison-administration building on the Island of Azkaban, so the school is unprotected at the moment. We... have something to do elsewhere, so it's up to you to make sure everyone's safe should something happen."

"So Voldemort wants the prophecy?" asked Luna and Harry stared at her before shaking his head with a small smile.

"I give up to figure out how you know all the things you do," he chuckled.

"What about the Order?" asked George frowning. "Wouldn't it be wise to inform them that something's up?"

Draco took out a piece of parchment. "Give this to McGonagall as soon as the teachers return. If she isn't available go to Edison, Snape or whatever trusted person you are able to find while being sure that you are not watched. You know the people that are in the Order."

Harry searched through the shelf and then handed George a familiar parchment. "You know how to use the map." He said and George's eyes lit up. "You and Fred are going to keep an eye on it, okay?"

"But tell the teachers not to interfere when they get a message from us in two hours," added Harry after she had checked his watch. "If they get the message it means that we're alright. There's only need to worry when nothing's heard from us."

George sighed and nodded then. "Okay. Should we avoid telling someone?"

Harry looked at Ron, who was the best strategist in their small group. "What do you say?"

He frowned. "I would tell the whole H.A. but no one else. Only in case of an emergency, such as a Death Eater-attack. We don't know for sure what Voldemort's planning."

"Alright little bro!" chuckled George.

"We do that," said Luna and turned around with a wave of her hand. "Good luck."

When they both were out of the room Harry turned to each of his friends. "Are you ready?"

They all nodded with determined looks on their faces.

"Then off we go!" he said and changed into his black Phoenix form.

Hermione went over to him and he placed himself on her shoulder. She grabbed his tail feathers and Neville did the same with Ron. In three flashes they were gone.

That was it. For me, the Department of Mysteries is simply something that has to happen in Harry's fifth year. So off they go!

Review please!

Dark Phoenix of Slytherin