Chapter 3: Into the Flames
Harry felt himself being pulled into the familiar feeling of fitting through a tube before he fell face first onto a cold stony floor. Soon Harry found himself pulled up by a large hand. " 'Arry!" Hagrid beamed. Harry smiled at his old professor and said, "Hello Hagrid"
Harry then looked around to see where they were standing. They seemed to be in a pub of some sort, and besides the late hour it was pretty full. While Harry could tell it was a wizarding bar from the strange attire, the pub itself had strange features that reminded him of an ancient tomb; it was nothing like what he saw in Wizard London. "Hagrid..:, Harry started, "Where are we." "Oh right. Forgot ye' haven't be her' before!" Hagrid chuckled. "We ar in Cairo, Egypt!" "Egypt-t!" Harry sputtered out. "Yup!" Hagrid continued not noticing Harry's discomfort. "Tis here bar is one of me regulrs. Dumbledore used to send me her' on Order business. Well, after he die'd didn't have the heart to stop comin'."
Harry couldn't believe where Hagrid had brought him. He remembered vaguely that Egypt did have a prominent Wizarding population from one of Hermione's lectures, but he never imagined visiting it this nonchalantly! "Okay, but why are we here Hagrid?" Harry asked. Before Hagrid could reply a voice behind him said, "Perhaps I could be of assistance."
Harry turned around to see a man who seemed to rival Dumbledore in age with tan skin, sparkling hazel eyes, and a short gray beard and haircut. "Ah! Abuberker! So ye finally showed up!" Hagrid said to the man. The man chuckled lightly and said to Hagrid in a soft English accent. "Well why wouldn't I? I was the one who showed you the hatchlings was I not?" The man seemed to now place his attention on Harry.
He seemed to stare at Harry for a long time before smiling and offering his hand saying, "And you must be Harry Potter. I must say it is an honor to meet you. The name's Abubakar Krinx, but you can call me Abe for short." Harry took his hand warily. He was hesitant to trust new people for as long as he could remember, and just because this man knew Hagrid didn't make a difference to him. Abe seemed to ignore or not notice Harry's discomfort because he turned back to Hagrid and said, "Well, I'd say we best be off, Rubeus! Those creatures will be born with or without us!" And with that Abe trotted out of the bar and left Hagrid and Harry to assumabley follow.
The threesome walked out of the bar into a busy section of Cairo. Harry could barely keep track of where the man went because of the crowd on the streets. Street venders and hundreds of people crowded the sidewalks and streets, most speaking languages Harry couldn't understand. Carts pulled by cattle and some cars passed by as well, but they didn't seem to follow the same rules British muggles did. Vernon would have a heart attack in this place, Harry thought amused.
Harry was pulled out of his thoughts by Abe calling back to them, "We will just need to walk a bit farther to a place where it's safe to apparate." Hagrid nodded at him and Harry seized the moment to squeeze more information out of him. "Hagrid," he started. "Why are we here? Who is he? And what are we going to see?" Hagrid hesitated for a few moments before replying, "Well yer see 'Arry, we are goin to see the birth of a magical creature. A creature few see in their life time let er lone bein born. Abe er is my friend I met down here. He told me he used to know Dumbledore a while back, and we got ter talkin'. He found out my interest in creatures and told me he a foun' this er ones nest, and offered to tell me when it a hatches. When I asked him if yer could come along he seemed pleased. But I don't know who wouldn't, your'e everyone's hero ye ar!"
This comforted Harry little magical creature wise, but now he had more faith in Abubakar knowing Dumbledore knew him. By this time Abe had stopped in front of them and went into a dingy alley between shops allowing him and Hagrid to catch up. "Alright, now you two hold onto me while I'll apparate us there." Abe whispered forcefully. The two did as they were told as they felt they were being squished together in a tube before they got to their destination.
When they arrived both Hagrid and Abe managed to stay up, but Harry stumbled on the landing and fell onto the rocky ground. "Be careful ther' 'Arry." Hagrid said to him helping him up the second time that night. Abe already walked ahead of them but did turn around to Harry and said, "You know, it helps if you picture yourself in the desired location instead of just the location. You will find the process much less uncomfortable and easier to remain standing." Harry seemed shock this man whom he barely knew was giving him advice.
"Um-a thanks." Harry managed to sputter out as he and Hagrid moved to catch up to Abe again. "No problem", Abe replied. "Albus always said I should have become a Professor like he did, but I always said I'd break more of the rules than the students!" he mused. Prodding Harry asked, "Did you go to school with Dumbledore? At Hogwarts?" Abe smiled at Harry and said to no one in particular. "Ahh, quite observant, Harry, if I may call you that." When Harry gave him an ok nod he continued. "Yes I did. You see I was born here because my parents were working as curse-breakers down here. But they moved me when I was old enough to London so I could attend Hogwarts like they did. Dumbledore and I were great friends besides our slight age difference. Though I may not look it he was a few years older than I. I'm sad to say I haven't spoken to him in quite a few years. So sorry to hear about his passing. Ah! Here we are."
Abe stopped at the edge of a mountainside. Below them was a nest that seemed to glow with golden twigs and fire. In it was an old looking bird with red and yellow wings resembling the fashion of a peacock. Under this bird was a pulsing egg that seemed to be glowing. Harry immediately knew what this bird was. "A phoenix!" Harry sputtered out. "But how! Dumbledore told me that they were extremely rare and mostly were found in the mountains of China, India, and-"Harry stopped to look around and realized they were on a mountain in the last place phoenixes were found; Egypt. "Dumbledore was right 'Arry." Hagrid replied. "Yes quite," Abe muttered looking at the nest questionably.
"And do you know why phoenixes are so rare, Harry?" When Harry shook his head he continued. "It is because to create something that lives practically forever and evades death, a price must be paid. To sire a phoenix, the mother must transfer her abilities and magic to the child, this all but kills the mother." Hagrid nodded solemnly in agreement while Harry was speechless. Even the most beautiful things in nature had to pay a price. Before their conversation could continue they saw the mother fly up from the now burning egg.
"This is it 'Arry!" Hagrid said giddy like a school girl. The egg now was giving off ten foot flames the group could feel from their location. The flames slowly ate at the shell until it started to crack open. As the first piece broke off Harry was blinded by the surge of light coming through. By the time he could turn his eyes back all that was left of the egg was a pile of ashes. The mountain was silent for a few moments until a quiet chirp was heard from the pile. Peaking its head up, a baby phoenix popped its head out. Like its mother it had red and golden feathers, but these were puffed out and fluffy. A small red feather twirled on the head of the phoenix as it slowly opened its clear black eyes. "Oh! Itsa girl!" Hagrid whispered to Harry.
"You can tell because girls will hav' a red fethur on its head while boys won't get one until theyre older." The mother gently flew down to see its child with joy in its fading eyes. She cooed at her child as she placed her head on her chicks. The mother seemed to pulse with fire much like the egg did just minutes ago as a clear golden thread that reminded Harry much of a pensive memory glided from the mother's head to the child's. As the thread connected to the chick a wave of flames and sand circled around the birds and the surrounding area. Only through reflexes was Harry able to put up a shield around his companions. Once the sand and fire lifted all you could see was the baby phoenix glowing with its new power, and the weakened phoenix slowly lay its head down. Realizing what was happening to its mother the baby slowly fluttered to its mom. It began to sing the soft tune of the phoenix call that soothed both the mother and the three wizards.
None of them seemed to notice the impending python slithering its way to the mother and child. Harry only knew of its presence from the sickly voice whispering, "Blooodsss, Flammes! Into the fire mussst I go to killsss" Harry quickly searched the surrounding area for the source of the voice. Once he caught sight of the snake he yelled in what he thought was English, "Stop!"
This distracted the snake enough to turn its head to the sound of the noise, giving Harry just enough time to jump down from the ledge and try to stop the snake. But before he could aim a spell at it, the snake pounced onto the dying mother sending the baby flying back. The mother let out a sickening scream as the python's teeth sank into her flesh. That including its loss of strength, the mother slowly closed its eyes for the last time. The python removed its teeth now covered with the golden phoenix blood and set its eyes on the chick, distraught from the death of its mother. But as the snake in mid air went to attack the baby Harry got his aim right and yelled, "REDUCTO!" a giant blast of power surged from his phoenix feathered wand and blasted the snake into hundreds of pieces. Harry then moved to the shrieking baby and slowly cradled it as if it was his own in the now disturbed night.
Sorry this chapter is so short, but I thought since a lot was happening I would keep it that way. Abe is a character of my creation and I'm designing him to be Dumbledore-like, but not the same. I hope you like him because he will have a large role in the future.