Chapter 4: A New Friend and Opportunities
Shaking, Harry silently apparated Abe and Hagrid to Grimmauld Place still holding the phoenix. Abe broke the silent tension by saying sadly, "Such a shame her life had to end that way… Something so beautiful deserves to leave in peace." Here Abe looked up at Harry and said in a lighter tone of voice, "Well I'll say Harry that was quick thinking on your part! I bet without you that poor phoenix would be as dead as its mother; you see the healing abilities of a phoenix are the last thing to form and I highly doubt this thing here had hers just yet. But." Abe said a bit more seriously. "I had no idea you were a Parseltongue."
Harry, still in shock from this ordeal, stuttered out. "Yes- I mean- I was, but that was only because of-Voldemort! I-thought I wouldn't be after I killed him." It took all of Harry's ability to not blurt out horcrux. Still, it felt strange to him to still be able to talk to snakes even after it being gone. As if reading his thoughts Abe muttered, "Yes.. strange indeed."
A soft chirp brought the group back to reality. Harry looked down at the baby phoenix only to see it looking at him as well, but its eyes seemed to be analyzing him. As if seeing if he was loyal. Hagrid gave a hearty laugh and said, "Blimey 'Arry! It still amazes me how special ye ar! It looks like ye found yerself a new pet!" For about the fifth time that night, Harry was at a loss for words. "Wh-hat? Me! Keep a phoenix as a pet? But I just saved it! I never wanted to take it."
Abe nodded quite amused before responding. "Hagrids right Harry. To it you have proven yourself worthy by saving her. But I must say how rare phoenixes are, it is even rarer to have one domesticated! I mean the only ones in recorded history are Dumbledore's and the New Zealand's Quidditch team! Though those who are will be fiercely loyal to their master, and I must say she seems to already be quite taken to you."
Harry couldn't deny that. Once the phoenix had done its check on Harry, she had contently fallen asleep in his arms. Harry couldn't help but smile at the tiny creature. Harry always had a soft spot for Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes, and he definitely knew their loyalty from experience. But could he take care of one? Surely it wouldn't be easy to conceal let alone take care of. Though the more Harry thought about it, the more he missed having an animal companion at his side, and even though this phoenix could never replace Hedwig, Harry felt she would be just as loving. He was pulled from his thoughts as Abe gave a slight cough to get his attention. He looked up and Abe said to him. "So what do you think? Would you like to keep her?" Harry was silent for a second before saying confidently, "Yes, truly."
Hagrid seemed like he was about to burst into tears of joy. "Oi 'Arry I'm so happy! I never ment to get ye a phoenix for yer birthday, but I'd say it's just as fine!" Hagrid then pulled out his giant handkerchief and sniffled out, "Just like yer mother ye are! She had o soft spot for creatures too!" Harry smiled at his emotional friend and looked back down at his new pet. "So what should I call you then?" Harry pondered aloud.
He could name her after one of his friends, but that could get confusing. Harry then began to think of Dumbledore, and how he had taken good care of Fawkes. Surely something related to Dumbledore would be an appropriate name. "How about…Ariana?" Harry said to the now awake bird (who was quite annoyed at all of the noise). The phoenix calmed at Harry's words and gave a soft chirp in approval. Abe's eyes soften at hearing the name he picked. "Ahh, I can see why you named her that. I'm sure Dumbledore would be very proud of you today Harry." Abe said gently to Harry.
"Well" Abe groaned slowly lifting himself of the couch. "I'd best be off" He walked over said a quick goodbye to Hagrid (who was still crying and could only give a brief nod) and turned to Harry. "I must say, Harry, Hagrid did tell me you were a capable wizard, but now I see you are much more than that. Now, I know you don't know me well and frankly I don't know you much better, but if you'd ever like to –let's call it- study abroad. Know that I will always be available for you. I'm sure Ariana here." He quickly looked down at the curious phoenix. "Will be able to find me." Harry shook Abe's hand and politely said, "Thank you, for this night I mean. And if I do ever want to um 'study abroad', I will come to you." This answer seemed to disappoint Abe more than it pleased. "Heed my words, Harry." He said in a serious tone. "You are more powerful than you think, and it is only a matter of time before others realize this." And with that and a quick 'pop', Abubakar was gone.
His words left Harry uneasy, but he didn't have time to dwell on them as Hagrid chocked out, "I best be goin' too 'Arry." Hagrid got up and moved to Harry. "Happy Birthday 'Arry! And take er good care of this here phoenix!" As Hagrid said that a wisp of flames jumped off Ariana's tail and onto hagrid's beard. But instead of being alarmed he laughed and said, "I can't ever see what tit is bout my beard that makes creatures want ter burn it. So long 'Arry!" And with that, Hagrid went to his fireplace and was gone with a gust of green smoke. Harry sighed exhausted from the whole night. Performing a quick tempus spell Harry was shocked to see it was 2:33 in the morning! Harry limped up to his room and tiredly transfigured a guest room for Ariana with a large nest, a perch, and left the window open for Ariana to hopefully go hunt if she could (he hadn't the slightest idea what phoenixes ate). And as an afterthought, Harry fireproofed the room before making his way to his own, falling asleep almost instantly.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Harry received mixed reactions about Ariana. Ron thought she was 'Wicked', and if Ginny was apprehensive she didn't show it. The only real problem he had was with Hermione. She didn't like the idea of how he was keeping a wild magical creature as a pet, and she only relented (reluctantly) when she saw how much Ariana loved him and once she heard her name. Still, Harry could tell Hermione was secretly happy he had her (though she would never admit it).
And quite honestly without her Harry probably would have accidently poisoned Ariana by now. It turned out that phoenixes were what muggles called, herbivores. They weren't very picky in what they ate from this category, and Hermione told him that they were known to be able to go months without a single piece of food.
Soon a pattern formed for Harry. He would get up, feed and check up on Ariana (who would always sing him a song), and he would then make himself some breakfast before heading into the Black family library to do some light reading. While Harry never had been one for reading, he knew whatever he was going to do in his future would require knowledge in more magic theory than he was familiar with. And Ariana made sure to keep him from falling asleep (mostly by lighting the curtains on fire). He would then spend the mid-afternoon talking with Kingsley about reforming the wizarding world, and then the evening he would spend at either the Burrow, the Grangers, or with the Tonk's and Teddy. By mid-August, Harry knew this routine grew too comfortable, and it wouldn't last. He would need to make a decision about the coming year, and soon.
That night Harry flooed to the Burrow for Ginny's birthday party. Even though her birthday was a week before on the 11th, Ginny wanted to celebrate it with all of her brothers, and Charlie couldn't make it on her real Birthday. As Harry arrived, he was tackled in a Mrs. Weasley hug. "Oh Harry dear it's so nice to see you!"
Harry could barely breathe throughout the embrace but once she let go he responded, "Mrs. Weasley I was just over here 3 days ago. I visit you more than some of your other children." "Yes yes but you still are like family to me dear," Mrs. Weasley responded before zooming back to work in the kitchen. While part of Harry was a bit annoyed about still being treated like a child (after all he did just defeat Voldemort), he always loved Mrs. Weasley's mothering. Harry looked around the house to find it surprisingly empty except for Mr. Weasley whom he briefly chatted with on the properties of a rubber duck. However, he soon heard noises outside and knew exactly where his friends were.
When he walked out he was greeted by the sight of all the Weasley children playing a serious Quidditch game, Hermione and Neville watching, and Luna having a one way conversation with an angry looking garden gnome. Ron was the first one to see him. "Oi Harry!" Just as he said that though a bulger came smashing into his face knocking him down. But to Harry's surprise as it looked like he was about to hit the ground he suddenly stopped for a second just a foot from the ground, and then fell the rest of the way.
Instead of going to check on her boyfriend Hermione screamed, "Harry!" and hugged him as well (Harry found this hug a bit more enjoyable than the earlier one; not that he would ever tell Mrs. Weasley that). Ron groaned in the background and muttered loudly, "Hermioneee! I told you not to put an impact charm on me! I'm not five." Hermione left the hug to glare at Ron and replied, "Well I just didn't want you getting hurt, you being my boyfriend and all! And it's a good thing I did because you were flying like you were five!" The other Weasleys started laughing and descended to the ground. "You should listen to her Ron." Bill chuckled. "She sounds just like mum." Hermione and Ron blushed a deep red as Bill laughed again and went inside the house (presumably to look for his wife). Harry moved to kiss Ginny lightly on the lips and whispered to her, "Happy Birthday," to which she gave him her signature smile. But what unnerved Harry was that eh didn't get the same number of butterflies in his stomach like he used to when he saw it. Shaking it off Harry returned the gesture and moved to talk to the other guests.
The entire evening was great for Harry. He mostly spent the night getting reacquainted with the Weasleys he didn't know as well (and spending time with his girlfriend of course). The dinner and cake was superb thanks to , and Ginny got lots of great gifts. Hermione gave her a pristine set of the NEWT level books she would need knowing she probably would have been stuck with hand-me-downs.
Neville gave her a twisting tulip which he explained was much like the muggle tulip except it would twist around its owner's hand to form a sort of bracelet; this gift had Ginny kiss Neville on the cheek who in turn blushed a bit and stumbled into Ron (who barely missed getting his head slammed into his piece of cake). Luna gave her a pair of her legendary Spectrespecs. Harry treated his girlfriend with golden wrist watch similar to the Weasley's but showed her the current location of her family and friends and the capability to floo call them from there. Ginny repeatedly hugged and kissed Harry for this. And the Weasley's all chipped in to buy her a Nimbus 2001 saying she would need it assuming she was Quidditch captain.
Ginny blushed and said to this, "Well I probably won't be captain as long as Harry comes back this year, right Harry?" Everyone turned to look at him expectantly; Harry told no one his plans for the coming year (mostly because he didn't know himself). Did he want to go back to Hogwarts? The first place he called home. Would he be able to? How could he return to the place where his own friends and enemies died! He didn't know.
Luckily Harry was saved from answering as four owls flew into the window. Hermione shrieked and jumped to receive what could only be their Hogwarts letters. Ginny and the others looked just as happy as Hermione, but Harry noticed both he and Ron paled. Ginny opened her letter first (not bothering to read the usual letter of acceptance) and screamed in joy as two badges fell out of the letter. "I got Quidditch captain!" she shrieked. Bursts of joy rang through the living room as friends and family moved to congratulate Ginny. Even Harry felt only joy for Ginny; while he still enjoyed Quidditch, it now seemed not as much of an importance to him as it did in his school days.
"What's the other badge, Gin?" Neville asked over the commotion. Ginny flipped that badge over and her joy fell a little bit and she held up the ordinary Prefect badge. "Guess I didn't make Head Girl" she sighed. But she smiled a little and continued, "I shouldn't be surprised though, we all KNOW who got it." Everyone knew she was talking about Hermione and she blushed a little as she too opened her letter. A small gasp left her lips when she saw the sparkling Head Girl badge. People congratulated her too, but nowhere near as much as they did for Ginny. Only Harry and Ron were fully beaming at their friend. "What about you Ronnekins? Did you get Head Boy?" Charlie smirked. Ron again paled a bit and looked to move at his feet. "Well you see…" Ron mumbled so nobody could hear. "Ron you should talk louder, at least then you won't need to repeat what's troubling you." Luna said in her dreamy voice. Ron nodded dumbly and said louder to everybody, "I'm not going back to Hogwarts."
What followed can only be described as an outcry. "What do you mean you aren't attending Hogwarts! Surely you will need you NEWT scores to have a future." Hermione screamed. "Oh Joy! Now I will have three children who dropped out of school." Mrs. Weasley moaned. "Bloody Hell, Ron! Are you that thick!" Ginny yelled. Everyone seemed to have their own opinion on his announcement. Even Harry was surprised at Ron's outburst. Sure he wasn't the best at school…But to drop out? There must be a sensible reason. Harry tried to assure himself. The only voice that stopped the screaming fests was the soft chuckles of George Weasley. Slowly and silently, everyone began to quiet down and turn to George. This was the first time any of them had seen him laugh since, well, Fred. The shock was enough for Ron to gain control of the situation once more.
"Listen everyone, please." Ron panted out of breath from screaming. "I'm not just quitting willy nilly! You know how I've been meeting up with Kingsley right? Well, he says this comin' year, he is offering anyone who fought at Hogwarts acceptance into the Auror training program. And I accepted." Now everyone was yelling for a whole different reason. Shouts of praise and congratulations filled the small dining room as everyone moved to Ron. Harry was also happy for his friend. He had complete faith in Ron's ability to make a fantastic Auror. The only person not as thrilled as the rest, Harry noticed, seemed to be Hermione. I will have to ask her about it later. Harry pondered.
Just then Harry realized he had yet to open his letter from Hogwarts. Harry quietly tore open the envelope and scanned over the acceptance letter and material lists briefly. Seeing nothing else Harry moved to place the envelope down when he felt a slight weight at the bottom of it followed b a quietly jingle. Barely containing a gasp, Harry took hold of what could only be a badge and lifted it up discreetly to see. Sure enough, a gleaming Head Boy badge sat before him.
Harry strained to connect why he of all people got this. But-but how? Why! Surely there are better people for this role than me. I mean, I was never even a prefect! Then Harry remembered something Hermione had told him at Grimmauld Place when he was a bit disappointed he wasn't a prefect. It doesn't matter whether or not you have a badge, harry. To everyone at Hogwarts you will always be their leader. While that may not have been entirely true THAT year, he could see the wisdom behind her words now. He was the school's leader, their new Dumbledore. Something that unsettled him greatly.
Hermione, who the most detached from the group surrounding Ron, turned to see the badge in Harry's hand, squealed, and put him in a bone crushing hug, "Oh look! Harry's been made Head Boy! I'm so proud of you!" Everyone turned to look at the commotion and they too saw the sparkling medal. There was a stunned silence before yet another round of praise erupted in the Burrow. This time though Harry didn't know what he was feeling. Mad? No. Happy? Maybe. Confused? Definitely. He already didn't know what he was going to do the following year, and now he had another thing to consider in the process. Also, Harry couldn't help but see the hint of jealousy in Ron's eyes. Sure Ron was not going back this year, but still to know that Harry was a better choice for Head Boy than him stung. Then and there Harry realized no matter whatever Ron accomplished, he would never get over his jealousy of him, and as if a bulger hit him in the stomach he realized he and Ron would never be best mates again. Sure they would always be friends, but after he abandoned him twice, Harry now conceded they would never be as close as they were in school.
I know! Sad Harry made that connection with Ron, but for this story to work I hard to bring Ron's jealousy out to play. This won't be a Ron bashing story, but I'm not going to make him a GOD. And I made Harry be picked for Head Boy for a few reasons: 1. IT'S HARRY! WHO ELSE AM I GOING TO GIVE IT TO? 2. While he doesn't get the best grades or follow the rules, like I mentioned in the story, he's who all the students look to. Even if he wasn't made Head Boy the students would still come to him for advice. 3. It helps add a pull for Harry to return to Hogwarts. Whether he will or not... I won't say.