Harry sat down after waving from the window to Sirius and Narcissa with a bittersweet feeling in the depth of his stomach. When they finally got to their own compartment, Harry sighed in relief. It had been quite some ducking and turning to hold his hand around an excited Dawn. Ron and Susan sat opposite him while Hermione sat next to Harry. Ginny stood in the door, looking around conflicted. Ron rolled his eyes at his sisters pouting around.
"Sorry Gin, no more space here." The redhead glared a little at her brother looking once more like there would be magically more space before she huffed and walked on. Susan chuckled a little.
"Oh, I think someone was annoyed by that." She stated with a small grin. Ron just shrugged at that, leaning back in his seat.
"I have no idea what her problem is. The entire summer she had been strange, staying in her room and sending tons of letters around. I have no idea who she is writing to that much anyway, she wouldn't tell." Harry quickly looked out of the window at his best friends words, because he knew exactly where the letters ended, namely in his own bedroom. He got quite a lot of mail in the summer after the World Cup from Hermione, Ron, Remus, Neville, Susan and Hagrid. But by far the most letters he had gotten from Ginny almost every day. He had replied, Narcissa had said it would be impolite not to answer to a letter, but it felt worrying. He had no idea how someone could write that much. And he had no idea what really to tell her. So he let out a small sigh of relief when the door closed behind her. He sometimes cursed Narcissa for telling him, because being oblivious to these things had been a good thing. Hermione folded her summer jacket on her lap and smiled over at Susan.
"So Susan how was your summer after the World Cup? Was it well?" She asked while trying to get a comfortable sitting position. The locomotive had already pulled in the long tunnel and was up through muggle London now. Of course, no muggle would see it, hidden behind wards and the tracks being unplottable while the express was on a roll.
Susan grinned nodding happily.
"Yeah, it was a kickass summer. Mostly Hannah came by and all. We chilled most of the time. I wanted to visit you too but my aunt said I shouldn't at the moment with the whole escape going on and so on." She said with a small shrug. Harry sighed, and continued to look out of the window. Houses and trees flew by and he watched nothing special while he followed the conversation, petting Dawn in her little pouch. She was twisting and shifting.
"Yes, that whole thing is a little bit worrying. Neville said they reinforced their wards because of that and he didn't leave a lot." Harry sighed. He felt for his friend. Everyone was so nervous right now about her and no wonder; Neville's grandmother was even worse. Sirius had told him the grim story about the parents of his friend and Bellatrix Lestrange.
"Yeah, Auntie did that too and... Wait! Is that a..." Susan's voice trailed off as she pointed at Harry. Dawn had just climbed from her pouch and nibbled at his finger. He smiled. "You hungry little girl?" He asked his familiar. Dawn cooed and nibbled on his finger again. He smiled, turning his arm and holding Dawn to Hermione.
"Here could you hold Dawn for a moment, I must get her embers out." With utter delight, Hermione nodded holding her hand out to Dawn so she hopped over. Susan stared at the bird with an open mouth while Harry started rummaging through his pockets. He did look at the blond while searching, with a proud grin.
"Yeah, that's Dawn. She is a phoenix." You could hear the pride in his voice.
Hermione was utterly entranced. Dawn looked around the compartment, to the amazed Ron, who hadn't gotten his head around it yet to Susan who was holding her hand over her mouth to prevent herself from screaming out loud. The golden eyes finally rested at the girl that was holding her, staring into brown orbs. She chirped a little tilting her head in interest before nibbling on Hermione's thumb. That made the girl giggle in a rather un-Hermione-like manner and she carefully reached up, petting the small creature's stomach. The cooing got louder and happier and after a moment Hermione yelped a little. With battering wings Dawn had jumped to her chest, cuddling into her sweater. Susan laughed at the sudden jump Hermione made while sitting, before carefully stretching out her hand, slowly. Dawn saw the hand coming and turned her head around, staring at the hand. After a moment she returned nuzzling into the girl's chest. Susan brushed carefully over the dark feathers her mouth open in amazement.
"That's way cool. A Phoenix? Say Harry you always get the cool stuff right?"
Harry who just pulled the flask with the embers out frowned at her for a moment, before tilting his head.
"Cool stuff? You mean like this?" He pointed at his scar, making Susan blush a little before she shrugged and laughed it off.
"Fuck no. Not that, more like having a Phoenix, getting a Lord title and getting a Firebolt...that are things people consider cool, man." Harry chuckled and nodded in agreement. Fair enough people would say that's cool and Dawn was the coolest. Yet he smirked at his blond friend.
"I would be careful. Dawn will probably peck you if you keep calling her stuff." He said with a fake sternness. Susan raised her hands but grinned as well.
"Okay, I will try not to hurt the little princess's feelings." Harry smiled at the words. Susan was tough and loud and had a big mouth but she was funny and knew when to shut up. She was funny and more boy than girl Harry sometimes thought.
"Dawn, feeding time," Harry said picking an ember from the flask. With fluttering wings, not a real flight but not a hop, she came back to him and raised her open beak, ready to be fed. Harry smiled, loved feeding her, she was so cute sometimes she let out little burps of smoke and he could feel her happiness like nothing else through the bond.
Hermione leaned closer, like the two opposite, totally enchanted by the small ball of feathers. Dawn basked in the attention, showing off her feathers and being a little Diva, hopping around on Harry's lap, cuddling, nuzzling into the pets that were widely given and seemed to have fun. Harry laughed trying something new and letting the embers fall for Dawn to snap them from the air. She did so with a lot of agility and after a short while the other three joined in, while Dawn hopped up and down through the compartment, trying to catch the small embers now controlled by wands. It was fun and easy, washing away a lot of the heavy stuff Harry to carry this summer. But it had to come to an end because Dawn shouldn't eat too much and the book was very clear how many embers she should eat at a time. With a sad heart, he put away the jar, while Dawn was sitting on Ron's knee, being tickled at the stomach by Harry's best friend. Susan turned to Harry.
"Harry, I have a question." The boy nodded, turning his attention away from his familiar. She looked at him oddly.
"What's going on Susan?" He asked, interested.
"Well you see, a few days back, like I don't know after the Cup, I came down for breakfast in the morning. My aunt was strangely quiet and shot me a few odd looks. When I asked her she was nothing like herself stammering out something vague and then she quickly left the room. I asked her again later and she said it was nothing and I should keep it out of her mind. I know she was visiting you guys the night before. Do you have any idea what that was about?"
Harry dropped the book he was holding, his face turning bright red. Mental images raced back in his mind. Sirius half-naked. The moaning. The sound of flesh on flesh. Madam Bones face. And her...breasts when she shrieked back.
Harry blushed even more and reached fidgeting for the book on the floor.
"N-No I...I have no idea." He lied. Bad. Susan's foot stepped onto the book, making him look up. Her eyes drilled into his emerald once and she squinted slightly.
"Bullshit! You know something don't you?" She asked. Ron and Hermione followed the exchange quietly, confused. Harry raised his hand.
"You really don't want to know believ-"
"Cut the crap Peverell. Just tell me." She stated with a firm voice. Harry saw a little of her aunt in Susan, the same hard core in her voice. He sighed, leaning back and stopping to reach for the book.
"Okay fine, but let me say I did warn you. That night I walked around the house because I couldn't sleep. I saw a light under Sirius door so I thought I should talk to him. Well, your aunt was with him and..." He let trail of his voice, staring at her intently. Ron frowned.
"So what? What was the problem?" He asked at the strange way Harry was behaving. Hermione rolled her eyes while Susans got wide.
"You serious?" Harry nodded, his mouth dry.
"You walked in on your godfather and my aunt fucking?" Harry winced at the no-nonsense description of the events.
"Yeah." Ron shrieked at that, staring at Harry with a little horror. While he knew what had to be done for children, in his mind parents and older people shouldn't have sex at all. And he stated so.
"Ron! Of course, parents have...you know." Hermione admonished him. Susan, on the other hand, grinned brightly.
"Ohhhh this is gold! This is so gold! She will not live that down!" And then Susan started laughing like a mad girl like she just caught a glimpse of a treasure she was destined to get. Harry coughed slightly, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"I'm going to the bathroom." He scooped Dawn from Ron's knee and placed her in her little pouch. The bird grumbled a little bit for being taken away from the attention but Harry just knew if he left her field of sight, the newborn would make a scene. It had happened before with a panicked Narcissa and an even more panicked Padfoot.
"You take her with you when you take a leak?" Ron asked really confused and sceptical. Harry sighed, petting Dawn's head in the pouch while holding her inside. She wanted to scramble out, return to her new friends and all the pets and tickles.
"She get's nervous when I leave her field of view and starts a little-feathered riot then. I dislike being parted from her as well, so yeah. She goes everywhere I go. It's the familiar bond." He just shrugged his hand on the handle.
"What will you do in class? I mean there are professors that will care...and there is Snape." Harry stopped, he hadn't thought about it. He turned conflicted feeling on his face.
"I should talk with Professor McGonagall about it." He said after a moment. Hermione nodded in agreement.
"That would be best I think, a good idea." Then she waved her hand at him. "Now go to the bathroom you."
Harry stepped out of the compartment and made his way down the corridor. Dawn was pouting in her pouch, ruffling her feathers. Quickly Harry started the redemption for taking her away from her well deserved attention with cuddles and tickles. His eyes were down into the pouch, while he nuzzled Dawn's little head, making her coo slightly. He did notice when someone walked across but he didn't really react to it. Dawn had captured his mind right not and she nipped on his finger making him chuckle a little.
"You little rebel you." He waved his finger in front of her, only letting it get caught again. She nipped and gripped the finger firmly, yanking at it with a little force. Harry frowned pulling his finger back.
"Hey, don't pull, that hurts young lady." He abolished the small bird who again looked like him like she understood every word, the way she snuggled against his chest, trying to look guilty. For a moment he held the firm look before melting inside at the sight and bopping her head with his fingertip.
"I can't stay mad at you, you are just too cute."
"Harry? Who are you talking to?" The sweet happy voice behind him made Harry spin around. In front of him stood a girl with Asian features long black hair and beautiful eyes. She had a little smile on her face and a small bag of candy in her hand, obviously, she had gone to the candy cart. Her other hand was lying on the handle of a compartment. She tilted her head a little, her long black hair cascading down her shoulder like a pitch black waterfall and her perfect white teeth appeared in a smile. "Harry?"
Blushing, the boy caught himself and tried his best not staring at this girl who had infused quite a lot of his dreams at day and night. He had imagined how it would be like talking to her, holding her or kissing her. Or, especially when he had been in bed late at night he had thought about what else there could be done besides kissing. Remembering that Harry blushed more and felt other parts of his body responded.
'Quick Harry, think of something else, anything. Think about something else. McGonagall at the beach! McGonagall at the beach!
"H-Hi Cho. What? S-Sorry, you asked me something?" Harry stammered, hating his body at the moment. Get it together, form a straight sentence, stop blushing stop being an idiot.
Cho giggled at his antics but not in a mean or mocking way but like she liked his display of scrambling himself together. "I wanted to know who you are talking to in that sweet voice." She smiled was wide at him and he swallowed hard. Then he tried to get his mind together. ANSWER YOU BLOODY FOOL!
"I uhm well I." Great job, now something more coherent!
"I talked to Dawn here." He said pointing at his pouch in a helpless manner. Cho's eyes turned to his pouch and she frowned a little.
"I didn't know you have a child." She said in a strange way Harry couldn't place it. Then it hit him.
"What? No! Oh god no, no Dawn is not my...well in some form but not...It is..." He tried to get his mind together, before petting the pouch from underneath, a sign for Dawn to come out. The Phoenix stuck her head out looking around until she caught a look of Cho and cooed quietly. The frown of the black-haired girl disappeared slowly, melting away into an adorable look of warmth and amazement.
"Oh Merlin, that is beautiful!" Cho stepped a little closer, her hand leaving the handle. Harry felt his heart rate go up and Dawn reacted to that with a chirp. Harry' hands wear sweaty, his back tickled and he heard something like a rushing sound in his ears. His nose got a glimpse of Jasmine and rose, Cho's perfume and the smell alone made him almost lose control of his legs.
"It's an s-she. Her name is Dawn!" Harry blurted out, trying anything to not be still, while he felt so stupid. Cho's eyes were fixed on the small chirping bird head and she cooed herself at the adorable feathered form.
"What a wonderful name. May I pet her?" Her eyes perked up for a moment, looking for approval. Harry couldn't get a word out and she stretched out her fingers, slowly, before brushing over Dawn's small head. the hatchling chirped and tilted it revealing her chin. A small tickle, Dawn's favourite followed up and Cho giggled again, holding her free hand in front of her mouth. Then she straightened her back, smiling at the nervous boy in front of her.
"She is beautiful. Thank you for letting me pat her." She said still smiling. Harry swallowed hard again, the lump in the back of his throat wouldn't disappear.
"No problem." Was all he got out, before she stepped back, picking up the candy bag again and placing her hand on the handle.
"Let's talk sometime okay Harry?" The girl said with a smile that caused Harry's heart to flutter. He nodded again, trying his best to calm himself. Cho smiled one more time while pulling open the door.
"Bye Harry." And then she stepped into toe compartment closing the door behind herself.
Harry stood there, frozen to the floor, blinking staring at the place the girl just left. A goofy grin appeared on his face, slowly, pulling up the sides of his mouth while a bubbling feeling appeared in his stomach. He felt like rushing energy came to his core like an engine getting new fuel. He wanted to jump to run, to scream from the top of his lungs. He had talked to Cho Chang! He had been an idiot but she didn't seem to mind! She had asked him to talk again! This...WOW! Dawn picked up on his feeling starting to chirp up and down happily like she chatted with him.
"Lord Peverell?" A voice came from behind Harry making the boy jump a little. He turned and was eye to eye with Daphne Greengrass. Her gaze was cold and clear, calculating, not revealing any emotion. Her long silver blond hair was braided in a complex form, hanging over her slime shoulder. She was wearing fine grass green robes like it would be proper for the daughter of a noble House. Her hands were folded in front of her and she looked at him with her dark green eyes. Harry's breath was shallow a little. What was it today he only ran into breathtaking beauties?
"Oh hello Daphne, I mean Heiress Greengrass. I know, public and all, my apologies." He said in a hasty manner, waving his hand a little feeling a little like an idiot. She nodded, accepting the apology.
"What are you doing here standing in the middle of the corridor if I may ask?" Daphne asked in an even voice, again not showing any of her emotions. She was well trained in being the perfect pureblood girl and she liked to show it.
Harry scratched the back of his head, pointing his thumb over his shoulder to the door.
"Oh, I just spoke with Cho Chang for a moment." He said in a nervous manner, again blushing a little. Daphnes eyes darted to the side, staring at the door for a moment, before returning to Harry. Cho Chang, a year older than them. She was quite beautiful, seeker of the Ravenclaw quidditch team and a pureblood girl from China, but not noble in blood. She was quite popular, had joined a free time club and was closest friends with Jana Sordi. She didn't have any real enemies in school at least none the Greengrass Heiress was aware of. Daphne pulled her file out of the mental catalogue she had about every student in Hogwarts. At least for those that were worth one. She liked to know everything there was to know, taking note of every detail.
"I see." She just said, putting away every emotion she might have about this, but she couldn't stop herself from feeling a slight dislike towards the Asian girl.
Harry still scratched the back of his head, a little unsure what to say.
"So...how was the rest of your summer?" He asked carefully, trying his best to stop himself from saying something stupid. When her eyes looked into his own again, Harry felt his mouth turn dry. She raised only one eyebrow, something Harry had seen quite often in Narcissa.
"It was fine, thank you for asking. How about you Lord Peverell?"
Harry groaned a little, only to stop himself. A Lord doesn't groan in public, Narcissa's voice echoed through his mind.
"It was fine too, I guess. Padf...Lord Black kept me at home for the rest of the summer, only allowing a few visitors." For a small moment, Daphne'S public mask slipped a little to the side, showing a knowing smile just for a moment.
"Father was the same with me and Astoria." Then her mask returned as quickly as it left. She tilted her head ever so slightly. "Did your little potions accident resolved itself?" She asked, wording it carefully because the boy had sworn her to secrecy. Harry nodded, stepping closer and pulling the pouch open. Dawn stuck out her head again, her eyes instantly fixed on the stunning blond in front of her. She started fidgeting when she saw the girl she had bonded with, cooing like she demanded to get out of her pouch. Harry carefully patted her.
"Easy girl, easy. Daphne, may I introduce Dawn." Harry said with a smile.
Daphne stepped even closer and Harry again smelled her lovely perfume and she raised her hand carefully. Then without asking, she stretched out her fingertips and stroked Dawn right under her beak, like she just knew. The phoenix cooed in delight and nuzzled her fingertip. A smile rose to Daphne's face when she felt the warmth spread through her once again, like a warm home you have longed for after a cold winter walk. Her long slender fingers tickled a little and the cooing sound got more excited, making her smile brighter. Harry watched with a small smile on his face when the entire Ice-Queen persona just broke away. Suddenly a jolt went through Daphne's body and she stepped back quickly, remembering where she was right now. Very public.
"My apologies Lord Peverell, that was not a proper thing to do." She stated quickly, an ever so slight blush of embarrassment on her cheeks. Harry smiled, fondling the top of Dawn's head.
"No need Heiress Greengrass. Dawn seems quite fond of you, don't you little girl?" The phoenix chirped like she wanted to answer. A small smile returned to Daphne's head.
"She is very beautiful." Harry nodded in agreement to her statement. Then her mind returned to the matter at hand. "Lord Peverell, I would like to inform you my father Lord Greengrass would like to talk to you, Miss Black and Lord Black at the first Hogsmeade weekend this year, concerning the life-debt between our houses. Of course, there will be a formal invitation, I just think that prior information would be courteous." Harry nodded slowly. Narcissa had said this would come up sooner or later. It had to be done.
"Thank you for the information Heiress Greengrass. I will inform Lord Black and my proxy." Daphne curtsied and then stepped back.
"I will not take up more of your time Lord Peverell." Harry bowed to the young Lady a little stiffly, holding the pouch, so Dawn wouldn't tumble to the floor.
"It was my pleasure Heiress Greengrass, take up as much of my time as you like." He said warmly, really meaning it. She smiled a little smile at him and walked on.
"Good day Lord Peverell."
"Good day Heiress Greengrass."
Somewhere at a point, the Express had passed half an hour ago, a tree shattered into pieces. Next a boulder, lying on the ground was smashed violently and a path of grass exploded. A man stood to the side, his arms crossed just watching. He was tall, broad shoulders with scars on his hairy face and thick muscles building his arms. His eyes were almost completely black and he had more hair in his face than normal. His fingernails were long and claw like and he just watched with the patience of a true hunter. A few meters away from him a woman with untamed hair and wide bloodshot eyes was screaming, sending another blasting curse into another tree exploding it in a thousand pieces. She was thin like a twig, her skin dirty and her face gaunt. Once she would have probably been a beauty but she looked haunted, maniacal and twitching. She screamed once more in anger.
"Damn Damn Damn Damn." She screamed for almost an hour now, finally, the man stepped forward.
"Lestrange calm down." The bloodshot eyes snapped around staring at him crazy.
"Calm down? CALM DOWN? Our wonderful plan! Broken. Putty! All because you old fool believed you could sniff it out! Believed!" She screamed at him blasting another boulder. He didn't even flinch. He knew she wouldn't attack him she wouldn't dare. They were comrades and more importantly they needed each other. They escaped together. Now they hunted together. They were a pack. He just flicked a splinter from his dirty clothes.
"I did what I said I would do. The tracks are right there. The finding isn't the problem. Getting there is and you know it, Lestrange."
The woman pointed at him with a shaking finger.
"Ohhh now it is little Bella's fault? Really practical for Mister Greyback right? Just put the blame on me." He sighed, shaking his head. The woman was crazy, beyond help. He would have gutted her long ago, ended her misery, but he needed her. There had been many talents in the Dark Lords lines, but she was the best duelist in the ranks of the Death Eaters had been and it would probably stay this way. And he needed her just in case. But sometimes he wished nothing more than to rip her throat out with his bare teeth. He felt his hands gripping his upper arms more when he thought about the idea of her warm blood running down his throat and the last twitches of her cooling body. That would be a wonderful day when he could finally end her and bring quiet to this shrieking. He shook his head slightly. Not today.
"No Lestrange. Remember what the Dark Lord said. Sometimes plans fail, so you need another one in a backup. We will wait and see and you will get your cup and end that Potter boy." Fenrir Greyback wasn't particularly thrilled about the Dark Lords hunger for power and a pureblood utopia. He had been powerful and it had been good for the werewolves when he had been at large, but these days were over. Voldemort had died and while some of his followers cried and wailed saying he would return and they would get their revenge, Fenrir wasn't one of them. While patience was a good trait for a hunter, he also had to understand when was time to move on. The hunt had been good under the Dark Lord but now were different times and his goals would be different. His new play was simple but elegant. If the entire youth of the Wizarding world would be turned to Werewolves, people would have to look at them and had to change. That was the reason he wanted to get to the Hogwarts students. He just needed some time, bite as many as he could and disappeared into the sunset. After that everything would change.
He also couldn't care less about these two boys Lestrange was obsessed with. She was crazy. In her mind when she killed Potter, the Dark Lord would rise again like in a strange exchange of lives. He would rise more powerful than ever and she would sit on his side, as his bride, as his most trusted follower, as his love. On her lap would be the boy she adored, that Longbottom child she thought was hers. She thought of him as a prize she had won and then had been taken from her shortly after. She had wailed in Azkaban, had screamed for the boy, talked about breastfeeding him, about the crib she would make for her boy, always creating new crazy lullabies she wanted to sing for him. Her vision of the world was deeply broken. Greyback shuddered a little. The thoughts of the insane, but he would bait her with it, using her until that wonderful day he could finally make her quiet and cold.
Lestrange stopped herself from screaming, her face empty, the wand lowering. Then she started rambling.
"Yes, yes you are right you old fool. A new plan, that's right, we will make new plans. We will be clever, oh yes, and we will get what we want. Potty dead, cold like a fish and then my lovely wonderful master will return, reward his most loyal follower. He will pet my head oh yes and I will have my lovely Nev...did I tell you what colour the nursery will be painted in you old fool? Light blue and..."
They walked away, one quiet and one constantly rambling.