Harry took two steps at once when he ran up the stairs to the Tower. He was grinning like a fool and his mind was filled with bubbles and happiness. Dawn was chirping when she picked up on his mood and filled the corridors and staircases with a wonderful sound. It was like a song full of happiness and candy. Harry's smile went even brighter when he realized what it was. This was a real phoenix song and he almost burst with pride for his familiar. This was her first real phoenix song! Harry scooped her out of her pouch and cuddled her small frame making the song even more powerful than it was. He grinned and she nibbled on his nose in a mocking manner, getting a laugh out of him. The song slowed and then stopped but the warm and happy feeling was still strong through their bond. Harry kept walking holding her in his hands.
"You did it, girl! A real phoenix song! I'm so proud of you." He placed a kiss on her head, making her coo and chirp again. The bubbly feeling in his chest was so strong he felt like his heart would burst. A portrait of an old stern-looking witch scowled at him from under the hem of her hat when he was running past her with a laugh.
"Order!" She called at him, but the boy only smiled and waved at her with a smile. The portrait was known as a stuck up killjoy to all the students. He rounded a corner and jogged towards the portrait of the Fat Lady with a skip in his step. The wide woman in the portrait smiled at him, leaning a little forward.
"You seem unusually happy, Mister Potter." She said nicely. While she was nice, she seemed unable to learn his new name. Harry didn't really mind, not with her.
"Thank you, yes it is a good day." He just replied, cradling the cooing phoenix to his chest. She nodded, waving a little.
"You are right Mister Potter. May I ask you for the password?" Her voice was rather pleasant. He nodded, giving it to her. She thanked him and opened up, revealing the hole behind and a wave of chatter, like always was the case, swept out of it. Harry put back Dawn into her pouch and climbed through. Gryf grumbled a little in his robes, the movement must have woken him up, so Harry apologized to him. The snake tucked his head back under his shirt and his tongue tickled his skin for a few times. The common room was filled with students, chatting and sitting together. The chaser girls were doing some homework, surrounded by notes and books. George and Fred were in a corner together with Lee Jordan working on something in a cauldron. They really liked the idea of Percy not being around anymore and all the other Gryffindor prefects didn't care very much as long as they kept it quiet. The tall and rather handsome McLaggen was sitting at the window, a large-chested girl in Fred and George's year on his lap. She was giggling and looked deep into his eyes. Harry walked past them and bypassed the hearth. Luckily no one wanted the heat at the moment so it was cold and empty, only a few specks of ash in it. The black-haired boy swiftly made his way over to where Ron, Hermione, Neville and Ginny were sitting. The two boys were playing chess and while Ron was the best player in all of Gryffindor, Neville held his own against him. The two of them stared intently at the board, with Neville gnawing on his thumb. Harry slid off his outer robes and dropped down onto the free space next to Hermione. She was reading a book about Astronomy and lowered it just for a moment, giving him a smile.
"Hey, Harry. You look like you are in a really good mood. The discussion with Miss Black went well I gather." She said, closing the book. Ginny looked up from her own homework and smiled at him. Harry was fiddling with Dawn's pouch and looked up.
"What? Oh yes, everything went well with Narcissa." He mumbled, still grinning to himself and got Dawn out. She jumped from his hands into Hermione's lap nuzzling there. She smiled and put the book away, petting the small bird. For a moment it got quiet. Ginny leaned a little forward.
"So, why are you having such a good mood?" She asked, curiosity written widely over her face.
Harry grinned wide and proudly, looking at his familiar, who was right now chirping happily due to neck scratches.
"Dawn sang for the first time today." He proudly declared. Hermione and even the two boys playing chess looked surprised at this. Ginny was the first to say something.
"That is wonderful! How was it?" She asked eyeing the black feather-ball herself now. Dawn basked in the attention, as usual, and fluttered with her small wings. Harry grinned like a loon and nodded eagerly.
"It was awesome, it was just this feeling of happiness and joy, I have never felt like this before. It was like there was no care in the world and all was good and every wound could heal. It was the most beautiful thing in the world. Like really, I mean I have heard Fawkes sing and that is amazing but the feeling that was radiating through the bond at the same time was just something else. She is just the most amazing being in the whole wide world. Aren't you young lady? Do you want some embers? You earned yourself a treat don't you?" Harry's voice was so filled with glee and happiness his friends smiled when Dawn hopped back on his lap and chirped loudly like she was answering. From somewhere McLaggen called out to him, to keep it down. Harry waved a little apologetic and ruffled through his pocket for Dawn's ember jar. The small bird got only more excited when the jar came into sight. She jumped up and down, clicking her beak in anticipation, making Harry chuckle. Hermione smiled and leaned closer.
"That is really awesome Harry. Congratulation young girl. You did well, so well! Are you a good girl?" Her fingers tickled the chirping phoenix under the beak and Dawn let out a happy coo, making all of them smile. Then a curious Hermione raised her head, eyeing Harry with a somewhat hungry look, the look she often gave teachers when they started a new subject or when Hermione found a new book to read.
"You think she will sing for us too?" She asked carefully and quickly waved her hands at him when Harry looked up. "I mean I don't want to pressure it just says in Magical Creatures and Where to Find Them that the song of a phoenix is one of the most wonderful things in the world and I-" She stopped her defence when Harry chuckled a little nodding.
"It's okay Hermione. To be honest, I have no idea, that's up to Dawn." He picked her up and tickled her stomach with a smile. All of them leaned closer when Harry whispered to the small bird. "Would you do us the honour to sing for us little girl?" He asked her with a smile. While he did so, he concentrated on the love he had for his small familiar, the feeling that she was the most important for him in the entire world and how much happiness she had brought him. Dawn stopped chirping around and stared deep into his eyes, not moving. Her golden, with bronze specks dotted, eyes were unblinking, staring into Harry's own emerald. Harry felt a wave of affection through the bond when Dawn responded with her own feelings. Like always these were a little strange like you would imagine from someone who had a very different point of view, both physical and emotional. Their friends watched as the boy and the small bird stared at each other with the utmost admiration in their eyes. Then after a short while, Dawn opened her small beak and began to sing.
Her song was loud and clear, as beautiful as before but this time a lot longer lasting and refined. Before it sounded like something she only tested in the corridor or did by accident and now was purposeful. Such a small body shouldn't be able to create such a powerful and rich song, yet whatever magic was part of her amplified the beautiful tune. Her eyes were closed while singing and her small wings fluttered a little appearing to keep her balanced. The song swept through the common room, ending all conversations. Every pair of eyes stopped and turned to the young black-haired boy with the small black bird in his lap. Katie Bell dropped her quill, the homework suddenly is forgotten. The song brought back thoughts about her mother, someone she didn't think of very much. She had died due to Dragon Pox about five years ago. While Katie thought she should have over it by now, most of the time it just hurt too much to think of her. Yet this song didn't bring forth the thoughts of her death but other memories, half-forgotten. Like the way her mother smelled and what it had felt like being tucked in by her for the night. Silent tears of bittersweet joy fell from her cheeks soaking the parchment. Next to her, Angelina was smiling when she thought about her brother, who was in China at the moment. They had been really close when they were young, always together always running around. While they had grown apart, the memories of them climbing the tree in their garden at home and playing Merlin and Morgana were still treasured by her deeply. Her smile was a bright one. Alicia's was even brighter. She too thought about her mother but unlike Katie, it wasn't bittersweet. She thought about a year ago when her Mom after all these years finally said yes and married James. Alicia's father had left before her birth and her mom had raised her on her own. When she had been eight months old, her mother had met James and they had just fallen in love. James had been her father in all but name for her entire life, teaching her how to fly a broom and much much more. Finally, after so many long years, her mom had finally agreed to marry him, making him her real father, for the first time in her life Alicia had a real and complete family. Her mother had looked so beautiful when she walked down the aisle and was so happy.
Fred and George stopped stirring the cauldron when the lovely tunes found their way to their ears and looked at each other for quite some time. While most people thought of distant people, they mostly thought about each other. About all the wonderful pranks they played at home, all the ideas they had all the fun. But not only that, they thought about their family too. About the warmth when their mother hugged them close, about the grins they shared with Charlie and Bill about some stupid joke, even the nagging of Percy was something the now missed. What was the purpose of breaking a rule, if no one was there to enforce it?
Lee became really quiet because much like Katie he thought about someone he lost. His little brother who had drowned at a small pond near their house so many years ago. Lee couldn't really remember his brother, he had been young when it happened, but what he remembered was the feeling of having him around, the sense of duty and protectiveness towards the little fella. This feeling reemerged from the void of his memory and Lee felt his eyes sting a little.
Cormac smiled when he thought about the pride in his fathers face. He had just won his first game in the minor Quidditch League and his father had been so proud. For days he would boast about it, telling everyone about his son, how he had caught the quaffle with a near-impossible dive only minutes before the game ended. That had secured the lead for his game since they won despite the opponent's seeker catching the snitch. He had ridden on his father's shoulders all around the stadium, young as he was and it had been the happiest day of his life.
Oliver Wood who walked in halfway through Dawn's song stopped in the door of his dorm, leaning against the door frame. The smile on his features reflected his inner feeling, thinking about his girlfriend. He and Jasmin Oswald, a Ravenclaw a year younger than him, had got to know each other at the Quidditch World Cup and after that met a few times throughout the rest of the summer. They had kissed for the first time only yesterday and he smiled warmly thinking about the mumbling feeling in his stomach, while he crossed his arms watching the common room and all the serene looks on peoples faces. His eyes wandered to the group to the side, his seeker, the two Weasleys and their friends.
Ron smiled, thinking about the day he and Harry had become friends, the nervousness about getting to Hogwarts only to realize that he wasn't alone in his feelings. The pride he had felt when he realized he was the first friend of THE Harry Potter and later the pride he felt knowing the real Harry, not the golden child everyone believed his friend to be. It was something making him stand out for once, and he took pride in the knowledge that he knew Harry better than anyone and wasn't one of the star-struck idiots out there. But like Fred and George, he thought of his family and all the love he had for them. He would grumble and never admit it to anyone but he loved his family. Fred and George had made him laugh so often, two times to the point where he peed himself from laughter. Charlie teaching him flying in secret so their mother didn't know. Bill's calm personality when he sat with Ron under the apple tree and they just talked about everything. While he was a tosser, Ron loved Percy as well, standing up for him when the twins had been mean and stopping them. And Ginny, his baby sister, who he felt so much protectiveness. She was his only younger sibling so he felt extra responsible for her. The relief when Harry carried her back on that dreadful evening under the school two years ago. The happiness when eating Mom's wonderful food, of which she was so proud of, his father's antics and how he and his siblings giggled when their mother scolded their dad in good nature.
Ginny thought about her family as well, but mostly her thoughts were with the dark-haired boy on the other side of the table. Different from most people her own mind was at one of the darkest moments in her life when she had been down there in the chamber. But like a candle is so much brighter in the deepest dark of the night, the moment she woke up in the hospital wing was like that for her, the happiest moment in her entire life. She had been rescued, saved, not just that but by Harry. Like a knight in shining armour, like one of the heroes in the stories from Mom, he had descended into the darkest dungeon, armed with a sword none the less, fighting a battle against an evil sorcerer and his monster, all to rescue her. Like a princess in the stories. Like in the books about Harry, even though she knew these were fake, she loved them and then one had come true. And in the stories, the hero always rescued the girl he loved, so that was all Ginny ever hoped for. And this weekend would be even better.
Neville's thoughts weren't with his family. Not that he didn't love his Gran or his parents but all of those memories were problematic. He never met his Grans expectations, he never was what she hoped for. So it was bitter and made him a little sad. His parents were thought of in itself, always a reminder of what he didn't have. No, his thoughts were here in Hogwarts, remembering the first time he did a spell. The joy that had washed through him, even more, the relief. He could learn. He could become a mage. He could become someone his Gran would be proud of. He could be someone who wouldn't waste his parent's sacrifice. He would be someone. That memory mixed with all the times in Herbology, all the happiness he had in handling the plants and then the memory of Professor Sprout asking him to be her assistant. The letter he got from Gran, that she was proud of him and that not even his father, the man he had always been compared to, had achieved being a teachers assistant.
Hermione smiled when she thought of her Grandma. The old lady had been so warm and kind, living a few doors down from them. Hermione had often been with her before she went to Hogwarts when her parents had been at work. Her grandma was a nice and sweet woman with a wicked sense of humour and she woke the hunger for knowledge in the young girl. She had taught her how to read even before primary school and they often sat together, huddled in her warm sitting room and read books together. Hermione missed those afternoons with her Grandma the most ever since she came to Hogwarts but at the same time, she made her first real friends here. Other children had always disliked her for her know it all attitude. Ever since she had been friends with Harry and Ron, the three of them forming the Golden trio, her life was so wonderful, like it had never been before.
Harry smiled while he watched Dawn sing, his fingers gliding through her feathers in an absent-minded manner. His greatest joy filled the bond between him and her, her coming into his life was so amazing, so mind-boggling, he still had trouble even comprehending it. She was so amazing, as was Sirius, as was Narcissa, like his friends. He didn't deserve such wonderful people in his life, yet they put up with him and he was so grateful for it. It was so amazing having people that cared for him, that stood by his side. Harry's smile turned a little sad, but more bittersweet, when he thought about his parents and how much they must have loved him, what wonderful people they had been. They would have loved Dawn as well, he just knew it and while he often wished he would have known them, he was happy for the things in his life he got instead. This summer had changed a lot of his perception of life.
Dawn's song kept on going for quite some time, then it slowed down until a last solemn note echoed through the quiet room. The small bird lowered her head sinking on Harry's hands down and closed her golden bright eyes. A tired coo left her beak. The magic in her song was wonderful, but it did take a lot of strength out of the tiny bird. She was new to this and had no idea how to handle her own power reserves. A second tired coo came from the nuzzling bird, then she fell into slumber unaware of all the eyes that were drawn to her. Harry smiled petting her a little, not wanting to disturb her. Hermione leaned closer, her eyes wet and teary.
"That was beautiful Dawn." She whispered, giving the small bird in Harry's hands a light kiss on the head. Harry looked up seeing everyone staring at him and Dawn. He felt a little blush rise to his cheeks and he rubbed the back of his neck.
"S-Sorry guys." He called into the quiet room and for a moment no one reacted before they all resumed their previous doings, yet all with a smile on their face. Harry quickly turned back to his friends. Ron and Neville finally turned back to their chessboard, since the pieces were yelling at them for ignoring their glorious battle for a singing bird. What impudence. Hermione shook her head, smiling at Harry.
"I don't think you have to apologize for this. It was lovely and wonderful." She said a little dreamy, her warm hand lying on Harry's knee. Ginny leaned over smiling.
"She is right, I wouldn't mind hearing Dawn sing more often, it is awesome." She said with a firm nod. Harry smiled gratefully but shook his head.
"I don't think this will be a common occurrence. The song seemed to take a lot from her, so I don't want her to exhaust herself this way too often. This was a special occasion. Also, the book said that Phoenix songs are songs of intent and state of mind. The stronger a feeling, the stronger the song you know?" He waved his hand a little uncertain. Hermione nodded.
"You mean like the Patronus charm." she stated more than asked, looking intently at the small sleeping bird. Harry nodded, smiling.
"Yep, I think that is it. So this is a special thing and not a day to day routine Dawn should do for our entertainment you know?" He didn't mean it to be snappy, yet Ginny duck her head a little with an apologetic look. Ron turned his head after his queen bashed Neville's knight from the board and the brown-haired boy was staring at the field with focused intensity. It was obvious that he was losing and now he searched for a way out. There was none he knew it, but still, he would go down fighting.
"And what made Dawn so happy?" Ron asked, curious, his eyes returning to the board. Harry blushed furiously and looked down at his fingers, not wanting to look at someone.
"She...I guess she was happy for me because I asked Cho to go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend." Ron's eyes turned back to his friend, a surprised look on his face before he grinned brightly at him.
"I take it she said yes." he nudged Harry slightly, who grinned brightly back him. Hermione leaned closer and hugged Harry when he nodded with a bright grin.
"That is wonderful Harry, I'm so happy for you!" She stated, smiling, while she held him by the shoulders. Hermione felt a little weird that her best friend was interested in Cho Chang, but she was into Quidditch like he was so probably they had a lot in common. Hermione decided to be happy for him instead of anything else and kept her smile up. Ron had no such problems, throwing his arm around Harry's shoulder.
"Well done mate! Well done indeed. Just don't forget about the rest of us you know?" He said but is was teasing Harry saw the wink Ron gave him. He grinned and nudged him back.
"Not going to happen. You won't get away from me so easily." He smiled and the two friends laughed. In that Ginny stood up, picking up her bag.
"I have to go. Luna wanted to meet me in the library in a few minutes." She said with a pressed tone. Harry turned his gaze to her. She wasn't looking at him, her features strangely empty.
"Uhm, okay. Wait. Didn't you want to talk about something?" He asked her. Ginny shook her head, her smile a rather fake when she looked at Harry.
"It wasn't all that important just...just some Quidditch stuff. I have to go. Well done Harry with...her." The whole sentence was forced through her lips with a strange tone and while Harry got a feeling like he knew why it was, he wouldn't embarrass her by stating it. He nodded firmly.
"Thank you, Ginny, it means a lot." He said as honest as he could be. She nodded and swirled around, storming off. She barely got out of the portrait hole before she couldn't hold back the sob and the tears when she felt like her world broke apart from one moment to the other. Her eyes stung like fire and her heart, deep in her chest was turning to an open wound bleeding sadness and desperation. A few minutes ago it had been filled with joy and she had no idea how happiness could be drowned in sorrow in such a short time, only a few words.
Harry was going with Cho Chang. She repeated the words in her head and it felt like she was slapped and punched in the stomach at the same time. It felt like physical violence like someone beat her up without laying a finger on her. Ginny stumbled along the corridor, almost falling down. Her mind was crushed by the thought, her insides filled with bile. How could this happen? Why? Why? She trudged forward without knowing where to go or what to see until she found an alcove, in which she stepped blurry vision and all. Her nose was running and she could barely see through the tears. She slumped against the wall and slid down, hugging her knees and started crying, crying over the something that had held her life together for over a year now. It was here where her brothers found her later, still sobbing.
Ron looked after his sister left in a rush frowning. This was strange, not like Gin. He turned back to his friends.
"What the hell was that?" He asked in a confused way, tilting his head slightly. Hermione frowned at him before she glanced at Harry. She leaned over, hissing at Ron.
"Not now Ronald." she whispered, quite obvious for Harry and Neville. Harry looked to the side embarrassed by the circumstances. He did not feel comfortable at all telling Ron why Ginny was probably mad. For one it wasn't his secret to tell and for the other, there was still the off chance that Narcissa had been wrong at all. He looked out of the window while Hermione shot Ron hot glares willing him to keep his mouth shut. Ron stared at her for a moment, before he turned to Neville. Both of them stared at each other before Neville mouthed 'Girls' and Ron shrugged. They resumed their game. Harry gave Hermione a thankful smile. She returned it with a slight nod and returned to her book about Saturn's moons. Harry spent the next ten minutes just petting Dawn and letting his mind wander a little bit. While he was a little concerned about Ginny, he believed she wouldn't exactly want him to follow her. He knew he wouldn't want that if the situation would have been the other way around. So Harry spent the next ten minutes watching Ron obliterate Neville's defence on the board. Finally, Neville toppled his king, signalling his defeat. His pieces told him he was a coward and he should fight to the bitter end until they were silenced by Ron who put them away. Harry sighed. It was time to leave again, a stressful day. He carefully scooped Dawn up and placed her in her pouch, before he stood up. Hermione lowered her book for a moment.
"Time to go to Snape?" She asked carefully, to which Harry nodded, gritting his teeth. His hand cradled Dawn in her pouch for a moment. "Yeah. Just wanted to talk to the twins for a moment, then I'm off.
He walked over, standing a step away for privacy.
"Fred? George? Do you have a moment?" His question raised their heads and they asked Lee to watch the cauldron before they stood. They grinned brightly.
"What can we do"
"For our favourite little fourth year?" They singsonged. Harry raised a mocking eyebrow. "Ron will not be pleased to hear that, he is your brother after all."
George just grinned wider when he answered. "That is why you are our favourite." He winked, his arm around Fred's shoulders. Harry laughed for a moment, then he got serious.
"Speaking of a sibling, could you do me a favour and look for Ginny? She looked a little upset when she left and...you know..." His voice trailed off when he looked a little nervous at the two. Fred frowned a little.
"What did Ronnikins do?" He asked, crossing his arms. Harry shook his head and pushed his fingers into his pockets.
"Nothing, it was me, but you know it is hard to...uhm just...look after her okay?" He winced a little. Fred and George looked at each other for a certain time then they nodded.
"All right we'll do it. But if you hurt our baby sister..." His voice trailed off and Harry winced even more. He shook his head.
"That wasn't my intention, it's just not my place to tell you." He stated. The twins nodded again and made sure with Lee that it was okay for them to leave. Together the three walked to the portrait hole and left. In front the twins walked one way and Harry the other, making his way down to the dungeons.