oooOOOoooOOOooo Chapter 29
Harry woke up more than 48 hours later. His head was pounding and his mouth was as dry as a cotton ball. He coughed dryly and tried to sit up.
"Stay down. Drink these first," said the voice, gruffly. Harry sort of recognized the voice. He opened his eyes and looked around with bleary eyes.
He groaned when he realized he was in hospital. He looked around and saw a man he didn't recognize, holding a wand. Harry started to dodge out of the way on instinct.
"Good instinct but bad timing, lad. Just lay still. Your head's got to be pounding. Drink your damn pain potion and your pepper-up potion. Then, I'll let you sit up and drink some water," said the exasperated voice.
Harry was going to refuse but the door opened and two tired looking girls came inside. They saw Harry was awake and rushed to his side. Harry let himself be held and pampered for a few minutes.
Soon enough, he had that promised water and those potions percolating nicely in his system. He looked at the handsome stranger. He turned to Hermione and Gabrielle.
"Who's he?" Harry asked.
The man laughed gruffly. "If I could only tell you how many times I've heard that in the last couple-a days."
"Harry, that's Moody," said Hermione, gently. She knew Harry would be glad Moody lived but he'd be upset about the complete healing the man experienced. He would just feel like even more of a freak.
Harry stared. He remembered everything that happened. He winced. Moody laughed a deep, pleasant laugh again. It was so bizarre. Harry jumped up.
"Nagini! I have to help her! I left her pinned to the ground back there!" said Harry.
Moody shook his head. This kid was thinking of that monster? Thinking of saving it, of all things?
Gabrielle smiled and took his hand. "She is safe, mon ami. Madam Bones has her in a holding cell, waiting for you."
"She doesn't deserve to be in Ministry custody! Fudge could find out and have her killed!" said Harry, agitatedly. "If he knew she knew Voldemort wasn't dead, he'd do it in a heartbeat."
Harry wasn't wrong. Everyone knew it.
"We have to go get her. Now!" Harry said, turning towards the door, determinedly, even though he was in his skivvies.
"Harry! At least let yourself be checked out properly. You were magically exhausted. Again!" said Hermione, fretfully.
"You really do have to learn to control your power level, kid," said Moody. Harry gave him an unsettled look.
"Obviously," said Harry.
Moody laughed again while Hermione went to get a healer. In less than an hour, an anxious Harry was released.
"How will we get her out of the DMLE? Does anyone know she's there?" asked Harry.
"She's in a protective holding cell. We just told everyone the truth. A woman was turned into an animal against her will. She's unhinged and disoriented because of the forced change. As soon as she turns back, she'll be released," said Moody, soothingly. Harry relaxed a little.
"Let's go get her some clothes and go now," he said.
"You should rest tonight, Harry," said Hermione, seriously.
"No," he said, firmly. "Voldemort can see through her eyes, Hermione. He can hear through her mind. What secrets is he learning right now?"
Moody looked concerned by that possibility. Animals had much better hearing than humans and he was sure no one thought to silence the cell.
"He's right. Let's go," said Moody.
The retired auror was only slightly annoyed by Harry's insistence that they buy the woman a robe, underthings, and some shoes. He also withdrew 80,000 galleons but refused to say why. Moody had a good idea but it was so preposterous, he couldn't believe it even though he was pretty sure he knew the way this kid thought by now.
They used the floo to arrive at the private entrance to the DMLE. None of them wanted any trouble with Fudge or his lackeys. They went straight to Madam Bones' office when they arrived. She came through the door a short five minutes later, not at all upset that they were in her private space without her. She understood the need to be low profile right now.
"Potter, good to see you up and about. I'm getting tired of you being in hospital," said the smiling woman. She was majorly impressed with Moody's transformation. It was a miracle the likes of which she'd never seen before. This boy's accidental magic literally saved lives.
"You're telling me," grumbled Harry.
"Why are you here instead of resting at home?" asked Madam Bones.
"Another day, another life to save," said Moody, sarcastically. His voice was downright sexy.
"Do tell, auror sexy?" asked Madam Bones. Moody scowled. He still looked attractive. He was a yet to turn 70 year old man who was now in prime physical condition for a wizard who could live to be 150 years old. It was hard not to find that attractive.
"Nagini. Please, Madam Bones, we have to get her out of here before Fudge finds out. If he finds out she knows anything about Voldemort being alive, it'll be over for her. She'll be kissed," said Harry.
Madam Bones blinked. She hadn't considered that but it was true.
"The kid also brought up another good point. That snake had Voldemort in its head. Is that cell silenced?" asked Moody.
Madam Bones cursed. "No, it's not."
"We should do as he says then. The sooner this is done, the better," said Moody. "We should also get the kid out of here fast. Word will spread and trouble will come knocking."
Someone knocked on the door. They all glanced at one another then at the door. Madam Bones went over and opened it just enough to see out.
"I'm in a private meeting," she said, belligerently.
"Just thought you'd wanna know, Dawlish just ran off to find Fudge," said Jeffers. Madam Bones cursed.
"Let's go," she said to the group. They hurried to the minimum security holding cells. The ones that could see the schedule of when what auror would be where. Another bulletin board nearby had a listing of open cases and their progress. Madam Bones cursed again.
They stood before the snake's cell. It was coiled, waiting.
"I knew you would come, Harry Potter," hissed the snake. Harry stared back stone faced.
"You may take my familiar, but you will not succeed. I have learned more than you could imagine while wasting away here for two days. You have helped me immensely," said the snake in a mocking tone.
Harry grit his teeth. He hissed at the thing. "I will find you and I will be ready for you when I do."
The snake chuckled. "I hope you do. It is I who will be ready for you. Do you know how much people gossip about you? They talk about everything about you. Your home. Your children. Your lovely ladies that I can see with my own eyes. I bet I can find their families. Maybe I'll start looking tonight. I heard you hired some aurors. They're enjoying Nice, France, aren't they? Didn't you recently steal a Malfoy family property in that area?"
Harry felt a thrill of fear zip through him.
"I'll kill you," Harry hissed both literally and metaphorically.
The snake chuckled again. "My pet shall not die, and neither shall I."
"Oh, I don't want her to die. Nagini is innocent. I just want you," said Harry. He turned to Madam Bones.
"Open the cell," Harry said.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked, seriously.
"I'll take care of it. I'm sufficiently motivated," said the boy with his teeth clenched.
"Alright," said Madam Bones. She shivered at the memory of the boy's hissing.
"Moody, Kingsley, stand by the door. If that thing makes a run for it, kill it," said Madam Bones.
"Done," said Kingsley. He wouldn't be the next to test Potter's magical prowess and propensity for saving people.
Madam Bones took out her wand, as did Hermione and Gabrielle.
"Stay back. He knows who you are," Harry said to the girls. Gabrielle swallowed but Hermione just looked angry. They both backed away. Harry moved forward. Madam Bones opened the cell door.
Harry didn't hesitate. His cast was faster than the snake's strike. It zapped her with a ferocity that threw the snake up into the air. It hovered and screamed in a way that none of them knew a snake could do.
Harry held his wand, a steady flow of magic fighting the magical resistance of the horcrux. The snake screamed in a human voice. "I'll get you for this, Potter!"
Then, the snake collapsed to the ground and a red spirit flew out of the beast's back. A bloody wound was suddenly visible in the shape of a dark mark. It healed and changed before their eyes into Harry's own vassal mark.
Madam Bones, Moody, and Kingsley didn't wait. They all did banishing charms at the same time. The spirit shrieked and flew out through the wall.
Harry was woozy and felt very drained. He wobbled on his feet. Hermione and Gabrielle rushed forward to take his arms. He didn't look at them. He watched as the snake's mouth opened. A woman slowly and painfully crawled out.
She lay gasping on the floor, mostly naked and covered in what looked like birthing fluid.
Hermione cast a cleaning charm on the woman while Gabrielle floated a robe over to cover her. The woman sobbed in gratefulness. She raised her dark eyes to look at Harry.
"You saved me," she said. Then, she promptly passed out. Harry felt like he would be next. Of course, that's when trouble arrived.
"There he is! Arrest him! Take him straight to Azkaban!" said a shrill-voiced Fudge.
Harry wanted to groan again but instead he just turned cold eyes on Fudge.
"For what?" asked a belligerent Madam Bones.
"For treason! I'll have him kissed tonight!" shouted the angry politician. Fudge was in hot water all over the place. The ICW had come calling and found his records very suspect. He forgot to change the financial records, even though he was able to create fictitious records for many Azkaban imprisonments and detentions.
"Treason?" asked Hermione, angrily. "Under what article?"
"Take her in, too. We'll have them all kissed, especially that creature. She's the French Minister's daughter, isn't she?" asked Fudge. Dawlish looked delighted. He'd spent almost three weeks in detention for that spell he cast at Black in France. The man wanted some payback. He was never welcome to come to France again, so he couldn't get his revenge on Black himself, he could hurt Black by hurting Potter. He would hurt Potter as much as he was allowed.
"One move and you're off this force," said Madam Bones.
"You're fired," said Fudge. Madam Bones laughed scornfully.
"I'm appointed by a vote of the Wizengmot, not you. You can't fire me," said Madam Bones.
While they argued, Harry decided to act. Both of the girls still had their arms in his. He tapped their emergency portkey bracelets. The ones that would take them immediately to Harry's very well warded trunk.
He made eye contact with Moody. Moody saw the tap on the bracelets. He did the same to Kingsley, who nodded. The girls looked angry and scared but they understood what Harry wanted. They got ready.
"Enough!" Fudge said. "You're the Minister's private guards. I said take them in or you're out of the job."
Two of the aurors moved forward, Dawlish and Sanchez.
"Go!" Harry shouted. The girls instantly disappeared. Harry jumped forward and grabbed Nagini before he activated his own bracelet. He managed to bring her snakeskin along.
A shouted "No!" from Fudge and a smirking Madam Bones were the last thing Harry noticed. Thanks to his basilisk hide robes, the spell from Dawlish just bounced off Harry's back.
Harry landed with a thump in the front garden of his trunk. The girls rushed to him. Moody and Shacklebolt arrived just a second behind him. Nagini whimpered pitifully.
Harry didn't have time to waste. He got up and ran as fast as he could for the house. He ignored the shouts that followed him and skidded to a stop in front of his communication mirror. He frantically called Jean Claude.
"Papa!" shouted the boy. Jean Claude looked very concerned.
"Harry, son, what's wrong? Why aren't you in hospital?"
"No time. Voldemort knows. He knows where you all are! He was in Nagini while she was imprisoned in the DMLE. He knows you're all in Nice. He knows my babies are in the old Malfoy property!"
Jean Claude's face became hard. He turned and talked in French. Six aurors ran from the room. He turned back to Harry.
"France will be ready if he tries anything," hissed Jean Claude.
"I'm coming," Harry said, determinedly.
"Not yet, son. Trust me to keep your family safe. You have a task to finish. Did you get the last true horcrux?"
Harry was so frightened and angry, he was shaking all over.
"Nagini is free," said Harry.
"Then, let us move up the timetable for the ritual. You do not need to be married before it is completed. We'll plan for the spring equinox. It is in one month. We will see it done. Then, if he makes the mistake of stepping foot in this country, he will meet deadly force," said Jean Claude in the coldest, hardest voice Harry had ever heard from him.
Harry heard Neomie in the background.
"Papa! Why did you make me come inside? Genevieve and I were flying!" said the upset little girl.
"No arguments, Neomie. You may play in your room. Jacques and Emilia will come with you," he said, directing two of his aurors to stay with his vulnerable daughter. Another Auror was with his wife and three more went to check on the Grangers and inform their security of the potential threat.
"He could send anyone," said Harry, truly distressed.
"He will not succeed," said Jean Claude. "Stay the course, Harry. I will protect our family. I must go and prepare our nation for this threat."
Harry huffed in annoyance but did as Jean Claude said. Harry called the Grangers. He didn't notice a silent Hermione and Gabrielle standing behind him.
"Harry?" asked a concerned Emma. She was sitting with the boys at their new playset. Dan and Sirius were pushing them on the swings. Harry almost fainted in relief to hear the adorable, somewhat hysterically happy, baby giggles.
"Oh, Emma! I'm so glad you're safe," said Harry, relieved.
"Call me mum. What's happened? Why aren't you in hospital?"
Dan and Sirius heard the concerned conversation. They picked the boys up and zoomed them over to Emma.
"You alright there, Harry?" asked Dan.
Harry didn't answer. He was too busy drinking in the sight of his precious sons, alive and well.
"Thank gods they're okay," said the boy, choking on a sob.
"What happened?" asked Sirius, urgently. He took the mirror away from Emma and handed over the baby.
"Voldemort. He knows where you are," said Harry. Sirius felt irrationally angry as Harry filled him in on what happened. Dan was busy checking his Beretta. Emma had both babies close to her chest. Tonks came running up. She tripped and face planted in the clover. Proudfoot shook his head at her and moved closer to the family. He'd been relaxing against the side of the house, keeping an eagle eye on things. After what he just heard, he moved his wand into his hand, ready for anything.
Tonks spit out the clover in her mouth. She stood up and hurried over to the mirror.
"Harry? We heard. We've got six aurors as reinforcements taking up positions inside the enclave. Me and Proudfoot here are planning to stick with the kiddos and the Grangers. Durand and Garnier are managing the newbies," said Tonks. She looked ready to kill.
"What should we do?" asked Emma.
Harry wanted to hide them away somewhere.
"We stand our ground," said Dan, angrily. "How soon can you do that ritual? You got the last one of his damn anchors, didn't you?"
"Except me," said Harry, ominously.
"Then do the ritual tonight. If he shows his ugly mug, I'll blow it off," said the man, seriously. Proudfoot appreciated the sentiments. He had never seen a gun before but now he was learning with Dan in his free time. It wasn't a bad backup in case Proudfoot's wand was lost or incapacitated in a fight.
"Jean Claude asked us to do it on the Spring Equinox," said Harry, frustratedly.
"That's a month from now!" said Sirius.
"We have protection. It can wait that long," said Emma, uncertainly. Two more French aurors arrived to stand by the gates. Harry relaxed a bit.
Hermione and Gabrielle put their hands on his shoulders. Moody was standing behind him, ready for battle.
"Who's that?" asked Tonks. Moody huffed.
"Moody," said Harry. Tonks starred.
"What did you do?" she asked, amazed.
"Messed things up, as usual," Harry said self-deprecatingly.
Sirius cracked up. "Hey handsome," he called to the auror.
"Do I need to put a dog down?" asked the grumpy retired auror.
"Oh ho! That voice," said Tonks, grinning and fanning herself.
"I could fire you," Moody threatened. Tonks just giggled.
Harry was too anxious to listen to the banter. He turned the conversation back to what was important.
"Do you all have your emergency portkeys? Your tracking beacons?" asked Harry, urgently.
"We do, pup. Never go anywhere without them," promised Sirius.
"Just, don't go anywhere outside the enclave until this is settled? Please? My nerves can't take it. Jean Claude wants me to stay the course but I don't know if I can!" Harry said, frustratedly. He wanted to hold his own babies and feel their safe, warm weight in his arms once more.
"He's right," said Dan, firmly.
Harry looked at Dan with disbelief.
"Listen, son, your original reasons for going back to England still apply. You have a chance to end this. Let's see it ends," said Dan.
Harry blew out a frustrated breath.
"We promise not to go anywhere, other than the Delacour home. We can take the floo, can't we?" she asked.
Harry sighed, annoyed. "You can but I wish you wouldn't."
"If you truly forbid it for the boys, we'll honor that," said Emma, calmly. "But I think you should trust Jean Claude to care about his grandsons enough to make sure they stay safe."
Harry blinked. His children would be Jean Claude's grandsons, wouldn't they? Harry relaxed a bit more.
"Yes, well, he's not letting Neomie play outside anymore until this is settled either," said Harry.
Emma acquiesced. "Then, we won't either," she said, simply. "But surely he is letting Neomie stay inside her own home?"
Harry slumped. "He is," said the boy. "I guess that would be fine but please, keep your auror guard close. Never take off your emergency bracelets. For the love of all that's good, don't go outside the enclave for any reason."
"We promise," said Dan, giving Emma a look. She sighed and agreed. It would only be for three more months or so, if all went to their expectations. She looked at the warily watching babies in her arms. To keep them safe, she'd do anything, even go stir crazy trapped inside the walls of her home.
Harry relaxed a bit more. Moody spoke up.
"If you're done here, we need to move the maledictus to the infirmary. She's in bad shape," said Moody. Harry looked angry at the idea of leaving the mirror.
Dan took one of the twins. "We're going inside right now," he said. Emma stood with the other.
"I'll keep an eye on your pups, pup," said Sirius, seriously.
"I know you will. I don't want any of you to get hurt," said a fretful Harry.
"We won't. Between you and Jean Claude, we're well cared for," said Emma, reassuringly.
"I'll call again tonight," Harry said. "Maybe you could leave the mirror in the twins' room tonight?"
"Certainly," said Emma, softly. "Go, rest yourself. You look very peaked."
Harry ignored that. He looked at his lads. They were watching his upset face. He tried to smile reassuringly at them.
"You're safe, lads. Da just gets worried sometimes. Grammie and Pop-Pop will take care of you," said Harry. The boys looked at their caretakers and smiled. "Da loves you."
"Lalalalalala," they chanted. It was their way of saying I love you, too.
Harry let the mirror call end. He turned to Moody, an upset look still on his face.
"You can trust Tonks and Proudfoot. Minister Delacour will make sure they're safe," reassured Moody.
"The only person I'd trust other than myself is you," said Harry. Moody was warmed by the admission.
"The only person we know for certain that monster is coming after is you," reminded Moody.
Harry looked up at his ladies. They squeezed his arms and held out their hands. Harry took the appendages and let himself be led from the room.
The group made their way back to the front travel trunk garden. Nagini was still unconscious. She was on a floating stretcher. Kingsley watched them all walk up.
"Everything alright?" he asked.
"Just sounding the alarm bells," said Moody. Kingsley nodded, sagely.
"Let's go," said Harry, tiredly. He carried his communication mirror with him.
Harry couldn't sleep that night. He couldn't stand to sit alone in his dark room, staring at his sleeping children, praying they stayed safe. At four in the morning, he decided to go check on Nagini. He had literally nothing else to do and too much energy to stay still.
Harry went to the hospital wing and walked quietly inside. He didn't want to wake anyone.
He walked around the curtains surrounding Nagini's bed. She was sitting up with a small candle burning beside her. She looked like she was in the same position as Harry. Terrifying experiences certainly always gave Harry insomnia, too.
"Hello?" Harry said, quietly. Nagini jumped with a start. When she saw Harry, she looked even more afraid.
"I'm still trapped in dreams," she said.
"I'm more of a nightmare than a dream," said Harry. The woman didn't appreciate the joke.
"I can't tell when I'm awake or asleep but you're right. The only time I've seen you is in my nightmares. The same nightmare every time. A gaping black abyss will soon consume me. I'm chained to it, as are you," said the maledictus.
"Were," said Harry, tiredly.
"What?" she asked.
"You were chained to it. I did as you asked," said Harry.
"You set me free?" asked the woman.
Harry winced. "Mostly."
Nagini was thinking quickly. "The only way I could be set free is through death or being bound to a more powerful lord." She looked at Harry, fearfully. "Am I dead?"
Harry shook his head slowly. The woman reached back to touch her back.
"I am still bound, though it does not feel like I am drowning any longer. I know I am bound but I feel free. Conjure a mirror for me so I can see?" she asked. Harry winced. He didn't want to do it. She stood up. Harry sighed and conjured a mirror in front of and behind her. She gasped. She reached over and grabbed the candle, almost setting her long black hair on fire as she held the candle higher so she could see her back more clearly.
Harry looked at the floor and raised his arm to rub the back of his neck in ruefulness. His chest was exposed through his open nightshirt, exposing his own mark. It was the same gold and red lion with a green and silver snake coiled around its neck. A raven with a white lily in its beak and a strange symbol with a triangle bifurcated by a wand, with a circle captured inside stood behind the lion. It was marked on her back in brilliant living color instead of the dead colors of a black and green skull and snake of Voldemort's dark mark.
"I thought you would kill me to set me free," she said. "You bound me?"
Harry started to apologize. "I'm really sorry I didn't ask first. It was a special circumstance. You see, you were infected with a horcrux. It was the only way to get rid of it without killing you. I sort of bound you as a vassal to me."
The woman stared at Harry. "What do you want from me?"
"Nothing. I'm going to offer you the same as my other vassals. A payment of 80,000 galleons per year and a house. I'm sorry, I don't know you so you can't live in my enclave, but I'll buy you a house wherever you want," said Harry.
She stared at him like he was a freak. Harry blushed deeply. He held out the first bag of 80,000 galleons. She watched him for a moment, weighing his claims. She glanced at her back again then took the bag.
She looked inside and gasped. "This is full of galleons!"
"It had better be," said Harry, making a lame joke.
She turned to stare at him.
"You truly want nothing from me?" she asked, suspiciously. Harry winced.
"Want? No. Need? Well, there is one thing you might get sucked into," said Harry.
"What?" she asked aggressively.
Harry sighed. "You're not Voldemort's only horcrux. I have a piece of his soul stuck to me, too," said Harry.
"The chain that bound us both?" she asked, remembering her nightmare. "There used to be even more, didn't there?"
"There were seven in total. I've destroyed all of them but myself," said Harry.
"You want me to destroy you?" she asked, confused.
Harry shook his head, hard. "No," he said. "I don't want you to do anything but I can't promise you won't be affected when I do the Trois Amants Purifier ritual," said Harry.
She gasped. "You will undertake the trial? You cannot beat him! No one can! He will consume you!"
Harry got a hard look on his face. "No," he said in a cold voice. "He will not. I will defeat him, just as I have defeated him before. As much as I hate to put it this way, I am the prophecy child meant to destroy him."
"What do you mean?" asked Nagini.
Harry shook his head. "I guess you have a right to know. Please, have a seat. I'll get some tea for us and I'll explain."
"Alright," said Nagini, slowly.
Harry and Nagini sat for three hours, discussing Harry's history, his family, and his plans for the future.
"You have six powerful vassals, two bonded mates, and have defeated him three times already, not including defeating his horcruxes?" asked Nagini, thinking hard.
"I guess," said Harry, nodding. Harry told her the prophecy.
"You are truly the chosen one," she said. She reached over and gently touched his forehead. She shuddered at the feel of it.
"You must be vigilant. If he could see through me, he could do the same to you. He is in a very weak form right now. A wizard cares for him as a homunculus baby. He is in the flesh but it is not his own. He seeks to capture and destroy you, using this tournament as his pathway to rebirth," said Nagini, seriously.
Harry felt a thrill of fear. He hadn't considered that.
"I'm doing the ritual in a month. What can I do to keep him out?" asked Harry.
"Nothing. I could never keep him out. I was bound to him. He could see right through me, no matter how hard I tried to hide," she said, shuddering. "He would torment me through my dreams and send me false visions of death and destruction. He twisted my emotions so I did his will despite my own. Do not fall for his tricks. He means only ill."
"I'll remember that," said Harry, seriously.
"Stick close to love; he cannot bear the feel of such emotions. The only time he would leave me in peace was when I dreamed of my home and my family," said a sad Nagini.
"When I fight him, my magic might pull from your own. Be prepared on the Spring Equinox. That's when I will be set free," said Harry.
She nodded slowly as she looked at him in a new light. This boy child had made further inroads towards Tom Riddle's destruction than anyone else she had ever seen. Even if she was a slave to a new master, she would give anything to see that demon destroyed.
"I will not stay but I will return for that day. If you are a wise man, you will call all of your vassals to you on that day. It will give you strength. You will need it. Even in his weakened form, the dark one is more powerful than anyone else I have ever seen," Nagini said with a shudder.
"You've never seen me," said Harry, with a voice like steel.
"That I have not," whispered the woman. She stood.
"I shall escape now. I swear I will return. If my homeland in West Papua is still open to me, you will not need to purchase a home for me. I will accept a payment of two million galleons in place of 80,000 galleons per annum. A maledictus lives a very long life," said Nagini. "It will be enough for me to begin anew. I will trust you to let me go when your task is complete but I promise you, if you betray me, I will kill myself destroying you," swore the woman. Harry knew she meant every word.
"Deal. If you return to help me on the Spring Equinox, I promise I will never call on you again. You never have to see me ever again," promised Harry.
Nagini searched his eyes. She believed.
"As much as I hate to do it, I must transform to return. I will never be free of my affliction. As much as it pains me, a snake I will always be," she said, mournfully. "I dread the feel of snake scales.
Harry looked at her sympathetically. She took a deep, shuddering breath and raised her arms. She gasped as she felt something unexpected. Instead of sprouting snake scales from her skin, feathers burst forth instead. She trilled in happy note as a bird and Harry felt uplifted. A good sized female phoenix stood before him instead of a snake. Her feathers were colorful reds, purples, and greens. She looked vibrant and alive. She trilled again just for the joyful feeling of it, and turned to look at him. She spoke to him, mind to mind.
"You have truly set me free from bondage. I will no longer crawl on the ground. I am free to fly through the air! Give me that jar. I am so happy, I will cry tears of joy!" she said, happily.
Harry held the jar and she quickly cried the entire 32 ounce jar full. It was enough phoenix tears to see him through the rest of his lifetime. She sang the songs of her people the entire time. She pulled back and plucked two feathers from her undercarriage, handing them to Harry.
"For your children. May their lives be filled with the happiness that escaped ours!" she said, feeling buoyed and celebratory.
Harry opened the window for her. She flew outside and disappeared in a flash of brilliant flame. Harry's heart felt joyful to see it. He smiled and looked at the clock. It was 7:30am. The time he usually met his ladies for breakfast. Harry hurried to meet them.