The Dark Phoenix

The Grangers and Weasley's made regular visits over the next few days as Harry and Hermione grew stronger. Their dislike of praesangium grew stronger also.

It was mid Saturday morning Harry was expecting a visit from Ron in the afternoon. Ron obviously enjoyed riding Harry's Firebolt. Harry didn't mind, he was glad to see his friend. Harry was thinking about Ron's upcoming visit while he and Hermione were looking out the window. They had taken to this pass time with ever increasing frequency and duration. They both felt cabin fever in the worst way.

"Let's have lunch down by the lake," Harry suggested as they were both leaning out, stiff arms on the ledge.

"I would love to. Do you think we can handle it?"

"I don't care. I've got to get out of here. Besides we made it to the Owlery and back yesterday." They both grinned. Their trek to the Owlery the day before was to send Rita Skeeter their note. The drawing they sent Rita Skeeter was very good. They both snickered at the finished result. With a spell Hermione made the drawing have motion. The two of them stepping on a shocked looking beetle that made an "Eeek!" just before a "Squish!" with the two figures of themselves shaking hands with satisfied looks. The caption read, "Don't you just hate things that bug you?"

"Okay, let's go for it."

Overlooking the lake there was only one large tree on the school side that could provide any shade. Harry and Hermione made their way 'slowly' to keep the thumping in their heads to a minimum. They were still easily tired and Harry didn't think they could have made it if not for Dobby and Winky bringing their lunches on levitated trays. Anything they wanted in the way of food, Dobby or Winky, were more than happy to supply. Harry had a tremendous craving for meats of all kinds and Hermione confessed it was the same for her. For lunch they were going to dine on smoked ham and beef, baked beans, Cole slaw, potato salad, deviled eggs, and even – heaven forbid, liver. They made each other swear to never tell a soul. Harry had remarked that normally he didn't care much for liver and Hermione confessed that she could hardly stand the smell of it let alone eat it. Yet they both seemed to crave it. So, it was on the menu.

Dobby and Winky were very helpful as they magicked a blanket for them to sit on under the large oak on the waters edge of the lake. Harry and Hermione constantly thanked them and the two house-elves were most pleased at being thanked by a wizard and a witch.

Lunch was filling and made them drowsy. Harry woke up from his after lunch nap, his back against the big oak. He was surprised and pleased to find Hermione had fallen asleep with her head against his shoulder. He resisted the urge to stretch, he didn't want to wake her. Harry looked across the lake and thought how beautiful everything was. There was a gentle breeze blowing toward them that caused little ripples on the water that made a soft lapping sound against the waters edge of the bank a couple of yards from them. Harry watched soft buttermilk colored clouds lazily drift across the sky and listened to the rustle of green leaves of the great oak above them that came in an ebbing and flowing like the earth breathing. It all looked so alive, as though he had never really noticed or appreciated it before. He felt glad to be alive, glad that Hermione was alive. At this last thought he turned his head slightly looking down at the brown curly hair of his friend. The breeze blew a loose stand of Hermione's hair that came up and tickled Harry's cheek. He didn't mind. Hermione took a deep breath, stirred, leaned forward and stretched.

"Oh, I must have fallen asleep," she said in the middle of a yawn. She took her right arm out of its sling and slowly stretched it out, wincing some as she did. "I'm getting tired of having my arm in this sling. Madam Pomfrey said that normally she would have had me fixed up in short order, but that maybe the poison was hindering her normal treatments."

"Where does it hurt Herm?"

She looked at him and smiled. He had never called her 'Herm' before. "Here." She brought her left arm under her chin putting her hand back to her right shoulder blade.

"Would it help if I rubbed it for you?"

"Oh, yeah, it might. That could be nice. You don't' mind?"

"Not at all."

Hermione twisted turning her back to him. "Hold on a sec." She took her arm out of the sling and took off the sling tossing it on the blanket. Then, she took her left hand and unbuttoned a few of the top buttons of her blouse and pulled down on her right sleeve exposing her shoulder and Harry's first glimpse of the scar left from the stabbing. Hermione bit her lip feeling self conscious. "Is it bad? Does it look bad?"

Harry was just now beginning to realize how vicious the attack on Hermione had been. It was a strange looking scar, but after seeing the dagger he could see how it had been formed. "No, it doesn't look all that bad, just different."

"Could you describe it to me?" she asked still feeling self conscious.

"I guess…well… To me it looks like an upside down tear drop on top of an upside down cross." Harry reached out and outlined the scar. He was careful not to touch the scar itself for fear it might hurt. Hermione gave a small shiver and straightened. "I'm sorry, did that hurt?"

"No, no. Maybe a little tender….You said something about a rub?"

Harry put his hands on Hermione's shoulder and it gave him a small rush. He fought it back. 'She's my friend, I shouldn't be feeling anything more' as he worked the muscles of her shoulder rather adeptly trying to sense at what point he was massaging too deep. "How am I doing? Feel okay?"

Hermione's first thought was to say, 'Wow, what are you doing to me?' "Uh, yeah, that's nice," she said slowly letting out an involuntary groan. She felt like she could melt under his touch and was really struggling with it. 'Harry is my friend. I shouldn't be feeling this way.' After several minutes she said, "Thanks Harry." Buttoned back up, she stretched out her arm slowly. "That's much better but it's still stiff."

Hermione looked around at the beautiful summer afternoon and took a deep breath. "It shouldn't take a near death experience to make me appreciate the beauty in the world. It's as though I'm seeing it for the first time and I can't get enough of it."

"I know what you mean. I've been feeling the same way."

Hermione looked at him and smiled. She leaned back and rested her head between his head and his shoulder much in the same position as when she fell asleep earlier. This time Harry put his arm around her and they soaked up the beauty of life and everything around them.

"Really Albus, is this necessary?"

"I did tell them I would be checking in on them and this way is less intrusive. Wouldn't you agree Minerva?"

"Less intrusive is one way of putting it. It could also be considered spying. I am quite aware of your habits Albus."

Dumbledore looked at her over his half moon glasses with a wry smile. "Being Headmaster gives me a few privileges and I've always been discreet." Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall were high up in the Headmaster's tower looking out one of seven windows that surveyed all of Hogwarts castle and grounds. This particular window overlooked the lake. "I believe our two summer patients are having lunch under Godric's tree today. A closer look could confirm that." Dumbledore waved his wand and what looked like a large oval shaped mirror appeared before them, hovering in mid air, just out the window. He waved his wand again and the two teens in question could be seen in the view, Hermione leaning against Harry. They both looked very content.

"They look so much like Lily and James," commented Minerva.

"Yes, they do. And I take it from your observation that you've done your share of spying as well."

Minerva frowned but only commented on something else. "Godric's tree. It's always been nicknamed that and no one really knows if Godric planted it or not. It's always been popular with the students and enchanted for protection. Particularly to reinforce the limbs as to the many climbers it's had over the years.

"It is indeed enchanted. As a young lad in my youth I attempted to magic my initials onto the tree with no success. Did you ever try that Minerva?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

She didn't answer but looked at the ceiling. "We've seen enough haven't we Albus?"

"Maybe just a touch of sound before I let the matter rest." Albus waved his wand again and the rustling of leaves in the great oak could be heard emanating from the viewer.

Resting against Harry, Hermione suddenly leaned forward and said, "Harry, do you think it would be alright if a girl kissed the fella that saved her life?" Hermione couldn't believe the words that had just come out of her mouth. It was spontaneous. And now she was regretting it. She turned toward Harry with her head tilted down and looked up at him apprehensively into emerald green eyes and a smile that made her weak. 'I should not have said that. I'll just tell him I'm sorry'. But she hesitated.

Harry's heart skipped a beat. Had he just heard Hermione ask to kiss him for saving her life? He looked into her deep brown eyes. "I think that would be fine." The words came out but he hardly realized that he had said them.

'It's just a little kiss, a thank you kiss, to a friend, a dear friend,' she told herself. 'It'll be alright.' But 'First Kiss' was somewhere in the back of her mind and she desperately fought to keep it down.

'I couldn't say no. That would be cruel. She's a friend, a close friend, a best friend. She's thanking me and there's nothing wrong with that.'

They leaned forward toward each other. Harry reached out touched her cheek and slid his fingers under her hair, gently bracing is hand on the back of her neck. He closed his eyes just before their lips touched.

Hermione had reached out and put her left hand on Harry's shoulder. Her heart fluttered as she closed her eyes.

Time stood still.

"That's enough isn't it Albus?"

"Yes, I believe —". Dumbledore didn't finish his sentence. Fawkes had just flown in and landed on his shoulder and let out a single beautiful note. Both of them looked at Fawkes in wonder but their attention was quickly pulled to the Viewer as an echoing note sounded. Harry and Hermione seemed to be locked, motionless, in the moment of a first kiss surrounded by tiny shimmering gold flames. It almost looked like a swarm of fireflies dancing around them, and the daylight did not dim their brilliance.

McGonagall gasped, "Albus, what does this mean?"

Harry and Hermione pulled apart both looking surprised. 'Wow!' was all Hermione could think. It almost took her breath away but she managed to get out a "Thank you Harry."

"Your welcome Herm." Harry felt stunned, he never thought anything could feel like that. He wasn't sure what he was feeling. He wasn't sure how to handle it.

"Isn't Ron supposed to be coming this afternoon?" Harry turned to look at the sky ducking down trying to look out from under the great oak.

Hermione did the same busting into a big grin and pointing. "Speak of the devil there he is."

They both got up walking out from under the tree calling to Ron, trying to get his attention before he got to the castle on Harry's broom. It worked and Ron turned circling down to land beside them.

Dumbledore waved his wand at the viewer and it disappeared. He thoughtfully stroked his bearded chin. "I'm not sure what it means. It does not appear that either of them is aware of the phenomenon taking place around them." He then looked at Fawkes on his shoulder. "Is there something you'd like to tell me old friend?" If Fawkes could only talk, but he couldn't, all he did was turn is long neck looking at Dumbledore with coal black eyes. It was an almost unmistakable look of, 'Isn't it obvious?'