The Dark Phoenix

The two looked wore out and Ron decided to head back home. He did glance at Hermione before he left and motioned with his head toward Harry. They both smiled. They were glad Harry had finally gotten the tragic experience out of his system.

It was several hours later and after another dose or praesangium, that was starting to become intolerable, that David and Katherine Granger came through the Hospital Wing door.

"Hi mum, hi da –." Hermione didn't finish. Katherine and David had stepped in through the door looked around and drew out wands. Hermione screamed, "Harry!" as she rolled off the bed knocking over the small table next to her bed. She was scrambling desperately to get her wand out from beneath the over turned table.

Harry was immediately drawn to Hermione's unfinished greeting to her parents. Suddenly his mind went into overdrive; every action looked to be in slow motion. He could see David and Katherine slowly drawing out wands. 'DANGER' is what went off in Harry's head. He heard Hermione scream his name as she rolled off the bed. Everything was moving so slowly as his mind raced faster. He knew he had to have his wand. Never taking his eyes off them he put out his left hand, his wand slapped into his hand like a surgeon being handed an instrument. Wand in hand he brought his arm around to bear down on the two imposters. Would he be quick enough? It was going to be close - too close. He could hear himself starting to say the words to cast a spell and stupefy them, but there were two. If he was able to get one, could he possibly get both? All he knew was that he had to. He had helped save Hermione's life, only to lose both their lives now? 'Hurry! Hurry!' was what went through his mind.

"Harry! It's all right!" came Dumbledore's commanding voice. Dumbledore and McGonagall came through the door behind the two imposters.

Harry's heart was pounding in his chest; his arm was still outstretched, his wand pointed at the two imposters.

Dumbledore walked up to Harry and said in a softer voice, "It's all right Harry. They're not really Hermione's parents. Lower your wand Harry, all will be explained." Harry was shocked but lowered his wand as McGonagall helped Hermione up off the floor righting the table as Hermione sat on the edge of the bed. Dumbledore turned to the two strangers and nodded. The two cast a simultaneous Concealment spell on the room and seemingly morphed into and old witch and an old wizard, older than Dumbledore by maybe half a century. They were well dressed in fine robes, trimmed in gold. She had long wavy white hair, her face and hands were very wrinkled but her kind blue eyes showed youth of mind. The wizard had short white hair under a fancy pointed wizard hat. His beard was also white but was trimmed to two points and less than half the length of Dumbledore's. He had a scar on his cheek and his hazel eyes were constantly watchful. If he would've had a parrot on his shoulder and an ear ring in his ear Harry thought he could have passed as a pirate, then decided a pirate with a white beard didn't fit the stereotype. The witch and wizard were about the same height as each other but shorter than Dumbledore. Who were these two that had nearly scared the wits out of him and Hermione? But they looked familiar.

Dumbledore turned to the two. "Did you see?"

"Yes, most impressive." They both agreed.

"Hang on, you were both involved with the spell that saved Hermione," Harry suddenly remembered.

"Quite right Harry. This is Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel as they really are," said Dumbledore as he introduced the Flamels.

Nicholas and Perenelle came up and greeted Harry and Hermione in turn. Hermione's mouth was hanging open but everyone seemed to ignore it. The Flamels turned toward Harry and Nicholas spoke first.

"I'm sorry we startled you both, but the disguises were necessary. Perenelle and I have come to see you for two reasons. The first is to offer you a choice, Harry, a way out of Voldemort's view till you are ready."

"Er, sorry. How's that?"

Perenelle spoke next, "You see Harry we have lived almost five centuries in hiding and secrecy. Without bragging I can say that we are very good at it. We've had centuries of practice. We can offer our knowledge and skill in helping you to hide from Voldemort."

McGonagall spoke up, "That would mean Mr. Potter that you would give up school here at Hogwarts. The Flamels and the Order would take over your education exclusively. You would have to give up contact with everyone you know."

Hermione's head snapped to Harry and looked at him intently. Dumbledore walked up and put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I don't expect you to make this decision right away Harry"

"It's just unexpected is all." Harry paused and asked the Flamels, " Why have you been in hiding all these years?"

"Because of the Philosopher's Stone Harry," blurted out Hermione.

"Yes, that's the reason," said Nicholas. "Think of it Harry. The 'Elixir of Life' and you could live forever, or all the gold you could imagine, or both. Either of these things could give the possessor great power. We've always viewed it as a great responsibility not to be abused. We therefore decided to destroy the stone rather than risk Voldemort obtaining it."

"If the stone is destroyed then why are you still in hiding?"

Nicholas gave a bitter smile. "There are those who would want to force us to make another. So, you see, it never ends….'til we are gone…. We are also mistrusted by the Ministry. The ministry fears what could happen if the world economy were flooded with gold. And they are not yet convinced the stone has been destroyed."

Harry looked at the Flamels in wonder, "You could have ruled the world," he said in awe.

"I'm afraid ruling the world is strictly forbidden by former leaders of the Order," interjected Dumbledore trying to help make light of Harry's ominous implication.

"Who is the current leader of the Order?" asked Hermione.

"Headmaster Dumbledore is," answered McGonagall. Professor Dumbledore didn't say a word but looked very modest.

Finally Dumbledore said, "I would also like to point out that your Godfather could have made the decision for you. However, he felt that this decision should be yours. Take your time Harry. Such a decision should not be made lightly," turning toward to Flamels as if he intended to end the meeting.

"I think I already have professor." All eyes were on Harry as Hermione was biting her lip, her face full of concern. Harry had an adrenalin high from the scare but his mind was just that much sharper because of it. "Wouldn't it seem like I was running away, now that Voldemort has come back?"

Dumbledore replied, "It is true that you are a symbol of inspiration to those who believe that Voldemort has come back, 'The Boy Who Lived', gives hope that Voldemort can be defied. To some it may seem that you are running away but not to those of us who know you."

"I want to stay and fight. I realize I have a lot to learn but I have to do everything I can to stop him. Everything Voldemort has done and everything that has happened, not just to me, but to everyone who has suffered from his heartless quest of immortality and power, is proof that I must try. He must be stopped."

Dumbledore and McGonagall looked proud, the Flamels looked thoughtful but Hermione obviously had mixed emotions.

"A quick decision on such in important matter but I see maturity in it." Dumbledore looked at the Flamels and professor McGonagall. "I assume our business at hand is concluded if there is nothing further?"

"Wait, Mr. and Mrs. Flamel. You said there were two reasons you came to see me. What was the second?"

The Flamels glanced at Dumbledore who turned to Harry and looked at him over his half moon glasses, his eyes twinkling. "I'll discuss it with you later Harry. It will keep for now."

With the meeting concluded the Flamels assumed the disguises of David and Katherine Granger and removed the Concealment spell.

"Bye dear, hope you'll be coming home soon. Bye Harry. Your welcome to come by anytime."

"Bye pumpkin. Bye Harry"

The Flamels looked and sounded so much like the real Grangers it was unnerving. "Bye…..mum…..dad"

She and Harry half heartedly waved goodbye, somewhat creeped out.

After they left Hermione was anxious to talk to Harry. "Harry, why didn't you take them up on their offer? You could have learned what you needed to know without being exposed." She looked down. "Of course I wouldn't want you to go, but it would've been safer."

"Hermione." Harry waited till she looked up at him and he could look deep into her brown eyes. "Where would I be without my friends? Hogwarts is like my home. I just need my friends —"

"To be careful?" Hermione finished for him, "You bet. Game of wizarding chess?"

Dumbledore checked on them briefly before lights were dimmed. It had been an exciting day and they both fell asleep easily.

Somehow they always woke up holding hands, a reassurance that didn't seem to be embarrassing. Again they spent time looking out the window early in the morning. Later they had breakfast with Dumbledore and McGonagall in the Hospital Wing. Harry and Hermione had loads of questions they were dying to ask about the Order, but secrecy seemed to forbid it without a Concealment spell. Professor McGonagall must have known what was on their minds. At one point in the conversation she said, "I believe one of your first advanced assignments will be to learn a simple Concealment spell. As if a Concealment spell were simple to begin with. Anyway, we'll discuss when that will take place later." 'Always later,' Harry thought.

Out of boredom Hermione had ventured to the library and brought back a book on 'Merlin Legends' and tossed Harry a book on 'Quidditch Strategies'. Suddenly they both chocked at a smell.

Harry pinched his nose. Sounding nasal, "Aww, Gawd! That's 'orrible!"

Hermione did the same and had her hand over her mouth as well. She didn't say anything but looked like she was trying to hold down what was left of her breakfast.

Dobby and Winky were each holding a cup of nasty looking potion, praesangium. Harry could hardly believe his very first dose had smelled and tasted pleasant…..but not now.

"Mr. Harry Potter, sir," Dobby said in his high pitched elf voice offering Harry the cup with a toothy smile.

"Miss Hermione Granger, miss," said Winky in her higher pitched voice offering Hermione a cup with the same encouragement.

"I don' know Dobby. I'm na sure I can drink it," Harry said looking at it with dread. But the thought of getting out of the Hospital Wing and going to the Weasley's was making him consider trying.

Hermione was evidently thinking along the same track. "Okay, Winky. I'm going to try," said Hermione while pinching her nose. She tried not to look at it but tried to take a quick gulp, gagging, and then breathing. She refused to let go of her nose. It tasted worse than horrible.

Three big gulps later and gasping for air both of them had their mouths open with tongues hanging out. "Mint! Quick! A mint! Uggh!" They both hollered.

With a mint down and the room cleared Harry breathed frosty breaths as he spoke. "That's worse than any Polyjuice Potion every thought of being!" he said with disgust.

Hermione just nodded agreement, a pained look on her face, trying to get the most out of the mint.

"Hermione, want to play some more wizarding Chess before we have lunch with Dumbledore and McGonagall in the Headmaster's tower?"

"Why don't we wander the castle," suggested Hermione. "We'll walk slow. I don't think anyone is here besides Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore. I don't think Filch is here either."

"Ok, let's go to the Great Hall and make our way up to the Headmaster's tower. As slow as we'll be going it ought to work out about right."

The hallways were indeed empty as they made their way around the castle. "Sure seems weird to see everything so empty. It doesn't seem quite right not to be full of students going here and there talking, laughing, and studying. It seems almost decadent to be wearing muggle clothes and not our school robes," Hermione said grinning. Hermione had decided to wear a modest length tan skirt along with a white blouse her mother had brought her from home. Harry was wearing a light blue short sleeve shirt and denim shorts.

Hermione stopped dead in her tracks, jaw locked, and she was squinting at the floor about ten feet in front of them. When Hermione suddenly yelled out, "Peeves! Don't come anywhere near me!"

Harry jumped. "Ah, Hermione?" He looked at her in bewilderment.

"I mean it Peeves!" She took a quick step to her left, then backed up and took a quick step to her right just as suddenly.

Harry was beginning to wonder what was wrong with her as he took a step back. "Hermione… I don't see Peeves up ahead of us. How do you know he's there?"

Hermione glanced from the floor to Harry. "What do you mean? I can see him plain as day. Well, as plain as you can see a ghost I guess." Hermione looked back to the floor. "That's the last straw Peeves! I am not about to let you try to toss my skirt over my head. I've heard about you tossing robes over girls' heads." Hermione reached for her wand tucked between her blouse and skirt and held it out. "I'm going to give you a shock Peeves. I mean it!"

Harry was beside himself on what to do. Try to calm her or go get one of the professors. He was just about ready to try to calm her when Peeves came up from floor like an overgrown bursting popcorn kernel. "Nehhhhhhhhh! Naughty Potter and his ranger Granger. Saaaaay, how did you see meeeee?" Peeves the Poltergeist crossed his arms and looked at her with one eye before sticking out his tongue and giving the raspberries. "You're no fun, I was just going to give young Potter a look see," he said grinning mischievously. "Maybe find out what color undies ranger Granger has."

Harry's face was turning slightly pink but Hermione had already suspected as much.

Peeves' eyes got animatedly big. "Oooooh, maybe we'll find out she's not wear–"

Hermione had had enough. "Aspello Agito Fulguritus!" The corridor in front of them erupted with crackling arcs of electricity. Peeves let out a yelp and scurried off shouting obscenities as he went. Hermione put out her chin and gave a satisfied nod. She turned to Harry expecting maybe a mild compliment only to find him staring at her.

"What? I had heard he likes to do that robe over the head thing when he thinks he can get away with it. I'm not able to handle the spell as well as one of the teachers, of course, that's why it was all over the corridor instead of specifically on Peeves." Harry was looking at her with concern. "Uh, what's the matter?"

Harry's brow furrowed and he was shaking his head slightly from side to side. "I was impressed with the spell well enough. In fact, I want you to show me how to do that." Harry paused. "It was your eyes when you turned and looked at me. You said you could see Peeves as plain as day, but I didn't see him until he popped up and started talking. Your eyes looked really weird. They were sort of grey and glossy." Harry walked up and cupped Hermione's chin in his hands looking deep into her eyes. Hermione began to look worried. Harry gave her a reassuring smile. "They look just fine now, just as brown and gorgeous as ever."

Hermione smirked, but liked the compliment. Harry put his arm around her shoulders. "Come on, let's head up to the Headmaster's tower for lunch. How's the shoulder by the way? I noticed you're not wearing an arm sling today."

"It still hurts once in awhile. I have the arm sling folded up in my pocket just in case. I just get so tired of my arm being in the same position all the time."

Lunch went pleasantly enough. Harry and Hermione's appetites were coming back and the Professors were pleased. Harry told about Hermione casting a Fulguritus spell on Peeves. Dumbledore and McGonagall were impressed that a Fifth Year had accomplished such a spell. Hermione was modest and said it still needed a lot of work. Then, Harry brought up how Hermione was able to see an invisible Peeves and that her eyes looked strange. McGonagall as well as the two teens tried to hide their concern.

Dumbledore stroked his bearded chin, looking thoughtful. Finally he looked at Hermione over his half moon glasses. "My dear, no one really knows what effect your near death experience may have had upon you. But I suspect it is because of that experience, of being so close to death, that you may now have a new kind of sight. I have never heard of anyone able to see a ghost that chooses to be invisible. Most interesting. However, I will discourage the knowledge of this ability being widely known. Or any other unusual ability you may discover from this experience. People tend to fear what they do not understand."

"Quite right Albus," McGonagall said looking disgusted. She turned to Hermione. "You still don't remember anything about the attack upon you?"

"Not a thing Professor. It's a complete blank. I remember walking to see Melanie and then I woke up in the Hospital Wing very concerned about Harry. It's usually Harry that ends up in the Hospital Wing anyway."

"Hey, just because I play Quidditch." They all laughed, including Harry.

"Speaking of Quidditch Harry, what do you think of Gryffindor's chances taking the Quidditch Cup this year?" asked Dumbledore.

And so the rest of the meal's conversation went with the subject Quidditch. It was a subject of interest to all. It was of keen interest to Harry and Professor McGonagall; Harry being the Gryffindor seeker and McGonagall being the Head of Gryffindor House.

The afternoon was spent reading and with several games of wizarding chess ensued after that. Part way through their third game Harry started thinking about the next dose of praesangium. Without realizing he spoke out loud, "I'm not taking another one."

"Neither am I." They both looked at each other raising an eyebrow, slowly reaching for their wands.

It was a tense moment about mid afternoon when Dobby and Winky tried to convince Harry and Hermione to take another dose of praesangium. The two of them held their noses with one hand and held a wand in the other. Finally Dobby and Winky admitted that Madam Pomfrey had given them instructions that Harry and Hermione were well enough to leave when they threatened magic to not take another dose. Harry and Hermione were delighted. Hermione was going home and Harry was going to spend the rest of the summer at the Weasley's. They went to the Owlery to send messages and make arrangements for the following morning. They only had some mild thumping in their heads from their haste in getting to the Owlery and back. They were both excited that life was going to get back to normal. Well, as normal as could be expected in the wizarding world.