Chapter Three: Almost Home
"Change is the only constant, the signal of rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." - Christina Baldwin
Death looked out across the field before him. He had just finished towing the plow behind him, drawing the lines out very carefully. He smiled to himself as he thought about how to handle the water. He could charm something, but part of him wanted to do it by hand.
"I can't believe you did it." Death turned to look at the man staring at him. Remus knew who he was, yet kept his secret, as did Luna and Tonks. He suspected that Hermione did, but part of him just thought it was because he refused to change his eyes.
"Yeah, it took a day's work but I think it'll survive the summer," Death said, wiping his brow. He undid the harness to the plow, setting it behind him. "You wanted to speak to me about something?"
"Are you going to tell them?" Remus asked.
He shrugged his shoulders. "I wasn't planning on it, but if I feel the need arises for it, then yes, I will," he said. He walked over to the barrel next to Remus where he had left a large jug of water. He took a long draw from it before leaning against the barrel. "Until then, just us."
"McGonagall is bugging me about it," Remus said with a shake of his head. "Since she couldn't meet you in person, she hasn't stopped guessing who you are.
"If she figures it out, I will neither deny or confirm it," Death said. He looked upon the castle, finding the picturesque features missing or gone. Long ago, he had realized where Hogwarts was, now, now it was just a castle that housed the people.
"Could I tell her?" Remus asked, dragging Death out of his thoughts. "I mean, she had to know about you eventually and it would be best if we started at the top of the Order." Death smirked at this.
"You can explain to her that if she wishes to know, she'll have to ask me personally, and only asked five questions, any of the five can not be `who are you?'" Death said. "After that, well, we'll see." Remus nodded, leaving it at that. "I like not being famous, Remus. I like the anonymity that I've gained as me, not as the Chosen one."
"You could have at least chosen a normal name," Remus said.
"Oh he does," Dumbledore said, floating up over to them. "Are you ready to discuss our plans with the rest of the Order."
"They aren't going to like, especially since I am who I am," Death said. "Besides, I've got planting to do."
"Come Remus, I believe there are some faults in your wards that need to be fixed." With that Dumbledore guided Remus away, his blue haze following him. Death smiled at this. The move was planned, and there were many more like that move waiting to be executed as Death had planned. He picked up the bag of seeds he had brought with him and managed to find in the forest.
Most of the vegetables would not be fully-grown for another month, and until then needed the utmost care and attendance to them. A relaxation technique he had been taught that benefited everyone. He slowly began to plant his tomatoes, two half rows of them. He'd figure a way to move the water after he planted them. Irrigation seemed like a sound idea.
"I can't believe you managed to get this far without magic, or an equine of some sort." Death wiped his brow and looked over at Hermione.
"At least we'll die with the harness off our backs," he said. At the confused look upon her face, he just smiled. "My dear, Shakespeare is one of the finest playwrights you shall ever know. I feel that Hogwarts does not teach philosophy of classic literature, rather letting students go through school without the knowledge that does shape a young mind."
He gave her a smile, motioning her to follow him as he planted. Getting onto his knees, he knelt next to the row he had made earlier. "For the corn," he said. "It has to be spaced just right. They like to be close, but not too close." Hermione giggled at this, causing him to look up. "You think I'm joking?"
"There are times that I'm never sure your not joking," she said, a hand covering her mouth.
"When was the last time you laughed?" Death asked with a smile as he went back to him. "It's been quite some time no?"
"Almost five years," Hermione said. "I don't know how you do it, but I told myself I wouldn't until Harry returned." Tears were in her eyes as he looked upon her.
"Miss, laughter is like a friendship, it does more harm to repress it, then to let it free," Death said. "Do you blame Harry for not laughing or me for laughing?"
"No, I just feel better knowing that I can still," Hermione said. She gave him a sad smile as a memory passed over her face.
"Good to hear," Death said, planting another kernel. "Now, back to my earlier statement. Shakespeare, Dickens, Thoreau, Frost. There are hundreds of poets and writers, artists and singers that can shape a mind. I am sad to say, that in Hogwarts walls, there is little of the shaping of a mind, and more of directing it into a mold."
"Are you any of those?" Hermione asked.
"I've tried my hand at all of them, and I've found a decent singer can be a decent songwriter when the time comes, but my styling is not appreciated by everyone."
"You can't please everyone," Hermione said. "Do you mind if I help?"
"Not at all, would you like to work on the corn with me, or on something else?" Death offered.
"What else do you have?" Hermione asked.
"Onions, green and yellow, I plan on planting some grapevines, maybe to take up several rows." Death said. He had been moving faster, still placing them at the right length apart, or at least how he saw it.
"Are you watering by hand?" Hermione asked. Death looked over at her, surprised by question. "You seemed like the type who would want to." She blushed at his gaze, turning back to the bag of seeds.
"I wanted to irrigate, but I really don't know the spells or have an idea of the best way to," Death said, finishing the row and working on another. "I think that where it is located, magic might be the best method, but I really don't know the spells." He gave her a sheepish smile as he worked his way through the row. It was only years of practice that allowed him to move so fast.
"You did magic when you first arrived, we saw you float over the field and you made you hat disappear," Hermione said. She put down the seeds and walked over to kneel across from him.
"I use magic to assist me, but I like the feel of work in my two hands," Death said with a shrug of his shoulders. "Don't get me wrong, I love magic. But I had to learn to stop hating myself and how to love the animal that I was."
"Animal?" Hermione asked, looking up from his hands as he worked.
"Miss Granger, do you realize that you have been floating along with me as I move?" Death said. She nearly fell as she took in the ground that was an inch away from her. He steadied her with his hands, holding to the platform he had made. "Magic is not something that can be fully control, nor should it. I have found that at times, I can become part of it so to speak. I personal don't understand it, all I know is that, much like the way a spell is, I think it, and it happens." He shrugged his shoulders. "Only to an extent. I've got to know the spell first."
"Wandless and speechless magic?" Hermione asked, amazed at the man before her.
"Took many years and a few painful lessons," Death said. "Back to my question, could you find me a spell or something, and use it?"
"I'll have to check the library, it might be a day or two," Hermione said. "I will find something though, you can count on me. I won't let you down."
"Easy there, tiger," Death said, finishing the row. He stood and grabbed before she could run off. "What else do you do? Here I mean. What does everyone do?" He let go of her and turned away. "I've been here a week. Remus, Tonks, Luna, and you are the only ones that come out here to talk to me. What does everyone else do during the day? I know they are curious about me, but come on. Am I that scary?"
"In a word, terrifying," Hermione said. Death stopped moving away and turned to look at her. "You have this presence about that commands respect and attention. But not only that, your way of talking to people shows you care less for them then your words do. Your methods are unorothdox, enough for any of them to be afraid of you. And you've threatened their unstable way of life."
"That's all, they should thank me then," Death said, waving his hand.
"You also are a pompous jackass," Hermione said. Her hands went to her hips as she appeared to build up her fury. But as quickly as that emotion came over her, she felt ashamed at what she had done. It felt wrong to feel angry at him, or anyone, and the feeling magically disappeared. She felt tears swell up in fear as she prepared to run, hoping he wasn't going to do anything.
Death was over to her side in a moment. "I may be a jackass, Hermione, but you have every right to be angry with me." He stared into her eyes, as if he was searching for something. "Why aren't you angry with me?" His voice was rising in volume as he spoke. "I've come in here on my high horse, telling you what to do and you apologize to me? What's wrong with you?"
"I don't know," Hermione said. Her hands moved over her face instinctively as the tears threatened to spill. Death did the only thing he could; he pulled her into a tight embrace. She fought him, but eventually relaxed, though not entirely. Her body was still tense.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Death whispered into her ear. "I may be called Death, but it is neither your time here or for a couple hundred years." She nodded into his embrace, and he was slightly surprised that she was just tall enough to fit under his chin perfectly. "I've done a lot of things in my life, most of them I am not proud of, Hermione. I've spent a lifetime atoning for a few mistakes I did in a matter of years. But you have done nothing wrong."
"Then why do I feel like I've done everything wrong," Hermione said.
"I don't know," Death said as he felt her wrap her arms around him. She was relaxing into his embrace, yet a moment later, he felt himself suddenly falling backward. As the ground decided to meet him halfway, he watched as Hermione took off running toward the castle "But I'm planning on finding out."
I0I
Hermione rushed toward the library, though now devoid of books. She had moved back here, away from everyone following the attack upon Hogwarts. Even if all the books were in storage in the Headmaster's office, she felt that the walls still offered her the most comfort of any other place in the castle. Well, other than the Gryffindor Common Room, but the jerks from the army controlled that. She collapsed onto the bed she had moved in the room hidden behind the desk in the library.
She felt the tears and anger welling inside of her. She shouldn't be like this. She should be out there, getting everyone to follow her way. She was right, she had looked over everything a hundred and ten times. She was right, she had to be. There was no other way to look at situation.
In the beginning things were okay, she was okay. They had start making movements toward finding the other Horocruxes. It was what Harry would have wanted. She was sure of that. Reaching across to her nightstand, she grasped the locket he had left her, the one thing she treasured more than anything in the world. Each time she held in her hands, she felt like she could take on the world because Harry was right there cheering her on. Now though things were different.
Now she could barely stand in the room full of people without fear of them judging her. Before, she could control that fear. Why did it seem to be overcoming her so often now? It had started slowly over the past five years. She felt there were times when she could speak out and times she couldn't. Like around Ginny. There was never a time after Harry left that she could say anything wrong about Ginny, at least in front of her. She just felt this irrational fear. She couldn't explain it as something inside of her that seemed to take over. There were times within the last month though when she felt as if she had more control in her life. Especially since she began to work with getting Death to work with the Order.
She stared up at the rafters in her room, closing her eyes for a moment. The only time she felt good about what she was doing was when was helping the children. She had started to give them her food a while back as well. It was wrong for the soldiers to treat the children as they did, and now more than ever she wished Harry were here to stand up for them. She let sleep take over, knowing that if anyone needed her, they would come for her, in the unlikely event that they did.
Her head shut up at the knocking upon her door. "Hermione, are you coming to meeting?" Hermione looked over at the clock. Ten on Saturday. Time for an Order meeting. It was the same thing every time there was a meeting for the Order. And for the last year she hadn't gone to any of them. Tonks however seemed to have taken over her stubbornness because she still came to ask her every month.
This time though, as she held her locket with Harry in it, she felt the fear loosen its grip. "Yes, give me a moment." Hermione placed the locket around her neck, drying her eyes as she stood.
"You sure Hermione?" Tonks asked as she opened the door. Hermione nodded, though she was fighting the fear in her stomach. She didn't like giving in all the time, and now felt stronger because she hadn't. She took ten minutes to shower and change, thankful to feel at least close to clean.
The walk to McGonagall's office was silent. Hermione concentrated as much as she could on fighting the fear in her stomach. She was not a Gryffindor for nothing.
As she entered the room, she avoided everyone's eyes. She knew they were upon her, questioning her. She took a seat between Remus and Tonks, thankful for their support. Staring at her lap, she began to repeat a mantra, attempting to build her confidence.
"You okay Hermione?" Ginny asked. Hermione's head shot up, looking at the youngest Weasley. "You're talking to yourself." She looked back at her lap, the blood rushing to her face. The fear immediately crawled back over her and she felt it rushing over every part of her body. Standing up to leave, she stopped at the wet nose being pressed against her leg.
"Well, Ginny, you know that madness often is a sign of genius," Death said, stepping away from the shadows. He must have just entered because there was no way that she wouldn't have noticed him. Not like this.
His gunblade was strapped to his back and he wore a duster than kicked at his boots. His hat was hanging over the gunblade, the rope holding it in place. For all intents and purposes, Hermione would have called him a cowboy.
"Besides, you know, I believe these castle walls have heard more than enough people talking to themselves," Death said. "Especially moans of young teenagers that feel that they are unable to obtain their chosen one." The twins immediately broke into laughter as Ginny's face now turned bright ride. "Grim, make sure she stays," Death whispered to the dog. He nodded and proceeded to push Hermione into her seat, his wet nose very persuasive. Hermione watched as he took a seat next to Luna, who only offered him a smile.
"Who invited you here?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Hermione watched as a battlefield seemed to be prepared.
Death, however, just smiled at her. He looked around the room for a moment before pointing. "Him." Dumbledore floated through the doorway, a blue mist left in his wake.
"Good evening," Dumbledore said. He made a motion to sit down, resting on nothing but the blue mist that surrounded him. "Now I understand that we were going to discuss the events of the past week first."
"We were going to," Mrs. Weasley said. "He wasn't invited."
"For an Order of the Phoenix, you seem to be shy one," Death said. Hermione looked between the two of them again, mainly concerned for Death. Mrs. Weasley had become even more overbearing in the last year, protective of her cubs. She had watched her fight over nothing just because her children were "threatened." While the rest of the Weasleys seemed to care little for it, no one did anything to stop it.
"Fawkes disappeared right after your death," Mr. Weasley said to Dumbledore. He wore a knowing smirk on his face and looked over at Death. Their twinkles in their eyes were almost identical. They both knew something more than they were letting on, but what Hermione did not know.
"You reckon he'll come back?" Death asked.
"Eventually," Ron said. "If he doesn't we'll think of something else."
"Wait, so y'all are just waiting on him? To return?" Death asked.
"Pretty much," Ron said. Hermione looked over at him, surprised at the candid tone that Ron took. He had changed to so much as well. He cared about the people around them, yet always seemed to be staring off into space, thinking about one thing or another. It reminded her of Luna now that she thought of it.
"That is not on the agenda tonight," Mrs. Weasley said.
"What is then?" Remus asked. The matriarch of the Weasley family glared at him. It was a common knowledge that if you upset her, or Ginny, you would be hated for a very long time. Hermione was the first and had found that out the hard way. She had yet to move back into the good graces of the family after refusing to go out with Ron, even though he had understood.
"Arthur, tell them," Mrs Weasley said. Hermione sighed as Mrs. Weasley ordered her family around. She seemed to be openly controlling everyone. Or at least people let her have her way.
"We were going to talk about the defense of the school," Mr. Weasley said. Tonks let out a sigh and Remus rolled his eyes. Hermione must have guessed it had been a topic of a many of discussions. At this Percy got up with what looked like a detailed report, but was cut off by Dumbledore before he could begin.
"They are fine," Dumbledore commented. "I have done a sweep of the perimeter, as well as an assessment of all of the wards. Any problems have been fixed."
"Well, um…. thank you," Mr. Weasley said. Hermione not help but notice the thankful look on his face as he smiled at Dumbledore. She held back a giggle realizing he had been bored by the topic as much as everyone else was.
"Okay, so what is the next course of business then?" Dumbledore asked. There was a moment of silence. And confusion. There must have never been any other topics that they discussed.
"I've a question," Ron said, breaking the silence. "Why did we hire you?" He pointed toward Death who had leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled as he stared over them.
"There is a darkness in this world, that I have seen, that you have seen," Death said. "You ask why I hired you. Do you want to know what my job will be or why I accepted?"
"I know what you're being paid to do," Ron said. "You are to find the Horocruxes and destroy them."
"And while you do what?" Death retorted. "That army of yours needs to do something other than waste your resources."
"How dare you come in here and tell us how to fight a war? What do you know about war?" Mrs. Weasley had stood up from her chair at this point.
"Mother, relax," Charlie said, standing as well. Hermione looked over to where Bill sat. Although they never spoke, she believed it was Bill that had stayed his mother's hand the most in regards to her "punishment." Bill didn't talk much after the war took his first born from him, and nearly his wife. Fleur remained hidden, studying healing spells as Hermione did, though she had no doubt that Fleur was better at it than she was.
Hermione looked over at Death as he leaned forward. As she watched him, she realized that she had never seen her left arm bare. Yesterday he wore gloves that covered both arms as he worked. He only showed them his right arm, but never his left. "Molly, what do you know about Nazis?" All eyes were immediately upon him, and Hermione looked at both Remus and Tonks, their faces etched with pain as well. Luna reached over to hold his left hand, but Death just patted hers with his right before standing up, letting go of her hand. "Do you know anything?"
"What do Grindelwald's forces have to with this?" Mrs. Weasley said, looking confused. Death gave her a grim smile as he shook his head. Grim moved his head into her lap, forcing Hermione to pet him as she waited for an explanation from Death.
"Not much and everything," he gave a deep chuckle.
"Fawkes, now tell them the truth," Dumbledore said. Hermione looked over at Dumbledore, confused by the name, but was lost in thought as Death started to speak again.
"In good time, Albus in good time," Death said, waving off questions. "Nazis were the troops of one Adolf Hilter, to which Grindelwald was his mystic advisors. So in one sense, yes they were Grindelwald's troops. But Hilter ruled with a tighter fist. He had these camps for people who were not of his particular blend of beliefs. People that he didn't like, disappeared in the middle of the night. Most likely to never return. One particular group faced the mass genocide: the Jewish population of Europe, and if he succeeded, the world. There were-"
"What does this have to do with why you are here?" Ginny asked.
"My dear, if you got your head out of that daydream of your chosen one, then things would be more clear," Death said, glaring at Ginny. Hermione held back a smile as the girl was chastised. Mrs. Weasley however did not like that, and glared at Death. "There were others too sentenced to these camps. Gypsies, homosexuals, prisoners of war, the handicap, and just about anyone that spoke out against Hitler went there. You all understand what Azkaban is like, with the Dementors, correct?" He waited for nods around the table, and Hermione shivered at the memory of the gem that Death had in his possession. His emerald eyes pierced through each person as they looked away, no one able to keep his gaze. Not even Dumbledore. "Picture that, but having that emotion, magnified by total starvation, abuse, fear, anger, and desperation. Picture waking up in the morning to the smell of something burning, and knowing it could be you next in line for the kiln. Then you might come close to a concentration camp. Maybe."
There was a moment of silence, and in that moment, she looked back up at Death, tears pooling in her eyes as the memory of a daytime war special came to mind. The special on how the British and American troops rescued prisoners from concentration camps, from killing camps.
He removed his right glove first, showing the long scar that ran down his arm. He stared at for a moment before removing the left. Hermione closed her eyes and held Grim's head in her lap, praying for the first time ever, that she wasn't right.
"This is my red badge of courage," Death said. "My passage into hell paid in full and in blood." Hermione opened her eyes as the tears fell. She stared at the blue numbers etched into his skin, unblemished beyond the faint numbers. "Do you know wish to know my part in that war?" Hermione held onto Tonks as they shared. Everyone else was in shock, not moving. "I was a doctor before and after the war. I told to administer to the Nazi guards medical care. When I refused, they did not kill me. They made me chose who lived and who died, then beat the living shit out of me. That went on for close to a hundred days. A hundred lives upon my hands, lost. As a doctor, I was sworn to never take a life. I took a hundred."
"Is that why you have that scar?" Ginny asked. Death looked up at them, shaking his head.
"That, my dear is for another mistake, one that, while to you, happened sooner, but to me happened decades ago," he gave them a cryptic smile as he spoke. He sat down again, and shot an apologetic look over to Hermione. She tried to smile, but the horror of his actions seemed too powerful for her to take.
"Who are you?" Death looked over at Ron, the silence broken around the room. At this, Death let out another deep chuckle.
"I am a doctor like I said, or was," Death said with a shrug. "I haven't practiced in a while, so I'm a little rusty. I spent some time traveling, learning a thing or two." There was a twinkle in his eyes that made Hermione believe he wasn't tell them everything. "I have however, contributed to the Order before." The room that had been silent moments before was in an uproar, demanding they know how Death had contributed. Hermione shared a smile with Luna, as she realized that Death seemed to thrive on making chaos around them. He also had a way of drawing everyone's attention off one subject and onto another, one that he had more control over.
"What do you mean, contributed?" Mrs. Weasley asked. All eyes narrowed on him. Death just smiled at them. He sat back in his chair and Hermione thought he was going to speak, but surprised them instead.
"There was a boy, a very strange, enchanted boy," he sang. Out of nowhere, a melody echoed across the halls. Hermione turned toward him, his voice deep like he had said, but resounding and echoing through her. She felt her spirit being lifted. "They say he wandered very far. . . very far, over land and sea." She glimpsed away from him, and found the other members relaxing, smiling almost as he sang. Hermione turned back to Death, blushing under his gaze. "And then one day, one magic day, he passed my way. And while he spoke of many things . . . fools and kings. . . this he said to me." The melody echoed through the halls, almost ending before Death seemed to continue. Now though, there were two voices, harmonizing. "The greatest thing, you'll every learn is just to love and be loved in return." The song crescendoed at the end, echoing even further.
Several moments passed as Death waited with a smirk. Luna seemed to be the first to return to normal, or at least for her as she just smiled. "Wonderful job, I do believe that it was better than a Cross-Eyed Horny Toads of South Africa."
"I try," Death said, smiling. The smile seemed to take away the damage age had done to him, what little there was, and show her the man inside. A man that reminded her of Harry.
She looked away, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks as she stared. She felt embarrassed that she was attracted to a man almost seventy years her senior. Embarrassed would be an understatement, as she felt down right foolish and stupid.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Ginny asked. Her words snapped everyone else out of the trance, and frowns replaced content looks upon their faces.
"You have no sense for the dramatic," Death whispered. Both Luna and Remus laughed at this, causing the matriarch of the Weasley family to glare at them. "I think I'd rather have you explain."
Dumbledore floated over to Death's side, standing upon the ground now as he placed a hand upon Death's shoulder. A burden was lifted from Death it seemed as his eyes seemed to relax slightly. For him, Hermione would have gladly taken the burden. She felt a connection that was not unlike the one she felt toward Harry. Blushing again, she turned away, petting Grim's head as the dog snorted.
"Fawkes has disappeared, because he went in search of ingredients for a ritual to revive me." Dumbledore said.
"Then why hasn't he returned?" Mr. Weasley asked. Death looked at him like he was crazy, and Hermione could not help but agree with Mrs. Weasley. Yet something had been said, that told her. Why did Death stare at them? Where they missing something obvious? She began to replay the meeting over in her mind, trying to remember something. Dumbledore….Dumbledore had called him…
"Fawkes?" Hermione asked in a soft voice. Death's head snap around toward her, his face devoid of emotions.
"What did you say, Hermione?" Tonks asked. Hermione felt everything falling in place. She felt the smile growing further across her face, matching the one on Death's face as she spoke.
"Fawkes," she said again.
"Right in one," Death said, leaning back in his chair. He crossed his arms, a smile spreading across his face at the chaos that he had manage to create.
"How is this possible?" Hermione managed to get out. He smiled at her for a moment as Dumbledore moved to speak.
"Silence!" His voice echoed across the room. "You wish to understand what is happening here, then you will cease this aimless chattering, and listen. Else we will walk out of here." There was an edge to his voice that none of them had heard before. An edge that Hermione realized must have come from his death. Gone was the twinkle in his eyes, yet it seemed to have moved over toward Fawkes's eyes.
"Now, Fawkes is what can be called a totem, a man or animal that binds with the other to form the same spirit. One loses the life in the process, for giving their earthly bonds to the other is the price they pay," Dumbledore began. Death was gone Hermione realized as there seemed to be one burden lifted from Fawkes's shoulders. Yet his face was still strained with both time and weight of possible the world on his shoulders.
"It takes years or training, for the body to not reject the other spirit, but in time, they become one, so much that it is impossible to tell where one ends, and the other begins," Fawkes commented.
"Fawkes is not the phoenix that gave his feathers to be made into wands, nor is he the man that resided in the concentrations camps," Dumbledore said. "In fact, this is a horse of a different color." Hermione smiled lightly at the movie reference.
"Did you save Harry though his second year?" Ginny asked. Fawkes gave a sad smile.
"Yes, I did," Fawkes said. "I became the man you see today sometime around Moony's days here at Hogwarts." Hermione watched Remus nearly fall out of his chair, and laughed with Fawkes as Remus stood.
"You knew?" Remus asked. Fred and George stared at him in awe as one of their mentors was revealed.
"Course I did," Fawkes said with a laugh. "You think I'd be a little slow not to figure it out." He laughed again as Remus joined in. "But yeah, I've been here a while."
"Why didn't you help us out? Why didn't you help Harry out?" Hermione asked.
"There are things that needed to pass before I could show this face again," Fawkes said simply. "What kind of students would you be if you didn't learn from your mistakes?" He stood from his seat. "I suppose the best way to stop the questions, or maybe is it to generate more, is to show you." He shrugged his shoulders as he removed his duster and scabbard. "You wish for proof no doubt, correct?" The nods around the table did not disturb the silence that surrounded them.
Fawkes stood with his back turned, showing the edges of a tattoo of flames upon his back. Hermione was amazed at the detail; she almost believed that the flames were alive.
"Fawkes are you sure that this is necessary?" Dumbledore asked. Fawkes gave him a smile, though there was a sense of fatigue and worry in Dumbledore's voice.
Hermione watched as the tattoo flared to life, growing across Fawkes's back. The flames of the tattoo burned through the shirt he wore, showing the tattoo for what it truly was: a phoenix.
The beak of the phoenix moved along his neck, as if singing. The tail moved across his lower back, showing the defined muscles underneath. Hermione felt the heat rising to her face, but it wasn't just embarrassment this time. The room was getting warmer as the flames engulfed Fawkes's body.
The ball of fire that was Fawkes floated over the table. The darkness that was in the room faded with the heat as the flames floated. Hermione saw Grim moving over toward the table, stepping up onto it to watch as well. She could not help but smile at the dog's actions. Her eyes were drown back to the ball of fire a song floated out of it. Fawkes dispersed the flames with a flap of his wings, spreading them around the table. He flapped his wings, flying above them as the flames fell to the ground, wrapping them in a circle of flames.
"Stay calm," Dumbledore said. He had moved outside of the ring of fire. Hermione could not help but think of an old song she had heard over the radio as a child at that thought. True to the song, the flames rose over their chairs. Hermione shivered as she felt a wave of magic pass over her body. She felt renewed and reenergized, but confused at the same time. Fawkes had managed to give her a look as he landed upon the table, a look that matched her confusion.
"The Order has been renewed at last," Dumbledore spoke, breaking Fawkes and Hermione's gaze.
"Weren't we already the Order?" Ginny asked. She glared at Hermione from across the table. Hermione felt the fear rise in her again, as she looked away. Fawkes landed lightly upon her shoulder, nuzzling her head against his own. Though his wings were flames, she felt no burns against her neck, only a soothing warmth. Like an old friend coming home.
"No," Dumbledore said. "You may have been a order, but not the Order of the Phoenix. Not until a phoenix blessed you all and bound you together."
"Arthur is still the leader, right?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"That is up to him to decide." Dumbledore pointed toward Fawkes as he floated back to his seat. In a less theatrical morph, Fawkes returned to his seat, sans shirt. He looked ready to collapse against the table.
"Tomorrow," he said. Fawkes had propped his body against the table in what looked like an effort to keep his head from hitting it.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked. Luna had moved to help him sit up, and Hermione did the same, but he waved yjr, off.
"No." Fawkes stood, gathering his supplies. Hermione still could hardly believe the man before he was close to eighty. His body was too well toned and fit to even be considered over thirty. "I haven't been for a long time." He waved his hand, and the candles around them extinguished. All that remained was the dull glow of Dumbledore "Tomorrow, same time." He left them in the dark, both figuratively and physically, as Dumbledore followed him out.
"What the bloody hell was that all about?" Hermione's head snapped to face Ginny, as did the others in the room. Anger swelled in her toward Ginny at her treatment of Fawkes. He was a good man and he looked like he was in pain.
"Ginny, that man there might be our only hope," Ron said.
"I don't care who he is, he was rude to me," Ginny pouted in her chair.
"Ginny, fucking grow up," Ron said, standing from his chair. "Got off your goddamn cross, cry me a river, build a bridge and get the hell over it."
"Ronald Bilius Weasley, how dare you tell your sister off like that?" Mrs. Weasley asked, fury in her voice.
"Mother, if you had any idea about the greater good, you'd have told her off a long time again," Ron said. Hermione could not help but smile brightly at Ron's actions as he stood, leaving them as well.
Mrs. Weasley was too shocked to say anything as the rest of her family left. Hermione stood as well, surprised to see Grim following her. "You spending the night with me?" She asked as Grim nodded his head.
"Oh please, as if anything would want to spend a night with you?" Ginny sneered.
"Ginvera Weasley, that is enough," Mr. Weasley nearly yelled. Ginny snapped back to look at her father in surprise. Hermione felt the fear rising in her as she ran out of the room, missing the argument the ensued between Mrs. Weasley and her husband.
"Hermione, what happened?" Tonks asked as she rushed past them. Vaguely she heard a dog barking behind her as she sprinted toward the library. Expecting to be alone, she was surprised to see Fawkes sitting with Dumbledore at one of the tables in the back.
"Everything is so empty now," Fawkes said as he looked around. Hermione moved to hide from them, wanting to know why they were there. And she wanted to see the man called Fawkes from someone else's perspective maybe.
"A library is not a library without books," Dumbledore said.
"No doubt Hermione saved as many as she could, and hide them somewhere," Fawkes said with a smile. She felt the blush rise on her face as Grim took off from his spot next to her. "Hey, I thought I told you to look after Hermione for me." She felt her anger rising at the thought.
"I don't need anyone to look after me," Hermione said, moving out of her hiding spot.
"Well, I…." Fawkes seemed to stumble over the words as Dumbledore chuckled.
"What my esteemed colleague means is that he believed you would enjoy some company here in the library," Dumbledore said.
"That doesn't mean that I can't take care of myself," Hermione said. "I am a very capable witch, thank you very much."
"You know, I'm sorry, but it is important to protect your assets," Fawkes said raising his hands. Hermione wanted to say something, but she felt embarrassed by his words. She was an asset to him? She did not have long to think about it as he made a move to stand, but quickly fell back into the seat. He looked to be barely sitting up in the seat already.
"What happened?" Hermione asked. She moved forward to his side as he sat. His breathing seemed labor, yet he still did not have the look of a man his age should.
"He is exhausted," Dumbledore answered. "Like any muscle, he has not used magic in quite some time, and therefore the muscle, while it may act strong for a time, will tire quickly. Fawkes while in his phoenix form used magic sparingly, but in a theatrical fashion. Which is why he is able to do simple spells far easier then the rest, but the more power he exerts the more tired he gets."
"Why are you here?" Fawkes said. He had a glazed look in his eyes, almost like he was too tired to understand.
"I live back here," Hermione said simply. His head shot up, his eyes now alert. "I live in the office behind the library, where I did manage to keep some of the books. It helps me sometimes when I feel alone."
"Oh," he said, a blush on his face. Hermione could not help but smile at the innocent look that crossed the totem's face.
"Why are you here?" Hermione asked. She helped him sit up in his chair, and ignored his protests as she case several prognosis charms over him. He was in fact exhausted, but his magical abilities were like none she had ever seen before. It would be only a matter of time before he was back to full strength.
"The library is a place to find answers," Fawkes said. He wore a weary smile on his face as he spoke. "I was hoping to find some of my own."
"Did you?" Hermione asked as Grim moved over to her side. She pet his head as he leaned into her, nearly knocking her over. Fawkes shook his head as he stared at the two of them.
"I came here because a friend of mine always went to the library when she was upset, lonely, or just needed to think." He stood slowly, pushing off on his knees and holding onto the table to stand. "I hoped to rid myself of all three while I am here." He walked off slowly, stopping next to Hermione to pet Grim. "Do you mind taking care of him for me? I'm usually not very good company these days."
"I can be the judge of that," Hermione said, giving him a smile. "I think we'll get along great." She scratched Grim's head behind the ears, causing her to almost topple over as he leaned his full weight against her. "He's just a big puppy, that's all."
"Well, then I leave you two at that," Fawkes said. He stared at her for a moment, and Hermione blushed under the gaze. He gave her a sad smile before leaving her with Dumbledore and Grim.
"How is he, really?" Hermione asked, turning toward the Headmaster.
"I wish I could say," Dumbledore said with a sigh. "There is more to his world then what he has told you all tonight, and I have only recently been privy to this knowledge. The burden he bears is beyond compare. Heavier than a prophecy for the fate of the world, but just as devastating." He stood from the chair he was in, the room's light floating in disarray with his own glow. "Good night, Miss Granger. I wish there was more for me to tell, but I feel that you will find out in time."
"Good night, professor," Hermione said as she watched the spectral man leave them. She looked down at Grim, and gave him a sad smile. "Come on, you can sleep on my floor." She turned and left to her room, knowing that sleep would not be easy as she worried for Fawkes.
He was the man they had hired to work for them, yet he was a symbol of their school. Did he really work for them or did they work for him? Fawkes was not someone that could lightly be thought as a worker, yet he was here doing this for them. He really had no obligation to them, now that Hermione thought of it. Why did he return? Was it a sense of loyalty to them all, or was there something more to what Fawkes was planning on doing?
"He's such a stranger to us all, even though he was here for six years with me," Hermione whispered to Grim. He snorted and circled on the rug in her room before lying down. She smiled at the dog, glad for some company before going to the bathroom and changing for bed. However, when she came out, the dog was no longer on the floor but now upon her rather small bed.
"Down, get down from there," Hermione said to him in her student lecturing voice, yet it had little to know effect. "Please." She begged him, the weariness of the day and lack of lunch getting to her. He raised his head before looking toward her desk. She turned and looked there as well to see a steaming bowl of stew and a glass of cold tea for her.
Please eat, you need your strength was allthe note said. Hermione looked down at the bowl before eating it slowly. She knew full well where the meal had come from, and silently thanked the totem. As she ate, she read over one of the books about the magical entities of the other regions of the world, specifically the Native American aspects, trying to find something about totems and mainly about the man named Fawkes.
With her meal finished and her stomach full, she felt the emotionally draining day catch up with her. She planned on meeting the children for dinner again, like she always did, and set her alarm clock accordingly. A two-hour nap should be sufficient to reenergize her. And maybe, the fear would be gone later. It was never to late to hope.
-->