Purpose

~ Chapter 2: The Road to Recovery ~

At the Dursleys...

Petunia E. Dursley was staring blankly at the bedroom ceiling, while listening to her husband's snores. She was overwhelmed with a confusing mixture of feelings that night. This was because the Dursleys were shocked to their cores when the police officers arrived to reveal what their precious son was up to. Vernon was close to apoplexy by the time the police officers were gone, after giving the Dursleys strict warnings regarding their son. Her husband had remained silent after that, going straight up to the bedroom without touching his dinner that she had painstakingly prepared. Her Dudley did not at all look repentant as he shoved Harry out of his way to sit himself at the table. And all this time, we thought Harry was the rotten one.

"Go to your room Dudley," Aunt Petunia instructed in a flat voice, her nose denting a little at her disappointment. Harry stared at her with shock. Evidently, Dudley too was caught surprised by his mother's reaction, as he froze midway of sitting down on the chair.

"But I have not eaten anything yet!" Dudley protested in a shocked voice.

"YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY DINNER!" Her voice suddenly cracked out like a whip. Harry was sure that she could be heard all around the neighborhood, as the air crackled. His cousin's face reddened slightly but the stocky boy marched off without a word.

CRACK.

Harry bristled with anger as his bedroom door was smashed by Dudley's kick. A door slammed and the house went silent. There was a diffident knock on the door. Must be Professor Lupin. Harry opened the door cautiously as Lupin went in, tilting his head a little at Aunt Petunia's direction.

"Don't worry; I'll fix the door for you," the tired-looking man whispered as he made his way up the staircase. Professor Lupin treaded the corridor silently and shook his head at Harry's bedroom door. They had better provide him with a counseling session soon, before the boy gets out of hand. The Professor flicked his wand and whispered, "Reparo."

He walked down the stairs silently to meet Harry who was waiting for him. "No problem," then he gave a whisper, "are you all right?"

Harry gave a nod, the Professor waved goodbye, and Harry shut the door firmly behind him. They're still watching me. His aunt interrupted his thoughts.

"Harry," she called stiffly, and the teenage boy gave her a wary look, "eat your dinner before it gets cold."

***********

Nymphadora Tonks exchanged an incredulous look with Professor McGonagall as both watched through the glass of the amplifier.

***********

Petunia did a lot of soul-searching that very night. Then she heard a desperate cry coming from the next room and she sat up on the bed. It was coming from Harry's bedroom. After she had ensured, that Vernon was sound asleep and unlikely to wake up, she crept quietly out of the bedroom and paused to listen. She was awarded with another set of snores coming from Dudley's room.

A series of strangled moans could be heard from behind Harry's door. Her hand froze at the doorknob and taking a deep breath, she turned the knob. The door opened without a sound. She went in and closed the door quietly behind her. She stood still in the dark bedroom. Hedwig watched silently, the owl turned her head to stare at the woman. Her eyes focused on the bed and dimly saw Harry trashing about his bed.

"Sirius...where are you?" Harry choked back a sob and suddenly Petunia sympathized with this strange offspring of her sister.

"Mom--Dad--did you find him? Where is Sirius? Nick--can't you find him?" Harry pleaded, then moaned, turning his face towards the window and she saw the tears that streaked his face.

"It's my fault...all mine..." Harry's voice trailed off. "Should have listened to Snape--Sirius." Harry thrashed around some more and suddenly raised his hand, reaching out desperately for something. "SIRIUS!" The young wizard jerked himself awake, panting a little and was surprised to find his aunt staring at him. She did not stop to think as she reacted instinctively. Harry had begun to shake and she sat beside his bed and enfolded him in her arms.

***********

"Now that is groundbreaking news," as Lupin stared out at the amplifier, watching the woman giving silent comfort to Harry Potter. Tonks pulled the sometimes-werewolf wizard from the instrument as she took her turn to study the form of Mrs. Dursley, watching the lean woman as she tucked Harry back to bed and went out of the room silently.

"Why the sudden change of character?" Tonks demanded Lupin, as the occupants of the house opposite the Dursleys' looked helplessly at each other.

"How would I know?" Lupin protested.

CRACK!

The occupants looked at the just Apparated Bill. He looked soberly at them.

"Professor Dumbledore said that there is a high possibility that Sirius is still alive."

Professor McGonagall gave a small gasp.

"But he does not want us to tell Harry this."

"I agree," Professor Lupin nodded vigorously. "No point putting false hope in the boy. This might be the last straw." At Bill's inquiring look, Lupin said, "The boy is this close to having his spirits broken." Lupin explained, demonstrating with his thumb and forefinger.

"So Sirius did fall through a Portal?" Professor McGonagall asked in a small voice.

"Yes. It is going to be hard to search for Sirius. He could be anywhere. If he's trapped in-between, it'll be an extremely difficult hunt."

***********

Harry woke up with a slight headache the next day. However, it is not because of the scar; he was aware that he had done a lot of excessive crying the last night. He was really worn out; he felt his spirits draining out of him. The only thing that had made his summer holidays tolerable for the past few years was largely because of Sirius. Now his godfather was gone. And it's because of his own stupidity that his godfather had died. He had realized that now. He had reacted recklessly for the past few months and almost got his friends killed.

He got up from his bed and opened Hedwig's cage and the owl hopped from its perch to Harry's arm. Harry flung her out of the window as she soared up to spread her wings a little. The members of the Order are still watching me. I wonder when they'll get tired of that. Harry looked out at the sunny morning as the heat began to increase. Harry sighed and went out of his bedroom to get a bite of breakfast.

***********

Harry stepped into the dining room and seated himself. He silently poured himself a glass of orange juice and munched down on bacons and eggs. Dudley was looking at Harry sullenly. I bet he would really like to kick me instead of my bedroom door. Just that the knowledge of professional witches and wizards are making sure that nothing happens to me dampens the situation a little. As though he could not stand being in the same room with the boy-wizard, Dudley stormed out and slammed the front door. Harry watched his Uncle Vernon in trepidation.

However, his uncle kept on reading the newspaper, his mustache not even twitching. Without warning, his uncle thrust the newspaper to him, his face demanding Harry to take it. Harry took the newspaper cautiously and his eyes instantly fell onto a mini-subheading 'Strange sightings seen across Europe'.

From places all over UK, people have reported of seeing cloaked figures, and these sightings were confined to the most rural areas. Speculations have been made that they were monks on pilgrimage but some have said that these figures do not symbolize peace. One spoke of them as the agents of chaos. These sightings are still under investigation.

Harry looked up from the paper, feeling his insides tense. Uncle Vernon looked at him, his eyes flashing dangerously. Harry felt himself breaking out into cold sweat as suspicion crept in. Dementors. I knew that they had revolted, but I did not expect that they would go as far as to create trouble among the Muggles. He gulped several times and scanned the newspaper for more clues.

***********

Two days after Healing Sirius Black

Fenix was reading The Scotsman for the second time in her study room. She was alone in the house save for the still comatose man and the two wolves. Giselle had gone out with the elves to replenish the kitchen supplies, though Aldren was very reluctant to leave Fenix alone in the house.

Earlier in the morning, Giselle had questioned her. : Is there something going on between you and Aldren? :

Fenix gave her a perplexed look. : No. Why do you ask? :

: Just that you two are acting very couple-like. :

: Don't be ridiculous. He's a very good friend. There isn't any intimacy going on between us. :

: If you say so. :

Snapping out of her thoughts, she focused again to the newspaper cutout dated a few years back. So the man upstairs is the one they called Sirius Black. A suspected well-known killer. Fenix leaned back against the chair and placed the cutting back in the file, then turned her attention to the cuttings she had just obtained from the current newspaper.

: So what are you going to do about it? :

Silver's thought reached her. Fenix sighed. The wolves had intruded her thoughts so frequently since the day she healed Mr. Black unquestioningly.

: Silv, please don't eavesdrop, :

Fenix answered with a slightly pained expression.

: If you don't want us to, you can always block us you know, :

Wind suggested blandly.

: You know well that I can't do that now. Anyway, the guy seems harmless for the moment. The fact that he's a wizard puts shadows on the news. Witches and wizards--like him--really keep very low profiles in the

normal world. :

: What do you think those creatures were doing? :

: I really don't know. So far, there are no bizarre happenings but I guess it's just a matter of time before something happens. :

: What did Aldren said those things were called? :

Wind asked.

: He said that Mineif calls them Dementors. They're the guards of Azkaban--whatever that means. :

Silver hummed in her mind, as he nodded knowingly. : Ah, I get your meaning now. So this Mr. Black did attend Hogwarts. :

Fenix winced in pain as she stretched her arms a little too hard.

: Still feeling

his discomfort, dear? : Wind asked sympathetically.

Fenix nodded and massaged her shoulder. : I wish I knew more of the current wizard world. The only contact I had was with Lily; remember the woman who helped me along that magical bookstore? But then suddenly, she went silent-- : And I am not sure if I should poke my nose to know what is happening to the wizard world. Fenix jerked her head abruptly; her senses began to sharpen and the Hunter in her became alive. She silently kept the newspaper cuttings in the file and after checking that every entrance to the house was blocked using her magery, she cast another shield over the house. The wolves were strangely mute and she went down the stairs quietly to the second floor as training took over.

***********

Sirius was awake. He looked about the strange room with wariness, looking for hidden dangers. He acted rather instinctively as he probed his left shoulder with his right hand. All right, I'm whole again. Where am I? St. Mungos? Sirius was rather shocked to find that he was quite undressed under the covers. He was even more surprised when he saw the bandages and poultice covering various parts of his body. Movement from the corridor captured his attention. He carefully planted his feet on the floor and shivered. The floor was very cold and goose-flesh had begun to spread down his arms and legs. My wand. His wand was laid on the mantelpiece and he reached out for it. A shiver went down his spine. He swerved quickly as he pointed the wand at the intruder.

"Stupe--"

Sirius had begun but halted as the woman stared at him, her face beginning to redden.

"I wouldn't do any spells yet," Fenix spoke rather firmly, fixing her eyes somewhere above his forehead. Maybe I should have asked Aldren to get him a pair of underwear first.

Sirius began to scowl and had taken a step forward, not caring he was unclothed but the wolves stopped him from advancing for a moment. The great silver wolf bared his fangs at him threateningly. However, Sirius wasn't impressed and had took several steps forward. And why should I be? Remus looked much more threatening than this male wolf when he's in his element.

: Stay out of this, :

she warned the two wolves.

Sirius had raised his wand again and to his profound amazement, his wand slipped out quickly from his hand, only to hang in mid-air next to the woman. She frowned for a moment and the wand began to move towards him.

"I do not care to think of what could happen if you had uttered a command and began to flick it around before I removed the protection spell. You might burn down the house or something," she said.

:

FENIX!!! :

The woman suddenly covered her ears, her face scrunching up with pain. Sirius was suddenly filled with amusement as she suddenly uttered a series of curses. Fenix took some effort in controlling her tongue and said curtly to the naked man. "Please excuse me for a moment," then she suddenly stopped and turned back. "The robe on the bed will have to do for now."

Sirius looked at the wolves and at the black silk robe on the bed. The slimmer of the two wolves went out, leaving the silver wolf with him. Sirius strained his ears to hear the murmur of voices and the woman's voice rang out quite clearly for the whole house to hear.

"WHY IN GOD'S NAME DID YOU SHOUT?"

I didn't hear anyone shouting a few minutes ago.

The silver wolf was looking at him, and Sirius could have sworn that the wolf was grinning at his perplexity. Maybe I'm slipping. Sirius carefully examined the robe and subdued the need to scratch the areas where the poultice and bandages were placed. And maybe I need a bath. My shoulder hurts like hell.

***********

Fenix was fuming. I really wish I could strangle him. Stupid elf.

: Fenix, I'm sorry, :

Aldren pleaded.

: It really hurts you know, :

Fenix gave up and slowly started to smile.

"The guy's awake. Have you three got anything for him yet?" Fenix said, as she peeked around the packages they had brought with them.

"Here; weather's turning a bit cold. Therefore, I've bought a couple of sweaters, two pairs of pants and shirts. All black." Giselle told her as she handed her a large brown paper bag. The sisters had taken the opportunity to measure the size of the man while he was still in a Healing-induced sleep.

"And these are his underwear," Derian added.

Fenix took the bags upstairs, leaving the three to sort out their shopping materials in the kitchen. She was not surprised to see him still unclothed. He was searching the wardrobe for something.

: Well? :

She asked Silver, who was watching the man with amusement.

: I think he is searching for a towel. :

"It's in that black drawer over there," Fenix said, pointing her chin at the drawer beside the bed.

Sirius gazed at her. "What is your name?"

"Fenix Maxwell. And you're Mr. Black."

Sirius raised an eyebrow at her. Nonetheless he did open the drawer and took out a towel. He managed to hide his uneasiness but was shocked that she knew his name.

"These clothes are for you. I'm afraid the clothes you were wearing a few days back were nothing but tatters."

Fenix left the man in the bathroom on his own and went down to the kitchen.

Aldren hailed her as she stepped in and he hung a blue-gray scarf about a neck. She fingered it in appreciation. "Thank you," she said as she gave the elf a kiss on the cheek. She went about helping to store the canned foodstuffs in the cupboard. Quite suddenly, she gasped, her eyes stinging with sudden tears. She was clutching at her leg. Dear God, I can't believe he had just tried to remove the stitch himself. Stupid, idiotic wizard.

"Fenix?" Giselle asked, her face showing her concern.

"It's nothing. I'm going up to check on the guy."

Fenix quickly dashed out from the kitchen, bounded up the stairs, and went to her bedroom. She burst into the bathroom without so much as a knock. The wizard looked up at her dazedly, quite aware that the door had disappeared without a sound. His calf was dripping with blood and she quickly filled a pail of water and winced as his wound stung as she used the water to wash the blood away. She called up the image of a pair of scissors and deftly cut the stitches. Each time she took a piece of the string out, he gave a muffled gasp. She on the other hand gritted her teeth as she Felt the pain coming from the man.

Calming herself a little, she waited until her anger at the man subsided before she used her Healing Gift. I have to thank Him that this man had only plucked out only the stitches on his leg. It was a different story when she finished Healing the wizard. Her anger returned in the double and she stared at Sirius angrily, looking directly into his eyes. She felt a sudden jolt of recognition but ignored it as she let her anger simmer.

"The next time, wait for an expert will you? I spent a great deal of effort to save your life and I don't want you to die because of pure stupidity," she hissed, tears of anger and pain streamed down her face. She abruptly stood up and left her room then stormed out of the house through the kitchen door.

"Fenix!" Aldren called out after her, but she took no notice of him. Instead, she went into full Hunter mode. Wind loped beside her in silence as they patrolled the woods together. Fenix climbed a tree occasionally to view the surroundings while the wolf accompanying her carefully scouted on the ground.

Fenix extended probes in every direction and reports came back to her that all was in order, and no Dementors were making any appearances. Aldren was waiting for her beneath the Mnid as the Sun began to set, ready to take over the shift.

: Dinner's ready. :

Aldren said. Fenix gave a tight nod and told Wind to go home first and she began to climb the Mnid, to sit on one of its broader branches carefully. Aldren made a tentative move to approach her but decided against it. He moved silently off.

: Safe Hunting. :

Fenix Mindvoice whispered, and Aldren knew that everything was all right.

***********

Fenix returned home, her feelings all under control and she maintained a serene expression as she entered the kitchen. Giselle looked archly at her tight-fitting uniform. Spaghetti was on the menu that night and her stomach growled, reminding her that it had been a while since her last meal. She avoided the wizard's gaze and told her sister that she would take a bath first before eating her dinner.

"Suit yourself; but you better be quick before Derian finishes all of it."

Fenix gave a non-committal shrug and went up to her room. She replaced back her bathroom door and went in to shower. There was a definite chill in the air as it had begun to drizzle and a gentle zephyr entered her bedroom that she quickly went to her window to close it. Opening her wardrobe, she examined its contents for something that could keep her warm and got out a long skirt with a gray sweater. She quickly slipped on her underwear and her clothes.

She called up a group of Salamanders that took several moments to play with her damp hair, playfully styling it. Fenix knew by now that it was useless to tell them to stop styling her hair so she let them get the upper hand. They had neatly dried her hair and pulled her hair and began plaiting the upper half into a braid, attaching several hair ornaments that goes well with the sweater. I really look ridiculous. Who is going to look at my hair anyway?

"You are very beautiful, mistress. Why haven't you find yourself a mate yet?" one of the Salamanders asked her. Fenix sighed softly. The companionship of the two wolves to the Elemental Master had influenced the Elementals that were very close to her to a high degree.

"Could you heat up the house a little? It's getting a little cold," she requested, smiling a little at a very young Salamander that had playfully twirled itself with a lock of her hair. The group scattered to several places of the house, making themselves invisible as they coaxed the air to get warm.

***********

Sirius ate his spaghetti without really paying attention to what he was eating. He knew that it was delicious but his concentration on dinner had wavered when Fenix had reentered the house. She wore something much like what the Aurors sometimes wear when they were on duty. He was beginning to feel a little guilty after Giselle explained what had happened to him when Fenix found him in the woods with great patience, including the after-effects of Healing.

He was feeling a little confused. Elves. Never gave much thought that they really exist, but I guess that shows how narrow our thinking was, since fairies and centaurs do exist. And where does she fit in? She's not a witch but she clearly possesses magic. It's different but it is still magic. His mouth suddenly went dry when Fenix reentered the kitchen, looking very different. Rather distantly, a thought floated through his mind. She's beautiful. Giselle was finding it hard to keep a straight face as she took in the stupendous hair arrangement.

"Ah--Fenix--what happened to your hair?" Giselle asked mildly.

"I don't want to talk about it," Fenix grumbled as she helped herself to dinner. Derian was grinning widely at the embarrassed woman and Giselle looked toward him for an explanation.

"It seems that the Salamanders really like her and her hair a lot. Most Fire Masters are males and they do not keep, strong and lustrous black hair."

"Oh," Giselle gave a cheeky smile, "no wonder the temperature's risen up." She remarked, feeling a little pleased at herself.

Fenix was silent during dinner. Sirius was not sure of what to do when Derian and Giselle went up to retire. He reckoned that the safest thing to do was to stay in the kitchen. Fenix stood and took his plate without glancing and him and began to wash the dishes. Soon enough, she began singing absently to herself. Sirius toyed with his glass of fruit punch as he studied Fenix.

"Who's Harry?" Fenix asked suddenly, as she turned to face him, placing the last plate on the rack. She paused long enough to dry her hands before sitting back down. Sirius started to frown at her but she snorted disgustedly at him. "You mumbled his name in your sleep, along with several threats that I couldn't really make out," she said bluntly.

Sirius hesitated. Can she be trusted? I have to get to Harry as soon as possible. But I seriously don't really know how to make my way down to Harry from here. Can she help?

: He doesn't know about the Dementors. Ask him and maybe he could give us clues as to why they're roaming around UK, :

Silver said to her as he crossed the kitchen to sit at her side.

"He's my godson."

"Oh. Okay. What do you know about Dementors?" Fenix asked him, her eyes suddenly alert.

Sirius started and looked suspiciously at her. "Why do you ask?" his tone was wary.

"Just that about a few weeks ago, a couple of them passed through the wood's defense and--," Fenix halted as she called up the image of her file that she kept the newspaper clippings. Sirius stared at her in astonishment as a blue file suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She rummaged through the file and finally found the recent cutout. "They were seen in various areas these days," she told him as she handed the cutting.

Sirius took it and began to read it. A few moments later he began to swear pungently. "Things are coming up to a head then," he muttered darkly.

Fenix narrowed her eyes as a thought occurred to her, "Are the Dementors' appearance connected to your presence here?"

Sirius shook his head. "I don't think they are much concerned with my reappearance. This is something to do with my godson. All of this is how I became his godfather. But I do not know why they are roaming around, to be sighted by Muggles."

It could be possible that those working at the Ministry discovered Malfoy and his cohorts. And the Dementors have revolted now that the Dark Lord has made his appearance known. I hope the Ministry, especially Fudge, regrets in keeping those creatures for employment.

Sirius thought darkly, his handsome face though edged with tiredness began to scowl.

Fenix gave him a quizzical look. "What's Muggles?"

"Non-magical folk." Then he began to tell her about the Dark Lord and the existence of Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived.

Fenix bit off an exclamation as Sirius was mentioning about how Harry's mother died as she tried to protect the infant. Sirius looked curiously as she scrambled out of her seat and bounded up to the third floor, to her library. She quickly opened a drawer and took out a booklet. She Teleported herself back to the kitchen, brimming with excitement and opened the booklet for Sirius to see.

Sirius stared at the photograph in surprise. Lily's eyes looked merrily at him, her arms around a very young and a shy Fenix lovingly. He spotted Remus in the corner and himself, standing beside the entrance of a bookstore, both looking very bored. I don't really remember this moment. Fenix told him of how Lily had helped her to reach for a book that she couldn't quite reach and she was too timid to ask someone for help. Sirius held the photo as he continued to tell her more about Harry's unwanted Fame and the bag of troubles that were caused by his existence. Then, she had asked Sirius the most important question that she had been dying to ask.

"How did you get here?"

"I don't really know. I was trapped in something like a second Dimension or something like that. The archway that I fell into was probably a Gateway. All I remembered doing before I hit the glade was that I thought hard of an image. Strangely, that image coincided with the environment that I ended up falling through."

The Elemental Mage nodded her understanding, and she shuddered at the man's experience in being trapped inside a Gateway. "Next question then. How did you manage to get yourself trapped in the Gateway in the first place?"

"I was dueling with a witch. She had hit me with a spell and I was too damn arrogant to block it at that particular moment."

Fenix was rather surprised when she looked at the clock. Midnight already? Aldren's shift will end soon. I know now why he felt familiar, he was with Lily and a couple of others too. I think I understand what the boy is feeling. No wonder he opened his mind to the Dark Lord. He's getting tired and the frustrations that are boring down on him may be unhealthy. And all the more important for him to know that his godfather is still alive.

: I agree, maybe you could help the boy to build up his mind defense. Sirius kept saying that the boy holds unusual powers that was caused the backlash of the wand. Since you are also an Empath, you could keep an eye on him. :

: I know, but do you think it's safe? Now with the Dementors crawling about? :

: Huh, since when has this kind of thing had started to bother you? :

Sirius was looking curiously at her and the wolf. It seems like she's communicating with the wolf somehow. Another version of being a Parselmouth? Fenix was looking at the wolf with a pensive expression on her face. He cleared his throat to gain her attention. Fenix looked at him, feeling slightly abashed.

"Sorry about that. I think it has turned out to be quite important that you go to Harry; if only to boost his spirits up."

A sudden chill penetrated the house and Sirius looked at her, fear starting to seep through his soul. Dementors, here in the house. Silver snapped at the air and was suddenly flung back across the kitchen and hit the cabinet. Two cloaked figures suddenly materialized at Sirius's side. He was paralyzed as hope was drained out of him and all he could feel was an intense cold. I'm exhausted...Harry...Images of a smiling Harry surrounded by Ron and Hermione slipped into his mind. And Remus...so filled with happiness that Sirius wasn't a traitor. I'm not giving them up...Damn it! I wish I had brought my wand down!

"Hello, I think you two have forgotten that the owner of the house is around," Fenix taunted several feet away, unaffected by their presence.

The bigger of the two Dementors swerved his head; his cowl fell back, its hideous, skeletal features exposed. It began to make a sucking noise and Fenix grinned almost maniacally.

"It is damn rude to enter a house without an invitation, don't you know lad?" Fenix said in a mocking voice. Suddenly the Dementor howled in pain as it was engulfed in intense blue flames. The fire cleansed the dead being and was reduced to nothing more than a pile of ashes and that too began to disintegrate. The other Dementor growled in disbelief and was about to Disapparate but Fenix was on it within a second. However, there were more of them, as she heard more growls--along with Derian's muted war cry and Giselle's terrified squeals--coming up from the second floor.

"This is getting irritating," Fenix muttered under her breath as she suddenly appeared behind one of the Dementors, incinerating him with her mind within an instant. The Dementors converged on Giselle but could not really get any closer to her as the Salamanders showed their anger at full strength. The Sylphs, somehow aware of the current situation began to feed the Salamanders and the Dementors made a lovely bonfire in the middle of the bedroom. Derian was busily sticking his Elven sword and there were suddenly no Dementors.

"I think you need to check up on the Wood's shieldings again," Giselle said in a quavering voice.

"Did they harm you?" Fenix asked her sister with genuine concern.

"No, the Salamanders had encircled me."

: Good job. :

Fenix applauded the Fire Elementals. : Where's Wind? :

: I'm downstairs dear. Would you check on Silver? I think he has broken something. :

Fenix reappeared in the kitchen, the silver wolf still lying on the floor. Sirius and Wind were looking rather anxiously at the wolf and Sirius gave a sigh of relief when Fenix came to kneel beside him.

"How come the Dementors do not affect you?" Sirius asked curiously. This is really amazing. Never thought that there is a way to destroy the Dementors. I thought the most we could do is calling up a Patronus. I wonder if Professor Dumbledore will be glad when he hears this little tidbit. But hang on a moment--the Dementors don't really affect Remus all that much...

"I have no idea," Fenix answered in a preoccupied manner. Sirius felt a tingling sensation and he understood when he suddenly heard a crack and Silver gave a whimper.

: Just a dislocated shoulder-bone. He'll be all right. But no strenuous activities for him for several days, :

Fenix informed Wind.

There was a knock on the kitchen door and Sirius opened it. A very rumpled Aldren came into the kitchen with several other Elves, who looked almost in a similar condition to Aldren. An Elven mage approached Fenix to give her a kiss on the cheek as she hugged the handsome elf warmly. Sirius stood back as the group of elves shuffled into the kitchen. Had there been Dementors out there? So, they must be immune to them too.

"Cadriel, I think I know how they managed to get through the Wood's defense and how to prevent future intrusions," Fenix told them and described the shield she had in mind. Sirius lost himself midway during the discussion but he felt that it was all right since the elves nodded in agreement with her plan. Just as long as she knows what she's doing.

"Are we going to cast the spells now?" Aldren asked, and was answered by nods all around the kitchen.

It had taken them all night to make the preparations, all of them squeezed in the living room. Fenix and Sirius had improvised a little with her overlaying spells of Truth, and Intent with Sirius merging a back-up immobilizing spell in case something dangerous does manage to Apparate in. Fenix flopped down on the couch as the rest of the elves-- except for Aldren and Derian-- began to disappear to their Grove. Sirius went down to sit beside her in a more dignified manner, but he was no less tired than she was.

Giselle gave the two of them mugs of hot chocolate that she had prepared while the group was busily spellcasting. Fenix took the proffered mug with gratitude as she gulped the beverage down. Wind jumped up and began to curl herself; her head on Fenix's lap as Silver began to drowse on her feet. The feelings of security and fatigue began to seep into her system and she soon dozed off, leaning against Sirius.

: Do you think something will brew up between them? :

Giselle asked Aldren. The elf did not bother to go up the staircase to a real bed as he laid himself down on the floor.

: No chance. He's the wrong kind of guy. :

: Oh? Why is that? :

His brother asked, giving a sidelong glance at Aldren.

: One, this guy is a bit on the arrogant side. Much too arrogant for her. He doesn't show it now, but it is there all the same. Two, the nondescript-looking type always seem special to her eyes somehow. You should know that better than we do. She likes quiet guys, with a certain amount of mischief in them. She always seems to fall in love with the kind of guys people wouldn't dream of partnering, :

he replied. He sounded a bit sullen as he watched a drowsing Sirius, his arm curling reflexively on Fenix's shoulders.

: I see. :

Giselle replied complacently.

***********