Purpose

~ Chapter 14: Death and Redemption ~

Tuesday, 22^nd August. At The Burrow...

It was calm inside The Burrow as Harry and the rest waited patiently for their escort after dinner. Having Snape about The Burrow was not a disaster, just as long they ignore most of his cutting remarks. Occasionally, Fenix's temper did flare a little but she controlled her tongue and just gave the Potions Master a piercing stare whenever she was vexed with his behavior.

The twins had already Apparated with Bill, with their various pets, including Harry's owl, to the rendezvous point where Professor McGonagall and Tonks were keeping watch where they will head down to The Place with full protection. The next to move out will be those who possessed flying broomsticks--the students of Hogwarts, Remus, Sirius, Severus and Fenix and the last group to move out were Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, the Elemental Mages and the wolves. Since the Grangers' did have a car, they had offered to drive to the rendezvous point and Mr. Weasley nodded in appreciation.

All of them--those who will be out riding their brooms--were totally dressed in black from head to toe, accomplished with black coats. It would have been perfect if Hermione and the Weasleys have pure black hair just like the most of them. Harry was aware that Fenix was looking at him with a pensive look on her face.

"What's up?" Harry asked her curiously.

"Your hair's getting too long for that Armani hairstyle," Fenix explained.

"I don't think we have time to give him a hair-cut," Ron cautioned.

"I wasn't thinking about doing it now, Ron," Fenix replied patiently. "Sirius and Remus could do with one too, so I'll do something about it when we are free." Then she rolled her eyes in exasperation when her hair came loose and the Salamanders began brushing her hair.

"Don't I look like a spoilt brat?" she complained, then sighed as the Salamanders pulled her hair back and braided her hair.

"You don't want hair whipping about your face, don't you?" Krill pointed out loudly for all of them to hear.

"Yes, I know that...but why can't you let me braid my own hair?" the Fire Master protested.

"What illusion are the wolves going to take?" Mrs. Granger asked Fenix as she waited impatiently in The Burrow.

: A pair of extremely big and heavy large suitcases of course, :

Silver replied.

"Alastor's back!"

an excited giggle emerged from behind Mrs. Granger.

"What's so good about Moody?" Sirius addressed the silvery voice belonging to Arenii lightly, though he sounded injured to Harry.

"Because he's very unique...why else?"

"I give up..." Sirius muttered to himself.

Moody landed on the turf gracefully with two other members of the Order. Fenix calmly took her backpack and the Ice Dagger floated towards her. The four students greeted Moody happily and he gave a grandiose bow at Fenix.

: Let's go sister, :

Sirius said as he mounted his Firebolt.

: You four, :

Fenix's thought reached the wolves and the Mages, : keep both eyes open and set your Elementals on watch. :

: Safe journey, Fenix. :

: And to you. Phoebus watch over you. :

: All clear is clear, though there are three more of the wizards a little northeast from here. I think they're the rear guard or something of the sort, :

Krill informed the Fire Master. Moody was flushing with embarrassment again as the invisible Arenii clung to him.

"Moody, who are the three up above? Northeast?"

"That's Kingsley Shacklebolt and Fearn and Blade McNoel," Moody replied in his harsh voice. "You two," he barked at his two other companions, "this is Fenix Maxwell, and the newest member of the Order. Dumbledore's order: if she says something, don't ignore her, or you'll get it from me." Then he introduced her to the two, who was looking at her warily.

"This is Wenda Aderweed," Moody jerked his chin towards a beautiful witch with extremely short hair and very blue eyes, "and this is Conal Bryson," he gestured at the bald-headed wizard, with a face that looked like a hungry wolf, ready to ambush.

"Fenix Maxwell." The Fire Master tilted her head slightly towards both of them.

"She's not a witch, right?" Conal said in a condescending tone. "Then how do you expect her to use a broom successfully?"

The witch named Wenda blinked her eyes in disbelief, while Ron gaped stupidly at the wizard's insulting tone. Remus stood rigidly, as the even-tempered wizard began to bristle. Hermione looked nervously at Sirius whose face was growing black by the seconds and the four Gryffindor students of Hogwarts steeled themselves for the riposte that was about to fall on the unsuspecting wizard.

"What? Very well. Fenix, give me the broom. Then you can transform to the Phoenix. I'm sure you're much more comfortable flying with real wings than riding that broom of yours anyway," the werewolf said flatly, his brown eyes turning black in the darkness. Fenix remained quiet. There was no way she could say anything without making the situation worse.

"Mr. Bryson must be new to the Order," Snape remarked casually.

"This is the wrong time to entangle yourselves in an argument," Moody grated, his magical eye giving a penetrating stare at the dumbfounded Conal. "Conal, ride up front with Fearn. Be assured the Maxwell knows well enough to fly that broom or Sirius wouldn't have gotten it for her," Moody's voice took on a dismissing tone.

Moody went business-like then and shot out instructions to the present company. "Severus, Harry and the three of you," he looked at the Gryffindor students, "you five will ride in the center. Wenda, you'll ride behind the five. Kingsley, Blade, Remus and myself will flank you and I assume that Sirius and Fenix want to take the rear. Clear?"

Nods of assents went round. Fenix was looking at Moody with awe.

: He should be a general. :

: He

is the commander of the escort, : Sirius pointed out. Conal and Wenda took to the air first, followed by the center and Moody and Remus following closely then separated to flank the group. Sirius and Fenix kicked off the ground at the same time, waving a quick goodbye to the last group.

: It's a good thing this time that we don't have any luggage to slow us down, :

Harry remarked in relief as he sighed in contentment, feeling the wind on his face.

: Quite right. It'll be such a strain to our brooms, :

Remus agreed.

"All right people!" Moody shouted against the wind. "Front, center and rear! Two-one-four-one-two! On formation!"

: It's a good thing I don't have altophobia, :

Fenix remarked happily, as she watched the village about The Burrow growing tinier and tinier as they gained altitude and closed their ranks.

: What's altophobia? :

Harry's mindvoice was puzzled as he heard the unfamiliar term.

: Fear of heights. :

Fenix grinned as they went into tight formation, and grimaced when her ears began to go numb. : Just as well, that some of us can communicate through mindspeech. I think I'm going deaf. :

: How long do you think it will take us to get there? :

Harry asked his godfather, with him and Ron flanking the two young girls while Snape rode ahead of them.

"Let's go faster! Sharp left!" a blond-haired Fearn McNoel ordered.

: Aelwyn, :

Fenix requested from her amber-haired Sylph, : would you take some of the other Sylphs and the Salamanders and scout around? :

: During the time we went with your trunks, it took us about one and a half hours but at our current speed and the fact that we are unburdened and we're all on superb racing brooms, :

Remus said, as he looked carefully about him, and went on, : about half an hour...maybe slightly more. :

: Where's the meeting place? :

Fenix asked.

: It's a bit west of The Place, on an isolated street, guarded by ice-cream vendors, :

Sirius answered, then he leaned forward as Moody increased their pace.

: Are the vendors real or are they transplanted ones? :

Fenix asked with a smile, as she enjoyed her experience in riding a broom, facing the element of Air.

: Exhilarating, isn't it? :

Sirius asked her slyly and gave a wide grinned, which she copied.

: It is. :

: Anyway, the ice-cream vendors earn a living in the Muggle world because there's not much they could do in the wizarding world. They are called Squibs whose Magick talent is only so much. They will have the Aurors as their assistants tonight. :

"Great lights up ahead!" Fearn called out again and Moody answered.

"Make a ninety degrees turn to your left!"

: We'll be at the gathering place soon, :

Remus informed them as he checked the familiar landscape.

Fenix was looking about her curiously. Then she felt a strange sensation. She frowned as she felt her Elementals' confusion.

: Krill? :

: Checking on it. :

: Sirius, there's something wrong, :

Fenix warned her oathbrother and instinctively cast a shield that will hold the group against a magical attack.

Aelwyn came back, flying towards the Fire Master at a great speed. : Lady, I think you will have a bit of a problem in going to The Place, from where you had Fetched the two-way mirror for Sirius. :

: People, halt! :

Fenix mindvoice penetrated the minds of the group.

: What's up? :

Harry asked.

He began to move toward his godfather but Wenda blocked him and merely said, "Keep your place. We're supposed to protect you, not to hand you over in a silver dish."

"Did you send your Elementals to scout?" Moody asked in interest.

"Yes," Fenix nodded. "They said we might have a problem in getting to The Place."

"What about the rendezvous point?" Kingsley asked.

Aelwyn answered directly into their minds. : I believe the one who is able to turn into a cat and another one who could change her appearance at will and the two vendors with them, had deserted their posts and had quickly retreated to The Place. Bill and the twins suffered minor injuries in getting them all back to the haven. Fortunately, the Death Eaters seemed that they do not where that hiding place is. :

"What are you saying?" Ron asked in panicky voice.

: I think the Dark Lord's minions are watching the gathering place, :

Fenix responded and the wizards exchanged surprised and dumbfounded looks.

"Any Muggles hurt?" Hermione asked in a soft voice but Aelwyn shook her head and the young girl sighed in relief.

"So what do we do?" Ginny asked, looking about her nervously.

"Hang on a moment," Fenix said absently and concentrated hard to reach Mr. Granger. : Can you hear me? :

: Fenix? What's wrong? :

: Whatever you do, do not go to the rendezvous point. Death Eaters are watching the street. :

: Bloody hell! :

: Yes, I agree. Do you know of any place we can use safely before we could act? :

: There's only one place that I trust. That is the Grove of the Ancient Oaks. The elves would not allow any of the Death Eaters to their soil. :

: Sirius, is there any kind of forest with a lot of oak trees about this area? We could seek the protection of the Fair Ones before we do something about the operatives. :

Sirius nodded and exchanged his rear position to take the head. Fearn replaced Remus as the werewolf joined Fenix to guard they rear.

: Damn! Make a run for it! We've been spotted! Severus, stay close to Harry! :

Fenix yelled and out in the darkness, they saw several black dots racing towards them.

: Quickly, Fire Master, :

an urgent voice with the silky accent of an Elf spoke in her mind.

"Crucio!"

and jets of red light shot out but was reflected back harmlessly as it hit her shield.

: Hurry! Moody, what in hell are you doing? :

Fenix screamed at the ex-Auror, who was breaking away from the fleeing group, but somehow Kingsley and Severus managed to block him. : Bloody hell! Just go, the elves are ready to give their aid! :

: Keep your wands in! No point in losing them now. It's a bit dangerous in doing spell works especially if your opponent is behind you, :

Remus said gravely.

: I see the forest! :

Sirius shouted and dived suddenly. The rest followed suit. Fenix saw the camouflaged Elven warriors with bows in their hands, arrows ready.

: Dive straight for the trees! The elves will loose forth their arrows as soon as we're in the protective cover of the oaks! :

Fenix ordered. Sirius suddenly pulled his broom up; to avoid knocking the well camouflaged elves and they followed his height and rushed straight for the trees.

All elves have superb eyesight and they were the natural masters to archery. As soon as Remus and Fenix were behind them, they loosed their arrows as one. Several screams of pain shattered the night. Ron had crashed into an oak to prevent Ginny from crashing headlong into it.

: This is all we could do I'm afraid, Fire Master. :

One handsome Elf approached Fenix, as she dismounted carefully from her broom, trying to get her legs working again. : We have received instructions that there is something which you, your oathbrother and the man with the Dark Mark have to do and we're forbidden to give you anymore aid; only that we will protect the rest from harm. :

:

They're still alive then? : Fenix asked, rubbing life into her numb fingers and shrugged her backpack off. The Elven Lord gave her a nod. They heard the soft rumblings of a car.

: Ah...our allies have returned... :

the Elven Lord looked distantly at the trees. : With the parents of the red-headed ones... :

: Take them to the safety of the Grove, :

Fenix agreed, and watched as their company vanished with elves. Only she, Sirius and Snape remained in the dark foliage of the forest.

: Fenix? :

Sirius asked her, taking his wand out of his cloak. Snape however was looking around him in fear that he tried to conceal.

"Severus," Fenix called softly. "I won't let them take you. I would not tolerate that, even if I die trying." Snape took his wand out, and the three stood back to back, looking out in the darkness warily. "There is something which each of us have to do, but do your task carefully. Oathsib, you must be careful. Don't go berserk later on."

"Snape...I know you're there..." a familiar voice called out.

: Is that Lucius Malfoy? :

Fenix asked, her Hunter instincts roused. She unclasped the latch holding on to her cloak and placed it carefully down at the base of an oak tree.

: Yes, :

Sirius answered his oathsister. : Snape? I know you can hear me. Whatever you do, be careful about it. :

Snape gave a tight nod; his shiny black eyes searched the forest floor carefully, then stilled as Lucius's luminous eyes stared back at him. Sirius felt a familiar sensation and he almost growled when Wormtail came to view. Fenix felt the two men move towards their opponents.

"Our Master wants you back, Severus...he is a little stubborn sometimes..." Lucius whispered menacingly. "I wonder why you are so special to him, being a traitor to our cause and all..." he drawled as he took out his wand, circling Snape.

"It would have been better if you died when you fell through The Veil..." Wormtail whimpered and Fenix saw that he was only one-armed, the remaining arm that bore the Dark Mark of Voldemort. Fenix watched the four men as she built a shield to prevent accidents from occurring. She instinctively ducked and a jet of green light was absorbed into Fenix's shield. When she looked up, she saw that it was the woman in her dreams.

"How dare you bring Sirius back to life! How dare you revived him!" the witch lashed out in anger and moved her wand again.

"He was never dead in the first place," Fenix said impassively.

"And a filthy little dark Muggle dares try to speak back to me!" the witch hissed and suddenly lunged towards her, but Fenix sent her flying with a punch on the witch's face.

"I wonder who you are...bearing a close resemblance to Sirius...same nose...same cheeks..." Fenix's sword materialized in her left arm and she held it away from the witch's view.

"I'm the cousin of that black sheep... Expelliarmus!" she shouted to disarm the sword from Fenix. She struggled up to a standing position and growled when the spell skewered to the Fire Master's left. "What a joke! A Muggle with magical protections! Dumbledore will have his hands on too many things that he wouldn't be able to protect you any longer! You will die!" The witch began to laugh madly.

"I'm under Dumbledore's protections?" Fenix taunted, circling the witch. Her two companions were in full duel mode. Wormtail was faltering in his attacks as Sirius knocked him flat repeatedly with a Blasting Curse. As if dueling with magic was not enough for her oathbrother, he aimed several strong punches and kicks at the maimed man. "How ridiculous." She raised her sword up to deflect the witch's spell.

"You! You're the one who killed my husband!" Bellatrix Lestrange screamed and her eyes showed complete insanity.

"Perhaps I did. Was he the one traveling with two other guys named Dolohov and Hudson? Oh...so you must be a Lestrange then," Fenix replied coolly, not taking her eyes of the witch.

"Avada Kedavra!"

A blinding jet of green light and a rushing sound cracked through the air. It hit Fenix squarely in her chest. Snape saw what was happening and rushed towards the fallen Fire Master but was blocked by the shield that she had erected. However, Lucius's own Killing Curse was shooting towards the Potions Master and he evaded it successfully, and remembered Fenix's words, ' No point wasting magic when physical exercise can ensure the same thing'. While Snape was rolling on the ground, his left hand managed to grab a sharp, strong stick and seeing his chance, he aimed it straight to Lucius's right eye. Blood spurted out and the Death Eater began screaming madly in pain.

Bellatrix was laughing insanely now, her hair coming loose from her braid but her laughter suddenly trailed off when Fenix rose to her feet, clearly unharmed by the spell.

"I believe it's my turn now," Fenix said menacingly, her silver eyes flickered with blue fire. She flung something invisible from her left hand at the witch.

"Is that gesture going to do me harm?" Bellatrix mimicked a teenager's voice and suddenly found herself flung powerfully against an oak. Several splinters of ribs could be heard.

"Never ever throw yourself against an enemy you don't have knowledge," Fenix said sententiously. "How sad, because unlike you, I don't dawdle in administrations," Fenix said impassively and Snape watched her in wonder as she casually slit the throat of the fallen witch. "That's for the Longbottoms," the Fire Master whispered.

Lucius was clutching his right eye, trying to stop the bleeding. Snape strode casually to the wounded wizard, pried the man's wand and fingered it thoughtfully. "What should I do with it?" Snape asked, almost to himself. Fenix dissolved the shield separating her and Snape with a wave of her sword.

"I will burn it," Fenix said, not even pitying the wounded man, although she did not look at the man's face directly. Snape place Lucius Malfoy's wand on the ground and within an instant, it was enveloped in blue fire and melted down to ashes. Wormtail let out a shriek as Sirius abandoned the duel, finally getting tired and ended it by casually twisting the Death Eater's neck. A sickening crack pierced the quiet wood. The lifeless body slid out of Sirius's grasp and he rejoined his oathsister, staring at the kneeling man with anger.

"Let's just kill him," Sirius said. His voice was so thick with hatred.

"No."

Fenix jerked her head up and quickly knelt to one knee, head bowing down in submission. Snape and Sirius gazed at a peculiar luminous figure standing at the edge of the Grove.

"He is a witness in a task you need to fulfill before

I send the three back to their... Master."

"But...shouldn't you be--"

"He is yours...Look carefully Lucius Malfoy, right-hand man of Voldemort."

Fenix stood up and looked at Snape mysteriously. "Give me your left arm, and roll up your sleeve." Snape did as she instructed as Lucius watched the three helplessly, bound immobile by a mysterious force. Fenix laid her palm down on the Dark Mark and slowly let her soul cleanse the man who turned his back to Evil. The point of contact where Fenix's palm touch Snape's forearm began to glow brighter and Snape whimpered suddenly in pain. He let out an anguished scream. There was a sudden flare of incandescent light and Fenix collapsed on her knees.

"Thus...it has begun."

Mysteriously, Lucius Malfoy, and the bodies of Wormtail and Bellatrix Lestrange vanished with the enigmatic figure. Snape was shaking as he looked back at his forearm. His Dark Mark was gone. It was a replaced by silver tattoo of a Phoenix in flight.

"An evidence of your redemption, Severus," Fenix whispered and smiled weakly. "Never can Voldemort break you again...as long as I exist...and I exist for a long, long time now."

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