Purpose

~ Chapter 19: Train Ride ~

The journey back to Hogwarts...

Harry led his godfather and the rest to the back of the train, as Ron and Hermione set off first towards the Prefects' carriage. The students, who had filled each compartment, looked at Harry, Sirius and Fenix curiously.

"This one's empty!" Ginny called out and immediately went to the next compartment to check the occupants.

"No--" Fenix looked back at the compartment behind her before continuing her sentence, "Greenies?"

Harry and Sirius snorted with laughter as Fenix said that. The Fire Master helped to carry Hedwig as Sirius and his godson stocked their trunks away.

"Nope, couple of Ravenclaws in there," Ginny jabbed her finger back as she sat opposite Harry. "Where did Professor Snape go?"

"I have not gone anywhere," Snape answered as the compartment door slid close, making Ginny flush with embarrassment. "Lupin is with Shacklebolt, keeping an eye on the students at the other end."

"Bloody hell..." Fenix muttered frowning off to space.

"What's wrong?" Sirius asked in concern.

"Those wolves..." She sighed and narrowed her eyes as she reached out a thought. : Where are you? :

: Don't yell Fenix. I'm with Remus and Wind's with Hermione, : Silver answered patiently.

: Don't give them trouble all right? : She sighed with relief. She sat down next to Harry and Sirius squeezed in right beside her. The train was gaining momentum but Snape was still standing, as if uncertain if he should impose himself on their privacy.

"You better take a seat, Severus," Sirius said lightly and the Potions Master gracefully sat down beside Ginny, who was squirming uneasily in her seat. Fenix smothered her smile with great difficulty but her amusement at the uncomfortable girl was clear as her clear silver eyes twinkled outrageously. Sirius fell into a light doze as the rest looked out at the landscape. Fenix smiled gently as Hedwig hooted drowsily then turned to look at the Potions Master, who was reading a book.

The woman with the trolley of snacks slid into the compartment and Harry quickly took out some of his money in eagerness. Fenix chuckled as she eyed a bag of cookies that seemed terribly familiar to her. "Is that from the Weasleys'?" Fenix asked the woman courteously.

"Oh yes! Good cookies and selling quite well!" The woman beamed and Harry deftly took the bag of cookies, Chocolate Frogs, Every Flavor Beans and an assortment of candies before paying the woman generously. He gave the bag of cookies to Fenix and she smiled winsomely at him.

: Thank you. :

: You're welcome, : Harry grinned as he sat down again. The compartment fell into comfortable silence as Harry, Ginny and Fenix munched down on their snacks, looking out of the window. Once in a while, Fenix offered the bag of cookies to Snape, who was contented to read his book in silence.

Harry gave a brief glance at the Potions Master before chewing his Beans and looked out the window again. It's funny how he never mentioned anything about NEWTs or his disbelief that I got an O for his subject. I can't help wondering why he accepted me in his elective class in the first place... And I wonder if Malfoy and his goons would come by to visit me like every year. It would be interesting to see Snape's behaviour when he comes face to face with the progeny of the man who had tried to kill him. Harry half-smiled at his thoughts and his smile broadened when Ron and Hermione came in with Neville.

"Hermione, where's Wind?" Fenix asked.

"She's with Professor Lupin now, and he sends you this," Hermione said as Sirius wordlessly helped to keep the girl's trunk, while she handed Fenix a deep crimson rose. The Fire Master chuckled, trying to cover her embarrassment. She finally gave up and covered her face and she knew she was blushing. Harry choked on his Chocolate Frog, while Ginny doubled up, laughing rather hoarsely.

: Just sent it to say, I love you. : Remus's mindvoice caressed her mind.

"Oh dear Phoebus..." Fenix mumbled, trying to control the spread of tingly warmth throughout her entire body. "Ginny!" she protested feebly as the youngest Weasley kept on laughing and Snape had to hold on to the girl's shoulder to prevent her from sliding off her seat.

Fenix rubbed her cheeks and groaned when she felt her oathbrother's delight at her discomfiture, radiating through their oathbond. She sighed and looked at the stocky boy they had met briefly in Diagon Alley and looked at Hermione for an introduction.

"Fenix, this is Neville Longbottom," the young girl introduced her to the boy who looked nervously at the Potions Master. "Neville," Hermione shook the boy's arm lightly to catch his attention, "this is Fenix Maxwell, she's Professor Lupin's assistant." Fenix smiled kindly at the boy.

"And you've met me while I was sailing over The Veil," Sirius spoke up. "Sirius Black."

"Hello," Neville greeted nervously, smiling a little at Fenix. "So, Professor Lupin's come back to teach us?"

"Yup!" Harry nodded.

"Do you mind if I take a seat here?" Neville asked politely. Hermione gave a little snort.

"Seriously Neville..." she shook her head and caught several Chocolate Frogs that Harry aimed at her. "Maybe for once in your life, be rude. Like the time you acted during a class last year," she cast a sidelong glance at the Potions Master, who pretended not to hear her as she spoke.

"Hermione!" Neville flushed.

"For God's sake! I was just kidding!" she rolled her eyes in exasperation and took Ron's hand before sitting down.

"Why the solemn face?" Harry asked his best friend curiously.

"I wish that Dumbledore didn't appoint me as a Prefect. I'm having enough trouble with school work, I don't think I really need the extra responsibilities over my shoulder," he sighed as he bit off the Chocolate Frog savagely.

"Well, at least this year you don't have the twins around," Ginny pointed out, wiping her face with her hands.

"And thank God for that!" Ron agreed with all one's might and finished his Chocolate Frog.

Fenix offered the bag of cookies to Ron and he took one of it. "And it's hard to believe that the twins had actually baked these. I wonder when on earth they took baking lessons."

"Maybe your brothers have their own sweethearts to teach them," Sirius said lightly. "Who knows?"

"The twins?" Ron and Ginny exclaimed. "My god!"

They were all contemplating about whether the twins were 'attached' when Fenix suddenly put on a bland expression and stared at the door in distaste. : I believe you guys are about to get your yearly visit, : she said into their minds, Harry giving her an inquisitive look. She heard Ron whispered to Neville and assured his friend that he was not going mad by hearing the voice in his head.

"That was Fenix talking." Ron said, grinning.

"Yearly visit?" Neville scowled. "Oh...don't tell me she meant--"

: Yes, Neville. The Greenies are coming this way, : Fenix confirmed.

"Would someone tell me what in the world of Merlin is going on?" Snape slammed his book shut, making everyone jump in his or her seats. "What yearly visit?"

"Dear Taliesin..." Fenix muttered, and exchanged a look with Harry who just shrugged. "Just watch, Severus. You'll understand what the kids are talking about in less than thirty seconds." Harry and Ron made sounds of protests when she called them kids and Snape opened his mouth to speak but stopped and leaned back when he heard the compartment door slid open.

"Isn't it the filthy little Mudblood and her gangly, freckled Ron here?" Draco Malfoy--still the Slytherin Prefect--sneered down at them. Hermione just gave him a lofty look then pretended to look interested at her fingers.

"And here is the half-blooded wizard. I am surprised that you aren't dead, doggie..." Draco Malfoy said in disdain when he looked at Sirius. "That Veil that Dumbledore had stupidly kept in the Ministry should have make you a gonner."

: Steady, bro. : Fenix casually held Sirius's hand.

"Oh...the doggie has also found a girlfriend. Having a real family life now, Potty?" Pansy Parkinson jeered.

"Ah... is this the guy you girls kept talking about the whole summer?" Fenix asked Hermione.

"Aha..."

"Well, I agree with you. He does look rather charming..." she eyed the Slytherin prefect was looking at her warily.

: Charming?! : Harry choked.

"But then as the twins quoted, he's just a git. You're better off with gangly, freckled and humorous Ron."

"I know, I know...why do you think I'm going out with Ron? I rather go out with mediocre wizards who have made a name on their own than someone who's always looking for 'Mama' or maybe for this one," Hermione jerked her chin towards Malfoy, "it would be 'Papa'."

"I suggest that if you don't want to get yourself screwed up, 'git'... leave us in peace," Harry suggested lamely.

"Mr. Malfoy," Snape spoke up slowly, hands crossed over on his book, "isn't it the duty of a school prefect to minimize students' movements during a train journey?" the Potions Master said mildly.

Malfoy stood frozen as he finally noticed Snape's familiar greasy, black hair. Malfoy backed away from the compartment door and with her mind, Fenix shut the door at the boy's face.

"How was the parting gift that we had given you? Did you guys like it?" Harry called out earnestly. "Anyway, thanks for the yearly visit!"

: Don't laugh, : Fenix warned Harry and the rest of the kids, carefully examining the Potions Master.

"Fenix, one question?" Sirius tugged at her sleeve, like a child tugging on the mother when it wants something. "The conversation about that boy being charming... had you planned this or was it a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing?"

"Sirius, do Hermione and I look like the kind of girls who need to plan things when we want to nettle someone?" Fenix asked in mock indignation.

"Don't be insulting," Hermione nodded her head in agreement and winked mischievously at the Fire Master.

Snape fingered the pages of his book abstractedly. Then he turned to stare at Harry and suddenly frowned. The emerald-eyed teenager blinked his eyes and gulped at the intense look the Potions Master was giving him. Snape suddenly spoke up. "Was that the so-called yearly visit?" he lifted his eyebrow as he said it, still gazing at the boy. Harry nodded uncertainly, and the Potions Master smiled thinly. "And what was the parting gift?"

"I'm not sure if you ought to know," Fenix interjected.

"They tried to jinx us...and the results were good," Ron said without humor.

"How disappointing..." Snape whispered and continued reading his book. "A 'git' for real..." Snape looked back at Harry, his face breaking out into a smile, and the youth felt something change inside him. Everyone was looking at Snape with amazement except for Fenix, who gave the man a warm smile. They had never seen the Potions Master gave a real smile to anyone before. Much less to the boy whom he used to hate. All too soon, his smile faded, and Hermione bit her lip in disappointment when Snape's bland expression returned. Of all the people in the current compartment, only Fenix was aware of the reason why the smile came and then went off. She closed her eyes as she was filled with Snape's sudden despair, suppressing the urge to cry.

: Fenix? : Sirius asked as he gave her hand a squeeze. : What's wrong? :

: It's okay, Sirius. : Fenix gave a weak smile and closed her eyes as she felt the coming of rain. "It's going to rain."

"I don't think so..." Ron disagreed.

"Watch," Fenix said mischievously as she raised her hand. The instant she dropped her hand, huge raindrops splashed against the train and the Weasley gave her an incredulous look.

"You didn't really make it rain, did you?" Neville asked the Fire Master.

"Of course... not! It was just good timing... that's all." Fenix chuckled.

"But can you make it rain?" Hermione asked Fenix persistently.

"Yes, I can but I won't. Playing with weather's a touchy business," Fenix said as she stood up to get the feelings back in her legs and sat back down. The momentary subject was able to distract her and Snape's despair gradually lessened. She reached out for Remus and was a little surprised that he was not dozing. : Hello, lover. Not feeling tired? : she asked tenderly.

: Strangely... no. I don't feel tired at all. Everything all right back there? : Remus responded cheerfully.

: Yeah, all's safe, : Fenix answered and shivered when Remus gave her a mental caress.

Nothing eventful happened during the rest of the day. Harry entertained Fenix by telling her all about Quidditch and in exchanged he had forced her to sing some 'Muggle' songs. She had declined but Ginny egged the Fire Master relentlessly. Fenix was singing midway of Linkin Park's Crawling, when she jerked her head up, staring at the window warily. The sun was beginning to set and the lamps in the carriage lighted up.

"Aelwyn, I want a full sweep conducted," Fenix instructed as she got up and opened the carriage door in search for the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. Not surprisingly, he and the wolves were watching Malfoy's gang carefully.

"Fenix?" Remus looked at her questioningly.

: I sense Dementors. :

Remus uttered a string of curses and headed out of his compartment in search for the others who were guarding the students. Fenix remained in the compartment, tolerating the spiteful glares of Parkinson and Malfoy until he returned. Fenix had to thank the man for subtlety; he had not whipped out his wand.

: They're closing on the train. There's quite a few of them, : Krill said to her and Remus.

"Bloody hell!" Fenix swore and went back to her company. Harry was looking alertly at her.

"Fenix, what's wrong?" Hermione asked.

"I don't want you guys to panic. A horde of Dementors are coming," Fenix said quietly, her eyes going distant.

"Dragon's teeth..." Harry looked out the window. "We have to turn the lamps off. We're like a ready prey for them," the youth said absently.

"Maybe it's better if I go to the students in there," Snape said, eyeing the last compartment. He began putting his book away and stood up.

: Fenix, we're going to stop the train and shut off the goddamn lights, : Remus informed her.

: Funny. Harry was saying the same thing just now, : she commented.

Harry was whispering to Hedwig as he placed the cage safely out of the way, with Crookshanks secured beside her. Snape had disappeared into the other compartment and Fenix went to him. She tugged at his sleeve and informed him and the students at the last carriage.

"Please remain calm. I am sure that you are aware of the current developments of the Dark Lord."

"What's happening?" a Ravenclaw student by the name of Luna Lovegood spoke up.

"Dementors," Professor Snape replied shortly.

"We see," the group of Ravenclaws replied calmly and began tucking away their belongings safely and held out their wands.

"They seem well prepared," Fenix said archly. "Sev, be careful," the Fire Master said softly and he gave a nod.

"Not a lot of first years, thank goodness." Hermione heaved a sigh of relief. "Fenix, this Alamanda Durz. They had distributed the first years among the senior students." Like the Ravenclaws, Hermione and the rest seemed ready for action, their wands all out.

: Sirius? : Remus's mindvoice called out.

: Yeah? :

: We need your help. We're short of one more guard. :

: Not the Greenies, I hope? :

: No. They're Hufflepuffs. : Sirius looked apologetically at his godson.

"It's all right, I understand. You better go where they want you to guard before the lamps go off," Harry said, as he edged away from the window.

: Sirius, guys. Be careful, : Fenix sent her thought to every single person in the train. "Ron, find something for me so that the doors to each compartment remain open," she instructed briskly.

"It's already been taken care off." Ron jerked his chin towards Snape who was bending down and giving the door a tap. Hermione was doing the same thing to the other door. The lights went off first.

: Harry, stay linked with me, : Fenix commanded.

: Roger. :

"Miss Maxwell?" someone whispered shakily.

"Yes, Alamanda?"

"I'm scared."

"Don't worry. We're all going to look after each other," Harry said reassuringly.

"Okay," the young girl of thirteen said bravely.

: Hang on guys. We're going to stop soon, : Fenix warned them and placed her balance on her feet.

"I'm getting a strange sense of déjà vu," Ginny said shakily as she remembered their first encounter with the Dementors.

: Are you two all right? : Fenix asked the wolves.

: Don't worry about us. :

: Exactly fifty-two Dementors, : Krill announced and she felt her eyes widened.

"Fifty-two?" they heard Snape exclaimed indignantly.

Fenix shrugged her cloak off and felt it disappear as her Salamander took it. Brighid watch over the young ones. Her sword materialized out of the thin air and she held it in defensive stance.

: They're closing in, : Krill whispered, and they held their breaths.

Fenix stood rigidly as she slowly cast a spell that would enable them to see the Dementors for the outside world was so dark that all they could see was the black lumps of hills and trees. Then she released her spell with an upward thrust of her sword. She waited patiently for her spell to take place. Suddenly there were bright flashes of lightning and they averted their eyes from the brilliant light.

They looked out the window again when the thunder stopped and all they could see was darkness. Then to their surprise, yellow glowing forms lumbered towards the train in one direction. Fenix instinctively covered Alamanda with her body as the windows of the train suddenly shattered and the pieces flew dangerously in the air. There were screams of pain echoing throughout the train and Fenix managed to yell for them to duck just as the windows at the opposite side of the train began to crack.

: Fenix! They have arrows! : Krill shrieked out and Harry gasped when an arrow pierced his arm.

: Everyone! : Remus shouted. : We can see them now! Those of you who can, use the Patronus at once! :

There were more frightened screams as another volley of arrows descended on the train. A Dementor tried to jump in through the window but screamed in fear as Fenix thrust her sword and instantly burned with Fire. She heard some of the Dementors shouting for them to retreat. Why would they want to do that?

"We've got the human. Voldemort does not want to be kept waiting," one Dementor growled.

: Harry! :

: I'm still here, : Harry croaked, as wave after wave of pain rocked his body.

"We're not throwing away the opportunity to feast. You take the Potions Master away. We'll entertain ourselves with their fear."

Hermione hastily said 'Lumos' and looked for the Potions Master. "Fenix! They've taken Professor Snape!" she wailed in distress. Harry was suddenly filled with intense anger and headed out for the nearest exit. He blasted the door open.

"Harry!" Neville shouted. It seemed that Harry was not the only one scrambling to get out of the train; a lot of senior students were rushing to step out too. Fenix felt the horror of the Aurors who were supposed to guard the children's lives. Some of the Aurors remained behind to guard those students who were still inside, quaking with fear.

"Look at them," a Dementor's voice grated out. "Angry, they are. They want to fight back." The Dementors laughed madly. Harry broke off the arrow and fought off the wave of nausea. He focused on the grim faces of the students of Hogwarts, with some Slytherins who were hissing with anger. A sixth-year student from Slytherin previously named Hewln Garner shouted at the Dementors.

"Yes! We are going to fight even if it cost us our lives! We won't tolerate your filthy, evil minds in this earth any longer! Expecto Patronum!" A silvery mist emerged from her wand and a silver horned bull came charging at the Dementors. The students were fully roused and the School stood united again. Feeling energized suddenly, Harry placed his grief, love, heart and soul to his Patronus. Hermione who was not that good in calling up her real Patronus suddenly managed to call up a silver stallion and Harry's silver stag joined in battering down the Dementors. Fenix gave a wave of her sword and three Dementors were incinerated at once. There was a sudden momentary lull in the field. Dementors faced the humans and the humans stared at the Dementors calmly. Fenix stepped forward and said softly.

"You will return Severus to us." Her deathly quiet voice sent chills to the students as she stared at the Dementors mercilessly. Harry ignored his aching arm and remembered the Potions Master's swift carefree smile that emerged from the unfeeling wizard just a few hours ago.

"Professor Snape does not belong to the Dark Lord any longer," Harry said in the silence. "His Dark Mark is absent from his arm. Voldemort won't be able to call him anymore."

"The humans utter nonsense," the Dementors said in unison.

"No." They heard Snape's voice in the distant and there was a blinding flash of golden light. "I won't be broken by him again. And I will never bow to him ever."

The Potions Master waved his wand again and the Dementors were flung closer to the students as Snape made his way unconcernedly to the students and joined the Fire Master. The Dementors suddenly loosed arrows on them and Fenix hurriedly shielded the students and gasped in pain when an arrow hit her shoulder.

: I'm okay, : Fenix reassured all of them.

"Tell the Dark Lord this," the same Slytherin girl hissed, "we would not hide anymore in fear."

"That's if any of them remain alive after this," a student muttered confidently.

"He is warned and forewarned," the girl said defiantly. "The Phoenix has risen," she said abruptly.

"Foolish words, daughter." Death Eaters had Apparated and joined the Dementors.

"I am not. I have never been ever since you let mother die. I am not Helwn Garner. I am Dina Free."

"Everyone knows it was that decrepit wizard who cast the illusion."

"Illusion?" several students jeered. "Must be a pretty good one then that it could kill ...how many was it Jeremy?" Lee Jordan said in a mocking voice.

"Twenty six at one go."

"And we're supposed to believe that?" the 'father' of Dina Free said.

"She is real enough, Howard," Snape said and rolled his left sleeve. They stared at the arm incredulously.

"How did--" several uneasy murmurs emerged.

Fenix heard Draco Malfoy's voice stammered in disbelief. "It couldn't be! Snape is a Death Eater!"

Seamus Finnigan of Gryffindor took the chance to give Malfoy a punch and the Slytherin was immediately knocked out cold.

"I believe it's a 'was', Malfoy," Seamus corrected and stared back at their opponents.

"Severus Snape has been given a full redemption, I have seen to that personally. Leave if you treasure your life. Better yet; leave Voldemort to keep your souls," Fenix said quietly.

"Huh...we're not going to be scared by a very small woman or half-grown wizards and witches," the Death Eater scoffed. "Enough playing. Crucio!" but the spell impacted harmlessly on Fenix's shield.

"Leave," Fenix continued to warn them as she began to move towards them. She broke off the arrow from her shoulder and let go of her sword. It disappeared. "Last chance, gentlemen. I will not show mercy." The Death Eaters stood their ground and she sighed heavily. "You have been warned."

"Avada Kedavra!" Several bolts of green light hit her. She took it and simply reflected it back. The Death Eaters fell dead at once, leaving Fenix with the Dementors. They began to back away from the advancing woman. Horrible and desperate screams pierced the air as the Dementors were incinerated by her touch.

Silence. The wind blew gently around them. Silence. Death had touched the land.

"You could have backed out father," Dina bowed her head as she whispered. "You chose to betray mother. You were warned and you ignored it," the girl sighed heavily and stepped over Malfoy's unconscious body.

"Go back up the train," Fenix instructed all of them. Sirius looked at her and nodded his head to the students around him and they proceeded back up the train. Fenix stood in the field alone and wept for the fallen men silently. She gave each of them silent blessings before their bodies were engulfed in fire. She turned her back to the burning bodies and headed for the illuminated train.

**********

Everyone remained silent when Fenix headed back up, and stared speechlessly at the woman's tear-streaked face. She wandered about the train as it began to start moving and healed the injured students, going to those whom had been badly cut by the sharp, shattered glass first. Much to her relief, only Harry was the only one of the students whom had been hit by the arrows. She tended to Remus's gash before she went back to her compartment as Ginny looked anxiously at an unconscious Harry. Fenix absently pulled the remains of the broken arrow from her shoulder, and winced a little.

"We've managed to pull the arrow out and stopped his arm from bleeding," Snape said quietly and released the pressure from Harry's bleeding arm. Fenix replaced the kneeling Potions Master and began Healing the boy. "Good... no splinters..." They watched Harry's wound as it began to close slowly and gradually faded to a red scar. Sirius glanced at her shoulder and saw it was completely healed. Neville and Ron meanwhile helped to clear the compartment from the shattered glass and piled them all to one corner. As Ginny was supporting Harry, Fenix had no choice to sit beside the Potions Master.

"Krill," Fenix said tiredly. "Full guard."

"Yes, lady."

: Fenix? : Sirius and Remus asked simultaneously.

: Don't. I need to be alone for a while, : Fenix said tiredly and blocked everyone off from her mind.

**********

They finally arrived at the station about eighteen minutes before midnight. Harry was still unconscious and Sirius carried his godson carefully while the rest got their trunks out and their pets. No one had bothered to change into his or her school robes. Hagrid and Professor Grubby-Planks looked horrifically at the state of the train and the students, whom appeared tattered and bloodied.

"First-years! This way please!"

Sirius carried Harry to an unoccupied Thestral carriage. Ginny and Neville went with Sirius, as Hermione, Ginny, Fenix and Snape got up onto another. Fenix was strangely silent all the way and did not even look at the looming ancient castle. Ron and Hermione closed their eyes and tried to calm their nerves a bit. Snape caught Fenix's hand and squeezed it comfortingly.

"We'll be there soon. I don't think the Sorting Ceremony will be conducted today," Snape said softly. Fenix nodded her head tiredly and controlled the tears from falling.