The Golden Egg

Ch. 1 Beginnings

It was an ordinary day at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. History of Magic was boring, Potions was vicious, and Charms was pleasant. The students had learned the "Placing Charm". The charm safely transported an object from one place to another by saying, "Placio!" while thinking of where you want the object. Professor Flitwick warned them that the charm took great concentration and that daydreamers would have trouble with this charm (let's just say Ron had fun in this class.)

As Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to the Great Hall, they heard a strange, unusual noise. Disturbed by the pitiful tone, they followed the noise. The cry seemed to come from the gargoyle statue that led to Dumbledore's office.

Ch. 2 The Mystery

When they reached Professor Albus Dumbledore's office, they found Professor Dumbledore consoling a weeping Fawkes, the phoenix. Dumbledore looked up to find the concerned- looking students. Dumbledore explained Fawkes's state. "My phoenix is very distressed! I can't seem to find anything physically wrong with him. I'm not sure what to do. May you please watch my pet while I go see Madame Pince?"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione agreed, wanting to do anything to help Professor Dumbledore and Fawkes. They were really motivated remembering Fawkes's help in the Chamber of Secrets.

When Dumbledore left, Harry glanced around the room. He discovered the Sorting Hat. While Ron and Hermione were trying to cheer Fawkes up, Harry tried the Sorting Hat on for the third time. "Hey, who knows, it might come in handy! It sure helped by giving me Gryffindor's sword in the Chamber," thought Harry.

All of a sudden, the Sorting Hat jumped to life and said those four familiar words, "Bee in your bonnet?"

"Err... yes," replied Harry.

"Well, I know just what it is. Fawkes is sad. Something has been taken from her which I cannot say. It has been taken by evil for evil." the hat told Harry. Just then the cap stopped speaking. Harry knew that that was the end of that conversation.

"How weird!" exclaimed Harry.

"What's weird?" asked Hermione, coming over followed by Ron.

When Harry put the hat back, he confined everything that had happened to his two best friends.

Suddenly, a look of surprise came across Hermione's face. She asked mesmerized, "Her?"

Ch. 3 Discovery in the Library

"Wait a minute! I thought Fawkes was... well... a him." said Hermione.

Harry thought a moment. "Now that I think about it, Dumbledore always referred Fawkes as a him, But I distinctly heard that cap say 'her'."

"So we find ourselves a regular 'Fawkesina'." replied Ron.

~

Finally, when Dumbledore returned, the pupils were estactic and recounted their findings. After the report, Dumbledore thought and replied, "You know, I never knew really what gender Fawkes was. I just referred her (I should say)... to him."

"Oh!" replied the three friends.

"I have a good idea! Le Library has anything that will help explain your phoenix, " suggested Hermione.

"An excellent idea, Miss Granger!" exclaimed Prof. Dumbledore.

~

"Yea, what an excellent idea, Miss Granger. Let's go to the Library," mimicked Ron sarcastically.

Hermione spun around fast. "Fine! If you don't want to help 'Fawkesina' (as you rudely inclined to Fawkes) for practically saving your sister's life. Be my guest! Go do some unhelpful task of playing chess or whatever."

"Ouch!" mouthed Harry to Ron.

When they reached the Library, they got every book about phoenixes from Partner with a Phoenix to A Phoenix: A Wizard's Best Friend. After two hours of searching, Ron actually stumbled on a clue. In The Mood Swings of Magical Creatures by Celeste Anziram, it read:

'Phoenixes, especially females, are in total apprehension when the golden egg is taken from them. She will wail until the egg is retrieved by the mate.'

"Harry, Ron, Fawkes is a female phoenix right?" asked Hermione thoughtfully.

"Yessss....," replied Harry and Ron incredously.

"And female birds lay eggs in the Muggle world right?" asked Hermione again.

"And your point is?" replied Ron.

"Isn't it obvious? Fawkes is a female bird. Female birds lay eggs. I'll bet you anything that the male is searching. Meanwhile, Fawkes is wailing for her baby or golden egg." explained Hermione.

Ch.4 The Pieces Assemble in the Puzzle

After much research, they found two more hints from The Life Cycle of a Phoenix by Mud Mucker.

'When the phoenix burns to ashes, the phoenix will be reborn. But if a mate and mate burn to ashes, a golden egg will appear.'

They also found something from Phoenix by Mandia Gillepsie.

'Common enemies of the phoenix are the Zaras and You-Know-Who.'

"So basically either a Zara or a Death Eater or maybe even V... Vol... Voldemort got Fawkes's precious egg." replied Hermione.

"No, duh!" Ron said indignantly.

~

When the three finally left the Library, they were starving. After a refreshing meal in the Great Hall, they went to visit Hagrid.

They questioned Hagrid about the Zara. Hagrid told them, "I always wanted a Zara. They're cute little critters all white and fuzzy... but... er... anyway. Zaras live in all parts of the wizarding world. You can train them, but it's wicked hard. The call sounds like a strong wind in the trees. I heard one this morning."

"Really?" cried the students.

"Yea... What are yall thinkin'? asked Hagrid.

The three students told everything that had happened.

"Well, I'll let ya know if I hear anymore," Hagrid said with a wink.

Just then Prof. Dumbledore came in with shocking news. "Fawkes is missing," he raised a scarlett feather up, "and so is the Sorting Hat. This was left behind."

Suddenly, a hoarse sound came from the Forbidden Forest. "Please say that's the wind and not a Zara!" exclaimed Ron.

"Of course, Fawkes went to the forest. Let's go!" yelled Harry.

"Just a moment, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said. "As much as I want Fawkes back, we must take some safety precautions. Hagrid, will you escort these three students in the Forbidden Forest?"

"Why, of course, Professor Dumbledore," answered Hagrid.

~

As the four friends walked through the Forb they wondered if this was such a good idea. Suprisingly, Hermione stooped to the ground, and she picked something up. When she stood up, she showed everyone what she found. Hagrid gasped and said, "Fawkes's plumage!"

Just then, the feather fluttered and said:

"I'm a charmed feather,
I've come to chat,
to tell you a hint,
from the Sorting Hat.

"Fawkes pulled a feather,
and it came to me,
I'll enchant the feather,
to be the key
to what you seek."

"So to find Fawkes, we just follow a trail of feathers!?" exclaimed Harry.

"Well not exactly," said Hermione, "we've got to follow the clues too."

"Great! More time in the forest. Is that a spider?" cried out Ron.

Ch. 5 Follow the Feathered Road

Along the way, Harry spotted another feather. He picked it up, showed everyone his findings, and waited. Nothing happened.

"What's wrong with it?" asked Ron.

"Maybe we're supposed to say something," said Hermione.

"Well, las' time I... er... said Fawkes's plumage," suggested Hagrid.

The feather fluttered and told the poem.

"The two common enemies are
in this phoenix scheme,
one makes the sound
that's opposite of scream"

"That's easy enough but scary none the less." Hermione replied.

"We 'ave ter go back. Professor Dumbledore won't like it one bit," said Hagrid. "You-Know-Who is not a match for three students and a Keys' Keeper."

"But, we have to help Fawkes!" cried Hermione.

"I donno," replied Hagrid.

"It won't be dangerous! We'll turn back the minute it is," said Harry.

"O.K. But I determine when it's dangerous," replied Hagrid.

"It's a deal!" said Harry, Hermione and Ron reluctantly.

After walking in the moonlight for thirty-nine minutes, they came upon a clearing. There in the clearing was a golden red feather. Hermione retrieved it and said, "Fawkes's plumage."

The feather fluttered and said:

"Now, listen for the song
that Fawkes sings,
for her baby, Erin,
coming from the trees."

"Okay, so now we follow song," said Ron.

"Shut up!" Harry exclaimed.

Very faintly, there came a noise. Not a noise really, more like a song.

"Well, now we have our song! Let's go!" yelled Harry.

"Think you can be any louder?" asked Hermione.

Ch. 6 Endings

As they followed the song, it got louder (but it was still soft). They were miles deep in the Forbidden Forest.

"Start looking in the trees for Fawkes and the Sorting Hat." said Hermione.

Suddenly, a large bird flew down from the starry sky. It was a beautiful fowl with green and gold plumage.

"Oh my gosh!" said Ron looking scared. "What is that?"

"It's a phoenix, but it's not Fawkes." replied Harry.

Hermione gasped. "This must be Fawkes's mate!"

The phoenix came over and tugged at Hagrid's arm. "Well, I'll be! It's Madame Pince's phoenix, Plumage. It seems he wants us to follow 'em."

They followed Plumage to six bushy trees before a clearing. As they came closer, whisperings and windy cries came into hearing. All the students and Hagrid were stunned. It was Voldemort and (the students were supposing) a Zara.

"Good job my pet! Using the phoenix will swill make sure the phoenix is evil. His tears will poison wounds, and his song will kill! He will serve me and me only!" cried Voldemort, and he gave a wicked chuckle. The Zara gave a hiss.

"Look! There's Fawkes and the Sorting Hat." whispered Harry.

The five crawled quietly to the fifth bushy tree where Fawkes and the Hat were. Fawkes was crying silently.

"O.K. quick plan!" said Hermione. She thought a moment and whispered the plan to everyone. After explaining, Harry, Ron and Hermione stood up. They pointed their wands at Voldemort and the Zara. Ron and Harry yelled, "Stupefy!" while Hermione yelled, "Placio!" All at once, gold, scarlet, and a sparkly white glow shot out of the three wands. Gold and scarlett from Ron and Harry, and sparkly white from Hermione. The Zara dropped to the ground looking stunned, Voldemort was hit in the head looking oblivious and furious, and the golden egg zoomed out of Voldemort's hand to Hermione's.

"Everyone, hold on to us!" yelled Harry.

The three students made sure everyone was together. "O.K. Now everyone think of Hogwarts. Placio!" the three pupils yelled.

Before they left, they heard Voldemort scream, "I'll get you Potter and your little friends. Avada Ke..."

Harry shuddered to think if he had stayed a minute longer. Now all he could see were quick glimpses of the forest as he and everyone zoomed to Hogwarts.

When they finally reached Hogwart's, they ran as fast as they could to Dumbledore's office.

~

Hagrid came in sobbing. "I shoudda nevva let um go that far!"

Dumbledore looked concerned. "Where are they, Hagrid?"

"We're here, Professor," replied Harry. Professor Dumbledore looked relieved.

"So, would you introduce us?" asked Dumbledore.

"Plumage!" yelled Madame Pince, entering the office. She came in and was (actually) smiling.

The two phoenixes were sitting side by side on Fawkes's pillow and snuggling. In between was Fawkes and Plumage's egg.

"So what happened?" asked Madame Pince.

"Well," said Dumbledore, "I told you Plumage had been visiting Fawkes. When my pet was in distress, I came to visit you and learned yours was missing. When I came back, Fawkes was missing also. Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger went to find them. I'm afraid the rest is a mystery to me."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione told of the enchanted feather trail, following Fawkes's song, Plumage's leadings, the suprise attack on Voldemort, and every meticulous detail.

"Wait," asked Harry, "why did gold and stuff shoot out of our wands?"

"Ah... Mr. Potter," said Dumbledore, "not only was your magic shooting out of your wands. Let's just say some magical creatures and friends helped supply the magic." At that Dumbledore winked.

"Well, what about the Zara?" asked Ron.

"The Zara is most likely dead. All the magic shooting out can cause an animal of that stature death or severe damage. Voldemort was probably stunned but is alive nonetheless." said Dumbledore.

When they were finished discussing, Fawkes and Plumage were singing a beautiful song. The egg was hatching.

"Oh!" gasped Hermione and Madame Pince.

The egg cracked and out came a gorgeous green and gold baby phoenix.

"It looks just like Plumage," said Madame Pince.

"Is it a girl?" asked Hermione. "Or a..." Suddenly, Fawkes cried out and was jumping excitedly. "I'm guessing it's a girl!" Hermione started laughing. Then, Fawkes scooped Erin, the baby phoenix, up to take care of her. She brought her up to the top shelf; Plumage following after them.

"I thought phoenixes were red and gold," questioned Harry.

"Not all of them," replied Madame Pince, "though most of them are."

"You better get some sleep. To thank you students, you shall each get special awards and twenty points for Gryffindor." said Professor Dumbledore.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione grinned sheepishly and said, "Thanks!"

~

When everyone was in bed fast asleep, Harry lay wondering of all the day's events. "Well, at least everyone's safe," he thought as he fell asleep.

~For now at least~