Storm Clouds

The Phoenix

**~**~**~**~**~**

It was another three days before Morgan was able to return to the classroom and all of her duties. During that time Harry found ample opportunity to brood on what she had revealed. What he discovered was that beneath all of his anger was an overwhelming feeling of curiosity; he desperately wanted to know why Morgan had stayed away for so many years.

At breakfast on the morning of Morgan's return to teaching Harry got his first clue. As soon as he took a seat at the long house table a letter appeared before him, addressed Harry Potter, Gryffindor House in shiny blue ink. He looked up and down the table but no one else had received such a missive. He picked it up and stared at the back. It was sealed in wax, much like the Hogwart's letter he received every year, but the seal was embossed with an image of a phoenix. He glanced at the staff table, trying to catch Morgan's eye, but she was engaged in a conversation with Professor Sinistra. He started to open the letter when Fred and George slid onto the bench on either side of him.

"Love letters, Harry?" George asked, helping himself to some porridge.

Harry quickly stuffed the letter into a pocket of his robes, trying not to blush. The twins simply grinned and tucked into their breakfast.

Harry was grateful that they weren't asking questions; it gave him time to look around the Great Hall and try and determine if he was the only student to receive the strange letter. As best he could tell there were no other mysterious envelopes to be found.

A glance at his watch brought Harry quickly to his feet, gathering his things together for class. They were due to start studying Concealment Charms today, and Professor Flitwick had warned them against being late. He strode off toward the doors at a brisk pace. He passed Ginny as she was arriving in a rush, her hands busy trying to get her hair tied back.

"Hi Harry," she exclaimed, sounding slightly out of breath.

Harry grinned. "You'd better be careful and not let Ron catch you being late like this. He's liable to exercise his prefect's privilege."

Ginny simply stuck her tongue out at him and continued on her way. With his smile firmly in place Harry made to walk out the door, but at the last moment something made him look back.

Ginny had taken a seat at the Gryffindor table and an envelope addressed in shiny blue ink appeared before her.

**~**~**~**~**~**

Care of Magical Creatures class ran long that morning, so lunch was halfway over by the time Harry, Ron and Hermione made it to the Great Hall. The envelope, still unopened, was burning a hole in Harry's pocket, but he hadn't yet had a chance to read it. Since arriving at Charms earlier he had not been alone for a moment, and some instinct told him that the message was best kept a secret.

It didn't help matters that as soon as he sat down Ginny caught his eye. Her eyebrows were raised and the question was plain on her face; what did he think? He could only shake his head and, with a gesture at his friends, indicate that he hadn't been left alone long enough to read the note. She rolled her eyes, then pantomimed eating quickly and pointed at the door.

"What are you on about, Gin?" Ron asked, looking at her as if she had sprouted a set of horns.

"Nothing that's any of your business, Ronnie-kins."

Her use of Fred and George's favourite nickname made Ron flush to the roots of his hair. It also meant that he turned away from her, which was what she wanted. She again mimed eating quickly to Harry, then pointed at the door. In a flash he understood her and gave a quick nod. Ginny smiled and returned to her lunch. Harry helped himself to the roast chicken and mashed potatoes and began to eat at top speed. Hermione watched him out of the corner of her eye but didn't comment.

When he finished he abruptly stood up and excused himself. Ron made to follow Harry, but Hermione grabbed his arm and held him in his seat. With a grateful glance for her Harry left the Great Hall. He didn't have long to wait before Ginny caught him up. She took his arm and pulled him behind the statue of Hogwart's founder Rowena Ravenclaw in one corner of the entryway. They didn't speak until Harry had broken the wax seal and read the message.

Tonight ~ 8 PM ~ Headmaster's office

Save this message; it will allow you past the sentinel without a password.

It was signed with a symbol of a phoenix, engulfed in blue-white flames. Harry carefully tucked it back into his pocket before meeting Ginny's eyes. She nodded.

"The same," she said in response to his unasked question. "But why?"

"I've an idea," Harry said, and proceeded to give Ginny an account of his earlier conversation with Morgan, leaving out only the truth of their relationship.

"She said she'd be recruiting more help?" Ginny asked, her brow furrowed. "But its odd. . ." Her voice trailed off.

"What's odd?"

"I couldn't keep my friends from learning of this; they all saw me receive the message. So I had them ask some questions."

"And?"

"Well, only five students received this invitation, for lack of a better term. And you, Harry, are the only boy. The rest were all girls, one from each house. Eleanor Branstone from Hufflepuff, Mandy Brocklehurst from Ravenclaw, me, obviously, and. . ."

Harry smiled slightly. "Break it to me gently, Gin. Who is the girl from Slytherin?"

"Pansy Parkinson."

Harry felt as if his stomach had been replaced with a block of granite. What the devil did Morgan want Pansy's help for? Never mind anyone from Slytherin House.

Well, she was nice and helpful to you that day in Hogsmeade, a voice in his head chimed in.

One day of nice does not make up for four years of nasty, an angrier voice argued back.

To keep the voices from taking over Harry asked Ginny a question. "Who's Eleanor Branstone? I know Pansy and Mandy Brocklehurst, but I have no clue."

"Well, I doubt you know her, she's only a second year. But you've probably seen her around. Shorter than me, curly dark red hair and gray eyes. Cute"

"If you say so," Harry said, sounding absent-minded. "Why would Morgan want Pansy Parkinson, or for that matter anyone from Slytherin, involved in whatever this is? Its insane!"

"There's no point in asking me. We'll find out tonight either way." Ginny sounded irked and a red flush was staining her neck and cheeks. "Will you tell Ron and Hermione about this?"

"I suppose." Harry sighed. "They'll want to know why I'm disappearing at 8 o'clock tonight, after all."

**~**~**~**~**~**

By the time dinner was over in the Great Hall every student in Gryffindor House knew about the summons that Harry and Ginny had received. Ron, Fred and George had badgered their sister unmercifully until finally, her temper at the boiling point, Ginny had blasted all three of them with a Tickling Charm. As they collapsed on the common room floor, wheezing with laughter and clasping their sides, she turned to Harry.

"Shall we go, Harry?"

He simply nodded, afraid that if he opened his mouth his own laughter would overflow. They climbed out the portrait hole together and set off down the hall.

"We don't need to be there for another half an hour but I couldn't take it anymore," Ginny said. "Those three. . ." Her voice trailed off and she choked the air with both hands, as if she were clasping her brothers' throats.

Down six flights of stairs brought Harry and Ginny to the entrance hall. Checking his watch Harry said, "We've still got nearly twenty minutes to wait."

Ginny shrugged. "It's a nice evening. Let's just sit outside on the steps."

They sat in companionable silence, watching as the moon rose over the lake. It was a nice evening; a bit chilly but with a gentle breeze. Ginny seemed content to just sit and enjoy the air, so Harry didn't speak. Instead, he watched the play of moon and starlight across her face, noting how her freckles looked almost black and how her eyes. . .

He spit out a mouthful of Ginny's hair. She laughed, catching the errant strands that had been caught by a brief gust of wind. It was only then that they both noticed how close they were sitting. Harry cleared his throat and shifted, inching away from her.

"So," Ginny said, her voice sounding higher then normal. "What great secrets do you think will be revealed this evening?"

Harry swallowed at her words, slightly unnerved by the idea of "great secrets". The fact that he suddenly had an aunt besides Petunia Dursley surely counted as one such. But what else would come of the meeting they were due to attend he couldn't begin to guess. His mind was spinning so fast with possibilities that it almost made him sick to his stomach. And the center of his mental tornado were the names of the four girls; Eleanor Branstone, Ginny Weasley, Mandy Brocklehurst and Pansy Parkinson. What could it all mean, and what did it have to do with him?

He came out of his thoughts when Ginny yanked on his hand. "We'll be late if we don't hurry," she exclaimed, pulling Harry to his feet. They ran into the entrance hall and up the marble staircase, their hands clasped as Ginny all but pulled Harry along with her. When she stopped it was so sudden that he almost knocked her over.

"What. . . ."

"I don't know where the Headmaster's Office is!" Ginny said, looking stricken. Harry laughed and took the lead, now pulling her behind him as he sprinted down the corridor to their left, up another flight of stairs, and down one last corridor. It ended at an utterly blank wall; blank except for a niche in which stood a large, stone statue of a gargoyle.

Harry pulled the letter from his pocket and held it up. The gargoyle's eyes lowered a fraction of an inch before it moved aside. The wall behind it slid open, revealing the long, moving, spiral staircase. Harry, prepared for the sight, stepped on the staircase. Ginny was too dumbfounded; she didn't move until Harry's hold on her hand jerked her shoulder socket. She hopped onto one of the steps just below where Harry stood.

"Blimey!" she breathed in an awed voice, greatly resembling her youngest brother at that moment.

At the top the door to Dumbledore's office opened automatically as Harry and Ginny stepped off the staircase. Harry drew her through the outer room of the office, with its floor to ceiling bookshelves, and approached the archway that separated it from the main room. He could hear angry voices within.

"So typical. Leave it to Potter to keep everyone waiting." Professor Snape's voice was a dark growl.

"For pity's sake, Severus, its only two minutes after eight. I, for one, would hardly consider that waiting," Professor McGonagall responded, her voice sharp.

Another voice responded, the words just a murmur, but it was enough to silence Snape. With a grin at Ginny Harry stepped through the archway, mumbling apologies. The pair of Gryffindors took the remaining two chairs. It was only then that Harry noticed who was present.

Dumbledore was seated behind his desk, his eyes slightly out of focus, deep in thought. Professor McGonagall sat beside Professor Lupin, the two of them talking quietly. Snape was pacing in front of the fireplace, although he had stopped long enough to glare when Harry entered the room. The other three girls sat huddled together on a sofa across the room from Harry and Ginny.

The last occupant of the room was Morgan Griffith. Close to Harry noticed that there was still a streak of silver in her hair, but otherwise she was back to normal. She looked nervous, especially compared to how she always looked while teaching. It made Harry that much more curious to learn why he was there. She met his eyes and winked, making him smile.

Morgan cleared her throat and everyone's attention turned to her. She moved to the center of the room so all eyes were on her before speaking. "Well, I'm sure that you're all wondering why you're here this evening so let's not waste anymore time." She took a deep breath and glanced at Dumbledore. He gave a small nod and smiled slightly. His support seemed to relax Morgan; when she resumed speaking she was her regular knowledgeable and authoritative self.

"I need to give you all a measure of background information before anything else, so please bear with me." Morgan closed her eyes briefly, mustering her thoughts. When she continued speaking her voice took on a different quality, that of a story-teller doing what she did best

"Thousands of years ago black magic and the dark arts were the dominant force in the wizarding world. So-called "white magic" was weak in comparison, mainly because the emotions tied to it are much harder to maintain and use. But around the world, in many different wizard societies, men and women were drawing strength from the light, and they in turn infused their magic with more power. As time went on the power of good magic began to grow greater still, until eventually it became a force to be reckoned with, creating the balance of light and dark that we live with today.

Not quite fifteen hundred years ago a group of wizards and witches, all Celts, banded together in a pact to use their combined skills, strengths and powers to fight against practitioners of the dark arts. They chose as their symbol the phoenix; immortal, powerful, an undeniable force of good. The called themselves the Order of the Phoenix."

Harry glanced at Ginny to find her staring directly at him, eyebrows raised. Whatever else happened it seemed that they were shortly going to learn more about the events of that day in Hogsmeade.

"Over the centuries that Order has evolved," Morgan went on. "As each new member joined they contributed their power to a sort of reservoir of magic; a reservoir that any member can tap into at any time when they are in dire need. All four Hogwarts founders were members, as were many headmasters and mistresses."

"A reservoir?" Snape interrupted. "That's insane. How can such a thing be used by anybody without overwhelming them, and possibly killing them? How can such a reservoir be controlled?"

Morgan cast Snape an icy glance. "I was getting to that, Severus, if you wouldn't mind being patient." Snape flushed slightly and subsided into a chair. Morgan continued. "The full power of the order is truly awesome, and it grows with every new addition, so obviously no single member can make full use of it without being destroyed. The founders expected this, which is why they established a guardian."

"A guardian?" Harry spoke for the first time.

"Yes Harry, a guardian. A keeper of the power, if you will. Someone who holds the reservoir and can dispense it at will. The Guardian of the Phoenix is the only person alive who can use the full strength of the order without being obliterated themselves. There are other consequences, however."

"That phoenix." A voice sounded in the sudden quiet, making everyone jump. It was Mandy Brocklehurst, the fifth year Ravenclaw girl, who had spoken. "The power of the Order destroyed those dementors in Hogsmeade, and that was the consequence." She looked at Morgan, her eyes shining with awe. "You're the Guardian."

"Guilty as charged," Morgan said with a smile. "If we were in the classroom I'd award 15 points to Ravenclaw."

"But what does this have to do with any of us?" Pansy asked.

"It is the responsibility of each Guardian to find her successor. Normally this would not be done while you are still students, but circumstances are extraordinary at this time." She took a deep breath. "My two immediate predecessors was killed by Death Eaters one month after I returned to Britain, so it is now urgent that I find and begin training my successor."

"Its one of us, isn't it?" Ginny asked, glancing around the room. Her eyes lit on Harry last. One by one all the others glanced that way. Harry felt a crawling sensation up his spine from all the concentrated stares he was receiving.

Morgan noticed. "Before you all run away with that idea I can assure you my successor is most definitely not Harry. Although he fits many of the criteria it can not be him."

"How can you be so sure?" Lupin inquired.

"The Guardian of the Phoenix is always a woman."

Harry felt a jolt at those words, as well as an enormous sense of relief. At least there's one thing I'm not expected to do as the Boy Who Lived, he thought to himself.

"What about the other criteria you spoke of?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Here at least we are on firm ground," Morgan said. "A potential Guardian will bear three unmistakable signs, as well as one more slightly subjective one. First, as I said before, the Guardian is always female. Second, she will be the child of wizard parents. Third, she will have been born in the time of one of the eight festivals sacred to the Druids."

"And the more subjective qualification?" Mandy asked.

"She will be possessed of great powers of magic, even if she is unaware of them."

"That's certainly subjective enough," Snape commented, his habitual sneer back in place. "And what about being pure bloods?"

"I didn't say pure bloods, Severus. I said a child of wizard parents. Grandparents are another question entirely." Morgan walked across the room and laid a hand on Eleanor Branstone's shoulder, causing the young girl to jump. "Miss Branstone here is a perfect example. Her mother is Muggle born, but a witch herself. So she was born of wizard parents."

"And do I have great powers?" Eleanor spoke for the first time, her voice softer than a whisper.

"Yes, you do," was Morgan's gentle reply. "I can help you discover and learn how to use them." She turned away from Eleanor, who was now smiling and looking considerably less scared, to address the rest of the room. "It will take some time to investigate, test, and determine who is my successor. It can't all be done in one night." She met each girl's eyes in turn. "I suggest you all get some sleep, because chances are you'll be getting very little for the next few months. You may go."

The four girls stood to leave the room. Unsure whether the dismissal included him Harry also stood. "Harry, please remain for a while. We have something else to discuss," Dumbledore spoke.

Ginny looked at Harry, her eyebrows raised. With a nod to reassure her he sat back down and waited for the girls to leave the room. He had a sneaking suspicion about what else needed to be discussed and it made him uncomfortable. He glanced at Morgan and saw the same expression of discomfort on her face. She was resolute, however, and as soon as the outer door to the headmaster's office closed she began speaking.

"I had hoped to be able to keep all of this a secret for a while longer, but Voldemort has forced our hands. It is imperative that the next Guardian be discovered as quickly as possible, so her training can begin. We are running out of time."

A cough came from the other side of the room and Morgan turned that way. "I agree that we are running out of time, but I have to ask what exactly is Potter's purpose here?" Snape. It was always Snape. "You've made it clear that he cannot possibly be the next Guardian, so why is he even here?"

Lupin started to stand up, an angry look crossing his face. Morgan held up one hand to him, and he took the hint, dropping back into his seat. He continued to glare at Snape, however. The look he gave the Potions Master bore a great resemblance to Sirius at his angriest.

"You're right, Severus. Harry cannot be the next Guardian, but he is involved in this. There is one other variable in this whole equation, and I think Harry may be the solution to it. Its something I believe he may have inherited with his Griffith blood."

"His what?" Snape asked, clearly confused. He looked to Professor McGonagall, but she seemed just as dumbfounded. Both Lupin and Dumbledore had their eyes on the floor. "Griffith blood? What madness is this? His mother's maiden name was Evans."

Morgan nodded. "True, and the Evanses were Muggles. His Griffith blood refers to his paternal grandmother." She looked directly at Snape. "My mother."

"Your. . . .?"

"Yes. My mother. Also the mother of James Potter. Harry is my nephew."