Harry Potter and the Orb of Power

Chapter 30: Flight of the Phoenix

The harsh winter that had descended upon Hogwarts had, by March, begun to loosen its grip on the castle. The wind had slackened substantially, and the snow had finally stopped falling from the sky. However, the air remained bitterly cold, leaving doubt in no one's mind that there was still more winter go through before spring would finally bloom in the castle. The fifth and seventh years, however, did not notice this change in weather for the simple and absolute reason that the examinations, both O.W.L. and N.E.W.T., were approaching, and the amounts of homework piled upon them were quite clearly time consuming. Many of the fifth years were showing signs of extreme stress, and despite the constant use of Madame Pomfrey's Calming Concoction, the stress level remained at an all-time high.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione found ways to alleviate their stress by counting on one another to help with each other's homework, which usually meant that Ron and Harry were begging Hermione for the answers. At first, Hermione agreed to this format of homework help, albeit it rather reluctantly, until she found that they weren't really learning anything.

"Really now, you won't learn anything if I just give you all the answers!" Hermione fumed, in the middle of Professor McGonagall's difficult essays on the Vanishing of certain mammals.

"Please Hermione, it's due in an hour," Ron pleaded desperately. "Just this once, then I can do it on my own!"

"Ron," Hermione said in an exasperated voice, but when she saw the pleading look on Ron's face, she weakened and gave in. Harry had finished the essay the previous night, and was glad he didn't have to beg Hermione for the answers. At the moment, he was currently lost in thought, straying back to the Orb of Power dangling innocently around his neck. Ever since the startling revelation about the nature of the Orb, Harry was tempted to use it to figure out what Voldemort wanted, and where it was hidden. However, always at the last moment, Harry would resist using it. He never understood why; the answers to all of his questions were right there in front of him. If only he could gather up the nerve to do it. Yet always in the end, Harry resisted. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind of the temptation to use it, and focused on the Astronomy chart he was supposed to be filling in.

"I don't remember seeing Pluto from the Astronomy Tower," Harry muttered, trying to see where he was supposed to be recording Pluto's position on the chart.

"You don't have to do Pluto for that chart," Hermione said lazily. "Professor Sinistra said to do only the terrestrial planets."

"Oh...great then," Harry said, looking down at his chart. He had done all of the planets, four of them unnecessarily. He erased the extra four and then yawned. He was finally done with his Astronomy homework, which meant he was done with homework for the rest of the day. Feeling satisfied and glad that he wasn't in Ron's shoes, he took one last look at his planetary chart and then slipped it neatly into his bag.

"So the spell becomes more complicated when the animal has a more complicated structure?" Ron asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Yes, exactly," Hermione said, rubbing her eyes. "I'm exhausted, I'm glad that we only have Transfiguration left."

"And Astronomy tonight," Harry reminded her. Hermione groaned and rubbed her eyes again.

"Why are you so tired? You have all of your homework done!" Ron said, patching up the rest of his Transfiguration essay.

"I was doing research in the library on S.P.E.W., if you must know," Hermione said. Ron groaned aloud, but Harry refrained from comment. He didn't want to upset Hermione or get her mad at him, especially when things were going great for the both of them.

"When are you going to be done with spew? I thought we already established that house elves like their station!" Ron said indignantly.

"Of course you would think that," Hermione said huffily. "But I feel that if we show the rest of the house elves how great life can be without being slaves, more will jump on the Dobby bandwagon."

"Fat chance," Ron mumbled so only Harry could hear. Harry tried hard to restrain himself from showing amusement.

"Anyways, if they used their power, house elves would definitely not be slaves," Hermione said matter-of-factly. "They can be just as powerful as wizards, without wands at that. Imagine what they could do with wands..."

"I shudder to think," Ron said melodramatically, rolling his eyes in the process. "Let's get going, we don't want McGonagall mad at us for being late." The three of them rose from their seats in the Common Room and proceeded to the Transfiguration classroom, where Professor McGonagall was already awaiting the class, despite the fact that there was a half hour before class began. McGonagall was handing out pieces of parchment for everyone in the class.

"We're not having a quiz, are we?" Harry said in a loud, exasperated voice.

"No, Potter, do calm down," McGonagall said, her eyes narrowing. "It's just a notification of two important pieces of information." She handed him a parchment, and he read the first notice with interest:

The Vernal Ball

Due to recent events in the wizarding world, the atmosphere

surrounding Hogwarts has been one of fear and anxiety. To

counter this negative aura, Hogwarts will be holding a ball in

commemoration of the Vernal Equinox, when the days become

longer, signifying the end of winter and the beginning of

spring. The ball is open to fourth years and up, unless an

older student wishes to bring a younger student as a guest.

"Not another ball!" Ron groaned. "Wasn't the Yule Ball enough torture?"

"It was not torture!" Hermione said indignantly. "I thought it was quite fun."

"Of course you did, you went with Vicky, didn't you!"

"Don't call him Vicky!"

"Guys, please," Harry said, interrupting. "Let's focus on making this ball fun. And by that, I mean no dancing." Hermione snapped her head in Harry's direction, her face clearly contorted in a look of mingled fury and horror.

"No dancing?"

"Er...just kidding..." Harry muttered, quailing under Hermione's furious stare. Her eyes examined his face quite thoroughly.

"Then you don't know how to kid properly," Hermione said, not relinquishing her suspicious look. Harry tried not to meet Ron's eye.

"At least you don't have to find a date, Harry," Ron muttered. "Who am I going to ask? Padma Patil will never go to another ball with me as long as I live."

"Well, you shouldn't have ignored her then," Hermione said in a superior voice. Harry shook his head, and decided once again to refrain from comment.

"What about Lavender Brown?" Harry asked, his eyebrows rose in an excited fashion.

"She wouldn't give the time or place," Ron responded glumly.

"Ask Luna Lovegood," Hermione said, as if this was the most obvious answer.

"Luna? Come off it," Ron said, his face glowing scarlet.

"You were all keen for her on Valentine's Day, what has changed?" Hermione probed.

"I was not keen on her, for your information," Ron glowered. "All I said was that she's something. She's just a friend, nothing more."

"Well I think that..." Hermione started to say, but Harry cut her off.

"Let's just drop it. If Ron doesn't fancy her, then he doesn't fancy her."

"At least one of you hears what I'm saying," Ron said. "Now what's the second notice?"

Astronomy Tower Closed

Due to the forthcoming O.W.L. examinations, the Astronomy

tower will be closed until the examinations are completed.

The tower must be examined for any signs of potential cheating,

and must be aligned properly for the examination. Anyone

found in the Astronomy Tower will be punished most severely.

The rest of the Astronomy classes will be held in the South-East

Turret.

"That's interesting, I don't remember them doing that last year," Hermione said with a frown on her face.

"Yeah...that is rather odd," Ron said. "Maybe the exam will be a different kind this year?"

"Maybe..." Hermione responded, but by the tone of her voice, Harry could tell that she disagreed.

"Maybe their keeping it blocked off because there is something up there?" Harry suggested.

"Like what?" Hermione responded.

"I don't know. It's in my dreams a lot, the Astronomy Tower."

"You're dreams have never been quite that normal have they, mate? Trelawney goes nutters every time she reads them aloud to the class." Ron took another look at the notice and shrugged. "Well, looks like we're all barred from getting up there anyhow, so it's no go on the Astronomy Tower."

"Just as long as they're keeping everyone from getting up there," Harry said darkly, noticing Lucius Malfoy and Professor Snape entering into the Transfiguration classroom.

"Another inspection?" Hermione scowled as Malfoy and Snape passed by and approached Professor McGonagall, who had finished handing out the notices and was now writing directions on the chalkboard with her wand.

"Minerva, may I have a word?" Lucius drawled in an almost amused voice, taking out his now familiar clipboard and his luxury quill. More students were slowly trickling into the classroom, complete with perplexed looks on their faces.

"Unfortunately, now is not a good time," McGonagall responded smoothly, without looking at Malfoy or Snape. "My class will be beginning, and as the O.W.L.'s are approaching, I have not a minute to spare."

"But this is rather important," Lucius said, his eyes narrowing. "I'd like to discuss with you the methods of disciplining the students. It has been said by some that you favor the Gryffindor students over the other students. Now, I know a teacher of your repute should be above such petty accusations, but I'm afraid it is my job to inspect each claim, and treat them with the utmost importance." McGonagall's eyes narrowed and her lips thinned remarkably.

"Imagine that," McGonagall said dryly. "Well, you'll have to forgive me, Lucius. I, unlike you, do not hold your son's opinions on how this school is run very highly. In fact, not much of what your son does is up to standard, as is noted by his abysmal Transfiguration grades." Harry had to fight the urge to laugh as he saw the cold expression on Lucius' face.

"Severus," Malfoy whispered malevolently.

"I'm afraid, Mr. Malfoy, that Professor McGonagall has a high standing at Hogwarts and it will take more than the word of a few pupils to seriously call her into question," Snape said swiftly, giving McGonagall a meaningful look.

"I will not be treated with disrespect, nor will I allow anyone to disrespect my family," Lucius muttered icily, looking from Snape to McGonagall, whose eyes had narrowed dangerously.

"Then I suggest you treat others with more respect, Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall said, her lips thinning as she spoke. "Respect will be earned, not blindly given. Now if you'll excuse me, one of us has actual work to do." Lucius' mouth dropped slightly and he made a few notes. As he turned to leave the classroom, he gave a long, penetrating stare towards Hermione before he swiftly departed. Snape turned to follow at his heels.

"The two of them should get married," Ron spat angrily. "Look at Snape, following Malfoy around like a lapdog."

"He's keeping up appearances," Hermione hissed. "He is part of the Order, but he still has to convince everyone that he's a Death Eater too."

"Not much acting required for that job, is it?" Harry muttered. Snape had just covered with McGonagall; that was at least some sign of his allegiance. Unless it was part of a more complicated act to make everyone think he was on McGonagall's side.

"All right class, you'll have seen by now two important notices on your tables. I want them read quickly so we can begin with today's lessons. Now these notices are of the utmost importance and will be personally handed to every student." McGonagall said, pointing to the sheets on the table.

"Unfortunately," Ron mumbled.

***

Harry and Ron were plunged once more into the frightful world of homework that night, completely surrounded by a towering pile of books.

"I thought we would be well shut of homework for a bit," Harry said, rubbing his eyes. "I can't believe McGonagall gave us another long essay."

"And Sinistra gave us the other five planets to do! And we couldn't even see them all that well from the Turret! What is she playing at?" Ron shouted, quickly pointing out the injustice of the situation.

"You two need to stop complaining," Hermione said, climbing through the Portrait Hole carrying the Evening Prophet. "The assignments aren't too difficult. Look at me; I'm done with them already!"

"Hermione, you're not normal," Ron muttered, staring at his Astronomy chart. "Now Neptune is bigger than Jupiter, right? It's the biggest planet."

"Wrong," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "And no, I'm not going to tell you the answer, you'll have to figure it out yourself." Hermione sat in one of the comfy chairs and unrolled the Evening Prophet.

"Anything good in there?" Harry asked, desperate for a break from his work.

"Just the same old rubbish about how you're a crackpot looking for attention. And yet Fudge is still in hiding."

"I wonder where? Someone must know, he is sending instructions and laws and such," Ron said.

"Maybe he's used the Fidelius Charm, that's what I would do," Hermione responded.

"Not exactly foolproof though, is it?" Ron said, taking a swift glance at Harry before looking away.

"Or maybe it's in a place that's Unplottable or something like that," Harry suggested, ignoring Ron's meaningful looks and trying to pretend he wasn't affected by his comment.

"Maybe in the Forbidden Forest, it's the one place no one is crazy enough to go into willingly," Ron suggested, shuddering at the memory of Aragog and the acromantulas.

"Well he'll be there for a long time if he's hiding from Voldemort," Hermione said, ignoring Ron's wincing. "Oh that's interesting. Percy's in the paper," Hermione said. Ron closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.

"The git. What now?"

"Fudge sent him to help that new Durmstrang headmistress. It's his job as the Head of International Magical Cooperation."

"How are your parents dealing with Percy's little outburst anyhow?" Harry asked.

"Not too well. He's been ignoring Dad at work and won't return any of Mum's letters. Everyone else thinks they should give up on them but they won't. Dad's been trying to talk to him, even making things up so that his department has to work with Percy's department, but Percy won't listen."

"Maybe time will make it better," Hermione said bracingly.

"I don't think so, Hermione. Dad said something about Ali Bashir, that carpet salesman, and Percy took the opposite stance just to make Dad mad. It's terrible, Fudge has been praising Percy's work and has been auditing Dad's office as punishment. It's crazy, Percy might end up running Dad out of a job."

"I can't believe Percy would do that," Hermione said, her hand covering her mouth.

"I hope he comes to his senses soon," Harry said.

"I hope he falls off a glacier. Now how about Saturn, that could be the biggest planet," Ron said, clearly wanting to avoid the topic of Percy. "Do the rings count for its size?"

"It's Jupiter, mate," Harry said under his breath.

"I heard that," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "Honestly, we won't be able to share answers on the O.W.L. exam, you might as well learn how to answer for yourself." When no one responded to her, she sniffed huffily and turned back to the Evening Prophet. Towards eleven o'clock, Harry and Ron finally finished their work.

"Not too bad, we'll be asleep at a decent hour for once," Harry said, checking his watch.

"Too right," Ron said, yawning deeply. The two of them packed up their things, observing the fire that was slowly dying. Harry was about to wish Hermione a good night when he heard a distant voice beckoning him.

"Did you hear that?" Harry asked, looking at Ron and Hermione.

"Yeah, who was that?" Ron responded, his face indicating his confusion.

"Maybe it's Dobby?" Hermione asked. The voice called again. It was light on the air, a feminine voice floating through the dark.

"Do you recognize it?" Ron asked, looking at the two of them.

"No idea. Maybe someone needs help." Harry took out his wand; Ron and Hermione followed suit. Harry opened up the portrait hole, and climbed outside. Harry lit his wand as his feet hit the floor of the corridor. The light of his wand barely illuminated the deep, foreboding darkness that had filled the corridor. Hermione climbed out second, standing directly next to Harry, almost clutching at his arm. Ron clambered out last.

"Ron, hold the portrait..." Harry started, but Ron, who did not know what Harry was about to say, hit the ground. The portrait hole swung shut.

"Open," Harry finished pointlessly.

"Sorry mate, I didn't think we'd need to, what with you two being prefects." Hermione rolled her eyes, but when she saw the portrait, she gasped with fright. Harry turned and saw that the picture was empty; the Fat Lady had disappeared. This was not the first time the Fat Lady had disappeared from her portrait; she had fled when Sirius tried to claw his way through in Harry's third year.

"Where did she go?" Harry asked, touching the painting gingerly.

"What made her go is more like it," Ron muttered, lighting his wand. Hermione followed suit. The quiet that had filled the hall was heavy, dense, impenetrable. It was an uneasy silence, a silence that, to Harry at least, was waiting to be broken. Harry strained to hear the disembodied voice again, struggling to pick up any trace of it on the air.

"I can't hear it," Harry said.

"I don't see anything," Ron said, peering into the darkness.

A pair of dark green, malevolent eyes opened in the darkness.

"Harry..." Hermione hissed, clutching his arm.

"Open the portrait hole," Ron muttered in fright, the color draining from his face.

"I can't, it won't open!" Harry said, panic rapidly welling inside of him as he tried to pry the portrait hole loose.

"Harry!" Hermione moaned, trying to help him with the portrait. A deafening roar filled the hall, and suddenly, there was a quick pounding on the floor, as if something was running towards them at a very high speed.

"Illuminate!" Hermione screamed, sending a flare from her wand into the dark surrounding them. The brilliant red light burst into life, illuminating the rest of the corridor. Hermione screamed, Ron moaned in fear, Harry's jaw dropped in a mingled expression of horror and shock.

It was the Peruvian Vipertooth from Gringotts.

Harry did not have time to puzzle how the dragon had gotten here, and how it was still alive. His immediate reaction was that it was a sentinel, and he waved his wand.

"Suspendi Sentiem!" Harry bellowed, a black ball growing at the end of his wand. Praying that the dragon was a sentinel, praying that the dragon was really just a grey specter of its former self and not the ravenous, green dragon standing before them, Harry shot the black ball towards the dragon, which was recoiling from the light of the flare. The dragon disappeared from sight, and the black ball soared harmlessly, uselessly, into the darkness.

"You missed!" Ron moaned. Harry swore to himself, and shook his head.

"Run!" Harry bellowed. Grabbing Hermione's robes and pushing Ron ahead of him, Harry pelted forward as fast as he could. Not daring to look back, he followed Ron, who was attempting to choose a course that would throw the dragon off.

Harry couldn't tell where he was running to until Ron stopped. He was doubled over, gasping for breath. Harry felt a searing stitch in his side; he could barely breathe. Hermione too was gasping, looking behind them to see any sign of their attacker.

"Where is it?" Ron asked between gasps.

"I have no idea," Harry said, squeezing his eyes shut. What was it doing here? How did it get here? Before these questions could be answered, Harry heard a malevolent laughing fill the hall. The voice was familiar, but he couldn't quite make it out. Then, the voice halted its laughter, and issued one single, blood-chilling order:

"Kill the spares." The dragon appeared on their right, out of nowhere, as if it materialized. It charged forward, its jaws opened, ready to strike.

"Impedimenta!" Harry shouted, and to his surprise his was not the only voice he heard. Ron and Hermione shouted the same spells; the light blazed as it rocketed forward, blasting off of the dragon's hide and sending sparks into the air. The dragon slowed, dazed by the strength of three Impediment Curses.

"We've got to get to Dumbledore!" Ron shouted. Harry nodded and, grabbing Hermione, turned to follow Ron. There was another deafening roar, and a flash of green light illuminated the hallway. There was an intense heat just above Harry's head, and then an explosion somewhere in front of them. The ceiling cracked, threatening to fall on their heads. The ceiling buckled, and large chunks began to fall. Harry braced himself for the pain, but it did not come. He chanced a glance up, and saw that the rocks were hovering harmlessly above them.

"Run, Harry Potter!" a voice said from around his navel. He looked down and saw Dobby the house-elf. "Dobby is saving you so you can run!" Harry nodded wildly, and attempted to run forward. He had managed to make it a few feet when the dragon appeared in front of them, its dark green eyes glaring dangerously at the house-elf.

"Stupefy!" Ron shouted, the red light spraying harmlessly off of the dragon's skin. The dragon turned, and whipped its tail at Ron, catching him just above the waist and sending him flying into the opposite wall.

"RON!" Harry yelled, panic and fear welling up inside him as horrible thoughts ran through his mind. Don't let him be dead, don't let him be dead...

"Mortagare!" Hermione screamed, a jet of electric blue light streaking out of her wand. The spell hit the Vipertooth above the right leg, causing the dragon to let out a howl of pain. The skin above the leg was shriveling and burning as if it was hit with acid. Hermione waved her wand again, and the spell hit the Vipertooth above the face this time, causing the Vipertooth to bellow with fury once more. It charged forward, but almost at once it seemed to have hit an invisible barrier. It snapped its jaws, it bellowed in fury; the dragon could not pass the barrier. Harry saw that Dobby had merely snapped his fingers and the barrier had appeared.

"Dobby cannot hold back the creature forever, Harry Potter!" he yelled out. "Harry Potter must be running to get Master Dumbledore's help!"

"The way is blocked, Dobby!" Harry shouted desperately.

"The Astronomy Tower!" Hermione shouted. "It's being watched, the moment we go in they'll notice and they'll come to save us! It's a miracle the teachers haven't heard this by now!"

"Good thinking. Dobby, take Ron to Dumbledore. We'll run to the Astronomy Tower, it's not far from here," Harry said quickly. Dobby nodded, and grabbed a hold of Ron.

"Is he..." Hermione started to say, but Harry shook his head fervently.

"He'll be fine," Harry whispered. "Dobby, wait a few moments so we can get a head start!" He grabbed Hermione's hand and ran, as fast as he could, knowing full well in moments the Vipertooth would be tearing after them as fast as it could, following its master's sadistic orders. Harry heard a roar, and he knew the dragon was coming. Harry and Hermione reached the Astronomy stairs, and they started to climb, hoping that someone, anyone would notice that they were climbing the tower. They reached the top of the staircase, and threw open the door in front of them. Harry looked around and saw the same Astronomy class, untouched and unchanged. Not having time to think about the strangeness of the tower being closed, he turned to Hermione.

"Now what? We're in a dead end!"

"I don't know, there must be something we can do!" Hermione moaned, wringing her hands. "We'll just have to wait it out, and hope that there are charms protecting the tower." Harry nodded, hoping that she was right. A few minutes of calm settled over the tower; Harry was regaining his breath, and started to think calmly. Hermione was looking up wildly at the ceiling. Suddenly, a door flew open somewhere in the tower. It was Professor Sinistra, the Astronomy teacher.

"What in the name of Merlin are you two doing up here!" she shrieked. Her black hair was poorly kept in a hairnet and she was standing in a black bathrobe. "Do you have any idea of the severity of the rules you've breached!"

"There's a dragon in the castle!" Hermione and Harry shouted in unison. Professor Sinistra was about to respond when a loud explosion knocked them sideways and on to the ground. The roof had exploded; pieces of debris had fallen from the ceiling and onto their heads. Professor Sinistra, looking quickly at Harry and Hermione, ran at a shabby, old, purple drape that was hanging from the wall. For one wild moment, Harry thought she was going to run into the wall, but she passed through the drape harmlessly and disappeared. The dragon roared, its wings outstretched as it soared through the night. It circled the tower and was descending.

"Where did she go?!" Hermione screamed. Hermione ran at the purple drapes, but only found a solid wall on the other side. "Where did she go?!"

"Get ready!" Harry said, raising his wand. The dragon shot a fireball at them, sending them flying after the explosion rocked the Astronomy Tower. Harry fell into a pile of debris; pain exploded all around him. Trying to ignore the screaming, stabbing pains in his ribs and the gash across his face that was bleeding freely, Harry tried to get up. In the middle of staggering upwards, Harry heard a piercing scream, and as he rocketed upwards and tried to find Hermione, he saw that the dragon was hovering just above the Astronomy Tower with Hermione struggling in its talons.

"HERMIONE!" Harry bellowed, scrambling up the pile of debris and onto the roof of the Astronomy Tower. The dragon attempted to fly higher and away from the tower, but Hermione was sending spells from her wand, striking the dragon. The dragon squeezed its talons, puncturing her back and front; her robes began to fill with blood. Harry raised his wand to strike, but the roof was covered in ice; he couldn't gain his balance well enough for him to send a steady blow to the dragon. The dragon turned mid-flight, and with its dark green eyes narrowed, it made for one final attempt to kill Harry. Its mouth opened, the green flames collected in its mouth. Harry was ready this time. The dragon swooped in low, ready to throw out fire. A green fireball rocketed from its mouth; Harry dived backwards, narrowly avoiding the fire, and made one fluid motion with his wand.

"Relashio!" Harry shouted, sending blinding red sparks into the eyes of the Vipertooth. The Vipertooth rocketed upwards, screaming in agony. It contorted so strangely that it dropped Hermione from its talons as it shrieked with pain. Hermione, who had passed out, hit the roof hard, and started to slide on the ice towards the edge of the tower. Harry launched himself to his feet, sliding downwards, almost surfing on the ice trying to catch Hermione. Running, slipping, stumbling towards her, he watched in horror as her body went sailing off of the roof. Without thinking, without considering the ramifications of his actions, knowing only that his only job was to save Hermione, knowing he had no time to use a spell, he did the only thing he could.

Harry launched himself off of the roof after her.

The wind whipped around him as he fell. Falling head first, watching Hermione as she fell limply below him, he tried to smooth his body to fall faster. Harry felt the Orb of Power slipping over his head; he grabbed at the chain, making it stay around his neck. Not knowing what he was doing, not even knowing what spell could save them, he grasped his wand and waved it.

A warm tingling spread over his body like it had never before. For once, Harry felt secure in the air; he felt the current of the wind fly over him. He smoothed his body, pushing his arms against his stomach, bringing his legs together, falling like a bullet through the sky. He reached out to catch Hermione with his hands, but he no longer had hands, he no longer had arms. He flipped impossibly in midair and grabbed at Hermione with his legs, and miraculously, inconceivably, he snatched her robes with talons. He threw out his wings (He had wings!) to slow down the descent, and gracefully, even beautifully, Harry pulled out of his dive and soared into the air as if Hermione was as light as a feather. Soaring through the night sky, circling lower, he softly landed, lowering Hermione gently onto the ground. She awoke, her eyes fluttering open wildly.

"A phoenix..." Hermione whispered, not comprehending what was going on. Her wounds were bleeding fiercely; it pained Harry to see Hermione in so much pain. Her pain was his; his heart filled with agony that to his surprise tears flowed from his eyes. He lowered his head to the wounds, the source of her pain, and miraculously the tears were healing her wounds.

"Where's Harry?" Hermione whispered, her hand clutching the jewel that hung around her neck that Harry had gotten her for Christmas. She did not understand, even Harry himself didn't understand, that Harry was the phoenix. There was another roar above them, and the dragon had circled and was swooping down on them. Harry felt the warmth of his body flow away, and he realized that he was once again a teenage boy filled with mind-numbing fear and a body rocked with pain. Yet, somehow, he knew what to do.

"Harry?" Hermione asked, her eyes filled with confusion. The dragon was swooping lower, ready to deliver its final blow. It was furious; the pain inflicted upon it was immense.

"Incarcerous!" Harry bellowed. Thick ropes shot out of his wand and snapped around the dragon's wings. The dragon yelped in fear, and, struggling to throw off the ropes binding it, it fell like a stone onto the ground, hitting the frosted grass with a loud thump. Harry watched the dragon, not sure if it was still alive, and picking up Hermione in his arms. He saw the dragon's body fade into a dull grey color, and then disappear altogether from sight. He turned, feeling relief flooding over him, and saw Dumbledore racing towards him with McGonagall, Snape, and Dobby behind them. They had finally come to help them. Hearing footsteps somewhere near him, Harry turned and saw a figure in dark robes and shining white hair running into the forest, but found that right now, he didn't care. He let himself be rushed back into the castle by Professor McGonagall, letting his mind sink into a hazy cloud of random thoughts and overwhelming emotion.