Shadow Phoenix

@ firelordeg, Dark Dragen & Hannah: Thanks for your reviews!

@ Dark Dragen: sorry to disappoint you, but Harry doesn't have a slave yet. (after this chapter, he has...) although, you might not be completely wrong. What Harry did was addictive for the female...

@ Hannah: Thanks, I corrected it... I try hard, being german and all... ^^

@ All: You know it... not betaed yet.


C26: The End of Dumbledore's Army


Harry stepped through the lines of students he was teaching, now and then stopping to help one who seemed to need advice.

He was very proud of his fellow students.

Every member of the DA showed fast progress and eagerness to learn, what he was teaching them, even though it was Saturday evening.

Then suddenly the door to the Room of Requirement opened and closed a moment later, but he couldn't see anyone coming in, until the students between him and the door stepped aside to let the small creature to him.

Dobby was running to him as fast as he could.

“Harry Potter Sir! Harry Potter Sir! … Dobby has to warn you, but the House-elves have been warned not to tell! But...”

“Dobby! STOP!”, Harry ordered his elfin friend, who was about to smash his head to the floor to punish himself. “Just look into my eyes and think of what you want me to know and I order you, not to punish yourself.”


The elf's eyes were captured by the deep green ones of the wizard for three seconds, before Harry laid a hand on the small shoulder of the elf.

“Thank you Dobby. Stay. I need you to do something for me.”

Then Harry stood up and pointed his wand onto the door.

“Aurum Aurora Barikada!”

His charm hit the door and it began to emit a soft golden glow.


“We need save exits for all students to return to their dorms without Umbridge and her helpers noticing.”, Harry said.

After the last word four doors appeared on the walls, one in the colour of each House.

“One of our members has turned traitor on us.”, he told his students. “Umbridge knows of us now and is on her way to here. You'll be informed whether there'll be additional meetings or not, but now use these doors, return to your dorms and wait there until further notice.”

The students hurried out of the door which was in the colours of their House, the only thing which stopped them from panicking was the calmness of Harry and the DO members, who had helped him teaching them.

While Harry's Order lead the students to their Dorms, their leader turned his attention back to his elfin friend.

“Dobby, I want you to collect some thing for me from Knockturn Alley in London. I hoped to get it myself, but I think I'll need it now and I don't have time to go there in person.”

“Of course, Harry Potter Sir! Dobby is most pleased to run an errand like this for Harry Potter Sir!”

Harry told the elf, what he wanted him to do, gave him a small bag full of Galleons and thanked him, before he sent him on his way.

Dobby grinned wide, took the money and vanished with a crack.


Harry took a deep breath, before he concentrated on changing the room.

Within a matter of seconds, the training hall was a cosy, small living room with a burning fireplace, a comfortable seat in front of it and a book on it.

Harry sat down on the seat and opened the book halfway through and smiled on it's contents.

Then the waved his wand, before he hid it in its holster, covered by the sleeve of his robe.


Almost instantly a 'mighty' curse blasted the door in pieces and High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge stepped into the room, accompanied by the group of Slytherins, who's parents were Death Eaters (except Draco, of cause).

Harry looked at them and then continued to read his book.

“Why do you disturb me in my free time?”, he asked reading. “It's Saturday, two hours until curfew and there are no rules which forbid students to use this room...”

“Give it up, Potter! We know of the DA and the meeting, that was supposed to take place in this room!”, Pansy spat at him.

“Meeting? I didn't know you planned to meet me here, but I don't mind of course, if our dear High Inquisitor gives permission. But what is a DA?”


Umbridge didn't respond, but took Harry's book and looked inside.

Her head grew red instantly but the High Inquisitor slipped it into the pocked of her robe nonetheless.

“I didn't know you were interested into this kind of books, Professor. It'll get a lot more interesting after page thirty one though.”, Harry mentioned.

“Don't play with us! I just took it, because it's not something a minor like you should have. Now come along to the Headmaster's office!”, Umbridge said.

“Of cause, but allow me to repair the door first. It's pointless to leave it like this.”


The High Inquisitor sneered at him, but gave in, after staring at him for a couple of seconds.

A wave of Harry's wand later no visible trace was left of their forced entry.

Harry had already slowly walked over to the door and opened it, when Umbridge and her helpers got over the shock of seeing the green eyed wizard using non-verbal magic this powerful.

Still, they hurried after him and 'guarded' him to Dumbledore's office.

“Wait for me here!”, she told the other students, before she said “Fizzing Whizzbee” to the stone gargoyle, which jumped aside to let them onto the moving stone staircase, which brought them to the polished door with the griffin knocker.

Umbridge however didn't bother to knock, but strode straight inside, dragging Harry after her.


The room was full of people.

Dumbledore sat serene behind his desk, Professor McGonagall right beside him, Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge stood beside the fire, apparently very pleased with the situation Kingsley Shacklebolt and a tough looking Wizard with short hair, whom Harry didn't recognise were at either side of the door, like guards and Percy Weasly was beside the wall, a quill and a heavy scroll of parchment in his hands, obviously poised to take notes.

The portraits of the old headmasters and headmistresses all were alert and serious, watching what was happening below them.

“We found him in the room, after we finally broke through the locking charm at the door.”, Umbridge said. “Unfortunately it seems, he managed to let everyone else escape somehow.”

“Hmm... Well at least we have caught him.”, Fudge said, still happy. “Boy, do you know, why you're here?”


The green eyed wizard didn't respond other than to calmly look right into the Minister's eyes.

“ANSWER ME!”, Fudge shouted angered.

“I'll tell you two things.”, Harry stated. “First: I'll not respond to anything but 'Heir of Potter-Black' from you, Minister. Second: You didn't yet regain the right to question me in any form. You'll need to have Umbridge, Headmaster Dumbledore or one of the Aurors ask me your questions for you.”
Fudge and Umbridge glared furiously, at him while Dumbledore McGonagall and the Aurors grinned.

Percy only looked at him shocked.

A little while later Umbridge gave up.

“Do you know, why you're here?”, she asked.

“No.”, Harry answered.


“I beg you pardon?”, Fudge said, only to be ignored once more.

“You don't know, why you're here?”, Umbridge repeated.

“No, of cause I don't know.”, the young wizard said. “I was comfortably reading a rather interesting book at the Room of Requirement within my free time, when suddenly you and the bunch of students, forcibly entered the room, destroying the door in the process. Then you ordered me to come to the Headmaster's Office with you, without any explanations. By the way, you still didn't tell me, what this DA is, which Pansy mentioned.”

“So you're not aware, that you broke any school rules?”, Fudge asked and his question was repeated by Umbridge after a view moments of silence.

“Oh, I did.”, he answered, causing Fudge and Umbridge to grin happily. “Some magic in the Hallways and curfew breaking which wasn't noticed and which I certainly wont detail any further. I hope I wont get detention, just because I answered truthfully, after being questioned.”

They stopped grinning and Dumbledore, who the last sentence was directed at, answered happily.

“Don't worry, Harry. Unless you're caught at something like this we can't punish you for it.”


“Or Ministry Decrees?”, amended Fudge angrily, which Umbridge repeated.

“Not that I'm aware of.”, Harry answered.

“So, it's News to you, that a illegal student organisation has been discovered within this school?”

“Of cause, it is.”

“I think, minister, we might make better process, if I fetch our informant.”, Umbridge mentioned.

“Yes, yes, do.”, Fudge said, nodding. “There is nothing like a good witness, is there, Dumbledore?”

“Nothing at all, Cornelius.”, the Headmaster agreed.


The High Inquisitor went away and came back several minutes later, with a frightened, female student, who covered her face with her hands.

Harry instantly recognised Marietta Edgecombe, a member of the DA.

“Don't be frightened, don't be scared, my dear.”, Umbridge said, patting her on her back. “You've done the right thing. The Minister is very pleased with you. He'll be telling your mother what a good girl you've been. Marietta's mother, Minister, is Madame Edgecombe from the Department of Magical Transportation, Floo Network office. She's been helping us police the Hogwarts' fires, you know.”

“Good, good.”, Fudge said. “Like mother, like daughter, eh? Well, dear, look up, don't be shy, now let's hear, what you've got to – galloping gargoyles!”

As Marietta raised her head, Fudge leapt backwards in shock, nearly landing himself in the fire.

He instantly jumped out and stomped on the hem of his cloak, which had started smoking.


Marietta gave a wail and pulled the neck of her robes right up to her eyes, but not before everyone had seen, that her face was horribly disfigured by a series of close-set pink pustules, that spread across her nose and cheeks to form the word 'SNEAK'.

“Never mind the spots, my dear. Just take your robes away from your mouth and tell the minister...”

But Marietta gave another muffled wail and shook her head frantically.

“Oh, very well, you silly girl, I'll tell the minister!”, snapped Umbridge.

Neither she nor the minister, Percy or the tough looking Auror noted her body stiffen, when she coincidently looked into Harry's eyes, she wasn't able to stop looking into his eyes and didn't want either.

Not if she could hear his voice in her head, explaining her the contract hex, which she activated by turning traitor on them and more.


“Now, Miss Edgecombe here came into my office just after dinner this evening, and told me, that if I proceeded to a secret room on the seventh floor, sometimes known as the Room of Requirement, I would find something to my advantage. I questioned her a little further and she admitted, that there was to me a meeting of a illegal group she called DA there. Unfortunately at this point, this hex,”, she waved impatiently at Marietta's concealed face, “came into operation and upon catching sight of her face in the mirror, the girl became to distressed to tell me any more.”

“Well now,”, Fudge said, with what he evidently imagined was a kind and fatherly look, “it is very brave of you, my dear, coming to tell Professor Umbridge. You did exactly the right thing. Now, will you tell me what happened at this meeting? What was it's purpose? Who was there?”

Marietta did turn her eyes to the Minister, but still heard Harry's voice in her head, telling her, what to do.

“I don't know.”, Marietta said, her voice slightly muffled by the fabric of her robe. “It was something I heard about by accident or so I thought. Obviously, it was some kind of prank or test.”

“You stupid little bitch! To turn traitor on us, just because you hope they'll forgive you and lift that nasty little hex from you!”, she screamed waking towards Marietta, but found herself stopped by a invisible protective barrier which Harry had cast around the frightened girl, non-verbal and without taking his wand out of it's holster on his forearm.


“Take down this stupid barrier!”, Umbridge demanded of Dumbledore, who she thought to be the only one to be able of such a feat.

“I see no reason to do so.”, the headmaster answered. “It's after all a protection spell, which only keeps whoever would harm her in any way away. Everyone, who doesn't intent anything harmful to her, will not find a barrier between himself and her.”

Umbridge growled deep in her throat.


“Don't worry, Dolores. We have after all more evidence.”, Fudge mentioned. “We already know what the DA is.”

“Yes Minister. You're right.”, the High Inquisitor agreed, relaxing. “The DA, which Marietta mentioned to me earlier is the short cut, of the name of a illegal group, called Defence Association or Dumbledore's Army, Potter founded earlier this school year. During the first meeting in the Hog's Head, they were overheard by someone, who immediately came to me, too tell me everything.”

“Well, Dolores, I fear you're twice wrong there.”, Dumbledore told her.

“What? Impossible! We have a 100% safe testimony of what happened at the Hog's Head!”, Fudge said.

“Yes, but the meeting and forming of this student group at the Hog's Head wasn't illegal. Only if the group continued to meet after the ministry decree banishing student groups which was put in effect two days later, then it would have been illegal, but you have no evidence for that.”


“But Miss Edgecombe said...”

“She heard a rumour the DA would meet in this secret room. Enough students have attended the meeting in the Hog's Head for nearly the whole student body to know of said group. If someone wanted to pull a prank at you, Marietta and/or Harry, it's only logical for them to use the DA. That's no evidence, the group still exists. Now the second point, were you got it wrong. You said Harry founded the DA.”

“Yes, of cause he did!”

“Then why wasn't it named Potter's Army?”, Dumbledore asked, smiling.

Everyone was shocked.

Kingsley and McGonagall exchanged a look, their faces full of fear.


“But,... but...”, the minister stammered.

“Dumbledore's Army, Cornelius.”

Then Fudge realised, what the headmaster just told him.

“You! It was you! You tried to recruit students for your personal army?!”

“I did. But unfortunately, Cornelius, after your Decree, way to many of them didn't dare to attend the meetings any more, so I had to give up this plan of mine. Still I didn't give it up completely. I hoped, they would change their mind, that's why I asked the boy to spread this rumour and wait in the Room of Requirement each Saturday evening and bring all students to me, which decide to risk it. Still... there haven't yet been enough brave and loyal students to revive the DA. I had to Obliviate most of those, who came to me, because they planned to turn traitor on me first chance.”

Dumbledore sounded really sad about little story.

Fudge and Umbridge believed each and every one of his, in Harry's eyes quite obvious, lies.

Neither they nor their Auror spent any attention to the students.


Which made it possible for Harry to retreat quietly back to the wall, taking Marietta with him.

“Do you have it all, Weasly?”, Fudge asked Percy delightful.

“Yes, Sir. I do!”, Percy answered, his nose spattered with ink from the speed of his note-taking.

“Duplicate your notes, Weasly and send one copy to the Daily Prophet at once! If we use a fast owl, we should make the morning edition!”

Percy dashed from the room, slamming the door behind him.


Fudge turned back to Dumbledore.

“You will now be escorted back to the Ministry, where you will be formally charged, then sent to Azkaban to await trial!”

“Ah...”, said Dumbledore gently, “yes. Yes, I thought, we might hit that little snag.”

“Snag?”, said Fudge, his voice still vibrating with joy. “I see no snag, Dumbledore.”

“Well,”, said Dumbledore apologetically, “I'm afraid I do.”

“Oh, really?”

“Well... it's just that you seem to be labouring under the delusion that I am going to – what is the phrase? – come quietly. I am afraid, I am not going to come quietly at all, Cornelius. I have absolute no intention of being sent to Azkaban. I could break out of cause – but what a waste of time and frankly, I can think of a whole host of things I would rather be doing.”


Umbridge's face was growing steadily redder, she looked, as if she was being filled with boiling water.

Fudge stared at Dumbledore with a very silly expression at his face, as though he had just been stunned by a sudden blow and could not quite believe it had happened.

He made a small choking noise, then looked around at Kingsley and the man with short grey hair.

The latter gave Fudge a reassuring nod and moved forwards a little.

“Don't be silly, Dawlish,”, said Dumbledore kindly. “I'm sure, you are an excellent Auror – I seem to remember, that you achieved 'Outstanding' in all your NEWTs – but if you attempt to – er – bring me in by force, I will have to hurt you.”


The man called Dawlish blinked rather foolishly, before he looked at Fudge for a clue, what to do next.

“So,”, sneered Fudge. “You intent to to take on Dawlish, Shacklebolt, Dolores and myself single handed, do you, Dumbledore?”

“Merlin's beard, no,”, said Dumbledore, smiling. “Not unless you are foolish enough to force me to.”

“He will not be single handed!”, Professor McGonagall insisted loudly, plunging her Hand inside her robes.

“Oh, yes, he will, Minerva!”, said Dumbledore sharply. “Hogwarts needs you!”

At his words, McGonagall was pulled away from the Headmaster to her two students by some invisible force.


When she was beside him, Harry waved his already drawn wand and said “Protectorium!”

His spell erected walls of raw and powerful magic around him, Marietta and the Deputy Headmistress.

“Thank you, Harry.”, Dumbledore said.

“Enough of this rubbish!”, said Fudge, drawing his own wand. “Take him!”

A streak of silver flashed through the room, there was a bang like a gunshot and the floor trembled.

Minerva grabbed the scruff of Harry's neck and tried to force him down to the floor, but found, she wasn't able to and let go, protecting Marietta with her body, even though it wasn't needed, because the protective spell which the messy haired wizard had cast easily took care of the few spells which hit it.


A second silver flash went of and a cloud of dust filled the air.

There was a crush, someone screamed “No!”, the sound of breaking glass, a groan … and silence.

After some seconds, a tall figure moved towards them.

It was Dumbledore and Harry touched his barrier, absorbing it back into his own body, for this was the only way to undo this spell.

“Good work, Harry. Impressive, your Protective Prison spell.”, the headmaster said. “Good work convincing Miss Edgecombe, too.”

The dust cleared and they could see the four unconscious people laying on the floor.

“Unfortunately I had to hex Kingsley to, or it would have looked suspicious.”

“Thank you, Professor. Do you have a moment?”, Harry replied.

“Less than a minute.”


Harry pulled one of his Black Phoenix Amulets out of his pocked and gave it Dumbledore. “If you don't know yet, ask Sirius how they do work. Second: Dobby!”

The house-elf appeared with a crack, holding a package, nearly as big, as he himself.

“Thank you, Dobby. Is it the real thing?”, Harry asked taking the package from his elfin friend.

“It is, Harry Potter, Sir!”

“Good work Dobby. You know what to do with the other things?”

The elf nodded and disappeared again.

Harry gave the package to his Professor.

“I hope some of the information in there will be helpful to you. And I hope we'll ever stay on the same side, Professor.”


Dumbledore shrunk the package and put it into his pocket.

“I hope so too, Harry. Now I'll make Cornelius regret having ever dislodged me from Hogwarts.”

Fawkes landed on his shoulder and in a flash of fire they were gone.


The next moment Dawlish stirred and the other three followed just a moment later.

“Were is he?”, yelled Fudge, pushing himself up from the floor. “Were is He?”

“I don't know!”, Kingsley screamed back, also leaping to his feet.

“He can't have disapparated!”, Umbridge cried out. “You can't do that from Hogwarts.”

“The stairs!”, Dawlish yelled, flung himself at the door, wrenched it open and disappeared, followed closely by Kingsley and Umbridge.

“Well, Minerva.”, Fudge said nastily. “I'm afraid, this is the end of your friend Dumbledore.”

“You think so, do you?”, she said scornfully.

He didn't seem to hear her.


Instead he looked around the wrecked office.

“You better get those two of to bed.”, he said with a dismissive nod towards the two students.

McGonagall did obey him and marched them out of the office.

“Could we three have a little talk, before you take us back to our dorms, Professor?”, Harry asked, when they were far enough away from anyone, who could overhear them.

McGonagall took them wordlessly to her office.

After casting some privacy spells, Harry asked: “Are you capable of Occlumency, Professor?”

“Well... yes, but I'm certainly no master of it.”, she answered.

“I know.”, he said, looking into her eyes. “If you were, you would have noticed me reading you thoughts, like I do at the moment.”


Immediately, Professor McGonagall turned her eyes away from his and used her Occlumency to block him.

“Good.”, he said. “I do trust you. More than eighty percent of Hogwarts student body are members of the DA, including most of Slytherin”, he told her, causing her to gasp in shock.

“Now that we can't use the Room of Requirement any more, we'll be no longer able to continue our meetings, but every member has at least reached OWL level duellist Skills. This includes the first year members.”

“This explains how they learn as fast, as they do.”, the Professor murmured.

“I do however have a smaller group of friends and allies, who call themselves my Dark Order. They received extra training from me and helped me in turn teaching the members of the DA. All of them are loyal to me and I gave each of them one of these.”

Harry showed her one of his amulets.


“What is this?”, she asked.

“If it touches your skin, I can project my thoughts into your mind and if you additionally concentrates on it, I can hear your surface-thoughts. I can also forward these thoughts to anyone also wearing a amulet. It's based on weak Legilimency. But please don't forget, I do hear every thing relayed to anyone. If and when Professor Dumbledore starts using his one, you can talk to him, but don't forget, I can hear whatever you talk about.”

He put the amulet into her hand.

“Don't forget, it's just borrowed. You're not yet part of my Order. You should try talking to Sirius with it though.”


Then he turned to Marietta.

“Did you think about my offer?”

Marietta turned red. “I...”, she started. Then her eyes filled with tears and she sobbed. “I think, I'll take your offer, if you don't demand to much...”, she murmured in between crying.

“You know, to 'make up' for your betrayal, you'll have to pay dearly.”

“I don't have much...”, she said, paling.

“I did not talk about money, nor do I need it. I'm heir to the title of Lord of Potter and the Potter family is one of the wealthiest pureblood families. My trust fault alone contains more money, than you can imagine. No I'm not talking about money. I'll let the whole of the DA decide about a suiting punishment, but I for my part know, what I'll want you to do. Now be quiet, I have to concentrate.”


Harry used his wand to create something.

It seemed to be extremely difficult, because he needed whole ten minutes for it. Marietta swallowed, as she looked onto what looked like a black, leather dog collar, with a caged black phoenix an the metal tag.

Finally he was done and looked at her again.

“This will do for now.”, he said. “It will vanish after forty-eight hours and the curse will return, but until then we'll have decided on your punishment and you'll have had enough time to decide, whether or not to accept it.”

“It looks like...”

She couldn't bring herself to say it out loud.


“It's a slave collar.”, Harry affirmed her worst suspicions. “As long as you wear it, I'll know, were you are, what you do and even what you think. If you take it of, it'll vanish, the curse will return and you'll need to deal with everyone seeing your face, as it is now. You'll have to put it on yourself and you and I will be the only persons able to take it of. By the way, if you decide to take the punishment, you'll have to wear a slave collar for at least the rest of this year. It'll be a better one though.”

Marietta's finger shook, as she took the collar and put it on.

The same moment she closed it around her throat, the leather melted together, and it shrank until it was skin tight.

A little to tight for her, but it didn't matter to her any more, when Harry summoned a mirror for her and showed her, the ugly pustules on her face were gone – for now.

But, when Marietta returned to her dorm, everyone knew what happened, what she had done and no one spoke with her any more.

They all waited for the next evening, when her punishment was to be decided and voted for within the dorms common rooms, coordinated by those, who had Black Phoenix Amulets.


BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC

Dolores Jane Umbridge (High Inquisitor) has replaced Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-eight.

Signed: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic