Harry Potter and The Sword Of The Phoenix

Title: Harry Potter and the Sword of the Phoenix
Chapter Title: Training, Forgiveness, Healing, Animagi, and Dark Secrets
Author: Ash Knight
Pairings: Harry/Draco
Warnings: Lemon Spoilers from book 5, and Sap . . .
Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter and I do not make any money from these stories. So I’d like to see anyone try to sue me, lol.
Notes: This story takes place after book 5. Please leave a review.
Synopsis: This story takes place after my previous story “For it May Come True.”


It w lon long day of classes, and the trio made their way to the great hall to grab a bite to eat. Harry told them that he couldn’t go to the library with them since Dumbledore needed to talk to him about some things. Just as Harry finished eating and stood to leave Ron walked into the great hall.

“Ron how are yoingoing?” Harry asked apprehensively.

“I’m still a bummed out about the NEWTS but at least I can try to become animagi with you.”

“Well it’s your own fault Ron, you always leave your studies to the last minute” Hermione declared.

Ron looked as if Hermione had slapped him across the face and gave her a mean look.

“Guys enough!” Harry told them, knowing a fight was about to break out. “I have to go meet Dumbledore, if you guys can stop yourselves from killing each other, ill meet you at ten tonight in the Transfiguration class room for the animagi training.”

Witat Hat Harry walked out of the great hall leaving and made his way to the large gargoyle outside of Dumbledore’s office.

“Sweet Tarts!” Harry said, giving the password, and making the gargoyle jump aside to reveal the staircase behind, and began to make his way up to the office.

“Come in Harry” Dumbledored asd as Harry knocked on his door. “I trust your classes went well today?”

“Yes, everything went well. But, I have feeling your not telling me something” Harry said as he looked Dumbledore in the eye.

“I take it you mean the discussion Draco and I had while you were with Professor Snape. Well, Harry just as you never told Draco some things, he has also not told you everything about himself. He and I talked over many things as well as the discussion we had when he first joined us and admitted to many things under the truth serum. He will tell you about it all soon enough himself, just as I am sure you will do the same.”

“I understand that, and I wouldn’t want you to betray his confidence. So what now?” Harry replied.

“Now I need to ask you if you have given any thoughts as to who your financial advisor should be unless you wish for me to find one for you”

“Actually, I have an idea about that. I want Arthur Weasley to be my financial advisor, but only if he takes five percent of the money in the Black family vault” Harry stated.

“Harry, that is a great thing you are trying to do, but you know as well as I know that Arthur will refuse to take your money” Dumbledore replied with a large smile.

“Tell him that if doesn’t accept my offer I am going to donate every last knut of the Black fortune to every wizard charity I can find” Harry said almost laughing.

“Well, I’m sure that will do it” Dumbledore chuckled.

“So, what about Kreacher?” Harry asked, turning more somber.

“You’re the one who must decide Harry. I have absolutely no say in this matter, since legally, he is your property.”

If Harry set Kreacher free it would definitely do great harm to the order. But, he couldn’t be locked in the closet untie wae war ends.

“I need to go to Grimmauld Place, right now” Harry blurted out.

Dumbledore just nodded and walked over to the fire place and got a container of floo powder.

“I was going to go their tonight to see Remus after your training tonight. I needdelideliver the wolfsbane potion Snape made, to him since the full moon is near now” Dumbledore said as he handed Harry the container of floo power.

The green flames swallowed Harry completely, taking him straight to headquarters. He quickly moved out of the fire place, knowing that Dumbledore was right behind him. Harry hadn’t been back to headquarters since the Christmas of his fifth year, and being there now made Harry feel like a stake had been driven through his heart. Everywhere he looked, everything reminded him of Sirius. He knew that it wasn’t entirely his fault that Sirius was no longer there, but ache in his heart felt kept telling him otherwise. On the brink of tears, Harry forced all his emotions down into the pit of his stomach just as another blaze of green flame announced Dumbledore’s arrival. Harry turned his face away for a moment, hoping Dumbledore wouldn’t mention anything.

Dumbledore placed his hand on Harry’s shoulder and guided him downstairs to the basement kitchen.

“I want to go in alone” Harry said as he reached the door to Kreacher’s room.

“Harry, I” . . .

“This is just something I need to” Harry said, cutting Dumbledore off.

“Alright, if you need me I will be upstairs with Remus, and whatever you do, do not remove the chains he is bound with.”
undeunderstand” Harry replied with a nod.

Dumbledore turned around and went upstairs. When Harry was sure he was gone he let a l a large sigh. Everything Harry tried to suppress since Sirius’s death was flooding back. Half of him just wanted to break down and cry, the other half wanted to break the door down and kill Kreacher. For a long moment, Harry just stood there, not knowing what was going to come out of any of this, but he knew he had to make a choice, whatever that may be. When he finally had his emotions sorted out and under control he slowly opened the door in front of him.

The cupboard that was Kreacher’s bedroom was still the same from the last time Harry remembered it, right down to the melted moldy pieces of cheese around the boiler. In the small foot of space inside was Kreacher, bound by his wrist to the wall behind him by what looked like strange long iron chains, asleep on the floor. Harry closed the door behind him, which startled Kreacher awake. Kreacher backed away into the wall, shaking in fear as he looked up at Harry.

“Sirius is dead now, and he made me the heir of his estate, which means I am your master now” Harry announced, trying to see what reaction he would get.

“What will you do with me?” Kreacher asked in his hoarse voice.

“What do you want me to do with you Kreacher? Should I just cut off your head and mount it on the wall? If I set you free, you could put the Order in serious danger. I could leave you here in this closet until the war with Voldemort ends . . .” Kreacher shuddered at the name. “So what do you want?”

Kreacher looked at Harry, as if he was just insulted.

“I swore to my mistress, that Kreacher would always serve the Black family, just as Kreacher’s ancestors on the walls.”

“But now, I am the only tie left to the Black family. Would you really serve me? And if by some chance I did let you do so, how could I ever trust you?” Harry relied.

“You would be Kreacher’s master, I could not disobey you.”

“I’ve had enough experiences with house elves to know that there are ways around the enchantments of your kind. The fact that Sirius is gone and that I am your master now proves it” Harry said, crossing his arms.

Kreacher looked down to the floor, defeated. Nothing he could say would change what he had done, and Harry began to wonder if he was demanding too much from this elf. Dumbledore’s words from his fifth year echoed in his head:

KREACHER IS WHAT HE HAS BEEN MADE BY WIZARDS, HARRY.YES, HE IS TO BE PITIED. HIS EXISTENCE HAS BEEN AS MISERABLE AS YOUR FRIEND DOBBY’S. HE WAS FORCED TO DO SIRIUS’S BIDDING, BECAUSE SIRIUS WAS THE LAST OF THE FAMILY TO WHICH HE WAS ENSLAVED, BUT HE FELT NO TRUE LOYALTY TO HIM. AND WHATEVER KREACHER’S FAULTS, IT MUST BE ADMITTED THAT SIRIUS DID NOTHING TO MAKE KREACHER’S LOT EASIER-

The truth of these words could not be denied, even if they caused Harry more pain. Sirius was Harry’s godfather, but he was still human. The creature before him was molded and shaped by the indifference, neglect, and hate of wizard kind. So who was truly to blame?

“Kreacher, listen to me very carefully” Harry began, making the house elf look him in the eyes. “I understand why you did what you did, and I can’t honestly hold it against you. Sirius never really hated you, he only hated what you represented to him, and he never made anything any easier for you. So. . . I will give you chance to earn my trust. I will tell Dumbledore to release you from these chains, and I will fully take on the roll as your master. As your master, I will demand that anyone who passes through this house is to treat you with the utmost respect. But, until you earn my trust, you are under the strictest order to never leave this house, or in anyway contact anyone who is not in the Order. Do you understand?”

For a moment, Kreacher looked at Harry as if he had spoken to him in a different language. This was not what he expected, least of all from Harry Potter himself.

“Kreacher promises to serve Harry Potter” Kreacher replied nervously.

“Alright then, I will speak with Dumbledore and tell him of my decision.”

With that, Harry went back upstairs to find Dumbledore. As he entered the living room, he saw Remus laying the couch, looking awful. His hair was even greyer than before, and he looked as if he had lost too much weight. His face was screwed up into a nasty look as he swallowed the potion Dumbledore gave him. Dumbledore was on the opposite couch, telling Lupin about the coming school year as he drank the potion down.

“Hope I’m not interrupting anything” Harry said as he walked into their field of view.

“It’s good to see you Harry” Lupin said as he put down the smoldering goblet on the table.

“It’s good to see you to” Harry replied.

“Have you made a decision yet Harry?” Dumbledore asked, giving Harry an appraising look.

“Yes I have” Harry sighed.

Harry told Dumbledore what had happened, and the chance he was giving Kreacher.

“I want someone here to look after him and watch him in case he tries anything, but . . . whoever comes through here, I want to make it known that he is to be treated with respect, and that no one is to harm him in anyway” Harry finished.

“Harry . . .” Dumbledore said, beaming at him, “Every time I think I have you figured out, you still find a way to amaze me.”

“Does that mean you approve?” Harry asked jokingly.

The three of them laughed in unison for a moment before Dumbledore answered.

“Yes Harry, I do. And I must say I am very proud of you. Tomorrow you can sign the papers to the black estate, after which you will be recognized as Harry James Potter-Black, since this will officially induct you to the black family, and then we can come back here and perform the binding ritual so that Kreacher will be officially your house elf.”

Harry was glad that Dumbledore approved, but secretly hoped he wasn’t making a huge mistake. But, all his thoughts were pushed back as he once again took notice of Lupin lying on the couch. Suddenly, Harry smiled and looked down at his hands. Before Lupin knew what was happening, Harry had walked over to him and placed one hand over his heart, and the other hand on Lupin’s forehead. For a moment nothing happened, and Lupin just looked at Harry, totally confused. Why wasn’t it working?

He had healed Draco in the hospital, and his future self had healed the Longbottom’s, so why wasn’t it working?

“Harry what are you doing?” Lupin asked finally.

Harry didn’t answer him. Instead he only redoubled his effort. Instantly Harry realized what was wrong. Love was the trigger to healing! It’s what flowed through him when he healed Draco and it’s what he needed to do it again. Harry focused on all his affection for Lupin, and before either of them new it, his hands began to glow a silvery white color. The feeling the flowed through Remus was almost indescribable. It felt like joy and love was something tangible and he was covered in it all over like a blanket. After what felt like a blissfully long time the feeling faded and Harry stood back, to see a perfectly healthy man.

Dumbledore was in complete awe, as he saw Remus Lupin stand off the couch, in what seemed like a new body. All his hair was now dark brown, and his eyes no longer looked sunken and listless. They looked alert and happy, and his body was now fuller, but still a bit lanky. Over all he looked even younger, no older than twenty three years old.

“Harry what did you do?” Lupin asked as he felt his face and looked at his hands, totally amazed at how well he felt.

“You’re not a werewolf anymore” Harry stated matter of fact.

“But, how? There’s no cure for me, none of the healers I ever saw could do anything for me.”

“Harry has acquired a new ability to heal Remus, with it seems he can heal just about anything” Dumbledore chimed in.

“Harry . . . how . . . I don’t know what to say” Remus stuttered.

“Don’t worry about it; it’s the least I could do for everything you have done for me” Harry answered.

Harry gave Remus a tight hug and told him to take care of himself. Then he went back to Hogwarts with Dumbledore.

“Well Harry, Kingsley is on assignment from the ministry so he wont be here tonight to begin teaching you, so if you want we can practice Occluemency until it’s time for your animagi training.”

Harry looked uneasy. The last time he tried Occluemency was not pleasant, and instead of closing his mind, it opened it up.

“I don’t know how to close my mind at all” Harry said apprehensively.

“Which is what you are here to learn” Dumbledore replied.

“Alright . . .” Harry said.

Harry and Dumbledore stood up and looked each other in the eye.

“Legilimens!” Dumbledore called out.

A green eyed little boy was scrubbing the floor of the kitchen, while a very fat porky boy was eating his fill of chocolate ice cream and cake surrounded by a hill of presents, Uncle Vernon’s fist crashed down into a small boy’s stomach as he ranted about how stupid and useless he was, Hagrid slammed a door off its hinges as he came from outside where a storm was raging. Suddenly, Harry found himself on the floor of Dumbledore’s office, looking up at the headmaster, with a worried look on his face.

“Are you alright Harry?”

Harry rubbed his scar as if began to feel like in was singeing.

“Harry . . .”

“I’ll be fine, let’s continue” Harry said bluntly as he got up and prepared himself once again.

“Alright Harry, on the count of three. One . . . two . . . three, Legilimens!”

Sirius was fighting Lestrange on the dais when he was suddenly hit by Lestrange’s spell and fell beyond the veil, Draco was kissing Harry by the lake, each of them exploring each others mouths, but then, Harry could see Dumbledore standing before with his wand raised. Harry focused on the image of Dumbledore, and tried to push away the image of himself and Draco. The image finally faded and all Harry could see was Dumbledore.

“That was much better Harry, but you still let me too deep into your mind” Dumbledore declared.

ry wry was breathing deeply, as he continued to message his scar, in an attempt to subdue the pain. After a short break Harry and Dumbledore continued. After many flashes of painful memories Harry continued to improve, but Dumbledore could still break into his mind.

“That is enough for tonight Harry. We will continue tomorrow night, until then I wyou you to try and empty your mind before you go to sleep.”

Agreeing with Dumbledore, they made their way to the Transfiguration Department. Draco, Hermione, and Ron were already there waiting, and by the looks of it Hermione and Ron weren’t speaking to each other. Professor McGonagall was at the head of the class room waiting for them and in the corner was Snape, lading a blood like potion.

“Welcome to your animagi training” Professor McGonagall greeted them.

Harry nodded and joined his friends.

“Now to begin each of you will be taking a potion the professor Snape was able to brew for this lesson. When you drink it, it will transform you into your innate animagus form for exactly thirty seconds. But, if you do not have the any form at all the potion will have no effect and you can not become animagi. We are doing this to see if you have the actual potential to become animagi, but even if you do have an animal form; it still doesn’t mean you will be able to become an animagus. It took me the better part of six years to become an animagus through extensive work as well as study. The animagus potion will allow you to see what your forms are which you would only usually find after many years of spell work, meditation, and research” Professor McGonagall declared.

Ron sunk his head down he heard her last words. The last thing Ron expected was for this to be like a real class, let alone take him so long to learn.

“Now because we are uncertain about what animals you bec become or their size, you will all have to take one at a time. So, who would like to go first?” Professor McGonagall asked.

Ron quickly stepped up to her in compliance.

“Alright Mr. Weasley, you will go first.”

Professor Snape took a goblet from the table, filled it with the potion and handed it to Ron. Ron gulped it down, shuddering at its taste. It was like drinking rotting eggs and spoiled milk mixed together in cod-liver oil. His stomach began to churn and he felt like he was going to retch. Then the feeling grew stronger, and more painful. Before Ron knew it he was crouched on the floor and his form was changing. Everyone stared at there friend as his body changed with sickening sounds. His bones sounded like they were crunching as they changed shape, and the rest of his body began to grow in size.

The next thing anyone knew, a very large wild looking stallion was standing before them where Ron once stood. It was red all over, just like Ron’s hair with a darker red mane, and beautiful brown eyes. On its head it had some darker red spots scattered all around it, which everyone quickly guessed represented his freckles. But, as quickly as he transformed, the spell wore off, leaving Ron out of breath on the ground with a huge smile on his face.

“Congratulations Mr. Weasley. It seems you have marvelous potential” Professor McGonagall declared with a large grin on her face. “Now, who will go next?”

This time it was Hermione who stepped up, but rather nervously. She drank the potion as did Ron, and grimaced at its taste. Soon she too began to feel sick, and then changed form. Where Hermione once stood a very large lioness stood. Everyone stared at the lioness in pure shock. No one was expecting this form for the very small intelligent and quick witted girl they knew. The lioness had brown hair that looked rather bushy but somehow sleek at the same time, with honey brown eyes. Her fangs were large and her claws razor s. An. And then, like Ron before her, she transformed back to her original form.

“Well Ms. Granger, it would seem you’re a true Gryffindor through and through” Dumbledore laughed, along with everyone else, except Snape.

“Alright, now which one of you will be next?’ McGonagall asked, looking at Harry and Draco.

“I will go next” Draco quickly said and rushed up to the desk to take the potion.

Once again the sounds of crunching bones filled the class room. Harry watched his lover in obvious pain but stood firm as he did for Hermione and Ron. Everyone stared in awe as the look at Draco suddenly. Where the Slytherin boy had once stood, now stood a large white Bengal tiger with odd black stripes. Its silvery white fur almost seemed to shine with the light of the classroom. Its odd stripes crisscrossed each other to make a strange patter over its body. It almost looked like the stripes came together in a way to form the picture of fire over its body. Suddenly the great tiger bounded for Harry and jumped up on him, placing its large paws on Harry shoulders, pinning him up to the wall. Harry looked into the tigers face and saw a pair of beautiful stone grey eyes looking at him, just before the tiger began to lick his face.

Everyone just laughed at the sigh, even Snape had to give a small grin. Then, suddenly, the licking tiger became the licking boy as Draco once again stood in his original form, still licking Harry’s face for a moment before he realized he was no longer a tiger.

“You’ll have Harry to yourself later Draco!” Hermione said which made everyone laugh all the harder.

Draco stepped away from Harry then, his face completely red from embarrassment. Harry then just grabbed his embarrassed lover and kissed him sweetly, which just made his face grow an even dark shade of red. When the laughing finally died out, it was Harry’s turn to take the potion.

Harry felt himself begin to change and the room around him seemed to grow larger. When Harry transformed everyone was stunned into silence. In the place where Harry stood was now a phoenix. Its feathers were jet black with a crimson outline around the wings, and a very long tail, just like Fawkes. Harry’s scar was crimson also which extended through the top of his head all the way down to the tip of his tail in a crimson lightning bolt. With a great flap of his wings, Harry flew over to and landed on his shoulder, and affectionately nipped his ear, giving Draco a view of his startling green eyes. Then Harry quickly flew back to the floor in the center of the class just as he started to return to his human form. Everyone just stared at Harry as he stood in the center of the room, not knowing what to say.

“How is that possible?” Hermione finally spoke up, breaking the odd silence.

“What do you mean?” Harry asked nervously.

“Harry, no one has ever been able to become a magical creature when they become animagi” Hermione answered.

Harry just shrugged his shoulders not knowing what to say to her, and looked over at Dumbledore. He gave Harry a curious look, and then nodded at Minerva to continue.

“Yes, well . . . it seems all of you have great potential, to become animagi. Now I want all of you to take a copy of this book, and read it from front to back. In it, it will explain how to make you transform at will as well as how to transform back. Further more, I want all of you to read up on the forms that you take. Whatever you become reflects something about yourself which we will also be discussing. The reason for this is that while you must understand the theory behind become an animagus, you must also understand yourself a bit more. It is a very personal process, and it is something not to be taken lightly.”

She went on to explain about how to change at will and how to change back. Then demonstrated by changing form.

“So are there any questions before we leave this lesson for the night?” Professor McGonagall asked.

Of coarse Hermione raised her hand.

“Yes Ms. Granger?”

“Well I was just wondering . . . well . . . isn’t this illegal?” Hermione said very nervously.

“Do not worry Hermione,” Dumbledore answered with a large smile. “I have informed the ministry of your training and they have agreed that once you finish training, you will register with them but they will not put you on the roster. After you all register, they will bury the paper work to make sure no one knows that you are animagi, until after the war that is.”

Harry laughed at her question; leave it to Hermione to worry about rule breaking with such things. After that, Professor McGonagall dismissed them all until tomorrow night. Before Snape had a chance to leave, Harry thanked him for brewing the potion for him and his friends. Snape told him he was welcome and collected his items, then made a quick exit with his robes billowing behind him in classic motion. Then just as he was about to join Draco to walk back to their rooms Dumbledore beckoned him aside, with an urgent look on his face.

“Harry, I would like you to talk to you about something important before we continue your occluemency tomorrow evening” Dumbledore told Harry.

“Is something wrong Albus?” Harry asked worriedly.

“I do not believe so but we will discuss it later. You have had a long day and I imagine it’t ovt over yet” Dumbledore replied as he looked over at Draco.

Harry smiled and told Dumbledore that he was right, his night wasn’t over yet. He agreed to meet the headmaster in his office and then bid him goodnight. Hermione and Ron already left and Draco was waiting for him with a watchful eye. Harry assured him that everything was ok, at least as far as he knew and then headed back to their private room. Draco looked apprehensive about something, and Harry knew tonight was defely ely going to be a long night. When they finally reached the room Draco went over to the dressing mirror by the far wall and looked at himself, as if he didn’t recognize his own reflection.

Instinctively Harry went over to Draco, wanting to comfort him, but Draco pulled away as if it physically hurt him to be touch.

“Draco what’s wrong?” Harry said as he took a step back.

“I’m sorry Harry; it’s just that, I’m afraid.”

“Of what?” Harry asked.

“I’m afraid of what I have to tell you, and that you will be angry with me for not telling you before now” Draco responded in barely a whisper.

“You don’t have to be afraid, I will understand if you kept something from me. I have something to tell you too and I hope your not angry with me either” Harry responded.


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


Authors Note:
If any of you are wondering why I made Hermione a lioness, I came to this decision after much thought. Every fic I have ever read that Hermione was an animagus, she was always a raven or an owl, or something to represent her huge intelligence. But, in the books I have seen that there is a lot more to Hermione than just her mind. In the end she is much braver than she is intelligent (which is saying quite a lot); this is why the sorting hat put her in Gryffindor in the end. Not to mention that every now and then you can see her fiery nature come to the surface. For example, in book three she slapped Draco right in the face for insulting Hagrid and Buckbeak during the care of magical creatures’ class. Which was of coarse one of my favorite scenes in the book, lol.

You will find out more about her animagus form, as well as the others in the chapters to come, as well as some other big surprises.

Mikochef: Don’t worry about not being to review in the morning; I’m just happy you were able to review. As far as Draco and Harry being together after Harry became a Professor, you’ll learn more about that in the next chapter. I have to admit I had a problem thinking up a way they could be together with the whole student professor thing but I’m glad this solution works. As for Ron not being able to become a teacher, well I didn’t think it was very realistic to have him become one, but I’m glad you acknowledged that it wasn’t really possible for him to become one anyway. I hope you’re happy with the animal forms I gave the four of them and we might get more info on them later.

To everyone else: I would like to encourage everyone who comes across this story to please review. Finally I would also like to thank Mikochef for being such a great fan and BETA reader. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be writing this story, so I hope you enjoy it. Although since you’re the only one who reviews anymore, maybe I should just stop putting them up on AFF.net and just send you the chapters by email . . . lol.