When All is Lost One is Found

Chapter 103: Loyalty of the Phoenix

When All is Lost, One is Found

Author: Rinoaebastel

Chapter 103: Loyalty of the Phoenix

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than writing practice. JK Rowling owns Harry Potter.

AN: This story may contain scenes taken from the Harry Potter movies and books, but it's not exact dialogue, just rewording of dialogue or omission. It is not marked.

November, 1997

There'd been a lull in the larger incidences in the past few days, for which he was thankful. There were still small coups in classes that he wasn't there to solve and resulted in punishment with the Carrows, but overall the coup had become subtler. The older students finally saw that the innocent students were being thrown into something they were both too young and too inexperienced to be involved in. In reality, all the students were such, but it would be naive to think they'd stay out of things. It would be detrimental to the cause if they did as well.

Potter's group stopped trying to get inside his office. He'd seen them twice since he'd caught them. They would patrol his domains with such poor subtlety that a deaf serpent would be able to hear them. In the times he'd caught them, they'd frozen much like they had in the office, but instead of bothering to send them to detention he just told them to go back to their dorms.

After that, he hadn't seen them again.

He stared out over the Great Hall, seeing occasional hateful glances thrown at him, but nothing much more than that. It was still tense, growing more so as the days passed, but that was mainly due to the Carrows targeting anyone they could for any infraction they committed. He knew the Carrows were making up the majority of violations, and looking for anything they could use as a reason to punish someone.

The students tended to act out more if he were present, so it would be better, for their sake and his own health, to avoid the Great Hall in the future. He could feign work if anyone asked. Not that they would of course.

He stood and crossed the Great Hall, intending to go to his office. The hall grew silent as he walked and he felt eyes on his back until he turned the corner. They all looked at him like he was a sideshow monster. He was good enough to see and mock but not to speak with. It'd always been like that but now it was more pronounced.

She'd been the only one brave enough to approach the monster. To walk with him a while. She still walked with him in spirit but that didn't ease the fact that he missed her. Probably much more than he should.

When he reached his office, he looked at each of the portraits, finding that Albus was missing from his again. It was as if all the planets had aligned to let him check on her. To ease at least one worry that was eating at him.

He stopped in front of Phineas. The old Slytherin headmaster was looking at him with a mix of concern and rigid eyes. Yet, there was something else there that he couldn't pinpoint.

"Phineas, tell me about them." The portrait, after an accusatory glance, nodded.

"Certainly, Headmaster. They are safe and unnoticed despite some of the Dark Lord's werewolves sniffing around them. Potter has been having nightmares so the witch's worry is compounded by that. She mentioned something about teaching him occlumency but the foolish boy rejected her ideas." He paused and raised his head. "I must say, despite being a mudblood, she is extremely intelligent."

"Don't call her that!" he snapped, almost grabbing the portrait to tear it down. "She deserves respect, Phineas."

He would not allow another being to insult the only witch, the only person, who was on his side now. Who knew the truth about everything he had to do.

The portrait, just smiled knowingly. Severus narrowed his eyes and snorted. That bastard knew just what he was doing. He wanted to get a reaction.

"How Slytherin of you," he said.

"Of course."

"Give me a report."

"They are having problems with the food and the brainless red-haired one abandoned them a few weeks ago."

"Why didn't you notify me of that?" He knew he couldn't have done anything, but it would've been nice to know about the incident. "That blasted Weasley. How is she taking it?"

"She clearly felt betrayed, but she's not letting it deter her. Right now, she's focusing on helping Potter. She isn't missing the idiot." He smirked. "The Weasley boy isn't the man on her mind. But you, headmaster, she asks about you as often as she can. I told her about the attempted thievery in your office since they asked about the sword. Your witch didn't look happy about it, but she remained quiet."

His witch. Did his portrait really call her his witch? Was he that obvious? He crossed his arms and discarded the thought. There were more important matters to worry about, and a portrait knowing his feelings for her wasn't critical.

"When you can, tell her that the Dark Lord won't intrude in Potter's mind, but it's probably his influence. He is becoming more careless and desperate. Right now, I'm in a privileged place. Tell her not to worry and to focus on finding and destroying those Horcruxes."

"I will do it, Headmaster. I'm sure she'll be glad to hear a direct message from you."

"And about that slimy coward. Tell her I will hex him if he takes a step near this castle.

Phineas chuckled, making the portrait vibrate and then, bowed before disappearing.

The news didn't calm him as much as he'd hoped, but at least he knew she was still safe and hidden. She'd taken charge and that was yet another ease to his mind. She was the brains out of those three. She was cautious and he had trained her to fight and survive. She was a fighter and now willing to show her claws when necessary.

A chirp distracted him from his thoughts. He looked toward the window and saw a mass of fire in the shape of a bird fly inside. It moved over to the perch in the office and landed. The little owl that used to come to the dining hall entered right after him, choosing his office chair to perch on. He walked over to his chair and stroked the little owl on the head before turning his gaze to the phoenix.

"Fawkes?"

The phoenix extended his wings and released another chirp. His claws gripped the perch tightly, a hint he took as the creature saying, "I'm not moving".

And he didn't understand why. He wasn't loyal to Dumbledore anymore; he followed his task and ideals. Dumbledore was dead and the bird was free of a master.

He studied the bird for a few seconds and took a small step back when it lowered its head, as if bowing.

Why would the bird choose him as a master?

The bird raised its head and met his gaze. He would have to accept the decision of the creature whether he thought it best or not.

He smirked.

Who would have thought this kind of aid would come to a Slytherin?

He glared at Dumbledore's empty portrait.

AN: Despite all, he is having more company than he thought. Still he misses our Hermione and worries about her. Let me know what you think and I hope you liked it. See you on Wednesday.