Chapter 8- Ancient Babies

 

          Sirius and McGonagall followed Aislinn into the Great Hall, where she stopped under the Slytherin banners.  Sirius moved to the Griffindor, but kept his eyes on her at all times.  The girl smiled and sat down.

 

          “You’ve never sat at the Slytherin tables, have you Mr. Black?  I assure you, it’s no different than sitting at any of the others.”

“Ms. Malfoy, the school term has yet to start.  You will see for yourself just how ‘different’ the houses are.”

“The thing is, I don’t care about the differences.  In the end, we’re all the same.  I’m a Water element, I go with the flow.  I would be housed in Griffindor, if it weren’t for my father.  It’s Malfoy tradition to be a Slytherin.  And before you ask, I’ll asnwer your question about my father in a minute.  What I believe you both want to know is why Draco is a Hell Hound, when they are near impossible for an animagus to become.

 

“ Hell Hounds, like the Phoenix, are basically immortal, and were originally created to protect something.  The Phoenix was born to protect the Order between Light and Dark.  It eventually became the symbol and mascot of the Order of the Phoenix, which was derived from the unspoken order the bird keeps.  It burns every year to rekindle the Light, and to extinguish Darkness.  It will burn on occasion in warning, like Fawkes did before the final battle.  A Phoenix can die, however, and that is where the Hell Hound comes in.

 

          “The first Phoenix the Powers created was simple, just a mere test.  Unfortunately, the test started when an evil was born, and thus the Powers were not equipped for such a battle.  The Dark Power knew that the bird could bring Light into its Darkness, and set out to kill it.  Unfortunately, you can’t kill a Phoenix with convential weaponry, or water, as some think.  It is the flame of Light, so water cannot extinguish it, nor can a weapon touch it.  The Dark Power created a creature much like the Phoenix, only it wasn’t a bird.  It was a Fox.  Small and crafty, and completely white, with orange on it’s ears, toes, muzzle, and tail.  The older they got, the more orange their fur became.  They could touch the Phoenix, and hurt it.  The Powers dubbed it a Firetail Fox, because when it battled a Phoenix, the tail would burst into flames, as would its ears and feet. 

 

          “The test of the Phoenix ended when the last Royal Dragon fell, protecting its young, and an assortment of abandoned animals.  The Phoenix felt the darkness closing on the Dragon, and went to help.  Unfortunately, there had been an army of Foxes, and to make a long battle short, the Phoenix fell.  The Dragon destroyed the Foxes, and then passed on, her only child sitting in the water before the small oasis the orphans had been placed on by its mother.  She took on the attribute of Water, rather than of Fire, and she cried for the Phoenix.  That was the day the Phoenix was granted the Order, and the day the Dragon’s Eye Diamond was formed.  The animals on that small oasis were a Serpent, Lion, Raven, and a Wolf.  They took on Human form, and thus the first Animagi were born.  They would later be known as Salazar Slytherin, Godric Griffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Helga Hufflepuff.”

 

          Aislinn paused, letting this information sink in to the two before her.  She knew that they knew the story behind the creation of the Phoenix, but the Hogwart’s founders was an entirely different ball game.  She doubted that even Dumbledore knew that the founders were older than “Hogwart’s: A History” explained, and she knew that no one knew about the Hell Hound.

 

          “And where exactly does the Hell Hound fit in, Ms. Malfoy?” McGonagall asked, conjuring herself a more comfortable chair.

“The same place that the Potters and the Malfoys do.  When they made the castings for the two halfs of the diamond, a large dog and a Phoenix came to them.  I believe that Phoenix was Fawkes.  The dog was the first Hell Hound.  Apparently, the fire that had killed all of the Foxes had combined their spirits, thus creating a larger force.  The new entity looked much like your animal form Mr. Black, with the exception of chestnut on its feet and ears.  It had no reason to hurt the Phoenix, and was very much attuned to the Darkness.  It was sent to protect the Potters.  A black Stag was sent the next day with the Phoenix, to protect the Malfoys.  This is how the Guardians became what they are.  Stag, Hell Hound, Serpent, Falcon, and Unicorn.  Draco Malfoy is the only known Hell Hound in existance.  His sole purpose was to die protecting Harry Potter, just as the first Hell Hound protected the first Potter.”

 

          They were silent.  How did one girl know so much?  And did the Headmaster know?  Sirius had known from the moment he set eyes on Harry after he’d gotten out of prison that there was something special about him, but to be the Stag that was supposed to protect a Malfoy?  Quite a hard bit to swallow.  McGonagall just stood up and headed towards the hall.  Aislinn smiled.

 

          “Professor Dumbledore already knows this.  He also knows that Rhiannon’s animagi form was stripped from her at birth.  That would be the dragon landing outside Hagrid’s hut now.”

 

          Sirius and McGonagall looked at one another, and bolted for the door.  With a sly smile, the 11-year old WizElf followed.  They had just ran out the doors when the large black and silver dragon landed, and Sirius stopped dead.  Rhiannon was standing on the dragons back, dressed in the Greenleaf robes, her eyes glowing to match that of the dragon.  His heart jumped into his throat as the creature leaned down to look at Ron, and he shifted immediately.

 

          <RON!> he screamed, readying to lunge at the beast.  <Move!>

 

          The dragon roared and just as Padfoot jumped, ducked its head.  The animagus flew over it and landed in a heap on top of Hagrid and Fang.  The dragon seemed to smile and licked Ron’s cheek.  Everyone let out a sigh of relief as it laid down and Rhiannon slid off it’s back, hugging Ron and laughing at Sirius as he dusted his clothes off.  Dumbledore, Legolas, Damiana, and Fawkes stopped before them and Rhiannon quickly pulled back.  She bowed respectfully and as Legolas stepped forward, moved to drop to a knee.  That wasn’t exactly what the Elven Prince had in mind as he pulled her into a tight embrace.

 

          “Welcome back Rhiannon.” Dumbledore said, moving to stand next to Professor McGonagall.

“Father.” she whispered, pulling back to look at him, “You knew Draco was alive?”
”Yes.”

“And why was I told he was dead?”
”It was for the best.  Keya would not have had the time to connect had I told you he was still alive.”

“He’s a Hell Hound, you know that don’t you?”
”Yes.”

“And he wasn’t stripped!?”

“His animagi wasn’t known at his birth Rhiannon.  It would have also been incredibly difficult to do under Lucius Malfoy’s watchful eye.”
”That’s why he’s got an illegitimate daughter with one of your body guards?”

 

          Aislinn’s look narrowed and Fawkes watched with intrest, as did Dumbledore.  Her power was almost visible as she took a step towards the older girl.  Damiana grabbed her shoulder and shook her head.

 

          “This is not the time nor the place to talk about this, daughter.”
”Don’t give me that ‘daughter’ shit!  There is no way in hell I’m teaching that little accident how to control her Element, nor is there any way you’re going to get me to help her shift!  If you hadn’t let her sleep with him to get information on Voldermont, then we would be all set.  The only reason the damn Order had to be broken and all of us called here is because this little shit is Dark!  She should’ve died the day she was born, just like You-Know-Who had said!”

 

          They all looked at her in shock as her Keya started to become trasparent, and her pendant started to crackle in blue electricity.  Aislinn gasped as her arm flared in pain, and Damiana grabbed her daughters arm.  Before the 11 year old could pull away, her robe sleeve was pulled up and the lightning bolt shaped scar was revealed to the group.  It was pulsing, and pitch black.  Keya spit a small blue fireball at it, only to have it diffuse around a barrier of black magic.  Damiana’s eyes narrowed as did Legolas’s, and Sirius took ahold of the girls arm.  His dark look got even darker and he motioned for Fawkes to come over.

 

          “Touch him with this hand.” he ordered her, the great bird landing on his shoulder as her hand was released.

“I-I can’t.  It’ll burn like real flames.” she admitted.

“Only darkness burns in the flames of  Phoenix.” McGonagall said, tapping her wand on her hand, as did Ron and Rhiannon.

“Yes Minerva, but she can touch him with her other hand, we’ve seen her do so.” said Dumbledore as he stepped next to Legolas. “There may be a way to purge the evil from her.” a new voice said as Crawler walked over, resting a hand on both Legolas and Damiana’s shoulders.  “She’s not completely dark… yet.”

 

          He pulled a small pouch from his belt and took a small pinch of its contents out, sprinkling it over the black scar.  Aislinn screamed as it burst into black flames.  Everyone gasped, and the transparent dragon moved to curl itself around Rhiannon and Ron.  Legolas’ eyes narrowed to blue slits and he took the pouch from Crawler, dumping all of it over his neices arm.  She screamed again, holding her arm as she fell to her knees.  Fawkes let out an earpiercing wail and moved back.  The girl was now completely surrounded with black flames, and every wand (and 1 umbrella) was glowing white.  Fawkes had turned almost completely white, his eyes disappearing in his flames, and he and Keya let out cries that shook the ground.

 

          “Make it stop!” Aislinn cried, turning her face to the sky, “Daddy, make it STOP!!”

 

~!*!~

 

          Prongs and Fox stepped up to a small glowing circle of trees, eyes settling on a small black Stag colt.  He looked up at them with eyes the color of sapphires, and Fox’s dark glare softened at the fear that pooled in them.  Both animagi noticed the small thing was shivering, his shoulders and neck twitching violently as he tried to stand.  Fox mentally gasped when he saw the colts hooves, and Prongs inwardly smiled, nuzzling his lovers neck as they watched the poor thing fall. 

 

          <What aren’t you telling me Prongs?> Fox asked, taking the rest of the baby.

<Nothing.  We’ve got to get him to Hagrid.  Wait here.>

 

          Prongs took a few steps forward, and the colt attempted to make what it thought was a warning type sound.  The older Stag smiled at it and bowed his head, 14 points coming down to just barely touch the  6 point rack of the colt.  Wide blue eyes met emerald green ones and Prongs nodded.  As if trying to prove himself, the Earth pendant appeared around Prong’s neck, and glowed a soft green.  The colt stood and moved as close to the older as he could without going under him, and to Fox, it looked like he was trying to hold onto him.

 

          <His left shoulder’s cut open, Fox.> Prongs shot as he turned to look back at the Hell Hound.

<Can Hagrid do stitches?>

<If he can’t I know Madam Pomfrey can.>

<Just no chocolate for him, right?>

<Right.  A little of Hagrid’s Treacle Fudge maybe, but none of Pomfrey’s chocolate.>

 

          The black Stag looked at the two, and moved away from Prongs towards Fox.  The Hell Hound stood completely still as the little one nuzzled his neck and then rested his head on his back.  Prongs sent a mental smile over the link he had with Fox and both turned to head back to Hogwarts, the colt walking between them.

 

          They hadn’t gone far before a scream cut through the air, Fox’s link to Rhiannon flaring.  They looked at one another, then the colt, who had a wide-eyed look of terror on his face before bolting forward.  Prongs and Fox weren’t far behind.

 

          <What do you think’s happening?> Prongs questioned, trying to feel for Hermione.

<I can’t tell.  Rena’s trying to sheild herself.>

<It’s the Black Phoenix.> a small voice said to both of them before a flash of blue crossed the short link.

 

          Questions would have to be left unanswered as they burst out of the forest, only to see black flames surrounding a girl they’d never seen before.  All that they thought of was getting to their friends and kicking some major ass if necessary.  They stopped beside Padfoot and an Elf that they didn’t know, both their eyes glowing.  Their pendants hung around their necks, glowing brightly against their fur, and both felt the intense power radiating from the tall Elf they guessed to be Legolas Greenleaf.  The colt glared at the girl, his eyes flickering as he took a determined step forward. 

 

          <Prongs!  Stop him!> Fox shouted, finding his feet held to the ground by ice.

<I can’t move!  My feet are in the same possition yours are!>

 

          Ice was slowly making its way up around all of them, already half way up Dumbledore and McGonagall, Legolas, Damiana, and the unnamed Elf.  The colt was the only thing left untouched.  Fawkes let out a cry of protest, trying to flap his flaming wings free of the binding ice.  Obviously he knew something  the others didn’t.

 

          <We’ve got to stop him, before he touches the flames!> a voice neither Prongs or Fox had heard shouted in their heads.

<Dad…?> questioned Fox, looking at the nearly iced over Elven Prince.

 

          As if his animal instincts took over, Fox burst into flames.  The ice around him disappeared, and the flames died to lap at each ankle, flicker from the tips of his ears, and run in a small stripe down his back.  His silver-blue eyes narrowed and he dashed in front of the black Stag, teeth bared as he growled at the girl.

 

          Her green eyes were wide and glowing, hands on the ground in front of her as she stared at the colt.  Her short hair whipped around in the wind that had come up with her power, and the rat tail moved of its own accord.  As Fox turned to face her, her eyes narrowed, and she let out a screech that was most definitly not human.  In an explosion of electric blue magic, a large crystal of ice sat before them, the girls form not visible.  Fox again burst into flames, snarling at the huge block, and before any one could protest, started clawing at it, his lava hot claws leaving hot marks in their wake.

 

          The colt turned to look at Prongs, and his now solid glowing eyes softened as he moved to rub against his chest.  Prongs felt the ice around his legs crack, and looking down at his hooves, saw vines of Devil’s Snare breaking through it, and all of the ice holding the others.  Rhiannon promptly collapsed into Ron’s arms, and Hermione to her knees beside Padfoot.  Dumbledore and McGonagall exchanged looks and then looked at Legolas and the other Elf.   They all looked at Damiana.

 

          “Did you know?” no-name asked.

“How could I know?  She’s been with the Serpent for the past 5 years!  I didn’t even know she had a scar on her arm, let alone a mark left by You-Know-Who!” the woman protested, looking up as rain started to fall.  “Oh my God…”

 

~!*^*!~

 

          She leaned against the frame of her mirror, red eyes wide as she stared at the scene before her.  Whirling around to her cauldron, she saw the thick silver liquid bubbling over the edges, the flames nearly licking the rim.  Before she knew what she was doing, she started twirling around, arms out, laughing hysterically.

 

          “The girl from my dream!  How IRONIC!  You tried to protect her Lucius, but obviously the Dark Lord knew what you were hiding!”

 

          Her laughter ringing through the house she fell to the floor, her serpent slithering up around her, head in her lap, eyes glowing yellow as its mistress hugged it.  Somewhere in the back of her mind it knew she was insane.

 

~TBC~