Order of the Phoenix
Dominant Instinct
By Ruskbyte
Chapter Twenty Eight
~ Dominant Instinct ~
Ginny had recently made a resolution that, regardless of what happened, when next she saw Merlin or any of the other members of the Order of the Phoenix, she was going to kick their arses all the way
from the Burrow to Hogwarts.
"My feet are killing me," she groaned as she trudged along. "Who would've thought Harry's mind could be so damn big?"
*Indeed?* asked Merlin, his voice sounding vaguely amused.
Ginny glowered. "Yes. Indeed. For Merlin's sake, I've been running around this menagerie for what seems like days!"
There was tired and almost disgruntled sounding sigh. *As we told you; time here is highly subjective. In reality only a few minutes have passed, perhaps not even that long. And will you please stop that?*
"Stop what?"
*Merlin's sake. Sweet Merlin. Great Merlin. Merlin's beard. Holy Merlin. That!*
"Touchy subject, eh?" asked Ginny impishly, noting as she did that she was drawing close to another forest. Without hesitating she veered to one side, making certain that she would pass a fair distance from the woods.
During her time in Harry's mindscape, which was a magnificent and magical realm, Ginny had only once approached one of the few forests. At first, from a distance, it had seemed almost as wondrous as the rest of Harry's world. But as she'd come closer, the forest had become clearer and at the same time darker in appearance.
It had reminded her frighteningly of the Forbidden Forest by Hogwarts, and Ginny had been afraid to risk entering it. The chilling screams and cries echoing from within the trees had done nothing to ease her apprehension. Some of the howls she had recognised as the voices of the Dursleys, constantly berating and demeaning whomever they were directed to.
They were his memories, she recalled, of how the Dursleys used to treat him.
Since then she had steered well clear of these places, focusing her search for Harry across the rolling emerald hills and crystalline lakes. As she trekked through the fields of ankle-deep grass, Ginny turned her gaze upwards, searching the sky above for any hint of approaching night.
The sky was a bright and clear blue, occasionally spotted with white, fluffy-looking clouds. Every so often, but at irregular intervals, the sky would darken to a deep indigo, with streaks of violet and orange radiating from the never setting sun. It would dip low towards the horizon, but never truly disappeared from view.
There were buildings as well, although Ginny had not been able to explore more than a handful thus far. They appeared here and there, scattered about the landscape. Some, mostly tall, thin and unstable-looking towers, were positioned on top of the low hills that dominated this world. Others, usually small and comfortable cottages, were located alongside bubbling streams or small lakes.
Ginny had even seen what appeared to be the now--in the waking world--non-existent number four Privet Drive. How it had managed to appear in the depths of Harry’s mind Ginny did not know, but she had studiously avoided the seemingly innocent dwelling. She reasoned that Privet Drive would, considering Harry’s experiences there, not be a pleasant place to visit.
By far the most interesting, and most disturbing structure Ginny had found was the Burrow. It had been duplicated almost perfectly, clearly a replica constructed from Harry’s memories of the times he had spent there. The sense of déjà vu that had come over Ginny during her short inspection of her home had been unnerving to say the least.
It felt just like home, only so horribly empty...
At the moment, in her search for Harry, Ginny was steadily making her way to a range of distant, snow-capped mountains. Whenever she stood at the crest of one of the many hills, and if she squinted, Ginny thought she could make out what looked suspiciously like Hogwarts castle.
Unfortunately her journey towards the faraway mountains and castle seemed to be taking on the aspect of chasing after a mirage. She had been walking for hours, or perhaps days, or even weeks, yet the foothills and twisting spires of Hogwarts remained just on the edge of the horizon.
After a while spent contemplating the strange beauty of Harry's personal world, Ginny turned her attention back to Merlin. The most famous wizard in history, barring perhaps the four Founders, Dumbledore and Harry, was rambling on about how people kept invoking his name. He was currently complaining about how he was blamed for the divorce rate of socks when Ginny interrupted.
"Why is this taking so long?" she asked. "Harry's mind can't go on forever, can it?"
*Actually it can. A person's mind is only as limited as their imagination,* replied the voice she had come to identify as Isis, *and Harry's imagination is almost boundless.*
Ginny frowned and drew to a weary halt. "So how, exactly, do you suggest I set about finding Harry? He could be anywhere."
*Simple, my dear,* replied Merlin, *follow the screams.*
She almost took his comment as an attempt at sarcasm, but stopped her comeback when a low, keening wail reached her ears. Tilting her head to one side Ginny focused on the sound and tried to determine in which direction it lay.
Several minutes of silence passed before Ginny heard anything else, but this time the sound was different. It was not a howl of pain, but a roar of pure, animalistic fury. Ginny felt her mouth go dry as she recognised the fierce battle cry. She had heard it only a matter of days ago, in the real world, during and shortly after the destruction of number four Privet Drive.
Shrieks of what could only be agonising pain followed close on the heels of the primordial roar, which was repeated again and again. Loud cracks and booms of heavy objects crashing against each other resounded through the shallow valley Ginny was standing in. Challenging bellows rose into the air, only to be cut off by more cries of pain and howls of a mindless bloodlust.
*Better hurry,* urged the deep voice of Beowulf. *I do not think the battle will last that much longer.*
It was not difficult to determine in which direction the action was taking place, for clouds of dust and dirt where being kicked up. Ginny broke into a run, hurrying up the low hill between herself and the waging battle. Twice she stumbled in her haste and almost fell to the ground, but somehow she managed to remain on her feet.
Cresting the top of the hill, Ginny skidded to a halt. At the base of the hill, between a small stream and a cluster of oak trees, a war was being waged. It was too fierce and bloody to be thought of as anything less than a war. After that moment when she saw them, locked together in mortal combat, Ginny knew the meaning a clash between titans.
"Oh my God," she breathed, "Harry."
***
The destruction of number four Privet Drive several days earlier had been an eye-opener for Ginny. Until then she had never truly comprehended just how powerful Harry actually was. He had always tempered his unmatchable strength with an iron will and stern self-discipline. Now, however, Harry was no longer in control, and the power of the Order was being unleashed in a fit of unequalled carnage.
Not all that far below where Ginny was standing, Harry, in the form of an Imperial Arch Griffin, was locked in a bloody battle with five dragons. All five were identical with the coal black hides that marked them as Hungarian Horntails. No, Ginny quickly realised that she was wrong. Harry was not fighting five Horntails. He was wrestling against only two.
The other three were already dead.
Even though Ginny knew that it was not truly Harry, she could not help but be awed by the fluid grace and predatory intelligence with which the Griffin fought. With a nimbleness Ginny would never have expected from such a large creature, the Griffin hopped to one side, narrowly dodging a fiery blast from one of the Horntails.
The double fisted blow that the Griffin then dealt, only an instant later, knocked the huge black dragon into the air and back fifty yards. The Horntail fell to the earth with a ground-shaking crash and skidded for several yards before coming to a stop.
Before the dragon had even hit the earth, the Griffin had spun around and leapt upon the second Horntail. His taloned claws slashed down across the dragon's chest in a crosswise motion. As the dragon staggered back under the assault the Griffin crouched low and swung himself in a tight arc, the razor-sharp golden tips of his right wing slicing into the Horntail. The Griffin jumped back as thick red blood sprayed out from the jagged wound and kicked out with one of his legs, knocking the mortally wounded dragon back.
Sweet and merciful heavens, thought Ginny with reluctant admiration, he's brutal.
Blood coated the Griffin's arms up to the elbow and was dripping in sheets from the claws on his feet and the blades edging his wings. The Horntail thrashed wildly about as its hind legs collapsed underneath it. The beast mewled pitifully as its lifeblood seeped from its belly, dripping to the ground where tendrils of smoke began to rise as the grass started to burn from the intense heat. The Griffin threw back its head to roar in triumph over his victory.
His victory was short-lived however, as the other dragon had managed to stumble onto its feet again and launch itself at the distracted Griffin. With an almost gleeful roar the dragon's head swung in, narrow jaws parted wide, and the Horntail sank its fangs into the Griffin's neck. A howl of pain mixed with rage sounded as the Griffin staggered under the dragon's weight.
"Omigod!" breathed Ginny in terror, feeling horrified that Harry was being hurt. She reached for her wand without thinking, only to come up empty-handed. Her wand was currently resting on the nightstand in Ron's room, practically a world away at the moment. A moment later, however, Ginny's fears were allayed as Harry fought off the dragon single-handedly.
Literally.
With the Horntail clinging to his back like a limpet, its teeth buried in his neck, the Griffin reached back with his right arm and grabbed it by one of the horns crowning its head. For a moment the Horntail paused, as if confused by the contact. With a furious bellow the Griffin doubled over, pulling at the same time and tossing the dragon over his shoulder.
As the dragon crashed down, kicking up a cloud of dust, the Griffin swung his left arm down and across. With a sound like tearing canvas, his already bloodstained, golden talons cleaved through one of the dragon's wings. The leathery membrane seemed to part at the seams and the fallen beast howled in agony and fury.
The Griffin spun deftly around on his legs and began raining blows upon the Horntail, his fists striking the dragon's armoured hide with solid thunks. Several loud cracks echoed through the air and the dragon squealed with pain, thrashing violently as it tried to pull away from the rampaging Animagus.
Heaving with all its strength, the Horntail managed to roll to one side and push itself off the ground and into a low crouch. Its tattered wing hung limply at its side. With what seemed like desperation, the dragon breathed a stream of fire towards its opponent, but it was to no avail. The Griffin ducked down low and the tongue of flame passed harmlessly above his back, scarcely even brushing his tightly furled wings.
With an anticipatory roar, the Griffin leapt up from below and slashed his right hand across the dragon's face in a vicious uppercut. The dragon dropped to the ground, the left side of its head torn to bloody ribbons. As it fell, the Griffin ducked in even closer and tore at the Horntail's exposed throat with his golden fangs.
The Horntail tried to resist its foe, but its weak struggles quickly died away, and after a minute or so, it simply hung limp. The Griffin growled and shook his head about, refusing to release his hold on the dragon until all signs of life had finally fled. Once he was certain the Horntail was truly dead, the Griffin relaxed his jaws and let the body fall away with a contemptuous snarl.
He backed away several giant strides and stared down at his defeated foe. A minute passed, then two, and then the Griffin threw back its head and roared in exultation. It was a sound that conveyed so many primal emotions and feelings that Ginny shuddered when she heard it.
It was satisfaction.
It was revelry.
It was enjoyment.
It was terrifying.
It was looking at her.
Several seconds passed before that realization sank into Ginny's awareness and when it did the teenaged girl was only able to think two words: Oh shit. It was perhaps fortunate for Ginny that she was unaware of the fact that these were statistically the most popular last words used by people who died violent deaths.
"Merciful God, he's going to eat me," she whispered, finding her gaze locked with the burning emerald orbs that were now fixed upon her.
*...*
"Not like that!" she snapped a moment later. Somehow Ginny knew what kind of lewd train of thought was making its way around the Order. "I mean literally! He's going to swallow me up whole!"
Apparently the Griffin was thinking along much the same lines as Ginny was, for he was eyeing her in a manner usually reserved for hors d'oeuvres. A thrumming growl rumbled from deep within his chest, like two boulders grinding together. His lips parted, in what Ginny could swear was a toying smirk, revealing his glistening fangs.
Like the Hogwarts Express steaming along at full throttle, the Griffin charged towards where Ginny was standing on the low-lying hill. He was moving so rapidly that he appeared as little more than a large, snowy white blur, edged in gold. With a semi-terrified yelp, Ginny jumped to the side, barely escaping the marauding Animagus as it tore up the ground where she had been only a moment before.
Unfortunately Ginny lost her footing during her leap to safety and quickly found herself tumbling down the slope of the hill. Instinctively she tried to halt her ungainly, not to mention painful, descent. However, a frustrated roar from the Griffin convinced Ginny that her priority was to get as far from the hundred-foot-tall monster as possible.
After rolling nearly all the way to the foot of the hill, Ginny quickly scrabbled onto her hands and knees, pushing off into a desperate run. She had made perhaps thirty or forty yards when a large shadow swept over her. A moment later Ginny skidded to a halt as the Griffin dropped to earth fifty yards in front of her, on the other side of the small brook that was bubbling along.
"Oh hell, I forgot he could fly," she muttered as the Griffin tucked his wings behind him and growled menacingly at her.
*This isn't reality, Ginny,* a voice reminded her as panic began to set in, *remember that.*
"How exactly does this help me?" she asked waspishly, her eyes never straying from the giant animal across from her. "Real or not, he's going to crush me like a bug at this rate."
*All this is just a state of mind. And not just Harry's, but yours as well.*
The Griffin began to stalk slowly towards Ginny, each step causing the earth to tremble beneath her feet. She licked her lips and swallowed, not bothering to turn and run because she knew she would never be able to outrun such a predator.
"So?"
*So, if it's only a state of mind, then change your state of mind!*
***
The Imperial Arch Griffin was, if nothing else, exceedingly surprised by the turn of events he had just witnessed. The puny prey animal he had been hunting was no longer a puny prey animal to be hunted. Even more surprising was how powerfully she slammed into him. Even those large black fire animals he had fought earlier had not been this strong.
The unexpected impact knocked the Griffin over, toppling him back with his newfound opponent falling on top of him. Faster than thought, acting on the pure instinct that had served him so well up until now, the Griffin rolled with the movement. He managed to wedge his legs between his body and the not-prey animal.
Still rolling backwards, the Griffin heaved and bucked with all his might, kicking out hard against his foe. She was launched high into the air, obviously surprised by his retaliation. The instant he was free of her hold, the Griffin leapt to his feet and spun to face her, roaring in challenge at the strangely familiar creature he was fighting.
Her massive, yet slender and streamlined body twisted in the air and after a moment of almost, but not quite, controlled flight, she smashed into the ground. A sharp cry of pain escaped from her as she collided with one of the pine trees that lined the stream they were fighting near.
The Griffin watched expectantly as wood splintered and cracked, unable to withstand her weight and inertia. As the tree twisted to one side and fell down, the Griffin watched with something akin to disbelief as the female flipped over. Her lithe body swung up and over, landing lightly amidst the surviving trees.
A new feeling made itself known to the Griffin as the female crouched in a low and threatening posture, arms spread wide and gleaming teeth bared. Unlike the black fire animals, this female was not weak and soft and slow. She was answering his challenge.
He felt... approval?
The female bent her legs until her knees were almost touching the ground and then, a roar of her own, she kicked off and into the air. The broad spans of her snow feathered wings beat down in three short bursts, lifting her high above him. He watched as she rose against the backdrop of a vermillion and orange streaked sky. The female's movements were cautious and unsteady, revealing her inexperience at flying, but still, he felt it again.
Approval, yes.
But different somehow.
More satisfying, like the sensation he remembered after his first kill, while feeling the thick blood of his prey sliding thickly, hotly, down his throat.
Pride?
Baring his teeth in a mockery of a grin, he too pushed off and away from the earth beneath him. The strokes of his wings were sure and confident, allowing him to quickly catch and bear down upon the female. She attempted to manoeuvre away from him, spinning in a tight arc and trying to slash at him with the razor edges of her wings.
With what was almost a barking laugh, he reached out with one taloned hand and gripped her tightly by the ankle. He jerked almost playfully downwards and reached up with his other hand to cup the back of her head. Pulling with all his might, and aided by his wings, he levered himself above her while at the same time forcing her down. His right leg lashed out and the heel of his foot crashed into her sternum.
She fell to earth a great deal faster than she had risen above it. With a thunderous crash that kicked up a cloud of dust, leaves and blossoms, the female crashed into a grove of cherry trees. The tiny pink flowers erupted into the air, reminding him of snow falling during the cold season.
He landed just outside the line of trees, peering into the veil of pink that had yet to settle. He did not have to wait very long. With her wings tucked tightly behind her back, the female burst from the swirling blossoms, her white fur mottled with the tiny pink flowers.
Harry had only a moment to blink before she was upon him, raining blows into his chest and stomach. Caught off guard he staggered back, trying to ward off her attack. He could hear a deep growl of frustration resonating from the female as she fought.
She was angry.
He could smell the change in her scent.
No, she was not angry.
His distraction cost him as the female twisted and kicked him hard in the chest. Harry teetered back and barely managed to duck under a swing at his head. Unfortunately her other arm curved in at around the same time and a stinging bite told him that Ginny's gold talons had torn into his shoulder.
She's pissed off.
Although he never saw it himself, Harry would be told many times in the future that the look which suddenly flashed upon his face had been almost indescribable. Whenever the topic would be brought up, Ginny would begin to giggle, then chuckle, then laugh, then cackle and eventually fall to the ground and roll on the floor, unable to breathe from her mirth.
The sleek, undeniably beautiful, yet undeniably lethal, Imperial Arch Griffin that was standing across from him paused in her attack. Her furious attack tapered off to a halt in only a second, and she jumped several large steps backwards, giving Harry a wide berth. They stood there, staring, for long minutes before anything happened.
//Ginny?// asked Harry, his leonine face taking on a timid, uncertain expression. At least as timid and uncertain as an Imperial Arch Griffin could manage. He blinked with surprise at the deep timbre of his voice, but continued to ask, //Is that you?//
//Last time I checked, yes,// replied Ginny, sounding very much relieved. Even so, she cautiously kept her guard up, weary of continued attack from Harry.
Harry blinked again and looked at Ginny. With an appraising gaze he noted the shimmering white fur and the feathered wings. After several moments of silence, in which Harry tried to gather his thoughts, he eventually managed to say, //You look... different.//
Ginny cocked a wry eyebrow at him, something of an accomplishment for a Griffin, and noted in an wry tone of voice, //I'm not the only one.//
Puzzled by her meaning Harry glanced down at himself and could not help the double take, nor the startled exclamation that followed. He lifted his clawed hands in front of him, looking with awe at the gleaming golden talons and asked in a hushed voice, //What's happened to me?//
//What do you remember?// asked Ginny, easing out of her weary stance and slowly approaching him.
//Uncle Vernon, he... he...// replied Harry, frowning as he struggled to remember. Shaking his head and mane, in an attempt to clear the cobwebs from his brain, Harry felt his eyes grow wide as the memories began to flood back to him. //Son of a bitch. He shot me!//
//Then what?//
//It... it... it was inside of me. Something. It got loose.//
Ginny rumbled in what Harry took as a chuckle, //Took most of Privet Drive with it too.//
Harry then asked the one question he thought could explain this mess he had suddenly found himself in. //Am I dead?//
As he asked he felt a strange sensation wash over him, a tingling in his arms, legs and body. His muscles felt like they were both cramping and turning into jelly at the same time. Also, everything in the world seemed to become bigger. When he turned to look at Ginny he was surprised to see that she was looking just as he remembered her, no longer an Imperial Arch Griffin, but a fifteen year old girl.
He waved a hand nervously in front of him and explained his reasoning. "I mean... he shot me."
"I know," Ginny admitted, ducking her head, "I felt it."
"Sorry," apologised Harry, wincing at the thought that his pain was also hers.
Ginny literally jumped at him then, latching her arms around him in a fierce hug. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and a moment later Harry found himself sitting on a patch of torn up grass with a shaking Ginny crying into his shoulder. "Oh god, Harry. I’m so sorry."
Naturally Harry did not have any idea why Ginny was getting herself so worked up about this. "Sorry? For what?"
"For not being there for you," explained Ginny, in broken words scattered between her sobs.
"You couldn't have known," Harry tried to soothe her, gently rubbing his hands across her back in languid circles.
Unfortunately this did not have the desired effect of calming her down. If anything Ginny's sobbing increased to the point where she was bawling her eyes out. "I left you alone. I knew what they were like, and I left you with them. I’m so sorry."
Harry continued to softly caress her, reaching up with one hand to cup her chin and pull her away from his shoulder. "Ssshh. It’s all right, Gin," he told her. "It’s all okay now."
"I’m never leaving you alone again, Harry. Never," she vowed decisively, loosening her grip on him to poke him in the chest with a finger. "Even if you don't want me, I’m not going to stay away. You'll never be alone again. I promise."
Harry looked into her glistening brown eyes and smiled. "I’ll never leave you either, Ginny," he told her, leaning in to tenderly press his lips against hers. The hand which had been cupping her chin reached around to play through her hair and pull her tightly against him. The kiss lasted for what was either an age or an instant, or possibly both.
"Gin?" asked Harry as he pulled back, but still gently stroked his hand through her hair.
"Yes, Harry?"
"Where the heck are we?"
TBC...
Another Author's Note: Just to point out, the Imperial Arch Griffin is NOT Ginny's Animagus form. The only reason she was able to change into that was because of the fact that she was inside Harry's mind and she needed something that could meet him one-on-one.