This is my first Harry Potter fan fiction that I have been working on since last October, before we heard that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was to come out. It's July, and I wanted to have all the chapters up and finished by this time but due to many delays, and a really bad case of writer's block I have been slowed considerably. When you finish reading this please review. And be kind, this is my first Hp Fan fic. I am doing this to test to see if I am a good enough writer to start my own stuff and become an actual Author.

Disclaimer: I am neither J K Rowling nor Warner Brothers whom of which own the rights to Harry Potter. I am not making any money on this. I am only using the characters to test my abilities. I'll try to return them physically unscathed. Their mental states... that's a different matter.

Harry Potter and the Phoenix Blaze

Chapter 1: Flashbacks and Visions

By: Tojot

"Students, We welcome you to yet another year at Hogwarts School." Harry listened as Dumbledore's voice rang out through the great hall. "There is a time for words, but now isn't the time. Now let us enjoy this wonderful feast, tuck in."

"Finally!" Ron said as he started to pick up food and shove it into his mouth. Hermione looked absolutely appalled at Ron's lack of table manners. The journey back to Hogwarts had been smooth enough, no real problems except for a little bad weather resulting in absolutely drenched and shivering first years. The summer would have been better if Harry hadn't been in mourning for half of it. The Dursleys had no choice but to be cordial to Harry because of the threat Moody gave them at Kings Cross. But two weeks into the summer holidays, uncle Vernon couldn't take it anymore, packed up Petunia and Dudley and went camping, leaving Harry alone in his misery. But the Order didn't act slowly though. Harry's usual advance guard picked him up two days later, looking incredibly worried about him. Harry had a very hard time doing anything, he wouldn't eat, had a hard time sleeping and because of this he seemed to be wasting away. Once they had seen what state Harry was in they knew flying was out of the question. Moody quickly raided the rubbish bin, pulled out a can and turned it into a portkey. Lupin and Shacklebolt agreed to take the portkey with Harry while the others flew. Upon arrival in the kitchen of number 12 Grimmauld Place, Harry passed out. Before losing total consciousness, he thought he heard the panicked voice of Mrs. Weasley.

He awoke to someone holding his hand. Strangely, it wasn't Mrs. Weasley. It was Hermione. She was humming a soft melodic tune and was the only one in the room with him. After she had noticed Harry was awake she let go of his hand with a squeak of joy and rushed to the door, calling Mrs. Weasley up. Ron came in too. They all had a relieved look on their faces. But it was the look on Hermione's face that caught his attention. The look on her face was a look of surprise mingled with happiness and anxiety. Somehow Harry couldn't get the image out of his mind and it gave him a sense of peace from the chaos that had been ensuing in his mind for the past two weeks. Within the week Mrs. Weasley and Hermione nursed Harry back to physical health. It was Hermione who did most of the emotional healing throughout the summer, helping Harry through his troubles and worries and promising to stay by his side. Harry would never, could never forget all that Hermione had done for him, even if they were only the little things.

Once the Feast was eaten, Dumbledore stood to make his speech.

"Now that our stomachs are full from this wonderful feast, the time for words has come. I will remind you as I do every year that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden and out of bounds to all students. Some of you may need to be re-reminded." His cornflower blue eyes rested specifically on both Harry and Hermione as he said this. Hermione blushed. "Mr. Filch has also told me to tell you that magic is not permitted in the corridors as well as a few hundred other items. For the full list please look at the list posted on Mr. Filch's office door." Harry was certain that a few more items had been placed on it since the Weasley twins, Fred and George, left Hogwarts last year in a way that a lot of people would view as a spectacular escape from Professor Umbridge. "As you all have noticed our last Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Delores Umbridge, had to leave us abruptly. Thus the Educational decrees are no longer in effect and the Inquisitorial Squad is disbanded." Cheers rang through the Great hall at this announcement, but Harry saw that Malfoy looked like he had just swallowed a goblet full of stinksap in his seat at the Slytherin table. "Luckily, we have found someone to take her place; unfortunately, she wasn't able to be with us tonight and because of the delays, she won't be able to join us for the rest of the week. Thus, her classes will be used as study halls for the rest of the week and held in the library." If looks could kill, the look on Professor Snape's face could have murdered everyone in the Great Hall.

"That's odd." Said Hermione deep in thought.

"What is?" Asked Harry.

"I would think, with the threat of Voldemort, that Professor Dumbledore would want us to start learning Defense Against the Dark Arts immediately. I mean couldn't Professor Snape or a substitute teach us for the week then hand it over when the Professor arrives?" Hermione commented. Harry didn't like the thought of Snape teaching the class that Harry found enjoyable once taught properly. At one point Snape did teach it in their third year, with nasty results.

"I don't like the thought of Snape teaching our Defense classes again, Hermione, he was terrible last time and he is bad enough in potions." Harry told her in a sort of final tone.

"So who do you think she is?" Hermione asked Harry, changing the subject. Harry shrugged.

"Who is." Ron asked clearly oblivious to the conversation till now. Hermione rolled her eyes impatiently at Ron.

"The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Ron."

"I wouldn't know, I am just glad it isn't that Umbridge woman." Ron added, Harry nodded in agreement. Harry thought Umbridge was on the same level of horribleness or worse than Snape. He was sure that 'I will not tell lies' would be permanently inscribed on the back of his right hand.

"I think the new professor may be a good teacher." Hermione said.

"Why?" Harry asked bewildered, "How could you know that?"

"I read the first of the two volumes that had been assigned for us from that class." Hermione told him, "It was extremely well written and organized, nothing like that Slinkhard book that Umbridge had us read. I just hope this Professor is nothing like Lockhart, his books were good but he was a terrible teacher."

"When did you figure that out?" Ron asked sarcastically.

"When you started acting like a git." Hermione hissed back.

"Will you two please stop your incessant bickering, it's getting on my nerves." Harry said heatedly.

"Sorry." Hermione apologized quietly. Ron didn't say anything and just shut his mouth.

"… Quidditch house team tryouts are posted in your common rooms, tryouts are closed to first years." Dumbledore continued. "Due to the current threat of Voldemort…" There were little reactions all over the Great Hall at the sound of Voldemort's name, "… A few precautionary rules have been placed in order for your safety. To break these rules would have very nasty consequences if Hogwarts were ever attacked. They are as follows: All students must be indoors before nightfall. By this time all doors to the grounds will be shut and locked. Quidditch teams must abide by these rules, no exceptions. I must also stress again, DO NOT WANDER INTO THE DARK FOREST. By 9:00 o' clock every night the heads of houses will come to check on you, making sure you are where you ought to be and check names. Only under special circumstances are you allowed anywhere after these times. Prefects must be back from their duties before 9:30." It was almost like Halloween in their third year when everyone thought that Sirius was after Harry. Everyone in the Great Hall had stunned faces at this announcement, except for Harry and Hermione. They both had expected Dumbledore to take these precautions, knowing what sort of danger that they were all in. While helping him get over the loss of Sirius, Hermione found out about the prophecy accidentally, so she knew what was to come. Ron, on the other hand, wanted to leave Harry alone to deal with Sirius' loss, never knew that Harry knew what the prophecy said. Harry felt that he could only trust Hermione with information as serious as this for the time being, since she had put so much effort into helping him and proving to him that she would forever be his trusted friend. Harry had specifically made Hermione promise not to tell anyone about it, not even Ron.

"…The time has come for us to retire to our beds. First years if you will follow the prefects to your houses they will show you where to go. Sweet dreams and goodnight." Dumbledore finished as he excused them. Harry stood up to go, thinking since Ron and Hermione were prefects they would have to show the first years around.

"Oi, Harry, wait up." Harry heard Ron say behind him. It turned out that Harry's assumption was wrong.

"I thought you had to show the Firsts years to their dormitories." Harry said looking from Ron to Hermione on either side of him.

"Those are the duties of the Fifth year prefects." Said Hermione with a smile as they made their way up to Gryffindor tower. They saw Ginny and Colin escorting a frightened group of Gryffindor First years past them. Harry saw one small boy notice him and elbow his friend to look at Harry too. They both stared at him in awe. Then Harry noticed that the whole group had stopped gape at him. Ron snorted at the silliness of the situation. Hermione on the other hand, took matters into her hands and walked up to the group to help Ginny and Colin get them going again.

"If the there is one thing Harry Potter dislikes the most, it is people gaping at him all the time." Hermione said, some of the first year girls started to gape at her.

"Is it true that he got that scar from You-Know-Who?" asked one of them timidly.

"Yes, he did get the scar from Voldemort." Hermione exasperatedly, all the First years, including Ron, Ginny and Colin, jumped.

"You're his girlfriend aren't you?" Said a girl with blonde braids. Ron didn't look too happy but Hermione, who blushed slightly, didn't say anything to the 'girlfriend' insinuation, instead she quickly changed the subject back to the current task at hand, getting the first years up to bed.

"Look there is much more than Harry here," She pulled Harry up next her, "to see at Hogwarts, and these two," Hermione pointed to Ginny and Colin, "can show you. Now go."

"First Years! Come along now, Hurry Up!" Said Ginny assertively. The first years started going again but not without glances back in their direction.

"Let's go a different way, okay." Harry said quickly to Ron and Hermione and they turned down a different corridor and went though a secret passageway that was hidden by a tapestry. They used the alternative route to the Tower. Harry found it useful knowledge to know these passageways.

"The first years are a bunch of cheeky little snot rags. Seriously, you, Harry's girlfriend, yeah right." Ron scoffed while continuing the conversation with Hermione. The girl's comment seemed to be getting on Ron's nerves.

"Maybe they remember the Article from the Tri-Wizard Tournament." Said Hermione simply.

"Do any of you know the password?" Harry asked them, changing the subject as to avoid another potential argument that Harry was sure Ron would start.

"Wifflefiffle." Ron snorted trying to keep himself from laughing.

"Wifflefiffle?" Harry said questioningly.

"Yes, Wifflefiffle, honestly Ron how can you find the password so hilarious?" Hermione asked seriously.

"Because it sounds more like a sound than a word. To me it sounds like a fart." Ron said. Harry burst out laughing.

"Well, let's just hope no one farts near the Fat Lady's portrait." Harry commented. It was now Hermione's turn to burst out laughing. They came out of the secret passageway and into a corridor. Soon enough they were in front of the Fat Lady.

"Wifflefiffle." Harry said and the Fat Lady burst out laughing, but swung open for them to go through the portrait hole.

"It looks as if the Fat Lady finds the password amusing." Hermione giggled.

"Yeah, well, 'night Hermione." Ron yawned as he went up the Boys staircase.

"'Night Ron." She replied as she made her way towards the Girls staircase.

"Hermione?" Harry asked quickly before she was out of sight.

"Yes Harry?" She turned around to look at him with those deep brown eyes. They seemed to be giving him this odd feeling in his stomach he could not quite place.

"Thank you… for getting the First years to stop gawking at me." Harry said awkwardly. Hermione smiled and nodded.

"No problem Harry. Goodnight." She smiled as she disappeared up the Girls stairs.

"Goodnight, Hermione." Harry called behind her. Then the portrait hole opened with another round of the fat lady laughing, it was the group of first years. To avoid anymore gawking, Harry stole up the steps of the boys' dormitory stairwell, all the way up to the top. The door now read SIXTH YEARS. Harry went in to find all the others were already there. Ron was changing into his pajamas, Dean was putting up his posters, and Seamus was reading a book on the Irish International Quidditch team. Neville seemed to be looking all over the dormitory for his toad, Trevor, whom Harry could see lurking behind Dean's bedside table.

"Hi Harry, have you seen Trevor?" Neville asked.

"He's right behind Dean's bedside table, Neville." Harry told the round-faced boy. Dean, who was listening to the conversation, picked Trevor up and handed him to Neville to quickly avoid any accidents that were sure to occur. All the boys in the dormitory knew that Neville was accident-prone and a bit clumsy, but Harry knew that Neville had his heart in the right place. Neville would also do anything for his friends, even charge into the Ministry of Magic to save a man he didn't know.

Harry quickly changed into his pajamas, placed his glasses on his bedside table, and settled into bed. He felt a comforting feeling knowing that he was back. He soon drifted off to sleep remembering that melodic tune that Hermione was humming when he woke at Grimmauld Place.

…He found himself in a strange but familiar place. There were trees all round and stars twinkling in the night's sky. He was running, not on two knobbley legs, but on four swift and powerful legs. Searching for something. But what was he searching for? His soul felt restless, like it would never stop till it found what it was searching for. He looked up and saw a glowing white creature gliding silently above the trees…

He woke suddenly to a particularly loud snore from Ron. Finding that he was in his bed. His mind replaying the dream over and over again, finding that he could not forget it. It wasn't a normal dream and knowing this sent shivers up his spine. He had a nagging feeling somehow that he was not looking for that glowing white creature. He was looking something or someone else. What was the purpose of the dream? Did it have something to do with Voldemort? Harry considered this for a moment then realized that it couldn't have been Voldemort. His scar didn't feel painful at all; it felt as if something was soothing it. Ever since Voldemort's return to power, all Harry's scar ever did was throb with pain. Harry lay his head back down on his pillow, confused. He soon drifted off into a dreamless and blissful sleep to the sound of Ron and Neville's snoring.

Author's Note: the first chapter seems kind of boring, I know. Please stay with me. Excitement and mystery will be showing up in later chapters.