After the formalities were dealt with the group headed towards the Great Hall. It had proved quite difficult at times to find one place to hang out.

Y/N and Hermione were allowed in the Hufflepuff common room, they had been since second year, but Lavender, Fred, George and Maisy were not.

Maisy was allowed in the Gryffindor common room, Beatrice and Cedric were not.

The library wasn't an option. Pince would not appreciate it being used as a social gathering place and Hermione would do nothing to jeopardise her perfect record with Pince. She was the only student to hold such an honour- Y/N lost his on the third day of first year.

Hermione had privately suggested the Room of Requirement but Y/N instantly shot down that idea. It was their private, special place. He wasn't sharing that with anyone.

So the Great Hall it was. The others in the group sat, mostly speechless. They were all well aware of Y/N's strength- magically as well as physically- but not in their wildest dreams did they think Y/N would be able to match Albus Dumbledore. He was the greatest wizard since Merlin, with all due respect Y/N was a third year student.

Speechless summed it up well as Y/N whispered to Hermione:

"You remember me saying I had all this pent up Magical energy and needed a release, love? I think I've just had it."

Hermione smiled before it turned into a sly grin:

"So my methods weren't to your satisfaction, L/N?"

Y/N went into a full scale panic mode.

"No, no, no. I didn't mean that. Not at all, love. It's just-"

His rambling was ended with a sweet kiss he sighed into.

"I know what you meant I was only teasing" Hermione giggled. She stroked his face gently and smiled before they were interrupted by McGonagall clearing her throat.

"The Headmaster would like to see you in his office, Y/N."

Y/N nodded and kissed Hermione again before saying goodbye to his friends. As he turned to leave he was gently gripped on the arm by the elderly Professor.

"That was incredible Y/N. Truly incredible. 50 points to Gryffindor. Well done."

Y/N nodded at her smile and made his way up to the Headmaster's office. He passed many students on the way, getting a mixture of bowed heads, whispered glances and batted eyelids. This was reality from now on. He had demonstrated who he was and what he could do. The genie was out of the bottle, there would be no going back.

He made his way to the office and, having forgot the password, apparated inside. The Headmaster was sat at his desk, looking tired, as Severus stood next to him. Y/N walked over and wrapped his Godfather in a warm hug which was returned.

"Words can't begin to describe my pride in you Y/N" Sev told him with a smile.

"Thank you Sev. It means the world" Y/N said returning the smile as Albus invited them to sit and they did.

"Ok, Y/N. You want us to be equals, partners, in the coming fight. But that works both ways. Too much has been happening to be coincidence. You breaking Selwyn out of Azkaban. Whispered gatherings that apparently never eventuated. All the disappearances. I know you are behind it. Trust is a two way street. You know of my plans, when he returns, to reform the Order of the Phoenix. I would have you join, be part of the leadership. But what of your plans? What is that mark on your chest we saw at the hospital wing after you were stabbed. It's no ordinary tattoo."

Y/N chuckled. Albus was right, trust was a two way street. If it was to be rebuilt perhaps an olive branch would be required.

"Dobby"

The smartly dressed House Elf appeared to him smiling as ever:

"Yes my Lord"

"Notify my people. I expect them formed and in uniform in two minutes."

"Yes my Lord" The Elf bowed before disappearing. Y/N looked at his Headmaster with a smile:

"You think me full of rage, Albus. Acting with impetuousness. Nothing could be further from the truth. While I admit the Archon has affected me at times, my plan remains steadfast and my vision ever towards the future."

He smiled.

"We are all aware the Ministry is broken. It needs replacing with a more inclusive model. I could walk in there, today, and take it by force- but that would only make me the monster Fudge claims I am. I need to demonstrate his arrogance, his foolishness, his prejudices. Show the world who he really is. Make them demand change. Otherwise we replace one dictator with another."

He stood.

"As for the other questions you seek answered... you must take my arm."

Albus did, Severus grabbing Albus's as they apparated.

—~—

Albus and Severus looked around shocked. They had both been to the L/N manor before, but were not expecting what they saw. Close to 200 people were standing in front of them, in matching uniforms.

In front of them were a witch, a centaur and two wizards- in front of them all...

Jackson Selwyn.

They were further shocked as all present dropped to a knee and bowed their heads at the sight of Y/N.

"Albus... Severus... allow me to introduce the Phoenix Bearers" Y/N smiled.

The two men looked forward stunned.

"Rise, Phoenix Bearers, rise. Your Lord thanks you for your fealty."

"Y/N, this is an army..."

"My army Albus. My army. Sworn to defend our beliefs until their dying breaths. Your Order, if I'm not mistaken consisted of students, civilians, house wives... but few warriors- did it not? Against the foulest force to ever walk the earth?"

"Yes but..."

Albus was quickly cut off by a smiling Y/N:

"Phoenix Bearers... What is your profession?"

AROO! AROO! AROO!

"You see, Headmaster. I have more soldiers than you did. Trained down to a man and woman. Many of my followers would have been forced into Voldemort's service once he returns. I gave them another option. Meaning. Purpose. To give themselves to something greater."

"Yourself?" Severus asked his godson with a wry chuckle.

"Freedom, Severus. Freedom. For all. Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. There's a big difference between Purebloods like Fudge and myself. He believes the magical peoples of this country exist to provide him with his position. I believe his positions exists to provide them with freedom. And I'm going to make sure they get it!"

"This is your plan? You've risen yourself as a-?"

"Dark Lord Albus? Perhaps. This is my plan. When that maggot returns we will attack him with a two headed snake. You will lead the Order from the light, I will lead the Phoenix Bearers from the Dark."

Y/N smiled and held out his hand.

"What say you, Albus?"

Dumbledore was speechless. He had seen Y/N as a boy, too full of himself and his own sense of importance. That the title of Prophesied One had gone to his head. Corrupted him. He had never been so wrong. He smiled and returned Y/N's firm handshake:

"An alliance in the shadows, between Light and Dark, to eliminate evil."

AROO! AROO! AROO! the Phoenix Bearers roared. Y/N smiled before Severus spoke up:

"If I may ask Godson, play devil's advocate, can you assure their loyalty? If you were to be betrayed... this treason would be seized upon by Fudge... it would be open war."

Y/N smirked;

"No faith, Godfather?"

He held out his hand and a ball of Protego Diabolica erupted in the air before taking the form of a Phoenix.

A/N: Imagine blue

The Diabolica Phoenix soared through the room passing through every man and woman, including Y/N, Snape and Dumbledore, without incident, before returning to Y/N's arm where it faded from existence.

"How?" Snape asked, Y/N replying:

"It's good to be a Grindelwald."