Then the lion paused and looked up at Hermione, his eyes locked intently on hers. She backed away in mindless terror, expecting to feel those long fangs ripping into her throat at any second ... only to suddenly freeze stock-still in numbing surprise. For she knew those eyes ... emerald green, startling to behold. Familiarity and understanding flared between them. The lion dropped the severed arm and mewled lowly at the phoenix, who responded with another quavering note of untold beauty, before her talons curled into Hermione's jumper and whipped her away in a swirl of fire, as the lion bared his razor-sharp teeth again.