N.B. Okays so I don't own anything... just the storyline and some characters... believe it or not but some of these people that you've never even heard of do exist... according to internet versions of various wizarding family trees! Oh and the writing might seem strange and oddly formal at times, but keep in mind that it's all written from Jez's perspective... and she's definitely strange and oddly formal!
"How was your Christmas?" she asked staring at the ground as she gently rocked back and forth on the swing.
"To be perfectly honest, pretty uneventful, although Lucifer did bring Narcissa over to partake in the ritual that is Christmas dinner." I smiled in memory, slowly rocking back and forth on the playground horse.
Lily looked up at and smiled "that horse looks just the right size for you!"
"Oi, watch it you! You should be happy to see me after a week apart!" I laugh back.
She was quiet and I left her in that silence. To be perfectly honest, I could not help but feel slightly guilty that I have never been able to invite her to my house in the summer or that I could not visit her without making up some lie about going to visit Alice Underwood in order to meet my best friend in a park.
"I worry about you, you know..." she started. This surprised me and before she could continue I joked "well I can see your concern, I'm bound t get kicked out for sure! There are only so many times that I can break the rules before Dumbledore comes down on me like a load of history of magic books!"
"No Jez, that's not it. Every time you come back from holidays you look pale and drawn, stressed and it doesn't seem like you've been on a holiday at all..." Lily's eyes were full of concern and I paused before answering "Lily, there are so many dark things in this world, but I cannot always see it that way. I cannot see white or black, I can only see grey... and I'm glad because I would hate to be so filled with white but surrounded by black that I begin to hate my existence like Sirius and I would hate to be so filled with black that I cannot surround myself with white, like, say Bellatrix... I am far luckier than any in our world. My family is considered prestigious, but odd none the less. My father is a pure blood who has relics on the walls of our home commemorating the time that we were wizarding royalty, but how we lost it all through inbreeding and superiority. My mother is a nymph, therefore I am not even human, I have a pet phoenix... they all know I have you as a friend but view it as a sign of my oddity and not a failing as they would any other with a muggle-born friend. I am only sorry that I do not wish to antagonise my Uncle Abraxas by telling him I wished to spend time with you."
"I know that you don't agree with what people say about the Malfoys as they are your family, but I still worry for you..." Lily said.
"I worry more about the day that I have to choose a side. What's more important to me now is lunch!" I say jumping from the rocking horse. "Let's go grab some Lily, my stomach is eating itself!"
Over a delectable platter of oriental dishes I mentioned my previous day's activities.
"I went and saw my father yesterday."
Lily stopped eating and looked at me in an inquiring manner.
My father Steren Phoenix has been imprisoned in Azkaban for the past seven years, ever since I was eight I have lived with my Aunt Benoit and her husband Abraxas Malfoy. My father was sentenced to life in Azkaban due to his endeavours to develop targeted curses. That is to say, curses that no matter where they aimed still find their targets. Unfortunately he practised this on people and people became permanently maimed.
"He didn't seem to recognise me... I think he may have thought I was his mother... well he called me an 'evil tree enchantress' so I think he means my mother... my Aunt doesn't want me to go back. She says it is better I have the memories of a caring father whose failings were his disregard for laws and nature." I said sadly.
"Seems harsh" Lily remarked.
"Perhaps it is for the best... after all I was a curse delivered upon him after he had cut down my mother's tree." I paused, "more importantly Lily, it looks as though next year I can go back to Phoenix's Nest and live by myself... and you can come and stay!"
"Oh, Jez that sounds like a wonderful idea! I can't wait..." Lily enthused.
I smiled; anytime I was away I missed my best friend's enthusiasm for life. The first time I had meet her enthusiasm is what struck me to venture into her welcoming friendship.
"Where have you been smelly? Come and meet my new friends!" an eleven year old Sirius screamed at me when I boarded the Hogwarts Express for the first time.
"Oh, young Black?" my Aunt called from the platform.
"Yes Missus Malfoy?" He replied "It is always lovely to see you."
"Such a sweet boy Walburga!" my Aunt remarked to Sirius's mother who was looking on.
"Yes he will make a fine Syltherin, this son of mine." Walburga replied.
"Young Black, look after my niece for me, don't let her associate with the wrong type, you know how she gets... talks and touches anything that girl!"
"Don't worry Missus Malfoy, I've got Jez covered!" he cried as he dragged me off.
"How can you have friends already?" I asked.
"Unlike you, McSmelly, people like me on sight!"
"Not true, Lucifer doesn't like you and stop calling me Smelly!"
"But you do smell! You smell like girl!"
He pushed open a compartment door to reveal three boys and a girl. "Jez" he said dragging me into their sights "this is James who you've meet this is Remus... his dad work's at the Ministery with James's and this is Peter, he's a Pettigrew and this, well her I've never seen before..."
The stood up and offered us her hand "I'm Lily Evans".
"I am very pleased to make all of your acquaintances my name is Jezebel." I began in the fashion of a child repeating lines that they have been taught; I curtseyed lightly and continued "I hope that we will all become good friends." They just stared at me, until Sirius stepped forward and said "She's a Phoenix." The three boys nodded like they understood my introductionary behaviour now.
"Are you really a bird?" the girl, Lily asked.
I just looked at her confused, once more Sirius stepped forward and explained "No her family are the Phoenixes, look she has even bought the family crest" he held up Fawkes' cage who looked so terrible so close to his dying day.
"Surely you know about the Phoenixes?" the boy, Peter said in disbelief.
"I think I read the name in a history of magic book... they were once royalty right, but their power was taken from them?" Lily said looking about, until the boy, Remus said softly "You aren't from a magically family are you? Are you a muggle-born?"
"Yes!" Lily said excitedly "Exactly! It was such a surprise! I can't wait to see some magic!"
As if he had heard Fawkes burst into flames. Watching the shocked face of Lily, I said to her "I've never meet a muggle born before... I think I will make you my friend!"
And from that day I was true to my word, not matter how many times it was explained to me that she wasn't a pureblood, and not one of 'us' I continued to be her friend because I could not find a person so full of hope and enthusiasm as her.
"What?" she said as I seemed to stare out into space.
I shook my head and smiled "I better get going; my Aunt wants to take me shopping this afternoon for dress robes."
"Oh yes" she enthused "the Easter Ball that's been planned, can't wait! I went to Diagon Alley with Mum yesterday to get my robes... don't get green... I wouldn't want us to clash with one another!"
"Hmm, I'll probably get grey or lilac like usual... my Aunt thinks I look better in those shades..." I reply
"Well I suppose it does highlight your pale skin and contrast nicely with your light eyes." Lily replied critically.
We paid and as I worked down the street to her house, where I would use the fireplace to return to Malfoy Manor. "So how many times has James asked you out now?" I smiled.
"Five times now, I really don't understand it. We were never really friends, not after I found out how he treats Severus... why would he think to go out with me or that I would even go with him?"
I hugged Lily one last time before I Flooed back to the Malfoy's.
I stumbled out of the fireplace to find Lucifer reading.
"You didn't go to the Underwood's did you?" he drawled without even looking up from his book.
"Sure I did" I replied brushing ash from my clothes "Just like you came back straight after dropping Narcissa off."
He glanced up at me "You dance to a dangerous tune cousin of mine."
OKAYS, OKAYS... something a different isn't it? So if you have any comments and whatnot feel free... I've got this story written in chunks already but it may take a while to fill in the inbetweens of said chunks... but it's gonna be a long one!