Disclaimer: This fanfiction is just that FANFICTION. It is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, as well as various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Note: I use pieces directly from the books and the only things I own completely are Phoenix Lestrange and my plot changes.
Warning: If you don't like stories focused around a non-canon character, do not proceed any further. This story is based around a character I created and fit into the Harry Potter world.
::Phoenix::Black::Lestrange::
Chapter 1:
Chronically Late
It had been eight years since Phoenix had visited Dragon Gates and her mum's best friend Gale. Phoenix had been incredibly upset when they took her from her home, as she had called Dragon Gates at five.
After Bellatrix's arrest, Gale had owled and written Phoenix constantly, until Hogwarts, then they lessened and soon stopped in her second year. Gale had kept Phoenix up to date about the dragons, and one in particular. Dani was Gale's youngest, a Hungarian Horntail born a few days after Phoenix. The pair, dragon and girl, had formed a bond the day they'd met, when Phoenix had gotten herself lost one day and found herself in the Hatchling caves.
Bella and Phoenix reached the Gates late morning where Gale was waiting for them at the visitor's entrance, beaming at the women.
"Bella!" Gale grinned and pulled the elder of the pair into a tight hug.
She was just as Phoenix remembered, a bouncy woman in her forties with the endurance of a five year old. She was light tan with shoulder length light brown hair and cheery blue eyes.
"My God, Phoenix, you have grown," Gale gleamed as she pulled the girl, who now towered over her, into an equally tight hug.
"It has been eight years Aunt Gale, of course I have, but you, you haven't changed a bit." Phoenix smiled hugging her back. Gale let go and turned back to Bella.
"Have you dropped that Lestrange man's name yet?" Gale asked. Gale had hated the secrets and mysteries Rabastan Lestrange had left behind in life and death, despite the fact that he had loved his wife and daughter unconditionally.
"Not completely," Bella replied. "Officially we are Black-Lestrange, but at school, Phoenix will just be Phoenix Black."
"She'll get more respect with that name and maybe not end up in the Hospital Wing quite so often. I mean, after that embarassement over Sirius Black, your cousin's name will hold more swing then that husband's ever did."
"You know, I think Phoenix would like to hear more about Dani," Bella said changing the subject.
"Fine, you win this time, but you aren't getting away that easily," Gale smirked.
"I would be insulted if I did," Bella teased.
"Now, you won't believe the size change in Dani. She has missed you so much, Phoenix." Gale said changing the subject.
"I've missed her, too!" Phoenix exclaimed.
"Well, then let's go and get you two checked in." Gale smiled.
"One of us, I am going home to try and get settled back into real life after…
"Think nothing of it, I understand completely," Gale smiled. "If you have time and are interested, I believethe Ministry was looking for new people to hire in the Law enforcement, Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, and Mysteries Departments. When they found out you were cleared and were returning home with Phoenix, the Head of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes asked me to point you in her direction."
"Do you know what they are looking for?" Bella asked.
"They've lost a few of their senior workers recently due to a multitude of reasons and none of their junior officers are quote up to par and still need to work under a senior officer. Maggie remembered you from when she was a junior officer and was excited to learn you were coming back."
"Maggie Braden? That Irish witch that was top of her class?"
"She has a little less Irish in her now, but that's the one."
"I will send her an owl after lunch," Bella promised. "Will you escort Phoenix home after dinner or should I plan to meet her back here?"
"How about she stays the night? Anton has been dieing to meet her since you owled me."
"Why?" Phoenix asked.
"He knows talent when he sees it, and he saw it in Phoenix eight years ago, with Dani. She seemed to become a friend with any of the Hatchling instantly, and for being five years old, that is quite feat seeing as she had to escape the daycare on a daily basis to do so."
"Those witches were so boring," Phoenix replied remembering the daycare. "They wouldn't even tell us about any of the dragons."
"They weren't hired as Handlers dear, they were hired to keep you kids out of trouble."
"Lot a good they did," Phoenix said. "Is Mike still around?"
"Your partner in crime is working, if you get lucky you'll see him tonight." Gale said.
"Alright, well I will leave you to get reacquainted with the dragons, Phoenix."
"What are you going to do mum?" Phoenix wondered.
"I am going to start cleaning and updating the house." Bella replied and looked to Gale. "You are always free to stay with us too, once the house is fixed up."
"No problems, it probably just needs to be updated and cleaned a little. I roped a couple of the interns, to go over once a month and just help me straighten up." Gale said. "So I'll drop her by later tomorrow."
"Sounds perfect, and just owl me if you decide to keep her longer for whatever reason." Bella smiled and hugged Phoenix and Gale goodbye.
"Bye mum, see you tomorrow." Phoenix called as she followed Gale inside.
"I'll have my house elf drop by your house tonight and grab a few things for you for tonight." Gale said as they signed Phoenix in.
"Great, when can I see Dani?"
"Soon, she is probably resting now."
"Oh wow, this is amazing."
"You get used to it," Gale beamed. "Are you hungry?"
"A little, why?"
"I had to get up at five, my usual sugar rush is in the downward spiral and it's time to eat lunch."
"Ok, what are you doing this afternoon?" Phoenix asked
"I have to feed the Fireballs and Shortsnouts." Gale said.
"Can I help?" Phoenix begged
"I don't think so, I'll take you to my rooms after lunch and introduce you to Anton after we eat dinner." Gale replied a little uneasy.
"Maybe, I can see Dani while you are gone?" Phoenix suggested slyly.
"I'll talk to a friend of mine." Gale chuckled.
"Thanks Aunt Gale." Phoenix squealed.
"You're welcome Phoenix." Gale smiled as they made their way to the mess hall.
"Afternoon Gale, how were the Ridgebacks this morning?"
"Antsy, that Norberta there just had her eggs so the males are being a little protective of our only girl."
"Hope they don't try and hurt the healers when the egs Hatch."
"Hard to say," Gale sighed. " So, what's for lunch today?"
"Looks like spaghetti." The woman replied. "Who is the girl?"
"Hannah, I'd like you to meet my old friend Bella's daughter."
"Oh Phoenix right?" She asked.
"Yeah, you must be the Hannah Aunt Gale was always telling me about." Phoenix smiled.
"She's my best friend, we work together in sector 1." She smiled.
"This place is amazing, if I could work here, it would be really amazing."
"We actually have programs for inspiring dragon handlers. It's our intern and trainee program."
"Really?"
"Yeah, if a person shows exceptional skill with the dragons or dedication to the dragons, then they are offered a job here. They can't take a real job until they are seventeen, so for those age 14, we have interns. Once you turn fifteen, you have a month evaluation before you can become a trainee."
"We have a handbook that describes everything," Gale cut in.
"Everything you need to know about being an intern, about being a trainee and the different Handlers, and everything you need to know about every dragon." Hannah smiled. "It magically adds pages to every book when someone adds something. And it always stays about an inch thick."
"That's amazing, can I see yours?" Phoenix asked Gale.
"Tonight, you can start to read it before bed." Gale smiled.
"So you think you're interested in the program?" Hannah asked.
"Well, I'm fourteen, and it is so great here. Why wouldn't I?" Phoenix smiled.
"That's great." Hannah smiled.
"Here you are, girls." A woman said, handing the three women a tray of spaghetti each.
"Thanks Donna." Gale smiled at her.
"No problem, Gale. How's Dani?" Donna asked.
"Doing well, she's healthy." Gale smiled and found the group a seat.
"Wait, isn't Phoenix Dani's best friend?" Hannah asked.
"Hi, can I sit here?" Someone asked. The woman was 6'5" with platinum blond hair, bright blue eyes and thin-rimmed glasses that showed her eyes off even more. She had a thin frame and was simply beautiful.
"Sure Stephanie, how are you doing?"
"The dragons are making it hard for the researchers, to well, research. They freak out when we walk into our labs to watch them."
"That's weird, I'll talk to Anton about that." Gale said.
"We have no idea what it is." Stephanie sighed.
"Could it be you are moving too fast? They react to movement more than anything else." Phoenix shrugged. "Right?"
"Right you are, but the researchers make sure to walk in slowly, it's the handlers that don't, especially that Kendra, she's a piece of work."
"She shouldn't even be a handler, she is going to get herself killed one of these days." Gale said.
"She hasn't even been here a year, and she already thinks she should be at your level Gale." Hannah added.
"Oh, sorry about this Phoenix, this is Stephanie from the research labs. She records the behavioral issues with dragons and such." Gale told Phoenix, more to change the subject than anything.
"You must be Bella's daughter. I've heard a lot about you. Dani was really down when Gale told her what happened."
"Dragon's can understand human speech?" Phoenix asked. She had a look of concentration on her face, and seemed extremely interested.
"They find it comforting. It won't matter if you talk to them like dragons though either. Dragons who are spoken to like they are equal to us are actually happier than those that aren't." Stephanie explained. "You going to participate in the program?"
"I want to, yes." Phoenix replied.
"Oh man!" Hannah suddenly cried.
"What's wrong?" Phoenix asked, a little concerned.
"I'm gonna be late for shift!" She groaned.
"No you're not Hannah. Your watch must be fast, you have ten minutes before you need to start over." Gale chuckled. "Hannah is chronically late for shift, but she is a damn good Handler."
"Which dragons are you with this afternoon?" Stephanie asked Hannah.
"I'm helping you researchers watch Dani and the other female Horntails." Hannah replied sitting back down.
"Speaking of Dani, I have been meaning to ask you. Hannah, would you mind taking Phoenix with you when you, show Dani she's back?" Gale asked.
"Would I? I'd love to." She said finishing her spaghetti.
"Thanks Hannah." Gale smiled.
"No problem, come on Phoenix, let's get there early." Hannah said rushing out of the mess hall. Phoenix ran after her at top speed.
"She's real quick." Stephanie observed.
"And light footed, graceful too." Gale smiled.
"She's a…" Gale nodded before Stephanie finished her question.
"She'll make a perfect Handler than. They always do make the best ones." Stephanie smiled.
Phoenix caught up to Hannah a few feet from the Mess Hall, and easily kept pace with the woman.
"There you are Hannah, Dani is going wild and nothing we do will calm her down. She started acting up about an hour ago." A man said running up to them looking winded.
"I have an idea why." Hannah smiled shuffling Phoenix into the area.
"Hannah, you can't bring a kid in here." The man yelled.
"This is Phoenix Black, Gale's niece." Hannah introduced Phoenix.
"So you are the reason she's acting up." He smiled at her.
"Sorry?" Phoenix asked.
"No need, it means it's just that she knows you're here, she'll calm down when she sees you." He chuckled. They went up to a dragon that was running in circles.
"Can you wolf whistle?" The man asked.
"Sure." Phoenix said, whistling really loud.
"She's the first to be able to do that." He chuckled.
"When you have to live near a ton of dogs for ten years, you learn quickly." Phoenix replied as Dani ran over and stopped two feet from away her. Phoenix reached out and touched her nose. Dani's eyes widened as she realized who it was.
"Hey Dani, I missed you." Phoenix smiled remembering what Stephanie had said. The dragon nuzzled her hand.
"She's really grown." Phoenix smiled.
"'oo is de gurl?" A man asked.
"And how did she calm Dani down?" Another asked.
"Dante, Fabian, this is Phoenix Black." Hannah introduced the new men. "Phoenix this is Billy, Fabian and Dante."
"Friends of your aunts." Billy smiled holding out his hand.
"Oh, ok." Phoenix said taking his out stretched hand.
"Happens to everyone." Fabian smiled as Gale walked in looking for Phoenix.
"Hi Aunt Gale." Phoenix smiled.
"Anton's waiting for us." She said.
"Ok, bye Dani, I'll be back another time, I promise." Phoenix smiled hugging the dragon. Dani curled her claw around Phoenix's legs and refused to let her leave.
"Dani, I have to go see Anton," Phoenix chuckled. "I'm staying with Aunt Gale tonight, so maybe if you're really good Aunt Gale will let me come see you again tomorrow."
"I'll talk to Anton about it this evening Dani," Gale promised. Finally, after a few seconds of contemplation, Dani let Phoenix go and stared at Gale.
"Yes, I promise to bring her back, if I can." Gale iterated.
The dragon quickly nuzzled her nose to Phoenix before watching the girl run off again. All Dani knew was that Phoenix had better be back before the end of the summer if she didn't want to get fried. Dani finally had Phoenix back after so long, and she really didn't want to lose her little Hatchling ever again.