Chapter: 1
Fog gushed from the steam engine, onto the platform in front of her feet; her normal, everyday feet. Phoenix frowned with displeasure. Bustling students and parents rushed about, searching for pets, older siblings, and luggage. Her own parents were standing a little ways away, looking for someone to kiss up to. She was a pureblood, and although she had been told all her life to be proud of her blood status, she couldn't help feeling ashamed by it. She wasn't the only one either. Ever since Lord Voldemort had been defeated by Harry Potter, all purebloods had been scorned. She hated Harry Potter. Not because he had defeated the Dark Lord, not at all. She was quite glad that he had done that. The reason being that because of him, she was judged by everyone. If she gave it real thought, she hated everyone around her; her fellow first years, her parents, the staff, everyone.
She hunched her shoulders and focused on the ground in front of her. She was about to go look for a compartment when she heard a voice.
"Hey Harry. What's up mate?" Phoenix spun around and hate lit her eyes when she saw him. There he was all smug and proud. He stood straight and calm, obviously not caring about anything. Her eyes traveled down to a boy, his son, about her age she assumed standing next to him, looking just as smug. How disgusting they both were. Why did he have to ruin her life? Why couldn't she have been a half blood or Muggleborn? Now, Muggleborns were seen as royalty, almost; the privileged.
Phoenix was deep in dark thoughts, oblivious to the world moving around her; like the moon on a dark night. So caught up in her hatred, she never saw the trolley. The cart was careening around the platform, causing mayhem. The boy pushing it was given venomous looks from parents and students alike, but no one tried to stop him. Her eyes darkened. She would put an end to it. Without warning, it broke a part under the hands of the older boy with black hair. The bar fell from his hands and clattered to the ground. His momentum carried him across the cobbles, until he was sprawled out next to his scattered luggage. Phoenix smirked and looked away imperiously.
"Hey!" he yelled and cursed when his owl, in its cage, rolled across the cobblestones, landing with a squeak in front of Phoenix's feet. She kicked the cage away gently, but the older boy was still glaring at her spitefully. Of course he knew it was her who had caused the 'accident'.
"What?" she snarled at him, her teeth barred. He looked surprised for a moment at her ferociousness but hid it quickly.
"I know you did it, brat." He retaliated, pointing to his trolley. His eyes glanced at her parents standing behind her. "Oh, but I wouldn't expect anything else from a Bulstrode." He sneered and tapped the dismantled trolley with his wand. When it was reassembled, he pushed it back to the train and continued on his way. Phoenix glared at his retreating back angrily.
"Stop picking fights with the miscreants, Nicole. There is someone we want you to meet." Her father said crisply, like his only daughter hadn't done anything worse than step on a spider. She had to bite her tongue to keep a smart remark back. For as long as she could remember, she had called herself Phoenix. Both her parents had been Slytherins. She expected to be as well, but there were things she didn't understand fully about herself. Unlike her parents she wasn't interested in the dark arts. She could see the allure, and the reasons behind using the dark magic, but it didn't interest her in the slightest. She had been more interested in being alone to think.
Her father, a tall thin man with a gray beard, marched her over to a blond couple and their son.
"Hello, Mr. Malfoy how nice to see you again!" Her father gave his most smarmy smile, and raised his hand to shake Mr. Malfoy's. "Is this your son? He looks just like you. And your lovely wife." He said. The Malfoys looked very uncomfortable and Mrs. Malfoy gave her father a forced smile. They screamed uneasy.
"Hello Ervin. How lovely to see you again." Mrs. Malfoy said. She had a pretty voice, and even prettier hair. It was a shiny blond, not pale like Mr. Malfoy's, but warm, like honey.
"This is our son, Scorpius. He will be a first year." She put her arm protectively around her son, and gave Mr. Bulstrode a cold look. The boy, Scorpius, looked her father up and down several times, his eyes resting for a little longer on the brooch he pinned every day to his cloak.
Unlike Scorpius, she didn't bother inspecting these new people. She didn't care at all about these new people any more than eating Cockroach Clusters. Phoenix didn't care at all about the hostility in the air either. All she wanted was to get away and sleep. She hadn't slept in three days.
Just then, her mother ran out of nowhere and almost tackled Mr. Malfoy to the ground in a hug. He staggered back several feet, his arms pin wheeling. Awkwardly, he patted her on the back. Mrs. Malfoy's jaw dropped and she pulled Scorpius away. The poor woman's eyes were as round as saucers. She felt her father's hands tighten on her shoulders. Without even looking, she knew his upper lip was curling into a snarl, the same snarl she got when irritated.
Her mother finally detached herself from the poor man's arms, and stood back. That ridiculous smile stretched her pug like face grotesquely. Millicent Bulstrode was tall, ugly, and very busty. She straightened her gaudy green robes and gave Mr. Malfoy a simpering grin. Millicent overflowed with enthusiasm and excitement at seeing Mr. Malfoy. The commotion attracted the attention of quite a few people in the area, including the questioning gaze of a red headed girl, too young to go to Hogwarts.
"Hello, Draco." She said almost breathlessly. "It's been so long! You look great. Your son looks just like you! Oh how I've missed you."
Draco stood uncomfortably for a moment, fixing his own robes.
"Yes, Millicent it's been too long. This is Scorpius, and my wife, Astoria. You look… great too." Astoria stood stone faced behind him, clearly furious at Millicent.
"Well, this is my daughter Nicole! She and Scorpius will have so much fun together in Slytherin. Just like we used to! She is especially talented in potions." The over-exited woman babbled. That last part was a complete lie. Phoenix didn't much care for potion making. She couldn't even make a Wart Potion correctly. She also had no interest in being friends with Scorpius. He seemed too… subdued.
"Mother, may I get on the train now?" Phoenix asked in her dreary voice. She tried to pull away gently in the direction of the train, but her mother wasn't having any of it.
"No!" she snarled, before softening her voice to a sickeningly sweet tone, "Why don't you introduce yourself to the Malfoys?"
Phoenix stared at her for a minute, contemplating her choices. Her mother's wide, fake smile and glinting malicious eyes was enough to cow the most obnoxious child, but over the years Phoenix had come to see it as pathetic. She decided to go with the most entertaining choice, despite the consequences that would ensue.
A small smile formed. "Didn't you already do that mother?"
Before Phoenix could even blink, her mother slapped her. "I said, introduce yourself, dear."
Phoenix turned back to Draco, looked him in the eye, and said, "My name is Nicole Bulstrode, but I prefer to be called Phoenix. I am not even remotely good at potions, I am a first year, and I don't care what house I am sorted into." The hands on her shoulders tightened into a vice like grip. A low, animalistic growl could be heard coming from her father. Even with her back turned to him, she could practically see his fat face turning red with anger.
Phoenix continued to stare down Mr. Malfoy, daring him to say anything. He looked at her wearily, but there was something else, pity. He turned away and said something in Astoria's ear. She nodded, gave him a peck on the cheek, and guided Scorpius away.
"Millicent, can I talk to you alone?" he asked quietly staring at Phoenix.
"What could be wrong, Draco?" she asked. Phoenix trained her eyes on the ground. She knew what to do when things like this happened; head down, mouth closed, and act like a statue. She had overheard so many horrible conversations; she still had nightmares about some of them. The majority of the talks seemed to be about her or Harry Potter. Those she didn't hate so much because most were about her parents and their friends plans to ruin his life, but none were even remotely possible. Besides, they were drunk when plans like those were made.
"Millicent, please. Especially not with Nic-Phoenix here." At the mention of her name, Phoenix's head snapped up in surprise. No one had ever called her Phoenix on her request before. For the first time, Phoenix felt the beginnings of respect form for this man.
The atmosphere turned icy between this man and her parents. "Her name is Nicole." Ervin said. Her mother continued to stare at Draco, until she pushed Phoenix roughly toward the train.
"Go." She said harshly. Without hesitation Phoenix bounded into the train and ran to the back, not at all curious about the conversation happening right under her window. Raised voices floated through the window, but no words could be made out.
She sat down in the compartment, and took a deep breath. She rubbed her shoulder were her father's nails had been digging in earlier. After a few minutes, she got up to close the door. She glanced across the hall, and to her surprise Harry Potter's son sat in the compartment across the hall. His dark eyes studied her, her own glared daggers at him. He didn't seem surprised, but he did seem almost disappointed. Both young students tried to stare the other down. Finally, Phoenix had to look away. She couldn't explain it, but she was scared. Scared of a boy she didn't even know; how shameful. She shut the door hurriedly and locked it. Sliding to the floor, she put her head in her hands and fell asleep.
Hours later, Phoenix snapped awake to the sound of excited voices outside. It took her a moment to remember where she was, but she quickly came to her senses. Her body was stiff from her contorted sleeping position. Her watch said four o' clock. She had been asleep for five hours; a new record. Her bones popped as she stretched. When she was done, she pressed her ear to the door to listen to the commotion outside.
"How about those Cauldron Cakes, Al?"
"Nah, those Licorice Wands look better."
"Let's get a bit of everything!"
Phoenix rolled her eyes. It was just the food trolley. Was she hungry? No, not really. Not enough to need food. Walking back to the bench, she pulled a book out of her bag; The Midnight Thief by Cornelia Funke; one of her favorites. While she read, she let all of her emotions drift away. An hour later, she heard a thump on the compartment door. Her eyes flicked up, she didn't move, but she did listen.
"Do you know where that girl is, Al?" it was the black haired boy from the platform. She could make out his silhouette through the warped glass of the compartment door. She slowly reached up and twisted the knob until the lights were out.
"Who?" a voice replied, Al, she assumed. At least no one noticed the lights dimming through the glass.
"The little brat who made my trolley fall apart. Short, brown hair, average looking." The boy replied. Phoenix's heart was pounding in her chest. She put the book down gently and drew out her wand. She knew many defensive spells, but the boy outside was at least a fourth year, and probably knew more. She knew the spells in theory, so she hadn't had a chance to practice. Her breath came heavy and she tried to quiet the noise. If she got into a fight, would she be expelled before the school year even began?
There was silence. She knew he would tell the older boy. Why shouldn't he? He didn't owe her anything. Phoenix was preparing for a fight, when, "No. Sorry, but I'll tell you if I see her."
"Are you sure?" the boy asked again, urgently.
She heard Al sigh, and he said, "Yes, James."
"What about in here? It's locked! She must be in here!" James' voice grew excited, and the door rattled in its frame.
"No one's in there James. I saw a man come and lock it. He said the empty compartments are always locked." Al lied smoothly. The shaking stopped.
"You sure no one's in there?"
Al must have nodded, because a reply wasn't heard.
"Whatever," James said, clearly disgruntled. "If you see her, tell me. I have a good hex I want to give her."
"Whatever James." Al said casually. Phoenix let her breath out slowly, sinking into the cushions of the seat. She owed Al bigtime now. Al and his group of friends continued chatting loudly about their summers. Then, they got quiet.
"No man came and locked that door, Al." a girl said quietly.
"I know." Al replied firmly, and that was the end of it.
A little while later, Phoenix changed into her new school robes. She loved the smell of the new cloth. The plain black socks had the Hogwarts insignia on the side, soon to be filled with her house crest.
The lamps lit inside her compartment, shedding a warm glow on everything. Outside, the sun set and the moon rose slowly.
The train shuddered to a halt in Hogsmeade Station. Phoenix had heard of the town, but had never been. She was mildly curious, but was mainly worried about the Sorting. Her parents hadn't told her much just that she would definitely be in Slytherin, like them.
She listened at the door, waiting for everyone to clear out of the back of the train before leaving. When she was sure she didn't hear anything, she pulled her trunk down, and opened the compartment door.
She started to pull her trunk behind her, when she heard a noise. Her trunk landed with a thud on her foot. She cursed, and jumped out of the way, searching for the source of the noise, wand raised.
She turned around too late.
"Expelliarmus!" Her wand flew out of her hand, and out the window, and her heart sank. She was defenseless.
"Confundus!" suddenly, she couldn't think, and her feet wouldn't move properly. She landed with a thud on the hard wood.
"Did you really think I believed my brother's lie?" James appeared above her. His eyes were angry pools of green.
"Furnuncula!" he shouted, wand pointed at her face. Painful boils erupted all over, forming red fleshy constellations.
James laughed coldly. "That'll teach you to mess with me, brat!" he hissed in her ear. She heard him run off down the hall. She stood up shakily when he had gone, and leaned against the wall for support. Bile rose in her throat, and she swallowed it thickly. When she was sure she wasn't going to vomit all over the place, she hauled her trunk up, and dragged it outside into the cool night air. Angry tears formed, and she wiped them away, furious.
Sweat beaded her forehead from carrying the trunk on her own, making the boils hurt even worse. No one stood on the platform. Great, she thought, not even day one and I'm already lost. Where was her wand? The lanterns hanging from poles offered little light. The small platform was wet and muddy; foot prints headed towards the woods then split in two directions, one to a lake, and another up a cliff.
She was looking around furtively, trying to decided what to do, when she heard pounding footsteps behind her. Dismay washed through her, she expected it was James, wanting to make her suffer more. It wasn't.
"Are you Nicole Bulstrode?" asked a tall man. He panted heavily from running, and his robes had mud on the hem, and his shoes were caked with the stuff. She nodded her head stiffly, not in the mood to correct him.
"What's wrong?" he asked guiding her into the light. His eyes widened in shock when he saw her face.
"Who did that to you?" he asked aghast. Phoenix remained silent. The man's mouth set in a grim line.
"Will you let me heal you?" he asked gently. Phoenix nodded. She was grateful he wasn't pressing her for information, but he would definitely question her later. He pointed his wand at her face and muttered a spell she couldn't make out. The swelling and pulsing pain faded until it was gone completely, replaced by smooth cool skin. She felt her face, relieved.
He smiled kindly at her. "Now, let's get properly introduced. I am Professor Longbottom." He held out his hand. On his left was an engagement band; a silver ring with small onyx vines sprouting from the various points and wrapping around his finger. The vines moved and twisted again and again, almost like snakes.
"Phoenix, not Nicole." She said stiffly. He raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. "Thank you." She added quickly. He smiled kindly and nodded slightly.
"I've lost my wand. Can you help find it?" she asked. He nodded again.
He raised his own wand and said, "Accio Wand!" She heard a rattle behind her. A streak of brown whipped past her and landed in the Professor's out stretched, dirt covered hand. Without a word he handed it to her and started to walk away, into the trees, heading toward the glassy lake.
Okay, so I haven't updated Freedom's Wings in forever and I'm sorry. I've just been really... I don't know. I think I'll try to update more, but highschool, sadly, is seen as more important that Fanfiction. *sigh* I hope you like this. Thanks so so much for all of your support!