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:

Phoenix Lestrange

"Phoenix Lestrange!" McGonagall called.

The Great Hall instantly fell silent. Gryffindors glared at the small girl that walked up to the hat while Slytherins wished for her to join them. However, no matter their house or position, students and teachers both, bent over their chairs and tables to watch as she sat on the stool.

She was a strange child, this young girl, messy black hair and deep violet eyes. Her skin was pale as the moonlight, beautiful, but no one saw that, they were only concerned about the fact that she was the daughter of the most dangerous of Death Eaters, Bellatrix Lestrange.

When the hat was placed on her hat, she felt it touch her mind and she almost jumped out of her skin at the invasion of her head.

'I see a lot of confusion and anger. Stubborn and prideful, and you have ambition to spare...better be…GRYFFINDOR!' The hat yelled. The hat was removed from her head, allowing her to slide off the stool and walk quickly to the emptier end of the table, glaring daggers at her. No one clapped for her. They didn't want her there, and she didn't want to be there.

Her skin crawled as she scurried away from all the eyes, and whispers.

"Slytherins don't belong here."

"Shouldn't have been allowed here."

"That Hat must have made a mistake."

"Why did she even come?"

Phoenix just ignored them all and sat in silence.

She listened and smiled when her cousin, Draco Malfoy, got into the house they knew they should be in together.

The hall was again filled with noise, until…

"Harry Potter!" McGonagall called.

Even Phoenix looked up, The Chosen One had finally come to Hogwarts and he was in her year, but why did he look so familiar?

Harry looked at the crowd with a bit of fright. He caught sight of that Lestrange girl looking his way and tensed up. He felt like he knew her somehow.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat yelled.

Harry stood up and started towards Phoenix, but Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him into the seat next to her.

"Stay away from her Harry, she's a Lestrange, her parents were You-know-who's followers." The girl hissed.

"Lestrange?' Harry asked.
"Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange." Ron said. "Mum's in Azkaban."
"Azkaban?"
"The wizard prison, most fearsome place on the planet." Ron said.
Harry looked over at the eleven year old. How can a name be so dangerous?

"Her mum went to Azkaban years ago." One of two twins muttered.

"Dad said she isn't even allowed to meet with her mum and her dad disappeared before then. He's presumed dead." The other twin said. They looked a bit like Ron.

"Sorry Harry, the name's Fred…"

"And George…"

"Weasley."

"Ron's brothers." Harry said.

"Yes sir." George said.

"He said you are pranksters."

"Did he now?" They asked.

"Tell me more about Lestrange."

"Her mother is a convicted Death Eater, the most dangerous sort too." Fred said.

"But Dad has pictures of them from school." George said. "They'd been friends."

"So she wasn't always…"

"We don't know, no one talks about those families."

Harry had fun at the first feast when he ignored the feeling that he knew Phoenix.

"Harry, you ok?" Ron asked standing up.

"Yeah, fine." Harry replied.

"The feast is over." Ron told him. "We have to go."

"This is just so unreal." Harry said.

"Well I'm beat, and I'd rather not get lost, which we will be if we don't get moving." Ron smiled.

Phoenix stood up at the end of Dumbledore's speech and bumped into one of the Slytherins.

"Hello cousin, what are you doing in the lion's den?"

"Ask the bloody hat Dray." Phoenix hissed lethally.

"I have already told the others to leave you alone; you will get enough grief from the Griffins."

"Thank you Draco, that means a lot to me."

"You're welcome cousin, Crabbe and Goyle want to say hi."

"Hey guys, you watch out for Dray for me, you hear?"

"Of course Phoenix." Goyle smiled.
"Thanks guys, I wish I could be with you."

"We know, but you will be welcomed, no doubt."
"I hope," she sighed.

"I'll ask around with the older years, any ideas on how to free your mum yet?" Draco

"None, can't your dad help?" Phoenix asked.

"Not without looking suspicious, most he can do is keep passing the letters along from you and your mum." Draco frowned.

"You don't know how grateful I am for that either." Phoenix sighed.

"If he could get Bella out of the hell hole, he would, you know that right?"

"I do, well this is where I leave you, but it seems we have most classes together, see you tomorrow." Phoenix sighed.

"Yes, better hurry up, your house is running off without you."

"It seems they are Dray." She said and smiled weakly. She walked after her house catching up easily enough.

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

However, that was two years ago and our two main characters are now thirteen.

You know Harry's story, but this is Phoenix's. Harry and Phoenix are more alike than many might want to admit. Phoenix is exactly two months older than Harry. She was born on May 31, 1980.

She as well as Harry, lives in an abusive home, a muggle man who took her in. When he found out what she was, he neglected her and acted like she was nothing more than a slave, there to make him happy. She was a hard worker so he kept her around no matter how much he hated her. When she didn't do things fast enough though, she lost her privilege to eat, or was hit. They were the only people she could call family, so she endured the beatings and lack of nutrition, and the names.

That happened for six years.

She had been five when aurors raided her home and when she was taken in by the muggles. When she turned eleven, Hogwarts happened. She had nowhere to call home except when Draco got her adoptive parents to let her stay at Malfoy Manor. The father truly hated her and loved to get her away from Private Drive. He tried to keep her out of sight as much as possible when she was there, mostly locking her in her room. The mother gave her a guitar and let her teach herself, loving music herself. Phoenix found enjoyment out of singing and playing, loved to make up her own stuff or even try to teach herself songs she heard on the radio.

To the public, her parents were the perfect couple. Taking in an orphan girl and caring for her as their own. Giving her everything she wanted and sending her to a beautiful all girl's school when she turned eleven.

By law the muggles were her parents and the father was careful not to show signs of abuse or neglect, so all she could do to get away, was visit the Malfoy's.

Harry lived in #4 Privet Drive; Phoenix lived at #7 Privet Drive, across the street and to the right of Harry's aunt and uncle's. After first year, they both realized, but still avoided each other. To Harry, Phoenix was simply the daughter of the most dangerous Death Eater, a threat and to Phoenix; Harry was just Dumbledore's Golden boy.

Bella had never hurt anyone, never raised her wand to a muggle, never killed, and never on her life used an unforgivable. She was no Death Eater; she was just a spy.

Phoenix hated Dumbledore for not telling the truth. Bellatrix had out lasted her worth to Dumbledore and didn't want his plans found out so he let his spy get convicted without one word of defense; Phoenix hated Voldemort because he had destroyed their lives, and the ministry had imprisoned her mother without a trial or hard evidence.

Plus, Fudge was a complete dunderhead.

It is the start of Harry and Phoenix's third year. The end of the feast finds Phoenix in the corner, hair covering her face, pouring over a book of Dragons. Still sitting in corners and taking every name her housemates threw at her turned back.

Phoenix shared her dorm with Hermione Granger, Lavender Brown and Parvarti Patil.

Harry was in his own dorm sitting alone, and reading a book to get ready for potions the next day when an owl flew through the window and landed on his bedside table.

"What's this?" He asked himself. He saw the note had Phoenix's name on it. He walked down to the common room and found her in her corner. Even when she was hidden behind her hair, he could tell she was mad, but he took a deep breath and calmly walked over to her.

"This came for you," he said a little nervous. "The owl seemed a bit lost."

She just took it without a word and looked at the front. She immediately crumpled it up, instantly pissed off.

"Damn them." She growled and walked to the fire throwing the note inside it. She sat back down and slammed her hand on the table before pushing her hair out of her face for a split second.

"Are you ok?" Harry asked as her hair fell back in place.

"Fine," she growled.

"Want me to send the idiotic owl down?" Her asked gently. She was taken aback and looked at him, her violet eyes just peeking out from behind her bangs.

"Uh…yeah, sure, if it's not a problem," she sighed calming down.

"No problem," he was back to his dorm in seconds and brought the owl downstairs. When he got back down, she was gone.

"Whose owl Harry?" Seamus Finnegan, one of Harry's dorm mates, asked.

"It came for Lestrange, must be new to delivery, it came to our dorm instead of her's." Harry explained.

"Who would write her?"

"Her parents," Harry said.

"Her dad's dead and her mum's in Azkaban Harry." Ron, Harry's best mate and one of his other dorm mates, said.

"No, she lives with muggles who are her adoptive parents, and I know her real parents are either dead or in Azkaban." Harry replied.

"I'd stay away from her if I were you Harry." Neville, another of Harry's dorm mate, warned him.

"I think I'll be fine." Harry said thinking about her meek, nervous behavior.

"Don't bother with her Harry." Hermione, his other best mate, said.

"Here she comes now." Harry sighed ignoring Hermione and walked over to the girl.

"Here's the owl." Harry said smiling at her.

"Thanks." She said. "Her name's Talon. How did he get a hold of you, girl?"

"No problem, is she yours?"

"A gift from my aunt," she replied petting the small black owl.

"Who sent you that letter?"

"No one in particular," She shrugged.

"You seemed pretty upset."

"It's not your business ok?" She snapped, sitting back down but Harry followed her.

"What are you doing?" She asked as Talon flew up to the girl's dorms, where her master was staying.

"Helping you, maybe if you show people who you really are, they won't be so scared of you."

"People are afraid of my mum, and for that, I am an outcast."

"I don't believe that."

"You would say that." She muttered.

"Why do you hide?"

"I don't hide." She growled.

"Come on Phoenix, what is wrong with you?" Harry asked.

"Why is it you are so interested all of a sudden?" She spat.

"You've helped me many times over." Harry replied.

"And you've returned the favor every time, now please leave me alone." She said.

"And if I don't want to?" Harry asked.

"I swear to god I'll make you." She growled.

"How? You are no better at magic than me."

"Want to try me?" She asked.

"Harry! Come play chess!" Ron called. Harry shrugged it off and turned back to a pissed off Phoenix Lestrange.

"Are you forgetting who I am?"

"I know who you are. You are a girl who happens to be afraid of a world that has condemned her for something her mum did." Harry said.

"The ministry condemned my mum for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She hasn't done a thing to deserve where she is." Phoenix growled.

"Let me help you then." Harry said

"Why would you want to help me?"

"Because I believe you." Harry said. "Always have."

"Then why are you starting to care now?"

"I don't know, something happened over the summer." He said.

"What could happen to make you think crazy thoughts?" She muttered.

"I saw what he does to you." Harry said. Phoenix, ready to make a comeback, stood rigid and defeated. Her eyes were blank, filled to the brim with fear.

"I won't tell anyone." Harry said and stood up, ready to walk away.

"The Ministry." She whispered as he began to walk.

"What?" Harry asked.

"The letter, it was from the Ministry." She replied.

"What did they want?"

"I'm not allowed to see her."

"Your mum?"

"It was the tenth time they've denied me the right to see my mother." Phoenix told him.

"I'm sorry." Harry told her. "That isn't fair."

She didn't say a word, just grabbed her stuff and walked to her dorm. Harry stared after her, positive he'd seen a wet stream down her cheek.

Harry wished he had found this confidence two years ago and become a real friend to her instead of the small favors to return her kindness.

Her abuse was worse than his by far and she had no one to protect her.

Hermione was already in the dorm when Phoenix walked in. As Phoenix packed her bag with fresh clothes, Hermione stood up, pissed off as she walked over to Phoenix.

"You leave Harry alone; I won't let you hurt him!" She screamed.

"For a genius, you sure are stupid." Phoenix snapped and threw her bag on her back. She left Gryffindor Common room and made her way to Slytherin where she could hide away and think without questions or stares. She shoved her hands in her pockets and found a note had been dropped inside the left one.

She took the note out and opened it, not recognizing the hand writing as she sat down in an alcove to read.

Before this summer I thought you were stuck up and refused friends and company because you thought you were too good for us, that those random acts of kindness were just you trying to counter that thought. After this summer, I have learned it is because you are just proud and scared. You truly care about others, won't let anyone know what has happened to you because you want to protect them from the pain. I promise I won't tell anyone what I learned this summer. Maybe we can be friends one day, one day soon. Just a little advice for you, you have to trust the world before the world will trust you.

-Harry Potter

She took a piece of parchment out of her bag and a quill. She found her favorite bright red ink and started to write.

Harry was back in his dorm reading his potions book again when Talon appeared in the window again. He took the parchment from its leg and instantly saw his name on the top. It was from Phoenix, a fact which surprised him immensely. He had wanted to know why she hid, and why everyone hated her for something her mum had done. He had gotten the answer to his first question, but the second question was unanswered, and probably never would be. When he opened the note, he found a brief message scrawled in bright red ink, instead of the usual black.

Phoenix was definitely different.

Potter-

Just a little warning, at home, I can see what you do in your room from my bedroom window. Be more careful about you magic usage and close you curtains. I often watch for owls from my cousin. As for the reason for this note, I want to say thank you. If you wish to ask questions about me or my mum, talk to me directly, I would be happy to clarify. Your friends don't know my mum's story. I do.

Sincerely yours, Phoenix Bellatrix Druella Lestrange.

PS. I'd like to take a chance at being friends, if your friends will let me.

Phoenix was a strange girl and Harry knew that. She had always confused him and now it was time to stop ignoring her and time to try to get to know her.