A/N: Hello and welcome to The Phoenix, the second installment of Demigoddess in a Wizarding World. Sorry for the wait. In this chapter it will focus mainly on Harry. (The next will focus on Perci.) Dont forget to review, it makes me want to update faster and make the chapters better. Thank you and enjoy.
Screams pierced the dark, dank room. This was no surprise to Draco Malfoy. He had lived with them for weeks, but he still cringed every time. Malfoy didn't understand why he was supposed to feel this way. He didn't owe her anything. She was just another piece of filth Potter. He wanted to think that. He wanted to hate her, but he couldn't. Sometimes at school she was kind to him. Everytime he saw her now thin and pale face he could only think of that time they first met in Diagon Alley.
Believe it or not, Draco was bullied before he went to Hogwarts. Kids used to throw rocks at him, jinx him, he'd him. He'd come home sometimes having to find a way to cover a boil or black eye. It was torture and no matter what he said and how much he cursed them, the bullying did not stop.
Draco remembered one time it became so bad they actually tried to use the Cruciatus Curse on him. Draco ran into Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions to hide inside the changing rooms. He dashed through the customers and ran into the first changing room he saw. Apparently someone was in it. A girl, around maybe 12 or 13 years old, screamed, but hushed herself when Draco gave her pleading eyes.
"What's wrong?" She asked covering herself up with her robes. "Are you hiding from something?" She asked. Draco nodded and peaked out the dressing room. The bullies were taking to Madam Malkin. "From who?"
After a moment Draco motioned for her to look. She peaked through the curtains and grimaced. "Flint. Derrick." She said in disgust. Draco gave her a questioning stare. "Marcus Flint. Peregrine Derrick. Slytherin." She said. Draco didn't, at the time, understand why the girl said 'Slytherin' with such disapprovement and disgust. The girl shook her head and stuck out her hand, giving a gentle and mischievous half smile.
"Perci Jackson." She said. Malfoy took her had. "Draco." He replied. Perci glanced out of the changing room. They were still there. She sighed. "Are you afraid of them? What were they doing?"
Draco stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked down. "He's been hexing me." He said quietly.
Perci frowned when she saw the fearful look Draco was giving her. "Wait here. I'll handle this." She said. Draco's eyes widened. "No!"
"It's alright. I won't tell them about you." Perci smiled down at him and exited the changing room. "Hey, prick!" She called and grinned when Flint answered to the name. "I've heard you've been spending your summer picking on little kids."
Flint and Derrick grinned. "Yeah, sometimes they put up a fight, but we handle them." Flint said and Derrick laughed.
"Very brave, 2 against 1." Perci said. Flint smirked and cackled. "I think you should take it down a notch or two." She said. They laughed at the statement. "And why would we do that?" Perci took out her wand and gave them a death stare she had learned from Andrew. They faltered and crossed their arms. They glared at her and left the robe shop.
Perci made her way back to her dressing room and opened it, causing Draco to jump. "They're gone." She said. Draco gave her an appreciative smile and left the changing room. Before he left the store he heard Perci call to him. "Good luck, this year, Draco. Hope you get sorted into Gryffindor. I'll see you at school." And she went back to trying on robes. Draco didn't know how she knew him or that he was going to Hogwarts this year. He hoped he would get sorted there too, even though his father laughed at the idea that he would be anywhere else rather than Slytherin. It seemed he didn't have much of a choice. He wanted to yell a thank you, but everyone was staring at him.
Draco quickly left the robe store and went to find his mother, the whole time he thought about Perci's kindness and promised himself he would once repay her someday.
Screams broke into Draco's train of thought. Her screams; he flinched. He followed the trail and they got louder and louder. This must've been branding day. Her screams were always bad when fire was involved. He opened the steel door to the East Wing dungeons and was welcomed by the smell of burnt skin and an ear splitting scream. Bellatrix worked up from her work, a sick grin stretched upon her face.
"Draco, I told you not to interrupt again!" She put down the knife with a red hot tip. Perci shook on the table. Draco went around to look at what Bellatrix had done. She looked horrible and not just because of the torture. Her face was very pale and thin. There were bags under her eyes. A deep scar ran from her right jaw to her cheek bone. Blood was all over her face. Her eyes were dark. Blood was caked in her hair and smeared on her face.
He looked down at her body that would've been bare except for the leather straps cover her bikini areas. Her stomach was covered in bleeding and burnt cuts. It looked as though Bellatrix was writing something. Draco could make out the words, 'Monster' and 'Killer' and 'Whore'. Blood was everywhere. Even Bellatrix's hand were covered in it. Draco learned in his muggle school as a child that blood was blue when not touching oxygen. That was definitely not blue.
"You like it?" Bellatrix said with an amused expression. She handed him her knife. "Want to try?" She cackled loudly at his expression.
"Why are you doing this if you know she isn't going to talk?" He asked. "How is she still alive?"
"The Dark Lord gave me permission to get every bit of information out of her and to do what was needed to get it." She said and ran a hand down Perci's face and neck."I think I've made quite the connection with her, too." She laughed. "I'll be back. Watch her." Bellatrix ordered and left the East Wing dungeons. Draco went over to where Perci could see him. Tears threatened to fall. No, I will not cry for her, he thought. But he wanted to.
All he could say was, "I'm sorry." She replied in a weak, hoarse voice.
"Me too."
Harry growled as he slammed the door to his bedroom and kicked his trunk. Expelled?! Harry held his head, trying to to calm himself down. All he could think about was that Howler. Underage wizardry. He wouldn't have had to use magic if Dementors weren't trying to kill him and Dudley. That little prick even blamed him. If his friends were there, they might be able to console him. But they weren't. Harry hadn't heard from them since school ended. He hadn't heard from Perci either.
Harry was angry everyday and nothing was able to console him. The nightmares of the graveyard, Voldemort, Cedric's death, and Perci. Harry threw himself on his small bed and did his breathing routine that Hermione had suggested on the Hogwarts Express coming from Hogwarts.
Harry suddenly heard a loud thump and voices. He looked out his window, expecting to see the Dursley's car in the driveway. It was gone. Harry drew his wand and jumped to his feet. He pointed his wand at his door when he heard the voices getting closer. Harry was ready for a fight. Hedwig fluttered about in her cage, chirping anxiously.
"Hedwig, shut it." He whispered. Harry could see the key to his room turn slowly and then fall out. Then a bright flash of light banged open his door.
A female voice whispered, "Very clean, these Muggles." It was unfamiliar, but the next voice Harry heard, he knew. "Tonks, for god's sake." He grumbled. Mad-Eye Moody; the real Mad-Eye. Harry grinned and heard the girl mutter, "Unnatural."
A few shadows came into view before Mad-Eye said, "Lumos." A light spell. Their wands emitted a white light, shining it on Harry. They came into his room. Tonks, the girl pointed her light at him, illuminating her purple hair and his green eyes. Harry looked at the others. Moody looked as gruff and scarred as ever. Behind him was a tall black man in an odd hat. Harry had seen him before. Behind him were a few other witches and wizards all dressed in cloaks.
"Professor Moody." Harry said, a small grin etched in his face. "What're you doing here?" Harry asked. Moody rolled his real eye and pushed past the girl, Tonks. "Rescuing you of course." He growled. "Gather your trunks and meet us in the sitting room. Quickly now!"
Mad-Eye pushed his companions out of Harry's bedroom and they disappeared into the dark. Harry hurriedly packed his Hogwarts trunks and met them back in the sitting room. They were looking around uncomfortably. Tonks looked up when she heard him coming, accidentally dropping one of Aunt Petunia's vases. Moody glowered at her. "Let's go." He said and everyone followed him out of the house. They stood in a line, each one of the wizards and witches grinning.
"Professor, where are we going?" He asked. "The letter said I've been expelled from Hogwarts." Harry said looking over at Moody.
"You haven't been. Not yet." Moody grumbled. "Kingsley, you take point." He told the black man.
Harry frowned. "But the letter said-"
Kingsley's deep voice interrupted him. "Dumbledore persuaded the minister to suspend your expulsion pending a formal hearing."
Harry furrowed his brow. "A hearing?" He asked. Tonks looked past Moody and over at him. "Don't worry, Harry. We'll explain everything when we get back to headquarters." She said loudly.
Moody scowled. "Shh! Not here, Nymphadora." He growled. Tonks glared at him. "Don't call me Nymphadora." She said through gritted teeth. To Harry's surprise her hair turned a bright red, but she shook it off and the color went back to a purple. Moody ignored her and banged his staff on the cobblestone. Brooms flew toward them and they caught them with ease.
"Stay in formation, everyone." He called. "And don't break ranks of one of us is killed." He growled. Harry mounted his broom quickly, still holding onto his trunk. Moody took it from him and strapped it onto his odd looking broom. It seemed to have a seat.
First, Kingsley flew off, followed by Harry, then Moody, then Tonks, and finally the others. Harry hadn't felt this great for a while. He felt as though he was free again and all his worries were gone. The witches and wizards formed a circle around him and flew steadily forward. Harry wanted to yell and scream and cry with joy as he flew freely in the sky, but knew Mad-Eye would tell him off.
They flew over the booming city of London. Harry watched the lamp lights and car lights turn into streams. Harry had a huge grin on his face. The view was incredible. It got even better when his eyes caught Tonks's. She was quite fit. Harry shook that thought off, he didn't need to be think about girls at the moment. Harry turned forward just in time to fly to the left of a huge cruise ship.
It didn't take Mad-Eye long to lead them to their destination. They touched down gently in a park that stood in front of a view townhouses. A garbage truck rolled past them. Moody opened a fence and they made their way to the middle of the street. Harry wondered if they were going to get ran over. Moody looked around to see if there were any stray Muggles looking in on them. Satisfied, Moody hit the ground with his staff three times. Harry watched the townhouses shake and rumble. To Harry's amazement the houses drew apart to reveal own more. An older looking one.
Harry grinned widely. "I love magic." He muttered. The others pushed past him walking into the house; Harry followed. The door creaked open their entering and Harry could hear voices.
"There've been no sightings. No deaths. No proof." It was Remus Lupin's. Harry heard another one. "He almost killed Harry and took Perci. If that isn't proof enough..." Sirius Black. Harry smiled widely, despite what they were talking about.
"Yes, but guarding you-know-what is the most important." Came another hushed voice.
Sirius's smooth voice was now angry. "Perci is my goddaughter. I will not-"
"We must trust Dumbledore on this." It was Arthur Weasley. If he was there, maybe Ron was, too.
"Was he able to protect them last year?" Sirius said. Tonks walked past Harry, winking at him. Harry blushed a deep red around the ears. "Tonight, I say it's time we take action."
"Sirius, we don't know where she is for certain. We don't even know if she's alive." Lupin sighed.
"I do. I can feel it." Sirius said.
"Feel it? You don't even know the girl!" Molly Weasley said.
"Oh, and you do?" Sirius growled.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Since she was eleven! Both her and Harry!" Molly growled back.
"Shh! Keep your voices down." Arthur hushed. Harry got closer to them and he caught Sirius's eyes. He grinned before a woman blocked his view and shut the door. Molly Weasley gave him a warm smile. "Heavens, you're all right!" She said and embraced him. He patted him on the cheek. "Bit pesky, but I'm afraid supper will have to wait until after the meeting's finished."
Harry started to speak but Mrs. Weasley quickly cut him off. "Nope. No time to explain." She pointed to the stairs on his left. "Straight upstairs, first door on the left." Molly watched him walk up the steps with a worried smile and sighed. Harry walked past a small creature that at first he thought was Dobby, but the sour expression on the house elf's face told him otherwise. The house elf muttered curses at him and Harry quickly shut the door to his appointed room.
He was immediately embraced by someone, their bushy brown hair clouding his view. She smelled like mint and old books. Hermione. "Harry!" She let go of him. Ron came into view with a haircut and looking strapping. "We overheard them talking about the Dementor attack. You must tell us everything."
Ron groaned. "Let the man breathe Hermione." Ron said. Hermione glared at him and turned back to Harry. "And this hearing at the Ministry. It's outrageous. I've looked it up. They simply can't expel you. It's completely unfair." Harry's mood turned sour.
He walked past them. "Well, there's a lot of that going around at the moment. So, what is this place?" Harry asked.
"Its headquarters." Ron said, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Of the Order of the Phoenix." Hermione added. "It's a secret society. Dumbledore formed it back when they fought You-Know-Who."
"Couldn't have put any of this in a letter, I suppose?" Harry grumbled. "I've gone all summer without a scrap of news."
Ron shifted from foot to foot. "We wanted to write, mate. Really, we did."
"Only Dumbledore made a swear not to tell you anything." Hermione gasped out. Harry frowned. "Dumbledore said that?" Harry felt a wave of betrayal.
He stuttered. "But why would he keep me in the dark? Maybe I could help." Harry was on a roll. "After all, I'm the one who saw Voldemort return. I saw Cedric get killed." His voice was softer. "I saw Perci fight him."
Suddenly there was a loud CRACK and two people appeared on the bed behind Harry. Fred and George Weasley had just apparated behind him. "Hi Harry, thought we heard your dulcet tones." Fred said smiling, but the smile did not reach his eyes, nor did George's. They were both paler than usual and they also had a haircut. Perci always said they looked like girls when they had long hair like Ron's.
"Don't bottle it up, though mate, belt it out." George continued.
"Anyway, if you're all through shouting, want to hear something a little more interesting." George asked mischievously, wiggling his eyebrows. Harry grinned and followed them to the balcony of the stairs that overlooked the closed door of the meeting room. Fred took out what looked to be an ear and for a fleeting moment Harry thought they might've cut someone's ear off. A string was tied to it and another ear. George put the other ear in the middle of them so they could all hear. Fred told them all to be quiet.
"Shut it, Snivellus!" Sirius suddenly shouted loudly. Harry frowned; he had heard Sirius call Snape that before. Harry's eyes widened.
"Snape's apart of the Order?!" He half yelled and was quickly shushed by Ginny. Harry blushed profusely. The connection began to falter and Fred tried to tug the ear back up to examine it. They all looked down to see Hermione's cat, Crookshanks, playing with it.
"Crookshanks!" Hermione called quietly. "No, Crookshanks! Bad Crookshanks!" The cat gulped up the ear and tore it from the string. Ron scowled at the fluffy cat whom strutted away down the corridor.
"Hermione, I hate your cat." He muttered. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny hurried down the stairs when they saw Mrs. Weasley and Arthur come out of the room. "We'll be eating in the kitchen." She said with a motherly smile, but it quickly was replaced with a scowl when Fred and George apparated right behind her.
"Oh!" She yelled and started hitting the two with a newspaper she grabbed from the table beside her. "Just because you're of age doesn't mean you can just whip your wands out for everything!" Fred and George ran into the kitchen. Ron and Ginny followed cautiously.
Arthur put an arm around his wife. "You hungry, Harry?" Molly asked.
"You sure you're alright, Harry?" Arthur asked. Harry didn't get to answer when a voice behind the two Weasley's spoke up.
"Harry Potter." He said. They parted, showing a groomed Sirius Black leaning up against the threshold. "Sirius." Harry grinned widely and threw himself at his godfather. Sirius hugged him tightly and clapped him on the back. They proceeded into the bustling kitchen. Harry looked around for Snape, but he was no where in sight. Harry sat down to the right of Sirius whom sat at the head of the table. Molly sat plates of food in front of them and they mindlessly ate. At the other end of the table Mr. Weasley talked at the other end of the table about Harry's upcoming trial, but he wasn't interested in that.
"Sirius, where's Perci?" The whole table went silent. Fred and George fidgeted. Molly accidentally slammed a plate down. Arthur fork was suspended inches away from his mouth. Ron and Hermione exchanged looks and Kingsley seemed very uncomfortable.
Sirius gave him a forced smile. "We have a few ideas." He said.
Harry frowned. "Ideas? You're saying you don't even know where she is?"
Lupin sighed. "We think we do, Harry, it's just..." He paused.
"We can't just burst in half cocked without any definite information." Moody finished gruffly.
"We're working on a plan-" Mr. Weasley started.
"What about the Ministry? What're they doing to help?" Harry asked.
There was an uncomfortable silence, but Moody broke it after a moment. "Show him." Moody nodded at Kingsley. "He should know."
Kingsley pulled out a paper, the Daily Prophet, Harry recognized, and set it in front of Harry. On the front cover was a picture of his sister, Perci, smiling and laughing, unknowing of the camera. Below her picture in large letters, Harry read aloud. "Wanted: For the murder of Cedric Diggory."
Harry slammed the paper down. "What the hell is?" Molly flinched at his language and wanted to reprimand him, but thought better of it.
"The Ministry's way of covering up Cedric Diggory's murder and You-Know-Who's return." Kingsley said placing his fork down and giving Molly a grateful smile as she took his plate away.
Harry was barely able to control his anger. "So they've decided to put this on Perci? Do people actually believe this rubbish?" They avoided his gaze.
Ron spoke up. "Yeah, they do."
"Everyone is putting it on her because they're scared that Voldemort may be back." Hermione said holding her old book to her chest.
Harry looked to Fred and George. "You don't believe this, do you?"
Fred and George shook their heads simultaneously. "Not a bit."
"We know Prissy." Fred said.
George nodded. "She's like our sister." George continued. Molly cast a glance at them. Harry grit his teeth. But she's my sister, he thought. "We know she wouldn't hurt anyone."
"Without a cause." Fred added thinking about Perci's feelings about Professor Snape. She'd definitely kill him if she had the chance.
Harry decided to change the subject. "So what's this plan to get Perci? Where do you think she is?"
"We think she's-" Sirius began.
"Enough!" Molly exclaimed. "Tell him any more and he'd want to go. Heavens, you'd might as well induct him into the Order!"
"Good, I want to join. I want to fight!" Harry said. Sirius grinned and sat back in his chair, crossing his arms.
"No, Harry, you're just a boy." Molly said. The room was silent for a while. "Now, all of you, off to bed." She shooed them off and up the stairs. Fred and George disapparated out of them kitchens leaving their mother to glare at their now empty seats. Hermione and Ginny entered the room opposite of Harry and Ron with an awkward 'goodnight'.
Harry stared up at the ceiling, Ron's loud snores and his thoughts keeping him awake. Perci- could Harry actually use the word 'sister' yet? They hadn't really been the closest before... She and Ron acted like brother and sister sometimes and looking back on it, Harry felt a wave of jealousy. She was his sister, not Ron's. There it was again, that word.
"Sister." Harry said aloud. It was a foreign word to him. But the way it felt, rolling off his tongue, he liked it. Harry could get used to calling her that. He'd just need to build a friendship with her. Then, in time, would he be able to call her that. Harry wondered if Perci thought of calling him 'brother'. He hoped she did.
Harry was going to find her, wherever Perci was. They'd be a family like they were supposed to be. Nothing was going to stop him, not even Voldemort.