Phoenix was up before the others so she went to take a shower.
Time skip
She was just finishing buckling her slightly heeled shoes. What if I get in trouble? What if I forget everything? She thought.
She did her long, straight reddish-chestnut hair in an elaborate French braid that swept around her head before getting her mascara, eyeshadow and lipstick out. She wasn't very good at putting it on so she waited for the others to get up. While waiting she memorised the other few textbooks.
Time skip
By the time they had Transfiguration Phoenix the Slytherin was settled into Hogwarts.
They had taken lots of notes and then tried to turn their match into a needle. At the end of the lesson, only Phoenix had transfigured it successfully, however Hermione Granger had almost managed it and scowled at her. All the Slytherins saw it.
"That's nice." she remarked.
Theo Nott immediately picked up on the sarcasm. "Lovely to know this year's Gryffindors and so well mannered."
"Come on, we've got potions next."
They made it down to the dungeons in record time, arriving first despite having come from the other end of the castle.
When they had all arrived Professor Snape took the register. He paused at Potter's name.
"Ah, yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new- celebrity."
Draco, Crabbe and Goyle completely lost it at this point. The girls, Theo and Blaise kept their composure.
Snape finished the register and gave a speech.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making. As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses… I can teach you to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death - if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads that I usually have to teach."
The class fell silent. Granger was on the edge of her seat, desperate to start proving she wasn't a dunderhead. Pathetic.
"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Potter glanced at his pet, Weasley, who looked just as stumped as he did. Granger's hand, however, had shot up.
Phoenix did know the answer, The Draught of Living Death, but did not put her hand up: Pansy had explained Slytherin etiquette to her that morning.
1. Stick with your house.
2. Don't be teacher's pet.
3. Don't look like a swot.
"I don't know, sir," said Potter.
"Tut, tut- fame clearly isn't everything."
He ignored Granger's hand.
"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find a bezoar?
Granger's hand twitched, stretching as far towards the ceiling as it could without her standing up.
"I don't know, sir," said Potter.
"What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
At this point Granger stood up with her hand in the air.
"I don't know, sir. I think Hermione does, why don't you ask her?" said Potter.
Snape's face contorted in fury and he snapped, "Sit down girl!" to the Beaver (Granger). "Is there an intelligent being who can tell me the answer?"
Pansy nodded to Phoenix, who put her hand up.
"Miss Grace?"
"Powdered root of asphodel and an infusion of wormwood make up the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is found in a goat's stomach and it is a healing stone, you put it in the afflicted's mouth. There is no different between monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant that also goes by the name of aconite." she smiled when she had finished.
"Ten points to Slytherin and a point will be taken from Gryffindor for your cheek, Mr Potter."
Phoenix's friends high-fived her. They were set to work mixing a cure for boils. She and Theo had just finished theirs when Longbottom's leaked everywhere. They jumped onto their stools to save their shoes being melted.
Snape rounded on him and Potter before dismissing the class.
Time skip
Phoenix was in one of the empty courtyards, studying, when three Gryffindor fifth-years advanced on her. She didn't see them till they were right behind her.
"String 'er up!" one commanded. Phoenix sat still, paralyzed in fear.
The two larger ones grabbed her and shoved her against a wall, holding her still. Her skirt was riding up on her thighs as she struggled.
The leader sauntered towards her, taking his cloak off. His tie came off then his top button undone.
"No, please no!" Phoenix screamed. She knew what was going to happen.
"Oh, don't worry, it'll all be over soon." The boy whispered, two millimeters from her face. He made a huge gash with a knife down her face, over her right eye. Everything to her right went black. "Finish her boys."
The thugs released their grips and pummeled her, until no part of her body was free of what would become bruises, then they stalked off.
Her eyes weakly closed.
