"So Scout what do you say we go to Diagon Alley tomorrow to get your stuff for school" said Lily to her daughter as they ate dinner.

"Tomorrow, sounds fun, maybe we could invite Sev, Siri, and Remus to come and have lunch with us."

"I will floo them, how does that sound?"

"Sounds great I didn't think you were ever going to let them in the same proximity after they started the food fight at my birthday party."

"Well, I forgive easily. Not to mention you want to see them before you go to school. I just don't want you getting any ideas about pranks."

"Mum I am a model citizen, I would never do something so obviously barbaric, you know that. Besides Aunt Nerva looked like she was going to blow her top. Maybe I should give a food fight a try, that way if she tries to punish me for it I can say that Sirius told me to do it." The stern look from her mother had her back pedaling in an instant. "This is all just figurative you know, a joke."

"MMhhhm, I am sure it is."

She looked excited though, the fact that she was going to get a wand tomorrow made her realize how close Hogwarts was, but also how lonely her mother was going to be without her. Granted she would probably be one of those parents who showed up all the time just to embarrass her, but that was okay with Phoenix, at least for now.

Little did she know what Sev and Phoenix had talked about a few days prior.

"Hey Phoenix can we talk for a minute?" Sev questioned.

"We are already talking, but go ahead and shoot Sev."

"I wanted to know your opinion about something, something really important to me." He could tell she was trying to digest his request, a nod was all he got in recognition of his words. "Let's cut to the chase. I have known your mother for a very long time and I care about her and you. I have always been involved in both of your lives, but I would like to take the next step it has been quite a long time since your father and brother were killed and I think 10 years is sufficient enough for me to ask the question."

"The question, which one?"

"I want to ask your mother to marry me which is why I came to talk to you. Usually when a man wants to marry a woman he is to go to her father and first ask of his permission or blessing, however your mother's father is no longer alive. There is no person who cares more about Lily than you in this world, so I wanted to ask you to make this decision. Phoenix Potter will you grant me your blessing for the betrothal of your mother and I?"

She just looked at him with almost a blank face but then began speaking calmly, "How will this change our lives, I mean will it change anything in our lives?"

"Well I will be around you and her more, that is for certain. I will also be more of a fatherly figure in your life."

She cut him off and stated, "You already are my fatherly figure."

"Well I don't just wish to be a figure but for you to consider me your father."

"I think it would suit us well to have a man in our lives, but I am not entirely sure that we need one."

"You can think about it for a while Scout if you want and we can continue to discuss it for awhile."

"What would change between me and you? I mean I know you can take care of my mom, you love her so much every year you say something stupid you come by and let her cry about it all over you without ever making a comment."

"Well I would probably be a bit more involved in your daily life especially as far as parenting is concerned. I mean I am rather lenient about your cheek with me because I am not technically your father, but if your mother chooses to marry me I will probably call you on it. I will also be more affectionate towards you as I will know you even better than I do now, plus I will be under your mother's command so I can even oversee your misbehavior at school as well, isn't that great? But there are some definite plusses, I will be able to cuddle with you whenever I want, we can brew potions together, I can help you with homework, make sure you ace tests. I have some ins with the professors you know." He said with a light smile.

"Cuddle, really, you don't seem like much of a cuddler."

"What do you call the hug fest I do with your mother is?"

"I don't know, I just don't think you know how to cuddle very well."

"Well I guess I'll have to prove you wrong." He comes over and grabs her and puts her on his lap. She went stiff when he picked her up but as she settled she looked at him and found just how much warmth she felt sitting against his chest. Suddenly she relaxed and set her face right into his neck. At this moment he realize how much the girl missed, granted her mom cuddled with her, but she didn't really have a stable strong male figure in her life. Someone who was willing to call her on things when she was wrong but be a complete overstuffed teddy bear when needed. It scared him, he did not know if he could be everything she needed or wanted but he would try his best, he just had to.

"So what is the verdict, how are my cuddling skills."

"Your great" she said, still holding on to him all the while.

"So, since I passed the cuddle test can I have your mother to hug and to hold through richer and poorer, in sickness and in health…"

"You can stop I get the point, but the answer is yes. However you have to promise me something."

"Anything rational."

"My mom loves the moon, particularly when it is a perfect crescent when the moon is waning. She told me her dream proposal was in the woods with the moon in a perfect cresent with a lite drizzling rain fall, when the moon was out, but it wasn't quite dark out. She wants a ring with an emerald on it, not a diamond there to simple, not to mention every one thinks a diamond is necessary, but she loves emerald green. You will be dressed in a sport jacket with a green tie and give her the ring, standing not on one knee like a corny movie."

"You really have this planned out don't you?"

"Maybe just a bit, so Sev are you gonna promise or not?"

"Not only will your wish be my command, but I will let you come shopping with me so we can pick out the perfect ring and jacket."

"Don't forget the tie."

"I have the tie."

"Really? Are you sure it is befitting of such an occasion?"

"Yes Scout, in fact your mother gave it to me right before I went to my interview to get into potion mastery school, it is emerald green and black, most of all your mother loves it, and quite frankly so do I."

"Perfect, you realize we only have a few days before the moon is in perfect alignment again, not sure if it will drizzle, but we will have to work with what we got.

Minutes later they went off to shop at Diagon Alley.

Pheonix oddly remembered the day her and Sev had planned out the perfect wedding proposal, with less than half a week left before the execution of the perfectly timed and planned event they were headed to Diagon Alley to buy her wand and school things.

"We will head to Olivander's last, so don't get too excited just yet." Lily said.

"Hey mom can we go by Eyelops Owl Emorium I realize I already have two owls, but I would like to tell the shopkeeper how wonderfully we get along. She was so worried about them and they were the perfect match for me."

"Yes, but only after we have gotten books and robes."

With that said, off they headed to get robes, this was relatively easy, but always frustrating for Phoenix. She was super small even for 11 and hardly ever grew, so every time she went she would make an attempt to look taller than she was, but she hadn't gotten significantly taller in years. This trip would be no different.

So after they got everything she would need through at least Christmas break they went to get books which Phoenix loved. Her mom let her get a couple of books to read over the next week or so and the train ride to school. The only thing Lily was worried about is that her child was so smart and so talented that one of these days that much knowledge was going to come back and bite her in the butt.

They went to go and get potions stuff which was super easy because they already had everything set out for Hogwarts students. Her mom made sure she had the best of the best in every aspect from clothes, to books, to potions kits. After all, she worked as an auror and was paid pretty well to do so, not to mention the Potter fortune that was just sitting in a vault collecting interest.

"Hey Scout why don't you go talk to the shop keeper next door."

"Thanks, I'll be right back."

Most wouldn't thank their parents in a situation like this, but Phoenix always thanked her mother for using the moniker out in public. She didn't like people realizing it was her, in fact she liked it when people didn't call her by name, it was better that way.

Next door, "I just wanted to say how well my owls are settling in, and to thank you for showing them to me, their perfect." The shopkeeper smiled at the compliment. "Well dear they just needed someone who was smart enough to keep up with them."

"Yeah, my mom wasn't initially fond of the idea of me having two owls, but now that she has adjusted she really enjoys them besides they can carry loads when their together. This is going to sound really immature, but their kind of my best friends."

"Animals can be your friend when no one else is willing to put up with you."

"Well I better go my mom was just paying for some stuff for school. Thanks again."

The shop keeper looked perplexed, the child talked as if she were 30 and was small enough to be a large 6 year old, but somehow she was going to school.

As soon as she walked outside she ran into a blonde haired boy who looked about her age. She ran smack dab into him right outside the door. "Ugh no common decency in people anymore." The overly groomed boy snarled.

"Sorry about that, I didn't see you. More like I wasn't looking for a person there, I take full responsibility for that."

"Well at least you have the manners enough to apologize."

"Excuse me, I don't know who you are but usually someone apologizes and the other forgives them."

"For a moment there I thought you had class. My name is Draco Malfoy. We could be friends if you like, I appreciate your attitude."

"I think I'll pass."

"Why you're not one of those sappy muggle loving types are you? I mean honestly, why wouldn't you want you to be friends with me?"

"Because you're a cocky git who doesn't deserve friends, let alone my friendship."

"You call me cocky, you filthy little mudblood!"

"How dare you, the only thing that makes your blood dirty is the acts that your father committed years ago and got off for just because of his last name."

"You seem to have more spunk then necessary Miss Potter."

"And you must be Mr. Malfoy what a," she pauses searching for a word, "pleasure it is to make the acquaintance."

"Where are your parents, I mean parent?"

All of the sudden Lily walked out of the shop and saw the altercation.

"Phoenix, just what do you think you are doing."

"Meeting the Malfoys mother." She replied ever so sweetly.

"Remember, we have lunch plans, so come along child."

Phoenix walked towards her looking back and saying, "Its been a pleasure meeting you Mr. Malfoy, Draco."

She walked over towards her mother and they made their way around the corner towards Olivander's, after she was out of eyeshot of the Malfoys she leans over and grabs Pheonix's ear and gives it a hard twist. "Owwwwww" she squealed.

"No more confrontations with anyone like that are we clear? I saw that little disagreement young lady and I am not happy with it."

"Yes, I mean no, I mean… I don't know but no confrontation. Will you let go of my ear!" Pheonix yelped out.

Lily slowly let go and simply said, "Your forgiven Scout, just no more arguing, even if they are greasy gits." By the end of her statement she was smiling because she could tell her daughter was about to dispute the punishment based on the Malfoy's attitude.

"Why do you always do that? I was really looking forward to griping at you."

"That's the joy of being a parent young lady, I am completely allowed to steal your thunder."

"Yeah whatever."

"Hey Phoenix that's enough pouting, it isn't the end of the world."

"I guess, but you don't even know the whole story." She said dejectedly.

"I see Sirius going into the Leaky Cauldron so we can talk over lunch, yeah?"

"No, I'd rather not."

"You know if you're going to continue pouting, you can just go home?"

Pheonix said nothing, but continued walking towards the Leaky Cauldron. Her mother almost said something, but decided against it, she figured after talking to Sirius, Remus, and Severus things would calm down.

"Well, well, if it isn't Phoenix Potter?"

"Hey Remus, how are you doing?"

"Fantastic, I heard that you came to get your wand today."

"I haven't gotten it yet. I had a bit of an incident outside Eyelop's so I haven't had a chance to get their yet."

"Oh, an incident, huh."

"I'd rather not talk about it."

"That bad huh, and your ear is a little red." He stated calmly.

Now her face matched her ear.

"Moony quit being such a dead pan, she got a bit cheeky and her mum got tired of it. Who cares we did way worse, hell I did way worse in the womb."

Lily had to interject at this point, "My child is never cheeky, at least not to me. And the particular incident you have mentioned had nothing to do with her respect for me and everything to do with her problem controlling her attitude around others."

"Mum, you are not suppose mention things like that, it is embarrassing."

Sirius jumped back in, "So what exactly did you do?"

"Well, I might have created a bit of a disagreement with Malfoy, but you know it was nothing."

"Already calling him by his last name, good call kiddo." Sirius was always the one to support breaking rules.

"I would suggest you cease as far as your supporting her attitude and respect towards others." Lily giving Sirius a stern look.

"Yes, you know you shouldn't ahh break the rules, I was a model citizen as was your father."

"Whatever Sirius, we will go with proper model citizen for now."

Remus kept looking at her questioningly, and she simply commented with a "What is your problem?"

"Pheonix!" Her mother nearly shrieked out, "You need to drop your attitude and do it now."

She didn't say anything but looked at her food for a while. A moment later Severus walked in to the restaurant and sat down.

"Well if it isn't my favorite people in the world." Severus said silkily as he began to look at the menu. "You are talking about me, right?" said Sirius. "Yes, of course." Replied Severus, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

As the meal went on the conversation went back to what had happened earlier that day.

Phoenix lashed out as soon as she was asked about specifics, "Would you just stop it. How would you like it if I continued to badger you Remus? It would make you feel uncomfortable. Just like there was nothing wrong with what I did, and I am tired of being badgered as if I am some kind of criminal because I had a bit of a moment. So back the bloody hell off, because I am damn tired of being criticized."

Lily arose grabbed her child by the arm and apparated at once, as soon as she got to her home she took a hold of her ear and smacked her bum hard once. Then she proceeded to drag her to her room. Then said somewhat abruptly, "I am tired of your attitude, so you are going to stay here, I am going to finish lunch with my friends and when I get back we will talk about your punishment. I was going to let you get away with the Malfoy incident with a simple twist of the ear, but since you obviously learned nothing we will have to give you something as more of a reminder."

As soon as her statement was finished she let go of her child and apparated. Lily went back to lunch with a heavy heart and a racing mind in an attempt to make a decision as to her child's fate.

Phoenix just walked up to her bed crawled in her comforter curled up in a ball and began to sob. Her mother had never tried anything like this. She always talked it out with her. She never just left her like that, nor was she usually this hard on her.

Her mother had always been here even when she messed up and now she had really made her mad. She felt like a complete failure. She didn't even get her wand today.

About an hour later her mother came back home, but she didn't come up immediately, just the fact that her mother was this mad made her fall apart again.

After Lily had some tea as she tried to calm herself because she knew Phoenix was going to be an absolute wreck. She used to melt down over a timeout, leaving her in her room for an hour and a half meant that she was going to be an emotional puddle.

Sure enough she walked in on her daughter who was crying her eyes out in a pose comparable to a fetal position. Lily always went with her gut at this point so she went over and sat down and began talking her in low town and rubbing her back. Once she had calmed down a bit her mom asked her If she would like a hug. Of course she just jumped at her mom and held on for dear life. "Oh Scout" Lily said as she clung to her daughter tightly. They sat there for the longest time with only hushed tones stated Lily to calm her upset daughter. Once she heard her daughter's breathing slow and her body relax she said, "Hon, I know your upset but I need to talk to you about this okay?"

Phoenix said nothing, only burying herself deeper in the covers of her bed. "We are going to talk about this, come on Scout that is enough."

Still nothing, Lily usually was not hard on her daughter, she believed that her daughter was a good person and didn't need a constant reminder to stay in line, however the child was a bit mischievous.

"That's enough of this young lady, I am this close to punishing you, and you don't want me doing that without your side of the story, in fact you really don't want me doing it at all. I would drop the attitude and talk to me little lady, otherwise I will be forced to punish you assuming that silence is an admission of guilt."

Lily paused for a minute listening for an answer, but got nothing so she got off the bed grabbed Phoenix's vanity chair and sat down in the middle of the room. She was hoping that the child would crack when she began thinking her bum was in danger.

"Okay, let's get this over with, lie over my lap." Lily said, still hoping that her child would show a bit of remorse prior to because she knew once she started the spanking she would have to stick with it. She would have to be the hard mom, she really didn't want to have to show her daughter tough love, she hardly ever punished her. Phoenix however had another idea, she simply got up and laid over her mother's lap without saying a word.

Lily looked down at her child questioning her tactics, she sighed in an attempt to calm her heart once more. She brought her hand up, but paused for a moment, then brought it down hard. Phoenix gasped, she hated this, absolutely hated it. In fact the feeling of hatred was mutual at this very instance. Once Lily started she got into her rhythm, and Phoenix began to squirm after a while. Lily continued waiting for the dam to break, but it never did. She thought about accioing a hairbrush to her, but she had never used an implement on her daughter. Severus had after she asked him to. However she thought that it wasn't the best idea, she did need to make an impression so she decided to bare her child's bottom and did so quickly.

It was rather easy, after all her child always wore a skirt, she simply flipped it up and pulled her knickers down. She began spanking the already pink flesh. Phoenix's wiggling went up, but no tear came down her face. Lily knew that when her little girl was upset she would hide it, which is exactly what she was doing here, she also knew that in order to make Phoenix understand her punishment that dam had to break, she had to poor her heart out. Her bum was now an awful shade of red, as was Lily's hand.

Lily could tell they were close, her child's bum was red from the very top to the tops of her thighs, but they weren't quite finished. Lily raised her hand again and started off the next group of slaps with an extra hard one, hoping it would soften her daughter's heart just a little. Soon after Phoenix began to cry openly and Lily knew she only had one thing left to do. She raised her leg and spanked her daughter's sit spots with particularly stinging swats. Then stated, "Are you ever going to use that attitude again young lady?" "No ma'am never" Lily stopped pulled up her daughter's knickers and fixed her skirt.

She didn't wait like some parents did, she simply picked her sobbing child up and held her. Lily just held her, she said nothing, knowing that Phoenix had a wounded pride and needed a moment of silence to adjust. Phoenix was happy for the moment of silence, her mom always seemed to know what she needed, sometimes she considered it a benefit, but others she almost wished her mother didn't have the maternal instinct.

After a minute or so Phoenix initiated the conversation allowing her mother to know she was ready with a simple, "I'm sorry I should have just told you." "Told me what Scout," her mother said softly. "About what actually happened over there and why I am so upset." "Are you ready to tell me now?" She simply shook her head and held on even tighter. "I'll tell you in a bit."

Her mother simply hummed a song and rubbed her daughter's back. They sat there forever doing nothing but holding on to one another. Phoenix once again initiated the conversation, but this time she was much calmer and clearer for that matter, "The thing between me and the Malfoys had a lot more to it, so I'll tell you the whole thing." She explained the incident from the very beginning and she did so in depth. At the end of the conversation Lily only had one thing to say, "I'm sorry Scout."

"Yeah" is the only reply she was given.

"You know your father loved you very much. I never told you this, but that night he literally jumped in front of a killing curse that was meant for you. I remember when you were born he looked so petrified, you see we didn't know what gender of child we were going to have we wanted it to be a surprise, but when you were born a girl he acted as if he didn't know what to do. He had this plan that he could go out and wrestle, prank me, but you see you were the first out, you were the oldest. We were gone that night you know and Voldemort had already killed your brother, but he died for you. He didn't know what to do Phoenix when you were born he had all these ideas of what parenting was going to be like and then they put a beautiful large eyed black haired little girl in his arms and he looked dumbfounded. It was one of the only times I had seen him afraid. He was afraid because he wanted you to have an amazing life, he died not so that you could be miserable and only have one parent, but simply that you might be able to have the life you deserved."

"I know Mum, I just, I just don't know. Sometimes I get so frustrated when I see other people with fathers who are having a great time. Don't get me wrong, I love you, your great, its just I've never had a dad to sit on the lap of, or to have read me stories or play quiditch with. It's stupid to miss something I've never had, but I do."

"I know Phoenix, I miss him too. You cried for a whole month after they were murdered, you screamed for your dad, but I couldn't give you one. Actually that was when me and Sev became super close because he came and let me sleep while you screamed at him for James and Harry."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Hmm, well as for the other thing, there is no such thing, and I for one perfectly agree with your statement, if anyone has dirty blood it is Lucius."

"Thanks mum, I really am sorry you know."

"I wish you would have talked to me in the first place, then I would have never had to punish you."

"Sorry, I guess I was just upset."

"Scout I don't know why you got so defensive when Remus asked you about the incident. I mean what you did was not egregiously wrong."

Phoenix only shrugged at her mother. "Well no worries, its over and done with and you are forgiven. I would also like to remind you that I am going to dinner with Severus tonight he wanted to talk to me about something and Remus is coming over here to keep you company."

"Is he mad?"

Lily looked at her daughter, "No he is not, but you might want to apologize anyway."

"Yeah, I was planning on it."

"You look tired love," she said as she played with her daughter's hair, "Maybe you should get some rest."

"Yeah, alright, that doesn't sound bad."

Lily stood up with her daughter still on her lap and carried her to the bed. She tucked her I and said as she was leaving, "I love you so much Pheonix Potter, don't you ever forget that."

She closed her eyes as she smiled at her mother's comment, she slowly went into a quiet slumber.

She woke up a couple of hours later, it was four o'clock. She saw her mother putting together a puzzle on the kitchen table as she walked in. She sat down next to her mother and came to the realization that her bum was still very sore. Her mother noticed, but made no outward sign of it.

They sat in silence for a while simply working on the task at hand. "I have to work tomorrow." Lily stated matter of factly. "Oh, okay" her daughter replied. "Sev is going to come and stay with you for the day." "Yeah, alright."

"Phoenix, he isn't mad."

"I know mum."

"No you don't because if you did you wouldn't be so nervous."

"Is he gonna punish me?"

Lily looked shocked, "No, you have been punished and are forgiven, we are moving on with a clean slate, just like always."

"Right, just checking," Phoenix stated still not believing that Severus had forgiven her.

Her mother still looked worried about what she was thinking, but chose to remain silent.

"Can we go and get my wand tomorrow?"

"Maybe we'll have to see. I have to work tomorrow as I said, so we will have to see if I get home in time to go."

"Right, I'm gonna go up to my room for a while then." The mood was somber.

"Phoenix, why don't we go right now?"

"No, I mean I don't really deserve it."

"Your forgiven so there is no need to not let you go, you're not grounded."

"I'd just rather not go" Phoenix said.

"Well, I guess that is okay, are you feeling okay, Phoenix?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just going to go up to my room for a little while."

"If you are sure, just remember your not in trouble."

"I know" Phoenix stated as she walked up stairs.

Phoenix was laying on her bed when her mom came in, "Phoenix you seemed upset down stairs, are you sure your okay, because if not I'll just stay with you, me and Sev can talk another time."

"No you have to go it's fine, I'm fine, I promise I really am."

"I'm not under the impression that you are okay," Lily stated.

"I'm just ruining your whole day," she said beginning to cry for what seamed like the thousandth time that day. "I am going to go call Severus and tell him that we need to have a mother-daughter night."

"No don't, I am ruining the whole day!"

"You are not ruining anything, you have had a rough day and are upset. I am going to floo Severus and that is final. When I come back we are going to have a mother daughter night. And that is final."

She came back to see her daughter only a few minutes later. She had talked to both Severus and Remus, both of which wished her luck and hoped that Phoenix would feel better soon.

TBC…