Disclaimer: I own nothing. Simply Phoenix and her grandfather. Chapter 2 Phoenix followed the group to the station, staying a considerable length behind them, with her chin to her chest and her hair over her face. No one paid much mind to her, except the dog. The great dog walked next to her at one point, barking lightly and trying to get her to pet it. Phoenix liked animals, but there was something about this one. Something that told her that it wasn't being honest, though dogs can't exactly lie. She had given it a quick pat on the head and moved away from it as best she could on the narrow side walk. The dog gave up on her, as most things did, and decided to chase birds instead, making the boy, Harry Potter, laugh. When they reached the station Molly pulled her aside and tried fixing her stringy black hair. "Now, then, Dear. Things will be better now." She said, her eyes on Phoenix's scarred face. "Nothing could be worse than what that man did to you." Phoenix pulled away from the affection that she had been enjoying at the mention of her grandfather. Then she simply muttered to the woman her first words since arriving at The House Of Black. "You'd be surprised." With that she boarded the train. Phoenix knew worse. She knew what it was like to be told to lay down and just be still. She knew what it was like to be hit repeatedly and whipped. She knew worse than anything these kids on this train knew. She was one of the first people on the train and found an empty compartment. But, of course, it filled very quickly. She ended up sitting next to the two red haired twins and their friend, a dark skinned boy who looked at her like she was an alien. The twins tried talking to her, bringing her into their conversation, but she knew those tricks. They would act like her friend, then get her into a dark corner. She wouldn't fall for that again. She again, let her chin fall to her chest. That was a signal the twins understood from the summer. They stood, promised that they would be back, then the three of them left. Phoenix took this opportunity to change into her uniform and fall asleep. Only, she couldn't sleep. It was too noisy. But she could pretend. She heard the three come back, and heard them whispering, about her. "What's wrong with her?" Their friend, Lee, asked. Phoenix pretended even harder that she was asleep. "Nothing is wrong with her." One of the twins said. "What's wrong with you?" He sounded very defensive. His brother chimed in as the peace maker. "We don't know, really. All that anyone will tell us is that she 'had a hard time of it'." He mocked. "But, be nice, you Git." He said, and she heard a shove. "She doesn't talk. I think she might be mute." Phoenix raised her head and looked at them as her hair fell away. "I'm not a mute." She whispered. All were shocked. "I just don't talk when I don't want to." "Why have you been hiding all summer?" One twin asked. Phoenix fixed him with a glare. "Why should I trust any of you?" She asked, tucking herself into her corner. The three sat back in their seats, staring at her, again like she was an alien. She realized that her scars were visible and her chin joined her chest again. "She's got us there, Fred." The twin across for her said to his brother. "But then, why shouldn't you trust us?" He asked her. Phoenix looked at him through her hair. "Because men can't be trusted." She pulled her clothes closer to her and looked away ending the conversation. But Lee was persistent. "Why are you coming to Hogwarts now?" He asked. "You have to be, what, fifteen?" Phoenix looked up at him. "Why am I coming here?" She laughed a bitter laugh. "I don't know. I was living my life, as I had been. Then some man came, took me to some house and never explained anything." Then her eyes closed. "And there's the whole reason, men can't be trusted." "Are you getting sorted with everyone else?" The twin next to her asked. "No. I have to go to the Deputy Headmistress's office." She said, not enjoying the questions. "Why not just do what you want?" She asked finally. "Quit playing with me. It's worse when you do." She shut her eyes and waited. The three boys were bewildered. What was she talking about? Do what they want? Playing with her? Finally, Fred spoke up. "What are you talking about?" He asked. "I won't fight, unless you want me to." She said, a tear falling from her eye. "Just get it over with." George finally got it. "Are you saying what I think you are saying?" He asked. "Phoenix, we aren't going to do anything to you." He tried to touch her face but she pulled away. "Is that what happened to you at your old school?" Phoenix opened one eye. All three were exactly where they had been, stunned into statues. She closed her eye again and started to cry.