Albus and his family woke up late that day. Very late. In fact, they were ten minutes from being late for the Hogwarts express. Albus took one look at his clock, and ran around warning his family they had only five minutes. "WAKE UP EVERYONE!WAKE UP!WE"RE LATE!" . He then heard screaming as his family looked at the clocks. He pulled on his clothes and shoes and grabbed his trunk which was thankfully already packed and headed out the door. They had planned to travel by car, but it was way too late for that. I hope we make it, Albus thought to himself. Better bring the cards too. he put them in his trunk and hurried out the door and down the stairs, his new owl hooting angrily. He wasn't a prefect. Neither was Scorpius. He heard his family going down the stairs. I'll guess we're apparating, I hate apparating!
So off they went together, First James with Harry and Lily with Ginny, leaving Albus alone for a few minutes. They left with a loud POP. I hope they'll be back soon, thought Albus miserably. A few minutes later-with another loud POP-Harry returned. Together they apparated. Albus hated apparating but they only had a few minutes left. He began running to get to the barrier in time, but saw Scorpius running behind him with his dad. "go ahead dad, I'll catch up." Albus said the same to his own father, thinking Scorpius wanted to talk to him. "we only have a few minutes until the barrier is closed, what's up?"
"oh I wanted to see if you'd gotten my letter."
"I did. It was brilliant. Thanks for the cards they're amazing. I have something to tell you once we're on the train." .
"can't you tell me now Albus?"
"no, not here I don't want people overhearing it's really- oh no.".
"what?"
"we have 5 seconds before it closes! RUN!"
So the two friends linked arms and ran at the barrier. They barely made it. In fact, as they passed through, they had the feeling they were being squished between two walls. But they made it through. The train was leaving. They had to run at it. They put their trolleys on and began to get on themselves when it began moving. Albus barely grasped the end, but held on tight to both the train and Scorpius. They shouted goodbyes and Albus finally got on the train properly. He pulled up Scorpius and they found an empty compartment. Albus placed a charm on the room so they couldn't be overheard.
"so what did you want to tell me?", Scorpius asked , after they had been silent for several minutes.
"thought you'd never ask. The Sword of Gryffindor is missing. McGonagall came over to my house to tell my father last night."
"but that's impossible. It can't be missing. It's literally impossible. It returns to a true Gryffindor when needed."
"apparently not. McGonagall said someone might've charmed it to stay in one place."
"weird."
"didn't you say your father went to hide something? What if he went to find it and hide it from someone else."
"do you think Delphi's back?"
"hope not."
"me too. but hey... I have an idea that probably won't work but is worth a try.", said Scorpius slowly. " accio Sword of Gryffindor!" but the only thing that came to Scorpius was a sharp pain in his stomach. he screamed.
"what's wrong?"
"no idea.", said Scorpius, and then fell unconscious.
"Locomotor Scorpius!" said Albus, and Scorpius was lifted in the air. enchanted to float beside Albus. "maybe there's a teacher onboard, like how professor Lupin was onboard when the dementors attacked... better check the last compartment." ,And so he did. Indeed, there was a woman who appeared to be in her mid thirties sleeping in the corner, a group of first years chatting nervously nearby. " I hope I get Slytherin", one said." Slytherin?! disgusting! Gryffindor's the best.", replied another indeed looking disgusted. "You're both wrong. Ravenclaw is obviously better than the rest!" , said a third. "nah Hufflepuff is-" began a fourth, but at that moment they noticed Albus, with Scorpius behind him, now covered in blood. They screamed. But the woman kept sleeping. "rennervate!" , said Albus.
The woman woke up. "why did you wake me?!", she screamed, looking around murderously.
"My friend, ma'am." Albus pointed to Scorpius, who was now floating behind.
"well that's not good.", said the professor nervously. "You lot leave the room", she said , pointing to the group of first years who ran out the door immediately. She muttered the spell that removed sound from the room and then she changed. "by the way, guys, I'm a metamorphmagus. " She no longer looked like she was in her thirties. Now she appeared to be in her late teens, 18 or 19 years old. She had emerald green hair, like Slytherin green. Albus stared at her, gaping. "I'm your new defense against the dark arts teacher, Phoenix Black. I am 18 years old. Please don't tell the other students my real age, as they mustn't know. I remember you from Hogwarts by the way. I'm also the youngest auror ever. I passed all the tests and training in less than a year after I left Hogwarts. There's been suspicious activity lately, and I've been hired as your new defense against the dark arts teacher to keep an eye on things. I'll be the best teacher you ever have and don't plan to leave anytime soon. so..." she said turning to Scorpius finally. "what happened?"
"We were in our compartment talking. I...", he contemplated telling her he'd told someone what he heard about the Sword of Gryffindor.
"you what?"
"I told him the Sword of Gryffindor was missing."
"how'd you know?"
"I overheard professor McGonagall speaking to my father last night."
"And you told him why?"
"because he's my best friend that's why."
"i see."
"please don't tell anyone professor."
"don't worry, I won't", she replied with a wink. She murmured a spell under her breath and Scorpius/ wounds healed. "rennervate." his eyes opened and he began to stand up. "no. You need rest", Phoenix said. "you'll be going to madam Pomfrey as soon as we arrive at Hogwarts. sit down. I figured once I woke up i'd arrange my own group. like the slug club. But better." she transformed back. "any suggestions? well I have a couple, but i'd like to see what you think. You may each select one you think is particularly talented."
" that's hard. um Scorpius? any suggestions?"
"yeah, Rose."
"Rose?" , asked Phoenix. "isn't she a Gryffindor?"
"yes,"replied Scorpius," but she's incredibly talented."
"I guess I should pick a couple from each of the other houses. Albus, anyone in another house you'd suggest?"
"I guess i'd have to say my sister, Lily."
"good idea. I'm sure she's awesome.", said Phoenix. "well , I'll be off to invite them."
She returned about 10 minutes later with 6 students; Rose Granger-weasley Lily Potter,Lorcan and Lysander Scamander, Seraphina Bones , and Ernie Macmillan. "I haven't done anything wrong professor, Why did you bring us?" asked Rose.
"well first things first, Rose", Phoenix said.
"Shouldn't you call us by our last names?"
"I don't see why I should."
"hmm... maybe because you're our teacher!"
"well it's not like i'm twenty years older than you!"
"oh i'm sorry, you must be thirty years older than me!"
"more like three!"
"as if!"
"watch." and with that, she transformed back into being 18. Everyone gasped as she changed back. " My name is Phoenix Black and I am your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. "
"but you must be about seventeen!"
"I'm 18!", she said sounding offended. "I'm a metamorphmagus. Parents would be asking questions if they learned their child's teacher was only 18! I'm also the youngest auror ever. I've been sent here by your mother to keep an eye on things. "
"But that still doesn't explain why you've brought us here!"
"Well I thought I could gather my own special group together, like the slug club, but much better. We will also have a couple celebrations you may invite your friends to, as there are only eight of us, two in each house."
"but we haven't been sorted yet", pointed out Lorcan.
"Ah , but I don't see how you wouldn't be Ravenclaws. "
"But we could be in Hufflepuff!" said Lysander.
"Luna told me you're brilliant."
"well I do hope we're in Ravenclaw." said Lorcan.
"and if you're not that's completely fine. it's not like I'll force you to leave. We just might add a couple others to our group."
"hold on...you said there were eight students, two in each house...but there's only six of us and no Slytherins!"
"honestly... he said you were brilliant... look around you!", they did so, and finally saw Scorpius and Albus sitting in the corner staring at them.
"oh...right...I saw them...I just..." Rose tried to say, flushing pink. "Hi Albus."
"Hello Rose."
" Scorpius."
"Hi Rose. It's been a while I was wondering if you-"
"don't even. "
"sorry."
"so we will meet every other day in a secret room I will show you when we arrive. After the feast, I will take you with me to show you.", Phoenix told them. "anyone have an idea for the name?" all of them raised their hands.
"ok let's see...what's your idea Lysander?"
"how about SSOP?"
"what does that stand for?"
"secret society of phoenix."
"maybe... Lorcan?"
"how about ASOP?"
" and that stands for...?"
"amazing society of Phoenix."
"possibly...Rose?"
"how about...TPC?"
"which is?"
"The Phoenix Club"
"I'll think about it...Lily?"
"no idea".
"anyone else? no? alright let's vote on it. How about ASOP?" Lorcan and Albus raised their hands.
"TPC?" Rose, Scorpius, and Lily raised their hands.
"SSOP?" Lysander, Seraphina, and Ernie raised their hands.
"It appears we're tied between TPC and SSOP. Lorcan and Albus must vote again. SSOP?" Albus raised his hand this time.
"TPC?" Lorcan.
"again it seems we're tied. I will now vote. My pick is SSOP. We will refer to our meetings as SSOP meetings from now on. More students may be invited later in the year, and you may only tell the person you invite when you invite them. We're almost there. Everyone's already changed so we're good to go." she transforms back into being in her thirties. "and...we're here. See you in my office after the feast." They get off, wondering what will happen next.
"firs' Years this way...firs' years!" , came Hagrid's call. Lorcan and Lysander got in a boat together and off they went. The rest of the group went to the carriages. Albus was glad people didn't hate him and Scorpius as much anymore. They got to the castle. Once inside, it was minutes before the sorting began. Scorpius was sent to the Hospital wing as soon as they got inside, however.
"SCAMANDER, LORCAN!" the hat shouted the hat. "RAVENCLAW!" There was a cheer from the Ravenclaw table.
"SCAMANDER, LYSANDER!" came next. "RAVENCLAW!" more cheering.
The feast went by rather quickly and uneventfully other than one small incident in which Professor McGonagall spilled her drink down her front, Then when Professor Flitwick laughed about it, he slapped his hand on the table causing both his food and drink to go flying into his own face. The mess was then cleaned up, and the feast resumed as usual.
A couple minutes after the feast, Phoenix went to wait for her group in her office. Albus left the Slytherin dungeon a few minutes after getting there, barely getting past a prefect that was patrolling, by saying that he had to go to a SSOP meeting with a teacher. The prefect did not ask what it was, but simply nodded and allowed him to pass. He got there a couple minutes after Lorcan and Lysander , who didn't even go to their common room , but went straight to Phoenix's office, being the first ones there. After Albus came Seraphina and Ernie, who had been stopped halfway across leaving the common room by a group of first years who kept asking them questions. Last came Rose and Lily, as there was a party in the Gryffindor common room celebrating the new school year.
"Thank you all for coming to our first SSOP meeting", Phoenix said after transforming once they had all arrived. Follow me to our meeting room." so she led them to the seventh floor, across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. She paced three times in front of the door, each time thinking : I need a place to have our meetings, that has supplies for defense against the dark arts. A door appeared. "in here"she told her group, and entered followed by the group. Once inside, she transformed back into her 18 year old self. "So first order of business. During meetings I beg you not to call me "professor", or "ma'am" as i'm only a couple years older and it's just weird. Second, these meetings will be for fun as well as for extra practice. and don't worry, during our meetings there will be no need for books unless absolutely necessary. Third, Albus, when Scorpius is out of the hospital wing, tell him the location of our meeting. Fourth, we will have many celebrations during the year, the soonest being our Halloween ball, which will be held in here. We will have one also for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and an end-of-year party. Fifth, and last, any questions?" , nobody had questions, so they had a mini-celebration for the start of the new school year. nobody really danced with each other, and nobody else was invited as this was just a welcome-to-the-group sort of thing. Before they left, she told them "to enter, pace three times in front of where the door will appear, while thinking I need a place to have our meetings, that has supplies for defense against the dark arts. When they left, they were all exhausted, and went straight to sleep. Classes were to begin the next day, and they needed energy for that.