Chapter 2:
Free Quidditch Tickets
When Harry walked into #12 Grimmauld Place, he could easily be described as the happiest kid on Earth. He was finally away from the Dursleys and their abuse, he never had to go back, and he never had to see them again. He could let Hedwig out, send letters to his friends when he wanted, eat like a pig and best of all, he could finally be a normal wizard boy, or as normal as the Boy-Who-Lived could be.
"Sorry about the mess, no one's used it in years." Sirius said as they entered the main foyer.
"It's perfect," Harry grinned as Sirius took Harry's trunk and led the boy down the hall. They stopped at a door at the very end and Sirius smiled nervously.
"This will be your room Harry, I hope you like it. I've had some spare time."
"I'm sure I will." Harry replied as Sirius opened the door.
The walls were a scarlet red with gold trim. The wall across from the door had a window and a collage of moving pictures of his parents, Professor Lupin and Sirius in their school days. Above the collage was a Gryffindor banner from their school days with the heading The Marauders 1971-1978 (James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Lily Evans) just above it.
His bed was made of mahogany and had Gryffindor colors on the sheets and blankets. He had a desk filled with blank parchment, colored inks and quills in separate drawers, and shelves for his textbooks. He had a mahogany bookcase with black notebooks and reading books of all sizes and a mahogany bedside table.
His closet was huge and filled with his clothes and robes. On the wall across from the closet was a second collage and banner. This banner was the current Gryffindor banner. The heading above this banner said The New Marauders 1991-1998 (Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and…. The collage was moving pictures of him and his friends from the years.
"Why isn't there a fourth name?" Harry asked looking more closely at the collage of the present.
"You need to find the name yourself. There have always been four Marauders and you need to keep the tradition."
"I think I already have one, but Phoenix will need to be my friend for real. Like part of the group."
"She'll be a good one, but what would Ron and Hermione say?"
"I really don't care, Phoenix is my friend, I can talk to her about things that Hermione and Ron would worry over or go to Dumbledore with. Things like the Dursley's treatment, how it really feels to be a freak, and just well, everything. She truly understands me, she has never judged me, and she keeps it between us."
"I know what you mean Harry, she's like James in a way." Sirius replied. "I could talk to your dad about anything at all that was on my mind, he always had the answers and would keep any secret for me. He understood my situation and never judged me because of it."
"Yeah, and Phoenix doesn't freak out over something small. To tell the truth, she really doesn't react at all. She is so supportive and most of the time it seems to me that she knows everything that I've gone through, and then gone through worse herself."
"Sounds like you are in love." Sirius said.
"No, she is just my best friend and she doesn't even know it." Harry said hiding a slight blush.
"Maybe that's so, but it doesn't have to be like that." Sirius said and left Harry to get settled in.
Harry just smiled and sat at the desk, taking out the red ink and a piece of parchment.
PhoenixIt's Harry. I want you to know that you aren't going to be hiding with the Slytherins this year. You are my friend too and that means we need to act like it, at least sometimes. I really don't care what Ron and Hermione say, but I want you to sit with us during the year and don't be afraid to hang out with us. I hear Angelina's going to be the new captain. I think she is smart and we are going to need the help in the tactics area. See you at the World Cup…maybe.
Harry sent it with Hedwig and noticed Sirius was sitting on the bed with a tub of ice cream.
"Oh Harry, you done?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah, where did you go?" Harry asked.
"I just ordered pizza." Sirius smiled.
"Pizza?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, pizza."
"What kind?"
"Pepperoni." Sirius said.
"How long till it gets here?"
"An hour, want some ice cream while we wait?" Sirius asked.
"Sure." Harry said and caught the tub Sirius passed him.
"Here's a spoon." Sirius said.
"Thanks." Harry said and opened the tub of ice cream. He followed Sirius's example and ate right from it.
"We have a bit to catch up on, want to tell me in detail what you've been up to?" Sirius asked. Harry nodded and began when he got his letter.
Two weeks before the World Cup and three weeks after he arrived at Grimmauld, Sirius dragged Harry to the Tonk's place at #6 Hillbridge Lane, two blocks from Private Drive.
"Andy!" Sirius called.
"Sirius Orion Black, into the kitchen." A tall woman with long black hair said and pushed the men into a shiny white and blue marble, tiled kitchen.
"Is this Uncle Siri?" A girl with bubble gum pink hair asked.
"Yes Nymphadora, this is uncle Siri."
"Don't call me that!" She said and turned to Harry.
"You must be Harry, cousin Phoenix's friend. I'm Tonks." The girl smiled.
"Graduated Hogwarts four years ago." Andromeda smiled.
"Really, what do you do now?" Harry asked.
"I'm an Auror under Alastor Moody. Well, until he retired two years ago." She said.
"Nice to meet you, Tonks?" Harry said a little confused.
"Yeah, hey Harry, I'll give you the tour." Tonks smiled and pulled him upstairs. She pulled him around until they reached her own room. It was not what he expected at all. It was a lot like his, but Yellow lined in Black with Oak furniture.
"You were a Hufflepuff?"
"Yeah, have you heard of the World Cup?" Tonks asked.
"Quidditch?"
"Yeah, that's the one." She smiled.
"Yeah, I really want to try and go."
"I have been saving my money and so has my mum and we were able to earn enough for six top box tickets. She doesn't want to go, and Phoenix's mum doesn't want to so I am going with you and Sirius. My mum is telling him right now. We are inviting Phoenix too." Tonks said.
"But that's only four people." Harry said.
"I know, I can't think of anyone else though." She said as the doorbell rang.
"Who could that be?" Tonks asked running out. Phoenix and Bella were sitting in the kitchen when they got there.
"He…hey Phoenix, I thought your mum was taking you away?" Harry asked hugging the girl while hiding a blush.
"She did, we went to Romania to see her friend Gale and I got to meet Gale's friend's Hannah and Stephanie. I was just telling Aunt Andy about it actually." Phoenix smiled.
"Come sit, she was just getting to her meeting with Anton." Andromeda said.
"He's the man behind our reservation," Phoenix explained.
"You went to Dragon Gates?" Tonks asked.
"Yeah, but that isn't the best part. I've been made an intern." She explained.
"You work there?"
"Just as a helper. Get the coffee, shovel dung and basically do the dirty jobs no one else wants to do." Phoenix said.
"That's bloody awful!" Tonks declared.
"I know it sounds awful, but I like it. I mean, I won't get to see the dragons until I'm a trainee, but I get around that easily enough."
"Phoenix Druella…"
"What?" The girl cried before her mother could finish. "It's not my fault Dani throws a fit if I'm kept away more than three days."
"What are Dragon Gates?" Harry asked, fnally able to get a word in.
"It's a reserve where Dragons are trained and cared for." Andromeda replied.
"So you work with Dragons." Harry said.
"Next year. I will qualify to become a trainee, and will work under a Handler, with the Hatchlings in whichever Sector they work in."
"What are Hatchlings and Sectors?"
"The sectors separate the dragons by how dangerous they are. Sector 6 is the least dangerous and holds things like Pixie Dragons and small dragons that can't do any damage. Sector one holds the most dangerous, the ones that can destroy a city in seconds." Phoenix explained.
"Hatchlings are baby dragons." Tonks said.
"You've learned a lot about your job." Sirius said, impressed with Phoenix.
"I have Aunt Gale to thank for that." She said.
"Aunt Gale?" Harry asked.
"She's such a close friend of my mum's she is like family so I call her aunt." Phoenix replied. "Aunt Gale said if I test into Sector 1 and 2 she'll show me the Phoenix Dragons."
"So about the World Cup offer?" Andromeda asked Bella as the children continued to chat about the reservation.
"I told you I don't care for it, but Phoenix is more than welcome to go." Bella said.
"Thank you for inviting me," Phoenix cut in.
"Can anyone think of two more people?" Tonks asked.
"I heard you and the Gryffindor Keeper were friends back in school." Phoenix replied.
"Oliver Wood? Oh yeah, he was real good, started in his second year."
"He graduated this year, he was real bummed when his dad couldn't get them tickets to the cup, all sold out. Bet him and his dad would love top box seats." Phoenix said.
"Can we ask them mum?" Tonks begged.
"They're your tickets." Andy said. Tonks, Harry and Phoenix went to the fireplace and called Oliver Wood. His sister Sarah appeared in the flame.
"Hello?" She asked.
"Can we talk to your brother?" Tonks asked.
"Oh, hi Tonks, sure just a minute." She said.
"So you went to school with Oliver for two years?" Harry asked.
"Four actually, but we have kept in touch, he's kind of my boyfriend. He wrote me every time there was a Hogsmeade trip and we would hang out. It was always so fun and he finally asked if I would go on a date with him. It went really well, he took me to Madam Puddifoot's and everything, it was really sweet." Oliver appeared right after the explanation.
"Who's this?" He asked.
"So you do have a second love in that Quidditch heart of yours." Phoenix said.
"Hi Phoenix, I see you've heard, I have a feeling she's there with you."
"Yes, my cousin is here, so is Harry."
"Well hello you three, can I help you?" He asked. His voice had a small undertone of disappointment.
"We have two extra top box tickets and we wanted to know if you and your dad wanted them." Tonks smiled.
"Would we? We were having a terrible time of finding any tickets at all. Wow, top box?" He asked.
"Yeah, I have saved up for months to get them, and with my connections in the auror office, I was able to get the six tickets for the second top box. The one without the Malfoys and ministers." She smiled.
"Who got them for you?" Harry asked.
"Kingsley Shaklebolt, he got them for his family and friends, but they can't go for one reason or another and gave them to me for the price of an ok ticket." Tonks explained.
"That is really cool, we'd love to come." Oliver said.
"How about we arrange a time for you two to come so your dad can meet everyone." Tonks smiled.
"Sure," Oliver said. "How does right now sound?"
"Perfect," Tonks agreed. "Everyone's already here."
"Alright, I'll just go tell my dad and be right over," Oliver smiled and walked off. Tonks went to the kitchen to tell her mother the plan and returned just as the fire flared green. Oliver walked out of the fireplace with a man that was slightly taller than him and could only be his father.
"Hi Mr. Wood." Tonks smiled.
"Hello Nymphadora." He said.
"Please, call me Tonks." She replied. "I do mean it though, please call me Tonks."
"Ok Tonks, where is everyone?" He asked.
"In the kitchen." She said linking hands with Oliver.
"Good luck you two." Phoenix muttered. When everyone was in the kitchen, Andromeda made them all relocate to the Living room not yet realizing her daughter and Oliver's hands.
"Mum, before we go inside, I want you to meet Oliver Wood." Tonks said.
"Hello Oliver, I met you in your first year I believe." Andromeda smiled.
"But he wasn't my boyfriend back then." Tonks said.
"How long?" Andromeda asked.
"February." Tonks said.
"I'm happy for you two, but will your careers allow it?"
"Free Quidditch tickets?" Tonks said. "I think so."
"The auror office does keep you busy enough." Andy sighed and smiled. "Well I am happy for you and I think I'll leave the threats to your aunt and cousin."
Tonks and Oliver looked at each other nervously.
"You don't think Aunt Bella would actually…"
"I think your cousin will have her fun mercilously teasing you both and your aunt will be doing everything she can to make sure he stays in line with you. You realize she wasn't concidered dangerous for no reason."
"Mum, she wouldn't, would she?"
Andromeda just smirked. "I think we've left our guests alone long enough, shall we?"
Tonks nodded slowly and followed her mother into the living room as Oliver tried not to laugh at the woman's expense.
They walked in and found the adults in the chairs, Phoenix lying in front of the fireplace and Harry standing in a corner.
"Mr. Wood," Andromeda greeted Oliver's father. "Welcome."
"Thank you," he smiled. "You have a beautiful home."
"Ted and I do what we can," she smiled. "However, I think the kids are more interested in hearing about Quidditch than two adults swapping pleasentries."
"Yes," Mr. Wood grinned. "Thank you Miss Tonks for this chance, there are no words to express how excited Oliver and I are to have this chance."
"I'm just glad Phoenix thought of you," Tonks replied.
"I'm hurt, your cousin thought of me before you did?" Oliver pouted.
"Don't you dare, Oliver Wood," Tonks glared, but found her lips covered by Oliver's before she could protest.
"I think Oliver won Nymph," Phoenix teased when they broke apart.
"It's Tonks," she told her cousin.
"Right, sorry Nymph."
"Tonks," she replied.
"Sorry, my bad Nymph."
"Tonks!"
"She's not going to call you Tonks, so safe your breath for a chance to get her back," Sirius told Tonks.
"Sirius, do not give her ideas," Andromeda told the man.
"So, back to Quidditch," Phoenix said.
"Well, we certainly know where her head is. It seems the group will consist of two teenagers, two graduates, a big child and Mr. Wood." Andy stated.
"That sounds about right." Phoenix agreed.
"Wait, who's the big child?" Sirius asked.
"I'll give you three guesses Uncle Padfoot." Phoenix said.
Sirius just glared at and huffed.
"She's only stating the truth Sirius." Bella said. He just glared at both of them.
"This is exciting," Phoenix grinned as her mother checked the time. "I can't wait for the World Cup."
"Phoenix, I think it's time to go." Bella sighed.
"No way Aunt Bella, you can't go so soon." Tonks called.
"Gale is expecting us back at Dragon Gates." Bella said.
"Can she stay here?" Tonks asked.
"If it's ok with your mother, maybe we can arrange to have her come back a week early." Bella sighed.
"She can stay here till the World Cup if she wants." Andy said.
"I think a week is more than enough." Bella smiled. "Anton and Gale want her to get as much time in the reservation as she can."
"We should be going as well, see you again another time Mrs. Tonks." Mr. Wood said using the fire. Bella turned to her sister and started speaking.
"I will have Phoenix send you an owl with the details," Bella smiled.
"Will her owl survive the journey?"
"Talon is smart enough to make stops and to hunt," Phoenix said. "If I talk to Anton tonight, I should be able to have a letter to you in a week and a half."
"Alright, I will floo your mother when I have your letter," Andromeda said and hugged the girl.
"Thank you Aunt Andy," Phoenix smiled.
"It's no problem," the woman smiled. "In fact, send some food and treats with you and she can stay here until she is ready to fly back."
"Thank you," Phoenix grinned.
"Phoenix, go say goodbye to your cousin while I talk to you aunt."
"Honestly mum, I'm fourteen, not four," Phoenix teased.
"Fourteen or four, I am still your mother," Bella replied and watched the girl walk over to the older girl.
"She's grown up so much, and yet…"
"And yet she still seems like a child at times," Bella finished for her sister.
"Bella, I'm sorry I didn't do more for her," Andromeda sighed. "I should have pushed, done something besides just sit back and let them make excuses."
"They wouldn't have let you have her anyway, she was the daughter of a death eater. At least now she won't have to go back there, no matter what happens to me." She said. Sirius watched the conversation with confusion, Harry watched with understanding. This is what Phoenix had told him about.
Andromeda just nodded in understanding and hugged her sister, glad she'd been forgiven. They both knew if Andromeda had tried hard enough, she could have gotten Phoenix, but Bella was making it easy on her by making the excuse.
"Bye Bella," Andy whispered. "It was nice seeing you Sirius, and wonderful to meet you Harry."
"Goodbye Andy." Sirius smiled as he gave his cousin a hug.
"Thank you for having us Mrs. Tonks." Harry said as Phoenix stepped up.
"Bye Aunty, bye Nymph!" Phoenix said as she joined her mother.
"See you soon Phoenix," Andy smiled and watched the girl follow Bella out of the house.
"So how did you get here?" Bella asked Sirius before she left.
"Knight Bus." Sirius replied.
"We'll give you a ride back." Bella said.
"Thanks Bellatrix." Harry said clutching his stomach.
"Don't worry Harry, I hate the Knight Bus too." Phoenix smiled.
"Just wait till you feel apparation." Bella said. That did not make Harry feel any better.