RISING IN FIRE.

PHOENIX FURY.


CHAPTER 2: FREE OF THE PAST


Harry just paid the paper owl the next morning and was unfolding the paper when her eye caught the words on her hand.

'I must not tell lies' stood out whiter then the rest of her skin which was slowly returning to it's normal paleness. She couldn't remove it but maybe she could change the words.

She put down the paper and went to her books. She researched till she found how Umbridge had done it and then she had to figure a way to change the words.

She used her laptop to come up with ideas of what to put, she decided to use her own idea. 'A Hogwarts Marauder', in honour of her father, Sirius and Remus. But she also knew she would have to glamour her hand or the people who knew her would figure her out if they saw it. No matter if she never saw them again she couldn't take the risk so she started researching glamour's and make-up. She ended up making a cream paste that with a glamour spell would make it unseeable and close to undetectable.

So once she finished researching she cast the appropriate spells and watched in pain as the words were rewritten in blood. The pain was less then her other healing had been but she used essence of Mudlap to sooth it afterwards.

With that done she bandaged up her hand and got dressed. She wore loose clothes since her skin was still sore and grabbed her backpack after making sure Gizmo had food and water.

She walked down the streets feeling at peace. It was like she'd exorcised her demons with each healing. She paused outside a hair salon and then looked at her reflection.

She walked in and went to the desk.

"Morning how can I help you?" The receptionist greeted her, her nametag said Jade. She was 5'6 with short blonde hair and light green eyes.

"Hair help please." Harry smiled.

Jade smiled. "Well we have a free slot in an hour an half. Any idea's what you want done?"

Harry blinked she hadn't thought about what she wanted changed. "Err no."

"Well you have an hour to think so look through magazines and if you still can't think of anything we'll help when you come back."

"Deal." Harry gave her name and walked out making her way to the opticians. She had her eyes tested and bought two pairs of glasses and a pair of sunglasses as well as some contacts. She'd pick the glasses up at the end of the day and left wearing contacts. She went to the WHSmiths and got some hair magazines and she flicked through them as she went back to the salon.

"Hey I'm back."

"Got any idea's?"

"No not exactly." She shrugged. "I was thinking of getting my hair dyed but no idea's on the cut."

"Do you want it do be funky or sophisticated?" Jade asked.

"Funky. Easy to style because I'm a little clueless when it comes to hair and makeup." (Well I was a boy up till nearly a week ago, so I have a good excuse.) Harry thought.

"Your hair is very fine but there's a lot of it, the dye will thicken it up. As to the cut we could layer it through so despite the thickness it isn't heavy."

"I usually wear glasses and I hate my forehead, I get spotty."

"Well a thick straight fridge wouldn't suit you with glasses then. If we put your hair into a side parting you can have a side-sweeping fringe when you want. It's very sexy and it makes you look mysterious." Jade started showing her pictures.

Harry smiled at them. They found a layered shaggy bob with side fringe. "Now we need the colour."

Jade pulled her to a computer where her picture was taken and they put the cut on her picture and then messed around with colours.

"Jade next cut." Someone shouted.

"Oh that's you come on." Jade dragged her over to the stylist. "Danni this is…" She trailed off realizing she hadn't asked for a name.

"Sam." Harry supplied.

"She wants this and we just decided on this colour."

"When did you wash your hair?" Danni asked, she had blonde/brown hair and brown eyes.

"Yesterday."

"That's good. Ok lets get started."

Harry was dragged away.

An hour and half later Harry looked in the mirror at the finished result. "Wow."

Her hair was blue black with a streak of ice silver/blue at the front. It fell in feathered layers around her face. Her hair was shorter at the back and longer at the front by just under an inch.

"You look hot." Jade said, as she looked her over.

"Now I just need to find a job, a gym and night classes and I'm set." Harry said as she stood up.

"Maybe we can help." Danni grinned at Jade.

Harry lifted an eyebrow.

"It's part time work as the receptionist since I've just got my hairdresser title. So we need a new receptionist for a few months. You'll learn about hair and the pay's ok." Jade smiled.

"Umm ok."

"Danni get Claire."

Claire was a woman in her early forties who owned the shop. "You did a great job with her hair." Jade had done a before and after photo for Sam/Harry. "What's your name?"

"Sam Hunter."

Claire smiled at the girl in front of her. "Turn up on Monday next week at 9 sharp you work till 1. We'll see how you do. Dress smart but funky casual."

Harry was stunned. "Thank you." She stammered.

"She means wear jeans and a nice top," Jade whispered as Harry paid the bill and left a big tip.

"Clothes aren't my forte. I'm not very good at being girly."

"You'll learn," Danni smiled at her.

She waved at them and left. The part time job would pay for her night classes and both would keep her busy. Now she just needed to sort out the rest of her life.


Albus looked at the Daily Prophet and gave a sad smile.

SIRIUS BLACK INNOCENT! PETER PETTIGREW ALIVE!

The article wrote about Sirius not being the secret keeper and how Pettigrew framed him. How Peter Pettigrew had been animagus and where he was now.

Albus put down the paper and took a sip of tea. He had yet to see anyone and for that he was glad, he knew they were still angry and they had every right to be.

(Remus should be getting what James and Lily left him about now.) He thought as the clock chimed.

Albus leaned back in his chair. He looked at the picture he had of Harry in his first year with the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Harry was smiling as he held his broom with the twins beside him. He looked so young and innocent. Yet he had been through so much already yet no one had seen the old soul in his eyes.

It would soon be a week Harry had been missing. He knew Tom didn't have her but he still worried about her.

(I've made many mistakes now I must fix them best I can and hope for the best.)


Harry picked up her glasses and contacts, and got the local paper and some girly magazines before picking up a Burger King meal and going back home. She savored her meal and opened the local paper looking for colleges and gyms.

She then signed on to the Internet and looked up the places that interested her and took details, the address, what they offered and how expensive. She then looked through the girly mags as she finished her meal.

She put the rubbish away and noticed the Daily Prophet that she'd been about to read that morning before she got distracted.

She unrolled it and read the headline. "Sirius…" She sat down at the island before her legs gave out.

She read the article and slowly came back to earth. Peter Pettigrew had been stripped of his Order Of Merlin First Class and it had been handed to Sirius.

(Bet Snape pleased about that.) She thought imagining Snape's face when he read the paper. Sirius was free of his past and she was finding and making her own freedom.


Minerva came in without knocking.

"Minerva I-"

She cut off his words by leaning forward and clasping his face in her hands and gave him a passionate kiss.

"I…I take it you saw the paper." He said softly after she let him up for air. She nodded and kissed him again.

She sat down and poured herself some tea while Albus came back from cloud nine.

Albus seemed a little dazed but pulled himself together.

"Your not out the dog house you know."

"I know. I have a lot to make up for." He said softly.

"Yes you do."

They summoned a chessboard and began a game of chess.

"Do you know if Severus has seen this yet?" Minerva asked slyly with a wicked smile as she nodded to the paper.

"No I'm sure he hasn't he rarely reads it." Albus smiled. "Patty call Severus here please."

"I thought Dobby was you personal elf."

Albus's smile dimmed. "He won't forgive any time soon but Harry told him to look after me so that's what he will do. So for the moment he's looking after you till his temper cools a little."

She nodded understanding she had met Dobby and knew he worshipped Harry.

"Would you like to watch?"

"You know I do." Minerva smiled eagerly.

The door opened, "Headmaster you wanted to see me."

"Take a seat Severus. Tea?" Severus nodded and Albus poured him a cup and passed it over. "Do you read the Prophet this morning?"

"No, I long gave up reading that rag."

"Well in that case I have something to show you." Albus handed over the paper. Minerva hid her smile behind her tea.

Snape raised an eyebrow at him and then looked at the paper as he took a sip of tea. Tea went flying across the room as Snape spat it out as he fell of his chair. His eyes were wide, close to popping out of his head. "Black… Order of Merlin… First Class." He said as if in a daze.

Minerva couldn't resist. "I know isn't it wonderful to have cleared his name at last." Albus popped a lemon drop in his mouth.

"This is your doing." Snape growled at Albus as he scrunched up the paper in his hands as if he imagined it was Sirius Black himself.

Albus nodded quite pleased with himself.

Snape stood up and left the office slamming the door on his way out. Minerva was laughing as they heard screaming coming outside the door.


END OF CHAPTER 2.

REVIEW PLEASE.

PHOENIX FURY.