Phoenix arrived in Romania and was greeted by the smiling faces of Sirius, Remus, Mike, Justin and Gale. Even tired, irritable and sweaty, Phoenix broke out into a grin. They all hugged her and welcomed her home.
She had the rest of the week off to relax while the mentors and anton discussed the scores of Trainees who had tested that month. The scores were grim for many of them, but there were three tests that were above average. They would be the only ones to get their colors.
::-::-::-::-::
Abby, Mike and Phoenix stood in the same line-up as they had for their Trainee promotion, the only three that become full Handlers of their fields, for Healers were still Handlers.
Phoenix stood on the left, Mike in the middle and Abby on the right facing the crowd.
"Welcome to the naming ceremony of two Handlers and our best Healer in a century." Anton called out.
"Phoenix Bellatrix Black-Lestrange, you are one of our finest. I am proud to give you this tunic that marks you a full Handler. You have worked hard to be here and you have truly earned your place. Charlie, Gale and I have seen leadership in you, as well as dedication and skill. You are one of the best, a leader, a Domna, a Platinum Handler. You know when to push yourself and when to relax, and you are a teacher. We've all seen you help Trainees and Intern alike in their training, pushing them to their extremes and making them better. Welcome Phoenix Black-Lestrange to the ranks of the Handlers. You may now strip off your Trainee tunic and replace it with your final tunic. Good job kid." Anton smiled and waited as Phoenix unbelted the Trainee tunic and then handed her the new tunic.
Phoenix knew the work of her new uniform well. Her mother had made this tunic for her and she didn't even get to be here to see her wear it.
The tunic itself was medium red in color with black silk trim with Celtic knots embroidered with Platinum thread along it. The tunic belted at the waist with a 1 ½ inch thick, black leather belt with more Celtic knots embroidered along it. It was a sight to behold and Phoenix felt a wave of emotions wash over her as she put it on. She didn't hear Mike or Abby's inauguration, her mind racing as she held back tears.
A single tear escaped as she belted her tunic around her waist. She didn't realize when the ceremony was over until Anton set his hand on her shoulder.
"You can join your friends now." Anton told her gently.
Phoenix nodded with a heavy sigh and hopped down only to be called back.
"I almost forgot, Phoenix, I have an assignment for you. There are two Trainees from Kenya coming here tomorrow around seven in the morning. Will you take on two students for a couple weeks?"
"Already?" Phoenix asked.
"Yes. You can handle it. Charlie let you deal with those students from Hogwarts when you were here in May."
"Who are they?" Phoenix sighed.
"Dominick Young and Tao Avow." Anton replied.
"Really?" Phoenix asked. "Of course I'll take them."
"They will room with you."
"This will be fun." Phoenix chuckled.
"Do you know them?" Anton asked.
"I roomed with them down in Kenya. Now mind telling me why I need to take two?"
"Get you ready for commanding a team." Anton replied. "We were lucky they are coming just as we need them. Plus you get to take on your first student when they leave."
"I see. Is it really necessary for me to take a student so soon?" Phoenix sighed.
"I know it's a lot to dump on you."
"No, I understand."
"I'm glad. Can you meet them at the train station tomorrow morning at seven?" Anton asked.
"Do you need me to? I have late shift tonight."
"I'll have Charlie take it." Anton said.
"Ok, I'll be there sir, what about my schedule?"
"I'll give it to your aunt, go get some sleep."
"Yes sir." Phoenix replied and walked away. Charlie and Gale caught up to her before she could get too far.
"You look beautiful." Gale cooed.
"Welcome to our ranks." Charlie smiled.
"Thanks, I just want to sleep though." Phoenix sighed and sped up.
"Her mother made the tunic." Gale told him when Phoenix was out of earshot. "She must recognize Bella's handiwork."
::-::-::-::-::
The next morning found a sleepy Phoenix dressed in her new uniform, cup of coffee in her hand, at Baia Mare Romanian airport waiting at the gate from London.
"Tao, shut up." Phoenix heard Dominick groan.
"Why don't you make me idiot! We'll get coffee when we get through!" Tao growled.
"Too late." Phoenix yawned when they walked through. "Here you go."
"Phoenix!" Dominick called. "Coffee!"
"Drink up, breakfast awaits." Phoenix said as the boy grabbed his mug.
"How are we getting to the Gate and who is our teacher?" Tao asked.
"I'll answer the first question outside and you'll meet her at the Gates."
"Are we going to apparate?"
"Sort of, you'll see." Phoenix replied.
"You look amazing!" Dominick cried.
"Impressive uniform, when was the ceremony?" Tao asked.
"Yesterday." Phoenix replied.
"Nice, I love the embroidery." Dominick smiled.
"Thanks, my mum made it for the ceremony." Phoenix sighed.
"Oh, sorry." Tao sighed.
"No, it's ok, you all finished then?"
"Yeah, let's go." Tao said tossing all three coffee cups.
"I was drinking that." Phoenix grumbled and glared daggers at Tao.
"Me too." Dominick whined.
"Sorry."
"We can get some more at the gate." Phoenix replied sorely and got them outside.
"So, how we getting there?" Dominick asked.
"Hold on tight." Phoenix snapped holding both their shoulders tight and summoning up a spiral of flames. The two boys watched as the flames engulfed them. They were pressed tightly together for mere seconds before the flames dispersed.
"Head rush." Phoenix said when all the flames were gone.
"You've mastered that?" Dominick cried.
"Before I left." Phoenix told him as she led them inside.
"Oh wow." Tao breathed as they walked in.
"Follow me, you two get the pleasure of rooming with me again." Phoenix smiled.
"Getting a bit cocky aren't we?"
"Jasper! Get back her Jasper! Please come back!" Someone yelled as a large black dragon landed in front of Phoenix.
"Hey Mike, Jasper giving you trouble?" Phoenix yawned.
"First time." Mike replied.
"Oh Mike, these are Dominick Young and Tao Avow."
"From Kenya?" Mike asked.
"Yup, Dom, Tao, this is Mike." Phoenix smiled.
"Phoenix Black, get back to you room and shut your sphinx dragon up, he is driving the entire floor crazy." A woman called.
"This is Gale Matthews, a close family friend." Phoenix said as the woman stalked over.
"Hello boys, come on then young lady, I don't care if you've finally graduated, I am still your aunt."
"Come on then." Phoenix smiled at the boys from Kenya.
"Who are these?" Gale asked.
"Dominick and Tao from Kenya."
"What are they doing up here?" Gale asked.
"They are still trainees."
"Who is their teacher?"
"I am." Phoenix smiled evilly. The boys looked at each other, fear in their eyes, they remembered how Kieran hadn't even been able to keep up with her training style.
"We're screwed." Tao groaned.
"I'm excited, just think, one of our good friends is our teacher. Better than having someone who doesn't know us." Dominck grinned.
"You only say that because you two were instant friends." Tao muttered.
"I remember you both plenty, I am looking forward to the next two weeks." Phoenix smiled.
"What kind of dragon was the black one?" Tao asked.
"That was a Phoenix dragon." Phoenix replied. "He's one of mine."
"She wasn't kidding, Mosa that is, she said that you were the human variation." Dominick mentioned.
"Yes, I am actually part of the pack we have here." Phoenix smiled as they reached her room.
"Keys like last time." Gale said before Phoenix opened her mouth.
"Do you have them then?" Phoenix asked. Gale just nodded and tossed her an envelope that held three keys.
"One each." she said handing them each a key. "Okay lets remember the speech from May. Your own keys will also work on your individual room only. Dominick, your door is on the right wall, Tao, your door is on the back wall, you both get to room alone. My room is on the left wall."
Phoenix said as she unlocked the front door. As soon as they entered, the coffee pot Phoenix owned, started making a pot of coffee. The group found plates of bacon, breakfast sandwiches and toast on the center table.
"Remind me to thank Donna, our cook here." Phoenix told the boys.
"Can we go wash up?" Tao asked.
"Course, there should be personal bathrooms in your rooms." Phoenix said. "The food seems to have a heating charm to keep it warm so you have plenty of time. I am going to eat though."
"Okay." Dominick agreed.
"First shift is tonight, but you get the tour after lunch. I want to train a bit this morning." Phoenix commented.
"Why don't you teach us to really fight?" Tao suggested.
"I will in time. I made up schedules last night, just letting you know when Donna serves meals and when shifts start and end. You are going by my schedule, in respects to our shifts."
"Ok, why don't we have the tour before lunch and train after?" Dominick suggested.
"Ok, if you hurry up you can meet everyone at lunch." Phoenix said sitting down and pouring herself a cup of black coffee. She sat and read the paper while she waited for the boys to return to the common area. Dominick was the first out and smiled as he sat down and poured a new cup of coffee, adding milk and sugar to his, cringing in disgust as Phoenix drank hers without any.
Tao came out mere seconds after Dominick and they all dug into their food. Phoenix finished gracefully before either boy with no trace she had eaten.
"Wow, you are really comfortable here." Tao observed. Phoenix just nodded and whistled.
"Starter!" She called and waited for the tiny dragon to land on her shoulder before banishing all the empty plates.
"Where to first?" Dominick asked.
"Just follow me." Phoenix chuckled and walked around the different dorm houses, showing them each one, finishing with theirs.
"Fours dorm houses?" Dominick asked.
"They are so big." Tao muttered.
"Well they have to be, to hold all our Handlers and Trainees."
"That many people? And only one per room."
"At first it is just a room, but after visitors start staying, you get my rooms, one day it will look like a real one story house with a kitchen and everything." Phoenix said.
"This place is amazing." Tao breathed.
"Let's keep going, next stop, mess Hall." Phoenix smiled.
"Mess Hall?" Tao asked. "Didn't we just eat?"
"Yes we did, but I need more coffee, I had the late shift last night, it's why I was so sore when you chucked my coffee this morning."
"Sorry." Tao said.
"Yeah, yeah, I just need more. It's my life source." Phoenix said, a little perkier.
"I like her better after she's had her coffee." Dominick mentioned to Tao.
"Agreed." Tao muttered.
"Here's the mess Hall." She said pushing the doors open to find it packed.
"It's only eight, either of you still hungry?" Phoenix asked when she saw Mike and everyone saving them seats.
"Not really." Tao said nervously.
"That's fine, coffee then introductions." Phoenix smiled.
"Ok." Dominick said. The group of three quickly got their coffee and Phoenix showed them over to where everyone was saving them seats.
"Oi! Phoenix! Over here!" Charlie called.
"I'm coming!" She called and made her way to the table and plopped down next to her former mentor.
"Hello again." Mike smiled at all three.
"Who are you two?" Charlie asked pointing to Dominick and Tao.
"Ok, This is Dominick Young and Tao Avow from Kenya. They are here for the training program, and I am their mentor. Dominick, Tao, this is my old mentor, Charlie Weasley. The woman next to him with the light brown hair is Aunt Gale, you've met her. Next to her is Mike; the blond next to him is Justina, Mike's husband, next to him is Hannah and the blond next to her is Stephanie."
"Hi." Dominick chirped.
"Pleasure." Tao smiled politely.
"So, when do you see Harry next?" Stephanie asked. "Is he coming here for christmas?"
"Not this christmas, he's staying at the school this christmas." Phoenix smiled. "I'm meeting him in Hogsmead that weekend."
"Too bad, he's a nice boy." Hannah sighed.
"I'm planning on getting as much time off as I can and visiting Hogsmead." Phoenix smiled.
"Have fun." Stephanie smiled.
The group sat for the rest of the morning chatting about everything from A to Z.
