The feeling of her mother's arms enveloped her heart as she awoke the next morning. Why did everything have to be so complicated, why couldn't she stay here forever? She didn't move but stayed with her mother in bed, she wasn't planning on moving until her mother forced her to do so, although with those pretenses set neither of them might ever move. Eventually however they did get out of bed, Lily took her shower while Phoenix made breakfast. However, while she was making breakfast a certain visitor showed up, the minute she saw him she tensed involuntarily. "Hi," was all she whispered. "Can we talk?" "I thought my mom asked you to step back for a couple of days." "She did, and I agreed and if you tell me to leave now I will go." "You don't have to do that." "I just want to talk, that's all." "I don't want to do that, but you can stay and maybe after breakfast we can try." Then he looked behind her and saw the pans that were out, "Oh, I can help," he replied. She nodded.
Together they made some omelets and fresh juice. Lily walked down and smiled as she saw them. "Look no one has even lost an eye or a limb, I am so proud," she stated. Phoenix just turned around and looked at her mother. "We ready to eat, I'm starving!" said Lily.
Phoenix sat on one side of her mother with Sev on the other. She didn't say much, but Severus knew they had a long talk ahead. Lily and Sev knew she didn't want to talk to them, but they also knew it was for the best to get things out of the way. After all, this whole issue was about Sev, whether or not any of them were ready to talk about it that way. When everyone had finished Lily said, "I am going to do the dishes, why don't you go talk?" Sev and Phoenix just looked at each other for a moment; Phoenix shrugged but got up and headed towards the living room.
Sev sat down as close to her as he could get, but he could tell she made a point to sit as far away as possible from the other furniture. He just waited, trying to feel her out, but apparently, he waited too long because he heard a very blunt, "I told my Mum I didn't want to see you." "Yeah, she told me to leave for awhile." "Why didn't you listen?" Phoenix said right before her mother walked in. "Well, I did leave for a while didn't I." "Not long enough, it wasn't even 24 hours." "Are you asking me to leave?" "No, you can stay." "Well, the thing I told you earlier still applies, if you ask me to leave I will go, no questions asked," Severus prayed she wouldn't even as he offered his parameters he questioned it. Phoenix said nothing, she just sat there and looked at her mom's feet, like somehow those shoes were going to make it all better. "You have been through a lot, I also know that you are pretty sensitive because of it. I don't know near as much about you as I thought I did. Your mother obviously knows a lot more. Can you forgive me?" "Yeah," she replied. "I also would like to maybe get an apology from you, I know my behavior hasn't been stellar, but your responses haven't really been either. So, I can give you the same pardon you gave me in exchange for an apology." "I'm not doing quid pro quo." she said back in a stone-cold voice. "You're not sorry about," but she cut him off, "I am sorry that I hurt you and disrespected you. But I'm not apologizing so you feel like were even, because were not. I forgive you, but I don't think I can trust you in an authoritative role for awhile yet." "I appreciate your apology and I understand your reasoning. I will work towards earning back you trust." Things were quiet and calm for a few minutes, "Do you want to play chess?" Said Phoenix trying to ease the tension, Sev responded, "Of course!"
They played quite a few intense games, Sev knew he had pushed the limits as much as he could. She beat him twice and he beat her twice, so they were even. He knew what the underlying problem was; Phoenix cared a lot about what other people thought, but more so than that she cared about what her mother thought and what he thought. When they were not completely supportive of her choices, it ate at her inside. He just needed to keep this in mind in the heat of the moment.
The day went on without incident; Lily and Sev went to their bed and things were much better than they had been in a long time.
"Come on, you would think I was getting my first wand at the rate your going," Lily sighed, she began to wonder if her daughter was stressed about this since it seemed to be that every time this moment came her daughter and her had an altercation. "I'm coming! Hold on, I need about two minutes more," Phoenix all but yelled down the stairs. After two minutes she came barreling down the stairs, hair in perfect order, as well as her outfit. Although these items were normally well put together she put extra care into them today. Her mother simply raised an eyebrow as she walked by, "Are you taking lessons from Sev or something?" Lily looked at her daughter in fake shock, "Well of all the cheek from an over dressed young lady." "I wanted the moment to be perfect." "Yes, well I can see that, you must remember, however, that as much as you want it to be perfect, nothing is. You aren't, nor is the world, I am starting to think that some of this pressure is coming from an internal source, yes?" "No, I am fine. I can control how I look, besides you're the one who said you can never be overdressed or overeducated," Phoenix promptly remarked. "I guess I did, I just don't want you putting too much on yourself. You leave for school in a few more days and I know that will be a big change." "Well I'm ready, your just in lecture mode." Phoenix said with a smirk. "You are probably right." They flooed to Diagon Alley. Phoenix had asked for it to be a mother-daughter thing because she had always dreamt of the moment between the two of them. Of course, Sev had no problem obliging.
Stepping up to Olivander's door was something she had wanted for years, but never imagined being this scary. She grabbed the door and opened it allowing her mother to follow behind. Olivander suddenly came out from around the corner and Phoenix jumped. "Ah Ms. Potter, I have been contemplating whether you would come. Aren't you cutting it a bit close. I started to question if you had gone somewhere else, but obviously not. Well come forward to the counter then." As soon as she did, he started taking measurements, humming while he did so which lead to Phoenix making funny faces at her mother a couple of times. He finally ran behind the counter awkwardly, bringing a wand over. "This is walnut eleven and one quarter inches pretty firm, mermaid hair." Phoenix began to pick it up and without moving it the front windows of the shop shattered. "Hmm, well I thought that would do it, maybe it was too firm. Obviously not for you. That was a very strong aversion. I remember every wand I have ever sold Ms. Potter, as well as every incompatible one and that was the strongest inadvertent incompatibility in a long time." "What does that mean sir, I mean for me?" "It means that there is a wand that will work and when it does, the wizarding world better watch out because you are quite a talented little witch." Phoenix looked over at her mother, "It's a good thing your wand didn't do that when I used it." "It didn't do that because you were not fully developed magically yet. It could have though, which is why it was dangerous, or do you not remember that conversation?" Lily said with a smirk. "No, I remember it well," chuckled Phoenix. Olivander came over once more this time holding three boxes. This time her mother had her wand out just in case.
"This is ebony twelve inches, unicorn hair, from a baby female, quite a confident one actually." Picking it up almost with hesitation the minute her fingers touched it the wand itself burst into flame. Wand after wand was tried each one another chaotic response. Olivander finally plopped down in his chair, "Well all be damned I have been outdone." "I didn't mean to sir." "Child, it isn't your fault, I just have never been stumped." "You said the wand chooses the wizard right. What if none of them work?" All the sudden he jumped out of his chair and ran over to a locked glass cabinet filled with very interesting wands. Then he promptly bound back over to Phoenix holding it out, her mother nudged her to get her to pick it up. The second she grabbed it the whole shop went back to perfect condition, maybe better than it had been when she started the adventure. "There it is, curious really. You have a knack for wand lore Ms. Potter. That there is the weirdest wand I have ever made. I considered it a failed experiment. It is exactly eleven and eleven sixteenths inches with a core made of phoenix feather." "Why is it curious though sir." "It is curious because you are, that phoenix gave two feathers, one in your hand, a failed, or apparently not so failed experiment. The other gave you that scar." "You mean to say that Voldemort had the other, or still does somewhere." "Unfortunately, you are correct," Olivander said at a near whisper. "Why was this an experiment then sir?" "Ah that is the part that makes this questionable. It is Whomping Willow, very rare, powerful, yet equally temperamental. I must warn you I have no idea how this wand will work. Like I said it is an experiment. Your mother's wand is very good at charm work, your father's was very strong, although not quite as delicate. This one could be one thing or another; I am not sure. What I can tell you is that it favors you. I would however suggest not picking it up when you are feeling particularly angry or sad as I have a feeling it might react without direct command." "Thank you Mr. Olivander," said Phoenix. "Now as I made that wand so long ago merely on a trial basis, it is free. I would love for you to come back every year you get school supplies and check-in, so we can talk about it." "Yes sir, of course I will." "One thing is for sure Phoenix Potter, that you will do great things, just like its brother. While we may not agree with Voldemort's methods there is no denying he did things that were great." She simply nodded and they walked out. The wand in her hand was so detailed, it had some runes on it of some kind inscribed on the side as well. Walking out she felt a new sense of power as she now was the holder of a wand a real one, one that would always be hers.
"Phoenix," shouted Severus up the stairs. "What?" "Get ready to go and meet me in the living room please," he replied with finality. Ten minutes later she was in the living room still looking at him with her typical curiosity. "We are going to Hogwarts". Soon they were flooing threw the fireplace and had arrived in his quarters. "Follow me," he said calmly. Opening the door to a room that used to be his study when he was single. "This is your room whenever you want it to be. Some have recommended that I threaten to ground you down here if you don't behave at school. However, I don't particularly see that happening. I don't think that I should be allowed to parent at school unless it is normally a familial matter. In which case you won't like me at all. All the same, knowing you, there will be plenty of opportunity to discuss punishment." Phoenix scoffed at the last remark, "Well why would I want to stay down here?" "Well, times I can think of are if you are sick, your friends are being pains. I don't really know, but whenever you want, you can come. As it relates to meals the same thing goes for that. I will give you a copy of the schedule I adhere to during the year of the meals I eat in the great hall. Other than those you are more than welcome to eat with me. Of course, we might end up back at your house with your mother, but I think we can still make these enjoyable." "I can't believe I will be at school in two days." "That is generally how time works, constantly moving forward."
It was the night before the year was to start, the Potter soon to be Snape household was eating a great dinner. "Are you sure you have everything?" Lily asked. "Yes mum, I said I checked it three times." "All the same I shall check it after dinner." "That's fine if you leave me alone about it afterward," Phoenix said. "I'd prefer you dropped the attitude, I want our last night to be a good one, but if you want to be grounded to your room I can make that happen as well." Phoenix immediately looked like a well chastised little girl at the threat and mumbled an, "I'm sorry ma'am." "Yes, well, just keep the cheek to a minimum and I think we will have a good night yes? Oh, don't look so glum, it isn't as if I sent you up there now is it." "No ma'am." Lily could immediately tell that something was wrong with her daughter so as soon as dinner was done she ushered her off to the living room while Sev did the dishes.
"What is wrong, hm?" "I just, I don't, you know," Phoenix replied. "No, I suppose I just don't. Why don't you take a couple of breaths and explain?" A few seconds later a jumbled but heart felt statement came out quickly, "I just don't want to leave you". "Oh honey, come here." Lily looked down at her daughter's part on the top of her head while holding her close to her body. "Scout, you will have a wonderful time and you will make a ton of friends. And I will be down in Sev's quarters frequently and you can come here whenever you want, it will be fine." "But what if, you know I don't make any friends at all?" "You will make friends, Scout, come on, don't do this. I know you are quite the worry wart, but Phoenix honestly, Hogwarts was the best thing that ever happened to me and it will be that for you too, don't worry." "I know I am over reacting, but I don't know what is going to happen." "That, my darling, is life; you never what will happen. I know that at the end of the day it will all work out. Come on let's have a good time on our last night, what do you want to do?" "I want to cuddle." "Alright then, why don't I put a movie on and we can sit on the couch." "Yeah, that would be good." "You go pick the movie. I am going to check your trunk." Phoenix rolled her eyes as she left the room. Phoenix fell asleep three movies in on Lily's lap. Severus came by and scooped her up and walked her to her room while he tucked her in. Lily checked her daughter's trunk one more time out of nervousness before heading to bed.
"Come on Scout, wake up," Severus said while touching his soon to be daughter's foot. "Mmmh go away, I'm sleepy." "Come on we need to leave in an hour and a half and your mother still needs to have an overprotective moment.". "Alright I'm up," she mumbled back. "Good, breakfast will be ready in twenty minutes." Breakfast was a quiet affair but comfortable. Pulling into King's Cross was surreal for everyone in the car. There were tears in their eyes as they pulled up to the platform. Her mother grabbed her hand gave it a tight squeeze and they walked through together.
Once they got her stuff settled he mother handed her a package, it was wrapped, "This was your father's. It is something that is passed on when a Potter goes to school. Use its contents responsibly." Phoenix just grabbed her mother knowing that this was once again going to be a hard moment. Walking onto the train and sitting down as her mother walked out of the platform was the hardest moment of her life by far.
As the train got moving she just looked at the rather interesting box of things her father had apparently left her, never opening it. She noticed as many people walked by and attempted to look at her, she hated it. The animal in the zoo to come be watched by her visitors. Never a human being just some odd entity untouchable to most. Yet, she wasn't just an animal at the zoo for the minute she made eye contact she was immediately left alone, more like Medusa than anything else. She heard her door slide open and at the very least she had to note the courage of this particular spectator. "Do you mind if I sit with you, everywhere else is full." She stared in astonishment for a moment, "You can stay." The boy smiled back at her, "I'm Ron, Ron Weasley." "I'm Phoenix, Phoenix Potter." "Wait your, are you, so you have the you know, the scar?" He ended in an almost inaudible whisper. "Yeah," she said as she lifted her bangs, hoping that he wouldn't respond like most people. "Wicked, I didn't know we would be in the same year. What house do you think you'll be in?" The conversation grew from there covering everything from punishments from their parents to hobbies along with any other topic they could think of. After a few hours of talking a bushy haired girl opened the door, "Have you seen a toad?" "No," replied Ron bluntly. "Your Phoenix Potter, I have read all about you. You saved the world from the Dark Lord. I am a muggle born and still know you when I see you," she commented as she flipped her hair. Ron could tell his new best friend was a little uneasy and decided to comment, "She isn't a history lesson, so unless you have something else to say or ask, you can move along." "Who are you then?" The girl replied. "Ron," he said with a grimace. "Why do you have your wand out? Are you trying to do magic, let us see then?" "He doesn't have to show you anything." "No Phoenix it's fine". Of course, this lead to disaster as the brown-haired girl watched him fail miserably at what sounded more like a nursery rhyme than a spell. "Well, that wasn't even a real spell. Not that you should be doing magic outside the classroom, it's against the rules."
"What's your name?" Phoenix asked innocently, "Hermione Granger". "Good, well Ron got that spell from his brothers who obviously wanted him to make an arse of himself, now however you have also made a bitch of yourself and I feel it is time you leave." Hermione's jaw dropped at the accusation. "Fine, but you should both get into your robes and Ronald has dirt on his nose." As she left Phoenix and Ron just looked at each other, until Phoenix commented, "I don't care what house I am in, as long as I am not in it with her." "She is positively mental," replied Ron.
The train finally came to a complete stop, Phoenix looked at Ron and said, "No matter what house we end up in we will be friends". "Absolutely", the red head replied with a smile. Walking out of the train and seeing Hagrid was almost surreal. Getting onto those boats was almost magical. As one girl commented, "How does everyone else get in." Phoenix jumped in, "Well they ride in carriages pulled by Thestrals, we can't go with them because they need to get settled before we get sorted." "Oh" responded the girl.
As they walked up the stairs they saw who Phoenix would know as her aunt. Others would call her Professor McGonagall and so would she, at least when she was in class. "Welcome to Hogwarts, I see you all made it here," "Trevor!" came a voice from behind her as a little brown-haired boy ran up and grabbed a toad. McGonagall was not pleased, and her facial expression showed this. She glanced over at Phoenix as she smirked. "As I was saying, welcome. While you are here your house will be like your family. You shall be sorted shortly. The four houses are Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor. No one house is greater than another, rather they have different founding values. The sorting hat shall put you in what house you belong, and he is never wrong. I shall be back momentarily." Right as she left Phoenix heard a slurring comment from behind, "So it is you; Phoenix Potter has come to Hogwarts." "So, it is true Draco Malfoy runs his mouth," she replied as she turned around. "You need to pick good friends Potter, that is something I can help you with. You don't want people thinking you run around with this red headed riff raff." Ron just rolled his eyes and smirked. "Don't roll your eyes at me. Let me see obviously poor, orange hair, scrawny, and to top it off no class. All of these equal one thing, Weasley." "His family has a lot more class than yours Malfoy". "Oh, is that so," he replied to Phoenix angrily. "It," but Phoenix was cut off by a direct McGonagall, "This way," she said raising her eyebrows at Phoenix.
Phoenix and Ron stuck together as they walked into the great hall, while the other children were astonished Phoenix was focusing on the task at hand. Meanwhile behind her came a very nervous know it all, "The sky is bewitched so it can look like that, I read about all of Hogwarts before coming." It was being told to a marginally frumpy looking girl who didn't seem to care. Walking up and seeing the sorting hat was like a dream come true to Phoenix. She wasn't as nervous as most of the children around her were. Probably, because she knew her mother didn't care what house she was in. It also helped that she was being sorted before her new friend, that way the pressure was on him to end up wherever she did. One child after another was called up, the longest time the hat took was on the annoying girl known as Hermione Granger, who much to Phoenix's dislike was placed in Gryffindor. When it came time for Malfoy to be sorted it took less than three seconds before placing him in Slytherin.
When McGonagall called her name, Phoenix could hear the whispers erupt. She sat down on the stool calmly and crossed her ankles. The hat began speaking almost Immediately, "What should I do with you, hmm? Courage of course, cunning certainly, ambition, yet with a large portion of loyalty, and wisdom and knowledge far beyond your years; from my perspective you could it into any house, and therefore not fit in to any house. Aren't you just a complicated little thing." Phoenix looking over at Malfoy who seemed to be focused on being the world's biggest arse as of late. And one phrase popped into her head, "not Slytherin." She despised the judgement those individuals placed on her and her friends. "So not Slytherin Ms. Potter, you're sure. Well it seems you have the talent to go anywhere and at the end of the day it really is my choice. Slytherin would make all your dreams come true, they could push you to greatness, yet it seems that is the one thing you are afraid of. It is really where you belong you know, and I am pretty sure that is Slytherin, but if you insist…" Phoenix thought long and hard, she just wouldn't fit in, she didn't want to be great, she wanted to be normal. "Alright normal it is," shouting back out to everyone in the room after fifteen long minutes of deliberation, "Gryffindor". A large cheer erupted from the table with two boys shouting, "We got Potter," looking at their physical appearances Phoenix concluded they must be Ron's brothers, the twins he had told her about. Sitting down at her house table and looking at a smiling Dumbledore and McGonagall was heart-warming. She looked at Severus who gave her a subtle wink; she smiled back.
As she scanned the rest of her aunts and uncles at the head table, one individual who she didn't know struck her eye. A man seemingly cowardly and with a turban, all the sudden as he looked up her scar burned fiercely she grabbed her head just in time to realize that Ron was about to be sorted. "Another Weasley, well that makes this easy, Gryffindor," the hat yelled, and Ron immediately relaxed and came flying down off the stool to sit next to Phoenix, they high fived and sat down. It seemed as though there were some interesting people in her house. There was this awkward boy Neville whom she knew by his last name, Longbottom, his parents were aurors. Although, she knew Neville before school and he was nothing like an auror. Then there was Dean who seemed like more brawn than brain, along with Seamus who seemed to have no sense of self-preservation. Both were quite enjoyable, but not best friend material. Of course, before today, she would never have considered someone like Ron to be best friend material. He was something most people weren't and that was concerned and friendly. He didn't pretend like she wasn't special, he just didn't choose to treat her differently because of it. Then there was this Hermione girl, infuriatingly mouthy. She apparently had read about everything, which was totally fine considering Phoenix had too, but it was her personality that made Phoenix want to put a silencing charm on her.