The Hogwarts Express
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Over the next few weeks, Phoenix had been hard at work, doing her very best to at least try to start catching up on magic.
"Accio!" she said again, aiming her wand at a feather. It rustled slightly, but did no more. "Bloody hell!" she sighed.
"You have to flick it," Draco reminded her, having just come into the room.
"I have! If I flick much harder, I'll take my bloody eye out!"
"Here, I'll show you. Accio!" he muttered, demonstrating the wand movement. The feather came zooming towards him.
"I despise you sometimes, you know that?" Phoenix muttered. Draco smirked.
"Try again," he coaxed.
"Accio," she repeated, without any feeling. The feather remained motionless.
"You had no feeling in it. Look, you desparately want that feather to come to you, okay? You need it! It has to come! Now just wave your wand, and say it again!"
"I'll wave you about in a minute," she groaned, but focused on the feather. 'Come on,' she thought. 'Just come over here. You're a feather, damnit! You should find it easy!' Accio!" Something landed in her hand, after promptly hitting Draco on the head.
"Oh, shit, sorry!" she laughed, waving the book that had landed in her arms. He got up, clutching his head.
"Ow," he muttered. "You're bloody brutal, you know that?"
"Who you talking to, the book or me?"
"Shut up."
"But, hey, I got the spell to work! That's good right? Practicing on a feather and getting a book?"
"Excellent," he muttered.
By the time the 31st August had come, Phoenix was making good progress. In four weeks, she knew as many charms as a fourth year would. She knew she'd have a lot more to do to get up to O.W.L. standard, the exams she would hopefully be sitting by Christmas if she kept on at this rate.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly. There was only one problem; she was freaking out.
"Bloody hell, have I got everything? My books, my wand, Arwen? And how the hell am I supposed to fit everything in a bloody trunk? Draco, help!" She was running round the room, practically turning it upside down, checking she hadn't left anything behind.
"Where is Arwen, by the way?" asked Draco, inspecting the cage.
"Out hunting. Oh my God, she will be back on time, right? What if she's not back by morning? Will I have to leave her here? What sort of owner would I be if I just abandoned her?" she ranted.
"Phoenix, relax, you're getting all hyper," Draco reasoned, in a pitiful attempt to try and calm her down.
"No, really!" she spat sarcastically. ""For God's sake, this is a whole new school, with whole new people, and whole new lessons about stuff that I've only had four weeks to learn!" She began breathing heavily. "You can't tell me-" she began. "-that you weren't nervous the day before your first day. What about your first year, huh? What was that like?"
"I was all right."
"Yeah, right! Hell, you were just as new to this as me! I mean, okay, you'd known about this whole wizard thing all your life, but did you really know what to expect? Did you honestly know what it was going be like? You can't tell me you weren't even the teeniest bit freaked!"
"I certainly wasn't hyper. But, hey, I knew I'd have sidekicks. That tends to boost up my confidence."
"Exactly. I won't know anyone!"
"Um, are we both here, or am I dreaming? Anyway, you'll have Pansy to hang out with." Phoenix smiled.
"Draco, I'm nervous, but I am nowhere near that scared!" He laughed.
"See your point. Anyway, you can stick with me. I'm not that bad, you know."
"Oh? You mean you'd actually be seen hanging out with someone who didn't have a goddamn clue what they were doing?"
"I hang out with Crabbe and Goyle everyday. Trust me, when you meet them, you'll see what I mean." She smiled again.
"Okay, but seriously. This isn't like the Muggle world, where I knew what I was doing. This wizard school thing is completely new to me. How do you guys even relax when you get stressed? It's gotta get to you sometimes." Draco nodded thoughtfully.
"What do you do?"
"Oh, watch TV, or listen to music normally. It's actually very stress-relieving. And possibly one of my favourite past-times, you know? Just being yourself, listening to all your favourite songs over and over, on your own, where no-one judges you. It's really-it's a great get-away." She smiled weakly. "But I don't even have my MP3 player here, so that's gone. Maybe I'll just stare out the window."
"You want to do that on your last night?"
"Not my first choice, believe me," she admitted, opening the door leading to the balcony with a quick swish of her wand. She wandered outside, and just leant against the rail, staring out at the horizon.
Draco was reminded of himself six years ago; possibly just as angsty as Phoenix was now, about his first day at school.
He leaned against the rail, and stared out at the horizon, and the slowly sinking sun. It was actually very peaceful, and helped take away some of his nerves.
He had been anticipating the day to come since he could talk, and now the evening before was finally here, he was dreading it. He knew that this 'Crabbe and Goyle' his father kept talking about would most likely stick around with him (on their own fathers' orders than anything else), but he was still nervous. He had heard that Harry Potter was going to be attending Hogwarts this year, too.
Although Draco would never admit it, he had too much pride, but he really admired this boy who had become famous at one. In many ways, he wanted to be just like him. In others, like the wealth, he was content with who he was. Well, with his lifestyle anyway.
He knew he shouldn't feel intimidated by Harry Potter; "Never feel intimidated, or less important by your inferiors, Draco, it makes us look weak," his father had always told him. They'd had the exact same discussion the other night, when his father had first heard that Harry Potter was to be attending Hogwarts as well.
"But, is he really my inferior?" Draco had stupidly asked. Lucius looked up.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Am I really superior to him? He survived the Dark Lord. What have I done?" Lucius looked absolutely livid.
"Don't talk such nonsense, you stupid child," he had replied, trying his hardest to stay calm.
"But, Father-ow!" He had just been slapped.
"Let me tell you one thing, Draco. Harry Potter is not, I repeat, not, superior to you! If you ever dare forget that again, you shall receive more than a slap!" He had stormed out then, leaving Draco to ponder over what he'd done this time.
At the time, Draco had always thought that it was him who'd done wrong, and that he deserved every bitter punishment. He pondered about this on the balcony. He had asked the question; "What have I done?" It was a fair question. The only thing he'd ever shown any slight skill in was-.
As Phoenix was now staring down below at the fine gardens, surrounding the Manor, Draco had had a brainwave on how he could cheer his cousin up. He smiled.
"Hey, Phoenix!" he called. She turned, expectantly. His smile grew wider. "I think it's time I showed you my favourite past-time."
"Master Draco. Master Draco," a house-elf whispered gently into Draco's ear. He stirred slighlty, but not waking up. "Master Draco," the elf whispered again.
"Go away," he muttered. The elf sighed.
"Master Draco must now wake up, sir. It is the first of September, sir. Master Draco must go back to school today, sir." Draco opened one eyes, and nearly hit the ceiling when he saw the elf's big, round eyes staring down at him. He rubbed his eyes, trying to wake up.
"What time is it?" he asked blearily.
"Six a.m. sir," the elf replied. Draco groaned. It was like his mother to send him an early wake-up call on his first day back.
He climbed out of bed, and dragged himself to the wardrobe to choose an outfit to change into. There was no point putting on his uniform yet.
When he came down to breakfast, he was surprised to see three other people there already. He knew his mother would be up, but who were the other two?
"Good morning, Draco," greeted Narcissa, seeing him.
"Morning, Mother," he greeted back, willing one of the other two women to turn around.
"Ah, good morning, Draco," greeted the first one. He recognised her as Bellatrix.
"Morning, Aunt Bella. Phoenix," he greeted, recognising the other one.
"Have you packed everything?" Narcissa enquired as soon as he'd gotten himself some cereal. He nodded.
"Just need to put Ares in his cage. Speaking of owls, you found Arwen, yet, Phoenix?" She nodded.
"Put her in her cage before I came down," she replied, surprisingly cheerfully, handing him the milk. Draco took it, wandering where this sudden change of attitude had come from. Yesterday, she'd been all like 'Oh my God!', but today she was a lot calmer about the whole affair. Maybe he'd helped her more than he realised.
'Spoke too soon,' he thought as they arrived between Platforms 9 and 10 at King's Cross station. He had seen her reach for her inhaler three times since this morning. She'd never actually used it, but still, it wasn't a good sign.
"So run this by me again," she said, stopping. "You want me to run straight at what is definitely a solid wall?" He nodded.
"I didn't get it first time either. And it's not solid. Look, I'll go first, okay, and show you."
"No bloody way! You are not going off into some-other place and leaving me here standing like a retard!"
"So you go first. I'd say we go together, but the barrier's just a teensy bit too thin."
"Okay, fine, but if I break my arm, I'm holding you responsible! And if anyone asks, you violently pushed me into the wall for no reason." Draco grinned.
"Deal." Phoenix faced the wall, still unsure. In her heart, she knew that it was the only way through, she just wished she didn't have to do it with spectators.
"Here I go," she muttered, not moving.
"Phoenix."
"All right, I'm going!" she snapped, and ran forward. Just as she was about to hit the wall, she squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the resounding crunch as the trolley hit the wall.
It never came. There was this weird sensation as though she was falling through water, but as quickly as it came, it went. She stepped out the wall bone dry.
"Woah," she muttered. "That was weird." She took a step forward, and felt a fast breeze against her left foot. "Jesus, give me time to get a-Harry!" she exclaimed, recognising the teenager who'd just run through.
"Hey, Phoenix," he grinned. "Shit, I didn't get you, did I?"
"Nah, you just missed," she grinned back.
"So, you found your way through then." Normally, she would have retorted with the sarcastic 'no, I'm still on the other side' remark, but hey, she'd just run through a wall!
"Yeah," she nodded. "Bloody weird, though."
"I know. First time I ran through, I was sure the trolley would bounce back and hit me!"
"I know the feeling."
"Harry!" gasped Hermione, who'd just run through.
"Hi, Hermione. This is Phoenix, a friend from primary school. Phoenix, this is Hermione, one of my best friends."
"Hey," Phoenix greeted, taking Hermione's extended hand.
"Hi. Nice to meet you. Listen, sorry I've got to rush, you two, but I need to get to the Prefect carriage. You know, get changed, meet with the Head Boy, and basically get the meeting started. See you later." And she rushed off without another word.
"Harry, you want to find a compartment?" asked Ginny, who'd just come through.
"No, you're all right, Ginny. I'll see you later, yeah?"
"Fine. I'll probably sit with Seamus the whole way anyway."
"Okay-what!"
"Don't tell Ron," she giggled, and ran off to find Seamus Finnigan, a boy in Harry's year (A.N. well, of course, you already knew that).
"So, is this Ron an ex, or just a very protective older brother?" Phoenix remarked enquiringly, grinning slightly.
"Older brother. Can't blame her for not wanting to tell him. He'd go mental."
"Who would?" asked Ron.
"Oh, no-one. This is Phoenix, by the way. Phoenix, this is Ron."
"Hey," they said in unison, shaking hands.
"Harry, was there anyone else out there?" Phoenix asked suddenly. Harry shook his head.
"Why, you meeting someone?"
"Um, sort of," she replied.
"Don't worry, they'll be here."
"Yeah, course they will," she smiled. "He'd bloody better be," she muttered under her breath.
"Who are you meeting?" asked Ron.
"My cousin," she replied, watching the barrier intensely.
"Hey, you know, if he doesn't show, you can come and sit with us," Harry offered, Ron nodding.
"Really?" They both nodded. "Thanks," she smiled. They all stood there awkwardly for a few moments, before Ron piped up;
"Who'd go mental, anyway, Harry?"
"Damn, haven't you forgotten that yet?"
"Seriously. Hey, you weren't talking about me, were you?" Harry tried to shake his head, but he couldn't stop a laugh coming out. "What?" asked Ron, confused.
"Maybe I should tell you later," muttered Harry, leading Ron off somewhere. Phoenix waited by the barrier for a few minutes, when Draco came through.
"What the bloody hell happened to you?" she asked, sounding angry.
"Nothing. Just got talking to someone," he muttered.
"For ten minutes?" He nodded. "Where are they?"
"I was talking to my father, if you must know," he replied uncomfortably.
"Oh." There was no more that needed to be said.
"Anyway, shall we find a compartment?" She nodded, and followed him towards the scarlet train which would be taking them to another very eventful year, Draco could be sure of that.
Draco yawned. He had been listening to Pansy ramble on about her 'crap summer' for the last half hour. Millicent, Daphne and Phoenix looked just as bored by her story.
"You're not bored, are you, Dracky?" asked Pansy.
"Yes," he mumbled irritably.
"Oh, fine, we can talk about something else," she surrendered, leaning her head on Draco's shoulder.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" offered the trolley lady. Millicent stood up at once, and Phoenix followed her, looking interested. She didn't want to put on any weight so early in the term, but she figured she might as well get some sweets, seeing as she'd never tried these ones before.
She was just about to return to the compartment when she caught sight of Harry.
"Hey, Harry," she greeted.
"Hi. So I take it you found your cousin, then?"
"Yep. And his girlfriend," she grimaced.
"Uh oh. Is she a pain?"
"Um, she just won't shut up. And it's not just me, the others all think so as well. Including him," she added as an afterthought. Harry grinned.
"Just as long as you're having a good time," he smirked.
"Ah, just fabulous," she nodded. Suddenly, she felt strange. The room seemed to ripple and vanish before her. The image was soon replaced by that of a huge house, not unlike Malfoy Manor, with a green skull with a snake coming out of its mouth high above it.
There was laughter. Manic cheering, and shouts of triumph, followed by the sobs of many on-lookers, many of whom looked half-dead already.
"Phoenix. Hey, Phoenix," someone was whispering. She stirred, and opened her eyes. The room swam back into view, and she saw Draco's concerned face looking down at her.
"What the-" she whispered, clutching her head.
"You just fainted," Draco explained. "What the hell happened?"
"I don't know. I was hoping you could tell me," she replied, sitting up. In front of her, she could see Harry slumped against the wall, being consoled by the red-haired boy, Ron she thought he was called. She stood up. "What happened to Harry?" she asked Ron, walking over.
"Look behind you," Ron muttered. She turned, and saw Draco, looking indifferent. "He get you, too, then?" Ron asked.
"What?"
"Harry was probably cursed by him. And I'm guessing he got you, too?"
"Who, Dra-"
"Proud of yourself, huh, Malfoy?"
"Weasley, if you want people to understand what the hell you're saying, I suggest you talk when your mouth isn't full of food," taunted Draco.
"You know, you're pathetic! I mean, first of all, you're stupid enough to curse Harry in the middle of the train, but you're also mean enough to get her!" he indicated to Phoenix.
"Ron, what are you talking about?" asked Harry.
"Bloody hell, Harry, mate, are you all right?" Harry nodded.
"What happened?" Harry asked.
"Malfoy cursed you and-sorry, what's your name?" he asked Phoenix.
"Phoenix," she replied. "And I don't think he did curse us."
"Of course he did! He hates Harry. You were just unlucky enough to get in the way," Ron argued. Harry sighed.
"We weren't cursed, Ron. I just-saw something," Harry argued back.
"Yeah? What?" Ron asked interestedly.
"I'm not gonna say in front of Malfoy, am I?" Harry whispered frantically. Ron nodded, and led Harry away.
"What happened, Phoenix?" asked Draco again.
"Dunno," she admitted. "One minute I was talking to Harry, then-" she broke off, trying to recollect what she'd seen. "I saw something."
"What?"
"A house, with this symbol over it, like-like the tattoo Bellatrix had on her arm! There was someone laughing, people cheering, and people crying," she finished, watching Draco. He looked uneasy. "It was probably nothing," she concluded.
"Course it wasn't," Draco agreed. "You're just nervous, and fainted."
"But at the same time as Harry? Isn't that weird? And he said he saw something, too," she replied.
"That's Potter. He loves the attention. Just ignore anything he says about visions and whatever. He just wants your sympathy. Trust me, cousin, you're fine. It was nothing." She nodded, but didn't really think so.
She had had a few 'visions' like that before. Her child psychologist said she just had an over-active imagination, which 'is of course normal for a girl like her. She's had a rough life. It's usual to invite a bit of drama and attention in. Don't worry about it,' were her psychologist's exact words. Her fourth foster family were extremely religious, and 'visions' weren't the sort of thing they greatly encouraged.
One time, she'd had an extremely vivid dream about who her next foster family were going to be. The social workers at the care home were all 'so sweet that she's dreaming about a new family already.' This dream had come right after she'd been dumped by the ones who hadn't even told the social workers they didn't want her anymore.
But she'd seen them. She described the foster mother as if she had a picture of her in front of her; short-ish curly brown hair, with welcoming blue eyes, and she was wearing a red sweater, and looked permanently tanned. She also mentioned that this new family already had two foster kids, and one of their own, a little baby called Tobias.
Of course, most of the social workers put it to the back of their minds, but there was one who took a particular interest in this 'vision'. It was this same social worker who was in charge of her next case. One day, about two months after the dream, the social worker (Rachel) came across a family who had successfully fostered before, and decided to contact them.
It wasn't until Rachel actually met them that she remembered Phoenix's dream; the one about her new family. She remembered Phoenix's description of the foster mother. The woman who answered the door was just as Phoenix had described; had Greek origin, so was tanned, had brown, wavy hair, and sapphire blue eyes, was holding a baby boy (who she later found out was called Toby 'Tobias his real name is, but he only answers to Toby,' the woman had laughed. She was even wearing a red sweater.
They had fostered Phoenix shortly after.
Another time, in the middle of the day when she was out shopping with her religious foster mother, Clarice, she suddenly had this sense of deja vu. Not only did she seem to know where all the shops were (Clarice had only had her for a few days by now), but she also could have sworn that she'd been there before.
When she turned sixteen, and was given her file upon request, she later found out that was where she had lived when she was with Chrissie, who she thought was her birth mother, and who she'd stayed with for two years. There was no way she could have known that.
And now the latest 'vision', the one with the house, and the manic laughter, the cheering, the panicked sobbing. What was that all about?
"What's that all about?" Ron asked, after Harry had finished relating the 'vision' to him. Harry shrugged.
"Haven't got a clue. I know I've definitely not been there before, but then again, I feel like I have been there before-"
"What's going on?" came an enquiring voice from the door. Hermione was standing there, looking fed up.
"What's up with you?" Ron asked.
"The bloody Head Boy! He is really getting on my nerves! He kept acting like he was the only one there in charge, and sometimes, just literally ignoring me. He must have interrupted me three times!"
"Who is it? It's not Malfoy, is it?" Hermione grimaced.
"Thank goodness not. No, it's Ernie Macmillan."
"Oh, yeah. He can be a pompous git," Ron agreed.
"Don't I know it," Hermione sighed. "Still, at least I don't have to do rounds anymore. That's up to the Prefects only. I can stay here all journey. Anyway, what were you two talking about?"
"Harry fainted again," Ron explained promptly. Hermione gasped.
"Thanks, Ron," muttered Harry.
"Goodness, you didn't, Harry? What happened?"
"I reckon Malfoy cursed him," said Ron.
"Oh, he didn't?" Hermione gasped.
"I keep trying to tell Ron, for once, Malfoy didn't do anything. I just-fainted."
"When? Where? How?"
"I was talking to Phoenix, and-"
"Wait, don't I know her?"
"Vaguely. You saw her earlier."
"Of course I did, yeah. Anyway, keep going."
"Well, the room sort of swam before me, and-"
"What's this? Is Potter planning his next stunt to get himself attention?" drawled Draco from the compartment door, Pansy and Crabbe and Goyle at his heels. Pansy cackled with laughter at his last remark.
"Get lost, Malfoy," said Ron irritably.
"That's not very nice, is it, Weasley? Perhaps it's time we taught you to respect your superiors," Draco drawled, smirking. Pansy nodded along, laughing, and Crabbe Goyle sort of stood up straight, trying to be threatening. It was a pitiful attempt.
"What? Are you gonna curse me as well?" Ron remarked.
"For the last time, Weasley, if I was going to waste my breath cursing Potter, it would be far more deadly than a spell to make him faint." Ron glared.
"Just get out, Malfoy."
"Oooh, backing down, huh? I think you've upset him, Draco," giggled Pansy.
"Tell me, Weasley, did your father back down so easily? You know, before he was killed?" Ron stopped short, and turned.
"You want to repeat that?" he warned.
"I said, 'tell me, Weasley, did your father back down so easily? You know, before-he-was-killed?'" Draco repeated the last bit extra slowly.
"You! You-you BASTARD!" screeched Hermione, punching him. "How dare you mention his father! How dare you say that! You evil, foul little shit!" She punched him again, so hard he actually fell to the floor. "You ever say that again-" she warned, kicking him. "You won't know what's hit you, literally, because I'll break your nasty little bones, one-by-one, and then I'll force you to swallow a whole bottle of Skele-Gro! Harry says it's not a very pleasant experience taking a spoonful! Think how horrible a whole bottle would be!" She literally spat on him.
Ron and Harry's mouths were literally hanging open. Crabbe and Goyle had retreated out of the compartment, and Pansy was shrieking bloody murder.
"You little Mudblood bitch, look what you've done!" Pansy shrieked, slapping Hermione. Hermione looked shocked, but then slapped Pansy right back. So Pansy hit her again. They kept on hitting each other violently, until Pansy viciously shoved Hermione up against the compartment door opposite, and started kicking her.
Hermione grabbed Pansy by the hair, and dragged her down to the floor, Pansy kicking in resistance. Soon, they were both on the floor, wrestling, and grabbing each other's hair, shouting furious insults at one another. By now, many spectators had appeared, and were cheering them on.
"My God, Pansy!" screeched Daphne, seeing the commotion. Her and Phoenix ran up to the pair, and pulled them off each other, Daphne holding Pansy, and Phoenix holding Hermione. There were many shouts of 'aww!' from the crowd, who clearly wanted to see more catfights.
"Why were you fighting the Mudblood?" Daphne asked Pansy, causing Hermione to nearly break free of Phoenix's grip.
"Because she beat up Draco!" Pansy screeched.
"What!" Daphne and Phoenix shouted in unison, letting go of their captives, who immediately charged at each other again.
"What the-!" came a new voice from down the corridor. A middle-aged man came out of the shadows upon the scene. Pansy and Hermione immediately stopped fighting, Pansy looking extremely satisfied and ruffled, Hermione looking extremely guilty and ruffled. "What in the name of hell-what was all that about, young ladies, hmm?" He looked down at them expectantly.
"She attacked me first!" Pansy screeched.
"Rubbish! She attacked me!" Hermione shrieked.
"You provoked me by beating up Draco, you stupid little cow!" Pansy retorted.
"Well maybe he shouldn't have said all those things, you thick bitch!" Hermione shot back.
"Right! That's it! You two ladies are coming with me!" the man bellowed, and pointing towards his own compartment. Pansy and Hermione reluctantly followed him. The crowd slowly thinned, leaving a confused Daphne, a flabbergasted and impressed Ron and Harry, an almost-unconscious Draco and Phoenix.
"What did actually happen?" Phoenix said to Harry.
"Malfoy came in and started saying all these horrible things about Ron's dad, and Hermione lost it," Harry explained, trying to suppress a grin at Draco's face when he was punched. It was as classic as when Hermione had slapped him in third year.
"Where is he?" Phoenix continued.
"Who?"
"Draco," she replied in an almost irritable tone. Harry pointed to behind him, where Draco had just managed to stand up.
"Crazy Mudblood bitch," he muttered. Unfortunately for him Ron heard him. He drew his wand, and aimed it at Draco.
"Don't say that," he whispered warningly. "Or the idea Hermione had might come true sooner than you think." Draco winced slightly as Ron jabbed his wand in his neck.
"Leave him," Phoenix said suddenly. Ron turned, and looked at her.
"Don't worry, it's only Malfoy," he stated matter-of-factly, jabbing him again.
"I said, leave him," she repeated.
"Why do you care so much?" Ron asked, turning towards her. She didn't answer, just stared intently at him. "Harry, why does she care so much about what happens to-"
"Draco, don't!" Phoenix screeched, for Draco had just sent a curse at Ron. His legs started to feel unstable, and wobbly, and he collapsed. He had been hit with a Jelly-Legs Jinx.
Harry couldn't help it, he started laughing. It wad always funny to see someone hit with a Jelly-Legs Jinx, even if that someone was your best friend and shooting you death-glares.
"Harry, do the counter-curse!" Ron prompted, shakily trying to stand up again. Harry tried, but a fresh wave of laughter came over him. Ron glared, and fumbled for his wand.
"Oh, for God's sake," Phoenix sighed. "Finite Incantatem!" she said, aiming her wand at Ron. Instantly, his legs returned to normal. Phoenix smiled. It had been the first time she'd successfully cast that spell.
Harry, meanwhile, was still laughing, and Draco was smirking behind Ron. He'd hit Harry with a Laughing Charm. Phoenix cast 'Finite Incantatem again, and Harry stopped, and Draco was looking pissed-off.
"What did you do that for?" he groaned in Phoenix's direction.
"Cos it's a little second grade," she replied.
"Hmm, yeah, because threatening me was so mature!"
"Well, you had just insulted his best friend."
"Whose side are you on?"
"No-one's! For God's sake, now I have to pick a side?"
"Uh, yeah," Ron and Draco replied in unison.
"Yeah, well, you know whose 'side' I pick? I choose Harry's, cos he's the only who's not pathetic enough to make me choose sides and curse each other or make ridiculous threats!"
"Ha! There you go, Malfoy! She picked us!" Ron laughed.
"Don't be such a prat, Ron," grinned Harry.
"But you and me are on the same side!" Ron protested.
"I meant, don't be so immature!"
"Oh, so now I'm immature?"
"Actually, yes, you are."
"Oh, piss off, Potter!" Ron shot back, storming off. Everyone was shocked.
"Okay, what's his problem?" Phoenix asked the question they were all wondering.
"Maybe he got bored of famous Potter," drawled Draco, smirking again.
"Oh, shut up, Draco, you're just as immature as him!" Phoenix snapped.
"Bloody hell, what's up with you?" he asked, a little hurt.
"Nothing," she said, turning away. In truth, though, it wasn't nothing. She was getting stressed, and thought she could feel an attack coming on. She began breathing heavily, trying to calm down, but it was getting harder and harder. Worse, because, she'd put her robes on, she didn't have her inhaler with her.
She was about to walk away, when she stopped breathing. She kept trying to breathe in, but she just made wheezing sounds.
"Bloody hell, Phoenix, what the-are you okay?" Harry burst out, placing a comforting arm round her.
"Draco," she wheezed. "Need-inhaler. Please!" she gasped, still struggling to catch her breath. Draco ran off towards the compartment, and returned a minute later with her inhaler. A few seconds later, she was breathing again.
"Thanks, Draco," she whispered.
"Phoenix, are you asthmatic?" Harry remarked suddenly. She nodded.
"Yeah," she replied. "That's about the twentieth bloody attack since-" she stopped.
"Since what?"
"Nothing," she replied again.
"Hey, so are you okay now?"
"Now that I have my inhaler, I should be fine," she smiled. They had forgotten Draco.
"Yeah, while you two have a tearful re-union and all that bollocks, I'm going to go back to the compartment," Draco said irritably, turning on his heel and walking off.
"Do you even know him?" Harry asked the question he'd been tempted to ask for a while now. She nodded. "Like, 'know' know him? You're not just in his house?"
"Dear God, I don't even know what house I'm gonna be in," she remarked, thoughtfully. How would they Sort her? Draco had told her about the Sorting ritual he'd done in his first year, so would she have to go through the same? Or could she maybe choose her house? "How will I be Sorted?" she said suddenly. Harry shrugged.
"They probably won't Sort you with the first-years. You know, they-"
"I know how that goes," Phoenix interrupted. "Draco told me. Said you didn't want to be in Slytherin."
"Yeah, well, can you blame me? How do you know Malfoy so well anyway?" She was about to reply when Draco came back out, and said;
"Hey, we're nearly there. You coming back in?"
"Yeah, sure," she replied. "See you later, Harry." She gave him a small wave, and returned to her compartment, Harry's question left unanswered.