Chapter 21:
The Slytherin friends lit up when they saw green banners with snakes on them all around the ceiling as they entered the Great Hall for the End of the Year Feast.
"Green is such a beautiful colour," Phoenix comments, looking at the banners with a smile.
"Yea," Draco agrees, but he wasn't looking at the banners when he said that. He was looking at his best friend smiling a little.
All of the students begin to fill up the Hall in their house tables and wearing their full school robes as everyone chatter among themselves.
Dumbledore, who sits at the head of the staff table, nods over to McGonagall.
She dings her glasses just loud enough for the talking to dying down.
The headmaster rose from his seat to make announcements. "Another year gone," he begins. "And now, as I understand it, the house cup needs awarding, and the point stands thus. In fourth place, Gryffindor with three hundred and twelve points." Clapping is heard as Potter and Hermione hide their heads in embarrassment. "Third place, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two points." Clapping again.
"Draco, we're getting closer," Phoenix whispers to him with a smile.
He smirks back, nodding his head, knowing it too.
"In second place, Ravenclaw, with four hundred and twenty-six points." Clapping is heard again. "And in the first place, with four hundred and seventy-two points, Slytherin House."
Slytherin House cheers along in victory as Professor Snape joins in the clapping.
"Nice one, Mates!" Draco smiles at his friends.
"Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin," the headmaster congratulated the House. "However, recent events must be taken into account."
"Wait; what?" Phoenix thinks to herself, confused.
"And I have a few last-minute points to award," Dumbledore says as the Gryffindor students lookup. "To Miss Phoenix Emberson," he turns to the Slytherin table, "for showing the importance of Magical Creature Equality and nursing the creatures back to health. Fifty points will be added to Slytherin."
Slytherin House cheers, but Phoenix looks at her headmaster with an eyebrow raised, sensing a catch. Draco and Professor Snape see this too.
"To Miss Hermione Granger, for the use of cool intellect when others were in great peril, fifty points," Dumbledore speaks again, announcing.
Harry pats her shoulder while smiling, "Good job."
"Second, to Mr. Ronald Weasley, for the best-played game of chess," Weasley looks at Potter while mouthing "Me?", which Harry nods, mouthing back "You!", "that Hogwarts has seen these many years….fifty points." Phoenix does not look happy about this. "And third, to Mr. Harry Potter, for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor House sixty points." Cheering from Gryffindor. "And finally, it takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your anemones, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends. I award another sixty points to Neville Longbottom."
Another Gryffindor cheer.
Neville is in disbelief of the announcement and just sits there while the cheering gets louder.
Slytherin wasn't having it.
"Assuming that my calculations are correct," Dumbledore speaks, "I believe that a change of direction is in order." He claps a couple of times. The beautiful green banners change into Gryffindor red and yellow. "Gryffindor wins the House Cup!"
The whole Gryffindor House cheers loudly. Hagrid cheers along while grinning. Most of the students stand and throw their hats into the air.
Draco and Phoenix smashed their hats down onto the table. She also bangs the table with both of her fists in frustration and anger.
She looks up a little to glare deadly at the Gryffindor Table. If she drinks a potion to make her look to learn how to kill, all of them would be dead.
The next morning, still fuming about the House Cup announcement, Phoenix calmly packs up her trunks for returning home for the Summer Holidays with a deadly glare on her face.
"Gryffindors always have fun here," she growls under her breath, remembering the events from last night. She has on her Slytherin uniform, wishing it is her regular clothing to return home with. "Leith, are you ready to go, son?" she asked her flying companion.
He nods his head.
"Come on, let's go," she says, closing up her trunks.
Leith flies up and places himself on her shoulders.
"I'm going to miss this place," the young Slytherin girl whispers with a smile, looking around and looking at the Black Lake.
He agrees, looking out to Lake life.
They linger a little more while smiling before finally heading out towards the Common Room.
They see Draco, Gregory, and Vincent already there with other Slytherin members around. Her friends were still very much mad at the previous events like her, but they are very vocal about it.
"Hey, guys," she greets them with a smile.
Draco turns to her and greets her back, "Hey, Phoenix."
"You ready to go, gentlemen?" she asked them, changing the subject.
"All ready to go," Goyle speaks up with his trunks.
"Alright, let's go," she tells them, leading them out.
"Miss Emberson," they hear the familiar voice of their Potions Professor from behind them. They turn to see him, asking for her presence.
"We'll meet you guys outside," Phoenix says to the guys.
Draco stares at her, unsure for a second before agreeing.
"Hello, Uncle Severus," she greets him once they know they're alone. "I'm going to miss you over the Summer Holidays."
"I know, Phoenix," he says. "Tell your parents that I will owl them over the Holidays. Are you guys still in the Queen's Wood?"
"Yes, we are," she smiles. "Still in the magical part where it's completely closed off by Muggles."
"Sounds better than the Emberson Mansion," he comments with a small smile.
"Based on what I heard," she admits.
"Is something bothering you?" he asked, noticing a slight worry in her demeanor.
Leith nods his head for an answer.
"Lord Voldemort has a letter for Mummy, and it appeared to me earlier this month, possibly Quirell gave it to me in my sleep," she explains, looking scared. Professor Snape looks shocked. "I'm scared, Uncle," she confesses, looking down, "I want to protect my family as much as possible-"
"Do you remember what your mother said when you were really young?"
"That demons will charm me with a smile?" she looks back up.
"Yes, that's what he is doing to your mother like he has ever since he first heard about her years ago," he explains. Then Professor Snape places his hands on her shoulders when Leith climbs up on her head. "Listen, do not fall for anything he says, they may sound romantic or cheery, but it's a trap for either you or your mother to fall for him and if that happens-"
"A marriage between us will make him stronger and kill us in the process as well."
"Correct, Phoenix. He doesn't know about you as far as we know, let's hope that stays like that so we can focus on protecting your mother."
A couple of tears fall down Phoenix's pale cheeks as she smiles softly to her uncle figure.
Professor Snape smiles again a little as he gently wipes away the tears. "Go on now, the train will be leaving soon, and we wouldn't have you be late for it, hmm?" he asked, removing his arms.
"Thank you, Uncle Severus, for everything," she smiles again, curtsy to him.
"You're most welcome, Phoenix."
She gives him one last smile before turning around to meet up with her friends.
When the Malfoy gang gets outside, Draco notices Phoenix and Leith are looking in the direction of the dark forest. He chuckles a little before telling Goyle and Crabbe to go ahead without them and, of course, leave space for them. They nod their heads and leave them.
"The Dark Forest is where my parents' love first started," Phoenix explains, smiling a little, sensing Draco with her and Leith. "That's why I always go there whenever I get the chance."
"Your parents must really love you to tell you everything about them when they came here," Draco says softly, looking at the happy-looking Slytherin with a soft smile.
"Yea," she turns her head to him, still smiling. "Family and friendship mean everything to me."
They stare at each other while smiling for a few moments before Leith breaks it, not wanting to because there's a train they need to catch.
Phoenix is beyond happy to return home, but the letter for her mother is really scaring her, and she knows it will scare her parents.