The Emerald Fire*

The Emerald Fire*

By: SilverPhoenixWings

A/N: Argh. This chapter was mightily annoying. I will have you all know I put a lot of work into this. Seriously. I actually did more than one draft. I actually had FOUR people beta-read it. Then I decided to trash the whole first draft altogether and start anew. My four wonderful people who beta-read, that part will come later. And, I'm very very very sorry that I made it sound like Star*dust was mad at me in a previous chapter. I honestly didn't mean to. What I meant was that she was being computer-deprived and couldn't talk to me. Apologies to Star*dust. Thank yous:

~*~Hermione~*~

Sierra Charm

Star*dust

Harmony

Mary

Alaska

ALT

Miss J.

ALiCe MaLiCe

Eri

Lizi

Bobfish(and then some numbers that I forgot)

MagicisinmyName

Hermione A.G.

Joshy

Everyone else who read! Thank you!

And also, in one of my earlier chapters or stories, I named a character Anita Skeeter. I had absolutely NO clue there was a fanfic author by that name! My apologies to her! I swear I didn't know!

To be terse, I won't(won't won't won't) include the stuff about flames and reviews. Am I right to think you have it memorized by now? If not, say so…. :)

Of Eaves-dropping, Portrait Maiming, and Estate Matters

Callie's eyes widened.

"James….could Peter really be the guy Jen was talking about?" Callie whispered. James shrugged, but none the less acknowledged that Jen and Peter were sitting on a bench in the park laughing.

"Callie, I think we have two choices." James smirked. Callie nodded, understanding.

"I say we should go for choice number two."

"Good plan, Cal." James motioned to a clump of bushes. Callie followed quietly. The two rounded the pavilion and stopped in a bush behind Jen and Peter. James motioned for Callie to be quiet and they listened.

"Really? That's funny! I can't believe you did that." Jen laughed.

"Yep. In my first year. That was my first detention ever. The first of many." Peter laughed. He was quite a bit shorter than Jen, but you couldn't tell when they were sitting. Jen was all legs, where as Peter had very short legs that made for short strides.

"Peter, I'm sorry I told you 'no' at first, this has been really fun." Jen said. Peter nodded.

"No problem." Then the two sitting on the bench talked quietly so that even James and Callie couldn't hear. After Jen and Peter had walked toward the pub, James stood up. He fluttered his eyelashes.

"Oh Jen! I am such a bad boy! I think I need a spanking!" Callie laughed, and put on a mock frown.

"Peter, Peter, Peter….shame on you!" She wagged her finger. The two laughed. Peter and Jen would definitely take some teasing about this.

"Hey Callie, it's getting cold out. Do you think it's gonna rain?" James asked. Callie nodded.

"When did we say we'd meet the others?" Callie asked.

"Um…three. It's two now, so we've got an hour to kill. What're our choices?" James asked.

Callie cleared her throat and unrolled an imaginary scroll.

"Number one, walk around aimlessly until we freeze our butts off. Number two, torture poor unsuspecting souls. Number three, track down Peter and Jen and mock them until the end of time. Number four, snog wildly- Hey! James Potter! Did you add number four?" Callie asked, half in mock disgust and half in amusement. James grinned.

"Indeed I did. Number four then?" James asked hopefully.

"I think not. My vote goes to number three. They can't be far." Callie said, grabbing his hand and pulling him to the park entrance.

"I liked number four, thank you very much." James said.

"I know." Callie laughed. James shoved her playfully. There, through the window of the Three Broomsticks, Callie and James saw their victims. Then ran to the door and pushed their way through. Casually, they sat down across from Jen and Peter, with equal smirks of amusement on their faces. Jen bit her lip and Peter turned red. James turned to Callie.

"I think they look rather guilty, what say you, Callie?"

"I quite agree James, guilty and embarrassed." Callie grinned. Jen shoved her chair out and stormed out of the pub. Peter ran after her.

" Was it something I said?" James laughed/

"Some people are so tetchy. We were only sporting!" Callie said.

Liane heard Jen long before she saw her. Jen had managed to slam the portrait hole so hard that the Fat Lady cried out in pain. Not to mention that Godric, in his frame over the fire, frowned at her deeply.

"Oh shut it!" Jen snapped to some first years who had asked her what was wrong. Jen stomped into the dorm and sat on her bed. Liane sighed.

"Okay. Spill. What's wrong, who pissed you off, and how many first years did you scream at?" Liane asked.

"Fine. Nothing's wrong, James and Callie, and only six." Jen said, completely undazed, as if it were normal to make ancient portraits holler out in pain.

"James? I can believe that. Callie? Nope. Not for a minute." Liane continued.

"Fine. Don't believe me."

"That's not fair."

"I know. I don't feel like being fair."

"What happened?"

"I went out with Peter, on your advice, and James and Callie saw us. I can't stand the guy!" Jen said.

"James or Peter?"

"Both! James is an arrogant git and Peter is a stupid little tag along!"

"So, you dumped him?"

"Better believe it."

"How cruel."

"I know." Jen grinned. She felt her anger dissipating. Which was a very good thing, because Callie came in at that very moment.

"I hate you." Jen said, undazed again.

"Oh good! And I thought you weren't speaking to me." Callie rolled her eyes.

"You wish."

"No, actually. If you didn't speak to me, I'd fail Herbology."

"Miserably."

"So therefore, for my sake, we must make up." Callie said.

"Been there, done that, got the tee-shirt." Jen said, her nose returning to her magazine.

"Okay, at this point you're abusing sarcasm." Callie replied.

"Hardly."

"Well, it's good to see you two back to normal! Now, Jen, I believe you have a painting to apologize to, and Callie, you have a strange owl sitting on your bed." Liane said. For the first time, Callie looked at her bed. Indeed, a strange owl was sitting on it. She walked over and untied the letter from it's leg.

Callie gasped as she read.

"Callie, what is it?" Liane asked. Jen had gone while Callie was reading. Callie shoved the letter into Liane's hand.

Dear Miss Callie O'Reilly,

We are sorry to inform you that your grandfather has died. We know this loss is horrible for you, but he did not suffer and passed away quickly. Upon his death, he has requested that you receive a special and rare gift. Your grandfather has left you a phoenix.

We know that this is no compensation for the loss of your grandfather, but you should feel very honored. Your phoenix is the only one in existence currently. We have discussed the matter with your headmaster, and he is glad to allow you the bird. Mr. Ollivander would like to take feathers from it once a year, but we're sure that that won't be a problem.

Love,

Carnie and Ben Evans

P.S. Your Phoenix's name is Aisling.

Liane nodded.

"Callie, you my dear, have a phoenix." Liane and Callie started jumping up and down. "But what about your grandfather?"

"Oh. Well, we knew is was going to die. It's really complicated. But more importantly, I have a phoenix!"

A/N: I know, I made Callie sound cold-hearted. Hopefully, more about the charm shall come out later if I feel creative. To Lily(you know who you are), you shall emerge in the next chapter. And Lily, can I steal(borrow….I mean borrow) your idea about Fluffy?