Thank you to all my faithful reviewers and the disclaimer is the same!

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The short walk to Dumbledore's office from the little room felt like an eternity to both Harry and Desiree. For Harry, it was the shock of such anger and violence in one person. He thought the fight with Malfoy was bad but it was nothing compared to Snape and the room vs Desiree.

Desiree on the other hand was still shaking with anger and fear. Anger at herself for letting some of her emotions go and fear at those emotions. They had never been that bad or strong before and that scared her.

"I hate this." she said softly to Harry as they walked past the busy classrooms. "I hate being so out of control when I get pissed. I hate that damn voice in my head that makes me do them crazy acts of stupidity. I hate the way you see right through me when I'm out of it. Most of all I hate me for letting it happen. I should have the upper hand in it right, I mean, it's my mind and body, shouldn't I have a say in it one way or another."

"Maybe it's something more that you don't know of." Harry said to her when she was through venting. "What do you mean?" "I mean like...never mind." "Harry." she said in a firm voice and stopping them in their tracks. "You know something I don't and you know I hate that and it would be very unwise if you piss me off anymore today."

She then yanked her hand out of Harry's and crossed her arms across her chest, glaring at her soon to be ex-boyfriend if he didn't rat out on what he knew. Harry's eyes darted across the deserted corridors.

"All right." he surrendered. "But now here, let's go to my dorm and I'll tell you everything I know." Harry then outstretched his hand for her to take. Desiree reluctantly took it and followed Harry to Gryiffindor Tower.

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"Okay, spill." she said sitting on Harry's bed watching him pace the room like a hawk.

"All right. You remember the night you met Sirius and he told you your whole family history right?" Desiree nodded in agreement. "Well, I'm sure he mentioned something about an Heir of the Phoenix, right?"

Desiree thought back on the first conversation with her dad and then nodded her head again.

"Okay, well when you and Sirius were talking, Dumbledore took me into another room of his office to talk to me about something. He told me that my dad's family blood runs through the Gryiffindor family blood. He told me about the Heir of the Phoenix and how everybody thought that, of course, Gordric Gryiffindor was it, but he wasn't. The true heir had to have the gifts, the mark, and the ability to control the Heir of the Goddesses whom in turn, could control him. Are you still with me?"

He noticed Desiree's eyebrows had scrunched together and she said with a note of uncertainty in it "I think so and I think I know where this thing is going too."

"Turns out that I am the actual heir. I know it sounds crazy, I thought Dumbledore was just pulling my leg when he told me but he was serious. I am the Heir of the Phoenix."

"You said that the heir has gifts and a mark. Where's the mark and what're the gifts?" Desiree asked curiously.

Harry walked over to her and pulled his pants down slightly to reveal his right hip bone which had a small strange red abrasion on it. Looking more closely she saw that it was in the shape of a small, but distinct phoenix. Reaching out tentatively, she touched the mark with the tip of her index finger.

Instantly she felt a bizarre feeling course through her. It felt so warm and complete, like it was a snowy night and she was curled up under a pile of blankets with that special someone. Gasping slightly and pulling her finger back she looked up at Harry who had obviously felt the same thing and said "What else?"

Harry readjusted his pants and took a deep breath. Releasing it he began, "Well, Dumbledore says I have the gifts of levitation, invisibility, fire like you but different, swordsmanship, and transfiguration."

"Transfiguration?" Desiree repeated with a hint of confusion in her voice. "Yeah. When I first started Hogwarts, I had some problems with Transfiguration but as I got older it became so much easier and Dumbledore says that soon I will be able to turn any object into anything and change into several animals at will and most particularly a..." "Phoenix." finished Desiree. "Yeah." Harry said softly.

"Before we came in here, you hinted that you knew something about my anger. What do you know about that?" "Umm, I don't really know a whole lot, just the fact that you were cursed by Nadina when Gryiffindor defeated her."

"Yeah, I knew that." said Desiree slowly. "And I knew that Nadina had a horrible temper and caused distruction every time it was unleashed. And I'm thinking that maybe when she cursed you, she cursed you with her temper."

Desiree sat quietly on the bed as she took all of this new information in. She knew that Nadina had a bad temper and that she was cursed but for some reason it was just now sinking in that that might be the reason behind her outbursts.

"I think it's time to go talk to Dumbledore Harry." she said quietly. "I'm sick and tired of being so mean, I want help." Smiling Harry stuck his hand out for her to take again and they walked hand in hand out the dormitory to Dumbledore's office.

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"So tell me, what exactly happened today in Professor Snape's class." Dumbledore asked the couple in front of him sternly, both of whom he had received a nasty referral about an hour before.

"It was my fault Professor." Desiree said softly looking at the ground. "No it wasn't, it was Snape's!" Harry interjected but Desiree held up her hand, signaling him to be silent. "I'm sorry for what I did, I didn't mean to do it. I just,....I don't really know what happened but I know it was bad and I'm sorry."

"Miss.Black" Dumbledore began firmly yet gently, "In a sense it was your fault and in a sense it wasn't. You do remember what your father told you about Nadina, correct?" He saw her nod her head slightly.

"She is inside of you Desiree, waiting to come out. You let her surface when your upset and as you saw today and in your past experiences, the consequences are very dangerous to you, the victim, and innocent bystanders." "But I'm trying to control it, I really am! It's just so strong and hard to resist sometimes." Desiree cried earnestly and thickly through a fresh batch of tears.

"I understand." Dumbledore said kindly, placing a time weathered hand on the young girl's shoulder. "But Desiree, you have to be the stronger person here, you have to fight this."

"You probably think it's easy for me to fight something right? Well, you're wrong. I do have an attitude but I don't like to fight for no particular reason, it's not my style. Unless your threatening me or someone I care about, I don't care what you do. A lot of my talk is a front. That was one of my defense mechanisms in Miami, talk big equals little problems. People wouldn't mess with you if you had the mouth and I guess it just became second nature to me."

She paused for a moment and glanced around the beautiful office. The same gadgets were whirling in place like last time and the same ancient headmasters were in their frames but awake and listening intently, only one thing was missing.

Spotting it she voiced "I want my daddy." In a child like voice.

Amusement sparkled in Dumbledore's blue eyes. "Why?" "Because every girl deserves to have her daddy hug her and kiss her and treat her like his little princess when she's upset and I'm upset and I want my daddy!"

"Desiree, I'll tell you what" Harry said giving her hand a small squeeze "when we leave here we'll go write a letter to Sirius and tryout that new owl of yours. Maybe he can come see you sometime soon." Desiree's quivering lips pulled into a small but tentative smile and nodded her head in agreement, not fully trusting her voice at this moment.

"Harry, if you don't mind I would like to talk to Desiree alone for awhile." Dumbledore said politely. "Yes sir." giving Desiree's hand another reassuring squeeze he exited the scene to go back to his classes.

"Now Desiree, you are not in trouble. I just want you to talk to me about what is upsetting you, what is making you fearful, or anything you need to say. I will not tell another living soul anything you say, you have my word and confidentiality, but you have to trust me.

Desiree looked up into Dumbledore's sparkling blue eyes with watery brown ones she answered in a strong and clear voice so nobody could mistake her. "I trust you." She then proceeded to tell her broken life story to the old man.

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When she finished she was standing by a window gazing out towards the lake where Care of Magical Creatures for the seventh years was apparently being held. "I believe that is enough for one day. You may go to class if you desire Desiree." Dumbledore said in a caring voice.

"But remember" he stated, stopping her in front of his office door "to control and conquer this you must give up all your traumatic past and all it's horrors no matter how difficult it may be, for in the long run it will be for the best." Understanding what the older man meant Desiree smiled and headed out the door to go to class.

Reaching the lake where everyone was wadding mid-calf deep in the murky water she went over to Harry, circled his waist from behind and whispered "Thank you." "For what?" "Helping me."

Turning around to look at her he saw her take off her dog tags and throw them as hard as she could into the lake. Instantly feeling the relief of the weight upon her heart and soul Desiree, still staring out onto the rippling water said "I will not fall, I will stand tall. No one could beat me now."

Feeling Harry's hand on her waist she sighed at contentment of her life at the moment and the knowledge of the long and rough journey ahead.

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