Chapter 5

The snake in a Lion Pit

Malfoy had taken Brittany's hand and led her down into the castle. Careful stares from other houses, fell on Brittany, and susceptive on Malfoy, as their rumors had been proven.

Malfoy took Brittany up to Professor Dumbledore's office and they both sat down on red velvet chairs. He kept bouncing his feet up and down awaiting Dumbledore, and his eyes fell on the Phoenix across the room. Malfoy got up and slowly walked to it, leaning his face towards the creature's beak.

" What kind of ferret for a bird is this?" He sneered. A lazy golden eye locked on Malfoy and it squawked in its defense at him. Brittany got up and stood by his side, shakily placing a finger on the back of its neck.

" Its a magnificent bird Draco... A phoenix... it is believed that when it dies it turns to ash, and it reborns in those ashes." She said, her sapphires falling in a curious trance with the bird's golden orbs.

Malfoy shook his head. Then moved his nose in the air.

" How wonderful." He admitted. Brittany turned to him and gave him a side ways grimace. An old voice boomed into their thoughts. It seemed sur pressed with much knowledge to Brittany's ears, and she turned to it, to highlight in her mind, who could own such knowledge.

There stood Professor Dumbledore. His gray beard shagged over golden robes. His glasses tilted on his rigged nose.

" Now young lady, come and we will sort you." He told her a mellow voice, raising his arms in the air to exhilarate the moment. Malfoy crossed his arms and his hair swung infront of his eyes, which seemed to turn to a dark blue, mimicking Brittany's sapphire like eyes.

" Why, Dumbledore we know what house..." He began his agitation for the old man was brinking. What a dumb nit wit! Malfoy stammered in his head. He knew very well the house that she belonged to, and her father, well that should give the old hag a clue.

Dumbledore rose his hands to Malfoy.

" Young boy, the hat must decide, it is Hogwart's rules! Do abide by them my young student. Sit down Brittany, we will sort you." He said switching his glance to Brittany. Brittany smiled and sat down on the velvet chair. She squiggled a bit to get comfortable, for some reason her heart was beating against her chest rapidly.

Dumbledore placed the hat on her head. The hat immediately came to life, its frowns and exclamatory expressions.

" This one is pure of heart, no deceiving thoughts, no sneaky ambitions." The hat recited to itself.

Malfoy gave the hat a stern glance.

" She belongs in Slytherins, give it a break."

The hat looked up to Malfoy.

" I would beg to differ young Malfoy. Her heart does not have the same motives as a Slytherin. Her heart, seems to be brave, loyal, Ah, yes, I got it perfect!" The hat exclaimed. Malfoy's eyes widened in his surprise, as his conscious foretold him Brittany's fate.

" Gryfinndor!" The hat rang in the air. Dumbledore gave a little smile and clapped his hands together before removing the hat. Malfoy's rage came forth. He slammed the edge of Dumbledore's desk.

" YOU CANT DO THIS!" He mourned. His fist clenching and his lips tensing.

" I very well can." Dumbledore answered, his patience growing slender.

" MY FATHER WILL HEAR OF THIS DUMBLEDORE." Malfoy boomed and exited the office. Brittany was left sitting there facing Dumbledore.

" Your brother is a handful, but an ambitious heart." He said to Brittany. Brittany nodded and giggled.

" Yes."

" I am sorry, but it is rules." Dumbledore admitted.

" Yes, that I understand, but I fear the Gryfinndors will not accept me to well." She said hiding her face.

" They will treat you perfectly fine dear child." He said putting a finger under her chin., his glasses fell to the edge of his nose.

" Keep smiling like an angel, and I am sure they will see you mean them no harm." He said and removed his hand, pacing towards the Phoenix.

" Now tell me, why has your father kept you from school, until the last year?" He asked.

" He home schooled me because... my father um, well, thought it was best for me, because he feared that I would be placed in Gryfinndor, and ruin the family line. I begged him, begged him, to let me come this year, I did not want to grow up without ever seeing this wonderful school." She said.

Dumbledore smiled. " And so you did break the line, did you not young girl, you are quite something else, a special child, that comes rarely to set foot on these grounds, you remind me much of Harry Potter." Brittany squeezed her lips and her eyes widened. Her face went into flames, and the tip of her tongue started to go hot.

" I hope I did not offend you, by comparing him to you, but he is a special child, one of great manners, although, unlike you, he has a fascination for trouble. You do not seem the type, but I do expect great things from you child." He said turning to Brittany, he noticed Brittany's cheeks in a rouge disposition.

" Ah, young child," He smiled, his old face crinkled up.

Brittany noticed that he understood her embarresment and she put her hand over her mouth, to hide her red cheeks.

" No, no its not like that!" Brittany said laughing.

" I am sure it is not young child." He said. He sat down in his chair getting a quill to start a short parchment.

" Well all right, go to the Gryfinndor tower Mrs. Mcgonacgal will assist you for the rest of the journey." He said, now his attention on the parchment.

Brittany bowed to him and gave him her thank you. Malfoy was awaiting Brittany outside of the room.

" I have to go now, brother." She said to him. Malfoy's anger was seeping through, she could see it and to quell it she placed one of her warm hands on his cheek.

" Please do not be mad." She said.

" I am more worried than mad! Because you are my sister, they will treat you horribly. I cannot see anyone treating you like that." He said.

Brittany smiled, her heart fluttering with the feeling of being appericated.

" Dont worry." She said removing her hand.

" If they... errr... you know who to come to, and I will teach them lions what a snake's bite can do!" He stubbornly threw at her.

Brittany pulled Malfoy close to her. Hugging him for a few seconds before letting him go.

" You will have to get use of me not being around." She said to him.

Malfoy put his eyes to the ground.

" Dont remind me." With that he turned his back on her and started to walk off.

"Draco, I love you." She said from behind his exit,

" Yea you to." He said and left. Brittany stamped her foot on the ground. Dammit! She thought. Is it so hard to say I love you to?