Chapter 8: Run-ins
Phoebe's POV"He made the quidditch team?" I asked Hermione in disbelief the day after our first flying lesson. We were heading to our first class, potions. Best way to start the day off…not. Well at least it wasn't double with Slytherins.
Harry had received a broomstick at breakfast, a good one too, a Nimbus Two Thousand. I would never admit it aloud, but I was rather jealous of his abilities, and the anonymous gift.
"Yes," she said throwing her arms up annoyed. "Can you believe it, he goes flying when he doesn't know how and isn't supposed to and winds up on the quidditch team. I mean, first years aren't even supposed to be allowed to have brooms let alone be on the team."
"Are you sure you're not jealous Hermione?" I asked smiling and raising an eyebrow.
"Please, jealous? You have got to be kidding me."
I tried to keep a straight face but failed miserably as I burst into laughter, stopping and holding my stomach.
"What's so funny?" Hermione asked glaring at me.
"Nothing Hermione, lets just get to class so we're not late."
Hermione sighed and in resignation started walking again. I jogged slightly to catch up to her and then fell in step with her when I caught up.
"Hey Phoebe!" someone called and I spun around, stopping, looking for the source of the voice. Hermione stopped with me and slowly spun.
I spotted Harry and Ron jogging towards us, books in hand.
"Hey," Harry said when they caught up to us.
"Hi Harry," I said smiling slightly.
"Did you hear the news?" he asked excitedly.
"Yeah, you made the quidditch team, congrats," I replied smiling uncertainty.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
I shook my head. "Nothing," I replied honestly. "Really," I added reassuringly at his questioning look.
"If you insist…" Harry said unconvinced, trailing off.
"Well I do," I snapped, sighing almost immediately afterwards. I sighed. "Sorry Harry, I don't know what got into me there."
"Don't worry 'bout it," Harry said smiling slightly.
"We'd better go," I said quickly, realizing we had to make it to class, "or we'll be late for potions."
"Let's go," Harry said and started off toward the dungeon.
By the time we reached the potion's classroom in the dungeon nearly everyone else had arrived, the only two people who hadn't were Dean Thomas and Neville Longbottom. We grabbed seats as far in the back as we could, which, to our disappointment happened to be in the middle, all the seats in the back had been taken, with Hermione on my right side, Harry on my left, and Ron on Harry's left. Dean and Neville would have to take seats in the front, which almost immediately after realizing this made me feel sorry for them. The two of them arrived and grabbed a seat less than a second before Snape come barging in. They gulped slightly as they realized how close they'd come to being late for the one class that it would be utterly disastrous to be late for, and I suspected it was also because of the seats they had been forced to sit in. Snape strolled swiftly up to the front of the classroom and slammed the two books he was holding onto the desk. I jumped slightly as they connected with the desk and my eyes shot forward.
"Ms. Halliwell, I need to speak with you immediately, come with me," Snape said blankly, looking out across the assembly of Gryffindor first years. My eyes got noticeably wider and I cautiously stood up, glancing quickly at Hermione, Harry, and Ron. "The rest of you are to work…" he pointed his wand at the board and an assignment appeared, "on that essay." I quickly followed Snape out of the classroom and into his very uncozy, dank, dark office. "Sit," he commanded, pointing at the chair in front of his desk.
I quickly obeyed, sitting in the seat in the seat he had pointed to, as he took a seat behind his desk. I looked at him with a whole lot more confidence than I felt, as he stared at me unemotionally. It was really unnerving, but I forced myself not to flinch or look away, to hold his gaze and stay strong. When he hadn't said anything for a few minutes I started to become very nervous, well more nervous than I had been beforehand. It was nearly impossible not to be nervous if you were a Gryiffindor and something like this happened to you.
"I must speak with you about your sisters," Snape replied blankly. "No one, aside from you as of now, knows I know of such things. Albus does not even know, although knowing him I guess it is very possible he does, although I am not completely sure of the facts myself, where as he probably has more facts, and more knowledge on the matter at hand."
A confused look crossed my face and I studied his expression, which somehow remained emotionless. "I don't get it," I replied quietly and cautiously.
"Do you know why your sisters never came here, yet you, the youngest, are attending, and had no hesitation with your reply?"
I looked at him curiously. "What are you getting at Professor?" I asked quietly, completely lost in where he was planning on going with this. "I was not even aware that my two sisters had also received letters until you informed me of it during the first lesson, and I don't know how you know about it when even I, their sister, do not."
My statements seemed to spark anger within him, which he quickly kept under control. "I have my ways. Your eldest sister, Prue, I believe is her name," he said, which earned him a confirming nod from me, "was sent her letter, it was returned with a letter of her own saying she wanted absolutely nothing to do with this school and the people involved with it. Your other sister, Piper however had her letter returned by your Grandmother, we figured Piper had never seen the letter herself, but there was nothing to be done, we could not force your Grandmother to allow Piper to come should she not wish it. Piper's letter had a letter from your Grandmother saying merely that Piper would not be attending. We left it alone for the time being, although we were very curious…"
"Wait," I said letting out the slight breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "I don't get it. They never got letters, Prue couldn't…" I started to say, as my eyes got wide in realization. Prue was jealous, that's why she didn't want me to go; it had to be the reason. Grams wouldn't let her go, so she's getting mad at me because I'm allowed to, well it's not my problem or my fault that I was allowed she wasn't.
Snape stood up, leaving his chair and came to kneel in front of me, which caused me to jump slightly in surprise. What had gotten into him, he was worse than the devil to Gryffindor's, especially Harry and me, why was he acting like this?
"I need to know," he said quietly, although he still held no emotions in his voice, catching my eye, "please tell me the truth. Is your father Victor Bennett?"
My eyes got wide as I tried to scoot the chair farther away from him. "How'd you know that?" I asked quietly, the first thought that had popped into my mind.
Snape sighed as he stood up. "He had a brother, his brother's name was Julian Bennett, and he came here and was sorted into Slytherin. He was in the same year as me and we were started to become friends at the end of our last couple of years. We both had a fascination with the dark arts. However, he was in fact muggle born, which I guess would be obvious since your father was in fact not a wizard. I was however told much about your father…"
"Stop," I said quickly, nearly screaming it, starting to stand up, but the look that Professor Snape gave me halted me in my tracks, causing me to slowly sit back down. I looked away and rolled everything over in my head. "I don't believe you, I can't, not that one of my relatives was involved in the dark arts," I said quietly.
Snape sighed. "Fine, but I won't talk to you about this again. I won't act like this again either. If you want to know anything about your uncle, or father, ask now, you will not have another chance. This was not why I wanted to talk to you about it, but since you show so much reluctance, I will not be able to speak with you of the subject. Maybe when you are older you will let me," he replied casually, his hatred for Gryffindor's starting to show in his eyes again.
I hesitantly started to stand, not knowing whether I wanted to know what else Snape had to say, nor I should believe him or not. I couldn't believe him could I? Why would Grams not allow us to come if this was true?
"Go back to class, but act as if I had been in trouble with you," Snape said, his usual manner back in place.
"Please, before I go, just answer me one question, do you know how he died, or if he is dead, I don't even know that much, I don't even know if my own father's out there somewhere anymore…"
"Yes, he's dead, he was killed, but since you don't want to know anything from me you can't figure out who killed him, yes I do in dead mean killed by someone else," he added at the questioning look on my face, "for now, go and remember how you are to act."
I nodded slightly as I shakily walked out of his office and back to the classroom. When I got back, everyone looked up quickly from their essays, but instantly back down, knowing Snape was probably right behind me. I walked over and took my seat in-between Hermione and Harry, smiling almost unnoticeably at them. I started to copy down what the essay was to be on and was about to start working on it when Snape came in looking as angry and annoyed as ever.
"The essay is your homework, due next week, today we will be learning about a potion used to cure poison…" I pretty much zoned him out after I heard the name of the potion and I recognized, and placed, how to make it and everything about it from the books I'd read. I stared straight ahead, so that it would look as though I was paying attention, while in actuality I was just staring off into space, waiting for this dreadful class to be over, I really couldn't wait. I needed to write home to Grams, demanding an explanation, or maybe I'd wait till Christmas break, I wasn't really sure at the moment. When potions finally ended I sighed in relief and gathered up my belongings, double-checking to make sure I did not forget anything and followed Harry out of the classroom.
When we were outside the dungeon classroom I walked up next to Harry and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey," I said brightly.
"Hey Phoebe, what'd Snape want?"
I rolled my eyes slightly, trying to fall into the role that needed to be played. They couldn't know what had happened in that office, no one could, nor did I want people to know, I'd make sure of it. I wasn't going to be associated with someone who dabbled in the dark arts. "Nothing really, started yelling at me, I kind of tuned him out, so I couldn't really tell you what it was about even if I wanted to."
"Bummer," Ron said walking up on the other side of me.
"Yea, well at least we've got a break now, I think I'm going to head to the library to start working on Professor Snape's essay."
"You're crazy, you know that," Harry said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"Yep, all the time," I said smiling. "I let you and Ron copy sometimes, as long as you rephrase, so I really shouldn't be hearing any complaining from the two of you."
"That is true," Harry said smiling. "Well, we'll see you later than, we're heading outside, maybe you can check some books out and work on it out there, it's quite nice out."
I smiled. "I think I will, see you outside than."
"Will do," Harry said nodding and turning around heading outside.
"Bye Phoebe," Ron said as he turned and followed Harry outside.
"Bye Ron, Bye Harry," I said as I turned toward the library, which was in the opposite direction. I started humming silently as I made my way to the library, deciding that I would indeed check some books out and work on the essay outside.
I checked out the books and headed outside, looking around for Harry and Ron. I spotted them by a tree and headed over towards them, sitting down next to Harry in the shade.
"Hey, did I miss anything?" I asked smiling, enjoying the fresh air.
"Not really," Harry replied casually. "We were just talking about Quidditch."
"Ah," I said as I looked down at the books and other miscellaneous objects I had with me. I started sorting through them and opened a few of the books, placing them on the ground in front of me.
"Don't tell me you don't like it," Ron said shocked by even the remote possibility that someone wouldn't like quidditch.
"I never said anything of the sort."
"But you never denied it either," Harry said, a smile tugging at his lips when I didn't continue.
I shrugged slightly and looked up at the two boys. "All I know about it is what I've read in books, I can't really say for sure whether I like it or not until I see it in person."
"Fair enough," Harry said shrugging and turning back to face Ron, who agreed with Harry almost instantly.
The two of them started arguing about something as I started my essay. It seemed like I had just started the work when none other than Draco Malfoy himself rudely interrupted.
"Well look what we've got here," Draco said smirking. "Potter and Weasley." He seemed to be ignoring me for the time being, not that I was complaining; I had come to loath him in the short time I'd been at Hogwarts.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Harry asked annoyed.
I looked up at him and his two goons Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy glanced at me and then looked back at the two boys.
"Maybe you should choose some better company," he said casually to me, although he continued to look at Harry and Ron, never really addressing me other than making the casual comment directed at me. "I'd say the same to Potter here, but it's already too late for him, Muggle lovers and Mudbloods," he continued disgusted.
"Whatever," I said quietly as I looked back at my assignment and started writing again.
Draco's glance flickered to me as if I had said something that had offended him. "You'll see I'm right sooner or later," he replied casually and confidently.
I looked up at him and glared slightly. "Yea, sure," I said rolling my eyes. "We'll see what changes as time progresses, but I can assure you, my choice of friends will not. I can tell the character of people quite well and frankly, I want absolutely nothing to do with you, or any of your Slytherin friends."
Anger started to flare up in Draco's eyes as he turned back to Harry and Ron who where silently snickering, smiles on their faces.
"Watch yourselves," Malfoy said angrily as he spun around, followed by his cronies, and took off.
I looked up when I knew he was gone and looked over at Harry and Ron as they burst out in laughter. I smiled slightly and shook my head.
"It really wasn't that funny," I stated through my smile.
"No, not really, but Malfoy's face was," Harry said calming down slightly, but with a large grin plastered on his face.
I turned back to my paper; a smile still plastered on my face, chuckling slightly, as Ron and Harry calmed down and reverted back to their discussion of quidditch. I pulled out another three piece of parchment and started writing a letter to Grams, Piper, and Prue. I'd send each of them their own letter, although Grams' was the one that I really wanted to send. I was going to force her to tell me what I wanted to know, one way or another, although I probably wouldn't be able to until Christmas break when I could talk to her one on one, so I'd say that I wanted to know everything when I came home for Christmas and in the letter. I finished them up and then went back to the essay. I'd send them later, when I could do it without anyone knowing, or asking why I was sending three letters when they all lived under the same roof, although I wasn't sure why I had a need to do it in privacy, I had a gut feeling that I needed to, so I stuck with it.
When I finally finished up my essay, or rather, decided that I didn't want to work on it anymore today, I closed up the books and put my parchment, quills, and ink away. I turned to Harry and Ron and was soon reeled in to their conversation, everything else around me becoming irrelevant.
A/N: When I mention Victor (Phoebe's father) a few times I use the last name Bennett. I did not make that up, it is his name. I'm assuming that Halliwell was his married name because in the first episode that he is in they call him Victor Halliwell, but every episode after that they refer to him as Victor Bennett. Just thought I'd let anyone who was curious about it know, but also if I ever refer to him as Victor Halliwell you'll know they are one in the same, although I'll try and put an author note before the story if I ever switch it, so someone doesn't get confused or comment on it or something. Well anyway I hope that you enjoyed this chapter, please leave a review, unless you don't want to of course.