Chapter 12: My New Family, My Second Home

On cue, the gold plates filled sky high with food. Phoenix flinched. 'Oh, my! Did this food appear or am I starting to see things?' She looked at the food before her. She saw roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled and roast potatoes, fries, peas, carrots, gravy, and some other things she has not seen before.

"Chops? Sausage?"

"Or how about steak and roast beef?" Fred and George asked, shoveling the food into their mouths.

Phoenix gave a queasy look and waved it off, "No thanks. I'll stick with the chicken."

"Your loss!" said Fred as he refilled his plate.

Phoenix served herself the roast chicken with a spoon full of peas and carrots. She wasn't hungry but ate anyway, knowing she would get hungry later.

"Hey, Hermione?" Phoenix started as Hermione finished serving herself. "What is the deal about Harry? Why is everyone awing over him?" She whispered.

"Well, Harry stopped a dark wizard when he was a baby."

"That's it?" 'Okay, I have encountered and defeated many things when Katie and I were still inside my mother! Or that is what we were told. Since then, I have vanquished many demons, and all Harry did was stop a dark wizard?' "That is why he is famous?"

"Well, his scar comes from a curse. At least that is what I read. His parents died, and he lived stopping you-know-who."

"Who?"

"You-know-who."

"No, Hermione, I don't! That is why I am asking you!" Phoenix exclaimed.

"No, silly! No one speaks his name. They are frightened of him. So, instead of calling him by his real name, they call the dark lord he-who-must-not-be-named or you-know-who. Some think he is dead and gone for good. Others have theories he is alive and waiting for the perfect time to reemerge."

"Oh." 'Well that makes sense I guess.'

As the sweets of deserts replaced the food, everyone talked about their families. Hermione and Percy talked about the classes and lessons they will learn as first years.

Phoenix picked at her dessert. She wasn't much on sweets, but George insisted on her trying a treacle tart. She was getting homesick. 'Right now we would still be at Magic School or at home. Mom and the aunts would be out fighting and vanquishing demons or mom would be with one of her charges helping them out. Dad would either be at home or at work with one of his parolees. Henry would be somewhere with Chris if not stuck at home.

Katie and I would have Martial arts lessons with Aunt Phoebe, if they are not vanquishing demons. If we finished our homework or had no homework, Katie would be in her room practicing on her singing as I would be in my room painting or drawing.' Phoenix gave a brief sigh as she continued to play with the tart on her plate.

"How about you, Phoenix?" asked a boy named Seamus

"Um, what, sorry?"

Hermione stopped the conversation she was having with Percy and listened in.

"What about your family?" asked Seamus again

"Oh.. well… um…" 'I guess I could just leave the whitelighter part out and say nothing about my aunts,' "My mom is a witch. My dad is.. well, what you say, muggle? So about half and half. Dad knew mom was a witch before they got married."

As Phoenix finished, the others continued to talk more about their families. She looked to see if the headmaster was looking at her. To her relief, Professor Dumbledore was talking with Professor McGonagall. But then she noticed they were both eyeing her as they were talking. 'What have I done?'

Everyone around Phoenix was getting sleepy. Neville and Hermione were yawning, as Ron and Seamus were trying to keep their eyes open. Phoenix was still wide awake. 'I guess this eight-hour time change can be an advantage or it could suck.' Phoenix then looked down to find her plate and the tart she was picking disappeared.

The hall fell silent as Dumbledore got on his feet.

"Just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."

Phoenix noticed the look Dumbledore gave to the twins. She glanced behind her and both gave a troublemaker smile and a mischievous laugh.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house team should contact Madame Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year; the third-floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

"Wicked!" Phoenix heard the twins say behind her and Hermione gasping.

"And now, before we go off to bed, let us sing the school song!"

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot."

As the music was over, the Great Hall went into a loud noise factory, as all the houses walked out heading in opposite directions. The Gryffindor first years followed Percy through several hidden doorways and stairs. Phoenix's eyes grew wide as she saw the figures in the paintings move. 'Maybe I am just getting tired because of the train ride? There is no way these people in those paintings move!' Everyone was dragging their feet, wandering how much further they had to go.

Phoenix looked in front of her then back at Hermione, "Are those walking sticks I am seeing floating there or is it just me?"

Hermione looked ahead too and could not believe it herself.

"Peeves," Percy whispered to them. "A poltergeist." Percy raises his voice. "Peeves-show yourself!"

Phoenix heard a sound as if air was being let out of a balloon and looked all around her for the source.

"Do you want me to go to the Bloody Baron?"

Phoenix saw a little man pop in. Everyone around her flinched, but Phoenix was used to unique ways people popped in and out. Peeves had dark eyes and a wide smile that looked wicked. He sat with his legs crossed, holding onto the walking sticks floating in the air.

"Go away, Peeves, or the Baron'll hear about this, I mean it!" Percy barked

Sticking out his tongue, Peeves vanished, dropping the sticks on Neville's head and hitting Phoenix in the back.

"You want to watch out for Peeves," said Percy, as they set off again, "the Bloody Baron's the only one who can control him. Here we are."

Phoenix looked over at Percy. Stopping at the end of a corridor, Phoenix saw a portrait of a fat woman in a pink silk dress. 'Uh, where is the door?' She thought, before seeing the woman move. "Password?" The woman asked.

"Caput Draconis." Said Percy, and the portrait swung opened to reveal a round hole in the wall.

'Okay, I need to remember that password.'

As they all gathered inside, Percy directed each to their dormitory, boys on one side girls on the other.

"Goodnight, Harry, Ron, see yeah tomorrow!" Phoenix said.

"Goodnight!" Harry and Ron said as Phoenix and Hermione climbed up the tower to their dormitory. The beds had four-posters with red velvet curtains and their trunks at the foot of their bed.

"Looks like Cali found her place to sleep tonight." Hermione pointed out. Phoenix looked over and by the nightstand there was a miniature replica of her bed for Cali. Cali was already fast asleep. 'Typical for a cat.'

The two girls put their night clothes on as everyone else was already asleep.

"Goodnight Hermione."

"Goodnight."

Phoenix closed the curtain around her bed and went to sleep