Chapter 24: Knew You Couldn't Resist.

Hermione's jaw dropped.

"Take me!? You wanted to know how long it would take me!?"

Phoenix nodded back, keeping the same big smile on her face. She couldn't help it. It was hilarious. 'Hermione is acting just like I thought she would!'

"It took you longer then I thought. I was thinking you gave up."

"I… wha... uh…. I…..? You knew about this the whole time!? And you didn't even help or tell me."

"Uh, huh. It was more fun letting you sweat about it."

"When did you know about it?"

"Well, Hermione." Phoenix pondered, "I sorta had it all planned."

Hermione's jaw would have dropped lower. The look on her face was more than what Phoenix hoped for.

"You planned it? You planned ALL of it!"

"Yep! To the last detail."

"How? When?"

"Well, Hermione, someone would be a real idiot if they think they can plop a book in front of you and not expect you to read it or be curious."

Placing her hands on her hips, Hermione did not understand what Phoenix was talking about. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means I placed that book in front of you on purpose. I hid it in places where I was hopping you would look, but not be too suspicious of me. I stayed out longer than what it required to give you enough time to either place the book back or read more. I wanted you to read it."

"You wanted me to read it?"

"Yes. I wanted someone to talk to about my other magical life."

"Then why did you sic your cat on me?"

"Cali was in on the idea. I told her to act like that."

"And Cali is not an ordinary cat, is she? She's your familiar like I read in your book?"

"Yes, that's right."

Hermione allowed everything to sink in: The Book of Shadows, Cali, Phoenix planning it, the black book.

"Wait! What about the black book I found? How would you of known it would be in the library back in the back?"

Phoenix looked at the mysterious black book. She had no idea Hogwarts had anything on her family. 'I wonder if mom and the aunts know about this book.'

"No, I have no idea. I did not plan that part. I planned the Book of Shadows. So, I guess some ideas were not all planned."

"So, you are one of the Charmed Ones?" asked Hermione.

"No, that would be my mom and the aunts."

"So, you are a daughter of a Charmed One."

"No, I'm a son of a Charmed One. Of Course, I am a Charmed One's daughter!"

"That means you have powers. You are a wandless witch. I read about wandless wizards and witches in other books. I noticed you have powers of Molecular Combustion and Temporal Stasis. At least, that is what I think they are called."

Phoenix gave a small cringe knowing nothing would get passed Hermione. In one way, she was glad Hermione saw her using her powers. She would know Hermione wouldn't freak once she uses them more openly.

"So, my excuses for me blowing up the lamp or freezing Malfoy didn't help?"

"No. I wanted to say something then, but I figured if you have said nothing by now, you probably didn't want anyone to know."

"Wow, thank you Hermione."

"What other powers do you have?"

Phoenix smiled. She now has someone she could talk to about her "Other World" as she deemed.

"Well, let's see. I can orb, I have telekinetic-orbing, and I got a new one. I just don't know about."

"Orbing? I read about that. Isn't that a transportation power a whitelighter has?"

"Yep."

"So, this black book is accurate? About there being a fourth sister?"

"Yep, my mother is the youngest out of the four. She was the one that reconstituted the Charmed Ones. That black book had all that on it?"

"Yes, and more. You said you gained a new power. What is it?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"No."

"When did you get it?"

"It was when we sprung Malfoy's trap. I was hiding, and Mr. Filch came asking Peeves where everyone went. Mrs. Norris gave away my position. I was ready to freeze him, but when Mr. Filch found me, he did nothing."

"Hmmm. That's interesting."

"What?"

Hermione said nothing. She had the face she always got when she tried to figure things out.

"Heeelllooo, Hermione?" Phoenix tried again, waving her hand in Hermione's face.

"How were you feeling when Mrs. Norris found you? Then when Mr. Filch came over, did your feelings change?"

"Why?"

"Well, your powers are tied into your emotions, right? At least that is what I read."

"Yesss. It had that in the book."

"No. This came from the Book of Shadows. Then how did you feel?"

"Like I hope he wouldn't see me."

Minutes went by and nothing was said. Hermione still had that concentrated look. Phoenix just let the time by not understanding what Hermione was getting at.

"Maybe you weren't able to be seen?"

"What?" asked Phoenix.

"Maybe Filch didn't see you because he Couldn't see you."

Phoenix eyed her. It wasn't quite clicking. Hermione was waiting patiently until she couldn't wait any longer.

"Phoenix! Mr. Filch couldn't see you because you were invisible!"

After being shushed again, the two girls lowered their heads and voices. They both kept quiet, sinking everything in.

"Invisibility! Wow, just think what I could do with it! I could sneak out of the corridors at night! And the tunnels! I could even scare Mr. Filch and Mr. Norris!"

"Okay, now I read about the personal gain stuff. And those are definitely personal gain issues."

Phoenix groaned "Hermione what are you my mother? You're not going to be my personal gain Nazi, are you?"

"No! Just looking out for you like what a friend is supposed to do."

"Okay as long you won't be my mother."

"Are you thinking about telling Harry and Ron?"

"I don't know. I wasn't thinking about telling them at the moment, probably, maybe when the time is right."