Chapter 45: Magic Tricks

Involved in a staring contest, the twins attempted anything to make the other break their concentration. Piper, Chris, Wyatt, and Kaleb watched on as if nothing was new. The two did that from time to time.

"How long do you think they can keep it up?" Kaleb asked Wyatt.

"I don't know. It would be hard to tell since they hadn't seen each other for months."

"True."

A few more minutes went by; Phoenix did one last attempt to break her sister's gaze. 'She has been practicing. Sadly enough, I only had Cali to practice with and it is difficult.' She gave her sister a smirk, pulling her wand out of her back jean pocket.

Katie took a small step back, not sure on how to react. 'What is she planning on doing?'

Piper, Chris, and Wyatt blinked in confusion. They had the same question going through their head. Kaleb shook his head, knowing her too well.

Phoenix's smirk became bigger as she held her wand to her side. Katie tried hard not to look, but her curiosity got the best of her. She blinked and looked down at the thirteen inch oak colored wand.

"I win!"

"Yeah, but you cheated!" Katie exclaimed, placing her hands on her hips and took her gaze back to her sister.

"No, I just had to do whatever it took." Phoenix said, placing her wand back in her back pocket.

"Okay, you two. The show is over." Piper finally piped. "Kaleb, why don't you take Phoenix's trunk upstairs, it is the normal room."

Kaleb headed towards Phoenix's trunk but stopped, seeing the normal blue and white lights.

"That's okay Aunt Piper, I got it." Phoenix said. "You said the normal room, right?"

Piper gave her niece a disapproving look. "Yes, the normal room, but that was personal gain."

"Okay, thanks, Aunt Piper!" Phoenix yelled, grabbing Katie's hand and headed upstairs, motioning Kaleb to follow.

"I swear, that girl reminds me so much of her mother!" Piper whispered.

"Which one, I think Katie has Aunt Paige's temper." Chris said.

Piper looked over at both her sons before saying, "You have a point. But at least Katie has some of her father in her. Phoenix is all her mother."

As the three of them made it to the room, Phoenix and Kaleb sat on the floor, Katie on the bed.

"So, what is Hogwaste like?"

Phoenix laughed "It's Hogwarts, and in some ways it reminds me of Magic School."

"Really?" Katie looked at her sister.

"Well, there are some differences."

"Did you ever get your painting done? I would like to see what it looks like." Kaleb asked anxiously.

Phoenix shook her head in response. In her first letter, she told Kaleb Hogwarts was a castle, knowing his love and interest for them, "Yes, I did. It is in my trunk."

Kaleb looked in the direction Phoenix was pointing. He crawled over to it and opened it, seeing a shirt placed nicely on top. He picked it up, feeling the shape of the canvas, crawled back over, and pulled the canvas out from within the shirt. The painting was a replica of Phoenix's first night of Hogwarts. Kaleb studied every bit of the painting.

"Did you have to choose a night scene?"

"It was the first time I saw Hogwarts. I wanted to capture the moment."

"Let me see." Katie reached down, grabbing the painting Kaleb was handing. "So, tell us more about Haharts."

"For the last time, Katie! It is Hogwarts!"

"Sorry," mumbled her sister.

"Well, like I said, it reminds me of Magic School, with a few differences. There are pure-bloods, half-blood, and muggles…."

"Muggles?" both Katie and Kaleb questioned.

"Muggles are mortals or those who were not born with magic."

"Oh."

"Anyway, we are all learning about magic in class rooms with wands, mind you. Oh, then there are the houses! See, first years are always being sorted into houses. There are four Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin of course, I'm in Gryffindor and that is the house of courage…."

Katie and Kaleb stared at Phoenix, trying to catch all she was saying, for she was rambling ninety miles an hour.

Kaleb mouthed over at Katie, "Are you catching anything she is saying?"

"Bits." Katie mouthed back.

"Is anyone listening?" Phoenix looked back and forth between them.

"Sorry, Nix, you were rambling. We could only catch parts."

"Yeah, sis and now we are interested in your wand!"

Phoenix didn't register until she felt her wand disappear from her back pocket and appear in her sister's hand. "Hey!"

"What! You drew it on me and expect me to forget!"

"Do you really think I was going to use it on you?"

Katie tossed the wand to Kaleb as Phoenix was trying to grab it out of her sister's hand.

"How was I supposed to know?"

Kaleb caught the wand, examining it. "How do you use it, anyway? Is it like in the movies?" He asked. Kaleb gave the wand a swish and sparks flew out towards the girls.

"Kaleb, watch it!" the twins yelled.

"Sorry! I really didn't think that would work!"

"Give that back!" Phoenix said.

"Hey let me try!" Kaleb tossed Phoenix's wand back to Katie, who barely caught it. She did the same motion three times, and sparks flew out of each time, almost hitting Kaleb.

"Hey, I only tried to kill you once!"

"Will you two give me my wand back!"

Katie started laughing, throwing it back to Kaleb. "No, this is too much fun!"

"Do you actually use magic with this or is it just for show?" Kaleb swished the wand towards the door, almost hitting Wyatt, Chris, and Piper who orbed in as it went by.

"What the….?" Wyatt questioned.

"Is there a demon attack?" Chris asked in his ready mode.

Kaleb, Katie, and Phoenix looked at each other before busting up laughing. "No." The three said in unison.

"Then, what is with all the noise?" Piper eyed Phoenix.

"Those two stole my wand! " Phoenix pointed to the two, her wand still in Kaleb's possession.

"What do you do with this?" Wyatt asked, leaning over and taking the wand out of Phoenix's hand.

"Wy! I don't want to go through this again! Will you give me my wand back and I'll show you all something I have learned?"

Wyatt examined the wand from tip to tip before handing it back to her. "Alright, let's see the magic tricks."

"Thank you. Kaleb, will you please put the painting on the floor? I'm going to use that as the object in use."

Kaleb did what he was asked and scooted back.

Phoenix focused her eyes on the painting. Clearing her throat, she lifted and swished her wand, saying, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The painting lifted high above Kaleb's head. Everyone watched as Phoenix placed it back on the ground. "Happy?"

"Whoohoo… some trick. Maybe you can levitate my laundry downstairs?" Chris remarked.

"Okay, fine! Watch this!" swishing her wand, Phoenix transfigured the painting into a matchbox and back again.

Wyatt, Chris, Katie, and Kaleb shrugged nonchalantly. "Kaleb can do the same thing." Katie said.

"Yeah, but I don't have a trusty wand!" Kaleb laughed.

Phoenix had enough she flicked her wrist blowing up the painting making everyone stop laughing. Kaleb's face was sad. He really loved the painting. He looked back at his friend, who gave him a deathly smirk.

Phoenix cleared her throat and said, "Reparo!" The pieces of the blasted painting flew back together. Everyone had their mouths hanging open.

"Now, that is something we can use." Piper said, "that poor clock."