Chapter 46: Do you recognize?

"Did I hear mom encourage magic for personal gain?" Chris asked to no one in particular.

"I think you did. Quick, is she possessed by a demon? We must check!" Wyatt replied.

"Ha ha," Piper pushed her son's palm off her forehead. "I'm fine. Like I said, that would be useful, but I know there is a catch. There is always a catch. Are you supposed to use that thing outside of school?"

"Umm…. yeah, it's okay." Phoenix replied nonchalantly, knowing her aunt could smell a lie mile away. It was pointless to put the innocent charm on her.

Piper eyed her, not believing a word. "We will table that for now. Your mom, dad, Phoebe, Coop, and the rest of your cousins will be over here soon. Dinner will be ready then."

"Okay, Aunt Piper!" the twins yelled as Piper, Wyatt, and Chris left, leaving the door cracked.

"What else is in here!?" Kaleb started tossing objects out of Phoenix's trunk. "What is this?" he asked, giving an enormous smile.

"Why Kaleb, I believe that looks like a skirt!" Katie answered him, giving her sister a disbelieving look.

"It is part of the school uniform!"

"Oh, and look at this!" Kaleb tossed the skirt to Katie, then held up the rest of Phoenix's uniform and robe.

"That's what they wear at Hogwarts!"

"What is with the red and gold? And do you know how to tie a tie?"

Phoenix rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Yes, I know how to tie a tie. It took me a while, but I got it. Red and gold are Gryffindor's house colors. Each house has their set of colors. I have already explained this: didn't either of you guys listen or read it in the letters!"

"Seriously, Nix, you and Katie talk too much when you two get excited. It's hard to tell which part is important and which isn't." Kaleb admitted.

"Yeah, but come on, I can't see you wearing this willingly. I mean, are they trying to put a beacon on who is and isn't a witch? "

"Will you two shut it! It's part of a uniform. It's not like we wear it outside of school and during the weekends. If I had a choice, I would scrap the uniforms and have the comfy jeans and shirt."

"You can always come back to Magic School."

"NO!"

"Hey are there any sports in this wizarding world? Or is it just plain boring?" Kaleb intervened, knowing Phoenix was getting annoyed when a small crack appeared on one of the nightstand lamps.

"Oh! I didn't tell you guys?!"

Kaleb and Katie rolled their eyes and shook their heads in response.

"Sorry, I guess I was so excited I forgot to send an owl."

"Yeah, about that owl, is there a different way to deliver mail?" Katie asked in discuss.

"Uh, no, at least not that I know of. Just get used to it."

"Maybe you can get snails?" The girls looked at Kaleb like he was crazy. "What you don't get it? Snail mail!" The twins continued to look at him. "You can't think that wasn't funny."

"You realize there is an ocean between the two continents, right?"

Kaleb shrugged. "I had to try. Anyway, go on Nix."

"They do have one sport called Quidditch."

"Qui…. what?"

"Quidditch, it is an extremely popular game in the wizarding world kinda like football or baseball here. Only instead of on the ground, they ride on brooms. It's a mix of basketball and soccer. First years never get a spot on the house team, but Harry and I did! Harry is the Seeker, his job…"

"There she goes again, blabbing." Kaleb whispered.

"You asked about it!" Katie whispered back.

"Yeah but, I was just hoping for a simple game not something that sounds complicated."

"You know it is better to see it than to explain it, believe me. Ron tried to explain it and it just felt like a 747 went over my head."

"Right, okay." Kaleb replied, clueless.

"Hey! Does anyone recognize the name Nicolas Flamel?"

Katie and Kaleb remained silent for a while.

"The name does sound somewhat familiar." Kaleb answered. "I think I remember mom mentioning him once."

"Why? What did she say?"

"I don't know. I think he was a famous alchemist or something."

"What was he famous for?"

"That, I didn't have time to find out. Mom told me to go to my room. But Mom and the clan elders looked upset, like something was wrong."

"When was this?"

"About the same time you left for…Hog…worts?"

"Hogwarts, why didn't you tell me?"

Kaleb shrugged. "Wouldn't have been fun to bring trouble without you. Besides, Katie told me to forget about."

"Katie!"

"What! I hate cleaning up after all of your troubles. Why do you need to know, anyway?"

"Because, it is something for school."

"Okay, that might work on everyone else, but it doesn't work on me."

"What do you mean?"

"There is more to it, isn't there?"

"Katie, would I ever?"

"Phoenix, I know that look on your face."

"Yeah, you see it every day just look in the mirror!" Phoenix replied as she and Kaleb sniggered.

"You know what I mean. I smell trouble from you."

"It's just something Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I are researching. There is something going on in Hogwarts, I can feel it, and Nicolas Flamel is part of it."

"I assume Harry, Ron, and Hermione are your Hogwarts gang of trouble, right?" Kaleb asked with a smile.

"Yep, the new recruit was found rather quickly."

"Maybe mom or the Aunts might know?"

"Maybe, but they probably won't tell us anything. Would you two help me do some research in the library at Magic School?"

"Sure, I have nothing else to do. Katie?"

"I guess, but if you get in trouble, don't spill my name."

Phoenix smiled at her sister "I always leave your name out of everything. Though I only got caught four times out of my eleven years."

"That is not the point."

Few seconds passed by until the door flew open, revealing a nine-year-old replica of Piper. "Mom says dinner is ready and Aunt Phoebe and Paige are here, with Uncle Coop and Henry!"

"Thanks Mel!" the three of them shouted.

The three orbed down stairs receiving a scowl from Piper.

"Daddy!" Phoenix yelled, running up to him to give him a bear hug.

"Phoenix, I have missed you."

"Let's eat!" Piper yelled, bringing the food from the kitchen, followed by Melinda.

"Wow, Piper, this looks good!" Paige sat down, eyeing the food.

"Yeah, Aunt Piper, I really miss your cooking. The cooks aren't the same at Hogwarts."

"Speaking of Hogwarts, tell us about it. I've read the letters you sent, but I want to hear more." Phoebe asked.

Phoenix excitedly explained everything about Hogwarts, from the classes to Quidditch and her eerie feeling about one of her professors while leaving out stuff about the troll and using her powers.

"Mom, Aunt Piper, Aunt Phoebe, have any of you heard of an alchemist named Nicolas Flamel? It is for a school project."

"No, never hear of them. Have you Leo? Coop?"

Leo and Coop looked awkwardly at each other before answering.

"No… I have never heard of him."

"Neither have I."

The Charmed Ones looked at the two men questionably.

"Well, mom would it be possible if Kaleb, Katie, and I go to Magic School and do some research?"

"Yeah, honey, that will be fine."

Phoenix smiled over at her sister and best friend.

'Hopefully we can find some information about this guy and figure out what "Fluffy" is hiding.'