Chapter 48: Birdie!

It was around seven thirty in the morning at the Halliwell manor. Phoenix came quietly down the stairs smelling the beginning smells of a large breakfast. She entered the kitchen and sat in a chair, watching both her aunt and cousin bustling around. Those two were always the early birds.

"Hey, Aunt Piper, Mel, whatcha makin?" Phoenix asked in a daze.

"Breakfast, duh!" the nine-year-old stated.

Piper ignored the comment and answered her niece's question. "Bacon, eggs, toast, pancakes, and orange juice, milk, or chocolate milk,"

Phoenix yawned and stretched in the chair. "Sounds yummy, I really miss your cooking Aunt P. Hogwarts cooking is just not the same. And pumpkin juice is not all that great."

"Thank you, Phoenix. Why are you up so early, anyway? It is not like you, especially during the holidays."

"I guess I'm still in London time. Hermione insists on being in class like an hour early. During the first week, she would either douse me with water or throw Cali on me. I learned to wake up early quick. Believe me, I would much rather sleep in longer." Phoenix explained, giving a small smile at the last comment.

Piper laughed. "Would you and Melinda set the table for me, please?"

"Okay, mommy." Melinda happily responded.

Melinda took her attention away from the toast skipping to the utensil drawer. "Phoenix, do you want to do plates or do you want to do the forks and spoons?"

"Well, I'll do the utensils since you shouldn't be holding knives." Phoenix smirked.

Mel gave her cousin a hurt look. "But I can't reach the plates." Her nine-year-old face pouted.

Phoenix rolled her eyes. 'I hate it when she does that!'

"Plates." she whispered, the big stack landing in her arms.

"That's personnel gain! You shouldn't have done that! I'm telling mommy!"

"Mel! I was just trying to help. If you are going to be a tattletale, then I'll just orb them back up in the cabinet!" Phoenix whispered.

"I'm not a tattletale!" Mel whined.

Piper glanced over at the two girls. "Hurry you two, everyone will be awake soon."

Shoving the plates into her cousin's hands, Phoenix opened the utensil drawer to grab what she needed.

"Come on Mel, let's set the table."

Thirty minutes went by while, one by one, everyone came down. Everyone but three were present. Kaleb was staring at the food like it was about to jump onto his plate while Phoenix was looking around for her twin.

"Does anyone know where Leo, Coop, and Katie are?" Piper asked. She normally didn't start eating until everyone was present.

"I think Leo and Coop went to talk to the Elders. They said they will be back." As soon as Paige finished, blue orbs formed into Leo, and pink light fading into a small heart formed into Coop.

"Sorry, Piper, we had an important meeting with the Elders" Coop said as he went over to sit by Phoebe. Leo went and sat at the other end of the table.

There were two tables, one was for the children three to nine, and the other table was for eleven-year-olds to adults.

"Okay, so, where is Katie?" Piper asked.

"Last time I saw her she was taking over the bathroom." Kaleb mumbled, still staring at the food as if it would disappear.

'I wonder how he would react at Hogwarts since the food really appears and disappears.'

Katie walked down the stairs and headed towards the kitchen. She needed to speak to her sister. When she walked in, everyone turned towards her. She noticed her uncles were already sitting. She was the last one.

'Hurry, think of something!' "Sorry, I was practicing singing and didn't notice the time." She said, then hurried up to sit next to her sister. Phoenix eyed her, not believing a word.

"All right, since everyone is here, we can begin…"

"Hey, I need to talk to you. I think it has something to do with this Flamel guy you are trying to look for." Katie whispered.

Phoenix shook her head while putting food on her plate. "The whole singing bit wasn't true?"

"You know it wasn't."

"Okay, right after we eat, we will go to the library, and you can tell Kaleb and I."

"Fine."

The family continued eating, sharing stories around the breakfast table, or telling what each had planned for the day. Then a small tapping sound came from one of the windows.

"Mommy! A birdie at the window!" yelled one of Phoenix's younger cousins.

"Sweetie, what are you talking about?" Phoebe said, looking at her daughter.

Cassandra pointed at the window again. "A birdie!"

"What in the world?" Phoebe muttered.

"Is it lost? And why is it holding a package?" Piper asked.

Phoenix wasn't paying any attention as she was too busy enjoying her Aunt Piper's cooking. Katie nudged her on the rib, getting her sister's attention.

"Hey! What was that for?" Phoenix asked, annoyed. Katie pointed to the window.

"Hedwig!" Phoenix shouted, jumping up and running to the window.

Phoenix opened the window, held out her arm for the snow owl to perch on, and closed the window. The owl spread its wings out and flapped them twice, getting small laughs from three-year-old Cody. The adults looked at Phoenix in amazement.

"Why are you here Hedwig? And what is this?" Phoenix asked, taking the package out of Hedwig's mouth. Hedwig moved to Phoenix's shoulder, nipping at her ear. "Okay, just hold on." She walked over to her plate and snatched a piece of bacon. She broke it into tiny pieces, handing one to the owl every now and then. Everyone still looked at Phoenix, waiting for an explanation.

"This is Hedwig Harry's owl." She said nonchalantly, like nothing was out of the ordinary.

Everyone nodded in understanding, then went back to eating. Phoenix opened the letter that was on top of the package.

Hey Phoenix!

I thought I should send Hedwig before the snow settled in. I sent her to Hermione first to see if she had any gifts, as Ron and I have gifts for you as well. Don't open until Christmas though. You can keep Hedwig until you come back or whenever you feel the snow has died down. Anyway, have a Happy Christmas!

Harry

Hey Phoenix!

Harry sent me Hedwig so I can add my present to the pile. Are you looking for information about Nicolas Flamel yet? I have and nothing has come up. Hopefully, Harry and Ron will have better luck. Anyway, don't open your presents until Christmas Day. I told Hedwig to keep a close eye on them. Have a Happy Christmas!

Hermione

"So, looks like you are with me for the holidays, Hedwig." Phoenix said. Hedwig gently nibbled on Phoenix's fingers, wanting more bacon. "Here." Phoenix handed her another small piece. Phoenix groaned inside. She didn't want to look for Flamel. But she said she would, and she hates to go back on her words. 'I guess I should start now so I wouldn't have to worry about it later because I want to enjoy my holiday!' "May Katie, Kaleb, and I be excused?"

"Sure Phoenix." Paige said.

Kaleb gave Phoenix a hurt look. He clearly wasn't finished with breakfast, but knew Phoenix's temper. He grabbed several pieces of bacon, shoveling them down his mouth, meeting the twins at the bottom of the stairs.

"You don't have to stuff your mouth, you know."

Kaleb gave Phoenix a smile, showing the chewed up food. Phoenix rolled her eyes, laughing.

"Kaleb, that is so gross." Katie said.

"Anyway, let's go. Katie has something she needs to share, and I think we all would like to get this done and over with so we can have the rest of the holidays for ourselves. Thanks guys for helping me."

"No problem Nix."

"Phoenix, you are my sister. I have to keep you out of trouble. And you have to do the same. Besides, I would much rather like to tell you what I know when we get to the library. I don't think it is something I am supposed to know."