Chapter 53: Bets Between Sisters

"Phoenix Kaye Matthews!" Piper yelled.

"We just orbed in here and already I am in trouble!"

"Well, face it Phoenix, you are the troublemaker."

"Maybe if we slowly move upstairs, she won't notice."

"Awww Nix! Let me get a snack before dinner. I'm dying of hunger!"

"I'll make it up to ya!"

The three of them crept to the stairs until…

"Don't you try to sneak away! Get in the kitchen now!"

Holding her head low. Phoenix slowly walked into the kitchen, knowing it will be her doom.

"Yes, Aunt Piper."

"Get this bird out of the kitchen! I don't mind it flying around the house or better yet, the backyard, but not my kitchen!"

"Oh, my gosh! I forgot about Hedwig! I'm sorry Aunt Piper; Hedwig was only trying to find some food."

"Well, sweep up the feathers and take her outside. She can hunt for her own food. I don't mind her being in the house, but if she makes a mess, she goes outside."

"Yes, Aunt Piper."

"Um, there is something very important I need to ask Mrs. Halliwell."

"What is it Kaleb?"

"When is dinner?"

Piper and the twins shook their heads. "Dinner will be ready half an hour after Phoenix cleans this mess." Then Piper left, leaving the pre-teens in the kitchen.

Kaleb ran over to the kitchen closet to get a broom. "Come on, guys, the sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can eat!"

"Kaleb, step aside. I will get the job done!"

Kaleb looked at the broom in his hand and then back at Phoenix, shrugged, then leaned the broom on the counter.

"Let the object of objection

become but a dream,

As I cause the scene

to be unseen."

"Phoenix, that is personal gain! You know Aunt Piper will suspect you, especially if the kitchen gets cleaned up fast."

Phoenix shrugged, watching Kaleb place the broom back in the closet. "The floor wasn't that messy to begin with. Now if you will excuse me, I need to take Hedwig outside, so she can hunt."

"Oh, that sounds cool! I want to see!"

"I thought you were dying from starvation?"

"I guess a few more minutes won't kill me."

"Sis are you in?"

Katie sighed. "Fine, I'll go. You said her name was Hedwig? She is exquisite!" Katie said.

Hedwig hooted, then moved from the top of the refrigerator onto Phoenix's shoulder. Both Katie and Kaleb reached over, petting her soft feathers. It was then that Piper came back into the kitchen.

"I was checking on your progress." She looked around with a most displeased look. "Phoenix! You know that spell is personal gain use!"

"Told you, she would know." Katie whispered.

"How can you tell I used it? The floor wasn't that messy."

Piper gave her a knowing look.

"It wasn't!"

"That is not the point, Phoenix. That owl is your responsibility, and you need to pick up after it! Without magic…. from any world."

"But we were so hungry! I wanted to get it finished quick so we can have dinner."

"Uh huh, well feed the owl. Dinner will be served in thirty minutes. Phoenix, you will make a potion with me tomorrow for this personal gain stunt."

"Why?"

"I believe you promised your mother, you will catch up on your potions with me and your karate lessons with Aunt Phoebe on holidays and summers."

"Um... I don't remember the holiday promise."

"Well, let's just say I added holidays to that promise."

"Oh please, Aunt Piper!"

"It is that or I could find something else."

Kaleb leaned over to Phoenix and whispered, "take the potions lesson, Nix. I saw what she did to Wyatt when he did personal gain and refused the lesson. It was brutal!"

"Fine, the lesson will be okay." Phoenix mumbled.

"Good. Dinner will be ready when you get back inside. I don't want that owl outside all night. I don't know if she will get lost or not."

"Yes, Aunt Piper."

Piper left the kitchen as the three of them headed outside.

"Okay Hedwig, you heard Aunt Piper. So make it quick. I promise I won't forget you tomorrow. Harry will kill me if anything happens to you."

Hedwig gave a small hoot, then took off.

"So, Nix, you really fly on broomsticks?" Kaleb wondered as he watched Hedwig fly away.

"Yeah, and I have one."

"How did you get one? Didn't the letter say first years could not have one?" Katie asked, remembering reading that in Phoenix's letter.

"I got one from a professor. Professor Dumbledore made an exception for Harry and me since we made the Quidditch team. Wood practically begged Dumbledore to let us play, from what I heard, as first years never made the house team."

"Hmmm... I wonder if during the summer we could fly your broom."

Phoenix laughed a little. "Maybe, that would be fun."

"No! What if someone saw you?"

"Remember Katie, I can turn invisible."

"You can, but can you turn others and objects invisible?"

"Not yet, but I guarantee I will before the summer."

"Yeah, right."

"Okay, let's make a bet."

"Fine."

"Okay then, if I can turn anything and anyone with me invisible before you can control your energy balls than you will do all of my chores for the summer."

"Deal, if I can control my energy balls before you turn things and people invisible, then you will go without personal gain from either world for the entire summer."

"But they don't believe in personal gain."

"Okay, you do everything the "muggle" way without magic"

"Deal!"

By the time the deal was done, Hedwig came back with a small rat.

"Ew! Hurry and eat that!" Katie said

Hedwig ate it in one gulp, then rested on Phoenix's shoulder. Phoenix petted the soft feathers.

"Let's go inside now what do you say?"

Hedwig gave a small hoot as Kaleb nodded his head. "I agree with the owl."

Phoenix rolled her eyes, knowing his reason. The three of them headed towards the door leading to the kitchen.

When the three walked inside, a cloud of white dust hit them in the face.