Chapter 77: Something's Up

Phoenix stepped outside, avoiding everyone as possible. She looked out ahead and saw Harry walking over, a big triumphant smile on his face. Knowing he wasn't really paying attention, she gave him a smile of her own, "Hey Harry". She didn't really need to say anything else. She knew he heard it enough.

Harry aimed his smile back at her. "Hey Phoenix, was wondering where you ventured off after what happened. Did you see the game?" he asked, his smile growing bigger.

She kept her smile. "No one would keep me away from any of our games." She said with a Gryffindor attitude.

He laughed but stopped and looked at her with concern. "What happened?" he asked, looking at her black and blue shiner.

She didn't really know what he was talking about until the pain came back. She winced a little as Harry touched it. "Malfoy, but don't worry, he looks worse." She said as she stepped back from his touch. Looking him up and down, she noticed he was still in his robes. "I'll let you get ready; I heard Fred and George were throwing you a party. Wouldn't want to miss it now, would we?" she said, but before Harry said anything, "I really need to go find Hermione; I need to talk to her about something." Running off, she waved back to Harry, "See you in the Common Room!"

Once Phoenix was out of eyeshot from everyone, she slowly turned herself invisible again. She knew she would be congratulated for a game she didn't even play, or asked if she was alright by her fellow Quidditch players. 'I don't think anyone noticed I wasn't out there except for those I was sitting next to. The game was too short for people to figure it out. Why do I even care, anyway?' She knew the answer for that, but she wasn't to concern to analyze it. She had something else to analyze. 'Oh, my! I'm acting like Katie! What is she going to think?' she thought while she was trying not to run into anyone, she headed back to the common room, knowing full well that was where everyone else was going.

It wasn't long that she heard Ron's voice

"Where are they! They are going to miss the party and I'm hungry! You sure Phoenix isn't here yet? Maybe she is waiting for Harry so they can walk up together? I'm hungry!"

Phoenix couldn't help but laugh. Leave it to Ron to always being hungry.

"Ronald! Can you for once stop thinking about your stomach? I don't remember Phoenix coming here, but either way, we still would have to wait for Harry. Stop thinking with your stomach, you won't die from hunger."

'Should I? I think I should. They wouldn't know a thing!' Phoenix thought to herself as she was slowly moving behind her two friends. While the two still bickered, she looked around to make sure she wasn't being watched. Having another weird account with Professor Snape was enough for one day, then turned herself visible.

"Ahhh!" she screamed as she jumped behind them. Hermione and Ron jumped looked at Phoenix with an expression she was hoping for making her laugh out of control.

"Where did you come from?" Ron asked, looking in all directions as if that would help.

"Oh Ron, I thought I told you, I'm from California." She answered, trying to hold back her laughter.

"That's not what I meant," Ron mumbled, glancing around him one last time.

Hermione gathered herself, then looked at her friend knowingly what the correct answer could be, "You scared me!" she yelled, placing her arms across her chest.

Phoenix broke into her controlled laughter and let it go again. Seeing the look on the two's faces was priceless. She needed the laugh after the day she has had, but winced every time because of her bruised face.

"That was the point, Hermione! And Ron, I never tell my secrets!" She said as she winked at him. She looked back at Hermione. "Hermione, can I talk to you for a sec?"

Hermione looked over at Ron, shrugged, then back to Phoenix, "Sure."

"It won't take long. If we aren't back by the time Harry gets here, come and get us. I just passed him as he went to go get changed." Phoenix assured as she grabbed Hermione and went to find an empty classroom.

Once they found one, Phoenix double checked to make sure they were alone. She looked at her friend, who gave her a curious look.

"Does this mean it's a "Charmed" thing you need to talk to me about?" Hermione asked.

"Well, sorta, we really need a different code name for these things. I don't want this flying around Hogwarts if the legend is as well known here as it is at home." Phoenix responded.

Hermione looked at her with an odd expression, "You're rambling, what's up?"

"I don't know what it is. It may be nothing, but when I left the tent, I sorta had a fit and kind of blew up the dirt in front of me." She started then looked at Hermione, who had an expression of shock and disappointment. "Don't look at me like that. I was lucky enough not to have blown the tent up!"

"Did anyone see you? And what got you so upset?"

"I came here to prove myself and my family. You see what Harry goes through? You and Ron may not know how he feels or what it feels like to be under a microscope and such, but I do! I mean, everyone at Magic School thought I should be at the top of the class and is disappointed if I act myself. Letting me not play just felt like… I don't know, like some part of me wasn't able to. I know, the more I think about it, the more stupid I feel. But I did it alright!"

"Phoenix…. did anyone see you?"

"Right after I blew up the dirt, Professor Snape came up behind."

"Snape!" Phoenix nodded her head. "What did he say?"

"It was a combination of what he said, did, and what I was feeling. All he said was, "You may want…"."

"That was it? He could have meant anything."

"No, he said that, then looked at the piles of dirt, looked back at me, then I could have sworn he looked behind me, then left."

"That's odd. Maybe you should be more careful, Phoenix. You never know who may be watching."

"I know Hermione. That is why I think this is extremely odd. I felt as if we were being watched. I don't know if Snape was warning me, or he actually saw me use my powers. But it feels as if someone has been watching me ever since I came here."

"What you mean like..." Hermione looked around then leaned in closer as if someone was overhearing their conversation, "a demon? Do they even know you are here? It would be impossible even if they know, Phoenix, there are protection spells guarding Hogwarts. Nothing evil can penetrate that. Maybe it's the creatures in the forest."

"I don't think so, Hermione. Something just doesn't feel right. I mean, how would a demon know I'm even here? And let's say it is a demon, Hogwarts may be protected, but not against demons. That is a different magic."

"Hogwarts is like a thousand years old Phoenix. Who knows what kind of magic is protecting it."

Phoenix was about to say something when the two heard the door open.

"Hermione? Phoenix? Are you two in here?" It was Harry, poking his head inside. He saw the two and motioned someone behind him to follow. Phoenix knew it was Ron.

"Harry, what is up?" Hermione said as he and Ron walked up to them.

"There is something I needed to tell you guys." As he said that, he looked right into Phoenix, which meant it had something to do with Snape.

"Uh…" Hermione started, then looked at Phoenix to see if they had finished their conversation.

"What is Harry?"

Harry looked around again, making sure Peeves didn't sneak in while they weren't looking, and told him what he saw out in the woods. Everyone was listening and processing what he had to say, Phoenix trying not to cut in when Harry gave his reasoning.

"So, we were right. It is the Sorcerer's Stone, and Snape's trying to force Quirrell to help him get it."

"Are you sure that is what Snape wants Quirrell to think? Or maybe he is just trying to see how much Quirrell really knows."

"No, Snape wants it."

"We are not going through this again. Can it you two. Harry finishes up." Hermione said, not wanting another fight between the two and getting caught as well.

Harry sighed, then continued again, "Snape asked Quirrell if he knew how to get past Fluffy, and he said something about Quirrell's 'hocus pocus'. I reckon there are other things guarding the stone apart from Fluffy, loads of enchantments, probably, and Quirrell would have done something anti-Dark arts spell Snape needs to break through…"

"You mean the Stone's only safe as long as Quirrell stands up to Snape?" Hermione said in alarm, then looked at her friend, who was processing all the information as well.

"It'll be gone by next Tuesday," said Ron

"If it is Snape going after the stone," Phoenix retorted.

"Why is it so hard for you to see that it is Snape!" Harry yelled.

"Why! Because it doesn't feel right! I still think Quirrell is the one after the stone! I mean, think about it! It would be the perfect cover the way he is. Snape is just too easy to blame."

"Oh, so the teacher's pet doesn't want to believe that her favorite teacher is evil!"

"Ronald! That was unnecessary!" Hermione said.

"No, I think Ron is right. Unless you can prove that Snape is not going after the Stone, then it is Snape that we are going to watch."

Phoenix just stood there contemplating on what to do. Should she tell them she is the daughter of a Charmed One? Or just come up with something? She looked down at the floor and sighed.

"Phoenix, don't…." Hermione started in alarm. But Phoenix stopped her.

"I can sense things. I've had it ever since I was little. I can tell if something is wrong or if someone is evil or good. I have always felt that Professor Quirrell is up to something, and I get this negative feeling every time I'm around him, or he is in the room. I don't get that with Professor Snape. That is why I don't think it is him. Quirrell is the one after the Stone."

Everyone looked at her, and then Harry shook his head. "You're wrong. I'll prove it to you. I think it's Snape."

"Harry, my instincts are telling me different, and my family has always taught to trust your instincts. I just wish you would trust mine."

"Well, my instinct is telling me different," he told her, then he and Ron left, leaving the two girls alone.

Before Harry got completely out of the room, "Is it? Or do you just not understand what it is saying?" Phoenix questioned. After the door closed, she turned to Hermione. "Well, Hermione, what do you think?"

"I don't know Phoenix. I understand what both of you are trying to say. I just don't know who to believe."

"I know Snape is up to something. I just don't think the Stone is what it is. I think it's something bigger."