September blew by like a breeze. Phoenix still hadn't received a single letter from her mother, and was beginning to suspect the worst when Professor Flitwick stopped her from entering his class. "Professor Dumbledore would like to speak with you." He nodded back down the hall she'd just come from and gave her a reassuring smile. Phoenix looked at Ron, Harry, Hermione, Seamus, and Dean who were all waiting just inside the class.
"I'll be right back." Phoenix said quietly.
"Come on," Seamus whispered as he turned Harry away from the door, and they all went inside. Phoenix turned to look at Dumbledore who was waiting halfway down the hall. Phoenix readjusted her bag on her shoulders and held onto the strap tightly. She walked over to Dumbledore with her heart and stomach sinking to her feet.
"Hello, Headmaster." Phoenix greeted politely.
"Good morning, Miss Malfoy." By now, Phoenix had stopped flinching and wincing at the name, but that still didn't stop her chest from aching. "I'm sorry for having to pull you out of class, but someone would like to speak to you." Dumbledore waved down the hallway and another man stepped out from the shadows.
"Hello again, Miss Phoenix." Kingsley smiled tightly at her.
"Hello, sir." Phoenix shifted from one foot to the other. Dumbledore gave her shoulder a pat before walking away and leaving her alone with Kingsley.
"Why haven't you responded to any letters your parents have sent you?" Kingsley asked once Dumbledore's footsteps had gone far away. Phoenix said nothing, she didn't know what to say to them, she had nothing to say to them, she didn't want to say anything to them. All perfectly good reasons in Phoenix's mind not to respond, but none good enough for Kingsley. "We found your last residence." Phoenix tried to mask her surprise, wrapping her sleeves around her hands to keep the frost under her nails from showing. "Along with a few belongings of yours."
"Mine?" Phoenix asked. Had her mother left something for her in the belongings? "What?" she asked, noticing Kingsley's interest in her reaction.
"Toys, clothes, furniture." Kingsley rattled off, "it appears as though nothing of yours was taken."
"But maybe something was left," Phoenix thought. She looked up at Kingsley, "Can I have it?" she asked, Kingsley looked at her curiously, "my stuff," Phoenix clarified, "can I have it back?"
"It's being investigated now, to see if your kidnapper left anything behind." Kingsley looked around nonchalantly.
"No!" Phoenix wanted to shout, but Kingsley raised a hand to silence her.
"I know the truth of what happened." He whispered under his breath. Phoenix's brows furrowed, what did he mean by 'the truth'?
"How?" Phoenix felt a million questions hit the tip of her tongue, but Kingsley held a finger to his lips.
"I fought alongside Mary," Kingsley whispered, "she was to be my work partner. But then, you came, and the war got worse." Phoenix tried to hang onto every word.
"Is mom safe? Do you know where she is now?" Phoenix asked desperately wanting to know why her mom hadn't tried to contact her. Kingsley gently shushed her.
"Those still loyal are keeping her safe. But we have to reach a dead end or a cold end in your case before surveillance on you can be pulled." Kingsley kneeled down and whispered to her. "Once the surveillance is pulled, word will get to Mary and she will find you."
"Do those still loyal," Phoenix began slowly, trying to process everything Kingsley was saying, "want mom to raise me? Instead of the Malfoys?"
"We understand that you are a Malfoy." Kingsley admitted, "but you are meant for so much more than what they do. You are meant to do great things." He held her shoulders. Phoenix felt like she was a secret agent, and Kingsley was telling her that her partner-in-crime wasn't actually a traitor, but a double-agent. Phoenix tried to hold back her smile, she remembered watching spy cartoons and movies with her mother when she was younger.
"How long until you reach a dead end or a cold end?" Phoenix asked.
"I'm steering everyone away from Mary," Kingsley stood back up, his voice still barely above a breath, "but you should get comfortable with the Malfoy's, it could be a while. Everyone has to believe you are safe."
"Okay." Phoenix nodded, she wished Kingsley could tell her more, but she didn't want him getting in trouble. Who knows what kind of hoops he had to jump through just to come talk to her without Mr. or Mrs. Malfoy breathing down his neck.
"Good." Kingsley gave her a genuine smile, "everything is going to be okay." He clapped a hand on her shoulder and gave her a friendly shake.
"Thank you, Mr. Kingsley." Phoenix looked up at him, trying to keep the tears from showing in her eyes. Kingsley watched her leave and Phoenix gave him one final wave as she slipped into Charms class.
"Ah, thank you for joining us again, Ms. Malfoy." Professor Flitwick smiled and motioned for Phoenix to take her seat, "we were just reviewing our 'swish and flick' motion." Phoenix sat in the empty seat next to Ron. Hermione sat just on the other side of him, and Harry, Seamus, and Dean sat in front of them. "Today we are going to make feathers fly." Professor Flitwick spread his arms into the air, "now, let's practice the incantation-without wands." He held out a low hand to those who readily pulled their wands out.
"Repeat after me." Professor Flitwick instructed, "Wingardium Leviosa."
"Wingardium Leviosa." The class mimicked back.
Phoenix took a few deep breaths, she couldn't let anyone else know what Kingsley had told her. Did Dumbledore know what Kingsley had wanted to say? "Maybe Dumbledore is protecting mom." Phoenix thought, if so, she didn't want to blow their cover. She smiled to herself, she truly felt like one of those old movie spies.
"Good." Professor Flitwick beamed. "Now, use your feather to 'swish and flick' and say the spell at the same time."
Phoenix picked up the white feather that sat on her desk. She swished her arm to the side and then flicked it down quickly, "Wingardium Leviosa." Everyone did the same.
"Fantastic." Flitwick clapped his hands, "feathers down, wands out. Wingardium Leviosa." Flitwick swished and flicked his wand at his own feather and it started to flutter up, up, up into the air! "Now you try." He instructed the class.
Phoenix pulled her wand out, relishing in the way it felt in her hand. The spark that had first attracted her to it (or it to her) hadn't faded, and it still gave Phoenix goosebumps clear into October. When she had her wand in her hand, everything felt right. "Wingardium Leviosa." Her feather rose a few inches off the ground and dropped once Phoenix had lowered her wand.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron flicked his wand at his feather repeatedly. Phoenix leaned back, afraid of getting his with his elbow.
"Stop, stop!" Hermione stood up and grabbed his arm before he could bring it back down again, "you're going to poke someone's eye out."
"Yeah, mine." Phoenix slowly eased back into her seat.
"Sorry." Ron mumbled to Phoenix out of the corner of his mouth.
"Besides, you're saying it all wrong." Hermione pointed out, "It's Levi-O-sa," she overly pronounced the word, "not Levi-osa." She shook her head, amused at his attempt.
Ron slammed his wand down on his desk and turned to Hermione, "Alright then, you do it." He challenged her. Phoenix snickered. In the late night study sessions and reading ahead times Phoenix and Hermione shared, if a challenge was made, a challenge was met.
Hermione smirked over Ron at Phoenix. She righted herself in her chair and pulled out her wand. "Wingardium Leviosa." Hermione's wand elegantly swished and flicked through the air, just barely touching her feather as she brought it back down. Then, Hermione brought her feather up and raised it above their heads. Up, up, to the ceiling where books flew out of the way of the feather.
"See here, class!" Flitwick giggled ecstatically, "Ms. Granger's done it! Well done." He congratulated her as Ron crossed his arms on his desk and laid his chin down on his books.
"Wingardium Leviosa." Seamus resumed his attempts below, "Wingardium Leviosa, Wingardium," The feather exploded into flames and Phoenix jumped back along with Ron and Hermione as smoked began to rise.
"I think," Harry meekishly stated. Phoenix peeked over her desk at the tier below, "we need another feather over here, Professor." Harry was leaning as far away from Seamus as possible in his seat, and Dean on the other side of Seamus was doing the same. Seamus's hair had been blown back, and the tips were singed and smoking. Embers rose from what remained of the feather. Seamus gave a single cough and a smoke cloud escaped his lungs.
Phoenix couldn't help but laugh at the sight of him. "Think that's funny?" Seamus turned.
"Sort of." Phoenix admitted. Seamus grinned and stood up on his chair. Professor Flitwick told him to sit back down, but did nothing as Seamus bent his head over Phoenix's paper and shook off the ashes and soot from his hair. Phoenix yelped in surprise and continued to laugh as Seamus stood back looking proud of himself.
"Alright, alright." Professor Flitwick rolled his eyes, "sit down, Mr. Finnegan." As Seamus turned and sat back down Phoenix got low to her desk and gave a great huff. The ashes Seamus shook off from his hair went gently falling right back onto his head. The playful glare Seamus gave her made Phoenix burst into more giggles.
The class ended with no further explosions or interruptions and Phoenix walked with Harry out of the room. "Fred and George say the Halloween feast is just as amazing as the Opening feast. Although, you didn't eat then, did you?" Harry asked, glossing over Phoenix's absence from the start of class. She was thankful he didn't pry.
"I didn't eat then, yeah. When do you talk to Fred and George?" Phoenix asked. It was true, she didn't eat at the Opening feast, but she felt she had good reason not to. Every night since then she'd stuffed herself full, afraid she'd burst a seam or break her bed if she ever ate again.
"Harry's got secret Quidditch lessons," Ron came up on the other side of Phoenix. "Except no one's supposed to know." Ron added when Harry coughed loudly. "Just like no one's supposed to know how to do magic their first try." Ron grumbled.
"What?" Phoenix looked at him with an eyebrow raised.
"Hermione." Ron clarified, "Can you believe the nerve of that girl?" He then crossed his eyes and wrinkled his nose, "It's Levi-O-sa," he stressed, "not Levi-osa," he mocked the words Hermione had just given him. Harry chuckled, but got quiet when Phoenix turned to look at him, "She's a nightmare. It's no wonder she hasn't gotten any friends." Ron suddenly stumbled forward and Phoenix watched as Hermione raced past with her head tucked down.
"Way to go, Ron." Phoenix snapped. She started walking ahead of their group, "And by the way," she turned back, "I'm her friend." She looked at Harry, expecting him to back her up, but he was looking away, and said nothing. Phoenix could feel the last bit of her old life slip away as she turned away from Harry. She felt like running to her bed and crying, but knew she had to find Hermione first. They could complain together and work together to show those boys what girls were made of.
Phoenix caught sight of Hermione running into the girl's bathroom and followed as quickly as she could. "Hermione?" A few older girls were in the bathroom, and gave Phoenix a weird look. There was sniffling and Phoenix walked towards the stalls, "Hermione?" she called again.
"Go away!" Hermione shouted. Phoenix heard the door open and shut, leaving the two alone in the bathroom.
"Hermione, please come out." Phoenix saw her feet under a stall and dropped her bag off outside it. "Please, he's really not worth it." Hermione sniffled and Phoenix could hear her struggling to breathe.
"It's not true is it?" She asked through her tears.
"Hermione," Phoenix sighed, "I'm your friend. Neville's your friend. You've got friends."
Hermione continued to cry, "But I'm a know-it-all and a nightmare!"
"Hermione," Phoenix sighed, leaning against an empty stall, "Don't believe what Ron says. Ron is an insufferable, fat-headed, rude, inconsiderate," She tried to think of every mean thing she could call Ron to make Hermione feel better. She trailed off, unsure of what else to say, "Ron's a big dummy." She finally decided. "And you're brilliant!" No matter what Phoenix said, Hermione continued to cry. She cried and cried until Phoenix could no longer see the sunlight coming in through the windows above, or the crack in the door to the bathroom. Phoenix was sitting outside of the stall Hermione was in, reassuring Hermione every time she put herself down.
"I'm a horrible person." Hermione would say occasionally.
"No, you're not." Phoenix would always reply.
"I don't deserve to be a witch."
"You're the best witch Hogwarts has ever seen. I know it."
Neville stopped by. "I heard you two were in here." Phoenix had propped open the doors to the bathroom. "Is she alright?"
"She's been crying here all evening." Phoenix frowned. Neville offered to call for a teacher, but Phoenix declined. "Go enjoy the feast." She insisted. Neville looked conflicted, but eventually waddled off with the promise of saving a sweet treat for them both if they didn't show.
Phoenix closed her eyes, imagining what the Halloween feast was like in the Great Hall. Maybe they were serving caramel apples, cauldron cakes, sugar skulls, and all sorts of wonderful sweets. Phoenix imagined all of the cider and pie that would be stacked to the ceiling. Everything would be carefully prepared and looked like a fantasy land of sweets on the long tables in the Great Hall. Phoenix could almost picture flying pumpkins and bats that McGonagall would conjure into the night sky above the tables.
Phoenix opened her eyes, Hermione had stopped crying. She scrambled to her feet, ready to pull the other girl to the Great Hall before all the ice cream could melt. A horrible stench assaulted her as she raised her head. "Oh God." Phoenix whispered, feeling her fingers and toes go cold. A shadow fell over her.
"Phoenix?" Hermione croaked, her voice hoarse.
"Don't come out." Phoenix whispered, but Hermione was already unlocking the stall and opening the door.
"Why not?" Hermione looked at Phoenix and noticed where she was looking.
A huge, towering, beast of a creature stood in the door. It wrecked of garbage, sweat, and piss. It wore bark tied with vine as a vest, and only a small bit of cloth under its large belly to cover its lower half. Everything in Phoenix screamed "TROLL!" and she tried to remember everything she'd read in any of her books about trolls. She held out her arms in a weak attempt to protect Hermione as the troll lumbered forward. Phoenix noticed the large club it carried in one of its huge hands. They were going to die.
"Oh," Hermione breathed, "My," she grabbed Phoenix and in one move pulled her back into the stall she'd been in. Hermione dropped to the ground and immediately started crawling to the next stall over. Phoenix followed her lead and pulled her feet away just in time as the troll gave out a roar and slammed its club down on the stall they'd just been in. Phoenix wasn't sure who started screaming first, but they kept crawling away. Wood splintered and porcelain shattered as the troll knocked down the remaining stalls in one swing. Phoenix covered her head and looked towards the door to see if they could make a break for it. Ron and Harry were standing behind the troll. Phoenix locked eyes with Harry, breaking contact for a few seconds as the troll swung its club again.
"Phoenix! Hermione! Move!" Harry shouted.
Hermione screamed, Phoenix covered her head as more splinters came raining down on them. Phoenix screamed when a large, hot hand pressed down on her back. "Hey!" Phoenix could just barely hear Ron over her and Hermione's screams, "Pea-brain!" The troll lifted its hand and Hermione grabbed Phoenix. The two girls crawled on all fours across the bathroom to hide under the sinks. The troll spotted them and gave another roar. Phoenix screamed and pushed Hermione ahead of her while pushing herself back. The troll shattered the sink between the girls. At first, water began shooting out from the pipes, but when Phoenix tried to pull herself away from the corner she grabbed the pipe by mistake. The water stream solidified into ice shards which shattered at the troll's stumpy feet, the water pressure kept more ice shards going, and kept Phoenix fearfully tucked in the corner.
"Help!" Hermione cried. Harry pulled out his wand and just as the troll raised its club to strike he jumped on the end of it. Phoenix screamed, the club swinging down just at her toes. She looked up through the ice to see Harry on the troll's shoulders. The troll tried to shake Harry off, but jerked around so much that Harry's wand ended up in its nose.
Above all the noise she could hear Ron's sound of disgust. The troll sneezed and tried shaking Harry off again. "Harry!" Phoenix cried out when the troll reached up and grabbed Harry's leg. The troll held Harry upside down, pulling its club back it swung-and missed!
"Do something!" Harry shouted, being held upside down like a raggedy toy.
"What?" Ron looked around at the mess of shattered porcelain and wood.
The troll swung its club down and Harry curled himself up to avoid being hit. "Anything!" Harry answered, the troll raised its club again, "Hurry up!" Ron pulled out his wand.
"Ron!" Phoenix shouted. He looked at her and Hermione for help.
"Swish and flick!" They both shouted.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron pointed at the club which stayed in the air as the troll brought his hand down. The troll made a noise of confusion and Phoenix watched in awe as the club fell from the air and knocked the troll out. Harry was dropped on the ground and he scurried back on his hands to get away from the falling troll. The great troll landed with a thump and dust flew up around it.
For a moment there was silence, just the ringing of adrenaline in their ears and their pounding hearts echoing in the girls bathroom.
"Is it," Phoenix crawled out from under the sink, the ice having turned back to water, "dead?" she asked.
"I don't think so." Harry looked at her, "just knocked out." Sure enough, when he bent down to retrieve his wand the troll instinctively twitched when the wand was pulled from its nose. Harry made a sound of disgust as a long, slimy, stretch of snot followed his wand. "Troll boogies." He turned to one of the remaining sinks and washed the wand. Phoenix helped Hermione stand, making sure the other girl was okay.
There was a distressed cry from the door, all four turned to see McGonagall, Snape, and Quirrell looking at the scene before them. McGonagall babbled for a moment, motioning between each of them and the troll, "Oh my goodness," she held her heart with one hand and the wall to steady herself with another, "explain yourselves!" she demanded on Ron and Harry.
Harry and Ron started talking about Charms class and bathrooms. "It's my fault, professor McGonagall." Hermione spoke up. Phoenix turned to look at her.
"Ms. Granger?" McGonagall questioned, as though not believing her for a second. Phoenix lightly shook her head at Hermione, but she was ignored.
"I went looking for the troll." She lowered her head, "I'd read about them and thought I could handle it. Phoenix tried to stop me, she went to get Harry and Ron to try and stop me as well. If it wasn't for them." She swallowed and bit her lip, "I'd probably be dead." She finished, looking up at McGonagall with shame.
"Be that as it may." McGonagall's voice was still shaky, but she'd now crossed her arms, "That was an extremely foolish thing to do. I would have expected more rational thinking from you," She pointed a finger at Hermione, "and I am very disappointed in you, Ms. Granger." Hermione lowered her head again. "Five points will be taken from Gryffindor."
"Yes, professor." Hermione nodded in agreement. Phoenix couldn't believe Hermione had taken the fall for Harry and Ron. Clearly the school knew of the troll, why else would Harry and Ron have shown up when they did. The question on Phoenix's mind was why the professors hadn't gotten to them first?
"As for you three." Phoenix raised her head as McGonagall pointed between her and the boys, "I hope you seriously consider how fortunate you are. Not many first years can take on a fully-grown mountain troll," she motioned to the knocked-out troll at their feet, "and live to tell the tale. Five points will be awarded," she said, "to each of you." Phoenix smiled at Hermione, Ron, and Harry, "for sheer dumb luck." McGonagall seethed, spinning on her heel, and walking away. Snape looked the four over before he followed McGonagall, and Quirrell stepped in.
"Per-perhaps you ought to go." He waved for them to walk out, "Mi-might wake up." He assisted Phoenix and Hermione over the fallen arm of the troll with a nervous laugh. They looked back at Quirrell as they entered the hallway covered in splinters, water, and dust. The troll gave out another roar and they turned and ran for Gryffindor tower.