Phoenix huddled close between Hermione and Ron, the cool November chill whipping at her braid. She rubbed her gloved hands together, and pushed her scarf away from her mouth so she could breathe without her hot breath warming her nose. Every student, every professor, and every family member that could afford to take off the time to come, had all gathered in the stands of the Quidditch stadium. There were tall pillar-like stands where most of the staff and family members who could afford to attend sat at the very top. And down below were all of the students. Phoenix could very clearly see a separation between reds, blues, yellows, and greens, but almost half the stadium had red and gold flags and banners. Phoenix untucked some of her hair from her braid and patted it down on her ears to protect them from the wind whipping around. Hagrid stood behind the three and blocked most of the wind.
"How much longer?" she looked up at Hagrid, wishing she could just will herself to feel the right emotion and make the day warmer. It seemed the weather only matched her mood when she wasn't aware of the changes.
"Shouldn't be too long, now." Hagrid was looking through his binoculars at the Quidditch pitch below.
"Fred and George say Harry's a natural." Ron told Phoenix and Hermione over the crowd. "Says their captain is over the moon to have him!"
Just then, the students rose to their feet, stomping and clapping. Phoenix stood on her toes and watched as little red figures on brooms whipped out from seemingly nowhere. From the other end of the pitch little green figures rose on brooms. Hagrid pointed out the Weasley twins, flying in sync around one of the towers flag poles, and Oliver Wood- "He's captain of the Quidditch team. Brilliant he is" – flying low and wide around the three tall poles at one end, and Harry who just seemed stuck in mid-air in awe. Phoenix could feel the buzz in the air, it made her knees weak and her vision blurry, but she still clapped and cheered when a Gryffindor flew by.
"Hello and welcome to Hogwarts's first Quidditch game of the season." A young voice boomed over the stadium.
Ron turned to Phoenix and Hermione, "That's Lee Jordan, Fred and George's friend. He announces every game."
"Today's game: Slytherin versus Gryffindor!" Lee's voice echoed into the distance as the players all hovered over the pitch in an oval with the seekers on either side higher than the rest of their team. "The players take their positions as Madam Hooch steps out onto the field to begin the game." Phoenix peeked between Dean and Seamus and saw Madam Hooch on the ground next to a large, shaking trunk. She had her hands on her hips and turned in a circle, saying something to the players. She then kicked the trunk on the ground and two small balls launched themselves into the air.
"The Bludgers are up." Lee announced, "followed by the Golden Snitch. Remember, the Snitch is worth a hundred and fifty points. The seeker who catches the Snitch ends the game." Phoenix watched as the Bludgers flew wildly around. "The Quaffle is released. And the game begins!" It was as though the whole stadium had been holding its breath, but now they were all screaming.
Phoenix felt the air get knocked out of her and tried to gasp for air. So much emotion, it was killing her! "Are you alright, Phoenix?" Hagrid asked. His small worry in the sea of ecstasy was her rock and she was able to pull herself up from drowning.
She nodded. After a few breaths she was able to raise her head and watch the game. "Can I borrow those?" she pointed to his binoculars.
"O 'course," Hagrid nodded and undid the strap from around his neck. He handed them to her with a warning to be gentle.
Phoenix pressed the binoculars to her face, inhaling the scent of metal and forcing herself to focus. She scanned the sea of green and silver for a pop of blonde, and was shockingly thankful when she found Draco. He too looked as though he'd just been hit by a train, although, none of his emerald comrades seemed to notice.
A bell chimed. "Angelina Johnson scores!" Phoenix lowered the binoculars as everyone cheered around her, "Ten points to Gryffindor!" Lee announced. "Oh no! Slytherin takes possession of the Quaffle. Fletcher passes it to Capitan Marcus Flint." Phoenix watched as a red robed player flew up beside a green player. Something happened so fast Phoenix wondered if she'd blinked and missed it. But suddenly, one of Gryffindor's players was going down in a spiral, desperately trying to pull out before she was made into a pancake on the ground. Before Marcus could score a goal, Oliver did a backspin and flicked the Quaffle away with the tail end of his broom.
The same player who'd gone down earlier was back up, Phoenix raised the binoculars and saw the two red robed girls weaving in and out of towers, passing the ball to each other as they went. Two Slytherin players were right behind them. The girl who ended up with the Quaffle flew behind the goals, threw the ball to another player who then scored another point for Gryffindor!
"Another ten points for Gryffindor!" Lee announced. Phoenix watched as Marcus Flint took one of his players bats and swung a Bludger right at Oliver Wood!
"Oh no!" Phoenix cried out, her eyes stuck to the binoculars as she watched the Bludger make contact with Oliver Wood's stomach and knock him backwards through the hoop. He slipped off his broom and fell to the earth below. With Oliver Wood no longer protecting the Gryffindor goal posts, Slytherin was able to snake in ten points. Phoenix was able to follow along now that she was actually witnessing the game, she handed Hagrid back his binoculars.
She turned back in time to see two Slytherin's close in and go shoulder to shoulder with the Gryffindor in possession of the Quaffle. Phoenix could hear the crowd breath in as the Gryffindor had to abandon the ball and tuck her arms up around herself, falling between the flags and wood structure of one of the towers. Even from a distance Phoenix could see the lump tumble and fall to the ground. As everyone was watching the Gryffindor get up and mount her broomstick, Slytherin managed to get another ten points.
"What's going on with Harry's broomstick?" Hagrid asked, Phoenix followed everyone's gaze to the sky where it looked as though Harry's broom was trying to buck him off. He was spinning and being jerked up and down, all while trying to get his grip back. Hermione snatched the binoculars from Hagrid.
"It's Snape!" She whispered to Ron and Phoenix as more and more people began to notice Harry's erratic movements. "He's jinxing the broom!"
"Jinxing the broom?" Ron repeated looking between Hermione next to him and Harry up in the air with horror. "What do we do?"
Phoenix was unsure, but took the binoculars from Hermione to look for herself. If the bombardment of joy had made her feel dead before, the feeling of fear and anxiety that now washed the crowd was overbearing. Phoenix tried to blink the haze from her eyes as she focused on Snape. He was looking at Harry, unblinking, and mouthing something. Around him, the other professors were watching with fear, Snape seemed determined.
"Leave this to me." Hermione squeezed between the crowd and disappeared before Phoenix or Ron could stop her.
Phoenix screamed as Harry's broom completely flipped him over. Harry was hanging on to his broom with one hand. She could see Fred and George below him, beckoning him to drop to one of their brooms, but every time they got closer, Harry's broom would whizz away. "This is it! Harry's going to die! I'm going to watch my friend die!" Phoenix's mind went into overdrive. She felt as though she were a circuit board that'd just been given a bubble bath. She couldn't move, she couldn't speak, she didn't react. She just watched Harry, not daring to blink for fear of missing something.
Then, just like that, Harry's broom stopped shaking and spinning. Phoenix looked at the professor's tower. Snape was busy stomping something at his feet, while Professor Sprout and Professor Flitwick were helping Professor Quirrell stand back up. "He's probably fainted again." Phoenix thought as she turned her gaze back to Harry. Harry managed to swing himself back up onto his broom and Phoenix threw up a triumphant fist.
"Yes!" She cried. "Yes!" She and Ron high-fived.
"Go Harry!" Neville shouted.
"Go! Go! Go!" Hagrid cheered.
Seamus and Dean had their arms around each other and were waving their red and gold flags wildly. Harry was now bumping shoulders with the Slytherin's seeker. The two dived and Phoenix could see the twinkling of a little golden ball diving towards the ground. Both Harry and the other seeker dove after it. Phoenix and Ron, still high-fiving, suddenly held hands tightly. Phoenix could feel Ron wasn't breathing, and the two watched with baited breath. They were getting closer to the ground now, closer, closer! They'd have to pull out or they'd crash!
The Slytherin seeker was the first to pull out of the dive. Harry, with a bit of a struggle, managed to pull out of the dive seconds later. Harry was now just a breath off the ground, his feet were still on the broom from pulling out of his dive and-Phoenix nearly crushed Ron's hand-he slowly stood up on his broom. Harry looked as though he were surfing on a broom, one hand out stretched. He took one shimmy too many on his broom and it tipped forward, throwing him off.
Phoenix let go of Ron's hand and gripped the railing before her. "Harry!" She cried out over the groans of the crowd. Harry rolled a few flips before landing on his knees. He instantly stood up and held his stomach. "What's wrong?!" She demanded from Hagrid, who had taken his binoculars back.
"Looks like he's gunna be sick!" Hagrid shouted.
Harry gave a big heave and held his hands out to catch and stop whatever was coming up. "He's caught the Snitch!" Lee Jordan's voice boomed over the stadium. "Harry Potter receives one hundred and fifty points for catching the Snitch!"
Madam Hooch, who had been flying around the stadium the whole time, blew her whistle, "Gryffindor wins!" She held up a fist in victory.
"Yes!" Ron screamed. Ron, Seamus, and Dean shook each other by their shoulder's, bouncing up and down in the stands. Phoenix and Neville pounded their fists and hands together in a fist-bump, high-five mess. Her heart was pounding with adrenaline, even if her head was pounding with pain.
"Yes!" Hagrid bellowed above them all. Harry held up the Snitch in victory, prompting a whole new round of cheers. Gryffindor had won by one hundred and seventy points!
Phoenix was the first to rush from the stands once she'd blown her voice raw from cheering. Her head was spinning, she wanted to get away from the game and she wanted to find Harry and congratulate him. She could feel footsteps behind her and knew Ron was following close behind. She squeezed between people, ducked around arms that were being thrown in the air in victory. She finally made to the stairs where they bumped into Hermione.
"Whatever you did, you did it quick!" Phoenix looked at her proudly.
"Just a bit of quick thinking, clever magic." Hermione smirked triumphantly.
"Well it paid off." Ron laughed, "We won the game." He rolled his head back and closed his eyes, looking content, "I can't wait to rub it in Malfoy's face." He then opened his eyes and held his hands out in defense, "Draco Malfoy that is."
Phoenix tried not to let her smile falter a noticeable amount. There was a tense awkward pause in the stairwell before Phoenix could find her voice again. "Come on, let's go find Harry, tell him what happened." She grabbed the stair rail and ran down to the grassy field. People were just starting to pour out. Most of those who cheered for Gryffindor were still cheering, although no one cheered as loudly as the Gryffindors themselves.
"Let's wait there." Ron pointed to where people were gathered around a small addition to the stands, "that's where the team is." He explained. Holding onto each other's robes, the three weaved and squeezed between the crowd waiting for the team. Fred and George were the first to burst out, carrying Harry on their shoulders. They gave a cheer to the crowd and Harry held up a hand awkwardly waving to everyone. The crowd cheered and grabbed for the twins and Harry. Oliver and the three Chasers came out. Phoenix was only mildly shocked to see that all the Chasers were girls. People grabbed and shook Oliver, who looked like he was close to tears. People seemed to be full of energy as they clapped and whooped and hollered. Eventually, Harry made his way to the ground. Phoenix watched as people hugged him, ruffled his hair, gave him friendly pushes and shoves. Everyone cheered for him. She'd never seen him so at ease.
"You were wonderful, Harry." Hermione beamed at him once he'd managed to make it over to the three of them.
"Except I nearly fell off my broom." Harry's smile immediately dropped.
"Fred and George would have caught you either way, mate." Ron put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. Harry had changed out of his Quidditch robes and back into his school robes, "And Hermione's right," The two girls looked at him in shock, "you were brilliant."
"Thanks." Harry have a pressed smile.
"We think we know what happened to your broom." Phoenix eyed the people who were still swarming around the team. Ron had told her how popular the sport was, but even so she found this a bit ridiculous. It was just a school level sport, "I doubt any of these people have even been to an actual Quidditch game." Phoenix thought to herself, "not that I have any room to talk." She argued back. Still, there was something about the warm buzzing in her head and stomach that made Phoenix feel light, if not also sick at the same time. Almost like she'd just finished a delicious meal and was getting ready for bed, only to find that she'd overeaten and gotten ill.
"Oi!" The four turned to see Hagrid waving at them. Harry squeezed between more people who had gathered around to congratulate the team. Phoenix followed, wondering for a brief moment if Hagrid had misplaced his binoculars. "What's say you four come to my house for a spot of victory tea?" He invited the four once they'd all gathered around him. Harry looked at Phoenix, Hermione, and Ron, as if asking for permission to say yes. A habit from the Dursley's no doubt.
"Of course." Phoenix answered for the group, realizing everyone was waiting for someone else to say something. As the four of them half skipped to keep up with Hagrid, Phoenix pictured what they must have looked like. "We must look like little ducks following their parent." She noticed how they lined up behind Hagrid who led the way to his house.
"You were saying about my broom?" Harry turned back to look at the three of them.
"Yes." Hermione broke the line to stand next to him, "We believe Snape was jinxing your broom." She said after looking to Phoenix and Ron for courage.
"What?" Hagrid looked back at them as they walked along.
"Snape put a curse on Harry's broom," Ron started.
"Jinx." Phoenix corrected. A curse sounded like Snape wanted Harry dead, and while Phoenix was sure Snape strongly disliked Harry, she didn't believe he'd go as far as to kill someone.
"And that's why his broom tried to throw him off." Ron finished, ignoring Phoenix.
"Nonsense." Hagrid brushed off, Phoenix could almost see his eyes rolling from behind him, "Why would Snape put a curse on Harry's broom?" Hagrid asked.
Harry walked up to keep pace with Hagrid, "Who knows?" He asked. Phoenix joined Harry by Hagrid's side to look up at him, "Why was Snape trying to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween?"
Hagrid narrowed his eyes at them. "Who told you about Fluffy?"
"Fluffy?" Ron repeated, rushing up to stand on the other side of Phoenix.
"That thing has a name?" Phoenix asked incredulously. "And why of all names is it named 'Fluffy'?" she asked herself.
"Well a'course he's got a name, he's mine." Hagrid explained, "I bought him off an Irish chap down at the pub last year. Then I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the," Hagrid's eyes widened.
"Yes?" Hermione urged.
"I shouldn't have said that," Hagrid told himself quietly, Phoenix looked at Harry. What was Hagrid hiding from them? Why was he hiding it from them? Harry's eyes held the same questions. "No more questions, don't ask anymore questions." He pointed a finger at each of them, "That's top secret that is."
"But whatever it is, Snape's trying to steal it." Harry argued.
"Codswallop," Hagrid rolled his head back and stopped just before the cobblestone turned to a dirt path leading down to his house. "Professor Snape is a Hogwarts teacher." Hagrid explained looking down at the four students.
"Hogwarts teacher or not," Hermione joined the other three, "I know a spell when I see one. I've read all about them. You've got to keep eye contact and Snape wasn't blinking."
Harry and Ron nodded in agreement, Phoenix rolled her eyes. "As if you two knew that?" She wanted to snort, but she stayed quiet.
"Now you listen to me," Hagrid's voice lowered and rumbled in the cold November air, "All four of ya," He pointed at each of them, "You're meddlin' in things that ought not to be meddled in." He scolded, "It's dangerous." His warm brown eyes were concerned as he looked over each of them. A small part of Phoenix felt bad for pressuring Hagrid for answers, especially since he just wanted them to be safe and happy at Hogwarts. "What that dog is guarding is strictly between Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel."
"Nicholas Flamel?" Harry asked.
Hagrid's eyes widened and his jaw went slack as he realized what he had said. "I shouldn't have said that." He mumbled over and over to himself as he walked away.
"Nicholas Flamel?" Phoenix looked at the other three who had no inkling as to who that could be, "Who is Nicholas Flamel?" she hurried to catch up with Hagrid.
"No!" Hagrid threw his hands out as the final say, "I shan't say anymore. You four best forget I said anything, or you'll end up," he paused then shook his head, "no." he said one final time.
"But knowing who he is isn't any harm." Ron pointed out, catching up with them as Hagrid opened his hut to the four. "Unless he's some kind of dark wizard."
"Nicholas Flamel, a dark wizard?" Hagrid made a noise somewhere between a scoff and a laugh.
"Well if he isn't one, who is he?" Phoenix asked, she looked around Hagrid's hut.
"Back, Fang," Hagrid stood between the four and a dark beast that suddenly lunged from under the large table. "Fang! They're friends, back!" Phoenix backed up and stood with her back against Harry and Ron, she couldn't see what Hagrid was shielding them from, but it was loud, hot, and strong enough to make Hagrid kneel over. Hagrid let out as sound as though he'd been punched in the gut, with him bent over, the dark beast lunged around Hagrid. Phoenix closed her eyes and braced for jaws to clamp down on her neck.
Instead, she was knocked back into Harry and Ron, two big heavy paws on her shoulders, slipping off to stamp and pull her hair. A warm, wet, slobbery tongue ran across Phoenix's face. She thanked every instinct that she had enough thought left after her fall to close her mouth and hold her breath.
"Fang!" Hagrid was up again, "ge'off'er!" The dark beast was pulled back. Ron and Harry, each groaning from the weight of Phoenix and the beast combined on top of them, rolled to the side before helping themselves up. Hermione helped Phoenix stand and they wiped her face off with the ends of Phoenix's robes. Ron snickered, and Harry couldn't help but smile at the predicament.
"Sorry 'bout Fang." Hagrid apologized sheepishly. Phoenix opened her eyes once all the slobber was off her. Her face felt sticky and hot from the tongue, but when she got a look at Fang, she couldn't be mad. He was a big, black dog with very short fur, and big floppy ears. His face was wrinkly and sagged down, giving him a dopey look. Fang had huge paws, and chub rolls everywhere on his body. Somehow, even with his saggy, dopey face, Phoenix couldn't help but think Fang was smiling at her. "He's a great fat beast." Hagrid managed to get Fang to sit and looked at Phoenix.
He gave a quiet exclamation and went over to his sink. He pulled something out of one of his cabinets and ran it under water. "Here," he turned around and handed her a warm, red and white, checkered table cloth, "Wipe yourself off with that rag." He nodded towards it, "it'll get some a' the smell off."
"Thank you." Phoenix wiped her face once more and gave her robe where she'd previously wiped herself off a few wet squeezes with the table cloth. Ron and Hermione had already taken seats at Hagrid's enormous table, but Harry stayed and helped Phoenix with the table cloth.
When Phoenix finally joined everyone else at the table, she looked down in surprise as something settled under her legs. Fang had laid down under the table by her feet and gave a huge huff before closing his eyes and falling asleep. Hagrid regaled the tale of the Quidditch match from the stands to Harry, and Harry returned the favor from his point of view. Phoenix listened and absentmindedly swung her feet, rubbing Fang's back, thinking about Nicholas Flamel.
November passed, and soon the whisper of Christmas was in the castle. Snow was on the ground, ice covered the windows, and a frost permanently clung to the walls. Students talked about family and presents, traditions and parties. Phoenix would have joined them had her circumstances been different. She would have loved to have invited Ron, Harry, and Hermione over for the holiday. Baking treats all day, listening to cheesy Christmas songs, watching even cheesier Christmas movies. Christmas was usually the one time of year Mary went all out on magic. "Aside from last year," Phoenix thought, looking across the table at Harry who was busy alternating bites between turkey and ham. Christmas couldn't have been more perfect last year, even without her mother's magic.
Owls swooped low overhead, dropping off letters and candies. Phoenix unconsciously looked to Draco, who caught a dark green envelope from the family owl. Phoenix watched the bird circle around and caught a similar dark green envelope.
"What are you going to be doing for the holiday?" Hermione asked both boys.
"We're going home," Fred and George came up on either side of Ron. Each twin pulled at a cheek, "Little Ronniekins is gunna have to wear mummy's sweet sweater." Fred teased.
"Geroff me!" Ron groaned through stretched cheeks.
"And you, Harry?" Hermione asked.
Harry glanced at Phoenix, but tried to hide it, she frowned. Had he been looking forward to another Christmas with her and Mary? Phoenix could almost feel the holiday spirit leave her soul. "I'm staying at school." Harry admitted.
"What?" George backed away from Ron to look at Harry, "course not! You should come with us!"
"Yeah, I'm sure mum wouldn't mind it." Fred backed away from Ron and agreed.
"Guys," Ron tried to get the twins to leave Harry alone.
"Thanks," Harry bowed his head respectfully, "but I wouldn't want to bother."
Phoenix wondered briefly if he'd felt like a bother last year, but quickly turned her attention to her letter. "No! No no no!" Phoenix read over the letter a second time, third time, she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"What?" Ron asked between bites of turkey and cranberry sauce. Fred and George both perked up at her cries of misery.
"The Malfoy's want me to go to their house for the Christmas holiday!" Phoenix turned the letter over to show her friends the contents. She looked across the Great Hall at Draco who had crumpled his letter up and left it on the table. "As if he's asking for someone to ask him about it." Phoenix felt her blood boil. She hadn't said much to her brother in the weeks following her outburst at him. The last thing she wanted to do was spend the holidays with people she barely knew.