"Too bad we didn't find anything on Nicholas Flamel." Hermione rambled as she packed her trunk. "Now Harry will have to spend the whole holiday break looking in the library by himself."
Phoenix didn't have the heart to tell Hermione that Harry would most likely look for a day then give up and wait for their return. "Maybe I could find something out from the Malfoy's." she suggested.
Hermione considered this for a moment, "Maybe." She agreed. She turned once she'd gotten her trunk squeezed shut, "Aren't you packing?"
"I don't have anything to really take." Phoenix kicked at her bed covers, burying herself in their warmth. "We both did our homework already," Phoenix looked at Hermione's bedside table where her inkwell and scrolls were missing, "and I have nothing to give to the Malfoy's for Christmas." Phoenix wanted to lay in bed and ignore the holidays altogether. She was still waiting everyday for her letter to come. There was no way her mother would write a letter to her while she was at the Malfoy's, that would be like signing her own death certificate.
"Pack clothes at least." Hermione opened Phoenix's travel trunk. "You can't wear your uniform every day." She hefted the trunk up and slammed it down on her bed, Phoenix just barely pulled her feet back in time to avoid getting crushed toes. "Pack." Hermione said, pulling on her gloves and wrapping her scarf around her neck, "I'll wait for you downstairs." And with that, Hermione turned and wheeled her trunk out of the dormitory.
Phoenix kicked the trunk in a fit of childish annoyance. She stayed curled up under her blankets but moved to the end of her bed so she could reach down into her Hogwarts trunk and move clothes from one trunk to the other. Her travel trunk looked a wreck, but Phoenix doubted anyone would look inside. Slamming the lid down and latching it shut, Phoenix dragged the trunk behind her as she descended into the Common Room.
"That's odd." Hermione turned to her once she was at the bottom of the stairs.
"What is?" Phoenix looked around. The Common Room had been decorated up for the holidays. A single tree stood in the corner to the right of the fireplace. Garland was strung up around the ceiling, a wreath adorned every painting, and every painting was either singing carols or toasting to the holidays with rosy cheeks and noses. The fireplace, Phoenix suspected, had been enchanted and was continuously roaring and warming the entire room. Decorative stockings hung on every conceivable surface, the mantle, a table ledge, chair backs, painting frames, window ledges. Several golden enchanted reindeer ornaments flew around the room. To Phoenix, nothing looked out of place. It was a picture-perfect room, complete with the lingering smell of hot chocolate and peppermint.
"Ron's not here." Hermione looked around the suspiciously empty Common Room.
"Maybe he's waiting for us downstairs." Phoenix tucked her gloves under her arm and wrapped her scarf tightly around her neck. "Come on, let's just go." She pulled Hermione out of the Common Room.
"Have a nice holiday, girls!" The Fat Lady called, tipping a glass of wine back.
"Have a nice holiday!" Phoenix called back. Hermione was already levitating her trunk down the stairs, Phoenix followed her. The castle seemed to have been decorated overnight. The entire stairwell was laced with garland. Just like in the Common Room, every painting had a wreath around it, although most paintings were now empty. Phoenix spotted several painting residents all gathering in larger frames to drink and party. A knight rode by on a boar. Phoenix smiled. The castle was alive with buzzing emotions, though the buzz was different than the buzz at the Quidditch game. This buzz made Phoenix smile, as though every nostalgic feeling was mingling in the air.
Filch, the nasty, crotchety groundskeeper was inspecting trunks and checking students off a list at the front doors to the castle. Snow drifted in from the open doors, and Phoenix could see icicles hanging from the door outside. "Wait," Hermione held out her hand to stop Phoenix from joining the line of students leaving, "look," she nodded to the Great Hall. Phoenix looked and was blown away by the decorations. There were giant fir trees lining the walls, each decorated with dazzling silver and gold ornaments, trimmings, candles, and all other manner of trinkets. The ceiling was bewitched to appear as though it were snowing. However, Hermione wasn't focused on the decorations, instead she was watching Harry and Ron.
Before Phoenix could stop her, Hermione was off marching towards them. Phoenix could feel irritation settle over her buzz. She followed Hermione into the Great Hall. When she got closer she heard Ron state, "Queen to E-five." Just then one of Ron's chess pieces moved, it picked up the chair it was sitting on, and swung it out.
It crushed one of Harry's pieces and Harry moved it off the board so it could reassemble itself. "That's totally barbaric!" Hermione exclaimed.
"That's Wizard's Chess." Ron sat back smugly. He eyed Hermione and Phoenix's bags. "See you've packed." He mentioned, crossing his arms.
"See you haven't." Hermione shot back. Phoenix could tell she wasn't happy about the change of plans to all ride together and plan a Christmas surprise for Harry on the train. Phoenix couldn't blame her, but she also didn't think Ron would have been much help in the first place anyways.
"Change of plans," Ron informed them, leaning forward to rest his forearms on the table, "my parents are going to Romania, to visit my brother Charlie," he turned to Phoenix, "he's working with dragons there!" He exclaimed excitedly, though Phoenix doubted Ron knew exactly what his brother was doing beyond spending his day with dragons.
"Well," Phoenix spoke up before Hermione could say anything, "you can help Harry look for information on Nicholas Flamel."
"We've looked a hundred times!" Ron complained, leaning back dejectedly.
"Not in the restricted section." Hermione leaned forward as though she was telling a secret. She then leaned back with a smug look, "Happy Christmas." And with that, she turned away.
"Have fun with Malfoy," Ron raised his chin, addressing Phoenix.
Phoenix rolled her eyes, "If he tries anything," Harry had turned in his seat to look at Phoenix, "just let us know."
"And you try something just to get in trouble?" Phoenix shook her head, "I'll be fine." She was touched both Harry and Ron looked ready to pummel Draco to a pulp if she needed them to, but she had survived Dudley and been fine. Well, aside from the horrifying realization that she was attuned to people's emotions and had an influence over the weather. "Just try not to get in trouble while we're gone." She laid a gloved hand on Harry's shoulder. He turned and stood up, enveloping her in a hug. Phoenix returned the gesture, "Happy Christmas." She said.
Harry pulled away and gave her a tight smile, "Happy Christmas."
Phoenix turned to Ron, "Happy Christmas," she nodded politely, "and tell your brothers the same."
Ron nodded, "Happy Christmas!" He called as Phoenix turned and walked away. Phoenix fell in line behind other students going home for the holidays and pulled her scarf up around her face to shield herself from the cold wind whipping inside the castle. The line shuffled as Filch checked off who was leaving, what house they belonged to, and where they would be going.
"Name." Filch gargled, not looking up from his wad of parchment. His wrinkled fingers were stained with ink, and his ever-present scowl twitched with a cold blast of wind at the castle door.
"Phoenix." She answered, she looked outside and saw Hermione shivering in the front courtyard, waiting for her as other students piled into warm carriages and were carried off.
"Last name," Filch huffed, glaring down at her.
"Malfoy." The name was foreign on her tongue. She hardly ever signed her last name on her homework, something Snape was constantly marking her down for.
"House?" Filch took a breath and coughed into his threadbare scarf. Mrs. Norris meowed and flicked her tail back and forth.
Phoenix avoided the golden eyes of the insane cat, "Gryffindor." She didn't feel like starting something with Filch, and she wanted to get out of the line as quick as possible.
"Destination?" Filch was scribbling down her answers on his parchment.
"The Malfoy's house?" Phoenix guessed. She actually didn't know. All she knew was Mrs. Malfoy had written to her expressing her demand for Phoenix to spend Christmas with them.
"Go." Filch thumbed her outside and Phoenix couldn't get far enough away before he began interrogating the next poor student, "Name?"
"Sorry," Phoenix apologized to Hermione who was shuffling from foot to foot to keep warm.
"It's fine." Hermione's teeth chattered.
"Your luggage, miss Malfoy?" Professor Sprout asked. Poor Professor Sprout was stuck in the cold, snowy courtyard throwing luggage up onto the back of carriages. She was wrapped in several thick coats and wore furry gloves on either hand. She had on thick earmuffs, a long scarf, and boots that looked soaked to the core.
"Thank you, Professor." Phoenix handed her luggage over to Professor Sprout.
"Thank goodness you packed light." Professor Sprout teased, "Most first years take all their schools supplies home." She looked at Hermione who pointedly looked away. Phoenix wasn't sure if she was blushing or if the wind was getting to her rosy cheeks.
"I'm sorry you're stuck out here doing this." Phoenix said before she could stop herself.
Professor Sprout shook her head, "I drew the short wand this year." She smiled. Thankfully, before any other awkward conversation could arise, a carriage, pulled by magic of course, came to a stop before them. Phoenix allowed Hermione to enter first, climbing in behind her. "Happy Christmas, girls." Professor Sprout closed them in. The carriage rocked as she levitated and dropped their luggage on top.
"Happy Christmas!" They called out, but the carriage had already rocked forward and they were on their way to the train.
"So, I've made a list of all the things we could give Harry. I've already requested for a school owl to be at my house, so whatever we pick has to be something an owl can carry." Hermione turned to Phoenix. The walls of the carriage seemed to buzz with heat and Hermione settled herself back on the cushions.
"Well, whatever it is, it should be small enough that if Harry took it home his family wouldn't find it." Phoenix rubbed her hands together.
Hermione said nothing. She pulled a scroll out of her robe pocket and looked it over. "I thought about getting him a book on proper broom care,"
"Do you think he'd actually use it?" Phoenix asked. Phoenix knew Harry wasn't a big reader, even before coming to Hogwarts. She recalled reading to him after school if they ever had a book to read for homework. It wasn't that Harry didn't enjoy reading, it just took him longer than he wanted and he always ended up getting frustrated.
"Well he should. Perhaps there is some kind of charm he could use to make it un-jinx-able." Hermione pointed out, talking about Harry's broom.
"Yes," Phoenix nodded, "but isn't charming your broom a foul?" Besides, she didn't think the accident would occur again. Whatever Snape was planning was obviously fouled by Hermione's intervention, he wouldn't attempt the same attack twice. "Would he?" Phoenix thought, looking at the snow covered evergreens outside.
"Maybe in professional Quidditch. But this is school Quidditch." Hermione said. "Who knows if the rules are the same."
Phoenix nodded, "Alright. What else have you got on there?" She turned back to Hermione.
"Just simple stuff. New gloves-" she lowered her list, "can you believe he's already lost his mandated uniform gloves?" It actually didn't surprise Phoenix. Harry didn't even have a winter coat back with the Dursley's. He probably just misplaced and forgot about his gloves as soon as he'd gotten them. Knowing his luck, the gloves were back at the Dursley's. "Anyways." Hermione looked at her list, "I also thought about owl gloves. Hedwig has some pretty sharp talons, and I'd hate for Harry to scratch his arm up trying to care for her."
"That's pretty smart." Phoenix hadn't even considered getting him something practical. Then again, the most fancy gift she'd gotten anyone was the origami animals she had magicked to life for Mary last year.
"I've also got on here, chocolate frogs, cauldron cakes, sweets." Hermione rolled her eyes, "I honestly don't know what I was thinking."
"I think he'd love it." Phoenix said, nodding to herself. Hermione just looked at her, "Well I mean. His aunt and uncle don't let him have sweets, but he has a huge sweet tooth." Phoenix said, remembering how Harry came over to her house the first hot week summer and would sheepishly ask for ice cream sundaes, or coming over in the winter and politely requesting hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
"Plus," Phoenix said, "if you got him something to eat then his aunt and uncle wouldn't get made at him for bringing so much stuff home."
"How come they sound like horrible people?" Hermione asked.
Phoenix closed her mouth, it felt wrong to talk about Harry's home life without his permission. "His aunt and uncle are just very strict." Was all she said.
"Very well. So, sweets it is?" Hermione asked. Phoenix nodded in agreement. "Well that was easy," she folded her list up and put it back in her pocket, "we can even buy a box of sweets on the train."
"Smart." Phoenix agreed. The carriage came to a bumpy stop and the door opened on its own. A train worker, Phoenix assumed it was the same one who had taken her luggage on her trip to Hogwarts, ran over.
"Afternoon, ladies." He puffed out, his breath visible through his scarf. He only nodded his head politely before working on their luggage. Phoenix followed Hermione pass the station and onto the train. Inside was cold, but not nearly as frigid as it was outside. The train was not nearly as crowded as the first day of the term, but that only made it seem more frigid. Phoenix followed Hermione down a train corridor and the two settled into a compartment in silence.
Phoenix rubbed her gloved hands together and blew into her cupped hands, they grew warm and sweaty in her gloves. Phoenix glanced at Hermione, she didn't want to take her gloves off and risk a conversation on the temperature. Instead, she let her hands grow sweaty and sticky in her gloves in uncomfortable silence. Hermione was rubbing her own hands together, shivering and looking outside.
"I hope they hurry up." Hermione's teeth were clattering. Phoenix curled up and rubbed her arms, pretending to be cold as well. Just as Hermione resolved to ask someone what the hold up was, the train's heating came on and a whistle blew outside. "Thank goodness." Hermione took off her gloves and held her hands up to the vent on the wall. "At least wizards have central heating." Hermione joked.
"Yeah," Phoenix peeled her damp gloves off and shoved them into her coat pockets, shedding the coat as the train lurched forward.
"I'm so excited for Christmas." Hermione's eyes sparkled as she unbuttoned her coat.
"Why's that?" Phoenix asked, she kept her scarf on and brought her braid around her neck to play with the loose strands.
"My father's sister hosts everyone at her farmhouse in the country." Hermione explained, Phoenix said nothing, wanting to hear more. "It'll be my parents, my father's sister and brother-in-law, their two children." Hermione ticked off on her fingers, "My mother's brother and sister-in-law, and their three children! And my grandparents from mom and dad's side!"
"Why do both sides get together? Do any other distant relatives visit?" Phoenix asked. She wondered briefly if Mr. or Mrs. Malfoy had any siblings. Did Phoenix have grandparents? What were they like?
"Well," Hermione put her chin in her hands, "I think it's because my father's brother-in-law isn't on good terms with his family, so they don't visit. And my mother's sister-in-law is from America, so her family doesn't visit either." Hermione must have just remembered Phoenix's predicament, for she grew silent and her cheeks turned cherry red.
Phoenix watched the last tower of Hogwarts castle disappear behind the trees and took a deep breath. She was actually going to spending time with her family. "That word doesn't belong to them." Phoenix thought to herself, "but what else am I to call them? They are my biological family." Even though Phoenix had held out hope that Mary would show up and clarify things with Hogwarts, it'd been three months and still no word or sighting from her.
"What was your mom like?" Hermione broke the silence, "not your mom you're visiting now, but the one who raised you."
"Mary?" Phoenix asked, it felt weird to call Mary by her first name when Phoenix had only ever known her as mom. Hermione nodded. "Mary," She paused, "Mom was amazing." She smiled. "I miss her so much," Phoenix admitted, it was the first time she'd said so out loud and a rock formed in her throat.
"What were your Christmas's like with her?" Hermione asked, sincerely curious.
"Magical." Phoenix breathed, trying to blink away tears. "She always made the best hot chocolate, and she got me the most wonderful gifts." Phoenix's chest started to ache, like a forgotten sore rubbed the wrong way. "So then why would she lie to me?" Phoenix thought to herself, not making a sound incase she burst into tears. "Why did she pretend to be my mom? Why is she leaving me with the Malfoy's?" So many questions, and no one to answer them. Except Dumbledore, but he acted like he'd never met Phoenix before, and Phoenix couldn't get what Kingsley had said out of her head. How much longer before he could declare her case a dead end?
"She sounds like a wonderful woman." Hermione smiled politely.
Phoenix looked at her, "She was." She added silently, "I think." Phoenix had to give Hermione some credit as a friend. Hermione tried her hardest to keep Phoenix's mind off the impending doom that would surly be the holiday break. But after every laugh and every smile, Phoenix just saw Draco's sneer. It would be, without a doubt, the worst Christmas ever.
It was night when the train rolled into the King's Cross. Hermione jumped up first, pulling her coat and gloves back on, before resituating her hat and scarf. Phoenix moved slower, wanting every move to be part of some bad dream. She buttoned up her coat and looked out to the platform. Several parents were there waiting for their children, but it wasn't nearly as crowded as back in September. Wreaths and lights were strung around the station, and through the frost on the window, Phoenix could see students already jumping off the train into their parent's arms.
Phoenix followed Hermione off the train on autopilot. Her breath hung in the air when she stepped off the train. "Mum! Dad!" Hermione ran forward into the arms of a woman who was kneeling down. Phoenix could see each had a set of blue scrubs on under their sweaters. Hermione looked back at Phoenix and waved her over. Timidly, Phoenix carefully crossed the icy platform to the Grangers. "This is Phoenix, the friend I've been telling you about."
"Hello, Phoenix." Mr. Granger bent forward and held out his gloved hand, "it's nice to finally meet you." Phoenix took his hand, even through two layers of gloves she could feel his warmth.
"Thank you." Phoenix smiled politely. "It's nice to meet you too." She said on autopilot.
"We understand you've had a rough time adjusting." Mrs. Granger was now holding Hermione's shoulders, looking around the platform, "If you ever wish to get away and visit Hermione, just let us know."
Mr. Granger nodded in agreement, "Yes," he looked between his wife and Phoenix, "our house is always open for you." Phoenix smiled sincerely, Mary would have liked these two.
"Thank you." Phoenix said, feeling hopeful that maybe she wouldn't have to spend the entire holiday break with the Malfoy's.
"Here," Mrs. Granger dug through the bulky purse hanging on her shoulder, "it's early, but we weren't sure how to send this to you." She handed Phoenix a small package, wrapped in green and red, with a sparkling silver bow on top. "You can open it now, or on Christmas," Mrs. Granger shrugged, trying to act indifferent, "it's really no big deal."
"Right." Mr. Granger agreed, "We just wanted to get you something small, after all, it's not every day Hermione goes on about the fun she has with friends."
"Dad," Hermione's cheeks grew red and Phoenix knew it wasn't because of the wind whipping into the station. Phoenix could feel the nerve rushing off the Grangers as she looked at the box. "Oh great," Hermione rolled her eyes. Phoenix turned, Draco was stepping off the train, he nodded to Crabbe and Goyle who waddled off to their respective families and then Draco walked over to Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy.
"Is that Mr. Malfoy?" Mr. Granger asked.
"Dad, please," Hermione tugged at his Christmas sweater, "leave it alone."
"I should say something to him, let him know we would take care of Phoenix if she came over." Mr. Granger said, though from the tone of his voice, Phoenix could tell he had more on his mind then her wellbeing.
"It's fine." Phoenix spoke up, finding her voice in the snow that blew in from outside. Mr. and Mrs. Granger smiled at her and Phoenix would have done anything to go spend Christmas with Hermione, but, not wanting to cause trouble she thanked them and turned to the Malfoys.
Hermione jumped in front of her before she could take two steps, "Happy Christmas!" She wrapped her arms around Phoenix and didn't let go until she returned the gesture. "And please write if things get bad." Hermione made her promise. Phoenix nodded, she let go of Hermione, and walked over to the Malfoy's, feeling the Granger's eyes on her the whole time.
"Phoenix." Mrs. Malfoy held out her hand. Phoenix begrudgingly took it, Mrs. Malfoy stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Phoenix. Phoenix held her breath, shocked at the sudden touch. Mary used to smell like mint and flowers, she smlled like the earth and like home. Mrs. Malfoy smelled like soap and something fruity, she smelled like prestige cleanliness and schedules. It was too different for Phoenix, so she waited until Mrs. Malfoy pulled away to sniff and wipe her dripping nose on the back of her glove. Draco made a face of disgust, she ignored him.
"Shall we?" Mr. Malfoy motioned to a row of fireplaces with his cane. Phoenix looked at the fireplaces curiously. It was freezing in the station, why weren't any of the fireplaces lit.
"I'll go with Phoenix." Mrs. Malfoy held her shoulders, she didn't look at the man from the train who dropped off Phoenix and Draco's luggage. Phoenix smiled at him, but he didn't look at her. Phoenix let Mrs. Malfoy guide her towards the fireplaces, her heart was pounding in her chest. She wasn't ready for this!
"I don't want to forget mom and home," Phoenix dragged her feet under her, she looked over her shoulder but the Grangers were already gone. "I don't want to live with them!" Phoenix felt like crying, her chest felt tight and her head was spinning.
Mr. Malfoy and Draco stepped into a fireplace, Phoenix watched with wide eyes. She didn't recall Mary ever telling her about magical fireplaces. "Malfoy Manor." Mr. Malfoy said, an arm around Draco's shoulders. Mr. Malfoy threw some kind of dust down and the two were engulfed in green flames. When the flames died down, Mr. Malfoy and Draco were gone.
"It's called the floo network." Mrs. Malfoy gently pushed Phoenix into the same fireplace and grabbed something from a pot suspended to the side. She then stepped in with Phoenix, "We use floo powder to take us where we need to go."
"How?" Phoenix asked, curiosity got the better of her.
"We throw it down and say aloud where we wish to go." Mrs. Malfoy explained. "For example." She held Phoenix's shoulder with her free hand, "Malfoy Manor." She mimicked Mr. Malfoy's movement and Phoenix saw the station disappear behind a rising curtain of green flames. She wasn't hot and the flames didn't burn, but Phoenix kept her arms pressed close to her sides.
"Here we are," Phoenix blinked to adjust to the shift in light, "home sweet home." They were in a circular room lined with fireplaces. In the center was an empty hat rack. Mr. Malfoy was brushing soot off Draco's shoulders.
"Remind me to kick that stupid elf." Mr. Malfoy seethed through his teeth.
Mrs. Malfoy clicked her tongue, "What now?" she asked, helping Phoenix step out of the fireplace.
"It didn't clean the fireplaces like I told it to." Mr. Malfoy explained. "Stupid thing thinks it can be lazy."
"Elf?" Phoenix realized what Mr. Malfoy had said and looked between the three.
"Merlin, you don't even know what house elves are." Mrs. Malfoy sounded faint.
"House elves?" Phoenix repeated.
"They're servants." Draco explained, as though talking about them was disgusting enough.
"Servants?" Phoenix thought, "that's horrible." She wondered what house elves looked like, not recalling them in any school books she had. "Maybe it just forgot." Phoenix suggested.
Mr. Malfoy looked at Phoenix as though she'd grown a second head from her abdomen. Mrs. Malfoy laid a hand on her shoulder, "Lucius, remember," she said gently, "Phoenix wasn't raised properly."
Mr. Malfoy took a breath, "Then I will deal with this separately." He took his winter cloak off and hung it up on the hat rack. "I will see you all for supper." And with that, Mr. Malfoy whisked out of the room.
Draco fumbled with the clasp on his school cloak, Mrs. Malfoy ended up helping both children out of their cloaks, hats, and scarves. "Red and gold." She held either end of Phoenix's scarf in her hands. Phoenix could tell Mrs. Malfoy wanted to scrunch her nose in disgust, but after glancing at Phoenix, she smiled tensely.
"What different colors." Mrs. Malfoy said, hanging the scarf up. Phoenix looked around, everything was stone grey and sparkling emerald. "Draco," she turned to Draco who was trying to creep out of the room, "why don't you show Phoenix to her room? It's across from yours." She ordered. "Both of you should clean up for supper." She instructed, "your father doesn't want you wearing your school robes." She smiled, "I'll be in the study if you need me."
"Why can't an elf do it?" Draco demanded.
"Because I said so." Mrs. Malfoy's tone was final, and Phoenix wished she could have been anywhere but there. Before either could protest, Mrs. Malfoy was gone.
"Fine." Draco said to the air she left when she closed the door. He glared at Phoenix and turned away without a word. Not wanting to be lost, Phoenix followed behind him. Everything was stone, iron, and emerald. Draco walked without hesitation through the entrance hall where a large fire was roaring. Phoenix looked around at the portraits on either side of the fireplace, they didn't move like the ones at Hogwarts.
"Or maybe they're just sleeping." Phoenix thought, she turned back to follow Draco up a large set of stairs which met a landing and then split into two staircases on either side. Draco climbed the right staircase and Phoenix followed. He walked through an open doorway and Phoenix stumbled onto the green, thick, plush carpet, Draco didn't glance back.
"So, where do you guys have supper?" Phoenix asked, trying to ease the awkward silence between them. She may not like Draco, correction, she hated him, but that didn't mean they couldn't pretend to be civil when they had to live together.
"In the dining room." Draco snapped back. He stopped and Phoenix stayed a few steps back from him, "Oh, let me guess." He turned back to sneer at her, "your filthy muggle huts didn't have those."
Phoenix rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "They do. But I don't know where it is here!" She then mocked a face of surprise, "Oh, let me guess," she mimicked him, "your stupid wizard prisons have five of them."
"This home is not a prison!" Draco snapped, "It is a dignified manor that has been passed down for generations."
"Yeah, yeah," Phoenix waved him off, "and my uncle works at Nintendo." She joked knowing fully well that Draco had no idea what Nintendo was. Sure enough, his face looked a cross between disgust and confusion.
"Just ask one of the stupid elves to tell you, then!" Draco turned on his heel and walked down the hallway, ducking into a room and slamming the door shut. Phoenix ran down the hall and looked at the door Draco had disappeared behind.
"Just ask one of the stupid elves to tell you, then," Phoenix mimicked under her breath. She sighed and looked across the hall. "Must be my room," she thought. She walked to the dark wood door and tried the diamond doorknob, "how rich can these people be?" she asked herself when she pushed the door open.
Inside she found a small creature packing papers away in a folder. It stopped when Phoenix stopped. Her first instinct was to scream, but instead, Phoenix felt her feet freeze to the floor. Her breath gathered up.
"Please don't scream at Dobby!" The thing pleaded, dropping the papers and waving its hands to quiet her.
Phoenix wobbled on the spot and fell back on her butt. "What are you?" She looked at her feet and saw she'd literally frozen to the floor. The screamed she'd been holding back ripped free.
"Don't worry! Dobby can fix it!" The thing ran over and snapped its fingers at her, the ice around her ankles shattered. Phoenix immediately pulled away from it, accidentally scooting back against the door and closing it. "Dobby didn't mean to startle young miss."
"Stop!" Phoenix shook her hands at it, the thing closed its mouth and looked at Phoenix with big green eyes. It looked like a pale, naked bat, but it had no wings just twigy limbs, and a dirty tea cozy covering its body. Phoenix tried to form a question but she just blew out air. The creature opened its mouth, but Phoenix silenced it with a finger. "What are you?" She asked again.
"Well, Dobby is an elf." The creature said sheepishly, wringing its hands on the tea cozy.
"An elf?" Phoenix repeated, "Why are you here?" She asked slowly. This must have been the elf Draco was talking about.
"Dobby was instructed by master to clean young miss's room of papers." The elf, Dobby, said.
"What papers?" Curiosity overtook Phoenix and she stood up, Dobby came up to her elbow, and she walked over to the papers Dobby dropped.
"Papers that master has kept for over ten years." Dobby explained. Phoenix kneeled down and started picking the old yellowed pages. "No! Dobby can do it." But Phoenix wasn't listening to Dobby.
"Malfoy child kidnapped." Phoenix looked at the headlines of the papers. "No new leads in Missing Malfoy Case", "One Year Since Phoenix Malfoy Went Missing", "Five Years After: What We Know About Missing Malfoy Case", "Have You Seen This Girl?", "Malfoy Family Distraught" and a dozen other news articles featuring her were scattered on the floor. Phoenix pulled her legs out from under her and sat with her legs crossed, going over the papers.
"Dobby should really take those." Dobby shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. Phoenix ignored him.
'Early this morning Ministry officials were called to the Malfoy Manor after receiving a stress floo from the family patriarch, Lucius Malfoy. Just a few short weeks after celebrating the first birthday of Malfoy twins, Draco and Phoenix, the latter was found to be missing when house elf Netty went to the nursery for an early morning cleaning. Aurors are combing through the muggle-repellant enchantments surrounding the Malfoy Manor for flaws or holes that someone could have slipped in through. Mrs. Malfoy pleaded to share her request with our readers, "Please, just bring me back my baby girl." The remaining Malfoy family, pictured on pg. 3 remains shaken but cooperative in hopes of finding their daughter.'
A baby face, unfamiliar to Phoenix blinked and giggled at her. Was this a baby portrait of her? It had to be. "How come I never questioned mom before?" Phoenix thought to herself, bashing her forehead with the palm of her hand. "The lack of baby pictures, no family, the constant moving. How does Dumbledore fit into this? Mom, what did you do?" Phoenix looked at another article.
It has been five years since the Malfoy's world was turned upside down. In late June of 1981 Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy were woken with the news that their daughter had been kidnapped in the night. The Daily Prophet was able to speak with Witch Watcher Oyer Andover about the case.
What do we know about the day of the disappearance?
"The actual event took place sometime between midnight and five a.m. Their former house elf went to the nursery, located on the second floor in an interior room, at midnight to check on the two children. The next time she checked on them was at roughly five in the morning. That's a five hour window to work with.
Have there been any concrete leads as to who could have taken Phoenix?
Most children are kidnapped by someone who knows the family. We've interviewed former classmates, coworkers of Mr. Malfoy, family, family friends, but unfortunately nothing concrete has come from that. We've also looked into former Death Eaters, those who aligned with the defeated Dark Lord, to see if kidnapping was something that needed to be added to their repertoire. Again, nothing concrete has come up. We get tips every few months about Phoenix spotting's but every trail dries up by the time we are able to safely move in.
What can magical communities do if they spot Phoenix?
Try to get a good look at who she is with. See if she's malnourished, scared, any physical attributes of her or any adult with her. The only known pictures we have of her are baby portraits which are no longer accurate as Phoenix is now six years old. Try to memorize what she and her kidnappers are doing and of course report it. The time, the place, anything relevant to finding her.
Phoenix skimmed over the rest of the papers. They never gave up looking for her. The whole time she was thinking about finding a lost father or family, and they were all right here. "Mom, why'd you do it?" Phoenix felt her lower lip tremble. She looked up at Dobby who was still standing awkwardly to the side. "Here. I'm sorry." She held out the papers to him.
"Young miss is apologizing to Dobby?" Dobby asked cautiously taking the papers. Before she could stop it, tears gathered in Phoenix's eyes. "Bad Dobby," she heard the elf say as she rubbed her eyes with her sleeves. She couldn't stop her tears and the more she wiped the harder they became until she was a crying heap on her floor. She missed her old life. A year ago, and Phoenix would have traded anything to learn magic, now all she wanted was her old life back. Phoenix felt Dobby's small, spindly hand pat her arm comfortingly. "Dobby is sorry for making young miss cry."
"It's not your fault, Dobby." Phoenix sat up, hiccupping through her tears. "I just miss my mom so much."
"Would young miss like Dobby to go get Mistress?" Dobby asked.
"N-not her-er-er!" Phoenix wailed, pulling her knees to her chest and crying on her legs. Dobby stayed silent and Phoenix could hear him picking up the rest of the papers.
There was silence for a long time as Phoenix cried and Dobby cleaned. Eventually Phoenix could feel two big eyes burning a hole in the side of her head and she looked up. Dobby jumped, spooked by the sudden movement and said, "Is there anything Dobby can do to help?"
"No, thank you." Phoenix sniffed. She was covered in tears and snot. "Here, I can help you move those out of the room." Phoenix stood up.
"No! Dobby can do it on his own." Dobby tried to stop Phoenix but she was already walking over. Dobby backed up and a loose folder on top of the box fell off. Phoenix picked it up despite Dobby's whimpers. "Dobby wouldn't look in that if Dobby was you."
"Why not?" Phoenix asked. It was a plain folder, dark blue in color with no decoration of any kind. It was bulging and lumpy with secret contents.
"Dark things in that, Dobby doesn't dare speak of it." Dobby said, pulling at his ears.
"Dark things like, 'Elixir of Life', dark?" Phoenix asked. Dobby squeaked and covered his hands with his mouth, his ears folded down, trying to block all his senses. Curious, Phoenix flipped the folder open. A picture sat on top of everything. A group of smiling people. "Mom?" Phoenix picked up the picture. Sure enough, Mary stood smiling in the photograph. She stood between a man with thick dark hair and a confident smirk, and a man with light hair and scars on his face. Dumbledore was in the photograph as well, and so was Hagrid! What was this? Why did the Malfoy's have it? Under the photograph was a series of loose parchment letters between Narcissa and an unnamed person. She fingered through the letters, most talked about her and Mary, but the last few talked about You-Know-Who, Phoenix, and Draco. There was a black, leather bound journal in the back of the folder. Phoenix picked it up, she felt dizzy just looking at it and put it back in the folder sleeve. Under the journal was another photograph. A little girl and boy sitting side by side in an arm chair. The little girl had thick, silvery-blonde hair and steel-blue eyes. The little boy had unruly black hair and shining green eyes. Phoenix turned the photograph over.
Phoenix and Harry
1981
Last Order Meeting
She's safe with Mary
Phoenix gasped and turned the photograph over again. Baby Phoenix and Harry were giggling, their eyes shimmering with childlike glee. Harry in the photo rocked side to side, knocking heads with Phoenix. Phoenix in the photo held a hand to her head and turned to blow a raspberry at Harry. Phoenix put the folder back on top of the box but kept the two photographs. She held onto the photo of her mother and placed the other on her lap, pulling her legs to her chest again. She covered her mouth with one hand and just watched her mother's smiling face. Phoenix sat like that for what felt like hours.