Chapter 2

Two days later and Phoenix was back to her usual routine; exchanging letters with the ministry, getting the information needed to go on raids, being hired by outside individuals as a private assassin for the highest bidder…just the usual things that 21 year old witches do with their lives. Just as she was getting back into the swing of her life she received yet another letter from one Professor Minerva McGonagall. As she picked up the letter Phoenix felt as if she was being tugged through a tiny hole. The next thing she knew she was standing in the Headmistresses office in front of a desperate Minerva.

"Phoenix, I am asking you once again that you attend the school to help, not only to protect Mr Potter but also to protect the school that Albus and every headmaster and headmistress before him has worked so hard to build." Minerva pleaded.

Unfortunately for Phoenix Minerva McGonagall knew exactly how to get to her. Minerva had used the Albus card. He had been Phoenix's tutor and, before his death, her only family. His death had been one of the very few that brought tears to her eyes. Phoenix was far from the crying type as from a young age she had taught herself that if she did not feel emotion she would not get hurt.

"Fine," Phoenix conceded "I will attend classes with Potter but I have some conditions that I expect to happen. One, I am not going to attend as a student Minerva, going through it once was enough for me. I will just be a shadow in the background as I am with every other job I have ever had. Two, I will not be sorted into any house. I am just an outside observer, a neutral force as it were. And three if that boy irritates me in the slightest I have every right to say exactly what needs to be said, even if it means hurting his delicate ego. Are all of those fair under these circumstances Minerva?"

"Yes, but you will have to live in the same house quarters as Harry. Will you keep your name or have an alias?" Minerva questioned.

"My name is fine Minnie, I don't care if they know who I am. Now it is the welcome feast tonight, correct?"

"Yes, come along and you can be introduced after the first years." Minerva stated in a delighted voice.

We slowly made our way down and as Minerva walked into the great hall Phoenix stood outside, leaning against the wall with her hood pulled up over her head to hide her from the prying eyes of curious first years. A few minutes passed before Professor Flitwick came out to collect them all. His face brightened even more when he saw the figure lurking in the background.

"Oh, my dear Phoenix, how lovely it is to see you again." He cried. "Are you here for the reason I think you are?"

"Yes Filius, she guilted me into it by using the Albus card."

"Don't feel that down Phoenix, it will be nice to have you here." He smiled sympathetically at his former student. "Ok, come along everyone. Let's get you sorted into your home away from homes."

After the normal speech, the first years where sorted and it was time for Miss Phoenix Kilgour Lupus McGregor to be introduced to the school. Before she entered the hall she checked that her hood was still in its original place hiding her face from view. When the Headmistress Minerva announced Phoenix's name, she pushed open the great hall doors and walked forward to stand in front of the Headmistress. As she walked past the 'Golden Trio' she felt a sneer spread over her face. This boy was nothing but a pain to everyone around him and it was now her job to protect him from the evil that was spreading over the Wizarding world.

"Where am I to sit during these proceeding Minerva?" Phoenix asked.

"We have a seat at the end of the Gryffindor table, near enough to the students to be able to keep an eye on them but far enough away that you shouldn't be questioned." She replied.

Phoenix nodded before turning on her heals to take the seat that had appeared. Phoenix had yet to lower her hood but had no intention of doing so anytime soon. The people around her did not need to know what she looked like or even what she was doing here. Through lunch she did not touch any food that had appeared on the table before her. She took the time during the dinner to study the school around her, the school that she had only attended during summer when all there was were the teachers and animals of the school to keep her company. Before she knew what was happening the feast had come to its end and she was following all of the Gryffindor students up to their dorms, not being seen by any of them but hearing everything that was said.

"I wonder who that person at the end of the table was." She heard on boy say.

"Do you think it's one of the Aurors?" Another student asked.

"Doubt it, there would have been one at every table but there was only that one" Came the reply.

These questions continued on all the way up to the Gryffindor entrance. Phoenix held back a laugh when one boy announced his theory that she was a death eater. How stupid must some of these students be to think that Minerva or any other student would allow a death eater to look after their school…well, not counting Severus Snape She thought. Before the door closed Phoenix managed to slip through the gap between the portrait and the wall. Staying as hidden as she could she made sure to stay close to her newest charge.

"Who do you think she is Harry?" The red headed boy asked.

"I don't know, Ron. But if Professor McGonagall trusts them we should try to. There are so many Aurors around her I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to try anything." Came the 'Chosen Ones' reply. How wrong he was. Any Death Eater would throw their lives down for their 'Mighty Lord' and that included raiding his precious Hogwarts, Aurors or no Aurors.

"Not everyone is on your side or will hide away Mr Potter." Came her voice from across the room. Everyone turned to face the hooded figure in the corner. "Most who are against you will do whatever asked of them...no questions asked. Even if there is a risk that they will not come out of it alive." Before anyone could ask the figure anything she had already disappeared up the girls' staircase. No one knew how to react to this person; no one had even noticed her follow them up to the common room. They may not have known much at this point but one thing was clear; with a woman as mysterious as Miss Phoenix Kilgour Lupus McGregor walking around the school everyone would be doubting everything that happened…perhaps even each other.