Soft light shone from somewhere off to my right. The cream-colored drapes around me choked the brightness of the sunlight streaming into the room. It felt like morning, but I couldn't think straight. My vision was blurred and my mouth was drier than cotton. I felt heavy, lying on the softest bed I'd ever lain on. I sat up slowly, joints popping, and stretched my leaden arms. I yawned and looked around. I was in a bed with white sheets, enclosed in off-white curtains. I could have been in a hospital, but something told me I wasn't.
I swung my numb legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. Pulling the soft curtains back, I peered around. The room was slightly on the long side, but not very wide. There were a number of beds lined up, all identical. All of their curtains were pulled back, though. I was the only one there. I strode toward the far end of the room, to the door. I reached for the doorknob, but no sooner had my fingers touched it than it jiggled. I jumped back as the door swung open. Severus started.
"Sylistia?" He looked at me solicitously. "Are you allowed to be up?"
"I don't know," I answered truthfully.
"Maybe you should lie back down," Severus walked back over to the bed with me, and I sat down reluctantly. I just wanted to go to class like everyone else. "Sylistia. That… that was some wicked flying you did yesterday. I've never seen anything like it!"
"Yesterday?" I'd been unconscious all day?
"Yeah, it's morning, now. I just woke up and came to visit you. I was here last night, too, but Madame Pomfrey made me leave at bedtime." He looked around the room. "You're the first person to get sent to the hospital wing this year."
"You… came to visit me?" I didn't think he would go out of his way like that; we'd only just met. It made me feel good, though, like I had a real friend.
"Well, Lily was there, too." He shifted his weight and tucked his hair behind his left ear. "If you feel better, we should go down to breakfast."
"Okay." I stood up. "But I need to go to the dormitory first, to change." Severus nodded and we walked down to the dungeons. He waited in the common room as I changed in the dormitory. I grabbed my book bag and met Severus to go up to breakfast. As we ascended floor after floor, he explained repeatedly how cool my feat looked from the ground. He recounted how I had leveled off two feet above the ground and how the whole class had closed their eyes and cringed.
"I mean," he was saying as we entered the entrance hall, "I haven't seen professionals fly like that, and you've probably never been on a broom in your life!"
"No, I haven't." I couldn't believe it. Did the rest of the class love it that much? More importantly, though, was I going to get in trouble? We walked into the Great Hall and sat down at Slytherin Table. I noticed that some kids looked up at me as we passed, and I saw that James Potter had a group around him at Gryffindor Table. We began to eat and a few second-years down the table began whispering together, glancing over at me every few seconds. I nervously tried to ignore them and finished my breakfast as fast as I could. Then I stood up. "I-I'm gonna go outside for a while; I need some air."
Severus stood up and went with me. We walked a ways across the ground, toward the beech tree by the lake. I sat down and sighed. Severus seemed to realize I wanted peace, so he tugged his potions book out of his bag and buried his nose in it. All was still for a while, until people started coming out of the castle. A group of Ravenclaw girls, about four of them, approached us timidly. I looked up at them. Oh, great; here it comes.
"Excuse me?" One girl piped up. She looked like a first year, with long, mouse-brown hair pulled back into a bushy pony-tail. "Are you the girl who raced James Potter yesterday?"
"Er, yes," I answered, hoping that was all they wanted.
"You won, didn't you?" Another girl, a blonde, asked, wide-eyed.
"Yes." I sighed. I stood up, and Severus did the same, stowing his book away.
"You know, he got recruited." The brown-haired girl said.
"Eh?" I turned around.
"He got put on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, instead of being expelled!" The blonde jumped up and down excitedly. "They say he's the only first-year to ever be recruited!" Hey, then maybe I won't be expelled. If they didn't throw him out, they couldn't throw me out, it wouldn't be fair.
"What's 'squid ditch'?" I inquired, puzzled. Severus turned to me.
"You don't know Quidditch?" He raised an eyebrow. "It's the most popular wizarding game ever."
"I don't really know all that much about the wizarding world, to be honest." And I was. My mother had never mentioned anything, for fear of my magic-hating father.
As we approached the castle, more students began to latch onto our group, firing questions faster than I could make up answers. Everyone wanted to know if I'd ever flown a broomstick before, who my parents were, if I was related to a famous Quidditch player, and whatnot. I felt like maybe being popular wasn't as great as it seemed.
We had just entered the hall, when professor McGonagall spotted me and strode toward us. "Miss Fawkes, you need to come with me, please, now." She sounded stern, but she didn't look very angry. Severus took a step forward. "Not you, Mr. Snape. Only Miss Fawkes." He shrugged as I fell in step beside McGonagall, struggling to keep up with her long strides as I glanced over my shoulder to the students staring and whispering behind me.
She led me upstairs and down the hall to a door flanked by two stone gargoyles. McGonagall turned to the gargoyles and said, "Acid Pops!" The gargoyle nodded and jumped aside, and the door opened to a stone staircase. The stairs were in motion, spiraling upward. We slowly ascended, and I wondered if this was the last magic I would see before I was expelled. After all this, how could I live as a Muggle, knowing one tiny slip-up cost me my future.
At the top of the moving staircase, we went through a door into a large, circular office. It was a nice office, with a big desk, a chair, and portraits all around the walls. Peering at one of the closer portraits, one of a woman, I saw a plaque beneath with her name: Dilys Derwent. Under that, a few of her achievements in life, and beneath that "Hogwarts Headmistress". All the rest were labeled similarly. "Dilys" waved at me motherly, and I waved back, not even stopping to process the fact that I was waving to a picture.
"Miss Fawkes," Dumbledore said. I started. I hadn't even noticed him, he blended in so well with the room. I nervously approached the desk, hands folded in front of me. My heartbeat hastened. I was in for it now. "Am I correct in saying that yesterday, during your first broomstick flying lesson, you engaged in reckless horseplay that could have, and very nearly did, cause injury to yourself and/or someone else?"
"Y-yes, sir."
"Please explain." He folded his fingers, elbows on the desk in front of him, and rested his chin on his knuckles. He leaned forward, listening intently.
"I… I raced James Potter." I was still appalled that I had done it, and now I was confirming it. "He made fun of my friend, and I told him I could fly better than him… I didn't mean to do it, it just sort of happened, and once I said it, I couldn't back down." Even as the words left my shivering lips, I felt stupid.
"Well, well," Dumbledore shook his head and stood up. I stared at the floor, blood rushing into my face, as he circled the desk. "You were very reckless, very spontaneous, and overall… very loyal." My head snapped up. What? Was he congratulating me? But, what I did was stupid! "You showed true devotion, risking your life to protect a friend's honor." He stopped pacing and continued in a quieter tone. "Just think what you could do to honor your whole house."
For a moment, I didn't register what he was saying. I looked up into his face, his deep blue eyes. He smiled. The cold in my chest melted away. The feeling flooded back into my legs. All from a smile.
"How," Dumbledore continued, "would you like to play Seeker for the Slytherin Quidditch team? It would be fun, you'd be popular, and Slytherin does need a new Seeker, a good one for a change." He raised his eyebrows inquiringly. "What do you say?"
"I say go for it!" I turned around fast. Severus had spoken, from behind Professor Slughorn, who seemed to have just arrived, huffing and puffing. Severus had obviously snuck in behind him, for Slughorn seemed quite surprised to see him there.
"Severus?"
"Go for it, Sylistia!" He rushed into the room and stood before me, ignoring the awestruck teachers. "This is the magic you were looking for! Sylistia, this is it! You didn't think you had it in you, but you did! It was there all along! It's your purpose!"
"That's true, Miss Fawkes," Dumbledore agreed. "You said you had no magic, but you just didn't know where your particular magical qualities lay. Apparently, you're a superb flyer! Looks like I win our little bet!"
Severus grinned enthusiastically, and I had no choice. "I'm in!" I said, before I could control myself. "But…" I looked inquisitively up at Dumbledore. "…what's Quidditch?"
...
"This… is the Quaffle." Lucius indicated the large red ball he held in one hand. "Want to hold it?" I reached out and accepted the "Quaffle". It wasn't light, but it wasn't heavy, either. I couldn't tell if it was made out of rubber or wood. It was possibly the weirdest ball I had ever seen. At least, that's what I thought before he opened the big trunk at his feet. Inside were two more balls, identical and jet black. They were a little smaller than the Quaffle, but looked a lot heavier. The funny thing was, though, that these particular balls strained desperately against the leather straps that held them in place.
"Those two black ones are Bludgers," Lucius explained. He picked up a large wooden bat, shaped a little like a cricket bat. "Two players, beaters, will use these clubs to hit the Bludgers toward enemy players, to knock them off balance." I eyed the aggressive bludgers warily. I could already see myself being creamed by one of those things. I shuddered. What was I doing?
"Let me see that," Lucius took the Quaffle and placed in its empty spot in the trunk. He reached down and unclasped a little strap, holding a small black box, like one that would hold a necklace. "Hold out your hand." He took something out of the box and held it , concealed in his fist, over my hand. He dropped something light and cool into my hand. I heard a buzzing, like a wasp was sitting in my hand. Intrigued, I opened my hand. Resting on my palm was a tiny golden ball, no bigger than a walnut. Its tiny wings buzzed at its sides, but it remained on my palm. I found myself transfixed by the little ball. I couldn't take my eyes off its beautiful golden sheen. Lucius laughed. "Like it, huh? That's the Snitch. Your only goal is to catch that before the other team's Seeker. It'll earn us one hundred and fifty points, and it's the only thing that will end the game."
Wow. I had to find and catch this teeny thing? It couldn't be too hard, though. How fast could those tiny wings take it, anyway? Lucius took the ball and put it back into the box, fastened it into the trunk, and carried the trunk back into the supply shed. "First practice is on Saturday, nine A.M. Meet here then, and make sure you eat breakfast."
We walked toward the school together. Night was falling rapidly. As we descended into the dungeons, Lucius explained to me the rules of Quidditch, adding a few tips and ticks as he went. That night I lay awake, visualizing myself, flying on a broomstick. I fell asleep still dwelling on it. I dreamt I was flying, looking around a dark place. I saw nothing, heard nothing. Then something caught my eye. A golden flash. I spun to face the little ball. I sped forward, hand outstretched, getting closer by the second.
Suddenly, something loomed up in front of me. James Potter, enlarged against the dark, grinning evilly at me, the shadows on his face making him look cruel and dark. I froze. The Snitch was mere feet away. Potter reached out with a huge, clawed hand and grabbed the Snitch. His evil laugh resounded through me. His booming voice, filled with malice: "Not fast enough, Fawkes!" I was falling, I slipped through the darkness…
...
Saturday morning, I sat at the Slytherin table. I felt cold. I was shaking from head to foot, despite the encouragements from Severus. Even Lily chimed in, saying that it was only practice, and I had plenty of time before the first real game. I calmed down a little and tried to eat. At 8:45, I began the long walk down to what Lucius had called the "Quidditch Pitch". Severus and Lily left me at the changing room and went to go wait in the stands.
No one paid attention to me as I crept into the changing room. I approached Lucius, who was straightening the twigs of his broomstick, already dressed in an emerald robe with silver trim. "Hey, Sylistia!" He put his broom aside and pulled over a bag. He handed me a folded green and silver robe. "Here you go, I hope I got your size right." I accepted the robe and went to change.
It was my size, almost perfect. I tugged on my riding gloves and inspected my image in a nearby mirror. The rest of the team had left the room by now, so I went out to the pitch. Lucius was trying to get everyone to settle down, but failing. Two players were dueling with the beaters' clubs. One was short and chubby. His face was one of the ugliest I had ever seen. The other was taller and very buff. He didn't really look like the smartest person, but as long as he kept those horrible bludgers away from me, I'd be satisfied.
"Here, Sylistia." Lucius handed me a broomstick. It looked kind of old, but the twigs were straight. "It's a cleansweep, so it's an older model, but this is only practice; we can find you a better one later." I nodded and accepted the broomstick. The handle began to vibrate again. I tried not to look like it was, though. Finally, Lucius got everyone calmed down and began giving instructions.
"OK, everyone, get out there!" The team dispersed to their positions as Lucius opened the trunk. "Sylistia, I'm going to release the snitch last, so be ready." He unfastened the bludgers' straps. I ducked as the black spheres whizzed by my head. I mounted my broom and kicked off. It was ridiculously easy to control, despite the constant vibrating. Lucius, down on the ground, had the quaffle under one arm as he released the snitch. It hovered a few feet above him for a couple seconds, just revolving in midair. Then it was off. I saw a flash of gold, that was all. I couldn't see it anywhere. I looked into the stands. There were a few kids, among them, Severus and Lily, who waved at me and seemed to be shouting encouragement. I spun around, searching for the golden ball. Frustrated, I climbed as high as I dared and peered around, squinting my eyes against the harsh glare of the sun.
A half hour into the practice, a whistle blew, and everyone started landing. I descended, a little quickly, and alighted next to Lucius. He looked a bit exasperated. "Carrow!" He growled. The short, ugly beater started. "Stop fooling around and keep your eyes on those bludgers! Avery was almost pounded back there!" Carrow hung his head and flushed. The other beater snickered. "Oh, you think that's funny, Crabbe?" The tall beater blushed, too, and shut his mouth quickly.
"You all need to shape up! Our first match against Gryffindor is in one month! If we don't get our act together, they'll cream us! Do you want that to happen? Huh?"
"No!" The team cried in unison.
"Then remember that! We can't let Longbottom win again!"
"Who's Longbottom?" I asked the boy next to me.
"Gryffindor's captain."
"Oh."
"Alright," Lucius said, waving his hand dismissively. "Get up there." We took off as he blew his whistle. I resumed my search of the elusive snitch. The sun rose higher as I searched. I got hot and sweaty under my green robes. The light glared off of everything. I felt lightheaded and was ready to quit, when I spied a glint of light out of the corner of my eye. The snitch! I veered in its direction and sped toward it. As if realizing it was being pursued, the winged ball sped, not away, but past me. Taken by surprise, I banked impossibly around and sped after it, the tip of my tongue poking out of the corner of my mouth from concentration.
I gained speed. The wind pressed my skin tight against my bones. My eyes watered. Warm air swept my robes back so that they felt about to rip. I stretched a hand out to the poor sphere that didn't stand a chance against my speed. I gained quickly on the little thing. My fingers lashed out. As they closed around the panicked orb, I passed it. My arm was behind me as I gripped the struggling ball tightly. I felt its wings fluttering frantically against my palm. Fist in the air, I landed lightly on the ground next to Lucius.
"L-Lucius!" I gasped, grinning and holding up my hand. "I caught… caught it!"
"Good job, Sylistia." Lucius said, nodding at me. I handed him the ball. "That took you forty-five minutes, let's see if you can beat it, eh?" I nodded eagerly and mounted my broom. He reached back over his shoulder and chucked the snitch straight up into the sky. I shot after it, almost perpendicular to the ground. It's a little like fetch, I thought, and flushed, but practice is perfect. The next time I caught the snitch (almost falling from my broom at fifty feet), Lucius congratulated my new time - twenty-five minutes. He sent the ball whizzing through the air straight toward the sun, and I dutifully soared off in pursuit.
After a few more chases, I had beaten my time down to ten minutes, although my last one took fifteen. Lucius seemed awed at my speed and told me so at the end of practice. "I've never seen such speed and maneuvering! You're a natural!" I flushed at his praise and turned away. The other team members seemed pleased as well and were very chipper. It was as if they'd never had a good player before and, now that they did, they felt invincible.
Everyone trucked off to the changing room. I sat on my broom, hovering with my feet a couple inches off of the ground. I began to rise higher, barely noticing that I was… I opened my hand and the snitch floated slowly away. It hovered before me for a second, rotating, then sped off. Within a minute I had recaptured it. I turned the golden ball in my hand, watching the lowering sun glint even more golden off of its smooth surface. I felt I was holding a little piece of the sun.