"So how's your mom doing?" Phoenix asked, walking to Hogsmeade with Ricky. The winter in Britain was harsher than she'd expected so she shivered against the light flurry of snow that fell while Ricky walked alongside her perfectly fine.

"Fine." Ricky answered shortly.

Silence settled on the two and they could hear his friends laughing and joking about something ahead of them. "I know why you're upset." Phoenix finally sighed. Ricky said nothing, though in spite he made a harsh wind sweep her hood off. Phoenix cursed slightly under her breath and pulled it back up, giving him a glare, "But if you'd grown up thinking that what makes you different makes you hunted you would have never enjoyed childhood like you did."

"What makes you say I did?" Ricky demanded.

"You grew up with the world's funniest dad." Phoenix sighed as she explained.

"He's not all smiles and giggles." Ricky snapped.

"Regardless, if you grew up afraid to touch people and go out in the world would you ever touch your sister or brother? Would you be on the Quidditch team?" Phoenix reasoned. "You knew your own abilities even if you never touched on them." Ricky said nothing, "You knew your own limits without even practicing."

"Which is why my powers short circuited my moms." Ricky grumbled.

"Would you stop being a downer and just realize your parents did what they thought would be best for you?" Phoenix slapped his upper arm.

"I would if they hadn't made me feel like I was cursed." Ricky sighed.

"They never meant for you to feel that way." Phoenix argued.

"Yeah, well they did." Ricky wrung his hands in his coat pockets. Phoenix groaned and muttered something about maturity till Ricky swept his hair aside, and the wind knocked her off her feet. "Sorry." He mumbled, helping her out of the snow.

"No, it's fine." Phoenix brushed herself off and walked ahead of him, Ricky watched as she pulled Anna away from the group. Ricky hurried up as Anna and Phoenix walked away.

"What was that about?" Beth asked. Ricky just shrugged and walked past them, "So what are you boys planning on doing in Hogsmeade?" she asked.

"Three broomsticks?" Neo answered confused, "Why?"

"Well," Cli answered, "Anna and Beth's mother is taking them, Allie, and Phoenix dress shopping for the ball."

"And Cli is going to have to deal with us," Allie smirked, though it didn't quite reach her eyes like it should have, "because his tux and Beth's dress have to match."

"I'm not dealing with you." Cli rolled his eyes, "I chose to come with you ladies." Allie hummed in response and rolled her eyes. Ricky watched her curiously as she walked silently, and as far from him as possible.

"So it's just going to be me and Ricky?" Neo asked.

"Looks like." Cli nodded as Beth began to drag him off, "No being stupid." Ricky continued on knowing Neo would trudge after him.

"Want to stop by your uncle's shop and buy something?" Neo shuffled next to him.

"Not right now. Butterbeer first." Ricky held the door to the Three Broomsticks open for Neo. Neo scurried in with Ricky on his tail, the two shook out the snow flurries that followed them and looked around the crowded space.

"I hate the snow." Neo shook the flurries out of his blonde hair, "Couldn't you have done something?"

"Yeah I could have." Ricky grinned, the two threw their coats off at a table, barely able to pull their chairs out in the crowded space. "It's more fun to see you all shiver."

"You know she probably doesn't give two," Neo closed his mouth as Victoire and Dominique walked over.

"Hey, Ricky." Victoire ruffled his hair, Ricky sent small shocks to her finger tips. "Yikes, you're full of static." Victoire pulled her hand back. Neo bit his lip to keep from laughing as Ricky smirked.

"Maybe Phoenix is right." He thought bitterly, however, he kept a smile on his face.

"Anyways, we were about to go see uncle Ron," Dominique spoke up, "care to join?"

"Butterbeer first for grouch here." Neo nodded across the table to Ricky.

"Where's your little crew at anyways?" Dominique asked, bumping Neo's shoulder with her hip, indicating she wanted to sit.

"Dresses." Neo answered bitterly, "For that stupid ball." He scooted over, allowing her to sit by him.

"I thought Allie wasn't going?" Dominique questioned, Neo and Ricky shared a look and shrugged.

"You boys are so stupid." Victoire flicked her hair over her shoulder, she gave Ricky a small shove. With a huff he scooted over allowing his cousin in the booth.

"I resent that statement." Neo accusingly pointed a finger at Victoire, Dominique laughed and Victoire rolled her eyes.

"What'll be?" Rosmerta asked, walking up to their tables, hands on her curvy waist.

"Two butterbeers, one cup of tea with honey, and a hot chocolate." Victoire ordered for the group.

"You'd think after so long she'd retire." Dominique settled back in the booth.

"Money is money." Neo shrugged.

"Maybe she enjoys what she does." Ricky crossed his arms on the table.

"Maybe she knows it's safe here." Victoire crossed her arms and legs.

The other three raised an eyebrow at her curiously, "What do you mean by that?" Ricky asked curiously.

"What haven't you heard?" Victoire asked.

"Obviously not." Neo mumbled.

"Apparently there's been a bit of a stirring in the magical community." Victoire leaned forward as if telling a secret.

"Out with it." Dominique urged.

"Well, apparently some halflings, part human-part vampire, have been upset with the Ministry." Victoire explained, no one said anything and shifted in uncomfortable shock as Rosmerta returned with their drinks. Victoire smiled pleasantly and thanked her.

"Why though?" Neo asked after a gulp of his Butterbeer.

"Well, one of them apparently tried to get a job in the ministry. They had all the qualifications, everything," Victoire stirred her honey tea. "However, the Under-Secretary didn't even interview them. Just sent them out."

"What?" Neo asked shocked.

"Well," Victoire took a dainty sip of her tea, "More like threw them out. I'm surprised you didn't hear, it was all over the Daily Prophet." She took another sip and waved her hand about, "Anyways, because of this, the vampire parent of said halfling decided to take it out on several wizards in Diagon Alley because of that non-discrimination act passed who knows how long ago."

"Mum wouldn't like that," Ricky sipped his Butterbeer, "You forgetting your defense history." The other three laughed as Victoire rolled her eyes.

"It's not just here." Victoire grumbled, "It's everywhere apparently. In America, did you know werewolves and vampires aren't even allowed to vote in their so-called "democracy"?"

"That's barmy." Neo scoffed, finishing off his Butterbeer.

"Well that's America." Dominique argued, "Brazil recently passed an act that allowed vampires and werewolves to transform their consensual partners." her hot chocolate sat half finished in her hands.

"Ridiculous." Neo shook his head.

Dominique slapped his arm, Neo looked at her shocked, "Their ministry is trying to allow vampires and werewolves partners a near equal life span." She looked across the table looking for defense, Ricky shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to get into politics.

"It's so they don't have more halflings on their hands. If they have one mate their less likely to reproduce as often." Victoire informed her sister.

"Ew, enough of vampire and werewolf offspring." Ricky shook his head, finishing off his Butterbeer. "So a couple of vampire clans have their knickers in a twist, why would it be so dangerous just to take a little vacations?"

"You want to get bit?" Victoire asked.

That seemed to settle the matter, "I still resent your boys are stupid comment." Neo said, Ricky was thankful the awkward moment had passed as Victoire and Dominique pointed out the several ways guys were stupid. After paying for their drinks and tugging on their coats, hats, and scarves, the group of four moved across the road to the Weasley's shop.

Inside was warm, not only from the heat of bodies and several fire places, but the colors, the emotions. Ricky felt his head go fuzzy as they bombarded him. "Hey kids." Ron waved at the four, turning away from a customer puking in a cauldron.

"Hey uncle Ron." the Weasley children called.

"Hey Mr. Weasley." Neo politely nodded.

"Uncle Ron," Victoire called, the other three followed the eldest over to Ron, "Are you and Aunt Mione going to be at the ball?"

"McGonagall invited us." Ron sighed uncomfortably, "I'm not one for balls." The four followed him through the store, "Except for these ones." He tossed a pair of unstoppable bouncy balls over his shoulders.

"Is dad coming?" Ricky asked.

"He's up in the office," Ron nodded up the stairs, "Why not go ask him?" Ricky shifted uncomfortably, he hadn't spoken to his father since he'd stormed out of the Hospital Wing a few days ago.

"I don't wanna bother him." Ricky stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Bother him?" Ron laughed, plucking an item off the shelf to inspect it, "He loves when you kids bother him." When Ricky didn't laugh with him or comment back Ron glanced at him. Nodding to himself, Ron awkwardly put the item back, "As it is, he says he'll be there." By then Dominique, Neo, and Victoire had wandered off.

"Did you know too?" Ricky asked. Ron licked his lips and avoided Ricky's eyes, "You did." Ricky sighed and ran his hands through his hair. His well kept secret was no more than a well known fact.

"To be honest, I knew what signs to look for. I did practically grow up with your mother." Ron tried to joke.

"Who else in the family knows?" Ricky practically begged for an answer.

"Your mum's parents, your parents, your uncle Harry, me and your Aunt Mione, Sirius, the staff at Hogwarts," Ricky's heart dropped to his knees, "Draco, and his family."

"Uncle Draco knows? Grandfather and Grandmother know? Hogwarts knows?" Ricky wanted to throw up.

"Well," Ron shifted awkwardly, "The gene runs in that side of your family."

"Grandfather and Grandmother are," Ricky glanced around and motioned to himself.

"No." George said, walking past Ron and standing beside the two. "The gene that runs between Draco and your mother was dormant till they were born." Ron nodded a goodbye before leaving to greet a couple of customers who'd walked in. George nodded to the office door, Ricky sighed and stomped up the stairs to the office.

"How do you know it was dormant and that Grandfather and Grandmother aren't just really good at hiding it?" Ricky asked once George had closed the door.

"Your mother loves history," George sighed walking around the crafting table in the middle of the scatterbrained office, "Once she had the resources," George sighed as he sat in a chair and propped his feet up on the table, "she traced back her family tree. Armand Malfoy, the first of her family to live in Britain didn't marry until he had Malfoy Manor. He'd been living there sometime, still assisting the king, when a witch was brought to the court. You know how ancient muggles were with witches. But Armand fancied her." George rolled his eyes, "You can imagine how romantic their conversation must have been. "Come with me to hide forever in my manor from the king or burn at the stake, by the way I'm a wizard."." George sighed. "The Malfoy's have a thing for dramatics."

Ricky raised an eyebrow. "So that woman?" he asked.

"Was a weather witch." George nodded. "Armand's daughter was a weather witch. Her youngest was, his twins were, but after that," George trailed off and tossed a broken fanged frisbee and whistled as it fell, making an explosion sound as it collided with the floor.

"Years of being a dormant gene, I think it got a bit antsy. Especially in you." George pointed at Ricky.

Ricky opened his mouth to ask why all of Hogwarts needed to know when George held up a hand.

"When you started attending Hogwarts we agreed to tell the staff what powers you possessed so if anything ever got out of hand and anyone was put in danger, including you, the crises could easily be fixed without wondering how the powers came about." George explained, "Phoenix and Draco were the same way. So most of the staff expected it with you. Some were even happy the trait ran on to you."

"Wait," Ricky shook his head, "So does Scorpius have this ability?"

"Your mother's keeping an eye on him." George answered.

"What about Minnie? And Mikey?" Ricky asked.

"Also being watched. Though I'm not sure Hagrid knows what to look for in a weather wizard." George sighed. "Hopefully Michael won't show signs between now and the ball."

"So you are going?" Ricky asked.

"Yes." George nodded. "And your mother, and Michael."

Ricky wanted to slam his head on the table, so much for spending the night with friends and pretending the ball wasn't some excuse to bring the nations closer together.

November grew colder still and December leapt upon Hogwarts so suddenly, hardly anyone was prepared for the cold assault. Class work was increasingly difficult, and getting to class was another struggle altogether.

Shuffling to the heated aquarium dome of Deeth Bitter's classroom was painstakingly troublesome, and several kids talked about heading back to the castle and skipping. However, the reward of being in the heated dome was worth the walk.

"Alright, now this way, come on you lot, up to the scaffolding." Bitter called the students up. Ricky and Neo shared a curious look as they climbed the metal, clanging steps, "Today we're going to be feeding a Kraken."

"A what?" a Slytherin boy asked.

"A kraken!" Bitter's eyes gleamed giddily.

"This isn't going to be like feeding the Sirens is it?" Allie spoke up remembering how a few weeks back the Sirens had all but nearly drowned several boys.

"No no," Bitter shook his head, "No miss Allie, the Kraken cares not for humans. They live in deep waters and feed off of the flesh of anything rotted."

"Then why do they attack ships?" Neo asked jokingly.

"Those, what you're thinking of, are real giant squids that can grow to 46 feet with 900 foot tentacles, and weighing 400 tons." Bitter explained his hands behind his back, "No. Krakens very rarely leave the dark ocean floor. This one I have is only about 100 years old, still fairly young according to kraken age, however it was captured and brought to the surface by a group of muggles. Our ministry confiscated it, wiped some memories, and it was sent to a safe haven for attacked sea creatures." Bitter turned behind him and pulled a lever, the tubs lining the wall behind the scaffolding were filled with a chum like substance. "And about five years ago, I was put in charge of its care." Bitter said proudly.

"Does it know we're here?" a Mediterranean boy asked. Ricky noticed several girls took a few cautionary steps away from the pool.

"We'll see." Bitter grinned as he slammed his hand on the outside of the metal pool containing dark water. A few tentacles as wide as a human body, and seemingly infinitely longer rose from the water. Then a turtle like head rose from the water, its eyes wide and white and beak-like mouth opening and closing dryly.

"What's wrong with its eyes?" Phoenix asked.

"Remember how I said muggles brought it up, and how krakens actually never leave the dark ocean?" Bitter said bitterly, grabbing a handful of chum and tossing it in the water, the kraken flinched but lowered its tentacles to swim towards the sinking chum. "When they brought it up, the light blinded it."

Ricky could hear several girls whisper about how sad it seemed. "And yet moments ago you were scared of it?" he thought dryly. They spent the lesson gently tossing food to the kraken and talking about the creature. To Ricky it reminded him of a numbingly dumb turtle, "Aside from the tentacles." he thought. He glanced at Phoenix who seemed to be purposefully ignoring him. Allie glanced over Phoenix's shoulder, Ricky glanced at Phoenix and Allie frowned and glanced at the hourglass suspended in the dome classroom. Ricky sighed and shifted, watching Neo squirm as he picked up chum to throw at the kraken.

After a long, cold, windy trek back up to the castle, Ricky was in no mood to see Cyrus and go to Health Class. "You want to skip?" Allie asked, her dark hair plastered to her head from the trip to the castle.

"Yeah." Ricky admitted. Allie lead the way to the Room of Requirement and Ricky was thankful when the calming room appeared on the other side of the door. "you've got to tell me what you think to get in here." he mumbled, dropping his bag beside hers. This time there was a roaring fireplace on the other side of the room.

"Like I said," Allie yanked off her robes and wrung out her hair, "I use this room to get away from you boys."

Suddenly it felt as though a fog had been lifted, "Is that why whenever we all go somewhere as a group you run off? You come here?" Ricky asked.

Allie didn't answer, which was enough of an answer for him. "What do you think of Phoenix?" she asked quietly.

Ricky looked away from the starry ceiling, "She's misunderstood. She thinks she's guilty of her name and emotions."

"I meant." Allie looked in the fire, "never mind." she sighed.

Ricky nodded to himself, "I'm not sure I like her like that," he admitted, "I like her, yeah. But, she seems more like a friend." Allie seemed to visibly relax.

"Then this makes this a little easier." Allie mumbled, "Stonebridge asked her to the ball."

Ricky paused, part of him seemed relieved. He wasn't sure he wanted to explain to his parents and her father why they were showing up at the ball together. "Good for him."

"Phoenix didn't want to tell you because of your powers." Allie admitted, walking over, she laid on the pillows and looked up at him. "Said she'd feel bad. Said she also wanted to prove to her father that she wasn't like him and could "move on."."

"Move on? We weren't even anything to begin with?" Ricky questioned.

"Her words, not mine." Phoenix shrugged as best as she could. "She also mentioned something about your ego being bigger than the whole of Hogwarts."

"Wow." Was all Ricky could manage.

"Yeah." Allie breathed.

"Life is weird." Ricky said after a moment of silence.

"Maybe it's just you." Allie admitted. Ricky said nothing, "Why would you be all over her if you didn't like her."

"Mum was right." was all Ricky could say, Allie didn't ask what he'd meant by that and he was thankful.

Although Ricky felt glad Phoenix wasn't too attached to him as she originally thought, he also felt guilty for having to admit to himself that his mother was right.

Winter break was coming up in just a little over a week, and December grew colder.

With one week till the next Quidditch Game and the ball, everyone seemed antsy. Of course, being on the same side as his parents now, Ricky was able to get his emotions off his chest without blowing something up. He'd spent his free block down at the lake practicing keeping his emotions from being destructive.

"Most weather wizards have the same basic workings." His mother had explained that afternoon, "Happy means warm. Sad means wet. Angry means harsh. Fear means cold." He'd gone from electrocuting himself out of fear and annoyance, to simply causing a thunderstorm to form overhead. Of course, that made him and his mother run back inside before bursting into a fit of laughter.

"Other weather wizards can control you too, you know?" His mother asked.

Ricky looked up from his supper, "Really?" since talking to George, Ricky had begged for Phoenix to teach him, usually resulting in the two eating a late supper in her office.

Phoenix nodded, "Draco used to be stronger than me. He could easily manipulate my emotions." she didn't seem bothered by this fact.

"What?" Ricky set his goblet down, "You're kidding me."

Phoenix laughed gently and shook her head, "I'm not. But we found," Phoenix looked around the edge of her office and chewed on her lip, "equal ground." she finally said. "But," she chirped on a brighter note, "you don't have a twin, so you don't have to worry about that," she paused, "hopefully."

Ricky laughed and found himself enjoying himself without worrying about blowing something up. "I'm just glad this seems to be helping mum too." Ricky thought, eating his supper.

"What made you talk to George about all this though?" Phoenix asked.

Ricky thought, "Well. I was actually just asking uncle Ron who all knew about this," he said, "Then I asked how we could have gotten these powers and dad just kinda spilled everything." Phoenix nodded thoughtfully. Shifting uncomfortably, Ricky looked at his plate, "Gryffindor's going to win against Ravenclaw next week."

"A very brash statement to make. Isn't Cli on the team?" Ricky nodded, "Shouldn't you be supportive of him?"

"Not on the Quidditch field." Ricky laughed.

"You're your fathers boy alright." Phoenix smiled.

"Dad and Mikey'll be there, right?" Ricky asked, Phoenix nodded, "Good. Mikey needs to see what I can do when I don't have a broken ankle." Phoenix continued to laugh, warming the room. Ricky continued to make his mother laugh, telling joke after joke.

"You should be getting back to the common room," Phoenix yawned, "You've got a busy week ahead of you."

"Which is why you shouldn't assign homework." Ricky joked, "Night mum."

"Night Ricky." Phoenix watched him go and settled back into her office.


Phoenix was undoubtedly the youngest teacher at Hogwarts. At 37, she was young, kind, and clever. First years feared her, seventh years respected her. With other fairly young teachers in the school, Phoenix felt surprisingly more at ease.

"Sometimes I'm not sure the kids are getting it." Savannah explained one evening in the Teachers Lounge. "But when I ask I see them visibly shrink like, "No, please, I understand, don't judge me." and I just," Savannah sighed.

"Want to help?" Phoenix offered.

"Exactly." Savannah sighed, running her hand through her hair as a house elf silently refilled her goblet with firewhiskey again before disappearing.

Savannah was quickly becoming a friend, with how many times Phoenix walked in on the red head sobbing her eyes out before classes, it wasn't hard to like the poor girl.

"Sometimes I wonder if teaching is what I really want to do." Savannah admitted after a swig of firewhiskey.

"Really?" Phoenix was gingerly sipping her own drink.

"At the time it seemed practical…seemed like the only way to get my dad off my back." Savannah admitted. "Headmaster, Principal," Savannah let out a hiccupped laugh and excused herself. "When he found out about the twins, he was furious."

"Well," Phoenix had no comment, but wanted the girl to know she'd been paying attention. "What happened exactly?" she asked.

Savannah let out a huffy laugh, "Will couldn't keep it to himself. Well," She took another swig, "He'd been ready to go for it for a while, but I was hesitant, rightly so," Savannah pointed her glass at her, splashing a bit of drink on the floor, "But I finally felt confident enough, and I trusted him, and I'd regretted not doing it previous times. I knew." Savannah leaned forward as though telling a secret, "Even if he and I didn't work out that I loved him, and that I wanted to do it." Savannah leaned back, finishing her drink, "I don't regret it. I love the twins, I love Will, it's just…my father. When he found out, well, we were off the graduation list." Savannah sighed, slumping in her chair.

"That's a terrible thing for him to do." Phoenix frowned, Savannah shrugged.

"Enough of me. I'm sick of me." Savannah sniffled. "What about you? Miss perfect life?"

"I wish." Phoenix admitted.

"What?" Savannah gently pushed her shoulder, "You've got a successful, loving husband, Ricky is so talented, I'm sure your other children are just as wonderful."

"I have a nice life," Phoenix admitted, "But it's far from perfect, Savannah. Beth and Anna are also brilliant and wonderful." Cyrus and William came in, talking in hushed tones, they glanced over at the women. Phoenix placed her drink down on the small table between her and Savannah's chairs and Savannah rolled her head away from the door to look at the fireplace.

"Anna and Beth are wonderful." Savannah admitted after William and Cyrus moved to the other side of the room. "I am so happy that they can finally be together as sisters. What with one vacation a year to hang out I'm sure it strained the two." Phoenix glanced across the room at Cyrus and William. She wasn't very good at reading strangers body language, but William seemed to be paying more attention to Savannah than to Cyrus.

"Anna always talked about wanting Beth to come live with us." Savannah sighed sadly, "I knew she wanted her sister. And from the letters Beth sent me, she wanted her sister as well." Savannah stretched, "But that wasn't part of the deal me and Will had made. The girls knew that."

"That doesn't mean they didn't hope you and William would rekindle." Phoenix whispered gently. "I'm sure even still the girls hope you two will at least consider rekindling for them. Even if they don't know that it may make you both unhappy."

Savannah glanced at Cyrus and William, now it was blatantly obvious they were listening in neither men were talking anymore. "All I want is for my girls to be happy, and for him to be happy." Savannah whispered, "But it seems I can't do one without upsetting the other."

Phoenix reached across the space and gently grabbed Savannah's hands. "I'm sure you'll figure something out." Phoenix concentrated on remembering happiness and sending it to Savannah. If she could slip a bit of happiness to the other woman, like how Draco had done so when she was prisoner, maybe the other woman would be able to help her girls and herself.

"I'm sorry."

"Draco! Draco, please, don't do this! Draco, please!"

Phoenix took a deep breath and tried to keep her eyes from going out of focus.

"I'm sorry."

Phoenix gripped the arms of her chair.

"Are you alright, Phoenix?" Savannah asked gently.

Phoenix straightened herself up, "Yes, sorry was I spacing out?"

Savannah looked over her carefully, "Yes," Savannah looked away for a second, "Well that'd be why, look at the time." Phoenix glanced at the clock in the room.

"Half past 1 in the morning." Phoenix thought suddenly exhausted.

"Well," Savannah stood, "I'll be heading off to check on my students, good night." She nodded to Phoenix.

"Good night." Phoenix said.

"Night." William spoke up from the other side of the room, though it was clear when both women turned to look at him that he hadn't meant to say anything. Without another word, Savannah quickly left the teacher's lounge. Phoenix stayed rooted in her chair, willing her eyelids not to droop.


Don't forget to vote on the poll and comment and like and blah blah thanks!

So far people have voted for more of the kids and Phoenix so expect to see more of that till the poll changes! Don't wanna see that: Go vote!

I am SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG TO UPLOAD! I had started working on this over Winter Break like two months ago but I had no idea where to go from there! However, I think I'm back on track!