What a week it's been! I'm excited that I have this up, as it was one of my favorite chapters to write. So I now present Chapter Eight: Fawkes the Phoenix!
Jennifer was glad she expected her lessons to be rigorous, as they very much were. Professor McGonagall kept pushing Jennifer beyond the limit, testing her abilities to an extreme. Jennifer acquired a wand, (hawthorn, 11 ¾ inches, dragon heartstring) and was experimenting with it to its full capacity.
"Twirl it this way, Jennifer. Not that way!" Professor McGonagall yelled. She was instructing Jennifer in a clearing on the grounds, just to ensure that none of the house-elves (or the castle) were hurt. Jennifer was learning spells that, according to the Headmistress, were beyond what many of the seventh-years at Hogwarts (whatever those are, thought Jennifer) could do.
But between those gruesome lessons, Professor McGonagall gave Jennifer tours of the Hogwarts grounds. On one of those expansive tours, Jennifer was taken to a large, white tomb. "This is the tomb of your grandfather, Jennifer. He was a casualty in a long, horrific war." Professor McGonagall sighed, and Jennifer could tell the Headmistress was remembering many times of heartache.
"I'll avenge him Professor. Once I finish Hogwarts, I will make it my mission to find and finish anymore Dark wizards-" But Jennifer didn't get to finish what she was saying, as a large, flaming red bird flew on top of the tomb. It looked very majestic, yet nostalgic in a sense.
"Jennifer, if you haven't heard of them before, this is a Phoenix. They have been known to be aggressive at first, so you must pay it some sign of respect for it to deem you worthy.", said Professor McGonagall.
"But what if it doesn't deem me worth?" asked Jennifer.
Professor McGonagall responded with a worried face, "Then your mother may find her task completed earlier then planned."
Jennifer walked towards the Phoenix very slowly, her wand out in her hand in case anything goes awry. The Phoenix started to raise it's wings, as if knowing that an offering was about to commence. Jennifer remembered some stories her "mother" had read to her when she was younger about Phoenixes, how they were Children of the Flame and were most comfortable to it.
The young witch decided to do the thing that felt right. She pulled out her wand and said, "Incendio!" This created a small hearth in front of the tomb, leaving Jennifer hoping the Phoenix would take this as a sign of respect.
The Phoenix tilted its head towards its side, almost as if wondering whether Jennifer truly was offering the flame. The bird soared into the hearth and lied down, signaling that it accepted the girl's offering. Jennifer smiled at the bird, knowing that she did something right.
"I must say, Jennifer," Professor McGonagall started. "I have not seen a Phoenix respond so quickly to a human in all my years as a Hogwarts professor. You know, that was your grandfather's Phoenix, named Fawkes. He could've possibly recognized the relationship between you two, or maybe it was just a stroke of luck. But no matter, we must continue with your lessons. Follow me, please." Professor McGonagall started to walk towards the castle, with Jennifer in tow.
What I like about this chapter is that it brings out some of the relationship between the two women, how they connect. Also, the reason I decided to include Fawkes is to give the story a sort of nostalgic feel. Whenever you thought of Fawkes in the books, Dumbledore instantly sprung to mind. I thought of the "deeming worthy" part, as Fawkes has been out in the wild for about 15 years. He lost the trust he had in humans after the death of Dumbledore, so he must see one prove them self worthy. It was a lot of fun coming up with that! Chapter Nine: The Other One. Review and speculate!