Chapter 6 – Tests and Interviews

"C'mon guys, we're gonna be late," Hera exclaimed as she jumped over the banister from the second floor and flew toward the door, unfortunately getting caught by her mother in the process.

"Hera Jasmine, what have I told you about flying in the house," Esme asked in a stern voice.

Hera pulled her emerald wings in close and cringed. "I'm sorry mama… I'm just excited to get my yellow belt."

Her mother sighed and shook her head. "I know you're excited, baby, but that's no excuse to break the rules." Esme smiled fondly at her daughter. "Now go get in the car and we'll be out in a moment. Alice," she called up the stairs, "don't forget the video camera!"

The phoenix ran outside before she heard her sister's response. She anxiously worried the hem of her hot pink tank with black trim. Though Hera had one on one training with Jedidiah, she wasn't his only student. When it came time for belt testing, the trainer had everyone who was ready to take that step meet at his academy where they would undergo the brutal examination together. He warned that the test wasn't only about the student's skill level, but also his or her endurance and willingness to see things through.

The man had nothing to worry about there… he had likely never met anyone more stubborn that Hera Cullen.

"You got that right," Edward said in answer to his mate's thoughts before picking her up and balancing her on his shoulders. "You're going to do so well that Jedidiah will beg you to teach his classes from now on. He won't even make you train for the other belts… he'll just give you your black belt and bow before the master!"

Hera giggled as Edward began tickling her. Rosalie and Jasper came outside and the former scowled. "Stop it, Edward! She needs every ounce of energy she has for this test… don't you dare wear her out before she even gets there!"

As soon as the bronze-haired vampire had sheepishly put the child down, Rosalie pulled her hairbrush out of her purse and soon had the seven-year-old's hair fixed into a neat French braid. "There. That should keep you somewhat cool today."

Hugging her sister, Hera said, "Thanks Rose!"

"You're welcome, sweetness." The blonde turned toward the house. "Come on people," Rosalie exclaimed, "we need to have her there with enough time for her to properly do her stretches!"

Soon every vampire was out and in both cars with Hera choosing to ride with Jasper, Alice, and Edward.

Edward was going to flip out at any moment, and was seriously thinking about asking Emmett to sit on him so he didn't turn feral and kill some kids. Everyone who wanted to watch the children test for their belts were invited to view them through the glass partition while they were put through the ringer. They had already been working steadily for two hours with minimal breaks and if he had to watch his beloved mate get punched or kicked by one more juvenile delinquent wannabe he was going to start something that would cause the Cullens to have to move.

How the hell was Hera supposed to go through this for four hours straight? She was already dripping in sweat and was so exhausted that her thoughts weren't making much sense. Jasper and Emmett stared wide-eyed at their baby sister as if they'd never before noticed how bad-assed she was. Esme frequently hid her face in Carlisle's shirt, and Rosalie couldn't stop her faint growls. The always bubbly Alice was bouncing on the balls of her feet and cheering the little girl on as she filmed the whole thing. Edward was going to burn that recording… he never wanted to see her put through anything like this again!

There was one funny moment, he had to admit. When the time came for the phoenix to show her skills in regards to the groin kick, every male in their family unconsciously covered their privates and winced.

"Five hours," Jasper exclaimed when the instructor finally called an end to the testing. "The four hours we were counting on weren't brutal enough, so he decides to torture my baby sister for an extra hour?" That had been the worst thing he'd ever seen and couldn't decide whether or not to kill Jedidiah for putting Hera through it.

Poor Edward looked as though he had gone into shock sometime after the third hour. At first Jasper knew his brother was fighting with his vampire constantly, but then he just started staring into space for seemingly no reason. His emotions told the blonde that he was still aware of Hera's plight, but he had either gotten control or his brain had overloaded from the stress.

Hera finally emerged, looking too exhausted to even smile.

"Hey munchkin… you look like you went a few rounds with Muhammad Ali," said a sympathetic Emmett.

Edward grabbed a towel from Hera's gym bag and dried some of the sweat off, growling a bit every time he saw an area that was sure to bruise. He finally sighed and draped the towel over her shoulders. "Okay sunshine. Let's get some food in you then get you home. After watching that I feel like I could sleep for a week."

"How'd I do," the exhausted little girl asked in a fearful manner. "Do you think I passed?"

Jasper snorted. "Darlin' there's no doubt in my mind that you passed." He handed her a bottle of water as they made their way outside. "For the record… I'd just like to tell you how much I love you, and ask you that if, for any reason, you're ever angry with me for anything, please please please don't use any of those moves on me?"

He was rewarded with a tired smile as the child all but crawled into the backseat of his car and buckled her seatbelt.

The next time Jedidiah came to train Hera he was very proud to present her with her yellow belt. She rushed inside to show off her prize to her family as soon as training was done, causing everyone to cheer happily. Beaming from ear to ear, the phoenix exclaimed, "One down, five more belts to go!"

Edward's head clunked against the wall and he pretended to cry, much to everyone's amusement.

The beginning of June heralded many good things as far as the Cullens were concerned. Hera and the other "children" were finally free from school. Also they received word that Frank Longbottom had, indeed, agreed to run for Minister for Magic. Hera and her parents had already filed the necessary paperwork with the ministry, giving Augusta Longbottom permission to cast the Potter and Flamel votes in place of Hera, who was too young to represent her houses on her own.

Foulclaw had also asked the Cullens if they would allow Hera to give an exclusive interview to Rita Skeeter. He said that giving the reporter that honor would serve to keep her enamored with them and simultaneously thank Skeeter for all the articles she'd previously written to swing popular opinion in their favor. "Plus," Foulclaw had added, "it would be a wonderful opportunity to show the public that you support Frank Longbottom wholeheartedly."

The Cullens had agreed immediately.

Of course not all the news from the wizarding world was good. Voldemort had been showing some activity lately, starting with the murder of a family of light supporters. Many grew ill as the rubble of what used to be a proud mansion graced the front page of The Daily Prophet. Above the debris was a clear image of the dark mark, leaving no doubt as to who had been responsible for the destruction. It was for this reason that Carlisle had insisted that the meeting with Rita Skeeter be held in Gringotts. He didn't wish to risk his daughter's life by having her out in public where any one of the dark lord's followers could get to her.

It was quickly becoming apparent that, like it or not, change was coming to the British Magical Community. They could only hope that it would be for the better.

Hera Cullen: An Exclusive Interview

By: Rita Skeeter

My dear readers, this is the honor of a lifetime! I have in front of me the delightful nearly-eight-year-old Ms. Hera Cullen. She is the little phoenix prophesized to bring about the defeat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Ms. Cullen and her family have graciously allowed me the opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with our savior… the first one of its kind, I might add. I know you cannot currently see me, but I am positively trembling with excitement!

RS: Ms. Cullen… actually, may I call you Hera?

HC: Yes ma'am.

RS: Thank you dear. Hera, I'm so glad that your parents allowed you to return to Magical Britain once more, if only to grant me this interview. After your last visit I'm afraid we didn't leave a very good impression on you or your family. Did you truly mean what you said about leaving us to face You-Know-Who on our own?

HC: I sure did! It made me so angry to watch my family be treated so mean by everyone. If you don't want them around, then I won't be around either! I know I'm supposed to save everyone somehow, but I said I wasn't gonna even try unless you all treat my family and other magical creatures better.

RS: Speaking of other magical beings, Hera dear, do you mean all of them? I know that vampires are currently feuding with werewolves. Did you mean to include them in your promise?

HC: Of course I did! Werewolves deserve equal rights too. I don't know why vampires and werewolves don't get along, and neither does my family or Mr. Lupin… he's the only werewolf I know. But when my family was in trouble for something they didn't do Mr. Lupin helped them out anyway because it was the right thing to do. If he can ignore a stupid fight to do the right thing, then why can't everyone?

RS: That's a very good point! Hopefully whomever is elected to become our new minister this month will share your views. Do you have any opinion on who you'd like to see in office, Hera?

HC: Oh yes! Mr. Longbottom for sure! I know he's a good man and I really like his son Neville… he and his grandmother didn't care that my family are vampires. I don't know who else is running, but that's who I want to win.

RS: (chuckles) He's running against a man named Cornelius Fudge. Have you heard of him?

HC: No ma'am, but I still want Mr. Longbottom to win because he's the best.

RS: I see. Hera dear, while I have you here, I must ask you how you feel about Albus Dumbledore.

HC: (scowls) I think he's mean!

RS: How so?

HC: He doesn't care who he hurts. He's the one who bound my wings and magic when I was left on my aunt's doorstep as a baby. I don't remember it, but my Aunt Nelle and Uncle Nick said doing something like that hurts and you'd have to be a real creep to hurt a little baby!

RS: (gasp) Oh my! I had no idea, child! I knew he tried his best to have your family take the blame for something they didn't do, and also that he broke into your house to steal things that the Flamels left to you, but this is… unconscionable!

HC: Huh?

RS: (smiles indulgently) It means "horrifying" sweetie.

HC: Oh yes! He is horrifying. Though I am grateful to him for one thing.

RS: Oh? And what's that?

HC: If he hadn't have made a mistake and called me a harpy then my birth family wouldn't have gotten rid of me and I'd never have ended up with my real family. I have to be thankful for that!

RS: I love your optimistic attitude, my dear. And on that note, I think we have sufficiently satisfied all of our readers' curiosities and can end the meeting. I would like to take this time to once again thank the spirited little girl with the bright green eyes and her wonderful family for allowing me to conduct this interview.

Until you hear from me again tomorrow morning, dear readers, I bid you all a good day!

Thanks to all of you for reading and reviewing!