*Dream*
A snake crawls through the undergrowth, past an old man.
He lights a gas stove with a match, then notices a light on the large house opposite his.
He frowns, and mutters "Bloody kids."
He stops what he's doing and heads towards the light.
He opens the front door, but there's nobody there - until he hears whispered voices upstairs.
He waits outside the room where the conversation is going on - and hears something he never thought he'd hear.
Peter Pettigrew's voice drifts over, saying "Oh no, no, no my lord. I only meant…perhaps we could do it without the girl…"
"NO! it will be done with the girl, and it will be done exactly as I say! She is the strongest barrier between me and the boy, she must be removed. If what you have told me is true, then she is a threat to everything! We will use her, then we'll remove her! She's no ordinary witch, she could destroy everything!"
It's Voldemort, and there's only one person they could be talking about.
A young man says "I will not disappoint you, my lord."
Voldemort says "Good. First, gather our old comrades. Send them a sign."
The snake from before slithers into the room, and hisses something.
Voldemort says "Nagini tells me the old caretaker is standing outside the door."
It suddenly opens, revealing Peter Pettigrew looking filthy and ragged.
The old man backs away in fear, this guy might not look like anything special - but there's no doubt that this 'lord' is.
The cold, chilling voice from before says "Step aside Peter, so I can give our guest a proper greeting."
Peter Pettigrew takes a very large step to the side, and then there's a flash of green.
*The Burrow*
Harry wakes up in a hot sweat and more than a flash of panic - more like a lightning strike of it.
He saw that whole dream, and he's positive Voldemort and Pettigrew were talking about Bloom.
There's nobody else they could be talking about, which means Bloom's in danger.
"Harry!"
He sees Hermione rush over excitedly, which calms him after a moment.
"You alright?"
"Bad dream, Hermione. When did you get here?"
They're at the Burrow, and Bloom couldn't have been happier last night.
Her Phoenix egg hatched during the summer, and it's a female Phoenix - and it seems to think Bloom's its mother.
She named the young bird Fyra, a variation of fire - because Fyre sounded more like a boy's name to Bloom - and she's proving to be an excellent mother for the bird.
Hermione answers "Just now. Bloom and her Phoenix, Fyra she calls her, are downstairs."
"We got here last night. And, Hermione, Bloom's practically in love with that bird!"
Hermione grins, and says "Well, she's always wanted one ever since year two."
"Yeah, but she adores it!"
Harry won't admit it, but he's jealous beyond belief of that bird.
Hermione says "Harry, relax. She still talks to everyone, right?"
"Yeah…"
"And she still jokes with you, right?" "
Yes. Hermione, where is this going?"
"Harry, she's not going to forget about you just because she has a pet now. You just need to learn to share."
Harry grins ruefully, and says "Fine, I guess you're right."
Hermione goes over to Ron, who's sleeping with no shirt on.
"Ronald, wake up!"
She shakes his shoulder, which gets his attention instantly.
He partially sits up, only to stiffen in shock when he realizes its Hermione waking him and he doesn't have a shirt on.
"Bloody hell, Hermione!"
He uses the blanket to cover his upper half, and Hermione rolls her eyes and says "Honestly Ron. Get dressed, and don't go back to sleep. Come on, your mother says breakfast is ready!"
That gets Harry and Ron out of bed, and they get down, after Ron gets a shirt on, to see Bloom at the table with Fyra sitting on her shoulder and eating from Bloom's open palm.
She looks over when Fyra shrieks and points with her head at Harry.
"Morning, Harry!"
Harry can't tell if Bloom saw the same dream he did, but she wouldn't make him worry even if she did.
"Morning Bloom, Fyra."
Fyra squawks at him and flies over to rub against his head.
Bloom sputters a laugh and says "I think that means she likes you, Harry. Come here, Fyra!"
The magical bird flies back onto Bloom's shoulder and rubs against her head lovingly.
"What do you want to eat, Harry?"
"Anything's good, Bloom. Did you get a weird dream last night?"
Bloom's happy smile fades, he guessed right.
She looks around, and quietly asks "You mean the one about the man, Harry? The one who got killed last night because he accidentally discovered a meeting with Pettigrew, some other kid, and snake-face?"
Harry nods, wishing he hadn't brought it up now.
Bloom looks grim now, and says "Yeah, I saw it."
"Bloom, I think they meant you."
"Pettigrew might have heard my mission, but he doesn't know everything I can do, Harry."
Fyra rubs against Bloom's head again, trying to cheer up the mood.
Bloom absentmindedly makes another handful of food for her, as she stares intently at Harry.
Later, it seems Bloom's good mood has returned as they walk across the country.
Fyra's learned how to fly already, and everyone is impressed by the fact.
Bloom's only had her for maybe a month and a half, but she's already gained the Phoenix's trust and loyalty.
Ron asks "Where're we heading?"
Arthur answers "Haven't the foggiest! Keep up now!"
They keep on walking, and find a man and a boy who can only be father and son waiting for them.
He says "Arthur, it's about time son!"
Bloom is confused for a moment, only to relax when she realizes it's an expression - they're good friends, not related.
Arthur says "Everyone, this is Amos Diggory. He works with me in the Ministry. And this strapping young lad must be Cedric!"
Cedric shakes hands with Arthur, and then the Diggorys notice Fyra spiraling down towards them.
Amos says "That's strange, what's a Phoenix…doing…"
He gapes in shock as Fyra lands on Bloom's shoulder like it's a perch.
Cedric is not any better, and Arthur says "Amos, you remember Dumbledore's friend's student?"
Amos nods, and Bloom stiffens in shock.
Amos shakes his head, and says "Ah, this must be Bloom then. Yes, Dumbledore briefed me on your situation. And, I want to thank you for your help."
Bloom relaxes and shakes his hand - she read his aura and it showed only sincerity and thanks.
Cedric asks "Dad, what are you talking about? Also, how's she have a Phoenix sitting on her shoulder? They're incredibly rare!"
Amos says "Son, let's just say she's not from around here. I'll tell you more afterwards. And if Bloom's here…"
His eyes land on Harry, who smiles.
He asks "Just curious, who else knows about Bloom?"
"Not many. Only those that Dumbledore trusts absolutely. Arthur and I are the only ones in the Ministry that know about her. Not even all the teachers at Hogwarts know her identity."
Cedric asks "Which is…?"
Bloom clears her throat, and says "I'm keeping Harry safe from a certain bald wizard who wants to kill him."
Cedric's eyebrows shoot up when he realizes who she's talking about, and he asks "You're not afraid of him?"
"He's a man, a man who's willing to kill people brutally to get what he wants, but a man. And seeing as he wants everyone to be too afraid to even say his name - real or invented - that just seems like a lot of vanity and ego. So, no, I'm not afraid of him."
Her eyes flash orange, and she adds "Of course, I can also back that up with some strength."
Harry, Hermione, and Ron grin, and Cedric says "They say you're the strongest witch in Hogwarts. I'm going to guess there's some truth to that."
Bloom shrugs one shoulder, and says "It's half-right. Have your father tell you more if you're really curious."
They walk up the hill, and find a raggedy old boot in the center.
Everyone starts putting a hand on it, and Bloom and Harry do the same.
It's a Portkey, it's going to take them to wherever it is they're going.
With a white flash, they're suddenly flying through the air.
Bloom's screaming in excitement and joy, it's just like flying on her own.
Suddenly, Arthur yells "Let go!"
Hermione asks "What?!"
They all let go though, and Bloom uses some of her magic to catch them before they can hit the ground.
They all land gently, and Cedric is staring at Bloom with wide eyes.
"You said the rumor is half true."
Bloom nods, and he just stares at her even more.
"You're not a witch."
"There you go!"
"So, what are you?"
"That, you'll have to find out from your father after the Cup."
Ron asks "Cup? Have you known what we're doing all this time?"
She grins and says "No, I saw it while we were up in the air!"
She points over a hill, and Arthur laughs and says "Nothing gets past you for long, does it Bloom? Welcome to the Quidditch World Cup!"
Harry and Ron's jaws drop, and Bloom excitedly says "Harry should be playing, he's got his new broom after all!"
Harry laughs and says "Bloom, I don't have a team that's playing here."
Bloom mischievously grins, and Harry says "No! Don't think for a minute that we're going up against an entire team! You've never even played, and you don't have a broom!"
"I've got a pretty good Beater swing. You know that from year two. And," she whispers in his ear, "I don't really need a broom, do I?"
Harry has to grin, even though he's blushing madly, and wraps an arm around her.
Fyra catches up and lands on Bloom's shoulder again, then moves over to stand on Harry's shoulder and get a better view.
Harry has to laugh, and Bloom takes his other hand, whispering "Here, maybe she wants a snack from you."
She makes some sunflower seeds appear, and Harry tentatively holds his hand up to Fyra.
She looks at the seeds for a moment, then starts eating them one by one.
When she's done, Fyra moves back over to Bloom's shoulder as Amos and Cedric split up.
Cedric is still staring after Bloom, but she doesn't even notice - he's trying to figure out all the rumors he's heard about her right then.
She's the best at every class she tries, she's got the Sight, she's a natural at Care of Magical Creatures, any spell she tries goes right for her the first time.
Arthur leads them to a tent and says "Home sweet home! Everybody grab a bunk and unpack. Ron, get out of the kitchen, we're all hungry."
The inside of the tent is much larger than the outside - Bloom loves magic.
AN: Thank you Hermione, and you amazing powers of common sense! Yes, Harry was getting really jealous of Fyra, but he's over himself now and they're friends it seems. Also, Anybody want to take a guess at how all the relationships are coming - Bloom and Harry in particular? You won't have to wait very long for an answer, promise!