The Phoenicans

The Phoenicans

Prologue: More Than A Bird

Wish that I could cry

Fall upon my knees

Find a way to lie

About a home I'll never see

It may sound absurd... but don't be naïve

It's not easy to be me

Five For Fighting "'Superman' (it's not easy)"

"Wormtail," cried a sharp, cold voice which pierced the frosty night air.

"C-c-coming master," came Wormtail's shrill reply.

"Wormtail," his master slowly hissed. "Are the Death Eaters all ready for my announcement?"

Wormtail tried to look his powerful master in the eye, but failed.

"Well, Wormtail?" his master questioned.

"Yes m-m-my Lord," came Wormtail's short reply. 'Th-th-they are all here."

Wormtail looked at his master's face. He watched the flesh slowly twist and turn to form his master's vicious smile.

"Excellent, Wormtail," his master slowly said, baring his yellow teeth. "Come now, Wormtail. Come now, Nagini."

Wormtail noticed his master's pet snake slithering by, leaving a long, silvery trail behind it. Wormtail shivered as he watched it slither away. He despised snakes even more than he despised Phoenicans. 'Why me? Why does it always have to happen to me?' Wormtail pityingly asked himself as he quickly hurried after his Lord.

*~-~*

"My faithful Death Eaters," came the cold voice of Wormtail's master. "Who do you swear your allegiance to?"

The Death Eaters' replies came slowly. "To you, our mighty Dark Lord," they answered as one. "To you, Lord Voldemort," the Death Eaters whispered.

Voldemort grinned, baring his sharp, yellow teeth and long, slithering, red tongue. "My faithful Death Eaters," Voldemort said again. "Tonight, it is your honor to learn about my new plan to get rid of Harry Potter."

At the mention of Harry Potter the Death Eaters winced. Harry Potter had been the downfall of their Dark Lord nearly fifteen years ago.

Then, suddenly, a red bird flew through the window and landed on Voldemort's shoulder.

"My faithful Death Eaters," he said, while stroking the bird's red feathers. "I would like you to meet a new member to our organisation, Gemma."

The bird flew down and landed on the ground. Then it grew. Slowly at first, then faster and faster. It was changing into a human. The Death Eaters watched as the bird's wings turned into arms and it's body turned into that of a young woman. The woman was wearing long, blood red robes. She had shimmering blue eyes and long red hair. The Death Eaters gasped in shock.

One brave Death Eater stepped forward. "A Phoenican, my Lord?" he questioned, clearly disgusted.

"Yes, Lucius," came his master's cold reply. "A Phoenican. The oldest, which means she is the best one for the job."

Lucius looked at the young woman. She looked as though she was no older than thirty years. Lucius also knew that she had to be the oldest living Phoenican, because there were only three living Phoenicans and the other two were only fifteen years old. Not that much younger than his beloved son, Draco.

"Lucius, do you have a problem with my young friend?" Voldemort questioned, smirking slightly.

"No my Lord" Lucius quickly replied while he studied the Phoenican again.

"Do any of you," Voldemort demanded, "have a problem with Gemma?"

The other Death Eaters shook their heads to say that they didn't disagree with their master.

"Good." Voldemort said.

"Lucius, may I have a word?" Voldemort commanded his Death Eater.

Lucius had no intention of disobeying his master's orders so quickly he replied, "Yes, my Lord."

"The rest of you may leave as I need to talk to Lucius," Voldemort ordered. "Gemma, stay and keep Wormtail company"

*~-~*

"So, Lucius," Voldemort said, softly. "I know you have read about Phoenicans and I also know you want to destroy every last one." Voldemort looked into Lucius' grey eyes and smiled. "Lucius, do you have any idea about what's going to happen to Gemma?" Voldemort questioned Lucius.

Lucius remembered reading about Gemma and her fellow living Phoenicans. He remembered there being something about a double generation...

"My Lord," Lucius said, "Isn't there a double generation?" Lucius hesitated to watch his master.

"Very good," his master hissed. "A double generation means what?"

"A double generation means that Gemma and the other Phoenicans will have Phoenican children," Lucius answered his master. "My Lord, you aren't planning to have children with Gemma?"

Voldemort began to grin. "Yes, Lucius. Congratulations for figuring out my plan," Voldemort said menacingly. "As you probably already know, Phoenicans can only have a maximum of two children when there's a double generation. So, after Gemma has had her children, I will enchant the other two and have children with them!"

After making this statement Voldemort let out a high pitched laugh.

"But, my Lord," Lucius stammered. "Phoenicans usually produce females. It's a rare chance that they have male children."

"It doesn't matter." Voldemort nodded to show that he understood. "Lucius you may leave now. Oh, before you go, give this to that boy of yours for me."

Voldemort handed Lucius a silver necklace. On the necklace was an emerald dragon. On the back of it there was a message engraved;

Draco,

As long as your mine I'll make your choices.

Who you will marry and how you will die.

Remember.

Lucius shoved the necklace into his pocket and bid his master farewell.

"Remember, Lucius" Voldemort called after him. "Remember!"

*~-~*

Gemma looked around the room and then at Wormtail, coldly. She couldn't believe that her lord had left her with one of the most pathetic people in the world.

"What's your problem?" she yelled at Wormtail. "There's nothing wrong with us Phoenicans so why do you hate us so?"

Wormtail shot her a look of great loathing mixed with fear and replied, "I hate you because you're a Phoenican."

Gemma looked at his face. Wormtail had tiny, black eyes and a longish nose. Gemma knew that he was an animagus and that he could transform into a rat. And that's what Gemma thought Wormtail was - a rat.

"You are despicable. You hate me just because I'm a Phoenican," Gemma said nastily as she brushed some hair off her face. "That really is pathetic."

Gemma shot a look of loathing at Wormtail, then she quickly turned, around leaving Wormtail to ponder to himself. As she left the room, she felt Wormtail's eyes rest upon her backside. 'What a disgusting rat,' she thought to herself. Without hesitating, Gemma turned back into a bird then flew out the window in search of the Dark Lord.

*~-~*

'Hmmm,' Voldemort thought, as someone wrapped their arms around his waist. He turned around only to find Gemma.

"Gemma, what are you doing?" Voldemort spat at her.

Gemma, reacting to his tone of voice, immediately removed her arms from around him. She looked up at his cold face. It was ugly, with flat, red slits for nostrils instead of the usual soft, round ones on a normal person's face. Gemma loved this about his face; it was so evil.

Gemma knew in her heart that she wasn't evil. She also knew that all she ever wanted was a bit of power to add to her own "special" powers.

"Gemma," Voldemort said, looking into her stunning, blue eyes. He was aware of his power to control with his eyes and didn't hesitate to use it. She was now under his control.

"Yes, my Lord," she replied softly. She was smiling; not the power-hungry smile like the ones he was used to seeing on the Death Eaters, but a sweet and gentle smile.

"Gemma, what about the other two Phoenicans?"

"What about the other two Phoenicans?"

"What will they say about our ... ummm ... arrangement?"

Gemma looked at Voldemort and smiled. "I won't tell them anything," she slowly purred.

Voldemort then leant forward, watching Gemma's eagerness mount. Gemma felt his mouth firmly plant itself onto hers. It sent a shiver up her spine. Gemma had been kissed before - loads of times - but this kiss was like no other. It wasn't a soft and warm kiss. This kiss felt like ice. It felt like needles stabbing into her lips. Gemma hastily drew back. She licked her normally soft, red lips. Now, they were sore and swollen. She looked up at her Lord again, transformed into a bird and flew off.

'Well, well, well. Gemma, the girl who pretends to be a woman.' Voldemort chuckled to himself. "Wormtail!" he shouted, as he went to look for his servant.

*~-~*

Wormtail looked at the Phoenican woman as she left. He felt his eyes slid to her backside. 'Oh my GOD!' he thought to himself. 'Have I really sunk this low? Did I really just check out her arse!' Wormtail shook his head in disbelief.

It just couldn't be true that he would do something as disgusting, as despicable and pathetic as checking out a Phoenican! Wormtail sat on the ground and began to cry.

'A Phoenican, A Phoenican! I just checked out a bloody bastard Phoenican! What will people think of me, Phoenicans are scum! Vermin! They're even worse than spiders!'

Wormtail began to picture the young woman in his mind. He could see her red hair flowing down her back, clashing with the blood red robes. He could see her flirty, blue eyes that bewitched him in one stare. Slowly, to Wormtail's horror, he began to smile. He felt like he was in a trance.

"Wormtail!" His master's cold voice made his smile vanish.

Wormtail stopped thinking about the Phoenican and hurried to find his master.

*~-~*

BANG! The loud, crashing noise filled Malfoy Manor as it echoed and reverberated in the expansive foyer as Lucius slammed the great oak doors behind him.

Slinks, a small house elf, came to greet him at the door.

"W-w-welcome h-h-home m-master," he slowly stuttered.

"Ahh, Slinks," Lucius began. "Bring Master Draco to me. I have a gift for him."

Slinks took his master's travelling cloak. "Yes master," he answered. Slinks then hurried to find Master Draco.

"Stupid house elf!" Lucius shouted, when he saw his travelling cloak in a heap on the floor.

The sound of his yell made his wife, Narcissa, come running.

"What the matter?" she asked, with little sympathy in her voice.

"That ruddy house elf, Slinks, just left my travelling cloak on the floor!" Lucius said, not trying to hide his anger.

"Just call another one to get it then," Narcissa said with a smirk.

Lucius looked at her and then picked up his cloak. He stormed up the stairs to find Slinks.

*~-~*

Draco slowly turned the page of his favorite book. His mother gave it to him last year at Christmas. He knew it was a Muggle story so he didn't show his friends, but he loved it all the same.

"Matilda!" She roared. "It was you! I know it was you!"

Matilda, in the second row, she sat very still and said nothing. A strange feeling of serenity and confidence was sweeping over her and all of a sudden she found that she was frightened by nobody in the world. With the power of her eyes alone she had compelled a glass of water to tip and spill it's contents over the horrible Headmistress, and any body who could do that could do anything.

"Speak up, you clotted carbuncle!" roared the Trunchbull. "Admit that you did it!"

Matilda looked right back into the flashing eyes of this infuriated

Giant and said with total calmness, "I have not moved away from my desk, Miss Trunchbull, since the lesson began. I can say no more."

As he read, he felt a great happiness. Not towards the Muggle girl, Matilda, but as the book reminded him of his own family. He was like Matilda. His mother was like the sweet and kind Miss Honey but his father was definitely the male equivalent of the evil Miss Trunchbull. Draco did respect his father, but he feared him as well.

Draco sighed as he pushed the book under his bed. He looked around his bedroom. The room was small and draughty. Along one wall, there was a cupboard with all his clothes in it. In the middle of the room was his bed with ivy-green drapes, much like the ones in the Slytherin common room.

In one corner was a table with potion ingredients and a small cauldron on top. Draco loved his potions equipment, and only last month he got his Potente Potions license. He especially loved his license because Professor Snape the potions master (and his favorite teacher) said that he was the first student in many years to earn his license before sixth year.

Under his bed, Draco had a vast collection of books. Most of these books came from the library which was his favorite room in the whole Manor. Draco loved the library most of all because reading was his favorite activity.

Knock, knock, knock!

Draco jumped at the sound of knocking on his bedroom door.

"Master Draco?" came the squeaky voice of, Slinks, the house elf. "May I come in?"

Draco got up off his bed and opened the door. "What is it Slinks?" he asked the tiny elf.

"Your f-f-father wants to speak with you," Slinks replied frightened at the mention of Lucius' name.

Draco told Slinks to go away, then he went to look for his father.

*~-~*

"You wanted to see me father?" Lucius heard his son's soft drawling voice ask.

Lucius looked down upon his son. "Yes, son," he replied coldly. "I wanted to give you this." He held up the necklace with the emerald dragon which hung off it. Lucius watched his son's eager hands grab the necklace.

"Father what does the inscription mean?" Lucius heard Draco ask after he had read the back of the dragon.

"Draco," Lucius said, slowly. "The inscription basically means that I will decide every choice you have and you will never disobey!" Lucius watched his son step slowly back. "Now put it on Draco!" Lucius commanded.

"Y-y-yes father," Draco replied while hastily putting on the necklace.

"Now Draco, get your dress robes on. The Parkinson's will be here in an hour. And make yourself presentable, for once"

Lucius loved the effect of his words. He knew Draco prided himself on his appearance. He watched as his son hurried up to his room to quickly get ready.

"Narcissa!" Lucius called. "Get ready for our guests."

Lucius watched as Narcissa hurried into the room, curtsied, and went to her sleeping quarters to get ready.

Lucius went to his room to get ready.

*~-~*

"Oh Draco, it was so funny. Weasley's father was running around with all these Muggle things attached to him and saying," - Pansy put on a high pitched voice which sounded like a house elf, - "'Those dang blasted Death Eaters! Don't they know how to treat a Muggle with respect!' I nearly burst out laughing on the spot."

Draco just nodded. He was so bored and all Pansy ever did was talk.

"Draco?" he heard Pansy slowly question. "Are you even listening to me?"

Draco looked in to Pansy's hard, brown eyes. "Yes, Pansy" Draco mumbled. "You were talking about Death Eaters and a Weasley?" He hoped he'd correctly answered Pansy because she would be furious if he hadn't.

Draco remembered the party that the Slytherins threw for him in fourth year. They'd played spin the wand and Draco had had to kiss Pansy but, instead he had run off to dinner. The memory was painful because later the DADA (Defense Against the Dark Arts) teacher had turned him into a ferret and bounced him around the corridor. He still couldn't go near small animals.

"Pansy," Draco mumbled as he stood up. "I'm going to talk to ... um ... Gregory!"

Draco quickly walked up to his friend Gregory Goyle. He slowly tapped him on the shoulder. He watched Goyle jump around and try to hit him.

"Lo Goyle" Draco mumbled.

"Hello, Draco" Goyle slowly replied. "I'm sorry for almost hitting you"

Draco nodded to accept the apology.

"Draco?" Draco heard Goyle ask him.

"Yes, Goyle?" Draco replied.

"Do you reckon Pansy would dance with me?"

Draco sniggered at the idea of Goyle dancing with somebody. "I really don't know, Goyle." Draco began smirking slightly. "You will have to ask her yourself."

Draco watched Goyle frown then slowly trudge over to Pansy. He saw Goyle extend his arm out to Pansy but, instead of taking it, she picked up the closest plate of food and dumped it on him.

Draco walked up to Goyle. "Are you okay?" he asked, as their friend, Vincent Crabbe, ran up to them.

Goyle just nodded, looking really embarrassed.

"What just happened Goyle?" Draco heard Crabbe ask.

"I asked Pansy if she wanted to dance with me and she said no," Goyle began. There was tears streaming down his face like running water.

"It's okay Goyle," Draco said soothingly. "I'm sure Crabbe will dance with you."

*~-~*

"Where is it!" Lucius shouted, throwing books off his desk.

Narcissa came hurrying to his side. "What's wrong Lucius?" she questioned. He lifted his hand and stroked her pale cheek. "Narcissa, have you seen Quo Historia de Phoenicnox?" he asked her softly.

Narcissa pushed his hand away. "It's over there somewhere," she haughtily replied pointing to a stack of books about Phoenicans.

"Thank you, darling," Lucius gracefully said, slightly nodding his head. He strolled over to his pile of books on Phoenicans and looked for the book.

*~-~*

After hours of searching Lucius finally found the book he was looking for. The cover was beautifully designed with phoenixes surrounding the edge.

Slowly he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wand. "Translacite di Ingliese," he whispered, tapping his wand three times on the cover. Slowly, the words Quo Historia de Phoenicnox started to melt. Lucius watched as, suddenly, new words burst into flame.

"The History Of Phoenicans," he read out loud. "And to think, there are only three more of these books available."

He opened the book and turned to the biographies of the Phoenicans. He found Gemma's quickly. Her life was seemingly boring. He turned to the picture of another young Phoenican. He noticed something move at the bottom of the page. Words appeared to be writing themselves on to the page.

Carefully Lucius read the words and gasped.

He would have to warn Draco.