The Phoenicans

Chapter 1: Secrets

Sittin' by you, all I can see are secrets

Secrets that you have hidden away from me

I feel like I've been locked out

Just share it with me...

Share it with me...

Secrets - Dreamkaste

In a black carriage at the back of the Hogwarts Express she sat, reading. Slowly, she lifted her quill and scribbled a note on a spare piece of parchment.

The compartment door opened; it was her sister. She was accompanied by Professor Carnegie. She watched the professor's dark hair flop around her back.

"Some year it's going to be, huh, girls?" the professor queried, her dark hair trailing down her back.

All the girls did was nod in answer. 'A new school, a new life,' she thought to herself. 'A new me.'

*~-~*

Harry Potter stepped onto Platform 9¾ and looked around in shock. He was the first one there for once!

"Harry!" a voice shrieked.

It was his friend, Hermione. Her hair was tied back in a bushy ponytail and she was carrying what looked like a library of books on her back.

"Lo, Mione," Harry slurred back. "How was America, meet anyone?"

Hermione shot Harry a sly grin and began going on about her holiday. 'God, she has changed,' he thought to himself. He looked at his friend again. 'Oh my God! She's wearing mkeup! Hermione's wearing makeup!'

"What?" Hermione angrily questioned, noticing Harry staring at her.

"Nothing," Harry replied, shaking his head. "Let's go find Ron."

Hermione quietly nodded in reply, hoping that Harry didn't notice her cheeks flush.

*~-~*

"Now, Draco," he heard his father begin. "Don't forget what I told you, watch out for the..."

"Phoenicans. I know, Father, you've told me about one-thousand times," Draco replied, getting annoyed.

'It's always Phoenicans this, and Phoenicans that. God, Father can be persistent,' Draco thought to himself. 'Ever since he gave me that necklace, things have never been the same.'

Draco lifted a slim hand to his chest and felt a cold, sharp pain from under his shirt. The necklace had dug into his skin again. He tried not to call out because 'Malfoys don't show pain'.

"Draco," his father continued. "You should know by now that this world is cruel and wicked. It's I, alone, who you can trust in this whole world! I am your only true friend. I who created you! I who keep you, feed you, dress you! I who look upon you without fear. How can I protect you, Draco, unless you listen to me."

Draco just nodded in reply; he had heard his father say these things millions of times before. Draco just thought about his book, 'Matilda', as his father continued his speech. Yes, his father was definitely the Trunchbull.

"Are you listening, boy?" Lucius barked. "To you, the world shows little pity, you do not seem to comprehend. Out there, they think you a monster, a bully. To your face, they scorn and jeer. Why do you invite their calumny and consternation? Listen to me, Draco. Be faithful to me, be grateful to me. Do as I say, obey me and you will be gratuitously rewarded."

"You are my one defender," Draco mumbled. The words fell out of his mouth, a habit from years of repetition. "I'm faithful and grateful, I'll obey you... Father."

"Draco," Lucius barked. "Take this, it will be extremely useful."

His father held up a thick text. Draco cautiously took it running a hand over the leather cover. It was his father's book on the Phoenicans.

"Thank you, Father," Draco replied, shoving the book into a compartment in his trunk.

The train's whistle blew signaling him to board the train.

"Well, goodbye, Father," Draco mumbled, not expecting anything more from the cold hearted man in front of him.

"Draco." Draco looked into his father's emotionless eyes. "Look after the book."

'Look after the book!' Draco's head screamed.* 'Doesn't he care about me?'

Draco hastily grabbed his trunk and stormed off towards the Hogwarts Express.

*~-~*

Harry slumped beside Hermione and sighed. Where was Ron?

"Oh, Harry," Hermione shrieked."Isn't it great that we are both prefects!"

Harry just nodded in reply.

"I wonder if Ron's a prefect?" Hermione asked Harry.

"He isn't Mione. His marks aren't good enough." Harry looked down at his feet while saying this. Mrs. Weasley would be upset that Ron wasn't made a prefect.

"Harry! Hermione!"

Harry looked up at the compartment's door. It was Ron!

"Ron!" Hermione shrieked.

"Lo, Ron," Harry mumbled.

Ron didn't reply. Harry guessed that he was to busy 'studying' the new improved Hermione Granger.

"Ron?" Harry questioned impatiently.

"What!" Ron grumbled, turning to look at Harry. "Oh, sorry, mate, I didn't see you there."

Harry just nodded to accept Ron's apology. Ron was definitely still crushing over Hermione. Harry watched as Ron sat on the opposite side of the compartment. Harry got up and sat down beside his friend.

"Ron, just go ahead and ask her out," Harry whispered into Ron's ear.

"Harry!" Ron quietly squealed. "Are you crazy? Hermione's a Goddess. Compared to her, I'm a poor, worthless... Nobody!"

Harry stared at Ron in disbelief. "Ron, why is she your friend if you're a poor, worthless... Nobody?"

Ron just slouched back into his seat and sighed.

'Poor Ron,' Harry thought to himself. 'This is like that Muggle song... Maybe if I twist some of the words...'

Slowly, Harry leant over to Ron and began to whisper words into his ear.

"There you see her," he slowly began. "Sitting there across the way, she don't got a lot to say but there's something about her..."

Harry paused to see if Ron had bothered to listen to him.

"Uh, Harry," Ron began, his voice shaking. "Are you okay?"

Harry smirked in reply and continued to say the words.

"And you don't know why, but your dying to try." Harry lowered his voice to a bare whisper, "You want to kiss the girl."

*~-~*

Draco Malfoy found the Slytherin Prefect compartment empty. Slowly, he sat down and reached into his velvet green travel bag and pulled out his journal.

Dear Journal,

I spent the whole of Summer safe behind Malfoy Manor's windows and parapets of stone, gazing down at the muggles below me. All of my life I have watched them as I sit up in my bedroom all alone, hungry for the histories they show me.

All my life I have memorised their faces, knowing them as they will never know me. All my life, I, Draco Malfoy, have wondered how it would feel to pass a day not above them, but among them. I know it's crazy and if Father ever found out...

But, out there, living in the sun. Just one day out there, all I ask is one, to hold forever. They're all unaware, what I'd give, what I'd dare, just to live one day out there. You know, among the millers and the weavers and their wives.

Every morning before Father got up, I'd watch them through their roofs and gables. Every day they would shout, scold and go about their lives, not knowing what it is like to be me.

If I was one of them, I'd treasure every moment. I'd stroll by their houses, tasting all the fresh smells of the morning. Like an ordinary man, who freely walks around. If I had just one day, I swear, I'd be content, with my share, I wouldn't resent or despair. I wouldn't care, cause I'll have spent one day out there...

"Draco!" A voice shouted.

Draco froze and dropped the quill he was writing with. He quickly slammed his journal shut and shoved it back into his bag. Looking up, he saw Pansy Parkinson.

"Hi, Pansy, it's 'great' to see you again!" Draco exclaimed.

"Hi, Drakie," Pansy purred, sitting down next to him. "Do you notice anything different?"

Draco stood up, backed away from her, then took a look at her. Her face was the same. He studied her a bit more.

"Uh, Pansy..." Draco gulped.

Pansy wasn't wearing her normal school robes, instead she was wearing a bright purple corset with knee high, black, leather boots.

"You look..." Draco began. Pansy was well known for her courageous fashion efforts.

"You hate it, don't you!" Pansy wailed, tears streaming down her face.

'Not again!' Draco thought. 'It's always the water works!'

"Pansy, you look, uh... unique!" Draco rushed. "Well, Pansy, I have to get changed into my robes!"

Draco quickly rushed out of the room, and straight into Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.

"Lo, Draco," they mumbled, sounding like a single person.

"Hello, guys," Draco said, cheering up a bit. After all, they were his friends.

"Congratulations for being made a prefect," Vincent sighed, knowing he would never get the marks to be made a Prefect.

"Thanks, Vincent," Draco grinned. Greg was looking a bit left out, so Draco decided to include him in the conversation. "So, Greg, what would you like to do?"

"Uh, well..." Greg trailed off. He wasn't used to so much straight forwardness. "I was thinking that we should go see Herm... uh, pick on Potter."

"Okay, it'll give us something to do." Draco quickly took to the suggestion, remembering that Greg had a thing for the mudblood...

*~-~*

Draco impatiently stood outside the library waiting for Greg to borrow a book.

"Hurry up, Greg," Draco muttered to himself.

Draco waited for about another ten minutes, and decided to find his slow friend. He opened the door and saw Greg talking to the mudblood, Granger. Draco walked to the book aisle behind them and began to look for a book.

"Um..." Greg began. Draco leaned in closer to find out what Goyle was saying. "Hermione, wanna go to this Ball thing with me?"

Draco closed his hand around his mouth to stop himself from laughing. He looked towards the bookcase and saw a book that looked interesting, Magical Creatures Which Aren't Nasty: From Centaurs to Phoenicans.

"Um..." This time it was the mudblood speaking. "Look, Greg, I'm going with someone else..."

'Yeah,' Draco thought, pulling the book off the shelf. 'The Potty or the Weasel.'

"Ok, then," Greg mumbled, slowly walking away. For once, Draco felt sorry for him. Greg always tried and still failed.

Draco took the book over to Madam Prince and borrowed it, constantly watching the mudblood. After the strict Librarian had handed the book back, Draco left the library and ran to the Slytherin common room to comfort his loyal friend.

*~-~*

The girl looked up to find her sister waving a magazine in her face.

"What is it, Jessica!" she snapped, snatching the magazine from her sister's hands.

It was a Daily Prophet pull out. It had 'Compare Your Student's Uniform With Those From Schools Around The World!' written across the front. She opened the magazine and flicked through. She stopped at 'The Phoenix Academy Of Magical Arts' - her old school. A strangely familiar girl stood dressed in the usual school uniform next to a familiar boy on one page, and, on the other, they were dressed in acidic green and gold (the house colours for her old house).

"It's you and Chris, Marii!" Her sister said, jumping up and down clapping.

Marii looked at herself and her best friend waving up at her. She missed him terribly; him and her second best friend, Mary. Tears formed in her eyes. She felt her sister hug her. Maybe it wasn't going to be fun changing schools.

"Girls," Professor Carnegie began. "Put on your cloaks, we're going to arrive soon."

*~-~*

"Uh, Hermione..." Ron began.

But before he could continue talking, the compartment door slid open. Parvati and Padma Patil walked in. They both said hi and walked towards the end of the carriage. There were two black doors. They whispered something and entered. 'Weird,' Harry thought.

"Well, what have we here?" Harry turned around to find Draco Malfoy, Prince of Bastards,* standing at the entrance with his goons, Crabbe and Goyle.

"Go away, Malfoy," Harry spat.

"Oh, make me, Potter," Malfoy said, crossing his arms.

"No one wants you here, Malfoy!" Hermione shrieked. "Go back to your slutty girlfriend, Pansy!"

"She's not my girlfriend," Malfoy hissed. "And at least she doesn't wear muggle crap on her face, mudblood!"

"Excuse me!" A woman's voice came from behind. Harry turned around to see a young witch about 27 years old at the door. "I have students in here with me who don't like your language, Mr...."

"Malfoy!" Ron added, grinning.

"Mr. Malfoy." The woman finished. "I'm expecting an apology from you after all of the new students have been sorted, in front of the whole school."

"And who are you to make me?" Malfoy replied smirking.

"Mr. Malfoy, I'm used to teaching Malfoys." The woman continued. "Melissa Malfoy might ring a bell..."

"Missy?" Draco questioned. "You taught my cousin, Missy! Ugh!"

"I know, but I'm teaching DADA this year. But that's not the point!" the woman exclaimed. "You are to apologise after the sorting!"

"Yes, Professor..." Draco trailed off.

"Professor Carnegie," she answered. "Now you all should get changed, we'll be arriving in twenty minutes."

With those final words, she left and so did Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle.

"I'm going to get changed now," Hermione said grabbing her things. "I'll meet you at the Great Hall."

Harry and Ron both waved and began to get changed.

*~-~*

Harry silently watched Professor McGonagall lead the first years to the front of the Hall. They were followed by two tall figures in heavy black coats. The first years lined up in a straight line as Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on the stool in front of the staff table. The old hat opened it's mouth and began to sing;

"Four houses united in dignity and pride,

You will be placed in one which will credit you.

Of course there are rivalries which never will be put aside,

These in which others will find themselves in too.

Hufflepuff is for the just and loyal,

Only those worthy and not afraid of toil.

Gryffindor is for the brave and daring,

While they look though they're very caring.

And If you're wise and good of mind,

Ravenclaw is you're new home, you will find.

Though for those who are cunning and fun,

Slytherin is for you, yes it's the one.

So now you have made it here,

Just put me on, don't be scared.

You have nothing to fear,

I know everything that goes on in your head."

The hall broke out into cheers and cat calls, as the hat bowed to all four tables.

"It said Slytherins are fun!" Ron protested over the noise.

This pulled Harry onto a chain of thought about his own sorting, when the hat had nearly placed him in Slytherin. Finally, the clapping died down and Professor McGonagall unrolled the parchment with the names of all the new first years.

"Abbot, Marcelus!"

*~-~*

"Slytherin!"

Harry politely clapped as the last first year was sorted. Harry looked over at the two cloaked figures who were still there. Harry watched them walk over to the stool and Professor McGonagall pulled out a small piece of parchment.

"Students and Professors, we have two exchange students from 'The Phoenix Academy of Magical Arts,'" Professor McGonagall began, gesturing to the two students. "They will be starting their fourth year here. Please make them welcome." Looking down at the small scroll she called the first one. "Patil, Jessica!"

The figure moved towards the stool and removed her hood. Strawberry blonde hair spilled out from under her hood. Just as the hat touched her head it cried, "Ravenclaw!" She ran over to the Ravenclaw table and hugged Padma Patil.

'They must be cousins,' Harry thought to himself as he looked back to the other figure.

"Patil, Marii!" McGonagall called.

The other figure sat herself on the stool and crossed her legs. As she removed her hood, instead of strawberry blonde hair, she had hair a deep red colour. Professor McGonagall placed the old hat on her head. After five minutes had passed, the hat had come to a decision.

"Gryffindor!" it cried.

The girl practically bolted over to Parvati and hugged her.

"Oh, Parvati!" she exclaimed, in a strange accent. "We're going to have so much fun together this year!"

"Yeah, it's going to be easier for you, though, than it was for me." Parvati answered eagerly. "At least you'll have me in your classes!"

"How can she have classes with us?" Ron asked Parvati.

"At the Academy, you only do six years," the new girl explained. "We learn twice as much in our first year, so they know whether we need to be held back or are ready to progress."

"Marii, sit down," Parvati invited.

The girl removed her coat. She was wearing acidic green robes, with gold hemming and a picture of a golden snake.

"It's an Ashwinder," the girl said looking at Harry. "And the silver picture on the front of my sister's is a Phoenix."

"Oh..." Harry mumbled. "You must think I'm very rude. I'm Harry Potter."

"I'm Marii Illusia Patil," she replied. "And I don't think you're rude."

Harry decided that Marii was a nice person, and continued to talk to her until the school had finished eating.

*~-~*

"Students of Hogwarts," Dumbledore began. "The usual rules apply; the forest is out of bounds, no magic is to be used in the corridors and, more importantly, Quidditch trials will be held second week of term."

"Do you think I should try out, Harry?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded and began to say something when Dumbledore continued.

"Now for some exciting news," Dumbledore said, his voice quivering with excitement. "We thought because Quidditch was cancelled last year due to the tournament, and we have two brilliant exchange students..."

Marii blushed as he said this.

"We have decided to have a competition with their Quidditch teams. A Quidditch competition!"

With these words, the hall erupted into cheers, except for Hermione and a few of the first years who were Muggle born.

"Normal rules apply and Marii and Jessica, you must play with your old house teams. But I guess you already knew this." Dumbledore said as the twin girls nodded in unison. "So, before we go to bed, let me introduce your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Carnegie!"

She stood up and pointed her wand at the Slytherin table. Harry watched Malfoy rise and point his wand at his throat. A spell was cast and he began his forced apology to Hermione.

"I would like to apologise to Hermione Granger," he began, muttering Hermione's name. "I called her a name, I called her a mudblood! I would like to apologise. Sorry, Hermione."

With that, Malfoy removed the spell and sat down.

"Well, I'm proud." Marii said. "He's the only person that actually hasn't had Carnegie breathing down their necks to apologise."

"Don't you like her?" Hermione said, her voice filled with venom. "She seems really nice."

"Oh, she's nice," Marii began, curling some of her hair around her index finger. "She's definitely a better teacher than my old house head, Professor Konami. Konami was nice, but I could mix a better potion than her. Well, that's not hard since I'm brilliant at Potions."

With this Marii pulled out a text and began to read. Harry looked at his own Potions Professor and sighed. Marii was in for a big surprise.