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This chapter is a bit different, maybe... I don't know, this is new for me, but it seemed good in my head.

Chapter 6




Molly sat down at the table in the kitchen of the House of Black with a thud. That girl, Phoenix, had really gotten to her. What had she meant by, 'you'd be suprised.' ?

Thinking back, Molly recalled everything about the poor girl. She had so many scars, some that she hid, some that she just couldn't. But the worst thing about her, the darling, was her eyes. They had absolutely no life in them, nothing. She appeared to just accept everything as it came. All that Molly wanted to do was help her.

She remembered looking at the scar on the girl's neck and almost crying out loud. Someone had tried to kill her. Then there were all those superficial scars. They just added to the beast nature that she saw in the poor girl's grandfather.

Fred and George had tried to befriend her, but that had scared her off, reinforcing the idea that had imbedded itself inside her head when she had seen the scared little girl. Molly couldn't imagine her sweet little Ginny going through anything that that girl had, and that broke her heart. Ginny had been possessed by the darkest wizard of her time, but she wasn't a shell of a person, like Phoenix was.

There was a beautiful girl, under those scars, but there was no way to get that girl out of her. She wasn't about to come out anytime soon, if ever. She wasn't going to believe in anyone that wasn't herself and she certainly wasn't going to trust any man that walked near her.

As Molly sat at the table, the owner of the house walked in, grumbling about his crazy house-elf. Molly looked at him and indicated he sit, levatating some food over for him.

"Sirius, we need to talk." She said to the man. He nodded and sat across from her. "Did you even talk to your daughter when she was here?" Molly asked very bluntly.

"How could I?" He asked, grabbing a biscuit and chomping into it. "She was in hiding the entire time."

"You didn't see anything with her face?" She asked, prodding him on. Sirius gave her a funny look. "She's clearly been beated, quite a few times." She said forcefully. Sirius stopped eating. "And I think that at least once someone tried to kill her." This looked to be a blow to Sirius.

"What do you mean, tried to kill her?" He asked, the biscuit half way to his lips.

"I mean just that, Sirius." she said. "It looks like someone tried to slit her throat." Sirius looked physically ill. "You didn't see that?"

"I can't see anything with that hair in my eyes. And she didn't come out when I wasn't a dog."

"Why not have revealed yourself?" She asked, grabbing the food away. Sirius looked like a puppy that had just been smacked with a paper.

"Well," He started, slowly. "To be honest, I didn't want to see her." He said bluntly.

(oops...i didnt realize there was two pages to the forum until i posted my last post >.<)
anywho, awesome chapter! i think its really awesome that you decided to change scenes, and take a look on Molly after Phoenix left. As well, i LOVE sirius in this! of course, the whole 'not wanting to see his daughter' thing made me kind of mad...but it's who he IS so i cant fight that =/

anywho, awesome chapter! i know ur kind of going into writers block, so, seriously, just wait for the muse/writing-juices to come back, dont stress out over not being able to write =]

again, AMAZING CHAPTER!

Chapter 7


Molly was shocked. Had he just said that about his own flesh and blood? She made sure to keep the food from him.

"What was that?" She asked. "Why didn't you want to see her?" She demanded. "That poor girl needs her father." Sirius looked down at the table.

"Would you want to look at that?" He demanded back at her. "Would you want to know that you did that to your own daughter?" His fist hit the table with a great deal of force. "I killed her mother, and look what I did to my daughter! She's better off without me!" He shoved the chair back and stood to leave. But Molly was too fast. She was infront of him before he knew it.

"You didn't do all that." She said with force. "You can't be blamed for any of that." Sirius looked away from her, but she caught his face. "Blame Peter Pettigrew." She said. The man tried moving away from her.

"It's different, Molly." He practically shouted. "Peter isn't her father! I am. I failed her." He said, finally getting around her.

As he walked away, he thought to himself. Blaming himself was the most noble thing he could say about not wanting to see her. But, the big reason was that she looked like her mother. It hurt to see the love of his life battered, and scarred. He didn't want to say that to Molly. She was already on him about seeing Harry as James. But what would she say about seeing Phoenix as Rai? He just couldn't face any of that.

Sirius had loved Rai with all his heart, and when Phoenix was born he was beyond extatic. He had loved her, worshiped her. When he was taken from the two of them that was practically the end of everything. He knew that he would never see them again, and it was heartbreaking. When he saw Phoenix it was worse than being taken from her. She wasn't the happy baby that he left. She wasn't the happy girl that he thought he'd see, the kind that would be happy to see him. She was deflated, nothing like her mother. He had done that to her and he never would forgive himself.

hey, it's okay! I'm just glad you got a chapter out -nervous laughter-

haha
I'm glad you cleared up the Sirus factor as well ^^

AWWWE heart I was expecting something.... not quite that.. lol. I just love you guys!! I'm working on the next chapter, should be up soon!

Chapter 8







Phoenix,

Fourteen years in prison would never prepare me for what I read in your letter. You say that I killed your mother, and you are right. I should have done more to save her, but there really was nothing to be done. How was I to know that I was going to be betrayed? As for what happened to you, I am fully to blame for that. I was going to appoint a godfather for you, should anything happen to your mother and I, but, I was careless. I spent my whole life with your mother, I didn’t want to even think of something happening to her. I hope that you can come to the House of Black for holiday. It is your house too, and I want you to think of it as such. If you do come, we can talk this all through, because I know that feeble excuses on paper don’t really count.

Sincerely your father,

Sirius.


Phoenix read over her father’s letter and just shook her head. She wasn’t surprised. She hadn’t expected him to really tell her anything. He was the man that lied to her the whole time that she was in the same house with him. He was the man that would rather talk to some famous orphan than his own daughter.

She looked around the library. There were crowds of people around, just none near her. They were keeping their distance. She sneered. She didn’t need people around her, they just stabbed you in the back, or hurt you in someway. She had three tables around her empty, and her table.

“Uh-oh!” She heard someone call out from behind her. She looked back and saw George standing there. She had learned to tell them apart over the weeks because of the sounds of their voices. George’s was a tad bit lower than Fred’s. Also, George had a slightly more serious look to him. “Looks like I just found a serial killer.” Phoenix quickly looked down from the attention that was suddenly brought on her. “Phoenix, what are you doing all by yourself?” He asked sitting down. He and his brother had been trying to get her to socialize more.

“They think I’m a serial killer.” She said, her chin to her chest, hair over her face. “Just like you said.” George leaned over and carefully lifted her face to look at him. He even mover her hair away so he could see her.

“I don’t know why you hide your face.” He said softly, not to scare her. “You have a nice face.” Phoenix smirked.

“Yeah, sure.” She said, while tucking the hair behind her ears. “The scars just bring out my eyes, right?” She asked, subconsciously running her hand along her throat.

“Well, they add character.” He said with a shrug. “They don’t take away from your beauty.” Phoenix shook her head.

“I don’t believe you.” She said plainly. “They are there to take it away.” She said standing up. “Thank you for giving me that letter.” She said, gathering everything. Then, she was gone.

She had to go turn something in to Professor Snape. She was working extra credit and she wanted to have it in right away to be sure that she didn’t forget it. She walked into the dungeon and Professor Snape was talking to Professor Sprout, who quickly left when she saw the student.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, sir.” She said, handing him the parchment. “Here is that extra credit you mentioned yesterday.” She turned to leave.

“Miss Black.” He called to her. She turned to look at him quickly. “I was talking to Professor McGonnagal about you.” Phoenix looked down. Was she going to get punished for something? “We both believe that you would do well without your scars. It’s not always recommended, removing scars. But, in your case, they are in no form ‘helpful’. Come here.” He called, indicating she follow him to his office. Her heart hammering, she followed. Was he serious? She wasn’t sure if she should believe him, but she had to believe in something that gave her help with her scars. Professor Snape held out a circular jar. “Rub this on your scars every night before you go to sleep. I think you will see some immediate results . But don’t over use it.” He warned. “Once a day.” With that he flicked his wrist to let her know that she was dismissed.

“Thank you, sir.” She said as she turned and left. There was hope. Maybe she could be normal, and beautiful. A smile almost came to Phoenix’s lips. But as it did, a group of first years walked by her. Her smile vanished before it could appear. Her chin hit her chest immediately and she walked to the dorms.

That night, Phoenix tried the cream on her scars for the first time. It felt cool on her skin. It was probably her imagination, but she could almost feel her skin popping back up into place.

The next morning when Phoenix woke up, she ran her hands over her face, like she had always done, and for once she didn't feel the deep sinking on it. She shot out of bed and to the girls lavitory. In the mirror was a girl staring back at her that she only recognized from a picture. It was her mother. Young and beautiful. She felt her face, still not believing it. Smooth. She changed her clothes and hurried down the stairs. Someone had to be playing a trick on her. Into another bathroom she went. Her mother's face was still in the mirror. It was her. She looked just like her mother had. She hurried back to the common room to wait for everyone else to wake up. To wait for Fred and George to see her. Suddenly, the world didn't look so bad.

Chapter 9


As Phoenix sat waiting for the twins to come down, she began worrying. What if her new look brought her some unwanted attention. She knew that she was feared when she was a freak, but what about now? She had a pretty face now. Conserned, Phoenix fixed her hair to cover her face the way she used did when she had the scars.

She heard them come down the stairs, laughing as always. They spotted her and instantly began their badgering about her always hiding.

"Phoenix," Fred began, slowly. "We told you that you shouldn't hide your face." She felt him trying to lift her chin, just like George had done the day before. She jerked away, not wanting the touch, and not wanting to show her face. Her hair fell away from one side. she looked up with that eye, at the shocked faces of her friends.

"Nix..." George said slowly. "What happened?" He asked. He pushed her hair out of her face the rest of the way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

George was shocked, really really shocked. This girl that he had known, with so many scars that he looked like a cheese grater had been taken to her face. She really was as beautiful as he had thought. Her face was like porcelan, pale and beautifully sculpted. Her dark hair made her face almost seem to shine.

He tore his eyes from the girl for a split second to see his brother's shocked expression. He looked back at her.

"Snape." she said quietly, looking away. "He gave me a cream." She put her hands on her face.

"He's my new favorite teacher." Fred said, flat out, sitting on the edge of Phoenix's chair. "Who would have thought that such a greasy... Snape, could do something so good."

Phoenix stood to leave. "Fred." George snapped. He knew that he was making Phoenix feel bad about her new look. "Nix." He called t her. "Fred didn't mean what he said."

"I'm just going to go eat. Class starts soon." She said as she left. George's stomache sunk. He had thought that maybe her new face would help her spread her wings. He and Fred followed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Phoenix walked with her chin to her chest all day. She didn't want to be stared at more than she already was. She wasn't ready to have people know about her knew face, though when she was in the bathroom alone she did stare at it. Running her fingers along the smooth skin.

Her legs were still practically the same as they had been before, as were her arm and stomache and back. They would take longer to heal than the others.

After classes she hurried to the common room and put her hair up, for the first time in ten years. Professor McGonnagal had said that they would be like family, maybe she should learn to trust them.

She saw that she was getting strange looks, looks like they were wondering how she changed. But the boys were looking at her like she was some prize to be won. She went about her homework as if nothing were different, and no one bothered to come near her, still afraid of what she would do.

Just before Phoenix left for holiday she got a very familiar owl. It was her gradfather's hawk owl. She was at breakfast, having a fairly good time talking to Professor Mcgonnagal. Everyone noticed the regal bird, and commented on it. Her fingers trembled and her palms sweat as she opened the letter.

My little bird.

I know that you think you have left me. But you will never be able to get away from me. I will always be able to find you, no matter where you hide. I have people everywhere, you know that. And when I get you back, I will make sure that you never leave me again. See you soon.

Your loving grandfather.


Phoenix gasped and read it again and again. She couldn't believe it. But she knew, she always knew. He would come for her. And she wouldn't be able to hide.

"Come on, Phoenix." McGonnagal called, grabbing both of their bags. "Let's get you home." Phoenix stood and folded the letter, ready to face what was to come at The House of Black.

Chapter 10



Sirius sat in an old, dusty armchair, watching the door for what he knew was inevitable. He had spoken to Molly after he got the letter to his daughter, and he had gotten the same rant, about how, Phoenix shouldn’t have to live in her mother’s shadow, that she had a bad life so far, and she needed her father. So, he had written her back, and decided that they needed to talk. Now, he was waiting for McGonagall to bring his only child.

He stood when he heard the door open, pulling a chair close to his. He was expecting a girl with her head down, expected a girl with scars all over her face. Instead, he was bowled over when he saw his dead girlfriend. She looked exactly like she had when he had met her. Only, well, there were some problems. One, the transfiguration teacher was a bit older than she was in his memory. As was he. And, finally, Rai was dead.

The girl walked in with an air of arrogance emanating from her. She had her head back, and her arms swung slightly at her side. She looked just like her mother. Beautiful, with her pitch black hair hanging down her back, looking like shining silk. She was wearing muggle clothing, a pair of blue jeans and a long sleeved violet turtle neck. There was one difference between Phoenix and Rai. The eyes.

Phoenix looked at Sirius with dull violet eyes, where Rai used to look at him with warm, loving blue eyes. Phoenix had his mother’s eyes. She nodded at him and waited for him to talk. But, he was speechless, so she began.

“I guess it’s time we meet?” She asked, holding her hand out to him. “Phoenix Black. Nice to meet you, Mr. Black.” She said so formally that it snapped him from his stupor. He took her soft hand in his, feeling a single scar running down the length of her palm.

“Nice to finally meet you. Though, you can call me Father. If nothing else than Sirius.” He saw a smile smirk appear on her face. So much like his mother.

“Well, Sirius, then.” She said, taking the chair that he motioned to. “Because, you will never be Father to me.” She said this simply as she crossed her legs. He was really seeing his mother, seeing himself be disowned again, this time by his own daughter.

“Yes, well.” He said, clearing is throat. “I understand what you are saying.” He said. “I did you wrong. I know that you didn’t deserve what I did to you over the summer. I feel that I should explain myself to you.” He saw his daughter give a small nod. “I didn’t want to think of your mother. She was such an important part of my life.”

Emotions finally appeared on Phoenix’s face. She was mad. “Sorry, Sir.” She said sarcastically. “I’m sorry that I ended up hurting you, even if I had to go through fourteen years of torture, I should have thought about your feelings.” She stood up. “This was a bad idea.” With that, she grabbed her bag, turned, and left the room. Left Sirius to think about how he had messed up.

Phoenix walked upstairs and immediately heard Fred and George’s voices. She turned into their room, still walking like she owned the place. She had decided on the way to the house that she wasn’t going to let her past define her. She was going to act like a Black, like she knew that her family had. She wasn’t going to be some moper. She was beautiful now.

Fred and George looked up when they saw her, and were shocked, again, by her look. She was acting her cast. She look perfect. George looked at his brother, who’s mouth was wide open. She gave them a big smile, the first one that she had given anyone since she had appeared at The House of Black a few months ago. They were again shocked.

“So, why did you guys leave so early?” She asked, setting her books down and standing in front of them.

“Our dad was hurt.” George said a little sadly. Phoenix gave them a look of concern, their father was a good man, better than her own. “Oh, don’t worry.” George said calmingly. “He’s fine.” Phoenix gave them a small smile.

“That’s good.” She said. “Your father is very nice.” She looked to the door when she heard their brother Ron and his friend, Hermione walking by. “How is your mother doing?” She asked, looking back at them.

“We don’t know, she hasn’t been here, yet. We got an owl saying that Dad was alright, but that’s as much as we’ve heard.” Fred said, sitting on the bed, picking up her bag and looking through it. He pulled out a pair of her knickers. “Hey, hey, hey!” He called, holding up the lace garment. “looks like Phoenix has been holding out on us.” George snatched them away from his brother, then realizing what he was holding dropped them and he blushed redder than his hair.

Phoenix picked it up. “You act like you’ve never seen a pair of knickers.” She said, stuffing them in her bag and closing it. “I’m going to my room. Come with me if you want to talk.” The brothers shot up and followed her.

“Our brothers are coming to visit.” George said. He sat on her bed as she began to unpack. She looked over at him with a weird face.

“How many sibling do you have?” She asked with a smile. Fred shrugged.

“Well, youngest to oldest, it’s: Ginny, Ronny, Me and George, and then, Percy, Charlie, and finally, Bill. So, seven.” Phoenix grimaced.

“Wow, I feel bad for your mother. All those boys.” She shook her head. “So, what are these brothers?” She asked. She finished unpacking and sat next to Fred on the floor.

“Well, Charlie works with dragons in Romania. Bill is a curse-breaker for Gringotts. And Percy works for the ministry.” Phoenix nodded at them.

“Sounds cool.” She said. “Working with dragons sounds cool. So, when are they coming?” She asked. She looked between the two.

“I think Bill is coming later tonight, and Charlie will be coming.. Any minute now, actually.” Fred said. He stood up. “Hey, who wants to go listen in on the meeting?” George was all for it, Phoenix, in the other hand, simply shook her head and took out one of her books. “Okay, see you later, Phoenix.”

“Later, Nix.” George called as they left.

About an hour later Charlie showed up. The meeting was over, and Phoenix was downstairs in the kitchen with Molly. Charlie rushed in to hug his mother. He asked how Arthur was and was relieved that everything would be okay. He looked over at Phoenix and just stared.

“Hi.” Phoenix said with a smile, chopping some green peppers for dinner. “I’m Phoenix.”

“Um- Um, I’m, um…” He stopped to think, but instead just stared at her. Molly smiled at her son and the girl that seemed to have blossomed at Hogwarts.
“This is my son, Charlie, Phoenix.” Molly answered for him. “Phoenix is Sirius’s daughter.” Charlie gave her a goofy smile.

“Hi, Phoenix.” He said, slowly. “I’m Charlie.” Phoenix giggled.

“That’s what I hear.” Charlie walked over to her and took the knife, she backed up automatically.

“Let me help you.” He said, and started manually chopping green peppers. Molly gave Phoenix a knowing smile and a wink. Molly saw the chemistry between her son and Sirius’s daughter.

“Thank you.” She said with a smile. Charlie was watching her with an awed look, and cut the tip of his finger. Molly noticed before he did and jumped to stop him.

(Okay, there we go, chapter 10, we are moving forward!)