The Lost Prophecy | Year One

The Forbidden Door

Walking into the Great Hall, Phoenix felt like she was back in the Diagon Alley for a moment with people running about in every which way possible, yelling things to which no one was paying any attention.

"Excuse me, Excuse me," Phoenix muttered as she squished herself through the crowd as her eyes scanned the room hoping to find her friends. But as she reached their usual spot by the Slytherin table, they were nowhere to be found. Instead, she found herself getting dragged across the hall by Marcus Flint.

"You were supposed to stay with the rest of the first-years!" he hissed angrily, "How many times do I have to tell the same thing before it gets through your dimwits head?"

Phoenix blinked in confusion as she stared blankly at him, but he wasn't looking at her. He was busy yelling orders to the rest of the Slytherins, "Round up everyone, and stay together!" he yelled, his voice carrying through the crowd. "If I find anyone stepping out of the line, I will throw you all in detention. Now follow me," he barked, as the group of Slytherins huddled closer looking quite frantic.

"Wait, wait, what is going on?" Phoenix asked tugging on his arm to get his attention. Marcus raised an eyebrow, "Wake up, White. There's a deadly Troll loose in the dungeons. Mark my words, when I catch the one responsible behind this I will –"

Phoenix's eyes widened at his revelation and she quickly cut him off, "The Troll is not in the dungeons," she confessed.

Marcus snapped his head towards her, narrowing his eyes. His voice shook with rage as she spoke, "I swear to Salazar if you are behind this –"

"I'm not. Look, I need you to trust me, please," Phoenix begged, as she pulled him towards the side away from the crowd. "The dungeons are safe –"

"Quirrell barged in yelling that there was a Troll in the dungeons before dropping dead. Why would he –"

"He's dead?" Phoenix yelled looking horrified. Marcus rolled his eyes at her, "He fainted shortly after that, but he might very well be dead, who knows? But that's not the point, soon after that Dumbledore asked the Prefects to round..." Marcus stated, but then his voice trailed off as he pointed to the ground where Quirrell's body was still lying about amidst the chaos.

"What is it, Marcus?"

"Gemma insisted that we should all wait in the Courtyard till the Troll gets caught."

"Go, find her," Phoenix insisted, "I –"

"Find Snape," Marcus instructed, looking at her. "Inform him that the Troll is no longer in the dungeons. All the Professors are already on their way down, this should help them round up the beast quickly."

Phoenix nodded in agreement. "Okay, will do," she said, and was about to make her way back into the Great Hall, when she heard Marcus yell, "Try not to die while you're at it, White!"

"Will do," Phoenix muttered under her breath, as she pushed through a group of students who were trying to get out. She was staring at Quirrell wondering why he hadn't been moved to the infirmary yet, but then a dreadful thought crossed her mind. Maybe he was simply bidding some time before he could sneak off to his actual destination.

"Phoenix! There you are!" yelled a frantic voice, making Phoenix jump out of her thoughts. Before she could even take a look at who the voice belonged to, she felt a pair of arms enveloping her frame, pulling her into their chest.

"I'm so glad you're safe."

"Jack?" Phoenix tried to break the hug, but he refused to budge and ended up pulling her tighter against him, "I was so scared. I thought you were hurt, the Troll –"