Wolfsbane

Graceful Disgrace

            

To avoid any sort of spectacle during the holidays, I graciously stayed at Hogwarts. Sirius and his friends had also stayed, and it had become increasingly harder to avoid them. His friends seemed to have it out for me, and Sirius seemed on be on board now. I was pranked at every turn, though I would be damned if I didn't get my own little revenge. Missing books, immobulus casted at their feet to trip them, stink bombs carefully placed in their pockets to go off later. I didn't like that I was becoming more and more Slytherin, and yet, it was invigorating. I was finding my place, and it seemed my housemates were fond of me. I kept my head down for the most part, but I was exceptional in class, and I earned enough house points to ensure our victory at the end of the year.

Lucius and I sat in a car alone together on the train ride home. I felt a sort of dread settle into my stomach as we got closer and closer to platform nine and three quarters. I hoped it was just a feeling, but the scowl on Lucius' face told me that he had felt it too. I wondered how badly I would be lectured for something I could not control, or if my parents would go as far as to disown me in public. I sincerely hoped that nothing would happen, though I knew that was just wishful thinking.

Upon arrival to the station, Lucius and I collected our things, said short goodbyes to the friends we had made, and disembarked the train to find our families. I noticed the stark white hair of Lucius' father from a mile away, and pointed him out. I watched him cast me a look that said he was worried, before moving to greet his parents. I brushed it away as I struggled to find my parent's more ordinary hair in the sea of families. After scanning the back of the platform, I spotted my mother's maid Kai, standing against the brick wall. I moved towards her, excited to tell her about my year, more so than I was to tell my parents. She offered a sad smile to me, and a warm hand squeezed my shoulder as she carefully placed an envelope in my hand.

"Miss Phoenix. How was your school year?" I looked down at the letter, thinking nothing of the red envelope, as I rattled off a few of the more exciting things. I then noticed the two trunks stacked one on top of the other, sitting on the ground beside her. I offered her a confused look, and she cleared her throat before summoning a trolley with her wand, and placing my school trunk, and the other two on top of it.

"Your mother has left you instructions inside the letter. I hope you do well Phoenix, and that we meet again someday." With that, she turned on her dainty black heels, and walked towards the portal, her violet hair swinging behind her, a shake in her shoulders. I felt something inside my chest crack, worse than when I was placed in Slytherin. I nearly crumpled the letter in my hands, before turning it over and, unthinkingly, violently, tearing open the wax seal. The letter, envelope and all, flew from my hand, and formed a very angry face as it started spewing its contents.

"How dare you humiliate us! You Phoenix, have disgraced the ancient and noble house of Booth with your utter disobedience, and lack of courage! You have caused an imperfection on our bloodline, and disgraced our ancestors with your placement in Slytherin. We knew from the beginning that you were nothing like your brothers, and yet we indulged your ridiculous behaviour. You are no longer welcome in our home, and you will not speak with Cerberus and Hydra. I have paid for your room and board at the Leaky Cauldron for the summer, and you will be present for each day I have graciously paid for. Your school list will be sent to me, and your books and supplies will be waiting for you at Hogwarts at the beginning of each year. We hope you're proud of yourself, your delinquent behaviour, and rebellious attitude. You'll make a more than fine Slytherin." The entire platform was silent, and I could feel dozens of sets of eyes watching me as the scarlet envelope ripped itself to pieces. I felt dread, fear, anxiety, pain, hit me like a freight train. I could feel my stomach convulsing like I was about to be sick, and my throat was suddenly as dry as the desert, I struggled to swallow. I have nothing now. No family, no home, no blood status. I may as well as be a muggle. I felt a bitter laugh rise up in my throat, because that had been my exact thought the moment I had declined Dumbledore's offer while trying to spare my friendship with Sirius. And it didn't even save that. I should have just allowed the idiot to ruin himself, and everything would be fine now. The way my mother's voice had wrapped around the word 'Slytherin' made it feel like a dirty word. I felt anger replace everything else, and suddenly I wished I knew more than just a few first-year charms. I wanted to find my parents, make them pay for my humiliation. I wanted to find my parents, make them take it all back. I carefully reached for the trolley with, what I assumed was all my belongings, and moved towards the portal. I vaguely remember walking past Sirius and his friends, their mouths hanging open. It looked as though Sirius had wanted to say something to me, but I knew he would refrain in such delicate company.