Noyade | Rabastan Lestrange [2] ✔︎

35 | REAL

"This is impossible," Phoenix pointed out, shoving the piece of parchment towards Maureen.

The two girls were sitting on the pink-haired girl's bed in their dorm. For more than a half hour they had been investigating and discussing the information on Nephilim.

Maureen shrugged her shoulders. "Why? I mean you've already got at least half of the abilities described on here. Isn't Jack not wanting you to see it proof enough for it to be the truth?"

"But have you read all of it?" Phoenix grabbed the page again and read aloud, "Nephilim carry a piece of an angel's grace in their soul, which gives them access to a fraction of the angel's powers. While half-angels are born, Nephilim are chosen as warriors of heaven with the purpose of keeping nature in an equilibrium. I mean come on. This sounds like something out of a fairy tale."

"That's what Muggles think about vampires and elves. We both know those are very real. So why can't Angels and Nephilim be real as well?" Maureen argued, leaning back against the wall above her bed.

Phoenix simply shook her head, staring at the sentences in front of her. Her best friend's gaze was lingering on her, she knew, but she couldn't help but read it again. According to the book, Nephilim existed almost as long as humankind existed. They had played major roles in all the important historical events like the Great War, the French Revolution and the American Civil War, either standing on the good or bad side. Most of them possessed powers linked to the earth like magic based on the four elements, but others had superhuman strength, speed or enhanced senses. The description that worried her, however, was the one that actually came close to what she had experienced of her powers. It accurately described what she had been able to do so far, but according to the article there was at least ten more things she could do, including control of people's senses.

"Why do I get the feeling that you actually believe those words, but you're simply afraid of what they could mean?" Maureen asked softly, her voice calm and her eyes resting on Phoenix.

"I don't know. Finding out what I am like this, after more than a year without any real clue. It simply seems too easy," the brunette girl admitted. "Am I being stupid?"

Maureen considered her words for a moment before slowly shaking her head. "No, I think it makes sense. The last time we thought we knew what you were it was a mistake and now it could be too. Also, when nobody knew what you were there were no expectations on what you could do, but now... But it's fine if you don't manage to live up to those expectations. I'm sure not every Nephilim with your powers was able to do all those things on the list. How about we just say that you might be a Nephilim, but you might also be something completely different? Does that help?"

"Not really," Phoenix answered with a small laugh. "But when did you get so wise?"

"Who says I haven't been wise all along?"

★

Phoenix was barely able to think about anything but the newly found information all day, which caused her to fail to answer several questions during her Defence lesson and having to be elbowed in the ribs when Louis Avery asked her to stay after the lesson to talk to her. With her hands clenched together she slowly neared his desk as instructed, which made him look up.

"You wanted to talk to me?" Phoenix stated rather than asked, which caused her fiancé's brother to nod.

"Yes, I did. How are you, Phoenix?" he asked, sitting down on his desk.

The girl shrugged and answered, "I'm fine. I don't really get why that's so important, though."

Louis sighed, pulling out a piece of parchment from behind his back and saying, "See, I didn't want to bring this up because the past week has been hard on the both of us, but considering your lack of attention in the last two hours I can't see a way around it." He extended his arm with the piece of parchment towards her. "Those are the marks from everything you handed in since Christmas break. I'm used to reading outstanding assignments from you, Phoenix, but for weeks now I've barely been able to mark your efforts as acceptable. Believe me, I know we're not always able to hand in perfect assignments, but I've talked to the other teachers. Your marks are dropping and to be honest I'm worried. I know there must be a lot on your mind and you might not want to talk to somebody you barely know more than as your fiancé's brother, but is there anything I can help with?"

Phoenix looked at him with astonishment. Being sincere was an achievement in itself when it came to Louis Avery, but it had happened more often since Jack's condition had worsened, yet him caring that much was more than surprising to her.

"This can't be real," Phoenix breathed, scanning the grades which ranged from acceptable to dreadful. Her mother would kill her with her bare hands.

"I'm afraid it is," Louis said, placing the piece of parchment on the desk behind his back.

He frowned, all of a sudden looking years older. Phoenix was used to seeing him smile and joke around, but now he seemed like a tired man, tired of having to worry about his brother and other people in his life.

"Will you tell me what happened at the Christmas party?" he inquired further.

The young girl had to use all her willpower not to widen her eyes. But why was she so surprised? Of course he had known about the Christmas party. He obviously knew Jack better than anyone else and even Phoenix herself had been able to detect the differences in her fiancés behaviour after Rabastan's breakdown.

She swallowed, trying to hold his gaze without causing any suspicion before she answered, "What do you mean?"

All of a sudden Louis' hit the top of his desk with his palm, causing a bang to echo through the classroom. "In Salazar's name, Phoenix, do you think me absolutely stupid? You kids always think you're old enough to handle things on your own, but you're not. You only just turned seventeen and are barely an adult. My brother is missing and you not telling me shit because you think you don't need my help won't change his situation."

Phoenix took a few steps back, shaking her head violently. "I- I can't-"

She knew he was right. They had to tell him. There was no way around it, if they wanted to find Jack in one piece, but it wasn't her story to tell.

A knock on the window, barely audible, spared her of an answer. They both turned towards the sound and noticed a small, brown owl tapping its beak against the glass. With a sigh Louis strode towards the window to open it, removing the letter from its leg and giving it a treat. It flew away before he had even closed the window and he immediately opened the letter, his eyes scanning over the words. He grew pale and threw the window shut with such force that Phoenix feared it would shatter into shards of glass.

"What is it?" Phoenix barely dared to ask after having seen his fury.

Louis seemed to have forgotten that she was in the room and sent her a startled look, breathing, "Jack has been found."

Phoenix eyes lit up and she placed a hand over her heart. "Thank Merlin. Is he alright? Where is he?"

The brunette man folded the piece of parchment and shook his head with a huff. He sent her a look and walked towards the door with an awfully quick pace, throwing over his shoulder, "If he is, he won't be for much longer. He was found by your cousin Bella."

"And where is he now?" Phoenix inquired, fear rising in her heart.

"That's for the adults to handle, you've done enough."

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OMG! Thank you so, so much for 2k votes on Oceans Apart. I was already hyped when it had 500 votes and this is simply incredible. Thank you so much!!

Love, Enya