Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Twilight, and am borrowing their characters without permission… shamelessly, I might add.

Note: I spent most of yesterday trying create a prophecy that didn't sound stupid or hokey. I failed… royally. So I instead came up with a way around having to write the prophecy. It is also a bit lame, but not nearly as lame as my attempts at writing prophecies… trust me.

Phoenix Rising 4 – Child of Prophecy

Lily Potter stood just outside the back door of their mansion, watching her husband ride their son Charlus around the yard on his broom with a loving expression. Sirius Black, in the form of Padfoot, bounced around happily below them. The seven-year-old boy was the pride of his parents and godfather, with his bright blue eyes and dimples. He may have inherited her red hair and some of her features, but the cocky attitude was all James. She knew that she and her husband had somewhat spoiled the child, but what was the point of having children if you couldn't shower them with tokens of love and affection?

After all, James had been spoiled and look at how he turned out.

Every once in a while she would think of another child the exact same age as her Charlus… a baby girl with her own bright green eyes. She would think of how fear filled her when Albus broke the news that the tiny brunette was a dark creature. James had refused to even look at their daughter when he found out. Lily recalled how her husband would sometimes pull away from her when she sought his affection after the event… as if it were her DNA that was responsible for creating a harpy!

It wasn't until the twins were a few weeks old that Albus confirmed Hera's species. Lily, at first, had loved the baby girl… how could she not? She had been determined that any child created with the love she shared with James could not possibly be dark. At least they had kept the news of her existence a secret from everyone. She was smart enough to realize that their reputation would suffer greatly should the wizarding world discover Hera's parentage. And since everyone knew how light the Potters were, it was only natural that James' muggleborn wife would be the one blamed.

It was her idea to place the child at the home of her sister. She knew how much Petunia loathed magic, and would forbid the girl from ever thinking of reentering the magical world. She and James couldn't afford the chance that the binding on the child's magic and wings would break in an orphanage. They would have no way to stop Hera from finding her way into their world. All it would take was a simple drop of blood at the nearest Gringotts from an orphaned child seeking family to oust the Potters. But with her sister and brother-in-law as Hera's guardians, the child was almost guaranteed to be brought up fearing to even speak the word "magic".

Lily wasn't heartless, but she had worked very hard to find her place in this society. Muggleborns were viewed as being barely a step up from squibs in the eyes of the most powerful and influential wizards of the ministry. Marrying James had been the boost she had needed to get people to look at her as if she belonged in this fantastical world. She wasn't about to see everything she'd done to distance herself from her muggle roots crumble because one of her husband's foolish ancestors had seen fit to mate with a monster!

The whoosh of the floo activating startled her. Lily had just turned to see who was calling when Albus Dumbledore met her outside looking pale and shaky. James, seeing the unusually somber look on the headmaster's face, immediately landed the broom. "What's wrong, Albus?"

Albus gravely stated, "It's been confirmed… he's coming back."

Gasping with fright, Lily quickly ordered her son inside the house to his room to play. She didn't want Charlus hearing anything about the monster that was responsible for so many deaths.

James' face hardened. "How do you know? It's not that I doubt you, headmaster," he added quickly. "It's just… Voldemort!"

The old man nodded. "I understand, James. Perhaps this conversation would be best held inside?"

Lily blushed, embarrassed that her skills as a hostess weren't quite up to par with those of purebloods. "Of course! Forgive me, Albus. Let's move to the sitting room and I'll prepare some refreshments."

Once everyone was settled with their tea, the headmaster continued his tale. "There's been a prophecy proclaiming the second rise of Lord Voldemort."

Sirius, who was displaying none of his usual playfulness, scoffed. "A prophecy?! You expect us to… what? Rally the aurors? Panic the wizarding world?" He stood up in anger. "Prophecies are vague and undecipherable at best, Albus! And that's when the source is trusted! Who gave this prophecy? Let me guess," the animagus continued to rant, "Sybil Trelawney… the drunken Divinations professor who's never predicted a thing in her life that's come true?"

Casting a level look at his somewhat hot-tempered ex-student, Albus said, "Actually, it came from the goblins."

Silence reigned as everyone stared at the old wizard in shock. Goblins, though universally regarded with disgust by wizards, were notorious for three things… their prowess with weaponry, their aptitude with money, and their prophecies. Goblins hoarded their prophecies as they did their other treasures. No one but them ever knew the exact wording, but the appropriate societal leaders were always warned, and the prophecies always came true.

Sirius dropped back into his seat with shock. "What… what did they say?"

Albus sighed despondently. "Seeing that the prophecy concerned wizards, they spoke their findings directly to the Wizengamot. We were told Voldemort would return, and civilization as we know it would collapse." He hastily took a calming draught.

Lily cleared her throat when the headmaster didn't continue.

James looked oddly at the man he had revered his entire life. "And? What was the third thing?"

"Well… it seems we will have a champion in this upcoming war."

Sirius barked with laughter. "That's good news, then… right?"

Albus looked James dead in the eye. "The champion will be 'The Potter's phoenix child.'"

Lily, who'd always been quick on the uptake, gasped.

James and Sirius, however looked confused. "We don't have a phoenix, Albus. You're the only one I know who does."

The redhead smacked her husband on the arm. "Order of the Phoenix, James!" She began to cry, worried sick about what this would mean for her little Charlus. "They were speaking about our son!"

As soon as the Wizengamot meeting began breaking up, a man who had been sitting in the second row of the audience left via the side door. As he made his way toward the exit, he could hear the panicked screams of the witches and wizards spilling out from the large room he had recently vacated. He respectfully bowed to the two goblins who had come to warn the, in his opinion, undeserving wizards.

The goblins, recognizing his race immediately, showed their own respect by bowing back. With the exception of the rocky relationship between vampires and werewolves, magical creatures usually stuck together.

As soon as he was certain no one was watching him, he darted into the nearest unoccupied room and pulled out his chocolate brown wings. Rynex ran a shaky hand through his spiky red hair and flashed away to his homeland to deliver the news to the council.

Ahna, who had been quite taken with the green-eyed cutie they met four years ago, was not going to like this!

Carlisle thanked the owl that had delivered unsettling news to his family by feeding him some owl treats he kept in his office. Wizarding owls were used to interacting with different species, and therefore weren't likely to shy away from vampires as would non-magical animals.

He was unsurprised that Edward was waiting for him outside his office. "Where is she," the doctor asked his son.

Edward glared at the note clutched in his father's hand. "She's in her clearing… working on the exercise her Elemental Magics professor assigned.

Carlisle was shocked. Elemental work was incredibly dangerous, and even at Ardaigh many protective measures were undertaken before Professor Taproot would allow a student to even practice pronunciation of an incantation!

His son, hearing his thoughts, chuckled. "It's not like that, Carlisle. Taproot's having them call forth flowers without speaking the spell. It's difficult, but completely non-dangerous to practice outside of school."

"Has Hera ever needed to speak an incantation in any of her classes to get the spell to work for her," Carlisle asked, knowingly, as the two vampires made their way to the forest clearing that Hera had long since claimed as her sanctuary. Mostly she used it to commune with her animal friends and play dolls, but since she'd received the summons from her magical school six months ago she liked to practice magic there. When asked why, she said that she felt closer to magic when she was outside.

Smirking smugly, Edward responded. "Nope. Fredrickson says that's normal for her race, but I can't help but be proud."

The doctor chuckled. "And that's completely normal behavior for mates. She could show up with a duffel bag full of money from robbing a bank and your vampire would most likely be proud of her for accomplishing the feat."

Edward laughed. "Only normal for mates? Wasn't it you who went around bragging to everyone at the hospital when Hera won the classroom spelling bee at school last year? What was the word she won with… I believe it was "house" if I recall correctly."

"Well, yes… of course her everyday achievements will be a source of pride to her parents. I'm not going to celebrate her robbing a bank, however. Besides, wasn't it you who framed the certificate she received for the spelling bee and hung it on your wall? Isn't it still on your wall, Edward?"

The younger vampire glared at Carlisle, but sobered as they neared the clearing where his mate was practicing her skills.

Hera sat very still, an unusual spectacle to be sure, her eyes closed in concentration. Carlisle couldn't help but compare this child with the three-year-old that he'd brought home from Europe. Her black hair now hung halfway down her back, and was often in a braid. Her face had lost the baby fat and the father was starting to get a good idea, visually, of the young woman she would eventually blossom into.

His baby was beautiful now, but she was going to be utterly breathtaking as a woman.

The two smiled with satisfaction when a small purple flower soon appeared before the child. Hera opened one eye to see if she accomplished her task, then squeaked with excitement when faced with her results.

"Well done, sweetheart," Carlisle exclaimed, startling his daughter, whose wings flared out as if preparing to fly.

"Daddy! You scared me!" She pulled her wings back in and glared at her father before smiling once more. "Did you see it come up? Did it grow up out of the ground or just pop in place? Professor Taproot said they're supposed to grow out of the ground, but I don't see how unless there's a seed down there to sprout. When I asked her, she just said it was magic, but that's what all the teachers say when they don't seem to know the answer..." Hera trailed off when her father raised his hand for silence.

Carlisle sat on the ground facing her while Edward picked up his mate and sat down with her in his lap. He then wrapped his arms around her as if hoping to protect her from the pain of her father's upcoming words.

"Hera, sweetheart… I have some news to give you and it's not going to be easy to hear." Carlisle was used to delivering bad news to both patients and their families. Breaking his baby girl's heart, however, was something altogether different. He faltered as she stared at him with her large green eyes full of fear.

"What is it daddy?"

Edward tightened his grip and rested his chin on her shoulder. Thankfully sparing Carlisle from the task, he answered her. "Uncle Nick and Aunt Nelle are in the hospital, sunshine."

Scrunching her face in concern and confusion, Hera nodded. "Okay… but they're in the hospital so they're getting better, right?"

Carlisle sighed and picked up his daughter's hand. "No baby. They're just reaching the end of their lives and will soon move on to be with their family."

The child froze. This would be her very first experience with death and Carlisle was unsure how she would be affected by the loss of her beloved aunt and uncle.

The girl soon nodded but seemed to be suddenly detached from the conversation. "Can I… can I visit them?"

Carlisle met Edwards eyes and they both nodded. "Of course, sweetheart. We'll arrange a trip as soon as we get back to the house."

Hera shook her head. "No daddy… I need to see them now. Can't I flash over there?"

"I'm sorry, Hera, but you're not yet strong enough to take passengers with you and you're not going alone." When she opened her mouth to argue, he continued. "And the hospital wouldn't allow you in to see patients without a guardian with you anyway. You're too young."

Sighing in defeat, Hera pulled out of Edward's arms and began the trek back towards their house… flower forgotten.

Thanks for reading!