A/N- The Golden Trio only wanted time to heal, but that damn phoenix is as meddlesome as its master! Will they be able to find peace 54 years in the past? Can they rewrite fate, and one of a certain Dark Lord in training? Either way they'll die trying.

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Rated M for mature/sexual content/violence…if you are under the age of 18, please respect the rating.

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Tom/Hermione, Harry/Ron, occasional Hermione/Ron/Harry

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'Little Alice fell

D

o

w

n

the hOle,

bumped her head

and bruised her soul'

Lewis Carroll

'Alice in Wonderland'

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Through The Cyclone of The Phoenix

By- RobinTheSlytherin

Chapter One

The Fall

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May 2, 1998

Hermione huddles in the middle of the courtyard, or what used to be a courtyard.

Its become a necropolis.

She doesn't want to open her eyes, and see their bodies. She's seen too much death, felt too much pain.

Her teeth chatter and all she can feel is relief and terror…she feels so much terror she believes she will surely die from it.

But she wasn't dead. She had survived, and so had Ron, and Harry.

The hero's survived and the villains were dead…this was how it was suppose to be.

And yet…

She huddled closer to Ron and Harry, they were shaking too.

How long had it been since they had eaten or slept? Everything hurts. The lack of basic human needs has sent Hermione's mind into overdrive, except nothing makes sense and her thoughts and emotions are chaos.

She just wants to sleep. Just wants to go to Gryffindor Tower and fall asleep.

I want to sleep and never wake up, she prays to no one in particular.

She opens her eyes and immediately regrets it. A shriek tears from her throat at the sight of Voldemort's lifeless body only a few feet away.

She tries scrambling away.

She can't stop screaming, and then Ron and Harry are covering her eyes and pulling Hermione to her feet.

"Don't look at him!" Harry whispers frantically to her, his lips are against her ear and she feels his warm breath on her skin.

"He's gone. Its over Mione!" Ron kisses the nape of her neck and her jaw and her face. He kisses her all over, desperate to calm her.

He's shaking too.

But the damn is broken, and all the horror she kept hidden beneath her skin burst through.

Hermione grips them tightly "Its not over, it'll never be over…"

She's bawling like a child in their arms, clinging to them as if her life depends on it. She sobs, but the sound is inhuman. She can't breath.

"It hurts.." Hermione cries

Its too much.

Agony. Agony. Agony.

Voldemort had caused it all.

"I know," they say "I know."

She couldn't believe a human being could do the things he had done to other humans. It made no sense.

I hate him! I hate him so much, God I wish he had died withering in agony! Why did a single rebounded curse have to end his life? He didn't deserve such an abrupt end. It should have lasted.

He should have screamed.

Hermione could still smell burning flesh from the battle. She could still feel the ground pounding with the footsteps of giants. Frantic footsteps and curses flying in every direction haunt her.

It was only a few hours ago that the three of them ran over the bodies of their friends and peers. Bodies fell all around them, but they kept moving, kept dodging and cursing.

Hermione didn't realize how many dark curses she knew. She didn't until she was faced with death.

Her reflexes were quick, and even though she was on the edge of madness from sheer exhaustion she fought on.

She was quick and deadly…and so fucking scared!

It was kill or be killed. God, she just wanted it to stop!

She slammed the hilt of her knife into the eye socket of a Deatheater, and she didn't even blink.

It was like falling into obviation, into its darkest pit then being forced to claw out of it over the bodies of close friends and children.

Somehow, miraculously they made it through alive.

Harry fought Voldemort for what seemed like years.

But it wasn't…it must have been only minuets.

Harry faced the demon with a fire she had never seen. She was afraid.

"it's all you've got left!" He was roaring at the Dark Lord "'I've seen what you'll be otherwise! Please, can't you understand? You can be saved! Be a man . . . try . . . Try for some remorse. . . .I beg you, Tom. For your soul- you can become whole again!"

And he laughed. That high pitch decrepit laugh would never leave Hermione, not until the day she died.

Ron was covered in blood and gore, his eyes matched hers. They were wide-eyed with constant fear and a dull emotion of someone who had seen too much.

Neither of them had a shred of innocence left, only desperation and terror.

And then the curse rebounded. Voldemorts body arched backwards, his wand fell like a stone. And then his disfigured body fell to the ground in a heap.

He was dead.

Hermione realizes what's happened and suddenly Ron and her are leaping over the bodies towards him.

Harry is shaking. They all are.

And then they fall to they're knees and huddle together.

They're crying.

Ron bites into Harry's shoulder to keep from screaming. Harry doesn't seem to see us, his eyes are so distant, but he knows he's safe in they're arms.

His hands fists through Hermione's long hair, and she welcomes how violently Harry pulls her to his chest

But its been hours since that moment, but it doesn't feel like hours.

She sobs hysterically as Ron and Harry hold their hands over her eyes.

It feels like seconds.

And then they retreat into the ruined castle, holding hands.

Slowly they step over the bodies.

They ascend what's left of the staircase.

They make their way towards the Headmasters quarters.

They barely managed to slip in before the door was slammed shut behind them.

And once they're inside they're silent…they're close enough to feel one another's breath on their skin.

The air is heavy, too heavy. Obsessively heavy. Too heavy to breath.

And then Hermione's wrists are taken roughly by Ron and Harry, who give one other hard calculating looks.

She could almost feel the thrashing of their hearts against their chests.

And then she was yanked towards the headmasters bedroom. They took the spiral staircase two steps at a time.

Hermione's back connected hard to a pillar near an extravagant bed.

Dumbledore's bed…no Snape's bed.

Yes, Snape was the last one to sleep here, she thought as Ron and Harry tore the fabric off her body like animals.

She felt hands grab her collar and rip down the middle of her chest.

She felt cold air against her breast as they were exposed, and then a mouth.

This was the first time they had seen her like this…

God, she just wanted to feel like a human again. But she felt empty.

Ron took her wrists and pinned them over her head. He took her by the throat and squeezed gently as he kissed her lips.

She opened her eyes and nodded .

And then Harry let out a fierce growl and tore off the rest of her clothes.

She was naked with her arms pinned above her head, like some kind of human sacrifice

She could smell the blood and filth that covered them, but she didn't care, and neither did they.

And then they were naked in the headmasters bed.

Snape's bed.

He'd slept here less than 24 hours ago…

She should have felt ill at their level of desecration, but she didn't.

The mans body wasn't even cold yet, and here they were in Severus Snape's bed; naked, filthy, and fucking…

This was wrong. So unbelievably wrong, on so many levels.

Hermione gave a strangled half sob as they pushed her between themselves.

They had been best friends since they were eleven for Christ sake.

Never had either of them had the inclination to do something so taboo with one another. The thought never crossed their minds.

Even hugging wasn't something they usually did.

But they had reached their limit. Any other human would have broke by now.

They understood one another far better than anyone else could.

No one could ever understand, even if they spoke it aloud.

And so Hermione welcomed the pain as they entered her unprepared body.

She welcomed how violent they were.

Even after what happened at Malfoy Manor just days ago…. And Greyback…

No! Don't think about Malfoy Manor! Don't think about Greyback! She screamed inwardly.

Harry and Ron stared down at Hermione with feral passion as she begged them for more. And then they stared at one another.

And then their lips met.

Hermione couldn't look away at what they had become.

What she had become.

She inhaled their scents mingled with something else…something familiar.

The bedsheets still smelled like Severus Snape… sandalwood, clover, soap.

In the end he died a hero…she inhaled the scent in memory of him.

She knew it was wrong, but she clung to their scents, the pain, and their bodies.

fingers dug into her flesh, gripping her hips so hard she knew she'd have another set of bruises to add to her collection.

They kissed her, bit her, pulled her hair, and fucked her roughly.

And then when it was over, the trio lay naked, tangled in the bedsheets.

They held one another and didn't let go.

Then, for the first time in days, they fell asleep without the threat of someone trying to hunt them.

And they didn't regret a fucking thing that night.

Whether the act they committed was right or wrong, they just didn't care. They couldn't care- wouldn't care.

They had never slept so well in their whole lives.

August 26, 1998

Unlike Ron and Harry ,who took up positions as Aurors almost immediately after the war, Hermione choose to finish her education at Hogwarts.

Hogwarts… her home, was still in ruins. The smell of ash and blood was still being spelled away from the walls of Hogwarts. Still, Hermione Granger made it her mission in life to help rebuild, ward, and banish away all traces of horror from the past year.

Severus Snape's body had been retrieved, and given an honorable burial next to Dumbledore's grave. It seemed fitting to have both headmasters beside each other as they had been in life.

Most of the Death Eaters had been caught and were awaiting trial.

Most of the student body had been found…be that dead or alive.

Many students had been permanently admitted to St. Mungo's Psychiatric Care ,or the Irreversible Spell Damage Ward.

Hermione had visited once, and vowed never to go back. Seeing first year students driven mad from bloodshed wasn't something she could bring herself to face again.

Now, as she stood in the center of the Quidditch pitch with Rolanda Hooch, Hermione sighed. She slashed her wand across the entire field as a jet of pale green light, softer than the blinding green of an 'Avada', covered the charred earth.

The burnt earth transformed, and suddenly lush green grass sprang beneath the blackened earth, covering the field in soft green blades that swayed gently in the breeze.

It was as if the field had never been littered with gore. Every now and then she would come across a smudge of blood around the castle and stop to stare at it- trace it.

Who had it belonged to? Was it a friends, or an enemy's? Had they died? How did they die?

"Miss Granger, you've really outdone yourself. The old place is starting to resemble itself again." Madam Hooch interrupted Hermione's dark thoughts, smiling in approval. "You've dedicated yourself so passionately to rebuilding, you could give Madam Pince a run for her money. I swear the woman would've put her life down for that library."

Hermione forced a tight smile as she began lifting the collapsed towers, and Quidditch stands with a flick of her wrist.

"Yes, she's quite the force to be reckoned with." Hermione didn't want to make small talk, in fact she wanted to be alone.

"-nearly done restoring the section on Ancient Runes, I'm sure she'll be thankful to have her library in one piece again."

Hermione signed, flexing her fingers around her wand.

"Madame Hooch, I'm nearly done here. Why not head back to the castle to rest for a bit?" Hermione

It had been 4 months since the final battle. 4 months since she had been a fugitive on the run- half starved and desperate to survive…4 months since THAT day…

Instinctively she clutched her right forearm where Bellatrix Lestrange had carved into her flesh.

Mudblood.

It itched.

Mudblood.

The word hadn't made her recoil anymore, she felt numb to it.

But it still made her itch.

Sometimes she sat awake at night tracing the letters.

When she was an innocent girl with a bounce in her step and a hand in the air, always ready to answer any question…she thought herself so very lucky. Her life in the muggle world had been filled with rejection and solitude.

The children at primary school had considered her a freak when unexplainable things happened around her. And when she took that fateful boat ride across the Black Lake to Hogwarts, she KNEW things would be different.

Without a shadow of a doubt, things would be different.

They had to be.

But no…It had been the same.

Her blood had been filthy, tainted ,and impure.

She fought against it at first. She vowed to prove herself better than any pureblood alive. She would rise to power , then they HAD to accept her!

She would show all of them what dirty blood could do!

And then she was captured.

All Ron or Harry heard were her screams. They didn't see what the Death Eaters did to her.

Oh they knew what she had gone through…but they didn't see.

They didn't see how Bellatrix allowed Greyback to have his way with her. They didn't see Lucius whipping her bare back. They didn't see her other scars that marred her breasts and belly.

They only saw one word…because that was all she could bare to show them.

Mudblood.

The wound finally sealed itself, but the scar remained as red and vivid as ever.

Cursed daggers had a lasting affect. She was reminded of the tainted world she had once considered home.

The idea of Hogwarts being the safest place had been stripped…. Safety was a lie.

Gone was her innocence. She was scarred in more ways than one, and it hardened her. She realized this as she lay there in her own blood, watching Bellatrix turn on the Goblin, demanding to know who broke into her vault.

A single tear escaped, and she knew she would die. She knew all of her dreams had been lies she told herself would come true.

For hours she lay beneath Bellatrix as she sliced her skin and cursed her body to ribbons.

For hours she screamed in agony and fought every beating and rape.

For hours Draco was forced to watch Hermione wither in pain. And as Lucius and Bellatrix screamed that foul word at her

Mudblood…

She watched as Draco's eyes filled with immeasurable guilt and regret.

He was a prisoner too…

Never again would she allow another holocaust against muggleborns, halfbloods, or magical creatures.

She understood what the world thought of her now, and it hardened her.

She had new goals now, and she would make sure no matter how many times she had to bleed and fight, she would make those goals a reality.

The ambition she had for this burned world, was for it to rise from the ashes like a phoenix. She would rebuild this world of hate, no matter what the cost.

It was funny…. Funny that she empathized with Voldemort's flawed rise to power ,and it didn't disturb her in the slightest.

The war was over, there was nothing keeping her from finding happiness.

But did she want happiness? Peace yes, but happiness? She felt too tainted, too corrupted for such an idea.

She filled her days with study and work. However, her nights were filled with nightmares, and every night she experienced hunger, fear, and torture. It made her resolute in her vow to build a new world.

She shook herself and turned to examine the pitch.

After a day and a half of repairing the Quidditch pitch, Hermione let herself fall onto the freshly grown grass.

The sky was blue, the birds sang, the breeze made the trees rustle gently against one another.

September was only a few days away, and Hogwarts was already mostly reconstructed. Professor McGonagall gave her private lessons, but mostly Hermione spent her time studying alone.

She needed to take her NEWTS, finish school, and…

Light footsteps brought her attention back to reality. In an instant she had flipped herself over in a low crouch, casting a reflective blue bubble around herself.

"Calm down Mione! Its just me!" Ron held up his calloused hands in surrender.

Hermione didn't lower her wand.

"During 6th year you conjured a flock of birds to attack me. You accidentally turned yourself into a cat with a botched Polyjuice Potion during 2nd year. And when I came back ,after leaving you and Harry, you punched me."

Ron laughed, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Also we fucked in Snape's bed."

"S-sorry Ronald, I…I wasn't paying attention. Let my guard down…" Hermione lowered her wand, feeling a flush rise I her cheeks.

"S'alright Mione…its okay to relax. You deserve time to relax ever now an then. We all do." Ron muttered kicking the grass with the toe of his boot.

Hermione said nothing, but sank back down onto the ground and shut her eyes.

"Sometimes I feel like I'll never be able to relax again." She whispered more to herself than Ron.

"Me too, but I keep myself busy most days. Still a good number of dark wizards out there on the run." She could hear Ron sit down next to her and opened her eyes to see him tearing out pieces of grass, to distract himself.

Hermione narrowed her eyes then slowly shut them and sighed.

"Its okay Ron…. just say it. Its okay." She said quietly.

A gust of cool wind filled the silence and made it more comfortable…tolerable at least.

"You know you'll always be my best friend…you and Harry." He said quietly…carefully.

"I know Ron."

"And you know Ill always love you…"

"I know Ron."

"but…that's all I think we can be, just friends." Ron whispered falling back to lay beside Hermione.

Hermione was quiet for a moment before she rolled over on her side to face Ron.

His fiery red hair, his sun kissed skin, his blue eyes, these things she held with such affection. His protectiveness, and bravery, his wild temper, and humor, she loved these things about Ron…. but she was not in love with him.

Perhaps she was incapable of love.

"I think so too." She said as she scooted over to rest her head on his broad shoulder. "we needed each other this past year, desperately… but now… Now we need something entirely different. Ill always care for you Ron. Always."

He draped a muscular arm over her waist and pulled her in closer.

"I know. And I would die for you and Harry…I love you both, and I don't ever want to lose either of you."

His arms tightened around her and his expression became grave.

After nearly and hour of laying beside one another in comfortable silence, Ron turned to kiss the side of Hermione's head.

"You're not alone you know." He said affectionately, tenderly. "You'll never be alone. Harry and I, we'll always stand next to you…we would've died without your cleverness. I would have died."

Hermione glanced at his shoulder, knowing he had nearly lost an arm from being splintched.

Over the rest of his body were bluish tentacle scars from his attack at the Department of Mysteries. They wrapped around his arms, legs and neck. They resembed Maori tribal tattoos, and made him look quite fearsome.

Yes, we all have scars, she thought.

Hermione nodded solemnly "So would I."

"and….and what about your folks?" he whispered as he stared blankly into the blue sky.

"They're happy. Ignorant and happy." She said forcing her voice not to break "I walked right by them after I tracked them down, and they…. they were holding hands, they nodded as I passed them, but they didn't know me. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but…"

Her eyes filled with unshed tears now, but her voice remained even and strong.

"They're happy, but they didn't know me…my mum and dad."

Ron nodded, then suddenly sat up and took Hermione onto his lap and held her as she began to quietly cry against him.

She was angry.

"You're my best friend, Mione. I'll always be here, yeah?" he said as he rocked her back and forth "Shhh, I'm here Mione, we're safe, we're alive-"

"I don't feel alive Ron" Hermione gasped, as she confessed her deepest fear "I feel like I died in that manor. I died on that bloody floor, Ron. I can still hear them, I can still feel him on me!"

She was hyperventilating now and clinging to Ron as if he was the only thing keeping her sane.

"Hermione listen to me, come back to me…shhh that's it. Breath in, listen to my voice. We're safe. We're free." He said softly in a chant "we survived, and I'll be damned if our memories kill us now- not after we crawled tooth and nail out of hell! We need to go on and live our lives to the fullest, and we can."

They sat together on the grass of the new Quidditch pitch in silence for what seemed like ages until a gentle voice broke in.

"Thought I'd find you two out here."

Hermione smiled, wiping her face as she and Ron sat up on their elbows to see a petite figure standing near one of the stands.

The figure was slender, with fair delicate features, although still as awkward as ever.

"Harry, how long have you been standing there?" Hermione asked rising to her knees.

She brushed her long brown locks behind her ear, and rose to stand.

Ron, she noticed appeared embarrassed for some reason, his blue eyes cast downward.

Harry smiled and shook his head as he approached his two best friends. His own vivid green eyes looked on in amusement in Ron's direction but said nothing of the young mans unusual behavior.

"We've been given the next few days off ,Ron," Harry said in a quiet voice as he sat down beside the pair. "apparently something to do with the Ministry needing us to testify at several hearings tomorrow. Hermione, I was given the letter requesting your attendance as well…"

Harry pulled out a rolled up parchment with the Ministry's seal, and passed it to Hermione.

She nodded knowing this day was coming.

"You don't have to go, you know" Ron said quickly at the sight of her tight expression. "In fact I don't think you should…especially with the Malfoys being-"

"I'm fine." Hermione cut him off "I'm fine."

Harry shot Ron a sharp look, but said nothing else regarding the trials.

"So we have the next few days off, think McGonagall will let us spend the night, Mione?" Harry asked gently, laying his head on Hermione's lap ,as he always had the habit of doing, so she could stroke his black messy hair .

"It feels strange not to wake up to either of you beside me anymore." Harry continued ,draping his dragon skin clad legs over Ron's thighs, who instantly blushed.

Hermione nodded as she laced her fingers through Harry's locks.

Seems like she wasn't the only one struggling with life after the war.

She could tell he hadn't slept well in days, Ron as well. The dark blueish circles under their eyes gave them away. No matter what mask they tried to wear, Hermione knew better, she always had.

Ron began unlacing Harry's boots, his blue eyes suddenly unfocused and far away.

"I don't feel like me…anymore." He muttered softly, as he slipped one of Harry's boots off to massage his arch.

Harry let out a breathy sigh, closing his green eyes, "Me neither… just….feel lost."

Hermione looked out over the Quidditch pitched ,past Hagrids Hut, towards the once glorious castle that no longer resembled itself.

"I don't think we can be ever whole again…We were survivors, but now?" Hermione whispered with pause "we're damaged warriors.. and the answers to the peace we need can't be found in any books."

"Well," Ron snorted lacking his normal spark of humor behind his blue eyes "That's a fucking first."

Later that night ,after Ron expanded her bed with an enlargement charm, Hermione lay awake listening to Ron and Harrys quiet snores.

Harry lay in the middle of the bed wearing powder blue pajama bottoms with a matching button down, Ron lay on the opposite side wearing nothing but a pair of scarlet shorts which showed off his muscular body in the most flattering way.

Hermione smiled as Ron unconsciously draped his arm over Harry's waist, pulling the young man closer.

Harry himself appeared to relax as he curled himself against Ron's chest.

Stupid boys, she thought with a sad smile, just figure it out already.

Hermione sighed, but felt more comfortable than she had in weeks. Being with Harry and Ron was something she had become so accustomed to during the war, it almost became unbearable without them.

Every night without them beside her was another night filled with nightmares and screams.

They took care of one another, and held each other when the present and the past collided. When they felt weak they would drop their heads on the shoulders of one another for strength.

And she was not alone in that thought. They needed time to heal.

Hermione had slipped on the Angelic Tosca lace chiffon nightgown, Professor McGonagall had given to her as a gift after returning to the castle to rebuild.

It was comfortable and pretty.

She stared at her reflection from her wall length mirror as she lay on her side.

Her hair had grown well past her hips in long tendrils of messy waves and curls.

Hermione had been on the run for so long ,something as common as getting a haircut wasn't prioritized.

Her large brown eyes held a fire, yet also carried a kind of softness. Her full lips took on a healthier color in the past four months. They were no longer chapped, bruised, and pale. They were full and pink and soft.

Her nose…

she turned away from her reflection painfully. She had her father's small, slightly upturned nose that reminded her of a pixy.

She exhaled pushing away thoughts of her parents and closed her eyes.

The castle was silent. Completely still and at peace.

Silent.

Then as Hermione turned to drift off to sleep the sound of silence was broken.

A deafening trill rang through her room and suddenly there was an explosion of red fiery light.

Ron and Harry instantly leapt out of bed, gripping their wands, eyes piercing and alert ,and bodies poised to kill.

Hermione already had her wand in hand ,and banished it towards the sound, but it was too late.

Out of the fire came Fawks, who hadn't been seen since the night Dumbledore fell from the tower.

Hermione clutched her wand in a shaky vice grip, as then phoenix's giant wings engulfed her, Harry, Ron into his wings of flames.

Fearing she would be burned ,Hermione cried out. Light exploded through her room until the world began to spin into a tornado of fire, and light.

The trio screamed as the flames licked their flesh, and electrocuted their veins.

And then they were falling.

They were on fire ,and they were falling she was sure of it.

Was this it? After all they had been through, was this how they would die?

No.

Goddammit NO!

The trio fell through the cyclone of fire and magic.

She wondered if Dorothy or Alice had felt this way as they had fallen into their own magical lands.

And then , after what seemed like an eternity, her body hit the ground with a thud, followed by two more.

The fire dissipated.

The pain was gone.

And so was her room.

She struggled to hold onto consciousness but found herself unable to, and let the darkness take her.

Her last thought being 'It smells like sunshine."

September 20, 1944

"AND LAZERUS BULSTRODE PASSES THE QUAFFLE TO URSA AVERY- AND IS IMMEDIATELY INTERCEPTED BY PERCIVAL WEASLEY OF GRYFFINDOR! SEEMS ALPHARD BLACK IS CALLING FOUL…AND THE FOUL IS GIVEN A REDCARD! SERVES YOU RIGHT YOU GREAT REDHEADED OAF! SOMEONE GIVE THAT REF A ROUND OF OGDENS BEST AFTER THE MATCH!...WAIT…..WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"

Over the Quidditch pitch, colored in a sea of green and scarlet, the sky opened in an explosion of fire and wind.

Magic and color crackled through the pitch as a giant cyclone of fire, and lightning shot staite down into the center of the field.

Both teams flew away from the column of magnificent terror, and the stands erupted in screams and hysteria.

It was bedlam.

And suddenly a three small figures were falling through the cyclone.

Someone from the Slytherin side pointed and screamed as the figures fell. At once the professors were on their feet charging down the field with wands drawn, attempting to still the raging tornado of magic and fire.

The three figures were jerked this way and that like a rag dolls

Headmaster Dippet slowed the cyclone enough to stop any serious damage to the stands, but was still unable to stop it.

"Albus! Counter the wind pattern!" Dippet roared, but Albus Dumbledore was already making quick work on the elements.

Then after another second Albus shot his wand at the three falling figures from within.

"ARRESTO MOMENTUM!" He shouted as a translucent silver vapor shot from his wand and hit the figures thirty feet from the ground.

And then as the trio of strangers landed, the magic and fire of the cyclone dissipated as if it had never been there at all.

The stands fell utterly silent as the professors rushed towards the trio… of a girl, and two young men.

The girl was lovely, wearing a thin white lace chiffon nightgown with ribbon which splayed itself out around her beautifully. Her long light brown hair fell across her face and down her arms in a waterfall of waves and soft messy curls.

The young man with dark messy hair and a lightning shaped scar lay beside her.

The boy was as delicate as a girl, wearing powder blue pajamas.

Meanwhile a ruggedly handsome, red headed boy wore almost nothing at all, save a pair of scarlet shorts. His muscular body was scarred with beautiful patterns that resembled tentacles.

To the frightened audience that surrounded them, the three appeared more like fallen angels.

The fire hadn't singed an inch of them, and yet magic crackled around the three preventing anyone from getting too close.

Volts of electric current sparked between them dangerously.

Armando Dippet shared a look with Albus ,to which the auburn haired man nodded seriously, and turned away from the fallen child without the usual twinkle behind his blue eyes.

Dumbledore pressed his wand to his throat and held up his other hand.

"Prefects that are present, please lead everyone back to their designated common rooms until further notice! Today's game will be postponed until further notice! Pip-pip!" Dumbledore said calmly then clapped his hands.

The stands slowly began to filter the students out who spoke to one another in hushed tones.

Who are? Where did they come from? Was it dark magic?

Gossip began to spread like wildfire as everyone headed back towards the castle, giddy with curiosity.

Everyone, that is, except for a tall ,handsome ,young man, with dark hair and icy blue eyes. Eyes which narrowed hungrily at the magic crackling around the fallen strangers.

Powerful….magnificent magic.

Somethingy stirred within the boy, filling him with a certain demanding curiosity that would not fade.

What is this magic? He thought licking his lips.

Power radiated from the trio, he could hardly keep from salivating ,as a shiver passed through his spine.

He hid behind one of the towers until everyone was gone, then slowly stepped out, walking towards the professors , huddled around the three.

"Headmaster Dippet, the students have cleared the pitch. Is there anything I can assist you with, sir?" the handsome boy asked with quiet concern.

"Ah Mr. Riddle, thank you for the offer, such a thoughtful boy you are. However, I do not believe it wise to involve yourself until we understand what it is we've just witnessed-"

But whatever the headmaster was about to say was interrupted by the trill of a phoenix song. The fiery bird flew down from the sky in a pop of fire, and glided down towards Professor Dumbledore.

The transfiguration professor stood wide-eyed and fascinated.

The color of the fire from its appearance was the same from the cyclone they had witnessed earlier, making everyone give a start.

"Albus?" Dippet questioned staring at the magnificent creature that perched itself on Dumbledore's shoulder proudly.

"I haven't the slightest clue Headmaster…fascinating creature's phoenixes are." He muttered with a smile "By Merlin! I think the creature likes me!"

"Yes, well I haven't met a magical creature who wasn't taken with you, the question is why? Where in the world did this phoenix come from, surely it isn't a familiar of yours?"

"I have no familiar, headmaster, however, he really does seem taken with me- what a lovely thing you are!" Professor Dumbledore smiled as he stroked the birds fiery red and gold feathers.

Its black beak nibbled Dumbledore's earlobe, making the man chuckle.

Tom Riddles eyes widened. He had never seen a phoenix before, but read a great deal about them during his care of magical creature study.

He wanted to possess it.

As if feeling Tom's eyes, the creature turned sharply towards the Slytherin and let out a violent screech.

Tom stiffened, hating the sound. He didn't think the creature was as appealing as it had been a moment before.

Screech at me again, chicken, and I'll twist your wings off by the joints, and make damn sure you don't die after, he thought , glaring at the creature.

The phoenix turned back towards the trio, gliding down to stand near them.

The phoenix nibbled a strand of the mystery girl's wavy hair affectionately.

"Do you suppose the phoenix belongs to her?" Headmaster Dippet asked, taking a step toward the girl.

The phoenix cocked its head.

"I haven't the faintest idea, Armando. Although I do believe it's safe to take the children to the hospital wing. That was quite a nasty fall they had." Dumbledore stepped forward and knelt beside the girl whose breathing was quite shallow.

"yes, quite nasty."

Dippet shook his head with an amused smirk "Yet the fire did not touch any of them! Brilliant bit of magic that is!"

"Indeed, I've only known floo powder to burn without consumption." Albus mused curiously.

Suddenly the phoenix began to trill a lovely song. Tears welled in its round golden eyes before the creature allowed its tears to fall into the slightly parted lips of the girl.

Tom was transfixed. Her pink lips became moist with the glittering liquid. And then the girl gasped, and her heavy eyelids fluttered open.

Professor Slughorn who had been watching quietly finally spoke up with a start.

"Oh dear me! What a rare oppertunity!" He exclaimed , diving into his robe pockets with fervor "always keep a vile on my person for times such as this! Here we are!"

Slughorn passed Albus a empty vile, to which the Transfiguration professor cocked an eyebrow.

"Oh come now Albus! This opportunity shouldn't be missed! Those are pheonix tears, quite rare and important to potion making!" Slughorns gooseberry colored eyes gleamed with excitment

The auburn haired wizard gave an amused smile as he shook his head.

"Horace your keen eye for opportunity will never cease to amaze me." Albus chuckled good naturedly, as he knelt next to the girl who's soft hazel eyes locked onto his blue ones.

The girls eyes widened as Albus caught a single phoenix tear which ran down the side of her pink cheek.

"P-professor Dumbledore?" the girl whispered breathlessly, blinking rapidly before passing out again.

The girls eyes had been filled ,for a moment ,with both inconsolable sadness and disbelief.

Her sudden words shocked everyone who then turned to focus on Albus who appeared equally confused at the girls sudden recognition of him.

"Albus, it seems to me the girl and the pheonix know you." Headmaster Dippet smiled, before transfiguring one of his handkerchiefs into a stretcher and levitated the girl gently onto it.

"So it would seem, Armando." Albus nodded curiously, "So it would seem."

Neither of yhe professors noted the gleam in Tom Riddlea eye as he stepped forward flashing a perfect smile across his face.

"Headmaster, perhaps I should take the girl to the Hospital wing." Tom offered, voice filled with concern "I'm sure Madam Leval will want to make sure she hasn't been hurt, even if the Phoenix gave her its tears."

"Quite right Tom, Ill leave the girl in your charge." Dippet nodded claping a firm hand on Toms shoulder proudly "Such a considerate youth, Hogwarts is better with you has its Headboy. Now off you go, and do be sure to keep what you've seen a secret. Wouldn't want to stir the students up more than they already are, would we?"

"No sir, we would not." Tom nodded with an expression of genuine concern. "and don't worry Headmaster…I'll take good care of the girl."

Tom turned flicking his wand towards the stretcher and began making his way back towards the castle.

His perfect schoolboy expression melted as Tom turned away, into something dark and hungry.

Yes…. he would take VERY good care this mystery girl.

And if there was one thing Tom Riddle despised ...it was a mystery.

A/N - Hermiones nightgown- Angelic Tosca Lace Chiffon & Ribbons Nightgown & Peignoir (you can type this into pinterest and see the beautiful piece yourself. I adore a good vintage nightgown!)