THE PHOENIX

Chapter Eleven


Several hours later, when everyone was seated in the Great Hall, Hermione or ‘Phoenix’ opened the large doors. Her black hair was hanging loose around her bare shoulders, with sunglasses perched on her nose. As she walked down the center aisle, she slipped off her leather jacket with the large phoenix on the back and left it on the bench beside Harry. As she walked, all eyes were on her as she made her way forwards. She wore low slung leather pants that tied up at the front at her waist, and a black leather halter that drew her breasts together and left her back bare except for a thin strip of leather across the middle, showing the smooth skin of her back and her trademark tattoo.

She smiled mischievously at Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape. “Sorry I’m late professors,” she said in her huskier charmed voice.

“Not a problem Phoenix. We were just about to have dinner. Please have a seat,” Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling merrily.

Hermione sat down beside Harry after kissing his cheek. “Good evening all,” she said smiling.

“Well, you certainly know how to make an entrance,” said Ron who sat across from her.

She flipped her glasses on her head as she smirked at the gang, “no matter how I came in, it would be attention grabbing.”

“Yeah, with what you’re wearing, I don’t doubt it,” Remus laughed.

Blaise had watched her entrance as well as most of the Slytherin table. Crabbe and Goyle ogled openly, not even noticing when the food appeared before them. “Man, she looks better than in the pictures....even with clothes on,” he whistled.

Draco had also been watching, although a bit more distractedly. His thoughts were on Hermione, as they had been a lot lately. He happened to glance up to see the leather clad new comer kiss Potter’s cheek, and wondered what was up with that. Potter never mentioned that he knew the Phoenix.

After dinner, almost everyone went outside to enjoy the festivities. At the quidditch pitch, there were some stunt riders risking their necks while some of the people watched. Hermione walked around with Harry and Sirius along the grounds talking quietly to themselves.

They came upon the tent where the bikes were being stored to see some of the students surrounding her bike. Colin Creevey saw them approach and walked over to them nervously, his ever present camera hanging from his neck.

“Excuse me Phoenix, I wonder.... that is....if it would be no trouble....to maybe get a picture of you with your bike,” Colin stuttered.

Hermione looked to Harry and smirked, then smiled warmly to Colin. “Sure. Would you like the guy from the pictures in it as well?” she asked as Harry glared at her mockingly.

“Yes.....is he here?” Colin asked.

“Hmm, Hmmm,” she nodded as she walked to her bike with Harry following. Colin looked around confused until he saw Harry take off his jacket baring his upper arm to him.

“Harry?” Colin asked puzzled, as people gathered around; Blaise and Draco included.

“What the hell?” Draco said quietly recognizing the stag tattoo. He nudged Crabbe at his side. “Crabbe, get that magazine,” he instructed, still looking at Harry and the Phoenix.

Hermione smirked at Harry who looked a bit uncomfortable at the sudden attention. “So, how should we do this?” she asked adjusting the glasses on her nose.

Harry sat on the bike sideways, his legs spread where Hermione went between, then placing her knee at his side, leaning into him. She smiled down at him as his hand went to her backside, leaning into her, his lips at the upper swell of her breast.

“Wow! Harry’s one lucky guy huh, Draco,” Blaise said as he glanced to Hermione as she straddled the bike, her hands on her upper thighs as Harry backed off.

Colin came over to Hermione/Phoenix. “Thank you Phoenix...Harry,” he said as he nodded to them both.

“No problem,” Hermione said as she slipped on her leather jacket again.

Harry and Hermione were walking again when they came upon a few Slytherins. Crabbe and Goyle were looking her up and down, while Harry was smirking behind his hand. Crabbe was rolling the magazine in his hand nervously until Goyle nudged him. “Uh....can I have your autograph Phoenix?” Crabbe asked.

“Sure.” She replied as the magazine was thrust her way with an inked quill. She signed it, ‘To Vincent Crabbe,’ then signed it ‘The Phoenix.’

He looked at the signature then to her. “How did you know my name?”

“I told her before we came to you guys,” Harry said thinking quick. “This here is also Gregory Goyle, Blaise Zabini....(who looked at Hermione mischievously), and Draco Malfoy.”

She shook each of their hands, but held on a bit longer to Draco’s hand. “Malfoy....where have I heard that name before?” she mused out loud.

“I have no idea. I’m sure we’ve never met before,” Draco said.

“Are you sure?” She asked, smiling impishly as she raised her glasses to the top of her head.

Draco looked at her, really looked at her and felt heated as she looked back into his eyes. They were interrupted in their gaze as Harry nudged Hermione. “Well, we should get going, there’s a few other people to meet,” Harry said tugging her arm.

Draco watched them go. “You know, I would swear that could be Hermione if I didn’t know she was at home.” Blaise looked at him at the comment then back at Hermione.

Hermione went back to the camp across the lake and was able to relax somewhat. She was on her fourth drink when Sirius came up to her with a red headed guy in tow.

The stranger seated himself across from her. “Hi. I’m Glen and I work for the Wizard’s Motorcycle Magazine. I was wondering if you would be interested in a photo shoot.”

“When?” Hermione asked, leaning her elbows on her knees.

“Tomorrow afternoon?”

She nodded her head, “Fine. But there’s something you may need to know that may come out later.” Glen nodded at her questionably. “I’m not what I appear, and it may come as a surprise to a few people here.”

“That’s an understatement,” Sirius smirked.

“You see, I actually go to school here at Hogwarts,” Hermione started.

“Here?” Glen asked sitting forward more.

“I was planning on revealing myself in a couple of days. You may as well get the last shots of ‘The Phoenix.’”

“What is your real name, by the way?” Glen asked.

“Hermione Granger and I am Head Girl here at Hogwarts this year.”

“So what’s different?” Glen asked.

“My hair and eyes, the rest is all me,” she smiled.

“Are you sure you want that to come out?” Glen asked. “Part of the attention you receive is because of the mystery about you.”

“Well, hopefully, people notice me for my riding ability as well,” she smirked.

“How about pictures before and after?” Glen asked eagerly.

“We’ll see. Any ideas how you want this photo shoot to be done?”

“Well....I think with you wearing black...someone blonde this time instead of Mr. Potter here,” Glen said.

Hermione instantly thought of Draco and how he would look with her. “Well, let me know, I’m turning in. Nice to meet you Glen. See you tomorrow.”

Harry, Sirius, and Remus sat with Glen. “You know, I may know just the right guy for that shoot of yours.....” Harry began. The four of them then bent their heads together trying to get two people together, for what was to be sure a great photo shoot.

thanks to Lessa who beta'd