The Mundanity of Genius
The first weeks of October passed in a quiet blur of academic excellence for Phoenix Hellflame. He quickly established his routine, which consisted of attending classes to observe the faculty, engaging in polite but brief conversation with Harry, Ron, and Hermione (who were still navigating the awkward start of their friendship), and spending his evenings in the Restricted Section of the library, allowed access via a personal, heavily sealed decree from Dumbledore.
Phoenix's presence in Ravenclaw Tower was an event in itself. His silver-white hair and the quiet intensity of his amethyst eyes ensured he remained the center of non-verbal attention. He solved every riddle on the brass knocker on the first attempt, never needing to pause, instantly disappointing any student hoping to witness his rare failure.
He used his privileged access to the library not for simple curriculum review, but for high-level Transfiguration theory and the history of ancient protective magics. He was systematically researching the exact nature of the wards protecting the third-floor corridor. He knew the goal was the Philosopher's Stone, but the integrity of the defenses was his primary interest.
The Charms of Levitation
The Charms class in the third week was taught by the diminutive, cheerful Professor Flitwick. The lesson was the Levitating Charm: Wingardium Leviosa.
Ron was struggling immediately, his massive wand movements entirely ineffective. Hermione, however, was already perfect, having clearly practiced the swish-and-flick countless times.
"Stop, stop, stop!" Hermione snapped at Ron, unable to contain her irritation as Ron flailed his wand, making his feather merely tremble. "You're going to poke someone's eye out. It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long, and you have to swish and flick, not flap!"
Phoenix, seated beside Harry, had not yet attempted the spell. He was observing the intricate magical energy required for true levitation, rather than the simple Charms variation. Harry, attempting to follow Hermione's instructions, finally managed to lift his feather a few inches off the desk.
"Oh, well done, Harry!" exclaimed Flitwick.
Phoenix then casually picked up his wand. He performed the swish and flick not with the vigorous movement of a novice, but with a precise, minimal motion of his wrist, as if drawing a perfect circle in the air. The small feather on his desk didn't rise; it simply vanished, then reappeared six feet in the air, transfigured into a delicate, crystalline sculpture of a miniature Arctic Eagle Owl that hovered silently above the class, rotating on an invisible axis.
Flitwick, momentarily stunned, cleared his throat. "Mr. Hellflame... most impressive control, though the exercise was simply levitation, not elemental Transfiguration."
"My apologies, Professor," Phoenix said, his tone utterly bland. "I found the required magical input for levitation too simplistic to require my full attention. I merely enhanced the aesthetic output."
He flicked his wrist again, and the crystalline bird dissolved back into a feather, landing softly on his desk. He earned twenty points for Ravenclaw, but more importantly, a look of profound, intense respect from Hermione, and raw, impotent fury from Ron.
The Insult and the Tears
Later, as they were walking through the corridor, Ron was still fuming about Hermione's bossiness.
"It's no wonder no one can stand her," Ron muttered to Harry and Phoenix, kicking an empty crisp packet. "She's a nightmare, honestly. She's got no friends and it's because she's such a know-it-all."
Phoenix, ever the strategic observer, merely raised a silver eyebrow, but said nothing, allowing the conflict to develop naturally.
What none of the boys realized was that Hermione Granger was directly behind them, hurrying to catch up. She heard every word. Her face crumpled, and she ran past them, sobbing, disappearing into the girls' bathroom.
Ron immediately looked guilty. Harry looked distressed. Phoenix simply looked at the door Hermione had vanished through, calculating the ramifications of her absence. The Golden Trio was meant to form, and this fracture was unacceptable.
"That was incredibly poor form, Weasley," Phoenix stated, his voice devoid of emotion. "You rely on her, whether you admit it or not. Emotional manipulation is a weak tactic, but causing genuine distress over a minor point of pride is simply inefficient."
Before Ron could retort, an enormous, stomach-churning noise reverberated through the castle. The noise was followed instantly by Professor Quirrell, who came tearing into the Great Hall—where the Halloween feast was in full swing—screaming about a troll in the dungeons.
Panic erupted.
The Forbidden Alliance
Dumbledore's voice, amplified magically, ordered everyone back to their dormitories.
Ron immediately remembered Hermione. "She doesn't know!" he cried out, horrified. "She's still in the girls' bathroom!"
Harry, seizing the initiative, grabbed Ron's arm. "We have to go back!"
Phoenix, however, grabbed the back of Harry's robes, his purple eyes suddenly alight with cold, strategic calculation. This was the moment the alliance was forged; this was the test.
"Wait," Phoenix commanded, his voice a chilling whisper that cut through the noise. "You two are clumsy and entirely predictable. I know the layout of the castle and the exact location of every viable escape route. I am coming with you, but you will both follow my instructions precisely. This is not a rescue; this is a tactical operation."
He didn't wait for a reply. He led them, moving with supernatural stealth and speed, toward the dungeons. As they neared the corridor, Phoenix stopped dead, sensing the slow, clumsy movement of the troll.
"The troll is moving away from the dungeons, seeking the upper floors," Phoenix whispered, his mask of ethereal beauty now hardened by focus. "It's heading toward the central corridor near the girls' bathroom. We will circle back through the unused portrait hallway. We go now."
Phoenix took the lead, silent as his own Arctic Owl, his wand held in a ready position, though he knew he would use wandless magic. He was not just saving a girl; he was forging a crucial, complex bond that would ensure the Boy Who Lived remained precisely where Phoenix could watch him. They had their first enemy, and now, they had their first alliance.