I laid there, curled up in a ball for what seemed like a very long time. It wasn't until I felt Professor McGonagall's hand on my back that I could stop.

"Come on dear," she said, sliding her arms strategically under my body so that she could help me up. "This is no place for you to be right now."

We walked down the hallway at a comfortable pace, Professor McGonagall rubbing my back soothingly, until we reached her office where she set me down in the chair across from her desk. I thought she was going to sit behind it but instead she pulled another chair up next to me, and put her hand gently on my shoulder.

"Professor Umbridge is going to be fine," she said.

"How did I do that?" I asked her quietly.

"Well, I hadn't expected to be getting to this aspect of your gift until much later on when I thought you were about to shift for the first time, but I guess we better discuss it now." Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. "What makes Phoenix animagis so strong is their ability to channel the elements. They are so pure that they themselves can hone in on the elements, which are also pure in nature. Does that make sense?"

I nodded.

"Because of your gift of telepathy and also your ability to feel the feelings of those around you, it makes you have to be slightly more in check with your emotions than most."

I stared at her. "What do you mean?"

"You're cold aren't you Miss Carson? Freezing even? I could barely touch your skin one the way here because it is so cold."

I looked down and realized that my hands were the exact same color as Professor Umbridge's neck and face had been.

"But I feel fine," I said, not feeling cold at all, but actually quite comfortable.

"Of course you do. You can channel the elements. Naturally it makes you a much better survivor than the rest of us. There is a reason why people always talk about how difficult it is to kill a Phoenix animagi outside of the killing curse. Your body is perfect at adapting to its surroundings."

"But how did I do that to her?" I asked, still not understanding.

"Even though I wasn't there I am sure that Professor Umbridge was bothering you, or perhaps making you angry in some way?"

I nodded my head.

Professor McGonagall left out an annoyed sigh. "That woman. Anyway, when you are emotional it is harder for you to stay out of peoples thoughts and emotions I am sure. So, what I believe happened, is that you were naturally on the colder side because your mood was not so great, and then with Professor Umbridge making you angry, you transferred that coldness you were feeling onto her."

"So I basically made her as cold as I was," I said after a moments pause.

"Yes. I figured this would happen eventually but not this soon in your transforming process. So, Professor Dumbledore and I will handle the situation with Umbridge and make sure you are not expelled for it, but in the meantime Abby I ask that you try to be aware of how much you let your mental guard down. The more it is down the easier it is for you to slip into someone's mind and possibly cause harm. Do you understand?"

"Yes Professor," I said, letting out a sigh of my own. She nodded firmly.

"May I ask what got you so upset?"

I looked up at her. "I found out about the prophecy my mother had."

Professor McGonagall was dead silent, her entire face falling. "I am so sorry dear. I assume you were just coming from talking to Dumbledore about it?"

I nodded.

"Well Miss Carson you have two options here. You can admit defeat and choose to let it get you down, or you can firmly decide right now that you are not going to let some prophecy determine how you live your life."

I looked up at her. "I can not even begin to imagine how this news must be affecting you, but I ask you Miss Carson to not give up hope. Things have a funny way of working themselves out in the end, and you are far too strong of a person mentally and emotionally to make this prophecy mean the end."

"Okay Professor McGonagall," I said, feeling somewhat better already.

"Good. Now go on back to your common room. I'll be in touch once we determine the proper course of action on how to handle this situation with Umbridge."

I got out of the chair and started to head towards the door, stopping once I had my hand on the handle.

"Could I be expelled?" I asked, turning around to face her.

"No, Miss Carson. People make mistakes. Besides, you weren't planning to harm Professor Umbridge nor did you have previous knowledge that she would be stalking you to Dumbledore's office, which we all know she was."

I left out a tiny laugh and somewhat smiled.

"She really is an evil toad, isn't she?" I said.

"Yes, I nice chilled toad if I do say so myself," replied Professor McGonagall, taking a seat behind her desk.

I turned around and left, the silent laughs from Professor McGonagall making me smile and genuinely laugh too.