"I hope Gill isn't still mad, Fawkes," Albus said, taking off the shirt he had worn all day. He tossed it into a basket next to his bed and walked into his closet. "I mean, after the way I acted the other night," he said, looking for another shirt. He pulled one from a hanger and walked with it back into his room."I just got so worked up with our talk about the Hallows that I started thinking that, well," he paused. He walked over to Fawkes and began to gently stroke his head. "Well, I've already told you my secret, haven't I. It doesn't matter anyway." He put the shirt on and ran his hand through his long, auburn hair. He motioned for the bird to hop onto his shoulder. The bird complied and, with a gentle flap of its wings, landed on Albus' right shoulder.

A knock came from Albus' door. "Albus," a voice called from behind the door.

"Yes," Albus replied.

"I've got a letter for you that an owl delivered while you were out. May I come in?"

"Yeah," Albus said. The door handle turned and the door opened to reveal Aberforth holding a letter. He walked in and handed Albus the letter. He petted the phoenix's head. "Happy birthday, by the way," he said.

"Thanks," Albus said.

"Your phoenix is so beautiful, you know. How did you get him again?" Aberforth asked.

"While looking for some rare potion ingredients in the Forbidden Forest, I came across him. He was injured, so I took him back to the common room. He set my bed curtains on fire, actually, but I didn't mind. We've been friends ever since."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot. That was the year before I came to school."

"Yep. So, is that all?" Albus asked.

"Yeah," Aberforth said. He petted the phoenix one last time and walked out of Albus' room.

Albus waited until Aberforth had closed the door to look at the letter. He recognized the handwriting of the address to be that of Gellert's. He turned the letter over and opened it. He took the letter out and began to read.

Albus,

I am truly sorry for my reaction to your advances a few days ago. Our friendship is strong, my dear friend, and this should not get in the way of it.

Meet me in the cemetery after sunset tonight. That is, if you forgive me for the way I acted. I need to ask you something, and I'd rather do it in person.

With all sincerity,

Gill G.

Albus set the letter down on his desk. Fawkes hopped off his shoulder and landed next to the letter. "I don''t know if I can believe him, Fawkes," Albus said to the bird. It looked back at him with a look as if it understood what he was saying.

"He hurt me, badly," Albus said. The phoenix waddled toward Albus, looked up, and tilted its head, as if to say it wanted to hear more. "But I'm going to go. Though he hurt me, I still love him." The phoenix tilted his head the other way. Albus sat down in the chair at the desk. "But I'm sill worried." The bird again waddled over to Albus. He stoked the bird's head.

The phoenix began to sing, and all feelings of worry left Albus. "I knew we would be good friends," Albus said.