That Old Hat
Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to JK Rowling.
The moonlight shone brightly through the window of Dumbledore's office. Fawkes sat on his perch, gazing at the stars and reflecting on his life. Being a phoenix wasn't easy. Oh, yes, he could be reborn as many times as necessary, but phoenix song could not brighten his own heart as it did for so many others. For one thing, it was not fun to burst into flames and come back bald, ugly, and croaking. For another, the life of a phoenix was a lonely one. Yes, he had had his fair share of relationships in his many years, but when you live as long as Fawkes, it's difficult to mate for life. Phoenixes were very rare and he outlived any other bird he tried to share his perch with.
Fawkes was jolted from his reverie when the door to Dumbledore's office burst open. It was Dumbledore himself; Fawkes' only companion. He was carrying the Sorting Hat, the feast having just finished. Dumbledore set the hat in its place and hurried out again. The problem with having only Dumbledore for a companion was that he was so very busy. Especially since the rebirth of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Dumbledore has barely had a second to spare for Fawkes.
Fawkes' gaze shifted to the newly returned Sorting Hat. He and the hat had been together at one time. Fawkes sighed, thinking of happier times. He had been very happy with the hat. However, after a few months, the Sorting Hat had begun to compose the song for the following year and had no longer had any time for Fawkes. That hat was a workaholic. Things just had not worked out.
As Fawkes looked at the hat, though, he began to wonder if they shouldn't give things another try. After all, the hat was alone too. He flew slowly over to the hat's shelf and gently nudged the hat with his beak.
"Why, Fawkes, I haven't seen you for a while," said the hat.
"It has been a long time, hasn't it, Charles," answered Fawkes.
"Now, Fawkes, how many times have I told you? Please, call me Sorty."
"Sorry, it's just that...well, I've been thinking about...thinking about us."
"Us? Why, that was over ages ago, Fawkes. You know that." Sorty looked uncomfortable.
"I know, I know. But, do you think it's possible that there could ever be an us again, Sorty?"
"I would like that. I really would. But you need to understand how important my work is to me."
"I know. But I have needs, Sorty. You can't just have fun for a few months and then toss me aside like a fake wand." Fawkes needed to know that Sorty would not abandon him again.
"I realize that, Fawkes. I'll try if you will."
"I would like that very much." Fawkes knew that Sorty was sincere. He moved closer to the hat.
Late that evening, Dumbledore entered his office, weary and ready for bed. He glanced at Fawkes' perch and strangely did not see the phoenix. Then, he saw a plume of red and gold feathers on a shelf near his desk. On closer inspection, he realized that Fawkes was cuddled up next to the Sorting Hat. "Strange," muttered Dumbledore, as he went off to bed, "He did something like that a few years ago, too."
Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to JK Rowling.
The moonlight shone brightly through the window of Dumbledore's office. Fawkes sat on his perch, gazing at the stars and reflecting on his life. Being a phoenix wasn't easy. Oh, yes, he could be reborn as many times as necessary, but phoenix song could not brighten his own heart as it did for so many others. For one thing, it was not fun to burst into flames and come back bald, ugly, and croaking. For another, the life of a phoenix was a lonely one. Yes, he had had his fair share of relationships in his many years, but when you live as long as Fawkes, it's difficult to mate for life. Phoenixes were very rare and he outlived any other bird he tried to share his perch with.
Fawkes was jolted from his reverie when the door to Dumbledore's office burst open. It was Dumbledore himself; Fawkes' only companion. He was carrying the Sorting Hat, the feast having just finished. Dumbledore set the hat in its place and hurried out again. The problem with having only Dumbledore for a companion was that he was so very busy. Especially since the rebirth of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Dumbledore has barely had a second to spare for Fawkes.
Fawkes' gaze shifted to the newly returned Sorting Hat. He and the hat had been together at one time. Fawkes sighed, thinking of happier times. He had been very happy with the hat. However, after a few months, the Sorting Hat had begun to compose the song for the following year and had no longer had any time for Fawkes. That hat was a workaholic. Things just had not worked out.
As Fawkes looked at the hat, though, he began to wonder if they shouldn't give things another try. After all, the hat was alone too. He flew slowly over to the hat's shelf and gently nudged the hat with his beak.
"Why, Fawkes, I haven't seen you for a while," said the hat.
"It has been a long time, hasn't it, Charles," answered Fawkes.
"Now, Fawkes, how many times have I told you? Please, call me Sorty."
"Sorry, it's just that...well, I've been thinking about...thinking about us."
"Us? Why, that was over ages ago, Fawkes. You know that." Sorty looked uncomfortable.
"I know, I know. But, do you think it's possible that there could ever be an us again, Sorty?"
"I would like that. I really would. But you need to understand how important my work is to me."
"I know. But I have needs, Sorty. You can't just have fun for a few months and then toss me aside like a fake wand." Fawkes needed to know that Sorty would not abandon him again.
"I realize that, Fawkes. I'll try if you will."
"I would like that very much." Fawkes knew that Sorty was sincere. He moved closer to the hat.
Late that evening, Dumbledore entered his office, weary and ready for bed. He glanced at Fawkes' perch and strangely did not see the phoenix. Then, he saw a plume of red and gold feathers on a shelf near his desk. On closer inspection, he realized that Fawkes was cuddled up next to the Sorting Hat. "Strange," muttered Dumbledore, as he went off to bed, "He did something like that a few years ago, too."