Rose paused before knocking on the headmistress' office door. She wasn't really sure that she should be doing this. After all, a painting could never replace a real person. However, she had promised Fawkes - and so she had to follow through with it. She tapped her knuckles gently on the door and the door swung open to reveal Professor McGonagall seated at her writing desk, peering through her reading glasses in almost the same way that the old, bearded man in the painting behind her surveyed Rose.
"What may I help you with, Miss Weasley?" McGonagall asked her. Rose's eyes flickered to the wizened man's portrait, then back to the headmistress.
"I - I want - needed to speak to Professor Dumbledore," she tripped over her words. Professor McGonagall folded up her glasses slowly and placed them next to the parchment she had been writing on.
"You do realise, Miss Weasley, that Professor Dumbledore's painting is not really him, don't you?" Rose nodded silently. Her eyes glanced up to Dumbledore's portrait again, and she flushed.
"It's just, Professor, I mean ... I met Fawkes the other day," she finished. Professor McGonagall expressed her surprise with her trademark raising of one eyebrow.
"You met ... Fawkes?" She questioned.
"Yes, I got lost in the Forest - one of James' practical jokes," she added at Professor McGonagall's disapproving stare. "And Fawkes came and flew me back to the castle. And. - well, I promised that I'd tell Dumbledore that I'd seen him. Fawkes, that is," she coughed.
McGonagall turned around to face Dumbledore's portrait, and at his almost imperceptible wink, said to Rose,
"Very well. I have a letter to post, so I'll give you five minutes." Rose smiled.
"Thank you, Professor." Professor McGonagall inclined her head slightly and swept out of the room, letter in hand. Rose stepped tentatively towards Dumbledore, who smiled at her encouragingly.
"You are very much like your mother," he said after a few moments.
"Thank you," replied Rose. "About Fawkes ... " she trailed off.
"Yes," Dumbledore said slowly. "I believe he is very lonely." A small furrow appeared between his brows.
"Excuse me sir, but couldn't he come here?" But Rose knew as soon as she said it that it wouldn't be possible. It was clear in the former headmaster's face. "I just wish I could do something," she sighed, but Dumbledore beamed.
"And you can, Miss Weasley," he said encouragingly. "No one had seen Fawkes for twenty years until now. But he chose to help you, and I think, if you are cautious, he may come to trust you."
Dumbledore fingered his beard thoughtfully. "You may even find a companion in him. Phoenixes are renowned for their loyalty - once earned they are unwavering. The trick is to get them to trust you," he winked at Rose. She blinked, then started as the door handle clicked - Professor McGonagall was back. Rose turned to face Dumbledore again.
"Thank you, Professor," she said. The former headmaster's eyes twinkled. Rose turned to go, and just before she was out of earshot she thought she heard the portrait whisper, "Good luck."