Chapter 1

The funeral of Dumbledore is over, everyone is devastated. The sky is almost black in the day, clouds heavy with tears, air strangely suffocating, the whole scene seems changed, not a bit like the welcoming presence of Hogwarts.

It is as if the very core of Hogwarts is weeping for the loss of the magical world.

Hagrid hasn't stopped crying since the funeral started. Hermione is trying to make him feel better with Ron beside her looking like he doesn't know what to do, he probably not. Ginny is trying to get his attention but he keeps avoiding her, looking everywhere but at her.

McGonagall had tried to speak to him but he just didn't want to talk, what is there to talk? Voldemort is getting stronger and stronger and now they don't have their leader, who can tell them what to do, sure he had his issues with Dumbledore about not giving him information about him that may very well result in changing his whole life like prophecy, but he didn't want to lose him, How is he supposed to defeat Voldemort now?

"Harry" Hermione is waving her hand at him like she is trying to get his attention for some time now. He looked around and noticed Ron and Remus are there as well, he was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even realise when they joined him.

"Sorry you said something Hermione, I didn't hear you."

"I asked if you wanted to come with us for a walk," she said, looking nervous like she was afraid that he will refuse.

Apparently, their worry about him has reached the level where they could no longer leave him alone. He really does not have any other option, does he? They won't leave him alone unless he gives in.

"Sure, where do you want to go?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Astronomy tower " Ron replied hurriedly, he looked uneasy like he couldn't wait to get away from people and Harry couldn't fault him.

"Okay, let's go" Harry can feel the stares of Ginny and Remus as he walked away.

"So, How are you?" Hermione begin.

"I am fine" Harry replied quickly, too quickly. If the huff of frustration was any indication.

"Come on mate, you don't have to pretend in front of us" Wow Hermione is rubbing on Ron.

"Really guys, there is nothing to tell, yeah, I feel a bit down but don't you all?" He tried to convince them.

"You know you are not alone, right?" Hermione asked if only she knew how lonely he felt right now.

Harry was saved from answering by Ron.

"Is that Dumbledore's Pheonix ?"Ron asked looking out of the window.

"Yeah, Fawkes. But what it is doing?" it was flying towards a frozen lake, was the bird thirsty?

"Phoenix takes birth from ashes. why it is flying towards frozen lake? Shouldn't it stay as away from the ice as possible?" Harry asked aloud.

"Phoenix is a magical creature which bond for life, they don't take it well when their Owners die an unnatural death, there are some theories that say they die after such an occurrence other say they simply leave never to be seen again, but No one has ever been able to prove either theory with enough evidence-" Hermione said almost talking to herself like she does when she tries to come up with most logical conclusion but Harry was not listening to her anymore. His mind was working on its own, faster than he could cope, he didn't realise he was running until he heard his friends calling him to stop. But he didn't, he couldn't. He ran as fast as he could, 'Pheonix bonds for life and Dumbledore was dead, Pheonix is a magical creature born from fire, it was flying towards frozen lake, was it trying to die to meet Dumbledore? Dumbledore hadn't seemed worried when Fawkes died in his office from fire, while Harry panicked. Was it because he was alive and well, back then and nothing could happen to a Pheonix as long as their owners are well and nothing injured them badly. Do they die if something happens to their owners? It certainly looks like it is trying to end its life. Is it why Pheonix are so rare? Because they don't live without their witch or wizards?

His legs were aching, he was gasping for air but he ran, he was on the grounds now running with all his might.

Dumbledore will not want his familiar to die out of some twisted loyalty, will he? He just has to talk with Fawkes and convince him, he will do it for Dumbledore.

He could see him now, he ran, he was so close, Fawkes was almost about to touch the ice.

"Fawkes -" he tried to call it when he tripped over the root of a tree and fell over Fawkes just when Fawke's wings touched the ice of the lake. He could vaguely hear his friends shouting his name, they were still following him.

Suddenly there was a blast, so powerful, that he flew backwards by the force of it and landed roughly on the ground and then there was only pain and darkness.

A/N: what do you think so far?