Chapter 12 – The Phoenix.

          Harry lay awake in his four-poster bed; he could hear Neville's snores. Ron and Hermione would be coming back tomorrow and he was really looking forward to seeing them again. He was worried about Sirius, he had hardly heard from him all year. He had received a Christmas card, but all it said was 'To Harry, Have a happy Christmas, Don't worry about me, From Snuffles.' He missed his Godfather and knew he had to do something to see him soon.

            Harry had been thinking about him for a while and had played with the thought of talking to Dumbledore about it. He knew he wouldn't mind but didn't want to intrude on him as he had been under a lot of stress over the past year. But as he lay awake he knew he would have to do something tonight, before everyone else came back.

He reached over to his trunk to search for his invisibility cloak. He found it at the bottom and tapped it gently to see the pattern of it moving. He sat up to see Neville still snoring in deep sleep, so he quietly stood up and wrapped the cloak smoothly around him. He checked in the mirror to make sure he was covered, and then made his way down the staircase into the Common room through the picture of the Fat Lady and out to the Corridor.

It was dark and deserted as he made his way to the Headmasters office, he hoped dearly that he would still be awake so they could talk. Harry was just outside Dumbledore's office when he realised that he didn't know the password. He whispered all the past passwords like 'Sherbet lemons' and 'Canary creams' but found it was no use; he was about to give up when he saw Snape rush out of the office in a hurry, he had a blanc impression on his face that Harry had never seen on him before, but Harry didn't have enough time to think about it. He had flung the door open and Harry hurriedly crept inside before the door closed, trying to avoid the Potions master from finding him.

When he got inside Dumbledore was not there. But there was a light on, on the other side of a door behind his desk. Harry slid out of the invisibility cloak and looked around. He saw the sorting hat on a shelf and remembered back to his first year at Hogwarts. Then he heard the Phoenix behind him, he spun around to look at the creature and noticed that it was out of his cage.

"May I help? Sir Dumbledore is coming soon but he obviously does not know that you are coming, so maybe I can be of some service instead."

Harry looked at the creature and decided that he might as well. Even if he did not see Dumbledore tonight, he wanted advice from someone.

"It's about Sirius Black." Harry paused

"Go on."

"I'm worried about him. I haven't seen him for a while and I'm afraid that he's unwell or in trouble or something."

"Listen. You're afraid for your Godfather because you have not seen him, but as I understand if he did try to come and see you then there would be a chance that he would be in more trouble then if he didn't come. Am I right?"

Harry stared at the Phoenix realizing that he knew much more about the situation then Harry did. Even though he had probably never even seen Sirius. "Yes, I suppose so. But that doesn't stop me from worrying."

"You are afraid that he is in trouble you say, and I know you have experience of losing loved ones."

Harry thought of his parents and it nearly brought tears to his eyes.

"But soon you'll realize that instead of halving, things may seem to double over night."

Harry was confused by these words.

"You'll understand soon. Trust me. Don't worry yourself about him, for he has told you not to." The Phoenix jumped back into his open cage and lay down.

          At that moment Dumbledore walked through the door. And looked at Harry with tired eyes through his half moon glasses. He sat down at his desk and gestured for Harry to sit opposite him.

"Harry. I don't remember arranging a meeting with you. And even in my old age it does not seem like me to arrange a meeting at such an hour with a student."

"Sorry Professor, I had to see you."

"Do not apologize, I'm never one to say no to a drink of Butter beer and a talk before getting my sleep." Dumbledore got himself and Harry a drink before sitting back down. "Now, what exactly has brought you to sneak out and come and see me, eh?"

"It's Sirius. He's hardly tried to see me at all this year, but I've seen him at Hogwarts. I want to see him properly but I don't want him to be in trouble." Harry rubbed his forehead and tried to hide his yawn.

"Harry, remember last year when I told him to work with Snape to help me?"

"Yes."

"Well that means he is very busy this year, as well as trying to keep his whereabouts a secret. Now I know that you miss him, but he will know when it's time to see you again, and until then you're just going to have to wait." Dumbledore took a swig of his Butter beer "Now, is that all or can you go to bed?"

"OK Professor." Harry stood up and walked to the door.

"I'm glad." He smiled as Harry turned to see him "That the Phoenix could answer your question better than I could."