Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Unexpected Gifts
Mrs. Weasley was just setting the table for lunch when she screamed. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were the first to reach the kitchen and were also the first to see why she screamed. Three birds had flown in through the window. Two of them were fairly large tawny owls, but it was the third that was so surprising. There, sitting on the table between the porridge and the bacon was a phoenix. For a split second, Harry thought that it was Fawkes, but then he noticed that this phoenix was much leaner and taller.
"Who do you think it could be from?" asked Ron.
"I've no idea, but it has something tied to its leg." responded Hermione.
For once, Hermione wasn't quite right. The phoenix had two extremely large packages and one smaller envelope. No one seemed to know what to do until the phoenix let out one clear note. Immediately, Harry felt an intense wave of calm come over him. Although he always felt this when he heard phoenix song, there was something else in the note that he couldn't quite explain. When he heard the note, he almost felt like he understood what the phoenix was saying. For some odd reason, Harry felt like the phoenix was calling to him. In response, he began to approach the beautiful bird.
"Harry, what are you doing? We don't know who this bird is from or who those packages are for." said Hermione, her voice slightly shaky.
"Don't worry Hermione, I doubt there's anything dangerous in those packages." said Ron, rolling his eyes at Hermione's paranoia.
"I'm more worried about the bird." replied Hermione, "You all are used to Fawkes, but phoenixes are mythical creatures and can be dangerous."
"It's ok Hermione." said Harry, and, seeing her look of doubt, added "Trust me, I can just tell. I could feel it when it sang."
As everyone held their breath, Harry reached out and began petting the phoenix. The phoenix nodded its head in approval and held out its leg to allow Harry to remove the packages. Harry did so and was surprised at how heavy they were, but then he remembered how Fawkes had once carried Ron, Ginny, and him out of the Chamber of Secrets. Once he had removed the last package, he was surprised when the phoenix didn't leave. Instead, the bird looked at Harry expectantly, its eyes twinkling.
Harry decided that the phoenix must be waiting for some kind of response to whatever was in the envelope, so he opened it. Inside, he found a note rapped around a small bottle which seemed to be filled with fog. He unrolled the note and read:
Dear Harry,
I hope that I left this world having done what I needed to do. I also hope that you understand how much I, among many others love you. You were almost like the son I never had. As I said to you once, no one has watched you as I have or tried to protect you as I have. Know that I did all of this for you, not for the world or the prophecy, but for you. I know that you may feel that you were cheated out of another loved one, but I have never left you and never will leave you. Death is merely the next great adventure, and you know how much you and I both like an adventure. These are my parting gifts to you. I know that they will aid you in your quest. I trust that you will use them well and that you will have all the help you may need. I have only one regret Harry, and that is that I will never be able to watch you grow old and have many more adventures after Tom Riddle has left this world for good. I believe in you Harry, and, as a dying request, please promise me and everyone else you love that you will never doubt yourself again.
Your Man Through and Through,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
P.S. The bottle, as you may have already guessed, contains a memory which will explain everything not in this letter. I have also given you my pensieve and a few dozen of my own memories. Please use them well.
Harry was slightly shocked, but not all together surprised. He had always related phoenixes with Dumbledore and couldn't have thought of anyone else who would have sent him one. He was however curious as to why Dumbledore would have sent a phoenix other than Fawkes. Harry didn't think that Fawkes was any more noticeable than this phoenix, and he knew that Fawkes couldn't be intercepted. However, he assumed that the memory would answer these questions along with the hundreds of others running through his head.
Harry and the others looked away from the phoenix and realized that the two owls were still sitting on the table looking rather impatient. Mrs. Weasley quickly removed the envelopes from their legs and gave them each an owl treat. They quickly flapped there wings and flew out of the open window, the phoenix still sitting serenely.
"Here Ginny, Hermione these letters are for you." said Mrs. Weasley handing each their respective envelope. "Let's open them before Albus distracts us again."
"I almost forgot about my O.W.L. test scores." said Ginny, quickly tearing open her envelope. "Cross your fingers."
Everyone waited in silence as Ginny read through her scores. Harry's nervousness was quickly replaced with pure joy as a smile spread across Ginny's beautiful face. She ran to Harry and jumped into his open arms. He gave her a quick kiss and then took the letter from her hand. He looked down at the scores:
Transfiguration: E
History of Magic: A
Ancient Runes: A
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
Herbology: E
Charms: O
Potions: E
Care of Magical Creatures: E
Harry kissed Ginny once again as he handed the letter over to Hermione and Ron, who both congratulated Ginny. When the letter finally got to Mrs. Weasley, she wrapped both Ginny and Harry in a tight hug, tears in her eyes. After everyone had calmed down, Hermione opened her letter to find that it was also from Hogwarts. Her envelope held a badge and a letter, both of which made it clear that she was the new head girl. Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny all exchanged looks of understanding before faking celebration in front of Mrs. Weasley. All of them knew that they would have to tell Mr. and Mrs. Weasley that they were not going to attend Hogwarts. They also now realized that they would have to inform McGonagall before the first of September. Both tasks would have to wait for a later date, seeing as the phoenix was still staring at them in anticipation.
After they had finished congratulating Hermione, Harry picked up the pensieve and brought it into the living room. While he was walking between the kitchen and the living room, he heard several pops as the rest of the Weasleys and Fleur returned from work for a quick lunch. All of them looked shocked to see the phoenix. Noticing their confused looks, Harry quickly filled them in on the last hour's events and asked them to follow him into the living room. Once everyone was seated around the pensieve, Harry extinguished the lights. He removed the top of the crystal bottle that had come with the letter and poured the contents into the basin. Once all of the contents were emptied, he stirred the foggy substance with his wand and waited.
Out of the gaseous liquid rose the form of Albus Dumbledore. He smiled around at them all and Harry couldn't help but smile as he looked at the memory of his mentor. Everyone sat in silence as the memory of Dumbledore began to speak.
"Hello Harry, and friends I assume. I have too much to tell you in a letter, and I thought this would be the best method for what I have to tell you. I am about to tell you a secret which must be heavily guarded. I am speaking of the ancient magic and myth surrounding phoenixes. Harry, have you ever wondered how a phoenix is born? I know that you have seen Fawkes die and be reborn in my very office, but you have never seen one born." Dumbledore paused, giving Harry time to realize that was correct. "I am not surprised because it is one of the rarest events on this earth. As is such, there are very few good records of a phoenix's birth. However, there is only one record of how a phoenix is created, and that record sits before you. After I reveal how a phoenix is born, you must destroy this memory so that the secret remains safe. Having said that, I believe you are ready to hear what I have to say.
"Phoenixes are created when a wizard dies and is bound to another wizard through unwavering loyalty and unconditional love. Both wizards must also be exceptionally powerful. Once one of the wizards dies, he is born again from fire as a phoenix. This is what happened with Fawkes, who happened to be a dear friend of mine who was killed by the Dark Wizard Grindelwald many years ago." Dumbledore's image briefly paused, remembering his friend. "Fawkes was bound to me and has helped me ever since. Since I have died, I am sure that he has left and passed on to that mysterious beyond which awaits us all. Now, you may be wondering why I am telling you all this. All of you that is except Harry."
Harry nodded his head in acknowledgement before Dumbledore continued.
"I have always seen Harry as the son that I never had, and he has returned my sentiments with love and loyalty. He proved this when he summoned Fawkes to him in his second year. Since then, our bond has only grown stronger, as has Harry's magical prowess. Although he has not honed his powers as I had through years of training and experience, it is obvious to me that he is a more powerful wizard than I ever was." Everyone in the room gasped at this information as Dumbledore continued, "When I die, I will become a phoenix. I was made sure of this the night that I made this memory. Harry and I had been talking about his vacation and he told me about his private conversation with the Minister. I believe Scrimgeor described him as 'Dumbledore's man through and through,' which Harry affirmed."
Harry blushed as everyone smiled at him, including the memory of Dumbledore. He tried to ignore their eyes as he stared at the floating image in front of him who had begun to speak again.
"Because of his unwavering loyalty and unconditional love, Harry has helped me to be reborn as a phoenix. In fact, if I am not mistaken, I am right now sitting on the back of Harry's chair."
Everyone, including Harry, turned to see that the phoenix now perched on the back of Harry's chair. Everything suddenly made sense. The look on Dumbledore's face when Harry had told him about Scrimgeor and the phoenix Harry had thought he had imagined coming out of Dumbledore's grave. It all made sense. He also noticed the phoenix's eyes for the first time. He couldn't believe that he hadn't noticed the eyes that had always brought him so much comfort and inspiration. He reached out and began to stroke Dumbledore, who gave a cry of satisfaction. Harry could have been mistaken, but he thought Dumbledore was saying thank you.
"Harry, now that we have been reunited, you must understand what it means to have a phoenix. Phoenixes are extremely useful and intelligent because they are simply an animal form of the former wizard. You may also have noticed that my cry is not the same as Fawkes' cry. This is because you alone can understand me because of the magical bond we share, just as I could understand Fawkes. At first, you will have to get used to it, but in time it will be as simple as English, or Parseltongue in your case." said Dumbledore. Smiling, he added, "I am so happy that I will be able to see you again, and I hope that I can assist you in anyway possible. It has been a pleasure knowing you, and I will see you on the other side."
With that, the memory of Dumbledore gave a wink, bowed, and vanished. Harry stared dumbfounded at the pensieve. He was still trying to absorb everything that had happened that day. Suddenly, he was brought back from his thoughts by Dumbledore poking his shoulder. He let out a soft note and Harry remembered that he had to destroy the memory. He put his wand into the pensieve and removed the memory, then he put it into the bottle which he promptly smashed. Dumbledore let out a note of approval and then flew over to Ginny, who began to pet him.
"Harry," said Ginny, "do you know what this means? Not only is Dumbledore back to help, but he can also guide us!"
"Guide you, what do you mean?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
Harry shot a nervous glance at Ginny who returned an apologetic smile. He looked at all of the Weasleys' confused faces and took a deep breath. It had already been an eventful day, and now it was proving to only become more so. It was better now than never he decided. They deserved to know, and the longer they waited, the harder it would be. Harry felt his mouth go dry as he thought of how to begin. Just then, Dumbledore flew over and sang a soft song in his ear. Harry felt himself filled with confidence and knew what to say. The Weasleys would accept what he had to say. He couldn't help smiling as he realized just how much brighter the future already looked with Dumbledore back at his side.
