A/N: Hey, so I'm really sorry about the delay in posting, I was away for the last week and a half without internet access. And it's sad because this chapter is so ridiculously short, and nothing much really happens. BUT I thought it was important, so here it is. Also, I've already written about half of the next chapter, and SOMETHING ACTUALLY HAPPENS in it! And I will do my best to post it soon.

Please, please review, I am so insanely appreciative of every one I get. It's so nice to know what people think, again, even a few words are amazing!

To Keep the Flame Burning Part 3

"Dumbledore?" Hedwig asked, sounding taken aback at Fawkes' abrupt change of expression, "What about him?"

Fawkes's mind was racing as he tried to piece together what his subconscious had apparently already figured out. The flame he had created was now emitting sparks, so he tried, for Hedwig's sake (who was looking quite warily at it) to calm his thoughts. He also realized he owed his companion an explanation as to his sudden revelation.

"What did you used to think of when you imagined heaven, or the afterlife? Wouldn't you think that everyone you'd ever loved, and that had died, would be there, waiting for you?"

"Haven't I told you? I never thought about the afterlife when I was living. My life was simple back then, I didn't really need to speculate on those things, and so I didn't. Besides, before I died, the only person I loved was Harry." She quickly looked away from Fawkes, almost as if… as if she was embarrassed by something she had just said. She hurriedly added "And to the best of my knowledge, he's still alive. Okay, and maybe Errol and Pigwidgeon, -very deep down- but they're still alive too…"

A small part of Fawkes's mind was feeling guilty that he had stopped paying attention to the other bird after she'd looked away from him, but the greater portion of it was focused on what she had said just before she had done so. Before I died, the only person I loved was Harry. Could the owl possibly have been implying…

He shoved that particular thought into the archive of thoughts that seemed to be accumulating in the back of his mind to think about later. He was slightly frustrated at death for not giving his mind more space in which to think and organize thoughts. It seemed only fair, as he had an eternity in which to use it. He wished he had a pensieve… Oh yes, Pensieve, Dumbledore, Back to the issue at hand.

"But I loved Albus Dumbledore, more than any other human, and he is dead. So shouldn't he be waiting somewhere for me?"

"I don't know, Fawkes. What if that's not how it works? I mean, I've never talked to a dead person when I was alive, everything we thought we knew is just imagination, isn't it?"

Fawkes knew she was right, but was also determinedly undaunted. "But I just know it. I…I can feel him," he said, just as he realized it himself. It wasn't just his imagination, there was something there, reaching out to him, and connecting him and his bonded friend. "And I know he's just one person, but when you're…in our position, two companions would be better than one, wouldn't they?"

Hedwig, for some reason, didn't look to enthusiastic about this idea, but she sighed and gestured with her ivory wing for him to continue.

"Besides, what do we have to lose? The way I see it, either I follow this… pull towards him, or we stay here forever, or we try to find our own way, in which there'd be a certain risk, of course, and only a very slight chance we'd actually find somewhere, if there is anywhere of course. The way I see it, this is the only chance we've got."

"I guess so. Logic, right?"

Fawkes smiled to himself. The owl really had gotten to know him well during the… however long it was they had been together. And, he realized, he had come to understand certain things about her as well, the insightful speeches, the sharp, clever comments, and the fact that she kept to herself a lot, just as he must appear to do.

"I just don't want you to get hurt, Fawkes. I know he means so much to you" The owl's tone had changed suddenly, from almost flippant to somber and sincere.

There it was again, the phoenix noted. Her flashes of intuition were almost unsettling. And he had thought that he was the wise one of the two. But here he was, chasing after what the tiny, practical part of his brain was nagging him could possibly be just desperation.

"Thank you, Hedwig. I really mean it. I know Albus Dumbledore's just a name to you, and I'm so grateful that you understand he means so much to me. And I'm touched that you care so much. But it's not only him. We may get a new home out of this, and I think I'm willing to take the chance, if just for that."

Suddenlly, the owl somehow floated over to him and embraced him in a wing.

"You're brilliant, Fawkes, I hope you know that." She floated away slightly, but kept his gaze. "I l- I'm so glad you're here with me."

The phoenix was suddenly itching to tell her that she was the brilliant one, not him, but something held him back. For the moment, he sufficed to say "I'm glad it's you who's with me too. I mean," he amended quickly, "I'm glad I'm not alone through this." Except he wasn't really amending anything, he really had meant every word of what he'd said before.