Because humans am stupid, that why

It is curious to note that out of the many creatures in existence, the ones that called themselves 'humans' are one of the few species to project their own thoughts and feelings onto the actions of other species that they encounter. Typically, these actions only extended to the various animals they have domesticated as pets, since experience eventually taught them that to do so with creatures encountered in the wild often led to painful -and embarrassing- injuries or deaths. This led to a gathering of intelligent minds to declare a specialized field for those who would attempt such actions on so-called 'wild' creatures in the future, so that the other humans could continue to treat the small animals they interacted with daily as they preferred without harm. A feat aided in no small part by the fact that their domesticated animals often did not care -or paid little mind- to their self-proclaimed 'owners'.

The sub category of humans that denote themselves as 'wizards' or 'witches' had a much steeper learning curve to reach this conclusion, and are in fact still struggling with it in some communities. Part of this misunderstanding stems from the treatment of creatures that -like themselves- are imbued with magical abilities or qualities that the wizards believe that they can easily control. Thankfully, several of these magical species had more common sense than the average wizard, and easily led the wizards to believe they were in control, while the magical creatures lived peacefully as they always had; only making the occasional joke at the wizards' expense.

The most popular of these jokes currently ended with: 'If I'd been any dumber, I'd have gone and lived with the wizards.'

A handful of these sentient creatures however took it upon themselves to attempt to better the magical humans, and would often live among them -posing as pets- so as to better learn their ways and see what they could do to help the poor creatures. The most successful of these creatures was the Kneezle, but their efforts were often understated since they lacked intricate communication skills, causing them to take second place to the Phoenix instead.

Unlike the Kneezle, who would often die decades before their 'owners' did, phoenixes had the handy ability to be reborn from their own ashes every few years. Living for several millennia at a time, they therefore had the fortune of seeing the fruits of their labors in the guidance of the magical humans come to bear. Even if they did feel like the poor things moved depressingly slowly to accept change most of the time.

One of the most well-known phoenixes of the day lived with the wizard named Albus Percival Brain Wolfric Dumbledore (or 'Stubborn One' as the phoenix often called him since his human name was much too long) and was called Fawkes. Albus was Fawkes' forty second human companion, and had rightfully earned the phoenix's nickname during their time together, as he often completely misread his chirps and projected images as something completely different.

To relax himself from these stressful conversations, Fawkes took up the hobby of night flying around his companion's current residence of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The redundancy of the name alone only continued to reinforce the need to help the poor magical humans in his mind.

During his flights, he would visit with the many magical creatures that lived around the castle grounds and share a tale or two before returning to the overly gilded stoop in his wizard's office. Most simply asked his opinion on their current problems since he was well traveled in his long life, and Fawkes was of course only too happy to provide it; though they didn't always help since not everyone was a phoenix after all.

Still it was during one of these nightly wandering that Fawkes happened upon what appeared to be a strange looking kneezle near the castle, and he flew down to greet it. The wizard, Albus, had done something that Fawkes severely disapproved of recently, and speaking with the intelligent four legged creatures could possibly help him try another means of getting through to the Stubborn One. Like many of the magical creatures he'd encountered, this one gave off a dim glow to his heightened eyesight. Unlike most other kneezles though, this one's aura was not inherently moral or ruthless. It simply was. If pressed to put a description to it though, he decided that he would have to settle on 'mischievous'.

Landing on a sturdy branch close to the ground of a nearby birch tree, Fawkes thrilled out a greeting to the uniquely colored looking kneezle, and the cat like creature in turn stopped it's gazing at the moon to peer at him before doing something that the phoenix had never experienced in it's long life as of yet. It spoke.

"I don't believe I've seen you around here before," the supposed kneezle commented as it cocked its head slightly, "I suppose you're the reason for the curious goings on then?"

Fawkes chirped his confusion at the creature's ability to speak like in the human tongue, and inquired as to what event it was referring to; though he had a feeling he knew what it might be.

"Why wouldn't I be able to speak their words? It makes things terribly convenient you know when you need to make yourself known, and not many beings can convey their thoughts through simpler sounds like yourself," the purple creature replied before disappearing rather rudely Fawkes thought. Only to suddenly reappear on a branch level with his, revealing a predatory smile of sharp pointed teeth. "As for your other question, I'd felt a large pulse of some sort nearby, and thought I'd poke around and see what happened. Anything good?"

While initially confused -but intrigued by this new form of kneezle- Fawkes spent a good portion of the evening discussing current events with the creature that called itself 'Cheshire' to equal amounts of amusement and irritation. The latter of which only spurred on this Cheshire's own amusement it seemed, and it was with a promise to chat if they met again that the two parted ways for the night.

It was a warm fall night several years later when Fawkes finally saw the Cheshire again; though now that he knew what the creature's distinctive aura felt like, he had of course felt traces of its presence around the grounds of the school now and again. The impressions were always faint however, meaning his newest acquaintance was no longer around each time, and he therefore paid no mind to it. The Stubborn One was away the night that Cheshire appeared in the office that held Fawkes' perch, and Fawkes happily thrilled a warm greeting when the kneezle-like creature appeared and hopped onto his wizard's desk.

"A good evening to you as well, Fawkes," Cheshire smiled with a full grin, and Fawkes noticed the aura around it seemed to be much more mischievous than it had been when they'd last met. "Tell me," the strange cat commented, "How are things going with Albus? You seemed quite distraught when last we spoke."

Fawkes clacked his beak a bit irritably as he related his lack of progress with the stubborn one, and tilted his head inquisitively when he noticed the purple creature only continued to beam as he did so.

"Yes, I suspected as much," Cheshire stated as he swished his tail idly behind him, "I've had a splendid idea fall into my lap just now that may help you along, if you are interested?"

Eager for anything that could possibly help with the stubborn one; Fawkes bobbed his head and settled in to listen to his fellow magical creature's plan.

The Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry frowned as he surveyed the broken monitoring instruments on the floor near his desk. With a flick of his wand the pieces reassembled themselves but, just as he suspected, they no longer emitted the puffs of smoke that allowed him to monitor the wards protecting Harry Potter, or the child's life signs. None of the staff would dare break such delicate magical devices -especially if they knew just what they were for- but the wards protecting his office from wayward childish pranks never indicated any breach. Not to mention the only other change to his office since he'd left it was to the state of his ever increasing pile of paperwork, which now seemed a bit more scattered than he'd left it.

Puzzled but coming to only one possible conclusion, Albus Dumbledore turned to look disapprovingly at his familiar who was currently preening his feathers innocently.

"I do wish you would be more careful with your landings if you chose to fly back, as opposed to fire flashing to your perch," he frowned, and Fawkes lifted his head up to chirp questioningly at him.

"Nothing for it now though I suppose," Albus sighed as he looked back at the motionless devices on his desk. It would take him a week to get all of them recalibrated properly unfortunately with the Wizengamot meeting in a few days, followed by an ICU conference shortly thereafter. Still, there had been nothing to indicate the boy was in any deathly harm as of late -no matter what kindly Mrs. Figg's exaggerated reports may say- and Albus decided it would be best not to dwell on it at such a late hour. He would contact the elderly Squib in the morning and have her keep him abridged nightly of the comings and goings on Privet Drive till his monitors were up and running once more.

Feeling secure in his decision, Albus smiled patronizingly at Fawkes as he patted the magical creature on the head to let him know there were no hard feelings, before moving to retire for the night. Never once turning to look back as he de-illuminated the room to see the grinning head of a purple striped cat on the perch next to his phoenix companion; who shared an equally eager and mischievous gleam in his eye.

A/N: Takes place before Tumbling into Madness. The first scene being around when the Potters are killed and the later ones taking place right before the start of Tumbling.

I was channeling a bit of Douglas Adams there in the beginning, or trying to, lol.

Anyway, a bit of plot/lore information here that I know some of you were wondering about with regards to Harry's disappearance from Earth. I also feel I should take this time to mention that my stories will not be Dumbledore bashing, but will feature a manipulative Dumbledore since that is how he is portrayed in canon. Well meaning perhaps, but I do think he had a heavy hand in the way things turned out for Harry and isn't going to like things one bit when he sees that the one to vanquish Voldemort is out of his grasp since we all know Hatter will not willing hand over his only relation with a smile and complete trust in a man he knows nothing about.

Hopefully this won't turn many of you away but I wanted to make it known since he features here.