Fawkes In The House

Art Mulder -- 26.Oct.2002

DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

A/N: We all know that the (planned) title of book 5 is Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix. I've seen various fan fictions postulating the different forms that this order might take. I was struck by the silly idea that perhaps everyone is misinterpreting the definition of the word `order'...

* * * * *

The owls started flying back and forth almost before Harry was back `home' on Privet drive.

Harry's friends were understandably concerned about him at the close of their fourth year at Hogwarts. Voldemort was now back, and Harry had been through a terrible ordeal as part of that return. His friends wanted to do as much as they could to help him endure -- there was no other word for it -- his time at the Dursley's.

Ron and Hermione weren't the only ones writing. Fred and George sent him some notes, and some -ah- items to leave around for Dudley to find, Sirius and Remus wrote to Harry whenever their duties permitted.

Most surprising to Harry was that even Ginny worked up the nerve to write Harry an unsolicited letter. It arrived at Harry's window one evening in the second week of the summer break, carried by a very excited Pigwidgeon.

Dear Harry:

Hullo, its me Ginny. Bet you're surprised to hear from me? Well I know that Ron is just going to talk about Quidditch, complain about Viktor `bloody' Krum, and mope about Hermione. As for the twins, their ideas of fun would probably get you into worse trouble with those Muggle relatives of yours. Mum's pretty busy right now, so I thought I'd take it upon myself to write you a letter from the rest of the Weasley household.

I've already finished my History of Magic Essay, I like to get the worst homework done first. I am having some trouble with my Potions project. I'm hoping that either you or Hermione can help me there when you come out to visit later in the summer. ...

The letter went on for over a foot of parchment. Harry shook his head in amazement. He'd never received a letter from Ginny before. He had to chuckle at her astute observations about Ron's rather one-dimensional letter writing ability. Ginny was supposedly very talkative, but she'd always been quite reserved around Harry. This letter, talking all about what Charlie and Percy and the rest were doing, and other happenings at her house, was possibly the longest `conversation' that he'd ever had with Ginny Weasley.

The only problem is that now Harry would have to write a letter back to her, and he wasn't sure how.

Harry was reading Ginny's letter for the second time, when he became aware of a distant musical sound. It was an eerie sort of trilling sound, sending shivers up his spine. He was sure he'd heard something like it before somewhere. The sound was getting louder and he hoped it wouldn't wake the Dursleys. They'd only blame him, he was their favourite scapegoat. Harry wondered who they blamed during the school term when he wasn't around.

The sound continued, growing still louder. The hair on the back of his neck was standing up when the memory resurfaced. Fawkes! There, flying toward his window was Dumbledore's crimson bird. Harry rushed over to fling open the window and Fawkes sailed in, coming to perch on the back of his chair.

Fawkes the phoenix was the size of a small swan, yet somehow he had managed to sail right through Harry's too-small window. Harry started to puzzle over how that might be but then gave up with a shrug. If Fawkes could fly unseen into the Chamber of Secrets, then a little window stretching shouldn't pose that big of a problem. Besides, there was a parchment in his claws waiting for Harry's attention.

Harry retrieved the letter, which was from Professor Dumbledore. Fawkes showed no inclination of leaving, merely regarding Harry with its black eyes. Harry read the letter with increasing puzzlement.

Dear Harry,

I trust this letter finds you well. I hope Fawkes' arrival didn't startle you overly much. Do not concern yourself about his singing, most Muggles won't see or hear a phoenix.

For a variety of reasons, some of which I will reveal to you now, I would like to entrust Fawkes to your care for the summer.

Harry paused in shock, and looked up at Fawkes. The Phoenix regarded him calmly, ruffled his feathers and trilled a note. Harry could have sworn the bird was laughing at his puzzlement.

As two birds might be a bit much for you to look after, I suggest that you in turn loan your owl to Miss Granger. Unless I am mistaken, she has none of her own. Given the current circumstances I think it would be wise for all of us to be in close contact with one another.

Fawkes seemed quite eager to go spend some time with you, I think he will appreciate the change of pace. However do keep an eye on him; he is a very intelligent beast, but he does get his own ideas sometimes.

For now, feel free to use him to carry your post. You'll find that he is very fast, and you'll no doubt recall his phoenix strength. Both those abilities will likely be of use to you this summer. I pray that you'll have no need for his tears, but if you do, I will be doubly glad that he is there with you.

Yours,
Albus Dumbledore

PS: if he sheds any feathers, please keep them safe for me, as I've promised them to Mr Ollivander.

* * * * *

The next night found Harry once again at his desk by the window, writing letters to his friends. Harry liked to do his writing in the evening, late in the evening, preferably after the Dursley's had gone to bed. It was quiet in the house then, and not much chance of Harry being disturbed.

He'd already sent a somewhat disgruntled Hedwig off to Hermione with a note of explanation. Pig had also been dispatched with a letter back to Ron. He had decided to use Fawkes to carry a note to Ginny. He thought she might like to see the phoenix again since, as far as he knew, she hadn't seen Fawkes since her first year, and that had not been under the best of circumstances. This also gave him more time, since he was not at all sure what to write to her in a letter.

Fawkes was perching on the top of Hedwig's cage -- he wouldn't fit inside it -- watching as Harry struggled to write something. Every now and then he would trill out one of his unearthly beautiful cries. Dumbledore had been right about Muggles not noticing the phoenix. Harry had half expected to be lectured at breakfast about the noise Fawkes had made last night, but no one had said anything. Furthermore, Aunt Petunia had come into his room to yell at him once today and hadn't given any indication of seeing Fawkes.

Harry looked down at his parchment. He had all of two brief paragraphs written there, thanking Ginny for her letter, and giving some advice about her Potions essay. It didn't seem like much, but he wasn't sure what else to write. In truth, after four years of friendship with Ron he still hardly knew Ginny. With a sigh of defeat, he gave up, folded the letter and handed it up to Fawkes.

Fawkes took the letter in his golden claw, and fixed his beady black eye on Harry. He squawked a loud note, which Harry was sure was not complimentary, and dropped the parchment onto Harry's desk, before settling down on Harry's shoulder.

Harry felt a momentary flash of anger, but it was gone as quickly as it arose. He sighed guiltily.

`You're right Fawkes, it is a pretty dismal excuse for a letter isn't it?' Harry said. Fawkes trilled at him, and his claws gently squeezed Harry's shoulder. Harry absentmindedly reach up to caress the crimson bird, sniffing deeply of the warm scent of the phoenix. His presence was definitely a comfort.

His mind drifted back to second year, remembering how Fawkes had come to save him ... to save them ... in the Chamber of Secrets. He had been so relieved to discover that Ginny wasn't dead. Bringing her back to her family was one of his happiest memories. The fight with Tom Riddle, horrible though it was to face the Basilisk, paled in comparison with the joy of that reunion.

Suddenly his thoughts snapped forward a year, to when they had discovered that Peter Pettigrew was still alive. Harry sat up abruptly, causing Fawkes to flap his wings in surprise. Harry had been struck by a very interesting memory.

He remembered how Professor Dumbledore had told him then that there was a bond created between two wizards when one saved the others life. So there was some sort of bond between Peter Pettigrew and Harry. Did that mean there was a bond also between Harry and Ginny? Just what kind of bond was it? What did it mean? So far his so-called bond with Wormtail hadn't done him much good ... Pettigrew had still helped Voldemort regain his body through the use of Harry's blood. Did his bond with Ginny mean something different? He wondered were he could find out more about this.

He suddenly had lots of things swirling through his head, and with that he picked up his quill and started to write more on Ginny's letter.

Dear Ginny, again. Fawkes didn't think much of the above two paragraphs and refused to deliver it for me. Cocky bird, wouldn't you say? Dumbledore did warn me that Fawkes had a mind of his own. I have to admit I agree with him, it was a pretty poor effort. But I didn't think that Fawkes could read!

Do you remember Fawkes? That time in the Chamber was horrible, and maybe you don't like to think about it, but I find there were happy memories there also. ...

Harry went on to write about his happy memories. He also told her about the power of phoenix tears, how Fawkes had healed him then, as well as in the past year year after the third task. He wrote about Dumbledore's rather vague letter and his curiosity about what other reasons Dumbledore might have for loaning Fawkes to him. The parchment was filled before he ran out of things to say.

As he was about to sign the letter, he looked up to Fawkes, who was still on his shoulder. Harry hardly noticed the weight.

`So Fawkes, does that meet with your approval?'

Fawkes looked at the letter appraisingly, and gave one of his unearthly trills, sending shivers down Harry's spine.

`Well I'm glad you think so, because it really is getting late.'

As Harry bent to affix his signature to the letter, a funny thought struck him. He chuckled and added the phrase By Order Of The Phoenix in the most elegant penmanship he could muster above his name. Well it was true, Fawkes had basically forced him to write this letter, and had stirred the memories that filled it.

This time Fawkes took the letter with no complaint, and flew off singing cheerfully. Harry watched him, still amazed that the sound wasn't waking the whole neighbourhood.

Fawkes was back before Harry fell asleep.

* * * * *

That set the pattern for the rest of the summer. Every few days, Fawkes would fly back and forth between Privet Drive and the Burrow carrying letters. He seemed to be able to make the trip in just a few minutes. Harry soon gave up trying to figure out how Fawkes managed that feat.

Fawkes was never gone long from Harry. He would deliver the letter and return, and some time later would disappear to fetch the reply. He always seemed to know when he was needed. Hedwig had done that sometimes also, but not quite as often. Harry hated to think disloyal thoughts about his beloved owl, but it was true that Fawkes was an extraordinarily magical bird.

One of the first letters back told of the sensation which had been caused at the Burrow by the arrival of Dumbledore's rather vocal bird. The whole house had been awoken by the noisy late night delivery. Pigwidgeon had not yet delivered the letter Harry had written to Ron, so no one knew that Fawkes was staying with him.

Molly, often one to jump to conclusions, had been certain that Ginny was in some terrible trouble to receive a letter direct from Dumbledore at midnight. Her concern turned to gratitude once she understood the situation. She was very pleased that Dumbledore had provided the extra bit of protection and companionship to stand by Harry during his time with the Dursley's.

Harry apologized profusely for the disturbance, and afterward was more careful to send his letters off with Fawkes during the daylight hours. He still preferred to do his writing in the evening.

Ron had been a bit jealous at first that Ginny was receiving deliveries by Dumbledore's bird. But he was also happy that he no longer had to share Pig as much, and he was pleased for Harry's sake that he had someone else to write to. Fawkes also brought letters to Ron or Hermione, but as both of them had owls at their disposal, that was not very often. Harry strongly suspected that Hedwig visited The Burrow, Ron that is, as often as Privet drive, perhaps more.

Fawkes continued to supervise Harry's letter writing sessions, often perching on Harry shoulder or on the chair back. Harry found this presence very soothing, and would often pause to caress the magnificent plumage on the phoenix. It was really a good thing that Hedwig was away with Hermione, as Harry was sure she'd be very put out with him.

He found himself writing very long letters to the youngest Weasley. He maintained that Fawkes was forcing him to do so, as Fawkes would quickly reject any letter that he felt wasn't good enough. Harry would then good-naturedly mutter about Fawkes' meddling, and write some more, habitually signing all his letters to Ginny with the phrase By Order Of The Phoenix. Ginny adopted the phrase quickly for her own letters, telling Harry how Fawkes also liked to watch her write.

Harry used the letters to talk about anything and everything about life with the Dursley's. He also started telling Ginny his stories about Hogwarts. The whole Weasley family now knew about his godfather Sirius, since Molly had seen him in the Hospital Wing when Harry was recovering from the third task. So, Harry told Ginny all about Sirius and Peter Pettigrew. He was delighted to no longer have these sorts of secrets from the Weasley's. They and Sirius were the closest thing to a real family he had, and he had been rather bothered about the truth of Sirius being kept secret from them.

At the beginning of the summer, Harry had been troubled by dreams and nightmares, as well as feelings of guilt over Cedric's death. He knew in his head that it wasn't his fault, but he still felt the pain in his heart. The letter writing had a cathartic effect on him, and as the summer passed he found himself more and more at peace.

One evening in early August he even told Ginny about what happened in the graveyard on the night of the third task. It was one of the hardest letters he ever wrote, but from then on he was no longer troubled by nightmares about Cedric.

Ginny's response came back with tear stains on it.

Ginny's letters were always fun to read. Her admitted goal was to try and lift Harry's spirits. She made sure to tell him about the latest jokes that the twins had concocted, as well as her perspective on Ron's relationship, if you could all it that, with Hermione. He always got at least one good laugh and lots of smiles out of her letters. By mid August Harry began to think of himself as having three good friends, and not just two. He strongly hoped that they could continue this friendship in person, as he had a feeling that Ron and Hermione might not always care for his company during the coming school year...

* * * * *

Harry received another delivery from Professor Dumbledore on the Saturday the 19th of August. He was woken painfully early at five in the morning by the insistent singing of Fawkes. If that wasn't enough, there was the fact that Fawkes was sitting on Harry's abdomen, flexing his claws. Harry sat up very quickly, and grabbed his glasses and the letter.

Dear Harry,

You will be pleased to learn that I've given Molly Weasley permission to have you stay the remainder of the summer at the Burrow. I'm sure that Mister Fred and George Weasley would love another chance to come and get you via Floo. However I am afraid that I must disappoint them in their quest to torment your unfortunate cousin.

Instead I propose a unique, and more importantly, discrete and unexpected method of travel: Fawkes will bring you.

No doubt you recall how he carried yourself, Ron, Professor Lockhart, as well as Miss Weasley out of the Chamber of secrets. So please trust that he will be able to easily manage you and your trunk. Don't worry about the Muggles, they will not be able to see him or you. However I still urge you to travel under the cover of darkness.

Yours,
Albus Dumbledore

Harry laughed out loud in delight. Yes, Professor Dumbledore was a bit mad wasn't he, but still positively brilliant. Who else would think of having him travel to the Burrow by means of a phoenix? The twins would be impressed. Harry took note of the time, and looked out into the predawn darkness.

`So what do you say Fawkes? Is there still time to make it this morning? I'd rather not spend another day here if I don't have too.'

Fawkes trilled out what Harry understood to be an agreement, and Harry jumped into action. He had his trunk packed within 10 minutes -- it was a mess, and stuff was jammed in any old way, but it was packed. He looked around the room to be very sure nothing was left behind, finding one pair of socks under the bed and a chocolate frog at the bottom of the wardrobe. He then scribbled a quick note to the Dursley's, thanking them for their `hospitality' and bidding them good-bye until next spring.

Fawkes took off from his perch on the end of the bed and hovered in front of Harry shaking his golden tail feathers and looking at him expectantly. Harry took a deep breath and mustered up his Gryffindor courage. Sure he'd done this before, but it still felt a little bit wrong to just grab hold of a bird and fly off into the morning twilight.

He grasped a handle of his trunk in one hand, and reached out hesitantly and grabbed hold of Fawkes' proffered tail feathers with the other. Once again he experienced a strange lightness rushing through his whole body. The next second they were whooshing through the air and the window was rushing toward them ... and they were somehow through. Harry shook his head and tried not to think about how a large trunk, a fifteen-year-old boy, and a bird the size of a swan could just fly through a two-foot-square window.

He had been worried about holding on, but quickly realized that he now couldn't let go if he'd wanted to, so he relaxed and tried to enjoy the trip. Below him the ground was rushing past at an increasing speed. The wind was whipping through his hair, not that it mattered much to his unruly mop.

The last time he'd flown to the Burrow in the Weasley's magicked car, it had taken over an hour of flight. His flight on the tail feathers of Fawkes seemed to require only a few minutes, though a part of him felt like he'd experienced the entire journey. He saw the city falling behind, and the countryside appearing below, and surprisingly soon the familiar clunky shape of the Burrow was coming over the horizon and sweeping toward them.

Harry had a confusing impression of a small window rushing toward him at a breakneck pace and a fleeting glimpse of a pale startled face staring at him through that window, when suddenly he was inside. His weight abruptly returned, the heavy trunk slipped out of his grasp and fell with a BANG to the floor, and Harry himself stumbled forward and landed on the bed taking Ginny with him. At least he thought it was Ginny, things had happened rather quickly.

Harry felt his surroundings suddenly seem to snap back into focus. Fawkes was singing loudly, filling the room, and likely the entire Burrow, with his unearthly beautiful song. Harry looked around, still somewhat disoriented, and found himself face to face with Ginny, who was pinned under him on the bed, looking up at him in stunned silence.

Harry grinned at her, and started to get up and wish her good morning, when the door was flung open and four red-headed men were revealed on the landing outside.

Silence descended like a cloud.

`Well Harry, that's quite an entrance,' Arthur Weasley remarked dryly.

`Yes Harry, someone was making quite a lot of noise up here, and look who we find in bed with our sister!' That was Fred gleefully smirking at him.

Harry scrambled up, flushing hotly and muttering apologies to Ginny. She must be mortified, he thought to himself. Her shoulders were shaking, and she was hanging her head. But suddenly he realized that she was laughing. Ginny threw back her head and gave herself up to gales of laughter.

Harry really didn't know quite what to say at that point.

`Umm, hello everyone,' he started, shuffling his feet and running a hand through his extra messy hair, `I guess Fawkes just picked a familiar window and flew in ...'

`You flew on Fawkes Harry!?' Ron exclaimed. `Wow, Dumbledore said he had arranged travel, but no one expected this!'

`Brilliant Harry,' George said. `We can always count on you to make a dramatic entrance. Next year would you like to slide down the chimney, or do you liiiiike landing on Ginny's bed?'

`Her bed?' put in Fred, `looks more like Ginny is who he landed on!'

Ginny had by now regained her breath. `Oh never mind Harry, nothing was hurt. You should have seen your face. I was looking out the window, because I thought I heard Fawkes, and there he was with you hanging on behind zooming toward me as fast as if you were on your Firebolt, and oh! you should have seen the look on your face!' She was off into peals of laughter again.

`Right ... well ... all right then Harry,' said Mr. Weasley. `Everyone's up by now. So why not cart your trunk up to Ron's room and then come and tell us your story at breakfast. I dare say that Molly will have a place set for you by the time you get downstairs.'

`Oh but Dad, this is where Fawkes brought him!' Fred piped up.

`Exactly Dad,' jumped in George, `if Dumbledore wants him to stay in Ginny's room, then surely that's the safest place for him isn't it? I'm sure Ginny won't mind sharing!'

Ron couldn't resist his own dig. `Yes I see that they were already trying on the bed for size.'

Harry and Ginny were both beginning to turn beet red, but Harry maintained enough composure to retort to Ron `Splendid Ron. Then we'll just put Hermione in your room when she arrives, shall we?' Ron suddenly found the ceiling very interesting and avoided everyone's eyes.

Fred and George's eyes lit up, but Mr Weasley hushed the two of them and shoved them toward the stairs before they could comment further.

* * * * *

By the time Harry got back down to the breakfast table he was more or less recovered from his embarrassment, and even chuckling to himself over the situation.

Fred and George started back in on him again as if there hadn't been a break.

`So Harry, turning our Ginny into a scarlet woman are you?'

`Yes, do tell us how long you've carried on this illicit relationship.'

`Shame really, the way we've treated you like one of the family and all. Finding you in bed together. Such a shock.'

`Oh well, nothing for it now.'

`Right, you'll have to get married straight off.'

Ginny, surprisingly enough wasn't blushing or hiding. She just laughed back at the twins. Even Mrs Weasley was chuckling as she bustled about the kitchen.

Harry tried to protest once more that Fawkes was the one to blame.

`No problem mate', Ron piped up. He was clearly enjoying this teasing also. `We'll just engrave the wedding invitations so that they read By Order Of The Phoenix...'

Harry and Ginny shared a look, and just shook their heads. There was no point in trying to say any more, her brothers would just twist anything.

Underneath the table, Ginny's hand reached out and found Harry's and gave it a quick squeeze before returning to her own lap.

It was going to be a good year.

* * * * *