Fawkes' Moment

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

One-off. Fawkes' P.O.V.

I was ready. The only problem was that this conversation, well, argument, was taking a lot of time. I saw the paintings on the wall ready to defend Dumbledore at any costs. Most of them, at least. I closed my eyes. The pink lady – Umbridge, I recalled – stood painfully close. I could smell her, she smelled like cats. And something that was supposed to be sweet but, in reality , was sour. This told me enough. I couldn't trust her. Dumbledore had warned me for this, I knew I would be called for. I didn't focus on the conversation anymore, rather my own thoughts. I quickly opened my eyes when Harry shouted: 'No, Professor!' I saw Dumbledore give him a warning look before telling him to be quiet.

I knew what Dumbledore was trying. I knew he wanted to protect the boy. I knew of the prophecy. I saw the flaw in his plan. I saw Harry's pain when Dumbledore wouldn't look at him. I knew I couldn't speak, but I also knew I – or someone else – had to tell him, soon. I'd tried to tell Dumbledore last year. After Voldemort had come back. He didn't listen. He said he couldn't. I didn't understand, then. Now I do.

As purple light shot around the room, I flew off my perch and went to sit on Dumbledore's shoulder. He was talking, talking in a serious voice, but not saying the right things. Snape and Harry hated each other, how could Harry ever learn Occlumency from him? Snape wanted to humiliate him. He did so in every class. And every humiliating thing that Harry had ever done, he had access to it. Sometimes you can be a fool, Dumbledore.

Dumbledore gripped me tighter and I descended into flames, taking Dumbledore with me. I saw a shocked Minerva, Marietta and Harry's in the blinding light of the fire. Then the world spiralled out of control. I closed my eyes again. I could almost fly faster than light. I was surrounded by fire but could still see the landscape beneath me. It would take less than a second to get to the cave in the mountains, behind the forbidden forest. That was where I headed. I glanced down. Dumbledore was smiling. His brilliant white hair and beard flapped after him, by the sheer force of the wind. He had taken off his hat, saving the wind from having to do it.

I dropped us in the cave.

'You were brilliant Fawkes.'