Fledgling
Written by Christina E Lupin
Summary: A cute little short fic about Fawkes and little Harry when Dumbledore brings the phoenix to see the little baby. This could become a longer story if the reviewers want it to.
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Fledgling
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Fawkes craned his long neck so he could peer at the little wrapped bundle perched in Lily Potter's arms. A pink face peeked out of the blanket, short dark hair lightly dusting the top of the babe's head. The phoenix wanted to be closer to the baby and he left his perch (Dumbledore's arm) and landed on the bedrail, trilling softly. The adults couldn't help but feel that he was singing just for Harry.
"I knew phoenixes could be very protective and possessive with certain humans, but this is incredible," James Potter replied, watching with his hazel eyes at the scene unfolding.
"It is, isn't it?" Dumbledore said, his blue eyes twinkling. "I have a feeling that should I pass away, Fawkes would go to Harry."
"One more protector," Lily mumbled, a smile on her face. She reached down to gently caress her child's soft cheek. "He has quite the family, huh?"
Dumbledore and James didn't answer. Fawkes continued to sing from his new perch, his black gaze on the little baby.
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Whenever Dumbledore got ready to meet with the Potters in their home, Fawkes would fly around the old wizard until he offered an arm to his companion. He chuckled at this. It would seem that Fawkes had taking quite a liking to the little boy and knew that the phoenix would be there for the boy if Harry had need of him.
Before Dumbledore could get to the fireplace to head to the Potter's house, the phoenix transported him into the house. The wizard blinked to get his eyesight back and when he did, Fawkes was gone and phoenix song could be heard from another room. Dumbledore's eyes started to twinkle and he followed the song to the boy's playroom. Fawkes was standing in front of the boy, rubbing his head all over Harry, trilling happily.
James, Sirius, Remus, and Lily were in the room, all looking amused at the interaction between child and phoenix. Remus and Sirius had gotten used to seeing the phoenix whenever Dumbledore came around, though they were concerned at first when the phoenix came and followed the child around.
"Fawkes beat me again," Dumbledore joked lightly, chuckling. "He even transported me here before I could open the Floo network."
"I think, if he could, Fawkes would permanently reside here," James replied. He picked up a toy and gave it to Harry, who squealed and started to wave the object around in his tiny hand. Fawkes trilled and flapped his wings in an imitation of the infant. Harry seemed to like that as well, for he squealed again.
"It's like Fawkes thinks of Harry as his own," Remus spoke up. "Like how Padfoot and I think of Harry as our own child."
Lily nodded. "But that's good. In case something happens to the both of us, we know that Harry would be loved wherever he goes."
The adults continued to watch Fawkes and Harry play, chuckling even when Fawkes lifted Harry into the air with the baby secured in his claws.
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On the night of Halloween, before Hagrid and Sirius even appeared, Fawkes appeared at the Potter's crumbling house. He flew up to the nursery, which was still mostly intact. A tear slid down his feathered cheek as he passed over James' lifeless form by the front door. Another tear fell when he saw Lily lying by Harry's crib. His claws gripped the crib as he looked down at the crying baby. On Harry's forehead was a bleeding wound, in the shape of a lightning bolt: the very spot where Fawkes had, one day, dripped a tear on the baby. At the sight of the wound, the phoenix let a tear hit the cut. He trilled unhappily when the wound did not go away and it was then he knew that Harry would forever have that scar.
When he heard a familiar voice calling out, Fawkes knew his time was up with the child. He would be taken to a place where he would be safe and loved. With a final trill, the phoenix vanished in a burst of flames, knowing he would see the child again.
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fin