Amelia Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PART 1

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you would have done well in Slytherin.'
Harry's stomach plummeted. He grabbed the point of the Hat and pulled it off. It hung limply in his hand, grubby and faded. Harry pushed it back onto its shelf, feeling sick.

'You're wrong,' he said aloud to the still and silent Hat. It didn't move. Harry backed away, watching it. Then a strange, gagging noise behind him made him wheel around.

He wasn't alone after all. Standing on a golden perch behind the door was a decrepit-looking bird which resembled a half-plucked turkey. Harry stared at it and the bird looked balefully back, mak- ing its gagging noise again. Harry thought it looked very ill. Its eyes were dull and, even as Harry watched, a couple more feathers fell out of its tail.

Harry was just thinking that all he needed was for Dumbledore's pet bird to die while he was alone in the office with it, when the bird burst into flames.

Harry yelled in shock and backed away into the desk. He looked feverishly around in case there was a glass of water some- where, but couldn't see one. The bird, meanwhile, had become a fireball; it gave one loud shriek and next second there was noth- ing but a smouldering pile of ash on the floor.

The office door opened. Dumbledore came in, looking very sombre.

'Professor,' Harry gasped, 'your bird – I couldn't do anything – he just caught fire –'

To Harry's astonishment, Dumbledore smiled.

'About time, too,' he said. 'He's been looking dreadful for days, I've been telling him to get a move on.'

He chuckled at the stunned look on Harry's face.

'Fawkes is a phoenix, Harry. Phoenixes burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes. Watch him ...'

Harry looked down in time to see a tiny, wrinkled, new-born bird poke its head out of the ashes. It was quite as ugly as the old one.

'It's a shame you had to see him on a Burning Day,' said Dumbledore, seating himself behind his desk. 'He's really very handsome most of the time: wonderful red and gold plumage. Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers and they make highly faithful pets.'