Bird Song
The summer sunshine shone brightly through the stain glass windows of the Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as it's student ate breakfast and, fussed over their new timetables. One such student, sat beneath the silver and emerald green banner, was Severus Snape. In his fifth year and with his O.W.L.s on the horizon, he had been dreading the coming year. More studying, more stress and more Potter and Black to deal with. Scanning over his timetable to find he had Herbology first thing, he folded the paper up and pocketed it before returning to his oatmeal. And that had been when things quickly took a strange turn.
He had began to scrap the bottom of his bowl for the last few mouthfuls, when he had heard gasps and whispers of adoration. Curious, he looked about the hall and quickly spotted what the fuse was about, his eyes going wide as he let out a awestruck gasp of his own. Above their heads, flew a fire orange, scarlet and gold bird. It sung a beautiful melody as it weaved about the rafters. Just like many of the other occupants of the Hall, Severus had only ever seen pictures and diagrams of phoenixes but he had never seen a real phoenix before in his life. It was so... for a lack of a better word, magical.
Then to everyone's shock, including Severus', the bird swooped low over the Slytherin table and, slowing down, it perched itself upon the edge of the table next to the young wizard. The hall went deathly quiet as Severus looked to the bird and then over to Mulciber, who unhelpfully shook his head and shrugged. Not really knowing what else to do, Severus reached out a hesitant hand and to his surprise the bird lowered it's head, allowing Severus to gently stroke it's feathers. The phoenix peacefully closed it's eyes and tilted it's head to the side as Severus continued to stroke it; provoking whispered gasps from onlookers, especially the first years. "Hello." he said quietly, titling his own head to the side. "Where did you come from?"
"It seems Fawkes is quite taken with you, Severus." came a familiar voice, causing Severus to look round and was met with blue eyes framed by half moon spectacles.
"Professor Dumbledore, is this your bird?" Severus managed, immediately removing his hand from the phoenix, who then moved closer to the younger wizard and nuzzled under his chin.
"Indeed he is." Albus Dumbledore said as he watched Severus with a curious expression. Dumbledore then lowered his hand to the table and Severus watched as the bird perched on the Headmasters hand before sidestepping up his arm and making itself comfortable on Dumbledore's shoulder.
Fawkes then gave a excitable trill.
"Are you sure?" Dumbledore questioned the bird, who nodded his head sagely. The Headmaster then hummed and stroked a hand down his greying beard and, turning to Severus he requested, "Come with me, we have matters to discuss." Startled, Severus got to his feet and walked alongside the Headmaster out of the Great Hall, hundreds of eyes watching them and half as many mouths whispered as they left.
They walked until they reached Dumbledore's office, the hearth springing to life as they entered. Anxious and unable to stay quiet, least it ate away at him, Severus asked, "Did I do something wrong, sir?"
"Wrong?" Dumbledore prompted as he carefully transferred Fawkes from his shoulder to a gold perch besides his desk. "What makes you think you did anything wrong?"
"I don't know, sir. Just a thought, I suppose." Severus answered, he felt silly for even mentioning it. After all, who gave out punishments for petting birds?
Dumbledore then rounded his desk and took up the seat there and gesturing to the chair opposite, he insisted, "Please, sit."
Once Severus had taken up residence in the offered chair, the Headmaster threaded his fingers together and studied Severus for a moment and then turned his attention to Fawkes, who had taken to gently combing through his own feathers with his beak. "It's curious, in all my years serving here at this school, I have never seen Fawkes act the way he did today." Dumbledore said, breaking the silence. "Never has he voluntarily flown to greet one of my students, unprompted. Until now." Dumbledore then turned back to Severus, and continued, "You will probably not know this but phoenixes make excellent and very loyal pets but are very particular about who they choose to entrust that loyalty in. The fact the Fawkes would go out of his way to choose you, says a lot to me about you as a person, Severus. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
"Yes, sir." Severus nodded, shrugged and added hastily, "But I don't get why your phoenix chose me, I haven't done anything of note or significance. I'm not a Prefect or Head Boy or a Quidditch Captain. I have high grades but so do many others in my year." He then fell silent, feeling as though he had said too much.
Fawkes then chirped at him from his post and titled his head.
"Fawkes is quite right. " Dumbledore said with a gentle smile. "You don't have to be one of the greats in order to gain loyalty from a phoenix. You just have to hold qualities that they value. And if Fawkes believes you are worthy then so do I. Which is why I have asked you to my office, Severus."
"I don't understand, sir." Severus managed, his head swimming with new and confusing information.
"I'm not getting any younger, Severus. One day, just like everyone else on the earth, I will die. And when I do, I want there to be someone I can trust to pass on everything I have learned and everything I possess." Dumbledore explained calmly. "I have in the past dabbled with the idea of taking on an apprentice but all those I had once considered, either showed their true colours or just weren't the correct fit." Dumbledore then looked back over at Fawkes, who had returned to preening himself, "But I believe, we have both finally found the person for the job."
"M-me?!" Severus gasped, his hand clutching the front of his robes. "I-I don't know about that." At this Fawkes flew over and perching on the edge of the desk, he rubbed his head against Severus' cheek.
Calmed by the creatures closeness, he thought for a moment while scratching the birds neck and tentatively asked, "What would happen if I said yes?"
"Well, I'm afraid one of the first thing to happen would be, your last name would have to change to reflect your apprenticeship to me." Dumbledore said. "I understand that that can be very uncomfortable for a lot of people to deal with, especially those who take great pride in their name or that their name has historical significance. But it is a binding thing, you understand?"
"Oh, that's not actually that bad." Severus nodded, he could manage that. He always hated his last name anyway, wishing that his mother had kept her maiden name when she had married his father.
"You don't like the name Snape?" Dumbledore prompted arching his eyebrow.
"I'm not particularly fond of it." Severus admitted.
Dumbledore nodded and continued, "You'd be privy to more resources for studying purposes, of course."
At this Severus' eyes lit up with intrigue, "Resources, sir?"
"Yes. Books, potion ingredients, quills, parchment. Whatever you need for your personal studies." Dumbledore said and gesturing to the nearby glass cabinet, he added, "And of course, access to some of my most treasured artifacts I have collected over the years." He then glanced at Severus over the top of his spectacles, "Under strict supervision, that is."
"Yes, sir." Severus said with an understanding nod.
"Does that interest you, Severus?" The Headmaster broached.
Severus looked about himself, he looked at the cabinet, at the many books that littered the shelves and to Fawkes, who tilted his head to the side and watched Severus. Severus then turned back to Professor Dumbledore and answered, "I think I would like to try, sir." At this Fawkes fluttered his wings excitably.
Dumbledore smiled, his blue eyes sparkling and crinkling at the corners. "Well done." Dumbledore then reached across the desk with his hand which Severus took and firmly shook. "We'll start today and perhaps tomorrow, I can get you some more appropriate robes for a growing boy of your age?"
Severus blushed and nodded, "Yes, Professor. Thank you."
"Now, let me escort you to your lesson? Herbology, I believe in greenhouse one." Dumbledore insisted rising from his seat, he held open the door for the younger wizard to walk through.
As they were leaving the office, Fawkes serenaded them one last time before the door closed and Severus suddenly felt much more confident and assured he had made the right decision.