They stepped off the stone staircase at the top, and Professor McGonagall rapped on the door. It opened silently and they entered. Professor McGonagall told Harry, Ron, Hermione and Evangeline to wait and left them there alone.
The circular room is large and beautiful, full of funny little noises. A number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it, a shabby, tattered wizard’s hat — the Sorting Hat.
A strange, gagging noise behind him made them wheel around. Standing on a golden perch behind the door was a decrepit-looking bird that resembled a half-plucked turkey. Harry thought it looked very ill. Its eyes were dull and, even as Harry watched, a couple more feathers fell out of its tail. Suddenly, the bird burst into flames.
They all gasped in shock and backed away into the desk. They looked feverishly around in case there was a glass of water somewhere but couldn’t see one; the bird, meanwhile, had become a fireball; it gave one loud shriek and next second there was nothing but a smoldering pile of ash on the floor.
The office door opened. Dumbledore came in, looking very somber.
“Professor,” Hermione gasped. “Your bird — we 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 everyone’s faces.
“Fawkes is a phoenix. Phoenixes burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes. Watch him…”
They looked down in time to see a tiny, wrinkled, newborn 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.”
In the shock of Fawkes catching fire, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Evangeline had forgotten what they was there for, but it all came back as Dumbledore settled himself in the high chair behind the desk and fixed them with his penetrating, light-blue stare.
Before Dumbledore could speak another word, however, the door of the office flew open with an almighty bang and Hagrid burst in, a wild look in his eyes, his balaclava perched on top of his shaggy black head and the dead rooster still swinging from his hand.
“It wasn’ them, Professor Dumbledore!” said Hagrid urgently. “I was talkin’ ter them seconds before that kid was found, they never had time, sir —”
Dumbledore tried to say something, but Hagrid went ranting on, waving the rooster around in his agitation, sending feathers everywhere.
“it can’t’ve bin them, I’ll swear it in front o’ the Ministry o’ Magic if I have to.”
“Hagrid, I —”
“— yeh’ve got the wrong people, sir, I know they never —”
“Hagrid!” said Dumbledore loudly. “I do not think that they” he swept his hand around indicating Harry, Ron, Hermione and Evangeline “attacked those people.”
“Oh,” said Hagrid, the rooster falling limply at his side. “Right. I’ll wait outside then, Headmaster.”
And he stomped out looking embarrassed.
“You don’t think it was us, Professor?” Harry repeated hopefully as Dumbledore brushed rooster feathers off his desk.
“No, Harry, I don’t,” said Dumbledore, though his face was somber again. “But I still want to talk to all of you.”
They waited nervously while Dumbledore considered them, the tips of his long fingers together.
“I must ask you whether there is anything you’d like to tell me,” he said gently. “Anything at all.”
They didn’t know what to say. After all, parseltongue wasn’t ever a good sign and both Evangeline and Harry had it, although it is more of the ability to talk to all animals for Evangeline. Harry, however, had no excuse.
Suddenly, Evangeline gave a shout of triumph, shocking everybody except Dumbledore, who looked as if nothing will ever shock him.
“Professor” she said excitedly “I think I know what the monster in the Chamber of Secrets is!”
