A Hasty Death

What does it have to do with him?

The vampires and Aurors stared at Fawkes in astonishment. They did not understand why a bird, rather than an intelligent magical creature, could speak, but Amelia recognized the voice. It belonged to Albus Dumbledore—the headmaster of Hogwarts, chairman of the International Confederation of Wizards, and the greatest wizard of the age.

Once his initial shock passed, Sirius immediately focused on the crucial point. Dumbledore, who clearly wished to conceal something, had not said it outright, but Sirius guessed that "him" was most likely Voldemort!

"It has nothing to do with him, Headmaster Dumbledore—"

Amosta calmly met those sapphire-blue eyes.

"It was a wizard from history who once used this magic. His method of using it was rather unusual, and so was the vessel he chose to contain his soul."

"Oh, was it?"

The interest in Fawkes's blue eyes intensified.

"You have never mentioned a word of this to me."

"My apologies, Headmaster Dumbledore—"

Amosta remained unmoved.

"It is not yet time to share that story with you."

Sirius, who was thoroughly confused, suddenly had a thought. The way he looked at Amosta changed slightly.

He remembered their adventure in Azkaban last summer. It had felt like a dream; he had actually encountered the memory forms of Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw.

Following the memories of the two founders, they had explored the underground Secret Realm beneath Azkaban Island. That journey had left Sirius equally puzzled, but he knew it must have involved a secret Amosta was trying to hide. So he had sworn to keep what happened on that journey from everyone else.

But Amosta's reaction at the time was worth pondering. Sirius still remembered that when he had sworn secrecy, Amosta had told him—if one day he disappeared, Sirius was to