The Phoenix Rises

James and Sirius sat together at the large kitchen table
having dinner.  The place seemed empty
now that it was no longer filled with Order members.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Lucius entered looking exhausted.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  He kissed James on the cheek and sat down
beside his lover. 

“Get anything done today?” James asked, not even looking up
from his pork chops.

Lucius nodded.  “I’ve
made quite a bit of progress.  Fudge
wants change, so it isn’t hard.  I just
have to be careful how I word things.”

“So basically Umbridge will soon be drunk with power…” James
smiled.

Lucius nodded. “Are you sure she’ll do what you want her to
though?”

James laughed.  “She
already has.”

“Oh, by the way, I found out something else,” Lucius said as
he started putting food on his plate. 
“She’s intercepting Harry’s mail.”

James stopped and a sadistic grin appeared on his face.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  He stood up from the table without saying a
word and dashed upstairs.  He came down
moments later with a falcon perched on his shoulder and a camera in his hand.

“Angel?” Sirius asked with a raised eyebrow as the bird eyed
the two other men.

“No,” James answered. 
“She died years ago.  This is
Melinda.”

“What are you doing?” Lucius asked.

James remained silent as he took a piece of parchment and
quickly scribbled, ‘I want pictures,’ and wrapped it up with the camera as
plainly as he could.  “I’m sending my son
a camera so he can capture memories of his time at school,” he said as he
attached the camera to the fierce looking bird. 
The falcon screeched and flew out the window.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

Lucius shook his head and started on dessert.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

“What?” James asked innocently as he sat back down.

“Why weren’t you in Slytherin?” Lucius asked.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “You are the most sadistic and diabolical man
I’ve ever met.”

“Exactly,” James smirked. 
“I’m too smart for them.”

The next morning at breakfast the owls swooped down over the
students in the Great Hall as usual, but everyone took notice of the falcon
that landed right in front of Harry. 
Harry was just as surprised as anyone else, but he reached out to take
the package the falcon was holding out.

“Harry, there could be something dangerous in that package,”
Hermione warned him.  “It doesn’t say who
sent it.”

“Maybe that’s the point,” Ron said.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “We were just talking about how Umbridge is
probably reading Harry’s mail.  Maybe
someone wanted this intercepted.”

“All the more reason for Harry not to open it,” Hermione
argued.  “That someone could be trying to
get him in trouble.”

Harry was hardly listening to either of his friends as he held
the package in his hands.  He kept
glancing at the falcon who was staring back at him.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Normally owls left when you took your package
from them.

Harry never got the chance to open the package though.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Umbridge had risen from the staff table, and
after throwing a nasty glare Filch’s way, she headed straight for the
Gryffindor table. 

The falcon did not move. 
Instead she turned toward Umbridge and let out a loud screech as she
ruffled her feathers.  Umbridge didn’t
pause though, and as soon as she got close the bird attacked.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  It dug its talons into her chest and started
pecking at her face. 

Umbridge screamed and waved her
arms furiously trying to bat the bird away. 
But the falcon kept up its assault, and blood flew through the air
hitting students nearby.   

Umbridge tried to grab her wand,
but all that got her was a set of talons buried deep in her wrist.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  All she could do was run for the staff table
and scream for help.  Most of the
teachers watched in horror, but Dumbledore and McGonagall were roaring with
laughter.  Even Snape let out a few
chuckles. 

Eventually Dumbledore let out two short whistles and the
falcon fluttered over to land in front of him. 
Umbridge had deep scratches and bites all over her face and arms.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  She looked back and forth between Dumbledore
and Harry, her usual cheerful expression replaced with cold fury.

Harry had opened the package and was staring at the strange
note.  Umbridge marched over to him.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “That will be one hundred points from
Gryffindor, and three weeks of detention!” she shrieked.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

“I really must object to that,” Dumbledore said as he handed
the falcon a piece of bacon. 

“And why is that?” Umbridge asked with suspicion.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “His bird attacked me!style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  You all saw it.”

“That’s just it,” Dumbledore answered calmly, stroking the
bird.  “This isn’t his bird.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  You can hardly punish Harry for the actions
of an animal he has no control over.”

Umbridge was shaking with anger.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “Who does the bird belong to then?style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  You?”

“No, it’s not mine either.”

“Obviously you knew how to call it off,” Umbridge pointed
out.  “Cornelius was right; you’re trying
to make me leave, but it won’t work.”

Dumbledore shook his head. 
“Dolores, the bird is not mine.  I
do know who she belongs to, but I had no part in her attacking you.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  If you will remember, she never went anywhere
near you until you got too close to Harry. 
Perhaps you shouldn’t have tried to look at his package.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Now you should go to the Hospital Wing and
get cleaned up.  You’re dripping blood
all over the floor.”

Umbridge glared at Dumbledore a few more moments and then
stormed out.  Harry finally understood
what the note meant and snapped a few quick pictures as she left.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

The rest of the students, who had been dead silent through
the whole episode, were now chattering amongst themselves again.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  The falcon affectionately nipped Dumbledore
on the nose and flew back to Harry, staring up at him expectantly.

“I think you’re supposed to send the camera back,” Hermione
said as she helped Harry re wrap it. 

“My dad has a sick sense of humor,” Harry mumbled as he
attached the package back onto the falcon’s leg and watched her fly away.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

***

A/N:  Told you there
was more.  But this is it for now.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  This chapter was pretty short, but I hope the
next ones will be longer.  I’ll be
getting back to Draco too.