Here’s How Fawkes, Dumbledore’s Phoenix, Was Harry Potter’s Real Hero All Along

Summary:

• Decades ago, Fawkes, Dumbledore’s Phoenix, gave Ollivander two feathers instead of one, which was very rare.
• The first wand chose Voldemort, and its “sister” selected the boy who had a piece of Voldemort in him — Harry Potter.
• Thanks to the unique connection between their wands, Voldemort couldn’t harm Harry which saved the boy’s life.

Albus Dumbledore led the Order of the Phoenix into many a battle against Lord Voldemort and dedicated years of his life to defeating the Dark Lord once and for all. Harry Potter, his young protege and The Boy Who Lived, faced his arch-nemesis several times, emerging victorious, until he finally ended Riddle Jr.’s career.

But the fact is, it was Fawkes, Dumbledore’s Phoenix, who ensured Voldemort’s downfall many years before either Dumbledore or Harry met the future Dark Lord.

Fawkes Is No Ordinary Bird but Dumbledore’s Comrade

Albus Dumbledore chose perhaps the most dramatic and beautiful familiar any wizard could have afforded: instead of an owl or a cat, he went for an entire Phoenix. Unlike other wizards’ pets, Phoenixes are extremely intelligent and possess unique magical talents. Dumbledore’s choice proved wise on many separate occasions.

It was Fawkes who saved Harry Potter in the Chamber of Secrets. When Harry was gravely wounded and Tom Riddle almost won, the Phoenix attacked the Basilisk and tore its eyes away; healed The Boy Who Lived with magical tears; delivered the weapon that destroyed the Basilisk; and carried Harry, Ron, and Ginny away.

During the Battle of the Ministry, Fawkes came to Dumbledore’s aid when the Headmaster fought Lord Voldemort. The Phoenix was known to understand and love Albus Dumbledore, fulfilling his tasks when needed and being his best friend on Earth. He stayed with the Headmaster for almost 60 years until the latter’s death.

But most importantly, Fawkes ensured the Dark Lord’s defeat many years later.

Fawkes Set Lord Voldemort Up to Failure in Advance

One of the reasons Harry Potter managed to escape the much more advanced and dangerous Lord Voldemort so many times was the unique connection between their wands. The Dark Lord’s wand refused to attack Harry, the wielder of its “sister,” which saved Harry’s life more than once, and it was Fawkes who set it all up.

Both Tom Riddle Jr. and Harry Potter were selected by wands with Phoenix feather cores but for different reasons. Young Tom was, in fact, chosen by his wand — and years later, Harry was chosen by its twin-core “sister” because he carried a piece of Riddle’s soul inside of him. Now, here’s where Dumbledore’s Phoenix came into play.

It was Fawkes’s feathers that powered both the wands, and it was a unique case of one Phoenix giving two feathers at once. By allowing Ollivander to take twice as many feathers, Fawkes actively encouraged the wand-maker to create the “sister” wands which would later come in quite handy and save The Boy Who Lived.

Even if Voldemort had chosen Neville and not Harry as his equal, the second wand would have selected him. Thus, though unknowingly (unless, of course, he was a time-traveler), Dumbledore’s Phoenix ensured Voldemort’s defeat right from the start. Whoever was to become the Dark Lord’s downfall the first time would be later chosen by his wand’s twin, allowing the Chosen to survive against Voldemort.

Let’s face it: Harry Potter would’ve died several times over if Fawkes didn’t give Ollivander two feathers instead of one, so the Phoenix was the real hero there.