Dumbledore the Phoenix

[Tonks]

No: HPFGUIDX 148816

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "bohemian_faith" 
<iluvmuffins at ...> wrote:
>  But, do you think it's likely that Dumbledore did indeed turn 
into a phoenix at his burial? Harry (I haven't got the book to do a 
direct quote from atm) sees 'for a brief moment' what looks like a 
phoenix rising from the white flames that burst to life, but then it 
vanishes.
  Do we think that this is just what happens at a wizard burial, are 
> Harry's eyes playing tricks on him, or has Dumbledore evolved and 
> started his next great adventure in the body of a phoenix, 
> and 'flashed' away before he is noticed? Could he have known this 
> before he gave his life?

Tonks:

I have wondered about the whole phoenix thing for some time now.  I 
haven't quite been able to put the pieces together.  We have the 
fact that DD's arm looked burnt, so that made me wonder if it was 
his "burning time".  This could have just been a foreshadowing of 
his death.  Of course the whole phoenix symbolism is the symbol that 
the early Christian Church used for the death and resurrection of 
Christ. The phoenix as a Christ symbol is seen in many of the 
artistic works of the middle ages.

So I don't know if it is specific to DD as a Christ figure or if, as 
you say, a great wizard transfigures into a phoenix at his death.  I 
like the idea because this means that if Harry should have to die, 
maybe he too will become a phoenix. 

On the other hand, JKR has said that Fawkes has only had one owner 
and that was DD.  I take that to mean that no other wizard has ever 
had a phoenix and we also know that they are rare.  If every great 
wizard became one at their death there would be more of them around. 

Then again we have the fact that DD's body just bust into flames at 
the end and the phoenix rising out of the ashes and going off to the 
heavens. I tend to think of this as a playing out of the Christian 
symbolism of death and rebirth and specific to DD.  

I do wonder what role Sirius will have since JKR has says that he 
has a role to play now that he is behind the veil.  I think that is 
what she said.  Also she said that at some point Harry would get a 
new "pet".  Maybe a phoenix? And will it be Fawkes or the new DD?

Tonks_op