[HPforGrownups] Re: Phoenix fire?

[Kemper]

No: HPFGUIDX 154084

> justcarol67 wrote:
> > "But then, through the darkness, fire erupted: crimson and gold, a
> > fing of fire tht surrounded the rock so that the Inferi holding Harry
> > so tightly stumbled and faltered" (HBP Am. ed. 576).
>
> > Granted, DD is already planning to use fire to fend off the Inferi
> > before he drinks the potion, but this particular fire is the same
> > color as Fawkes's feathers, and of course, Fawkes (like Gryffindor
> > House) is associated with fire. But DD at this point seems too weak to
> > cast the fire unassisted; Fawkes has come to his aid before,
> > swallowing an AK intended for him in the MoM; and the protective magic
> > that saves Harry in GoF is also connected with Fawkes (or his feathers
> > in the wand cores) and also encircles him protectively.
> >
> > Does anyone else see a possible Fawkes connection here, as if Fawkes
> > is somehow temporarily lending DD his power to enable his greatly
> > weakened and possibly dying master (or friend or kindred spirit) to
> > rescue Harry one last time?
>
>
> Miles:
> Possible - yes. But I don't think your point is very strong, because there
> are more simple explanations for the quote:
>
> 1) Crimson and gold fire - this is quite normal, isn't it? Just light a
> candle, and you'll see it.
> 2) To conjure fire with your wand seems to be easy, since Hermione did it -
> admittedly in a less advanced way - as early as in her first year. So,
> there's no need to bring in Fawkes to explain that Dumbledore - even in his
> weak state - was able to do it.
> 3) Your argument is based on the parallelity of the colour of the fire
> Dumbledore produces, and the feathers of Fawkes or Phoenixes in general. But
> the explanation works better (or more simple) the other way round: The
> Phoenix' feathers remind of the fire it is born from and dies in again and
> again.
>
> So, your idea is nice, but I don't believe it is "true".
> 
..
.
Kemper now:
I don't think Carol is posing a point so much as she is posing a possibility.
Red and Gold was referenced early in the series with regard to a
phoenix. In Diagon Alley at Olivander's, Harry's wand chose him:

"He reaised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down through
the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the
end..." (SS/PS chapt. 5)

One has to wonder why JKR chose to reference the fire rope thing in
the Cave as 'red and gold' instead of 'red and orange' or 'orange and
gold'?

It seems deliberate on JKR's part to have the reader refer to the
phoenix for a reason.

Nice catch, Carol!

Kemper