Dumbledore & the Phoenix *SPOILERS!* [Archive]

The SketchWolf

18-07-2005, 09:37

Tonks

18-07-2005, 09:43

You know, JKR did refer to a mystery that she left at the end of HBP, but said that if we thought about it, we could probably figure it out..

We know the phoenixes do not die, but are reborn from the flames. I am not suggesting anything like this from Dumbledore, as great as that would be, but we do know that he has a certain connection with phoenixes..

Fawkes is Dumbledore's pet as well, and perhaps that phoenix Harry thought he saw was Fawkes trying to get his part in the funeral of the master he loved..

Um.. the link between Dumbledore and phoenixes does make me think that Dumbledore might have better chances than any average witch or wizard at giving some advice from the grave .. sorry this is about as much as I could come up with - lol :o

Boing

18-07-2005, 09:45

I thought it was something that had to do with his "next great adventure" quote. Perhaps sort of like his "soul" or something spreading its wings and flying away.

That's what I was thinking when I read it. I'm sure there are lots of other explanations, though. I'll think on this one some more.

Padma Patil

18-07-2005, 12:27

Actually, I thought of Fawkes when I read that part. I know it wasn't him, but thats the first thing that came to mind.

What ever happened to Fawkes anyway? Did he join his master? Did he just fly away? Will he search out Harry who was most loyal to Dumbledore?

I personally like the last one. Maybe Dumbeldore's spirit / soul went inside Fawkes? Who knows?

Weasleyfanforever

18-07-2005, 16:13

As he lay there, he became aware suddenly that the grounds were silent. Fawkes had stopped singing.

And he knew, without knowing how he knew it, that the phoenix had gone, had left Hogwarts for good, just as Dumbledore had left the school, had left the world... had left Harry.

So I am assuming that he just flew off.....

kashlie

18-07-2005, 16:38

All this talk about Dumbledore and Horcruxes, and Dumbledore's faithful pet who it just so happens can rise from the ashes mere minutes after dying? What better place to have a part of your soul, in a living, good, and faithful creature that can't die?

I think Fawkes will be back to help Harry, when Harry starts fighting for the good of Wizard kind, and not for revenge. Dumbledore said Harry has the choice of how he faces Voldemort, either willingly for good, or unwilllingly for revenge...it was something along those lines anyway...

Fortescue

18-07-2005, 17:15

I have a funny feeling that in book 7, Fawkes will turn up again and become Harry's pet - this theory is based on this little tongue twister from JKR:

Peter Humphreys for BBC Newsround: Who did Fawkes previously belong to and will he play a vital role in the next book?

JK Rowling: I am not going to answer about the role in the next books, which probably gives you a big clue, and he has never been owned by anyone but Dumbledore. You will notice that when Harry goes back in the Pensieve in this book, Fawkes is never there, and ** no, I am sorry, not in this book, I take that back. When Harry has previously seen the study with a different headmaster he saw it with Dippet and Fawkes was not there then. Fawkes is Dumbledore's possession, not a Hogwarts possession.

Me thinks Fawkes will come back because of Harry's loyalty to Dumbledore and join forces with Harry.

Madam Rosmerta

18-07-2005, 18:20

All this talk about Dumbledore and Horcruxes, and Dumbledore's faithful pet who it just so happens can rise from the ashes mere minutes after dying? What better place to have a part of your soul, in a living, good, and faithful creature that can't die?

Yes, except that, according to Slughorn (Ch 23, p. 465 in Cdn/UK/Aus edition),
You must understand that the sould is supposed to remain inact and whole. Splitting it is an act of violation, it is against nature.

and worse, creating a Horcrux is done

by an of evil -- the supreme act of evil. By committing murder. Killing rips the soul apart.

so unless Slughorn is wrong, it is hard to believe that Dumbledore has a Horcrux of any kind.

Alz

19-07-2005, 12:44

Rosmerta rulz ;)
When I read that part - I thought it was Dumbledore patronus leaving him - almost like his soul departing ... but not for resurrection purposes - as said above just his patronus/soul off to the next big adventure ....

I dont know why I thought Patronus - I suppose becasue JKR recently said his Patronus was a Phoenix - it just seemed to work in my head that it skips off to be free - the Patronus was suppose to embody exactly what the person is ...
Well just me then :o

Snuffles

21-07-2005, 18:49

hm... I thought of it as a symbolic way to show that his soul was departing forever.
But like the phonex, he'll rise again out of the ashes, and will somehow be able to contact Harry in the future...? ;)
Maybe Fawkes (if who the phoenix was :D) will turn up and be Harry's pet or something. :)

Weasleyfanforever

22-07-2005, 09:39

Maybe Fawkes (if who the phoenix was :D) will turn up and be Harry's pet or something. :)

If it was Fawkes; I don't think he will be back as Harry's pet. Harry thinks to himself that he knows that Fawkes has left Hogwarts grounds for good, and he likens it to Dumbledore leaving him as well. I can't see Fawkes serving anyone else, JKR has confirmed that he was always only Dumbledore's pet, and I can't see him going to anyone else after Dumbledore.

Fortescue

22-07-2005, 09:44

But JKR has also said that Fawkes will be a part of book 7 - so he will be back, whether he is directly with Harry or simply there to help in someway - he will be back.

Alz

04-08-2005, 12:12

You dont suppose she could just mean the brother core wands and the Phoenix that shed the feathers? ;)
I think Fawkes might be back to lend Harry some support - bit like in CoS - Dumbledore's pet was loyal to Dumbledore - and Dumbledore valued loyalty - I suppose it is possible Harry could call upon that loyalty in the form of Fawkes ... the phoenix is very prominent in the series ...

Fortescue

04-08-2005, 13:27

JKR made a big deal about showing Harry's loyalty to Dumbledore both before and after his death, "He will only be gone from the school when none here are loyal to him," and "Dumbledore's man through and through."

The wand cores could have something to do with it as well, but as we saw in CoS, Fawkes helped Harry after he spoke the words of loyalty to Dumbledore. I think Harry's dedication to Dumbledore, even after his death, will be enough to bring Fawkes back to aid Harry in whatever he as to do.

I can see the final battle, Voldemort bad mouths Dumbledore and mocks his death - Harry goes in for the attack out of rage and anger, and Fawkes appears to help. :p

ChienNoir

04-08-2005, 14:02

Rosmerta rulz ;)
I dont know why I thought Patronus - I suppose becasue JKR recently said his Patronus was a Phoenix - it just seemed to work in my head that it skips off to be free - the Patronus was suppose to embody exactly what the person is ...
Well just me then :o

I'm with you here, Blaise. I always assumed the patronus to be an embodiment of all one's good thoughts and virtuous qualities, hence its ability to repel the dementors. I see the departure of Dumbledore's phoenix patronus as proof that his good qualities live on after the body no longer lives. The patronus is not the soul, but a visible manifestation of one's "good stuff."

LBDawg, who would like to think she'd have a greyhound patronus but not one that would hog the couch...

yarvelling

04-08-2005, 14:17

Harry has always shown nothing but total loyalty to DD, and Fawkes has been there for him because of it, and of course there is a bond between Harry and Fawkes because of the wands; being Fawkes's tail feather in Harry's wand. I'm sure that Fawkes won't desert Harry now, even though DD is no longer physicaly with us...as long as Harry is loyal to the memory of DD, then Fawkes will be there for him, representing both himself and DD. I think this relationship was established during CoS for more than the plot of that book alone! At the time, Fawkes acted for and on behalf of DD when DD was not present...he took the Sorting Hat and Godric's sword to Harry in the chamber; this to me is more than a mere bird acting...it was DD acting within, or through Fawkes, and so I'm sure that some part of the spirit of DD will lie within Fawkes for as long as Fawkes exists! i still wouldn't be surprised to find Fawkes during the next book going with Harry acting as a new keeper, though I'm sure Hedwig might raise an eyebrow at that :)

Fortescue

04-08-2005, 20:41

I think the most significant thing about the Dumbledore - Fawkes - Harry - triangle is the strength and courage that Harry seems to draw from both Dumbledore and Fawkes. The first instance we saw Fawkes's show up to help Harry in CoS, the phoenix's presence makes Harry think of Dumbledore, which gave Harry hope. It's as if Dumbledore were with Harry while he faced Tom Riddle and possible death:

Music was coming from somewhere. Riddle whirled around to stare down the empty Chamber. The music was growing louder. It was eerie, spine-tingling, unearthly; it lifted the hair on Harry's scalp and made his heart feel as though it was swelling to twice its normal size. Then, as the music reached such a pitch that Harry felt it vibrating inside his own ribs, flames erupted at the top of the nearest pillar. (CoS, pg. 315)

The first time Harry met Fawkes was when he looked ragged and on deaths doorstep just before he burst into flames in Dumbledore's office; the second time Harry met Fawkes was in the Chamber. The effect the phoenix song had on Harry - "it lifted the hair on Harry's scalp and made his hert feel as though it was swelling to twice its normal size." The bird gave him courage, pure and simple - the phoenix song is almost representative of Dumbledore in Harry's heart.

And then an unearthly and beautiful sound filled the air...It was coming from every thread of the light-spun web vibrating around Harry and Voldemort. It was a sound Harry recognized, though he had heard it only once before in his life: phoenix song.

It was the sound of hope to Harry...the most beautiful and welcome thing he had ever heard in his life....He felt as though the song were inside him instead of just around him....It was the sound he connected with Dumbledore, and it was almost as though a friend were speaking in his ear....

Don't break the connection. (GoF, pg 664)

Somewhere out in the darkness, a phoenix was singing in a way Harry had never heard before: a stricken lament of terrible beauty. And Harry felt, as he had felt about phoenix song before, that the music was inside him, not without: It was his own grief turned magically to song that echoed across the grounds and through the castle windows. (HBP, pg 614-15)

It's as if Fawkes is a part of Harry - the phoenix song reminds him of Dumbledore and the thought of Dumbledore gave Harry courage.

Dumbledore's Patronus is a phoenix - I wonder if a connection between Dumbledore and Fawkes exists that will send Fawkes to aid Harry in his final quest?

Alz

05-08-2005, 13:07

You know this can also be bounded back on a DiE path ...
If Fawkes was so much under Dumbledore's control and even guise - why would Dumbledore allow one of his feathers to end up in the hands and wand of someone so evil?
I think it isnt a massive assumption to make that Fawkes was the bearer of the brother wands - one employed for evil and malice - one for good ...
Dependant on how intergrated Fawkes is with Dumbledore you have to wonder how the feathers ended up in two of the most influential Wizards of modern times in the world of Wizarding history.
Just a few other thoughts to chew on ;)

Fortescue

06-08-2005, 12:50

Something that might be significant - they shared wands made from two separate feathers from Fawkes. Tom Riddle got one wand and Harry got the other as pointed out by Mr. Ollivander. Harry fought Voldemort in the graveyard and Priori Incantatem occurred, and in HBP, Mr. Ollivander disappeared. If Dumbledore gave the feathers to Mr. Ollivander to place in two distinctly separate wands how would he expect that the two people to get those wands would be Tom and Harry? When Tom Riddle got his wand, Dumbledore was only a teacher at Hogwarts, and it was fifty years before Harry went to purchase his wand.

I think Voldemort made the connection between the wands and took Mr. Ollivander to find out all the details of the wands. Maybe Voldemort found out something from Mr. Ollivander that will be a detriment to Harry since there's obviously other secrets about the origin and purpose of the two wands and more of a reason why the wands were made from the feather of Dumbledore's pet phoenix. ;)

ChienNoir

06-08-2005, 17:31

I think Voldemort made the connection between the wands and took Mr. Ollivander to find out all the details of the wands. Maybe Voldemort found out something from Mr. Ollivander that will be a detriment to Harry since there's obviously other secrets about the origin and purpose of the two wands and more of a reason why the wands were made from the feather of Dumbledore's pet phoenix. ;)

I was thinking the same thing. The relationship between the wands is the only reason I can see for abducting Ollivander. Clearly the feathers being from Fawkes inextricably link both wands to Dumbledore.

Perhaps there HAD to be two brother wands...one to balance the powers of the other?

Hmm...

too much thinkin' for a week-end... :rolleyes:

LBD (sad to think the core of her wand would probably be dog hair)

Alz

07-08-2005, 11:08

.... or maybe Dumbledore gave Ollivander a second phoenix feather later down the line - a second feather that as said above will return parity to the situation?
What I propose is that Dumbledore gave up a second of Fawkes feathers and then made a little pact with Ollivander than when young Harry came to store - let him have it.
Dumbledore guessed it would work for him because of the 'parts' of Voldemort still in him - and of course the prophecy he had full knowledge of?

Fortescue

13-08-2005, 21:50

Dumbledore seemed a bit surprised when Harry started speaking Parseltongue, I don't know whether he would have thought ahead of time that anything would have transferred to Harry from the scar that was left. That is unless maybe Dumbledore's scar did the same thing for him in regards to whoever gave him his scar of the London Underground. Maybe Dumbledore had a connection to the person who shot the curse at his knee. It could be that's what Dumbledore meant in PS/SS about scars being useful!

When Harry chose his wand, he first tried many others. Maybe Mr. Ollivander was told by Dumbledore to test him on the other wands first to see what happened, and then give him the phoenix feather wand. After all, as soon as Harry left the shop with his wand, Mr. Ollivander sent a letter to Dumbledore letting him know Harry got the wand. ;)

Alz

14-08-2005, 09:30

Dumbledore was the one I am sure that told Harry that he felt some of Voldemort's powers were transferred to him that night of the attack?
Will have to check that out ...

If this was the case - it is plausible that he donated the second feather - had Ollivander make a wand and then told him when Harry came shopping - see if he reacted to the wand with the Phoenix feather ...
I am still wondering now if Harry really does belong with that wand or perhaps it was the essence of Voldemort in him that made the connection where the wand chooses the wizard ...

Nimbus Flyer

24-08-2005, 14:42

This is my first post ever--sorry for any lapses of netiquette. Your posts re: Ollivander's disappearance are the first I've come by since reading HBP. Very interesting and something to chew on. A couple of days ago I came across a similar thread to this one on HPANA, but the focus was on Dumbledore being an animagus and his animal alter ego is a phoenix.

It fits amazingly with his views on death, his ability with Gubrathian Fire, his burnt hand, his love of music, his silver hair (auburn when younger), tears in his eyes, and importantly, his longevity. On page 415 of the Bloomsbury edition of OotP, DD is described as "swooping down" on one of his silver gadgets the way Sirius used to be described as laughing with a bark. Then there's the Goblet of Fire (conjured by DD, I believe) and, of course, the Order of the Phoenix. (Literally the adult parallel of Dumbledore's Army.) So, I guess I'm saying that I believe the phoenix Harry saw rise out of the flames surrounding the tomb was the phoenix form of DD. It is possible that he will be back with us in a transformed state in Book 7.

If I'm right, it explains to me how DD is the most powerful wizard alive. It is in the core of his being to overcome death, he does not need the murderously evil crutch of horcruxes that a weaker wizard has to depend on.

Piper

24-08-2005, 16:54

I found it page 470 of the US Edition, it says: Dumbledore now swooped down upon one of the fragile silver instruments whose function Harry had never known, carried it over to this desk, sad down facing them again, and tapped it gently with the tip of his wand.

I haven't settled really on a theory as to how, but I think Dumbledore is alive.

Alz

25-08-2005, 11:22

Alz

03-09-2005, 02:46

I'm really torn on this ...
I can see the need for the death - in fact I had been saying as much for a long time before HBP came out - in essence he needed to be dead in order for Harry to really do all he needs to on his own.
While Dumbledore was alive he would never sit back and let Harry take Voldemort on by himself - he would also be another thing Voldemort could use against Harry in some way.
His death seemed to fit - and the events subsequent haven't made me feel any different to the fact I really think he is dead. We saw that Minerva could now get access to the Heads Office - we saw a portrait of Dumbledore in the office ...
The problem comes from the fact we all know Phoenixes are most famous because of their ability to rise from the ashes and be reborn ... as stated above almost like a natural horcrux in respect of the fact they are almost immortal.
I think this has the power of feeling to turn into another Sirius moment where people still cling to the hope that we will see Sirius again ... I am honestly torn but will go with gut feelings and saw we will not see an alive Dumbledore again ...

Dumbledore has the option to live on in the people he touched, the portrait and of course inside Fawkes ..

In support of myself here ... I came across this earlier ...

'Dumbledore's been driven out of the castle by the mere memory of me!' he hissed
'He's not as gone as you might think!' Harry retorted. He was speaking at random, wanting the scare Riddle, wishing rather then believing it to be true.
Riddle opened his mouth, but froze.
Music was coming from somewhere ...

I think this support another comment made - that as long as Dumbledore is remebered he will always be around ...
In this scenario - Harry thought of the absent Dumbledore - and Fawkes appeared ...
Expanding that - you can see the possible situations that can occur in book 7 - Dumbledore may be gone, but lives on in Fawkes.

Fortescue

03-09-2005, 04:10

So, I guess I'm saying that I believe the phoenix Harry saw rise out of the flames surrounding the tomb was the phoenix form of DD. It is possible that he will be back with us in a transformed state in Book 7.

If I'm right, it explains to me how DD is the most powerful wizard alive. It is in the core of his being to overcome death, he does not need the murderously evil crutch of horcruxes that a weaker wizard has to depend on.

If we look at how significant the phoenix is to the entire story, and the fact that JKR has admitted that Dumbledore's patronus is a phoenix, although we have never seen evidence of this in the story, I think the answer lies there.

Dumbledore's patronus was a phoenix. He taught the order how to communicate using their patronuses, something that had apparently, never been done before. The patronus is a wizards spirit guardian, that is why the patronus is unique to the wizard - so the phoenix is Dumbledore's spirit guardian. Could that mean that Fawkes is Dumbledore's spirit guardian, and has Dumbledore's spirit within him?

The odd thing was that when we saw Dumbledore's funeral, the time when everyone was there to pay their last respects, Harry did not note Fawke's presence. The original quote of the bird lifting off from the flaming remains at Dumbledore's funeral pyre might have been his patronus seeking out Fawkes so they could join as one. (Sorry for the wild spec at the end)

Hermione

03-09-2005, 04:31

The original quote of the bird lifting off from the flaming remains at Dumbledore's funeral pyre might have been his patronus seeking out Fawkes so they could join as one. (Sorry for the wild spec at the end)

So what you're saying is the spirit of Dumbledore could be insdie Fawkes? Sort of a wizarding reincarnation. I like the idea, and think it would provide Harry with some sort of guildance, but it gets messy. Where does Fawkes real personality go?

gumshoe

03-09-2005, 05:01

Okay, nobody has said this one:
What if the phoenix rising from the flames was Dumbledore's patronus, but it was sent from elsewhere, to contribute to the theatrical illusion that Dumbledore is dead?

I've never bought the death, the funeral, none of it. Portrait, AK, trickle of blood. It has all seemed to be smoke and mirrors to me, and especially in light of the fact that JK has introduced the topic of Muggle magic into this book, it's entirely possible.

Everyone has to be convinced Dumbledore is dead, especially Harry. Furthermore, Dumbledore dying seems to be an enormously unifying event (whether he really died or didn't). Look at the turnout at the funeral.

The phoenix rising up draws everyone's attention upward, and when they look back, they see the tomb. Stage magic, with a little help from real magic, perhaps?

gumshoe

Fortescue

03-09-2005, 10:58

I've never bought the death, the funeral, none of it. Portrait, AK, trickle of blood. It has all seemed to be smoke and mirrors to me, and especially in light of the fact that JK has introduced the topic of Muggle magic into this book, it's entirely possible.

Everyone has to be convinced Dumbledore is dead, especially Harry. Furthermore, Dumbledore dying seems to be an enormously unifying event (whether he really died or didn't). Look at the turnout at the funeral.

The phoenix rising up draws everyone's attention upward, and when they look back, they see the tomb. Stage magic, with a little help from real magic, perhaps?

gumshoe

I think the main thing that makes me believe that Dumbledore is dead is the fact that I don't think he'd purposefully put Harry through something like his death, if he wasn't truly dead.

At the end of OotP, Dumbledore bared his soul to Harry telling him how much he cared for him. How the only reason he never told him the truth about the prophecy was:

The Lost Prophecy - OotP, pg 839 US
"I have watched you struggle under more burdens than any student who has ever passed through this school, and I could not bring myself to add another - the gretest one of all."

Dumbledore cared too much for Harry, and knew the impact his death would have on him. He would never fake such a thing and intentionally cause Harry more pain. I can't see a purpose for Dumbledore faking his death unless he wanted to give Voldemort a false sense of security, and make him believe the only one he ever feared was gone.

I think the most possible scenario would be if Dumbledore's spirit remained around to help Harry, and his spirit could reside in Fawkes until the time came when everything was over, Voldemort was vanquished and Dumbledore's spirit could go off to its next great adventure.

gumshoe

03-09-2005, 11:26

Fortescue, I know what you mean, truly -- I really honestly actually wince everytime I read a Dumbledore is dead argument. How on earth could he do that to Harry, after all he's said? I totally agree, it's horrible. And think about poor Hagrid.

I'm just stuck on the bit from OoP, where Dumbledore says he made the mistake of loving Harry more than the faceless, nameless people and creatures of the world. It's the only thing I think that a Dumbledore-faked-his-death camper could solidly hang a theory on. I think that by the time we get to HBP, we must consider the possibility that Dumbledore would never make that same mistake again, and if it was for the greater good, he'd go for it.

And apologize later, no doubt in my mind. And finish the hand-story while he was at it.

I've felt so sad being in the other camp since HBP came out, because, while being subversive and suspicious is fun, especially with such juicy mystery at hand, I love these characters dearly.

my 2 knuts...

gumshoe

Alz

04-09-2005, 05:09

I think we are slightly going Off topic at the moment - I can see the relevance to subject but I think this might be covered elsewhere in another thread - if not seems a perfect time to add one.

I think some relevance can be paid to the comment Dumbledore or Harry makes about living on in others - because that is also almost like rising from the ashes.
Dumbledore may be dead - but he also lives on in others - just like a phoenix that dies it re-births from the ashes and lives again.
Memories can be powerful things and if indeed Dumbledore left that much of a footprint on people around him - he doesnt need to be living a breathing to still be important.

gumshoe

04-09-2005, 06:39

If it was me heading off topic, sorry! I meant only to include the possibility that the phoenix was a patronus, but maybe I misunderstood the point of the thread? Was it to examine the significance of Dumbledore and death and rebirth, not the phoenix itself? If so, my bad.

gumshoe

Alz

04-09-2005, 09:48

The following is a passage found in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 30: The White Tomb, page 645 (American version).

--------------------
Then several people screamed. Bright, white flames had erupted around Dumbledore's body and the table upon which it lay: Higher and higher they rose, obscuring the body. White smoke spiraled into the air and made strange shapes: Harry thought, for one heart-stopping moment, that he saw a pheonix fly joyfully into the blue, but the next second the fire had vanished. In its place was a white marble tomb, encasing Dumbledore's body and the table on which he had rested.
--------------------

What was with the pheonix? A spell? An omen? Reincarnation? Give me some thoughts and theories- I want to get some idea as to what this means.
That was kind of what the thread started as really.
It's not a prob - I was just trying to steer it back, the sub discussion what was developing can be carried on in existing threads that were more fitting - trust me I am the worst at keeping threads on topic :o

I think if you look at the title and perhaps the starter - it ranges a lot on the contents of the discussion.
I think many people have tried to look at the significances of Phoenix and Dumbledore.

The SketchWolf

21-09-2005, 15:50

Everybody came up with some great theories. Lol, funny how things get off track, isn't it?

Anyway, assuming that the shape of the phoenix rising from the smoke was not pure coincidence or used solely for poetic setting, and that it is indeed significant to the story, I'm beginning to wonder: was it Fawkes, Dumbledore's patronus, or something else? Or perhaps Dumbledore will be reborn, much like a phoenix, and come back in that form, or able to change forms into a phoenix and it was used to be an omen of sorts to tell of it.... or it was Dumbledore already in firebird form......

:confused:

Ah, another Harry Potter book! Embrace the confusion!:p

Sirius Potter Fan

21-09-2005, 20:45

First, I think that JKR knows that leaving open possibilities keeps her books alive in us between book releases. She has given us many a mystery to solve, but also more than a few red herrings! (she has even continued the "vampire-ish" refferences to Snape after stating that he is not one!) So, I think it likely that she may have thrown that in to do just what it has, spur discussion. In the spotting of the Phoenix in the fire/smoke, there could be the hope that some part of Dumbledore indeed does continue on our plane. I have to say however, that as much as I want him to be "alive" I am very certain that he is not. I believe that it was a very majestic tribute to his life and his spirit.

Alz

22-09-2005, 10:51

It certainly is one thing - symbolic of the Phoenix and as such can see the reference she makes ..
I got the impression Fawkes vanished after his Lament - that is another thread - but basically I got to thinking he helped soothe the pain and then left to where ever Phoenixes go.
JKR did say that no-one else had owned Fawkes - he was Dumbledore's ... the fact they were both in the room at the same time suggests that Fawkes isnt a part of Dumbledore ...
I think what we saw was the patronus spirit of Dumbledore - maybe his essence ... maybe just like Voldemort post Potter attack - a piece of him encased in spirit form ...