Harry finds himself in Dumbledore’s office. He is devastated that he fell for Voldemort’s trick, feeling that he caused Sirius’s death. Some of the portraits on Dumbledore’s wall try to talk to Harry, including Phineas Nigellus. Dumbledore arrives in the room via the fireplace. He places Fawkes—a baby bird, having been reincarnated—on his stand. Dumbledore tells Harry that Tonks and all the students involved in the night of fighting at the Ministry will recover fully.

Harry is silent, feeling a tumult of emotions. Dumbledore tells Harry that he understands how he feels. Furious, Harry yells that Dumbledore does not know how he feels and throws and breaks objects in Dumbledore’s study. Dumbledore watches calmly and sympathetically but refuses to let Harry leave, insisting that he must talk to Harry.

Once Harry sits down, Dumbledore explains his reasoning behind distancing himself from Harry during the year; Dumbledore feared that Voldemort would exploit the connection between him and Harry if he knew that Harry and Dumbledore were close. Dumbledore explains that Kreacher passed on information to Voldemort via Narcissa Malfoy (nee Black) about Harry’s close relationship with Sirius; this inspired Voldemort to create the vision involving Sirius being tortured to lure Harry to the Department of Mysteries.