Category:Phoenixes
From UnknowableWiki
| Creature profile | |
|---|---|
| |
| Phoenix | |
| Ministry of Magic Classification | XXXX |
| Appearance | swan-sized bird, scarlet plumage, golden tail, beak and talons |
| Origin | Egypt, India, China |
| Known specimens | Fawkes, Sparky |
| First appearance in canon | The Polyjuice Potion (CS) |
Phoenixes are powerful magical creatures originating from India, Egypt and China, where they nest on mountain peaks unreachable without magical aid (FBAZ, FBi). They are magnificent crimson birds, about the size of a swan, with a golden tail resembling that of a peacock. They have great wings, golden talons, a long, sharp golden beak and beady black eyes. Their voice is very melodic and their eerie song moves the listener deeply (CS17). They are peaceful creatures which eat only herbs and have never been known to kill (FBAZ).[1]
Phoenixes have many useful talents, but their most peculiar trait is their ability to regenerate, which allows them reach immense life-spans (FBAZ). In regular intervals, they will become old and sick, losing their striking appearance. Their eyes turn dull, their feathers fall out and instead of their usual melodic sounds they make strange, gagging noises. Finally, they turn into a fireball to burn and rise from the ashes as small, featherless, wrinkled (and quite ugly) chicks (CS5, OP37).
Grown phoenixes can carry immensely heavy loads and vanish in a swirl of fire to reappear elsewhere, taking items or even humans with him (CS17, OP27). Their tears have healing powers (they are the only known antidote to Basilisk venom, CS17, DH6), and even the Killing Curse cannot permanently kill them (OP36). They are very intelligent and seem to understand human language (OP27). Their eerie song is also magical and is said to give courage to those pure at heart while it causes fear to the impure (FBAZ). They are hard to tame (we know of only two domesticated phoenixes), but once they are they make highly faithful pets (CS5).
Phoenix feathers are used as wand cores. Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort both have wands which contain a tail feather of Albus Dumbledore's pet phoenix Fawkes (PS5, GF36).
Albus Dumbledore has a special connection to phoenixes. His Patronus is a phoenix (EBF), and he names the Order he founds to fight Voldemort after these creatures (OP5). Fawkes has been a devoted pet to him for at least forty years (HBP20).
The only other domesticated phoenix we know of is Sparky, the famous mascot of the Moutohora Macaws, a Quidditch team from New Zealand (QA8).
Footnotes
- ↑ Despite their gentle nature, phoenixes have been given an XXXX rating by the Ministry of Magic because they are hard to domesticate (FBAZ).
