Magical Magic Creature Spotlight: Phoenix
Phoenix
MOM Classificaton: XXXX
The Phoenix is a red-and-gold bird that hails from the mountains of Egypt, South Asia, and China (go figure). One of its most remarkable features is its ability to burst into flames and regenerate. Now, Rowling states that this enables the bird to reach “an immense age.” That begs the question: do Phoenixes die permanently? Is there any way to permanently kill a Phoenix? I know that at least one fanfic has posited that the Phoenix's regenerative capabilities relate to its healing tears somehow, and that if those are disabled the Phoenix will permanently die; but that's never come up in canon.
Anyway, Phoenixes are herbivorous and completely non-aggressive. In fact, as a footnote explains:
The Phoenix gains a XXXX rating not because it is aggressive, but because very few wizards have ever succeeded in domesticating it.
Which, I'm sure, is supposed to bluntly force the point that Albus Dumbledore is a special snowflake for having a pet Phoenix. However, if the Phoenix is so gentle and nonviolent, it raises the question of just how good of a mascot it is for Gryffindor (as Fawkes seems to be in CoS). After all, Gryffindors value bravery and charging into violent situations head-on above all else, and most prominent ones display a bit of a sadistic streak. Is it just because the bird's red and gold?
Maybe I'm overthinking this-I'm pretty sure that the real reason why Fawkes belongs to Dumbledore and helps Harry acquire the Sword of Gryffindor is so he remains relevant and useful.
Anyway, other abilities Phoenixes have include tears with healing powers, the ability to disappear and reappear at will, and a song that can embolden the pure of heart and terrify the “impure,” whatever that's supposed to mean.
Fun fact: when I was a little girl I used to wish I was a Phoenix. The idea of being a beautiful magical bird that never died seemed really cool at the time.
MOM Classificaton: XXXX
The Phoenix is a red-and-gold bird that hails from the mountains of Egypt, South Asia, and China (go figure). One of its most remarkable features is its ability to burst into flames and regenerate. Now, Rowling states that this enables the bird to reach “an immense age.” That begs the question: do Phoenixes die permanently? Is there any way to permanently kill a Phoenix? I know that at least one fanfic has posited that the Phoenix's regenerative capabilities relate to its healing tears somehow, and that if those are disabled the Phoenix will permanently die; but that's never come up in canon.
Anyway, Phoenixes are herbivorous and completely non-aggressive. In fact, as a footnote explains:
The Phoenix gains a XXXX rating not because it is aggressive, but because very few wizards have ever succeeded in domesticating it.
Which, I'm sure, is supposed to bluntly force the point that Albus Dumbledore is a special snowflake for having a pet Phoenix. However, if the Phoenix is so gentle and nonviolent, it raises the question of just how good of a mascot it is for Gryffindor (as Fawkes seems to be in CoS). After all, Gryffindors value bravery and charging into violent situations head-on above all else, and most prominent ones display a bit of a sadistic streak. Is it just because the bird's red and gold?
Maybe I'm overthinking this-I'm pretty sure that the real reason why Fawkes belongs to Dumbledore and helps Harry acquire the Sword of Gryffindor is so he remains relevant and useful.
Anyway, other abilities Phoenixes have include tears with healing powers, the ability to disappear and reappear at will, and a song that can embolden the pure of heart and terrify the “impure,” whatever that's supposed to mean.
Fun fact: when I was a little girl I used to wish I was a Phoenix. The idea of being a beautiful magical bird that never died seemed really cool at the time.