Even Griselda Marchbanks had never seen Transfiguration like this.
As though a long-dormant passion had been awakened within her, she finally could not hold back her praise. "Lovegood, this is truly an extraordinary piece of Transfiguration!"
As Griselda Marchbanks spoke, an unfamiliar man in a suit reached out, intending to touch the Phoenix's feathers.
The next instant, he felt the Phoenix's extraordinary heat. He sucked in a sharp breath and jerked his hand back.
He immediately realized his lapse in manners and hurriedly cleared his throat. "My apologies, Mr. Lovegood... I hope you can forgive my rashness."
"For a creature that exists only in stories and legends..." His gaze remained fixed on the Phoenix. "I simply couldn't contain my curiosity!"
"You have a book called Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I read about Phoenixes in it. I never expected it to really be this hot—hot enough to burn my hand."
"You say it counts as a real Phoenix... then can it sing? According to that book, its song can give people courage and even drive away fear."
"Oh, right! I forgot to introduce myself..." As though he had suddenly remembered something, he said, "My name is David Morris. I'm a physicist."
Griselda Marchbanks watched Vizet's expression. When she saw not the slightest surprise or confusion in his face, she offered no further explanation.
"Lovegood..." She brought the topic back to the exam itself. "To transform something like this Phoenix, just the temperature of its feathers alone..."
She reached out and pressed a hand against the Phoenix's wing as well. "This level of heat, and such a delicate texture—these alone are enough to earn an 'O.'"
"But I'm equally curious... You said that, at this moment, it can be considered a real Phoenix. Then it ought to be able