The Phoenix with Ruffled Feathers

Dumbledore's voice was as gentle and calm as before, but for one brief instant, Silvan suddenly tensed up. He could even clearly hear his own rapid heartbeat.

It felt as though something ill-intentioned had fixed its gaze on him.

Yet the feeling had come out of nowhere and vanished in an instant, leaving Silvan wondering whether it had merely been his imagination.

But was it really just his imagination?

Silvan looked up at Dumbledore. He was still the same as always, but after noticing Silvan's gaze, he quietly extended a hand and pointed behind the door beneath the cover of his robes.

Silvan followed the direction of his finger and immediately met a pair of wary eyes.

Great. Now Silvan knew what had been watching him.

It was Dumbledore's phoenix. For some reason, the large red bird had its feathers raised and was full of suspicion toward Silvan.

"Headmaster, your phoenix doesn't seem very friendly toward me. But I don't think I've ever met it before."

He really had never met Fawkes. Logically, a phoenix should not have been so wary of a stranger.

Could Garrick Ollivander have forcibly plucked its feathers while making wands?

That was possible!

"I should clarify that my relationship with my grandfather is rather ordinary..." Silvan looked at Fawkes. "Whatever conflict you two have, you can settle it yourselves."

Silvan sounded thoroughly sincere, but Fawkes's attitude did not change in the slightest.

"It has nothing to do with your grandfather," Dumbledore said. "The phoenix tail feathers Garrick used to make wands were all willingly given by Fawkes."

"Then what could it be because of?" Silvan scratched his head.

"To be honest, this is also the first time I've seen Fawkes like this." Dumbledore gave the wand before him a thoughtful glance. "Perhaps it's because of that."

"The wand?"

"Yes, the wand." Dumbledore said, "Garrick used tail feathers to make wands, but you are different. You used an entire spine... Fawkes may be warning you not to get any ideas about it."

"A phoenix's spine..." Silvan smacked his lips and said nothing.

But that gesture made the corner of Dumbledore's eye twitch.

What was that lip-smacking supposed to mean?

Did he really have that idea?

To be fair, Dumbledore had guessed correctly.

For one fleeting moment, Silvan really had entertained that impractical thought, though it was no more than a thought.

Because it was impossible. Phoenixes were unlike trolls; they could Apparate endlessly. As long as they did not wish to show themselves, you would never be able to find one.

Moreover, phoenixes could be reborn, rising anew from flames.

Thinking of that, Silvan immediately put on a serious expression. "I have never had such thoughts, Professor."

Dumbledore blinked with interest. If he had not noticed Silvan's initial reaction just now, he might actually have believed him.

But then again, Dumbledore did not really mind.

Many people had set their sights on phoenixes: potion masters, healers, dark wizards... even alchemists like Nicolas Flamel. Such thoughts were only human nature, but having the thought and acting upon it were two entirely different matters.

Of course, Fawkes did not like Nicolas Flamel very much either.

However, Dumbledore noticed that after Silvan said those words, Fawkes's wariness immediately lessened considerably. At the very least, all its feathers had settled.

Phoenixes did not possess the gift of Legilimency, but they could sense changes in a wizard's emotions. In other words, Silvan had not lied; he had been very sincere when he said that.

"Is this really a wand?" Dumbledore brought the subject back around.

"Of course. I guarantee it in the name of Ollivander."

"May I try it?" Dumbledore asked eagerly.

He was very curious whether a wand shaped like this could really cast magic normally.

"I think... it's better not to." Silvan said. "This wand can only use one spell, and because it's so long, it backfires whenever it's used."

"Backfires..." Dumbledore asked, "You mean that if I use it to cast a spell, the spell will end up rebounding onto me?"

"...Yes!" Silvan nodded.

An odd silence immediately descended over the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore and Fawkes were both staring at Silvan.

Although neither of them said anything, their complicated looks could have filled a two-foot-long essay.

An Ollivander had made a wand that could only attack its wielder?

Ah, how wonderful. As long as they found a way to sell this sort of wand to dark wizards and Death Eaters, the wizarding world could finally welcome true peace... All right, Dumbledore could not keep making that up.

His mind raced, trying to think of what he could say that would make him seem knowledgeable while preserving both Silvan's self-esteem and his own dignity as Headmaster of Hogwarts.

But half a minute passed, and he still could not come up with anything. The extensive education he had always been proud of seemed utterly useless at this moment.

Silvan, however, did not notice Dumbledore's rapidly changing expression. Seeing that he was silent, he continued, "I'm planning to give it to Hagrid."

"You don't like Hagrid?" Dumbledore could not help asking.

"No." Silvan shook his head. "We're very good friends. He even gave me a very valuable Christmas present."

"Then why..." Dumbledore suddenly closed his mouth. After hesitating for a moment, he decided not to say, "Why repay kindness with enmity?"

He nodded stiffly. "Perhaps only Hagrid can bring out this wand's full advantages."

He meant its weight and hardness...

But Dumbledore could hardly be blamed. The main issue was that Silvan had not mentioned its most important [Shield] trait, making the wand "look" somewhat mediocre and useless.

Silvan guessed something at this point. After thinking it over, he said, "Actually, this wand does have its advantages.

"I've made troll-core wands before. Based on my deductions, this wand should be well suited to defensive magic like the Shield Charm."

Dumbledore's blue eyes flickered.

"No wonder. It truly is a thoughtful gift," he said. "So have you settled on the Shield Charm?"

"Not yet. I want to see whether there's something more suitable." Silvan said. "And I'm not sure whether Hagrid will like this gift. He seems to treasure his old wand."

"Wand? Isn't that an umbrella?" Dumbledore suddenly said.

"Ah, yes. He treasures that umbrella very much," Silvan quickly amended.

He had nearly forgotten. Hagrid's current status meant he could not use a wand... The Headmaster really was cautious.

"Oh, it's time for lunch." Dumbledore seemed to want to end their conversation. With a wave of his hand, he returned the wand to Silvan. "I only excused you for the morning. Remember not to be late this afternoon."

"Mm, all right."

Silvan left the Headmaster's office with the wand. In the corridor, he turned back to look once more at the Gargoyle that had resumed its place behind him.

When he had first met Dumbledore, Silvan had been rather nervous.

He knew perfectly well about all the trouble he had caused: late-night noise, tearing apart the dormitory, making a dangerous wand... There was no need to think about it; he had certainly broken school rules.

At first, he thought Dumbledore had come to settle old scores, but that did not seem to be the case.

Dumbledore had not deducted points, nor had he mentioned punishments like detention. He seemed to have simply been interested in the wand.

Dumbledore was interested in the wand?

Silvan did not really understand.

Forget it... No additional punishment was a good thing. Why think so much about it?