Fawkes's Rebirth

Whoosh! Red flames erupted from the tray!

The flames burned the bird and its fallen feathers to a heap of ashes!

A minute after the flames died, the peak of the ash mound stirred. A pink beak edged in yellow poked through and flattened it.

Then a tiny bird crawled out of the ashes, its whole body wrinkled and only a few white feathers on its eyelids.

Flapping its bare, fleshy wings, it tottered toward Luo Bin and Harry.

"Incredible. That's truly incredible."

Despite all his worries, Harry was stunned by the sight of a bird reborn from fire.

Luo Bin's eyes shone as he gazed at the chick-like Fawkes. He pulled a Glass Bottle and a small brush from his Blue Cloth Pouch and eagerly collected the ashes from the tray.

Phoenix Fire plus Phoenix Feather equaled Phoenix Ashes. This was something money couldn't buy!

When the black-haired, dark-eyed boy walked straight past the "chick" toward the tray, Fawkes visibly froze. He flapped his fleshy wings, turned with difficulty, and waddled after Luo Bin.

"A Phoenix is a divine bird. People he takes a liking to are rarely unlucky!"

"Good lad. You remind me of myself at your age. When you come across something valuable, you don't waste a milligram or a milliliter."

"Ha... Harry, was it? Don't just stand there. Go collect some too, or someone else will get the meat and you won't even get a sip of broth."

"I... I don't know what use there is for Phoenix Feather ashes burned by Phoenix Fire. The books never mentioned them."

"Oh, heavens! Even a Muggle who's never encountered magic could see that Phoenix Ashes are valuable!"

Dilys spoke.

"Headmasters, don't worry. I'll share with him!"

Luo Bin tucked the Glass Bottle of black ashes into his pouch,