Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Xuanling (玄翎) 8 |
| Species/Race | Magical crow; also called a raven 8 10 13 |
| Gender | Male 8 10 |
| Affiliation | Cedric Gray’s companion 8 19 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 7, as a caged bird given to Cedric by Professor McGonagall 7 |
Power Progression
| Stage / Realm / Level | Chapter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting Level 5 | 8 | Initial reading after Cedric names him; already more than an ordinary crow 8. |
| Hunting Level 6, temporary | 10 | Magically Fried Biting Cabbage raises his level from 5 to 6; it returns to 5 after five minutes 10. |
| Hunting Level 15 | 38, 42 | Eating Dragon Blood sausage triggers an evolution, possibly aided by earlier magical meals. He later wakes larger, with improved tracking abilities 38 42. |
Background / History
Professor McGonagall gives Xuanling to Cedric instead of an owl, fearing Cedric might eat an owl. Cedric names the wary bird for the sheen of his feathers and opens his cage; Xuanling soon chooses to perch on Cedric’s shoulder 7 8.
Xuanling develops a taste for Cedric’s magical cooking. When a white Niffler attacks him at the Leaky Cauldron, he alerts Cedric and marks the attacker. Cedric later uses Xuanling as bait to trap it 10 14 15. After days of eating Cedric’s food, Xuanling consumes Dragon Blood sausage and evolves 37 38 42.
Appearance
Initially an unusually large, brightly feathered crow, Xuanling becomes larger and more striking after evolving 7 42.
- Feathers — Deepen to a glossy, iridescent dark blue after his evolution 42.
- Usual perch — Cedric’s shoulder, though Cedric temporarily forbids him from landing on a new outfit 8 42.
Personality
Xuanling is curious about Cedric’s studies and spellcasting, strongly attached to him, and eager for his food 9 11 19. He is also proud and quick to resent a slight: he nearly attacks Ron for eating most of a cabbage dish and retains a grudge against the creature that ambushes him 13 14.
Abilities & Skills
Tracking
Xuanling’s innate Homenum Revelio helps him locate people. His initial status lists it at rank C; after evolving, it is listed as Permanent Homenum Revelio B 10 42.
- Messenger birds use the ability to find recipients who have not deliberately hidden themselves 10.
Grudge
Initially listed at rank A, Grudge lets Xuanling lock onto and continually track a person or creature, even when concealment magic makes the target difficult to find 10.
- After the Niffler’s attack, a Hatred notification confirms that Xuanling has locked onto it and will not forget it 14.
- Following his evolution, Grudge A+ can track a living target connected to Xuanling or to someone connected to him, in real time; anti-Homenum Revelio measures cannot block it 42.
Relationships
- Cedric Gray — Names and cares for Xuanling, feeds him magical dishes, and takes him along when the bird protests being left behind 8 11 19.
- Minerva McGonagall — Gives Xuanling to Cedric as an alternative to an owl 7 8.
- Ron — Competes with Xuanling for Cedric’s cooking; Ron’s appetite for roasted cabbage nearly provokes an attack 13 14.
- White Niffler — Attacks Xuanling, prompting the bird to mark it and help Cedric locate it 14 15.