In the beautiful Circular Headmaster's Office, strange silver instruments puffed out thin wisps of smoke.
Little curios chimed and tinkled. Zhang Xiao felt that no matter how often he came here, he could never help being drawn to this room.
It fulfilled almost everything he imagined about the wizarding world. It wasn't so gloomy, and there were no frightening experiments-only mystery and novelty.
Once the portraits hanging on the walls discovered that their visitor was Zhang, they immediately dropped the act.
They were old acquaintances, after all.
They stretched and rubbed their arms and cheeks. Dilys Derwent pulled off her Healer's hat and muttered:
"I don't know what they were thinking. Why did they insist on painting a 'Hogwarts Headmaster at St. Mungo's'? This hat is too small. It's terribly uncomfortable!"
The other portraits began clamoring. "You've got it good, Dilys. Look at us.
"Heavens, why did I have to pose with my finger pointing into the distance?"
"That's nothing! I'm posed like David, with that heavy formal robe hanging from a single finger!
"A single finger!
"Oh, my finger, my shoulder blade..."
A few portraits had things easier. They craned their necks and called, "Zhang, what trouble have you stirred up this time?"
Fawkes stretched his head toward him and cried a few times, then indicated his tail. His meaning was clear: I've just been reborn, mate. My feathers haven't grown back yet. I'll give you some later.
These lot never tire of watching trouble unfold. Zhang Xiao placed the cage he was holding on the desk in the Headmaster's Office and waited quietly.
Footsteps thudded down the stairs. Dumbledore descended from his upstairs bedroom, his long beard floating, a smile on his face.
"Zhang, an excellent Patronus Charm. A corporeal Patronus of that caliber is rare even within