"Then I'll begin."
Having said that, Brian imitated a performing magician, showing them the backs of his empty hands, then his palms.
Then he clenched his fists, turned his hands over, and spread them open.
A small tuft of beard lay quietly in his palm.
Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel instinctively touched their own beards, then glanced at each other's.
"Whose beard is that?" Their movements showed that, at that moment, they were thinking the same thing.
"Ah, my beard isn't that white." Nicolas Flamel picked up a strand of Dumbledore's beard,
examined it carefully, and said happily, "Albus, it's yours."
"Yes, it's my beard. But my beard tells me it's all still safely attached to my chin." Dumbledore studied the beard in Brian's hand with interest. "So, the new ancient magic is duplication?"
"No, it's 'memory.'"
Brian spoke with a smile, and the beard in his hand immediately dispersed. He continued,
"It's a kind of magic that brings things from my memories into reality. They have physical form, but as soon as my attention wanders-like just now-whatever appeared immediately vanishes."
"Perhaps 're-creation' would be more fitting?" Dumbledore suggested.
"Hmm-'memory' is still more appropriate. The things it re-creates are produced entirely according to my memories, rather than necessarily looking exactly as they actually did at that particular moment."
Brian shook his head and concentrated again, this time producing a wet strand of beard.
"Look, this is what your beard looks like soaked in lemon juice. Remember that day Professor Sprout suggested you give your beard a bath in lemon juice, on the grounds that 'lemon juice' was good for maintaining it?
"But-"
"But I was busy tackling a turkey leg and didn't put my beard in the lemon juice," Dumbledore said, somewhat surprised. "However, you were drunk, and you asked me,