The sensation of touching a phoenix felt somewhat like touching a large rooster, except that it was warm and comforting. Tom took the opportunity to examine this legendary creature more closely. Yes, Fawkes could not be accurately called a phoenix; the name "Immortal Bird" was more fitting.
Fawkes was about the size of a turkey, covered in golden-red feathers that emitted a sunny fragrance rather than the typical avian odor. Tom gently stroked the bird for about a minute, just as Fawkes' patience was nearing its limit, he placed it back on a branch.
"Alright, would you like something to drink?" Dumbledore smiled warmly at Tom as he carefully returned Fawkes to the tree branch.
"Maybe some Butterbeer?" Tom pondered for a moment before responding.
Dumbledore seemed a bit surprised by the answer but conjured two glasses and filled them with frothy Butterbeer.
The two of them sipped their Butterbeer in harmony.
"So, the three-headed dog saved you from the giant creature?" Dumbledore casually asked, as if it were a casual conversation.
Tom replied, "Yes, thanks to the three-headed dog." He didn't specify which three-headed dog, and Dumbledore didn't inquire further.
Dumbledore cast a meaningful glance at him, but Tom didn't dare to meet his gaze with those deep, lake-like eyes. Instead, he lowered his head and started studying the pattern of bubbles in his Butterbeer.
Dumbledore withdrew his gaze and opened a drawer in his desk, retrieving some candies. "Would you like some sweets? I personally prefer mint humbugs in the evening."
"Sure," Tom casually selected a few candies and engaged in a conversation with Dumbledore. Contrary to his expectations, their conversation didn't involve pointed questions or contentious topics. Dumbledore accepted Tom's vague references and clumsy explanations without issue. He engaged in small talk, inquiring about Muggle world affairs and discussing everyday matters.
After about ten minutes of conversation, Dumbledore glanced at the clock and noticed that it was nearly 9:00 PM. He wore a kind smile as he said, "You should head back to the common room. If you delay any longer, you might miss dinner."
Tom obediently stood up and left Dumbledore's office.
So, Tom had indeed entered Dumbledore's office, petted Fawkes, enjoyed a glass of Butterbeer, and engaged in a bit of conversation. It all felt rather surreal.
Leaving aside long-term considerations, Tom had gained something valuable in the short term. He had successfully copied Fawkes, which meant he could now transform into a phoenix! Although each of his transformation forms was slightly inferior to the original, such as the three-headed dog with only one conscious head, being able to transform into a phoenix was a remarkable achievement. The phoenix possessed incredible healing abilities, magical resistance, and immunity to poisons. Tom couldn't help but feel that he might have a deficiency when it came to the Immortal trait, but then again, his tears as a phoenix probably wouldn't have a strong effect.
In the short term, it was a huge gain. From a long-term perspective, it was also a worthy venture. This visit to Dumbledore's office had definitely been worthwhile!
Tom arrived at the Ravenclaw common room and knocked on the door knocker.
"Hogwarts newcomers need to cross the Black Lake by boat. In the ideal scenario, a boat traveling 360 meters against the current takes 18 minutes, and returning to the starting point takes 10 minutes. How long does it take for another boat to travel the same distance against the current?"
Tom scribbled and drew on the ground for a while before confidently responding, "9 minutes."
"Correct answer." The door opened, revealing the Ravenclaw common room.
Inside the common room, students were still crowded, and a table was filled with various types of food. There was no distinction between appetizers, main courses, and desserts; all sorts of dishes were laid out together. Some young wizards and witches sat in small groups, enjoying their dinner.
Of course, not everyone was focused on eating. Some were engaged in lively discussions with friends and classmates about the major news of the evening, while a few students, deeply immersed in their books, seemed oblivious to the world.
Hermione was dressed in her usual gray robes and sat at a table near the window. She had changed out of her wizarding robes, which she had worn all day. The seats around her were already occupied. Clearly, her unexplained absence and late return had raised questions, especially among the observant Ravenclaw students.
They surrounded Hermione, eager to find out what had happened.
"...So, I ran back to find Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape, and by the time I returned, the giant creature was already dead. Professor Snape speculated that a magical creature with fangs was responsible."
This sensational piece of information ignited the students' curiosity, and they began discussing what kind of magical creature could kill a giant creature. They also wondered why Tom hadn't been killed in the process.
There were all sorts of theories, with Stephen Cornfoot confidently suggesting that it must have been a vampire, as the giant creature's wound was on its neck. Who else but a vampire would attack the neck?
However, some students raised doubts. They questioned whether a humanoid vampire, which closely resembled a human in size, could reach the neck of a giant creature. Stephen Cornfoot, while sticking to his theory, didn't seem entirely convinced himself.
The discussion soon took a turn for the absurd, with some suggesting it might have been a giant, others proposing a werewolf, and a few even considering the possibility of a fire-breathing dragon.
It was at this moment that Tom entered the common room, feeling as though the entire world's attention was on him. However, Ravenclaw students were more reserved compared to their Gryffindor counterparts. They didn't rush forward with questions but waited patiently.
Robert Hilliard, the Head Boy, eventually approached Tom. "Are you alright? Come, the food is still warm. Join us at our table!" The surrounding students cursed inwardly: That cunning fox! He's found a way to pry information from Tom!
Tom, seeing that there weren't many empty seats left, readily accepted the invitation. He sat down with Robert, and soon enough, the conversation steered towards the giant creature incident that had taken place that evening.
"Wow, how did you manage to escape in the end?" Robert asked.
As this question was posed, the common room fell momentarily silent, but then resumed its normal buzz. However, the conversation among the students became less coherent, and those engrossed in their books stopped turning the pages.
"I encountered a three-headed dog, and it killed the giant creature. That's how it happened."
"Oh," the students responded, their confusion resolved. They were content to divert their attention elsewhere, leaving the question of how a three-headed dog had appeared unasked. After all, how could a first-year student like Tom possibly know where the three-headed dog had come from?
(End of Chapter 44)
You can read +40 advanced chapters on my P@treon page for just 4$ !!
P@treon.com/young_sunlight
Collection/Tag is : TDDH
(End of this chapter)