SOURCE: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling (1998) and sequels.

DESCRIPTION: "...Standing on a golden perch behind the door was a decrepit-looking bird which resembled a half-plucked turkey...Harry thought it looked very ill. Its eyes were dull and, even as Harry watched, a couple more feathers fell out of its tail. Harry was just thinking that all he needed was for Dumbledore's pet bird to die while he was alone in the office with it, when the bird burst into flames." (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling)

NOTES: Fawkes is Albus Dumbledore's pet phoenix. Harry witnesses the creature burst into flames them re-emerge from the ashes a new baby bird. This is the cycle of this magical creature. Fawkes is important for several reasons: first off, he is the phoenix in the name of The Order of the Phoenix, a secret organization created by Dumbledore. Secondly, two feathers from this bird were put into two special wands, Harry Potter's and Voldemort's. Fawkes is instrumental in saving Harry Potter from the Basilisk, blinding the monster and allowing Harry to kill it as well as healing his poisonous wound with its tears. The tears of a phoenix are a powerful antidote to any poison.

HISTORY: The Phoenix is not a creation of J. K. Rowling but a creature of Egyptian mythology. Rowling was no the first Fantasy writer to use one either. E. Nesbit wrote a very successful novel for children called The Phoenix and the Carpet (1904) which may have been part of Rowling's inspiration, being a popular English children's story.

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