At first, they just stared at the egg. Finally Hermione spoke.
"Are you saying that's a…that's a Phoenix egg?"
"What da yeh think it is, a small bowlin' ball?" said Hagrid.
"But…but…I didn't know Phoenixes lay eggs. They just burn up and are reborn out of their own ashes, don't they?"
"Well, o' course they do," said Hagrid. "But when 's born agin, it's not a new Phoenix. It's the old Phoenix born agin. It has all o' the memories o' all of its pas' lives. Where did yeh think new Phoenixes came from?"
"Well," said Hermione, "I never really thought about it. I guess I assumed that there was only one Phoenix, just Fawkes."
Hagrid laughed. "Well, 's true that a Phoenix is a very rare animal, indeed. Fawkes is the only one I ever saw. Really the only one I ever heard of. But I doubt Fawkes was the only Phoenix in the whole world. And every once in a while, once in a long while, a Phoenix can lay an egg and make a new Phoenix. Every once in a long while. Like maybe ev'ry thousand years. The Phoenix would have ter have a really good reason to lay an egg. But, as yeh can see, a Phoenix can lay an egg."
'Why do you think Fawkes laid an egg now?" asked Harry.
"Well, that's a good question," said Hagrid. "I don' know fer sure. But I think Fawkes needed to go away. I think Fawkes was so loyal ter Professor Dumbledore that Fawkes couldn't bear to be here at Hogwarts without him. But maybe Fawkes thought that Hogwarts needs a Phoenix. To watch over the school and its students. Maybe Fawkes couldn't bear to stay, but also couldn't bear for us not to be safe, so Fawkes decided it was time to lay an egg."
"And you think it's about to hatch?" asked Ginny.
"Any minute now," said Hagrid.
"How do you know?" asked Hermione.
"Well, now," said Hagrid. "I may not be the smartest guy in the world, but in case yeh haven't noticed, I happen ter be pretty good with magical creatures. I jus' have me a way about them. I can't tell you how I know, but I have a pretty good sense that that Phoenix egg is ready ter hatch. "
"Hagrid," asked Ron, "why do you think Fawkes left the egg with you?"
"Well, that's Fawkes's secret. Not sure I'm ever goin' to know the answer. But I think it might be because Fawkes knows how good I am with magical creatures. Knew that the egg would be safe with me. Or maybe it's because Fawkes loves Dumbledore and Fawkes knew I was the person who was the closest to Dumbledore."
The whole time they were talking, no one had taken their eyes off the egg that was sitting alone on the floor in the corner of the hut. All of a sudden, the egg rolled. Just a tiny drop. It rolled so little that no one was positive they had actually seen it roll. It barely moved.
"Did you see it move?" cried Hermione.
"Yeah," said Ron. "I saw it move a drop."
"I thought I did," said Hermione. "But it was such a tiny drop."
All of a sudden, the egg rolled a bit more. Still a tiny drop. But enough that everyone was sure they had seen it move.
"I guess you were right, Hagrid," said Harry. "Looks like it's getting ready to hatch."
The egg started to roll gently back and forth. Then came a gentle tapping sound from inside the egg. "Tap…tap…tap…" The tapping sound grew louder and faster. "TAP..TAP..TAP." Then all of a sudden the egg started to spin. At first slowly, then faster and faster until it was spinning so fast it was a blur. As it spun faster and faster it started to glow. First faintly, then brighter and brighter. Soon it was so bright it was the color of a flame. And then it was a flame. The egg was on fire. And finally the egg burned up and all that was there was a pile of ashes.
"We are abou' ter witness somethin' that we may be the only people who ever saw," said Hagrid. "The birth of a new Phoenix."
Slowly, slowly, rising out of the ashes, was something that looked just like a baby chicken.
"Oh, it's so cute," said Ginny. "It looks just like a baby chick."
"Can we hold it?" asked Hermione.
"I don' see why not," Hagrid replied.
Hermione walked over to the baby Phoenix, kneeled in front of it, and put her hand on the ground. The baby Phoenix waddled towards her and walked onto her hand. Hermione stood up and held the baby Phoenix in her hand for everyone to see, gently stroking it on its head and along the feathers on its back. The little Phoenix cooed gently as Hermione stroked it.
"Can I hold it?" asked Ginny. Ginny extended her hand and put it next to Hermione's. The little Phoenix waddled from Hermione's hand to Ginny's. Ginny stroked the Phoenix gently and it cooed again. "Oh, it's so cute," cried Ginny. Then Hagrid held it gently in his own massive hand. The little Phoenix was barely as big as one of Hagrid's fingers. With the very tip of his pinky, Hagrid gently stroked the little Phoenix, and it cooed for him as well.
"So, what do Phoenix's eat?" asked Harry.
"Well, I really don' know," said Hagrid. "I never actually saw Fawkes eat anythin'."
"How about worms?" said Ginny. "Most birds like worms?"
"I don' know about that," said Hagrid. "A Phoenix isn' just a bird. It's the most special kind of bird there is. It's magical."
"Yeah," said Ron. "I can't imagine Fawkes eating worms."
"Maybe we should give it a French fry," said Hermione with a devilish smile as she pulled out her wand and aimed it at Ron.
"How about if we think of something healthy that a baby Phoenix might actually like to eat?" said Harry. "I know. I'll go up to the castle and get it some warm buttered toast." Harry ran out of the hut.
Ron had been waiting patiently while Hagrid held the baby Phoenix and stroked it. Finally, he said, "my turn," and held out his hand. Hagrid put his hand against Ron's, and the baby Phoenix waddled onto Ron's hand. Ron began stroking the Phoenix's soft feathers and again the baby Phoenix cooed.
"Hey," said Hermione. "What are we going to name it?"
"Well, that's one big job," said Hagrid. "Namin' a bird that's goin' ter live forever. We need to choose a worthy name, one this bird can carry proudly a thousand years from now, long after we are all gone. We need to choose a noble name."
"Fawkes was Dumbledore's Phoenix," said Ginny. "How about Dumbledore?"
"I don't think that's a good name for a Phoenix," said Ron.
"What about Dumbledore's other names?" said Hermione. "His full name was Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."
They all started saying the different names out loud. Albus, Wulfric and Brian just didn't sound right. But Percival was different. They each said "Percival" out loud several times. They started to nod. It sounded like a good name for a Phoenix. "Percival was a noble knight," said Hagrid. "He was one of King Arthur's knights. One of the knights of the Round Table. I thin' it's a noble name fer a Phoenix."
Just then Harry came back into the hut, holding a plate piled with warm buttered toast.
"Did you bring some toast for Percival?" Ginny asked, smiling.
"For who?" Harry laughed. "Did you guys already name the Phoenix?"
Everyone nodded.
"Percival," Harry said. "That was one of Dumbledore's names. I like it. I think that's a perfect name. Is it my turn yet?" Harry put out his hand next to Ron's. Percival waddled onto Harry's hand. Harry put the plate of toast down on the table and stroked Percival's feathers. Percival cooed again.
"So, Percival," said Harry. "You feeling a little hungry?" Percival looked up at Harry and slowly nodded its little head.
"Huh?" said Harry. "Did you all see that? Did Percival just nod at me?"
"Sure looked that way," said Hagrid.
"What an amazing little bird you are," said Hermione.
Harry picked up a slice of toast and put it next to Percival's beak. Slowly, the little bird started to eat it.
"I think he likes it," said Ginny.
They all watched mesmerized as Percival slowly ate the entire piece of toast.
"So where is Percival going to live?" asked Hermione.
"How about the Gryffindor common room?" suggested Ginny.
"Well," said Hagrid. "Fawkes left the egg here. I thin' that means I'm supposed to take care of Percival. At least until Percival gets a little bigger and can be on its own."
Hagrid put out his hand next to Harry's, and Percival waddled onto Hagrid's huge hand. Hagrid picked up another piece of toast and this time Percival gobbled it down hungrily.
"Wow!" said Ron. "I like this bird. It has one great appetite."
"Yeah," said Hermione. "Reminds me of you. I think maybe I'll start calling you 'Percival'. Maybe I'll call you 'Percy' for short."
"Watch it," said Ron, giving Hermione a stern look. Then he added, "You know, the smell of this toast is making me hungry. I think it's almost dinner time."
"You always think it's almost dinner time," said Hermione. Everyone laughed.
"Hagrid," said Harry. "Thanks for letting us be here to watch Percival being born."
"Yeah, thanks," said the rest of them.
"This was so cool," said Ginny. "Can we come back tomorrow to play with Percival?"
"Yeh kids are welcome here anytime yeh want," said Hagrid.
"Okay, said Hermione. "We'll see you later." And the four of them headed out of the hut, and back up to the castle, leaving Hagrid standing there with a tiny little Phoenix in his massive hand, gently stroking its feathers with the tip of his finger and listening to the Phoenix coo.
At dinner that night, McGonagall walked passed the Gryffindor table and paused for a moment as she passed Harry and Hermione. "I'd like to see you both in my office after dinner," she said. They both nodded to her, and she headed to the staff table.
"What do you think this is about?" asked Harry. Hermione shrugged.
"I think I know," said Ron. "I told McGonagall this morning that I didn't want to be involved in choosing the next head of Gryffindor House."
"What did she say?" asked Harry.
"Not much," said Ron. She smiled sort of mysteriously and said, "I had a feeling you might come to that decision. Don't worry. I have an idea."
"She smiled?" said Hermione. "That doesn't sound so great. McGonagall doesn't smile very much. I'm not sure whether I've ever actually seen her smile."
"You're right," said Ron. "She did seem to be in an unusually good mood when I spoke to her."
Harry changed the subject. "Well," he said, "we solved the mystery of the pile of blankets in Hagrid's hut."
"Yeah," said Ron, "and you know what this means?"
"Yeah," we can get a Phoenix feather," said Harry.
"What exactly do you guys have in mind?" said Hermione. "Are you planning to just walk up to Percival and pluck out one of his feathers?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other and shrugged. They hadn't really thought about that.
"Phoenix feathers must fall out sometimes," said Harry. "How else would Ollivander have gotten Fawkes's feathers to make the two wands?"
"I don't know," said Hermione, "but Phoenixes live forever. We could end up waiting a really long time for one of Percival's feathers to fall out. Like maybe a thousand years."
"Oh, we'll figure something out," said Harry. "We always do."
After dinner, Harry and Hermione headed to the headmistresses office. When they got to the gargoyle, Hermione said, "kitty," and soon they were walking into McGonagall's office. Dumbledore was in his frame behind McGonagall's desk, and he waved to them when they walked in. Harry and Hermione waved back, just as McGonagall looked up.
"Wha…?" she said. Then she looked behind her and saw Dumbledore. "Oh, hi Albus."
She turned back to Harry and Hermione. "Please have a seat."
Harry and Hermione sat down in the chairs in front of McGonagall's desk.
"So I think you know why I've called you here," she said.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other.
McGonagall continued. "As I know Mr. Weasley already told you, at the end of this term I will give up being the head of Gryffindor House. Between you and me, I am not looking forward to giving this up. I care a lot about the Gryffindors. And, as you know," she said looking specifically at Harry, "I have a particular interest in the Gryffindor Quidditch team."
Harry nodded. He remembered the first time he had been alone with McGonagall during his first year. He had thought he was going to be punished, maybe even expelled, for flying without permission. Instead, she had brought him to Oliver Wood to play Seeker.
"But," continued McGonagall, "I don't have any choice. For the good of Hogwarts, the headmistress needs to be neutral. I can't be associated with any one particular house. So that means one of you will be the Head of House for Gryffindor next year."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other again.
"But which one? You both would be worthy choices. I have total confidence in each of you. So how do I choose between you?"
Harry and Hermione both shrugged.
"I decided how I'm going to choose," said McGonagall. "I'm going to have the two of you duel for it. Right in front of the whole school tonight. Whoever wins will be the Head of House."
Harry and Hermione both looked horrified.
"We can do it in the Great Hall," McGonagall continued. "You can stand on two ends of the Gryffindor table. Just like Lockhart and Professor Snape did at the first Dueling Club meeting."
Harry and Hermione looked even more horrified.
"Since you are both very advanced, I don't think we should have any limits on the types of spells you can use. Just go at each other with everything you have. Except, of course, no unforgivable curses. This ought to give the students a pretty good show. Whichever one of you sends the other one to the Hospital Wing with greater injuries will be the winner and the head of Gryffindor House. How does that sound?"
Harry and Hermione were so horrified, they couldn't speak. They just stared at McGonagall, their mouths hanging open.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger," said McGonagall. "Why are you both staring at me like that? I just outlined what I think is a very good plan for choosing the next head of Gryffindor House and providing some healthy entertainment for the other students. How does this sound to you?"
Harry and Hermione still couldn't speak. They just stared at McGonagall, looked at each other nervously, and then looked back at McGonagall. This time they noticed over McGonagall's shoulder that Dumbledore was sitting in his frame and laughing heartily. They were both puzzled. They looked back at McGonagall.
"Children," said McGonagall. "Do you really believe I'm going to make you duel each other?"
Harry and Hermione, both feeling relieved and a little sheepish, just shrugged. They had never known McGonagall to make a joke before.
"We…we…thought…" they both said together.
"You thought I was a stern, serious witch with no sense of humor?" she said, trying to help them finish their sentence.
"Uhm…" said Harry.
"Well…" said Hermione.
"It's okay," said McGonagall. "I am. Most of the time. But that doesn't mean I don't have a sense of humor. I just choose when to be serious and when to have fun. When I am with students, I choose to be serious. However, when I am alone with fellow faculty members as I am right now…"
She paused, and looked back and forth between Harry and Hermione. "I hope you both understand, you are faculty members now. The students will be looking up to you. What you do when you're alone with your friends or with fellow faculty members is one thing, but when you are in front of students I expect you both to behave in a way that commands their respect."
Harry and Hermione both nodded. They understood. McGonagall had let them see another side of her because they were now going to be her colleagues. But they also understood why McGonagall was always so serious around the students. It made the students have confidence in her. It made them trust her. They realized that the reason why they had trusted McGonagall so much over the years was precisely because of how serious she was. Harry and Hermione for the first time truly understood how their students looked up to them, and how the way they behaved around their students affected how the students viewed them.
"What about…" Hermione started to ask.
"What about choosing a new Head of House?" asked McGonagall.
Hermione nodded.
"Well, you're welcome to duel Harry for the job if you'd like to?" said McGonagall, smiling.
Hermione vigorously shook her head. "No thanks, professor."
"Well, then, I was thinking," said McGonagall. "Why not do it together? We've never had co-heads of houses before, but there's no rule that says we can't. You both seem to work very well together. Would you like to share the job? You can be the Heads of House."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other and smiled. It sounded perfect.