Odds and Ends: Pheonix Tears

[kittycatta]

No: HPFGUIDX 43134

bboy_mn ventured:
<<<<<Off on a tangent, related to phoenix, in GoF when Harry is in
Dumbledore's office, just before he starts telling Dumbledore what
happened, Harry is kind of out of it, in shock. Then Fawkes flies down
and lands on Harry's lap (short version), Dumbledore asks Harry to
talk, there is a loud squawk, and Harry feels something warm trickle
down his throat. That 'something warm' is never specifically defined. 

How many people are like me, and assumed that 'something warm' was a
phoenix tear? >>>>>>>>>
  
Well, I must say I hadn't assumed that.  I had assumed that 
the "soft, quavering note" emitted by Fawkes was what had 
strengthened Harry.  I'm wondering if this is just another case of 
bad translation on the part of whomever is responsible for that.  My 
canon comes from the American paperback edition of GoF. I'll still 
have to snip the stuff from when Fawkes landed on Harry's knee and to 
the quavering note part, because it's not relevant to this point.
    ""There was a soft rush of wings. Fawkes the phoenix had left his 
perch, flown across the office, and landed on Harry's knees.    "'Lo, 
Fawkes, " said Harry quietly.  He stroked the phoenix's beautiful 
scarlet and gold plumage.  Fawkes blinked peacefully up at him.  
There was something comforting about his warm weight. <snip 
Dumbledore persuading Harry to recount the events of that night>  The 
phoenix let out one soft, quavering note.  It shivered in the air, 
and Harry *felt as though* a drop of hot liquid had slipped down his 
throat into his stomach, warming him, and strengthening him.""
  The emphasis on *felt as though* is mine.  It's a metaphor.  
Nothing really slipped down Harry's throat, it just seemed that way.  
FB&WTFT had something about the call (or cry, or whatever, I don't 
have that book) of the phoenix being strengthening to the pure of 
heart, which would apply to Harry, unless you're of the opinion he's 
ever-so-evil :)  So, unless the translators have messed up the 
context AGAIN, it appears (to me, at least) that what strengthened 
Harry was a phoenix call, not a tear.

--Angie
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