Chinese Fireball

Chinese Fireball
Species information
Eye colour	Yellow
Skin colour	Scarlet
Related to	Dragon
Native to	China
Alternative names	Liondragon
Length of average adult	25ft
Mortality	Mortal
Distinction	Shoots mushroom-shaped fire from nostrils Carnivorous Generally tolerant towards other dragons Fast and intelligent
Affiliation	Romanian Dragon Sanctuary
Ministry of Magic Classification	Beast XXXXX
Status	Extant

"...a red one with an odd fringe of fine gold spikes around its face, which was shooting mushroom-shaped fire clouds into the air..."

— Description of a Chinese Fireball

The Chinese Fireball (Chinese: 中國火球龍), also known as the Liondragon, was a dragon native to China. It was a brilliant red and gold dragon, named for the rounded balls of flame that shot from its nostrils.

Description

Physical appearance

The dragon breathing fire

The Fireball was scarlet and smooth scaled with a fringe of golden spikes around its snub-snouted face and extremely protuberant eyes. They weighed between two and four tons.

Traits

The Chinese Fireball in flight

Its name was derived from the mushroom-shaped flame that came from its nostrils when angered, along with the large mushroom-shaped flame it shot from its mouth.

The Fireball was aggressive but, unlike other dragons, it was more tolerant of its own kind, and will sometimes consent to share its territory with up to two other dragons.

They were also said to be very fast and clever, at least for a dragon.

Reproduction

The egg of the Chinese Fireball

The Chinese Fireball breed of dragons generally yielded females that were larger than males. The eggs of the Fireball were vivid crimson speckled with gold, and the shells were prized for use in Chinese wizardry.

Powdered Chinese Fireball eggs had uses that were discovered by Quong Po in the 15th or 16th century.

Diet

Its diet consisted of most mammals, usually preferring pigs and humans.

History

1985–1986 school year

The Chinese Fireball at the Magical Creatures Reserve

In the 1980s, a Chinese Fireball resided in the Scorched Vale of the Magical Creatures Reserve. During the 1985–1986 school year, Rubeus Hagrid introduced her to Jacob's sibling, who helped her regain the ability to breathe fire.

1994

A Chinese Fireball was used as one of the obstacles in the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament in 1994, brought to Hogwarts by Charles Weasley. Viktor Krum faced the dragon in an attempt to retrieve a Golden egg it was guarding, and used a Conjunctivitis Curse to temporarily blind the dragon and snatch the golden egg, but it crushed its own eggs and because of that, points were taken off.

Behind the scenes

A Chinese Fireball as seen in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

• According to Chinese mythology, dragons do not commonly breathe fire. The only dragons in Chinese myth to breathe fire are ones sent from Heaven as punishment and divine retribution. Almost all notable Chinese dragons are benevolent, sending rain in times of need.
• Despite being from China, the Fireball resembles a European dragon. In China, dragons are portrayed as being low-slung, elongated and slender with no wings.
• In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, the Chinese Fireball is the first dragon to be seen. It will block the player's progress with a steady stream of flame, and its egg must be hatched so that it will become distracted with the hatchling.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Mentioned on a Famous Wizard Card)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (Mentioned on a Famous Wizard Card)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite