Monster Book of Monsters

The weird and wonderful creatures from the Harry Potter universe

A

Abraxan Horse - Large winged equestrians. (First seen: Order of the Phoenix)

Animagus (Animagi) - Wizards who could transform into animals. It is illegal to not pronounce yourself as an Animagus to the Ministry of Magic. Harry's dad (Prongs) was an animagus, as were Sirius (Padfoot), Lupin (Moony) and Peter Pettigrew (Wormtail). Professor McGonagall can also turn into a cat (First seen: Philosophers Stone)

Aragog - A giant, man-eating spider that was raised by Hagrid.  Falsely accused of killing a girl (which in turn resulted in Hagrid getting expelled from Hogwarts, thanks to that nasty piece of work Lord Voldemort), he lived out his years in the Forbidden Forest where he raised a brood of killer arachnids. (First seen: The Prisoner of Azkaban)

Arnold – Ginny Weasley's purple Pygmy Puff. (First seen: Half-Blood Prince)

B

Basilisk - A  monsterous snake that can kill instantly with its icy stare. Resides in the Chamber of Secrets and slithers about in the school's plumbing, causing no end of mischief. Harry, as a Parselmouth, can understand the snake. (First seen: Chamber of Secrets)

Blast-Ended Skrewts – One of Hagrid's least pleasant pets, these nasty creatures have the appearance of headless, shell-less lobsters. They get their name from their nasty habit of blasting sparks out of their rear end. They also bite and sting, and smell like rotten fish. Kinda like some boys we know... (First seen: Goblet of Fire)

Boggart – Nobody knows what a boggart's true form is, as they are shape-shifters, which takes on the appearance of your greatest fear (in Harry's case this is a Dementor). They are repelled by the charm “Ridiculous” (First seen: Prisoner of Azkaban)

Bowtruckles – Small but evil, these twig-like creatures are tree guardians and will happily gouge out a humans' eyes if provoked. They're rather partial to fairy eggs. (First seen: Order of the Phoenix)

Buckbeak – A “domesticated” Hippogriff (half horse, half eagle), who attacked Draco Malfoy, and was later used in the rescue of Sirius Black from the Dementors. Later renamed Witherwings, for his protection. (First seen: Prisoner of Azkaban)

C

Centaurs - Half-man, half-horse creatures that live in the Forbidden Forest. Very distrustful of humans. Noted centaurs include Bane, Ronan, Firenze and Magorian.

Common Welsh Green – A breed of dragon native to Wales (First seen: Goblet of Fire)

Cornish Pixies – Trouble-making fairies (First seen: Chamber of Secrets)

Crookshanks – Hermione's large ginger tabby, who wants nothing better than to eat Ron's rat, Scabbers (First seen: Prisoner of Azkaban)

D

Dobby – An overly enthusiastic house-elf who serves the Malfoy family. He is freed by Harry Potter after he tricks Lucious Malfoy into giving the elf a sock. (SPOILER: Dobby later dies protecting Harry from Belatrix Lestrange) (First seen: Chamber of Secrets)

Doxy – A hairy imp, with beetle-like wings and a poisonous bite. They thrive in dirt and decay, and have infested Grimmauld Place. (First seen: Order of the Phoenix)

Dragon – Legendary dinosaur like creatures that fly and breath fire. Have very bad tempers, and lay golden eggs. Hagrid had a pet dragon, named Norberta (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

E

Errol - The Weasley family's old owl, which has a tendency to crash into things (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

F

Fang – A slobbering bloodhound that belongs to Hagrid (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

Fawkes – Dumbledore's pet phoenix, which has stunning red and gold plumage. Its tears have magical healing powers, which save Harry after he is poisoned by Basilisk venom (First seen: Chamber of Secrets)

Firenze - A centaur who lives in the Forbidden Forest, who is later banished by his herd after agreeing to work as the Divination teacher at Hogwarts when Professor Trelawney is fired. (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

Flobberworm - Species of worm that Harry and his friends have to keep alive to pass the Care of Magical Creatures course. (Prisoner of Azkaban)

Fluffy – Hagrid's giant dog with three heads, and guardian to the Philosopher's Stone. Falls asleep when you play music to it (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

G

Ghosts – The souls of the dead, who chose to stay on this realm. A number live in Hogwarts, including Nearly Headless Nick, The Baron and Peeves (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

Grindylow – A water-demon, with spindly fingers and jagged fangs. They tried to drown Harry in the Black Lake, the evil little gits (First seen: Goblet of Fire)

Griphook – A goblin from Gringotts Bank, who later helps Harry break into the Lestrange's vault. (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

H

Hebridean Black – Breed of dragon that lives in Britain (First seen: Goblet of Fire)

Hedwig – Harry's pet snowy owl; who was his 11th birthday gift from Hagrid. (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

Hermes - Percy Weasley's mail owl (First Seen: Order of the Phoenix)

Hinkypunk – A tiny, one-legged creature. Appears to be made from wisps of smoke. Lives in swamps and lures lost travellers into the quagmire with its lantern. Classified as a Dark Creature by the Ministry of Magic.

Hippogriff – Half-horse, half-eagle, with orange eyes. Very proud and vicious creatures. You must bow to a Hippogriff before approaching it. Hagrid owns a Hippogriff named Buckbeak. (First seen: Prisoner of Azkaban)

Hokey – Old house-elf, with skin like paper, who served in the house of Hepzibah Smith. Accused of poisoning her mistress, although it was actually Tom Riddle, who wanted to steal Hufflepuff's cup from her. (First seen: Half-Blood Prince)

Hungarian Horntail – The most bad-tempered breed of dragon. Harry fights one in the Triwizard Tournament. (First seen: Goblet of Fire)

I

Inferius (Inferi) - A reanimated corpse, used as a puppet to do a wizard's bidding (First seen: Half-Blood Prince)

K

Kappa - Monkey-like creatures that live in water. They have a tendency to strangle those who invade their territory. Like, put up some signs or something.

Kreacher – Grumpy house-elf who serves under the family Black, and is a supporter of Slytheryn. Hates Sirius (SPOILER: played a part in his death.) Lives in 12 Grimauld Place – the Order of the Phoenix's HQ. Harry inherits Kreacher. (First seen: Order of the Phoenix)

M

Magorian - A centaur who lives in the Forbidden Forest (First seen: Order of the Phoenix)

Merpeople – Mermaids that live in the Black Lake. Help with the Triwizard Tournament (First seen: Goblet of Fire)

Mountain Troll – Tall, stupid and violent creatures who like to bash people with their clubs. Harry and Ron save Hermione from a troll after in breaks into Hogwarts. (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

Mrs Norris – Red-eyed cat owned by Argus Filch. Often used to spy on the students. (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

N

Nagini – Voldemort's giant black snake (SPOILER: who is also one of his 7 horcruxes) (First seen: Goblet of Fire)

Nifflers - Fluffy black animals used as treasure detectors. (First seen: Prisoner of Azkaban)

Norbert/Norberta – Hagrid's pet Norwegian Ridgeback dragon. Later discovered to be a female (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

Norwegian Ridgeback – Rare breed of dragon. Hagrid has one as a pet (see Norbert) (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

O

Owl – Used to deliver mail by wizards

P

Peeves - a poltergeist who lives in Hogwarts (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

Pigwidgeon / Pig – Ron's tiny owl, who becomes his pet after he loses Scabbers in Prisoner of Azkaban (First seen: Goblet of Fire)

R

Ronon – A centaur who lives in the Forbidden Forest, and is very distrustful of wizards, although he protects Harry and Hermione (First seen: Order of the Phoenix)

Red Cap - Goblin-like creatures, who are often found where there has been bloodshed. Likes to bludgeon the lost.

S

Scabbers - Ron Weasley's deformed pet rat *SPOILER* Scabbers is really the Animagus Peter Pettigrew (AKA Wormtail) – the man responsible for Harry's parents' death and the imprisonment of Sirius.*SPOILER* (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

Squid – A giant sea-creature that lives in the Black Lake (First seen: Chamber of Secrets)

T

Tenebrus – The first Thestral born in the Forbidden Forrest (First seen: Order the Phoenix)

Thestrals – Boney, winged horse-like creatures that can only been seen by those who have witnessed death. Used to draw the Hogwart's carriages and live in the Forbidden Forest. (First seen: Order of the Phoenix)

Tibbles -  Harry's neighbour and squibb, Mrs. Figgs' magical cat. (First seen: Order of the Phoenix)

Trevor - Neville Longbottom's pet toad (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

U

Unicorn – Magical creature who's blood can restore the dying, although it destroys your soul. Voldemort uses unicorn blood to strengthen his body (First seen: Philosopher's Stone)

V

Veelas – Beautiful women with white-gold hair and moon-bright skin. Hypnotise men with their beauty and singing, although their "true" faces are hideous. Residents of Hungary, and are the mascots of the Hungarian quidditch team. Bill's wife, Fleur, is part-veela. (First seen: Goblet of Fire)

W

Werewolves – Humans who turn into vicious dog-like creatures at the full moon. Hated by wizards. Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Lupin, is a werewolf; as are Fenrir Greyback and Bill Weasley (although Bill is only part-werewolf)
 
Winky – An alcoholic, female house-elf who works for Bartemius Crouch. Turns to drink after she is “freed” by her master, and later gets a job at Hogwarts. Dating Dobby. (First seen: Goblet of Fire)

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