Firenze

Firenze is a centaur and one of two Divination teachers at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Life with his herd
"... like a common mule!"

- Bane, a fellow centaur.

Firenze lived part of his life in the Forbidden Forest with his herd. In 1992, he saved Harry Potter, who was serving a detention in the Forbidden Forest, from Lord Voldemort. He carried Harry on his back to safety where he was reunited with Rubeus Hagrid, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy and Neville Longbottom, who were also serving detention. Firenze's herd saw this as a dispicable action, because a centaur is not for humans to ride.

Life out of his herd; as Hogwarts Professor
In 1995, Albus Dumbledore hired him as a Divination teacher when Dolores Umbridge (then-High Inquisitor of Hogwarts) sacked Sybill Trelawney. This resulted in Firenze being cast out of his herd, since agreeing to work for a human is considered degrading for a centaur. Dumbledore turned the classroom into a forest-type state for him, and students were requested to lie back and look at the stars on the small enchanted ceiling. Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil found him very appealing and looked foward to his lessons even though they liked Professor Trelawney as well.

Sharing classes with Trelawney
With the departure of the Headmistress Dolores Umbridge from Hogwarts in the next school year, Sybill Trelawney was reinstated by Albus Dumbledore to her post of Divination Professor. As his herd was still resentful of Firenze, Dumbledore let him continue teaching Divination alongside Trelawney, causing Trelawney much consternation, as she considered it an insult to be sharing classes with a "horse".

Carrows and Snape's tenure at Hogwarts; The Battle of Hogwarts
Firenze presumably continued teaching Divination during Snape's tenure as Headmaster of Hogwarts. In May 2nd 1998, Firenze fought in The Battle of Hogwarts, defending the school bravely against the Death Eaters. He was seriously wounded during the Battle. After the Battle, he was welcomed back into his herd. It is unknown if he kept his teaching post after that.

Behind the scenes

 * He was portrayed by Ray Fearon in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
 * In the books, Firenze is said to have silver-blond hair and is even considered handsome by some students. In the film adaptations, however, he has dark hair and is computer animated. He doesn't stay with Harry or let him ride on his back either because Hagrid and the others appear straight away.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Firenze