Silvanus Kettleburn

"Professor Kettleburn survived no fewer than sixty-two periods of probation during his employment as Care of Magical Creatures teacher."

- Albus Dumbledore

Professor Silvanus Kettleburn was the Care of Magical Creatures teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry before Rubeus Hagrid assumed the post. Kettleburn assumed the position under Headmaster Armando Dippet and retired in 1993 to spend more time with his remaining limbs.

Early life
Little is known about Kettleburn's early life. He likely received magical instruction, presumably at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and achieved high marks in Care of Magical Creatures.

Under Headmaster Armando Dippet
"[...] it was several months before the Great Hall lost its pungent aroma of wood smoke, and even longer before Professor Beery's head reassumed its normal proportions, and Professor Kettleburn was taken off probation [...]"

- Albus Dumbledore

At some point in his life, Kettleburn became the Professor of Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts School under Headmaster Armando Dippet. During his time as a professor, Kettleburn amassed sixty-two periods of probations. One of which was when a worm he provided for the play of The Fountain of Fair Fortune (which was in fact an Engorged Ashwinder) exploded and started a fire, also starting a duel between the girls playing Amata and Asha, in which Professor Herbert Beery, the Herbology Professor, was caught in the crossfire. Beery's head was reported to have been disfigured.

Under Headmaster Albus Dumbledore
"By the time I became Headmaster, however, Professor Kettleburn had mellowed considerably, although there were always those who took the cynical view that with only one and a half of his original limbs remaining to him, he was forced to take life at a quieter pace."

- Albus Dumbledore

By the time Albus Dumbledore took over from Dippet as Headmaster, Professor Kettleburn had mellowed considerably, though many thought this was because he only had one and a half of his original limbs left.

Retirement
"Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, Professor Kettleburn, has retired in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be taken by none other than our own, Rubeus Hagrid!"

- Albus Dumbledore

Kettleburn remained teaching Care of Magical Creatures until 1993. He retired to spend more time with his remaining one and a half limbs. Rubeus Hagrid followed as the teacher of Care of Magical Creatures.

Personality and traits
"His relations with my predecessor at Hogwarts, Professor Dippet, were always strained, Professor Dippet considering him to be somewhat reckless."

- Albus Dumbledore

Kettleburn was considered reckless by many people, including his former employer Armando Dippet. One notable example of his recklessness was the The Fountain of Fair Fortune incident in the Great Hall, which resulted in a packed Hospital wing, a Great Hall smelling of burned wood and Herbert Beery's head growing out of proportion. Kettleburn had mellowed considerably by the time Dumbledore took over.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
 * The Tales of Beedle the Bard

Notes and references
Silvanus Brûlopot