Deer

Deer is the common name for a family of ruminant animals grouped by the fact that the males grow antlers in adulthood. Male deer are called stags, whereas females are called does. One particular species of deer is the Scottish stag. Deer is the preferred food of the Hebridean Black breed of dragon.

History
The deer was a reoccurring Patronus within the Potter family: James Potter, his wife Lily, and his son Harry all have deer for Patronuses. James Potter was also an Animagus who could take the form of a stag. Severus Snape, as a sign of his undying affection for Lily, also had a doe for a Patronus, which persisted long after her death. In 1998, he cast this Patronus as a guide to lead Harry Potter to Godric Gryffindor's Sword hidden within a frozen lake of the Forest of Dean. It could be possible that Ginny Weasley's Patronus could have changed from a horse to a doe, for her love for her husband, Harry Potter, whose Patronus is a stag.

Deer live in the Forbidden Forest — in May of 1996, when Rubeus Hagrid was discussing Grawp with Harry and Hermione, he said that he was able to get his own food; "birds an' deer an' stuff."

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
 * Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
 * LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
 * LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
 * Harry Potter for Kinect
 * Harry Potter Trading Card Game
 * Harry Potter: The Character Vault (mentioned only)

Notes and references
Cerf