Buckbeak

Buckbeak
Biographical information
Also known as	Beaky Witherwings
Physical information
Species	Hippogriff
Gender	Male
Feathers	Stormy Grey
Eye colour	Orange
Affiliation
Loyalty	Order of the Phoenix Rubeus Hagrid (owner) Harry Potter (owner) Hermione Granger Sirius Black (owner) Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Dumbledore's Army

"Buckbeak was a good hippogriff, always cleaned his feathers."

— Hagrid opinion of Buckbeak

Buckbeak, temporarily renamed Witherwings, was a hippogriff. He lived with Rubeus Hagrid during Harry Potter's third year at Hogwarts, along with a few other hippogriffs. He was later unfairly sentenced to death, when he attacked Draco Malfoy after being taunted and provoked. Buckbeak's death sentence was delivered from the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. Many of the members of this committee had been threatened by Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, into voting for that verdict.

With the help of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and her Time-Turner, Buckbeak escaped execution in 1994 and he came under the care of Sirius Black. Sirius kept Buckbeak with him while on the run during the 1994–1995 school year, and later kept him in his mother's bedroom while in hiding at 12 Grimmauld Place.

After Sirius's death, Buckbeak came to be owned by Harry Potter through Sirius's will, though Harry allowed him to live with Hagrid. He participated in two battles of the Second Wizarding War, most notably the Battle of Hogwarts. He also showed great affection and loyalty toward Harry, defending him whenever he was in danger.

Biography

1993-1994 school year

"Buckbeak flew him once around the paddock and then headed back to the ground; this was the bit Harry had been dreading; he leaned back as the smooth neck lowered, feeling he was going to slip off over the beak, then felt a heavy thud as the four ill-assorted feet hit the ground."

— Harry Potter takes a ride on Buckbeak

Harry Potter meets Buckbeak during his first Care of Magical Creatures lesson

In 1993, Rubeus Hagrid brought his first Care of Magical Creatures class to see and study Buckbeak, as well as other hippogriffs. Under Hagrid's direction, Harry was able to successfully approach Buckbeak, and was even allowed to ride him for a short flight around the paddock.

As hippogriffs are immensely proud creatures, Buckbeak was offended when Draco Malfoy insulted him, resulting in him injuring the boy's arm. Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy insisted that the Hippogriff be put to death. Malfoy's influence in the Ministry of Magic lead to his views being the majority vote, and the execution was to be carried out. Walden Macnair came to the Hogwarts as the employed executioner, and Buckbeak was tied in Hagrid's pumpkin patch to await his death.

Harry and Hermione rescue Buckbeak and Sirius Black

However, using a Time-Turner, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger rescued Buckbeak just prior to the execution. Originally, they had heard the swish of an axe and assumed Buckbeak had been killed. Later, as it became evident that Buckbeak had escaped, Macnair swung his axe into a pumpkin in anger. When Harry and Hermione were about to be attacked by Remus Lupin in his werewolf form, Buckbeak saved them by attacking him and scaring him off. Buckbeak was used to get to Professor Flitwick's Office which Sirius was locked in, enabling Sirius to escape the Dementors and leave Hogwarts.

Living with Sirius Black

Sirius Black then took possession of Buckbeak while both were on the run from the Ministry of Magic. Buckbeak stayed in Sirius's late mother's room at 12 Grimmauld Place.

The trio visiting Sirius in the cave in which he's hiding with Buckbeak

Buckbeak appears with Sirius when he came to talk to Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley about the Crouch family in 1994.

In 1996, Kreacher injured Buckbeak with the encouragement of Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy so that Sirius would be occupied with taking care of him when Harry tried to contact him. This lead Harry to believe a false vision Lord Voldemort showed him, where Sirius was being tortured in the Department of Mysteries. The scene lured Harry and his friends to the Ministry, and set the stage for a battle.

Back in Hagrid's care

"Buckbeak had flown at Snape, who staggered backward as the razor-sharp claws slashed at him."

— Buckbeak joins Harry Potter's duel with Snape

After Sirius's death in June of 1996, Albus Dumbledore told Harry that according to Sirius' will, he was now the legal owner of Buckbeak, though Harry told Dumbledore that Buckbeak could continue living with Rubeus Hagrid. In order to protect the hippogriff's identity, Buckbeak was renamed "Witherwings" at this time. He was greeted by Harry Potter in front of Hagrid's hut when the trio dropped in for a visit. He was also present near the hut during Aragog's funeral.

Buckbeak joined Harry's duel with Severus Snape across the grounds in June of 1997 after Dumbledore's death, attacking Snape and driving him off, protecting Harry. Buckbeak survived the battle and was still in very good health.

Battle of Hogwarts

"Harry saw great winged creatures soaring the heads of Voldemort's giants, thestrals and Buckbeak the hippogriff scratching at their eyes while Grawp punched and pummelling them and now the wizards, defenders of Hogwarts and Death Eaters alike were being forced back into the castle."

— Buckbeak takes part in the second half of the final battle

File:Hogwarts BigBattleAtHogwarts Moment.jpg

Buckbeak fighting a giant during the Battle of Hogwarts

During the Battle of Hogwarts, Buckbeak, along with several Thestrals, was seen attacking Lord Voldemort's giant soldiers from the air while Grawp was hitting them. Buckbeak survived the battle.

Later life

It is unknown what became of Buckbeak after the war, but it is possible that he still lives at Hagrid's hut, or else in the forest with the other hippogriffs.

Personality and traits

Buckbeak was a proud creature and at first he seemed to be fairly aggressive, attacking Draco Malfoy when the latter insulted him. Despite his earlier signs of aggression, Buckbeak has been shown to be very loyal and protective of those who treat him with kindness and respect. After being saved from execution, Buckbeak protects Hermione and Harry when they were threatened by Remus Lupin in his werewolf form.

Buckbeak is intelligent in his ability to recognise his past acquaintances, as he defends a cornered Harry from Severus Snape in 1997. His loyalty towards Harry was undying, and further proven when the hippogriff joined the Battle of Hogwarts in 1998.

Media

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Buckbeak the Hippogriff

Buckbeak the Hippogriff

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Patting Buckbeak

Patting Buckbeak

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Buckbeak is executed

Buckbeak is executed

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Saving Buckbeak

Saving Buckbeak

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Buckbeak and the werewolf

Buckbeak and the werewolf

Behind the scenes

Buckbeak in LEGO.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Buckbeak defended Harry and Hermione from Remus Lupin in his werewolf form.
• Buckbeak's role in the series beyond the Prisoner of Azkaban was omitted from the films, though concept art of the character was made for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and he appeared in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7.
• The wizard rock band Draco and the Malfoys have a song titled Hippogriffs Deserve to Die, all about Draco being attacked by Buckbeak.
• The Flight of the Hippogriff ride at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has an animatronic version of Buckbeak, resting in a nest.
• In the book of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry doesn't exactly enjoy his first ride on Buckbeak, and it's made clear between hippogriffs and broomsticks which one he prefers. This isn't so in the film adaption. In the movie, during his first ride on Buckbeak, Harry appears to be fascinated by the ride and enjoying it a lot as they fly over the Black Lake, raising his arms and shouting in triumph. The film portrayal also depicts a much longer ride, with Buckbeak achieving a sort of smooth, idyllic glide not described in the novel.
• Buckbeak also defecated in the film version; it happens right after Ron urges Harry to go up to Buckbeak. The CGI team believed this was the first time an animal was animated doing this, but Walking With Dinosaurs did it first in 1999.
• Concept artist Dermot Power wanted to portray Buckbeak as a "noble beast" with "romantic magic potential", but director Alfonso Cuarón disapproved of these designs.

See also

• Rubeus Hagrid's pets
• Hogwarts Hippogriff herd

Appearances

The Buckbeak plush at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) (Heard only)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Appears in artwork)
• Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book
• LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World
• LEGO Harry Potter: Characters of the Magical World
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• Harry Potter for Kinect (Mentioned only)
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• LEGO Harry Potter
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault (mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault (mentioned only)
• LEGO Dimensions