Deer

Deer
Species information
Eye colour	Various
Hair colour	Various
Native to	World-wide
Mortality	Mortal
Affiliation	Potter family
Ministry of Magic Classification	Non-magical
Status	Extant

"And out of the end of his wand burst, not a shapeless cloud of mist, but a blinding, dazzling, silver animal. He screwed up his eyes, trying to see what it was. It looked like a horse."

— Harry Potter's corporeal stag Patronus

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.

It is a possible corporeal form of the Patronus Charm. Deer have become synonymous with the Potter family, as Harry Potter's stag Patronus is widely known.

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 large stag. Professor Severus Snape, as a sign of his undying affection for Lily, also had a doe for a Patronus, which persisted long after her death.

The doe that led Harry Potter to Godric Gryffindor's Sword

In 1998, Snape 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. Harry felt an instinctual familiarity with the doe Patronus.

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."

Deer Patronuses

James Potter

Lily J. Potter

Harry Potter

Severus Snape

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Appears as a Patronus)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) (Appears as a Patronus)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (Appears as a Patronus)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Appears as a Patronus)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) (Appears as a Patronus)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) (Appears as a Patronus)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Appears as a Patronus)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Appears as a Patronus)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game) (Appears as a Patronus)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Appears as a Patronus)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game) (Appears as a Patronus)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Appears as a Patronus)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Appears as a Patronus)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 (Appears as a Patronus)
• Harry Potter for Kinect (Appears as a Patronus)
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game (First appearance)
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault (mentioned only)