Gossamer

Gossamer
Physical information
Gender	Male
Affiliation
Occupation	Knight (possibly)
Loyalty	Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Unidentified art club Simon Talmadge Gwydion Idris Unidentified Muggle-born Hogwarts student

Gossamer: "Oh, it was, it was! But you found me, and I'm free once again! For that I am in your debt. Henceforth, I shall be your loyal friend and dutiful guide."

Student: "Guide? Guide to what?"

Gossamer: "Hogwarts, of course! I will be your eyes around every corner and your ears where you cannot hear. Wherever there is paint, you will find me waiting, watching, and listening."

— Gossamer after being freed

Gossamer was an individual whose portrait was hung in Hogwarts Castle.

Biography

Early years

The portrait was painted in 1908 or earlier, and was, according to Lottie Turner, presumably done by a right-handed Scottish artist. The origins of the portrait were unknown with Gossamer appearing in the castle out of nowhere. He was unpopular among the other portraits for his chaotic personality. Eventually a student recognised he was too big of a nuisance. He removed his portrait from the Grand Staircase, put it into chains and hid it in one of the House common rooms.

Freedom

Gossamer after being freed

Decades later, in 2008, it was found by a Muggle-born student and their friends (Ivy Warrington, Lottie Turner, Daniel Page, Robyn Thistlethwaite, and Kevin Farrell), who freed him, in their House common room. He continued his mischievous behaviour, angering other portraits, including an angry wizard. When the students met him again, he suggested organising a search party as one of the witches and wizards he had talked to went away, but after the students pointed out they had left probably to get away from him, he was saddened and thought he was cursed to remain friendless forever. When Argus Filch found the students and released a trio of Red Caps on them, they fought them to prevent them from getting Gossamer, which moved him and accepted the students being his friends. He suggested they place him in a more secluded place, and he end up being moved back to a common room.

Since then, Gossamer stayed close to the Muggle-born student as their friend and, occasionally, spy. They kept of one of his portrait frames in their dormitory, and another in their personal space behind the Welsh portrait of a dragon.

Astrid Cole

One night in the 2010–2011 school year, while the student was wandering in a corridor, they saw Astrid Cole, the Herbologist and plant-based Healer from St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, standing next to Slytherin student Cassandra Vole who was lying on the floor, affected by the Mysterious Malady. The entire scene was witnessed by Gossamer, who then informed what he had seen to Headmistress McGonagall.

Physical description

Gossamer was depicted as a short, little person in a silvery suit of armour, with a Hogwarts scarf wrapped around his neck.

Etymology

"Gossamer" comes from "gos" (meaning "goose") and "sumer" (meaning "summer"). Initially referring to delicate spider threads in late fall, it later broadened to describe anything light or flimsy, including a type of gauze for veils.

Behind the scenes

• Gossamer is voiced by American actor Josey Montana McCoy in Harry Potter: Magic Awakened.
• In addition to being a guide for the player's character, Gossamer is also an icon for the guide in Customer Service of Harry Potter: Magic Awakened.

Appearances

• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (First appearance)