Great Lake Selkie colony

Great Lake Selkie colony
Organisation information
Founded	20th century or earlier
Leader(s)	Murcus Merqueen
Known members	Hydriades Nerieids Merkid Merman Merwoman Merwoman
Headquarters	Great Lake Merpeople village
Intentions	Peaceful
Affiliation	Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Great Lake Albus Dumbledore

"The merpeople had greyish skin and long, wild, dark green hair. Their eyes were yellow, as were their broken teeth, and they wore thick ropes of pebbles around their necks. They leered at Harry as he swam past; one or two of them emerged from their caves to watch him better, their powerful, silver fish tails beating the water, spears clutched in their hands."

— Harry Potter encountering the merpeople colony in the Black Lake

The colony of merpeople who lived in the Great Lake were a tribe of Selkies. Led by Merchieftainess Murcus during the 1990s, they lived in a village in the centre of the lake. According to Rubeus Hagrid, the colony was on good terms with Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and therefore even when students crossed the boundaries into their territory they usually wouldn't attack the students, despite merpeople's generally highly territorial nature, out of respect for the school.

History

1994-1995 Triwizard Tournament

Pre-Second Task

During the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament, the colony consented to hold the hostages that the Champions had to rescue in their village. As part of the agreement, their singing voices were used as part of a clue that the Champions would need to decipher. The golden egg, which the Champions had to retrieve from a dragon in the First Task, contained a song that could only be heard when submerged underwater.

The Second Task

A Selkie attempting to stop Harry Potter taking more than one hostage during the Second Task

During the Second Task, the merpeople attempted to stop Harry Potter from rescuing more than one hostage. After Harry successfully rescued both Ron Weasley and Gabrielle Delacour, the Merchieftaness spoke to Albus Dumbledore about the incident, and recounted his determination to see all the hostages to safety.

Dumbledore's funeral

Following the death of Albus Dumbledore in 1997, the merpeople paid their respects to the Headmaster during his funeral, breaching the waves of the lake en masse and watching the proceedings.

Behind the scenes

• In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, the merpeople actually attack, whereas in the film and book they only confronted Harry when he tried to take more than his own hostage, but even then they only threatened to attack.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Pottermore
• HarryPotter.com
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened