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The Hogwarts Thestral herd was a herd of Thestrals owned by Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

History[]

They lived in the Forbidden Forest, specifically in the Thestral Paddock, but some were also kept in the Hogwarts stables.[1] The herd started out with one male and five females, with Tenebrus as the first to be bred in the forest. The Gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid bred, trained, and cared for the creatures. They were mainly used to pull the Hogwarts carriages up to the school from Hogsmeade Station to the Entrance Gates for Second through Seventh year students,[2][3] although they were sometimes used by Albus Dumbledore when he went on a long journey and didn't want to Apparate.

These Thestrals were trained to go to anywhere they are told by a rider due to their impeccable sense of direction. They were also trained not to attack owls so as not to interfere with the owl post.[4] Hagrid reckoned that the herd was the only tamed herd of its size in Great Britain.

Hagrid used this herd of Thestrals to teach his fifth year Care of Magical Creatures class about these creatures. Several students, including Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown were frightened by viewing the Thestrals eating a carcass on the floor, as they were invisible to most eyes.[5]

The herd also took part in the Battle of Hogwarts, where they attacked the Death Eaters and Voldemort's giant allies.[6]

In the aftermath of the Second Wizarding War, newly-appointed Headmistress Minerva McGonagall noticed that most students were able to see Thestrals for many years to come. This served as a constant, painful reminder of the cost of all the miseries and sacrifices made to achieve peace.[7]

Known Thestrals in the herd[]

Behind the scenes[]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. Hogwarts Legacy
  2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 10 (Luna Lovegood)
  3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 8 (Snape Victorious)
  4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 17 (Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four)
  5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 21 (The Eye of the Snake)
  6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
  7. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite "Brilliant Event: Back to Hogwarts"
  8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
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