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The Hogwarts Thestral herd was a herd of Thestrals employed at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
History
They lived in the Forbidden Forest, specifically in the Thestral Paddock. 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,[1][2] 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.[3] 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.[4]
The herd also took part in the Battle of Hogwarts, where they attacked the Death Eaters and Voldemort's giant allies.[5]
Known Thestrals in the herd
- Tenebrus - First born in the forest and Hagrid's personal favourite.
- Six Unidentified Thestrals - The six thestrals that Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood were able to ride to the Ministry of Magic in 1996.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
Notes and references
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 10 (Luna Lovegood)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 8 (Snape Victorious)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 17 (Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 21 (The Eye of the Snake)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
