Three-headed dog

Three-headed dog
Species information
Eye colour	Black
Hair colour	Brown
Related to	Dog
Native to	Greece
Alternative names	Cerberus
Mortality	Mortal
Distinction	Three heads Larger and stronger than non-magical dogs
Ministry of Magic Classification	Beast
Status	Extant

"They were looking straight into the eyes of a monstrous dog, a dog that filled the whole space between ceiling and floor. It had three heads. Three pairs of rolling, mad eyes; three noses, twitching and quivering in their direction; three drooling mouths, saliva hanging in slippery ropes from yellowish fangs."

— Description of Fluffy, a three-headed dog

A three-headed dog, also known as a Cerberus, was a very rare magical beast. It is unknown if, like the Runespoor, each head served a different purpose. Their great weakness was the inability to resist falling asleep to the sound of music.

History

During the 1800s a tapestry of a three-headed dog was hung on the walls of Hogwarts Castle.

"What do they think they're doing, keeping a thing like that locked up in a school? If any dog needs exercise, that one does."

— Ron Weasley's shock after having encountered Fluffy

Rubeus Hagrid once owned a three-headed dog named Fluffy, which he obtained from a Greek man he met at a pub. Fluffy served as one of the obstacles to the Philosopher's Stone in 1992. In October 1991, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom inadvertently stumbled upon Fluffy after night hours at Hogwarts, when they were trying to hide from Argus Filch. Later in June 1992, Harry managed to put Fluffy to sleep by playing the flute, so he, Ron and Hermione could enter the Underground Chambers.

During the Calamity in the 2010s and 2020s, three-headed dog Foundables starting appeared throughout the wizarding world. Volunteers of the Statute of Secrecy Task Force were sent to deal with these Foundables to be freed and return to their rightful places of belonging.

Behind the scenes

• Although identified as beasts, it is unknown what danger classification the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures gives three-headed dogs, but seen as though they are large, aggressive and require highly specialist handling, it is likely they are ranked XXXX.
• In Greek mythology, Cerberus was a three-headed dog that guarded the gates to the underworld. In order to get past him, music would have to be played for him to fall asleep, as portrayed in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Hagrid gets Fluffy from "an Irish feller". In the novel, Hagrid gets him from "a Greek chappie".
• In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one can purchase a plush version of Fluffy.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Early draft)
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World
• Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book
• LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World
• LEGO Harry Potter
• LEGO Creator: Harry Potter
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
• Hogwarts Legacy (Appeared on a tapestry)