Category:Centaurs

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Creature profile
Centaur
Ministry of Magic Classification	XXXX
Appearance	human body to the waist, horse body below
Origin	Greece
Known specimens	Bane, Ronan, Magorian, Firenze
First appearance in canon	The Forbidden Forest (PS)

Centaurs are magical creatures; they are half-human and half-horse. They are mysterious, quiet, extremely intelligent, and able to foresee the future (FBAZ).

Characteristics

Centaurs have a human head and torso and a horse's body. They do not wear clothes. They originate from Greece, and dwell in secluded forests all over Europe today. They live in herds of varying sizes (10 to 50). They are talented astronomers, diviners, magical healers and archers (FBAZ).

Centaurs and humans

As a rule, centaurs distance themselves from wizards and Muggles. They have been granted secluded areas to inhabit by wizarding authorities all over Europe. Centaurs neither need nor want human assistance, and are unwilling to offer their own. They would rather stand aside and observe as history unfolds (FBAZ). Their attitude varies from civil disinterest (Ronan) to open hostility (Bane). Firenze, the only centaur who shows real interest in humans, is clearly an outsider. The herd living in the Forbidden Forest criticises him heavily for interfering with Harry Potter's presence there and even tries to kill him when he accepts a teaching post at Hogwarts (PS15, OP30). However, the centaurs shoot a salute at Albus Dumbledore's funeral to honour him (HBP30).

Centaurs requested to be classified as beasts instead of beings when the classification was introduced in 1811. They did not want to share the 'being' category with creatures like hags and vampires and decided to manage their affairs on their own. The Ministry reluctantly agreed. Until today, there is a Centaur Liaison Office at the Ministry, but no centaur ever contacts it (FBi). The centaur herd in the Forbidden Forest openly denies Ministry member Dolores Umbridge's authority over them and attacks her when she insults them (OP33).

Despite their initial reluctance to partake in the Second War, the centaurs of the Forbidden Forest finally join the fight against Voldemort's army at the end of the Battle of Hogwarts. They come charging out of the Forest after Voldemort confronts the school with Harry Potter's supposed death and initiate the final confrontation (DH36).

After the end of the war, they forgive Firenze, realising that his pro-human leanings are honourable (BLC).