Category:Thestrals
From UnknowableWiki
| Creature profile | |
|---|---|
| Thestral | |
| Species | Winged horse |
| Ministry of Magic Classification | XXXX[1] |
| Appearance | huge, black and skeletal; dragonish face and pointed fangs; long tail; leathery wings |
| Known specimens | Tenebrus, other Hogwarts Thestrals |
| First appearance in canon | Luna Lovegood (OP) |
Thestrals are a rare breed of winged horses. Despite their many useful talents, they are considered unlucky by many wizards, for they are only visible to those who have seen somebody die (FBAZ, OP21).
Contents |
Characteristics
To those who can see them, Thestrals appear as huge, skeletal creatures with a reptilian look about them. Their black, silken coats cling directly to their bones and they seem to be fleshless. Their heads resemble a dragon's and their white eyes are pupil-less. Their fangs are pointed. They have a pair of leathery, bat-like wings and a long black tail and mane (OP10, OP21, OP33). Unlike normal horses, Thestrals are carnivores that are attracted by the smell blood (OP21, OP33). They prefer the dark. Despite their sinister appearance, they are generally friendly towards humans, although they can be dangerous when threatened or annoyed. The Ministry of Magic has therefore classified them as "dangerous" (OP21). It is possible to breed and train them, although this is no easy feat. Due to their swiftness and keen sense of direction, they make excellent mounts. A rider only has to tell them his destination (OP21).
The Elder Wand contains a Thestral tail hair, a potent but tricky core that can be mastered only by those who are able to face death (JKRW).
Thestrals at Hogwarts
Hogwarts has a whole herd of Thestrals living in the Forbidden Forest. Rubeus Hagrid, the gamekeeper, is the only person in Britain who has managed to domesticate a herd (OP21). The herd started with a male and five females, and has grown since; the first Thestral to be born in the Forbidden Forest was Tenebrus. The Hogwarts Thestrals are very well trained, for instance, they will not go after owls (OP17) and can be summoned by Hagrid's call (OP21). Unbeknownst to most students, they are used to pull the school carriages from and to Hogsmeade Station (OP10). Headmaster Albus Dumbledore sometimes uses the creatures for long journeys when he does not wish to Apparate (OP21).
Harry's first sight of the Thestrals
Harry Potter first sees the Thestrals in front of the school carriages on September 1, 1995, as a result of having witnessed Peter Pettigrew kill Cedric Diggory in June (GF32).[2] At first, he wonders why the supposedly horseless carriages are suddenly pulled by such sinister creatures when they are able to move on their own. He points the Thestrals out to Ron Weasley, and realises that Ron cannot see them. Sensing his desperation, Luna Lovegood assures him that she can has always been able to see the horses and that he is just as sane as she is. Given Luna's odd habits and beliefs, this statement does not completely reassure Harry (OP10).
Harry sees another Thestral flying over the Forbidden Forest from a window of the owlery when he sends his owl Hedwig to Sirius Black. The sight unnerves him and his heart starts hammering. However, Cho Chang enters the owlery at this moment, and the conversation with her drives the weird horse off his mind (OP14). Hedwig is wounded on her trip. When Harry shows her to Professor Grubbly-Plank, she remarks that Thestrals sometimes go after birds. However, she doubts that one of the Hogwarts Thestrals attacked Hedwig, as Hagrid has trained them not to touch owls. Harry, who does not yet know what Thestrals are, does not understand her, but as he is worried for Hedwig, he does not ask for an explanation (OP17).
Care of Magical Creatures lesson
Hagrid introduces Thestrals to his fifth-year students in a Care of Magical Creatures lesson, Hagrid introduces the creatures to his fifth-year students. He takes the class into the Forbidden Forest without telling them what awaits them. Draco Malfoy is obviously afraid of entering the forest and questions Hagrid's claims that the creatures they will meet are well-trained. Inside the forest, Hagrid places half a dead cow he brought along on the ground and calls the Thestrals twice with a shrieking bird-like cry. After about a minute, the first Thestral arrives and starts to tear flesh from the dead cow. Harry points it out to Ron, but Ron cannot see it and only asks why Hagrid does not call again. Only two of Harry's lassmates, Neville Longbottom and Theodore Nott (JKRW), can see them too. A second Thestral emerges. Hagrid asks the class who can see them, and Neville, Harry and Nott raise their hands. Malfoy asks what they are supposed to see; Hagrid points at the cow's corpse in answer and the students, who can see that bits of flesh vanishing from the body, gasp. Parvati Patil asks what is eating the cow, and Hagrid answers that it is Thestrals. Alarmed, Parvati points out that Sybill Trelawney said that Thestrals bring terrible misfortune. Hagrid dismisses her concerns as superstition, saying that they are very clever, useful animals. A third Thestral arrives and passes Parvati, who shivers.
Hermione Granger answers Hagrid's question why some people can see Thestrals while others cannot and gains ten points for Gryffindor. Dolores Umbridge arrives at this moment to inspect Hagrid's lesson. She acts as if Hagrid was dim-witted and makes derisive comments about him, which unsettles and flusters him. He goes on telling the class how he started the herd and introduces the first Thestral that arrived as Tenebrus, the first Thestral that was born in the forest. Umbridge interrupts him to point out that the Ministry of Magic consideres Thestrals as dangerous. Hagrid replies that they will only bite if provoked, at which Umbridge attests him to show pleasure at the idea of violence. Hagrid tries to defend himself, but Umbridge does not answer him and goes on to interview the students. Hagrid tries to go on with the lesson, but he cannot concentrate properly anymore. When asked about the Thestrals by Umbridge, Neville says that they are "okay"; Umbridge insinuates that he is too intimidated to admit that he is frightened. She then leaves.
After the lesson, Hermione is furious about Umbridge. She defends Hagrid, saying that it was a good lesson. Ron remarks at Umbridge said Thestrals are dangerous. Hermione concedes that they can look after themselves and that other teachers might have kept them for NEWT level, but adds that they are very interesting. She claims that she wishes she could see them until Harry darkly reminds her what that remark implies (OP21).
Trip to the Ministry
At the end of the school year, Harry has a vision that Sirius is held prisoner by Voldemort at the Department of Mysteries. He wants to rescue him with the help of his friends, but is held up by Umbridge and her Inquisitorial Squad. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville and Ginny Weasley eventually get rid of her with the help of a few hexes, a herd of centaurs and Grawp the giant, only to find themselves in the middle of the Forbidden Forest, with no idea how to get to the Ministry in London.
Only Luna is unperturbed by that problem; she has already noticed that the Thestrals are attracted by the smell of Grawp's blood. She calmly remarks that they will have to fly. The others ignore her and squabble about who may go to London and who should remain behind. Harry impatiently ends the discussion and says that they still have no idea how to go, to which Luna serenely replies that she thought this was settled, they were going to fly. Ron rudely tells her that they don't have enough broomsticks; Luna just says that there are other ways of flying. Ron impatiently asks Luna whether they should ride on the back of the "Kacky Snorgle". In a dignified tone, Luna replies that the Crumple-Horned Snorkack cannot fly and points out the two Thestrals that have approached them; she reminds the others that Hagrid said they can find the place the rider is looking for.
Harry is immediately intrigued by the idea; he whirls around and starts patting one of the Thestrals. Ron and Hermione, who cannot see them, seem less comfortable with the idea. The argument about who goes and who stays starts again; Harry points out that there are not enough Thestrals to take them all, but Ginny retorts that more will surely come as he and Hermione are drenched in giant blood. As if to acknowldege the statement, one of the Thestrals starts to lick Harry's bloody sleeve. More Thestrals arrive, and rob Harry of excuses for leaving Luna, Ginny and Neville behind (OP33).
Harry and Neville each awkwardly climb onto a Thestral's back and Luna settles herself side-sattle on another one with ease. Ron, Hermione and Ginny do not know how to mount the invisible creatures until Luna gets down again and helps them. She winds their hands securely into the Thestrals' manes before getting back on her own horse. All three are very nervous.
Harry tells his Thestral to go to the visitors' entrance of the Ministry. The creature is still for a moment and then extends its wings and launches upwards so fast and steeply that Harry nearly falls off. The Thestrals are incredibly fast; soon they reach London and aprubtly start to dive. Harry's stomach jolts and he hears somebody else scream. He holds on to his Thestral with all his strength and prepares for the impact of the landing. However, the Thestrals land lightly despite their speed. Ron topples from his horse and declares that he will never do this again. Hermione and Ginny look hardly better and Neville is shaking when he jumps down. Only Luna descends smoothly and seems not affected at all. She asks Harry where to go next and he leads them to the phone box after giving his Thestral a thankful pat (OP34).
Battle of the Seven Potters and Battle of Hogwarts
Full articles: Battle of the Seven Potters and Battle of Hogwarts
To transfer Harry from Privet Drive to The Burrow without being detected, the Order of the Phoenix can only use means of transport that can be activated without a spell. They therefore use two of the Hogwarts Thestrals, along with brooms and Sirius' flying motorcycle. One Thestral carries Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour, the other Kingsley Shacklebolt and Hermione Granger. Neither Fleur nor Hermione are comfortable on broomsticks. As soon as the Order members take flight, they are attacked by [Death Eaters]]. Hermione and Kingsley's Thestral arrives at its destination on time for them to catch their Portkey to The Burrow. Fleur and Bill miss their Portkey, but they manage to fly to The Burrow on their Thestral unharmed (DH4).
In the Battle of Hogwarts, the Thestrals attack Voldemort's giants from the air and try to scratch their eyes out (DH36).
Nineteen years later
Nineteen years after Voldemort's fall, wizard prejudices about Thestrals seem still intact. When Harry's son Albus Severus prepares for boarding the Hogwarts Express for the first time, his older brother James teases him, telling him to watch out for the Thestrals. Albus is worried, but his father assures him that Thestrals are gentle creatures and that he will go to Hogwarts by boat (DHE).
Footnotes
- ↑ Umbridge mentions that the Ministry has classified Thestrals as "dangerous", this corresponds to the verbal description of an XXXX rating (OP21, FBc).
- ↑ J. K. Rowling has stated that Harry should, in fact, have seen Thestrals when returning home in June after witnessing the murder of Cedric. He did not see Lily and James die (only a flash of green light), nor did he see Quirrell's death (Dumbledore told him about it, PS17); but he did watch Peter Pettigrew murder the Hufflepuff. The author did not, however, wish to create a new mystery so close to the end of the fourth book, and thus decided that a wizard had to understand the meaning of death in order to see the creatures. Cedric's death had not yet fully sunk in when Harry travelled back home a few days later (JKRW).
