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"Hagrid will be delighted. He was thrilled to see Buckbeak again. Incidentally, we have decided, in the interests of Buckbeak’s safety, to rechristen him ‘Witherwings’ for the time being, though I doubt that the Ministry would ever guess he is the hippogriff they once sentenced to death."
Albus Dumbledore explaining Buckbeak's new name[src]

Buckbeak,[4] later renamed Witherwings,[2] was a male hippogriff. He lived with Rubeus Hagrid during Harry Potter's third year at Hogwarts, along with a few other hippogriffs.[4]

He was later unfairly sentenced to death, when he attacked Draco Malfoy after being taunted and provoked. Buckbeak's death sentence was delivered from the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. Many of the members of this committee had been threatened by Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, into voting for that verdict.[7]

With the help of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and her Time-Turner, Buckbeak escaped execution in 1994 and he came under the care of Sirius Black.[9] Sirius kept Buckbeak with him while on the run during the 1994–1995 school year, and later kept him in his mother's bedroom while in hiding at 12 Grimmauld Place.[10]

After Sirius's death, Buckbeak came to be owned by Harry Potter through Sirius's will, though Harry allowed him to live with Hagrid. He participated in two battles of the Second Wizarding War, most notably the Battle of Hogwarts.[6] He also showed great affection and loyalty toward Harry,[4] defending him whenever he was in danger.[8]

Biography[]

1993-1994 school year[]

"Buckbeak flew him once around the paddock and then headed back to the ground; this was the bit Harry had been dreading; he leaned back as the smooth neck lowered, feeling he was going to slip off over the beak, then felt a heavy thud as the four ill-assorted feet hit the ground."
— Harry Potter riding Buckbeak in a third year Care of Magical Creatures class [src]
HarryExtendsHandToBuckbeak HP

Harry meets Buckbeak during his first Care of Magical Creatures lesson

In September 1993, Rubeus Hagrid brought his first Care of Magical Creatures class to see and study Buckbeak, as well as other hippogriffs. Under Hagrid's direction, Harry was able to successfully approach Buckbeak and was even allowed to ride him for a short flight around the paddock.[4]

B3C16M2 Buckbeak's execution

Buckbeak about to be unfairly executed by Walden Macnair

As hippogriffs were immensely proud creatures, Buckbeak was offended when Draco Malfoy taunted and provoked him. This resulted in him injuring the boy's arm.[4] Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy insisted that the Hippogriff be put to death.[7] Malfoy's influence in the Ministry of Magic led to his views being the majority vote, and the execution was to be carried out. Walden Macnair, an executioner, came to Hogwarts as the employed executioner, and Buckbeak was tied in Hagrid's pumpkin patch to await his death.[11]

B3C21M4 Sirius flying off on Buckbeak

Harry and Hermione rescue Buckbeak and Sirius Black

However, using a Time-Turner, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger rescued Buckbeak just prior to the execution.[9] Originally, they had heard the swish of an axe and assumed Buckbeak had been killed.[11] Later, as it became evident that Buckbeak had escaped, Macnair was frustrated upon realising Buckbeak had gone and so swung his axe into the fence of Hagrid’s hut in frustration. He was then happily dismissed by Dumbledore.

Hermione and Harry took Buckbeak into the Forbidden Forest with them to remain hidden from sight, and Hermione tied him to a tree to stop him escaping. As Hermione and Harry realised Remus Lupin in his werewolf was entering the forest, they went inside Hagrid's hut to hide. Hermione stayed in the hut with Buckbeak, who was very happy to be back home again. Harry then went off to the Black Lake to fight the Dementors with the Patronus Charm, in order to save his past self and Sirius Black.

After this, Hermione took Buckbeak with her to see what was going on in the forest. Buckbeak was then used to fly to Filius Flitwick's office, in which Sirius was locked in, enabling Black to escape the Dementors and leave Hogwarts.[9]

Living with Sirius Black[]

"Tethered at the end of it, one end of his rope around a large rock, was Buckbeak the hippogriff. Half grey horse, half giant eagle, Buckbeak’s fierce orange eye flashed at the sight of them. All three of them bowed low to him, and after regarding them imperiously for a moment, Buckbeak bent his scaly front knees and allowed Hermione to rush forward and stroke his feathery neck."
— The trio meeting Buckbeak in the Hogsmeade Cave[src]

Sirius Black then took possession of Buckbeak while both were on the run from the Ministry of Magic. Buckbeak stayed in Sirius's late mother's room at 12 Grimmauld Place.[10]

Fugitives in the cave near Hogsmeade

The trio visiting Sirius in the cave in which he's hiding with Buckbeak

On 6 March 1995, Buckbeak appeared with Sirius in the cave near Hogsmeade when he came to talk to Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.[5]

On 18 June 1996, Kreacher injured Buckbeak with the encouragement of Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy so that Sirius would be occupied with taking care of him when Harry tried to contact him. This led Harry to believe a false vision Lord Voldemort showed him, where Sirius was being tortured in the Department of Mysteries. The scene lured Harry and his friends to the Ministry, and set the stage for a battle. During the battle Sirius died, knocked through the Veil in the Death Chamber.[12]

Back in Hagrid's care[]

"Buckbeak had flown at Snape, who staggered backward as the razor-sharp claws slashed at him."
— Buckbeak protecting Harry from Severus Snape[src]

In July 1996, a month after Sirius' death, Albus Dumbledore told Harry that according to Sirius' will, he was now the legal owner of Buckbeak, though Harry told Dumbledore that Buckbeak could continue living with Rubeus Hagrid.

In order to protect the hippogriff's identity, Buckbeak was renamed "Witherwings" at this time.[2][3] He was greeted by Harry in front of Hagrid's hut when the trio dropped in for a visit.[13] He was also present near the hut during Aragog's funeral.[14]

On 30 June 1997, Buckbeak joined Harry's duel with Severus Snape across the grounds, attacking Snape and driving him off, thus protecting Harry. Buckbeak survived the battle and was still in very good health.[8]

Battle of Hogwarts[]

"Harry saw great winged creatures soaring the heads of Voldemort's giants, thestrals and Buckbeak the hippogriff scratching at their eyes while Grawp punched and pummelling them and now the wizards, defenders of Hogwarts and Death Eaters alike were being forced back into the castle."
— Buckbeak takes part in the second half of the final battle[src]
Hogwarts Big Battle at Hogwarts Moment Pottermore

Buckbeak fighting a giant during the Battle of Hogwarts

During the Battle of Hogwarts, Buckbeak, along with several Thestrals, were seen attacking Lord Voldemort's giant soldiers from the air while Grawp was hitting them. Buckbeak survived the battle.[6]

Later life[]

Buckbeak was still alive and well by 2008. During a Christmas season at Hogwarts, he stayed with Hagrid, who invited students to ride him around the castle.[15]

Personality and traits[]

Buckbeak Malfoy

Buckbeak attacks Malfoy

Buckbeak was a proud creature and at first he seemed to be fairly aggressive, attacking Draco Malfoy when the latter insulted him.[4] Despite his earlier signs of aggression, Buckbeak has been shown to be very loyal and protective of those who treat him with kindness and respect.[4][9][8]

Buckbeak was intelligent in his ability to recognise his past acquaintances, as he defended a cornered Harry from Severus Snape in 1997.[8] His loyalty towards Harry was undying, and further proven when he joined the Battle of Hogwarts in 1998 to fight.[6]

See also[]

Behind the scenes[]

L MAGICALCREATURES Toys Plush HarryPotter Toys BuckbeakPlush 1229895

The Buckbeak plush toy, sold at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and The Making of Harry Potter

BuckbeakWU

Buckbeak as seen in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

  • Buckbeak's role in the series beyond the Prisoner of Azkaban was omitted from the films, though concept art of the character was made for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and he appeared in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7.
  • The wizard rock band Draco and the Malfoys have a song titled Hippogriffs Deserve to Die, all about Draco being attacked by Buckbeak.
  • The Flight of the Hippogriff ride at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has an animatronic version of Buckbeak, resting in a nest.
  • In the book of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry doesn't exactly enjoy his first ride on Buckbeak, and it's made clear between hippogriffs and broomsticks which one he prefers. However, in the film adaptation, during his first ride on Buckbeak, Harry appears to be fascinated by the ride and enjoys it immensely as they fly over the Black Lake, raising his arms and shouting in triumph. The film portrayal also depicts a much longer ride, with Buckbeak achieving a sort of smooth, idyllic glide not described in the novel.
  • Buckbeak also defecated in the film version; it happens right after Ron urges Harry to go up to Buckbeak. The CGI team believed this was the first time an animal was animated doing this, but Walking With Dinosaurs did it first in 1999.
  • Concept artist Dermot Power wanted to portray Buckbeak as a "noble beast" with "romantic magic potential", but director Alfonso Cuarón disapproved of these designs.[16]
  • In the video game of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Ron is inexplicably unable to ride Buckbeak unlike Harry and Hermione. If the player attempts to ride Buckbeak as Ron, he will knock him back and caw at him. This could be because Ron never rides Buckbeak in any of the books or films.

Appearances[]

Wiki
The Harry Potter Wiki has 137 images related to Buckbeak.
Buckbeak (LEGO)

Buckbeak as a LEGO minifigure

PAS Buckbeak

Buckbeak as seen in Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells

Notes and references[]

  1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 15 (The Quidditch Final)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 3 (Will and Won't)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 6 (Draco's Detour)
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 6 (Talons and Tea Leaves)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 27 (Padfoot Returns)
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 36 (The Flaw in the Plan)
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 11 (The Firebolt)
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 28 (Flight of the Prince)
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 21 (Hermione's Secret)
  10. 10.0 10.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 23 (Christmas on the Closed Ward)
  11. 11.0 11.1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 17 (Cat, Rat and Dog)
  12. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 37 (The Lost Prophecy)
  13. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 11 (Hermione's Helping Hand)
  14. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 22 (After the Burial)
  15. Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
  16. Official site of Dermot Power - see here and here
Order of the Phoenix
Fawkes WB F2 FawkesIllustration V2 Illust
Founder:
Albus Dumbledore
Leaders:
Albus Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Kingsley Shacklebolt
Original Order of of the Phoenix:
Aberforth Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Alice Longbottom | Arabella Figg | Benjy Fenwick | Caradoc Dearborn | Dedalus Diggle | Dorcas Meadowes | Edgar Bones | Elphias Doge | Emmeline Vance | Fabian Prewett | Frank Longbottom | Gideon Prewett | James Potter | Lily Potter | Marlene McKinnon | Mundungus Fletcher | Peter Pettigrew (defected) | Remus Lupin | Rubeus Hagrid | Severus Snape | Sirius Black | Sturgis Podmore
Reconstituted Order of the Phoenix:
Aberforth Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Arabella Figg | Arthur Weasley | Bill Weasley | Charlie Weasley | Dedalus Diggle | Elphias Doge | Emmeline Vance | Fleur Delacour | Fred Weasley | George Weasley | Harry Potter | Hermione Granger | Hestia Jones | Kingsley Shacklebolt | Minerva McGonagall | Molly Weasley | Mundungus Fletcher | Nymphadora Tonks | Remus Lupin | Ron Weasley | Rubeus Hagrid | Severus Snape | Sirius Black | Sturgis Podmore
Order of the Phoenix allies:
Andromeda Tonks | Augusta Longbottom | Buckbeak | Dobby | Fawkes | Filius Flitwick | Firenze | Garrick Ollivander | Ginny Weasley | Grawp | Helena Ravenclaw | Horace Slughorn | Karkus | Karkus's wife | Kreacher | Lee Jordan | Luna Lovegood | McKinnon family | Mr Westenberg | Mrs Westenberg | Muriel | Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington | Neville Longbottom | Oliver Wood | Olympe Maxime | Rita Skeeter | Patrick Delaney-Podmore | Peeves | Percy Weasley | Pomona Sprout | Poppy Pomfrey | Sybill Trelawney | Ted Tonks | The Fallen Fifty | Westenberg family | Winky | Xenophilius Lovegood
Other affiliations:
Dumbledore's Army | Forbidden Forest Centaur colony | Headless Hunt | Hogwarts Hippogriff herd | Hogwarts house-elves | Hogwarts Ghosts | Hogwarts Staff |
Hogwarts students | Hogwarts Thestral herd | British Ministry of Magic | Giant colony (Karkus's control)
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