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"C'mon, now, get a move on! Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comon' up! Everyone here? Right, follow me!"
Hagrid's first Care of Magical Creatures lesson in 1993[src]

Care of Magical Creatures,[10] also known as Creature Care,[11] and formerly called Beasts class, was an elective subject at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that could be chosen by students in their third year.[10][5] Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry introduced this course in 1927.[11]

In the class, students learnt about a wide range of magical creatures,[5] from flobberworms,[12] hippogriffs,[5] unicorns[2] and even thestrals.[6] Students were taught about feeding, maintaining, breeding, and proper treatment of these creatures and many more.[5]

The witches and wizards who succeeded in achieving an O.W.L. in the subject could later become Magizoologists. Some well-known Magizoologists were Newt Scamander,[9] his grandson Rolf Scamander, and his wife Luna Lovegood.

Class information[]

"My brother Charlie was the outdoors type, so he went for Care of Magical Creatures."
Percy Weasley on choosing subjects in the third year[src]
B3C6M3

A third-year Hippogriff lesson in 1993

Care of Magical Creatures was a subject taught only to those in their third year or above who chose to take it as an elective course.[10][5]

In a student's fifth year, they took an Ordinary Wizarding Level examination in the subject, where they sat both a written portion and a practical portion, where they demonstrated their knowledge of the subject. On their Care of Magical Creatures practical, they had to identify a Knarl hidden among a dozen hedgehogs, demonstrate correct handling of a Bowtruckle, feed and clean out a Fire Crab without sustaining serious burns, and choose from a wide selection of food the diet they would give a sick unicorn.[13]

Care of Magical Creatures

A fourth-year Blast-Ended Skrewt lesson in 1994

It is unknown how many of Harry Potter's fellow students chose to continue Care of Magical Creatures in their N.E.W.T. year; however, Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger left the subject after completing their O.W.L.s.[14]

As of the late 20th century, many Hogwarts students had earned good grades in this class, something Albus Dumbledore attributed to the use of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as a textbook.[9]

Staffing[]

"I hope she stays, that woman! That’s more what I thought Care of Magical Creatures would be like... proper creatures like unicorns, not monsters...."
Parvati Patil praising Professor Grubbly-Plank's teaching skills, compared to Hagrid's[src]
Rubeus Hagrid promo

Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts professor of Care of Magical Creatures

Silvanus Kettleburn taught Care of Magical Creatures until 1993, when he retired "to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs". He was succeeded by Rubeus Hagrid, whose lessons became controversial after Draco Malfoy was injured by a Hippogriff, Buckbeak.[5] After Malfoy was injured, Hagrid was more restrained and cautious in the creatures he showed to the class for the remainder of the 1993–1994 school year, although Hagrid occasionally brought creatures that were illegal to class.

Hermione Granger attempted to organise Hagrid's classes in order to make him a better teacher and prevent him from being fired. In his second year of teaching the subject, Hagrid introduced his fourth-year class to Blast-Ended Skrewts during his lessons, a species of illegally bred creatures.[15] Hagrid went on to teach this subject until at least the 2010–2011 school year.[16]

During the 1994–1995 school year and also the 1995–1996 school year, for a short time, Hagrid was substituted by Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank, who gave lessons on unicorns[2] and Bowtruckles.[3]

Class location[]

Care of Magical Creatures classes typically took place outside of Hagrid's Hut,[5] but some lessons occasionally took place in the Forbidden Forest, such as the Thestral lesson.[6]

Curriculum[]

Third year[]

"Harry could sort of see what Hagrid meant. Once you had got over the first shock of seeing something that was half-horse, half-bird, you started to appreciate the Hippogriffs' gleaming coats, changing smoothly from feather to hair, each of them a different colour: stormy grey, bronze, a pinkish roan, gleaming chestnut and inky black."
— Harry's first Care of Magical Creatures class in 1993[src]

Fourth year[]

"Boys keep back! They prefer the woman's touch, unicorns. Girls to the front, and approach with care, come on, easy does it...."
Professor Grubbly-Plank teaching fourth years about to handle unicorns properly[src]

Fifth year[]

"Professor Grubbly-Plank stood waiting for the class some ten yards from Hagrid's front door, a long trestle table in front of her laden with twigs."
— Harry's first Care of Magical Creatures class in 1995[src]

Sixth year[]

"Anyway, I'll see yeh tomorrow, firs' lesson's straight after lunch. Come early an' yeh can say hello ter Buck — I mean, Witherwings!"
— Rubeus Hagrid advertising sixth year Care of Magical Creatures to the trio in 1996[src]

Seventh year[]

Other[]

Other creatures shown to classes across the years included:

Known professors[]

Required textbooks[]

"Hasn' anyone bin able ter open their books? Yeh've got to stroke 'em."
— Hagrid in his first lesson of magical creatures; he thought the books were funny[src]

Grades[]

Passing grades[]

Fail grades[]

Known O.W.L.s[]

Behind the scenes[]

  • As revealed in Pottermore, J. K. Rowling had originally devised this class to be called "Beasts", and to be compulsory from the first year.[57] This "Beasts" class appears to exist in Hogwarts Legacy and may be linked to this original idea.
  • The year in which creatures are covered seems to depend on the teacher. During Silvanus Kettleburn's tenure, salamanders were covered with Fred and George Weasley in their fourth year, while Rubeus Hagrid taught about salamanders in Harry Potter's third year. Hermione Granger stated that a person like Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank probably wouldn't have covered Thestrals until reaching N.E.W.T.-level, whereas Rubeus Hagrid taught about Thestrals in Harry's fifth year.
  • In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, the class is not available until Year 4. If players take Jacob's sibling to the O.W.L. through an optional side quest, they will definitely gain at least an A, even if they fail to answer every question and care for any creatures.

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 5 (The Dementor)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 24 (Rita Skeeter's Scoop)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 13 (Detention with Dolores)
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 15 (The Hogwarts High Inquisitor)
  5. 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 6 (Talons and Tea Leaves)
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 21 (The Eye of the Snake)
  7. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) - (PS1 version)
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 4 (The Leaky Cauldron)
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 14 (Cornelius Fudge)
  11. 11.0 11.1 (see this image)
  12. 12.0 12.1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 8 (Flight of the Fat Lady)
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 31 (O.W.L.s)
  14. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 8 (Snape Victorious)
  15. 15.0 15.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 13 (Mad-Eye Moody)
  16. 16.0 16.1 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
  17. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 12 (The Patronus)
  18. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 15 (Beauxbatons and Durmstrang)
  19. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 18 (The Weighing of the Wands)
  20. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 21 (The House-Elf Liberation Front)
  21. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 22 (The Unexpected Task)
  22. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, Chapter 1 (Year Four Begins) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Fire Crab"
  23. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, Chapter 13 (The Centaur's Arrow) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Kneazle"
  24. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, Chapter 8 (Sickleworth) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Murtlap"
  25. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, Chapter 3 (All About Bowtruckles) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Bowtruckle"
  26. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 28 (The Madness of Mr Crouch)
  27. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, Chapter 6 (Explore the Forbidden Forest) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Niffler"
  28. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, Chapter 11 (Beautification Potion) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Streeler"
  29. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 26 (The Second Task)
  30. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 33 (Bye-Bye Bill) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Chimaera"
  31. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 25 (The Beetle at Bay)
  32. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 10 (Knockturn Alley) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Crup"
  33. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 13 (Rats and Dogs) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Porlock"
  34. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 6 (The Ghosts of Hogwarts) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Fairy"
  35. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 18 (Legilimency and Occlumency) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Puffskein"
  36. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 20 (Peter Pettigrew) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Unicorn"
  37. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 31 (After the Vault) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Flobberworm"
  38. 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 38.4 38.5 38.6 38.7 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 3 (Mixed Message) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Glumbumble"
  39. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 8 (Owl Prowl) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Diricawl"
  40. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 13 (On the Run) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Fwooper"
  41. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 17 (Getting the Message) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Moke"
  42. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 25 (Written in the Stars) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Jackalope"
  43. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 20 (A Circle of Friends) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Thestral"
  44. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 30 (Journey to the Whomping Willow) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Knarl"
  45. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 34 (Final Preparations) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Doxy"
  46. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 39 (Gather the Merqueen's Tribute) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Golden Snidget"
  47. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 44 (The Perfect Party) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Imp"
  48. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 8 (Back to Hogwarts) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Quintaped"
  49. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 18 (Long Live the Doxy Queen) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Occamy"
  50. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 34 (The Scroll and the Sarcophagus) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Demiguise"
  51. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 45 (The Fallout) - Care of Magical Creatures Lesson "Dugbog"
  52. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, "FESTIVAL FUN" Achievement
  53. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, "Christmas at Hogwarts" Achievement
  54. As Professors of the subject, they likely had O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s in the subject in order to be qualified to teach it to students.
  55. 55.0 55.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 4 (At Flourish and Blotts) - It is said that both Percy and Bill Weasley earned twelve Ordinary Wizarding Levels, meaning they must have earned an O.W.L. in this subject.
  56. 56.0 56.1 56.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 5 (An Excess of Phlegm)
  57. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Hogwarts School Subjects" at Wizarding World
Care of Magical Creatures
Fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-pottermore
Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts
Hagrid's Hut · Forbidden Forest · Care of Magical Creatures Classroom · Magical Creatures (club) · The Paddock
Professors Silvanus Kettleburn · Rubeus Hagrid · Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank (substitute teacher)
Textbooks The Monster Book of Monsters · Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Creatures studied at Hogwarts
Blast-Ended Skrewt · Bowtruckle · Chimaera · Crup · Demiguise · Diricawl · Doxy · Dugbog · Fairy · Fire Crab · Fire Dwelling Salamander · Flobberworm · Fwooper · Glumbumble · Gnome · Golden Snidget · Griffin · Hippogriff · Imp · Jackalope · Knarl · Kneazle · Moke · Murtlap · Niffler · Occamy · Porlock · Quintaped · Streeler · Thestral · Unicorn · Yeti
Hogwarts subjects
Core classes Astronomy · Charms · Defence Against the Dark Arts · Herbology · History of Magic · Potions · Transfiguration
Hogwartscrest
Elective classes Alchemy · Arithmancy · Care of Magical Creatures · Divination · Muggle Studies · Study of Ancient Runes
Extracurricular classes Apparition · Advanced Arithmancy Studies · Ancient Studies · Art · Flying · Ghoul Studies · Magical Theory · Muggle Art · Muggle Music · Music · Xylomancy · Field Studies
Former classes Beasts · Dark Arts
Examinations
First year exams · Second year exams · Third year exams · Fourth year exams ·
Ordinary Wizarding Level · Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test
Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Ilvermorny Houses
Horned Serpent ClearBG 2
Wampus ClearBG 2
Thundebird ClearBG 2
Pukwudgie ClearBG 2
Namesake Founders
Isolt Sayre · Chadwick Boot · Webster Boot · James Steward
Subjects offered
Arithmancy · Charms · Creature Care · Defence Against the Dark Arts · Potions · Study of Ancient Runes · Transfiguration · Xylomancy
Ilvermorny staff
William · Rionach Steward · Eulalie Hicks · Agilbert Fontaine
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