Gregory Goyle

From Harry Potter Wiki

Gregory Goyle

Biographical information
Born	c. 1980
Blood status	Pure-blood^[1]
Title(s)	Beater
Physical description
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Hair colour	brown
Family information
Family members	Mr. Goyle (father) Mrs. Goyle (mother)
Affiliation
House	Slytherin
Loyalty	Draco Malfoy Inquisitorial Squad
.

"We’re supposed to practice the Cruciatus Curse on people who’ve earned detentions… I refused to do it. Some people are into it, though; Crabbe and Goyle love it. First time they’ve ever been top in anything, I expect."

—Neville Longbottom^[src]

Gregory Goyle was a student in the same year as Harry Potter at Hogwarts who was sorted into Slytherin house. He is the son of Mr. Goyle, a Death Eater.

Goyle, along with fellow Slytherin Vincent Crabbe, seems to have become best friends with Draco Malfoy before their first year at Hogwarts. Both wizards are shown to be more lackeys than friends, often following Malfoy around and doing his bidding. Goyle seemed to lack all intelligence, magical talent, and independent thought, and thus used only his size and strength to bully other students or scare off anyone who threatened Malfoy.

Biography

Second Year

During the second opening of the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger tricked him and Crabbe into eating cakes containing a sleeping draught — by leaving the cakes on a banister, even though Crabbe and Goyle had already eaten much more than their fill. Ron and Harry used hairs from Crabbe and Goyle to impersonate them with a Polyjuice Potion and spy on Malfoy. Harry was disguised as Goyle, and the Polyjuice potion came out as khaki, a representation of his personality.

Fifth Year

In his fifth year Goyle became Beater for the Slytherin Quidditch team. This supported Angelina Johnson's belief that the team went for brawn rather than brains.

After Harry causes the arrest of Crabbe and Malfoy's fathers, Goyle followed his vengeful friends on and attempt to ambush him on the Hogwarts express, but were jinxed so thoroughly by members of the D.A. that they were transfigured into large slugs. A similar event occurred at the end of the previous year, when Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George all used different hexes on them on the train.

Sixth Year

During the 1996 - 1997 school year, Malfoy had him and Crabbe turn into girls via Polyjuice Potion to be able to guard the Room of Requirement while Malfoy was repairing the Vanishing Cabinet inside. Goyle was trasformed into a little girl who held a pair of scales, which he was to drop noisely anytime someone went past. During one of his watches, Harry frightened off Goyle, and waited unsuccesfully for Malfoy to exit.

At the end of the school year, he and Crabbe were left feeling lonely, after their leader and friend Draco Malfoy left the school just before the end of the term.

Seventh Year and Battle of Hogwarts

In their seventh year, Goyle and Crabbe were among the favoured students of the new Death Eater professors Amycus and Alecto Carrow. For the first time, Goyle was able to excel at some of his schoolwork, as Neville Longbottom notes that he and Crabbe were proficient in the Dark Arts class.

During the Battle of Hogwarts, he, Crabbe and Malfoy did not flee with the other Slytherins. Instead, they tried to ambush Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley in the Room of Requirement. In the ensuing fight, Goyle was less aggressive than Crabbe, who defied Draco's orders and tried multiple Dark curses. Goyle was disarmed by Harry and then stunned by Hermione. When Crabbe's cursed fire got out of control, Goyle was saved by Ron and Hermione, who flew him out on their broom while Harry saved Draco.

Appearance and Intelligence

"Goyle's mum'll be really pleased, he's loads better looking now."

—Ron Weasley to Harry Potter and Ernie Macmillan^[src]

Goyle had broad shoulders, noticeably larger than Harry and Draco. He and Crabbe were described as silent, hulking bodyguards. Goyle had large feet, small dull eyes, long gorilla arms, and short, bristly hair low on his forehead. His voice came out in a low rasp.

"I didn't know you could read."

—Draco Malfoy to Harry Potter disguised as Goyle^[src]

He is generally represented as less intelligent than Crabbe, always causing trouble, and nearly failing his exams in his first year. He was unable to give Dolores Umbridge a simple answer after being questioned about Hagrid's lessons, only being able to grin foolishly. Goyle, along with Crabbe, failed his Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. in his fifth year. In his seventh year, Goyle is seen to mispronounce relatively simple words, referring to "Diss-Lusion Charms" (Disillusionment Charms) and a "die-dum" (diadem).

Behind the scenes

The name Gregory is derived from Greek meaning "watchful, alert". It is also associated with the Grigori, "the Watchers", a group of fallen angels who mated with mortal women to spawn a race of giants. This may allude to Goyle frequently acting like a bodyguard to Draco Malfoy and to his large frame.
Goyle is portrayed in the films by Josh Herdman.

Appearances

Notes and references

↑ Harry Potter and Me

[0] Harry Potter and Me

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