Veela are a race of semi-human, semi-magical creatures reminiscent of the Sirens of Greek mythology. They appear to be young, beautiful human women, and their appearance and especially their dance are magically seductive to almost all males. When Veela are angry, however, they transform into something more like Harpies — their faces turn into cruel-beaked bird heads and long scaly wings burst from their shoulders, and they can launch balls of fire from their hand.
Fleur Delacour's Veela charm affecting Ron Weasley.
They have been known to take jobs as cheerleaders for leading Quidditch teams, including the Bulgarian team during the Quidditch World Cup. Other hints also point to Veela being of Eastern European origin, although the Delacour sisters, who are from France, are proof that they can be found all over Europe.
It was shown by Fleur Delacour that Veela-hair is, as a magical substance, suitable as a core for wand manufacture. Mr. Ollivander notes that he personally never used it as the product tends to be temperamental.
Cross-Breeding with Humans
Veela have been known to marry human men, although it is unknown whether any have married Muggles. Children of these unions are half-Veela, and they will inherit magical ability from their fathers and beauty and charm from their mothers. Veela traits seem to persist for at least a few generations.
Apolline Delacour is a half-Veela, thus her children Fleur and Gabrielle are one-quarter Veela and Fleur's children Victoire, Dominique and Louis are one-eighth Veela though it is unknown if Louis has any characteristics from his Veela great-grandmother. Fleur's wand contains a single hair from her Veela grandmother.
Known Veelas
- The maternal grandmother of Fleur Delacour
- At least two cousins of Fleur Delacour
- The Bulgarian National Quidditch team mascots at the Quidditch World Cup in 1994. The mascots dance to hypnotize the players as well as the fans on the other team.
Behind the scenes
Veela — also known as Vila, Wila, or Wili — are nymph-like creatures in Slavic mythology, who live in bodies of water and have power over storms. They often appear as beautiful women, but are known to shape shift into swans, snakes, horses, or wolves. Their voices hypnotize those who hear them, and they are fierce warriors. Interestingly, given that Fleur Delacour's wand has a hair from her Veela grandmother, it is said in some legends that if even one of their hairs is plucked, a Veela will either die or be forced to change into a non-human shape. Veelas are main features of Serbian folklore such as the story of Marko Kraljevic and the Veela.