🦅 Buckbeak (Witherwings)
Buckbeak was a grey hippogriff owned by Rubeus Hagrid who became the center of a major controversy and was ultimately saved from execution.
🎓 Care of Magical Creatures Lesson
Buckbeak was featured in Hagrid's very first lesson as Care of Magical Creatures professor. Hagrid chose hippogriffs to impress his students and show them truly magnificent creatures. He taught the class proper etiquette for approaching hippogriffs:
- Maintain eye contact while bowing
- Wait for the hippogriff to bow back
- Only then approach and touch
Harry was the first to successfully approach Buckbeak, and Hagrid even allowed him to ride the hippogriff around the paddock.
⚔️ The Attack
Draco Malfoy, seeking attention and disregarding Hagrid's warnings, insulted Buckbeak by calling him a "great ugly brute." The proud hippogriff responded by attacking Draco with his talons, causing injuries to Draco's arm.
While the injuries were relatively minor (easily treatable with magic), Draco exaggerated his pain dramatically. His father, Lucius Malfoy, used the incident to pursue charges against Buckbeak and to undermine Hagrid's position.
⚖️ Trial & Execution Order
Buckbeak was put on trial by the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. Despite Hagrid's efforts to defend him and mountains of evidence showing hippogriffs were safe when approached correctly, the Committee (influenced by Lucius Malfoy) sentenced Buckbeak to death.
The execution was scheduled for sunset, with an executioner (Walden Macnair) brought from London to carry it out. Hagrid was devastated, treating the condemned hippogriff to a bucket of dead ferrets for his last meal.
⏰ Rescue by Time-Turner
Harry and Hermione, using Hermione's Time-Turner on Dumbledore's cryptic instructions, went back in time and rescued Buckbeak moments before his execution. They:
- Approached Buckbeak while past-Harry and past-Hermione were inside Hagrid's hut
- Bowed to him and led him into the forest
- Hid with him until the executioner's axe fell (harmlessly on a fence)
- Later used him to rescue Sirius Black from his prison cell in the castle tower
🏠 Life with Sirius
After the rescue, Buckbeak went into hiding with Sirius Black. Sirius kept him in his mother's bedroom at 12 Grimmauld Place, where the hippogriff lived in relative luxury, despite the confinement. Sirius renamed him "Witherwings" to hide his identity.
🦅 After Sirius's Death
When Sirius died, Buckbeak was inherited by Harry Potter (as Sirius's godson and heir). However, Harry left Buckbeak in Hagrid's care, where the hippogriff resumed his life in the Forbidden Forest.
During the Battle of Hogwarts, Buckbeak fought alongside Hagrid against the Death Eaters and giants, attacking enemies with his talons and beak.
💭 Personality
- Proud: Required proper respect and etiquette
- Loyal: Bonded with Harry and helped him multiple times
- Fierce: Dangerous when insulted or threatened
- Gentle: With those who treated him properly