At the edge of the Forbidden Forest there's this huge paddock for magical creatures.
Right now it's just got a few cows, but come the Triwizard Tournament, Beauxbatons' carriage will park nearby. Before the first task, they'll stash the dragons here too. And once the trapdoor's no longer needed, Fluffy the three-headed dog gets shipped over.
So the place is massive, which makes Hagrid standing there waiting look like a giant in a dollhouse.
"Over here—Sean!"
Hagrid bellowed.
Sean jogged up and got crushed in one of Hagrid's bear hugs.
"You're gonna love this. First thing I thought was to bring you out to meet the little beauties.
They only drop by now and then to rest, but I reckon they're due soon. Stick close."
Hagrid was in his usual mole-skin overcoat, Fang the boarhound panting at his heels, tail wagging like he couldn't wait to get moving.
The two of them trudged into the forest.
The Forbidden Forest sits on the west side of the Hogwarts grounds. Name says it all—students aren't allowed in.
Only if you're serving detention or taking Care of Magical Creatures do you ever get permission.
Right now, Sean was cheerfully breaking the rules.
Inside, the trees are so thick the sun barely leaks through. Even midday feels like dusk.
They passed a stream lined with yew, oak, and flutterby bushes.
Sean kept wondering what creature Hagrid had in mind. The forest was crawling with possibilities—unicorns, werewolves, centaur herds, Aragog and his kids…
Hagrid said they only stopped by to rest. So what could it be?
They reached a spot with chains laid out on the ground. Hagrid let out a disappointed "Aw, shoot."
"Looks like they didn't show. Tomorrow then—same spot."
Hagrid went to clap Sean on the shoulder in apology. Sean dodged without thinking.
They just stared at each other.
"Sorry."
Hagrid rubbed his hands together.
Sean vaguely remembered Fang getting a "friendly" pat once and nearly coughing up his tongue.
"Can you at least tell me what we're waiting for?"
"Oh, right—didn't I say? Hippogriffs."
Hagrid stretched out a mole-skin-wrapped arm and gestured. "Horse body, back legs, tail—but the front legs, wings, and head? Pure eagle. Steel-colored beak, bright orange eyes the size of dinner plates.
Those talons on the front legs? Half a foot long, easy. Flip open Monster Book of Monsters and they'll knock your socks off!"
Sean knew Hagrid had tamed a herd of hippogriffs in the forest, but that was third-year stuff.
He hadn't realized Hagrid was already working on it in first year.
Not the dragon Sean expected, but hippogriffs were no joke either.
Second magical-creature cookie secured, he thought. Dangerous, sure—but once tamed, loyal as anything.
He'd forgotten the exact taming method, but Hagrid would walk him through it.
"I'm planning to keep a few this year—but you'd better head out now. If McGonagall catches us—"
Hagrid grumbled as they started back. Then, from the distance, came the sound of hooves. "Quick, Sean, pick up the pace—I forgot to feed the thestrals!"
Hagrid looked panicked.
He could handle the forest solo no problem, but now he had to calm hungry thestrals and get Sean out safely. He was flustering.
"Thestrals—I read about them in Fantastic Beasts. I can come with you, Hagrid."
Bonus. Thestrals pulled the school carriages. Definitely magical creatures.
Third cookie in the bag…
Six [Expert]-level magical-creature cookies and he'd unlock the new title.
"You and me? Brilliant! But you won't see 'em—stay with Fang."
Hagrid thought for two seconds, then grinned.
Ten minutes later they reached a thick, twilight-dark clearing with no snow on the ground.
Hagrid whistled.
And Sean saw it—a huge, reptilian, winged horse.
It spread leathery black wings like a pterodactyl and burst from the trees, circling once before swooping down in front of Hagrid like some giant, eerie bird.
While it tore into raw meat, Hagrid kept reassuring Sean:
"Don't be scared. Thestrals are magical. If the meat just vanishes, that's it going down the hatch. Pretend it's invisible."
Sean watched quietly until Hagrid realized something was off. He shifted the thestral's head left—Sean's eyes tracked it. Right—same thing. Straight into the empty sockets.
"You… can see it?"
Hagrid gaped.
Sean nodded.
Hagrid floundered, then finally asked:
"Only folks who've seen death can see thestrals. Whose death did you see?"
That stumped Sean a little. He'd seen more than a few.
"A friend. Went quiet. Nobody really noticed. Others even less so.
No gravestone, no funeral. Names spelled wrong on the roster—I can help feed it?"
He answered just enough, then grabbed a chunk of meat while Hagrid was still stunned and offered it to the thestral.
Tamed thestrals were gentle. Ignore the skeleton-horse-dragon vibe and they were downright sweet.
[You have gained the affection of the magical creature Thestral (Wuwu) at Skilled level. Proficiency +10]
[You have gained the affection of the magical creature Thestral (Wuwu) at Skilled level. Proficiency +10]
[Thestral Wuwu: Slightly Friendly (10/300)]
Wuwu?
The forest thestral herd started with one stallion and five mares. Wuwu was the first foal born here—Hagrid's favorite.
No wonder it got first dibs on the meat.
Wuwu nuzzled Sean's hand. Sean asked:
"Hagrid, can I help feed him from now on?"