Fantastic Beasts: Hogwarts Hosts Hippogriff Tutorial
A lot of rumors have always circulated about hippogriffs, the half-eagle, half-horse creature, classified by the Ministry of Magic as XXX. The only evidence to the contrary (or at least the word of their most avid supporter) is the word of one Rubeus Hagrid, Hogwarts Gamekeeper. Since these creatures will soon appear in the Muggle film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Hagrid himself orchestrated a tutorial on hippogriffs, trying to show that they really aren’t as intimidating as they are made out to be.
“While they demand yer respect,” says Hagrid, “they’re quite harmless.”
Witches and wizards from all over Britain gathered at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry yesterday to learn more.
“The most important thing fer you ter remember,” said Hagrid as he addressed quite a large crowd, “is that ‘though hippogriffs can be dangerous, yer encounter wit ‘em is up ter you.”
A large hippogriff named Witherwings was the spectacle of the day. There have been rumors that this Witherwings is Hagrid’s old pet, Buckbeak, who was executed many years ago, though Hagrid assures me this is not the case.
Witherwings allowed Hagrid to stroke him after the mandatory bow, and Hagrid encouraged parents to allow their children to come closer. When no one budged, the Potters and the Weasleys were the first to urge their children forward.
Witherwings took each one on a ride to the amazement of everyone in attendance. The afternoon continued peacefully, and by the end of the evening, there were no reported injuries.
Arabella Featherman, Daily Prophet