As a pure-blood Muggle, it is an honor to introduce you to some of the most wonderful creatures of the wizarding world –creatures that would make great pets.
Owls
In many cultures, owls are seen as omens of death and are thus feared or avoided. For example, according to an old British superstition, it is unlucky to see owls flying by daylight (little do they know that wizards are breaking cover to send messages). While owls are seen as bad luck by Muggles, witches and wizards, consider owls to be faithful servants. For many centuries, owls have been the most reliable means of communication used by the wizarding world.
People are used to seeing owls fly at night so it facilitates the delivery of trusted messages and allow wizards to operate under the cover of darkness. Another advantage of using owls as messengers is that they have remarkable night vision and are stealthy. Even when they are challenged or threatened, they are brave and capable of aggression. Owls can be shy, quiet and mellow, but the more they are bullied and the more frustrated they feel, the more aggressive they can become.
While there are some animals –like pigs – that are reputed to be innately non-magical, owls possess a natural bent for magic. Or, it could be the aftermath of their ancestors being trained and domesticated by wizards. This is why owls are known for being quick learners. They are also very good at the task of tracing and tracking wizards and witches.
Talking about owls, if there was one bird that was smart and brave, it was Hedwig. Unlike other birds, Hedwig had a feisty spirit and there’s no denying that every Potterhead cried when Hedwig was killed in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Having an owl as a pet would certainly come in handy if you were trapped someday and needed help.
J.K. Rowling’s Thoughts on Owls:
“My love of, and fascination with, owls long pre-dates the first idea for Harry Potter. I trace it to a cuddly owl toy that my mother made me when I was six or seven, which I adored.
Of course, owls have been associated with magic for a long time, and feature in many old illustrations of witches and wizards, second only to cats as Most Magical Creature. The owl’s association with wisdom was established in Roman times, for it is the emblem of Minerva, goddess of wisdom.
Owl breeds shown within the Harry Potter books include the eagle owl (large, tufted and fierce-looking, owned by Draco Malfoy); the Little Owl (tiny, cute, but perhaps not very impressive, like Pigwidgeon, owned by Ron); and the Snowy Owl, which is also known as the Ghost Owl (Harry’s Hedwig).”
Hippogriffs
Hippogriffs were introduced in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. They are half eagle and half horse. These beautiful creatures are similar to another legendary creature, the griffin. While all the hippogriffs of Hogwarts have varied colored coats, they all have large wings and a curved yellow beaks.
By nature, these mythical creatures are very confident and proud. Remember what Hagrid said to the class: “Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Don’t ever insult one, ’cause it might be the last thing yeh do.”
These beautiful beasts don’t rely on humans and can look after themselves. But, once you gain their trust, they become your loyal companions. If approached with caution and with good intentions (unlike Draco), hippogriffs can become sociable and friendly.
Perhaps, among all the creatures Hagrid introduced, Buckbeak is the sweetest of all –he doesn’t breathe fire or attempt to eat Harry and his friends.
Hippogriffs would be cute pets to raise, although they are really big and would require a large space to live.
