Kelpie

Kelpie
Species information
Native to	Great Britain Ireland
Distinction	Typically appeared as a horse Able to shapeshift Ate humans
Affiliation	Water
Ministry of Magic Classification	Beast XXXX
Status	Extant

"Lurks in rivers and streams and will kneel in invitation for anyone to ride it across. If this is attempted, the Kelpie will drag the rider underwater and attempt to eat them."

— Chocolate Frog Card

A kelpie was a shapeshifting water demon native to Great Britain and Ireland.

Description

A kelpie emerging from a loch

Able to take any form, a kelpie usually chose that of a horse with a bulrush mane. After luring unwary travellers onto their backs, they dragged them underwater and ate them, allowing the entrails to float to the surface of the water. A kelpie could be rendered docile and harmless by using the Placement Charm to put a bridle over the creature's head. A bridled kelpie could be considered completely tamed if it allowed a human to ride on their back without attempting to eat them. If a bridle was left on for long enough, some kelpies could remain tame even when the bridle was removed.

Kelpie hair could be used as a wand core, although it was said to be an inferior substance when compared to the three Supreme Cores.

History

Kelpie ridden by Newt in his basement within a habitat that resembles a Scottish loch

In 1927, Newt Scamander kept a male kelpie in his apartment's basement. He tamed it with a bridle, though he did not use a Placement Charm, riding it instead.

The kelpie in the Hippogriff Clubhouse

A kelpie was kept in the Hippogriff Clubhouse at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at least in the 1980s.

A kelpie resided in the Magical Creatures Reserve after their previous owner donated it to Hogwarts, hoping it would find a happier home there.

During the 1992–1993 school year, Harry Potter's second year, Gilderoy Lockhart gave Rubeus Hagrid unsolicited advice about getting kelpies out of a well, which Hagrid found irritating.

On 29 June 1997, when Harry and Albus Dumbledore had to cross the black lake in the Horcrux cave, Harry's thought that the lake might hold kelpies, as well as other aquatic beasts such as water monsters, giant serpents, demons and sprites.

The kelpie talking to a student

During the 2010–2011 school year, a kelpie appeared in the Great Lake. Many believed the kelpie was involved in the unwitting journeys of several students into the lake, when in reality it was Elspeth MacGillony who put the Imperius Curse on the students. The kelpie later brought a student into the lake to let them see the chest that held the crown of courage.

Known kelpies

The Loch Ness kelpie

• Loch Ness Monster - it was the largest reported kelpie which resided in Loch Ness, Scotland. Its favourite form was that of a sea serpent which led to many Muggle sightings of the beast.
• Newton Scamander's kelpie
• Kelpie in the Hippogriff Clubhouse
• Kelpie at the Magical Creatures Reserve
• Kelpie in the Great Lake

Behind the scenes

• In the spanish version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 'kelpie' was translated as 'pixie', suggesting that it was Gilderoy Lockhart's Cornish pixies which were in the well.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (Appears on a Famous Wizard Card)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Mentioned only)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
• Daily Prophet Newsletters (Mentioned only)
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter (website)
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game (First appearance)
• Wonderbook: Book of Spells
• Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
• Hogwarts Legacy (Appears as statue)
• The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac

External links

• Kelpie on Wikipedia
• Loch Ness Monster on Wikipedia
• Loch Ness on Wikipedia