Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Magic/Ghoul
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| Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter - Magic | |
| Ghoul | |
|---|---|
| Type | Creature |
| Features | Noise, disturbance |
| First Appearance | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets |
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The ghoul, while not exactly the best looking of all magical creatures, isn't all that dangerous. It occupies attics or barns owned by wizards, and resembles a buck-toothed ogre. The most harm it can cause is to growl at someone who unluckily comes across it. It often groans and throws things around.
[edit] Extended Description
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, it is mentioned that there is a Ghoul living in the attic of The Burrow, the Weasley home; Ron is rather dismissive of it, saying that it is nowhere near as good as having a house-elf. There is mention of a "murderous old ghoul" elsewhere in the books, which would imply that ghouls can also become dangerous as they get old; possibly, like many animals, they get senile.
[edit] Analysis
In the case of the Weasleys' attic, the ghoul is used as part of the ongoing illustration of the Weasley family's relative poverty; the idea, one supposes, is that rich families have house-elves to take care of them. Ron does find out that having a house-elf can be a double-edged sword, though, when he has to deal with Kreacher.
[edit] Questions
- What do ghouls eat? Boggarts feed off our fears and so act to inspire fear; what would Ghouls feed off that would cause them to prefer noise? Could it be irritation?
