UDLTTOM WORLDBUILDING RAMBBLE: MAGICAL CREATURES & THEIR GROUP NAMES
(pt. 1, pt. 2. pt.3, pt. 4)
This is a random thought, but you know how there are different words for different groups of animals. Like horses are called herds, whales have pods, wolves have packs, crows have murders, etc.
I think it would be interesting if the same could be said for magical creatures in the Harry Potter lore:
Like a group Thestrals I think should be called a Procession (as in funeral procession) because they’re associated with death and loss and watching someone die.
And a group of Phoenixes should be a Kindling because they’re constantly bursting into flames. 😂
Hippogriffs would be called a Pride because they would accept nothing less.
Thunderbirds should be called Derecho (fast moving wind/thunderstorm that occur often in the Great Plains of North America).
Unicorns should be called a Joust because the singular horn looks like jousting stick and males charge each other during mating season. 😂
Dragons would obviously have to be a Hoard.
A Demiguise would have to be called a Hide because they’re so good at disappearing.
And a Niffler has to be called a Robbery 😂 😂
And Trolls would be called a Cesspool because of their smell (which is rude, but very on brand for Wizards)
Boggarts would be a Terror.
Fwoopers (the bird thats song drives people insane) would be called a Babble. And non-stop babbling drives people crazy!
Crups would be a Scrounge because their scavengers and basically just little hyenas that look like Jack Russell terriers and are just as vicious. (Which puts a horrible spin on the Muggle-hunting with Crups if you know anything about how violent hyenas are.)
Basilisks I don’t think can exist in groups because I feel like the second they’d make eye contact they’d just kill each other. So a group of them would be a Boneyard because of the decomposed skeletons.
Runespoors would be called a Fork because of the 3 heads (i.e. 3 prongs) and how they can predict the future and see where there is a Fork in the road of someone’s life.
A Doxy would be part of a Massacre because they swarm like insects and their venom is deadly to any witch or wizard who gets bitten. And a group of Doxies settling in an area would lead to an entire village being wiped out in a mass killing.
And I know in canon a group of Bowtruckles is called a branch. But I propose that Briar would be a better word because if you mess with their tree, they attack you and try to gouge out your eyes just like briars have thorns that cut anyone who gets too close to the plant.
And Dugbogs would be called a Snare because they are ambush hunters & wizards who get to close will have them clamp around their ankle like a bear trap.
Also, I’m going to add that Ghouls would be a Ruckus because they bang on pipes when things are too quiet a group of them would make so much noise it’d sound like your house was being remodeled.
A Glumbumble is a bee-like insect that produces a honey-like substance which causes people who eat it to be lethargic and low-energy so they would be a Gloom.
A Kneazle would be part of a Jury because of their ability to detect and identify suspicious people.
And Grindylows would be a Gallow because they strangle their prey.
These are the only ones I can come up with on the spot. But I want to think about this and come up with a crazy long list. If anyone has any suggestions feel free to reblog this with them! I’ll probably keep adding to this list as I come up with more.
