Donkey

"Is this all real? Or has this been happening inside my head?" The topic of this article is of a real-life subject that has been mentioned "in-universe" in a canon source. The Harry Potter Wiki is written from the perspective that all information presented in canon is true (e.g., Hogwarts really existed), and, as such, details contained in this article may differ from real world facts.

A donkey is a domesticated mammal related to the horse that is used as a beast of burden by humans. Cross-breeding a male donkey with a female horse produces a hybrid animal known as a mule.^[1]

History

In the wizarding fairytale The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, an old man went to a local wizard looking for help recovering his missing donkey, which he needsed to transport his wares to market so he could support his family. The wizard rudely refused him at first. However, after learning the value of kindness, the wizard relented, and used a Summoning Charm to retrieve the donkey from a far-off briar patch and return it safely to its stable.^[2]

In the late 15th century, the Earl of Paunchley slammed into the Shield Charm cast by Hannah Cockleford to protect the young boy he had cruelly challenged to a jousting match that he was knocked off his horse. Though he survived, the Earl suffered brain damage, and for the rest of his life believed he was a donkey named Hairy Cyril.^[3]

In 1992, while scolding Firenze for helping Harry Potter, Bane objected that it was not the business of centaurs to "run around like donkeys after stray humans in our forest."^[4]

During Sybill Trelawney's first third-year Divination lesson in 1993, Seamus Finnigan opined that the shape in Harry's teacup, which Trelawney insisted was a Grim, looked more like a donkey when viewed from a certain angle.^[5]

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Mentioned only)
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Mentioned only)
• Wonderbook: Book of Spells (Mentioned only)

Notes and references