Magical Magic Creature Spotlight: Puffskein

[sweettalkeress.livejournal.com]

Puffskein
MOM Classification: XX

The Puffskein is an impossibly-cute little animal which basically resembles a custard-colored ball of fluff. They're apparently ideal pets for children because they can be handled or even thrown around and will never complain—and also because they like sticking their tongues up people's noses. The book even says that “This tendency [i.e., sticking its tongue up people's noses] has made the Puffskein much beloved by wizarding children for many generations and it remains a highly popular wizarding pet.” Of course it does.

Ginny owns a blue version of one of these creatures in a later Harry Potter book. And of course we get the obligatory comment from Ron about how he used to have a pet Puffskein before Fred and George beat it to death for Quidditch practice. You know, I'm not sure why Rowling thought that needed to be in there. If this creature is so cute and lovable then shouldn't noting that Fred and George killed one make them much less sympathetic?

Comments

[urbanman1984.livejournal.com]

I suppose they are like tribbles from Star Trek. JKR doesn't see anything wrong with cruelty to animals. She might just be a sociopath herself.

[oryx_leucoryx]

Cruelty to animals is evil when Tom Riddle does it, but wonderful when the twins do it - just like everything else in the Potterverse.