How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Why do we continue, as a community and as individuals, to attempt to protect and conceal magical beasts, even those that are savage and untameable? The answer is, of course: to ensure that future generations of witches and wizards enjoy their strange beauty and powers as we have been privileged to do. (7.1)
Um, this is actually a really good question. Why wouldn't wizards try to destroy some of these creatures? At least the ones—like the giant spiders and the disease-breathing cats—that are basically violent killing machines? Well, I guess it's for the same reason that Muggles let crocodiles and poisonous snakes keep walking around. They're living creatures and they have the right to exist too.
Quote #2
The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures gives classifications to all known beasts, beings, and spirits. These offer an at-a-glance guide to the perceived dangerousness of a creature. The five categories are as follows:
Ministry of Magic (M.O.M.) Classification
XXXXX Known wizard killer / impossible to train or domesticate
XXXX Dangerous / requires specialist knowledge / skilled wizard may handle
XXX Competent wizard should cope
XX Harmless / may be domesticated
X Boring (8.1-7)
Well, this is a sensible way to tell wizards exactly whether or not they're going to die. If you stumble upon a Flobberworm (X), you're good. If you come across a Chinese Fireball (XXXXX), let's hope you can run faster than it can spew flames.
Quote #3
The Acromantula is carnivorous and prefers large prey. It spins dome-shaped webs upon the ground. The female is bigger than the male and may lay up to one hundred eggs at a time. Soft and white, these are as large as beach balls. The young hatch in six to eight weeks[…]
Despite its near-human intelligence, the Acromantula is untrainable and highly dangerous to wizard and Muggle alike. (9.1-2)
This one's tricky because you might think you've simply run into a super creepy looking, yet über intelligent giant spider. You'd be wrong. This dude is violent. And so are its hundreds of offspring.
Your best offense is a good defense—scream and run away.
Quote #4
The Basilisk is a brilliant green serpent that may reach up to fifty feet in length. The male has a scarlet plume upon its head. It has exceptionally venomous fangs but its most dangerous means of attack is the gaze of its large yellow eyes. Anyone looking directly into these will suffer instant death. (10.2)
Well, if looking at this giant snake doesn't kill you instantly, then its huge venomous fangs will. It's either one violent death or the other. Pick your poison.
Quote #5
Vicious and bloodthirsty, the Chimaera is extremely dangerous. There is only one known instance of the successful slaying of a Chimaera and the unlucky wizard concerned fell to his death from his winged horse shortly afterwards, exhausted by his efforts. (11.4)
Yet another bad dude among magical creatures. Rowling is alluding to the Greek myth of Bellerophon who fought the Chimera on the back of Pegasus and then managed to die any way. Chimeras will get you one way or another.
Quote #6
Probably the most famous of all magical beasts, dragons are among the most difficult to hide. The female is generally larger and more aggressive than the male, though neither should be approached by any but highly skilled and trained wizards. (12.7)
Wow. Kind of makes you wonder why a bunch of adult wizards thought it would be a good idea to import four of them to fight a bunch of children during that Triwizard Tournament. We're having our doubts about the quality of education that's provided at Hogwarts…
Quote #7
The number of Lethifold victims is almost impossible to calculate since it leaves no clues to its presence behind it. Easier to calculate is the number of wizards who have, for their own unscrupulous purposes, pretended to have been killed by Lethifolds. The most recent instance of such duplicity occurred in 1973 when the wizard Janus Thickey vanished, leaving only a hastily written note on the bedside table reading "oh no a Lethifold's got me I'm suffocating." Convinced by the spotless and empty bed that such a creature had indeed killed Janus, his wife and children entered a period of strict mourning, which was rudely interrupted when Janus was discovered living five miles away with the landlady of the Green Dragon. (20.8)
Okay, this is pretty funny. The Lethifold might be a ruthless killing machine, but it's also the perfect way for people to fake their deaths since it devours its prey, leaving no trace of a body behind. We've got to admit that this guy didn't think his faux death through very well though.
Quote #8
The manticore is a highly dangerous Greek beast with the head of a man, the body of a lion, and the tail of a scorpion. As dangerous as the Chimaera, and as rare, the manticore is reputed to croon softly as it devours its prey. Manticore skin repels almost all known charms and the sting causes instant death. (21.3)
Instant death—it doesn't get more cruel and violent than that. At least you can count on having some sweet melodies fill the air as the manticore slowly snacks on your lifeless body. It's not all blood and guts and gore: it's also songs!
Quote #9
This East African beast is arguably the most dangerous in the world. A gigantic leopard that moves silently despite its size and whose breath causes disease virulent enough to eliminate entire villages, [the Nundu] has never yet been subdued by fewer than a hundred skilled wizards working together. (22.4)
Why is this guy more dangerous than a Basilisk or a Lethifold? Well, the Nundu can wipe out entire villages with one breath meaning his potential for destruction is about ten times greater than any of the other beasts in this book. Only by working together can the Nundu be contained.
Quote #10
Once a month, at the full moon, the otherwise sane and normal wizard or Muggle afflicted transforms into a murderous beast. Almost uniquely among fantastic creatures, the werewolf actively seeks humans in preference to any other kind of prey. (30.1)
We all pretty much know the violence that werewolves are capable of—that's why they're so scary. Most of the time, they walk around as humans, but, at the full moon, they prey on humans. It's freaky.