Chimeras

• Ministry of Magic Classification: XXXXX (Vicious and a known Wizard-killer)
• Native To: Greece
• Distinguishing Features: Head of a Lion, body of a Goat, and a Dragon's tail
• Status: Magical Beast

The Chimera is a rare and exceptionally dangerous magical beast native to Greece. It is a monstrous hybrid creature, possessing the head of a Lion, the body of a Goat, and the tail of a Dragon. This composite form makes it a formidable opponent, and it is known throughout the wizarding world for its vicious and bloodthirsty nature. Its XXXXX classification by the Ministry of Magic places it in the most dangerous category of magical creatures, reserved for known Wizard-killers that are impossible to train or domesticate, a category it shares with beasts like the Basilisk, Lethifold, and Manticore. It is implied to be a fire-breather, given its Dragon tail. Chimera eggs are classified as Grade A Non-Tradeable Goods by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, meaning their sale and transport are strictly forbidden due to the extreme danger the creature poses.

Information on Chimeras is primarily found in Newt Scamander's classic magizoological textbook, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The book notes that there is only one known instance of a Wizard successfully slaying a Chimera, but the triumphant individual, exhausted from the battle, tragically fell to his death from his Winged Horse shortly thereafter. The only direct mention of a Chimera within the main narrative of the *Harry Potter* series occurs after the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. While recovering in the Hospital Wing from an attack by sentient Brains, a delirious Ron Weasley mumbles about what he saw in the Department of Mysteries, stating, “…and a Chimaera's head, I think I saw a Chimaera's head…” This comment suggests that the Ministry of Magic may possess a preserved Chimera specimen for study within its secretive halls.

The name “Chimera” (also spelled Chimaera) is taken directly from Greek mythology. The mythological Chimaera was a fire-breathing monster from Lycia, depicted with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail. She was a sibling to other famous monsters like Cerberus and the Hydra. The creature was ultimately killed by the hero Bellerophon, who rode the winged horse Pegasus. The wizarding world's account of a Wizard falling from his Winged Horse after fighting a Chimera is a clear parallel to this ancient myth. In contemporary language, the word “chimera” is used to describe any entity made of disparate parts or something that is hoped for but is ultimately illusory.

• A “Chimaera Challenge” appears as a hidden area in the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets video game for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube consoles. It consists of a series of difficult spell-casting trials. (video game)
• Ron Weasley's line about seeing a Chimera's head is omitted from the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. (film)