Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle

Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle were two pure-blood or half-blood wizards in Harry Potter's year at Hogwarts, both sorted into Slytherin house. They are primarily known as the thuggish and unintelligent sidekicks of their fellow Slytherin, Draco Malfoy. Throughout the series, they function as Malfoy's bodyguards, enforcing his will through physical intimidation rather than magical skill. Their unwavering loyalty to Malfoy and their family ties to the Death Eaters place them in direct opposition to Harry Potter and his friends. Crabbe's story culminates in a tragic death during the Battle of Hogwarts, while Goyle survives the conflict.

Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle were both sons of Death Eaters, which heavily influenced their prejudice and allegiance from a young age. They began their Hogwarts education in 1991, the same year as Harry Potter.

• First Year: On their first trip aboard the Hogwarts Express, Crabbe and Goyle flanked Draco Malfoy during his initial, confrontational meeting with Harry. After being sorted into Slytherin, they became a constant, menacing presence in the background of Malfoy's schemes, such as when Goyle attempted to steal Neville Longbottom's Remembrall.
• Second Year: Crabbe and Goyle played an unwitting role in helping the trio investigate the Chamber of Secrets. Harry and Ron Weasley used Polyjuice Potion to disguise themselves as Goyle and Crabbe, respectively, to infiltrate the Slytherin Common Room. The real Crabbe and Goyle were incapacitated by Hermione Granger using cakes enchanted with a Sleeping Draught. While disguised, Harry and Ron learned from Malfoy that he was not the Heir of Slytherin.
• Third Year: Following the execution order for Buckbeak the hippogriff, Crabbe and Goyle stood with Malfoy, gloating. During a Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Marcus Flint disguised themselves as Dementors in an attempt to sabotage Harry. The prank failed when Harry produced a fully corporeal Patronus, knocking them all over.
• Fifth Year: Crabbe and Goyle eagerly joined Dolores Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad, using their new authority to bully other students. They were responsible for capturing Harry as he attempted to use Umbridge's office fireplace to contact Sirius Black. They held Harry's arms while Umbridge interrogated him. Later, during an ambush in the Forbidden Forest, they were both stunned by spells from members of Dumbledore's Army.
• Sixth Year: Crabbe and Goyle were frequently employed by Malfoy as lookouts, often transformed by Polyjuice Potion into young girls, to guard the Room of Requirement while he worked on repairing the Vanishing Cabinet. Harry Potter stunned Crabbe during one such instance while under his Invisibility Cloak.
• Seventh Year: With Hogwarts under the control of the Carrows, Crabbe and Goyle's cruelty and proficiency in the Dark Arts grew significantly. During the Battle of Hogwarts, they accompanied Malfoy into the Room of Requirement to capture Harry. In a stunning act of rebellion, Crabbe defied Malfoy's orders and unleashed the powerful and uncontrollable curse, Fiendfyre. The cursed fire consumed the room, destroying Ravenclaw's Diadem and killing Crabbe. Goyle was knocked unconscious by Hermione and was subsequently rescued from the fire along with Malfoy by Harry and Ron. Goyle's fate after the battle is unknown.

Crabbe and Goyle were nearly always described as a unit, notable for their large, brutish builds.

• Vincent Crabbe: Described as “exceedingly thickset” with a “pudding-bowl haircut” and very long arms that made him resemble a gorilla.
• Gregory Goyle: Similarly large and brutish, with “short, bristly hair” that grew down onto his forehead and “dull, sluggish eyes.” His knuckles were notably large.

Both characters displayed similar personalities for most of the series. They were bullies who relied on their size to intimidate others. They possessed very little intelligence or independent thought, acting as sycophants who followed Draco Malfoy's every command and laughed at his jokes. By the seventh book, however, Crabbe developed a newfound arrogance and a taste for the Dark Arts, becoming confident enough to openly defy Malfoy. Goyle, in contrast, remained largely subservient and was shown to be terrified during the final battle.

Crabbe and Goyle were generally portrayed as magically inept students. Harry remarked that he was surprised they passed their O.W.L.s, assuming they must have cheated.

• Quidditch: Both served as Beaters for the Slytherin Quidditch team for a time, a position that relied more on brute strength than finesse.
• Dark Arts: Their skills in this area diverged dramatically in their final year. Goyle showed no particular aptitude, but Crabbe became dangerously proficient.
  • Crabbe learned to cast the Cruciatus Curse, though Harry noted his attempt lacked the necessary conviction to cause real pain.
  • Most significantly, Crabbe successfully cast Fiendfyre, an extremely advanced and powerful dark curse. However, he completely lacked the ability to control it, which resulted in his own death.

• Wands: As wizards, they both owned wands, though no details about their make or core are provided.
• Broomsticks: As members of the Slytherin Quidditch team in their second year, they both received Nimbus Two Thousand and One broomsticks, which were purchased for the team by Lucius Malfoy.

• Draco Malfoy: This was their defining relationship. For six years, they were his loyal henchmen. Malfoy did not treat them as friends, but as minions to do his bidding. This dynamic fractured in their final confrontation, when Crabbe refused Malfoy's order to not kill Harry Potter.
• The Trio: Crabbe and Goyle were constant antagonists to Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. They frequently engaged in schoolyard conflicts, which the trio usually won with superior magical skill. Despite this long-standing enmity, Harry and Ron saved Goyle's life from the Fiendfyre.
• Parents: Their fathers, Crabbe Sr. and Goyle Sr., were both convicted Death Eaters. This connection explains their ingrained prejudice and immediate alignment with the dark side of the wizarding world.

• Vincent: From the Latin name Vincentius, meaning “to conquer” or “to win.” This is deeply ironic for a character who is largely a failure, yet tragically apt for his final act where his own uncontrolled power “conquers” him.
• Crabbe: Likely derived from the word “crabby,” meaning ill-tempered or grouchy. The animal itself, a crab, can also connote brutishness.
• Gregory: From the Greek name Gregorios, meaning “watchful” or “vigilant.” This aligns with his primary role as Malfoy's bodyguard and lookout.
• Goyle: A probable derivative of “gargoyle,” the monstrous stone carvings on buildings that function as grotesque guardians. This perfectly suits Goyle's thuggish appearance and his role as Malfoy's “guard.”

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, the roles in the Room of Requirement are switched. It is Goyle who casts the Fiendfyre and falls to his death, not Crabbe. Crabbe is absent from the scene entirely and is replaced by Blaise Zabini. This change was made because the actor who portrayed Crabbe, Jamie Waylett, did not return for the final film. (film)