Dragon Keeper

A Dragon Keeper, also known as a Dragonologist, is a highly specialized and dangerous profession within the Wizarding World. These witches and wizards are responsible for the study, care, breeding, and containment of Dragons, which are classified as XXXXX creatures by the Ministry of Magic, denoting them as known wizard-killers impossible to train or domesticate. The work requires immense bravery, skill, and physical resilience. Dragon Keepers are often seen using powerful magic to manage their charges, particularly the `Stunning Spell` (`Stupefy`), which is used in numbers to subdue the colossal beasts. Their work attire typically includes magically-reinforced protective gear, such as gauntlets and visored helmets, to shield them from dragon fire and physical attacks. The breeding and taming of dragons has been outlawed since the Warlocks' Convention of 1709, making the work of Dragon Keepers, who operate in designated sanctuaries, essential for the preservation and control of the species.

Dragon Keepers primarily work in remote, heavily protected Dragon Sanctuaries or Reserves. These locations are established far from Muggle populations to prevent discovery and ensure public safety. The most prominently featured reserve in the series is the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary, where Charlie Weasley is employed. These sanctuaries provide a natural habitat where dragons can be studied and managed in a controlled environment, away from the general wizarding populace. The existence of these reserves is crucial for enforcing the ban on private dragon ownership and trade.

• Charlie Weasley: The second-eldest son of Arthur and Molly Weasley, Charlie is the most notable Dragon Keeper in the series. He works with various dragon breeds in Romania.
• Unnamed Associates of Charlie Weasley: A group of Charlie's colleagues who traveled to Hogwarts on Broomsticks to retrieve Hagrid's illegally-hatched Norwegian Ridgeback, Norbert. They used a harness to transport the young dragon safely.
• Triwizard Tournament Handlers: A team of approximately a dozen skilled Dragon Keepers was tasked with transporting and managing the four nesting mother dragons for the First Task of the 1994 Triwizard Tournament. They were responsible for the Hungarian Horntail, Chinese Fireball, Swedish Short-Snout, and Common Welsh Green.

In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Dragon Keepers play a vital, albeit behind-the-scenes, role. After Rubeus Hagrid illegally hatches a Norwegian Ridgeback egg, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger persuade him that the dragon, named Norbert, must be sent to a proper reserve. They contact Charlie Weasley, who arranges for a team of his fellow Dragon Keepers to conduct a clandestine pickup from the top of the Hogwarts Astronomy Tower. This event highlights the illegality of private dragon ownership and the specialized network required to handle such creatures.

Dragon Keepers are featured prominently in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. A team is brought to Hogwarts to deliver and manage the four dragons required for the First Task. Hagrid shows Harry Potter the dragons in their enclosure in the Forbidden Forest, where the keepers are seen struggling to maintain control, resorting to repeated `Stunning Spells` to manage the powerful beasts. During the task itself, the keepers stand by, ready to intervene if a dragon breaks free and threatens the champions or the crowd, underscoring the extreme danger of the competition.

• The official textbook, `Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them`, refers to the study of dragons as Dragonology.
• The `Famous Witches and Wizards Cards` included with certain video games identify Harvey Ridgebit as the first Dragonologist to catch a Peruvian Vipertooth and as the founder of the world's largest Dragon Sanctuary, located in Romania. (video game)