Norwegian Ridgeback
Creature Information
Description and Abilities
The Norwegian Ridgeback is a species of dragon native to the mountains of Norway. It is known for its striking appearance, which largely resembles the Hungarian Horntail, though it is distinguished by the jet-black ridges that run down its spine rather than tail spikes. As a hatchling, it appears black and scaly, with spiny wings that look like a “crumpled black umbrella”. This breed is particularly noted for its aggressive temperament, even towards its own kind, making it one of the rarer dragon species. A key characteristic is its early development of fire-breathing abilities, which can manifest as young as one to three months old. A hatchling's sneeze can produce sparks and small jets of flame. The fangs of a Norwegian Ridgeback are highly venomous; a bite can cause the affected area to swell and turn a greenish color, requiring a potent antidote. According to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Ridgebacks prey on large land mammals and, unusually for dragons, have also been known to feed on water-dwelling creatures. Their eggs are black.
History and Known Encounters
The most famous encounter with a Norwegian Ridgeback in recent history involved Rubeus Hagrid, who illegally obtained and hatched an egg in 1992. Hagrid won the egg from a hooded stranger (later revealed to be Professor Quirrell acting on behalf of Lord Voldemort) during a game of cards in the Hog's Head pub. Believing the dragon to be male, Hagrid named him Norbert. He raised the hatchling in his wooden hut on the Hogwarts Castle grounds, feeding it a mixture of brandy and chicken blood. Norbert grew at an alarming rate and its increasingly fiery nature became impossible to conceal. During one interaction, Norbert bit Ron Weasley on the hand, inflicting a venomous wound that required treatment from Madam Pomfrey. Realizing he could not keep the dragon, Hagrid was persuaded by Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger to send Norbert to Charlie Weasley, who worked at a dragon reserve in Romania. Harry and Hermione smuggled the crated dragon up to the top of the Astronomy Tower, where friends of Charlie collected him. The ordeal resulted in Harry, Hermione, and Neville Longbottom being caught out of bed and losing a significant number of House Points. Years later, at the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour in 1997, Charlie Weasley informed Hagrid that “Norbert” was, in fact, female, and had been renamed Norberta. Charlie noted that female Ridgebacks are often more vicious, and that Norberta was much happier in the dragon reserve.
Behind the Scenes
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Norbert is depicted with a lighter, mottled coloration and a more reptilian, less bat-like wing structure than described in the book. (film)
