Pygmy Puffs

• Type: Magical Creature, Magical Pet
• Owners: Ginny Weasley, numerous unidentified Hogwarts students
• Maker: Bred by Fred Weasley and George Weasley

A Pygmy Puff is a miniature Puffskein, a small, spherical magical beast covered in soft fur. They were specifically bred by the Weasley twins to come in shades of pink and purple. When first seen for sale at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, they are described as “small, fluffy balls of fur… rolling around in a cage and emitting high-pitched squeaks.” They are small enough to be held in one's palm or to ride on a person's shoulder, as Ginny Weasley's Pygmy Puff, Arnold, was often seen doing. Their primary purpose is to serve as an affectionate and low-maintenance pet.

As a miniaturized variant of the Puffskein, Pygmy Puffs share the same docile and charming temperament. They are not known to possess offensive or defensive magical abilities; their “usage” is entirely as a companion animal. Key traits include:

• Temperament: Extremely docile and affectionate, they enjoy being cuddled and do not object to being handled or even tossed about. (Pottermore)
• Sounds: They emit high-pitched squeaks, and like their larger Puffskein relatives, may emit a low humming sound when content. (Pottermore)
• Diet: They are scavengers and are remarkably easy to care for. Their diet includes insects like spiders, leftovers, and even things like bogey-flavoured Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. They eat by sticking out a long, thin, pink tongue. (Pottermore, based on Puffskein lore)

Pygmy Puffs became an enormously popular product at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, with Ginny Weasley noting that they were selling out very quickly.

Pygmy Puffs were created by Fred Weasley and George Weasley sometime before the summer of 1996 as a new product for their joke shop, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, located at 93 Diagon Alley. They are a prime example of the twins' talent for magical invention and business acumen. They were first seen by Harry Potter during his visit to the shop in August 1996. Ginny Weasley purchased a purple Pygmy Puff on this visit, whom she named Arnold. She subsequently took Arnold with her to Hogwarts aboard the Hogwarts Express, where it was met with amusement by Luna Lovegood and mild disgust by Ron Weasley. The popularity of the creatures among Hogwarts students grew rapidly.

Pygmy Puffs appear primarily in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Their existence serves as a symbol of joy, commercial success, and youthful ingenuity in the face of the growing darkness of the Second Wizarding War. They showcase the incredible success of Fred Weasley and George Weasley's enterprise, fulfilling their dream of running a joke shop. On a smaller scale, Ginny's pet Pygmy Puff, Arnold, provides moments of levity and character insight. It highlights Ginny's playful nature, Ron's easily irritated side, and Luna's acceptance of the strange and sweet. The creature itself is a minor plot device that adds texture and life to the Wizarding World.

• The concept of the Pygmy Puff is an extension of the Puffskein, a creature described in the in-universe textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The prefix “pygmy” simply denotes their miniaturized size.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Pygmy Puffs are visibly featured in the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes scene, closely matching their description in the novel. (film)
• The popularity of the creature in the books and films has led to the creation of a wide variety of real-world plush toy merchandise.