M.O.M Rating: XXXXX
This is a fearsome mythological beast from Persia (now named Iran), which was actually believed to be real throughout the Middle Ages. This is hard to understand nowadays, as it is hardly a believable beast, having the head of a man, the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion. The name derives from the Persian term for "man eater". The legend of the Manticore lives on in Indonesia, where the beast is often blamed for any disappearances of local people.
The Manticore is highly dangerous and also impervious to most magic. The sting kills instantly. Hagrid cross-bred the Manticore with the Fire Crab to produce Blast-Ended Skrewts, although how exactly he managed this is unclear.
Whilst carrying out some research to help in the defence for Buckbeak's trial, Harry, Ron and Hermione found out about an incident in 1296 where a Manticore was pardoned after savaging a human. They decided this wouldn't help the defence much, however, when they realised that it had only been let off because everyone was too scared to go near it in order to carry out any sort of punishment
