The Black Forest was a dense forest situated in present-day Germany that was said to be home to several magical creatures in the wizarding world. It was known to have a lot of vampires living there. Bowtruckles, the twig-like magical beasts, were said to originate from this forest. They lived on top of trees and survived based on a diet of insects. Erklings, too, were known to be endemic to the Black Forest and regions of Bavaria. Erklings were elf-like magical beasts that grew up to three feet and were known to eat children.
History
The Black Forest was specifically known in the Harry Potter series for being the place where Quirinus Quirrel went before he came to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. He is said to have encountered a lot of vampires in the Black Forest on his journey. It was also rumoured that Lord Voldemort, after being defeated and ripped off his body by Harry Potter in Godric’s Hollow, went into hiding near the Black Forest in Germany and later went to Romania. Eventually, it is revealed that Professor Quirrel did find Lord Voldemort and was possessed by him.
The Black Forest was also known to have constant erkling attacks on children. Erklings were particularly fond of eating children and therefore used loud cackling noises to lure children towards them. It is believed that erklings would then eat children, and it was therefore advised that guardians should never leave their children alone anywhere near the Black Forest. It is also believed that the Black Forest has been a safe haven and a magical experience for nobility and artists who would come across the incredible light trail at dawn and dusk within the forest on the walking trail while on holiday. The natural beauty of the forest trail may also have attracted Muggles, but most Muggles may have stayed away from the forest due to its density and the fear of familiar creatures such as erklings.
Beasts of the Black Forest
The most common beasts in the Black Forest were erklings and bowtruckles as they were both endemic to this forest. Vampires were also known to be found a lot in the Black Forest.
Bowtruckles were twig-like creatures that looked like plants and lived on top of trees. In the Fantastic Beasts series, Pickett, a bowtruckle, used to be a close friend of Newt Scamander, the author of the textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and was used by Newt several times to pick locks due to bowtruckles being really good at it. Newt had also used Nifflers to great effect to steal a necklace from Gellert Grindelwald as they loved possessing shiny objects.
Erklings were very dangerous creatures known to devour children. Erklings resembled elves in appearance, although they would only grow up to three feet tall. They may be related to house elves, and they had pointed noses and ears. The German Ministry of Magic significantly reduced the number of erkling attacks on children by reducing their population. Newt Scamander believed that the last recorded erkling attack was on a boy named Bruno Schmidt, who was successful in killing said erkling by dropping a heavy collapsible cauldron on its head. Ron, Hermione, and Harry had also faced erklings back in Hogwarts as a part of a DADA challenge.
Appearances in the Harry Potter Universe
The Black Forest was first mentioned in the Harry Potter series when it was suggested that Quirinus Quirrell, the newly appointed professor of the Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts had been to the Dark Forest in Germany and had met with vampires. His nervous and anxious demeanour was attributed to him meeting with vampires and other strange creatures or encountering mysterious curses in the Dark Forest.
However, it was later revealed that the reason that Quirrell had an anxious demeanour was that he was possessed by Lord Voldemort, who was pressuring him into stealing the Philosopher’s Stone from Hogwarts. This stone was hidden in a vault at Gringotts Bank but was taken to be kept at Hogwarts by Rubeus Hagrid under the orders of Albus Dumbledore. The Black Forest may have been the site of an iconic confrontation between Voldemort and Quirrell, but it could also be the forests in Romania. The Dark Forest is also believed to be the forest from which the wood used to make broomsticks at Ellerby and Spudmore were procured.
Another mention of the Black Forest that takes place in the Harry Potter series is during the Quidditch World Cup in 1994. Basil, the wizard in charge of Portkeys at the venue of the world cup suggests to the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione to hurry as they were expecting another big party of visitors to arrive by Portkey from the Black Forest.
Similarities with the Forbidden Forest
The Forbidden Forest was similar to the Black Forest in that it was quite dense and filled with a wide variety of magical creatures. Some of these creatures include Acromantulae, which were similar to spiders and introduced in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as Aragog, the leader of the Acromantulae, was believed at first to be the beast in the Chamber, Hippogriffs, which were introduced in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and several others like unicorns and centaurs which were introduced in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone when Harry had an exclusive Forbidden Forest experience with Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger when they were forced into detention. The woodlands of the Forbidden Forest were also home to creatures like thestrals and giants.
FAQs
Where is the Black Forest in Harry Potter?
The Black Forest is a dense forest in Germany that was known to be home to many magical creatures. It is believed that Professor Quirinus Quirrell met vampires in this forest when he journeyed throughout Europe for research. The Black Forest is also home to a wide variety of other creatures like erklings and bowtruckles and is known for being very dense and dangerous for Muggles and people without the knowledge of magic to enter.
Was it Voldemort in the Dark Forest?
Yes, it is Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest that we see in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone when Harry, Hermione and Draco go to detention. However, Voldemort is still not in his human form because of the curse he cast on Harry backfiring. Voldemort was there drinking unicorn’s blood because it is said to have rejuvenating properties and the ability to keep something like Voldemort alive until he can find a body.
What is the forest called in Harry Potter?
The huge forest that is adjacent to the Hogwarts grounds is called the Forbidden Forest. It is also sometimes, very rarely, referred to as the Dark Forest. However, there exist other forests in the Harry Potter universe, including the Black Forest, which is situated in Germany, and other forests like the one in Romania where Voldemort is said to have been hiding.
