Tom

Biodata

Background

Tom appeared in Jerry Green’s room before Jerry began attending Hogwarts, carrying an intricately engraved key fastened to his leg. Jerry did not know who had sent either the bird or the key, but named the bird Tom and began caring for him 5.

At Hogwarts, Jerry asked Hagrid to identify Tom. Hagrid could not name his species and wrote to Newt Scamander for help 20 21. Newt later examined Tom and proposed two possibilities: Tom belonged to an undiscovered species, or someone had made him. Neither explanation was confirmed 31.

Appearance

Tom is a plump, roughly owl-sized black bird whose body resembles a crow’s or raven’s 5 8 20 31.

• He has smooth feathers, a sharp dark-gray beak, and an unusually large head and eyes 5.
• His feet have an unusually sharp, cold-looking appearance 31.

Abilities & Traits

• Magical resistance — Jerry says ordinary spells cannot hurt Tom and used him for spell practice over the summer. An offensive spell Newt cast at Tom’s feathers left no mark 8 31.
• Comprehension — Tom understands simple things Jerry says, though the extent of his intelligence is unknown 8.
• Appetite — Tom readily eats fruit and grows plump enough that Jerry puts him on a diet 5 20 21 23.

Relationships

• Jerry Green — Tom’s owner, who names and feeds him; Tom regularly returns to Jerry’s shoulder 5 8 21.
• Hermione Granger — Tom initially pecks her, but grows friendlier after she feeds and pets him. She agrees to look after him at night because he cannot fly into Jerry’s lakeside dormitory on his own 8 13.
• Hagrid — Examines Tom but cannot identify his species, then contacts Newt Scamander 20 21.
• Newt Scamander — Examines Tom’s feet and magically resistant feathers, raising the possibility that he was created 31.