Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures

The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures is a part of the Beast Division of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

The Committee is responsible for the execution of any magical creatures deemed to be a threat to the wizarding world. In 1994, the Committee was ordered to execute the Hippogriff, Buckbeak, after the creature injured Draco Malfoy during a Care of Magical Creatures lesson at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Known employees

 * Walden Macnair: Death Eater. He worked for the Committee as an executioner.
 * Elderly Committee member: Known to work for the Committee. Went with Walden Macnair to Buckbeak's execution, but seemed to be doing so against his wishes.

Buckbeak's case
In a Care of Magical Creatures lesson in September of 1993, the Hippogriff Buckbeak injured Draco Malfoy's arm slightly after having been insulted by the boy. The Hogwarts board of governors brought the incident to the Committee's attention, and Buckbeak and Hagrid were summoned to a hearing on 20 April, 1994.

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger spent many hours in the Hogwarts Library researching, in order to help Hagrid make a good case for Buckbeak, but this ended up being fruitless. Lucius Malfoy personally got involved in the case and frightened or bribed the Committee members into convicting Buckbeak; at the hearing, Lucius gave his testimony and the Committee immediately took his side.

After the hearing, the Committee set a date for Buckbeak's execution, even though legally there was still the possibility of another appeal. Albus Dumbledore attempted to intervene in Buckbeak's favour, but to no avail. On the appointed day, 6 June, 1994, Cornelius Fudge went to Hogwarts to act as a witness in Buckbeak's execution, along with an elderly Committee member and Walden Macnair, the executioner. Buckbeak predictably lost the appeal and was sentenced to beheading. When Macnair attempted to carry out the sentence, however, Buckbeak was nowhere to be found, having already been freed by Harry and Hermione, with the use of a Time-Turner.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire