Newton Scamander

Chapter 41

Image credit: here and here Newton Artemis Fido “Newt” Scamander was a brilliant magizoologist and author who wrote the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, along with his lesser known book, A Children’s Anthology of Monsters. Born on February 24, 1897, Scamander was introduced to the world of magical creatures through his mother’s hobby of breeding hippogriffs. He was also known to have dismembered Horklumps in his bedroom. Scamander attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and was sorted into the loyal and hardworking house of Hufflepuff. Although he remained mainly an outsider during his attendance, he became friends with Leta Lestrange, who shared his interest in magical creatures. Unfortunately, Newt later took the blame for an incident involving Lestrange and a Jarvey and was expelled from Hogwarts. After his expulsion from Hogwarts, Scamander got a job in the Ministry of Magic in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Like anyone else, he started at the bottom rung of the ladder and had to work his way up. Scamander’s first job in the department was in the office for House Elf Relocation. After two years of hard work, he was transferred to the Beast Division. Due to his great knowledge of the subject, he was promoted very quickly several times in a short time span, developing his career as a magizoologist. In 1918, Scamander was commissioned to write the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Augustus Worme of Obscurus Books. While working on the book he traveled to over 100 countries and went to every single continent. He gained the trust of the creatures he observed. During his travels, he met an Obscurus in Sudan and, for a time, contained it in his famed briefcase. Additionally, at one point, he left Equatorial Guinea to stop briefly in New York. Unfortunately, an incident occurred where Scamander’s suitcase accidentally opened and let out several magical creatures that were stored in it. The creatures were eventually found and returned to Scamander’s briefcase. Not only did Scamander encounter another Obscurus during the search for the escaped creatures, but he also helped defeat Gellert Grindelwald, who was under the disguise of Percival Graves, the head of MACUSA’s Department of Magical Law Enforcement. The whole debacle was a major violation of the International Statute of Secrecy. In order to prevent the mass exposure of the wizarding world to the Muggles of New York City, Scamander had the idea of using the power of the Thunderbird alongside Swooping Evil venom, which was ultimately effective in obliviating the Muggles’ memories. Scamander left New York the next day by ship and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was published in 1927, immediately becoming a hit. It is now included in the list of textbooks First Years need when going to Hogwarts. After finishing the book, he went back to his job at the Ministry. He had the idea and was responsible for the Werewolf Registry, which was introduced in 1947. Scamander was also responsible for the Ban on Experimental Breeding which passed in 1965 which he has noted, on multiple occasions to be his proudest moment. In 1972 he also authored A Children’s Anthology of Monsters for younger readers to understand magical creatures more easily. Newton Scamander became even more famous and notable in 1979 when he was awarded an Order of Merlin, Second Class, for all of his notable laws, discoveries, and especially for his books. He was also acknowledged by having a chocolate frog card created in his likeness. Scamander married Tina Goldstein and moved to Dorset in 1990 when he retired. The couple have three kneazles named Hoppy, Miller, and Mauler. After he retired, he traveled to the Brazilian rainforest to study Fire Slugs for several months. Newton Scamander is currently working on the forward for the new edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which gives some insight into Grindelwald’s capture in 1918 and the part that Scamander himself played in aiding MACUSA. Due to Newton Scamander’s notability he is one of the few people to have a portrait in the Headmaster’s office that wasn’t a former headmaster. His portrait gives advice to the current headmaster or headmistress of Hogwarts and is considered to be of great help in the matters of Hogwarts grounds and the Forbidden Forest.