Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Explained

There have been so many ridiculous questions about the movie on the Internet that I think another post is required. (You can find my previous post here)

1. If Newt Scamander was expelled, why does the textbook state that he graduated?

So many people have been asking this question. In the film, we find out that he was expelled. I've a few explanations for this. Newt might have been expelled after completing his OWLs. It was not specified when exactly he was expelled, but I mean, you could always say that you graduated with OWLs, right? I mean, even Harry and Ron didn't stay to do their NEWTs. Only Hermione went back to Hogwarts to complete hers. For instance, why couldn't Fred (if he were still alive) and George claim that they graduated from Hogwarts with OWLs, since they chose to leave? (But obviously they wouldn't want to claim that they graduated. It would hurt their credentials.)

I'm guessing that Newt got his job at the Ministry in the House-Elf Relocation Office because he didn't have NEWTs and it was considered a lowly position at the Ministry. Although Harry and Ron got jobs at the Ministry of Magic even without NEWTs, this was largely because they saved the magical community from Voldemort. Newt Scamander only saved the magical world from Grindelwald in 1926, way after graduation. It was probably thanks to his newfound reputation, coupled with being the author of an awesome textbook and all, that led higher positions at the Ministry. So basically, he worked really, really hard. All his hard work paid off, so maybe the publishers thought, who cares whether he graduated or not? Let's just say he did! (It's the 52nd edition already, so we can do whatever we want!)

However, I think the most obvious reason is that the publishers deliberately decided to print the book that way to appease everyone. Under the "About the Author" section, even Muggle textbooks usually have someone scholarly-looking there, with degrees and PHDs. This makes the author sound like a respectable person and it definitely sits well with parents. If you've read The Tales of Beedle the Bard, you would have also read Dumbledore's analysis of 'The Fountain of Fair Fortune'. In his analysis, he explained that parents (i.e. Lucius Malfoy) disapproved the fairytale because in it, a witch marries a Muggle. Lucius Malfoy wanted to ban the book from Hogwarts' library. Dumbledore was against this of course. (I am still so sad that he died. He's the champion of human rights and he believes in the power of love.)

Anyway, you see where I'm going with this. They aren't exactly the same issue, but I would think that there would always be troublesome parents out there, whether in 1927 or in 2001.

2. Why did Newt Scamander get to keep his wand when Hagrid's wand was supposedly snapped into two?

This is a silly question because there are so many things we do not know. We don't know how the Ministry of Magic operated back then when Newt was expelled and when Hagrid was expelled. Laws change. The people in charge definitely changed. The jury was different. And in general, the Ministry of Magic has always been portrayed as one that is pretty messed up. They prosecute innocent people (and Hippogriffs) and perpetuated lies about Harry Potter. It therefore shouldn't come as a surprise to see that they aren't concerned with being consistent.

However, there are a few differences that may explain why Hagrid's punishment was more severe. First of all, Hagrid is a half-giant. As mentioned earlier, there are still racist pure-blood wizards and witches out there. And as Hermione would say, the magical community is still enslaving house-elves, for crying out loud! Madame Maxime's unwillingness to admit that she's a half-giantess says it all. (Big bones? Ha!)

Secondly, the degree of rule-breaking here is different. Hagrid was accused of unleashing a beast that petrified multiple students AND killed Moaning Myrtle. On the other hand, Newt was just charged with endangering a student's life, which probably did not result in death. Major difference here. 

Also, Hagrid's wand may still be intact anyway, which is why I added the word "supposedly". Harry suspects that fragments of the wand were left in Hagrid's pink umbrella, which allows him to do a little bit of magic. However, Dumbledore might have mended Hagrid's broken wand with the Elder wand, just like how Harry mended his own wand with it since he had always preferred his own.

3. Why is the Swooping Evil and the Thunderbird not found in Newt Scamander's textbook?

Yes, these creatures are not in the textbook. But the Horned Serpent, Pukwudgie and Wampus, the other three creatures that represent the houses at Ilvermorny, aren't in his textbook too. So are three-headed dogs like Fluffy. Okay, so maybe Newt did not get to see any three-headed dogs and many other creatures while he was doing his research. But in the film, we have proof that he once owned a Swooping Evil and a Thunderbird. He even has a really strong relationship with them. These creatures actually obey him -- they literally swoop in and save the day. So how do we explain their absence in the 52nd edition of Newt's textbook? 

There are so many possible explanations for this. A simple reason could be that by the time Harry Potter purchases the 52nd edition of his book, these creatures have already become extinct. Or maybe they've just gone into hiding. Who knows? It could be quite possible that wizards and witches hunted the Swooping Evil for their venom so that they didn't have to obliviate Muggles so much. And maybe people were misusing Thunderbirds to create storms? I don't know. But just like a dictionary, where new words are always being added in and words that are obsolete are being discarded, this could have been the case for Newt's textbook. Creatures that are extinct are left out, and we have to wait for other people to write about the new creatures. Another reason could just be because Newt wanted to protect them and keep them away from the public eye.

The most logical explanation would be that Newt Scamander didn't include them because his book was merely an introduction to Magizoology. He didn't claim to know every single magical creature in the world. This is also why his textbook was required for first years, but by third year, Harry had to purchase The Monster Book of Monsters, also known as the book that bites. In The Monster Book of Monsters, there are plenty of creatures that aren't in Newt's textbook, such as the Hippogriff and the Sphinx. There are probably many books out there in the magical community that are go into greater detail about other magical creatures. Perhaps some American author has already written a comprehensive book about the four creatures that the houses of Ilvermorny were named after.

4. How come Jacob Kowalski remembers the magical creatures?

At the end of the movie, there was an "Aww!" moment when we see Jacob working in his very own bakery, thanks to the Occamy eggs from Newt that he used as collateral since the eggs are pure silver and obviously worth a lot of money. His bread comes in the shape of Erumpents and Demiguises, and when he also sees his love interest, Queenie, he touches his neck -- the spot where the Murtlap attacked. WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN? Didn't the magic rain wash away his memories?

Many people have pointed out that according to Newt, the venom of the Swooping Evil wipes away bad memories of magic. Jacob had mostly good memories of magic as he walked around in Newt's case and even fed some of the creatures living in there. However, this doesn't explain much. If he retained good memories, why didn't he actively search for answers? Why did he go back to work? Why didn't he go looking for Newt and all the other magical creatures?

My impression of the Memory Charm, or obliviate, is that it'll be just like waking up from a good night's sleep. So Jacob probably remembered bits and pieces of it, but he brushed it off and thought his the dream factory in his brain was being over-imaginative.

In addition, Memory Charms probably work best when the subject is obliviated immediately or on the day itself. For example, usually when something catastrophic happens, the Ministry of Magic sends officials down at once to obliviate the Muggles (some Muggles get away though. There's a book entitled 'Muggles Who Notice'). However, for Jacob, the first time he encountered magic was when he first met Newt. That would mean days of memories to get rid of! Perhaps in this case, the Memory Charm didn't work quite as well as it should have.

And it isn't as if Memory Charms are foolproof. In Goblet of Fire, we found out that Memory Charms can be broken. When Bertha Jorkins accidentally discovered that Barty Crouch Jr. was still alive, Crouch Sr. used the Memory Charm to keep her mouth shut. But years later, Voldemort and Peter Pettigrew (that traitor!) managed to break the charm and got this information out of her.

So, I'm pretty sure that deep down inside Jacob's mind, he remembers Newt and Queenie and everything that's happened. AND it so happens that Queenie was a skilled Legilimens who can read people's minds. Perhaps she could look into Jacob's mind and make him recall everything that has happened. I mean, why not? Voldemort managed to break the Memory Charm and he was an accomplished Legilimens as well. Also, in Half-Blood Prince, when Harry casts Sectumsempra on Draco (felt super bad for Draco here, since he was trying so hard to save his family from Voldemort), Professor Snape walks into the bathroom and reads Harry's mind. As a skilled Legilimens, he was easily able to bring the image of the Half-Blood Prince's copy of Advanced Potion-Making to the forefront of Harry's mind. Too bad Harry never mastered Occlumency.

5. Why couldn't Newt just apparate to America (or travel there in some other non-Muggle way)?

Maybe he just liked the scenic route. Is that so hard to believe?

If wizards were allowed to apparate from country to country, it would violate the International Statue of Secrecy! Duh! MACUSA would be so pissed! Just as how Muggles have borders between different countries, I'm sure that the wizarding communities of various countries have drawn up their own boundaries too. (This obviously means no travelling via the Floo Network, since the system that we know of only connects wizarding households and buildings in Britain.)

Also, apparition is difficult. You have to remember the three Ds: Destination, Deliberation and Determination. Usually people apparate short distances or to places they've been to before. Without knowing the exact destination, I think it'll be pretty hard to apparate. Some wizarding folk don't even like apparating, possibly because you'd have to experience this unpleasant sensation which sounds claustrophobic and suffocating. According to Quidditch Through the Ages, apparition gets increasingly unreliable over long distances. I think trying to apparate from England to the United States isn't such a good idea. It's just too far. What if you get splinched? Even the Dark Lord decided to fly around when he paid "friendly" visits to Gregorovitch and then Grindelwald (who was locked away in Nurmengard) in his quest to locate the Elder Wand.

Lastly, portkeys. There are many restrictions and regulations by the Ministry of Magic with regards to portkeys. During the Quidditch World Cup in 1994, we learn that authorised portkeys were used by the Ministry to transport many groups of witches and wizards to the event. Thus, in order to travel to America, Newt would have needed an authorised portkey. However, Newt did not want to be subjected to scrutiny -- he was carrying an entire case of seemingly dangerous creatures. He was trying to protect them and if you've watched the film, you'd know the panic in his voice when his case got confiscated by MACUSA.

What about unauthorised portkeys? Barty Crouch Jr. made one, which transported Cedric Diggory to the graveyard and caused him to die (poor Cedric. I'll always remember how he wanted a Quidditch rematch with Gryffindor because he felt that it wasn't a fair victory for Hufflepuff since Potter fell off his broom due to the presence of Dementors). Well, Newt isn't really a rule-breaker or a troublemaker. Just like Harry, he doesn't go looking for trouble; trouble usually arrives at his doorstep. Besides, travelling by portkey leads to nausea and giddiness because it spins you around and throws you onto the ground. I would probably get portkey-sick if I had to travel via portkey. What effects will this form of transportation have on his magical creatures? Better not risk it.


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There's one thing I'm confused about though. When Credence dies, his body and soul turn into black flakes that fly about in the air. This is very similar to Voldemort's movie death.

In the book, Voldemort dies pretty much like any other person who's been struck by the Killing Curse. His lifeless body hits the ground and he's dead. In the movie, however, he kind of disintegrates and we see these black flakes as well.

The only logical explanation (to me) is that both Credence and Voldemort's souls have been tainted and the movies were trying to show just that. Credence's soul was tainted by his attempts to repress his magical abilities and therefore he developed an obscurus, while Voldemort's soul was obviously tainted because he made so many Horcruxes in order to split his soul into seven parts.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Film Review)

J. K. Rowling has outdone herself again. The plot for Cursed Child was a total disaster, but based on personal experience writing group essays at university, choosing to write with two other people was already a mistake from the outset.

Anyway, the movie was spectacular and absolutely spell-binding. First of all, Newt Scamander, the awkward protagonist, is so adorable. Just like Hagrid, he was expelled from Hogwarts because of some magical beast (and also Leta Lestrange, a witch Newt fell in love with. Obviously a recipe for disaster, considering how evil Bellatrix was). AND just like Hagrid, he was given a second chance by Professor Dumbledore, who probably knew that it was not Newt/Hagrid's fault. (I mean, why did they even believe Tom Riddle! Aragog can't possibly petrify people. You'd think they'd know better after reading Newt Scamander's book.)

Then there are the cute creatures that all Harry Potter fans would have read about in his textbook. Some were more familiar that others -- I was so excited to see the cute little niffler escape from Newt's case to steal all the shiny objects at the bank. I'm sure we had all imagined how nifflers look like when we "attended" one of Hagrid's best lessons while reading Goblet of Fire. And the Erumpent was also mentioned when Hermione repeatedly told Xenophilius Lovegood in Deathly Hallows that what he had was an Erumpent horn, not that of a Crumple-Horned Snorkcack. This time we actually see an Erumpent, and who knew they could be so scary and endearing at the same time? It was so funny to watch Newt as he tried his best to attract the female Erumpent (that was in heat).

Speaking of the Lovegoods, Luna eventually married Newt's grandson, Rolf Scamander. Luna's love for magical creatures made her do proper research and she admitted that the Crumple-Horned Snorkack didn't exist. Aw, that's too bad. Since Rowling mentioned that there would be exactly 5 films, I hope that they eventually at least mention Luna at some point. She's one of my favourite characters from Harry Potter because she's not afraid to speak her mind, she's not afraid to be herself and best of all, she stays calm in the face of adversity. (Okay, so the films are set from 1926 to 1945. But maybe they can give us a clue as to why the Lovegoods thought that the Crumple-Horned Snorkcack existed?)

The most troubling unanswered question is this: Was Ariana Dumbledore an obscurial? Immediately after leaving the theatre, I googled this question but there was no definite answer. But there are so many similarities. Both Credence Barebone and Ariana had powers that they have no control over. Both of them had been bullied in some way or another. Credence was always whipped with a belt by his "mother" and after Ariana was bullied by some Muggles, she wasn't right again. Both were mistaken for squibs -- Grindelwald thought Credence was a squib too, while the rumour around town was that Ariana was locked away because she was a squib. Both had to be calmed down -- Newt was trying to calm Credence down (and almost succeeded, if it weren't for Grindelwald and MACUSA) while Aberforth had mentioned that he was always able to calm his sister down. Both of them lived past the age of 10 -- many believed that obscurials don't survive for long but they were exceptions. Ariana died when she was 14 and I'm not sure how old Credence was, but he's obviously not 10 anymore. It also explains why Grindelwald thought he was a squib and was stunned to discover that the obscurial was Credence the whole time.

The only difference is that Credence could control his powers transform into an obscurus when he became angry. He would then seek revenge on those who wronged him. After Senator Shaw insulted him and called him a freak, he was killed. When Mary Lou wanted to whip Credence again, she was killed. After Grindelwald (who was disguised as Graves. Should've known -- he passed Credence a necklace with the sign of the Deathly Hallows) called him a squib and told him that he could not be taught to learn magic, he went berserk. Ariana, on the other hand, could not control her powers. She accidentally killed her own mother and eventually died in a three-way duel between her brothers and Grindelwald.

Wait, Grindelwald! Both of them (Ariana and Credence) knew Grindelwald. Everything makes sense now. Initially I thought that perhaps Newt could help Ariana, but that's because I got the timeline all messed up. It was 1926 and Ariana had died decades ago. BUT Grindelwald knew her and he would have known about the destructive powers that obscurials possess. This is why the newspaper clippings at the start of the film showed that he disappeared. His goal was to travel to New York to track down the obscurial there.

So was Ariana an obscurial? I'll be waiting for J. K. Rowling to uncover this mystery. But obscurial or not, the message is clear -- we should be ourselves. This is not something new -- in Frozen, Elsa tried to conceal her powers before finally learning how to control them and she eventually becomes the new ice queen, creating ice rinks for everybody. In X-men, mutants are shunned until they realise they can be enrolled in Professor Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and learn to control their powers too.

Well, in Fantastic Beasts, Credence was looking for acceptance. He wanted to truly fit in somewhere and he wanted to learn to control his powers as well. His witch-hating mother would never accept him, and sadly the magical community (despite Newt and Tina's efforts) did not as well. And in the larger scheme of things, Newt is fighting for magical creatures to be accepted and understood. Eventually he was awarded Order of Merlin, Second Class for his contributions to Magizoology, and was also honoured on chocolate frog cards. However, it was probably a hard-fought battle -- in the film, MACUSA immediately pins the blame on Newt and his animals and even sentenced him and Tina to die. Extremely harsh, don't you think? And your life literally flashes before you as you die -- the MACUSA official extracts memories from Porpentina to get her to relax (and supposedly get swallowed up by some creepy-looking black liquid. Honestly, Avada Kedavra seems like a better way to die.)

There are so many misunderstood magical beasts and beings (There is a difference! Refer to Newt Scamander's textbook for a hilarious introduction to the definition of magical beasts and beings) that pop up in the Harry Potter series. For instance, Ron thought that Crookshanks wanted to eat his rat but Crookshanks was a really smart Kneazle that could tell true animals from animagi.

Buckbeak is the prime example. Everytime I read Prisoner of Azkaban, I get so pissed with Draco. I would always be thinking: Come on, Draco. Why did you insult that majestic Hippogriff? Why did you have to get your father involved try to get Buckbeak executed, when it was clearly your fault? But let's face it. In the real world, this always happens. Humans are somehow stupid enough to provoke animals (even when these animals are much larger than us humans) yet the animals are blamed for their actions. 

This reminds me of my own experience with Mailbox Cat. She was an ordinary community cat who lived downstairs. She made lots of friends who regularly feed her, and she would always meow at me, jump on my lap and knead me. But one day some idiotic human provoked her by letting his/her dog bark at her. Probably on purpose. The human was attacked and Mailbox Cat was exiled. Seriously? I mean, come on, just walk your dog and leave the stray cats alone! Jeez.

Also, HARAMBE. Okay rant over. Just watch the movie so that we can geek out about Harry Potter together.

Other super adorable creatures include the overly attached Bowtruckle, which helps Newt escape his death sentence by picking the lock (Muggles don't really notice them because they blend in with the trees. Harry was bitten by one in Order of the Phoenix, during Professor Grubbly-Plank's class), and also the gorgeous Occamy, which Newt eventually re-captures by getting his friends to throw a cockroach into a teapot since these creatures have the ability to shrink their bodies to fit into any space. The furry invisible creature known as a Demiguise was taking care of the Occamy (Aww!) with stolen candy. Apparently, according to the textbook, its fur can be used for invisibility cloaks. The Murtlap looks gross, but this creature has been mentioned before in Order of the Phoenix -- Hermione used Murtlap essence to heal Harry's cuts because Umbridge was torturing him during detention by making him write "I must not tell lies" in his own blood. Who could forget that nasty evil witch? Can't believe she's a cat lover, ugh.

And there's the Thunderbird -- the reason why Newt travelled to America was to release this Thunderbird and let it go back to Arizona where it truly belongs. I'm so glad that I was sorted into Thunderbird house. Perhaps we'd get a glimpse of Ilvermorny in the sequels.