The Completely Unreliable Guide to Newt Scamander

Fandom Presents The Completely Unreliable Guide

"You’re an interesting man, Mr. Scamander."

"Just like your suitcase, I think there's more to you than meets the eye."

Percival

Graves

Maybe you haven't heard of

Newton Artemis Fido Scamander.

Or maybe you're quite familiar with the man and his importance to the Wizarding World. However, you don't know him like this. What follows is a fantastical account of the life and times of Mr. Scamander, with more than you ever wished you could learn about the wizard, his place in magical history, and the real-world film that chronicles one of his greatest adventures…

part One

The Wizard

Newt attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...

...and was sorted into Hufflepuff House.

(Unfortunately, his stay at Hogwarts was cut short when he was expelled for endangering human life with a beast.)

Professor Albus Dumbledore, at the time a Transfiguration teacher, argued against the expulsion, but his arguments failed to reverse the decision.

Later biographies of Newt’s days at Hogwarts would overlook this fact and claim that he graduated.

Despite being expelled,Newt found work with the Ministry of Magic in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. He spent two tedious years in the Office for House-Elf Relocation before being transferred to the Beast Division.

Newt’s extensive knowledge of magical creatures earned him promotions and fame as a leading Magizoologist.

part Two

The Book

in 1918,Newt’s reputation as a famed Magizoologist led to him being approached by Obscurus Books to write a book on the subject.

The (now) world-famous text…

The book was to be an authoritative compendium on all manner of magical creatures. Jumping at the chance to earn more than his low salary of two Sickles a week at the Ministry of Magic, Newt spent his holidays over the next several years traveling the world. He tracked magical beasts across five continents and a hundred countries, learning their behaviors and observing their lives. He gained their trust, observed their powers, and occasionally fended them off with his traveling kettle.

The first edition was published in 1927.

By 1991, the book was in its 52nd edition.

The book had become a standard textbook for students attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and was used by students like Harry Potter during their years of study.

part Three

The Voyage

Newt
traveled to

New York City

In 1926

Newt travelled to

New York City

In 1926

…carrying with him his magical (but slightly broken) case full of fantastic beasts. During his trip, he encounters the American No-Maj (non-magical person) Jacob Kowalski who accidentally releases several beasts from the case. Newt and Jacob set out to recapture the beasts.

Along the way, they encounter the sisters Porpentina and Queenie Goldstein and also run afoul of the Wizarding government in America – the Magical Congress of the United States of America led by Seraphina Picquery. They also meet the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Percival Graves, and see first-hand the anti-wizard rhetoric of Mary Lou Barebone.

Newt’s adventures take him into the heart of American Wizarding politics and war seemingly looms between the Wizarding World and the No-Majs. With Gellert Grindelwald terrorizing Europe, the Americans fear that war is coming.

The Magical Congress Of The United States Of America. Modelled after the British Ministry of Magic. Headed by a President rather than a Minister for Magic. Governs the affairs of Wizards and Witches within the USA.

Because of the nature of the history of Wizards in the United States which included persecution at the hands of No-Majs and attempts to expose the Wizarding World to the general public, MACUSA has strict rules in place to prevent fraternization between Wizards and No-Majs, which includes marrying them or even befriending them. Unlike other Western Wizarding governments who maintain contact with the Muggle governments in their country, MACUSA has no such arrangement. They are totally hidden from the No-Maj world and fiercely guard their secrecy. All Wizards in the country are required to register with MACUSA, and wand permits are required.

Career

Milestones

1947

Creation of the Werewolf
Register

1965

Ban on Experimental Breeding

…which outlawed the cross-breeding of magical creatures (although this did not stop Rubeus Hagrid from creating the Blast-Ended Skrewt).

1979

Awarded the Order of Merlin, Second Class

By 1991, Newt was happily enjoying retirement with his wife in Dorset. They lived with their three pet Kneazles, Hoppy, Milly, and Mauler.

Part Four

The Film

Reliable and unreliable

details, notes, and facts

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the latest film set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, and the first to not feature Harry Potter as the main character. Set some 70 years before the events of the Harry Potter films, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them follows the adventures of Newt Scamander, a Magizoologist who arrives in New York with a case full of magical creatures. Arriving in the country with no real understanding of the local society, Newt’s arrival sets into motion a series of events that threatens to expose the hidden Wizarding World.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the first cinematic work within the Harry Potter universe to explore the culture of a Wizarding society other than the one in Great Britain. The differences between the two cultures, and their attitudes towards co-existing with their non-magical neighbors, will take center stage as Newt traverses a world that is both familiar and alien at the same time.

During the filming of the Harry Potter films, a portrait of Newt Scamander was included among the portraits of previous headmasters. It has been established that previous headmasters only warranted a portrait once they had died, leading to the assumption that Newt was a previous headmaster and had since passed away. However, it has been established that Newt is still alive in the current era, meaning his inclusion among the headmasters has been rendered non-canonical.