This venom was a magical substance extracted from a Swooping Evil that had the ability to erase negative memories from an individual's mind. While potentially very dangerous to come in contact with, if properly diluted, it could be used to remove bad memories.[1]
History[]
Newton Scamander extracting venom from a Swooping Evil cocoon
In 1926, Newton Scamander kept a male Swooping Evil with him in his expanded suitcase and would extract its venom to study. Newt explained to the No-Maj Jacob Kowalski about his experiments with this substance to determine its memory erasing properties.[1]
Frank, the Thunderbird, with the bottle of Swooping Evil venom
When Credence Barebone wreaked havoc on the streets of New York as an Obscurus and revealed the secret wizarding world to the No-Maj community, Seraphina Picquery thought it would be impossible to Obliviate an entire city. However, Newt Scamander suggested that they use the venom of the Swooping Evil with the help of Frank, a Thunderbird, which could create storms as it flew, to erase the memories of every No-Maj in New York. Seraphina agreed, and the Thunderbird created a storm of rain containing Swooping Evil venom to successfully salvage the secrecy of the wizarding society.[2][3]
Behind the scenes[]
- The fact that the venom is said to remove bad memories might explain how Jacob Kowalski was capable to recall Queenie Goldstein in his bakery at the end of the first instalment of Fantastic Beasts. Whereas the remainder of the No-Maj population in New York had experienced fear and catastrophe when the Obscurus terrorised the city, Jacob for his part was largely shielded from that aspect of the events by following Newt, and his discovery of the magical world and the wonders of magic left a strongly positive impression on him. Combined with the fact that he found new friends and even romance during these events, as well as his fondness for the magical creatures, the venom may have left much of these positive memories intact.
Appearances[]
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay (First appearance)
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)