Newton Scamander

Newton Artemis Fido Scamander
Biographical information
Born	1897
Died	Between 31 July, 1991 and 18 December, 1992
Marital status	Married
Also known as	Newt
Title(s)	Professor Headmaster
Physical information
Species	Human Ghost (possibly)
Hair colour	White
Family information
Family members	Mrs. Scamander (mother) Porpentina Scamander (wife) Rolf Scamander (grandson) Scamander family
Affiliation
Occupation	Magizoologist, Beast Division, Ministry of Magic Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Loyalty	Hogwarts Ministry of Magic Order of Merlin Hufflepuff

"I have visited lairs, burrows and nests across five continents, observed the curious habits of magical beasts in a hundred countries, witnessed their powers, gained their trust and, on occasion, beaten them off with my travelling kettle."

— Newton Scamander

Professor Newton Artemis Fido "Newt" Scamander, Order of Merlin, Second Class, (1897—1991/1992), was a famed Magizoologist and author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Scamander developed an interest in magical creatures early in life, influenced by his mother's breeding of hippogriffs. After attending, and graduating from, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scamander joined the Ministry of Magic. After spending two years in the Office for House-Elf Relocation, Scamander joined the Beast Division and put his knowledge of magical beasts to good use. In 1918, Scamander was commissioned by Augustus Worme of Obscurus Books to write Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The book became a best seller, making Scamander a respected expert in the field of Magizoology, which also led to an appointment as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In his personal life, Scamander married a woman named Porpentina, and fathered at least one child. By the beginning of the 1990s, Scamander was retired and living in Dorset. Professor Scamander would eventually die between 31 July, 1991 and 18 December, 1992.

Biography

Early life and schooling

Scamander when he was a young man.

Newton Scamander was born in 1897, and developed an interest in magical creatures at an early age as his mother was a breeder of hippogriffs. As a seven year old, Scamander would regularly dismember Horklumps in his bedroom. From 1908 to 1915, he attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he was Sorted into Hufflepuff. He most likely took Care of Magical Creatures as an elective in his third year.

Professional life

Joining the Ministry of Magic

After graduating from Hogwarts, Scamander joined the Ministry of Magic, and worked for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. He spent two years in the Office for House-Elf Relocation before transferring to the Beast Division, where his extensive knowledge of magical creatures led to a rapid series of promotions.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

A younger Scamander, on one of his expeditions.

In 1918, Augustus Worme of Obscurus Books commissioned Scamander to write the first edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Scamander, earning only two Sickles a week working at the Ministry, jumped at the chance for extra money and the opportunity to spend his summers travelling the world. Scamander travelled to a hundred countries across five continents researching his book, observing many magical creatures. He learned about their abilities, gained their trust, and occasionally beat them with his travelling kettle if they got too dangerous. First published in 1927, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was a massive bestseller. It became an approved textbook at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and, by the mid-1990s, was in its fifty-second edition.

More work at the Ministry

In 1947, Scamander was responsible for the inception of the Werewolf Register, and, in 1965, created the Ban on Experimental Breeding, which he considered his proudest moment. Scamander also worked extensively with the Dragon Research and Restraint Bureau, which led him on expeditions all over the world, allowing him to collect information for new editions of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

As Headmaster of Hogwarts

Scamander writes Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

At some point in his life, Scamander was appointed as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the school from which he studied.

Awards and Honours

In 1979, he was awarded the Order of Merlin, Second Class, for services to Magizoology. He was also honoured with a Chocolate Frog Card named after him.

Private life

Scamander married a woman named Porpentina, and the union produced at least one child, who produced at least one grandson named Rolf. By the beginning of the 1990s, he was retired and living in Dorset with his wife and their three pet Kneazles, Hoppy, Milly, and Mauler, but was known to study Fire Slugs in the Brazilian rainforest. Following his grandson's marriage to Luna Lovegood, Scamander became the great-grandfather of twin boys, Lorcan and Lysander Scamander.

Death and post-mortem

Newton Scamander

Professor Scamander passed away in the early 1990s (sometime between 31 July, 1991 and 18 December, 1992). Following his death, his portrait was hung alongside those of other former Heads of the school in the Head's office.

In the winter of 1993, Scamander's name appeared on the Marauder's Map, possibly indicating that he lingered at Hogwarts as a ghost after his death.

Personality and traits

Scamander was a dedicated individual who tirelessly researched new information for his book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, even when he was supposedly retired. Considered an authority in the field of Magizoology, his works were respected throughout the wizarding community.

Etymology

Scamander's full name is drawn from a variety of sources; Newton refers to the newt creature, which in turn is used as Scamander's nickname, the surname is possibly also taken from the known English mathematician Isaac Newton; Artemis is the name of the Greek goddess of the hunt; Fido is a common dog name, from the Latin for faithful; and Scamander sounds like "salamander". His nickname "Newt" is a small, brightly coloured salamander.

Behind the scenes

Newt Scamanders´s name, as depicted on the Marauder's Map

• Newton Scamander was first referenced in the first novel of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
• In 2001, J. K. Rowling published a real version of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them for Comic Relief, a UK based charity event. The book was written from an in-universe perspective, and Scamander was credited as the "author" of the work.
• In 1993, Newton Scamander's name appeared on the Marauder's Map possibily indicating that he lingered at Hogwarts as a ghost after his death.
• Newt was the first known Hufflepuff introduced in the series, although it wasn´t revealed that he was a Hufflepuff until Pottermore.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Appears on a Famous Wizard Card)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) (Appears in portrait(s))
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (Appears on a Famous Wizard Card)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) (Appears on the Marauder's Map)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Appears in portrait(s))
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) (Appears in portrait(s))
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Appears in portrait(s))
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Appears in portrait(s))
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Appears in portrait(s))
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• Harry Potter: The Exhibition (Appears in portrait(s))
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Appears in portrait(s))
• J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life (Mentioned only (not by name))
• Pottermore (Mentioned only)