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Jacob's sibling: "What else can you tell us about Scrofungulus, Chiara?"
Chiara Lobosca: "It's quite contagious and can be fatal. Usually, it causes tiny tentacles to erupt across the neck and face."
Chiara Lobosca regarding Scrofungulus[src]

Scrofungulus was a wizarding illness.[3] It was quite a contagious disease which was provoked by an unknown fungus, which usually caused tiny tentacles to erupt across the neck and face, and could be fatal.[1] The "Magical Bugs" section of St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries treated this disease.[3]

The symptoms of this disease could be faked with the use of both the Pimple Jinx and Jelly-Legs Jinx, which when both used together would cause small tentacles to sprout on the victim's face.[1]

History[]

In the 1989–1990 school year, there was a Scrofungulus outbreak at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, causing the beds in the Hospital Wing to be full. As Madam Pomfrey was petrified at the time, Chiara Lobosca took care of the patients.[2]

Chiara holding jar of fungus HM731

Chiara holding a jar of the fungus that caused Scrofungulus

During the 1990–1991 school year, as Merula Snyde was anxious about testfying against the white-robed wizard in front of the Wizengamot, she and Jacob's sibling devised a plan to make it look like she had contracted a contagious illness that would prevent her having to enter the courtroom. Jacob's sibling had Chiara bring them a jar containing the fungus that causes Scrofungulus in the Hospital Wing, and told them not to open it under any circumstances to prevent a disease outbreak. Not wanting to contract the actual disease, Jacob's sibling and Ben Copper used the Pimple Jinx and Jelly-Legs Curse on her on the Training Grounds, to give her tentacles across her face. At the Ministry of Magic headquarters, Merula and Jacob's sibling showed Albus Dumbledore, Amelia Bones and Dolores Umbridge the jar as proof that Merula had the disease and that she could not testify; believing them, Umbridge ordered Merula go to St Mungo's for treatment.[1]

Etymology[]

The name of the illness is apparently made from the word "scrofula" (the former name of tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis, a type of tuberculous that normally infects the neck), and "fungus". If the name is chosen intentionally to indicate the nature of this disease, the disease is most likely a type of fungus infecting the neck.

Behind the scenes[]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 31 (Circle Up)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 21 (Moving Forward)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 22 (St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries)
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