Snake

Warning!

Some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and, as such, spoilers will be present.
Keep calm and keep the secrets!

"Is this all real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"

The topic of this article is of a real-life subject that has been mentioned "in-universe" in a canon source. The Harry Potter Wiki is written from the perspective that all information presented in canon is true (e.g., Hogwarts really existed), and, as such, details contained in this article may differ from real world facts.

"...serpents are often used in the worst kinds of Dark Magic, and are historically associated with evildoers."

— An anonymous member of the Dark Force Defence League, as quoted by Rita Skeeter, HARRY POTTER "DISTURBED AND DANGEROUS", Daily Prophet

A snake (also called a serpent) is a long, thin, legless reptile. The symbol of Slytherin house is the serpent, and the dark wizard Lord Voldemort had a pet snake named Nagini. There are many types of snakes in the magical world, but the biggest and most dangerous of them all is the Basilisk also known as the King of Serpents. The spell Serpensortia creates a snake from the caster’s wand, while the spell Vipera Evanesca gets rid of it.^[1] The spell for Fiendfyre creates fiery serpents and dragons. The skin of boomslang, a species of a snake,is an ingredient of Polyjuice Potion.^[1] Voldemort's mark, the Dark Mark, is a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth.^[2] In 1991 during a trip to a zoo, Harry Potter accidentally set loose a Boa constrictor on his cousin Dudley Dursley.^[3] In 1995, Harry Potter witnessed, in dream, the snake Nagini's attack on Arthur Weasley.^[4]

Language

Main article: Parseltongue

Snakes speak a language called Parseltongue. Only a select few wizards can speak this language, most of whom were Dark wizards. They are called Parselmouths.^[5] Some known Parselmouths are Salazar Slytherin, Marvolo Gaunt, Morfin Gaunt, Merope Gaunt, Lord Voldemort, Ginny Weasley (while under the influence of Tom Riddle's Diary), and Harry Potter (although he lost the ability later).

Species of snake

Basilisk — A basilisk, the King of Serpents

Notable snakes

Behind the scenes

The ability of even mundane snakes to communicate with Parselmouths and hold meaningful conversations with them implies that even non-magical snakes are notably more intelligent in the Harry Potter universe compared to the real world.
Snakes are easier to conjure from nothing than any other animal, apart from birds.^[6]

Snake Malfoy
Snakes are an enemy in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 and LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 and also an ingredient for the Ageing Potion.
- In the same game Snake Marks are used as keys to open or move something. These can only be used by Harry Potter and Tom Riddle because they speak Parseltongue.
One of the forms that the Fiendfyre took was a snake.^[7]^[8]^[9]
Snakes are usually attributed to the Dark Arts simply due to them being affiliated with Dark Wizards such as Salazar Slytherin, Herpo the Foul and Lord Voldemort.
Some snakes in the magical world seem to be different species undiscovered in the Muggle parts of the world. Nagini, for example, is as large as a Boa Constrictor, but her venom suggests that she was more akin to a supersized viper (though a prehistoric viper-like serpent of this size did exist in the Muggle world). And the Basilisk was obviously no common serpent (though it may be a mutated, magical version of the ancient 50-foot serpent).

Appearances

The Harry Potter Wiki has 158 images related to Snake.

Notes and references

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 10 (The Rogue Bludger)
↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 9 (The Dark Mark)
↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 2 (The Vanishing Glass)
↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 21 (The Eye of the Snake)
↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 11 (The Duelling Club)
↑ See this video.
↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
↑ LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7

[CS10-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 10 (The Rogue Bludger)

[GF9-2] Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 9 (The Dark Mark)

[PS2-3] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 2 (The Vanishing Glass)

[OP21-4] Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 21 (The Eye of the Snake)

[CS11-5] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 11 (The Duelling Club)

[6] See this video.

[7] Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

[8] Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)

[9] LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7

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