Ashwinder

Ashwinder
Species information
Eye colour	Red
Skin colour	Pale-Grey
Related to	Snake
Native to	Worldwide
Mortality	Mortal
Affiliation	Fire
Ministry of Magic Classification	Beast XXX
Status	Extant

The Ashwinder was a magical serpent that was created from the remains of any magical fire that was allowed to burn unchecked. As it was a serpentine creature, the Ashwinder may very well be susceptible to Parseltongue magic.

Physical description

Frozen Ashwinder eggs

The Ashwinder was thin and pale-grey with glowing red eyes. They rose from the embers of the dying fire and slithered off into a dark corner to lay their eggs, leaving an ashy trail behind. Ashwinders only lived for an hour and will collapse to dust when they have laid their eggs.

Ashwinder eggs are red and give off intense heat. If frozen, they can be used in a Love Potion or eaten whole as a cure for ague.

Habitat

Since Ashwinders were created by magical fires, they could be found in many magical residences. However, if they managed to roam free and lay their eggs, the eggs will ignite and may burn the building down within minutes.

History

Ashwinders on the Incarceration Carriage during Gellert Grindelwald's escape

In the search for his escaped magical creatures, Newt Scamander met with Gnarlak, the goblin proprietor of The Blind Pig. Gnarlak was not immediately forthcoming with information, so Newt offered him a number of bribes, including a frozen Ashwinder egg.

During his escape, Gellert Grindelwald transfigured the scarf of the Auror riding the Incarceration Carriage into Ashwinders, which then attacked said Auror.

While Armando Dippet was Headmaster of Hogwarts, an Ashwinder was used to represent the "bloated and blind" worm that appeared in the retelling of 'The Fountain of Fair Fortune' during a Christmas pantomime. Unfortunately, the creature was enlarged using an Engorgement Charm, causing it to explode in a shower of hot sparks and dust.

This pantomime signalled the end of Hogwarts's pantomime tradition, as it resulted in the Great Hall catching fire caused in part by the tremendous heat from the Ashwinder's huge eggs, and a packed Hospital wing. Professor Silvanus Kettleburn, who taught Care of Magical Creatures and supplied the enlarged Ashwinder for the production, was put yet again on probation.

Etymology

"Ash" comes from the colour of itself and ashes are connected to fire. "Winder" recalls the sideway movement of some snakes, which are aptly-named "sidewinders", such as the rattlesnake.

Appearances

An Ashwinder as seen on Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (First appearance)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film) (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
• Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World (Mentioned only)
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard
• Wonderbook: Book of Potions
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite