Doxy

Doxy
Species information
Skin colour	Purple Brown
Hair colour	Black
Related to	Fairy (possibly) Pixies (possibly)
Native to	North America Northern Europe
Alternative names	Biting Fairy
Mortality	Mortal
Distinction	Two sets of limbs Beetle-like wings Two rows of venomous teeth Common household pests
Ministry of Magic Classification	Beast XXX
Status	Extant

"The Doxy is often mistaken for a fairy though it is a quite separate species. Like the fairy, it has a minute human form, though in the Doxy's case this is covered in thick black hair and has an extra pair of arms and legs. The Doxy's wings are thick, curved, and shiny, much like a beetle's. Doxies are found throughout northern Europe and America, preferring cold climates."

— Newt Scamander, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

The Doxy, sometimes referred to as the Biting Fairy, was a small fairy-like magical beast, sometimes mistaken for a fairy.

Nature

Physiology and life cycle

A Doxy found in Newton Scamander's suitcase

The Doxy was covered in coarse black hair, and had an additional set of arms and legs. Doxies had shiny beetle-like wings, and a double row of sharp teeth. If bitten, a wizard or witch should take an antidote immediately, as their venom was highly poisonous. Doxies buried their eggs underground, and Doxy Queens could lay up to five-hundred at once. The eggs generally hatched in two to three weeks.

Distribution

Preferring cold climates, the Doxy was found throughout Northern Europe and North America.

Interaction with humans

A Doxy found in Newton Scamander's suitcase

Doxies were considered pests. They could infest houses, taking up residence in the draperies. Removing them required a good supply of Doxycide. Alternatively, they can be dispatched with a simple Knockback Jinx, as doxies were particularly vulnerable to it, excluding the queens, which were more resistant.

History

During the 1988–1989 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Doxies were involved in one of the obstacles of the All-Wizard Tournament, which was designed by Kettleburn. After gaining control of a broomstick jinxed with a Hurling Hex, the participants had to use it to catch a released Doxie. Unfortunately, a cage full of additional Doxies was knocked over during the task, resulting in several participants and spectators being sent to the Hospital Wing with Doxy bites. Participants affected by the bites were medically disqualified from the final task by Madam Pomfrey.

During the 1989–1990 school year, Professor Silvanus Kettleburn taught his sixth-year Care of Magical Creatures students about Doxies.

During the 1990–1991 school year, there was a Doxy infestation at Hogwarts, with Corey Hayden, Andre Egwu and several others falling victim. Jacob's sibling, Chiara Lobosca, Barnaby Lee and Ben Copper helped the professors with the situation and brewed some Doxycide. During this school year also, the British Ministry of Magic experienced an infestation of doxies that was highly disruptive. Jacob's sibling helped deal with the infestation as part of their student work experience at the Ministry. During the Wizengamot trial of Kazuhiro Shiratori in Courtroom Ten, Corey Hayden said a doxy was present in the room to delay the trial.

Fred and George Weasley used Doxy venom for their Skiving Snackboxes, a popular Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes product. In 1996, Harold Dingle tried to sell Doxy droppings to fifth-years, under the guise of them being powdered dragon claw, but these were confiscated by Hermione Granger.

In 1996, Cormac McLaggen was known to have eaten a pound of Doxy eggs for a bet, making him unable to try out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team in his seventh year at Hogwarts.

Etymology

Doxy is an archaic English term, meaning "prostitute". It derives from the German word Docke, meaning "doll".

Behind the scenes

• In the GBC video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the Folio Bruti entry for these creatures is titled "Doxy Drone". This might mean that, like the male honey bees, doxies may have a biological haplodiploid sex-determination system or simply that male doxies have distinct behavioural patterns.
• Despite being described as being covered in coarse black hair in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, their depictions in the video games normally include little or no hair and a dark brown, dark blue or purple colour (akin to being a more sinister palette swap of a Pixie).
• In some of the video games, most of the time a Venomous Tentacula is another way to effectively get rid of a doxy, for doxies are its favourite food.
• In one of the featurettes for the film inspired by Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a Doxy is seen using a chameleon-like tongue to catch and eat a Billywig.
• Despite gaining a new appearance in the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the Doxy seen in Cases of the Wizarding World returns to its original appearance.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Not in PS1 version)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (GBA version only)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (Not in PC version)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Mentioned only)
• Pottermore (Mentioned only)
• Wizarding World (Mentioned only)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (First appearance)
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Wonderbook: Book of Potions
• Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (Mentioned in History of Magic classes)