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"[...] I present to you... a Maledictus! Once trapped in the jungles of Indonesia, she is the carrier of a blood curse. Such Underbeings are destined, through the course of their lives, to turn permanently into beasts [...] but soon she will be trapped forever in a very different body. Every night, when she sleeps...mesdames et messieurs...she is forced to become [...] Over time, she will not be able to transform back. She will be forever trapped in the body of a snake."
Skender to his Circus Arcanus attendees about Nagini's Maledictus condition[src]

A Maledictus (plural Maledictuses)[1] was a female individual who inherited and carried a rare and dangerous type of a genetic defect that eventually turned her into a type of beast permanently.[2] The curse was carried from birth, and was passed down from mother to daughter in the female line of the original victim's bloodline of descendants.[1]

The Maledictus curse was not to be confused with the acquired ability of Animagus,[5] the inherent trait of Metamorphmagus,[6] and the condition of lycanthropy due to some fundamental differences found between all the four varied but similar shapeshifting conditions.[1]

Maledictuses and Animagi[]

Despite the two conditions allowing the subject to turn into a specific type of animal at will, their nature remained largely different:[5] unlike Animagi, Maledictuses apparently lost the ability of a human-like intelligence over time, instead taking on the mental state of the type of beast one eventually transformed into,[7] and they transformed due to a genetic curse, while Animagi's ability was not hereditary, and could not be passed down to one's descendants,[8] and they had to transform through a magical ritual and a potion associated with it. Unlike Animagi, they were only female, and their ability of transformation became gradually uncontrollable as the curse progressed, resulting in the final transformation into a type of beast permanently, while Animagus retained full control, and even humanoid intelligence and mental state during their transformations. Unlike Animagi, Maledictuses apparently did not return to their true, original human form upon death due to their fate,[9] while Animagus' deceased physical form reverted to that of human.[10]

However, there were some similarities between the existence of Maledictuses and Animagi that could be found between the two. For example, similarly to the condition of Animagi, a Maledictus's lifespan, once they permanently turned into their beast form, was apparently not limited by the lifespan and physical ageing rate of a regular member of one's new species, allowing a transformed Maledictus to retain her original human-like lifespan while remaining in one's beast form.[3] A Maledictus in the form of a snake could speak Parseltongue.[4]

Lycanthropy and Metamorphmagi[]

Despite the similarities between the two conditions, lycanthropy was not considered a type of blood malediction, and a female werewolf was not considered a Maledictus.[1] A werewolf could be of either sex and it was not a hereditary trait,[11] while a Maledictus was only female, and it was a maternally inherited gene. A werewolf could also only temporarily transform into their wolfish form on the time of a full moon before reverting to their human form upon the moonset, while a Maledictus could transform between the two states at any given time, even during the day and not requiring the need of any celestial event, before the transformation grew increasingly and gradually uncontrollable, and eventually transformed an afflicted female into a type of beast, including a type of serpent, permanently without the ability to revert oneself to their true, original humanoid form upon their final transformation once the curse took over and resulted in one's fate. In the case of lycanthropy, however, the transformation was never permanent, however, similarly to the Maledictus condition, werewolves in their wild wolf form had no self-control and were very aggressive, unable to retain their human reflexes and mental state in their animal form. However, unlike Maledictuses, for which no cure was found, there existed a Wolfsbane Potion, which, although it did not completely cure the effects of the lycanthropy condition, was able to eliminate the negative psychological effects of the transformation, and allowed a transformed werewolf to keep their human mental faculties and consciousness whilst remaining in animalistic physical form, rendering the otherwise dangerous beast into an ordinary, sleepy wolf. In addition to it, unlike the condition of lycanthropy, Maledictuses could take on more diverse forms, including that of a serpent as their beast form, unlike werewolves' singular wolfish form.

The existence of Metamorphmagus was also very different from the condition of a Maledictus due to some fundamental differences that were noted between the two. For example, a Metamorphmagus could be of either sex, similar to Animagi, but it was an inherent trait that could be passed down to one's descendants at birth, while a Maledictus was only female and cursed to eventually turn into a type of beast permanently, a trait inherited only through a female line of one's descendants. A Metamorphmagus was also able to take on more than one form, including that of other humans, beasts, and even apparently make oneself look spectral in appearance, retained full conscience and human-like intelligence in one's current form, and retained the full ability and control to turn between the two states at will, while a Maledictus was cursed to eventually turn into a specific type of beast permanently during one's lifetime which was gradually uncontrollable, and eventually apparently lost any trace of human-like intelligence in one's beast form.

Nature[]

Maledictuses were not in any way destined to become evil as a result of their condition,[12] despite their beast sides often being aggressive. In addition to it, the curse varied between each afflicted female individual; the type of beast the Maledictus eventually transformed into depended on the individual curse.[13] Before their permanent transformation, they possessed the ability to change shape at will, which gradually became increasingly uncontrollable, and more involuntarily recurring as the curse progressed, resulting in their fate at some point during their lifetime.[12] The transformation could also occur involuntarily while a Maledictus was asleep.[4]

Apart from the ability to disguise oneself, Maledictuses could use their animal forms in multiple ways, depending on the kind of animal they could turn into; for example, one who took on the form of an insect could use their small size for espionage purposes. One who took on the form of a venomous or predatory beast might be more capable in combat. One who took on the form of a bird could enjoy the sensation of flight without the need of broomsticks, flying carpets, or riding on flying animals. However, due to the nature of the curse, a transformed Maledictus eventually was apparently devoid of any trace of humanoid intelligence, and could not control it, forgetting what was their original human purpose of their transformation, and taking on the mental state of a type of beast one transformed into.

Known Maledictuses[]

Etymology[]

  • Maledictus is a Latin word meaning "accursed [one]", from maledicere ("to speak ill of, slander, curse"). This is a masculine word; as all Maledictuses are female, it should logically be the female form, Maledicta.[14]

Behind the scenes[]

  • Nagini's human form was the first time a Maledictus was mentioned in the wizarding world franchise, though blood-related curses were mentioned before with the case of Astoria Malfoy.[15]
  • It is unknown if the Maledictus curse can ever be fixed or cured.
  • It's unknown if a Muggle can carry the Maledictus curse. As yet we do not know if Nagini is magical or not, as it has not been revealed, it is possible that Muggle women, as well as witches, may be afflicted.
    • Nagini is stated to not have a wand, however according to the script she did manage to use Parseltongue to cast a spell when transformed.[4] It has also been stated in interviews that she has magic "unlike that of wizards" suggesting that she may be a non-magical human able to use limited magic due to the curse she is under.
  • Currenty, as of 2024, there is no canonically affirmed way of how the Maledictus curse was cast, other than the fact that it was a blood curse, and it could only be inherited and carried by the original victim's female descendants.
  • More prejudiced members of the wizarding world considered Maledictuses as Underbeings,[4] implying a rather harsh treatment of such creatures, similarly to the condition of lycanthropy.

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Twitter favicon J K Rowling on Twitter: "They're different conditions. Maledictuses are always women, whereas werewolves can be either sex. The Maledictus carries a blood curse from birth, which is passed down from mother to daughter."
  2. 2.0 2.1 Everything you need to know about Nagini at Pottermore
  3. 3.0 3.1 Nagini lived to be at least 71 years old in her beast form, longer than a snake's normal life expectancy.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay, Scene 43
  5. 5.0 5.1 Twitter favicon J K Rowling on Twitter: "@El_Minichips: NAGINI ! Animagi ? (...) really ? OMG @jk_rowling: Not an Animagus. A Maledictus. Big difference."
  6. Metamorphmagus
  7. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - Blueray Special Features: Credence, Nagini and the Circus Arcanus
  8. Despite James Potter I being a stag Animagus, his son Harry did not inherit his father's Animagus condition, similarly to Lottie Turner and her own butterfly Animagus father Ambrose Turner.
  9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 36 (The Flaw in the Plan)
  10. Hogwarts Legacy (see video)
  11. For example, Edward Lupin did not inherit his father's lycanthropy condition]], so the exact nature of heredity is not completely clear.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Twitter favicon J K Rowling on Twitter: "@nikla_1: So a Maledictus is pre-destined to be evil? They were born that way, kind of speak. @jk_rowling: Not at all. The slow transformation into a beast is beyond their control, but they aren't destined to be evil."
  13. Twitter favicon J K Rowling on Twitter: "@gabifcr: Is always a snake? @jk_rowling: No, they can be other creatures. Depends on the curse."
  14. Wiktionary favicon maledictus on Wiktionary
  15. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Act Four, Scene Four
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