Teddy (Niffler)

Teddy
Biographical information
Born	Before December 1926
Physical information
Species	Niffler
Gender	Male
Hair colour	Dark Blue
Affiliation
Loyalty	Newton Scamander (owner)

Teddy was a Niffler owned by Newton Scamander. He accompanied Newt as he researched information for his book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: while travelling with Newt, Teddy visited New York in 1926 and Paris in 1927.

Biography

Early life

Teddy was born sometime before December 1926 and was rescued by Newt Scamander, and consequently placed inside of his magically-expanded suitcase full of magical beasts.

In New York

Newt removing gold from Teddy

In December of 1926 during Newt's trip to New York, Teddy escaped to steal a beggar's coin. He then sneaked into the Steen National Bank and caused mass chaos as he attempted to secure valuables and treasure. He eventually found his way into the vaults, where he was captured by Newt.

When Jacob Kowalski accidentally swapped his and Newt's cases, Teddy was taken to the former's apartment. When Kowalski opened the case, he accidentally released a selection of Newt's creatures, including Teddy, who hid behind a photo of Kowalski's grandmother to avoid being discovered.

Teddy eventually found his way to a downtown jewellery store where he attempted to evade Newt, the two of them causing massive amounts of property damage in the meantime. However, he was eventually captured again and placed back inside of the case.

At Paris

Teddy finding Tina's footprints

In September of 1927, Teddy was taken to Paris by Newt in the latter's attempt to find Tina Goldstein and Credence Barebone. He was set on the ground of Place Cachée to sniff out Tina's scent and footprints. He soon found the footprints and was put back into the case, after Newt saw a man and chased after his feather tracking him down.

Teddy then snuck out of Newt's case in the Lestrange Family Mausoleum where he secretly secured Gellert Grindelwald's vial of his and Albus Dumbledore's blood from a long-ago blood pact. When Grindelwald attacked a group of Aurors with black fire, one of Teddy's front paws was injured, causing him to walk with a painful limp. He was most likely healed as he could walk normally later on.

As Newt took his suitcase to Hogwarts to meet with Albus Dumbledore, he took out the vial, and when Dumbledore enquired as to how he got it, he showed him Teddy. Newt then carefully set Teddy down and walked across the Viaduct with Albus Dumbledore to the Hogwarts Castle. Albus asked Newt if Teddy would like a cup of tea, but Newt replied saying he would like milk 'but hide the teaspoons'.

1932

Kweilin

Teddy and Pickett

In 1932, Teddy travelled with Newt along with Pickett to Kweilin, where Newt helped a Qilin to give birth. Newt was later attacked by a group of Grindelwald's inner circle, who kidnapped the newborn Qilin baby. After Newt discovered that the Qilin had given birth to twins, he passed out from exhaustion while embracing the second-born baby Qilin. Pickett went out of Newt's coat and opened the suitcase, where he called to Teddy for help, to which he responded by calling out a Wyvern to fly them away.

Erkstag

Later, after Newt's brother Theseus got captured, they went to the Erkstag to rescue him. The warder took Teddy, Pickett, and Newt's wand before allowing Newt to go further into the prison. Shortly after, Newt sent out a signal to Teddy and Pickett, prompting them to break out of their own cells while the warder slept. Teddy's attempt to take back Theseus's tie from around the warder's neck woke him up, but the resulting force knocked the man back, causing some contents from the shelves behind him to fall, allowing Teddy to pocket some coins as Pickett and Newt's wand fell to the ground. With Theseus's tie, all four of them managed to escape from the Erkstag.

Later life

At some point during Newt's visit to Hogwarts during the 1980s, Teddy was one of several of Newt's creatures that managed to escape his suitcase, allowing him to wander around the school. Teddy made his way to Albus Dumbledore's office, where he scattered several of Dumbledore's shiny possessions. Dumbledore asked Jacob's sibling to help clean up his office and to recapture Teddy, which they were able to successfully do. Teddy was eventually returned to Newt, much to his relief.

Physical description

Like most Nifflers, Teddy had tan skin, dark blue fur, a long snout, and partially-webbed paws. Some of the hair on his head was tinged with grey, perhaps a symbol of old age. He also had a small pouch on his belly that could fit much more than it seemed through use of natural magic similar to that of the Undetectable Extension Charm. Teddy was described as looking like a cross between a mole and a platypus.

Personality and traits

Teddy was incredibly intelligent, and mischievous as well. He was able to recognise when he disobeyed Newt, yet continued to do it anyway. He also displayed recognition of the consequences of his actions, showing this when he shared an uneasy glance with Newt after the two crashed into the jewellery store's window.

However, he later developed a gentler and more respectful personality, most notable when he stole Grindelwald's vial of blood for Newt, and when he was released in a Paris square and did not run off or steal from anyone other than sneaking a couple golden items from a shop front while Newt was talking with Jacob.

Relationships

Newton Scamander

Newton Scamander, his owner

The two often competed for dominance during Teddy's attempts at freedom. Teddy recognised Newt's authority yet continued to run amok and steal from others. However, the duo soon developed a closer relationship as Newt trusted Teddy enough to set free for short periods of time in a foreign city, and in turn Teddy was able to procure Grindelwald's blood vial.

Newt's other beasts

Teddy was never said or shown to cause any harm to other beasts or interfere with their lives. Newt apparently trusted Teddy enough to let him wander around the suitcase unwatched, something he did not do with other creatures, such as the Erumpent.

Possible offspring

In Newt's basement, four young Nifflers lived there. It is possible that they were the young of Teddy if he found a mate sometime between December 1926, and September 1927, or if Teddy's mate was pregnant before then. However, it is equally possible that these young were the offspring of some other Niffler that Newt rescued, or were rescued on their own without a parent. One of them displayed the same colour as Teddy, however, further implying for the Niffler to be Teddy's child.

Behind the scenes

"I have a love-hate relationship with that little guy"

— Eddie Redmayne

• Eddie Redmayne, the actor who portrays Newton Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts films, jokingly commented that he had developed a "love-hate" relationship with the fictional creature.
• On 22 February 2022, Teddy's name was revealed in Twitter posts by @FantasticBeasts and by @WizardingWorld, as well as in an article on WizardingWorld.com, all of which also revealed a Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore promotional poster featuring him.

Appearances

• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay (First appearance)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore - The Complete Screenplay
• Wizarding World (First identified as Teddy)
• LEGO Dimensions
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells