Swooping Evil Venom

• Type: Venom, Potion Ingredient
• Owners: Newt Scamander (possessor)
• Maker: Swooping Evil

Swooping Evil venom is a magical substance extracted from the Swooping Evil, a large, blue-and-green winged beast with a wolf-like skull for a head. The physical appearance of the venom in its concentrated, raw form is not described in detail. However, when a few drops are diluted into a potion and dispersed into rainwater, it creates a silvery, glistening storm (film). It is highly dangerous in its concentrated form, much like the creature it comes from (film).

The primary and most powerful magical property of Swooping Evil venom is its ability to erase memories. Unlike the Obliviation Charm, which is typically cast on individuals, the venom can be used for mass memory modification when properly prepared and dispersed. A key feature of the venom's effect is its selectivity; when diluted, it specifically erases bad memories (film). This property makes it an exceptionally useful, if dangerous, tool for repairing large-scale breaches of the International Statute of Secrecy. In 1926, Newt Scamander demonstrated its use by mixing a small amount of the venom into a potion and giving it to Frank the Thunderbird. Frank then flew into the sky above New York City and created a rainstorm. The venom-infused rain washed over the city's No-Maj population, erasing their memories of the chaos caused by the Obscurus and other magical events, thus preserving the secrecy of the wizarding world (film).

The venom is a product of the Swooping Evil, a creature native to an unknown location that Newt Scamander studied and kept within his magical suitcase. By 1926, Newt was in possession of at least one vial of the venom. Following the destructive battle with the Obscurus in a New York City subway, the wizarding community was faced with a catastrophic exposure to the No-Maj population. President Seraphina Picquery of MACUSA ordered her Aurors to obliviate every No-Maj involved, a seemingly impossible task. Newt Scamander offered a more efficient solution: using Swooping Evil venom. With President Picquery's reluctant approval, Newt released Frank the Thunderbird with the diluted venom. The resulting magical rain effectively obliviated the entire non-magical population of the city, leaving them with only a vague sense of unease and good memories of the events. This act was instrumental in restoring the International Statute of Secrecy in America (film). One notable individual affected was the No-Maj Jacob Kowalski, who knowingly accepted the memory loss as he said goodbye to his wizarding friends (film).

Swooping Evil venom serves as a critical plot device in the climax of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film). It provides a magical solution to the seemingly insurmountable problem of a city-wide breach of secrecy, acting as a form of deus ex machina. The venom's use highlights Newt Scamander's profound knowledge of magical creatures and their properties, showcasing that his unique expertise can solve problems beyond the scope of traditional Auror tactics. It validates his life's work and establishes his value to the wider wizarding world.

The Swooping Evil and its venom do not appear in the original seven Harry Potter novels. They were created by J.K. Rowling for the screenplay of the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016). The venom's memory-wiping properties are a concept unique to the Fantastic Beasts film series and provide a mechanism for large-scale memory modification not previously seen in the wizarding world.