STACK #150 Apr 2017

FEATURE DVD&BD

America vs England

Niffler Obsessed with shiny things, the Niffler is Scamander’s initial undoing when it escapes from his suitcase in New York. It is a small rodent-like beast with a long platypus snout, clawed toes and thick black fur. A Niffler’s belly pouch has a far greater volume than outwardly appears. Thunderbird The Thunderbird is a giant, multi-winged avian beast, of similar genetic makeup to the phoenix. Native to the Arizona desert, it can sense danger approaching and can summon storms when it flies. Bowtruckle Scamander cares for several Bowtruckles, but has a special friendship with one he names Pickett. A Bowtruckle is a palm-sized, stick insect- like creature, gentle in temperament, and operates as a guardian for its tree home. Demiguise A gentle creature, the Demiguise looks like a small monkey and is covered in long silver hair. It can make itself invisible and also has clairvoyant powers, which makes it difficult to catch. Erumpent An enormous beast with a tough leathery hide capable of repelling most charms and curses, the Erumpent is an African creature which closely resembles a rhinoceros. Its single glowing nose-horn is capable of piercing metallic objects, and contains a detonative fluid. The Erumpent is endangered due to the creatures accidentally blowing themselves up. Occamy Native to India and the Far East, the Occamy can grow or shrink in size to fit the space avail- able to it. It resembles a snake with a bird’s head, and has long purple wings. It’s eggs are incredibly valuable, as they are composed of pure silver. Mooncalf Scamander cares for a herd of Mooncalves – shy, long-necked quadrupeds with bulging eyes and pale grey skin, who will only emerge from their burrows during a full moon. Billywig This bright blue Australian insect has a long stinger; anyone stung will suffer dizziness and temporary levitation. It’s rapid flying speed makes it difficult to spot. Murtlap The Murtlap is an ocean-dwelling, four-legged beast with finger-like growths on its back, resembling a sea anemone’s tentacles.

Schools Hogwarts, the English School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, was established in the 10th Century in Scotland by four founders – Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff, and Rowena Ravenclaw. Young American witches and wizards, on the other hand, are primarily educated at Ilvermorny, founded by British wizard Isolt Sayre and No-Maj James Steward. Located on Mount Greylock in Massachusetts, Ilvermonrny started out as a simple hut in the 17th century, the only school for young witches and wizards in the country. The uniform of both institutions requires the wearing of robes over their attire. Hogwarts students don black and grey uniforms with trims, ties and emblems matching their houses, whereas Ilvermorny pupils all wear the same robe, in colours of blue and cranberry. The robes are fastened with a gold Gordian Knot, in memory of Sayre’s mother. Houses The four houses of Hogwarts are titled for the surnames of each of its founders: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. By contrast, the Ilvermorny founders instead elected to name their houses for magical creatures, each choosing their favourite: for Sayre, the Horned Serpent; for Steward, the Pukwudgie; for Chadwick Boot, the Thunderbird; and for Webster Boot, the Wampus. For the house selection ceremony, Hogwarts utilises the Sorting Hat, which chooses a student’s house based on their best traits. Ilvermorny’s house emblems, however, will fight for you. If a house wants you, the specific animal crest will react; if more than one animal begins to move, the student chooses which house they would most like to join out of the animated options – much like The Voice . Laws To keep magical folk safe and relatively unknown to the non-magical, Europe has the Ministry of Magic, and America has The Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) to uphold law and order. MACUSA is completely independent of American No-Maj governments, whereas the Ministry of Magic has some cooperation and communication with their Muggle counterpart. MACUSA have always been wary of the No-Majs due to the Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s; this distrust increased in 1790 with the budding romance of a MACUSA high power’s daughter and a No-Maj – whom, it eventuated, was obtaining MACUSA secrets from his paramour with the intent to destroy both MACUSA and all of wizardkind. These events resulted in the creation of Rappaport’s Law, which made intermarriage and even friendship between wizards and No-Majs illegal, until its repeal in 1965. However, there is one notable law MACUSA were lenient with – the consumption of alcohol.

Source: Pottermore

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