The fairy is a wizarding beast in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. They are a very small and decorative creature that possesses little intelligence.
About[]
A fairy reproduces by laying up to fifty eggs at one time on the underside of leaves. When they hatch, they are a bright coloured larvae form. They will spin themselves into a cocoon between the age of six to ten days. After a month, they will emerge in the form of fully formed winged adults. They range in height from one to five inches. With a minute humanoid body and large insect-like wings, they are considered decorative. They generally inhabit woodlands or glades.[1]
There are several types of fairies. Depending on the type, they can have transparent or multi-coloured wings. They deter predators like Augureys with their own, weak brand of magic. Fairies have a very troublesome nature but will act docile when they have to behave like an ornament because they are incredibly vain. However, they cannot speak so they make high-pitched buzzing noises to communicate with each other instead. They also possess little intelligence and thus, are not particularly helpful.[1]
History[]
In the twelfth century, the Wizards' Council first tried to classify non-wizard creatures into a beast or being to integrate them into the process of creating and upholding wizarding laws. Burdock Muldoon considered a being to be a creature that walks on two legs. Fairies reached the criteria and attended a gathering for discussion but like the pixies, they did not possess the intelligence needed to get involved. They spent the gathering flying around other creatures' heads together while giggling and jabbering. Under the definition later set by Grogan Stump, fairies are considered beasts for their inability to understand and shape wizarding laws due to their lack of intelligence.[2]
The existence of fairies were once known to Muggles who now believe they are imaginary after the International Statute of Secrecy was enacted. Even though their descriptions are not accurate, the fairies still feature in a variety of fairy tales. They are shown to be winged beings with distinct personalties, the ability to talk to humans, carrying wands and living in tiny dwellings like flower petals or toadstools.[2]
Notes and sources[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: An A-Z of Fantastic Beasts (Fairy)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Introduction (What is a Beast?)