Newt Scamander is a magizoologist and a protagonist in the Fantastic Beasts film series, which is part of the Wizarding World created by J.K. Rowling. He is portrayed by Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne in the films. Many Harry Potter fans are curious about what Hogwarts house Newt would have belonged to if he had attended the school. Although his house is never explicitly stated, there are many clues that point to him most likely being a Hufflepuff.
Newt Scamander’s Personality
To determine what house Newt would be sorted into, it is helpful to examine his personality traits and values. Here are some of the key qualities that define Newt:
- Kindness – Newt is extremely caring when it comes to magical creatures. He dedicates his life to understanding them and protecting them.
- Patience – Understanding beasts requires tremendous patience. Newt is willing to take as much time as needed to gain the trust and respect of magical creatures.
- Loyalty – Once Newt makes a bond with a creature, he remains loyal to them no matter what. This unwavering devotion is a definitive sign of Hufflepuff values.
- Humility – Newt is not boastful or arrogant. He is uncomfortable being the center of attention and just wants to focus on his creatures.
- Hard Work – Newt clearly has a strong work ethic to become a magizoologist and author a textbook about magical creatures. He doesn’t shy away from putting in long hours of study and field work.
When looking at the qualities valued by each Hogwarts house, it becomes quite clear that Newt exemplifies the traits of a Hufflepuff.
The Virtues of Hufflepuff House
Let’s take a closer look at what Hufflepuff house represents to better understand why Newt fits well there:
- Dedication – Hufflepuffs are hard workers who don’t give up easily. Newt demonstrates dedication to magical creatures.
- Patience – Hufflepuffs have patience in spades. This matches Newt’s approach to earning the trust of beasts.
- Fairness – Hufflepuffs believe strongly in justice. Newt treats beasts fairly and does not discriminate against certain types.
- Humility – Hufflepuffs are modest and don’t brag. Just like Newt prefers to be out of the spotlight.
- Loyalty – Hufflepuffs are known for unwavering commitment. Newt stays loyal to creatures he bonds with.
Newt clearly exhibits the virtues prized by Hufflepuff house like dedication, patience, fairness, humility, and loyalty. This is a perfect fit for his personality and values.
Examples of Newt Displaying Hufflepuff Traits
Throughout the Fantastic Beasts films, we see many examples of Newt acting in ways that are distinctly Hufflepuff:
- He is patient and gentle when interacting with his creatures. For example, he takes time to gain the trust of the zouwu cat in the first Fantastic Beasts film.
- He remains loyal to his creatures. Even when authorities want certain beasts contained or destroyed, Newt refuses to abandon them.
- He works tirelessly to rehabilitate injured or sick creatures. His dedication matches that of a hard-working Hufflepuff.
- Newt prefers to avoid fame or praise for his work. After writing a popular book, he remains humble about his achievements.
- He treats muggles and fellow wizards fairly, not showing preferential treatment. This commitment to fairness typifies Hufflepuff values.
By displaying behavior aligned with dedication, patience, loyalty, humility and fairness, Newt shows all the hallmarks of an archetypal Hufflepuff student if he attended Hogwarts.
The House Traits Newt Lacks
While Newt clearly embodies Hufflepuff qualities, he does not exhibit some of the traits valued by the other Hogwarts houses:
- He does not display the ambition or cunning highly prized by Slytherin house members.
- Newt does not exhibit the daring, nerve, or chivalry of the prototypical Gryffindor wizard.
- He is not motivated by the pursuit of knowledge or academic rigor that defines Ravenclaw house.
Newt’s lack of these traits from the other houses provides further evidence that he is much better suited for Hufflepuff than any other house. His nature and motivations are distinctly aligned with Helga Hufflepuff’s prized virtues.
J.K. Rowling’s Thoughts on Newt’s Hogwarts House
While J.K. Rowling has never outright declared which Hogwarts house Newt Scamander belonged to, she has dropped some telling hints that reinforce he would be a Hufflepuff. According to Rowling:
- Newt was not in Gryffindor house like the primary protagonists of the Harry Potter books.
- He was not nearly ambitious or cunning enough to be a Slytherin.
- Rowling seems to confirm Newt was a Hufflepuff by stating he was “not a natural fighter” like a Gryffindor.
Based on the author’s comments, Hufflepuff seems the only fitting house for Newt when looking at his personality and motivations. Rowling hints indirectly reinforce what Newt’s character traits suggest about his Hogwarts house affiliation.
J.K. Rowling’s Other Hufflepuff Characters
Further evidence that Newt belongs in Hufflepuff comes from comparing him to other Hufflepuff characters created by J.K. Rowling:
| Character | Hufflepuff Traits |
|---|---|
| Cedric Diggory | Hard worker, fair, humble |
| Nymphadora Tonks | Loyal, dedicated, kind |
| Pomona Sprout | Patient, nurturing, humble |
Newt shares numerous personality traits and values with these definitively-identified Hufflepuffs created by Rowling. This pattern in her characters gives more conclusive proof that Newt belongs with them in the Hufflepuff house.
Newt in Hufflepuff Fanfiction
Looking beyond J.K. Rowling’s original works, many fans have imagined Newt as a Hufflepuff through fanfiction stories set during his Hogwarts years:
- Some stories depict Newt fostering magical creatures even as a student, showcasing his early dedication to magizoology.
- Fanfictions portray Newt loyally supporting his Hufflepuff peers and forming close friendships.
- Fans imagine Newt modestly brushing off praise from professors regarding his magical creature expertise.
While not canon, these widely-shared fanfiction perspectives agree Newt fits seamlessly into Hufflepuff house, reinforcing conclusions based on his personality.
Newt the Hufflepuff: Conclusion
In summary, while J.K. Rowling never explicitly stated which Hogwarts house Newt Scamander belonged to, an overwhelming amount of evidence points to him being a Hufflepuff. His kindness, patience, loyalty, humility, and hard work exemplify the virtues prized by Helga Hufflepuff in her students. Newt does not exhibit the primary traits valued by the other houses like cunning, daring, ambition, or studiousness. Comments from Rowling hint that she indeed envisioned Newt as a Hufflepuff, which aligns with her other definitively Hufflepuff characters. And finally, Newt’s Hufflepuff sorting is reinforced through widely accepted fanfiction interpretations of his character. So while his house may never be declared outright in canon, both J.K. Rowling and the fandom seem to agree that if Newt Scamander went to Hogwarts, the badger’s den would undoubtedly be his home.