Nagini's Breed

[heathernmoore]

No: HPFGUIDX 31794

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "coriolan_cmc2001" <coriolan at w...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "cindysphynx" <cindysphynx at h...> wrote:
> >  Pippin wrote:
> > 
> > > > The boa constrictor in Book One: last seen heading for Brazil, 
> > but 
> > > > bound to turn up again, IMO.
> > > 
> > 
> > 
> > How about this?  Maybe the Boa Constrictor has already shown up 
> > again.  Nagini and the Brazilian Boa are one in the same!  
> 
> Nope. Check out what Voldy has to say about his comeback in GoF 
> (Chap. 33)
> 
> "....poor wizard though he is, Wormtail was able to follow the 
> instructions I gave him, which would return me to a rudimentary, weak 
> body of my own, a body I would be able to inhabit while awaiting the 
> essential ingredients for true rebirth ... a spell or two of my own 
> invention ... a little help from my dear Nagini,"  Voldemort's red 
> eyes fell upon the continually circling snake, "a potion concocted 
> from unicorn blood, and the snake venom Nagini provided ... I was 
> soon returned to an almost human form, and strong enough to travel."
> 
> Note the reference to snake venom, which implies that Nagini is a 
> poisonous snake.  Boas are not poisonous.
> 
> Which begs the question which kind of poisonous snake is he? IIRC, 
> Most of the poisonous ones don't get as long as 12 feet. Rattlers, 
> for example, rarely exceed seven feet (and live only in America).  I 
> think some species of cobras can get that long - and of course Nagini 
> could be a "fantastic" breed of reptile beyond those known to 
> Muggles. 
> 
>    - CMC





   I'm rather affectionately attached to the notion that Nagini is a hamadryad (king cobra). They can get upwards of 6 meters long, or nearly 20 feet. They're from SE Asia and the Phillippines. Poisonous, and also have that delightful faery-ish nickname (have NO idea why they're called that, though). Since Nagini seems to have something of a personality, though, he could flat out be a naga. As I recall, the Hindu deity Seshnaga was a five-headed cobra who sustained the god Vishnu throughout his various resurrections as different avatars.

 -- Heather (uma)