Nagini: If she's not a Horcrux, what the heck is she?

[anne_t_squires]

No: HPFGUIDX 171969


>
> "sdeepthi" <sdeepthi@> wrote:
> > > Where in canon is it stated that Nagini is a python? 
> > ==========================
> > 
> > Lisa:
> > 
> > Good question -- I thought I remembered it, and just googled it.  
> > According to Wikipedia:
> > "Nagini is a fictional animal from the Harry Potter series created 
> by 
> > JK Rowling. She is a large serpent, specifically a Brazilian Python 
> who 
> > is the loyal pet of the main antagonist of the series named Lord 
> > Voldemort. Lord Voldemort is able to communicate with her due to an 
> > unusual genetic trait that he recieved from his ancestor named 
> Salazar 
> > Slytherin. Both Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter are able to speak 
> > Parselmouth, the language of snakes."
> > Wikipedia, of course, is far from canon.  Perhaps the movie 
> portrayed 
> > Nagini as a python, and that's why it's sticking in my mind?


>
Anne Squires:

I reiterate sdeepthi's question---Where is the canon that Nagini is a
python?

I don't think Wikipedia is a reliable source, as Lisa acknowledges. 
IMO, The HP Lexicon is a *much* better source.  They describe Nagini
as, "the gigantic snake kept at Voldemort's side."  The HP Lexicon
does not mention a place of origin nor a species.  I don't think any
of the books give this information; thus, the Lexicon doesn't have
this information either.

Anne Squires

> Julie:
> I believe JKR also mentioned that when she wrote the first
> book she thought pythons were poisonous. It was only later
> that she realized they are not poisonous (they constrict
> their prey). So Nagini is something that doesn't exist in
> nature, a poisonous python. I don't really have a problem 
> with this myself, given that the WW is full of creatures,
> both real (owls) and mythological or invented (Hippogriffs),
> who have certain magical abilities. So there's no reason 
> Nagini couldn't have some sort of magically produced poison
> (either as part of her own nature magical, or as something 
> Voldemort's magic gave her).
> Julie

 
Anne Squires Now:
I went to Accio Quotes and searched for anything about "pythons."  
JKR mentions the word "python" twice.  Both times are in reference to
Monty Python.

http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp_a=sp100168f8&sp_q=pythons&submit=Search&sp_p=any&sp_f=iso-8859-1

I also searched for anything about "Nagini."  I found that she has
discussed her, but always refers to her as a snake.  Not a specific
kind of snake.

http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp_a=sp100168f8&sp_f=iso-8859-1&sp_q=nagini&submit=Search

Now, I acknowledge that JKR may have said something about pythons (the
snakes, not the comedy team) and I just can't find it.

Julie, I would be interested in the source of your information.

Anne Squires