Ashwinder

• Ministry of Magic Classification: XXX (Competent wizard should cope) ¹⁾
• Native to: Worldwide ²⁾
• Distinctions: Thin, pale-grey serpent with glowing red eyes; created from magical fire; leaves a trail of ash; lives for only one hour.
• Related Products: Ashwinder Eggs

An Ashwinder is a thin, pale-grey serpent with glowing red eyes. It is created from the embers of a magical fire that has been allowed to burn unchecked for a long time. The creature emerges from the dying fire and seeks out a dark and secluded spot within the dwelling, leaving a trail of ash in its wake. The Ashwinder's life cycle is extremely short, lasting only one hour. During this time, its sole purpose is to find a suitable location to lay its eggs. Immediately after laying its eggs, the Ashwinder crumbles into dust, its life complete. ³⁾

The primary danger associated with an Ashwinder is not the creature itself, which is reclusive and short-lived, but its intensely hot eggs. Ashwinder Eggs are glowing red and will ignite their surroundings within minutes if not found and neutralized. This can easily lead to the complete destruction of the dwelling where they were laid. To handle the eggs safely, a wizard must locate them and use a Freezing Charm or a similar cooling spell to render them harmless. Once frozen, the eggs are highly valuable and have several known magical applications:

• They can be eaten whole as a cure for ague. ⁴⁾
• They are a primary ingredient in many Love Potions. ⁵⁾
• They are an ingredient in Felix Felicis, also known as Liquid Luck. (Pottermore)

• All canonical information on the Ashwinder creature comes from the supplementary textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
• The name “Ashwinder” is likely a portmanteau of “ash,” from which it is born, and “winder,” a term for a creature that winds or slithers, like a snake.
• In the video game Hogwarts Legacy, the Ashwinder creature can be found in the wild. The game also features a notorious syndicate of dark wizards and witches who have named their organization the “Ashwinders,” presumably for the creature's stealthy and destructive potential. (video game)