Obscurus

• Type: Parasitic Magical Force, Magical Manifestation
• Host(s): Ariana Dumbledore, Credence Barebone (film), an unnamed Sudanese girl (film)
• Origin: Created from the suppressed magical energy of a young witch or wizard, known as an Obscurial.

An Obscurus is the physical manifestation of suppressed magic. In the case of Ariana Dumbledore, her magic, which she refused to use after a traumatic childhood attack, “turned inward and drove her mad.” It would “explode out of her when she couldn't control it” in violent, dangerous outbursts of raw magical power. Visually, an Obscurus appears as a large, swirling, and violent ethereal mass of dark energy, often resembling a black cloud or smoke with undertones of purple or red. It can expand and retract rapidly, destroying everything in its path. At its core, the face of the host Obscurial can sometimes be seen, particularly when it is lashing out or being calmed (film).

An Obscurus is a parasitic force that forms a symbiotic, though ultimately fatal, relationship with its host. It erupts from the Obscurial during moments of intense fear, anger, or distress.

• Destructive Power: The raw magical energy of an Obscurus is immense and largely uncontrollable. It can level buildings, shatter stone, and is lethal to those caught in its path.
• Host Relationship: The Obscurus protects its host by attacking perceived threats. However, this parasitic relationship drains the host, and it was believed that no Obscurial could survive past the age of ten (film).
• Control: While mostly a creature of instinct, a powerful enough host may be able to exert some influence over the Obscurus. The host can sometimes separate from the Obscurus, regaining their human form, though the entity remains a part of them (film).

The phenomenon of the Obscurus, though not named in the original chronicles of Harry Potter's life, is exemplified by the tragic life of Ariana Dumbledore. At age six, she was brutally attacked by three Muggle boys who saw her performing magic. The trauma caused her to suppress her abilities, leading to the creation of an internal Obscurus. These uncontrollable magical outbursts led to the accidental death of her mother, Kendra Dumbledore, in 1899 when Ariana was fourteen. Ariana herself was killed shortly after, struck by a stray curse during a three-way duel between her brothers, Albus Dumbledore and Aberforth Dumbledore, and Gellert Grindelwald. It is believed she was in the midst of a magical fit when she died. According to research conducted by Newt Scamander, the creation of an Obscurus was more common in earlier centuries, when wizards and witches were persecuted by Muggles and children were often forced to hide their magical nature (film).

While the term “Obscurus” is not used in the seven novels, the condition it describes is central to the history of the Dumbledore family and the motivations of its most powerful member, Albus Dumbledore. Ariana's condition, and the family's attempts to manage it in secret, shaped the lives of her brothers. It was the source of Aberforth Dumbledore's lifelong resentment towards Albus, whom he felt was neglectful. The tragedy of Ariana's death, for which Albus felt profoundly responsible, haunted him for the rest of his life. His guilt over his youthful ambitions with Gellert Grindelwald, which he believed led to her death, informed his reluctance to take power and his deep understanding of the dangers of overwhelming magical ability.

• The terms Obscurus and Obscurial were formally introduced and defined in the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film).
• J.K. Rowling later confirmed that Ariana Dumbledore's condition, as described by her brother Aberforth in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was indeed that of an Obscurial (J.K. Rowling interview).
• In Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt Scamander keeps a contained Obscurus within his magical case. He separated it from an eight-year-old Sudanese girl who had died, and he was studying it in hopes of learning more about the condition (film).
• The character of Credence Barebone is a powerful Obscurial who, unprecedentedly, survived into adulthood, making his Obscurus exceptionally large and dangerous (film).