Pickett

Pickett is a male Bowtruckle and the close companion of Newt Scamander. Though Newt cares for many magical creatures, he shares a particularly deep, protective bond with Pickett, who is often found riding in his master's breast pocket. Characterised by his significant attachment issues and skill at picking locks, Pickett is a prominent character in the Fantastic Beasts film series, serving as a loyal, if sometimes mischievous, friend to Newt. Pickett does not appear in the original seven Harry Potter novels.

Pickett's early life and how he came into Newt Scamander's care is unknown. He is one of at least six Bowtruckles that Newt looks after, but is his firm favourite due to Pickett's small size and a cold he suffered from as a sapling, which required extra nursing (Fantastic Beasts film). In 1926, Pickett accompanied Newt to New York City, nestled inside his coat pocket. He staunchly refused to stay with the other Bowtruckles in Newt's enchanted suitcase, exhibiting his characteristic clinginess (Fantastic Beasts film). He later demonstrated his valuable skills by picking the locks on both Newt's and Tina Goldstein's handcuffs, allowing them to escape from the MACUSA headquarters. Later, at the speakeasy known as The Blind Pig, Newt reluctantly offered Pickett in trade to the goblin Gnarlak for information. Pickett showed clear distress, but Newt ultimately tricked Gnarlak and recovered him before leaving (Fantastic Beasts film). By 1927, Pickett's bond with Newt remained strong. He was consistently seen with Newt, often expressing jealousy when others, like Bunty Broadacre, got too close to his master. He once again used his lock-picking abilities to help Newt obtain a document from the French Ministry of Magic's ancestral records room (Fantastic Beasts film). During the 1930s, Pickett aided Newt and his brother, Theseus Scamander, in escaping from the Erkstag, a high-security German wizarding prison. He did so by distracting a manticore while unlocking the brothers' restraints (Fantastic Beasts film).

As a Bowtruckle, Pickett is a small, twig-like creature, approximately six inches in height, composed of what appears to be bark and twigs, with two small, dark brown eyes. He is exceptionally skilled at camouflaging himself against any wooden background. Pickett's personality is defined by his deep emotional attachment to Newt Scamander. He suffers from attachment issues, causing him to become anxious and distressed when separated from Newt (Fantastic Beasts film). He is loyal and brave, willing to put himself in danger to help his friend, particularly by using his lock-picking talents. However, he can also be mischievous and has been shown to display jealousy and a cheeky attitude, such as blowing raspberries at Newt's brother, Theseus (Fantastic Beasts film).

While not a spell-caster, Pickett possesses the natural abilities inherent to his species.

• Lock-picking: Pickett's most-utilized skill is his extraordinary ability to pick complex locks with his slender, twig-like fingers. This is a common trait for Bowtruckles, who are known to be able to pick locks on wands made from their home trees.
• Camouflage: Like all Bowtruckles, Pickett can blend seamlessly into any foliage or wooden environment, making him incredibly difficult to spot.

Pickett has no known possessions of his own, preferring to reside in the warmth and safety of Newt Scamander's pocket.

• Newt Scamander: Pickett and Newt share an exceptionally close and affectionate bond. Newt is highly protective of Pickett, treating him not as a pet, but as a friend. He often talks to Pickett directly and prioritizes his safety and comfort, as seen when he refused to leave Pickett behind with Gnarlak. In return, Pickett is fiercely loyal to Newt, though his clinginess can sometimes be a minor inconvenience for the Magizoologist (Fantastic Beasts film).
• Theseus Scamander: Pickett initially displayed a comical dislike for Newt's older brother, blowing raspberries at him. This likely stemmed from his jealousy and protective nature over Newt. Over time, this relationship appears to have softened, as Pickett was instrumental in helping Theseus escape from prison (Fantastic Beasts film).

The name “Pickett” is likely a play on his main skill, being able to “pick” locks. The name also evokes the image of a “picket” from a picket fence, which is a small wooden stake, alluding to his twig-like appearance.

Pickett is a character created specifically for the Fantastic Beasts film series and does not appear or is mentioned in the seven original Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling. In the films, he is a fully computer-generated (CGI) character. According to the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them screenplay, Pickett is one of a group of Bowtruckles cared for by Newt, with the others named Titus, Finn, Poppy, Marlow, and Tom, but only Pickett has the severe attachment issues that lead him to constantly travel with Newt (Fantastic Beasts screenplay).