Porpentina Goldstein

Porpentina Esther “Tina” Goldstein was an American half-blood witch who attended Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where she was sorted into Thunderbird house (Pottermore). An ambitious and principled individual, she became an Auror for the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA). After being temporarily demoted for protecting Credence Barebone from his abusive mother, she became a key ally of Newt Scamander in the fight against the Dark Wizard Gellert Grindelwald. She was eventually reinstated and later promoted to Head of the Auror Office at MACUSA (film). She would go on to marry Newt Scamander and is the grandmother of Rolf Scamander, who would eventually marry Luna Lovegood.

Porpentina and her younger sister, Queenie Goldstein, lost their parents when they were young due to Dragon Pox. This forced the sisters to raise each other, forming a very deep and interdependent relationship (film). After graduating from Ilvermorny, Tina joined MACUSA and achieved her goal of becoming an Auror. However, her career was derailed when she used an unauthorized spell to magically assault Mary Lou Barebone, a No-Maj extremist, in defense of Mary Lou's adopted son, Credence Barebone. Because this act was performed in front of numerous No-Maj witnesses, it was a major breach of the International Statute of Secrecy. As a result, she was demoted to a low-level position in the Wand Permit Office (film).

In 1926, while working in the Wand Permit Office, Tina encountered British Magizoologist Newt Scamander after his Niffler escaped into a No-Maj bank. Seeing a chance to regain her former position, she took Newt into custody and brought him before President Seraphina Picquery of MACUSA. Her attempt failed, and she was dismissed. Despite this, she became entangled in Newt's quest to recapture his escaped magical creatures, alongside her sister Queenie and the No-Maj Jacob Kowalski. During this time, she and Newt developed a close bond. Tina was instrumental in exposing the fact that Percival Graves, MACUSA's Director of Magical Security, was actually Gellert Grindelwald in disguise. For her bravery and role in capturing Grindelwald, she was reinstated as an Auror (film).

By 1927, Tina was a fully active Auror again, working on international cases. She traveled to Paris on an unofficial mission to track down the fugitive Credence Barebone, whom she still felt a duty to protect. A misunderstanding, fueled by a magazine misprint announcing Newt's engagement to Leta Lestrange, caused a personal rift between her and Newt, though they eventually reconciled while working together in Paris. Tina confronted Gellert Grindelwald at a rally for his followers held at the Père Lachaise cemetery. She survived the ensuing battle, helping to contain the destructive Protego Diabolica spell cast by Grindelwald to destroy the city (film).

By 1932, Tina had been promoted to Head of the Auror Office at MACUSA, a demanding role that kept her occupied during the events surrounding Albus Dumbledore's first major move against Grindelwald's political machinations. Although she was not part of the primary mission to Bhutan, she remained in contact with Newt. She made an appearance at Jacob and Queenie's wedding in Hogsmeade, where she and Newt joyfully reconciled (film). Tina eventually married Newt Scamander, and they had at least one son. Their grandson, Rolf Scamander, would later marry Luna Lovegood (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001), “About the Author”).

As depicted in the films, Porpentina is a tall, slender woman with shoulder-length dark brown hair and brown eyes. She typically dresses in practical, professional attire, favouring long coats and trousers suited to her work as an Auror (film). Tina is initially portrayed as career-driven, serious, and somewhat rigid, strictly adhering to the rules of MACUSA. However, beneath this exterior lies a deeply compassionate and principled individual with a powerful sense of justice. Her decision to defend Credence Barebone at the cost of her own career is a testament to her morality. She is fiercely loyal to those she cares for, especially her sister Queenie and, later, Newt and Jacob. While often pragmatic and grounded, she can also be awkward in social situations and guarded with her emotions, which sometimes leads to misunderstandings with Newt (film).

• Dueling: As a trained Auror and later Head of the Auror Office, Tina was a highly proficient duelist, capable of holding her own against powerful opponents, including Gellert Grindelwald and his followers (film).
• Defensive Magic: She demonstrated skill with shielding charms and was part of the group of wizards who successfully contained Grindelwald's powerful, dark blue fire with a massive counter-spell (film).
• Investigative Magic: Her Auror training gave her excellent investigative and tracking skills, which she used to pursue both Newt's beasts and Credence Barebone (film).
• Apparition: She was capable of Apparition (film).
• Non-verbal Spells: Tina was skilled enough to cast spells non-verbally, a sign of an advanced witch (film).

• Wand: Tina possessed a wand of unknown wood, core, and length. It was a simple, functional design, fitting her practical nature (film).
• MACUSA Identification: As an employee of MACUSA, she carried official identification papers (film).

• Newt Scamander: Tina's most significant relationship. It evolved from professional suspicion to a deep, romantic partnership. Their shared adventures and mutual respect formed the foundation of their eventual marriage (film).
• Queenie Goldstein: Tina's younger sister. They shared an exceptionally close bond, having relied on each other since childhood. Tina was often the more grounded and protective of the two. She was devastated by Queenie's decision to join Gellert Grindelwald but was overjoyed at her eventual return and marriage to Jacob Kowalski (film).
• Jacob Kowalski: Tina viewed the No-Maj baker as a dear friend. She was protective of him and was instrumental in the decision to preserve his positive memories of magic at the end of their first adventure together (film).
• Gellert Grindelwald: As an Auror, Tina saw Grindelwald as the primary threat to the wizarding and non-magical worlds. She actively fought against him and his ideology, making him her main antagonist (film).

• Porpentina: An archaic form of the word “porcupine.” This could allude to her personality, which can be prickly and defensive on the outside but protective of a softer interior.
• Goldstein: A common Ashkenazi Jewish surname of German-Yiddish origin, meaning “gold stone.” J.K. Rowling has confirmed that the Goldstein sisters have Jewish heritage (J.K. Rowling interview).

• Porpentina Goldstein is not mentioned in the original seven Harry Potter novels. Her existence was first established in the “About the Author” section of the 2001 edition of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them charity textbook, which identified her as Newt Scamander's wife living in retirement with him in Dorset.
• In the Fantastic Beasts film series, she is portrayed by American actress Katherine Waterston.
• Her character's significantly reduced screen time in the third film, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, was a subject of much discussion among the fandom. The in-universe explanation provided was her promotion to Head of the Auror Office at MACUSA.