Seraphina Picquery

Madam Seraphina Picquery was a powerful and formidable American witch who served as the President of the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) from 1920 to 1928. A central figure during the events of the 1926 Obscurus crisis in New York, she was known for her stern demeanor and unwavering commitment to upholding the International Statute of Secrecy. As President, she led the American wizarding community during the rising threat of Gellert Grindelwald. Madam Picquery is a character from the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film series and related materials, and does not appear in the original seven Harry Potter novels.

Born in the United States, Seraphina Picquery attended Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where she was chosen by the Horned Serpent house. (Pottermore) She was known to be a gifted witch from a young age. Her presidency of MACUSA was defined by the global wizarding political turmoil caused by the activities of Gellert Grindelwald. In December 1926, her administration faced a major crisis when an Obscurus began attacking the No-Maj population of New York, threatening to expose the magical world. Simultaneously, Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrived in the city, and several of his magical creatures escaped his suitcase. President Picquery, advised by her Director of Magical Security, Percival Graves (who was actually Gellert Grindelwald in disguise), initially viewed Newt Scamander as a dangerous accomplice of Grindelwald's. She sentenced both him and the former Auror Tina Goldstein to death. They managed to escape, and later helped reveal that Graves was Grindelwald. After the Obscurus, Credence Barebone, was seemingly destroyed and Grindelwald captured, President Picquery oversaw a massive-scale memory modification of the No-Maj population of New York to protect the secrecy of the wizarding world. She used a diluted Swooping Evil venom in the rain, spread by Frank the Thunderbird, to perform a mass Obliviate charm. (*Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them* screenplay/film)

As depicted in the films, Seraphina Picquery was a tall, elegant, and imposing woman with dark skin. She dressed in elaborate, flowing robes befitting her status as President, often accompanied by ornate, intricate headdresses that emphasized her authority. (film) Picquery's personality was stern, no-nonsense, and highly authoritative. She was deeply devoted to the law, particularly Rappaport's Law, which enforced strict segregation between the magical and No-Maj communities in America. Her primary concern was the protection of the wizarding world from discovery, a goal she pursued with severe and decisive action. While she could be seen as harsh, such as in her swift sentencing of Newt Scamander, her actions were driven by the immense pressure of her office and the grave threat posed by both the Obscurus and Gellert Grindelwald.

President Picquery was an exceptionally powerful and skilled witch, as her position as the leader of the American wizarding community would suggest.

• Leadership: As President of MACUSA, she commanded the entire body of American Aurors and possessed ultimate authority over magical law in the United States.
• Charms: She was proficient enough to contribute to the complex and large-scale magical operation to repair the damage to New York and erase the memories of its No-Maj inhabitants. (*Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them* screenplay/film)

• Wand: Seraphina Picquery's wand was a rare and powerful creation by the American wandmaker Violetta Beauvais. It was carved from Swamp Mayhaw wood and contained a core of Rougarou hair. This type of wand was known for its affinity for the Dark Arts, though it did not mean its wielder was a practitioner. (Pottermore)

• Gellert Grindelwald: As President of MACUSA, Grindelwald was her primary antagonist. She was deceived by him for a time while he was disguised as Percival Graves, her trusted Director of Magical Security.
• Newt Scamander: She initially viewed Scamander with deep suspicion, considering him a threat to American magical security. Her attitude softened slightly after he was instrumental in the capture of Gellert Grindelwald.
• Tina Goldstein: Picquery was the superior who had demoted Tina from her position as an Auror. She dealt with Tina's attempts to bring the Obscurus case to her attention with impatience and dismissal until the truth of the situation became undeniable.

• Seraphina: This name is the feminine form of “Seraphinus,” derived from the Hebrew word seraphim. The Seraphim are the highest rank of angels in Christian theology, often depicted as powerful, six-winged beings. The name reflects her powerful, authoritative, and commanding presence.
• Picquery: The surname is likely of French origin. It can be seen as a combination of the English words “pick” and “query,” suggesting an inquisitive or interrogative nature, which is fitting for a head of state and law enforcement.

• Seraphina Picquery is a character created by J.K. Rowling for the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film series and does not appear in the seven original Harry Potter books.
• In the films, she is portrayed by British actress Carmen Ejogo. (film)
• Her background information, including her Ilvermorny house (Horned Serpent) and specific details about her unique wand, were revealed by J.K. Rowling on the Pottermore website.