A doxy was frequently mistaken for a fairy by people unfamiliar with the difference between the two. However, doxies were very different from fairies as they had coarse black hair covering their entire body, unlike fairies. They also had an extra pair of arms and legs. Its wings were known to resemble that of a beetle as their wings were curved and shiny.
Some people referred to it as a biting fairy as it was infamous for two rows of sharp teeth that carried venom. It was a small fairy-like creature with thick black hair. Its bite was considered dangerous and wizards or witches who were bitten by doxies were advised to immediately take the antidote to prevent their venomous teeth from causing harm.
Physical Characteristics And Abilities
Doxies were known to resemble fairies but had an additional set of arms and legs and were covered with coarse black hair all over their body. They were of a small size and had shiny beetle-like wings which shone in the sunshine. Doxies were found in North America and some parts of Northern Europe. They preferred cold climates over hotter and tropical climates and were, therefore, found in their habitats in Europe and America.
They were common household pests in most wizarding households and large infestations required doxycide to get rid of them. Doxycide was a black liquid that was made specifically to get rid of doxies. Without a good supply of doxycide, doxies were impossible to get rid of especially if they inhabited in a closed residence. Doxies could also be silenced with a simple knockback jinx but doxy queens were resistant to it.
Doxies were related to both fairies and pixies, both of which they closely resembled. However, it is believed that they were all separate species.
The Doxy: A Brief History
Doxies first appeared in the Harry Potter universe in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as the protagonist Newt Scamander had a swarm of doxies in the suitcase he got to New York in 1926. He also had a lot of small beings like the Bowtruckles and Occamy. Its eggs were also a favored food for Bowtruckles.
In the Harry Potter video game, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Doxies were used as obstacles in the All-Wizard Tournament of 1988-1989 at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Broomsticks hexed with the Hurling Hex had to be used by participants to catch a released doxy. This system was set up by the teacher of Care of Magical Creatures, Professor Silvanus Kettleburn. However, this got complicated when an additional cage of doxies toppled over and the doxies were let free. A lot of people from the tournament had to be admitted to the Hospital Wing for bites.
In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, there was an infestation of doxies at Hogwarts in the 1990-91 school year and several students including Corey Hayden and Andre Egwu had been affected by it.
Doxies In The Wizarding World
Doxies first appeared in the Harry Potter series when in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, an infestation of doxies was discovered in Twelve Grimmauld Place behind the curtains of the drawing room. Fred and George Weasley were given the responsibility of spraying that infestation with Doxycide. They pocketed a lot of doxies and used the venom they extracted in the Skiving Snackboxes they made as prototypes for their joke shop. The same Skiving Snackboxes would eventually become a famous and sought-after product in Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.
In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, it was revealed that Cormac McLaggen ate a pound of eggs of doxies as a dare and was therefore unable to make it to Quidditch tryouts for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team in his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A student named Harold Dingle tried to sell droppings of doxies to fifth-years in the guise of dragon claw powder. Hermione Granger who was a prefect at that time, confiscated them.
This implies that eating a large quantity of Doxy eggs is dangerous and could cause health complications. The egg of the doxies contained some protective substance that kept parasites and predators away from an infestation of doxies. Furthermore, the venom of doxies was dangerous as well.
Doxy Eggs as a Potion Ingredient and as Food
Eggs of doxies were a common potion ingredient used for making several potions. Their eggs were used in the preparation of the Girding potion. A Girding potion was a potion used by a witch or wizard to gain exceptional endurance. Interestingly, this potion also made use of fairy wings. Professor Snape taught students in his Potions class to make the Girding potion.
Eggs of doxies were also the favorite food of Bowtruckles. This is revealed accidentally by Aberforth Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. When Aberforth is talking to Harry about being careful when leaving for Hogwarts, he comments that the Death Eaters would be on to them like Bowtruckles on doxy eggs.
Doxy vs. Fairy – Who Would Win in a Fight?
Doxies and fairies are both similar in several accords. However, there are a lot of significant differences between the two. Despite their fairylike body, doxies also have extra pairs of arms and pairs of legs lending them an advantage for combat. They are quite separate species as Newt Scamander, the famed magizoologist rightly points out in his book, but also have similarities both in the size of their bodies and their ability to fly.
However, we believe that a doxy is more likely to harm a fairy in the wizarding world of Harry Potter if the two ever combat each other. Doxies possess tiny needle-sharp teeth and are called biting fairies because of how dangerous their bites can be. So, we believe that despite the magical abilities of the fairies, the doxies would emerge victorious in combat. However, a queen doxy is more likely to win a fight with a fairy than a normal doxy.
FAQs
What is a Doxy in Harry Potter?
Doxies are small creatures that resemble humans in body shape and proportion but are much smaller. Doxies are very similar to fairies and the two have a lot of similar traits. However, doxies have an extra pair of hands and legs. They are also covered with thick black hair all over their body. Doxies are known as biting fairies because they look like fairies but also bite.
What does Doxy venom do?
Doxy venom is quite annoying if a wizard or witch comes in contact. Doxy venom is usually transferred to a human when a doxy bites a human. It is an irritant and can cause several adverse effects. A doxy bite must be immediately treated with its antidote as the venom was considered highly poisonous and dangerous. Doxy venom was also used in controlled quantities as a potion ingredient and in other items like the Weasley twins’ Skiving Snackboxes product.
How do you get Doxy eggs in Harry Potter?
Doxies laid a large number of doxy eggs. These eggs could be procured from a nearby doxy infestation. Fred and George Weasley collected a lot of doxy eggs from a doxy infestation they found in Twelve Grimmauld Place.
