Every Time Nifflers Saved the Day
Nifflers are more than just adorable plot devices. They have stolen the hearts of the Potter fandom. Despite their reckless acts, you can’t help but love such clever creatures. After watching Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, I had an epiphany about Nifflers. Nifflers in the Fantastic Beasts franchise haven’t only caused trouble. They’ve saved the day repeatedly. Nifflers are the real heroes of the Potter world!
1. Bringing Newt and Jacob Together
At first, it seems that when Newt’s Niffler escapes at the beginning of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, he’s running off to steal shiny objects. However, if the Niffler hadn’t escaped, Newt would have never gone into the Muggle bank after him. If Newt had never gone to the bank, then he would’ve never run into Jacob. Newt and Jacob’s charming friendship is as important as the golden trio’s friendship. Imagine if Newt and Jacob had never met! We have a mischievous Niffler to thank for them becoming friends.
2. Tracking Tina
In Crimes of Grindelwald, Newt is desperate to locate Tina. He brings his Nifflers along with him to Paris in order to track her. It’s fair to say that the Nifflers could have run away from Newt and not assist him. Yet the oldest Niffler of the group springs into action and manages to track Tina. This small act is meaningful. Newt’s relationships with the Nifflers have developed the more he cares for them.
3. Tracking Yusuf
It wasn’t enough for Newt to locate Tina’s previous location, he needed help finding where she was in the present. His Niffler friend sticks with him, continuing to locate clues on the grounds of Paris. By working together, the pair finds a feather that belongs to Yusuf Kama, the wizard who captured Tina and who ends up being important to the movie’s plot later. Finding both Yusuf and Tina was all thanks to a Niffler!
4. Stealing from Grindelwald
At the conclusion to Crimes of Grindelwald, the audience realizes that Newt’s Niffler stole Grindelwald’s important vial! Basically, the Niffler saved the day. We finally see Nifflers putting their thieving skills to good use. When all hope was gone, a Niffler willingly went after Grindelwald and stole an important trinket without anyone realizing it. Newt even seems surprised when the Niffler reveals the vial later. Once Newt meets up with Dumbledore at the end of the movie, Dumbledore is shocked that Newt managed to obtain the vial. Newt explains that it was his Niffler who stole it from Grindelwald. Similar to Voldemort, Grindelwald doesn’t understand the powers and abilities of creatures that he deems lesser.
5. Giving Up the Vial
Nifflers usually keep their riches close to their chests or specifically, in their pouches. Yet once Newt’s Niffler obtains the vial from Grindelwald, he willingly gives it up to Newt. Afterward, he willingly hops back into Newt’s magical case! Newt’s relationship with his Niffler has come a long way to where they now trust each other. This doesn’t mean that Nifflers won’t cause trouble in future films, but this gesture proves that the furry little creature’s heart is in the right place.
Ultimately Newt’s relationships with his Nifflers will continue to develop as the Fantastic Beasts movies are made. It’s clear from one Niffler’s actions in Crimes of Grindelwald that the Nifflers have chosen Newt’s side in the upcoming wizarding war and not the side of evil. Hopefully, there are plenty of heroic Niffler moments still to come!
Are there any other chivalrous Niffler moments that we’re missing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
