92-714: The Ministry of Magic is the government of the British wizarding community in the fictional universe of Harry Potter . It is led by an official called the Minister for Magic, and is first mentioned in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone . Throughout the novels, it is regularly depicted as corrupt , elitist and completely incompetent, with its high-ranking officials blind to ominous events and unwilling to take action against threats to wizard society. In Order of
184-475: A Death Eater . If a wizard is unable to Apparate or is travelling with an underage companion, a Portkey can be used. A Portkey is usually an ordinary object that has been enchanted. The user touches the Portkey and uses the charm "Portus" to travel to the desired destination. A Portkey is often a mundane object such as an old boot or tin can, which allows the device to avoid scrutiny from Muggles. Characters in
276-522: A Patronus to protect himself and Dudley from two Dementors), the letter sent to him states that he is expelled from school; that representatives will arrive at his home to destroy his wand; and that he is required to appear at a disciplinary hearing given that the offence occurred after he had already received one warning. Dumbledore reminds Fudge that the Ministry doesn't have the power to expel students from Hogwarts, or to confiscate wands without benefit of
368-494: A combination of Muggle-repelling charms, illusions, and other protections. Some magical locations, such as the prison Azkaban and the stadium used for the Quidditch World Cup, are rendered "unplottable", meaning they are impossible to locate on a map. The castle of Hogwarts appears as abandoned ruins to any Muggle close enough to see. Some extremist wizards oppose wizard-Muggle marriages, arguing that it dilutes
460-718: A few of the more notable creatures described in the series. The Ministry of Magic is the government of the British wizarding community. The Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, first appears in Chamber of Secrets . Young wizards in Britain usually attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Following completion of a Hogwarts education, there is no standard tertiary education, and there are no known wizard universities. Successful Hogwarts students are considered ready to function as adults, though some wizarding professions require special training programmes after Hogwarts. These include
552-591: A great overhanging forehead and glinting eyes. Harry's immediate impression is of "a crab looking out from beneath a rock." After the coup in which Scrimgeour is killed, the Ministry comes under the de facto control of Voldemort, who appoints Thicknesse as his puppet Minister. Thicknesse joins the ranks of the Death Eaters for the rest of the book and fights with them at the Battle of Hogwarts, where he duels against Percy Weasley , who resigns mid-duel. Following
644-477: A hearing. At Harry's hearing, he is tried by the entire Wizengamot court and cleared of all charges thanks to Dumbledore's intervention. Such proceedings are highly unusual, however. For a simple case of underage use of magic, Harry was originally supposed to be interviewed solely by Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. The Wizengamot serves as the wizard high court of law, from
736-409: A law allowing him to place Dolores Umbridge , his Senior Undersecretary, as a teacher at Hogwarts. He then appoints Umbridge as Hogwarts' "High Inquisitor", with the power to inspect and fire teachers, and ultimately Dumbledore's successor as Headmaster, which gives her primary control of how Hogwarts is managed. Fudge is concerned that Dumbledore is a threat to his power and that he is planning to train
828-502: A life-sized game of Wizard's Chess, which Harry wins thanks to Ron's skill at the game. Alastor Moody The following is a list of characters from the Harry Potter series. Each character appears in at least one Harry Potter -related book or story by J. K. Rowling . These books and stories include the seven original Harry Potter novels (1997–2007), Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001), Quidditch Through
920-713: A perfect score in the First Task even though he is injured, and offering him advice. Harry and Cedric Diggory end up tying for first place in the tournament, and Bagman does not win the bet as the goblins argue that Bagman was betting Harry would win outright. Bagman runs away after the Third Task of the Tournament. Bagman appears in the Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup video game as a Quidditch announcer. Bartemius "Barty" Crouch Sr.
1012-444: A quarter Veela ; Rubeus Hagrid , who is half- giant ; and Filius Flitwick , who has goblin ancestry. Prejudiced wizards sometimes use the derogatory term "half-breed" to refer to mixed-species individuals. The Harry Potter universe is home to many magical creatures. Some are derived from real-world folklore and mythology, while others were created by Rowling. Some are modified versions of creatures from real-world lore. Below are
SECTION 10
#17328014279261104-565: A recipient. A Patronus is conjured with the Patronus Charm and is primarily used to repel Dementors . It can also be used for communication by a talented wizard. Albus Dumbledore devised a method of using Patronuses to deliver vocal messages, which he used in the service of Order of the Phoenix . Minerva McGonagall is the only character in the series who demonstrates the ability to project multiple message-carrying Patronuses. While
1196-488: A society inhabited by non-magical people ("Muggles"), while the term "wizarding world" refers to a society of wizards that live parallel to Muggles. The wizarding world is described as a veiled society wherein magic is commonly used and practised; the wizards live in self-enforced seclusion and hide their abilities from Muggles. The novels are set in 1990s Britain, which contains both Muggle and wizard communities. Any new works taking place in this universe are released under
1288-609: Is Confunded by an Order member early on in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , and gives Death Eater Corban Yaxley false information on Harry's removal from the Dursleys' home. Being Confunded, he is defeated by Dirk Cresswell , who escapes halfway on the way to Azkaban . Later, Dawlish is sent to arrest Augusta Longbottom . After a struggle, her defence places Dawlish in St Mungo's Hospital . Dawlish's first name
1380-599: Is Quidditch, which is a team sport played up in the air on broomsticks . Every House at Hogwarts has a Quidditch team and competes in the Quidditch Cup. Outside of Hogwarts, the Quidditch World Cup is a major international event that draws teams and spectators from countries around the world. Wizard's Chess is a version of chess played with pieces that are magically animated. In Philosopher's Stone , Harry, Ron and Hermione become human chess pieces in
1472-458: Is a Death Eater. The following characters are notable Ministry of Magic officials. Yaxley is listed under Death Eaters . Ludovic "Ludo" Bagman is a retired professional Quidditch player. He was the head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. Rowling uses Dumbledore's Pensieve to reveal in Goblet of Fire that Bagman was accused of being a Death Eater about thirteen years before
1564-538: Is a magazine first mentioned in Order of the Phoenix . It is edited by Xenophilius Lovegood and often prints articles about conspiracy theories and cryptozoology . In Order of the Phoenix , Hermione blackmails Rita Skeeter into writing an article about Harry's encounter with Voldemort. The interview is published by Xenophilius, and he later sells it to the Daily Prophet . The most popular wizard radio station
1656-479: Is assassinated shortly after the visit, when the Death Eaters take over the Ministry through a coup. Harry felt a "rush of gratitude" to hear that Scrimgeour, in his final act, attempted to protect Harry by refusing to disclose his location. Bill Nighy played Scrimgeour in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 , in which he is portrayed as Welsh and a more compassionate character. Pius Thicknesse
1748-571: Is depicted as a Death Eater even before Scrimgeour's death. However, it's unknown if he's under the imperious curse, or joined out of his own free will. In Part 2 , Thicknesse is killed by Voldemort. Dolores Umbridge is a short, squat woman described as resembling a large pale toad, with "short, curly, mouse-brown hair". She speaks with a quiet, childish, high-pitched voice. She has a tendency to speak to people as if they are simpletons or very young children, without having demonstrated any magical abilities to back up her superiority claims. Umbridge becomes
1840-762: Is divided into three divisions: the Beast Division, the Being Division, and the Spirit Division. It is also noted that Hermione began her post-Hogwarts career here before transferring to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in this office. It is located on the fourth level of the Ministry of Magic. The Department of International Magical Cooperation is an agency that attempts to get wizards from different countries to co-operate in wizarding actions both political and public. This department on
1932-523: Is first introduced in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows . He is the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the start of the book, when he is placed under the Imperius Curse by Corban Yaxley , who uses his position to infiltrate the senior ranks of the Ministry. Thicknesse is described as a man with long hair and a beard, which are mostly black but tinged with some grey, along with
SECTION 20
#17328014279262024-575: Is happening, running into Harry and Viktor Krum in the Forbidden Forest. However, while Harry is on his way to summon Dumbledore, he unwittingly alerts Crouch Jr., who is using Polyjuice Potion to impersonate Mad-Eye Moody , to his father's presence. Crouch Jr. immediately goes to the forest, stuns Krum, kills his own father, transfigures the body into a bone, and buries it on the Hogwarts grounds. Roger Lloyd-Pack appeared as Crouch Sr. in
2116-505: Is located on the seventh level of the Ministry of Magic, and includes the British and Irish Quidditch League Headquarters, Official Gobstones Club, and the Ludicrous Patents Office ;– other sports and games-related aspects of the Harry Potter world. The Department of Mysteries is a department which studies particular enigmas (death, time, space, thought, and love) and stores copies of prophecies made in
2208-801: Is not revealed in the books or films. However, Rowling said in an interview with the podcast " PotterCast " that she named him John, owing to host John Noe 's appreciation of the character. Dawlish is portrayed by Richard Leaf in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix . Cornelius Fudge is first mentioned in Philosopher's Stone as the Minister for Magic of the United Kingdom. He makes his first appearance in Chamber of Secrets , when he arrives at Hogwarts to take Hagrid to Azkaban. He also removes Dumbledore as Headmaster when pressured by Lucius Malfoy who insisted that all
2300-604: Is nothing wrong. While still under the Imperius Curse, Crouch Sr. acts as one of the five judges at the Triwizard Tournament. However, worried that Crouch will fight off the effects of the Imperius Curse, Voldemort later has him imprisoned within his own house and has him communicate exclusively through supervised owl post. Despite this precaution, Crouch manages to break free of the Imperius Curse, and makes his way to Hogwarts, hoping to warn Dumbledore of what
2392-399: Is often a mouthpiece for the Ministry of Magic; as described by Rita Skeeter , " The Prophet exists to sell itself!" The Prophet remains respectable for the first three books, but by Goblet of Fire , it has hired Rita Skeeter, an unscrupulous journalist who supplies several thrilling and blatantly false articles. When Minister Fudge takes the stance of firmly denying Voldemort's return,
2484-537: Is placed upon children and helps the department detect offences; it ends when they reach the age of 17. However, Dumbledore explains to Harry that the Ministry cannot tell who exactly uses magic in a given area, only that it has been used. This can be seen as unfair to young witches and wizards who grew up in the Muggle world (such as Muggle-born wizards, or those with one magical and one Muggle parent) as they are more likely to be caught using magic than those who grow up in
2576-421: Is quite difficult to Apparate; therefore underage wizards and witches are forbidden to do it. There are many examples of failed Apparition attempts made by people who have not passed their "Apparition test", which is like a Muggle driving test. If not Apparating correctly, a person may lose a body part in the process, referred to as "splinching". In Deathly Hallows , Ron gets splinched after being grabbed by Yaxley,
2668-602: Is replaced by Rufus Scrimgeour , though he stays on as a powerless advisor and messenger to the Prime Minister in Half-Blood Prince . Fudge is portrayed by Robert Hardy in the film series. Bertha Jorkins was a student at Hogwarts at the same time as James Potter . She became a Ministry of Magic employee after leaving Hogwarts. In the summer before the events of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , she
2760-675: Is responsible for investigating offences under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy. They regulate an underage wizard's or witch's use of magic and prohibit wizards and witches from performing magic in the presence of Muggles or in a Muggle-inhabited area in the Harry Potter universe. An enchantment called "the Trace"
2852-624: Is the Wizarding Wireless Network . Harry learns about the wizarding band The Weird Sisters from his peers who listen to the WWN. In Deathly Hallows , Ron introduces Harry and Hermione to Potterwatch, an underground anti-Voldemort radio program. Butterbeer is a drink popular with young wizards. It can be served cold or hot, but either way it has a warming effect. Rowling said she imagines it tastes like "less-sickly" butterscotch . The Wizarding World of Harry Potter themed area at
Ministry of Magic - Misplaced Pages Continue
2944-501: Is the term applied to a person who is born to magical parents, but has no magical abilities. The only Squibs mentioned in the novels are Argus Filch , Arabella Figg , and a cousin of Molly Weasley . Unlike Muggles, Squibs are aware of the wizarding world and can see magical places (such as Hogwarts) and magical creatures (such as Dementors). Some wizards are the offspring of unions between humans and magical creatures. Examples include Fleur Delacour and her sister Gabrielle, who are both
3036-425: Is the term applied to a wizard whose parents are Muggles. Pure-blood supremacists often use the derogatory term "Mudblood" to refer to a Muggle-born wizard. When Voldemort returns to power, Muggle-borns are required by law to register with the Ministry of Magic. Under Voldemort's leadership, the Department of Mysteries claims that Muggle-borns acquire their magical ability by stealing magic from "real" wizards. "Squib"
3128-635: Is truly "pure", but those who wish to claim purity deny the existence of Muggles and Squibs in their ancestry. Some families inbreed to maintain blood purity, which can result in offspring with mental instability and violent natures. "Half-blood" is the term applied to wizards who have both magical and Muggle ancestors. Half-blood is the most common blood status, far outnumbering pure-bloods and Muggle-borns. Rowling has stated that fifty per cent of first-year Hogwarts students each year are half-bloods. Pure-blood supremacists view half-bloods as inferior to them but superior to Muggles and Muggle-borns. "Muggle-born"
3220-765: The Order of the Phoenix novel and reinstated at the end. He remained in that post for one year, until his death at the end of Half-Blood Prince . Other offices include the Magical Law Enforcement Squad , which pursues day-to-day law offences; the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, headed by Perkins, and the job in which the reader first sees Arthur Weasley ; and the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects Office, created by Rufus Scrimgeour in Harry Potter and
3312-477: The Wizarding World brand. The plot of the Harry Potter series occurs between 1991 and 1998. The exceptions are the opening chapter of the first novel, which takes place in 1981, and the epilogue of the seventh novel, which takes place in 2017. At various points throughout the Harry Potter timeline, flashbacks and flash-forwards depict time periods ranging from the 1920s to the 2020s. The depiction of
3404-522: The Defence Against the Dark Arts professor during Harry's fifth year. Before that, Umbridge acted as Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Fictional universe of Harry Potter The fictional universe of the Harry Potter series of novels contains two distinct societies: the "wizarding world" and the " Muggle world". The term "Muggle world" refers to
3496-493: The Harry Potter universe. During Voldemort's discriminatory regime, he forces the department to lie and claim that Muggle-borns actually steal magic from Pure-bloods, which makes them "illegal magicals" and allows their arrest. The rooms at the Department include: The Unspeakables are the group of wizards who work in the Department of Mysteries (their identities classified for security reasons). Known Unspeakables include Broderick Bode , Croaker, and Augustus Rookwood who
3588-467: The Prophet initiates a smear campaign against Dumbledore and Harry, the most influential proponents of the opposing view. After Fudge is forced to admit that Voldemort has returned, the Prophet changes its stance overnight, calling Harry "a lone voice of truth". According to Rowling, Ginny Weasley becomes Senior Quidditch correspondent at the Prophet after the events of the novels. The Quibbler
3680-619: The Quidditch World Cup . After the World Cup final, some goblins corner him in the woods outside the stadium and take all the gold he had on him, which is not enough to cover his debts. To clear his debts with the goblins, Bagman makes a bet on the Triwizard Tournament , of which he is one of the judges. He bets the goblins that Harry would win. He tries to help Harry over the course of the Tournament, giving him
3772-548: The Unforgivable Curses on suspected Death Eaters : that is, they received licence to kill, coerce, and torture them. Aurors also operate to protect high-profile targets such as Harry, Hogwarts, and the Muggle prime minister – in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix auror Kingsley Shacklebolt worked secretly in the Muggle Prime Minister's security detail. The Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic - Misplaced Pages Continue
3864-715: The Universal Orlando resort sells a line of food and beverages inspired by Butterbeer, and the Jelly Belly candy company has produced Butterbeer-inspired sweets. The celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal created a version of the drink for his show "Heston's Tudor Feast". Many types of magical sweets are mentioned in the series. Some have bizarre side effects, particularly those created by Fred and George Weasley . Chocolate Frogs are packaged with collectible cards depicting famous wizards. According to Rowling, Harry and his friends are featured on Chocolate Frog cards after
3956-472: The "Chosen One", to be seen visiting the Ministry, so that the public would believe that Harry supports the Ministry's actions against Voldemort. Harry also rejects that role, primarily because of his own antagonistic history with the Ministry and because of the Ministry's treatment of Dumbledore. Scrimgeour makes a short appearance in Deathly Hallows as the executor of Dumbledore's will. Scrimgeour
4048-502: The "purity" of wizard blood. These extremists use the term "pure-blood" to refer to a wizard who has very little Muggle blood in their ancestry, or who claims to have none at all. Pure-blood supremacists believe that blood purity is a measure of a wizard's magical ability, although Ron Weasley refutes this idea by pointing to the existence of so-called pure-blood wizards with low magical skills. He also claims that "most wizards these days are half-blood". J. K. Rowling stated that no bloodline
4140-545: The Auror Office of the Ministry and he is heavily battle-scarred from his years of service as an Auror, giving him an appearance of shrewd toughness. As the Minister, he visits the Muggle Prime Minister to inform him about important wizarding events, crucial to internal security. Scrimgeour was more concerned about the Ministry's reputation than seeing the danger the Death Eaters and Voldemort posed to
4232-560: The Chamber of Secrets , Fudge takes a long time to respond to the attacks on Hogwarts; and even then is sure that Rubeus Hagrid is causing the trouble rather than someone else. In the fourth and fifth instalments, Fudge refuses to believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, despite mounting evidence. The Ministry even mounts a campaign to damage Harry Potter 's credibility, an effort fuelled in part by Fudge's fear that Albus Dumbledore wants to forcibly remove him from his position. Eventually,
4324-541: The Cruciatus Curse. Crouch gave his son a trial before sending him to Azkaban; however, according to Sirius, the trial was a sham, merely a public demonstration of how much he hated the boy. The public were sympathetic to Crouch Jr., and placed all the blame on Crouch Sr., accusing him of driving his son to join the Death Eaters because of his parental neglect. After the trial, Crouch lost much of his popularity and any chance he had of becoming Minister of Magic, and he
4416-489: The Deathly Hallows , Harry uses a shard of his broken mirror to call for help from the Malfoys' cellar, and later finds out that Aberforth Dumbledore had been watching over Harry using Sirius' mirror, which he obtained from Mundungus Fletcher. Apparating is disappearing from a place and appearing almost instantly in another. Wizards and witches often Apparate to their destinations, which is quite similar to teleportation. It
4508-524: The Floo Network is intended for use as a method of transport, it also occasionally serves as a method of communication. A wizard can throw a pinch of Floo Powder into a lit fireplace connected to the Network and put their head into the flames, causing it to appear in the fireplace of the wizard with whom they intend to speak. This use of the Network is first seen in Goblet of Fire when Harry observes
4600-488: The Goblet of Fire , a discussion is held around the politics of importing flying carpets . Thestrals are winged horses which can only be seen by those who have experienced loss through death. They pull the Hogwarts school carriages and can also be tamed and ridden. The Daily Prophet is the most widely read daily newspaper in Britain's wizard community. Its journalistic integrity is lacking; it has been known to be more concerned about sales than about factual accuracy and
4692-630: The Half-Blood Prince , into which Mr Weasley is promoted, to be its head. The Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes is responsible for repairing accidental magical damage in the world of Harry Potter . It is located on the third level of the Ministry of Magic and houses the following offices: As noted in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them , the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures
SECTION 50
#17328014279264784-525: The Hogwarts students to overthrow the Ministry. After Voldemort appears in the Ministry of Magic at the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Fudge finally admits that Voldemort has returned. He is ousted by the wizarding community for his failure to announce the return of Voldemort immediately after the Triwizard Competition; for discrediting Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore; and for installing Dolores Umbridge as Headmistress of Hogwarts. He
4876-439: The Minister for Magic. Each new Muggle Prime Minister receives a visit from the Minister for Magic, who informs them of the existence of the wizarding world . The Minister explains that they will contact the Prime Minister only in circumstances in which the events of the wizarding world may affect Muggles . For example, the Minister has to inform the Prime Minister if dangerous magical artefacts or animals are to be brought into
4968-412: The Ministry is forced to acknowledge the emergency and act on it. Fudge is subsequently removed from office for incompetence and replaced by Rufus Scrimgeour. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement is a combination of police and justice facilities. It is located on the second level of the Ministry of Magic. Bartemius Crouch Sr. once headed the department, prior to the first book. At the beginning of
5060-520: The Muggle world that went unpunished. After Harry's first minor violation – a Hover charm that was actually performed by Dobby the House-elf – he is merely warned. His second violation, inflating Aunt Marge, is forgiven by Fudge because the Minister fears that Sirius Black is after Harry, and feels that his safety after running away from the Dursleys takes precedence. After his third offence (creating
5152-399: The Phoenix , Dolores Umbridge was placed at Hogwarts to observe the happenings within the school (acting as a ministry plant), and prevent the spread of news concerning the return of Lord Voldemort . It reaches a zenith of corruption, before being effectively taken over by Voldemort. At the end of the final book, following Voldemort's death, Kingsley Shacklebolt is revealed to have become
5244-470: The UK. The post of Minister for Magic is stated to be an elected position who has the power to elect or dismiss ministers is never explained. In the books, employment with the Ministry can be obtained right after completion of a wizarding education , though different offices require different levels of education and sometimes specific exam results with some extra training required within the department itself. In
5336-647: The United Kingdom, and various organs of the United Nations . The Department of Magical Transportation is responsible for various aspects of magical transport. It is located on the sixth level of the Ministry of Magic and includes the following offices: the Floo Network Authority, responsible for setting up and maintaining the network, and distributing the greenish floo powder ; the Broom Regulatory Control, that controls
5428-507: The West Country. Many wizarding homes in Harry Potter are depicted as being on the outskirts of a Muggle town. Only one settlement in Britain, the village of Hogsmeade , is home to an entirely magical population. The wizarding high street Diagon Alley lies in central London, just off Charing Cross Road . The Hogwarts Express train departs from King's Cross station using the fictional Platform 9¾ . Magical locations are hidden by
5520-582: The blame for the Army on himself, escapes. A few weeks later, Dawlish is among the wizards who attempt to arrest Hagrid when Umbridge sacks the gamekeeper. Dawlish appears again in Half-Blood Prince guarding Hogwarts after the commencement of the Second War. He is sent to follow Dumbledore when the Headmaster leaves school to search for Voldemort's Horcruxes, but is "regretfully" hexed by the Headmaster. He
5612-471: The books and films, the wizarding courts have displayed at times, a marked lack of interest in evidence for or against a suspect. All of the accused are given trials, as in the case of Buckbeak. In Order of the Phoenix , the Ministry is shown to be quite prepared to decree and enforce draconian laws without notice. At times, the Ministry can also seem uninterested in solving serious problems, choosing instead, to ignore or cover up bad news. In Harry Potter and
SECTION 60
#17328014279265704-667: The creation of laws designed to keep the wizarding world hidden, such as the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy of 1692. Enchantment of Muggle artefacts is forbidden, underage wizards are restricted from using magic outside of school, and any deliberate revelation of magical ability to the Muggle community is punishable. These laws are enforced by the British Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards. There are some exceptions: Muggle relatives of British wizards are allowed to know about
5796-402: The end of the battle, the Imperius Curse that was placed upon him is broken. Kingsley Shacklebolt replaces him as interim (later permanent) Minister for Magic. Not much is known about the "real" nature of Thicknesse, as he has been under the control of Yaxley for nearly the entire book. Guy Henry plays Thicknesse in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2 , in which he
5888-491: The events of the fourth book because he had given information to recently discovered Death Eater Augustus Rookwood . It is stated that he had believed Rookwood, who was his father's friend, to be beyond suspicion, and that, consequently, he had thought that he was aiding the Ministry by passing the information on to him. Bagman loves gambling, which got him in financial trouble so severe that he pays some of his creditors with disappearing Leprechaun Gold, after they have gambled on
5980-408: The events of the novels. Both Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans have been manufactured in the real world. The Bertie Bott's Beans produced by Jelly Belly include flavours such as black pepper, dirt, earwax, grass, sausage, soap, and vomit. The Hershey company has also produced various candy items based on Harry Potter. The most prominent sport in the Harry Potter universe
6072-628: The fifth level of the Ministry of Magic includes the headquarters of the International Magical Trading Standards Body, the International Magical Office of Law, and the British seats of the International Confederation of Wizards. The former head was Barty Crouch Sr. , until his death. This is also where Percy Weasley began his Ministry career. This department is similar in function to the real-life Foreign and Commonwealth Office of
6164-422: The film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire . John Dawlish is an Auror. He is described as a "tough-looking wizard" with "very short, wiry" grey hair. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , Dawlish accompanies Fudge to Hogwarts to confront Harry about the secret Dumbledore's Army meetings. Dawlish is knocked out along with Fudge, Umbridge, and Kingsley when Dumbledore, who takes all
6256-561: The former Hogwarts headmaster Phineas Nigellus travels between Dumbledore's office and his other portrait in Grimmauld Place. Another form of closed communication used in the books and films is a set of mirrors that belonged to Sirius Black. Sirius gives Harry one mirror in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , with a note explaining to Harry that Sirius and James Potter used to use the mirrors to talk to each other when they were put in separate detentions. In Harry Potter and
6348-476: The gold Galleon, the silver Sickle, and the bronze Knut. The wizarding world does have at least one train, the Hogwarts Express , which is pulled by a steam locomotive. The novels depict wizards using radio but not television. The wizarding world of the Harry Potter universe is embedded within the Muggle world. Wizards often live in magical enclaves within Muggle villages, such as Godric's Hollow in
6440-671: The head of Amos Diggory in the Weasleys' fireplace. Harry uses this method to communicate with Sirius Black on several occasions during the series. Voldemort uses a method of communication called the Dark Mark, which is like a brand on the inner forearms of the Death Eaters. When the mark is pressed, contact is made with other Death Eaters and Voldemort himself. Pressing one's Dark Mark causes every other Death Eater's mark to burn, signalling them to Disapparate from wherever they were and immediately Apparate to Voldemort's side. Hermione uses
6532-620: The middle of the front row and conducts most of the interrogation, while Percy Weasley (the Junior Undersecretary), acts as stenographer . Other officials seen at the Wizengamot include the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister and the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Dumbledore had held the position of Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot for about 50 years. He was removed at the beginning of
6624-473: The principle of the Dark Mark in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix . Instead of burning/engraving the message into the members of Dumbledore's Army's skin, she uses fake Galleons which all mimic each other and have messages on the rim. Later Malfoy and Madam Rosmerta, who was under the Imperius Curse, used Galleons to contact each other. Characters painted into magical portraits can carry messages between locations where their portraits hang. For example,
6716-739: The professions of the Auror and the Healer. In addition to Hogwarts, the novels mention the French wizarding school Beauxbatons and the Northern European school Durmstrang . In 2016, Rowling created four additional schools and described them on the Wizarding World website. These four schools are Ilvermorny (United States), Castelobruxo (Brazil), Mahoutokoro (Japan) and Uagadou (Africa). Wizards use owls to deliver mail, newspapers, and parcels. The novels do not explain how an owl locates
6808-547: The school governors had voted on it. However, it is not until Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban that Fudge meets Harry for the first time. Fudge does not press charges against Harry for accidentally inflating Aunt Marge , and advises him to be careful because an escaped convict is at large. When Fudge goes for a social drink at the Three Broomsticks pub, he inadvertently tells an unseen Harry that Sirius
6900-688: The series make use of several magical devices and artefacts to transport themselves within the Wizarding World and to the Muggle world. Among the most common of these objects are broomsticks , the Floo Network (a network of fireplaces magically connected to one another), the Knight Bus , and the Hogwarts Express . Some characters have been known to enchant Muggle vehicles to have magical features, such as Arthur Weasley's Ford Anglia or Sirius Black's Flying Motorbike . In Harry Potter and
6992-465: The series, it is headed by Amelia Bones , who is replaced by Pius Thicknesse after Voldemort murders her. Thicknesse is replaced by Corban Yaxley after Voldemort has Thicknesse appointed the puppet Minister for his regime. By the events of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , Harry Potter has become its head. According to Rowling, this is the department that Hermione joins, after the events of
7084-432: The seventh book, transferring from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures , where she began her post-Hogwarts career. The Ministry employs Aurors to pursue and apprehend Dark wizards. A potential recruit also has to pass "a series of character and aptitude tests." Nymphadora Tonks mentions that the program's courses of study include "Concealment and Disguise" and "Stealth and Tracking," and that
7176-459: The sudden outbreak of gloom and terror; hence he decides to merely ignore all of the evidence rather than accept the truth. J. K. Rowling has since stated that Fudge's behaviour mirrors that of Neville Chamberlain in the lead-up to World War II . In Order of the Phoenix , Fudge orchestrates a vicious smear campaign through the Daily Prophet to present Dumbledore as a senile old fool and Harry as an unstable, attention-seeking liar. He also passes
7268-581: The traffic of broom travel; the Portkey Office, the regulation of Portkeys; and the Apparition Test Centre, that grants licences to witches and wizards so that they can apparate. The Department of Magical Games and Sports organises events like the Quidditch World Cup and the Triwizard Tournament . Ludo Bagman used to be the Head of Department here, but his gambling problem forced him to flee from Goblin creditors. The department
7360-479: The training is hard to pass with high marks. Aurors in the Harry Potter series include Alastor Moody , Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt , John Dawlish , Frank and Alice Longbottom and Rufus Scrimgeour. Harry himself later joins the department, and, according to a Rowling 2007 interview, is eventually promoted to department head. During the First War against Voldemort , Aurors had authorisation to use
7452-494: The truth, Crouch Sr. silenced her with a powerful Memory Charm that permanently damaged her memory. Shortly thereafter, Voldemort and Peter Pettigrew show up at the Crouch family home, having found out about Crouch Jr. from interrogating Jorkins. Voldemort places Crouch Sr. under the Imperius Curse , freeing Crouch Jr. from the Imperius Curse placed on him by his father, and forces Crouch to continue to appear in public as if there
7544-599: The wizard world have a much greater chance of escaping punishment for the use of underage magic. The Ministry has to rely on wizard and witch parents to enforce the ban on under-age magic within their homes. It is not known how or when the Trace is placed upon a child, though it may be assumed that it begins either when the child begins to show magical talent or when they first go through the barrier to Platform 9¾. A number of witches and wizards, including Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Lily Evans , and Severus Snape all known to have performed some underage magic while growing up in
7636-426: The wizarding world are depicted as being less-than-modern compared to the Muggle world. Candles are used for illumination instead of electrical or gas lamps, and owls are used to send messages instead of phone calls or emails. Instead of using pens or computers to take notes and write essays, Hogwarts students use ink-dipped quills and parchment. Wizards do not use paper currency, but instead rely on three types of coins:
7728-451: The wizarding world is centred on magic , which not only imbues objects such as wands , but is also portrayed as an inborn ability of individuals. This organic ability can be honed and mastered through study and practice. Wizards expend a great deal of effort keeping Muggles unaware of magic and the wizarding world. The novels explain that in the past, the two worlds co-existed. Over the centuries, persecution of wizards by Muggles resulted in
7820-485: The wizarding world, as is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) depicts wizarding laws in the United States during the 1920s. These laws differ in some ways from those in 1990s Britain. For example, the film reveals that American wizards are forbidden from having any contact or relationships with Muggles. In the Harry Potter series, some aspects of
7912-433: The wizarding world. He tried to make it look like the Ministry was making progress by covering up breakouts from Azkaban and arresting random suspects such as Stan Shunpike - although later on Shunpike is in fact shown to have joined the Death Eaters, albeit ironically as a direct result of his being arrested in the first place. He also sought to raise the wizarding population's morale by asking Harry, who has been labelled as
8004-405: The wizarding world. Those living in the Muggle world generally have no contact with other witches or wizards away from school, and the Ministry simply presumes that any magic performed where they are is an act of underage wizardry, while at the same time presuming that any magic performed in a wizard home that has minors present was performed by those aged 17 and over. This means that minors living in
8096-537: The words " wizard " and " Witenagemot ", which was a council of powerful people summoned to advise and appoint kings in Anglo-Saxon England . That word derives from the Old English for "meeting of wise men" ( witan – wise man or counsellor / gemot – assembly). In Order of the Phoenix , about fifty people are present at Harry's hearing. During the hearing, the Minister for Magic sits in
8188-593: Was James Potter 's best friend and was believed to have betrayed the Potters to Voldemort. His kindly relationship to Harry abruptly changes in Goblet of Fire . When Harry emerges from the Triwizard Tournament 's third task after having seen the rebirth of Voldemort, Fudge refuses to believe it. He is worried about the fallout of announcing Voldemort's return, marking the end of the Wizarding world's years of peace, and
8280-490: Was killed by Voldemort. Rowling later revealed that her death was used to turn Nagini , Voldemort's snake, into a Horcrux . Rufus Scrimgeour serves as the Minister for Magic of the United Kingdom from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince until his death in the following book, succeeding Cornelius Fudge. He is described as looking like an old lion with tawny hair and bushy eyebrows, yellow eyes and wire-rimmed spectacles. Before being selected as minister, Scrimgeour headed
8372-495: Was shunted sideways to a post as the head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. About a year after the trial, Crouch's terminally ill wife begged for her son's life to be saved, so Crouch abetted the two in trading appearances using Polyjuice Potion. Mrs. Crouch died as Crouch Jr. in Azkaban, while Crouch Sr. subsequently used the Imperius Curse to keep Crouch Jr. under house arrest. When Bertha Jorkins discovered
8464-494: Was the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement when Voldemort first came to power. He sent Sirius Black to the wizard prison Azkaban without a trial. Crouch appeared to be the favourite to become the next Minister for Magic until his son, Barty Crouch Jr. , was caught with the Lestranges , Death Eaters who were assisting Voldemort's rise to power and who had tortured Neville Longbottom 's parents into insanity with
#925074