Magic in Harry Potter

This article describes magic in the fictional Harry Potter universe.

The nature of magic

In the Harry Potter books magic is depicted as a natural force, one that can be used to override the usual laws of nature. Some creatures have magical properties (for example, dragons: the creatures are physically impossible) and objects can be enhanced to become magical. Humans may have magical aptitude. Those who do are referred to as witches and wizards, in contrast to the non-magical Muggles.

In humans, magic or the lack thereof is a natal attribute. It appears to be semi-inherited, as magic is the norm in the children of magical couples and highly rare in those of Muggles. Exceptions do exist. Curiously, a person's skills in magic can be partly dependent on those of her parents.

For a person's ability to perform magic to be useful, training and refining of the talent is required. Without either, typically in infancy, the ability will only manifest itself when used subconsciously in moments of strong apprehension, fear or anger. For example, Harry Potter once made his hair grow back after a bad haircut, and made the glass front of boa constrictor's cage disappear. With effort, both the extent of magical powers and the skill of controlling them can be improved.

Almost all magic is done with the use of a supporting tool, typically a wand. By using a wand one's magical powers are greatly increased. Furthermore, most actual spell-casting is done by using short incantations (most often in what sounds like a modified form of Latin) accompanied by gestures. These appear not to be required, but highly convenient - a wizard wanting to levitate an object could work out what he needs to do and then focus on achieving the desired effect, but he's much more likely to use the levitating spell "Wingardium Leviosa" which has everything required to levitate things in one neat package and ensures optimium bang for the buck. The more trivial tasks are often simple enough to be done without the need for an incantation. Albus Dumbledore has been known to do good-sized feats of magic without the use of a single spell, and is known to only have used an actual spell once - and when he did, it smashed effortlessly through a sturdy door.

It should be noted that within the Harry Potter books the technical details of magic are, intentionally or otherwise, entirely obscure. Of Harry's lessons only those involving magical creatures, potions or astronomy are given in any detail, none of the clearly magical lessons are shown with any structure. There is no mention of any underlying theory or process to magic.

Regardless of how powerful a witch or wizard is, she/he is by no means without limits. For instance, while it is possible, though difficult, to conjure things out of thin air it's far more tricky to create something that fits an exact specification rather than a general one. Also, it's impossible to awaken the dead, though one can postpone death indefinitely. Much remains to be seen of the nature of death in the Potter series...

... and wizards of the Ministry of Magic study it in depth in the room of the Department of Mysteries which contains the enigmatic veil through which Sirius Black fell in "Order of the Phoenix". This suggests some sort of portal between the worlds of the dead and the living, though this is of course guesswork.

The wizarding world

The wizarding world exists as a shadow society to the Muggle world and works as hard as it can to keep its existence a secret to all but a few Muggles, such as those who are related to witches and wizards. To most magical people the Muggle world is unknown, and their attempts to disguise themselves as Muggles often have mostly humorous results (Muggle Studies at Hogwarts is considered a soft option). Most things of magical nature are hidden or otherwise obscured from Muggles, others (such as Dementors) can simply not be detected by them.

The terms "wizard" and "witch" are used in magical society more or less the same way the terms "man" and "woman" are used in the Muggle world. "Mage" or similar words are rare and usually only seen in titles or such.

The technological development of the wizarding world is far behind that of the Muggle one. This is partly due to the fact that magic greatly lessens the need for such, and partly due to magic's tendency to cause interference with electrical equipment.

Things of magic and the magical world

Here is a (very far from comprehensive) list of some magical things, with specific examples.

Terms

Blood traitor

A derogatory term used to describe a wizard with "pure" blood who but refuses to mantain prejudice against "impure" peoples. Examples: The Weasleys (considered the most prominent blood traitors of England), Andromeda Tonks

Half blood

A non-derogatory technical term used to describe the offspring of a wizard or witch and a Muggle or apparently a witch or wizard and a Muggle-born. Examples: Harry Potter, Lord Voldemort

Mudblood

A derogatory term used to describe a wizard or witch born to Muggle parents (the "polite" term is Muggle-born.) Examples: Hermione Granger, Lily Potter

Muggle

A term used by those who can use magic to refer to those who cannot. The term is usually used innocuously by most wizards and witches, but is also used in a derogatory way by some of the more evil characters: this is how Rowling suggests something analogous to racism. During Lord Voldemort's reign of terror, his Death Eaters performed many Muggle killings for the fun of it. In the middle ages, Muggles feared magical people, so now all the wizarding people in the world have chosen to remain hidden from Muggles for fear it could happen again. There some extremists who try to classify Muggles as "beasts" (rather than "beings"). Examples of Muggles: Vernon Dursley, Petunia Dursley

An author named Nancy Stouffer sued Rowling for trademark infringement over her use of the term Muggles, but lost her case.

Pure blood

A term for a wizard or witch whose ancestors have possessed magical powers for untold generations. Many seek to keep this purity, and don't allow their children to marry anyone who is not pure blood. Since this makes for a limited number of choices, all the pure blood families are interconected. A pure blood who doesn't seek to keep the purity in their family is a blood traitor. Examples: Lucius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley See Pureblood for more information.

Squib

The opposite of a Muggle-born, a squib is someone of wizard heritage without magical powers. Though lacking magic, Squibs are capable of seeing the magical things that muggles cannot. Aware of the existance of magic, many (if not most) live in the wizard society, and may be able to learn limited magic, though it appears they have fundamental limits. Examples: Argus Filch, Arabella Figg

Known Magical Schools

Beauxbatons Academy of Magic

• Headmistress: Olympe Maxime
• Location: France

Durmstrang Institute

• Headmaster: Igor Karkaroff
• Location: Unknown (northern Europe)

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

• Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
• Location: Scotland, UK
• Notes: Harry Potter and his friends, Ron and Hermione go here

Unknown School in Brazil

• Headmaster: (Unknown)
• Location: Brazil
• Notes: Bill Weasley had a pen pal here, who took offense when Bill couldn't afford a student exchange program and sent him a hat that made his ears shrivel up.

Unknown School in the United States

• Headmaster: (Unknown)
• Location: USA
• Notes: J. K. Rowling stated students in America had their own school.

Spells

Spells seem to be enacted mostly by speaking a few words, typically in a modified form of Latin, and gesturing with a wand. Some can be pulled off without the words, but reduced in power.

External link: Harry Potter Lexicon of Spells

Alohomora

This spell is used to open a locked door, window, etc. A person merely points their wand at what they want to open and say "Alohomora" and it will open. This spell can also open doors which have been magically sealed with the Colloportus spell. Doors can be magically sealed so that Alohomora can't open them, such as the door in the flying key room, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Colloportus

This spell can magically lock a door, preventing its opening for a presumably limited amount of time. It is easily countered by Alohomora, however.

The Fidelius Charm

This charm enables secret information to be hidden within a single living soul, or Secret-keeper. The information is then irretrievable until and unless the Secret-keeper chooses to reveal it; not even those who know the secret can tell it.

So far, there have been only two uses of the Fidelius Charm in the Harry Potter series. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, it is explained that when Harry was an infant, he and his parents, Lily and James, were hidden from Voldemort with Peter Pettigrew as their Secret-keeper; Pettigrew betrayed them. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the charm is used to hide the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix; Albus Dumbledore is the Secret-keeper, and is apparently able to give permission by letter to reveal the information. This implies that a direct, personal act is not required to bring a new person into the secret.

The root fidelis means trusty or faithful.

Expecto Patronum

This spell conjures a Patronus, a silvery phantom shape, usually that of an animal, which is the embodiment of the positive thoughts of the caster. A Patronus will drive away Dementors. Harry conjures a stag as his Patronus, while Hermione Granger conjures an otter. Cho Chang conjures a swan. In order to work, the person must concentrate on a happy memory, which is especially difficult in the presence of a Dementor.

See also: Patronus Charm

Lumos

This spell creates a light that shines from the wand's tip, like a flashlight.

Nox

This spell turns off the light which is activated by the Lumos spell.

Wingardium Leviosa

To cause something to levitate, someone points their wand at what they want to levitate and says "Wingardium Leviosa" and it will rise into the air. When First Years learn this at Hogwarts, they practice with feathers.

The Dark Arts

While most magic is neutral, the Dark Arts are evil in nature. Students learn Defence Against the Dark Arts, to protect themselves from Dark wizards (unless they are being taught by Dolores Umbridge.) Draco Malfoy claims that in Durmstrang, they teach the dark arts themselves rather than how to protect one from them.

The Unforgivable Curses

Use of these curses on a fellow human could land one a life sentence in Azkaban.

• Avada Kedavra: When this curse is performed, a green light is emitted from the wand of the curser, killing the victim. Arch-villain Lord Voldemort used this curse to dispose of his enemies, including Harry Potter's parents.

The term may come from the Arabic Abra Kadabra, meaning 'let the things be destroyed' or from the Aramaic abhadda kedhabhra, meaning 'disappear like this word'. Rather than being used as a curse, the phrase is believed to have been used as a means of treating illness.

Either of the original phrases may have brought into being the term Abracadabra. In common language, the word kedavra has evolved into cadaver, meaning dead body. But note also cadaver may come from Latin cadere, "to fall".

• Cruciatus Curse: The Cruciatus Curse is started with incantation "Crucio". It inflicts intense pain upon the victim.

Several Death Eaters, including Bellatrix Lestrange (and presumably Barty Crouch Jr.), used this curse on Neville Longbottom's parents in an attempt to get information on how Voldemort may be resurrected after his killing curse rebounded on him. They received no such information and were sent to Azkaban for their crimes, but the extensive torture drove Neville's parents insane.

• Imperius Curse: The Imperius Curse starts with the incantation "Imperio" and gives the wizard complete control over his victim. The experience of being controlled by this curse is described as a complete, wonderful release from any sense of responsibility or worry over one's actions, at the price of one's free will. It is possible for the victim to fight the curse, however; the series protagonist, Harry Potter, is shown to be better than average in shaking this curse off.

Magical Objects

Floo Powder

Floo powder is a green powder used by Wizards to travel and communicate using fireplaces. The name comes from the word flue meaning the passageway which leads from a fireplace to the chimney so hot gases can escape.

In the second book the Weasleys traveled to Diagon Alley using it; Sirius used it to communicate with Harry in the fourth book. In the fifth book, Dolores Umbridge and her Inquisitorial Squad inspected all incoming and outgoing Owl Post and every fireplace in Hogwarts except for Dolores Umbridge's own fire, so Harry had to put himself in considerable risk and use Umbridge's fireplace whenever he wanted to communicate with Sirius at headquarters, a method which was quite uncomfortable to begin with.

Howler

A Howler is a bright red letter usually signifying displeasure and anger from the sender directed at the recipient. When opened, the Howler begins to yell in the sender's voice at the recipient, eventually dissolving into scraps of paper. If not opened, it will explode and scream even louder.

The Marauder's Map

The Marauder's Map was created by Moony, Padfoot, Prongs and Wormtail as an aid in mischief-making. The map, at first glance, is a piece of blank parchment, but when the user says, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," ink lines stretch across it, showing Hogwarts, and the location of everyone within the grounds. The map also gives information on how to open the secret passageways.

The map was given to Harry by Fred and George Weasley, who found it while unattended in Filch's office. The map made its first appearance in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Snape finds the map in Harry's possession, and tries to force it to reveal its secrets; the map responds by insulting him. Snape suspects dark magic at work, though given that the map's creators, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, detested Snape, they may have added these insults specifically for him. (Actually, while insulting Snape, one of the four says he can't believe Snape ever became a professor, so while the dislike of Snape might be encoded within the map, the insults are not canned.)

The Mirror of Erised

The Mirror of Erised is a mystical mirror that Harry discovers in one of the back corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. On it is inscribed, erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi - I show not your face but your heart's desire, written backwards. When someone gazes into the mirror they see nothing more and nothing less than the deepest, most desperate desire of their hearts. Harry sees his parents standing beside him (he wishes to have a family). Ron sees himself as Head Boy and Quidditch Captain holding the Quidditch Cup (he wishes to be acknowledged). Dumbledore says he sees himself holding a pair of socks, on the grounds that he did not recieve any for Christmas. This would signify that either he is telling the truth -- which would show that he already has everything that he desires (except for the warm socks), he is making a joke, or he is hiding the truth from Harry because it is none of his business.

Pensieve

A Pensieve is a stone basin, covered in mystic runes, with a fluid or gas within. A wizard can place their memories into the basin when their mind is too flooded with information. One can more easily examine the patterns and interrelations of thoughts while they float in the Pensieve. The Pensieve also allows the user to fully immerse themselves in the memories stored within, much like a magical form of virtual reality. Tom Riddle's diary seems to have this same form of virtual reality.

Like many names in these books, pensieve is a pun: it is a sieve in that it is a device used for sifting out thoughts, and in using it one becomes pensive or thoughtful.

A Pensieve first appears in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and again in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Portkey

Portkeys are first mentioned in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Once created, they can be set to transport anybody who touches them to a designated location, or to "go off" at a pre-determined time and transport to that location anybody who happens to be touching it at the moment.

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Barty Crouch Jr., who was masquerading as Alastor Moody, made the Triwizard Tournament cup into a portkey so it would transport anybody who touched it straight to the hands of Voldemort, expecting it would be Harry Potter. However, Harry grabbed the cup together with Cedric Diggory, who Voldemort unceremoniously got rid of immediately using Avada Kedavra.

Quidditch Balls and Equipment

There are several enchanted objects needed to play Quidditch, the most obvious being flying broomsticks. All the balls in the game are enchanted in some way. The Golden Snitch is enchanted to fly around and also to not leave the field. The Bludger is enchanted to fly around and try to knock players off their broomsticks. A Bludger does not focus on one player, unless it has been meddled with, as was the case in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The Quaffle may appear an exception, but it is also enchanted to make it easy to grip, and so it falls more slowly than normal.

Remembrall

A remembrall is a small, clear orb that turns red if you've forgotten something. Unfortunately, it does not tell you what you have forgotten.

The DVD of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone contained a software approximation of a remembrall.

See also: Personal Digital Assistant.

The Sorting Hat

The Sorting Hat, in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling, is an artefact used at Hogwarts which magically determines which of the four school houses - Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin - a new student should live in. As the students' names are read out loud alphabetically at the year's opening banquet the hat is placed on each of their heads in turn, and after a few moments' deliberation it announces its choice. Occasionally, the Hat will allow a student's request to influence his decision like when Harry requested not to be placed in Slytherin. The Sorting Hat was originally the hat of Godric Gryffindor. The hat assigned Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley to Gryffindor, and Draco Malfoy to Slytherin, in their first year.

Before sorting the students each year the hat recites a new introductory rhyme. These rhymes occasionally warn of danger to come, as in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the hat plays a critical role in the climax of the story by coming to Harry's aid in the Chamber and providing him with Godric Gryffindor's sword.

In the movie versions of the novels the hat's voice is played by Leslie Phillips.

Tom Riddle's diary

See separate article

Magical Letters and Signs

The Dark Mark

The Dark Mark is Voldemort's symbol, and is sent up in the air when any one of his followers makes a kill. It is also tattooed onto his faithful Death Eaters' left forearms. It consists of a skull with a serpent in its mouth. According to Snape, the Dark Mark can be triggered by Voldemort to glow, causing pain to the Death Eaters, in order to signal them to apparate to meet him.

Letters

Witches and wizards can write words in the air with their wands.

Tom Riddle does at the end of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to show that I am Lord Voldemort is an anagram for Tom Marvolo Riddle.

Potions

Potions are brewed in a cauldron from magical ingredients. This results in liquids that can be made to have any kind of effect on the drinker from strength enhancement to immunity to flames. According to Snape, potions can "bewitch the mind, ensnare the senses and even put a stopper in death". Potion-making skills are not dependent on the maker's overall magic skills, as the potions result from the properties and right proportions of the ingredients.

Draught of Living Death

The Draught of Living Death is made by mixing a root of Asphodel and an infusion of Wormwood. It brings upon its drinker a very powerful sleep that can last indefinitely, hence its name.

Veritaserum

Veritaserum has properties similar to a truth drug. Three drops can force the drinker to spill his innermost secrets. The name comes from the Latin veritas ("truth") plus serum.

Polyjuice Potion

Polyjuice Potions is used to transform a person into the physical form of another person for one hour. The final ingredient in this potion is piece of whomever the person wants to change into, usually a hair.

The potion doesn't work with animals. Harry, Ron and Hermione brewed this potion to turn into three Slytherins so they could sneak into the Slytherin Common Room and find out whether Draco Malfoy was the heir of Slytherin.

Barty Crouch Jr. used Polyjuice Potion in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in order to pose as Alastor Moody.

Magical Abilities

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - Albus Dumbledore

Parseltongue

Someone who can speak to snakes is called a parselmouth. The language used when speaking to a snake is called parseltongue.

Harry Potter is himself a parselmouth. So are Salazar Slytherin and Lord Voldemort.