Magic in Harry

Potter

In J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, magic is depicted as a supernatural force that can be used
to override the usual laws of nature. Many fictional magical creatures exist in the series, while
ordinary creatures also sometimes exhibit magical properties. Magical objects are also
described. The small number of humans who are able to perform magic (witches and wizards)
refer to the rest of the population, oblivious to the existence of magic, as "Muggles" in the United
Kingdom and "No-Maj" in the United States.

In humans, magic or the lack thereof is an inborn attribute. It is usually inherited, carried on
"dominant resilient genes".[1] Magic is the norm for the children of magical couples and less
common in those of Muggles. Exceptions exist: those unable to do magic who are born to
magical parents are known as Squibs, whereas a witch or wizard born to Muggle parents is
known as a Muggle-born, or by the derogatory term "Mudblood". While Muggle-borns are quite
common, Squibs are extremely rare.

Rowling based many magical elements of the Harry Potter universe on real-world mythology and
magic. She has described this as "a way of giving texture to the world".[2] The books present the
idea that the Muggle interpretation of these stories is a distorted version of what goes on in the
wizarding world.
The magic of Harry Potter became the subject of a 2017 British Library exhibition and
accompanying documentary. The exhibition, entitled Harry Potter: A History of Magic, is the first
at the British Library to be inspired by a single series by a living author.[3]

Using magic

Witches and wizards train to learn how to control their magic. With young and untrained children,
magic will manifest itself subconsciously in moments of strong apprehension, fear, anger and
sadness.[4] For example, Harry Potter once made his hair grow back after a bad haircut, set a
boa constrictor on his cousin Dudley at the London Zoo, and made Aunt Marge inflate to an
enormous size. While this reaction is usually uncontrollable, as an untrained child, Tom Marvolo
Riddle was able to make things move without touching them, make animals do what he wanted
without training them, make "bad things happen" to people who annoyed him, or make them hurt
if he wanted to.[5] In addition, Lily Evans was able to guide and control the blooming of a flower
by wanting to.

Almost all magic is done with the use of a wand. On the subject of wandless magic, Rowling
says:[6]

You can do unfocused and uncontrolled magic without a wand (for

instance when Harry blows up Aunt Marge) but to do really good spells,
yes, you need a wand.

A wizard or witch is only at their best when using their own wand. When using another's wand,
one's spells are not as strong as they normally would be.[HP1]

Within the books, technical details of magic are obscure. Of Harry's lessons, only those involving
magical beasts magical creatures, potions or divination are given in any detail.

Severus Snape once told Harry Potter that "Time and space matter in magic" during Harry's first
Occlumency lesson in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Albus Dumbledore told Harry
after finding the magically concealed boat to reach the locket Horcrux that "Magic always leaves
traces, sometimes very distinctive traces."[HP6]

Spellcasting
Spells are the every-purpose tools of a wizard or witch; short bursts of magic used to
accomplish single specialised tasks such as opening locks or creating fire. Typically casting
requires an incantation, most often in a modified form of Latin (see Dog Latin), and gesturing
with a wand. However, Rowling has revealed that particularly talented wizards can cast spells
without the aid of wand, although magic produced with one is generally more precise and
powerful.[7] Spells can also be cast non-verbally, but with a magical wand. This special technique
is taught in the sixth year of study at Hogwarts and requires the caster to concentrate on the
incantation. Some spells (e.g., Levicorpus) are apparently designed to be used non-verbally.
While most magic shown in the books requires the caster to use their voice, some do not (and
this may depend on the witch or wizard). Dumbledore has been known to do impressive feats of
magic without speaking, such as conjuring enough squashy purple sleeping bags to
accommodate the entire student population[HP3] or during his duel with Voldemort towards the
end of Order of the Phoenix.

It is possible to use a wand without holding it. In Order of the Phoenix, Harry himself performs
Lumos to light his wand when it is lying on the ground somewhere near him.[HP5] Additionally,
Animagi and Metamorphmagi do not need wands to undergo their transformations.

Spells are divided into rough categories, such as "charms", "curses", "hexes", or "jinxes". Although
offensive and potentially dangerous curses exist in number, three are considered usable only for
great evil, which earns them the special classification of "Unforgivable Curses".

The limits of magic

Before publishing the first Harry Potter novel, Rowling spent five years establishing the
limitations of magic—determining what it could and could not do. "The most important thing to
decide when you're creating a fantasy world," she said in 2000, "is what the characters can't do."
For instance, while it is possible to conjure things out of thin air, it is far more tricky to create
something that fits an exact specification rather than a general one; moreover, any objects so
conjured tend not to last.[8]

Death

Rowling has described death as the most important theme in the books.[9] Consequently, as
Dumbledore states in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, there is no spell that can truly bring the
dead back to life. While corpses can be transformed into obedient Inferi on a living wizard's
command, they are little more than zombies with no soul or will of their own. However, there are
some methods of communicating with the dead, though with limited results. For example, all
Hogwarts headmasters appear in a portrait when they die, allowing consultation by future
generations. It is also possible through the rare Priori Incantatem effect to converse with ghost-
like "shadows" of magically murdered people. The Resurrection Stone also allows one to talk to
the dead, but those brought back by the Stone are not corporeal, nor do they wish to be
disturbed from their peaceful rest. Throughout the series, this limit is continually mentioned, and
wizards try to transcend it at their own peril.

Likewise, it is not possible to make oneself immortal unless one makes use of an object of great
power to sustain life, such as the Philosopher's Stone or Horcruxes. If one were to possess the
three Deathly Hallows, it is fabled that they would possess the tools to become the "master of
death". However, it is hinted that to be a true "master of death" is to be willing to accept that
death is inevitable. Other methods of extending life include drinking unicorn blood, which will
keep a person alive even if death is imminent, but at the terrible price of being cursed forever.
Being magical can contribute to one's longevity, as there are several characters in the series who
are unusually long-lived (such as Griselda Marchbanks, who was an invigilator during Albus
Dumbledore's O.W.L examinations). It is revealed by Nearly Headless Nick in the fifth book that
all witches and wizards have the choice of becoming ghosts upon dying; however, it is described
as "a pale imitation of life". Snape states that a ghost is merely "the imprint of a departed soul
left upon the earth".

Death is studied at the Department of Mysteries in a chamber containing an enigmatic veil,

which Rowling has described as "the divide between life and death". With regard to what is on
the other side, she elaborated: "Do I believe you go on? Yes, I do believe you go on. I do believe in
an afterlife, although I'm absolutely doubt-ridden and always have been but there you are."[10]
Sirius falls through this veil in Order of the Phoenix after he is hit with a curse from Bellatrix.

Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration

The Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration is a magical theory

mentioned by Hermione and later repeated by Ron in the final book. She explains that food is
one of these: witches or wizards can cook and prepare food using magic, and even multiply it,
but not create it out of nothing. There are numerous examples in the series of food appearing to
have been conjured from nothing, such as the sudden materialization of ingredients in the pots
of Molly Weasley's kitchen and when Professor McGonagall creates a self-refilling plate of
sandwiches for Harry and Ron in Chamber of Secrets. In all cases, these events can be
reasonably explained as food either being multiplied, transported from elsewhere. One example
of the latter is banqueting at Hogwarts—the food is prepared by elves in the kitchens and laid
onto four replica tables, directly below the actual house tables in the Great Hall. The food is then
magically transported to the tables.

This is the only exception mentioned explicitly in the series. However, Rowling herself has stated
once in an interview that money is something wizards cannot simply materialize out of thin air,[8]
or the economic system of the wizarding world would then be gravely flawed and disrupted.
While the Philosopher's Stone does permit alchemy, this is portrayed as an extremely rare, even
unique, object, whose owner does not exploit its powers.

Emotion

As explained earlier, young untrained wizards can trigger uncontrolled magic when they are in
the state of heightened emotions. But emotions also affect trained witches and wizards and
their magical abilities. For instance, in Half-Blood Prince, a heartbroken Nymphadora Tonks
temporarily loses her power as a Metamorphmagus when Remus Lupin starts distancing
himself from her. The form of her Patronus changes to reflect her depression. Another example
is Merope Gaunt, who only demonstrated any magical ability when removed from her father's
oppression, but then lost it again when her husband abandoned her.

Several magical spells require the use of certain emotions when casting them. The Patronus
charm, for example, requires the caster to concentrate on a happy memory. (Force of will, under
extenuating circumstances, helps a lot. An example of this is when Harry is able to conjure a
corporeal Patronus when Sirius is in danger of being administered the Dementor's Kiss.)[HP3]
Another example is the Cruciatus Curse, which causes immense pain; as Harry discovers during
a duel with Bellatrix Lestrange, effective use of this forbidden dark magic requires sadistic
desires.[HP5]

Love (in its broadest meaning) is depicted as a particularly powerful form of magic. According to
Dumbledore, love is a "force that is at once more wonderful and more terrible than death, than
human intelligence, than forces of nature."[HP5] Lily's voluntary sacrifice on Harry's behalf saves
him from Voldemort as a baby, and Harry makes a similar sacrifice to save his friends at the end
of Deathly Hallows.[HP7] A certain key prophecy in the series describes Harry as having "power
the Dark Lord knows not", referencing his capacity for love.[HP5]
True love is impossible to create magically; Amortentia, a love potion, can only create a powerful
sense of infatuation and obsession.

Magical abilities

The following is a list of special abilities that a wizard or witch in the Harry Potter universe may
have.

Animagi

An Animagus (portmanteau of animal and magus) is a witch or wizard who can turn into a
particular animal or magical creature at will. This ability is not innate: it must be acquired by
magical means. All Animagi must register at a central authority by law, though a number of
characters are revealed over the course of the series to have remained unregistered illegally:
James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and Rita Skeeter. Minerva McGonagall was a
Ministry-registered Animagus taking the form of a tabby cat.

Animagi transformation can be performed wandlessly. Sirius and Peter are left wandless for
over 10 years, but both retain the ability with no apparent ill effects. When Animagi transform
they take on the appearance, not necessarily all traits, of a normal animal. In Harry Potter and the
Prisoner of Azkaban, it is noted that Ron's pet rat Scabbers (later revealed as Peter Pettigrew's
Animagus form) has lived over twelve years when only expected to live three. Also, an Animagus
in animal form retains the ability to think like a human, which is the principal difference between
being an Animagus and being transfigured into an animal. Otherwise, they would forget that they
were a wizard and be trapped, unknowingly, in this form unless transformed back by another
wizard. Characteristics of an Animagus' human form can manifest themselves in the animal
transformation; McGonagall and Rita Skeeter have markings around their eyes that resemble
their glasses, while Pettigrew has a missing toe on one of his front paws representing his
missing finger. When an Animagus registers, they must record all the defining physical traits of
their animal form so that the Ministry can identify them.

Each Animagus has a specific animal form, and cannot transform into any other animal. The
animal cannot be chosen: it is uniquely suited to that individual's personality, and in most cases
the Animagus will change into the same animal used in the person's Patronus Charm.[11]

Explicit emphasis is placed in the books on the differences between Animagi and werewolves.
Animagi have full control over their transformations and retain their minds, whereas werewolves'
transformations are involuntary and include severe changes in personality. After the person has
transformed into a werewolf "...he no longer remembers who he is. He'd kill his best friend. The
werewolf only responds to the call of his own kind."[12] The only way that a werewolf can retain
his sanity, intelligence and memory while transformed is using the Wolfsbane Potion.

Metamorphmagi

A Metamorphmagus (a portmanteau of metamorph and magus) is a witch or wizard born with

the innate ability to change some or all of their appearance at will. The talent cannot be learnt; a
witch or wizard must be born with it.

Nymphadora Tonks and her son, Teddy Lupin are currently the only known Metamorphmagi in
the series; it is a very rare ability, possibly hereditary. Tonks is known to change her hair colour
and style according to her mood. She even appears as an old woman on occasion. She can also
change her nose appearance, as she does when eating with the Weasley family to entertain
Ginny and Hermione. Her son, Teddy Lupin, also inherited this trait, as his hair is mentioned to be
repeatedly changing colour.

The extent of these appearance-altering abilities and the limits thereof are not entirely clear.
According to Rowling, a Metamorphmagus can alter his or her appearance completely, for
instance, from black to white, young to old, handsome to plain and so on.[13] In one example,
Tonks changes her facial appearance by reshaping her nose into "a beaklike protuberance like
Snape's", to "something resembling a button mushroom", and "one like a pig snout" which
reminded Harry of his cousin Dudley.[14] The emotional state of a Metamorphmagus can affect
their abilities.

Parseltongue

Parseltongue is the language of snakes. It is often associated with Dark Magic, although
Dumbledore stated that it is not necessarily an evil quality. Those possessing the ability to speak
it (Parselmouths) occur very rarely. People apparently acquire the skill through learning or via a
method of xenoglossia, such as through genetic inheritance or by use of Dark or dangerous
magic. Harry was a Parselmouth until the age of 17. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
explains this was because of Voldemort's passing on some of his abilities to Harry the night he
tried to kill him. Deathly Hallows reveals that a part of Voldemort's soul within Harry grants him
this ability, which is later destroyed leaving Harry stripped of the ability.[15]
Harry temporarily regains the ability in The Cursed Child, along with a pain in the scar.

Other known Parselmouths include Salazar Slytherin and his descendants, including the Gaunts
and Voldemort. Dumbledore could also understand Parseltongue; he learned it and did not
naturally possess the ability.[16] In Half-Blood Prince, he repeats Morfin Gaunt's words "the big
house over the way", which were spoken in Parseltongue.

Ron uses Parseltongue in the final book to reopen the Chamber of Secrets, but he is only
imitating the sound of a phrase Harry used in the book Chamber of Secrets.

Rowling borrowed the term from "an old word for someone who has a problem with the mouth,
like a hare lip".[17]

Seers

A Seer is a witch or wizard with the clairvoyant ability to predict future events. The predictions
given through this ability can sometimes be self-fulfilling prophecies, and Dumbledore states in
Order of the Phoenix that not all of them come true, depending on the choices made by those
mentioned. This would seem to indicate that a Seer predicts possible or likely events, at least in
some cases.

In the Hall of Prophecy at the Department of Mysteries, thousands upon thousands of glass
spheres are imbued with records of prophecies made by Seers. Only a person mentioned in a
prophecy can safely retrieve it; anyone else who tries to do so will be driven insane.

According to McGonagall, true Seers are extremely rare. Sybill Trelawney is the only Seer
portrayed in the books, and is considered an "old fraud" by her students -- although it is
mentioned that Sybill's great-great-grandmother, Cassandra Trelawney, was a renowned Seer in
her day. Trelawney is ultimately sacked by Dolores Umbridge in the fifth book for her lack of
ability. She has twice made true prophecies -- both of significance to Harry Potter -- but had no
recollection of either prediction afterward.

Legilimency and Occlumency

Legilimency is the magical skill of extracting feelings and memories from another person's mind
—a form of magical "telepathy" (although Snape, an able practitioner of the art, dismisses the
colloquial term "mind-reading", as a drastic oversimplification). It also allows one to convey
visions or memories to another person, whether real or imaginary. A witch or wizard possessing
this skill is called a Legilimens, and can, for example, detect lies and deceit in another person,
witness memories in another person's past, or "plant" false visions in another's mind.

The counter-skill to Legilimency is Occlumency (and its user, known as an Occlumens), by which
one can compartmentalize one's emotions, or prevent a Legilimens from discovering thoughts or
memories which contradict one's spoken words or actions. An advanced form of Occlumency is
planting false temporary memories inside an Occlumens' own head while blocking all other true
memories, so if a Legilimens, even a highly skilled one, were to attempt to read the mind, he or
she would find false memories only and believe everything was right.

The skills are first mentioned in Order of the Phoenix. Legilimency and Occlumency are not part
of the normal curriculum at Hogwarts, and most students would graduate without learning them.

Voldemort, Snape, and Dumbledore are all skilled in Legilimency and Occlumency, albeit with the
use of their wands. Voldemort is said to be the master of Legilimency by Snape, as he, in almost
all cases, immediately knows if someone lied to him. In addition, in Deathly Hallows, Voldemort
repeatedly uses Legilimency to interrogate his victims. Voldemort practices Occlumency
throughout the period of Half-Blood Prince to deny Harry access to his thoughts and emotions.
However, in Deathly Hallows, Voldemort repeatedly loses grip, resulting in occasional but very
powerful burst of thoughts, visions and emotions to be sent to Harry.

Throughout the books, Snape is repeatedly said to be highly skilled in Occlumency,[18] explaining
how he was able to deceive Voldemort for years. Even before Order of the Phoenix, Harry has the
impression that Snape can read minds.

During the Order of Phoenix Snape is instructed by Dumbledore to give Harry lessons in
Occlumency. Due to the antagonism between the two, and Harry's secret desire to know
Voldemort's thoughts, he makes poor progress, and only once manages to overcome Snape and
enter his mind.[19] In Deathly Hallows, Harry finally masters Occlumency—shutting his mind to
Voldemort—when Dobby dies. He realises that his grief—or as Dumbledore calls it, love—is what
can block out the Dark Lord.

Queenie Goldstein, in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, is revealed to be a proficient
Legilimens, born with the ability, as she is able to read the minds of Jacob Kowalski and others
in the film, as well as sense and hear them from afar through their thoughts and emotions.
Unlike Snape, Voldemort and Dumbledore she does not require a wand to cast the spells of
Legilimency as the ability to read minds comes naturally to her.
Apparition and Disapparition

Apparition is a magical form of teleportation, through which a witch or wizard can disappear
("Disapparate") from one location and reappear ("Apparate") in another. It is usually
accompanied by a loud cracking or popping sound, though the more skilled wizards such as
Dumbledore can Apparate "so suddenly and silently" that they seem to have "popped out of the
ground". According to Harry, apparition is also accompanied by a very unpleasant squeezing
sensation, as though being sent through a tight rubber tube.[HP6]

The Ministry of Magic licenses Apparition. A witch or wizard must be 17 years old or older and
have a licence to Apparate as a means of transportation in much the same way real-world
governments require individuals to have a licence to drive a motor vehicle. Students at Hogwarts
may attend Ministry-administered Apparition lessons during their sixth year, and take their
examination once they turn seventeen. It is shown that although it is possible to Apparate
without a licence, it is not usually done (unless in lessons) and is illegal. In Deathly Hallows,
Harry does not possess a licence, but since his Trace has been lifted, the Ministry is likely
unaware that he does it.

Learning to Apparate is difficult, and students run the risk of splinching—being physically split
between the origin and destination—which requires the assistance of the Ministry's Accidental
Magic Reversal Squad to undo properly, although essence of dittany can also mend certain
wounds. Splinching is quite common during lessons, and can be uncomfortable (and at times
rather gruesome) depending on the body parts splinched, but is ultimately harmless if properly
reversed. Although Ron can Apparate, he isn't terribly skilled at it, and splinches himself at least
three times (once losing half an eyebrow, two fingernails and part of his arm). Harry and
Hermione both pick up the skill quickly in comparison. As explained in the Half-Blood Prince,
there is no word spell to Apparate or Disapparate, but the caster has to concentrate on the
location on which he has to apparate, needs to be fully focused on the spell, and also has to
"feel" it through the whole body.

It has been indicated that it is considered rude to Apparate directly into a private area, such as a
home. Dumbledore states in Half-Blood Prince that it would be "quite as rude as kicking down the
front door". For this reason, and for reasons of security, many homes have Anti-Apparition spells
protecting them from uninvited intrusions. The accepted way to travel to a home is to Apparate
to a nearby location and continue to the final destination on foot. Apparition is considered
unreliable over long distances, and even experienced users of the technique sometimes prefer
other means of transport, such as broomsticks. Rowling has stated that Apparating over long
distances depends on the skill of the wizard, and "Cross-continental Apparition would almost
certainly result in severe injury or death."[20] Indeed, even the prodigiously skilled Lord Voldemort
elects to fly back to England after visiting the far-flung Nurmengard.

For reasons of security, the grounds and buildings of Hogwarts are protected by ancient Anti-
Apparition and Anti-Disapparition spells, which prevent humans from Apparating on the school
grounds. There is also a spell that prevents individuals from Disapparating, which Dumbledore
places on the Death Eaters captured at the Ministry in Order of the Phoenix; a sister spell, which
allows one to Apparate into a location but prevents them from Disapparating out of it, is cast by
the Death Eaters in Hogsmeade in concordance with the Caterwauling Charm. Dumbledore is
the only person who can both Apparate and Disapparate from the school grounds, since he is
the headmaster.

A witch or wizard can use Side-Along Apparition to take others with them during Apparition.
Dumbledore successfully transports Harry this way several times in Half-Blood Prince, and
Harry's first non-lesson attempt at the skill is the Side-Along Apparition with the weakened
Dumbledore when they return from the seaside cave.

In the Order of the Phoenix film, Death Eaters and Order members Apparate and Disapparate in
clouds of black and white smoke respectively. In the film, both sides also appear to be able to
"half-apparate" in which their bodies were made out of smoke, giving them the ability to fly. Both
times Fred and George apparated and disapparated, they did it with a pop as in the books.

In the books, the words "Apparate" and "Disapparate", like many other neologisms used by
Rowling, are capitalised, whereas established English words such as "jinx" and "hex" are not. The
words themselves are most likely derived from the French apparaître and disparaître, meaning 'to
appear' and 'to disappear'. Another possible derivation is from the English word "apparition",
meaning "a supernatural appearance of a person or thing; anything that appears, especially
something remarkable or startling; an act of appearing", which comes from the Latin "apparitio",
meaning attendance. "Disapparate" probably comes from the same word but with the prefix "dis-
" expressing negation or reversal.

Other teleportation

Some magical creatures have their own forms of instantaneous travel, such as a house elf's
ability to teleport or a phoenix's ability to appear and disappear in a burst of flame. Unlike
wizards, these creatures are not restricted by anti-Apparition magic. Dobby, Kreacher and the
rest of the house-elf population can Apparate within the Hogwarts grounds, as they demonstrate
on multiple occasions, most notably when Dobby visits Harry in the hospital wing, and when
Harry summons Dobby and Kreacher and assigns them to tail Draco Malfoy. Fawkes
Disapparates from the headmaster's office at Hogwarts along with Dumbledore when the latter
evades arrest at the hands of Ministry officials in Order of the Phoenix.

Some magical devices like the Floo Network, Portkeys and Vanishing Cabinets also provide
forms of magical teleportation.

Veela charm

An ability attributed to Veela and those of Veela heritage, such as Fleur Delacour, Veela charm is
used to charm males, much as the Sirens do in The Odyssey. Men who are exposed to it over
time become more resistant to it, although the Veela charm takes full effect if the Veela
surprises the man, as noted by Ron in Half-Blood Prince.

As shown in Goblet of Fire, one can use Veela hair as cores in magical wands. According to
famed wandmaker Mr. Ollivander, these wands are a little "temperamental".

Magical resistance

Powerful creatures such as trolls, dragons, and giants may exhibit magical resistance - a certain
degree of immunity against hexes and spells. Hagrid is resistant to certain spells (like the
Stunning Spell) due to his giant blood. This type of resistance is not insurmountable; if enough
Stunning Spells, for example, are fired simultaneously at a creature with magical resistance, the
creature may still be rendered unconscious. Also, wizards and witches can resist certain spells
with the power of their own sheer will, as Harry does in Goblet of Fire, when Barty Crouch Jr.
(disguised as Alastor Moody) tries to control Harry with the Imperius curse and Harry resists.
The same book shows Barty Crouch Sr. throwing off the Imperius Curse after spending several
months under it.

Subjects at Hogwarts

At Hogwarts, students must study a core group of subjects for the first two years, after which
they must choose between several electives. During their final two years, students are permitted
to take more specialized subjects such as Alchemy.
Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Potions, Astronomy, History of Magic,
and Herbology are compulsory subjects for the first five years, as well as flying lessons for the
first year, which becomes optional for the remaining six years. At the end of their second year,
students are required to add at least two optional subjects to their syllabus for the start of the
third year. The five choices are Arithmancy, Muggle Studies, Divination, Study of Ancient Runes
and Care of Magical Creatures. Very specialised subjects such as Alchemy are sometimes
offered in the final two years, if there is sufficient demand. There is a total of twelve named
Professors at Hogwarts, each specializing in one of these subjects.

Transfiguration

Transfiguration is essentially the art of changing the properties of an object.[21] Transfiguration

is a theory-based subject, including topics such as "Switching Spells" (altering only a part of
some object, such as when Hagrid gave Dudley a pig tail); Vanishing Spells (causing an object to
completely disappear);[OotP Ch.13] and Conjuring Spells (creating objects out of thin air).[OotP Ch.13]
It is possible to change inanimate objects into animate ones and vice versa – Minerva
McGonagall, the class's teacher, transfigures her desk into a pig and back in Philosopher's Stone.
[PS Ch.8]

Defence Against the Dark Arts

Defence Against the Dark Arts, commonly shortened to D.A.D.A.,[22] is the class that teaches
students defensive techniques to defend against the Dark Arts, and to be protected from Dark
creatures. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, with Death Eaters in charge of the school, the
subject is renamed the Dark Arts, and involves pupils practicing the Cruciatus Curse on those
who have earned detentions.[DH Ch.29] The subject has an extraordinarily high turnover of staff
members—throughout the series no Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher has retained the post
for more than one school year. Dumbledore also once stated that this post is cursed. Harry is
exceptionally skilled in this subject. During the period the story takes place, the class is taught
by Quirinus Quirrell (book one), Gilderoy Lockhart (book two), Remus Lupin (book three),
Bartemius Crouch Jr impersonating Alastor "Mad-eye" Moody (book four), Dolores Umbridge
(book five), Severus Snape (book six), and Amycus Carrow (book seven). Hagrid suggests in
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets that "They're startin' ter think the job's jinxed. No one's
lasted long for a while now." as each D.A.D.A. teacher has only taught for one year. In Half-Blood
Prince, Dumbledore suggests that Voldemort cursed the position because his application for it
was rejected.[HBP Ch.20] The existence of the jinx was eventually confirmed by Rowling. The
position had also been coveted by Snape, but he was denied the position as well. Snape was
finally appointed D.A.D.A. professor in Half-Blood Prince. Rowling announced in an interview that
once Voldemort had died, the jinx he placed on the office was lifted and a permanent professor
had been teaching the subject between the end of Deathly Hallows and the epilogue, set nineteen
years afterwards. Furthermore, she imagines that Harry Potter occasionally comes to the class
to give lectures on the subject.[23]

Charms

Charms is the class that teaches how to develop incantations for the uses of bewitchment.
Rowling has described Charms as a type of magic spell concerned with giving an object new
and unexpected properties.[21] Charms classes are described as notoriously noisy and chaotic,
as the lessons are largely practical.[OotP Ch.18] Many of the exposition sequences in the books are
set in Charms classes, which are on the second floor of Hogwarts. The class is taught by Filius
Flitwick.

Potions

Various potions as seen in the Harry Potter film series.

Potions is described as the art of creating mixtures with magical effects. It requires the correct
mixing and stirring of ingredients at the right times and temperatures. As to the question of
whether a Muggle could brew a potion, given the correct magical ingredients, Rowling has said,
"Potions seems, on the face of it, to be the most Muggle-friendly subject. But there does come a
point in which you need to do more than stir."[24] Rowling later confirmed on Pottermore that
"There is always some element of wandwork necessary to make a potion."[25] Severus Snape's
lessons are depicted as unhappy, oppressing times set in a gloomy dungeon in the basement of
the castle, whilst Horace Slughorn's, who replaces Snape as Potions Master, are shown as more
cheerful and even fun at times. J.K. Rowling explains that she wrote Snape, Harry's arch enemy
on Hogwarts faculty, because she herself hated chemistry class, and this was the Hogwarts
equivalent.[26]

Notable potions featured in the series include the love potion Amortentia,[27] Confusing
Concoction,[28] Draught of Living Death,[27][29] Draught of Peace,[27] the luck potion Felix
Felicis,[27] Pepperup Potion,[27] Polyjuice Potion,[30] Skele-Gro[31] Sleekeazy's Hair Potion,[32][33]
and the truth serum Veritaserum.[34][35]

Astronomy

Astronomy classes take place in the Astronomy Tower, the tallest tower in Hogwarts, and are
taught by Professor Aurora Sinistra. Lessons involve observations of the night skies with
telescopes. No astronomy lessons are shown in the books, but they are frequently referenced.
Rowling describes one of Harry's Astronomy exams in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Also, bits of the Astronomy Tower are seen throughout the film series, such as Chamber of
Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban, featured in Half-Blood Prince, as the place where Dumbledore
died, and seen in Deathly Hallows. Known student homework activities include learning the
names of stars, constellations and planets, and their location, movements, and environments.
The Astronomy Tower is also one of the three tallest towers in the Hogwarts grounds, as
mentioned in The Deathly Hallows.

History of Magic

History of Magic is the study of magical history. Cuthbert Binns' lessons are depicted as some
of the most boring at Hogwarts. They are only lectures, given without pause, about significant
events in wizarding history. Topics have included goblin rebellions, giant wars, and the origins of
wizarding secrecy. This is the only class at Hogwarts that is taught by a ghost, as the professor
never noticed he had died and simply continued teaching as if nothing had changed.

Herbology

Herbology is the study of magical plants and how to take care of, utilise and combat them.
There are at least three greenhouses described in the books, holding a variety of magical plants.
Herbology is also the only subject Neville Longbottom excels in and later on also becomes a
professor in the same subject. The epilogue to Deathly Hallows explains that he later replaces
Professor Pomona Sprout as the Herbology teacher.

Arithmancy

Arithmancy is a branch of magic concerned with the magical properties of numbers. As Harry
Potter does not take this subject, the class is never described in the books. It is, however, a
favourite subject of Hermione. Arithmancy is reportedly difficult, as it requires memorising or
working with many charts. In Order of the Phoenix, it is mentioned that the study of Arithmancy is
required to become a Curse-Breaker for Gringotts. The subject is taught by Professor Septima
Vector.

Study of Ancient Runes

Study of Ancient Runes, more commonly known as Ancient Runes, is a generally theoretical
subject that studies the ancient runic scripts. Because only Hermione studies it, little else is
known about this subject, taught by Professor Bathsheda Babbling.[36] In Deathly Hallows
Dumbledore bequeaths his copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, which is written in ancient
runes, to Hermione.

Divination

Divination is the art of predicting the future. Various methods are described, including tea
leaves, fire omens, crystal balls, palmistry, cartomancy (including the reading of conventional
playing cards and the tarot), astrology, and dream interpretations. Divination is described by
Professor McGonagall as "one of the most imprecise branches of magic".[PoA Ch.6] Supporters of
the subject claim that it is an inexact science that requires innate gifts such as the "Inner Eye".
Those opposed claim that the subject is irrelevant and fraudulent. Harry is first taught Divination
by Professor Trelawney, and then later by Firenze after Trelawney is sacked by Dolores Umbridge
in Harry's fifth year. In the sixth (and presumably seventh) year, Firenze and Professor Trelawney
share Divination classes, divided by year.

Care of Magical Creatures

The Monster Book of Monsters appears in Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class

Care of Magical Creatures is the class which instructs students on how to care for magical
beasts. Classes are held outside the castle. In Harry's first two years, the class is taken by
Professor Silvanus Kettleburn who then retires "in order to enjoy more time with his remaining
limbs". Dumbledore then recruits the gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid to accept a teaching position
along with his gamekeeping duties. Although Hagrid is obviously very experienced and
knowledgeable, he doesn't "have a normal person's view of what's dangerous", an example being
that the Care of Magical Creatures students were required to get a literally ferocious textbook
called the "Monster Book of Monsters", and so consistently misjudges the risk that the animals
he uses in his lessons pose to his students,[PoA Ch.6][GF Ch.13] which sometimes results in chaos.
When Hagrid is absent, his lessons are taken over by Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank, a witch and an
acquaintance of Dumbledore's.

Muggle Studies

Muggle Studies is a class that involves the study of the Muggle (non-magical) culture "from a
wizarding point of view." The only need for witches and wizards to learn about Muggle ways and
means is to ensure they can blend in with Muggles while needing to do so (for example, at the
1994 Quidditch World Cup). As the class is only mentioned as being taken by Hermione, and for
just one year, little is known about its curriculum.
In the opening chapter of the final book,
Voldemort murders Professor Charity Burbage because she portrays Muggles in a positive light
and is opposed to limiting wizardry to only people of pure-blood origins. For the rest of the
academic year covered by Deathly Hallows, the Death Eater Alecto Carrow teaches Muggle
Studies. However, her lessons (which are made compulsory) mainly describe Muggles and
Muggle-borns as subhuman and worthy of persecution.

Alchemy
Alchemy classes are not mentioned in the Harry Potter series; however, Rowling has used
Alchemy as an example of a 'specialized' subject offered when there is sufficient demand.
Alchemy is a philosophical tradition searching for the philosopher's stone, which is said to have
the power to turn base metals into gold and to contain the elixir of life, which makes or keeps the
drinker young and immortal. As mentioned in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Nicholas
Flamel created a Philosopher's Stone, but it was destroyed at the end of Harry's first year.

Flying

Flying is the class that teaches the use of broomsticks made for the use of flying and is taught
only to Hogwarts first years by Rolanda Hooch. The subject is the only one that requires
physicality. The only flying lesson depicted in the Harry Potter series is in Harry Potter and the
Philosopher's Stone; the class is never mentioned in following installments; and is not a part of
the O.W.L. exams during Harry's fifth year.

Apparition

Apparition is an optional class for those in the sixth and seventh years at Hogwarts in
preparation for obtaining their license to apparate, or disappear and reappear instantly in
another location. In Harry's sixth year, Wilkie Twycross, a Ministry of Magic Apparition instructor,
teaches the lessons. Magical enchantments on Hogwarts castle and grounds prevent Apparition
and Disapparition inside the castle; however Half-Blood Prince explains that these protections
are temporarily relaxed within the Great Hall for short periods to permit students to practice.
Students are warned, though, that they will not be able to Apparate outside of the Great Hall and
that it would be unwise to try. Splinching is a common mistake in apparition which causes body
parts to split. It is impossible to track anyone by apparition unless the person grabs the
apparator’s clothing or body.

Spell-like effects

Unbreakable Vow

The Unbreakable Vow is a voluntary agreement made between two witches or wizards. It must
be performed with a witness ("Bonder") on hand, holding their wand on the agreeing persons'
linked hands to bind them with magic as a tongue of flame. The Vow is not literally
"unbreakable" as the person taking it is still able to go back on his or her word, but doing so will
cause instant death. The Unbreakable Vow was first introduced in Half-Blood Prince, in which
Snape made a promise to Narcissa Malfoy to protect Draco, with Bellatrix as the "Bonder", as her
son attempted to fulfil the Dark Lord's task, and for Snape to fulfil the task if Draco fails. Another
example in Half-Blood Prince occurs when Ron tells Harry how Fred and George tried to make
him undertake an Unbreakable Vow, but because of their father's intervention, they did not
succeed.

Priori Incantatem

Priori Incantatem (from Latin: priorem incantatum – a previous spell), or the Reverse Spell
Effect, is used to detect the spells cast by a wand. The spells cast by the wand will emerge in
smoky or ghost-like replicas in reverse order, with the latest spell emerging first. It is first
encountered in Goblet of Fire when Barty Crouch Sr.'s house elf Winky is caught holding Harry's
wand. This spell is used to reveal that it was indeed Harry's wand that was used by Crouch's son
to cast the Dark Mark. In Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, it is revealed that the teenage
Voldemort murdered his father and grandparents using his uncle Morfin's wand, knowing that,
when examined, the wand would incriminate Morfin as the murderer. In Deathly Hallows, Harry
fears that a Priori Incantatem spell will be used on Hermione's wand after the Death Eaters get
hold of it. This would reveal that she had accidentally broken his holly-and-phoenix-feather wand
when a curse misfired and they both narrowly escaped Voldemort earlier. As a result, the
protection of the shared cores was lost and, worse still, this would now be made known to
Voldemort. During the final duel between Harry and Voldemort, the latter mentions that he
knows that the holly and phoenix wand is destroyed, implying that the Priori Incantatem has
indeed been performed on Hermione's wand, as they had feared.

Forcing two wands that share the source of their cores to do battle can also cause a more
potent form of Priori Incantatem. The tips of the two wands will connect, forming a thick golden
"thread" of energy, and the two wands' masters fight a battle of wills. The loser's wand will
regurgitate shadows of spells that it has cast in reverse order. This phenomenon occurs during
the duel between Harry and Voldemort at the end of Goblet of Fire. Their simultaneous spells
(Harry and Voldemort cast "Expelliarmus" and "Avada Kedavra" respectively) trigger the threads,
and as Voldemort loses the battle of wills, his wand regurgitates, in reverse order, echoes of the
people his wand had last murdered: Cedric Diggory; Frank Bryce; Bertha Jorkins; as well as
Harry's parents. Harry was previously informed by Mr. Ollivander that the holly wand that "chose"
Harry was the "brother" of the yew wand that gave him the lightning-shaped scar on his
forehead, although the significance of this was not discussed then. Dumbledore later reveals to
Harry that his and Voldemort's wands both contain a tail feather given by Dumbledore's pet
phoenix, Fawkes.

Dark Arts

The Dark Arts are magical spells and practices that are usually used for malicious purposes.
Practitioners of Dark Arts are referred to as Dark witches or wizards. The most prominent of
these is Voldemort, known to them as the Dark Lord. His followers, known as Death Eaters,
practice the Dark Arts while doing his bidding.

The type of spells characteristic of Dark Arts are known as curses,[37] which usually cause harm
to the target. All, to a certain degree, are in some circumstances justifiable. The motivation of
the caster affects a curse's result. This is most notable in the case of Cruciatus: when cast by
Harry, angered by the death of his godfather at Bellatrix's hands and desiring to punish her, it
causes a short moment of pain. As Bellatrix herself comments, righteous anger does not allow
the spell to work for long. When cast by figures such as Voldemort, who desire to inflict pain for
its own sake, it causes intense agony that can last as long as the Dark witch or wizard desires.
Use of Dark Magic can corrupt the soul and body; Voldemort has used such magic in his quest
to prolong his life and obtain great power. The Dark Arts also cause Voldemort to look deformed
and inhuman, a side effect of splitting his soul into Horcruxes.

According to Snape, the Dark Arts "are many, varied, ever-changing and eternal... unfixed,
mutating, indestructible".[38] In magical dueling, there are any number of spells that may be used
to attack, immobilise, or disarm an opponent without causing pain or lasting harm; however,
spells such as the Cruciatus Curse or Sectumsempra, judged to be Dark by reliable authorities,
wound or seriously distress a victim in some way. Dark spells can be classified into three
groups: jinxes, hexes & curses.

In the wizarding world, use of the Dark Arts is strongly stigmatised and some aspects are illegal;
however, these spells are prevalent enough that even before the rise of Voldemort, many schools
(including Hogwarts) taught Defence Against the Dark Arts as a standard subject. Techniques
include anti-curses and simple spells to disable or disarm attackers or fight off certain
creatures. Some schools, such as Durmstrang, teach Dark Magic. A Dark Arts class is also
taught at Hogwarts while it is under Death Eater control.
Unforgivable Curses

The Unforgivable Curses are the most powerful known Dark Arts spells. They were first
classified as unforgivable in 1717. Used by the books' villains, such as Voldemort and the Death
Eaters and in some cases the Ministry of Magic, their use inspires horror and great fear amongst
others. The curses are so named because their use is forbidden and unforgivable in the
wizarding world and is punishable by a life sentence in Azkaban. The only exception is if a
person is proved to have done them under the influence of mind control. These curses are thus
very rarely used openly.

The Killing Curse (incantation: Avada Kedavra) manifests as a jet of green light that causes
immediate death. The Killing Curse has no counter-curse and cannot be blocked by most
magical means, although it can be blocked by love (i.e. Lily Potter giving up her life for her
son). However, the green energy bolt may be dodged, blocked with solid objects or intercepted
with a few other powerful fast spells, particularly Stunning spells. Harry Potter is the only
person known to have survived (twice), nullified (once) and deflected (once) this curse.

The Cruciatus Curse (incantation: Crucio, Latin for "I torture") causes the victim intense pain
and is used for torture, but does not physically harm them. The strength of the curse is
determined by the person who cast it. It was used regularly by the Death Eaters. The curse can
torture a person to the point that they are exhausted to death, or in a more sadistic case, it
causes permanent amnesia and insanity. Effective casting requires the caster to have sadistic
desires. It is shown as a bright-faded blue light (though it is usually invisible or even a red bolt
of light in the films).

The Imperius Curse (incantation: Imperio, dog Latin for "I command", cf. imperative) is used
for mind control or hypnosis and can force the victim to do things they would normally be
unwilling or unable to. The strength and duration of the curse depends on the caster, as well
as the level of resistance of the victim. The curse is shown as a bright haze (while it was either
invisible or green, mist-like haze in the films).

The use of the Unforgivable Curses was authorised against Voldemort and his followers by
Bartemius Crouch Sr, during the First Wizarding War. (Shortly after his resurrection, Voldemort
names two Death Eaters "killed by Aurors".) In addition, in Deathly Hallows, the Unforgivable
Curses are used liberally by good characters, ranging from Professor McGonagall with the
Imperius Curse, to Harry effectively using the Cruciatus Curse. He also uses the Imperius Curse
on a goblin and a suspicious Death Eater during their disguised attack upon Gringotts Bank.
Dark Mark

The Dark Mark is the symbol of Voldemort and the Death Eaters and takes the form of a skull
with a snake coming out of the mouth in place of a tongue. The mark is cast into the sky by
Death Eaters whenever they have murdered someone. Morsmordre is the spell to conjure the
Mark. It first appears in Goblet of Fire and is described as a "colossal skull, composed of what
looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue". Once in the
sky it was "blazing in a haze of greenish smoke". Dark Marks are also branded on the left
forearm of the closest followers of Voldemort. The mark serves as a connection between
Voldemort and each who bears it; he can summon them by touching his mark, causing it and
those of his followers to burn and change colour. Death Eaters can summon Voldemort in the
same fashion. Following Voldemort's ultimate defeat, the Dark Marks on his Death Eaters fade
into a scar "similar" to Harry's.[15] In the books, the Dark Mark is described as green; however, in
the films, it was only green at the Quidditch World Cup. In all other film appearances it has been
grey.

Inferius

An Inferius (plural: Inferi) is a corpse controlled through a Dark wizard's spells. An Inferius is not
alive, but a dead body that has been bewitched into acting like a puppet for the witch or wizard;
this manifests itself as a white mist in the controlled corpse's eyes. They cannot think for
themselves: they are created to perform a specific duty assigned by the Dark wizard who
commands them, and as seen in the Inferi guarding Voldemort's Horcrux in a seaside cave,
remain idle until their task can be performed. This task is then thoughtlessly carried out, whether
or not it will produce any result. Inferi are difficult to harm by magic; however, they can be
repelled by fire or any other forms of heat or light, as the Inferi in Voldemort's cave had never
been exposed to either of these elements. When defeated, they return to their idle state.

Inferi are considered dangerous and frightening enough by the magical world that impersonating
an Inferius (as Mundungus Fletcher is reported to have done in Half-Blood Prince) is an offence
worthy of imprisonment in Azkaban.

The Ministry of Magic fears that Voldemort is killing enough people to make an army of Inferi: as
they are dead, they are very difficult to stop. When Voldemort was hiding one of his Horcruxes in
the past, he filled a lake in a cave with many Inferi, which were to attack and drown anyone but
Voldemort who came into the cavern and took the locket. When Harry and Dumbledore took the
locket, the Inferi attacked Harry; Dumbledore repelled them with a rope of fire. It is also revealed
that the Inferi almost killed Kreacher after he drank from the basin to help Voldemort hide his
Horcruxes, but having been ordered to return to his master after his task with Voldemort was
complete, he was able to apparate out of the cave. These Inferi later killed Regulus Black when
he stole the Horcrux and ordered Kreacher to destroy it.

In Latin, the word inferus (plural: inferi) means "below", often referring in the plural to "the gods
below" (see di inferi) or the spirits of the dead.[39] Inferius is a neuter singular form of inferior, a
comparative adjective meaning "lower".[39][40]

Horcrux

A horcrux is an object created using dark magic to attain effective immortality. The concept is
first introduced in the sixth novel, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, although horcruxes are
present in earlier novels without being described or expanded upon.

To create a horcrux, a witch or wizard must first prepare the chosen object[41] in a ritual which is
referred to only as “too horrible to go into detail about”. Following the preparation of the object,
the witch or wizard must then take a life, an act which splits the soul. Following that, further dark
rituals are required in order to remove the soul shard from the maker and place it into the
prepared object. Once this is done, the Horcrux becomes impervious to almost all forms of
destruction, requiring extremely powerful magic or substances to do so.

Ordinarily, when one's body is killed, the soul departs for the next world. If, however, the body of a
horcrux owner is killed, that portion of his soul which had remained in his body will not pass on
to the next world, but will rather exist in a non-corporeal form capable of being resurrected by
another wizard. If all of someone's horcruxes are destroyed, then his soul's only anchor in the
material world would be his body, the destruction of which would then cause his final death. To
destroy the horcrux, the destroyer must destroy it in such a way that it is put beyond magical
repair. In the seventh book, Gryffindor’s sword, which is impregnated with Basilisk venom,
Basilisk fang and Fiendfyre are the substances used to destroy them.

Portraits

In the Harry Potter series the subjects of magical portraits (even those of characters that are
dead) can move, interact with living observers, speak and demonstrate apparent emotion and
personality. Some can even move to other portraits to visit each other, or relay messages, or (if
more than one painting of the subject exists) move between separate locations by way of their
portraits. An example of this is Phineas Nigellus Black (Sirius Black's great-great-grandfather),
who has a painting in the Headmaster's office to offer advice to the current headmaster and
another one at 12 Grimmauld Place. Many such portraits are found on the walls of Hogwarts.

Some portraits are used to conceal the entrance of a room or passageway. For example, the Fat
Lady's portrait covers the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, and she can swing the
portrait open when given the correct password or close to prevent entry. In Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows, there is a portrait of Ariana Dumbledore in the Room of Requirement that
conceals a secret passageway to the Hog's Head. There is also a painting of a large fruit bowl in
front of the Hogwarts kitchen, which will swing open if the pear is tickled to reveal a hidden door.

Portraits are enchanted to move by the artist, but the degree to which they can interact with
others depends on the power of the subject.[42] Rowling has commented that a portrait is merely
a faint imprint of the deceased subject, imitating their basic personality and thought patterns.
They are therefore "not as fully realised as ghosts".[43] In Harry Potter and the Cursed Child the
portrait of Albus Dumbledore describes himself as only "paint and memory" and Professor
McGonagall (his successor as headteacher of Hogwarts) comments that, although she speaks
to Dumbledore to help her in making decisions, she is careful to remember that "portraits don't
represent even half of their subjects".

Portraits in the Headmaster's office

The portraits in the Headmaster's office depict all the former Heads of Hogwarts, with the
exception of Dolores Umbridge. They advise the Headmaster and are "honour-bound to give
service to the present headmaster" (according to Armando Dippet). Rowling has explained that
portraits of past headteachers tend to be more realistic than most, as the subject in question
usually imparts knowledge and teaches them how to behave before their death. The portrait of
Snape was installed in the Headmaster's Office at Harry's request.[42]

The Fat Lady

The portrait of the Fat Lady covers the door to Gryffindor Tower. She will open it (sometimes
grudgingly) when the correct password is uttered. She is often upset after being awoken, and is
sometimes seen drunk with her best friend, Violet. The Fat Lady has no other known name –
even the unfailingly polite Albus Dumbledore refers to her only as "the Fat Lady" – and it may be
that she does not represent a real person but is instead an invention of her portrait's artist. In
Philosopher's Stone, she leaves her portrait in the middle of the night, locking Harry, Ron,
Hermione, and Neville out of Gryffindor Tower, forcing them to run across the school. Luckily for
them, when they return, she has returned to her portrait, allowing them to escape into Gryffindor
Tower. In Prisoner of Azkaban, Sirius Black slashes the Fat Lady's portrait when she won't let him
in without a password and it is some time before she dares to guard Gryffindor Tower again.
After her portrait is restored, she requests protection in case someone tries to attack her portrait
again. Thus, two security trolls are hired. In Half-Blood Prince, she gets so annoyed with Harry's
late return that she pretends the password has changed and tries to call him back when he
heads off to talk to Dumbledore. When Harry later confirms Dumbledore's death, she lets out a
sob and, for the only time in the series, she opens without the password for Harry in her grief.

In the first film the Fat Lady is played by Elizabeth Spriggs, and in the third film she is played by
Dawn French.

Photographs

Wizarding photographs of people have similar properties to magical painted portraits: the
figures within move about or even sometimes leave the frame. They appear in wizard
newspapers and other print media, as well as on Chocolate Frog cards.[HP1] Colin Creevey
mentions in Chamber of Secrets that a boy in his dormitory said that if he develops the film from
his Muggle camera 'in the right potion', the pictures will move.[44] However, unlike portraits,
figures in wizarding pictures cannot speak and display little sentience. It appears that they do
have some knowledge of current events, as in Order of the Phoenix, the family photograph on
Arthur's desk shows everyone except Percy "who appeared to have walked out of it".[45]

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2. Harry Potter: A History of Magic. 28 October 2017. BBC.

3. Flood, Alison (8 August 2016). "Harry Potter's 20th birthday to be marked with British Library show" (http
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Further reading

Highfield, Roger (2002). The Science of Harry Potter: How magic really works (https://archive.or
g/details/scienceofharrypo00high) . New York: Viking. ISBN 978-0-670-03153-5.
 Teare, Elizabeth (2002). "Harry Potter and the technology of magic". In Whited, Lana A. (ed.).
The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter: Perspectives on a literary phenomenon (https://archive.org/de
tails/ivorytowerharryp00whit) . Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press. pp. 29 (http
s://archive.org/details/ivorytowerharryp00whit/page/n41) –342. ISBN 978-0-8262-1549-9.

Black, Sharon (2003). "The Magic of Harry Potter: Symbols and Heroes of Fantasy". Children's
Literature in Education. 34 (3): 237–247. doi:10.1023/A:1025314919836 (https://doi.org/10.10
23%2FA%3A1025314919836) .

External links

Magic (https://community.fandom.com/wiki/w:c:harrypotter:Magic) on Harry Potter Wiki, an

external wiki (https://community.fandom.com/wiki/w:c:harrypotter)

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Magic_in_Harry_Potter&oldid=1088715201"

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