Guest Author - Lisa Shea
There are a wide variety of magical terms used in the Harry Potter series. Here are the meanings of many of them.
Animagus
An animagus is a wizard who can change form into another animal, and they must register with the Ministry of Magic. This is considered a bad thing, so many animagus wizards hide their talent. Rita Skeeter's other form is a beetle, and Ron's rat, Scabbers, was actually an animagus in disguise.
Apparate
To appear, using a magical instant teleport power.
Auror
An Auror is a wizard dedicated to tracking down Voldemort and others who practice the dark arts. It is an extremely demanding job and few are chosen to join their ranks.
Daily Prophet
The official newspaper of the Wizard World, that brings wizards daily information.
Dark Mark
All members of Voldemort's team are branded with a dark mark. When Voldemort touches his own mark, all of the marks of his team burn and they know they are ordered to meet up with him.
Death Eaters
The members of Voldemort's group are called Death Eaters.
Dementor
The guard at Azkaban, the prizon for wizards. A dementor will suck the happiness out of its victim with a "kiss".
Divinations
The class taught by Professor Trelawney for the first four years and Firenze the Centaur in the fifth year. The class teaches about looking into the future with crystal balls and reading the stars.
Extendable Ears
Strings that can be used to let eavesdroppers hear conversations in other rooms.
Floo Powder
Magical dust which allows the wizard to use fireplaces to move from one location to another. The wizard floo system can be monitored for activity.
Headless Hats
A joke developed by Fred and George, this hat makes itself and the wearer's head vanish from site.
Legilimency
Legilimency is the ability of a wizard to extract memories and feelings from another person, to in essence look through the memories another has. The spell command is Legilimens.
Mudblood
A derogatory term used about someone who has non-pure wizard blood - i.e. they have muggles in their family tree.
Muggle
Someone who cannot use magic - a non wizard. Harry's aunt, uncle and cousin are muggles, as are Hermoine's parents.
N.E.W.T.
The final level of exams given to students before they graduate from wizarding school.
Occlumency
The study of defending the mind against external penetration.
O.W.L.
The Ordinary Wizard Level exams are given to every student in his or her fifth year of school. They test that a student has mastered the basics of the skills necessary to continue as a wizard. The tests are both written and practical, and are given by special O.W.L. examiners.
Pensive
A stone basin owned by Dumbledore which can hold memories and allow another to view them.
Portkey
A magical object which lets you instantly teleport to a new location.
The Quibbler
A tabloidy newsletter run by Luna Lovegood's father. It lists a variety of wildly improbable stories - but late in Book 5, it tells the true story of Harry Potter's encounter with Voldemort.
Quidditch
A game like rugby played on broomsticks, where the main object is to get a ball in a goal, with a goalkeeper stopping you. There is also a "seeker" who looks for the "golden snitch", which gives bonus points and ends the game.
Sorting Hat
The sorting hat is a magical hat that they put on the head of every first year student at Hogwarts. The hat examines the child beneath it and determines which of the four school houses the child should be put into.
Squib
A wizard who has difficulty using magic. The term is used as an insult. Filch and Mrs. Figg are both squibs.
Transfiguration
This course teaches wizards how to change objects from one form to another. It is taught by Professor McGonagall.
Wizard's Chess
A chess game where the pieces move on their own and attack each other - much like the computer game Battle Chess.
Order of the Phoenix Chapter Listing and Detailed Plot
Harry Potter Timeline
Harry Potter Character Listing
Harry Potter Location Listing
Harry Potter Spell Glossary
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