The magic of the world of Harry Potter

Description

In the world of Harry Potter, people's magical abilities are a gift, a specific spiritual ability of a person’s personality . Any wizard is a person first of all, just, unlike the Muggles, he was born with the gift of magic.

These abilities are given with birth; they cannot be learned if they are not. Usually they are inherited, but not always. Sometimes both parents of wizards give birth to a squib child, that is, a person who is completely devoid of magical power, but usually the child becomes a wizard, if one of his parents is one. Wizards are sometimes born to Muggles. This problem raised the question of the so-called "purity of blood": some wizards claim that "muggle-born" wizards are "second-class" people and cannot claim a place in the magical community. There is no objective evidence for this, in fact, many muggle-born people mentioned on the pages of the series achieved more in magic than their peers who have "pure" blood. Many of those who “fight for the purity of blood” and call themselves “purebred magicians” are actually half-breeds, possibly in the second or third generation. The most striking example of this is the main villain of the series, Lord Voldemort , the son of a Muggle.

To create magic, a person must in a special way adjust his psyche, bring it into a certain state. The use of a magic wand is necessary for concentration, as well as indicating the purpose of the spell. Experienced wizards continue to use it, apparently due to habit, although some experienced and very powerful magicians do not seem to need it. In the seventh book, Dumbledore tells Harry that "there is nothing a wizard could not do without a magic wand, what he does with it."

Young wizards, learning to cast spells, must learn to pronounce the name of the spell correctly, as well as make a very specific gesture with a magic wand. If the name is pronounced incorrectly, with the wrong intonation, stress or pronunciation, and also if the gesture is inaccurate, absolutely terrible things can happen. Starting with the fact that the spell is not fully fulfilled, ending with the fact that the creator of the spell or his classmate suffers.

Continuous training can achieve clarity and refinement in the creation of magic. This is exactly what the members of the Dumbledore Squad in the Help-Room did.

As experience grows, wizards can go on nonverbal spells. In this case, the spell is pronounced mentally, and only a gesture is performed with a magic wand.

Upon reaching a certain experience and theoretical baggage, it is possible to create new spells. For example, Severus Snape is known as the author of the powerful battle spell Sectumsempra and several others.

Magic Categories

In an interview ^[1], J. K. Rowling mentioned that magic has several categories:

• Spells - is a general term for this type of magic.
• Enchantment (Charm) - adjusts the properties of the object of the spell, without making fundamental changes to the object. For example, changing the color of a cup is a spell, and turning it into a rat is already a spell.
• Spells (Hexes) - a manifestation of dark magic. Includes spoilage (jinxes), as a manifestation of dark charms.
• Curses - black magic in its worst manifestation.

All characters of "Harry Potter" are divided into wizards and muggles (ordinary people who do not have magical abilities). Although wizards are just a small, enclosed society in the Muggle world, the entire plot of the books goes through wizards and magical creatures. The ability to magic is innate, and the muggle cannot see objects hidden from prying eyes (for example, Hogwarts castle or platform 9¾ ), learn witchcraft.

The word “muggle” was added in 2003 to the Oxford English Dictionary , as it means an inept person who lacks skill ^{[2] [3]} .

Among wizards, there is the concept of purity of blood . Depending on the number of ancestors who were wizards, the characters are divided into several categories:

• “Purebred wizards” - wizards with only wizards in the pedigree;
• “Half-breeds” - sons / daughters of a wizard and a muggle (or muggle-born wizard);
• muggle-born - wizards born in the muggle family;

There are also squibs - people born in the families of wizards who do not possess magical powers , and half-humans - characters whose ancestors had intelligent magical creatures - for example, giants or goblins.

The essence of the idea of ​​“purity of blood” is that a certain group of purebred wizards prejudice half-breeds and especially muggle-born wizards: they consider them to be “second-class” people. Such beliefs are essentially no different from racism and the prejudices of estate societies. This prejudice can manifest itself in various forms: unwillingness to admit muggle-born wizards to educational institutions for magicians; the opinion that muggle-born wizards have much lower magical abilities than purebred wizards. This is refuted by the facts - there is no correlation between the purity of the wizard's blood and magical abilities; on the one hand, the muggle-born Hermione Granger and Lily Evans showed excellent magic abilities, and on the other, the purebred Ron Weasley and Neville Dolgopups did not excel too much in most subjects during training.

Extreme supporters of the idea of ​​the election of purebred wizards are the Death Eaters , led by Lord Voldemort (despite the fact that he himself is a half-breed). In 1997-1998, when the Ministry of Magic was controlled by Voldemort, unclean wizards were persecuted (it was officially announced that they were stealing magical power from purebreds).

All three main characters belong to different categories: Ron Weasley - purebred, Hermione Granger - muggle-born, Harry Potter - half-blood.

"Real" purebred wizards should not have muggles in the pedigree. Answering fans' questions about the criteria for purebredness, Joan Rowling replied that a purebred wizard should have all grandparents as wizards, but there are also more rigorous views that require several generations of wizards more. She also added that there are no truly purebred families at the moment: those who consider themselves to be such have simply deleted Muggles and Squibs from their genealogies ^[4] .

Moreover, some of the most fanatical supporters of the idea of ​​being a purebred are themselves, oddly enough, not purebred. The most striking example is Lord Voldemort , the son of a purebred sorceress Meropa Mrax and Muggle Tom Riddle Sr.

In the Harry Potter books, several purebred births play an important role. These are the Malfoys , Blackies , Longbottoms and Weasley . From the narrative, it becomes clear that many purebred births are now suppressed. For example, the family of Crouch. Bartemius Crouch Sr. had an only child, Bartemius Crouch Jr., to whom Dementor's Kiss was used for crimes, which sucked the soul out of the unhappy one. Another example is the Black family. The last of a noble family - Sirius and Regulus Blackie - died without leaving offspring. Many fanatics of the idea of ​​purebred because there were few purebred wizards left were forced to marry their relatives, resulting in genetic degeneration in these births ( Ron Weasley : “if we [wizards] did not marry Muggles, we would have died out long ago ”). It is known that marriages between relatives were in the family of Blacks and Mraks (for example, Molly was a distant relative of Arthur Weasley , their common relative was Phineas Nigelus Black), and it is also highly likely that in the clans of purebred fanatics Malfoy and Lestrange. Sirius Black once tells Harry Potter that almost all noble purebred wizards are related to each other (the same was true for the noble birth of the European aristocracy). In the family of Mraks, because of marriages between relatives, degeneration manifested itself especially strongly: Uncle Voldemort Morphine Mrax was ugly, cruel, abnormal and spoke only in snake language. In the Black family, everyone is smart and beautiful, but many members of the family suffer from pathological cruelty and unbridled character - for example, Bellatrix Lestrange (Black in girlhood). The Mrax family considered themselves the direct heirs of the Perewells, the legendary creators of the Deathly Hallows, but in fact, many magical families, including the Potters, were related to the now-extinct Perevell family.

“Traitor of the Purebreds” or “Traitor of the Blood” is the offensive name for those purebred wizards who are well-disposed towards Muggles and Muggle-born wizards. This was the name of the family of the Weasley , Sirius Black, Andromeda Tonks , Merope Mrax and Albus Dumbledore . Many purebred clans — like Blackie, for example — delete “traitors” from their family tree along with Muggles and Squibs.

Half-breeds

Half - breeds are children from the marriage of a wizard (sorceress) and a muggle or children from the marriage of two wizards, but among their grandparents (and, according to more strict views, among more distant ancestors), there is always at least one Muggle . Now in the world of wizards, according to Rowling, most of all are half-breeds (50% of Hogwarts students are half-breeds). Purebred fanatics consider half-breeds second-rate wizards, but still better than muggle-born. Many significant characters, including fighters for purity of blood, are half-breeds: Harry Potter (the son of a purebred wizard James Potter and the muggle-born sorceress Lily Evans ); Voldemort (son of Muggle Tom Riddle, Sr. and purebred sorceress Meropa Mrax ); Severus Snape (the son of Muggle Tobias Snape and the purebred sorceress Eileen Prince) and others.

Muggleborns

Muggle - born are those sorceresses and wizards who are born in Muggle families - people who do not possess magical abilities, and Muggle parents also do not possess magical abilities. Harry Potter books did not disclose the reasons for the birth of ordinary wizards in families, but in a recent interview, Rowling stated that such people in the family have witches or wizards. Sometimes several wizard children are born in Muggle families - for example, in the family of Dennis and Colin Creevy , sometimes not ( Lily and Petunia Evans ).

Fanatical supporters of purity of blood treat Muggleborns with special contempt, they despise even more Muggles and call them insultingly “Mudbloods” (which is similar to racism and other forms of discrimination in the real world). However, it is considered a proven fact that Muggle origin does not affect magical abilities. Some significant Muggle-born in the novels - Hermione Granger and Lily Evans - showed brilliant magical abilities, despite their Muggle origin.

The extremely insulting nickname of the Muggle-born wizards - “mudblood” - is used only by supporters of the selectivity of purebred wizards, and it is considered humiliating.

Half-people

Half - people - some wizards were born from the connection of wizards with intelligent magical creatures. It is known that Rubeus Hagrid and Olympia Maxim are half giants, Filius Flitwick has goblins among their ancestors, Fleur Delacour - one quarter of the vale , and Harry also thought that Gregory Goyle was a descendant of trolls. Sometimes the term "half-human" is used to refer to werewolves and human-like creatures such as centaurs. Dolores Umbridge had a particular hatred for the half-humans.

Squibs

Squib is a person in whom at least one of the parents is a wizard, but who himself does not have magical abilities. Squibs are born quite rarely: from the text of the novels, two are reliably known - this is Arabella Figg , the Dursleigh neighbor on Tisova Street and Argus Filch , the Hogwarts supply manager. Presumably, these included Meropa Mrax , the mother of Voldemort (a controversial example: Dumbledore believed that her magical abilities did not appear due to poor living conditions). Squibs know about the existence of a magical world or even perform some functions in it, but due to the lack of ability to magic, they cannot lead a full life in it. Perhaps it is Filch’s lack of magical ability that is the reason for his poorly concealed hatred of Hogwarts students. Also, this concept was mistakenly applied to the sister of Albus Dumbledore Ariana .

Despite the lack of ability to magic, Squibs differ from Muggles in that they can see things hidden from Muggles with special spells (that is, they are not Muggles by nature). For example, Argus Filch successfully works at Hogwarts, which for Muggles looks like the ruins of an ancient castle. Squibs cannot see dementors (as J.K. Rowling explained on her website, Figg didn’t actually see the dementors who attacked Harry, but she had enough knowledge to correctly determine the feelings they caused) ^{[5] [6]} , and the reaction of the representatives of the Ministry of Magic to the statement of Arabella Figg in court shows that the skills of the squibs are not fully understood.

List of special abilities that a wizard or sorceress may have in the world of Harry Potter.

Animagia

Animagia is the art of turning into an animal. The wizard who knows how to turn himself (his body) into an animal is Animagus .

The ability to turn into an animal is not innate, but develops as you train to study this type of magic. To transform it is not necessary to use a magic wand. The skill is complex and dangerous. Due to the complexity of its study in the twentieth century, there were only seven official animagus. Only one of them is mentioned in the books - Minerva McGonagall , and four unofficial ones - James Potter , Peter Pettigrew , Sirius Black and journalist Rita Skiter .

The kind of animal that an animagus is able to turn into is called an animagic form . For each animag only one animagic form is possible. Apparently, it is determined by the personal qualities of the wizard during the training of animagia.

The animagic form wears the same physical defects as the original body of the wizard. For example, if a wizard has a scar on his body, he will be present on his animagic form. The same applies to glasses - in an animagic form, glasses are displayed as characteristic marks around the eyes. The clothing of the animagus is lost during the transformation, and is restored after it is returned to the human body. Where clothes are located during the existence of the animagus in the body of the animal is unknown. Often (but not always) it happens that the same wizard has an animagic form and a Patronus (that is, they are the same animal), in which case these animals have the same appearance features, the same special signs.

Как правило, анимагическое превращение делается на некоторое время, по прошествии которого волшебник возвращается в личину человека. Возможен также и второй, более трудный вариант, когда волшебник трансформирует своё тело на неопределённый срок. Тогда обратное превращение будет осложнено животным телом.

There is a spell with which it is possible to turn back into a person with the help of other persons. Sometimes this transformation is carried out in addition to the will of the animag ^[7] . The spell is safe for ordinary animals. Under the influence of this spell, a white-blue flash is visible, the animagus in the form of an animal freezes in the air, falls to the ground; the second flash, then the reverse transformation occurs, as if in slow motion.

Each animag is required to register with the Ministry of Magic . Registration is required due to the danger associated with casting a transformation spell. His name, animagic form and special signs should be entered in a special register so that you can recognize him. The registry is publicly available. The punishment for avoiding registration is not exactly known, but it can be assumed that it is severe (Rita Skiter stopped writing articles for a year so that Hermione would not give her away).

The difference between transfiguration and animagia is that the transfigured wizard loses human thinking abilities and acquires the intellect and thinking of the animal, while the animagus is able to continue to think humanly.

Along with the preservation of human thinking, the animag gains the ability to communicate with ordinary animals. This is clear from the need for a normal existence in an animagic form, but the degree of possession of this ability is unknown. It is known that Sirius Black in the image of a large black dog could communicate at a minimum level with Zhivoglot , the cat of Hermione Granger . The exact form of communication is unknown.

Unlike a werewolf (for example, Remus Lupin ), the transformation of himself into an animal is controlled by the will of the animagus, and does not affect the character and psyche of the personality; the werewolf in its animal form has a different mentality and character, and does not remember who it was before the transformation.

Representatives

The only recorded animagus indicated in the books is Minerva McGonagall , who can turn into a striped cat with marks of “points” around the eyes.

The books also mention several unregistered animagus:

• Sirius Black - black dog;
• Peter Pettigrew - Rat;
• James Potter is a deer;
• Rita Skiter - a bug;

Role in books

There is no mention of animagy in the first two books (but Minerva McGonagall comes in the first book to the Dursleys in the form of a cat; in addition, her transformation can be seen in the first film).

In the third part, animagia becomes more significant. Professor McGonagall first spoke of animagia in her lesson, turning into a cat in the end.

Also in the third book, it appears that James Potter (Sukhaty), Sirius Black (Tramp) and Peter Pettigrew (Tail) were unregistered animagus. Lupine was a werewolf and nearly bit Snape because of Sirius' joke.

Metamorphism

Metamorphism - the ability to change the features of your face ( nose shape, hair color , eyebrow shape, etc.) as you wish, without resorting to spells or potions .

The Harry Potter books mention only two metamorphs: Nymphadore Tonks and her son Teddy Lupine.

The abilities of a metamorph, like any other magician, are highly dependent on his psychological state. With severe or prolonged depression, magical abilities weaken, or even completely disappear.

Wyrmtongue

Wyrmtongue - a person who is able to speak with snakes in a snake language ( English parseltongue - parsultank or serpentargo). Others do not understand the conversation of the serpent with the snake, since they only hear hissing; it seems to the serpent himself that he speaks with the snake in ordinary language. The gift, probably innate and extremely rare, is usually inherited or together with magical power (Harry Potter got this ability after the attack on him by Voldemort, and all the other snake-eusts mentioned in the books were descendants of Salazar Slytherin ). As a rule, he is associated with the Dark Arts , but it is known that some good wizards also possessed this gift. The most famous serpentine was Salazar Slytherin, which is why the snake is the symbol of his faculty " Slytherin ".

In the books about Harry Potter , the following serpentine beings are mentioned: Tom Riddle , Harry Potter , Morphine Mrax , Marvolo Mrax , Merope Mrax , Salazar Slytherin .

In the second book, Harry Potter, thanks to his knowledge of the serpentine language, managed to open the Chamber of Secrets.

Ron Weasley in the seventh book used the phrase on the serpentargo, overheard by Harry, in order to enter the Chamber of Secrets, since there were Basilisk's fangs needed to destroy the crucifix.

After Voldemort "killed" Harry Potter in the forest and destroyed part of his soul in it, Harry lost the ability to speak with snakes.

Flight

Flying - flying without the aid of a broom or other object is a relatively rare ability. Voldemort could fly without the help of a broom or carpet, it is possible that Snape can do it. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, he jumped out of a window from the top floor, and McGonagall said he was unharmed; he may have learned some tricks from Voldemort , but he most likely took advantage of shock absorbing charms (like Hermione Granger in episode VII of the book, where they fall from the cart during the robbery of the Gringotts Bank), as the information that Volan de Mort is able to fly, caused a lot of surprise. The Levicorpus spell can raise a person up, but he cannot control himself. Judging by the movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Death Eaters and members of the Order of the Phoenix (members of the Order of the Phoenix turn into white smoke and Death Eaters into dark gray) have the ability to turn into a column of smoke and fly. It is possible that the phenomenon of transgression seems to be such a visual effect (similar effects were used during the vocation scene of the resurrected Dark Lord of the Death Eaters in the fourth film). Young wizards can also fly long before entering Hogwarts, for example: Harry Potter, trying to escape from Dudley, flew up to the roof of the school, and his mother Lily, when she met Severus Snape, swung away from them on a swing and landed smoothly

Seer

A seer is a witch or wizard with a clairvoyant ability to predict future events. Predictions given through this ability can sometimes be self-fulfilling prophecies, not all of them come true, depending on the choice made. This indicates that the seer predicts possible or probable events, at least in some cases.

Each prophecy made by the seer is recorded in a glass sphere and stored in the Prophecy Hall of the Department of Secrets at the Ministry of Magic , apparently in a single copy. Only the person mentioned in the prophecy can touch the sphere with him; an outsider runs the risk of losing his mind by touching, as happened with Broderick Bowd.

According to McGonagall, true visionaries are extremely rare. Sibyl Trelawney is the only seer shown in the books, although it is mentioned that Sibyl's great-great-great-great-grandmother, Cassandra Trelawney, was a famous seer at the time.

Legalization

Legalization is a magical skill of extracting feelings and memories from another person - a form of magical “telepathy”. It also allows you to transfer visions or memories to another person, both real and imaginary. A wizard with legalization can, for example, detect lies and deceit in another person (by “viewing” real events), another person’s memories, or false visions. Legalization is carried out with the help of the " Legilimense " spell or non-verbally, without the use of a spell and a wand, if the wizard has sufficient skills for non-verbal use of Legalization (such as Albus Dumbledore or Voldemort ).

Mages mentioned in books and wielding legalization: Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape , Voldemort.

Superbly owned the legitimacy of Voldemort - he, in almost all cases, immediately recognizes during conversations if someone is lying to him. Also, Albus Dumbledore was fluent in this skill, as we learn from the context of the book.

Occlusion

Occlusion is a counter- skill to legalization, its user can collect (hide) emotions or prevent legalization from detecting thoughts or memories that contradict words or actions. One who cannot be called Snape, Dumbledore and McGonagall, as we all know, are very qualified specialists in legalization and occultation.

Types of displacement in space

Transgression

Transgression ( in other translations “apparition” ) is a way of moving a wizard over a long distance in a matter of seconds. In the original, the ability is called Apparition / Disapparition, that is, “appearance” and “disappearance”; the word “transgression” was introduced by translators - according to one version, by analogy with the novel “ Monday begins on Saturday ” by the Strugatsky brothers.

To move the wizard, one must clearly imagine the place of arrival (“focus”), concentrate on the desire to get there (“perseverance”) and without fuss, calmly turn around in place (“leisurely”), mentally groping for the path to nothing and moving to the planned point. These actions are called the Rule of Three “ns.” Transgression is a complex magical action and in order to use it, you must pass an exam and obtain permission. The transgression exam is taken only by persons who have reached the age of seventeen (at 17, the wizard is considered an adult). At Hogwarts, usually every year for six-year-olds, paid transgression courses are organized by a special instructor from the Ministry of Magic . In the 1996-1997 school year, he was Wilkie Two Cross . The cost of training is 12 galleons.

The most common mistake of beginners is the so-called “splitting”, when this or that part of the body remains at the starting point. For example, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Ron Weasley nearly got his arm torn off during a transgression. This occurs with insufficient concentration of attention. It is eliminated by the use of a certain spell, during the use of which a cloud of purple smoke appears. Some wizards prefer not to get involved with transgression at all because of such “surprises”. In addition, a piece of flesh may break out during transgression. In this case, healing spells and potions are useful.

Although the wand is not used directly in the transgression procedure, its presence is necessary, at least for inexperienced wizards for successful transgression.

There is also the so-called “pair transgression”, when one wizard transfers not only himself, but also another person (in rare cases, several people). It is not necessary to have transgression skills of this kind of "baggage"; one should only hold on to the "guide" very tightly.

The rules of good form instruct wizards not to transgress directly into the house of other wizards, but to appear somewhere nearby and walk the last few meters. Also, some homes, such as at Hogwarts, may be enchanted to prohibit transgression into the home.

As stated in the books, transgression within Hogwarts is impossible due to the enchantment cast on the castle. Only house elves could transgress at Hogwarts, as they use special elven magic.

It is interesting that in no book and in any film even in critical moments not one animagus uses transgression; probably the abilities of animagia and transgression are mutually exclusive. Harry Potter learned to perfectly transgress after, contrary to the expectations of the fans, he did not become an animag and Rowling stated in an interview that he would never become an animag, but would show himself in something else.

Portals

A portal is a specially enchanted item that transfers magicians from one place to another at a certain time.

The Portus spell is used to create the portal. The wizard must point the wand at the item and say “Portus!” The portal flashes for a moment in blue.

The creation and use of portals is under the supervision of the Ministry . Portals are handled by the Portal Office of the Department of Magical Transport. The illegal creation of portals is punishable.

Portals are more often used for mass movement of magicians, without causing suspicion among the Muggles. In book IV, we observe portals as a transport during the Quidditch World Cup. In England, hundreds of portals have been installed, carrying out the transfer of groups of people to the stadium. To create portals, wizards most often use inconspicuous objects of no interest to muggles.

Flying gunpowder ( English Floo powder ) - a special powder used to move between the Fireplace network. He owes his creation to the witch Ignatius Wildsmith. Its production since the 13th century is under strict control. The only official manufacturer in Britain is Floo-Pow, with its headquarters in Diagon Alley. She never answers visitors coming through the front door.

In order to use the fireplace network, you need to go into the fireplace, picking up a pinch of flying gunpowder, throw it under your feet, loudly and clearly state the moving address. When the flying gunpowder is thrown into the fireplace (or into the fire), a magical (not burning) green fire is formed. After the moving address has been named, the wizard, quickly spinning around its own axis, “flies into the pipe” and, moving along the network of fireplaces, reaches the desired destination. When moving, it is recommended to close your eyes (to protect yourself from dizziness and chimney dust) and straighten your hands at the seams, since it can hurt to knock on the grates of fireplaces past which the path goes. You also need to pronounce the address loud and clear so as not to be mistakenly in a completely different place.

Fireplaces can also be used for communication without moving, in case you want to simply convey information. To do this, throw the flying gunpowder into the fire, pronounce the address and put your head in the fireplace, and then start a conversation with the interlocutor (if he is present at the fireplace). Although you don’t have to put your head in the fireplace, you can simply say the message out loud and the person at the target fireplace will hear it.

Fireplaces can also be used to convey things - just put them in a magical fire.

To control the network in the Ministry there is a governing center for the Powder Gun Network. Dispatchers can track the movements of wizards, as well as reconstruct the network by disconnecting or connecting fireplaces to it.

A network of flying gunpowder - fireplaces standing in the houses of wizards, especially magically connected, used for communication.

Brooms

Brooms are a common transport among magicians.

Flying brooms (of course, only in a certain way made brooms can fly) are used everywhere for movement. In order to use it, you need to stand to the left of the broom (you can extend your hand and say “Up!”, After which the broom will jump into it) and throw a leg through it. To raise, you need to raise the broom handle up, to rotate - tilt it in the appropriate direction, to lower it - tilt it down. In an unknown manner, acceleration, braking and speed maintenance are carried out. But some, especially the latest brooms, jump into their hands without the words "Up."

In fact, a broom is a personal transport, but if you wish, it can lift two or even three people, and you can also carry cargo on it, previously securing it with straps.

Brooms are used both for normal flight and for sports purposes (when playing Quidditch), there are different models of brooms. There are also children's (toy) flying model brooms with a low altitude and low speed.

Carpets and other illegal aircraft

Приспособить для полётов можно практически любую вещь с помощью определённых чар, но использование изобретений маглов (таких, как ковры, например), с наложенными заклинаниями карается законом. Надзор за использованием изобретений маглов осуществляет Отдел по борьбе с незаконным использованием изобретений маглов (в котором, кстати, работает Артур Уизли ). Однако сведения в этот отдел попадали чаще всего слишком поздно — когда от колдовства уже успели пострадать маглы, воспользовавшиеся изделием.

Очарование вейлы

Очарование вейлы — способность, приписываемая вейлам , например, бабушке Флёр Делакур . Она используется, чтобы очаровать мужчин, подобно древнегреческим сиренам в Одиссее .

Редкий мужчина способен противостоять магии вейлы, особенно если она захочет, шутки ради, покорить его сердце. Но вот разгневанная вейла выглядит совершенно иначе. Лицо её вытягивается в остроклювую злобную птичью голову, а из плеч вырастают чешуйчатые крылья. К тому же в этом состоянии вейла может и швырнуть в обидчика горстью магического огня.

Волосы вейлы можно использовать как «начинку» для волшебных палочек (одно это говорит о том, насколько магически сильны вейлы), но мастер Олливандер говорит, что палочки с волосом вейлы внутри получаются очень уж темпераментные.

Непреложный обет

Непреложный обет — закреплённая с помощью чар клятва, нарушить которую невозможно: нарушителя ждёт неминуемая смерть.

В книге «Гарри Поттер и Принц-Полукровка» клятва Северуса Снегга Нарциссе Малфой происходила следующим образом: Снегг и Нарцисса стали на колени лицом к лицу и взялись за руки (правой за правую). Беллатриса Лестрейндж, присутствовавшая при этом, коснулась палочкой сплетённых рук. Белатрисса спрашивала: «Клянёшься ли ты…?»; Снегг отвечал: «Клянусь». С каждой клятвой из палочки вырывался язык пламени и, сплетаясь с предыдущими, обвивал руки «…словно раскалённая докрасна проволока, <…> словно верёвка, словно огненная змея».

Тёмные искусства — это заклинания и магические практики, способные причинить вред другим людям и используемые, как правило, со злыми намерениями. Волшебников, использующих Тёмные искусства, называют тёмными магами. Наибольшего могущества из них достиг лорд Волан-де-Морт .

Тёмной магией в мире волшебников обычно называют те заклинания, которые способны причинить существенный вред человеку или заставить его осуществлять определённые действия вопреки собственной воле. Заклинания, которые могут парализовать человека, оглушить его или обезоружить, в сообществе волшебников не считают тёмной магией. Для тёмной магии большое значение имеет то, какие чувства испытывает волшебник, применяющий заклятие. Так, например, Гарри Поттер применил против Беллатрисы Лестрейндж заклятие Круциатус, но оно оказалось очень малоэффективным в его исполнении — поскольку, по словам самой Беллатрисы, нужно желать причинить боль и испытывать наслаждение от страданий другого человека, и лишь тогда заклятие сможет подействовать в полную силу. Занятие тёмной магией может изуродовать душу и тело, как это произошло с Волан-де-Мортом .

Непростительные заклинания

Неизвестно, сколько точно видов заклинаний причислено к тёмной магии. Самые известные — это три Непростительных Заклятия, которые считаются в сообществе волшебников худшими, и одного их применения к человеку достаточно для того, чтобы быть осуждённым на пожизненное заключение в Азкабане . Тем не менее, иногда даже использование этих заклинаний может быть законным — так, например, использование Непростительных заклятий было разрешено мракоборцам во время первой войны с Волан-де-Мортом.

Непростительные заклятия

• Авада Кедавра — заклинание смерти.
• Круциатус — заклинание боли.
• Империус — заклинание, подавляющее волю человека и делающее его полностью управляемым.

Другие заклятия, причисленные к тёмной магии

• «Сектумсемпра» — заклятие наносит жертве глубокие резаные раны (изобретено Северусом Снеггом ). Использовалось Гарри Поттером против Драко Малфоя на шестом году обучения (как было написано в книге Принца полукровки, «от врагов»). При перелете в «Нору» Северус Снегг, не желая этого, попадает заклятием в ухо Джорджу Уизли.
• Заклятие Антонина Долохова — заклятие наносит серьёзные повреждения внутри тела, не оставляя никаких внешних следов.
• «Морсмордре» — заклятие создаёт Чёрную Метку. Применяется только Пожирателями Смерти , в основном, для того чтобы продемонстрировать другим людям, что они в этом месте совершили убийство, но может применяться и с иными целями.

Чёрная метка описывается в книге множество раз, но само заклинание, которое её вызывает, описывается только в четвёртой книге (впервые вызвано Барти Краучем младшим).

• Заклинание, создающее крестраж , — считается в мире волшебников особенно ужасным. Для того, чтобы создать крестраж — предмет, в который заключена часть души волшебника, — нужно расколоть свою душу, совершив убийство .
• Финдфайр ( англ. Fiendfire — буквально: «Дьявольский огонь») — создание адского огня (контролирующего самого себя), остановить крайне сложно. Заклинание использовал Крэбб в выручай комнате, надеясь убить Гарри Поттера, хотя погиб сам и при этом ещё уничтожил крестраж Волан-де-Морта — диадему Кандиды Когтевран.

Чёрная метка

Чёрная метка — магическая отметка лорда Волан-де-Морта . Все Пожиратели смерти имеют такой знак на внутренней части предплечья левой руки, он служит как для узнавания ими друг друга (Тёмный Лорд ставит эту метку самолично), так и для связи между Пожирателями и самим Волан-де-Мортом. При прикосновении волшебной палочкой к Чёрной метке на руке одного из них, все остальные чувствуют на аналогичном месте жжение, это служит знаком.

Чёрную метку можно создать также и в воздухе, она будет висеть там достаточно долго как облако дыма определённой формы. В годы первого прихода Волан-де-Морта такие метки Пожиратели вешали над домами убитых волшебников. Поэтому в мире магов Метка вызывает почти такой же ужас, как и сам Волан-де-Морт. Этим объясняется паника, охватившая болельщиков на финале Мирового кубка по квиддичу в 1994 году, когда после матча в небе появилась Тёмная метка и поспешность, с которой Дамблдор вернулся в Хогвартс , увидев Метку над башней астрономии замка.

Чёрная метка выглядит как череп со змеёй, выползающей из рта. Возможно, это символизирует связь Волан-де-Морта с Салазаром Слизерином , поскольку василиск очень похожим образом выползал изо рта статуи основателя факультета Слизерин в Тайной комнате .

Неактивная метка располагается как бледная отметина на внутренней части левого предплечья, в активном состоянии тёмно-чёрная. После активации угасает в течение нескольких часов и становится снова бледной.

Пожиратели оставляли Чёрную метку как подпись после проделанной «работы». Метка вызывается заклинанием « Морсмордре », появляется такая же метка, как и на руках у Пожирателей.

Инфернал

Инферналы — оживлённые с помощью заклинания (или заклятий) тела умерших. Очевидно, нет разницы, кем были эти люди при жизни: магами или маглами . Инферналы действуют по велению волшебника, их создавшего. Нечто вроде зомби. Их нельзя убить, многие заклинания на них почти не действуют (например заклинание « Сектумсемпра », наносящее глубокие раны, предельно опасно для живых людей, но совершенно неэффективно в борьбе с трупами, нечувствительными к боли и потере крови). Однако, как и всякие порождения мрака, инферналы боятся света и тепла, также с ними можно бороться с помощью огня.

Многие картины в мире Гарри Поттера живут своей жизнью и принимают особо деятельное участие в общественной жизни. Мало того, что люди, изображённые на них, обладают своим характером, могут говорить и между собой и с живыми людьми, их обитатели, неважно, были ли у них прототипы когда-либо или нет, могут переходить на соседние картины, если они висят достаточно близко на стене. Таким образом обитатели портретов Хогвартса могут путешествовать по всему замку.

Человек, существовавший некогда реально и имеющий несколько своих портретов, может мгновенно переходить в любой из них, где бы этот портрет ни находился.

Портрет каждого директора Хогвартса появляется в директорском кабинете после его смерти.

Волшебные портреты реальных людей сохраняют память и характер своих прототипов.

Портреты в кабинете директора школы

Портреты в кабинете Директора школы изображают всех прежних директоров Хогвартса. Among them:

• Финеас Найджелус Блэк — Появляется на портрете в кабинете Дамблдора, но его портрет связан с портретом в доме 12 на Площади Гриммо в Лондоне . По признанию Сириуса, Финеас Найджелус Блэк был самым непопулярным директором Хогвартса. В книге Гарри Поттер и Дары Смерти точно такой же портрет, но из родового дома Блэков ( Площадь Гриммо, 12 ) забирает Гермиона и берет с собой на поиски Крестражей . С помощью него Гермиона, Гарри и Рон узнают некоторые новости. Снегг через портрет смог найти их, чтобы передать Меч Годрика Гриффиндора .
• Армандо Диппет — бывший Директор Хогвартса, предшественник Альбуса Дамблдора
• Дилис Дервент — выдающаяся знахарка, работавшая в больнице Св. Мунго с 1722 по 1741 год. Впоследствии заняла пост директора школы магии и волшебства Хогвартс , где проработала с 1741 по 1768 год. Её портреты висят и в вестибюле больницы Св. Мунго, и в директорском кабинете Хогвартса. На них Дилис Дервент — пожилая ведунья с длинными серебряными локонами.
• Эверард — связанный с Министерством магии , а именно с Отделом тайн , в Лондоне .
• Декстер Фортескью — один из прошлых директоров Хогвартса , чей портрет висит в кабинете Дамблдора . Судя по тому, что он назвал Фаджа , Амбридж и всё Министерство магии «гнусными коррупционерами» ^[8] , он вряд ли жил раньше XVIII века. В последние годы жизни Декстер страдал глухотой, бороться с которой ему помогала слуховая трубка. Возможно, ещё и поэтому разговаривал директор Фортескью весьма громко.
• Альбус Дамблдор
• После смерти Северуса Снегга его портрет не появился в кабинете Директора. Роулинг в одном из интервью объяснила, что это не случайность: ^[9] .

  ...Намеренно. Снегг фактически покинул директорский пост перед смертью, поэтому не заслужил быть включенным в августейшее общество. Тем не менее, мне нравится думать, что Гарри поспособствует тому, чтобы со временем портрет Снегга там появился.

Полная Дама

Полная Дама — портрет, закрывающий вход в гостиную Гриффиндора и служащий его стражем. Если у изображённой на картине женщины и было когда-либо имя, оно никогда не называется. Неизвестно также, когда именно появился этот портрет. Во всяком случае, когда в Хогвартсе учились Артур Уизли и Молли Прюэтт , а это 1961—1968 годы, Полная Дама была уже на посту.

Лучшая подруга Полной Дамы — ведьма Виолетта, портрет которой висит на первом этаже. Виолетта приносит Полной Даме все сплетни замка, ведь сама Дама не может надолго покидать свой пост. Подруги с удовольствием обсуждают последние новости и пропускают иногда рюмочку-другую.

Others

• Сэр Кэдоган — низенький рыцарь в средневековых доспехах, пытающийся сесть на пони. Его портрет висит на площадке восьмого этажа в Хогвартсе . Коротышка полон отваги, несмотря на свою вопиющую неуклюжесть. Он готов вызвать на дуэль каждого, кого заподозрит в неуважительном к себе отношении. Но мгновенно откликается на призыв о помощи, с той же горячностью, с которой минуту назад вызывал на дуэль… Ещё большую комичность закованный в латы толстячок придаёт себе пафосной манерой речи и обилием восклицаний. Сэр Кэдоган помог Гарри, Рону и Гермионе найти кабинет прорицаний. В конце был диалог между Сэром и Роном: Сэр Кэдоган: «Случись вам нужда в благородном сердце и стальных мускулах, зовите Сэра Кэдогана!»//Рон: « Ага, позовём, — случись нам нужда в чуме болотной и психе ненормальном.»
• Виолетта — портрет щуплой остроносой ведьмы, висит на первом этаже Хогвартса , в комнате, примыкающей к Большому Залу . Но, как и большинство обитателей картин замка, она любит ходить в гости к другим портретам. Например, она частенько забегает к Полной Даме , с которой они любят посплетничать и поперемывать косточки общим знакомым. Полная Дама на службе, она не может покинуть свой пост надолго, поэтому новости ей приносит обычно Виолетта.
• Вальбурга Блэк (Блэк является также девичьей фамилией Вальбурги: они с мужем оба приходятся правнуками Финеасу Найджелусу) — мать Сириуса и Регулуса Блэков , жена Ориона Блэка , сестра Альфарда Блэка, который помог деньгами Сириусу, когда тот сбежал из дома. О характере миссис Блэк можно судить по её портрету, который висит в прихожей дома на пл. Гриммо, 12 . Всякий раз, когда в прихожей раздаются громкие звуки, портрет просыпается, бархатные шторы, закрывающие портрет, раздёргиваются и «перед изумлённой публикой» предстаёт в полный рост старуха, нарисованная столь искусно, что кажется, будто она живая. Возмущённая до глубины души тем «отребьем», которое нашло приют под крышей её родового гнезда, она тут же начинает кричать, кричать, будто её пытают, кричать до пены у рта, закатывая глаза и поднимая когтистые руки, будто пытаясь расцарапать лица находящихся в прихожей людей: «Мерзавцы! Отребье! Порождение порока и грязи! Полукровки, мутанты, уроды! Вон отсюда! Как вы смеете осквернять дом моих предков?» Не успокаивает её и появление сына: «Ты-ы-ы-ы! Осквернитель нашего рода, гад, предатель, позорище моей плоти!…» Заставить её умолкнуть можно, лишь задёрнув полог.
• Ариана Дамблдор — портрет из трактира «Кабанья голова». Один из тайных ходов, ведущих из Хогвартса в Хогсмид (а именно из Выручай-комнаты). При помощи этого хода несовершеннолетние волшебники — студенты Хогвартса эвакуировались в «Кабанью голову» во время битвы с Тёмным Лордом в VII книге.
• На 28-й минуте (27:09) «Гарри Поттер и узник Азкабана», когда ученики поднимаются по лестнице, справа находится портрет Волан - де - Морта.

• Nevsky B. Harry Potter Magic // World of Fantasy . - number 88; December 2010.
• LeFebvre, N., 2009. The Sorcerer's Stone, Mirror of Erised, and Horcruxes: Choice, Individuality, and Authenticity in Harry Potter. The Looking Glass: New Perspectives on Children's Literature, 13 (3).
• Sehon, SR, 2010. The Soul in Harry Potter . In: The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy: Hogwarts for Muggles (Vol. 7), Irwin, W. and Bassham, G. eds .. John Wiley & Sons.
• Highfield, R., 2003. The science of Harry Potter: How magic really works. Penguin.

• Potteromania Wikia