• Broomsticks The Oakshaft was a broom created by Elias Grimstone in 1879. The broom-maker, who hailed from Portsmouth, crafted this heavy, reliable broom specifically for long-distance flights, where any high or volatile wind conditions could make it dangerous for a rider on a lighter, less stable broomstick (QA9). In spite of its thick handle,… Read More
• Spells The Memory Modifying Charm is also called “Memory Charm”. Modifies or erases portions of a person’s memory. A person who has their memory erased can be described as “Obliviated” (WFT). Memory Modifying Charms are often used to uphold the International Code of Wizarding Secrecy and to avoid frightening Muggles. Officials… Read More
• Occupations An obliviator is a wizard or witch who is member of the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, with special training in the use of Memory Charms. Read More
• Article
Posted by in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
It is pretty well-established at this point that love is a central theme in the Harry Potter saga, but the more sinister side of obsessive love doesn’t get quite the same attention. We see it most clearly when love potions are involved, most notably in the case with Voldemort’s… Read More
• Source Harry and the Weasleys are late for the Hogwarts Express (again), Harry and Ginny encounter Neville on the train, and they are introduced to Luna Lovegood and her father’s magazine, The Quibbler. Cho Chang makes a brief appearance, and Harry sees what… Read More
• Source Hermione stops the twins from experimenting on first-years, Ron tries to stop unknowing house-elves from taking Hermione’s knitted hats, and Professor Grubbly-Plank teaches Care of Magical Creatures as there is still no sign of Hagrid. Harry serves Umbridge‘s detentions, in which an… Read More
• Source Harry sends a letter to Sirius, he encounters Cho Chang and she calls him brave, and the Gryffindor team’s first practice is less than spectacular.  Percy sends Ron a letter warning him against continuing his friendship with Harry, and Sirius communicates with Harry through the common room fire. Read More
• Source Umbridge is made Hogwarts High Inquisitor, and Harry loses his temper again in Defense Against the Dark Arts, serving another week’s detention. Umbridge observes the professors in class, and Ron and Hermione try to convince Harry to give Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons. Read More
• Source Harry, Hermione, and Ron hold a meeting at the Hog’s Head to discuss with other students the possibility of Harry giving them Defence lessons, and Hermione tells Ron and Harry that Ginny is dating Michael Corner. Read More
• Source The High Inquisitor orders all “Student Organisations, Societies, Teams, Groups and Clubs” disbanded, Harry and Ron learn that boys are not allowed in the girls’ dormitory, Hedwig is hurt coming back from London, and Sirius Black is almost caught by Dolores Umbridge in… Read More
• Source Harry again dreams of the windowless corridor with the door at the end, Dobby tells Harry about the Room of Requirement, and Dumbledore’s Army meets for the first time. Read More
• Source Gryffindor’s Quidditch Team defeats Slytherin, but Harry, Fred and George are given a lifetime ban from playing Quidditch by Professor Umbridge for fighting with Draco Malfoy. Read More
• Source Harry is angry and picks on Dudley, Dudley is attacked by Dementors, and their neighbour Mrs. Figg returns. Read More
• Source Hagrid returns and tells the story of his journey with Madame Maxime to the land of the giants, where they were unsuccessful in gaining an alliance. Read More
• Source Hagrid’s class is observed by Umbridge, Ginny Weasley replaces Harry as Gryffindor’s Seeker, Dumbledore’s Army meets again, and Harry and Cho kiss. In a dream, Harry witnesses Arthur Weasley being bitten by a huge snake. Read More
• Source Harry speculates on why Albus Dumbledore will not look him in the eye, Hermione joins Harry and the Weasleys at Grimmauld Place for Christmas, and Percy sends back his Weasley jumper. They visit Arthur in St. Mungo’s Hospital, encounter Gilderoy… Read More
• Source Harry and the Weasley children return to Hogwarts after the holidays and Harry begins Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape, during which Harry sees the dark corridor in the Department of Mysteries that he often dreams about. Read More
• Source There is a mass breakout from Azkaban, a Ministry worker dies under suspicious circumstances, and Umbridge bans the teachers from giving students information unrelated to their subjects. Harry and Cho go on a date to Hogsmeade, and Hermione and Luna Lovegood arrange for Rita Skeeter to interview Harry, with his… Read More
• Source Hermione gives Harry advice on his love life, Gryffindor continues its losing streak at Quidditch, and Harry’s article is published in The Quibbler – which is quickly outlawed at Hogwarts by Professor Umbridge. Harry has another disturbing dream from Lord Voldemort’s point of… Read More
• Source Harry and his classmates have their first Divination lesson with Firenze in a new classroom, Marietta Edgecombe tells Professor Umbridge about the meeting of Dumbledore’s Army, but suffers the effects of Hermione’s jinx, Dobby warns Harry that the D.A. has been found… Read More
• Source Dolores Umbridge replaces Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts, the students (with the help of Fred and George’s inventions) rebel while the staff sit back and watch, and Umbridge tries to get Harry to tell her where Dumbledore is hiding.  Harry confronts Cho Chang… Read More
• Source Harry tells Ginny Weasley of his desire to talk to his godfather Sirius, and receives careers advice from Professor McGonagall. He breaks into Professor Umbridge’s office to use her fireplace on the Floo Network to talk to Sirius about his father, and… Read More
• Source Harry is expelled from Hogwarts. Uncle Vernon swears and Aunt Petunia reveals knowledge of the wizarding world. Dumbledore intercedes and Harry is no longer expelled but is suspended pending a Ministry of Magic disciplinary hearing. Read More
• Source Harry recalls the dream again, the Gryffindor Quidditch team plays Ravenclaw for the final match of the Quidditch season, and Hagrid introduces Harry and Hermione to his half-brother, Grawp, making them promise to look after Grawp if he has to leave the school. Read More
• Source Harry and Hermione tell Ron about Grawp, the fifth years take their O.W.L.s, Hagrid is sacked, McGonagall is stunned, and Harry dreams that Sirius is being tortured. Read More
• Source Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna help Harry break into Umbridge’s office, Kreacher leads Harry to believe that Sirius is at the Department of Mysteries, and Hermione tricks Umbridge into taking her and Harry into the Forbidden Forest. Read More
• Source Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley, and Luna Lovegood fly to London on thestrals. They are allowed access to the Ministry of Magic through the telephone booth, and they enter the Department of Mysteries – specifically the room containing… Read More
• Source Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange, and other Death Eaters arrive and attempt to take the prophecy away from Harry. The D.A. members fight the Death Eaters and are separated. Hermione Granger is badly hurt, Neville Longbottom’s nose is broken and, when they are… Read More
• Source Harry pursues Bellatrix and learns he is incapable of an Unforgivable Curse; Voldemort shows up; Dumbledore saves Harry from the Killing Curse; Fudge and other Ministry members witness Voldemort’s return; and Dumbledore reinstates himself as Headmaster. Read More
• Source Ron and Hermione are recovering from their injuries. Fudge publicly admits to Voldemort‘s return, McGonagall returns from St. Mungo’s, and Harry asks Nearly-Headless Nick about ghosts. Harry rides home with Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna on the train. Moody,… Read More
• Source Harry is rescued from number four Privet Drive, Remus Lupin and Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody are reintroduced, and Harry meets Nymphadora Tonks for the first time. Read More
• Source Harry, Hermione, Ron, Sirius and the rest of the Weasleys clean the Black house; Kreacher, the Black family house-elf, shows another darker side to house-elves; Harry is shown the Black Family Tree tapestry; and we learn that Sirius is not only related… Read More
• Source Harry attends his hearing, Cornelius Fudge continues to disbelieve him about Lord Voldemort’s return, and Albus Dumbledore arrives to assist Harry. Mrs. Figg testifies and Harry is cleared of all charges. Read More
• Character Orabella Nuttley was a Ministry of Magic employee and the inventor of the Mending Charm. She worked for the British Ministry of Magic’s Improper Use of Magic Office, and was put in charge of logistics for travellers and their luggage for a broom race from Aberdeen to the Colosseum in Rome. The… Read More
• Event When a broom race between bitter rivals resulted in a huge predawn explosion at the finish line, damaging the Colosseum in Rome, Ministry witch Orabella Nuttley demonstrated a spell she’d created which could repair broken objects. The Ministry officials on the scene quickly learned the spell and quickly repaired the ancient… Read More