"ENQUIRY AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC: Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, was today fined fifty Galleons for bewitching a Muggle car."
-- news article clipped from the Daily Prophet (CS12)
The Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office is a small division of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in the Ministry of Magic. Arthur Weasley was the Head of the Office (until July 1996), which is meant to keep enchanted items out of the hands of Muggles. His son Ron called it “the most boring department” (CS3). His assistant was an old warlock named Perkins (CS3, OP7).
The office was a tiny and drab, but filled with files and charmed objects such as “an old toaster that was hiccoughing in a disconsolate way and a pair of empty leather gloves that were twiddling their thumbs” (OP7).
The personnel in this office participated in raids in order to capture Dark Magic items (CS12).
The Office also creates new laws and regulations, which can sometimes be a bit annoying for Wizarding folks (Pm).
Commentary
Etymology
"Artefact" is the British spelling of the noun meaning, primarily, an object shaped by human workmanship, especially one of historical or archaeological interest. "Artifact" is the American spelling.
-- http://grammarist.com/spelling/artefact-artifact
Pensieve (Comments)
Tags: anti-Muggle sentiment dangerous devices laws misuse rule-breaking rules security