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{{Spoiler|HM|PAS|MA|HL}}
 
{{Creature infobox
 
{{Creature infobox
|name=Boggart
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|image = Boggart Shapeshifting.jpg
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|name = Boggart
|image=[[File:Boggart Shapeshifting.jpg|250px]]
 
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|skin = Varies<ref name="POA7"/>
|bgcolor1=
 
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|eyes = Varies<ref name="POA7"/>
|bgcolor2=
 
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|hair = Varies<ref name="POA7"/>
|sentience=
 
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|feathers =
|skin=
 
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|related = [[Bogeyman]] {{c|possibly}}
|eyes=
 
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|native = Worldwide<ref name="pottermore"/>
|hair=
 
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|alias = *[[Bogeyman]] {{c|potentially}}
|feathers=
 
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*Boggle<ref name="pottermore"/>
|related=
 
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|height =
|native=
 
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|length =
|alias=
 
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|wingspan =
|height=
 
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|mortality = [[Amortality|Amortal]]<ref name="pottermore"/>
|length=
 
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|distinction = Transformed into the worst fear of the nearest observer(s)<ref name="POA7"/>
|wingspan=
 
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|affiliation = [[Dark Arts]]<ref name="POA7"/><ref name="GOF14">{{GOF|B|14}}</ref><ref name="WU-SOS"/>
|distinction=Transforms into what any nearby person is afraid of
 
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|class = [[Non-Human Spiritous Apparition|Non-being]]<ref name="pottermore"/>
|affiliation=Fear
 
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|status = Extant<ref name="POA7"/><ref name="pottermore"/>
|class=
 
|status=
 
 
}}
 
}}
{{Quote|So the boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. He does not yet know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears.|[[Remus Lupin|Professor Lupin]] to his [[Third year]] class in [[1993]]|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
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{{Quote|So the boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. He does not yet know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears.|[[Remus Lupin|Professor Lupin]] to his [[third year|third-year]] [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] class in [[September]] [[1993]]|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
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A '''Boggart''' was an [[Amortality|amortal]] shape-shifting [[Non-Human Spiritous Apparition|non-being]] that took on the form of its observer's worst fear. Because of their shape-shifting ability, no one knew what a Boggart looked like when it was alone, as it changed shape instantly upon encountering someone.<ref name="POA7">{{POA|B|7}}</ref><ref name="pottermore" />
   
A '''boggart''' is a shape-shifting creature that takes on the form of the viewer's worst fear. When facing a boggart, it is best to have someone else along, to try to confuse it, since facing more than one person at once would make it indisicive as to what form it must take, usually a mixed-up algorithm of the victims' fears. Because of their shape-shifting ability, no one knows what a boggart looks like when it is alone, as it instantly changes into your worst fears when you first see it.
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When facing a Boggart, it was best to have someone else along, to try to confuse it, since facing more than one person at once made it indecisive towards determining what form it should take, usually resulting in a not frightening combination of the victims' fears.<ref name="POA7" /><ref name="pottermore" />
   
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Boggarts would, at least before the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], very commonly appear as [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], since he represented the worst fear of many [[wizardkind|wizards and witches]].<ref name="LEGO">{{LEGO|Y1}}</ref>
The [[charm]] that combats a boggart is ''[[Riddikulus]]''. The charm requires a strong mind and good concentration. The [[incantation]] and wand movement alone will not affect a boggart. The correct way to perform the charm is to push past the fear, and concentrate on something that will make the boggart look amusing. The charm does not, in fact, repel a boggart; it just forces it to assume a shape that the caster will find comical, inspiring laughter, which will defeat a boggart.<ref name="POA">''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]''</ref>
 
   
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==Description==
Boggarts sometimes do not have the same strength or magic as what they imitate, for example, a Boggart transformed into a [[Dementor]] has weaker magic than a real Dementor, according to Lupin. This was partly why he chose to simulate a dementor attack in Harry's presence to help the boy perfect the use of the [[Patronus Charm]].
 
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===Physical appearance===
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Nobody knew what a Boggart looked like if nobody was there to see it, although it continued to exist, usually giving evidence of its presence by rattling, shaking or scratching the object in which it is hiding. Boggarts particularly liked confined spaces, but may also have been found lurking in woods and around shadowy corners.<ref name="pottermore">{{WW|boggart}}</ref>
   
==Hiding places==
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===Nature===
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{{Quote|A Boggart is a shape-shifting creature that will assume the form of whatever most frightens the person who encounters it.|A Boggart's basic nature|Pottermore}}
[[File:PA C7.jpg|thumb|left|A Boggart in a wardrobe]]
 
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Much like [[Poltergeist]]s, Boggart were [[Non-Human Spiritous Apparition|non-being]]s, who, although they resembled living [[creature]]s, were not considered [[magic]]ally "alive" and were as a result [[Amortality|amortal]] (a Boggart could be made to disappear with the [[Boggart-Banishing Spell]], but it would inevitably reappear, with several more by its side at times). Much like Poltergeists with mischief and [[Dementor]]s with gloom and depression, Boggarts seemed to embody the human emotion of fear, and consequently feed on other beings' fears.<ref name="pottermore" />
Boggarts are particularly fond of inhabiting certain places that are dark, such as in wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, and the cupboards under sinks and desks. On at least one occasion, a boggart was found hiding in a grandfather clock.<ref name="POA"/>
 
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Boggarts' ability to shapeshift showed remarkable speed and fluidity, but had several limitations. Firstly, being confined, if nothing else, by the size of the room it inhabited, the Boggart would scale down an otherwise-gigantic form (as seen when a Boggart turned into the full [[moon]]).<ref name="POA7" /> Secondly, though a Boggart who transformed into a magical being or object could replicate its abilities to an extent, this would be a weaker facsimile of the real thing; thus, a Boggart transformed into a Dementor had weaker magic than a real Dementor (according to [[Remus Lupin|Professor Lupin]], who exploited this effect to simulate a Dementor attack in Harry's presence to help him perfect the use of the [[Patronus Charm]] at no serious risk to [[Harry Potter]]'s [[soul]]).<ref name="POA12" />
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Additionally, when a witch or wizard had multiple fears that tied for their "worst," the Boggart would typically cycle through those fears, presumably randomly. For example, in [[August]] [[1995]], when [[Molly Weasley]] was attempting to banish a boggart that had taken up residence in [[12 Grimmauld Place]], the Boggart took the form of the freshly [[Death|dead]] bodies of her family, as well as Harry Potter, whom she [[love]]d like a son. Since she feared the deaths of all her loved ones equally, the Boggart cycled through all the corpses randomly.<ref name="OOTP9" />
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The extent of Boggarts' intelligence was unclear; though they sometimes took the forms of sentient beings as part of their fear-inducing transformations;<ref name="POA7" /><ref name="POA16" /> those false "people" appeared to be little more than caricatures, acting out the motions of the victim's fear involving said people, heedless of their surroundings.<ref name="POA16" /><ref name="HMy3ch7" /> It was worth noting however that one Boggart once settled into the form of a human killer, foregoing individual transformations, and successfully posed as this man for a long period of time; and Boggarts' closest-known "relatives", Poltergeists and Dementors, both possessed sapience.<ref name="pottermore" />
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Though they could not see other non-beings like Dementors, [[Non-magic people|Muggles]] could sometimes see Boggarts; however, as most Muggles refused to acknowledge anything that might even be considered somewhat [[magic]]al, the glimpses they caught of Boggarts were usually dismissed as mere hallucinations or figments of the viewer's imagination. This denial was helped by the fact that Muggles rarely saw Boggarts plainly, due to their favoured haunts being dark places away from the public eye.<ref name="pottermore" />
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Boggarts were capable of leaving a [[Dark Arts|dark]] presence in spaces they once inhabited, that could be felt by [[human]]s.<ref name="WU-SOS">{{WU}} ([[SOS Task Force Training]] - '''Calamity Essentials II:''' '''Not So Riddikulus.''' - "In a Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, you examine a cupboard that once housed a Boggart. The Boggart's departure left the cupboard undeniably bare, yet you are attuned enough to feel a dark presence reaching for you.')</ref>
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When taking the form of something that could do magic, Boggarts were able to cast spells, though the extent of this is unclear. When a [[Boggart in Hogsmeade|Boggart]] took the form of [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] during the [[1986–1987 school year]], Jacob's sibling first had to duel it before they were able to cast Riddikulus and banish it.<ref name="SOTDL"/>
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===Defence against a Boggart===
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{{Quote|The charm that repels a boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing.|Remus Lupin teaching third-years how to repel Boggarts|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
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[[File:Boggart-0.gif|250px|thumb|A Boggart in the wardrobe]]
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The [[incantation]] for the [[Boggart-Banishing Spell]] was ''[[Boggart-Banishing Spell|Riddikulus]]''. The charm required a strong mind and good concentration. The incantation and [[wand]] movement alone would not affect a Boggart. The spell could be tricky, because it involved making the creature into a figure of fun, so that fear could be dispelled in amusement. If the caster was able to laugh aloud at the Boggart, it would disappear at once. The intention was to force the Boggart to assume a less-threatening and hopefully comical form.<ref name="POA7" /><ref name="pottermore" />
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In [[September]] [[1993]], this charm was taught by [[Remus Lupin]] during a [[Third year|third-year]] [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] lesson at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]].<ref name="POA7" />
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Having multiple people facing one Boggart may have reduced its effectiveness of frightening its victims, since it would not have been able to determine which form to take.<ref name="POA7" />
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A Boggart also gained the weaknesses of whatever they turned into. For example if it turned into a [[Dementor]], it could be repelled by a [[Patronus Charm]] like a normal Dementor.<ref name="POA12" /> A Boggart in the form of a Dementor could also trip over its robes, revealing its true nature.<ref name="GOF31"/>
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===Hiding places===
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Boggarts were particularly fond of inhabiting dark, confined spaces, such as in wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, and the cupboards under sinks and desks.<ref name="pottermore" /> On at least one occasion, a boggart was found hiding in a grandfather clock.<ref name="POA7" /> They also liked shadowy corners.<ref name="pottermore" />
   
 
==Known encounters==
 
==Known encounters==
===Lessons in Hogwarts===
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===Famous Boggarts===
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Famous Boggarts included the [[Old Boggle of Canterbury]] (believed by local Muggles to be a mad, cannibalistic hermit that lived in a cave; in reality a particularly small Boggart that had learnt how to make the most of echoes).<ref name="pottermore" />
[[File:Riddikulus.gif|right|thumb|250px|A boggart in the form of [[Severus Snape|Professor Snape]], while [[Neville Longbottom]] casting the [[Riddikulus]] Charm.]]
 
[[File:Boggart-snape.jpg|right|thumb|The result of Neville's charm.]]
 
{{quote|That suggests that what you fear most of all is - fear. Very wise, Harry.|[[Remus Lupin]] to [[Harry Potter]]|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
 
   
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The [[Bludgeoning Boggart of Old London Town]] (a Boggart that had taken on the form of a murderous thug that prowled the back streets of [[19th century]] [[London]], but could be reduced to a [[hamster]] with [[Boggart-Banishing Spell|one simple incantation]].<ref name="pottermore" />
In [[1993]], Professor [[Remus Lupin]] taught his [[third year]] [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] students about how to defend against boggarts. He took the class to the staffroom, where a boggart had moved into a wardrobe the previous afternoon. After explaining what they would need to do, Professor Lupin let the class, starting with [[Neville Longbottom]], perform the [[Riddikulus]] charm on the boggart. When the boggart moved towards [[Harry Potter]], Lupin drew the boggart's attention, causing it to turn into a full moon, then had Neville finish it off.
 
   
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The [[Screaming Bogey of Strathtully]] (a Scottish Boggart that had fed on the fears of local Muggles to the point that it had become an elephantine black shadow with glowing white eyes, but which [[Lyall Lupin]] of the [[Ministry of Magic]] eventually trapped in a matchbox).<ref name="pottermore" />
Later, Professor Lupin explained that the reason he didn't let Harry face the boggart was that he thought Harry's boggart would turn into [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], and he didn't want to panic the students. Harry's boggart actually took on the form of a [[Dementor]], as he had an encounter with them on the way to Hogwarts that year and heard his [[Lily Evans|mother]]'s dying moments whenever they came near.
 
   
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===Hogwarts===
[[File:Lupin-boggart.jpg|thumb|left|215px|[[Remus Lupin]]'s full moon boggart.]]
 
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====Late [[19th century]] or earlier====
To help Harry, Professor Lupin taught him how to perform the [[Patronus Charm|Patronus]], using a boggart found in [[Argus Filch]]'s filing cabinet as a substitute for a real Dementor. In between the private lessons, Professor Lupin kept the boggart in a cabinet under the desk, in his office.<ref name="POA"/>
 
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There was an old cupboard in a room in [[Hogwarts Castle]] containing a powerful Boggart that five [[professor]]s had to defeat. They were barely able to repel it as it shifted between various forms, including a [[werewolf]], [[tornado (weather)|tornado]], a plate of [[haggis]], a [[Hungarian Horntail]] and someone's [[Unidentified mother-in-law|mother-in-law]].<ref name="HL-boggart-closet">{{HL}} - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cArFMLqFm-I&ab_channel=PirateSloth see video]</ref><!--- Please someone feel free to provide the field guide page about this Boggart as a reference image here.--->
   
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Near the end of the [[1890–1891 school year]], [[Fifth year]] students trained in repelling Boggarts under the supervision of Professor [[Dinah Hecat]]. During the lesson, [[Natsai Onai]] saw the Boggart turn into an unidentified adult man, and used the [[Boggart-Banishing Spell]] to change it into an inoffensive [[cat]].<ref name="HL-THC">{{HL|The House Cup}}</ref>
===Triwizard Tournament's Third Task===
 
On [[24 June]], [[1994]], [[Harry Potter]] came across a boggart in the Third Task of the [[Triwizard Tournament]]. When he first encountered it, Harry thought the boggart was actually a [[Dementor]]. He cast his [[Patronus Charm|Patronus]], and realised that the creature was in fact a boggart when it fell back and tripped over the hem of its robes instead of being driven back, as a real dementor would have done.
 
   
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====[[1910s]]====
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In the 1910s, professor [[Albus Dumbledore]] taught students how to confront [[1913 Defence Against the Dark Arts Boggart|a Boggart]] and learn the spell to banish it. When [[Newton Scamander|Newt Scamander]]'s Boggart turned into a desk, Dumbledore commented on its unexpected nature and kindly inquired why it took this form. Newt confessed that his greatest fear was being stuck working in an office. After Newt successfully dispatched the Boggart, Dumbledore encouraged [[Leta Lestrange]] to take her turn. Dumbledore reassured Leta that being afraid of something wasn't shameful. The form of Leta's Boggart surprised both Dumbledore and the entire class: a white sheet containing an indistinguishable, slight form floating through a dark blue glow. The event badly shook Leta.<ref name="COG69">{{COG|S|69}}</ref>
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====[[1970s]]====
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At some point during his time at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] [[Jacob (Hogwarts student)|Jacob]] opened the [[Vault of Fear]], releasing the Boggarts that guarded it onto the school grounds. Once he resealed the vault, the Boggarts were again locked away.
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====[[1986–1987 school year]]====
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During the 1986–1987 school year, the [[Vault of Fear]] was again tampered with, which caused a large number of Boggarts to appear in an unusually high frequency around the school. One incident involved a Boggart appearing in a [[Hogwarts greenhouses|greenhouse]] during a [[Herbology]] class, scaring [[Penny Haywood]].<ref name="HMy3ch1" /> Jacob's sibling learned from [[Rubeus Hagrid]] that Boggarts had not been seen on the school ground's since Jacob's school days.<ref name="HM32">{{HM|3|2}}</ref> Jacob's sibling learnt from one of [[Jacob's notebooks]] that the Boggarts were active due to Vault of Fear having been tampered with.<ref name="HM35">{{HM|3|5}}</ref> Jacob's sibling learnt the [[Boggart-Banishing Spell]] with [[Tulip Karasu]], and defeated two Boggarts with it; one in the [[Artefact Room]] for Tulip, and another in [[Jacob's room]].<ref name="HMy3ch7" /> After Jacob's sibling and friends opened the vault and defeated the Boggarts guarding it, the [[curse]] was broken and Boggarts stopped appearing so often.<ref name="HM39" /><ref name="HM310">{{HM|3|10}}</ref>
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[[File:Boggart in Bushes HM.PNG|thumb|right|250px|The Boggart in the guise of [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]]]
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Also during this year, a [[Boggart in Hogsmeade|Boggart]] caused panic that [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] was returning when [[Ben Copper]] mistook the Boggart for the real thing. Jacob's sibling eventually tracked the Boggart down and defeated it, but only after it had terrified the residents of [[Hogsmeade]].<ref name="SOTDL">{{HM|3|SHADOWS OF THE DARK LORD}}</ref>
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====[[1988–1989 school year]]====
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During the 1988–1989 school year, [[Professor]] [[Patricia Rakepick]] taught her [[fifth year|fifth-year]] [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] students about how to defend against a Boggart. She instructed [[Jacob's sibling]] to give a demonstration. A Boggart in the form of [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] rose from the chest, and was defeated by Jacob's sibling.<ref name="HM58">{{HM|5|8}}</ref>
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====[[1993–1994 school year]]====
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{{Quote|That suggests that what you fear most of all is — fear. Very wise, Harry.|Remus Lupin regarding what [[Harry Potter]] fears|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
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[[file:POA Remus Boggart reveal.gif|250px|thumb|Remus Lupin drawing the Boggart's attention away from Harry Potter]]
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In [[1993]], Professor [[Remus Lupin]] taught his [[third year|third-year]] [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] students about how to defend against a Boggart. He took the class to the staffroom, where a [[Boggart in the Wardrobe|Boggart]] had moved into a wardrobe the previous afternoon. After explaining what they would need to do, Professor Lupin let the class, starting with [[Neville Longbottom]], perform the ''[[Boggart-Banishing Spell|Riddikulus]]'' [[charm]] on the Boggart. When the Boggart moved towards [[Harry Potter]], Lupin drew the Boggart's attention, causing it to turn into a full [[moon]] (as he was in fact a [[werewolf]]), then had Neville finish it off, banishing it for good.<ref name="POA7" />
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Later, Professor Lupin explained that the reason he didn't let Harry face the Boggart was that he thought Harry's Boggart would turn into [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], and he didn't want to panic the students.<ref name="POA8">{{POA|B|8}}</ref> Harry's Boggart actually took on the form of a [[Dementor]],<ref name="POA12" /> as he had an encounter with them on the way to Hogwarts that year and heard his mother's dying moments whenever they came near.<ref name="POA5">{{POA|B|5}}</ref>
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To help Harry, Professor Lupin taught him how to perform the [[Patronus Charm|Patronus]], using a [[Anti-Dementor lessons Boggart|Boggart]] found in [[Argus Filch]]'s filing cabinet as a substitute for a real Dementor. In between the [[Anti-Dementor lessons|private lessons]], Professor Lupin kept the Boggart in a cabinet under the desk, in his office.<ref name="POA12">{{POA|B|12}}</ref>
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At the end of the school year, Lupin used another [[Third year Defence Against the Dark Arts exam Boggart|Boggart]] as part of his [[third year exams]], as the final obstacle in a series.<ref name="POA16">{{POA|B|16}}</ref>
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====[[1994–1995 school year]]====
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[[File:TriwizardMaze PM B4C31M1 DementorInTriwizardMaze Moment.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A Boggart in the form of a Dementor in the Triwizard Maze]]
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On [[24 June]] [[1994|1995]], Harry Potter came across a Boggart in the [[Triwizard Maze]] during the Third Task of the [[Triwizard Tournament]] of that year, in the form of a [[Dementor]]. Harry initially thought the Boggart was actually a Dementor, thus casting his Patronus, and realised that the creature was in fact a Boggart when it fell back and tripped over the hem of its robes instead of being driven back, as a real Dementor would have done.<ref name="GOF31">{{GOF|B|31}}</ref>
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====[[2008–2009 school year]]====
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During the 2008–2009 school year, [[Professor]] [[Brindlemore]] taught her [[First year|first-year]] [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] students how to repel Boggarts. A Boggart also existed in one of the cupboards in the [[Headmaster's office]], which some students unleashed due to wanting to use the [[Pensieve]] in the cupboard. It was faced by [[Daniel Page]] first and changed into a [[dragon]], and later into an evil version of [[Ivy Warrington]] herself when she faced it.<ref name="MA">{{MA}}</ref>
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====[[2010–2011 school year]]====
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[[File:Masked wizard Boggarts MA.png|250px|thumb|right|Boggarts in the form of masked wizards]]
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During the 2010–2011 school year, a Boggart was present in [[Neville Longbottom's storeroom]], which changed into the form of a masked wizard from [[Nocturnal Order of Tricks and Magical Exhibitions|NOTME]] when it was discovered by [[Linderina Crane]], letting her believe it was a real wizard. She cast the [[Incarcerous Spell]] on the Boggart, but it remained unharmed and started to cast spells towards her. When students came to the rescue, two more masked wizard Boggarts appeared.<ref name="MA"/>
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[[File:Daniel facing Boggart MA.png|250px|thumb|left|Daniel listening to the Boggart]]
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After they were almost defeated, when [[Daniel Page]] faced a Boggart, it changed into the form of his mother [[Kaleena Page|Kaleena]] being an [[Azkaban]] convict. Realising that it could help him see his mother again, Daniel went back to the room some time later and listened to the Boggart talk. [[Unidentified Muggle-born Hogwarts student|His friend]] then arrived and faced the Boggart themself, making it turn into an [[Acromantula]], and cast the [[Boggart-Banishing Spell]] which gave the Boggart roller skates.<ref name="MA"/>
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{{Clr}}
 
===Number 12 Grimmauld Place===
 
===Number 12 Grimmauld Place===
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{{Quote|Ron's body turned into Bill's, spread-eagled on his back, his eyes wide open and empty. Mrs Weasley sobbed harder than ever. 'R-riddikulus!' she sobbed again. Crack. Mr Weasley's body replaced Bill's, his glasses askew, a trickle of blood running down his face. 'No!' Mrs Weasley moaned. 'No ... riddikulus! Riddikulus! RIDDIKULUS!' Crack. Dead twins. Crack. Dead Percy. Crack. Dead Harry ...|Molly Weasley struggling to defeat a boggart in 12 Grimmauld Place|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}
While cleaning up [[12 Grimmauld Place]], the new headquarters of the reconvened [[Order of the Phoenix]], [[Molly Weasley]] stumbled across what she thought was a boggart in a locked cabinet of a writing desk. She decided to wait for [[Alastor Moody]] to confirm it was a boggart, before opening the cabinet.
 
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While cleaning up [[12 Grimmauld Place]], the new headquarters of the reconvened [[Order of the Phoenix]], [[Molly Weasley]] stumbled across what she thought was a Boggart in a locked cabinet of a writing desk. She decided to wait for [[Alastor Moody]] to confirm it was a Boggart, before opening the cabinet.<ref name="OOTP5">{{OOTP|B|5}}</ref>
   
After escaping from the party being held in celebration of [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]] becoming [[Prefect]]s, Harry heard sobbing coming from the drawing room. When he looked inside, Harry saw Mrs. Weasley cowering against a dark wall, and the body of her son sprawled on the floor. After Molly tried the [[Riddikulus]] charm without success, Ron's body turned into the body of [[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]], with his eyes wide open and empty. Molly's next attempt turned Bill's body into [[Arthur Weasley]], with blood running down his face. The next attempts turned the boggart into [[Fred and George Weasley]], [[Percy Weasley]], and then Harry.
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After escaping from the party being held in celebration of [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]] becoming [[Prefect]]s, Harry heard sobbing coming from the drawing room. When he looked inside, Harry saw Mrs Weasley cowering against a dark wall, and the body of her son, Ron, sprawled on the floor. After Molly tried the [[Boggart-Banishing Spell|Riddikulus]] charm without success, Ron's body turned into the body of [[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]], with his eyes wide open and empty. Molly's next attempt turned Bill's body into [[Arthur Weasley]], with blood running down his face. The next attempts turned the boggart into [[Fred and George Weasley]], [[Percy Weasley]], and then Harry.<ref name="OOTP9">{{OOTP|B|9}}</ref>
   
Harry shouted to Mrs. Weasley that she should leave, causing [[Remus Lupin]] and [[Sirius Black]] to run into the room, followed by [[Alastor Moody|Mad-Eye Moody]]. Lupin quickly figured out what had happened, and made the boggart turn from Harry's dead body to the full moon, then with a wave of his wand, made the orb vanish in a puff of smoke.<ref name="OTP">''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''</ref>
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Harry shouted to Mrs Weasley that she should leave, causing [[Remus Lupin]] and [[Sirius Black]] to run into the room, followed by Alastor Moody. Lupin quickly figured out what had happened, and made the Boggart turn from Harry's dead body to the full moon, then with a wave of his wand, made the orb vanish in a puff of smoke.<ref name="OOTP9" />
   
 
===Unspecified===
 
===Unspecified===
Although the precise details of this encounter are unknown, Lupin mentioned during his first lesson that he had once had an encounter with a boggart in the company of at least two other people where the boggart, attempting to frighten two people at once, turned itself into half a slug (One person was afraid of a flesh-eating slug and the other was afraid of headless corpse).
+
Although the precise details of this encounter are unknown, Lupin mentioned during his first [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] lesson in 1993 that he had once had an encounter with a Boggart in the company of at least two other people where the Boggart, attempting to frighten two people at once, turned itself into half a [[slug]] (One person was afraid of a [[Flesh-Eating Slug]] and the other was afraid of headless corpses).<ref name="POA7" />
   
==Known boggarts==
+
==Known Boggart forms==
{{Quote|P-P-Professor McGonagall! Sh-she said I'd failed everything!|[[Hermione Granger]] faces her Boggart|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
+
{{Quote|P-P-Professor McGonagall! Sh-she said I'd failed everything!|[[Hermione Granger]] after having encountered her Boggart|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
  +
 
{|cellspacing="0" border="1" bgcolor="white"
+
{| class="wikitable" border="1" width="100%"
  +
!Individual
!Person
 
 
!Fear
 
!Fear
!Riddikulus
+
!''Riddikulus'' result
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Albus Dumbledore]]
 
|[[Albus Dumbledore]]
|The corpse of his sister [[Ariana Dumbledore]]<ref name="Leaky">[http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/30/j-k-rowling-web-chat-transcript "A transcript of a web chat with J.K. Rowling"] from [http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/ The Leaky Cauldron]</ref>
+
|The [[Death|corpse]] of his sister [[Ariana Dumbledore]]<ref name="Leaky">[http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/30/j-k-rowling-web-chat-transcript J.K. Rowling Web Chat Transcript]</ref>
  +
|Unknown
  +
|-
  +
|[[Barnaby Lee]]
  +
|[[Clown]]s<ref name="HM39">{{HM|3|9}}</ref>
 
|Unknown
 
|Unknown
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Ben Copper]]
  +
|[[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]<ref name="HM3SOTDL">{{HM|3|SHADOWS OF THE DARK LORD}}</ref>
  +
|Unknown
  +
|-
  +
|[[Bilton Bilmes]]
  +
|[[Dementor]]<ref name="HM3SOTDL"/>
  +
[[File:Bilton Bilmes Dementor Boggart HM.jpg|250px]]
  +
|Unknown
  +
|-
  +
|[[Daniel Page]]
  +
|[[Dragon]] (formerly), his mother [[Kaleena Page]] as a criminal<ref name="MA">{{MA}}</ref>
  +
[[File:Boggart approaching Daniel MA.png|250px]]
  +
|Unknown
  +
|-
 
|[[Dean Thomas]]
 
|[[Dean Thomas]]
|Disembodied living hand
+
|[[Loose Hand|Disembodied living hand]]<ref name="POA7" />[[File:Loose Hand Boggart.png|250px]]
  +
|The hand being caught in a [[mousetrap]]<ref name="POA7" /><br/>[[File:Loose hand boggart defeated.png|150px]]
|Caught in a mousetrap
 
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Harry Potter]]
+
|[[Duncan Hobhouse]]
  +
|[[Puffskein]]<ref name="HL-VV">{{HL|Venomous Valour}}</ref>
|A [[Dementor]] (or simply "fear", as stated by [[Remus Lupin|Lupin]])
 
  +
|
|Smoke/uses [[Patronus|Patronus Charm]].
 
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Gladwin Moon]]
  +
|A [[Demiguise]]<ref name="HL-TCCL">{{HL|The Caretaker's Lunar Lament}}</ref>
  +
|Unknown
  +
|-
  +
|[[Harry Potter]]
  +
|A [[Dementor]] (fear in general, according to Remus Lupin)<ref name="POA12">{{POA|B|12}}</ref><br/>[[File:Harry's boggart.gif|250px]]
  +
|Smoke<ref name="GOF31" /> (could alternatively be banished with the [[Patronus Charm]])<ref name="POA12" />
  +
|-
 
|[[Hermione Granger]]
 
|[[Hermione Granger]]
|[[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]] telling her that she failed her exams, or failure in general.
+
|[[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]] telling her that she failed her exams (failure in general)<ref name="POA16" />
|[[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]] giving her an award.<ref name="LEGO">''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''</ref>
+
|Professor McGonagall giving her an award<ref name="LEGO">{{LEGO|Y1}}</ref>
  +
|-
  +
|[[Hope Howell]]
  +
|A large, evil looking [[Human|man]]<ref name="PMLupin">{{WW|remus-lupin}}</ref>
  +
|A field [[mushroom]] (spell performed by [[Lyall Lupin]])<ref name="PMLupin" />
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Molly Weasley]]
+
|[[Ivy Warrington]]
  +
|A dark version of herself<ref name="MA"/>[[File:Ivy Warrington's boggart MA.png|250px|thumb|left]]
|Dead family/friends
 
  +
|Unknown
  +
|-
  +
|[[Jacob's sibling]]
  +
|[[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]<ref name="HMy3ch7" />
  +
[[File:Jacob's sibling Voldemort Boggart.jpg|250px|thumb|left]]
  +
|Lord Voldemort as a clown<ref name="HM39" />[[File:Jacob's sibling Voldemort Riddikulus.jpg|250px]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Leta Lestrange]]
  +
|Her [[Water|drowning]] half-brother [[Corvus Lestrange (V)|Corvus Lestrange]]<ref name="COG69" />
  +
[[File:Leta's Boggart.gif|250px]]
 
|Unknown
 
|Unknown
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Neville Longbottom]]
+
|[[Linderina Crane]]
  +
|Failing to stop the [[Nocturnal Order of Tricks and Magical Exhibitions]] (in the form of a masked [[Wizardkind|wizard]] from NOTME)<ref name="MA"/>[[File:Boggart casting spell back at Linderina Crane MA.png|250px]]
|[[Severus Snape]]
 
  +
|Unknown
|Snape was wearing [[Augusta Longbottom|Neville's grandmother]]'s clothes.
 
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Padma Patil]]
+
|[[Lottie Turner]]
  +
|[[Dementor]]<ref name="MA"/>
|A [[Snake|giant cobra]]
 
  +
|Clown<ref name="MA"/>
|Turns into a [[jack-in-the-box]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Parvati Patil]]
+
|[[Molly Weasley]]
  +
|The [[Death|Dead]] bodies of [[Harry Potter]] and [[Weasley family|her family]]<ref name="OOTP9" />
|A bloodstained, bandaged [[Mummy|mummy]]
 
  +
|Unknown<ref name="OOTP9" />
|It tripped over its bandages.
 
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Natsai Onai]]
  +
|An adult man<ref name="HL-Natsai-Boggart"/><!--- Who is this man? Please give the real identity if you know it.--->
  +
|[[Cat]]<ref name="HL-Natsai-Boggart">{{HL}} - [https://youtu.be/_RFEQ6hKJG0?t=62 see this video]</ref>
  +
|-
  +
|[[Neville Longbottom]]
  +
|[[Severus Snape]]<ref name="POA7" />[[File:Neville's boggart.gif|250px]]
  +
| Snape wearing [[Augusta Longbottom|Neville's grandmother]]'s clothes<ref name="POA7" />
  +
[[File:Neville Riddikulus.gif|250px]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Newton Scamander]]
  +
|Office/desk job<ref name="COG69" />[[File:Newt boggart.gif|250px]]
  +
|A mechanical [[dragon]]<ref name="COG69" />[[File:NewtRiddikulus.gif|250px]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Nymphadora Tonks]]
  +
|Losing her abilities as a [[Metamorphmagus]]<ref name="HM39" />
  +
|Unknown
  +
|-
  +
|[[Padma Patil]]
  +
|A giant [[snake]]<ref name="LEGO" /><!-- Do NOT add the Cobra-turn-Jack-in-the-box related images; Remus distinctively called for Parvati, which isn't even the correct person for this column. See BTS -->
  +
|[[Jack-in-the-box]]<ref name="LEGO" />
  +
|-
  +
|[[Parvati Patil]]
  +
|A bloodstained, bandaged [[mummy]]<ref name="POA7" />[[File:Boggart Mummy PM.png|250px]]
  +
| The mummy tripped over its bandages<ref name="POA7" /><br/>[[File:Boggart Mummy defeated PM.jpg|150px]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Penny Haywood]]
  +
|A [[werewolf]]<ref name="HMy3ch1">{{HM|3|1|h}}</ref>[[File:Penny Haywood facing her Boggart HM31h.png|250px]]
  +
|A stuffed toy [[wolf]] (performed by [[Pomona Sprout]])<ref name="HMy3ch1" /><br/>[[File:Penny Haywood Riddikulus.jpg|250px]]
  +
|-
 
|[[Remus Lupin]]
 
|[[Remus Lupin]]
  +
|Full [[moon]] (the fear of turning into his [[werewolf]] form)<ref name="POA7" />[[File:POA moon Boggart.gif|250px]]
|Full moon
 
|A cockroach <!-- Do NOT change to "balloon", in the book it changes to a cockroach (see BTS)!!! -->
+
|A [[cockroach]]<ref name="POA7" /> or puff of smoke<ref name="OOTP9" /><!-- Do NOT change or add "balloon" because in the book it changes into a cockroach (see BTS) -->
  +
|-
  +
|[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]
  +
| A [[Acromantula|giant spider]]<ref name="POA7" /> ([[Aragog|Acromantula]])<ref name="Aragog">[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1000-scholastic-chat.htm "About the Books: transcript of J.K. Rowling's live interview on Scholastic.com," Scholastic.com, 16 October 2000] at [http://www.accio-quote.org/index.html Accio Quote!]</ref>[[File:Ron's boggart.gif|250px]]
  +
|The spider lost its legs<ref name="POA7" /><br/>[[File:Boggart spider defeated PM.jpg|150px]]<!-- Do NOT change or add "spider on roller skates" because that is not how it is in the book (see BTS) -->
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Seamus Finnigan]]
 
|[[Seamus Finnigan]]
  +
|A [[banshee]]<ref name="POA7" /><br/>[[File:Boggart Banshee PM.jpg|250px]]
|A [[banshee]]
 
  +
|A banshee having lost her voice<ref name="POA7" /><br/>[[File:Boggart Banshee defeated PM.jpg|150px]]
|She lost her voice.
 
  +
|-
  +
|[[Tulip Karasu]]
  +
|An evil, glowing-eyed [[Merula Snyde]] berating her (fear of betraying friends)<ref name="HMy3ch7">{{HM|3|7}}</ref>[[File:Tulip Karasu Merula Boggart.jpg|250px]]
  +
|Merula as an out-of-character girly girl (performed by [[Jacob's sibling]])<ref name="HMy3ch7" />[[File:Tulip Karasu Merula Riddikulus.jpg|250px]]
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[William Weasley]]
|[[Tom Riddle|Tom Marvolo Riddle]]
 
  +
|Losing his [[Weasley family|family]]<ref name="HM39" />
|His own dead body
 
  +
|Unknown
|
 
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Unidentified Muggle-born Hogwarts student]]
|[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]
 
|[[Acromantula|Giant spider]] (or any [[spider]] for that matter)
+
|[[Acromantula]]<ref name="MA"/>
  +
|Acromantula given [[Roller Skates]]<ref name="MA"/>[[File:Boggart having been cast Riddikulus MA.png|250px]]
|The spider is put on wheels, causing it to trip.
 
  +
|-
  +
|Unidentified student
  +
|A [[vampire]]<ref name="COG69" />
  +
|A buck-toothed [[rabbit]]<ref name="COG69" />
  +
|-
  +
| Unidentified student
  +
|A [[shark]]<ref name="COG69" />
  +
|A flotation device<ref name="COG69" />
 
|-
 
|-
  +
| Unidentified student
  +
|A [[zombie]]<ref name="COG69" />
  +
| Given a [[pumpkin]] for its head<ref name="COG69" />
  +
|}
  +
  +
The following individuals all had [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] as their Boggart form, and after performing the [[Boggart-Banishing Spell]], Lord Voldemort would turn into a baby and suck on a dummy:<ref name="LEGO" />
  +
{|
 
|
 
|
 
*[[Alastor Moody]]
 
*[[Alastor Moody]]
Line 121: Line 281:
 
*[[Arthur Weasley]]
 
*[[Arthur Weasley]]
 
*[[Aurora Sinistra]]
 
*[[Aurora Sinistra]]
*[[Bartemius Crouch Sr.]]
+
*[[Bartemius Crouch Junior]]
  +
*[[Bartemius Crouch Senior]]
 
*[[Cedric Diggory]]
 
*[[Cedric Diggory]]
 
*[[Cho Chang]]
 
*[[Cho Chang]]
Line 130: Line 291:
 
*[[Doris Crockford]]
 
*[[Doris Crockford]]
 
*[[Draco Malfoy]]
 
*[[Draco Malfoy]]
  +
*[[Dragon keeper]]
*[[Ernest Macmillan|Ernie Macmillan]]
 
  +
|
*[[Ernie Prang]]
 
  +
*[[Ernest Macmillan]]
  +
*[[Ernest Prang]]
 
*[[Filius Flitwick]]
 
*[[Filius Flitwick]]
 
*[[Fleur Delacour]]
 
*[[Fleur Delacour]]
Line 138: Line 301:
 
*[[George Weasley]]
 
*[[George Weasley]]
 
*[[Gilderoy Lockhart]]
 
*[[Gilderoy Lockhart]]
*[[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Weasley]]
+
*[[Ginevra Weasley]]
 
*[[Gregory Goyle]]
 
*[[Gregory Goyle]]
  +
*[[Griphook]]
 
*[[Hannah Abbott]]
 
*[[Hannah Abbott]]
*[[Honeydukes Express lady]]
 
 
*[[Igor Karkaroff]]
 
*[[Igor Karkaroff]]
 
*[[Irma Pince]]
 
*[[Irma Pince]]
Line 149: Line 312:
 
*[[Lee Jordan]]
 
*[[Lee Jordan]]
 
*[[Lucius Malfoy]]
 
*[[Lucius Malfoy]]
  +
|
*[[Madam Malkin]]
 
*[[Madam Rosmerta]]
+
*[[Madam]] [[Malkin]]
  +
*[[Madam]] [[Rosmerta]]
 
*[[Marcus Flint]]
 
*[[Marcus Flint]]
 
*[[Millicent Bulstrode]]
 
*[[Millicent Bulstrode]]
Line 160: Line 324:
 
*[[Penelope Clearwater]]
 
*[[Penelope Clearwater]]
 
*[[Percy Weasley]]
 
*[[Percy Weasley]]
  +
*[[Peter Pettigrew]]
 
*[[Pomona Sprout]]
 
*[[Pomona Sprout]]
 
*[[Poppy Pomfrey]]
 
*[[Poppy Pomfrey]]
  +
*[[Quirinus Quirrell]]
 
*[[Rita Skeeter]]
 
*[[Rita Skeeter]]
  +
|
 
*[[Rolanda Hooch]]
 
*[[Rolanda Hooch]]
 
*[[Rubeus Hagrid]]
 
*[[Rubeus Hagrid]]
 
*[[Septima Vector]]
 
*[[Septima Vector]]
*[[Severus Snape]]
+
*[[Severus Snape]]
*[[Shifty wizard]]
 
 
*[[Sirius Black]]
 
*[[Sirius Black]]
*[[Stan Shunpike]]
+
*[[Shifty wizard]]
  +
*[[Stanley Shunpike]]
 
*[[Susan Bones]]
 
*[[Susan Bones]]
 
*[[Sybill Trelawney]]
 
*[[Sybill Trelawney]]
 
*[[Tom]]
 
*[[Tom]]
  +
*[[Trolley witch]]
*[[Unidentified registered Animagus]]
 
 
*[[Viktor Krum]]
 
*[[Viktor Krum]]
 
*[[Vincent Crabbe]]
 
*[[Vincent Crabbe]]
  +
*[[Walden Macnair]]
|[[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]]<ref name="LEGO"></ref>
 
|Lord Voldemort sucking a dummy<ref name="LEGO"></ref>
 
 
|}
 
|}
 
==Media==
 
<gallery widths="400" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
 
File:Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Harry's boggart|Harry's boggart
 
</gallery>
 
   
 
==Etymology==
 
==Etymology==
In Celtic mythology, a boggart (or bogart, bogan, bogle or boggle) is a household spirit, sometimes mischievous, sometimes helpful.
+
In English mythology, a {{Wplink|Boggart}} (or bogart, bogan, bogle or boggle) is a household [[spirit]], sometimes mischievous, sometimes helpful.
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
  +
[[File:Boggart Snape (old edition).jpg|200px|thumb|A Boggart imitating [[Severus Snape]] (2004 edition)]]
* 'Boggart' is David Thewlis' favourite word/line from the series.
 
  +
[[File:Boggart Snape (new 2018 edition).jpg|200px|thumb|A Boggart imitating Severus Snape (2018 edition)]]
*In ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', [[Remus Lupin]] mentions that no one knows what a boggart looks like when it is alone. [[Alastor Moody|Mad-Eye Moody]], in ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'', is able to determine through his "mad" eye that a creature hiding in [[12 Grimmauld Place]] is definitely a boggart. It is assumed that Moody knew what a boggart looked like in its true form as the boggart had not seen him and shape-shifted.
 
  +
[[File:Boggart_POP.jpg|200px|thumb|A Boggart imitating Severus Snape as a [[POP! Vinyl]]]]
*[[J. K. Rowling]] has stated that her boggart would be the same as [[Molly Weasley]]'s: her loved ones dead or alternatively herself buried alive.
 
  +
*Lupin's Boggart, the full moon, indicated his dread of his transformations into a werewolf. However, the Boggart failed to frighten him because it is not the moon itself he feared, but its effect on him.
*In ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', [[Remus Lupin]] gives Harry [[Harry Potter and Remus Lupin's private lessons|private lessons]] on how to defeat Dementors, using a Boggart as a replacement. However, when Harry faced the Boggart the first and second time, when he failed to beat it, the Boggart/Dementor had managed to make Harry hear his mother's screams. This may imply that Boggarts can gain some abilities of the thing it morphs into. It also gained its weakness as it could be defeated by Harry's [[Patronus Charm|Patronus]].
 
  +
*In mythology, the Boggart actually lives in marshes or fields and has a short, grotesque, hairy appearance.
*Lupin's boggart, the full moon, indicated his dread of his transformations into a werewolf. However, the boggart failed to frighten him because it is not the moon itself he feared, but its effect on him.
 
  +
**The Boggarts in Harry Potter are more similar to the Bogeyman, being found in closets, under furniture, and cupboards and able to transform into one's worst fear.
*The boggart may have been inspired by the "Clutterbumph" from ''[[Manxmouse]]'', of which [[Harry Potter (book series)|''Harry Potter'' series]] author J.K. Rowling is a known fan.<ref name="Herald">[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2001/1001-sydney-renton.htm Accio Quote] - The story behind the Potter legend</ref> The Clutterbumph is described as follows: "...something that is not there until one imagines it. And as it is always someone different who will be doing the imagining, no two Clutterbumphs are ever exactly alike. Whatever it is that frightens one the most and that is just about the worst thing one can think of, that is what a Clutterbumph looks like."
 
  +
*"Boggart" is the favourite word/line from the series of Actor [[David Thewlis]] (Remus Lupin).<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5don9ACZEI/ YouTube video]</ref>
*In ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'', [[Molly Weasley]]'s Boggart is shown to change from [[Arthur Weasley|Arthur]] and other family members before going to [[Harry Potter|Harry]].
 
  +
*It is unknown if Boggarts can change into intangible fears like darkness, certain sounds or mental/physical illnesses. It is also unknown how they adapt to people who are only afraid of interacting with non-sentient concepts like drowning, loneliness or claustrophobia. Unless the Boggart is somehow able to engulf a person with these or similar fears it is likely they are powerless against them and might even be exposed in their actual form to these people.
*In an early script for the [[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)|film adaptation]] of ''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'', there were several differences from the final cut of the film. The boggarts for Neville, Ron, Harry, and Professor Lupin remained the same. Parvati's, however, would have been a [[vampire]] (specifically [[Count Dracula]]<ref>[http://www.castingcallpro.com/uk/view.php?uid=50675 Yana Yanezic's agency profile]</ref>) which would have been dressed like {{wplink|Carmen Miranda}} (presumably referring to her famous fruit hat outfit from the film ''[[Wikipedia:The Gang's All Here (1943 film)|The Gang's All Here]]'') when the Boggart-Banishing Charm was used on it, with Dean having the cobra boggart Parvati has in the actual film.<ref>[http://imsdb.com/scripts/Harry-Potter-and-the-Prisoner-of-Azkaban.html ''Prisoner of Azkaban'' script at the Internet Movie Script Database] (archived [http://web.archive.org/web/20090216093016/http://imsdb.com/scripts/Harry-Potter-and-the-Prisoner-of-Azkaban.html here] via the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine)</ref>
 
  +
**It is possible that the Boggart knows ways to symbolise these fears; for example, in the case of a person with Hydrophobia, showing the viewer their drowned corpse. This is supported in canon by Lord Voldemort (who feared death) seeing his own corpse, Remus Lupin (who feared his werewolf transformation) seeing the full moon, and Hermione (who feared failure) seeing Professor McGonagall telling her that she failed all of her exams. Mrs Weasley feared her loved ones dying, so the Boggart showed her loved one's corpses in succession, which supports this theory even further.
*Some changes were made in the film and video game adaptations of the series:
 
  +
*It could be possible that if someone who has no fear attempts to engage a Boggart, it will not be able to decide what to turn into and will be forced to show its true form.
  +
*In {{POA}}, [[Remus Lupin]] mentions that no one knows what a Boggart looks like when it is alone. [[Alastor Moody]], in {{OOTP}}, is able to determine through his "mad" eye that a creature hiding in [[12 Grimmauld Place]] is definitely a Boggart. It is assumed that Moody knew what a Boggart looked like in its true form as the Boggart had not seen him and shape-shifted.
  +
*In {{POA}}, [[Remus Lupin]] gives Harry [[Anti-Dementor lessons|private lessons]] on how to defeat Dementors, using a Boggart as a replacement. However, when Harry faced the Boggart the first and second time, when he failed to beat it, the Boggart/Dementor had managed to make Harry hear his mother's screams. This may imply that Boggarts can gain some abilities of the thing it morphs into. It also gained its weakness as it was easily defeated by Harry's [[Patronus Charm|Patronus]].
  +
*In an early script for {{POA|FA}}, there were several differences from the final cut of the film. The Boggarts for Neville, Ron, Harry, and Professor Lupin remained the same. Parvati's, however, would have been a [[vampire]] (specifically [[Count Dracula]]<ref>[http://www.castingcallpro.com/uk/view.php?uid=50675 Yana Yanezic's agency profile]</ref> which would have been dressed like {{w|Carmen Miranda}} (presumably referring to her famous fruit hat outfit from the film ''{{w|The Gang's All Here (1943 film)|The Gang's All Here}}'') when the Boggart-Banishing Charm was used on it, with Dean having the cobra boggart Parvati has in the actual film.<ref>[http://imsdb.com/scripts/Harry-Potter-and-the-Prisoner-of-Azkaban.html ''Prisoner of Azkaban'' script at the Internet Movie Script Database] (archived [http://web.archive.org/web/20090216093016/http://imsdb.com/scripts/Harry-Potter-and-the-Prisoner-of-Azkaban.html here] via the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine)</ref>
  +
*[[J. K. Rowling]] has stated that her Boggart would be the same as [[Molly Weasley]]'s: her loved ones dead or alternatively herself buried alive. In an earlier interview, however, before the publication of {{OOTP}}, she suggested [[Aragog]] as a possible Boggart for her, as she hates spiders.<ref name="scholasticinterview">[http://web.archive.org/web/20080623145514/www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/books/author/interview2.htm Harry Potter: Meet J. K. Rowling - October 16, 2000 interview]</ref>
  +
*The Boggart may have been inspired by the "Clutterbumph" from ''[[Manxmouse]]'', of which [[Harry Potter (book series)|''Harry Potter'' series]] author J.K. Rowling is a known fan.<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2001/1001-sydney-renton.htm Accio Quote - The story behind the Potter legend]</ref> The Clutterbumph is described as follows: "...something that is not there until one imagines it. And as it is always someone different who will be doing the imagining, no two Clutterbumphs are ever exactly alike. Whatever it is that frightens one the most and that is just about the worst thing one can think of, that is what a Clutterbumph looks like."
  +
*The Boggart also bears a resemblance to the {{w|Coco (folklore)|Cucuy}}, a monster in Hispanic and Latino folklore. Like the Cucuy, the Boggart lives in dark areas such as beneath beds and inside closets, and has the ability to change its shape at will.
  +
*Boggarts have been compared to the {{w|It (character)|titular character}} from the {{w|Stephen King}} horror novel ''{{w|It (novel)|It}}'', an ancient evil entity that took on the appearance of its targets' worst fears, most commonly appearing as "Pennywise the Dancing Clown".<ref>[http://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2015/11/20-years-of-pennywise-the-clown/416577/ 25 Years of Pennywise the Clown]</ref>
  +
**In {{HM}}, [[Jacob's sibling]]'s Boggart of Voldemort is turned into a clown after casting the [[Boggart-Banishing Spell]]; the clown Voldemort will then dance in the same style as Pennywise from the 2017 [[wikipedia: It (2017 film)|adaption]]. Later [[Barnaby Lee]] will admit that he found clown Voldemort even more intimidating due to his [[wikipedia: coulrophobia|coulrophobia]].
  +
*[[Harry Potter]] and [[Neville Longbottom]] are the two known characters to have results for their respective Boggarts and outcomes featured in the film adaptation, the LEGO game, and the GBA game, and all true to the depictions in the books with no alterations.<!-- This statement is based on the table below, previously having those two listed, and "No changes" filled for the three adaptations. If there is no changes, listing them is rather taking unnecessary space since the table is for comparison purpose. -->
  +
*In the film and video game adaptations of the series, changes were made to the following individual's Boggart form and Boggart-Banishing Spell outcome:
   
{|border="1" class="wikitable"
+
{| class="wikitable" width="850" border="1"
!width="11%" align="center" rowspan="2"|Person
+
! rowspan="2" |Individual
!colspan="2"|Books
+
! colspan="2" |Books
!colspan="2"|LEGO changes
+
! colspan="2" |Film
!colspan="2"|Film changes
+
! colspan="2" |LEGO
!colspan="2"|GBA version changes
+
! colspan="2" |GBA version
 
|-
 
|-
!width="11%" align="center"|Boggart
+
!Boggart
!width="11%" align="center"|Riddikulus
+
!Riddikulus
!width="11%" align="center"|Boggart
+
!Boggart
!width="11%" align="center"|Riddikulus
+
! width="120" |Riddikulus
!width="11%" align="center"|Boggart
+
! Boggart
!width="11%" align="center"|Riddikulus
+
!Riddikulus
!width="11%" align="center"|Boggart
+
!Boggart
!width="11%" align="center"|Riddikulus
+
!Riddikulus
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Albus Dumbledore]]
 
|[[Albus Dumbledore]]
|The corpse of his sister [[Ariana Dumbledore]]<ref name="Leaky"/>
+
|The corpse of his sister [[Ariana Dumbledore]]<ref name="Leaky" />
 
|Unknown
 
|Unknown
  +
! colspan="2" |Omitted
 
|Voldemort
 
|Voldemort
|Voldemort turns into a baby sucking on a dummy.
+
|Voldemort turns into a baby sucking on a dummy
|Omitted||
+
! colspan="2" |Omitted
|Omitted||
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Dean Thomas]]
 
|[[Dean Thomas]]
|Disembodied living hand||Caught in a mousetrap
+
|[[Loose Hand|Disembodied living hand]]|| Caught in a mousetrap
  +
! colspan="2" |Omitted
|A floating disembodied eyeball||The eyeball falling to the ground.
 
  +
|A floating disembodied eyeball||The eyeball falling to the ground
|Omitted||
 
|No changes||
+
! colspan="2" |No changes
|-
 
|[[Harry Potter]]
 
|A [[Dementor]]||Smoke/uses [[Patronus|Patronus Charm]].
 
|No changes||
 
|No changes||
 
|No changes||
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Hermione Granger]]
 
|[[Hermione Granger]]
|[[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]] telling her that she failed her exams or failure in general.
+
|[[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]] telling her that she failed her exams or failure in general
 
|Unknown
 
|Unknown
  +
! colspan="2" |Omitted
|McGonagall showing her a ''Troll'' exam.||[[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]] giving her an award.
 
  +
|McGonagall showing her a ''Troll'' exam ||[[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]] giving her an award
|Omitted||
 
|Omitted||
+
! colspan="2" |Omitted
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Molly Weasley]]
 
|[[Molly Weasley]]
|Dead family/friends
+
| Dead family/friends
|Unknown
+
| Unknown
  +
! colspan="2" |Omitted
 
|Voldemort
 
|Voldemort
|Voldemort turns into a baby sucking on a dummy.
+
|Voldemort turns into a baby sucking on a dummy
|Omitted||
+
! colspan="2" |Omitted
|Omitted||
 
|-
 
|[[Neville Longbottom]]
 
|[[Severus Snape]].||Snape wearing [[Augusta Longbottom|Neville's grandmother]]'s clothes.
 
|No changes||
 
|No changes||
 
|No changes||
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Padma Patil]]
 
|[[Padma Patil]]
|Omitted||
+
! colspan="2" | Omitted
  +
! colspan="2" | Omitted
|A [[Snake|giant cobra]]||Jack-in-the-box.
 
  +
|A [[Snake|giant cobra]]||A Jack-in-the-box
|Omitted||
 
|Omitted||
+
! colspan="2" |Omitted
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Parvati Patil]]
 
|[[Parvati Patil]]
|A [[Mummy|mummy]]||It tripped over its bandages.
+
| A [[mummy]]|| It tripped over its bandages
  +
| A [[Snake|giant cobra]]
|A Mummy||It shrank.
 
  +
<br />
|A [[Snake|giant cobra]]||It turned into a jack-in-the-box
 
  +
|It turned into a Jack-in-the-box
|A normal cobra||It tied itself in a knot
 
  +
<br />
  +
|A mummy||It shrank
  +
| A normal cobra|| It tied itself in a knot
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Remus Lupin]]
 
|[[Remus Lupin]]
|Full moon.||A cockroach
+
| Full moon || A balloon
|Full moon||A balloon.
+
|Full moon||A balloon[1]
  +
<br />
 
|Full moon||A balloon
 
|Full moon||A balloon
|Omitted||
+
! colspan="2" |Omitted
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]
 
|[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]
Line 282: Line 446:
 
|[[Seamus Finnigan]]
 
|[[Seamus Finnigan]]
 
|A [[banshee]]
 
|A [[banshee]]
|She lost her voice.
+
|She lost her voice
  +
! colspan="2" |Omitted
 
|Voldemort
 
|Voldemort
|Voldemort turns into a baby sucking on a dummy.
+
|Voldemort turns into a baby sucking on a dummy
|Omitted
+
! colspan="2" |Omitted
|
 
|Omitted
 
|
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Tom Riddle]]
 
|[[Tom Riddle]]
 
|His own dead body
 
|His own dead body
 
|Unknown
 
|Unknown
  +
! colspan="2" |Omitted
 
|Harry Potter
 
|Harry Potter
|Harry dropping dead.
+
|Harry dropping dead
|Omitted
+
! colspan="2" |Omitted
|
 
|Omitted
 
|
 
|-
 
|[[Fred and George Weasley]]<br />[[Justin Finch-Fletchley]]<br />[[Dobby]]
 
|Omitted
 
|
 
|[[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]
 
|Voldemort turns into a baby sucking on a dummy.
 
|Omitted
 
|
 
|Omitted
 
|
 
 
|}
 
|}
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
 
{{Imagecat|Images of Boggarts}}
 
{{Imagecat|Images of Boggarts}}
  +
*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'' {{1st}}
 
  +
*{{POA}} {{1st}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{POA|F}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{POA|G}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''
 
  +
*{{GOF}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)]]'' {{Comment|Deleted scene}} {{Mention}}
 
  +
*{{GOF|F}} {{Deleted scenes}} {{Mention}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''
 
  +
*{{OOTP}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)]]'' {{Comment|Flashback in Disc 2}}
 
  +
*{{OOTP|F}} {{C|Flashback in Disc 2}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' {{Comment|Possibly}}
 
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]]'' {{Possible}}
+
*{{DH}} {{Possible}}
  +
*{{DH|F1}} {{Possible}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{DH|G1}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World]]''
 
  +
*{{COG|S}} {{Flashback}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Characters of the Magical World]]''
 
  +
*{{COG}} {{Flashback}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
 
  +
*{{PM}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7]]'' {{Possible}}
 
  +
*{{WW}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter|Harry Potter LEGO Sets]]''
 
  +
*{{LEGO|B}}
  +
*{{LEGO|C}}
  +
*{{LEGO|Y1}}
  +
*{{LEGO|Y2}} {{Possible}}
  +
*{{LEGO}}
  +
*{{HPV|CH}}
  +
*{{HPV|CR}}
  +
*{{HM}}
  +
*{{WU}}
  +
*{{PAS}}
  +
*{{MA}}
  +
*{{HL}}
   
 
==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
 
 
{{Defence Against the Dark Arts}}
 
{{Defence Against the Dark Arts}}
  +
[[de:Irrwicht]]
 
  +
[[de2:Irrwicht]]
 
  +
[[el:Μπόγκαρτ]]
 
[[es:Boggart]]
 
[[es:Boggart]]
  +
[[et:Peletis]]
  +
[[fi:Mörkö]]
 
[[fr:Épouvantard]]
 
[[fr:Épouvantard]]
  +
[[ja:まね妖怪]]
  +
[[no:Hambuse]]
  +
[[pl:Bogin]]
  +
[[pt-br:Bicho-Papão]]
 
[[ru:Боггарт]]
 
[[ru:Боггарт]]
[[fi:Mörkö]]
+
[[zh:博格特]]
[[pl:Bogin]]
+
[[Category:Boggarts]]
  +
[[Category:Confoundables]]
[[de:Irrwicht]]
 
[[Category:Beasts]]
+
[[Category:Creatures found worldwide]]
[[Category:Shapeshifters]]
+
[[Category:Muggle-known creatures]]
[[Category:Boggarts| ]]
+
[[Category:Triwizard Tournament]]

Latest revision as of 13:59, 29 February 2024

"So the boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. He does not yet know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears."
Professor Lupin to his third-year Defence Against the Dark Arts class in September 1993[src]

A Boggart was an amortal shape-shifting non-being that took on the form of its observer's worst fear. Because of their shape-shifting ability, no one knew what a Boggart looked like when it was alone, as it changed shape instantly upon encountering someone.[1][2]

When facing a Boggart, it was best to have someone else along, to try to confuse it, since facing more than one person at once made it indecisive towards determining what form it should take, usually resulting in a not frightening combination of the victims' fears.[1][2]

Boggarts would, at least before the Battle of Hogwarts, very commonly appear as Lord Voldemort, since he represented the worst fear of many wizards and witches.[5]

Description

Physical appearance

Nobody knew what a Boggart looked like if nobody was there to see it, although it continued to exist, usually giving evidence of its presence by rattling, shaking or scratching the object in which it is hiding. Boggarts particularly liked confined spaces, but may also have been found lurking in woods and around shadowy corners.[2]

Nature

"A Boggart is a shape-shifting creature that will assume the form of whatever most frightens the person who encounters it."
— A Boggart's basic nature[src]

Much like Poltergeists, Boggart were non-beings, who, although they resembled living creatures, were not considered magically "alive" and were as a result amortal (a Boggart could be made to disappear with the Boggart-Banishing Spell, but it would inevitably reappear, with several more by its side at times). Much like Poltergeists with mischief and Dementors with gloom and depression, Boggarts seemed to embody the human emotion of fear, and consequently feed on other beings' fears.[2]

Boggarts' ability to shapeshift showed remarkable speed and fluidity, but had several limitations. Firstly, being confined, if nothing else, by the size of the room it inhabited, the Boggart would scale down an otherwise-gigantic form (as seen when a Boggart turned into the full moon).[1] Secondly, though a Boggart who transformed into a magical being or object could replicate its abilities to an extent, this would be a weaker facsimile of the real thing; thus, a Boggart transformed into a Dementor had weaker magic than a real Dementor (according to Professor Lupin, who exploited this effect to simulate a Dementor attack in Harry's presence to help him perfect the use of the Patronus Charm at no serious risk to Harry Potter's soul).[6]

Additionally, when a witch or wizard had multiple fears that tied for their "worst," the Boggart would typically cycle through those fears, presumably randomly. For example, in August 1995, when Molly Weasley was attempting to banish a boggart that had taken up residence in 12 Grimmauld Place, the Boggart took the form of the freshly dead bodies of her family, as well as Harry Potter, whom she loved like a son. Since she feared the deaths of all her loved ones equally, the Boggart cycled through all the corpses randomly.[7]

The extent of Boggarts' intelligence was unclear; though they sometimes took the forms of sentient beings as part of their fear-inducing transformations;[1][8] those false "people" appeared to be little more than caricatures, acting out the motions of the victim's fear involving said people, heedless of their surroundings.[8][9] It was worth noting however that one Boggart once settled into the form of a human killer, foregoing individual transformations, and successfully posed as this man for a long period of time; and Boggarts' closest-known "relatives", Poltergeists and Dementors, both possessed sapience.[2]

Though they could not see other non-beings like Dementors, Muggles could sometimes see Boggarts; however, as most Muggles refused to acknowledge anything that might even be considered somewhat magical, the glimpses they caught of Boggarts were usually dismissed as mere hallucinations or figments of the viewer's imagination. This denial was helped by the fact that Muggles rarely saw Boggarts plainly, due to their favoured haunts being dark places away from the public eye.[2]

Boggarts were capable of leaving a dark presence in spaces they once inhabited, that could be felt by humans.[4]

When taking the form of something that could do magic, Boggarts were able to cast spells, though the extent of this is unclear. When a Boggart took the form of Lord Voldemort during the 1986–1987 school year, Jacob's sibling first had to duel it before they were able to cast Riddikulus and banish it.[10]

Defence against a Boggart

"The charm that repels a boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing."
— Remus Lupin teaching third-years how to repel Boggarts[src]
Boggart-0

A Boggart in the wardrobe

The incantation for the Boggart-Banishing Spell was Riddikulus. The charm required a strong mind and good concentration. The incantation and wand movement alone would not affect a Boggart. The spell could be tricky, because it involved making the creature into a figure of fun, so that fear could be dispelled in amusement. If the caster was able to laugh aloud at the Boggart, it would disappear at once. The intention was to force the Boggart to assume a less-threatening and hopefully comical form.[1][2]

In September 1993, this charm was taught by Remus Lupin during a third-year Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.[1]

Having multiple people facing one Boggart may have reduced its effectiveness of frightening its victims, since it would not have been able to determine which form to take.[1]

A Boggart also gained the weaknesses of whatever they turned into. For example if it turned into a Dementor, it could be repelled by a Patronus Charm like a normal Dementor.[6] A Boggart in the form of a Dementor could also trip over its robes, revealing its true nature.[11]

Hiding places

Boggarts were particularly fond of inhabiting dark, confined spaces, such as in wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, and the cupboards under sinks and desks.[2] On at least one occasion, a boggart was found hiding in a grandfather clock.[1] They also liked shadowy corners.[2]

Known encounters

Famous Boggarts

Famous Boggarts included the Old Boggle of Canterbury (believed by local Muggles to be a mad, cannibalistic hermit that lived in a cave; in reality a particularly small Boggart that had learnt how to make the most of echoes).[2]

The Bludgeoning Boggart of Old London Town (a Boggart that had taken on the form of a murderous thug that prowled the back streets of 19th century London, but could be reduced to a hamster with one simple incantation.[2]

The Screaming Bogey of Strathtully (a Scottish Boggart that had fed on the fears of local Muggles to the point that it had become an elephantine black shadow with glowing white eyes, but which Lyall Lupin of the Ministry of Magic eventually trapped in a matchbox).[2]

Hogwarts

Late 19th century or earlier

There was an old cupboard in a room in Hogwarts Castle containing a powerful Boggart that five professors had to defeat. They were barely able to repel it as it shifted between various forms, including a werewolf, tornado, a plate of haggis, a Hungarian Horntail and someone's mother-in-law.[12]

Near the end of the 1890–1891 school year, Fifth year students trained in repelling Boggarts under the supervision of Professor Dinah Hecat. During the lesson, Natsai Onai saw the Boggart turn into an unidentified adult man, and used the Boggart-Banishing Spell to change it into an inoffensive cat.[13]

1910s

In the 1910s, professor Albus Dumbledore taught students how to confront a Boggart and learn the spell to banish it. When Newt Scamander's Boggart turned into a desk, Dumbledore commented on its unexpected nature and kindly inquired why it took this form. Newt confessed that his greatest fear was being stuck working in an office. After Newt successfully dispatched the Boggart, Dumbledore encouraged Leta Lestrange to take her turn. Dumbledore reassured Leta that being afraid of something wasn't shameful. The form of Leta's Boggart surprised both Dumbledore and the entire class: a white sheet containing an indistinguishable, slight form floating through a dark blue glow. The event badly shook Leta.[14]

1970s

At some point during his time at Hogwarts Jacob opened the Vault of Fear, releasing the Boggarts that guarded it onto the school grounds. Once he resealed the vault, the Boggarts were again locked away.

1986–1987 school year

During the 1986–1987 school year, the Vault of Fear was again tampered with, which caused a large number of Boggarts to appear in an unusually high frequency around the school. One incident involved a Boggart appearing in a greenhouse during a Herbology class, scaring Penny Haywood.[15] Jacob's sibling learned from Rubeus Hagrid that Boggarts had not been seen on the school ground's since Jacob's school days.[16] Jacob's sibling learnt from one of Jacob's notebooks that the Boggarts were active due to Vault of Fear having been tampered with.[17] Jacob's sibling learnt the Boggart-Banishing Spell with Tulip Karasu, and defeated two Boggarts with it; one in the Artefact Room for Tulip, and another in Jacob's room.[9] After Jacob's sibling and friends opened the vault and defeated the Boggarts guarding it, the curse was broken and Boggarts stopped appearing so often.[18][19]

Boggart in Bushes HM

The Boggart in the guise of Lord Voldemort

Also during this year, a Boggart caused panic that Lord Voldemort was returning when Ben Copper mistook the Boggart for the real thing. Jacob's sibling eventually tracked the Boggart down and defeated it, but only after it had terrified the residents of Hogsmeade.[10]

1988–1989 school year

During the 1988–1989 school year, Professor Patricia Rakepick taught her fifth-year Defence Against the Dark Arts students about how to defend against a Boggart. She instructed Jacob's sibling to give a demonstration. A Boggart in the form of Lord Voldemort rose from the chest, and was defeated by Jacob's sibling.[20]

1993–1994 school year

"That suggests that what you fear most of all is — fear. Very wise, Harry."
— Remus Lupin regarding what Harry Potter fears[src]
POA Remus Boggart reveal

Remus Lupin drawing the Boggart's attention away from Harry Potter

In 1993, Professor Remus Lupin taught his third-year Defence Against the Dark Arts students about how to defend against a Boggart. He took the class to the staffroom, where a Boggart had moved into a wardrobe the previous afternoon. After explaining what they would need to do, Professor Lupin let the class, starting with Neville Longbottom, perform the Riddikulus charm on the Boggart. When the Boggart moved towards Harry Potter, Lupin drew the Boggart's attention, causing it to turn into a full moon (as he was in fact a werewolf), then had Neville finish it off, banishing it for good.[1]

Later, Professor Lupin explained that the reason he didn't let Harry face the Boggart was that he thought Harry's Boggart would turn into Lord Voldemort, and he didn't want to panic the students.[21] Harry's Boggart actually took on the form of a Dementor,[6] as he had an encounter with them on the way to Hogwarts that year and heard his mother's dying moments whenever they came near.[22]

To help Harry, Professor Lupin taught him how to perform the Patronus, using a Boggart found in Argus Filch's filing cabinet as a substitute for a real Dementor. In between the private lessons, Professor Lupin kept the Boggart in a cabinet under the desk, in his office.[6]

At the end of the school year, Lupin used another Boggart as part of his third year exams, as the final obstacle in a series.[8]

1994–1995 school year

TriwizardMaze PM B4C31M1 DementorInTriwizardMaze Moment

A Boggart in the form of a Dementor in the Triwizard Maze

On 24 June 1995, Harry Potter came across a Boggart in the Triwizard Maze during the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament of that year, in the form of a Dementor. Harry initially thought the Boggart was actually a Dementor, thus casting his Patronus, and realised that the creature was in fact a Boggart when it fell back and tripped over the hem of its robes instead of being driven back, as a real Dementor would have done.[11]

2008–2009 school year

During the 2008–2009 school year, Professor Brindlemore taught her first-year Defence Against the Dark Arts students how to repel Boggarts. A Boggart also existed in one of the cupboards in the Headmaster's office, which some students unleashed due to wanting to use the Pensieve in the cupboard. It was faced by Daniel Page first and changed into a dragon, and later into an evil version of Ivy Warrington herself when she faced it.[23]

2010–2011 school year

Masked wizard Boggarts MA

Boggarts in the form of masked wizards

During the 2010–2011 school year, a Boggart was present in Neville Longbottom's storeroom, which changed into the form of a masked wizard from NOTME when it was discovered by Linderina Crane, letting her believe it was a real wizard. She cast the Incarcerous Spell on the Boggart, but it remained unharmed and started to cast spells towards her. When students came to the rescue, two more masked wizard Boggarts appeared.[23]

Daniel facing Boggart MA

Daniel listening to the Boggart

After they were almost defeated, when Daniel Page faced a Boggart, it changed into the form of his mother Kaleena being an Azkaban convict. Realising that it could help him see his mother again, Daniel went back to the room some time later and listened to the Boggart talk. His friend then arrived and faced the Boggart themself, making it turn into an Acromantula, and cast the Boggart-Banishing Spell which gave the Boggart roller skates.[23]

Number 12 Grimmauld Place

"Ron's body turned into Bill's, spread-eagled on his back, his eyes wide open and empty. Mrs Weasley sobbed harder than ever. 'R-riddikulus!' she sobbed again. Crack. Mr Weasley's body replaced Bill's, his glasses askew, a trickle of blood running down his face. 'No!' Mrs Weasley moaned. 'No ... riddikulus! Riddikulus! RIDDIKULUS!' Crack. Dead twins. Crack. Dead Percy. Crack. Dead Harry ..."
— Molly Weasley struggling to defeat a boggart in 12 Grimmauld Place[src]

While cleaning up 12 Grimmauld Place, the new headquarters of the reconvened Order of the Phoenix, Molly Weasley stumbled across what she thought was a Boggart in a locked cabinet of a writing desk. She decided to wait for Alastor Moody to confirm it was a Boggart, before opening the cabinet.[24]

After escaping from the party being held in celebration of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger becoming Prefects, Harry heard sobbing coming from the drawing room. When he looked inside, Harry saw Mrs Weasley cowering against a dark wall, and the body of her son, Ron, sprawled on the floor. After Molly tried the Riddikulus charm without success, Ron's body turned into the body of Bill Weasley, with his eyes wide open and empty. Molly's next attempt turned Bill's body into Arthur Weasley, with blood running down his face. The next attempts turned the boggart into Fred and George Weasley, Percy Weasley, and then Harry.[7]

Harry shouted to Mrs Weasley that she should leave, causing Remus Lupin and Sirius Black to run into the room, followed by Alastor Moody. Lupin quickly figured out what had happened, and made the Boggart turn from Harry's dead body to the full moon, then with a wave of his wand, made the orb vanish in a puff of smoke.[7]

Unspecified

Although the precise details of this encounter are unknown, Lupin mentioned during his first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson in 1993 that he had once had an encounter with a Boggart in the company of at least two other people where the Boggart, attempting to frighten two people at once, turned itself into half a slug (One person was afraid of a Flesh-Eating Slug and the other was afraid of headless corpses).[1]

Known Boggart forms

"P-P-Professor McGonagall! Sh-she said I'd failed everything!"
Hermione Granger after having encountered her Boggart[src]
Individual Fear Riddikulus result
Albus Dumbledore The corpse of his sister Ariana Dumbledore[25] Unknown
Barnaby Lee Clowns[18] Unknown
Ben Copper Lord Voldemort[26] Unknown
Bilton Bilmes Dementor[26]

Bilton Bilmes Dementor Boggart HM

Unknown
Daniel Page Dragon (formerly), his mother Kaleena Page as a criminal[23]

Boggart approaching Daniel MA

Unknown
Dean Thomas Disembodied living hand[1]Loose Hand Boggart The hand being caught in a mousetrap[1]
Loose hand boggart defeated
Duncan Hobhouse Puffskein[27]
Gladwin Moon A Demiguise[28] Unknown
Harry Potter A Dementor (fear in general, according to Remus Lupin)[6]
Harry's boggart
Smoke[11] (could alternatively be banished with the Patronus Charm)[6]
Hermione Granger Professor McGonagall telling her that she failed her exams (failure in general)[8] Professor McGonagall giving her an award[5]
Hope Howell A large, evil looking man[29] A field mushroom (spell performed by Lyall Lupin)[29]
Ivy Warrington A dark version of herself[23]
Ivy Warrington's boggart MA
Unknown
Jacob's sibling Lord Voldemort[9]
Jacob's sibling Voldemort Boggart
Lord Voldemort as a clown[18]Jacob's sibling Voldemort Riddikulus
Leta Lestrange Her drowning half-brother Corvus Lestrange[14]

Leta's Boggart

Unknown
Linderina Crane Failing to stop the Nocturnal Order of Tricks and Magical Exhibitions (in the form of a masked wizard from NOTME)[23]Boggart casting spell back at Linderina Crane MA Unknown
Lottie Turner Dementor[23] Clown[23]
Molly Weasley The Dead bodies of Harry Potter and her family[7] Unknown[7]
Natsai Onai An adult man[30] Cat[30]
Neville Longbottom Severus Snape[1]Neville's boggart Snape wearing Neville's grandmother's clothes[1]

Neville Riddikulus

Newton Scamander Office/desk job[14]Newt boggart A mechanical dragon[14]NewtRiddikulus
Nymphadora Tonks Losing her abilities as a Metamorphmagus[18] Unknown
Padma Patil A giant snake[5] Jack-in-the-box[5]
Parvati Patil A bloodstained, bandaged mummy[1]Boggart Mummy PM The mummy tripped over its bandages[1]
Boggart Mummy defeated PM
Penny Haywood A werewolf[15]Penny Haywood facing her Boggart HM31h A stuffed toy wolf (performed by Pomona Sprout)[15]
Penny Haywood Riddikulus
Remus Lupin Full moon (the fear of turning into his werewolf form)[1]POA moon Boggart A cockroach[1] or puff of smoke[7]
Ron Weasley A giant spider[1] (Acromantula)[31]Ron's boggart The spider lost its legs[1]
Boggart spider defeated PM
Seamus Finnigan A banshee[1]
Boggart Banshee PM
A banshee having lost her voice[1]
Boggart Banshee defeated PM
Tulip Karasu An evil, glowing-eyed Merula Snyde berating her (fear of betraying friends)[9]Tulip Karasu Merula Boggart Merula as an out-of-character girly girl (performed by Jacob's sibling)[9]Tulip Karasu Merula Riddikulus
William Weasley Losing his family[18] Unknown
Unidentified Muggle-born Hogwarts student Acromantula[23] Acromantula given Roller Skates[23]Boggart having been cast Riddikulus MA
Unidentified student A vampire[14] A buck-toothed rabbit[14]
Unidentified student A shark[14] A flotation device[14]
Unidentified student A zombie[14] Given a pumpkin for its head[14]

The following individuals all had Voldemort as their Boggart form, and after performing the Boggart-Banishing Spell, Lord Voldemort would turn into a baby and suck on a dummy:[5]

Etymology

In English mythology, a Boggart (or bogart, bogan, bogle or boggle) is a household spirit, sometimes mischievous, sometimes helpful.

Behind the scenes

Boggart Snape (old edition)

A Boggart imitating Severus Snape (2004 edition)

Boggart Snape (new 2018 edition)

A Boggart imitating Severus Snape (2018 edition)

Boggart POP

A Boggart imitating Severus Snape as a POP! Vinyl

  • Lupin's Boggart, the full moon, indicated his dread of his transformations into a werewolf. However, the Boggart failed to frighten him because it is not the moon itself he feared, but its effect on him.
  • In mythology, the Boggart actually lives in marshes or fields and has a short, grotesque, hairy appearance.
    • The Boggarts in Harry Potter are more similar to the Bogeyman, being found in closets, under furniture, and cupboards and able to transform into one's worst fear.
  • "Boggart" is the favourite word/line from the series of Actor David Thewlis (Remus Lupin).[32]
  • It is unknown if Boggarts can change into intangible fears like darkness, certain sounds or mental/physical illnesses. It is also unknown how they adapt to people who are only afraid of interacting with non-sentient concepts like drowning, loneliness or claustrophobia. Unless the Boggart is somehow able to engulf a person with these or similar fears it is likely they are powerless against them and might even be exposed in their actual form to these people.
    • It is possible that the Boggart knows ways to symbolise these fears; for example, in the case of a person with Hydrophobia, showing the viewer their drowned corpse. This is supported in canon by Lord Voldemort (who feared death) seeing his own corpse, Remus Lupin (who feared his werewolf transformation) seeing the full moon, and Hermione (who feared failure) seeing Professor McGonagall telling her that she failed all of her exams. Mrs Weasley feared her loved ones dying, so the Boggart showed her loved one's corpses in succession, which supports this theory even further.
  • It could be possible that if someone who has no fear attempts to engage a Boggart, it will not be able to decide what to turn into and will be forced to show its true form.
  • In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Remus Lupin mentions that no one knows what a Boggart looks like when it is alone. Alastor Moody, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is able to determine through his "mad" eye that a creature hiding in 12 Grimmauld Place is definitely a Boggart. It is assumed that Moody knew what a Boggart looked like in its true form as the Boggart had not seen him and shape-shifted.
  • In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Remus Lupin gives Harry private lessons on how to defeat Dementors, using a Boggart as a replacement. However, when Harry faced the Boggart the first and second time, when he failed to beat it, the Boggart/Dementor had managed to make Harry hear his mother's screams. This may imply that Boggarts can gain some abilities of the thing it morphs into. It also gained its weakness as it was easily defeated by Harry's Patronus.
  • In an early script for the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, there were several differences from the final cut of the film. The Boggarts for Neville, Ron, Harry, and Professor Lupin remained the same. Parvati's, however, would have been a vampire (specifically Count Dracula[33] which would have been dressed like Carmen Miranda (presumably referring to her famous fruit hat outfit from the film The Gang's All Here) when the Boggart-Banishing Charm was used on it, with Dean having the cobra boggart Parvati has in the actual film.[34]
  • J. K. Rowling has stated that her Boggart would be the same as Molly Weasley's: her loved ones dead or alternatively herself buried alive. In an earlier interview, however, before the publication of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, she suggested Aragog as a possible Boggart for her, as she hates spiders.[35]
  • The Boggart may have been inspired by the "Clutterbumph" from Manxmouse, of which Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling is a known fan.[36] The Clutterbumph is described as follows: "...something that is not there until one imagines it. And as it is always someone different who will be doing the imagining, no two Clutterbumphs are ever exactly alike. Whatever it is that frightens one the most and that is just about the worst thing one can think of, that is what a Clutterbumph looks like."
  • The Boggart also bears a resemblance to the Cucuy, a monster in Hispanic and Latino folklore. Like the Cucuy, the Boggart lives in dark areas such as beneath beds and inside closets, and has the ability to change its shape at will.
  • Boggarts have been compared to the titular character from the Stephen King horror novel It, an ancient evil entity that took on the appearance of its targets' worst fears, most commonly appearing as "Pennywise the Dancing Clown".[37]
  • Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom are the two known characters to have results for their respective Boggarts and outcomes featured in the film adaptation, the LEGO game, and the GBA game, and all true to the depictions in the books with no alterations.
  • In the film and video game adaptations of the series, changes were made to the following individual's Boggart form and Boggart-Banishing Spell outcome:
Individual Books Film LEGO GBA version
Boggart Riddikulus Boggart Riddikulus Boggart Riddikulus Boggart Riddikulus
Albus Dumbledore The corpse of his sister Ariana Dumbledore[25] Unknown Omitted Voldemort Voldemort turns into a baby sucking on a dummy Omitted
Dean Thomas Disembodied living hand Caught in a mousetrap Omitted A floating disembodied eyeball The eyeball falling to the ground No changes
Hermione Granger Professor McGonagall telling her that she failed her exams or failure in general Unknown Omitted McGonagall showing her a Troll exam Professor McGonagall giving her an award Omitted
Molly Weasley Dead family/friends Unknown Omitted Voldemort Voldemort turns into a baby sucking on a dummy Omitted
Padma Patil Omitted Omitted A giant cobra A Jack-in-the-box Omitted
Parvati Patil A mummy It tripped over its bandages A giant cobra


It turned into a Jack-in-the-box


A mummy It shrank A normal cobra It tied itself in a knot
Remus Lupin Full moon A balloon Full moon A balloon[1]


Full moon A balloon Omitted
Ron Weasley Giant spider No legs Giant spider The spider is given roller skates Giant spider The spider is given roller skates Giant spider The spider is given roller skates
Seamus Finnigan A banshee She lost her voice Omitted Voldemort Voldemort turns into a baby sucking on a dummy Omitted
Tom Riddle His own dead body Unknown Omitted Harry Potter Harry dropping dead Omitted

Appearances

Wiki
The Harry Potter Wiki has 116 images related to Boggart.

Notes and references

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 7 (The Boggart in the Wardrobe)
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Boggart" at Wizarding World
  3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 14 (The Unforgivable Curses)
  4. 4.0 4.1 Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (SOS Task Force Training - Calamity Essentials II: Not So Riddikulus. - "In a Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, you examine a cupboard that once housed a Boggart. The Boggart's departure left the cupboard undeniably bare, yet you are attuned enough to feel a dark presence reaching for you.')
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 12 (The Patronus)
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 9 (The Woes of Mrs Weasley)
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 16 (Professor Trelawney's Prediction)
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, Chapter 7 (Jacob's Room)
  10. 10.0 10.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, "SHADOWS OF THE DARK LORD" Achievement
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 31 (The Third Task)
  12. Hogwarts Legacy - see video
  13. Hogwarts Legacy, Main Quest "The House Cup"
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 14.9 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay, Scene 69
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, Chapter 1 (Year Three Begins) - Herbology Lesson "Valerian Sprigs"
  16. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, Chapter 2 (Boggarts and Butterbeer)
  17. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, Chapter 5 (Tulip Karasu)
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, Chapter 9 (The Vault of Fear)
  19. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, Chapter 10 (Among Friends)
  20. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 8 (Trial by Fire)
  21. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 8 (Flight of the Fat Lady)
  22. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 5 (The Dementor)
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 23.7 23.8 23.9 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
  24. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 5 (The Order of the Phoenix)
  25. 25.0 25.1 J.K. Rowling Web Chat Transcript
  26. 26.0 26.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, "SHADOWS OF THE DARK LORD" Achievement
  27. Hogwarts Legacy, Side Quest "Venomous Valour"
  28. Hogwarts Legacy, Main Quest "The Caretaker's Lunar Lament"
  29. 29.0 29.1 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Remus Lupin" at Wizarding World
  30. 30.0 30.1 Hogwarts Legacy - see this video
  31. "About the Books: transcript of J.K. Rowling's live interview on Scholastic.com," Scholastic.com, 16 October 2000 at Accio Quote!
  32. YouTube video
  33. Yana Yanezic's agency profile
  34. Prisoner of Azkaban script at the Internet Movie Script Database (archived here via the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine)
  35. Harry Potter: Meet J. K. Rowling - October 16, 2000 interview
  36. Accio Quote - The story behind the Potter legend
  37. 25 Years of Pennywise the Clown
Defence Against the Dark Arts (D.A.D.A.)
Subjectsdada
D.A.D.A. at Hogwarts
Classroom 3C · Classroom 3C backrooms · Temporary Classroom · Hogwarts Turris Magnus · Teacher's Office · Storeroom · Staircase · Storage room · Lesson Cup · Race Cup · Duelling Club · Dumbledore's Army
Professors
Isidora Morganach · Dinah Hecat · Arsenius Jigger · Albus Dumbledore · Galatea Merrythought · 1984–1985 professor · 1985–1986 professor · 1986–1987 professor · 1987–1988 professor · Patricia Rakepick · 1989–1990 professor · First 1990–1991 professor · Olivia Green · Quirinus Quirrell · Gilderoy Lockhart · Remus Lupin · Bartemius Crouch Junior (as Alastor Moody) · Dolores Umbridge · Severus Snape · Amycus Carrow (as Dark Arts teacher) · Unidentified professor · Brindlemore
Textbooks
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection · Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts · Break with a Banshee · Gadding with Ghouls · Holidays with Hags · Travels with Trolls · Voyages with Vampires · Wanderings with Werewolves · Year with the Yeti · The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts · Defensive Magical Theory · Dark Arts Defence – Basics for Beginners · Confronting the Faceless · Defence Against the Dark Arts
Spells studied at Hogwarts under D.A.D.A.
Aqua Eructo · Boggart-Banishing Spell (Riddikulus) · Bombarda Maxima · Cave inimicum · Concealment Charms · Counter-curses · Counter-jinxes · Cruciatus Curse (Crucio) · Curse of the Bogies (Mucus ad Nauseam) · Cursed barrier spell · Densaugeo · Deprimo Spell (Deprimo) · Disarming Charm (Expelliarmus) · Ear-Shrivelling Curse · Everte Statum · Freezing Spell (Glacius) · Full Body-Bind Curse (Petrificus Totalus) · Fumos Duo · Green Sparks · Hex-Breaker· Hex-deflection · Hex Zapper · Homorphus Charm · Human-presence-revealing Spell (Homenum Revelio) · Impediment Jinx (Impedimenta) · Imperius Curse (Imperio) · Imperturbable Charm · Killing Curse (Avada Kedavra) · Knockback Jinx (Flipendo) · Lacarnum Inflamari · Langlock · Levitation Spell (Levioso) · Limbo Mist anticharm · Nonverbal spells · Patronus Charm (Expecto Patronum) · Pimple Jinx (Furnunculus) · Protective enchantments · Red Sparks (Vermillious) · Reductor Curse (Reducto) · Salvio hexia · Sea Urchin Jinx · Seize and pull charm (Carpe Retractum) · Shield Charm (Protego) · Smokescreen Spell (Fumos) · Snake-Vanishing Spell (Vipera Evanesca) · Softening Charm (Spongify) · Stretching Jinx · Tickling Charm (Rictusempra) · Tongue-Tying Curse (Mimblewimble) · Trip Jinx · Twitchy-Ears Hex · Verdimillious Charm (Verdimillious) · Verdimillious Duo Spell (Verdimillious) · Verdimillious Tria · Vermillious Duo · Vermillious Tria · Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos)
Creatures studied at Hogwarts under D.A.D.A.
Banshee · Boggart · Chameleon Ghoul · Charmed skeleton · Cornish Pixie · Dementor · Dugbog · Erkling · Flesh-Eating Slug · Ghost · Ghoul · Gnome · Grindylow · Gytrash · Hag · Hinkypunk · Iguana · Imp · Inferius · Kappa · Manticore · Nocturnal beasts · Nogtail · Poltergeist · Red Cap · Snake · Troll · Vampire · Vampire bat · Werewolf · Yeti · Zombie