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"You'd better open it, Ron. It'll be worse if you don't. My gran sent me one once, and I ignored it and — it was horrible."
— Neville talking to Ron about his Howler[src]

A Howler was a magical letter in a red envelope which enchanted the written message into the writer's voice, usually at a very high volume, which increased if the recipient didn't open the envelope in a timely manner, even make it explode.[1]

Description[]

The physical temperature of the Howler would begin to rapidly increase upon delivery, and it would explode if left unopened for too long. This mechanism ensured that the recipient would open the Howler, even though he or she knew that it contained an unpleasantly loud message. Once the message had been received, the envelope burst into flames, leaving only ashes.[1]

The purpose of the Howler was to deliver a message expressing significant anger or displeasure in a manner which standard writing could not adequately convey. As such, a Howler would convey the displeasure of its author/sender even if left unopened[1], for it would shower the recipient with insults and cursing upon exploding into flames.[2][5]

The Lovebird to Love Note Transfiguration spell created a note that would verbally convey its message in a manner similar to a Howler, though at a significantly quieter volume.[6]

History[]

Howler

A Howler speaking its message

Multiple Hogwarts students received Howlers during the 1890–1891 school year for various infractions, such as wandering in the Forbidden Forest, among other things.[7]

Neville Longbottom mentioned receiving at least one Howler from his grandmother before 1992.[1]

In 1992, Ron Weasley received a Howler from his mother after he stole his father's Flying Ford Anglia.[1]

In 1994, Neville received a Howler from his grandmother, after he supposedly misplaced his password list enabling Sirius Black to enter Gryffindor Tower.[8] It turned out that Crookshanks had actually stolen the list for Black.

A significant number of Howlers were sent to the Ministry of Magic in the summer of 1994 after the disturbing events of that year's Quidditch World Cup. The Howlers were primarily critical of the security precautions, and they caused appreciable damage to Percy Weasley's work area.[2] Also, on that year, Hermione Granger received a few Howlers from readers of Witch Weekly when Rita Skeeter wrote a nasty article on her, claiming she was in a love triangle with Harry Potter and Viktor Krum.[5]

Harry Potter's Aunt Petunia received a Howler on 2 August 1995 from Albus Dumbledore, after Vernon Dursley threatened to kick Harry out of their home after two Dementors attacked Harry and his cousin, Dudley in Little Whinging.[3] The Howler reminded Petunia of her pact to keep Harry safe at 4 Privet Drive.[4]

In the 2010–2011 school year, Robyn Thistlethwaite received a Howler from her mother because her school marks were down, causing her Professors to report to her parents, this made her mother threaten to confiscate her broomstick.[9]

Howlers were among the various magical items that appeared as Foundables during the Calamity, which affected the Wizarding world in the 2010s. They were found being guarded by Gnomes, as Confoundables.[10]

Behind the scenes[]

  • Instead of simply being a red envelope that can explode, in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Ron's Howler resembles a mouth with teeth (simulated by the red envelope and white paper, with a ribbon for the tongue) that screams at the recipient, then blows a raspberry and tears itself to shreds once finished shouting. Also, Mrs Weasley added a congratulations directly to Ginny for making it into Gryffindor, stating that her parents are proud of this sorting. This implies that the film version's Howler possesses a certain degree of sentience and awareness of its surroundings, as it turned to face Ginny to make this comment, changing its tone into a more calm and kind one.
Order Of The Phoenix Howler

Possibly a Howler as shown in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 6 (Gilderoy Lockhart)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 10 (Mayhem at the Ministry)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 2 (A Peck of Owls)
  4. 4.0 4.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 37 (The Lost Prophecy)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 28 (The Madness of Mr Crouch)
  6. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Side Quest "Valentine's Day"
  7. Hogwarts Legacy
  8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 14 (Snape's Grudge)
  9. Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, Year 3, Card Primer: Howler
  10. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
  11. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, "Valentine's Day" Achievement - Part 1, Side Quest "Valentine's Day at Hogwarts"
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