The Improper Use of Magic Office is a division of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic.
Functions
The Office is responsible for investigating offences under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Confederation of Wizards Statute of Secrecy. The Decree prohibits an underage wizard or witch from performing magic, while the Statute of Secrecy prohibits wizards and witches from performing magic in the presence of Muggles or in a Muggle-inhabited area.
On receiving intelligence reports of a violation of the Decree, a note is sent to the offender detailing actions that will be taken by the Office. First-time offenders are usually let off with a warning while extreme cases may be referred to the Wizengamot.
Members of the office were required to partake in the trails arranged by the Muggle-Born Registration Commission - where people stood accused (though falsely) of stealing magic - which, had it been possible, indeed would have been categorized as 'improper' use of magic. This implies that the secondary responsibility of the Improper Use of Magic Office is to investigate other types of unlawful usage of magic that may not pose a large-scale danger to anyone but nevertheless is punishable, such as unlicensed Apparation, unauthorized Portkeys, unregistered Animaguses, unregulated and/or informal Wizard Duels between everyday citizens to solve conflicts and illegal practice of Experimental Charms or abuse of potions.
Representatives from the Improper Use of Magic Office can presumably be found amongst the members of the Wizengamot and the Council of Magical Law especially tasked with contributing to the processing of trials of those who are charged with that offense of the kind that the Improper Use of Magic Office enforces
The Improper Use of Magic Office is also where the Animagus registration is posted, and that all Animagi must register with all their distinguishing features and traits noted, in order for them not to abuse their abilities. The registry is open to public viewing. Failing to register will receive a sentence in Azkaban.
Contact with Harry Potter
The Improper Use of Magic Office came into contact with Harry Potter repeatedly during his childhood. He received a warning letter from them when Dobby, a house-elf used a Hover Charm to smash a pudding on a houseguest of his Aunt and Uncle. It was assumed that Harry levitated the pudding, but Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge let him go with a warning. One year later, Harry caused Aunt Marge to float like a balloon but Fudge let him go because he felt pity for Harry, believing Sirius Black to be on the hunt for him.
This pity turned to malice when years later, Harry received notice of expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after he used a Patronus Charm against threatening Dementors in his Muggle hometown of Little Whinging. The letter informed him that his wand would be destroyed by Ministry officials and he would be detained until Court notice; this appears to be the standard procedure. Through the intervention of Albus Dumbledore, punishment and wand destruction was delayed until a Wizengamot Court could be held for Harry.
It is suggested that the Improper Use of Magic Office attends Wizengamot Court services, though when Harry Potter has a trial in 1995, nothing is mentioned about them, although this might simply be because of Fudge's involvement. It is presumed that this department has several positions and that they remained loyal to the Ministry even when Cornelius Fudge denied Lord Voldemort had risen again, although it is very likely the Improper Use of Magic Office were not loyal to Fudge simply felt that their hands were tied under the pressure from higher authority.
Harry was indeed tried before the entire Wizengamot court, however, it was highly unusual procedure for a case of underage use of magic. The hearing was held in Courtroom Ten below the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic. Incidentally, it was the same courtroom Harry had previously visited via the Pensieve. It was a horribly intimidating room with a chair that self-locks when the defendant sits down.
Known employees
- Travers (Head)
- Dolores Umbridge (Head sometime before 1995)
- Mafalda Hopkirk (Commander-in-Chief)
- Honoria's fiancé
- Mafalda Hopkirk's Ministerial Superior
- Rufus Fudge (suspended)
- Orabella Nuttley
Behind the scenes
- In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, the Improper Use of Magic Office is incorrectly referred to as a the "Improper Use of Magic Department".[1] This is not coherent with the Ministry functional directory set forth in the books in which Offices are smaller divisions of the larger Departments (in this case, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement).
- The Magical Law Enforcement Patrol presumably works for the Improper Use of Magic Office, which is in charge of investigating crime related to unlawful (but not necessarily dark or dangerous) magic and the patrol is tasked with arresting people performing said practices.
- It were presumably the Improper Use of Magic Office that notified Arthur Weasley, then Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifact Office, about a third 'regurgitating toilet' reported in Bethnal Green, requesting him to investigate the matter. This implies that the Improper Use of Magic Office also is tasked with passing on intelligence reports to the right people depending on what kind of misuse of magic having taken place.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Mentioned only)
- Wonderbook: Book of Spells (First appearance)
- Pottermore (Mentioned only)
Notes and references
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - Chapter 11 (Ministry Interior)
