Quill

A Quill is a writing instrument made from a feather whose tip has been cut into a pointed shape. It is the standard writing instrument in the Wizarding world, as opposed to pens and pencils in the Muggle world. They usually have to be dipped into ink. There is a great variety of quills, some plain and simple, some, like Fwooper quills), more fancy-looking, others enhanced with magical properties.

Numerous types of feathers are used including Knarl, Pheasant, Eagle, Peacock (Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite), and perhaps Phoenix.

Types of Quills

Anti-Cheating Quills

Used at Hogwarts during written exams. They are charmed with an Anti-Cheating Spell, making it impossible to cheat.

Auto-Answer Quills

They are banned during written exams at Hogwarts School. They probably write their own answers.

Dolores Umbridge's Blood Quill

This quill does not use ink, but uses the writer's own blood to mark the paper. Harry had to use this quill to write lines in 1995 while serving detentions with Professor Umbridge. His hand is now permanently scarred with I must not tell lies from writing with this quill. Lee Jordan also used this quill.

The Hogwarts Quill

Detects the birth of each wizard or witch, then writes his or her name down in a large parchment book at Hogwarts. The Deputy Head checks the book every year, and then sends owls to these children as they approach their eleventh birthdays to invite them to attend Hogwarts.

Quick-Quotes Quill

Great for reporters, this quill writes what the speaker dictates - often exaggerating the story. Rita Skeeter has an acid green one.In the film version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban,at the Leaky Cauldron Cornelius Fudge had a white quill taking notes.

Self-Inking Quills

Sold at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, these quills probably ink themselves.

Sugar Quills

A confection that looks like a writing quill. This treat is sold at Honeydukes Sweetshop.

Smart-Answer Quills

Probably similar to the Auto-Answer Quills; sold at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes

Spell-Checking Quills

Corrects the user's spelling, sold at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Ron Weasley had one, but its charm wore off leaving his homework terribly misspelled (example: his name was written as Roonil Wazlib.)