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{{Spoiler|HM|PAS|MA|HL|QC}}
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{{Youmay|wizardkind in general|[[Filius Flitwick|the character merely credited as "Wizard" in the film adaptation of ''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'']]}}
 
{{Creature infobox
 
{{Creature infobox
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|image = Wizardspic.png
|name=Wizards and witches
 
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|name = Wizardkind
|image=[[File:Wizards_Campsite_for_the_1994_Quidditch_World_Cup.JPG|250px]]
 
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|skin = Varies
|bgcolor1=321
 
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|eyes = Varies
|bgcolor2=653
 
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|hair = Varies
|sentience=Sentient
 
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|feathers =
|skin=
 
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|related = *[[Non-magic people|Muggle]]s<ref name="COS7">{{COS|B|7}}</ref>
|eyes=
 
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*[[Squib]]s<ref name="COS9">{{COS|B|9}}</ref>
|hair=
 
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*[[Half-breed]]s
|feathers=
 
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|native = Worldwide
|related=*[[Muggle]]s
 
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|alias = *Wizards and witches
*[[Squib]]s
 
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*Sorcerers<ref name="COS17">{{COS|B|17}}</ref> and sorceresses<ref name="COSG">{{COS|G}} - [[Morgan le Fay]]'s [[Chocolate Frog Card]]</ref>
|native=
 
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|height = Varies
|alias=*Sorcerers and Sorceresses
 
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|length =
*Magicians
 
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|wingspan =
*[[Harry Potter|Your]] lot (by [[Vernon Dursley]])
 
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|mortality = [[Mortality|Mortal]]<ref name="PS1">{{PS|B|1}}</ref><ref name="PS4">{{PS|B|4}}</ref>
*Freaks (by [[Petunia Dursley]])
 
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|distinction = *Typically wear long [[robes]] and pointed hats
|height=
 
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*Carry [[wand]]s and [[broomstick]]s
|length=
 
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*Possess and capable of using [[magic]]
|wingspan=
 
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*Generally abstain from using modern [[:Category:Technology|technology]]<ref name="PM-technology"/>
|distinction=Typically wear long robes, carry a [[wand]], and don't use electricity
 
|affiliation=*[[Muggle-born]]s
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|affiliation = *[[Muggle-born]]s
 
*[[Half-blood]]s
 
*[[Half-blood]]s
 
*[[Pure-blood]]s
 
*[[Pure-blood]]s
*[[Squib]]s
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*[[Wizarding world]]
*[[Owl]]s
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|class = [[Being]]s
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|status = Extant
|class=[[Being]]s
 
|status=Extant
 
 
}}
 
}}
{{Quote|Wizards represent all that the true '[[Muggle]]' most fears: They are plainly outcasts and comfortable with being so. Nothing is more unnerving to the truly conventional than the unashamed misfit!|[[J. K. Rowling]]}}
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{{Quoteurl|Wizards represent all that the true '[[Non-magic people|Muggle]]' most fears: They are plainly outcasts and comfortable with being so. Nothing is more unnerving to the truly conventional than the unashamed misfit!|Overview of wizardkind|url=http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/0399-salon-weir.htm}}
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'''[[Wizardkind]]'''<ref name="COS6">{{COS|B|6}}</ref><ref name="OOTP6">{{OOTP|B|6}}</ref><ref name="OOTP12">{{OOTP|B|12}}</ref><ref name="OOTP27">{{OOTP|B|27}}</ref> were [[human]]s that were born with the ability to perform [[magic]]. An individual male human with magical ability was known as a '''wizard''' (plural: '''wizards'''), and an individual female human with magical ability was known as a '''witch''' (plural: '''witches'''), though "wizard" was sometimes used as a gender-neutral singular noun like "man" is to refer to humans. There were three statues of wizardkind: [[pure-blood]], [[half-blood]] and [[Muggle-born]]s, and they were relative to [[half-breed]]s, [[Squib]]s, and [[Non-magic people|Muggles]].
   
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It was said that most of the greatest wizards did not have an ounce of logic, suggesting their complete reliance of powerful magic led them to be able neglect other aspects of their mind.<ref name="PS16">{{PS|B|16}}</ref>
'''Wizardkind''' are [[human]]s born with the ability to use [[magic]]. An individual male human with magical ability, is known as a '''wizard''' (plural: '''wizards'''), and an individual female human with magical ability is known as a '''witch''' (plural: '''witches'''), though "wizard" is sometimes used as a gender-neutral singular noun like "man".
 
   
  +
==Origins==
Magical ability is an [[magic gene|inherited trait]] usually passed from parent to child. While [[pure-blood]]s are born of two wizarding parents and [[half-blood]]s are often born of one wizard and one muggle or muggle-born parent, [[Muggle-born]] wizards and witches are born with their magical abilities because they are distantly descended from a [[Squib]] who often marries into a [[Muggle]] family. From this point on, that branch of the wizarding family often loses all traces of its wizarding legacy, which resurfaces many generations later in a Muggle-born descendant.
 
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The origins of wizardkind is unknown. Whether, in ancient times, some humans randomly discovered they had magic, some extraterrestrial beings or objects came with magic, or there was some sort of ritual or potion or pact, their origins remained a mystery.
   
  +
However, if it was the first, then some Muggle-borns may not have been the descendants of Squibs (as was most often theorised) but entirely new wizards, like the very first members of wizardkind.
Wizard life expectancy in [[Great Britain|Britain]] reached 137¾ years in the mid-[[1990s]],<ref>''[[The Making of Harry Potter]]'' - see [[:File:DailyProphetMakingOfHP1.jpg|this image]].</ref> although [[Unidentified 755-year-old wizard|the oldest wizard in record]] reached the age of 755 in late [[1991]].<ref name="PSf">''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)]]'' - see [[:File:DPpropPSback.jpg|this image]].</ref>
 
   
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==Performing magic==
In childhood, wizards and witches may exhibit [[Underage magic|random bursts of magic]], called accidental magic, which are honed and controlled as they progress in maturity. To perform controlled magic, almost all wizards/witches need to use a [[wand]], although the skill of [[Wandless spell|wandless magic]] may be mastered in later life. A few highly advanced wizards can do controlled magical acts [[Wandless spell|without a wand]], such as [[Albus Dumbledore]], who demonstrated the ability at the close of [[Harry Potter|Harry Potter's]] first year at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], and [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], who once demonstrated this ability during the [[Battle of the Seven Potters]] in 1997.
 
  +
In childhood, wizards and witches may have exhibited [[Underage magic|random bursts of magic]], called accidental magic, which were honed and controlled as they progress to maturity.<ref name="PS"/><ref name="POA"/>
   
  +
To perform controlled magic, almost all wizards/witches needed to use a [[wand]], although the advanced skill of [[wandless magic]] may have been mastered in later life. A few highly advanced wizards could do controlled magical feats [[Wandless magic|without a wand]], such as [[Albus Dumbledore]], who demonstrated the ability at the close of [[Harry Potter]]'s [[first year]] at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]],<ref name="PS">{{PS}}</ref> and [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], who once demonstrated this ability during the [[Battle of the Seven Potters]] in 1997.<ref name="DH">{{DH}}</ref>
==Sub-species==
 
{{Quote|I am a wizard, not a baboon brandishing a [[Wand|stick]].|[[Filius Flitwick]] sets [[Seamus Finnigan]] lines.|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}Some wizards exhibit special inborn (or acquired) attributes which mark them as unique amongst their kind. They are listed as follows:
 
   
===Seers===
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==Heredity==
{{Main|Seer}}
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{{Main|Blood status}}
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{{Quote|Most wizards these days are half-blood anyway. If we hadn't married Muggles we'd've died out.|Ron Weasley discussing [[Blood status|blood purity]]|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}}
[[File:Trelawney21.jpg|thumb|right|175px|[[Sybill Trelawney]] is a Seer and Professor of [[Divination]] at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]].]]
 
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[[File:Trio ootp 2007 2.jpg|240px|thumb|left|The trio (left to right): [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]: pure-blood; [[Harry Potter]]: half-blood; [[Hermione Granger]]: Muggle-born]]
Some wizards are born with abilities beyond those of the average wizard. [[Seer]]s, for example, have the skill of insight into future events. They may garner this insight through visions and dreams or through scrying physical objects like tea dregs, tarot cards, and crystal balls.
 
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Magical ability was an inherited trait passed [[Magic genes|genetically]] from one's ancestry.<ref name="Squibs">[http://web.archive.org/web/20120208051328/http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=19 J.K.Rowling Official Site: "Squibs"] (archived)</ref><ref name="live-chat-2007">[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2007/0730-bloomsbury-chat.html J.K. Rowling and the Live Chat, Bloomsbury.com, 30 July, 2007]</ref> Witches and wizards were classified by [[blood status]] according to their relation to these ancestors, which were usually their parents.
   
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[[Pure-blood]]s were born of two wizarding parents and at the very least, four wizarding grandparents. [[Pure-blood supremacy|Pure-blood supremacists]] believed that a good wizarding family tree should have no Muggle ancestors; however, every family tree had at least one Muggle ancestor by the [[1990s]].<ref name="Pure-blood">{{WW|pure-blood}}</ref>
===Animagi===
 
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[[Half-blood]]s were mainly born of one wizard and one Muggle or [[Muggle-born]] parent.
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Muggle-born wizards and witches were distantly descended from a [[Squib]] who had married into a [[Non-magic people|Muggle]] family. [[Magic genes|Magical genes]] resurfaced many years later in a Muggle-born descendant when that branch of the wizarding family had usually lost all traces of its wizarding legacy.<ref name="live-chat-2007"/>
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However one inherited their magic made no difference whatsoever — a pure-blood's, half-blood's, and Muggle-born's abilities and physiologies were indistinguishable.{{Fact}}
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==Physiology==
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{{Quote|1=Barry Wee Willie Winkle celebrates his 755th birthday in style tonight by throwing a huge party for all the wizards and witches he has ever known. 30 million are expected to attend tonight.|2=The ''Daily Prophet'', 14 August, 1991|3=Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)}}
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The physiology of wizards was subtly different from that of non-wizards. As such, wizards would react differently to the effects of contact with a magical creature, such as being attacked by a [[Murtlap]].<ref name="FBS">{{FB|S}}</ref> Wizards also by nature could not be fooled by certain types of magic or magical barriers. It was, for example, possible to hide certain magic from Muggles via [[Muggle-Repelling Charm]]s, which naturally would have no effect on wizards.<ref name="DH15">{{DH|B|15}}</ref>
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Wizards had the power to [[Healing magic|cure]] 'mundane' illnesses and injuries, and contact with non-magical creatures that Muggles could not. However, they could struggle to repair any damage caused by magical means such as the [[Memory Charm]] and [[Unforgivable Curses]].<ref name="illness">{{WW|illness-and-disability}}</ref>
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Despite their science and living conditions being almost Medieval, wizards were, ironically, probably healthier than Muggles, presumably due to their inherent magic protecting them from most mundane illnesses.<ref name="illness"/>
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===Life span===
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{{see also|List of oldest wizards}}
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Wizard life expectancy in [[Great Britain|Britain]] reached an average 137¾ years in the mid-[[1990s]], according to the [[Ministry of Divine Health]],<ref name="MHP">{{MHP}} - {{see image|File:DailyProphetMakingOfHP1.jpg}}.</ref> although [[Barry Winkle|the oldest wizard on record]] reached the age of 755 in late [[1991]];<ref name="PSf">{{PS|F}} - {{see image|File:DPpropPSback.jpg}}.</ref> wizards in general have a much longer life expectancy than [[Non-magic people|Muggles]],<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1000-scholastic-chat.htm J. K. Rowling interview with Scholastic]</ref> usually living two or three times as long as their non magical counterparts, some living even longer than that depending on circumstances.
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In addition, seeing as [[James Potter I|James Potter]]'s parents had him "late in life,” witches likely have significantly longer childbearing years than Muggle women.
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===Physical appearance===
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Most wizards looked no different from Muggles, although some wizards bear unusual physical characteristics; while silvery-blonde hair is very rare among Muggles, many wizards had it, to name a few [[Chiara Lobosca]], [[Winifred Warrington]], and [[Ivy Warrington]]. Ivy Warrington also had pure purple eyes that Muggles could not have. [[Rolanda Hooch]] had yellow eyes.<ref name="PS"/> These features are consistent with usage of magic, or simply having magic, being shown to affect bodily appearance, especially the eyes (as, for instance, [[Tom Riddle]]'s eyes turned bright red after his constant use of the [[Dark Arts]]).<ref name="HBP"/>
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In other cases, this may simply have been a cosmetic application of [[Human Transfiguration|self-transfiguration]], [[charm]] work or [[potion]] usage to alter the colour of one's eyes or hair to reflect the wizard's personal preferences.<ref name="OOTP3">{{OOTP|B|3}}</ref>
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==Sub-types==
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{{Quote|I am a wizard, not a [[baboon]] brandishing a [[Wand|stick]].|[[Filius Flitwick]] setting [[Seamus Finnigan]] [[Discipline at Hogwarts|lines]]|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
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Some wizards exhibited special inborn (or acquired) attributes which marked them as unique amongst their kind. They are listed as follows:
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===Inborn attributes===
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These often hereditary traits marked subdivisions within wizardkind.
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{| class="wikitable" border="1" width="95%"
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|-
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! scope="col" width="20%" |Type(s)
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! scope="col" |Notes
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|-
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|
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====[[Seer]]====
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|[[File:Trelawney first prophecy.jpg|245px|thumb|alt=]]
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Some wizards were born with abilities beyond those of the average wizard. Seers, for example, had the skill of insight into future events. They may have garnered this insight through visions and dreams or through scrying physical objects like [[Tessomancy|tea leaves]], [[tarot cards]], and [[crystal ball]]s. Some seers included Sybill Trelawney and her ancestor [[Cassandra Trelawney]].<ref name="POA">{{POA}}</ref><ref name="OOTP">{{OOTP}}</ref>
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|-
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|
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====[[Metamorphmagus|Metamorphmagi]]====
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|[[File:Nymphadora Tonks's Metamorphmagus abilities.gif|alt=|thumb|245px]]
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Other wizards may have had the ability to change only their physical appearance rather than their bodily form. This type of wizard was termed a Metamorphmagus. Such a wizard could change the shape of their noses, hair colour, and other physical attributes.<ref name="OOTP3" /> Nymphadora Tonks<ref name="OOTP3"/> and [[Edward Lupin|Teddy Lupin]]<ref name="DH25">{{DH|B|25}}</ref> were known Metamorphmagi.
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|-
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| rowspan="2" |
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====[[Parseltongue|Parselmouths]] (and other animal communication)====
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|[[File:Speaking Parseltongue.gif|245px|thumb|alt=]]
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Some wizards and witches had the ability to talk to animals. For instance, a [[Parseltongue|Parselmouth]] could speak to [[snake]]s. This ability was extremely rare. [[Salazar Slytherin]] was an infamous Parselmouth,<ref name="COS">{{COS}}</ref> and [[House of Gaunt|his descendants]],<ref name="HBP">{{HBP}}</ref> such as Lord Voldemort, inherited this trait. [[Harry Potter]] also acquired this ability when part of Voldemort's [[soul]] bonded with him the night he tried to kill Harry.<ref name="DH" />
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|-
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|[[Rubeus Hagrid]] has demonstrated an uncanny ability to communicate and bond with all kinds of animals,<ref name="PS" /><ref name="COS" /> though this may have not been a true magical trait, but merely a gift, a mere knack at interpreting animal behaviour, that some Muggles showed. [[Animagus|Animagi]] had also demonstrated being able to subtly influence animals while assuming their animal forms.<ref name="POA" />
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|-
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|
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====[[Maledictus|Maledictuses]]====
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|[[File:Nagini transforms.gif|alt=|thumb|245px]]
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Some witches were the carriers of a [[Blood malediction|blood curse]], one that would eventually lead them turning into a [[beast]] permanently.<ref>[https://www.pottermore.com/features/everything-you-need-to-know-about-nagini Everything you need to know about Nagini] at {{PM}}</ref> The curse was carried from birth and is passed down from parents to children. The beast form of a Maledictus individuals depended on the individual curse cast.<ref>[https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1044585525196144642 @gabifcr: Is always a snake? @jk_rowling: No, they can be other creatures. Depends on the curse.] by [https://twitter.com/jk_rowling J.K. Rowling on Twitter]</ref>
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|-
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|
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====[[Part-human]]====
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|[[File:Fleur intro.gif|alt=|thumb|245px]]
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Many humanoid magical creatures could mate with wizards and marry them, and when they did so, their children would inherit magical ability from their wizarding parent, as well as physical traits of the specific magical creature, for examples: small stature from a [[goblin]] parent, beauty and grace from a [[Veela]] parent, innate helpfulness and pointed ears from an [[House-elf|elf]] parent, etc. Nonhuman traits seemed to persist for at least a few generations (examples being [[Apolline Delacour]], and her daughters [[Fleur Delacour|Fleur]], and [[Gabrielle Delacour|Gabrielle]], who were part-Veela, and still had Veela traits despite only having one Veela grandparent). It is unknown whether part-humans had the full abilities of their nonhuman parent, for example if a part-Veela could throw [[fire]] or transform into [[harpy]]-like creatures as their full-blooded relatives could.<ref name="GOF">{{GOF}}</ref>
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|-
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|
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====[[Late-bloomer]]s====
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|There existed some individuals that continued to exhibit a lack of magical power past age 11 and yet spontaneously — in desperate circumstances — managed to perform magic later on in life. However, this was rare, possibly more so than squibs.<ref name="late-bloomers">[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/0399-barnesandnoble.html#magic Accio Quote - J.K. Rowling's 1999 Barnes and Noble Interview]</ref>
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|}
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===Acquired traits===
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====Animagi====
 
{{Main|Animagus}}
 
{{Main|Animagus}}
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{{Quote|It took them the best part of three years to work out how to do it. Your father and Sirius here were the cleverest students in the school, and lucky they were, because the Animagus transformation can go horribly wrong — one reason the Ministry keeps a close watch on those attempting to do it. Peter needed all the help he could get from James and Sirius. Finally, in our fifth year, they managed it. They could each turn into a different animal at will.|[[Remus Lupin]] on how the [[Marauders]] became Animagi wizards|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
[[File:McGonagall_Animagus.gif|frame|left|[[Minerva McGonagall]], a registered Animagus with the form of a cat.]]
 
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[[File:1mcgonagall.gif|250px|thumb|[[Minerva McGonagall]], a registered Animagus with the form of a [[cat]]|alt=|left]]
While some wizards have the ability to turn into animals, it is not an inherent power, but rather a trained technique. This type of wizard is called an [[Animagus]] (plural '''Animagi'''). [[Babbitty|Babbitty Rabbitty]] was said to be an Animagus with the ability to transform into a rabbit. [[Sirius Black]] was an Animagus who could turn into a black dog named [[Sirius Black|Padfoot]]. [[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]] is an Animagus who can turn into a cat. [[Rita Skeeter]] is an Animagus who can turn into a beetle and used this for gathering information for her articles. [[James Potter I|James Potter]] was an Animagus who could turn into a stag. [[Peter Pettigrew]] was an Animagus who could turn into a rat. He masqueraded as "Scabbers," [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley's]] rat, in order to convince the wizarding world that he had been killed by Sirius Black. The Animagi had to register themselves at the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]], because human Transfiguration can go horribly wrong. The first recorded Animagus was [[Falco Aesalon]].
 
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While some wizards had the ability to turn into animals, it was not an inherent power, but rather a trained technique (however multiple wizarding families had more than one of these kinds of wizard, known as an Animagus, as it seemed to be likely for certain types of families to have people likelier to want to be Animagi). [[Babbitty Rabbity|Babbitty Rabitty]] was said to be an Animagus with the ability to transform into a rabbit. [[Minerva McGonagall]] was an Animagus who could turn into a [[cat]].<ref name="PS" /><ref name="POA" /> The first recorded Animagus was [[Falco Aesalon]], who could turn into a [[falcon]].<ref name="POAG">{{POA|G}}</ref>
   
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Animagi had to register themselves at the [[British Ministry of Magic]], because [[Human Transfiguration]] could go horribly wrong. However, there were some unregistered Animagi. Examples are [[James Potter I|James Potter]], who turned into a large red Stag; [[Sirius Black]], who turned into a large black [[dog]]; [[Peter Pettigrew]], who turned into a small grey rat;<ref name="POA" /> and [[Rita Skeeter]], who could turn into a [[beetle]]. Rita Skeeter in particular took advantage of being unregistered, and used her beetle form to gather information for her articles.<ref name="GOF" /> In the case of the first three, they turned into Animagi to assist [[Remus Lupin]] to transform into a [[werewolf]] in a place where there are no humans. Peter also turned into a [[rat]] to convince people that Sirius killed him, while masquerading as "Scabbers", [[Percy Weasley]]'s and [[Ronald Weasley]]'s former pet, for a long time.<ref name="POA" />
===Metamorphmagi===
 
{{Main|Metamorphmagus}}
 
[[File:Nymphadora Tonks Metamorphmagus 2.gif|thumb|right|200px|[[Nymphadora Tonks]] is a Metamorphmagus, and can change her appearance at will.]]
 
Other wizards may have the ability to change only their physical appearance rather than their bodily form. This type of wizard is termed a [[Metamorphmagus]]. Such a wizard can change the shape of their noses, hair colour, and other physical attributes. [[Nymphadora Tonks]] and [[Ted Lupin|Teddy Lupin]] were known Metamorphmagi.
 
   
  +
====Werewolves====
===Communicating with animals===
 
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{{Main|Werewolf}}
[[File:Harry-Snake-PSF.jpg|thumb|left|162px|Harry unknowingly speaking parseltongue to a snake at London Zoo.]]
 
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{{Quote|You have only ever seen me amongst the Order, or under Dumbledore's protection at Hogwarts! You don't know how most of the wizarding world sees creatures like me! When they know of my affliction, they can barely talk to me!|Werewolf [[Remus Lupin]] regarding his affliction|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
Some wizards and witches have the ability to talk to animals. For instance, a [[Parseltongue|Parselmouth]] can speak to snakes. This ability is extremely rare. [[Salazar Slytherin]] was an infamous Parselmouth, and [[House of Gaunt|his descendants]], such as Lord Voldemort, inherited this trait. [[Harry Potter]] also acquired this ability when part of Voldemort's soul bonded with him the night he tried to kill Harry. When the piece of Voldemort's soul inside him was destroyed, Harry lost this ability. Other wizards, like [[Rubeus Hagrid]] for example, have an innate ability to communicate and bond with all kinds of animals. Animagi have also demonstrated being able to subtly influence animals while assuming their animal forms.
 
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[[File:RemusLupin WB F3 Concept of Lupin In Forest As A Werewolf Illustration.jpg|thumb|Remus Lupin, in his werewolf form|245px]]
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A werewolf (also known as a lycanthrope) was a creature who normally resembled [[human]] [[being]] but, upon the complete rising of the [[Wolf Moon|full moon]], became an uncontrollable, fearsome and deadly wolf.<ref name="PM-werewolf">{{WW|werewolves}}</ref> This condition was caused by infection with [[lycanthropy]], also known as werewolfry.<ref name="PAf">{{POA|F}} - {{see image|File:WerewolvesDADAbook.jpg}}</ref> There were various differences between werewolves' wolf form and actual [[wolf|wolves]], making it easier to detect one.
   
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A werewolf could not choose whether or not to transform and would no longer remember who they were once transformed and were very aggressive; multiple werewolves were known to kill their best friends or loved ones while in wolf form if they were given the chance.<ref name="POA2">{{POA}}</ref> Despite this, they were able to recall everything they had experienced throughout their transformation upon reverting to their human form.<ref name="POA2" />
[[File:Mrs_Figg_Trial_1.jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[Arabella Figg]], a squib.]]
 
   
===Squibs===
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====Legilimens====
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{{Quote|The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by any invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing, Potter. Or at least most minds are... It is true, however, that those who have mastered Legilimency are able, under certain conditions, to delve into the minds of their victims and to interpret their findings correctly.|The art of Legilimency|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}
{{Main|Squib}}
 
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[[File:Voldemort possessing Harry's mind.gif|250px|thumb|Lord Voldemort using Legilimency on Harry Potter|alt=|left]]
Individuals born to at least one magical parent who cannot perform magic at all past age 11 are called [[Squib]]s. Squibs are much less common than [[Muggle-born]]s.
 
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Legilimens were wizards who could perform [[Legilimency]]. These wizards could tune into other people's minds, but had difficulty reading the minds of those people who could perform [[Occlumency]]. The act of Legilimens was referred to as "[[mind-reading]]" in the [[Non-magic people|Muggle]] world.<ref name="OOTP" /> It is also possible to be born as a Legilimens, as [[Queenie Goldstein]] was noted to be a natural at the skill.<ref name="FBS" />
   
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The most advanced Legilimens could perform Legilimency [[nonverbal spell|nonverbally]] and [[Wandless magic|wandlessly]], but less talented practitioners must use the incantation ''[[Legilimency Spell|Legilimens]]'' to enter their victim's mind. If a target was not skilled in [[Occlumency]], a Legilimens would be able to detect if the person was lying.
===Late-bloomers===
 
There exist some individuals that continue to exhibit a lack of magical power past age 11 and yet spontaneously - in desperate circumstances - manage to perform magic later on in life. However, this is rare in the Harry Potter universe, possibly more so than squibs.<ref name="late-bloomers">http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/0399-barnesandnoble.html#magic</ref>
 
   
===Legilimens===
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====Occlumens====
  +
{{Quote|The magical defence of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one.|A basic description of Occlumency|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}
Legilimens are people who can perform [[Legilimency]]. These people can tune into other people's minds, but have difficulty reading the minds of those people who can perform [[Occlumency]]. The act of Legilimens is referred to as mind reading in the [[Muggle]] world.
 
  +
Some wizards had the ability to protect their minds from others who could perform [[Legilimency]]. This ability was called [[Occlumency]]. [[Severus Snape]] tried teaching Occlumency to [[Harry Potter]] during Harry's [[fifth year]] in [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]].<ref name="OOTP" /> The most basic form of Occlumency, judging from Severus Snape's early [[Harry Potter and Severus Snape's private lessons|lessons]] on the subject to [[Harry Potter]], involved clearing one's mind — making it "blank and empty" — in order to prevent a Legilimens from perceiving one's emotions and thoughts.
   
  +
More advanced Occlumency involved suppressing only the thoughts, emotions, and memories that would contradict whatever it was an Occlumens wished a [[Legilimency|Legilimens]] to believe. This produced a "faux" layer of mentality that could totally throw off the perspective of one who used Legilimency into thinking that the said layer being the legitimate one whilst its bona fide counterpart lay deeper within
===Occlumens===
 
[[File:Snape OOP trailer.png|thumb|right|200px|[[Severus Snape]] is both an accomplished Legilimens and Occlumens.]]
 
Some wizards have the ability to protect their minds from others who can perform [[Legilimency]]. This ability is called [[Occlumency]]. [[Severus Snape]] tried teaching [[Occlumency]] to [[Harry Potter]] during Harry's [[fifth year]] in [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]].
 
   
==Social habits==
+
====Obscurials====
  +
{{Main|Obscurial}}
[[File:Wands_of_Hogwarts'_students_and_staff_04.JPG|thumb|left|Wizards and witches raising their wands]]
 
  +
{{Quote|Before wizards went underground, when we were still being hunted by Muggles, young wizards and witches sometimes tried to suppress their magic to avoid persecution. So instead of learning to harness or to control their powers, they developed what was called an Obscurus.|Explanation of an Obscurial|Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay}}[[File:Obscurial.gif|thumb|Credence transforming into his Obscurus form|245px]]
As decreed by the [[International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy]], wizards maintain a society entirely separate from [[Muggle]] society, with their own culture and traditions. Wizards populate areas all over the globe. At the [[1994]] [[Quidditch World Cup]], over 100,000 wizards were in attendance. At [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], there are several hundred students in residence at any given time. It is unknown exactly how many witches and wizards are in the entire world, but chances are they are not counted in the seven billion population count of Muggles.
 
  +
An Obscurial was a witch or wizard who, due to being raised in an environment where their magic was viewed negatively, developed an Obscurus, a [[Dark Arts|dark]] parasitic force resulting from their own magic being suppressed and tainted by negative emotion. Obscurials hardly ever lived beyond the age of ten, the only verified case being that of [[Credence Barebone]].<ref name="FBS" />
   
  +
Due to the extensive time spent suppressed, their magic, when unleashed as an Obscurus, could perform feats far more powerful than that of the average witch or wizard (indeed, the power of [[Credence Barebone|Credence]]'s Obscurus impressed even [[Gellert Grindelwald]]), though usually only for short spans of time, as the user's death often followed soon after. At this point, the magic was in the control of the Obscurus itself, and couldn't be directed by the Obscurial's will.<ref name="FBS" />
Wizards may live together in communities such as [[Godric's Hollow]] or [[Hogsmeade]]. Other wizards live in solitary locations such as [[Spinner's End]] or [[12 Grimmauld Place]]. Most wizards maintain little if no contact with [[Muggle]] society and find [[Muggle]]s strange and unpleasant. They are somewhat ignorant to the muggle world but in a different manner than muggles as of the Wizarding World. While Muggles are completely unaware of wizards, wizards appear to be ignorant of certain aspects of the muggle world, such as electricity and some modern technology. While certain aspects of muggle society are evident in the wizarding one, wizards seem to be a number of decades if not centuries behind muggles in other areas. In addition, wizards are sometimes just as progressive, if not more, on certain issues than their Muggle counterparts, such as women's rights.
 
   
  +
====Vampires====
Some wizards do not like to talk about their [[Muggle]] relatives, or even deny their existence altogether. Other wizards, such as [[Tom Riddle|Tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort]] have even killed some of their Muggle relatives altogether. Other wizards, like [[Arthur Weasley]], find [[Muggle]]s to be highly intriguing. [[Hermione Granger]], a [[Muggle-born]] witch, took up [[Muggle Studies]] at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] because she felt it would be fascinating to think about [[Muggle]]s from a wizarding perspective.
 
  +
{{Main|Vampire}}
  +
Wizards and witches could be turned into [[vampire]]s, as the wizard-vampire [[Victor Ketsueki]] claimed.<ref name="HM176">{{HM|7|16}}</ref>
  +
  +
==Society==
  +
{{Main|Wizarding world}}
  +
{{Quote|You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort.|Draco Malfoy to Harry Potter in their first year at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}
  +
[[File:Wands of Hogwarts' students and staff 04.JPG|250px|thumb|left|Wizards and witches raising their wands in a salute]]
  +
As decreed by the [[International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy]], wizards maintained a society entirely separate from [[Non-magic people|Muggle]] society, with their own culture and traditions.<ref name="PS" /> Wizards populated areas all over the globe. At the [[1994 Quidditch World Cup]], over 100,000 wizards were in attendance.<ref name="GOF" /> At [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], there were several hundred students in residence at any given time. About 30 million wizards attended [[Barry Winkle]]'s 755th birthday party in [[1991]].<ref name="PSF">{{PS|F}}</ref>
  +
  +
It is not clear how many witches and wizards were in the entire world, but some hints are given. It was stated that there were ten times more Muggles than wizards in the world. If the global Muggle population was about five billion in the 1990s, it would mean that the wizard population was 500 million. However, it is also said that the British wizard population was about 3,000, one third being Hogwarts students. This would indicate a very low birth rate (although wizarding families are big, they live more than their Muggle counterparts) and mean that other countries were much more populous than Britain or that there was somewhere in the world where a very large concentration of wizards occurred (one much larger than Britain's). In all likelihood, however, the former is a dramatic overestimate, the latter something of an underestimate.
  +
  +
[[File:Hogsmeade.JPG|thumb|250px|Hogsmeade village]]
  +
Wizards might live together in communities such as [[Godric's Hollow]]<ref name="DH" /> or [[Hogsmeade]].<ref name="POA" /> Other wizards lived in solitary locations such as [[Spinner's End]]<ref name="HBP" /> or [[12 Grimmauld Place]].<ref name="OOTP" /> Most wizards maintained little if no contact with Muggle society and found Muggles strange and unpleasant. They were somewhat ignorant to the Muggle world but in a different manner than Muggles as of the Wizarding World.
  +
  +
While Muggles were completely unaware of wizards, wizards appeared to be ignorant of certain aspects of the Muggle world, such as [[electricity]] and other modern technologies that became redundant and, at times, nonsensical when one was able to use magic.<ref name="PM-technology">{{WW|technology}}</ref> While certain aspects of Muggle society were evident in the wizarding one, wizards seemed to be a number of decades if not centuries behind Muggles in other areas. In addition, wizards were sometimes just as progressive, if not more, on certain issues than their Muggle counterparts, such as women's rights.
  +
  +
[[File:Muggle Studies class HM.png|left|thumb|250px|[[Muggle Studies]] at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]
  +
Some wizards did not like to talk about their Muggle relatives, or even denied their existence altogether. Other wizards, such as [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], had even murdered some of their Muggle relatives altogether.<ref name="HBP" /> Other wizards, like [[Arthur Weasley]], found Muggles to be highly intriguing and ingenious.<ref name="COS" /> [[Hermione Granger]], a [[Muggle-born]] witch, took up Muggle Studies at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] because she felt it would be fascinating to think about Muggles from a wizarding perspective.<ref name="POA" />
  +
  +
A Muggle who performed illusions or tricks to make it look as real magic was known as a [[magician]]. A true wizard being called magician was a grave insult to them, as [[Vernon Dursley]] did to [[James Potter I]].<ref name="PM-Dursley">{{WW|vernon-and-petunia-dursley}}</ref>
  +
  +
==Behind the scenes==
  +
*Wizards are mentioned to be male members of wizardkind, while witches are mentioned to be female members (although the word "wizard" can be used to generalise). This is technically incorrect, as the male version of a witch is called a warlock and the female version of a wizard is called a wizardess.
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
  +
*{{PS}} {{1st}}
*''[[Harry Potter Prequel]]''
 
  +
*{{PS|F}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]''
 
  +
*{{PS|G}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{COS}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{COS|F}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''
 
  +
*{{COS|G}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{POA}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{POA|F}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]''
 
  +
*{{POA|G}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{GOF}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{GOF|F}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''
 
  +
*{{GOF|G}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{OOTP}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{OOTP|F}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''
 
  +
*{{OOTP|G}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{HBP}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{HBP|F}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''
 
  +
*{{HBP|G}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{DH}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{DH|F1}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''
 
  +
*{{DH|G1}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]]''
 
  +
*{{DH|F2}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{DH|G2}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]''
 
  +
*{{CC}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{CC|P}}
*''[[Quidditch Through the Ages (real)|Quidditch Through the Ages]]''
 
  +
*{{FB|S}}
*''[[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (real)|Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them]]''
 
  +
*{{FB|F}}
*''[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard (real)|The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]''
 
  +
*{{CB}}
*''[[Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book]]''
 
  +
*{{COG|S}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World]]''
 
  +
*{{COG}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Characters of the Magical World]]''
 
  +
*{{AM}}
*''[[The Queen's Handbag]]''
 
  +
*{{SOD|S}}
*''[[Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup]]''
 
  +
*{{SOD}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
 
  +
*{{SODMM}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7]]''
 
  +
*{{FB|R}}
*''[[LEGO Creator: Harry Potter]]''
 
  +
*{{QTA|R}}
*''[[The Wizarding World of Harry Potter]]''
 
  +
*{{TBB|R}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Motorbike Escape]]''
 
  +
*{{DP}} {{Mention}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter|Harry Potter LEGO Sets]]''
 
  +
*{{JKRS}}
*''[[Harry Potter Trading Card Game]]''
 
  +
*{{PM}}
*''[[Harry Potter for Kinect]]''
 
  +
*{{WW}}
*''[[Wonderbook: Book of Spells]]''
 
  +
*{{HPPU}}
  +
*{{LEGO|C1}}
  +
*{{LEGO|C2}}
  +
*{{LEGO|B}}
  +
*{{LEGO|C}}
  +
*{{LEGO|Y1}}
  +
*{{LEGO|Y2}}
  +
*{{LEGO|C1}}
  +
*{{LEGO|C2}}
  +
*{{QH}}
  +
*{{HPM}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{WWHP}}
  +
*{{MHP}}
  +
*{{DH|ME}}
  +
*{{LEGO}}
  +
*{{TCG}}
  +
*{{HPV|CH}}
  +
*{{HPV|CR}}
  +
*''[[Untitled charity auction story|Harry Potter Prequel]]''
  +
*''[http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/ Harry Potter Official Site]''
  +
*{{QWC}}
  +
*{{HPS}}
  +
*{{HPK}}
  +
*{{WBS}}
  +
*{{WBP}}
  +
*{{FBC}}
  +
*{{HM}}
  +
*{{WU}}
  +
*{{PAS}}
  +
*{{MA}}
  +
*{{HL}}
  +
*{{QC}}
  +
*{{HPMCW}}
  +
*{{HPWA}}
  +
  +
==Notes and references==
  +
{{Reflist}}
   
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
 
*[[Wizarding world]]
 
*[[Wizarding world]]
*[[Blood purity]]
+
*[[Blood status]]
 
*[[Half-breed]]
 
*[[Half-breed]]
*[[Dark Wizard]]
+
*[[Dark wizard]]
*[[Muggle]]
+
*[[Non-magic people]]
 
*[[Squib]]
 
*[[Squib]]
*[[Chocolate Frog Cards]]
+
*[[Chocolate Frog Card]]s
 
==Notes and References==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
 
 
[[de:Zauberer]]
 
[[de:Zauberer]]
[[fr:Sorcier]]
+
[[de2:Zaubererschaft]]
  +
[[es:Magos y brujas]]
[[Category:Beings]]
 
[[Category:Magic]]
+
[[fr:Sorcier]]
[[Category:Wizards| ]]
+
[[ja:魔女]]
  +
[[pl:Czarodziej]]
  +
[[ru:Маг]]
  +
[[Category:Boggart forms]]
  +
[[Category:Wizards]]

Latest revision as of 01:26, 5 February 2024

"Wizards represent all that the true 'Muggle' most fears: They are plainly outcasts and comfortable with being so. Nothing is more unnerving to the truly conventional than the unashamed misfit!"
— Overview of wizardkind[src]

Wizardkind[8][9][10][11] were humans that were born with the ability to perform magic. An individual male human with magical ability was known as a wizard (plural: wizards), and an individual female human with magical ability was known as a witch (plural: witches), though "wizard" was sometimes used as a gender-neutral singular noun like "man" is to refer to humans. There were three statues of wizardkind: pure-blood, half-blood and Muggle-borns, and they were relative to half-breeds, Squibs, and Muggles.

It was said that most of the greatest wizards did not have an ounce of logic, suggesting their complete reliance of powerful magic led them to be able neglect other aspects of their mind.[12]

Origins

The origins of wizardkind is unknown. Whether, in ancient times, some humans randomly discovered they had magic, some extraterrestrial beings or objects came with magic, or there was some sort of ritual or potion or pact, their origins remained a mystery.

However, if it was the first, then some Muggle-borns may not have been the descendants of Squibs (as was most often theorised) but entirely new wizards, like the very first members of wizardkind.

Performing magic

In childhood, wizards and witches may have exhibited random bursts of magic, called accidental magic, which were honed and controlled as they progress to maturity.[13][14]

To perform controlled magic, almost all wizards/witches needed to use a wand, although the advanced skill of wandless magic may have been mastered in later life. A few highly advanced wizards could do controlled magical feats without a wand, such as Albus Dumbledore, who demonstrated the ability at the close of Harry Potter's first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,[13] and Lord Voldemort, who once demonstrated this ability during the Battle of the Seven Potters in 1997.[15]

Heredity

Main article: Blood status
"Most wizards these days are half-blood anyway. If we hadn't married Muggles we'd've died out."
— Ron Weasley discussing blood purity[src]
Trio ootp 2007 2

The trio (left to right): Ron Weasley: pure-blood; Harry Potter: half-blood; Hermione Granger: Muggle-born

Magical ability was an inherited trait passed genetically from one's ancestry.[16][17] Witches and wizards were classified by blood status according to their relation to these ancestors, which were usually their parents.

Pure-bloods were born of two wizarding parents and at the very least, four wizarding grandparents. Pure-blood supremacists believed that a good wizarding family tree should have no Muggle ancestors; however, every family tree had at least one Muggle ancestor by the 1990s.[18]

Half-bloods were mainly born of one wizard and one Muggle or Muggle-born parent.

Muggle-born wizards and witches were distantly descended from a Squib who had married into a Muggle family. Magical genes resurfaced many years later in a Muggle-born descendant when that branch of the wizarding family had usually lost all traces of its wizarding legacy.[17]

However one inherited their magic made no difference whatsoever — a pure-blood's, half-blood's, and Muggle-born's abilities and physiologies were indistinguishable.[citation needed]

Physiology

"Barry Wee Willie Winkle celebrates his 755th birthday in style tonight by throwing a huge party for all the wizards and witches he has ever known. 30 million are expected to attend tonight."
— The Daily Prophet, 14 August, 1991[src]

The physiology of wizards was subtly different from that of non-wizards. As such, wizards would react differently to the effects of contact with a magical creature, such as being attacked by a Murtlap.[19] Wizards also by nature could not be fooled by certain types of magic or magical barriers. It was, for example, possible to hide certain magic from Muggles via Muggle-Repelling Charms, which naturally would have no effect on wizards.[20]

Wizards had the power to cure 'mundane' illnesses and injuries, and contact with non-magical creatures that Muggles could not. However, they could struggle to repair any damage caused by magical means such as the Memory Charm and Unforgivable Curses.[21]

Despite their science and living conditions being almost Medieval, wizards were, ironically, probably healthier than Muggles, presumably due to their inherent magic protecting them from most mundane illnesses.[21]

Life span

See also: List of oldest wizards

Wizard life expectancy in Britain reached an average 137¾ years in the mid-1990s, according to the Ministry of Divine Health,[22] although the oldest wizard on record reached the age of 755 in late 1991;[23] wizards in general have a much longer life expectancy than Muggles,[24] usually living two or three times as long as their non magical counterparts, some living even longer than that depending on circumstances.

In addition, seeing as James Potter's parents had him "late in life,” witches likely have significantly longer childbearing years than Muggle women.

Physical appearance

Most wizards looked no different from Muggles, although some wizards bear unusual physical characteristics; while silvery-blonde hair is very rare among Muggles, many wizards had it, to name a few Chiara Lobosca, Winifred Warrington, and Ivy Warrington. Ivy Warrington also had pure purple eyes that Muggles could not have. Rolanda Hooch had yellow eyes.[13] These features are consistent with usage of magic, or simply having magic, being shown to affect bodily appearance, especially the eyes (as, for instance, Tom Riddle's eyes turned bright red after his constant use of the Dark Arts).[25]

In other cases, this may simply have been a cosmetic application of self-transfiguration, charm work or potion usage to alter the colour of one's eyes or hair to reflect the wizard's personal preferences.[26]

Sub-types

"I am a wizard, not a baboon brandishing a stick."
Filius Flitwick setting Seamus Finnigan lines[src]

Some wizards exhibited special inborn (or acquired) attributes which marked them as unique amongst their kind. They are listed as follows:

Inborn attributes

These often hereditary traits marked subdivisions within wizardkind.

Type(s) Notes

Seer

Trelawney first prophecy

Some wizards were born with abilities beyond those of the average wizard. Seers, for example, had the skill of insight into future events. They may have garnered this insight through visions and dreams or through scrying physical objects like tea leaves, tarot cards, and crystal balls. Some seers included Sybill Trelawney and her ancestor Cassandra Trelawney.[14][27]

Metamorphmagi

Nymphadora Tonks's Metamorphmagus abilities

Other wizards may have had the ability to change only their physical appearance rather than their bodily form. This type of wizard was termed a Metamorphmagus. Such a wizard could change the shape of their noses, hair colour, and other physical attributes.[26] Nymphadora Tonks[26] and Teddy Lupin[28] were known Metamorphmagi.

Parselmouths (and other animal communication)

Speaking Parseltongue

Some wizards and witches had the ability to talk to animals. For instance, a Parselmouth could speak to snakes. This ability was extremely rare. Salazar Slytherin was an infamous Parselmouth,[29] and his descendants,[25] such as Lord Voldemort, inherited this trait. Harry Potter also acquired this ability when part of Voldemort's soul bonded with him the night he tried to kill Harry.[15]

Rubeus Hagrid has demonstrated an uncanny ability to communicate and bond with all kinds of animals,[13][29] though this may have not been a true magical trait, but merely a gift, a mere knack at interpreting animal behaviour, that some Muggles showed. Animagi had also demonstrated being able to subtly influence animals while assuming their animal forms.[14]

Maledictuses

Nagini transforms

Some witches were the carriers of a blood curse, one that would eventually lead them turning into a beast permanently.[30] The curse was carried from birth and is passed down from parents to children. The beast form of a Maledictus individuals depended on the individual curse cast.[31]

Part-human

Fleur intro

Many humanoid magical creatures could mate with wizards and marry them, and when they did so, their children would inherit magical ability from their wizarding parent, as well as physical traits of the specific magical creature, for examples: small stature from a goblin parent, beauty and grace from a Veela parent, innate helpfulness and pointed ears from an elf parent, etc. Nonhuman traits seemed to persist for at least a few generations (examples being Apolline Delacour, and her daughters Fleur, and Gabrielle, who were part-Veela, and still had Veela traits despite only having one Veela grandparent). It is unknown whether part-humans had the full abilities of their nonhuman parent, for example if a part-Veela could throw fire or transform into harpy-like creatures as their full-blooded relatives could.[32]

Late-bloomers

There existed some individuals that continued to exhibit a lack of magical power past age 11 and yet spontaneously — in desperate circumstances — managed to perform magic later on in life. However, this was rare, possibly more so than squibs.[33]

Acquired traits

Animagi

Main article: Animagus
"It took them the best part of three years to work out how to do it. Your father and Sirius here were the cleverest students in the school, and lucky they were, because the Animagus transformation can go horribly wrong — one reason the Ministry keeps a close watch on those attempting to do it. Peter needed all the help he could get from James and Sirius. Finally, in our fifth year, they managed it. They could each turn into a different animal at will."
Remus Lupin on how the Marauders became Animagi wizards[src]
1mcgonagall

Minerva McGonagall, a registered Animagus with the form of a cat

While some wizards had the ability to turn into animals, it was not an inherent power, but rather a trained technique (however multiple wizarding families had more than one of these kinds of wizard, known as an Animagus, as it seemed to be likely for certain types of families to have people likelier to want to be Animagi). Babbitty Rabitty was said to be an Animagus with the ability to transform into a rabbit. Minerva McGonagall was an Animagus who could turn into a cat.[13][14] The first recorded Animagus was Falco Aesalon, who could turn into a falcon.[34]

Animagi had to register themselves at the British Ministry of Magic, because Human Transfiguration could go horribly wrong. However, there were some unregistered Animagi. Examples are James Potter, who turned into a large red Stag; Sirius Black, who turned into a large black dog; Peter Pettigrew, who turned into a small grey rat;[14] and Rita Skeeter, who could turn into a beetle. Rita Skeeter in particular took advantage of being unregistered, and used her beetle form to gather information for her articles.[32] In the case of the first three, they turned into Animagi to assist Remus Lupin to transform into a werewolf in a place where there are no humans. Peter also turned into a rat to convince people that Sirius killed him, while masquerading as "Scabbers", Percy Weasley's and Ronald Weasley's former pet, for a long time.[14]

Werewolves

Main article: Werewolf
"You have only ever seen me amongst the Order, or under Dumbledore's protection at Hogwarts! You don't know how most of the wizarding world sees creatures like me! When they know of my affliction, they can barely talk to me!"
— Werewolf Remus Lupin regarding his affliction[src]
RemusLupin WB F3 Concept of Lupin In Forest As A Werewolf Illustration

Remus Lupin, in his werewolf form

A werewolf (also known as a lycanthrope) was a creature who normally resembled human being but, upon the complete rising of the full moon, became an uncontrollable, fearsome and deadly wolf.[35] This condition was caused by infection with lycanthropy, also known as werewolfry.[36] There were various differences between werewolves' wolf form and actual wolves, making it easier to detect one.

A werewolf could not choose whether or not to transform and would no longer remember who they were once transformed and were very aggressive; multiple werewolves were known to kill their best friends or loved ones while in wolf form if they were given the chance.[37] Despite this, they were able to recall everything they had experienced throughout their transformation upon reverting to their human form.[37]

Legilimens

"The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by any invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing, Potter. Or at least most minds are... It is true, however, that those who have mastered Legilimency are able, under certain conditions, to delve into the minds of their victims and to interpret their findings correctly."
— The art of Legilimency[src]
Voldemort possessing Harry's mind

Lord Voldemort using Legilimency on Harry Potter

Legilimens were wizards who could perform Legilimency. These wizards could tune into other people's minds, but had difficulty reading the minds of those people who could perform Occlumency. The act of Legilimens was referred to as "mind-reading" in the Muggle world.[27] It is also possible to be born as a Legilimens, as Queenie Goldstein was noted to be a natural at the skill.[19]

The most advanced Legilimens could perform Legilimency nonverbally and wandlessly, but less talented practitioners must use the incantation Legilimens to enter their victim's mind. If a target was not skilled in Occlumency, a Legilimens would be able to detect if the person was lying.

Occlumens

"The magical defence of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one."
— A basic description of Occlumency[src]

Some wizards had the ability to protect their minds from others who could perform Legilimency. This ability was called Occlumency. Severus Snape tried teaching Occlumency to Harry Potter during Harry's fifth year in Hogwarts.[27] The most basic form of Occlumency, judging from Severus Snape's early lessons on the subject to Harry Potter, involved clearing one's mind — making it "blank and empty" — in order to prevent a Legilimens from perceiving one's emotions and thoughts.

More advanced Occlumency involved suppressing only the thoughts, emotions, and memories that would contradict whatever it was an Occlumens wished a Legilimens to believe. This produced a "faux" layer of mentality that could totally throw off the perspective of one who used Legilimency into thinking that the said layer being the legitimate one whilst its bona fide counterpart lay deeper within

Obscurials

Main article: Obscurial
"Before wizards went underground, when we were still being hunted by Muggles, young wizards and witches sometimes tried to suppress their magic to avoid persecution. So instead of learning to harness or to control their powers, they developed what was called an Obscurus."
— Explanation of an Obscurial[src]
Obscurial

Credence transforming into his Obscurus form

An Obscurial was a witch or wizard who, due to being raised in an environment where their magic was viewed negatively, developed an Obscurus, a dark parasitic force resulting from their own magic being suppressed and tainted by negative emotion. Obscurials hardly ever lived beyond the age of ten, the only verified case being that of Credence Barebone.[19]

Due to the extensive time spent suppressed, their magic, when unleashed as an Obscurus, could perform feats far more powerful than that of the average witch or wizard (indeed, the power of Credence's Obscurus impressed even Gellert Grindelwald), though usually only for short spans of time, as the user's death often followed soon after. At this point, the magic was in the control of the Obscurus itself, and couldn't be directed by the Obscurial's will.[19]

Vampires

Main article: Vampire

Wizards and witches could be turned into vampires, as the wizard-vampire Victor Ketsueki claimed.[38]

Society

Main article: Wizarding world
"You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort."
— Draco Malfoy to Harry Potter in their first year at Hogwarts[src]
Wands of Hogwarts' students and staff 04

Wizards and witches raising their wands in a salute

As decreed by the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, wizards maintained a society entirely separate from Muggle society, with their own culture and traditions.[13] Wizards populated areas all over the globe. At the 1994 Quidditch World Cup, over 100,000 wizards were in attendance.[32] At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, there were several hundred students in residence at any given time. About 30 million wizards attended Barry Winkle's 755th birthday party in 1991.[39]

It is not clear how many witches and wizards were in the entire world, but some hints are given. It was stated that there were ten times more Muggles than wizards in the world. If the global Muggle population was about five billion in the 1990s, it would mean that the wizard population was 500 million. However, it is also said that the British wizard population was about 3,000, one third being Hogwarts students. This would indicate a very low birth rate (although wizarding families are big, they live more than their Muggle counterparts) and mean that other countries were much more populous than Britain or that there was somewhere in the world where a very large concentration of wizards occurred (one much larger than Britain's). In all likelihood, however, the former is a dramatic overestimate, the latter something of an underestimate.

Hogsmeade

Hogsmeade village

Wizards might live together in communities such as Godric's Hollow[15] or Hogsmeade.[14] Other wizards lived in solitary locations such as Spinner's End[25] or 12 Grimmauld Place.[27] Most wizards maintained little if no contact with Muggle society and found Muggles strange and unpleasant. They were somewhat ignorant to the Muggle world but in a different manner than Muggles as of the Wizarding World.

While Muggles were completely unaware of wizards, wizards appeared to be ignorant of certain aspects of the Muggle world, such as electricity and other modern technologies that became redundant and, at times, nonsensical when one was able to use magic.[7] While certain aspects of Muggle society were evident in the wizarding one, wizards seemed to be a number of decades if not centuries behind Muggles in other areas. In addition, wizards were sometimes just as progressive, if not more, on certain issues than their Muggle counterparts, such as women's rights.

Muggle Studies class HM

Muggle Studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Some wizards did not like to talk about their Muggle relatives, or even denied their existence altogether. Other wizards, such as Lord Voldemort, had even murdered some of their Muggle relatives altogether.[25] Other wizards, like Arthur Weasley, found Muggles to be highly intriguing and ingenious.[29] Hermione Granger, a Muggle-born witch, took up Muggle Studies at Hogwarts because she felt it would be fascinating to think about Muggles from a wizarding perspective.[14]

A Muggle who performed illusions or tricks to make it look as real magic was known as a magician. A true wizard being called magician was a grave insult to them, as Vernon Dursley did to James Potter I.[40]

Behind the scenes

  • Wizards are mentioned to be male members of wizardkind, while witches are mentioned to be female members (although the word "wizard" can be used to generalise). This is technically incorrect, as the male version of a witch is called a warlock and the female version of a wizard is called a wizardess.

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 7 (Mudbloods And Murmurs)
  2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 9 (The Writing on the Wall)
  3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 17 (The Heir of Slytherin)
  4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) - Morgan le Fay's Chocolate Frog Card
  5. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 1 (The Boy Who Lived)
  6. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 4 (The Keeper of the Keys)
  7. 7.0 7.1 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Technology" at Wizarding World
  8. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 6 (Gilderoy Lockhart)
  9. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 6 (The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black)
  10. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 12 (Professor Umbridge)
  11. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 27 (The Centaur and the Sneak)
  12. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 16 (Through the Trapdoor)
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
  16. J.K.Rowling Official Site: "Squibs" (archived)
  17. 17.0 17.1 J.K. Rowling and the Live Chat, Bloomsbury.com, 30 July, 2007
  18. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Pure-Blood" at Wizarding World
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay
  20. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 15 (The Goblin's Revenge)
  21. 21.0 21.1 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Illness and Disability" at Wizarding World
  22. The Making of Harry Potter - (see this image).
  23. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) - (see this image).
  24. J. K. Rowling interview with Scholastic
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 3 (The Advance Guard)
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  28. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 25 (Shell Cottage)
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  30. Everything you need to know about Nagini at Pottermore
  31. @gabifcr: Is always a snake? @jk_rowling: No, they can be other creatures. Depends on the curse. by J.K. Rowling on Twitter
  32. 32.0 32.1 32.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  33. Accio Quote - J.K. Rowling's 1999 Barnes and Noble Interview
  34. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
  35. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Werewolves" at Wizarding World
  36. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) - (see this image)
  37. 37.0 37.1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  38. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 16 (Trials and Tribulations)
  39. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
  40. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Vernon and Petunia Dursley" at Wizarding World

See also