boysenberrybrew

[boysenberrybrew]

The Infinite Divide: A Study on Horcruxes and Souls in the Harry Potter Universe

This is a meta on the nature of the soul in the Harry Potter universe. You can read below or on AO3. Any and all feedback most welcome! Meta below, or again, read on AO3.

Introduction

The integrity of the soul is one of the cornerstones of the Harry Potter universe (henceforth HPU). Harry’s intact soul is able to resist total possession by Voldemort during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries; Voldemort’s fractured soul leads to his downfall. This work centers on the magic of Horcruxes as presented in the HPU. It necessarily delves into the nature of the soul, its integrity, and how the creation of the Horcrux destabilizes - but does not diminish - the integrity of the soul. 

That is, I propose a theory of the soul that cannot be reduced numerically, but rather an infinite soul, that, when divided through the creation of a Horcrux (or several, in the case of Lord Voldemort), becomes less stable but is not reduced in its capacity. Instead, the soul’s essentialnature - that of animating a human person and imbuing that person with the capacity for meaning and relationships - is weakened. This weakening - the reduction of functional humanity - is what renders the Horcrux-creator unstable. Terms will be discussed next.

Preliminary Terms

We begin with the soul itself. What do we mean by the soul? Within the context of the HPU, the soul seems to serve two purposes: first, it animates the physical, human body,[i] such that the human body can engage in a life filled with meaning, and second, it is the vehicle for engaging in interpersonal relationships. Without a soul, the human body is but a mechanical shell. The soul imbues the human body with the capacity to pursue or enjoy meaningful activities: even in the case of the Longbottoms, who were tortured to insanity, it is assumed their souls are intact and capable of engaging with the world around them (though not without limitations).[ii]

The soul allows one to dream, desire, and engage in the world. Thus, I propose that the soulless, physical human body is incapable of functioning without the essential animation required for a) pursuing a life filled with meaning and b) interpersonal interaction. This leads us to the next point: the soul allows one to engage in mutual interpersonal relationships, particularly familial, fraternal, and/or romantic ones.[iii]

The importance of relationships is another crucial part of the HPU: Harry’s relationship with his friends brings him ‘back’ from the limbo of King’s Cross. It is his relationships that allow him to fight Voldemort off. His relationships continue to save him; Voldemort’s relationships with others are neither familial nor friendly, and this lack of mutually giving relationships further alienates him from functional humanity.[iv]

These personal relationships are independent of life or death. A ghost is an imprint of a body, animated by a soul left behind, who engages with living beings and other ghosts. A soul that has gone onto the afterlife appears to engage in relationships with others in the afterlife and can, when circumstances are sufficient, interact with the living. The soul that animates a living human body is capable of interaction with the living and the dead, but the relationship with the dead is rare. The ‘typical’ human person in the HPU has their body animated by their soul, and when the soul leaves the body, it enters a plane to which we as readers can only imagine.[v]

Because the soul is capable of interaction between the living and the dead, I suggest it is infinite, or, at the very least unending upon its creation. Canon gives no indication as to whether a soul pre-exists before birth. Given the work’s religious themes, borne out of a largely Christian tradition, I propose the simple explanation: the body is imbued with a soul at some point between conception and birth, and, once imbued, has either a finite end at death or an infinite fate beyond death. I suggest the latter, given canon’s tentative exploration of the afterlife, as given by the scene at the cemetery in Little Hangleton, the presence of ghosts, and Harry’s experience at King’s Cross in The Deathly Hallows. 

For this work, we will define the soul as the animating force required for living human beings to participate in mutual interpersonal relationships and engage in a life filled with meaning. When the soul is healthy and intact, it is able to engage in both planes of meaning and relationship. This, then, is what I term as functional humanity. When one is wholly unable to engage in a life filled with meaning and participate in interpersonal relationships, their functional humanity suffers. The person becomes less human and therefore more unstable. 

Let us move onto the Horcrux. The Horcrux, in the HPU, is an object in which a magical person has concealed a part of their soul for safekeeping. The Horcrux presents a slew of concerns: first, it is considered highly unnatural, ’Dark’ magic to split the soul. The intact soul is meant to stay this way. Second, it’s crucial to recall that in the HPU, Horcrux creation is made possible through murder, or the intentional act of taking the life of an innocent person.[vi]

Canon suggests that the committing of a crime distorts one’s soul; through murder, it becomes possible to distort the soul further by splitting it. The person who chooses to create a Horcrux - or several, in the case of Lord Voldemort - knowingly or unknowingly destabilizes their soul. As the soul is meant to be intact and whole, as a single entity, a person becomes unstable. This instability - and its relation to the soul - will be the subject of the next part of this work.

The ‘Infinite’ Soul and Limited Scientific Analogies

Canon asserts that the soul becomes unstable as a result of Horcrux creation. Instability is the consequence of Dark, unnatural magic and actions. This raises one of the central questions of this work: what makes Voldemort’s soul unstable after creating multiple Horcruxes? Is the instability a result of the soul’s reduction in potency or strength, as with dilution or numerical decreasing, or is it instability brought about through reduced functionality (meaning, do we get a smaller percentage of Voldemort with each horcrux creation, or do we get the same ‘proportion’ of Voldemort)? 

I argue for the latter - the soul’s instability is a consequence of the willful, malicious, and methodical destruction of human functionality. We get the same infinite ‘amount’ of Voldemort’s soul per Horcrux, but with each split, the soul becomes more volatile in one sense without reducing its magical capacity or potency. This is the question we answer next: how does the splitting of the soul result in reduced functionality without reducing potency?

Put in simpler terms, why is Voldemort still 100% Voldemort, no matter where and how his soul is split? Moreover, why is his soul increasingly unstable without affecting his magical ability? 

Analogies will be helpful in our understanding.[vii]

Mathematics

We move onto our first analogy: mathematics. How many numbers are there between one and three? On its face, one or two. But consider decimals now – 1.01, 1.0001, 1.00001, and so on. It results that between one and three there are, in fact, an infinite number of numbers. Yet, if I ask you what three minus one is, you’ll tell me it’s simply two. If there is an infinity of numbers between zero and one, one and two, and two and three, but I take one away from three, there is still an infinite amount of numbers between zero and one and one and two. The infiniteness has not disappeared; it has been reduced but it remains infinite.

So it is with the infinite soul. The soul remains infinite while intact. When the soul is split, the soul is still infinite – like the gap of numbers between zero and one or one and two – but the infiniteness remains. I take one away from three, and the sum is two. Yet, because of decimals, there is still an infinite number between each integer. 

Under this model, each Horcrux is still an infinite ‘piece’ of soul, albeit reduced from the whole, yet retaining its infinitude. The ‘infinitude,’ or the magic, is what is not lost or reduced when the soul is split. The total functionality is reduced, as the difference between one integer and another.

Particle Physics

We continue with particle physics, or more specifically, a carbon-12 atom. Carbon-12 is the most common isotope or ‘flavor’ of carbon available. Carbon-12 is also remarkably stable – and wants to stay that way. Stable atoms do not like to be split (and in the case of carbon-12, there’s no human way to split it without changing it first, which will be described shortly).

Carbon-12 contains six neutrons, six protons, and six electrons. What makes the atom carbon is the number of protons within it; it is the neutrons that determines the isotope. Thus carbon-14 has eight neutrons and six protons and carbon-12 has six neutrons and six protons. 

When outside the atom, the neutrons, protons, and electrons are heavier than within the atom itself. The reason for this discrepancy: energy is required to bind the neutrons and protons together to create the atom’s nucleus. Mass from the neutrons and protons is converted to energy, which binds the nucleus. (For those unaware or have forgotten, matter and energy can be neither created nor destroyed, but can be transferred from one state to the other; see Einstein’s theory of relativity [e.g. E=mc^2].)

The atom is held together by both its smaller components and the energy that binds it. The neutrons and protons are bound together in a nucleus and electrons move around it, as they are drawn to the nucleus. The forces uniting these components are stable and want to stay together; thus, carbon-12 is extremely resistant to splitting, and it is what we will liken the soul to. 

Consider, for a moment, any atom being split. It is possible—and indeed common—for atoms to split and splinter. Elements that are radioactive, and therefore unstable, want to split to become stable. Elements that are stable want to stay stable, such as carbon-12. 

Certain atoms are more difficult (if not impossible, in human hands) to split; when they do split, the consequences are variable. 

For the purposes of this work, we will not consider a soul splitting as an everyday occurrence (again, remember these are imperfect analogies). Instead, we will focus our attention on the soul splitting as an intentional, directed splitting of an atom that ought not to split under unnatural circumstances, such as a stable carbon-12 atom.[viii]

A carbon-12 atom can be split in one of two ways. The first way is humanly possible: to break apart the carbon-12 atom, it must be changed to an unstable isotope, such as carbon-14. That isotope is unstable and will want to split to become stable. The other way is not humanly possible (that we are aware of): to break apart a carbon-12 atom, which would change it to other elements, the carbon atom would have to be ‘struck’ in a particle accelerator at the right angle, with the right amount of energy, and with the right material to break it apart. To my knowledge this is theoretical only; carbon-12 is very stable and changing it to another carbon isotope is the best (and only) means to break it apart.

Let us return to the horcrux and the soul. Suppose that the soul is a carbon-12 atom, stable and content as it is. To change it, we must add two neutrons to make it carbon-14. It is then radioactive, willing to change to become stable. In the process of splitting, it decays, leaving evidence of radioactive decay. 

We know little of the process of creating a horcrux, outside a requisite murder, which is considered evil and unnatural. Murder enables the creation of the horcrux. Let us then liken murder to adding two neutrons to the carbon-12 atom, making it carbon-14. The murder makes the soul unstable, and perhaps, like naturally occurring carbon-14, the atom will change on its own to become stable. 

However, we can assume that the process of creating a horcrux is more involved and intentional than simple, cold-blooded murder. This is where we add the element of magic—the spell, curse, or force that the wizard casts to conceal a part of their soul within another object. 

Recall that for carbon to be carbon, it requires six protons. Imagine the murder as the element that adds the two neutrons to the carbon-12 (stable soul). Now imagine the spell or curse that the wizard casts as the process of splitting the soul. For both the original piece of soul (Voldemort) and the piece of soul in the horcrux to be stable carbon-12 atoms, splitting the carbon-14 perfectly into two carbon-12 atoms is impossible – not without taking more protons and neutrons to the ‘unfinished’ piece.

Let me rephrase this. Suppose you have a carbon-12 atom (the intact soul) and add two neutrons to it (the evil act of murder). You have a carbon-14 atom and wish to split it because it is unstable. You hit the carbon-14 atom with energy in a particular way (the spell or curse of horcrux creation), and the carbon-14 atom splits. 

It does not split evenly. Perhaps, for the purposes of our discussion, three protons go in one direction and three in the other. Three protons means you have lithium, not carbon. What are you to do to get more protons to ensure you have carbon?

This is what I suggest as another part of the process of horcrux creation—the protons must be cannibalized from another source. I suggest not literal cannibalism on behalf of the wizard creating a horcrux (although, as repulsive as the thought is, I do not put it past the wizard who willingly murders for their own self-interest), but perhaps spiritual cannibalism.

That is, when the wizard murders and casts the curse to create a horcrux, it takes away part of the life of the innocent person to “seal” the wizard’s soul to the object. This is but a theory, of course, but it does give some credence to Voldemort’s insistence that he kill Harry to make his final horcrux. 

In the process of this cannibalism—or vampirism, if you will—the ‘protons’ or life/spirit force of another ‘restabilizes’ the carbon-14/carbon-12 that was split. 

However, this does not solve the matter of the unstable soul. Why, if the horcrux and Voldemort both have ‘carbon-12’ or intact souls, would there be instability?

Remember that for a carbon atom to be carbon, it requires six protons. When the carbon-14 atom splits and Voldemort ‘finds’ protons to keep his soul stable, there is the possibility that what was originally in the carbon-14 (or his soul) is unevenly split. The number of neutrons may be unequal and results in two different carbon isotopes. 

It is still carbon (a soul), but no longer carbon-12 (a stable soul). This unstable soul, while functionally carbon, is not stable. An unstable atom is radioactive: this means instability both for the atom and the atoms around it.

In short, when Voldemort creates a horcrux and splits his soul, the ‘essence’ of the soul remains the same, while its stability is in danger. This instability goes beyond itself and affects others.

We shall explore this further in the following section. 

Electricity and Magnetism

Let us consider a third analogy: electricity and magnetism. As with previous sections, we must define terms before we can continue.

Imagine a charged particle in motion (CPM). Think of it as a single dot that is thrown across an empty room. When the charged particle moves, it creates both an electric field and a magnetic field around it. We will continue with our example of carbon-12; though a carbon-12 atom is not itself charged, the nucleus is. Consider the nucleus of the carbon-12 atom as the dot or CPM that is thrown across an empty room and creates an electro-magnetic field. 

The CPM creates two planes: electric and magnetic. Where there is a CPM, there is both an electric field and a magnetic field. Let us suppose that the electric field is the physical plane in which the soul operates, in which the body is animated and interacts in a world of meaning, dreams, and desires. Let us then suppose that the magnetic field is the relational plane in which the soul operates, in which the soul is capable of interpersonal relationships, both with the living and the dead. 

Suppose that we have our soul (the stable carbon-12 atom), add neutrons to it (a murder, changing it to carbon-14), and split it (the curse of horcrux creation). We take the life of another (protons) and ‘stabilize’ our soul in two pieces (two carbon atoms with uneven numbers of neutrons), with radioactivity (the carbon atoms are no longer stable carbon-12). 

In the process of splitting the atom or soul, we release energy (this is a very simple, rudimentary understanding of what nuclear fission is). Suppose, for the purposes of our study, that the energy sends the two atoms or soul pieces in opposite directions. Consider these pieces as CPMs; they go off in their own trajectory and create their own electromagnetic fields. 

Because they are radioactive, their electromagnetic fields are dangerous. Radioactive particles (think neutrons, for our purposes) seek new homes/atoms in an effort for radioactive, unstable atoms to become stable. But remember – when neutrons are added to atoms’ nuclei, they create unstable isotopes. In the process of decay, or the process of trying to become stable, the isotopes can replace healthy isotopes in a healthy body to radioactive, cancer-causing ones.[ix]

Unsurprisingly, CPMs do not move in empty rooms or vacuums. CPMs can interact with each other, thus bringing together their electromagnetic fields with varying results.[x]

We will return to horcruxes, as enough has been said on CPMs and their fields. Imagine the pieces of soul, or radioactive CPMs, going in different directions (the physical body versus the object in which a piece of the soul has been concealed). While these CPMs are going in two different directions, there are other CPMs or souls coming and going alongside them.

Imagine all these charged particles in motion as souls engaging with each other. Our inner hopes and dreams intersect with our meaningful relationships. When we are stable (and this is an imperfect analogy, but bear with me), our fields ebb and flow accordingly.

Take the unstable soul of Voldemort, like an atom struggling for stability and undergoing radioactive decay. As the pieces of his soul struggle for stability, releasing radioactive material around him, that radioactivity affects those around him.

The radioactivity poisons others, affects their functionality, both in terms of self-determination and engaging in meaningful interpersonal relationships. This is rather evident in the case of the horcruxes; the diary possesses Ginny and isolates her from friends and family. The locket drives Harry, Ron, and Hermione into their own versions of despair and loneliness. 

The darkness and evil that Lord Voldemort has brought into the world is parasitic, vampiric, cannibalistic. It feeds off others, incapable of returning anything but evil while yearning for stability. This is due not only to the soul being fundamentally built to be intact, but to be animating a living human being, rather than an inanimate object.

What might this mean for the long-term stability of the horcrux? If we imagine the horcrux – and Voldemort himself – as unstable pieces of soul, yearning for stability, it might be hundreds, if not thousands of years until stability is reached, if ever. (This is not unlike the length of time it takes for radioactivity to cease-as an example, the Chernobyl exclusion zone, after the catastrophe in 1986, will not be fit for human habitation for upwards to 20,000 years).[xi]

In my estimation, the healthy, stable soul is meant to engage in life-giving human function: pursuit of dreams and meaningful activity and mutual interpersonal relationships, with relationships as perhaps the more important of these two facets.

This leads us to our conclusion.

Conclusion

If the soul is unable to properly live or die, as pieces of metal cannot engage in genuine human relationships, the soul continues to be unstable. It is a full soul, infinite and reduced; it is a full soul, like carbon with too many neutrons; it is a full soul, capable of affecting others, but it is a dysfunctional soul, a broken soul, separated from its place of belonging.

In the HPU, the human soul belongs in the human body until death, the next great adventure. Without being able to truly live or die, with repeated broken relationships and evil, it is unsurprising that Voldemort is described as having an unstable soul by the time he reaches Harry Potter.

And, when the Killing Curse backfires on Voldemort, the fragmented soul, seeking stability, latches onto the most stable entity: the orphaned infant, who grows up to have love and relationships that save him from total destruction.

This is the magic of Harry Potter: the power of love that returns good for evil and safeguards one’s humanity. 

[i] Allow me a moment to digress to discuss Animagi, Maledicti, and werewolves (among other magical creatures). Animagi are human beings who, through magical means, have the ability to transform into a particular animal form at will. In essence they are human beings with a magical ability. Thus, an Animagus does not lose their soul when they transform. A Maledictus, meanwhile, is a human being who, through a blood curse, becomes prisoner to their animal form and ‘forgets’ their humanity (see Nagini). It is possible that a Maledictus loses their soul when the process is complete, or the soul remains intact but ‘hidden,’ making it impossible for the human within the Maledictus body to engage in meaningful interpersonal relationships and pursue a life filled with meaning. In the case of Voldemort and Nagini-as-horcrux, it is unknown if there are two souls dwelling within one physical body, or if the soul of Nagini, once-fully-human, is no longer animating the snake’s body. As in the Fantastic Beasts franchise (FB) Nagini is able to transform at will and retain her sensibilities, I suggest the Maledictus does retain their soul until death, though limited due to the nature they have assumed for the rest of their days. As for werewolves and other magical creatures, though outside the scope of this work, we can extrapolate that the more ‘human’ the creature, the likelier it is that they have souls identical to full human persons; as an example, Remus Lupin’s soul is intact and what prevents him from assuming its full human capability at the full moon is the curse of lycanthropy. Wolfsbane Potion allows him to retain control of his human mind (and the soul that animates it).

[ii] The case of the Longbottoms, and later, Gilderoy Lockhart, suggests that there is a concept of wizards with intellectual disabilities, whether caused by magical accidents or perhaps, magical neurodivergence. Like many points in this work, it is outside the aim to develop these ideas further. I add this point to not only suggest, but emphatically assert, that persons with severe intellectual disabilities are included in my understanding of what it means to live a life filled with meaning, even if it is not within their capabilities to easily communicate what brings them meaning. Comments and questions on this particular issue are more than welcome.

[iii] Without the soul, this animating force, the human person cannot participate in social behavior. The need for meaningful social interaction is hardly unusual, given modern psychology; a person without a soul or animation cannot be in relationship with others. A life without relationships, particularly in early childhood, is emotionally and developmentally devastating.

[iv] We must address Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. This work, which is considered canonical by the author of the original series, poses a curious problem for Voldemort and relationships. In short, the original author claims that Voldemort has a child, Delphini, with Bellatrix Lestrange, which suggests a sexual relationship with Lestrange and a paternal relationship with Delphini. It is possible (and in my opinion, highly likely) that if such relationships existed, they were not filled with genuine human emotion. Bellatrix was the means to an end - a child - and the child itself was a means to an end as well. In the ‘other’ future that CC presents, Delphini is at Voldemort’s right-hand side, ruling over the wizarding world. I suggest that even in this context, for Voldemort’s character to remain consistent with his upbringing, Delphini remains a tool. I believe Voldemort is capable of certain fondness for his most devoted followers, such as Bellatrix (he exhibits some reaction upon her death in DH), but I believe it is a step too far to consider this a loving relationship, or even a relationship that is life-fulfilling or life-sustaining. Delphini and Bellatrix represent the lengths to which Voldemort will go for unquestioning devotion and loyalty, but they are certainly not his loved ones, or relations in the sense that bring out his humanity in its fullness.

[v] My fledgling series “The Death of” explores some possibilities within the wizarding afterlife. It is one interpretation of many; I recommend FloreatCastellum’s Vetus Amicus as another interpretation, told from the perspective of the character ‘Death.’ There is an indication in canon that the afterlife is a place, state of mind, or plane of existence, though as with many concepts in canon, it is underdeveloped and merits further consideration. It is outside the scope of this work to investigate the wizarding afterlife; recommendations for works that do explore this aspect of the HPU are most welcome in comments.

[vi] Though we are not privy to the details beyond the requisite murder, it is possible other Dark magic is involved in horcrux creation.

[vii] Bear in mind that analogies are imperfect, especially when considering an infinite entity. The human brain is literally incapable of processing infinites and thus any attempt at reducing the infinite to the finite will result in imperfections and error. Blame language and the finiteness of the human mind. 

[viii] When I initially formulated this idea, I considered an electron or proton. A proton can be split into quarks, which doesn’t quite solve the issue of intentional splitting. An electron cannot be split into further elements (as far as we are aware), and as the results of such a split cannot be observed out of supposed impossibility, I must work with the original idea of a split atom. 

[ix] Consider the use of iodine pills in reducing the risk of developing thyroid cancer. Iodine is a necessary element in the function of the healthy thyroid. Without iodine, the thyroid ceases to function normally. Imagine a nuclear disaster (such as the Chernobyl explosion of 1986), in which radioactive isotopes of iodine are released into the air. These radioactive isotopes can replace the isotopes that are supposed to be inside the human body. This distortion will destroy the function of the thyroid (and DNA), which can lead to cancer. Iodine pills can be taken to reduce the risk by flooding the body with the necessary kind of iodine for healthy thyroid function. For further reading, see this article.  

[x] NASA has excellent graphics to understand how these fields/waves are formed. I strongly recommend reading this article for further learning. 

[xi] For an explanation of this figure, please see this article.

[boysenberrybrew]

underappreciated factor in "harry and tom riddle in the same era" fic is that they would then grow up to make a great old married couple

[boysenberrybrew]

tomarrymort dynamics...for ME

(and of course)

[boysenberrybrew]

gobbledegook and notes on goblins (part 2 of 2)

Part one covering the language here.

GOBLIN NAMES:

(Some of these are from canon and some are ones I’ve made up/taken from various places, including ALL the female names because no goblin ladies are ever mentioned in canon sadly)

MALE NAMES:

A goblin male name often ends with a hard “k”, which is considered a strong, masculine sound. If not a k, then they almost certainly end with another hard consonant. Male names usually feature “o” and “u” sounds, though an “a” or an “i” is often present in the first syllable of the name.

Alguff

Bodrod

Bogrod

Burgok

Garkun

Gnarlak

Gornuk

Gringott

Griphuk (often spelt by wizards, including Harry, as Griphook; “uk” and “ook” are two English spellings of the same Goblin rune)

Hodrod

Nagnok

Odbert (old name, obsolete)

Ragnok

Ragnuk

Ranrok

Rikbert (often spelt as Ricbert by humans, “k” and “c” are one letter in the goblin script)

FEMALE NAMES:

Female names often feature “s” or “z” sounds, which are considered sharp, snappy, and fresh– feminine traits in goblin culture. They often end with “i” or “a” sounds.

Adartza

Arantza

Eguzki

Garazi

Isaskun

Itziar

Joska

Nadezhda

Saveka

Sigdrífa

Revka

Rifavka

Rizakva

Urdza

Urzuri

Zevka

Zigrífa

GOBLIN SOCIETY:

Goblins generally prefer to live underground or in cave-houses, in proximity to the ore and metal that is so important to their society. Most live together in large underground cities. The largest of these in Britain is Lekbek or Lek Fell in the Yorkshire Dales, which is connected through what is known to humans as the Ease Gill cavern system, part of the wider Three Counties system. The larger group of goblins in a particular territory, such as Britain, is known as a Bastion.

It is of interest to wizarding scholars that there is not as much linguistic variation among Goblins in different parts of the world, compared to humans– it is theorised that they have some method of communication between Bastions hidden away deep in their underground cities. This is a secret closely guarded by Goblin leadership.

Most goblins are miners or smiths/artisans, and in opposition to a common human misconception only a few are involved in banking or monetary transactions with wizards. The goblins usually encountered by humans are the Gringotts goblins, who act as a liaison between humans and goblins— this fact warps the perception the Wizarding World has of the species. It is ore, not coins, that is of value to goblins, as casting galleons, sickles, and knuts takes little real skill. To them, wizarding currency is merely a way to maintain influence over wizarding society. Still, each smith tasked with minting coins employs a mold with his or her serial number as a method of tracking those coins. Knuts and sickles contain trace amounts of gold, as gold is unable to be produced magically, and goblins can tell instantly if the coin is counterfeit.

Many of the Gringotts goblins are members of the same sprawling extended family tree, and though many do not know each other they share a common descendant in the goblin Gringott, who founded the bank in 1474. This is not at all universal, however, as many goblins now working for Gringotts were born to miners or smiths and simply displayed a good head for numbers or the diplomatic skills necessary to treat with humans from a young age.

Goblins have a loose system of factions— most of the time, those born to mining families become miners, while those born to artisans become artisans, and those descended from the goblin Gringott remain bankers. However, this system is usually maintained out of habit, as it is not enforced and is not rigid— Goblins prize raw talent, and if a young goblin can prove their skills in a different area than that of their parents, then they are happily accepted and permitted to shine.

Goblins have different ideas about property than humans. They prize talent and the ability to create above all things, and therefore believe that true ownership of an object rests with its maker— “buying” the object is viewed merely as a loan. Among themselves they are typically generous and neighbourly, and do not exchange money but goods and services. For instance, a miner might need a brooch for his daughter— if he provides the artisan with extra raw metal, the artisan will make it and the daughter is permitted to wear it until her death, upon which it returns to the smith. If the smith is no longer alive, it goes to whichever smith has taken over his tools and trade, who may or may not be a blood relative.

Some more radical elements believe that wizards should have no rights to own any Goblin-made items at all, but this is not a view shared by all. However, inheritance by blood is not a Goblin value, and nearly all goblins believe that upon the death of the human “owner” of a goblin-made artifact, the artifact should return to its makers rather than passing onto the descendants of the wizard who, in their eyes, have done nothing to deserve it. They do not respect or understand wizarding laws regarding this matter.

Goblin leadership is run by a Council of Elders, composed of the Grauld, the oldest goblins in each Bastion. They aren’t voted into their positions, but simply come into them upon reaching a certain age and if they are willing to leave their previous role behind. Supposedly banking, smithing and mining goblins are represented equally, but in practise the banking goblins have long held more sway than they should given their smaller numbers. (nearly 100% of banking goblins join the Grauld whereas many smithing goblins opt to continue their trade, and mining goblins have a higher rate of mortality) Some theorise that this is because of their close association with wizards, and that the Ministry of Magic is pulling the strings to make sure that their influence over goblin politics remains stable, as many in the smithing and mining factions often call for isolationism and a total withdrawal from humankind.

Goblins tend to believe that humans are lazy and resort to magic to fix every problem and create the things they need, rather than valuing the time and effort needed to carry out a trade and create quality artisanal goods. The few wizards who have ever earned even grudging respect from goblins have tended to be particularly brilliant inventors, though wizarding smiths are often regarded with suspicion and contempt.

Goblin leadership has also long had an interest in Muggles and Muggle technology; however, the Ministry of Magic keeps an extremely tight leash on goblins in this regard; they are expressly forbidden from contacting or approaching Muggles in any way, and have been promised harsh consequences if they do.  

OTHER NOTES:

Gravak Leshak: the Goblin Liberation Front (literally “Goblin Freedom”, the “Front” is added on by wizards.) An organisation devoted to the advancement of Goblin interests in wizarding society. Mostly comprised of banking goblins, (as the other factions, particularly the miners, tend toward an isolationist approach) they advocate for more power and influence over the Wizarding World, and have often resorted to violence to achieve these ends as well as strikes and picketing. Gravak Leshak is not officially supported by Gringotts Bank, which maintains a neutral position— however, many of the top officials at Gringotts have ties to the organisation.

Other goblins: There are goblins living assimilated into the Wizarding World, especially in rural areas. They may work as artisans or barkeeps. They tend to be solitary and not care much for politics, and usually maintain cordial relationships with neighbouring wizards. It is these sorts of goblins who typically beget half-goblin children, as mainstream goblin society is by and large hostile towards humans.

Gobbos vs wand-carriers: While the term “Vvargden” in Gobbledegook is simply a neutral term for wizard or witch, Goblins use the literal translation in English of “wand-carrier” as a despective term. Conversely, many humans refer to goblins with a variety of rude slurs, the most common of which is “gobbo”

Ak Varld Vvargden: a popular Goblin rights manifesto, perhaps the most widely distributed Gobbledegook text in existence. It is typically studied by humans who are learning the Goblin language, owing to the slightly more tempered views it expresses when compared to other Goblin political writings– which on the whole tends to be rather bloody and violent. This is because it was originally written with the intent to reach a Wizarding audience as well as Goblin.

Euskaldunak: As mentioned in part one, Basque wizards and Goblins have had a unique relationship throughout history in that there has been markedly more cordiality and cooperation, even friendship, between the two than in other parts of the world. This relationship still remains to some extent, but it has largely diminished due to the best efforts of the Spanish Ministerio de Magia to quash it. Nevertheless, goblins around the world have more respect for the Basque language and culture than for any other group of wizards.

[boysenberrybrew]

[boysenberrybrew]

Harry Potter in the 1940s ✨🫡

[boysenberrybrew]

Ok, but listen. Harry goes back in time and decides to get rid of Tom Riddle AU, but the sorting hat goes like ??? when it reads Harry's mind. Idk it just irks me how the sorting hat is so understanding in most time travel fics, at best it puts Harry in a house he didn't want to be. But just imagine if it actually tells on Harry, full great hall drama with the hat going like "HE'S HERE TO MURDER SOMEONE"

And ofc Tom is instantly obsessed with the murder boy.

Extra:

(ofc the poor hat is not broken, it's on the verge of a nervous breakdown)

[boysenberrybrew]

I understand why a lot of fantasy settings with Ambiguously Catholic organised religions go the old "the Church officially forbids magic while practising it in secret in order to monopolise its power" route, but it's almost a shame because the reality of the situation was much funnier.

Like, yes, a lot of Catholic clergy during the Middle Ages did practice magic in secret, but they weren't keeping it secret as some sort of sinister top-down conspiracy to deny magic to the Common People: they were mostly keeping it secret from their own superiors. It wasn't one of those "well, it's okay when we do it" deals: the Church very much did not want its local priests doing wizard shit. We have official records of local priests being disciplined for getting caught doing wizard shit. And the preponderance of evidence is that most of them would take their lumps, promise to stop doing wizard shit, then go right back to doing wizard shit.

It turns out that if you give a bunch of dudes education, literacy, and a lot of time on their hands, some non-zero percentage of them are going to decide to be wizards, no matter how hard you try to stop them from being wizards.

[boysenberrybrew]

gobbledegook and notes on goblins (part 1 of 2)

So I have a google doc full of HP goblin lore that I developed for a fic and then never really ended up using most of it rip. But I thought it would be interesting to share, in case anyone needs to include a line of Gobbledegook in their own writing or something! I know next to nothing about linguistics so I'm sure from that perspective it's probably full of errors but anyway, I had fun.

PART ONE: GOBLIN LANGUAGE

BASIC INFO:

Gravakeluk, or Gobbledegook (a human bastardisation) is the standard language used by most of the goblin population worldwide. (more on this in part 2)

The language is based heavily on compound words— short sounds can be interpreted in a variety of ways to transmit a specific meaning. 

For instance, the only word we're given in canon is 'bladvak,' meaning pickaxe. This can be broken down into "blad" (blood, ore) + "vak" (axe), so "bladvak" is translated as "ore axe." "Blad" + "vak" + "den" (carrier/wielder) means "miner" or, literally, "pickaxe-carrier."

For a more complex example, "Rravk" can be translated as "sword" but also "power/might." The word Vvargdenrravkrak is broken down as: "Vvarg" (wand) + "den" (carrier) + "rravk" (power) + "rak" (place), and means Ministry of Magic. Literally, "wand carrier power place."

Pronunciation: Gobbledegook sounds harsh and aggressive to many humans. The language is guttural and consonants are created from the back of the throat, producing a rasping effect that almost sounds like the words are being spat at you. This is just how Goblins talk, however, and many phrases that were not intended as especially aggressive have been interpreted as such over the years by wizards.

Writing: Goblins use a runic semi-syllabic script—  partially behaving as a syllabary and as an alphabet, similar to Paleohispanic scripts from the Iberian peninsula. Some characters represent syllables, while others represent specific phonemes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-syllabary

 A note— “uk” is often spelt “ook” by wizards, but there is no distinction in Gobbledegook, as there is one character for the sound “uk”. This is why something like Griphuk is often spelt as Griphook in English.

GLOSSARY:

Ak – The, or A. Usually to give importance or emphasis to the subject at hand, as it’s not grammatically necessary. “Ak Varld Vvargden” is a well-known publication that translates to “A World of Wizards”

-ak – a pluralising suffix. This is only used for certain words as many nouns (such as the words for goblin or wizard) can be used both as a plural and a singular noun. Rravk (sword) becomes Rravkak (swords). Since the “ak” sound is so common in the goblin language, it can sometimes be tricky for the untrained ear to distinguish it as a plural, an ability that is gained with time and familiarity.

Blad – ore, blood (ore is analogous blood in goblin culture)

Bladrak - mine, literally “ore place”

Bladvak – pickaxe (ore axe)

Bladvakden – miner, literally "pickaxe carrier"

Braz – whereupon, or “and then.” Used frequently to describe a connected sequence of events, where in English “and” might simply be used. “I went to the bank whereupon I took out a loan.”

Brun – bronze

-den – suffix meaning "carrier" or “wielder of”. For instance, bladvakden means “pickaxe carrier” or “miner”. More famously, “Vvargden” meaning wizard, translates literally as “wand-carrier”

Ek – on, in

Eluk –  tongue, language

Eskarr – thank you. Humans don’t typically hear this word.

Euskaldunak – the Basque people (see Vvargdeneluk below)

Fell – city

Gorak – loan/transaction (Goblins view the sale of any items to wizards as the object simply being on loan, but really belonging to its makers.)

Gra – people, often used to mean goblins in general, “the people”. Not used for non-goblin people.

Grauld – Elder, member or members of the Council of Elders.

Gravak – Goblin

Gravakeluk- the goblin tongue, once misinterpreted rather carelessly and condescendingly by wizards as “gobbledegook,” which then stuck and simply became the English word for the goblin language.

Gravakrak – Goblin place, anywhere goblins dwell or control

Gu – our, us, we

Ka – I, mine, my

Kagra – return

Kavktta – death/die

Kuld – gold/money

Kuldden - banker (literally “gold carrier”)

Kuldrak – bank (literally “gold place”)

Leshak – liberation, freedom

Nad – nothing

Nadden - Muggle, literally “nothing-carrier”

Rak – place. Can be added as a suffix to mean “place of”, as in “kuldrak” (gold place, bank)

Rifa – silver

Rrantz – foul, rancid

Rravk – sword, might/power

Shor – hammer

Shorden – smith, “hammer carrier”, artisan

Shorrak - forge, literally “hammer place”

Uld – old

Vak – axe

Varld - world

Vvarg – wand

Vvargden – “wand-carrier”, or wizard.

Vvargdeneluk –  any language spoken by humans. In general Goblins believe it is not worth differentiating between them. In the case of British goblins, English is only spoken by the few goblins who have regular dealings with wizards. The only known exception are goblins living in the Basque Country, who have assimilated words from Euskera (the Basque language) into their own parlance. Some of these words have even filtered over time into Standard Gobbledegook. In general, goblins like the sound of Basque and some wizarding historians theorise that Basque wizards and goblins once enjoyed a better relationship than in other parts of the world. Therefore, there does exist a word for this particular human language:

Euskaldunakeluk – the Basque language

Vvargdenrak – anywhere inhabited or controlled by wizards, literally “wizard place”

Vvargdenrravkrak – The Ministry of Magic, literally "wizard power place"

-----------------------

Example sentence:

English: “Return our swords to us, foul wizards, and then die upon them” Gobbledegook: “Gu Rravkak kagra, rrantz vvargden, braz kavktta ek.” Literal translation: “Our swords return(to), rancid wand-carrier, whereupon die on(it).”

part two here, covering goblin naming conventions and some notes on goblin society. I also talked a bit about gender in goblin society in this reply.

[boysenberrybrew]

Wizarding Robes: A Personal Guide

🏳️‍⚧️ From a trans artist who loves trans people and is fascinated by the room for gender presentation in robes 🏳️‍⚧️

[boysenberrybrew]

I don't think I'm saying anything earth-shatteringly new when I state that the inner workings of the Ministry of Magic aren't exactly expanded upon in the hp books. it's safe to say that Rowling herself probably didn't think too deeply about the executive, judiciary and legislative powers of the magical government since the information we do have is scant and often contradictory; nevertheless, I have attempted to compile all the relevant facts disclosed in the books.

When researching the subject, I have not used any external material (i.e. Pottermore, JKR interviews, facts gleaned from post-7th book canon) because, having been written ex post facto, they are by nature unreliable. In the time inbetween writing the original books and the disclosure of post-canon details, jkr had time to do some revisionism and fill in existing gaps (the existence of which she may have been alerted to by others) and I'm not interested in any of jkr's attempts to rewrite history, regardless of the subject.

That said, I give you

The Definitive HP Law Compendium

a) THE MINISTRY

Our most exhaustive documentation on how the Ministry of Magic is structured comes by courtesy of the ministry elevators, which helpfully list all departments floor by floor.

on level 1: Minister of Magic and Support Staff (Umbridge's offices in DH are located here)

on level 2: Department of Magical Law Enforcement (henceforth shortened to DMLE), which includes the Improper Use of Magic offices, Auror Headquarters and the Wizengamot Administrative Services.

although not specified by the lift, this is also where the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts office (where Arthur Weasley works) is located, which tells us that the lift's announcements are not necessarily exhaustive.

on level 3: Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes composed of the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, Obliviator Headquarters and Muggle-worthy Excuse Committee

on level 4: Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures which includes of the Beast, Being and Spirit Divisions, the Goblin liaison Office and the Pest Advisory Bureau.

on level 5: Department for International Magical Cooperation including the International Magical Trading Standards body, the International Magical Office of Law, and the British chapter of the International Confederation of Wizards (also referred to as the "International Confederation of Warlocks")

on level 6: Department of Magical Transport which includes the Floo Network Authority, Broom Regulatory Control, the Portkey Office and the Apparition Test Center (considering that Hogwarts student seem to take their apparition test at school, this is likely where adult wizards take and/or retake their tests)

on level 7: Department of Magical Games and Sports, which includes the British and Irish quidditch League (is magical Ireland not divided? unclear), the Headquarters of the Official Gobstones Club and, bizarrely, the Ludicrous Patents office (I'd be inclined to think this is a sports-related patent office if it wasn't the only one mentioned in the books)

on level 8 is the atrium, which Harry describes as a "very long and splendid hall" with many gilded fireplaces on both sides (left is for arrivals and right is for departures). This is also where the Fountain of Magical Brethren and the security desk are located. At the end of the hall, golden gates lead to a smaller room where the lifts (at least 20 in number) are.

on level 9: Department of Mysteries and beyond

The lift stops here but we know from OotP that there's at least one more floor that is only accessible by stairs from level 9 (which also brings up the question: are the upper floors also connected by stairs or is it an either/or scenario?). On this additional floor is Courtroom 10, which is supposedly no longer in use as of OotP but was still being used in the immediate aftermath of the first wizarding war. The courtroom's name implies the presence of at least 9 other courtrooms and, though their location is unclear, they do not seem to be located on this floor.

b) KNOWN GOVERNING BODIES

Going purely off of the only two law-adjacent departments mentioned by the ministry lifts, there's both an international and a state law department (on level 5 and 2 respectively) but seemingly no distinction between civil and criminal law.

Besides what described above by the lift, level 2 also appears to be where some offences are judged, as Harry's trial in OotP was originally scheduled to take place here, right inside the office of the head of the DMLE.

We know that, during Harry's time, the DMLE is headed by Amelia Bones, who gets quietly offed between OotP and HBP. She is succeeded by the imperiused Pius Thicknesse (who goes on to become minister of magic during the second war), who is in turn succeeded by noted Death Eater Corban Yaxley.

We further know that, prior to Amelia's tenure (though it's unknown if directly preceding), the department used to be headed by Barty Crouch sr., who later went on to head the office for International Magical Cooperation (where he was Percy Weasley's boss). This is implied to be a lateral career move at best since Sirius describes Crouch in GoF as being "shunted sideways".

The International Federation of Warlocks (part of the Office for International Cooperation) seems to be a legislative body of sorts, as we'll see later that it originated many of the laws mentioned in the books. We know that it was established prior to the advent of the Statue of Secrecy (and the subsequent creation of the Ministry of Magic) because professor Binns mentions they convened in 1289 in one of his lectures, implying that its existence precedes that date.

The books make no mention of the presence of a parliament in the wizarding world, not even in a Chamber of Lords-type fashion.

[note that Dumbledore seems to have had high positions in both the International Federation, where he was Supreme Mugwump, and the Wizengamot, where he was Chief Warlock. It's unknown what either of these titles entail]

Moving on to the judiciary branch, we know of the existence of the Wizengamot. It's described as "the wizard high court", which (to me) implies the presence of a lower court. The Council of Magical Law may be the lower court's name, as it may be the court presiding the trials Harry witnesses in Dumbledore's pensieve

(from PoA)

As we'll see later, the postwar trials of Igor Karkaroff and Ludo Bagman, and the joint trial of Rabastan Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange, Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch jr are described quite differently from Harry's trial before the Wizengamot, which is what led me to believe that they were presided by two different courts.

The magical world doesn't appear to have an appellate court although, if jkr modeled the wizarding judiciary after the ones present in British Law, the Wizengamot may be modeled after the Crown Court and thus also serve an appellate function.

Finally, the books make no mention of barristers, solicitors or any other type of lawyer. The trials we witness are not presided by judges but by government officials and there is no indication that the Wizengamot members (who serve the function of a jury) have any type of legal training.

The defendants in the trials we happen to witness don't appear to have counsel of any type. Dumbledore acts as a defense lawyer of sorts for Harry in OotP but he announces himself as a "witness for the defence". Seeing that Dumbledore appears to be a living exception to all magical laws and customs, this doesn't actually tell us much.

The government officials acting in the function of the prosecution and the judge both do exhibit some knowledge of wizarding laws, as does Dumbledore (who was at one point chief Warlock) although, since Dumbledore is Dumbledore and therefore omniscient, this may not be indicative of any skill requirement for the position he held.

c) KNOWN LAWS

1.1 legal documents referenced in the books (in tentatively chronological order)

the Statute of Secrecy, decreed by the International Confederation of Warlocks in 1689

unnamed law decreed by the Warlocks' Convention of 1709: it outlaws dragon Breeding (as per Ron in PS)

The Decree for the Reasonble Restriction of Underage Sorcery (1875), which partly states in clause seven that "magic may be used before Muggles in exceptional circumstances, and as those exceptional circumstances include situations that threaten the life of the wizard or witch himself, or witches, wizards, or Muggles present at the time of the..." (as quoted by Dumbledore in OotP)

unnamed law punishing the use of Unforgivables

unnamed law delineating the purposes and limitations of the Trace

the Wizengamot charter of rights (mentioned on OotP): it partly states that an accused has the right to present defence witnesses (as stated by Dumbledore in OotP)

law fifteen B "any attack by a magical creature who is deemed to have near-human intelligence, and therefore considered responsible for its actions..." (as incompletely quoted by Dolores Umbridge in OotP)

the Decree for Justifiable Confiscation, which gives the ministry power to confiscate the contents of a will. It was created to stop wizards from passing on dark artefacts (as mentioned in DH)

unnamed law written by Arthur Weasley regarding the possible legality of flying cars/ enchanted muggle vehicles (as mentioned in CoS)*

unnamed document establishing an embargo on flying carpets, implied to have been drafted by Arthur Weasley (from GoF)*

Arthur Weasley's Muggle Protection Act (proposed legislation c.a. 1992, unknown contents, unknown if put into law)*

the International Ban on Dueling, implied to be an international agreement, Transylvanians haven't signed it as of summer 1994 (from GoF)

*: it's unclear how Arthur Weasley, who is not a lawyer, an elected official or a member of the only known legislative body in the books (the International federation of wizards), is able to both draft and propose legislation

1.2 educational decrees

I am including these because they are treated like laws. They are pushed for by a minister and they need to "pass", presumably through a parliament of sorts, in order to be enacted. Prior to the events of OotP there seem to have been 21 educational decrees, the contents of which we are unaware of. The ones added in book 5 by the Fudge administration (with the help of Dolores Umbridge) are as follows:

n.22 "in the event of the current headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should select an appropriate person"

n.23, creates the new position of "Hogwarts high inquisitor"

n.24:

n25:

n.26 "teachers are hereby banned from giving students any information that is not strictly related to the subjects they are paid to teach"

n.27 "any student found in possession of the magazine The Quibbler will be expelled"

n.28 "Dolores Jane Umbridge (High Inquisitor) has replaced Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of Wichcraft and Wizardry"

n.29: never enacted, concerning the use of physical punishment at Hogwarts

unnamed order for the expulsion of peeves, possibly part of decree 29, also never enacted

d) HARRY'S TRIAL

In OotP, Harry is tried for underage magic following his use of the Patronus enchantment to protect both himself and his cousin Dudley from dementors.

This is Harry's second infraction of the Decree for the Reasonble Restriction of Underage Sorcery and he is being made an example of for political reasons since, in recently claiming that Voldemort had returned, he made an enemy out of the Fudge administration. It's therefore unclear if the Decree has a two strikes and you're out policy or if Harry's prosecution is just caused by the Ministry's desire to throw the book at him. By the time Harry receives the letter informing him of this upcoming trial, he'd supposedly performed underage magic outside of Hogwarts thrice but only received a written warning once (in Cos, when said magic was actually performed by Dobby). When Harry blew up his aunt Marge in PoA, Fudge himself dismissed the event as a non-issue, claiming:

The circumstances in this case being Sirius's escape from Azkaban and his presumed intention to target Harry. Of course, Harry's notoriety may have also played a factor.

Despite being a minor, Harry doesn't seem to be allowed an escort as Arthur Weasley is unable to enter the courtroom. Harry goes in alone (as does every other defendant we meet); it also appears that the trial is closed to the public.

Harry's trial is described as a "disciplinary hearing", both before it was supposed to take place in front of the Wizengamot and after:

and

Despite this, the hearing is presided by the Minister of Magic himself, (Cornelius Fudge). A Wizengamot trial seems to be, by nature, a criminal trial and Dumbledore, in his defense of Harry, implies it is highly unusual for disciplinary hearings to be tried as such. Indeed, before the trial was moved from Amelia Bones's office to Courtroom 10, the judgement of the head of DMLE was deemed to be sufficent.

The Wizengamot members act as a jury of sort, they are described to be:

The Wizengamot appears to have elders; we are introduced to only two - Griselda Marchbanks and Tiberius Ogden - so it's unclear how many there are and, furthermore, we are never informed of their function.

Wizengamot proceedings require the presence of interrogators. In Harry's trial they are Cornelius Fudge (Minister of Magic), Amelia Bones (Head of the DMLE) and Dolores Umbridge (Senior Undersecretary to the Minister).

For some reason, Percy Weasley acts as court scribe despite it not being his job title. It's unclear wether this is an extraordinary case or if stenographers really don't exist in the magical world. (also, why do they even need stenographers when wizards have quick quotes quills?)

Dumbledore describes himself as a witness for the defense, even if he takes on a role that seems more similar to that of a defense attorney. Mrs Figg is also described as a witness but, unlike Dumbledore, she was not allowed to enter the court by herself and required an escort in order to join the proceedings (Percy Weasley).

For some reason, Dumbledore was informed of the trial's change of location, which implies he was also aware of the time and location of the original hearing. At no point in time does Harry retain his services (he is in fact surprised to see Dumbledore there) despite the fact that Dumbledore speaks for Harry throughout.

Interestingly, though the trial also serves to determine wether Harry is going to be expelled from Hogwarts, Dumbledore's judgement in his role as Headmaster is not required. The Ministry, it appears, can decide to expel students without the approval of the school's headmaster (can the headmaster expel students without ministry approval? unclear).

The proceedings seem to be very formal, as Harry is being interrogated with yes and no questions and is given no time for elucidations. Despite this, Dumbledore is allowed to have multiple very informal conversations with the minister of magic himself and at no point does he use court lingo, in complete opposition to how Umbridge, an interrogator, is treated.

Harry observes that, in order to speak, she has to lean forward, at which point the Minister states

This is the only time in all of the books that this happens. The other interrogator, head of DMLE Amelia Bones, appears to speak whenever she pleases, as she interrupts Harry mid-sentence and addresses the Minister like a peer.

It's quite likely that Dumbledore was allowed free rein on account if his status and fame and his presence likely threw a wrench in what were otherwise going to be very strict bureaucratic proceedings.

Finally, Wizengamot rulings are made by show of hands and it doesn't look like they need to be initiated by the person heading the proceedings. For Harry's trial, it's Amelia Bones that calls onto the jury's decision and not Fudge.

e) OTHER TRIALS

The first trial we see in the books happens at least six months after the first wizarding war, since that's the time it took for Alastor Moody to track down the defendant, Igor Karkaroff.

What Harry witnesses (by wading through Dumbledore's pensieve memories) is not, however, Karkaroff's sentencing but a follow-up hearing to determine wether he is in possession of information that may lead to the capture of more Death Eaters. Karkaroff is taken from Azkaban in order to do so and he is accompanied/carried by dementors.

The case takes place in open court, as Harry sees that "rows and rows of witches and wizards were seated around every wall on what seemed to be benches rising in levels"; these proceedings, in stark difference to Harry's, are open to the public (possible proof n.1 that this is not taking place in front of the Wizengamot but in a different court).

At this moment in time, Dumbledore could very well be chief warlock of the wizengamot (we don't know when he was instated) but he sits among the spectators (possible proof n.2 ). Despite being a member of the public, Dumbledore is seen interrupting proceedings without permission (to defend Snape, whom Karkaroff implicates). Because it's Dumbledore doing it, it's again unclear wether this is permitted or if the court is making an exception for him.

This first trial is, like all the trials Harry witnesses indirectly, presided by Barty Crouch sr., who at this point in time heads the DMLE. (possible proof n.3, maybe all wizengamot trials are presided by the minister and all council trials are headed by the DMLE chief?)

The Second trial Harry sees in Dumbledore's memories is that of Ludo Bagman (for passing information to Rockwood, whom Karkaroff implicated in the first memory). Dumbledore is once again not there in any official capacity and is sitting among the public; the proceedings are implied to take place at a later date, as Harry remarks that Crouch's appearance has changed.

We join Ludo in his trial's sentencing phase and indeed Harry notices the presence of a jury, which is not described as having the monogrammed plum robes of Wizengamot members (possible proof n.4 although, since the events take place in GoF and Harry's trial occurs in OotP, jkr may have simply done an oopsie).

This trial seems to be more informal, as the crowd appears to behave quite rowdily (with no intervention) and a member of the jury waylays the proceedings in order to compliment Ludo's flying at his most recent Quidditch match. This is most likely because of both public sentiment and the perceived innocence of the defendant.

Notably, Ludo's trial is the only one that we know for sure was attended by the press, as Harry notices a young Rita Skeeter sitting near Dumbledore.

The final trial witnessed by Harry appears to once again be a sentencing, that of Barty Crouch jr, Bellatrix Lestrange and the brothers Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange (who were seemingly all tried together and received a single sentence). Harry once again remarks that Crouch Sr's looks have changed, helping us determine that time has passed between the memories. This sentencing is once again done through show of hands by a jury (who, again, is not described as wearing Wizengamot robes) and Dumbledore is still sitting among the public.

Despite it being another sentencing, it appears that the defendants were already being detained in Azkaban as they are accompanied by six dementors, unlike Ludo Bagman, though this may be due to the difference in the severity of their actions; Bagman was seemingly a free man when he entered the courtroom as he'd participated in a quidditch match not one week before.

It's during his trial that the Council of Magical Law is mentioned by name (the only time in the books). Since all three of the pensieve trials share multiple similarities - way more than they do with Harry's- this, together with the evidence shown above, leads me to conclude that

1 All three trials take place before the same court

2 the Council of Magical Law is not necessarily another the name for the Wizengamot and therefore

3 there's at least two different courts codified in the magical law system

Of course, these discrepancies may very well be oopsies on jkr's part. Although Dumbledore's role as chief Warlock can be ascertained as early as PS (thanks to the header on Harry's acceptance letter), the Wizengamot doesn't get mentioned by name until OotP. Furthermore, the pensieve trials and Harry's take place in different books which means jkr may have added on to the concept in the interim.

f) CONCLUSION

There is none, I have nothing else to say. Class is dismissed, I need to go have a lie-down.

[boysenberrybrew]

[boysenberrybrew]

hey, it's me again

[boysenberrybrew]

Harry Potter and PTSD

I think no one would argue Harry Potter isn't traumatized, but I actually wanted to go through PTSD symptoms and find evidence of them in book quotes. It's mostly as a fun, little exercise (the word fun is debatable here, it made me quite sad, actually) as I'm not a licensed therapist, and I have no qualifications to diagnose anyone with anything. But I wanted to take a look at some of how Harry's trauma manifests especially in the final 3 books as the signs of PTSD are most obvious and glaring after Voldemort's resurrection and get worse after Sirius' death.

(As the title and first paragraphs suggest, this post isn't a happy one, so beware. I will be discussing symptoms of trauma as shown in the HP books)

I will be using adult PTSD symptoms since:

Older children and teens usually show symptoms more like those seen in adults. They also may develop disruptive, disrespectful, or destructive behaviors. Older children and teens may feel guilt over not preventing injury or death, or have thoughts of revenge.

(Source)

All further quotes regarding PTSD and its symptoms and how they might show were taken from the same website linked above.

To be diagnosed with PTSD, an adult must have all of the following for at least 1 month: * At least one re-experiencing symptom * At least one avoidance symptom * At least two arousal and reactivity symptoms * At least two cognition and mood symptoms

So, let's get straight into it and go into the diagnosis categories:

Re-experiencing symptoms

* Flashbacks—reliving the traumatic event, including physical symptoms, such as a racing heart or sweating * Recurring memories or dreams related to the event * Distressing thoughts * Physical signs of stress Thoughts and feelings can trigger these symptoms, as can words, objects, or situations that are reminders of the event.

Harry definitely suffers from nightmares post-Voldemort's-resurrection, and memories coming back about it:

Had they all forgotten what he had done? Hadn’t it been he who had entered that graveyard and watched Cedric being murdered and been tied to that tombstone and nearly killed ... ? Don’t think about that, Harry told himself sternly for the hundredth time that summer. It was bad enough that he kept revisiting the graveyard in his nightmares, without dwelling on it in his waking moments too.

(OotP)

In the meantime, he had nothing to look forward to but another restless, disturbed night, because even when he escaped nightmares about Cedric he had unsettling dreams about long dark corridors, all finishing in dead ends and locked doors, which he supposed had something to do with the trapped feeling he had when he was awake.

(OotP)

And it continues even months later, he's still dreaming about the graveyard:

He was not going to share his dreams with anyone. He knew perfectly well what his regular nightmare about a graveyard meant, he did not need Ron or Professor Trelawney or the stupid Dream Oracle to tell him that...

(OotP)

Distressing thoughts are par for the course for Harry, but I'll bring up some examples:

And Harry saw very clearly as he sat there under the hot sun how people who cared about him had stood in front of him one by one, his mother, his father, his godfather, and finally Dumbledore, all determined to protect him; but now that was over. He could not let anybody else stand between him and Voldemort; he must abandon forever the illusion he ought to have lost at the age of one, that the shelter of a parent’s arms meant that nothing could hurt him.

(HBP)

He feels responsible for all of their deaths even though they are all adults who chose to be there and protect him. Harry still feels guilt and responsibility over them, even when it isn't his fault, and he shouldn't feel responsible for those who stood between him and Voldemort.

While Harry shows physical signs of stress (such as a racing heart or sweating), They are shown in actual moments of stress where any human would be stressed, so I don't count them here since they are not an immediate result of trauma.

Regardless, I'd say he does have relieving symptoms. Recurring dreams, thoughts, and a sense of guilt are all present.

Avoidance symptoms

* Staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the experience * Avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the traumatic event Avoidance symptoms may cause people to change their routines. For example, some people may avoid driving or riding in a car after a serious car accident.

Harry doesn't actually have the luxury to really avoid anything (poor boy) but he does avoid talking about his dreams of the graveyard, as mentioned in the quote in the Re-experiencing section. He doesn't tell anyone, not even Ron or Hermione about his nightmares. Neither does he want to talk about Cedric. He doesn't even want to think about the graveyard and Cedric as mentioned in one of the above quotes:

Had they all forgotten what he had done? Hadn’t it been he who had entered that graveyard and watched Cedric being murdered and been tied to that tombstone and nearly killed ... ? Don’t think about that, Harry told himself sternly for the hundredth time that summer.

(OotP)

Even though Cho keeps bringing Cedric up to process her own experience, Harry does not want to talk or think about him and what happened at the graveyard.

She shook her head and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. “I’m — sorry,” she said thickly. “I suppose ... it’s just ... learning all this stuff... It just makes me ... wonder whether ... if he’d known it all ... he’d still be alive...” Harry’s heart sank right back past its usual spot and settled somewhere around his navel. He ought to have known. She wanted to talk about Cedric.

(OotP)

“I came in here with Cedric last year,” said Cho. In the second or so it took for him to take in what she had said, Harry’s insides had become glacial. He could not believe she wanted to talk about Cedric now, while kissing couples surrounded them and a cherub floated over their heads.

(OotP)

Zacharias said dismissively, “All Dumbledore told us last year was that Cedric Diggory got killed by You- Know-Who and that you brought Diggory’s body back to Hogwarts. He didn’t give us details, he didn’t tell us exactly how Diggory got murdered, I think we’d all like to know — ” “If you’ve come to hear exactly what it looks like when Voldemort murders someone I can’t help you,” Harry said. His temper, always so close to the surface these days, was rising again. He did not take his eyes from Zacharias Smith’s aggressive face, determined not to look at Cho. “I don’t want to talk about Cedric Diggory, all right? So if that’s what you’re here for, you might as well clear out.”

(OotP)

And when he mentions some of it, he's emotionally overwhelmed and stumbling over his words. He didn't really process everything that happened in the graveyard and he doesn't know how to talk about it:

Ron and Hermione were still smirking and Harry felt his temper rise; he wasn’t even sure why he was feeling so angry. “Don’t sit there grinning like you know better than I do, I was there, wasn’t I?” he said heatedly. “I know what went on, all right? And I didn’t get through any of that because I was brilliant at Defense Against the Dark Arts, I got through it all because — because help came at the right time, or because I guessed right — but I just blundered through it all, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing — STOP LAUGHING!” The bowl of murtlap essence fell to the floor and smashed. He became aware that he was on his feet, though he couldn’t remember standing up. Crookshanks streaked away under a sofa; Ron and Hermione’s smiles had vanished. “You don’t know what it’s like You — neither of you — you’ve never had to face him, have you? You think it’s just memorizing a bunch of spells and throwing them at him, like you’re in class or something? The whole time you know there’s nothing between you and dying except your own — your own brain or guts or whatever — like you can think straight when you know you’re about a second from being murdered, or tortured, or watching your friends die — they’ve never taught us that in their classes, what it’s like to deal with things like that — and you two sit there acting like I’m a clever little boy to be standing here, alive, like Diggory was stupid, like he messed up — you just don’t get it, that could just as easily have been me, it would have been if Voldemort hadn’t needed me — ”

(OotP)

He mentions how it isn't easy for him to talk about it when he does his interview for the Quibbler:

Harry had not found it an easy experience to talk about the night when Voldemort had returned. Rita had pressed him for every little detail, and he had given her everything he could remember, knowing that this was his one big opportunity to tell the world the truth. He wondered how people would react to the story. He guessed that it would confirm a lot of people in the view that he was completely insane, not least because his story would be appearing alongside utter rubbish about Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. But the breakout of Bellatrix Lestrange and her fellow Death Eaters had given Harry a burning desire to do something, whether it worked or not...

(OotP)

So, I'd say Harry shows avoidance symptoms in abundance as well.

Arousal and reactivity symptoms

* Being easily startled * Feeling tense, on guard, or on edge * Having difficulty concentrating * Having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep * Feeling irritable and having angry or aggressive outbursts * Engaging in risky, reckless, or destructive behavior Arousal symptoms are often constant. They can lead to feelings of stress and anger and may interfere with parts of daily life, such as sleeping, eating, or concentrating.

"CONSTANT VIGILENCE!" anyone?

But more seriously, Harry is extra vigilant and alert in the final 3 books especially. As mentioned in the above quote with Smith, Harry is more angry in the final 3 books:

“If you’ve come to hear exactly what it looks like when Voldemort murders someone I can’t help you,” Harry said. His temper, always so close to the surface these days, was rising again.

(OotP)

His temper, which was always present, got worse after the graveyard. In book 4, Harry holds Ron back from hitting Draco when Draco throws his usual insults:

“You know your mother, Malfoy?” said Harry — both he and Hermione had grabbed the back of Ron’s robes to stop him from launching himself at Malfoy

(GoF)

In book 5, Harry punches Draco himself over similar insults because he's angrier and has less of a handle on his emotions and reactions. He is barely aware of what he's doing:

Harry was not aware of releasing George, all he knew was that a second later both of them were sprinting at Malfoy. He had completely forgotten the fact that all the teachers were watching: All he wanted to do was cause Malfoy as much pain as possible. With no time to draw out his wand, he merely drew back the fist clutching the Snitch and sank it as hard as he could into Malfoy’s stomach —

(OotP)

And in general, Harry is much more on guard:

He raised the cup to his lips and then, just as suddenly, lowered it. One of the horrible painted kittens behind Umbridge had great round blue eyes just like Mad-Eye Moody’s magical one, and it had just occurred to Harry what Mad-Eye would say if he ever heard that Harry had drunk anything offered by a known enemy.

(OotP)

He startles easily and is ready for an attack at all moments:

Dudley lay curled up on the ground, whimpering and shaking. Harry bent down to see whether he was in a fit state to stand up, but then heard loud, running footsteps behind him; instinctively raising his wand again, he spun on his heel to face the newcomer.

(OotP - after the dementor attack)

Malfoy wheeled around, drawing his wand. Instinctively, Harry pulled out his own. Malfoy’s hex missed Harry by inches, shattering the lamp on the wall beside him; Harry threw himself sideways, thought Levicorpus, and flicked his wand, but Malfoy blocked the jinx and raised his wand for another — 

(HBP)

“Pathetic, Weasley,” said Snape, after a while. “Here — let me show you — ” He turned his wand on Harry so fast that Harry reacted instinctively; all thought of nonverbal spells forgotten, he yelled, “Protego!” His Shield Charm was so strong Snape was knocked off-balance and hit a desk. The whole class had looked around and now watched as Snape righted himself, scowling.

(HBP)

By HBP and OotP, Harry is always ready for an attack and he defends himself on instinct. It doesn't matter where he is or what he's doing, fight or flight instincts take over and he's acting. It's always there, under the surface, ready to spring.

After Sirius dies, we also see a change in what Harry keeps to himself and what he says out loud. All his sassiest quotes towards Snape come from after Sirius dies. Harry becomes more reckless with his words (and actions in general). The pain makes him care less about his own life and future:

“What are you doing, Potter?” said Snape coldly as ever, as he strode over to the four of them. “I’m trying to decide what curse to use on Malfoy, sir,” said Harry fiercely. Snape stared at him.

(OotP - after Sirius' death)

“Yes, sir.” “There’s no need to call me ‘sir,’ Professor.” The words had escaped him before he knew what he was saying. Several people gasped, including Hermione. Behind Snape, however, Ron, Dean, and Seamus grinned appreciatively.

(HBP - yes, this famous scene is because Harry is depressed)

This is Harry just speaking his mind with complete and utter disregard for the consequences of what comes out of his mouth. This is something we see with him only after Sirius died, as before that, he made an attempt to not anger his professors, even Snape. In the earlier books, Harry is all for de-escalating situations with Snape:

“What on earth were you thinking of?” said Professor McGonagall, with cold fury in her voice. Harry looked at Ron, who was still standing with his wand in the air. “You’re lucky you weren’t killed. Why aren’t you in your dormitory?” Snape gave Harry a swift, piercing look. Harry looked at the floor. He wished Ron would put his wand down.

(PS)

“Let’s see,” he said, in his silkiest voice. “Fifty points from Gryffindor and a detention each for Potter and Weasley. Now get inside, or it’ll be a week’s worth of detentions.” Harry’s ears were ringing. The injustice of it made him want to curse Snape into a thousand slimy pieces. He passed Snape, walked with Ron to the back of the dungeon, and slammed his bag down onto the table. Ron was shaking with anger too — for a moment, it felt as though everything was back to normal between them, but then Ron turned and sat down with Dean and Seamus instead, leaving Harry alone at his table. On the other side of the dungeon, Malfoy turned his back on Snape and pressed his badge, smirking. POTTER STINKS flashed once more across the room.

(GoF)

Harry may be thinking of wanting to say/do something, but he doesn't, because he has some self-preservation. This self-preservation disappears as the books go along. Harry in the early books is much more concerned for his own well-being than in the later books, and I don't think it's due to bravery or childhood trauma, at least, that isn't all there is. I think it's a reaction to some of his more recent trauma as well. A combination of feeling responsible for everything and thinking it's fine he goes through pain and danger because that's what he should do. In HBP and DH, he repeatedly says how willing he is to endanger himself, but not others. It's why he breaks up with Ginny, it's why he initially doesn't want Ron and Hermione to come with him on the Horcrux hunt. He thinks his own life is worth less. That it isn't so bad if he dies.

So he shows 3 arousal and reactivity symptoms at least.

Cognition and mood symptoms

* Trouble remembering key features of the traumatic event * Negative thoughts about oneself or the world * Exaggerated feelings of blame directed toward oneself or others * Ongoing negative emotions, such as fear, anger, guilt, or shame * Loss of interest in previous activities * Feelings of social isolation * Difficulty feeling positive emotions, such as happiness or satisfaction Cognition and mood symptoms can begin or worsen after the traumatic event. They can lead people to feel detached from friends or family members.

I already mentioned Harry's guilt regarding people "who stood between him and Voldemort". And it's true for this section as well. And I mentioned above how Harry considers his own life as worth less than others, which leads him to be incredibly reckless.

Besides the above two points, Harry also shows clear signs of depressive states:

On the fourth night after Hedwig’s departure Harry was lying in one of his apathetic phases, staring at the ceiling, his exhausted mind quite blank, when his uncle entered his bedroom. Harry looked slowly around at him. Uncle Vernon was wearing his best suit and an expression of enormous smugness.

(OotP)

Harry mentions that after the graveyard in the summer between 4th and 5th year, he starts having what he calls "apathetic phases", in which he just feels too tired to even think, just staring blankly at the ceiling. Him calling it "phases" as in, plural, suggests this is a common occurrence at the Dursleys.

Even later in Deathly Hallows, we see this is something Harry still does. After Ron leaves Harry and Hermione are at their most depressed:

She [Hermione] threw herself into a chair, curled up, and started to cry. Harry felt dazed. He stooped, picked up the Horcrux, and placed it around his own neck. He dragged blankets off Ron’s bunk and threw them over Hermione. Then he climbed onto his own bed and stared up at the dark canvas roof, listening to the pounding of the rain.

(DH)

Hermione reacts to her emotions by crying and letting them out, she's processing her emotions in some capacity, as hard as it is. Harry, on the other hand, just gets tired. His mind goes blank and he just stares blankly at the ceiling. Another one of these "apathetic phases". Instead of feeling, he goes numb.

We also see in book 6 how he loses some of his interest in Quidditch. The one pastime that reliably brought him joy, wasn't as important to Harry post Sirius' death. Sure, he was still playing, still interested, but there was none of the joy described previously. He doesn't have the same passion and interest even though he's the captain:

Harry smiled back vaguely, but as he pulled on his scarlet robes his mind was far from Quidditch. 

(HBP)

“Don’t be stupid,” said Ron sharply. “You couldn’t have missed a Quidditch match just to follow Malfoy, you’re the Captain!”

(HBP)

Some of it is to follow Draco who Harry thinks is a Death Eater, sure, but Harry in 4th year would not have acted the same. He wouldn't have let it make him miss a game, he wouldn't have even considered it.

In Deathly Hallows we also see Harry struggling with happiness in many ways. Yes, the situation is bad, but he is so incredibly affected by it, and I do want to mention that:

But they were not living, thought Harry: They were gone. The empty words could not disguise the fact that his parents’ moldering remains lay beneath snow and stone, indifferent, unknowing. And tears came before he could stop them, boiling hot then instantly freezing on his face, and what was the point in wiping them off or pretending? He let them fall, his lips pressed hard together, looking down at the thick snow hiding from his eyes the place where the last of Lily and James lay, bones now, surely, or dust, not knowing or caring that their living son stood so near, his heart still beating, alive because of their sacrifice and close to wishing, at this moment, that he was sleeping under the snow with them.

(DH)

This above quote makes me so sad whenever I read it, and I do want to mention it here. Like, Harry isn't actively suicidal, but he's in a lot of pain that he wants to stop. These negative thoughts are practically a constant in DH even when he isn't wearing the Horcrux.

A hundred dementors were advancing, gliding toward them, sucking their way closer to Harry’s despair, which was like a promise of a feast. ... He saw Ron’s silver terrier burst into the air, flicker feebly, and expire; he saw Hermione’s otter twist in midair and fade; and his own wand trembled in his hand, and he almost welcomed the oncoming oblivion, the promise of nothing, of no feeling. . . .

(DH)

Harry is the character with the most reliable Patronus, but even for him at some point, it's too much and he struggles with it. Struggles to bring up the happiness he needs for a Patronus. The happiness part is what he always struggled with most when it came to this spell, after all:

“No!” said Harry. He got up again. “I’ll have one more go! I’m not thinking of happy enough things, that’s what it is. ... Hang on. ...” He racked his brains. A really, really happy memory . . . one that he could turn into a good, strong Patronus ...

(PoA)

So, I'd say he shows at least 4 cognitive and mood symptoms.

Conclusions

Someone get this boy a hug and therapy, I really don't have much more to say.

I started writing this post to see if I could find evidence of PTSD symptoms in the books, and I searched and found so many that it just made me sad. So, yes, Harry obviously deals with untreated PTSD he has no idea how to regulate in the final 3 books and I think his readiness to walk towards his own demise is influenced by it.

[boysenberrybrew]

Tom moment lol

[boysenberrybrew]

Everyone knows Tom Riddle is an odd child. Some may even say disturbed. Mrs. Cole warned Albus profoundly of the strange things the boy says and does. She seemed especially scared of the "voice" that young Tom hears. Albus is prepared for a monster, he in not prepared for a little boy to tell him that he's in love with the ghost in his room. He is even less prepared to see that said ghost is an unknown Potter. Well.....this is strange.

Aka Harry goes to the past after being killed in the Battle of Hogwarts, unhappy he's not corporeal anymore, and the muggles can't see him. Also, he's apparently haunting Tom Riddle against his will. Said Tom Riddle is convinced they're soul mates and won't hear anything otherwise.

Ghost!Harry: god I wish I was still corporeal

Young!Tom: I will make you an indestructible body so we can be together properly forever and ever

Ghost!Harry: oh…oh no thank you

But in all seriousness - this is a brilliant idea! You could twist it in a MOD way - that Harry might be the master of death but that only applies to his soul being everlasting. His body is still mortal and could be destroyed. In a way, it even mirrors what happened to Voldemort, turning into a wraith, only Harry remains sane and whole.

He’s yeeted back in time and, just out of curiosity, wanders by Wool’s Orphanage one day. No one can see him - he’s tried - and his ability to interact with the corporeal world is…spotty at best.

But then little Tom Riddle sees him, and Harry. Well. Harry is desperate to just talk to someone by this point. It’s been weeks, months, since he’s had a conversation and he can feel himself slipping into something else the longer he goes without human contact.

If Tom Riddle is his only link to humanity (the fucking irony chokes him sometimes), then so be it.

He sticks to the kid, trying to act as a kind of conscience. Trying to impart some good qualities, some restraint, to the future Dark Lord.

His efforts are - well, they’re not not working, so that’s got to count for something?

On Tom’s part, his obsession with keeping his ‘imaginary friend’ with him forever grows steadily by the day.

[boysenberrybrew]

Today is Harry Potter’s 44th birthday 🥳