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Magical transportation

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At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery & Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells & Harry Potter: Magic Awakened & Hogwarts Legacy.
As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

Ford Angela and Hogwarts Express

The Flying Ford Anglia and the Hogwarts Express

"Funny way to get to a wizards' school, the train. Magic carpets all got punctures, have they?"
— Vernon Dursley facetiously discussing wizarding transportation[src]

There existed various methods of magical transportation[1] that were employed by wizardkind across the wizarding world.

Methods[]

Apparition[]

Main article: Apparition
"Harry knew Apparating meant disappearing from one place and reappearing almost instantly in another, but he had never known any Hogwarts student to do it, and understood that it was very difficult."
— Harry Potter's knowledge of Apparition[src]
Hermione and Harry apparating

Harry Potter and Hermione Granger Apparating

Apparition was a form of wizarding transportation in which a wizard or witch magically teleported from one place to another almost instantly, without traversing any of the space in between.[2] The act of Apparating created a noise ranging from a small pop to a loud crack.[3][4][5][6] Although by far the fastest and most convenient way of travelling, it was a difficult technique to master and became increasingly unreliable over long distances.[3] It required complete concentration on the destination, determination and focus upon the desired location, and deliberation and certainty of reaching the goal.[3] Only of-age wizards who qualified for licences may have been able to legally Apparate.[3]

B6C18M1 Apparition lessons in the Great Hall

Apparition lessons in the Great Hall

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry offered Apparition lessons to students ages seventeen and older.[7]

Side-Along Apparition allowed those with licences to bring minors along with them.[8] Poor focus may have resulted in Splinching, which caused body parts to be separated and left behind.[9][10] The process of Apparition was said to feel like being "forced through a very tight rubber tube", according to Harry Potter.[8]

Floo Network[]

Main article: Floo Network
"He took a pinch of glittering powder out of the flowerpot, stepped up to the fire, and threw the powder into the flames. With a roar, the fire turned emerald green and rose higher than Fred, who stepped right into it, shouted, “Diagon Alley!” and vanished."
— Fred Weasley travelling to Diagon Alley using the Floo Network[src]
Floo Network OOTP

British Ministry of Magic employees using the Floo Network

The Floo Network was a form of wizarding transportation in which a witch or wizard travelled from one place to another by means of Floo powder and a fireplace. This was accomplished by tossing a handful of Floo powder into a lit fireplace and speaking very clearly the desired location to which one wished to travel as they stood in the emerald green flames. Floo powder was a magical green powder that was thrown into a lit fireplace and allowed for a portal to connect to another fireplace at a desired location.[11] The system was operated and overseen by the Floo Network Authority, which was based at the British Ministry of Magic.[12][13]

A fireplace had to be connected to the Floo Network for one to travel to it,[11] and fireplaces could be connected temporarily, in the case of travelling to Muggle homes.[14] The Floo Network could also be used as a form of communication between wizards, and also a way to deliver objects as well.[15][16]

For America, the Magical Congress of the United States of America oversaw the Floo Network. The network appeared to be divided into regions as the "Southern Floo Network", as mentioned in the newspaper The New York Ghost.[17]

Flying[]

Main article: Flight
"He mounted the broom and kicked hard against the ground and up, up he soared; air rushed through his hair, and his robes whipped out behind him — and in a rush of fierce joy he realised he'd found something he could do without being taught — this was easy, this was wonderful."
— Harry Potter's first time on a broomstick[src]
Flying class in 1991

A flying lesson taking place at Hogwarts

Wizards used broomsticks to travel long distances,[18] or for sport, particularly in the game Quidditch.[19][20] This skill of flying on brooms was taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to first-years in Flying classes.[18] The Cushioning Charm invented by Elliot Smethwyck provided comfort on broomsticks.[19] Some modern broomsticks included the Comet, Cleansweep, Nimbus, and Firebolt.[19]

In Asia and the Middle East, flying carpets were the primary form of wizarding transport, but were currently designated as Muggle artefacts in Britain and were therefore illegal to enchant. They also could not be imported, despite at least one merchant's continued efforts to do so. This ban seemed to be relatively recent as Bartemius Crouch Senior's grandfather owned a flying Axminster before they were made illegal.[21]

B2C3M2 Flying Ford Anglia above the clouds

Flying Ford Anglia

Vehicles such as cars[22][23][24] and motorcycles[25][26] could also be modified to be capable of flight, though this was also technically illegal under Misuse of Muggle Artefacts laws.[22]

A range of flying magical creatures were also available for transport, such as Thestrals[27][26] and Hippogriffs.[28][29] When visiting Hogwarts for the 1994 Triwizard Tournament, the Beauxbatons students travelled in a carriage drawn by Abraxan winged horses.[30] Day students of Mahoutokoro (students between the ages of seven and eleven) that did not board at the school flew on the backs of flocks of giant storm petrels every day.[31]

Unsupported flight[]

Main article: Unsupported flight
"Voldemort was flying like smoke on the wind, without broomstick or thestral to hold him, his snake-like face gleaming out of the blackness, his white fingers raising his wand again —"
— Lord Voldemort flying unsupported[src]
Voldemort flying without support

Lord Voldemort flying unsupported

This form of flight was a spell that allowed a witch or wizard to fly independently, without the aid of an inanimate object such as a broomstick. The spell was notably demonstrated by Lord Voldemort. Voldemort's servant Severus Snape was also shown to fly unsupported while escaping from the Ravenclaw Tower.

Ground travel[]

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this eve — What were you doin’ down there?"
— Stan Shunpike introducing himself to Harry Potter[src]
Harry-potter4-knight bus

The Knight Bus picking up a stranded Harry Potter

The Knight Bus took stranded wizards to anywhere in the United Kingdom.[32][33]

Hogwarts students were transported to and from the school on the Hogwarts Express, a train that departed from a magically hidden rail platform from King's Cross Station, London.[34][35] Ministry cars could be used to get to King's Cross Station.[36][37]

Very rarely, a Centaur would allow a human to ride on its back. This was the most solemn of events, offered only to highly honoured riders.[38]

Portkey[]

Main article: Portkey
"Almost any inanimate object can be turned into a Portkey. Once bewitched, the object will transport anyone who grasps it to a pre-arranged destination."
— Description of a portkey and its use[src]
B4C6M1 boot Portkey to Quidditch World Cup

Transporation via portkeys

Portkeys were magical objects that allowed for travel across extreme distances or to places that have been charmed against detection from entering or leaving. Portkeys may have sent unsuspecting people anywhere, and so they required Ministry authorisation to use and operate. They were usually disguised as ordinary rubbish, such as a crushed aluminium can or a dirty, discarded sock, so Muggles were more likely ignore them, though incidents of muggles being transported had happened.[3][39]

Portkeys could be set to activate either at a prearranged time, or as soon as the person came in contact with them.[3]

Miscellaneous[]

"Slowly, magnificently, the ship rose out of the water, gleaming in the moonlight. It had a strangely skeletal look about it, as though it were a resurrected wreck, and the dim, misty lights shimmering at its portholes looked like ghostly eyes. Finally, with a great sloshing noise, the ship emerged entirely, bobbing on the turbulent water, and began to glide toward the bank."
— The Durmstrang ship arrives at Hogwarts[src]
ViktorKrum PM DurmstrangShip

Durmstrang Ship

Durmstrang students travelled on a ship when visiting Hogwarts for the 1994 Triwizard Tournament. Even though it appeared from a whirlpool in the Hogwarts lake, there was still rowing involved. The ship probably acted like a boat on water but with anti-water spells of some sort to prevent water entering the boat.[30]

A Vanishing Cabinet allowed objects, humans, and creatures to transport from one cabinet to the other.[40][41]

The British Ministry of Magic used the Toilet network as the official way to gain entry to its headquarters.[42]

Appearances[]

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Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ Pottermore - Magical transportation that goes beyond the broom
  2. ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 9 (Grim Defeat)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 6 (The Portkey)
  4. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 1 (Dudley Demented)
  5. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 2 (A Peck of Owls)
  6. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 2 (Spinner's End)
  7. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 17 (A Sluggish Memory)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 4 (Horace Slughorn)
  9. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 18 (Birthday Surprises)
  10. ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 14 (The Thief)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 4 (At Flourish and Blotts)
  12. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 3 (The Advance Guard)
  13. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 27 (The Centaur and the Sneak)
  14. ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 4 (Back to The Burrow)
  15. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 14 (Percy and Padfoot)
  16. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 32 (Out of the Fire)
  17. ↑ (see this image)
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 9 (The Midnight Duel)
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Quidditch Through the Ages, Chapter 9 (The Development of the Racing Broom)
  20. ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 11 (Quidditch)
  21. ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 7 (Bagman and Crouch)
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 3 (The Burrow)
  23. ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 5 (The Whomping Willow)
  24. ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 15 (Aragog)
  25. ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 1 (The Boy Who Lived)
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 4 (The Seven Potters)
  27. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 33 (Fight and Flight)
  28. ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 6 (Talons and Tea Leaves)
  29. ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 21 (Hermione's Secret)
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 15 (Beauxbatons and Durmstrang)
  31. ↑ Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Mahoutokoro" at Harry Potter (website)
  32. ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 3 (The Knight Bus)
  33. ↑ Writing by J. K. Rowling: "The Knight Bus" at Harry Potter (website)
  34. ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 6 (The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters)
  35. ↑ Writing by J. K. Rowling: "The Hogwarts Express" at Harry Potter (website)
  36. ↑ Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Technology" at Harry Potter (website)
  37. ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 5 (The Dementor)
  38. ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 15 (The Forbidden Forest)
  39. ↑ Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Portkeys" at Harry Potter (website)
  40. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 28 (Snape's Worst Memory)
  41. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 27 (The Lightning-Struck Tower)
  42. ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 12 (Magic is Might)
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