======Brains in the Department of Mysteries======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** Magical Specimen //or// Creature
  * **Owners:** [[Ministry of Magic]] ([[Department of Mysteries]])
  * **Maker:** Unknown
=====Description and Appearance=====
The brains are disembodied, pearly-white human brains kept within the [[Department of Mysteries]] for study. They are housed in a large, rectangular crystal tank filled with a bubbling, deep green [[potion]] or solution. The brains float gently within this liquid.
When removed from their solution, they are capable of aggressive, independent action. They can propel themselves through the air and attack by extruding what are described as long, colourful streamers of //thought//. These ethereal tendrils act like physical tentacles, capable of ensnaring and constricting a target.
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
The primary and most dangerous property of the brains is their connection to the abstract concept of //thought//, which they can manifest physically.
  * **Attack Method:** A brain attacks by wrapping its target in shimmering tendrils of pure thought. These tendrils are strong enough to physically lift and strangle a person.
  * **Mental and Physical Damage:** Contact with these thoughts is profoundly damaging. [[Ron Weasley]], upon being attacked by one, received deep, scarring lacerations on his arms from where the thoughts had wrapped around him.
  * **Psychological Trauma:** The effects extend beyond physical injury. The attack left Ron in a state of delirium, prone to bouts of laughter at inappropriate moments and unable to form coherent sentences. A [[Healer]] at [[St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries]] explained that scars left by //thought// are not like normal injuries and can leave permanent mental marks. Recovery is a slow and delicate process.
These brains are kept in a room known as the [[Thought Chamber]] and are presumably studied by [[Unspeakable|Unspeakables]] to understand the nature of consciousness, memory, and the mind.
=====History=====
The origins of the brains are unknown, as is the length of time they have been kept within the [[Department of Mysteries]]. They are encountered only once in the series, in June 1996, during the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]].
During the battle, members of [[Dumbledore's Army]] stumbled into the [[Thought Chamber]]. In the ensuing chaos, a spell accidentally shattered the tank, spilling the brains and their green solution onto the floor. One of the brains subsequently pursued [[Ron Weasley]] and attacked him, incapacitating him for the remainder of the conflict.
=====Role in the Story=====
The brains serve as a stark and bizarre illustration of the esoteric and perilous nature of the magic researched within the [[Department of Mysteries]]. They demonstrate that the department's work goes far beyond conventional [[spell]]-casting and deals with fundamental, abstract forces like //thought//, //love//, //time//, and //death//.
The attack on [[Ron Weasley]] is a significant event during the battle, as it removes a key combatant from the fight and forces his friends to contend with a terrifying and unfamiliar form of magical injury. Ron's slow recovery underscores the lasting consequences of magical combat and the mysterious dangers lurking in the deepest corners of the magical world.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * In the film adaptation of //[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]//, the scene in the [[Thought Chamber]] is depicted. [[Ron Weasley]] is mesmerised by the brains in the tank and is attacked when he touches the water's surface, with the brain's tentacles shooting out to ensnare him. (film)