======Published Works======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** Information Medium, Cultural Artefact
  * **Owners:** The Wizarding Public, libraries (such as the [[Hogwarts Library]]), and private individuals
  * **Maker:** Various authors (e.g., [[Bathilda Bagshot]], [[Gilderoy Lockhart]], [[Newt Scamander]]) and publishers (e.g., [[Obscurus Books]], [[WhizzHard Books]], [[The Daily Prophet]], [[The Quibbler]])
=====Description and Appearance=====
Published works in the [[wizarding world]] range from seemingly mundane parchments and paper books to objects imbued with powerful [[magic]]. While many resemble their [[Muggle]] counterparts, they often possess unique characteristics:
  * **Moving Photographs:** Pictures printed in newspapers and books are magically animated, showing a short, looping scene. [[Colin Creevey]] explained that developing these photos requires a special potion in the [[darkroom]].
  * **Magical Bindings and Materials:** Books can be bound in materials like [[dragon]] hide. Some are enchanted for security or character, such as //[[The Monster Book of Monsters]]//, a vicious textbook that must be stroked into submission before it can be opened.
  * **Enchanted Ink:** Ink can be made invisible, as seen with [[Tom Riddle's Diary]], which only revealed its secrets when written in by another person. The [[Marauder's Map]], while not a published work, demonstrates similar principles of revealing hidden text through magical means.
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
Beyond their primary function of conveying information, published works can be vessels for potent [[magic]], used for education, communication, and even as dangerous magical artifacts.
  * **Educational Tools:** Textbooks are the foundation of a magical education at [[Hogwarts]]. Some, like the [[Half-Blood Prince]]'s copy of //[[Advanced Potion-Making]]//, contain handwritten annotations that vastly improve upon the published text, showcasing them as living documents.
  * **Vehicles for Dark Magic:** Certain books contain dangerous knowledge and are themselves cursed. //[[Secrets of the Darkest Art]]//, a book detailing the creation of a [[Horcrux]], was said to whisper and scream. [[Tom Riddle's Diary]] was a [[Horcrux]] itself, capable of possessing a reader and draining their life force.
  * **Communication and Propaganda:** Newspapers and magazines are the primary source of mass communication. [[The Daily Prophet]] served as the [[Ministry of Magic]]'s mouthpiece, often used for propaganda against [[Harry Potter]] and [[Albus Dumbledore]]. In contrast, //[[The Quibbler]]//, edited by [[Xenophilius Lovegood]], offered an alternative (if often eccentric) perspective, becoming a voice of rebellion during [[Lord Voldemort]]'s second rise.
  * **Defensive Enchantments:** Books, particularly those in the [[Restricted Section]] of the [[Hogwarts Library]], are often protected by [[jinxes]] and [[hexes]] to deter unauthorized readers.
=====History=====
The history of the [[wizarding world]] is largely recorded and passed down through published works. Ancient texts form the basis of much magical theory and history.
  * **Historical Records:** Books like //[[A History of Magic]]// by [[Bathilda Bagshot]] are standard texts that provide wizards and witches with a (sometimes biased) understanding of their own past.
  * **Evolution of Publishing:** The existence of long-standing institutions like [[The Daily Prophet]] and booksellers like [[Flourish and Blotts]] suggests a well-established publishing industry. The shift in the [[Daily Prophet]]'s editorial stance from denial to fear to subservience mirrors the political changes during the [[Second Wizarding War]].
  * **Personal Histories:** Biographies, whether reputable or scandalous like [[Rita Skeeter]]'s //[[The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore]]//, play a significant role in shaping the legacies of famous wizards.
=====Role in the Story=====
Throughout the series, published works are not merely background details but are central to the plot, driving key events and character development.
  * **[[Tom Riddle's Diary]]:** As both a [[Horcrux]] and a means of communication with a younger [[Tom Riddle]], the diary was the central antagonist in //Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets//.
  * **//[[Advanced Potion-Making]]//:** The [[Half-Blood Prince]]'s annotated textbook was a critical source of knowledge and mystery for [[Harry]] in his sixth year, teaching him powerful new [[spells]] like [[Sectumsempra]].
  * **//[[The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore]]//:** [[Rita Skeeter]]'s posthumous biography created a crisis of faith for [[Harry]], forcing him to confront the complex and flawed history of his mentor.
  * **//[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]//:** A book of children's stories bequeathed to [[Hermione Granger]] by [[Dumbledore]], which contained the key to understanding the [[Deathly Hallows]].
  * **[[The Daily Prophet]] vs. //[[The Quibbler]]//:** The conflict between these two publications highlights the themes of truth, belief, and the power of a free press. Harry's exclusive interview with [[The Quibbler]] in his fifth year was a major turning point in the public's perception of [[Voldemort]]'s return.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * J.K. Rowling has written and published several of the books mentioned in the series as real-world companion books for charity. These include //[[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them]]//, //[[Quidditch Through the Ages]]//, and //[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]//.
  * The [[Pottermore]] (now [[Wizarding World]]) website has published additional articles and writings that function as in-universe published works, expanding upon topics like the history of the [[Magical Congress of the United States of America]] (MACUSA) and the various wizarding schools. (Pottermore)
  * In the films, the design of the newspapers, particularly [[The Daily Prophet]], with its animated black-and-white photos and gothic headlines, became an iconic part of the wizarding world's visual identity. (film)