Balloons

• Type: Magical Decoration; Muggle Toy/Decoration
• Known Users/Locations: St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, The Burrow, Dursley Residence (film)
• Maker: Unknown

Balloons in the wizarding world appear in both mundane and enchanted forms, serving primarily as decorations for celebrations and specific environments. While similar in basic function to their Muggle counterparts, magical balloons possess unique properties. Two notable types of magical balloons are described in the series:

• Get-Well Balloons: A turquoise-coloured balloon was seen at the reception desk of St. Mungo's Hospital. This balloon was enchanted to have wobbling text on its surface that continuously contracted and expanded, displaying the message “A Giggly, Gooey, Gurgling-Great Get-Well!”.
• Golden Wedding Balloons: At the wedding of Bill and Fleur Delacour, the marquee at The Burrow was filled with golden balloons. They are described as looking like “bubbles of solid gold” and were enchanted to drift leisurely overhead.

The primary purpose of balloons, both magical and non-magical, is for decoration and to create a festive atmosphere. Magical balloons, however, are enhanced with specific charms to augment their function.

• Animated Text: The Get-Well balloon at St. Mungo's demonstrates that balloons can be enchanted to display moving, self-adjusting messages, making them a more dynamic form of greeting card.
• Enchanted Flotation and Appearance: The golden balloons at the Weasley wedding were enchanted to float without the need for Muggle gases like helium. Their appearance was also magically altered to resemble solid gold, adding to the grandeur of the event.

Balloons are mentioned on a few specific occasions, where they serve to establish the atmosphere of a location or event.

• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: When Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger first visit St. Mungo's Hospital, they observe a wobbling, turquoise-coloured balloon tied to the Welcome Witch's desk, which magically displays a get-well message.
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: The wedding marquee for Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's nuptials at The Burrow is magically decorated with drifting, golden balloons, contributing to the beautiful and joyous atmosphere before the arrival of the Death Eaters.

Balloons play a minor but important world-building role in the series. Their presence illustrates how witches and wizards incorporate magic into everyday, celebratory objects to make them more vibrant and impressive than their Muggle equivalents. They add a touch of whimsy to the institutional setting of St. Mungo's and enhance the magical elegance of the Weasley wedding, showcasing the peaceful and joyful aspects of wizarding life that the characters fight to protect.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the Dursley house is shown to be filled with an excessive number of balloons for Dudley Dursley's eleventh birthday party. This is a visual detail added for the film; the novel lists Dudley's many presents but does not mention balloons. (film)