The beaded handbag is a small, purple, cloth bag adorned with beads. To an outside observer, it appears to be a simple and unremarkable accessory, easily carried in one's hand. Its true nature is magically concealed, giving no outward indication of its immense internal capacity or the lack of corresponding weight.
The bag's primary magical property stems from the use of a powerful and difficult Undetectable Extension Charm. This charm vastly increases the internal dimensions of the bag without altering its external appearance. Consequently, it can hold a near-limitless number of objects of various sizes, from books to a full-sized tent. Key features include:
Among the vast number of items stored within the bag were:
Hermione Granger prepared the beaded handbag in the summer of 1997 in anticipation of the trio's hunt for Voldemort's Horcruxes. She revealed its existence to Harry Potter shortly before the attack by Death Eaters at Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding, explaining she had been practising the Undetectable Extension Charm. The bag became an indispensable asset throughout the 1997-1998 school year. It accompanied the trio from The Burrow to Grimmauld Place, through the forests where they camped for months, to Godric's Hollow, and eventually to Malfoy Manor. When the trio was captured by Snatchers, the bag was confiscated, but its mundane appearance prevented the captors from discovering its true nature. After their escape from Malfoy Manor, Hermione continued to carry the bag until the conclusion of the Second Wizarding War.
The enchanted beaded handbag is one of the most crucial magical objects in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It serves as a symbol of Hermione's foresight, intelligence, and unwavering preparedness. Without the supplies contained within, the trio's survival during their long and arduous journey would have been impossible. The bag provided them with shelter (the tent), medical aid (the Essence of Dittany used to heal Ron's splinching and Harry's wound from Nagini), research materials, and crucial magical items. Its existence allowed the trio to remain independent and hidden from Voldemort and his followers for an extended period, making the entire Horcrux hunt feasible.