Published Works

• 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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

• 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)