Badges in the Wizarding World

• Type: Magical Item, Indicator of Rank/Affiliation, Communication Device
• Owners: Hogwarts students (Prefects, Head Boy, Head Girl), Ministry of Magic employees and visitors, members of various organizations (S.P.E.W., Dumbledore's Army), tournament supporters
• Maker: Varies; includes Hermione Granger (for S.P.E.W. badges and Dumbledore's Army coins), Draco Malfoy (for “POTTER STINKS” badges), and unknown official manufacturers for Hogwarts and Ministry of Magic badges.

Badges in the wizarding world are typically small, pin-backed items made of metal, used to signify authority, membership, or support. Their appearance and magical properties vary widely depending on their purpose.

• Prefect Badge: A silver badge given to fifth-year students appointed as Prefects. It is engraved with a large letter 'P' above the student's Hogwarts House crest.
• Head Boy and Head Girl Badge: Similar in appearance to the Prefect badge, but made of silver and engraved with the title “Head Boy” or “Head Girl” along with the Hogwarts House crest.
• “Support CEDRIC DIGGORY” / “POTTER STINKS” Badges: Magical badges created during the Triwizard Tournament. They were enchanted to display the message “Support CEDRIC DIGGORY — THE REAL HOGWARTS CHAMPION!” which would then flash to become “POTTER STINKS” in glowing green letters.
• S.P.E.W. Badge: Non-magical badges created by Hermione Granger for her Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. They featured the acronym “S.P.E.W.” and were sold for two Sickles to raise funds.
• Ministry of Magic Visitor Badge: A square, silver badge issued at the Ministry of Magic security desk. Upon being handed to a visitor, it magically glows and inscribes their name and purpose of visit onto its surface.
• Dumbledore's Army Coin: While appearing as a fake Galleon, these coins served the function of a communicative badge. Enchanted by Hermione Granger, the numbers around the coin's edge would change to reflect the date and time of the next Dumbledore's Army meeting, and the coin would grow hot to alert the carrier.

The primary function of most badges is to serve as a visual identifier of a person's role or affiliation. However, many possess unique magical properties.

• Granting Authority: Prefect and Head Boy/Head Girl badges signify the wearer's authority over other students. This includes the power to dock house points and access exclusive areas like the Prefects' Bathroom.
• Displaying Changing Messages: The badges created by Draco Malfoy were enchanted to switch between two different messages, a clever piece of Charm work used to taunt Harry Potter.
• Communication: The coins for Dumbledore's Army were a highly advanced form of magical badge, linked together by a Protean Charm. When Harry Potter altered his coin, every other coin would instantly mimic the change, providing a secure and discreet method of communication.
• Identification: The Ministry of Magic badges use an enchantment to automatically register and display the identity and business of a visitor, serving as a magical security pass.

Different types of badges have appeared at various points in recent wizarding history, often tied to specific events or institutions.

• Hogwarts Positions of Responsibility: The tradition of awarding badges to Prefects and the Head Boy and Head Girl is a long-standing one at Hogwarts. Notable past holders include Albus Dumbledore, Tom Riddle, James Potter, and Lily Evans.
• The Triwizard Tournament (1994-1995): During the tournament, Draco Malfoy created and distributed the “POTTER STINKS” badges among Slytherins and other students to mock and undermine Harry Potter's status as a Hogwarts champion.
• S.P.E.W. (1994): Hermione Granger created badges as part of her campaign to establish S.P.E.W., using them for fundraising and to create a sense of identity among the few members she managed to recruit.
• Dumbledore's Army (1995-1996): To circumvent the surveillance of Dolores Umbridge, Hermione Granger created the enchanted Galleons to function as secret communicative badges, a crucial tool for the group's clandestine meetings.

Badges are significant recurring objects that reflect themes of status, conflict, and rebellion.

• Authority and Responsibility: The awarding of a Prefect badge to Ron Weasley is a major moment in his character development, allowing him to step out of Harry's shadow and gain a sense of personal achievement. For Percy Weasley, his badges represent his ambition and adherence to rules.
• Conflict and Bullying: The “POTTER STINKS” badges are a tangible representation of the animosity and public pressure Harry faces during the Triwizard Tournament, isolating him from his peers.
• Rebellion and Secrecy: The Dumbledore's Army coins are a vital plot device, showcasing Hermione's exceptional magical talent and enabling the students to organize against Umbridge. The betrayal of the group via Marietta Edgecombe is linked directly to the coins' enchantment backfiring on her.

• In the film adaptations, the designs of the various badges are given distinct visual identities. The “POTTER STINKS” badges are particularly memorable, depicted as large, circular badges with a lenticular effect that switches between a photo of Cedric Diggory and the taunting phrase about Harry Potter. (film)
• The Prefect and Head Boy/Head Girl badges in the films are often depicted as shield-shaped and colored according to the student's Hogwarts House, differing from the simpler silver badges described in the novels. (film)