Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======Badges in the Wizarding World====== =====Object Information===== * **Type:** [[Magical Item]], Indicator of Rank/Affiliation, Communication Device * **Owners:** [[Hogwarts]] students ([[Prefect]]s, [[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. =====Description and Appearance===== 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 [[Prefect]]s. 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 [[Sickle]]s 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. =====Magical Properties and Usage===== 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 [[Hogwarts House|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. =====History===== 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 [[Prefect]]s 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 [[Slytherin]]s 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 [[Galleon]]s to function as secret communicative badges, a crucial tool for the group's clandestine meetings. =====Role in the Story===== 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. =====Behind the Scenes===== * 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)
