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. ======Bones in Magic====== =====Object Information===== * **Type:** [[Magical Ingredient]], [[Human Remains]], [[Creature Remains]] * **Owners:** Not applicable (component-based) * **Maker:** Not applicable (naturally occurring) =====Description and Appearance===== Bones, the skeletal framework of humans and creatures, appear numerous times throughout the //Harry Potter// series, both as mundane remains and as crucial components in magical processes. They range from the massive skeleton of the [[Basilisk]] in the [[Chamber of Secrets]] to the single, pivotal femur of [[Tom Riddle Sr.]] used in a dark ritual. The physical appearance is that of typical bone, though their magical significance varies greatly depending on their origin and intended use. They often represent death, ancestry, and the fundamental structure of a living being, themes that are central to many magical applications. =====Magical Properties and Usage===== The primary significance of bones in the wizarding world lies in their use as powerful magical ingredients and their susceptibility to magical influence. * **Potion-Making and Rituals:** The most significant use of a bone in the series is as a key ingredient in the [[Rebirthing Potion]], a piece of powerful [[Dark Magic]] that restored [[Lord Voldemort]] to a full body. The potion required "**Bone of the father, unknowingly given**." To fulfill this, [[Peter Pettigrew]] desecrated the grave of [[Tom Riddle Sr.]] in the [[Little Hangleton]] graveyard and took a bone from his remains. This act underscores the dark, sacrificial nature of Voldemort's magic, which often involves violating natural and familial bonds. * **Bone-Regrowing Magic:** The magical world has remedies for skeletal injuries, most notably the potion [[Skele-Gro]]. This concoction forces the painful and slow regrowth of missing or vanished bones. [[Harry Potter]] was forced to take it after Professor [[Gilderoy Lockhart]] incompetently attempted to mend his broken arm with the spell //[[Brackium Emendo]]//, which instead removed the bones entirely. The successful administration of [[Skele-Gro]] by [[Madam Pomfrey]] demonstrates the advanced state of magical healing at [[Hogwarts]]. * **Creature Skeletons:** The skeletons of magical creatures can retain magical properties or be used for practical purposes. After Harry slew the [[Basilisk]] in the [[Chamber of Secrets]], its skeleton remained in the chamber. In 1998, the security for the deepest vaults at [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank]] included an ancient, blind [[dragon]] which was controlled by clankers, and its path was noted to be "littered with the bones of what might have been dragons" (//DH26//). =====History===== Bones feature in several key moments throughout the //Harry Potter// timeline, often signifying points of transformation, danger, or discovery. - **c. 1943:** The [[Basilisk]] is killed by [[Harry Potter]], leaving its massive skeleton to decay in the [[Chamber of Secrets]]. Its fangs would later be used to destroy several of Voldemort's [[Horcruxes]]. - **1992:** Harry's arm bones are vanished by [[Gilderoy Lockhart]] during a [[Quidditch]] match against [[Slytherin]]. [[Madam Pomfrey]] successfully regrows them overnight using a dose of [[Skele-Gro]]. - **June 24, 1995:** The bone of [[Tom Riddle Sr.]] is forcibly taken from his grave by [[Peter Pettigrew]] in the [[Little Hangleton]] graveyard. It becomes a critical component in the potion that restores [[Lord Voldemort]]'s physical form. - **December 24, 1997:** While visiting the [[Godric's Hollow]] graveyard, [[Hermione Granger]] speculates that Muggles might have mistaken the symbol of the [[Deathly Hallows]] on [[Ignotus Peverell]]'s tombstone for a strange eye, and that legends of "the bones of saints" being buried there could be a wizarding family's "joke." - **May 1, 1998:** During the Gringotts break-in, the trio observes the bones of long-dead creatures littering the tunnels leading to the deep vaults, a grim testament to the bank's formidable security. =====Role in the Story===== The use of bones in the narrative often carries deep symbolic weight. Voldemort's use of his father's bone is a pivotal moment in the series, marking his full, terrifying return to power. It also serves as a bitter irony: in his quest for pure-blood supremacy and immortality, he is forced to use the remains of the [[Muggle]] father he murdered and despised, physically tethering his new body to his hated heritage. Conversely, the regrowing of Harry's bones highlights his resilience and the existence of restorative, healing magic that stands in contrast to Voldemort's destructive acts. It establishes the competence of healers like [[Madam Pomfrey]] while exposing the fraudulent nature of characters like [[Gilderoy Lockhart]]. The presence of skeletons in places like the [[Chamber of Secrets]] and [[Gringotts]] serves to build atmosphere and establish the history and danger of the magical world. =====Behind the Scenes===== * In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire//, [[Peter Pettigrew]] is visually shown using his [[wand]] to magically extract a large bone from the coffin of [[Tom Riddle Sr.]] beneath the angel of death statue. * In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets//, Harry's arm is depicted as a limp, rubbery limb after [[Gilderoy Lockhart]]'s spell, adding a comedic visual to the otherwise painful injury described in the book. * The prop bottle designed for [[Skele-Gro]] in the films is shaped like a human skeleton, with the potion being dispensed through the mouth of the skull, a design that became iconic.
