Bulgarian Wizards and Witches

Bulgarian wizards and witches are a nationality of magic-users originating from the country of Bulgaria. In the wizarding world, they are most renowned for their prowess in Quidditch and their association with the Durmstrang Institute. Their most prominent appearance is during the 1994 Quidditch World Cup and the subsequent Triwizard Tournament, with Seeker Viktor Krum being the most famous Bulgarian wizard in the series. They are often depicted as proud and highly skilled, with a culture that seems to tolerate or even embrace a more pragmatic approach to magic, including the Dark Arts.

The primary involvement of Bulgarian wizards in the main narrative is concentrated in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In 1994, the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team reached the final of the 422nd Quidditch World Cup, playing against the Irish National Quidditch Team. The team, supported by their Veela mascots, put up a strong fight. Despite a brilliant performance from their world-class Seeker, Viktor Krum, who successfully performed a Wronski Feint, they ultimately lost the match 160 to 170 after Krum caught the Golden Snitch. This strategic move was seen as ending the game on his own terms before the Irish Chasers could further widen the score gap. Following the World Cup, Viktor Krum arrived at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as the champion for the Durmstrang Institute in the Triwizard Tournament. Throughout the school year, Krum represented his school and, by extension, his country. He developed a romantic relationship with Hermione Granger, inviting her to the Yule Ball and maintaining correspondence with her after the tournament. Years later, in 1997, Viktor Krum attended the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour. There, he expressed his disgust upon seeing Xenophilius Lovegood wearing the symbol of the Deathly Hallows, which he mistook for the mark of the Dark Wizard Gellert Grindelwald. Krum revealed that Grindelwald, who had attended Durmstrang, had murdered his grandfather.

The members of the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team were described as having a “surly” appearance. Viktor Krum is depicted as tall, thin, and dark, with a large curved nose and thick black eyebrows. He has a duck-footed, round-shouldered gait on the ground but moves with exceptional grace in the air on a broomstick. His personality is generally reserved, sullen, and gruff. He speaks little and often appears moody. However, he shows a softer, more genuine side in his interactions with Hermione Granger and displays respect for Harry Potter as a fellow champion. He also possesses a strong sense of justice and a deep-seated hatred for Gellert Grindelwald and his followers.

• Quidditch: The Bulgarians are presented as exceptionally talented Quidditch players. Their national team was one of the two best in the world in 1994. Viktor Krum is widely regarded as a genius Seeker.
• Dark Arts: Students from Durmstrang Institute, including Krum, were taught the Dark Arts as part of their curriculum, unlike students at Hogwarts.
• Transfiguration: Viktor Krum demonstrated an aptitude for Transfiguration by attempting a difficult partial human-to-animal transformation. During the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament, he transfigured his head into that of a shark, though the spell was imperfect.
• Dueling: Krum was a capable duelist, selected as his school's champion. He was skilled enough to fight Harry Potter in the Triwizard Maze, though he was under the influence of the Imperius Curse at the time.

• Brooms: The Bulgarian National Quidditch Team all flew on Firebolt racing brooms during the 1994 World Cup, noted as being the state-of-the-art racing broom of the time.
• Wands: Viktor Krum's wand was made by Gregorovitch. It was ten and a quarter inches long, made of hornbeam wood with a dragon heartstring core, and described as being thicker and more rigid than most wands.

• Rivalries: The Bulgarian National Quidditch Team had a significant rivalry with the Irish National Quidditch Team during the Quidditch World Cup.
• Viktor Krum and Hermione Granger: They shared a brief but genuine romance during the Triwizard Tournament and remained friends via owl post for some time afterward.
• Viktor Krum and Igor Karkaroff: Karkaroff, the Headmaster of Durmstrang, was Krum's mentor. He was intensely proud of Krum's status but fled his post when Lord Voldemort returned, abandoning his student.
• Viktor Krum and Harry Potter: Their relationship was one of mutual respect between competitors. Krum treated Harry as an equal, a contrast to how many others viewed Harry's controversial entry into the tournament.

The term “Bulgarian” refers to the people and language of Bulgaria, a real country located in Southeastern Europe. The name is derived from the Bulgars, a semi-nomadic Turkic people who were instrumental in the formation of the First Bulgarian Empire in the 7th century.

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the Bulgarian wizards, particularly the students of Durmstrang, are given a distinct Eastern European, militaristic aesthetic, often wearing heavy fur cloaks and hats. This look is not described in the novels. Viktor Krum was portrayed by Bulgarian actor Stanislav Ianevski. J.K. Rowling has stated that Durmstrang Institute is located in the far north of Europe, possibly Scandinavia. The fact that a Bulgarian student like Viktor Krum is its champion indicates that the school accepts students from a wide range of countries, not just its immediate geographical vicinity (Pottermore).