Collapsible Cauldron

• Type: Magical Device, Potions Equipment
• Owners: Hogwarts students, including Harry Potter
• Maker: Unknown

A Collapsible Cauldron is a type of cauldron enchanted to shrink or fold into a compact size for easy storage and transportation. While the exact mechanism is not described, the name suggests it either telescopes into itself or magically folds flat. This makes it far more convenient than a standard, rigid cauldron, which is bulky and heavy. Like other cauldrons, it is available in various materials, such as pewter. The primary advantage is its portability, allowing a witch or wizard to easily carry it in a bag or pocket when not in use.

The main function of a collapsible cauldron is identical to a standard one: to serve as a vessel for brewing Potions. Its unique magical property lies in the complex charmwork, likely a variation of a Shrinking Charm or a permanent Transfiguration, that allows it to change size. To use it, the owner would presumably perform a simple action, such as tapping it with a wand, to make it expand to its full, usable size. When finished, the process could be reversed to collapse it for storage. This makes it an especially practical tool for students and for wizards traveling or camping.

The collapsible cauldron is presented as an option on the first-year equipment list sent to Hogwarts students. In the list Harry Potter receives, “1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)” is listed, with a note that students may also bring a collapsible one if they prefer. This suggests it may be a more modern or expensive alternative to the traditional model. During the Quidditch World Cup in 1994, Arthur Weasley expressed great admiration for a collapsible cauldron he spotted at the campsite, exclaiming, “Look, Harry, a collapsable cauldron!”. His fascination highlights the object's cleverness and ingenuity, which appeals to his interest in practical magical and Muggle items. In 1997, when preparing to leave Number Four, Privet Drive for the last time, Harry Potter packed his collapsible cauldron among the essential items he planned to take with him on his hunt for Voldemort's Horcruxes, underscoring its utility for a wizard on the move.

The collapsible cauldron serves primarily as a world-building detail, illustrating the small, everyday conveniences that magic affords the wizarding world. Its presence on the Hogwarts supply list introduces the reader to the specialized equipment required for a magical education. Furthermore, it plays a minor role in character development, particularly for Arthur Weasley. His delight in the object reinforces his appreciation for clever, functional magic and his almost child-like sense of wonder. Finally, its inclusion in Harry's pack in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows emphasizes the practical challenges of his journey and the necessity of being prepared to brew Potions in the field.

• In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Arthur Weasley refers to the object as a “collapsable cauldron,” a common colloquial variant of the more formal “collapsible” that appears on the official Hogwarts book list.