Console

• Type: Magical Device Component (Magical Transportation)
• Owners: Arthur Weasley
• Maker: Arthur Weasley (magical modifications)

The console is the dashboard, or fascia, of the enchanted light blue Ford Anglia owned by Arthur Weasley. It largely resembles a standard Muggle car dashboard of its era. Its most significant and unique feature is a small, silver button that Arthur Weasley added to control one of the car's primary magical enchantments.

The console serves as the control panel for the flying Ford Anglia's magical functions. The primary known feature accessed via the console is the Invisibility Booster.

• Invisibility Booster: A small silver button located on the dashboard activates this powerful Concealment Charm. When pressed, the car and its occupants become completely invisible to both Muggle and Wizard eyes. The effect is accompanied by a faint vibrating sensation. To deactivate the booster and make the car visible again, the button must be pressed a second time.

The console was part of the Ford Anglia that Arthur Weasley illegally enchanted. Its most notable use occurs in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. After Harry Potter and Ron Weasley miss the Hogwarts Express, they decide to fly the car to Scotland. Shortly after takeoff from near King's Cross Station, Harry presses the Invisibility Booster button on the console to avoid being seen by Muggles in London below. They keep the car invisible for most of their journey. However, as they approach Hogwarts, the Invisibility Booster begins to fail. The car flickers in and out of visibility, ultimately leading to them being spotted by several Muggles. The console was last operated by Harry and Ron just before the Ford Anglia crashed into the Whomping Willow. After the crash, the car ejected them and their belongings before driving off into the Forbidden Forest.

The console, and specifically its Invisibility Booster button, is a crucial plot device in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It enables Harry and Ron's clandestine journey to Hogwarts, but its subsequent malfunction directly causes their breach of the International Statute of Secrecy. This leads to a warning letter from the Ministry of Magic (specifically, the Improper Use of Magic Office) and severe punishment from Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall. The console is a physical representation of Arthur Weasley's character: his fascination with Muggle technology, his skill in enchanting objects, and his tendency to bend the rules he is supposed to enforce as head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office.

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the console is visually depicted as the dashboard of the Ford Anglia. The Invisibility Booster button is shown as a prominent, distinct silver button on the dash, which Harry presses to make the car disappear. (film)