Cursed Object

A Cursed Object is any physical item that has been enchanted with malevolent magic, typically a form of Dark Arts, to bring harm to anyone who touches, owns, or comes into contact with it. These objects are often disguised to look harmless or even appealing, making them particularly insidious. The curses they carry can range from minor afflictions to powerful, lethal effects, and handling them is considered extremely dangerous. The study of Cursed Objects and their countermeasures is a key component of Defence Against the Dark Arts.

Cursed Objects are defined by the powerful and destructive Curses bound to them. The nature of the curse can vary greatly:

• Contact-Based Curses: Some objects, like the Opal Necklace, unleash their curse upon the slightest physical contact, causing immediate and often fatal harm.
• Possessive/Influence Curses: Other objects, such as Tom Riddle's Diary, do not cause immediate physical harm but exert a corrupting influence over their owner, manipulating their actions and draining their life force over time.
• Persistent Curses: Certain curses, like the one placed on Marvolo Gaunt's Ring, are designed to be permanent and incredibly difficult to remove. Even after the primary curse was contained by Albus Dumbledore, its effects were ultimately fatal.

Many Cursed Objects are sold through disreputable establishments that deal in the Dark Arts, such as Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley. The Ministry of Magic has laws regulating and banning many such items, but their trade persists on the black market.

Throughout the series, several Cursed Objects play significant roles in major events.

• Opal Necklace: An ornate necklace kept at Borgin and Burkes, said to have killed nineteen Muggle owners. Draco Malfoy purchased it and attempted to smuggle it into Hogwarts to assassinate Albus Dumbledore. It was intercepted by Katie Bell, who was severely cursed by merely touching it through a small hole in her glove and required extensive treatment at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
• Marvolo Gaunt's Ring: A Horcrux made by Lord Voldemort, the ring was also protected by a powerful curse. When Albus Dumbledore found it, he recognized it as one of the Deathly Hallows (the Resurrection Stone) and put it on. The curse immediately began to spread, and only a swift counter-curse from Severus Snape could contain it, leaving Dumbledore with a blackened, withered hand and a drastically shortened lifespan.
• Tom Riddle's Diary: While its primary function was as a Horcrux, the diary acted as a Cursed Object. It used the soul fragment within to possess Ginny Weasley, compelling her to open the Chamber of Secrets and draining her life force to restore Tom Riddle's memory to a corporeal form.
• Black Quill: An instrument of torture used by Dolores Umbridge during her tenure at Hogwarts. This quill magically writes using the writer's own blood as ink, simultaneously carving the words written onto the back of the user's hand, causing immense pain and scarring. Harry Potter was forced to use it repeatedly during his detentions.
• Hand of Glory: A shrivelled, severed hand that, when holding a lit candle, provides light only to its bearer. Draco Malfoy used one to guide his fellow Death Eaters through a darkened Hogwarts during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. It is a known dark artifact sold at Borgin and Burkes.
• Bewitched Anti-intruder Curses: At Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, the Order of the Phoenix had to deal with numerous objects cursed by the Black family, including a set of antique robes that attempted to strangle Ron Weasley.

Cursed Objects serve as critical plot devices, often acting as the catalyst for major conflicts and demonstrating the pervasive danger of the Wizarding World. They highlight the insidious nature of Dark Magic, which can be hidden within seemingly mundane items. The attempt on Dumbledore's life via the Opal Necklace is a central element of the plot in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, showcasing Draco Malfoy's descent and the mounting threats against Hogwarts. The curse on Gaunt's Ring directly leads to Dumbledore's planned death, shaping the final events of the series. The existence of these items underscores the importance of the Defence Against the Dark Arts subject and the skills required to survive in a world where danger is not always overt.

The specific methods for creating a Cursed Object are not detailed in the novels, but it is implied to be a highly advanced and malicious branch of the Dark Arts. The process likely requires a deep understanding of Curses and enchantments, coupled with a powerful desire to inflict harm. (Pottermore) has mentioned that creating a Horcrux involves a spell and a horrific act, and it is likely that the creation of other deeply Cursed Objects involves similarly dark rituals.