Marbles

• Type: Game, Magical Device
• Owners: Alastor Moody, Dolores Umbridge, Harry Potter, various Hogwarts students
• Maker: Unknown for Gobstones; unknown, but likely made for or by Alastor Moody (for his magical eye)

Marbles in the wizarding world appear in several forms, most notably as the key component in the popular magical game of Gobstones. These objects are similar in size and shape to Muggle marbles but possess unique magical properties. The primary characteristic of a Gobstone is its ability to squirt a foul-smelling, unpleasant liquid into the face of a player who loses a point during a match. A distinct, marble-like magical object is the magical eye of Alastor Moody. This was a spherical, vivid electric-blue prosthetic eye that fit into Moody's socket. It moved independently of his normal eye and was often described as looking like a large, dark blue marble.

• Gobstones: The game of Gobstones is a wizarding variant of the Muggle game of marbles. The objective is to knock the opponents' gobstones out of a drawn circle. The magical property of the stones serves as a penalty; whenever a point is lost, the winning stone squirts a stinking liquid at the loser. The game is purely recreational and is popular among younger witches and wizards.
• Alastor Moody's Eye: This was a highly powerful magical device used for surveillance. The eye could rotate 360 degrees and possessed the ability to see through solid objects, including wood, human skulls, and even magically concealed items such as Invisibility Cloaks. It allowed Moody to maintain his famous “constant vigilance” by giving him an unobstructed view of his surroundings. The eye continued to function even after it was separated from Moody following his death.

The game of Gobstones has a long history in the wizarding world and is an established pastime at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Students were frequently seen playing the game in the Gryffindor Common Room. The school had an official Hogwarts Gobstone Club for enthusiasts. During the 1995-1996 school year, this club, along with all other unapproved student organizations, was temporarily disbanded by High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge under Educational Decree Number Twenty-Six. Alastor Moody's magical eye was his signature possession, used throughout his long and storied career as an Auror. After he was killed by Lord Voldemort during the Battle of the Seven Potters, his body was lost but his eye was recovered by the Death Eaters. It was given to Dolores Umbridge, who affixed it to the door of her office at the Ministry of Magic. She used its powerful magical sight to spy on her subordinates. During the trio's infiltration of the Ministry in 1997, Harry Potter was horrified to see the eye used in this way. He wrenched it from the door and took it with him, later giving it a proper burial in the forest near the Quidditch World Cup grounds to honour Moody's memory.

Gobstones primarily serve as a world-building element, illustrating the everyday recreational activities of young wizards and providing a magical spin on a familiar Muggle pastime. The existence of the Gobstone Club and its subsequent banning by Umbridge highlights her oppressive control and interference in student life at Hogwarts. Moody's eye is a much more significant object. It is a symbol of its owner's defining trait: constant vigilance. Its perversion by Dolores Umbridge reflects the corruption within the Ministry of Magic under Voldemort's influence, turning a tool of protection into one of tyrannical oppression. Harry's decision to retrieve and bury the eye is an act of respect for his fallen friend and a small but significant blow against the regime that desecrated his memory.

• According to J.K. Rowling's old official website, Severus Snape's mother, Eileen Prince, was the Captain of the Hogwarts Gobstone Club during her time as a student (J.K. Rowling Official Website).
• The game of Gobstones is a playable mini-game in several Harry Potter video games, including Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game).
• The name “Gobstone” is likely a pun on “gob,” a British slang word for mouth, and the “gob” of liquid the stones spit.