Fireplace

• Type: Transportation, Communication, Architectural Feature
• Owners: Ubiquitous in wizarding homes and institutions. Notable examples include fireplaces at The Burrow, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry of Magic, and Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.
• Maker: Varies; a common architectural feature integrated with the magical world.

A fireplace in the wizarding world is physically similar to its Muggle counterpart, serving as a source of heat and a central feature in a room. They range in style from the humble and cozy, like the one in the Weasley family's kitchen at The Burrow, to the grand and imposing, such as the numerous ornate fireplaces in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic. What distinguishes a wizarding fireplace is its potential connection to the Floo Network, a magical transportation system. While some, like the one in the Gryffindor Common Room, are used frequently for communication and occasional travel, others may be disconnected for security reasons. For instance, Hogwarts was said to have the only fireplaces not under Ministry of Magic surveillance, with the exception of the one in the office of Dolores Umbridge, which she had specially connected. Even non-magical households can be temporarily connected to the network, as demonstrated when Arthur Weasley had to link the Dursleys' boarded-up electric fireplace at Number Four, Privet Drive to retrieve Harry Potter.

The primary magical function of a fireplace is its use as an access point for the Floo Network. This allows for two main activities: transportation and communication.

• Transportation: By casting a pinch of Floo Powder into a lit fireplace, a witch or wizard can turn the flames a harmless, emerald green. To travel, one must step into the flames and state their intended destination clearly and concisely. The traveler is then propelled through a network of magical flues, experiencing a sensation of rapid spinning before emerging from the fireplace at their destination. The success of the journey depends heavily on clear enunciation; Harry Potter's first attempt resulted in him accidentally landing in Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley instead of Diagon Alley.
• Communication: Fireplaces connected to the Floo Network can also be used for head-only communication. A witch or wizard can kneel before a fire, cast Floo Powder, and place their head into the emerald flames. This allows their head to appear in the fireplace of their choosing, enabling real-time conversation. This method was used by Amos Diggory to speak with Arthur Weasley, and more significantly, by Sirius Black to communicate secretly with Harry from Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.
• Other Uses: Fireplaces can also function as a delivery system. The Weasleys received Harry's formal invitation to the Quidditch World Cup via their kitchen fireplace, and it is the method by which Hogwarts acceptance letters that fail to be delivered by owl post are sent. They also serve as an entry point for visitors, as seen when the Weasleys arrive at Number Four, Privet Drive, and for intruders, as when Death Eaters emerged from the fireplaces in the Atrium during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.

The magical use of fireplaces is intrinsically linked to the invention of Floo Powder. While fireplaces have existed for centuries, their use for magical travel became possible after the powder's creation by Ignatia Wildsmith in the 13th century (Pottermore). The Ministry of Magic, through the Floo Network Authority within the Department of Magical Transportation, regulates the network. After the implementation of the International Statute of Secrecy, connecting a wizarding fireplace to a Muggle-owned one became a strictly controlled offense, requiring special permission to avoid breaches of secrecy.

The fireplace is a recurring and pivotal object throughout the series, facilitating key plot developments.

• In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry's first use of the Floo Network introduces him to the dark side of the wizarding world when he lands in Knockturn Alley.
• In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the Gryffindor Common Room fireplace becomes a crucial, albeit dangerous, link for Harry to receive guidance from his godfather, Sirius Black.
• In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry's desperation to contact Sirius leads him to use the fireplace in Dolores Umbridge's office. This act is discovered by Umbridge and sets in motion the events leading to the Battle of the Department of Mysteries and the death of Sirius.
• The explosive arrival of the Weasleys through the Dursleys' blocked fireplace provides both comic relief and a stark contrast between the magical and mundane worlds.
• It consistently functions as a symbol of the wizarding world's hidden interconnectedness, allowing for rapid communication, travel, and infiltration that shapes the course of the story.

• The name “Floo” is a pun on the word “flue,” which is a duct or chimney for smoke and waste gases produced by a fire.
• According to Pottermore, the only licensed producer of Floo Powder in Britain is a company called Floo-Pow, whose headquarters is in Diagon Alley and whose production is never seen (Pottermore).
• In the film adaptations, the visual effect of traveling via the Floo Network is depicted as a vortex of green fire and soot, with the traveler's face momentarily appearing in other fireplaces along the route (film).