Fizzing Whizzbee

• Type: Magical Confectionery
• Owners: N/A (consumable product)
• Maker: Unknown; sold at Honeydukes Sweetshop

Fizzing Whizzbees are a popular wizarding sweet sold at Honeydukes Sweetshop in the village of Hogsmeade. They are described in the novels as “massive sherbet balls.” When consumed, they have the magical effect of causing the eater to levitate a few inches off the ground.

The primary magical property of a Fizzing Whizzbee is its ability to induce temporary, low-level levitation in the person who eats it. The effect is described as floating “a few inches off the ground” and appears to be a source of amusement rather than a practical form of flight. The duration of the effect is not specified, but it is treated as a harmless and fun side effect of the sweet. The sweet is enjoyed by students and adults alike. Albus Dumbledore was particularly fond of them, once eating one in the Hogwarts hospital wing and floating slightly in his chair. Ron Weasley also considered them one of his favorite sweets.

Fizzing Whizzbees were a well-established sweet by the 1990s. They were one of the treats Ron Weasley enthusiastically described to Harry Potter when talking about the wonders of Honeydukes Sweetshop prior to Harry's first visit to Hogsmeade. Key instances involving Fizzing Whizzbees include:

• 1993: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger see the sweets for sale during their first visit to Honeydukes.
• 1995: After the third task of the Triwizard Tournament, Albus Dumbledore offers a Fizzing Whizzbee to Minerva McGonagall, who declines. Dumbledore then enjoys one himself.
• 1996: “Fizzing Whizbee” (a single 'z' spelling variation) was used as the password to access Dumbledore's Office. Dumbledore revealed it to Harry Potter and Professor McGonagall to bypass the gargoyle guarding his office, which was sealed against Dolores Umbridge.
• 1997: When Ron Weasley was accidentally poisoned by mead intended for Dumbledore, he was in a state of delirium after being given a bezoar by Harry Potter. In his confusion, he mistakenly believed Harry had given him a Fizzing Whizzbee, calling them his “favorites.”

Fizzing Whizzbees primarily serve as an element of world-building, showcasing how magic is integrated into everyday wizarding life, even into something as mundane as confectionery. They contribute to the sense of wonder and whimsy that defines the wizarding world for new arrivals like Harry Potter. The sweets also provide minor character insights. Dumbledore's fondness for them underscores his eccentric, playful nature, while Ron Weasley's liking for them reinforces his appreciation for simple, fun pleasures. Furthermore, the name served as a crucial plot device when used as a password, allowing Harry Potter to gain access to Dumbledore's Office during a critical moment in his fight against Dolores Umbridge.

• There is a minor spelling inconsistency in the original novels. The sweet is referred to as “Fizzing Whizzbees” (with a double 'z') in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. However, when used as a password to Dumbledore's Office in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, it is spelled “Fizzing Whizbee” (with a single 'z').
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Fizzing Whizzbees can be seen in Honeydukes, appearing as yellow, bee-shaped sweets in a jar (film).
• Fizzing Whizzbees have appeared in various Harry Potter video games, often as collectible items or power-ups that grant a temporary jump-boost or levitation ability (video game).