Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration====== =====Object Information===== * **Type:** A fundamental law of [[magic]], specifically governing the practice of [[Transfiguration]]. * **Proponent:** [[Ulick Gamp]] (Pottermore). * **Primary Principle:** It is impossible to conjure something from nothing (//ex nihilo// creation). * **Key Feature:** The law is defined by its five "Principal Exceptions," which are categories of things that cannot be created from nothing. =====Description and Appearance===== [[Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration]] is a major governing principle of [[magic]] that sets the limits of what a [[witch]] or [[wizard]] can create. It establishes that while [[Transfiguration]] is a powerful and versatile branch of [[magic]], it is not without rules. The core tenet of the law is that it is impossible to create objects or substances //ex nihilo//, or "out of nothing." Instead, most acts of conjuration are a form of summoning, where an object is transported from another location, or transformation, where one object is changed into another. The law is most famous for its five Principal Exceptions, which are five specific things that cannot be created from thin air by any magical means. =====Magical Properties and Usage===== The defining "property" of [[Gamp's Law]] is its set of exceptions. While the law applies broadly, there are five specific categories of items that are impossible to create from nothing. Of these five, only one is explicitly named in the original novels: * **[[Food]]:** This is the most frequently discussed exception. As [[Hermione Granger]] explains, a [[wizard]] cannot create [[food]] from nothing. However, [[magic]] can still be applied to [[food]] in other ways: * It can be summoned if the user knows its location. * It can be transformed (e.g., turning a [[mushroom]] into a [[rat]], though it would be an inedible one). * Its quantity can be increased if a small amount already exists, a magic frequently used by [[Molly Weasley]] to feed large groups of people. The other four Principal Exceptions are not named in the seven books. =====History===== The law is first named and explained in 1997 during the hunt for the [[Horcruxes]]. * After escaping the [[Ministry of Magic]], [[Ron Weasley]] complains about their lack of [[food]] and suggests [[Hermione Granger]] simply conjure some. Hermione corrects him, stating that [[food]] is the first of the five Principal Exceptions to [[Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration]]. She clarifies the nuances of what can be done with existing [[food]], such as multiplying or summoning it (DH15). * Later, while taking refuge in the [[Room of Requirement]], [[Ron Weasley]] perfectly recites Hermione's explanation of the law to [[Harry Potter]] after [[Aberforth Dumbledore]] provides them with [[food]], demonstrating his retention of the principle (DH29). * The existence of the law also implicitly explains long-standing situations in the wizarding world, such as the [[Weasley family]]'s poverty, as [[money]] and other valuable materials cannot simply be conjured into existence. =====Role in the Story===== [[Gamp's Law]] serves a crucial world-building function by placing clear and logical limits on the power of [[magic]]. It prevents [[magic]] from being a deus ex machina that could solve any problem, thereby creating narrative tension and stakes. By making [[food]] impossible to create from nothing, the law makes the struggle for survival faced by Harry, Ron, and Hermione during their hunt for the [[Horcruxes]] more realistic and dire. It grounds the magical world, explaining why societal issues like poverty persist and why wizards cannot simply create infinite resources. The law forces characters to be resourceful and underscores the theme that [[magic]] cannot solve all of life's fundamental problems. =====Behind the Scenes===== * The law is presumably named after its creator. The Pottermore website identifies this individual as [[Ulick Gamp]], who served as the very first [[Minister for Magic]] from 1707 to 1718 (Pottermore). * [[J.K. Rowling]] has stated in interviews that she has a very clear idea of what the other four exceptions are but has not made them public, as the information was not necessary for the plot of the books. This has led to considerable fan speculation about what else cannot be created, with common theories including [[love]], life, and true knowledge. * In the [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]] [[film]], Hermione's explanation of the law is mostly faithful to the book, occurring as the trio sets up camp in a forest shortly after their escape from the [[Ministry of Magic]].
