Goblins

Goblins are a species of highly intelligent, magical humanoids who coexist, often uneasily, with the wizarding world. They are known for their exceptional skills in metalwork and finance, controlling the wizarding economy through their management of Gringotts Wizarding Bank. The relationship between goblins and wizards has been fraught with centuries of mistrust, prejudice, and bloody conflict, known as the Goblin Rebellions. Despite being classified as 'Beings' by the Ministry of Magic and afforded some rights, they are prohibited from carrying wands, a major point of contention and a symbol of their subjugation by the wizarding community.

Goblins are short in stature with swarthy, clever faces, long fingers, and long feet. They typically have dark, piercing eyes and often possess pointed beards. Their physical appearance is distinct enough that even a distant ancestor can influence a person's stature, as is suspected in the case of Professor Filius Flitwick. While individuals vary, goblins as a people are generally depicted as proud, fiercely protective of their creations, and possessing a code of honour and ownership that differs vastly from that of wizards. They can be suspicious and curt, a trait likely developed from a long history of being misunderstood and mistreated by wizards. They value gold and treasure highly but are more possessive of objects they themselves have crafted.

Goblins possess unique skills and a form of magic that sets them apart from wizards.

• Goblin-Made Metalwork: Goblins are master craftsmen, particularly with metals like silver. Their work is often imbued with magic that makes it nearly indestructible and capable of unique properties. For example, goblin-made silver items, such as the Sword of Gryffindor, repel ordinary dirt and will only imbibe substances that strengthen them, like Basilisk venom. They are also the sole minters of wizarding currency: the Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts used throughout Britain.
• Wandless Magic: Goblins can perform their own powerful brand of magic without the use of a wand. The precise nature of this magic is not fully understood by wizards, but it is sufficient to place the complex enchantments and protections on the vaults of Gringotts. The historical prohibition of wand use by goblins remains a source of deep-seated resentment.

Goblin society is organised and has a distinct culture centered around their skills and historical grievances.

• Gringotts Wizarding Bank: Goblins hold a monopoly on the wizarding economy by running Gringotts. They are trusted as exceptionally cunning and secure guardians of treasure, protecting vaults with a combination of magical beasts (like dragons) and complex spells that are uniquely their own.
• Concept of Ownership: A core tenet of goblin culture is the belief that the true owner of an object is its maker. When a goblin smith sells an item, they consider it a form of rental for the purchaser's lifetime. Upon the purchaser's death, goblins believe the item should rightly be returned to the goblin who made it or their descendants. This philosophy is the direct cause of the conflict between Griphook and Harry Potter over the Sword of Gryffindor.
• Language: Goblins have their own language known as Gobbledegook. It is described as a harsh, guttural language. Few wizards speak it, though notable exceptions include Bill Weasley, who learned it for his work as a Curse-Breaker, and Barty Crouch Sr..

The history between goblins and wizards is a dark one, marked by violence and mutual distrust. Professor Binns's History of Magic classes frequently detail the numerous and bloody Goblin Rebellions of centuries past, where goblins fought for rights and against wizarding oppression. Figures like Urg the Unclean and Ragnok are part of their history. In the modern era, the relationship remains tense. The Ministry of Magic maintains a Goblin Liaison Office within the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, though it is generally considered a dead-end posting. Goblins are not granted representation on the Wizengamot and are still legally barred from carrying wands. This systemic discrimination fuels their resentment and makes cooperation between the two communities difficult, as seen when Griphook agrees to help Harry Potter only in exchange for the Sword of Gryffindor.

• Griphook: Escorted Hagrid and Harry to the Potter and Philosopher's Stone vaults. Later helped Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger break into the Lestrange Vault before betraying them.
• Gornuk: A goblin on the run from Death Eaters who was in hiding with Griphook and Dirk Cresswell. He was later murdered.
• Bogrod: An elderly goblin at Gringotts who was placed under the Imperius Curse by Harry during the Gringotts break-in.
• Ragnok: The goblin king to whom Godric Gryffindor supposedly “stole” the Sword of Gryffindor, according to the goblin version of history.
• Urg the Unclean: A goblin figure mentioned in a History of Magic lesson as involved in a rebellion.

• In the film adaptations, the goblin Griphook was portrayed by Verne Troyer in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and by Warwick Davis in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Part 2. Warwick Davis, who also famously portrayed Professor Filius Flitwick, played another goblin banker in the first film, creating a visual link between the two characters, as Flitwick is stated in the books to have a “dash of goblin ancestry” (film).
• J.K. Rowling has commented that the goblins' grievances with the wizarding world are largely justified, and their portrayal is meant to touch on themes of subjugation and anti-Semitism, though they are not direct allegories for any single real-world group (J.K. Rowling interview).