Gobstone

• Type: Magical Game Piece, Magical Toy
• Owners: Widely owned by members of the wizarding community, especially popular among young witches and wizards. The Hogwarts Gobstones Club is a notable group of players.
• Maker: The specific creator is unknown; Gobstones are likely manufactured by various wizarding toy and game makers.

A Gobstone is a small, round object, very similar in appearance and function to a Muggle marble. They are used in sets to play the game of Gobstones. The books do not specify their material, but they are implied to be made of stone or a similar hard substance.

The primary function of Gobstones is for playing the wizarding game of the same name. The rules of the game are similar to Muggle games like marbles or pétanque, where players attempt to knock their opponents' stones out of a designated playing circle. The key magical property of a Gobstone is its defense mechanism. When a player loses a point during the game, the winning Gobstone squirts a foul-smelling, unpleasant liquid into the loser's face. This magical retaliation is the defining characteristic that distinguishes the game from its Muggle counterparts and makes it a uniquely wizarding pastime.

The exact origins of Gobstones are not documented, but it is an old and well-established game within the wizarding world. Its long-standing popularity is evident through its presence at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for many generations. For instance, Eileen Prince, the mother of Severus Snape, was the captain of the Hogwarts Gobstones team during her time as a student in the 1940s. The game is popular enough that Hogwarts has an official Gobstones Club, which, along with all other student organizations, was temporarily disbanded by Dolores Umbridge under Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four.

Gobstones serve primarily as a world-building element, adding depth and culture to the wizarding world by showcasing its unique forms of recreation.

• Character Development: The game is used to provide minor character details. Ron Weasley mentions that he is good at Gobstones, highlighting his ordinary wizarding upbringing and interests outside of the central conflict with Lord Voldemort. The fact that Severus Snape's mother, Eileen Prince, was captain of the Gobstones team provides a brief, humanizing glimpse into his family background.
• Plot Device: The existence of the Gobstones Club at Hogwarts is mentioned specifically as one of the groups that Dolores Umbridge bans, emphasizing the oppressive and far-reaching nature of her control over the school in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

• Etymology: The name 'Gobstone' is likely derived from the British slang word “gob,” which means “mouth” or “to spit.” This directly alludes to the game's main feature of squirting liquid at the loser.
• Expanded Universe: The game of Gobstones is a playable mini-game in several Harry Potter video games, including Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Hogwarts Legacy, where the rules are expanded upon (video game).
• Official Lore: According to Pottermore, there are many different varieties of Gobstones, and international tournaments are held. The official governing body is the International Federation of Gobstones (Pottermore).