Gramophone

• Type: Musical Device
• Owners: Remus Lupin, Horace Slughorn
• Maker: Unknown (Muggle invention)

A gramophone is a device, originally of Muggle invention, used for playing music recorded on discs, or records. It typically consists of a turntable to spin the record, a stylus or needle that reads the grooves, and a large, conical horn that amplifies the sound. The specific appearances of gramophones in the wizarding world are not described in great detail. Professor Lupin's was a source of jaunty music in his Defence Against the Dark Arts office, while Professor Slughorn's played “celestial-sounding harp music” at his Slug Club Christmas party.

The primary function of a gramophone in the wizarding world is identical to its Muggle counterpart: to provide musical entertainment. They are used to create ambiance in offices, at parties, and likely in private homes. While fundamentally a Muggle device, there is evidence that gramophones used by wizards can be enchanted. When Remus Lupin was packing his belongings to leave Hogwarts, his gramophone “gave a sudden, piercing shriek” before falling silent. This reaction suggests it possessed some degree of magical animation or was imbued with a spell that reacted to its owner's departure or the act of being packed.

The gramophone was invented by Muggles in the late 19th century. Its adoption by the wizarding community demonstrates that wizards are not entirely isolated from Muggle technology and will incorporate useful or entertaining inventions into their own lives. There is no known history of a specifically magical version being invented; rather, it appears that wizards simply use the Muggle-invented device, sometimes adding their own magical enhancements.

Gramophones serve primarily as a world-building detail, adding a layer of realism and comfort to certain settings.

• In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Professor Lupin's gramophone helps establish his office as a welcoming and safe space, contrasting with the high-stakes nature of his subject. Its final shriek as he packs to leave Hogwarts underscores the sadness and finality of his resignation.
• In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the gramophone at Horace Slughorn's Christmas party provides elegant background music, contributing to the luxurious and slightly superficial atmosphere Slughorn cultivates. It is part of the setting where Harry Potter and Hermione Granger have important conversations, and where Harry witnesses Draco Malfoy's suspicious behaviour with Severus Snape.
• In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry recalls never having seen Albus Dumbledore listen to a gramophone, a passing thought that highlights Dumbledore's enigmatic and less-than-ordinary personal life.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, a gramophone is prominently featured in Remus Lupin's office, playing music for his Boggart lesson. (film)