Invisibility Cloak

• Type: Magical Garment; Deathly Hallow (in the case of Harry Potter's cloak)
• Owners: Ignotus Peverell and his descendants, including the Potter family; James Potter I; Albus Dumbledore (borrowed); Harry Potter. Other, lesser cloaks were owned by figures such as Barty Crouch Jr. and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody.
• Maker: Death (according to legend in The Tales of Beedle the Bard); Ignotus Peverell (implied alternative). Standard cloaks are woven from Demiguise hair.

The most famous Invisibility Cloak, owned by Harry Potter, is described as being fluid and silvery, feeling “strange to the touch, like water woven into material.” It is incredibly light, flows like silk, and can be folded into a very small parcel, allowing Harry Potter to easily carry it in his pocket. Unlike standard invisibility cloaks, which are typically created from the hair of a Demiguise or are imbued with a strong Disillusionment Charm, Harry's cloak shows no signs of aging. It is a true Cloak of Invisibility, one of the three Deathly Hallows, and its magical properties have remained perfect and undiminished for centuries.

The primary function of an Invisibility Cloak is to render the wearer completely invisible. However, there is a significant distinction in power and durability between a standard cloak and the one owned by Harry Potter. Harry Potter's Cloak (A Deathly Hallow)

• Perfect and Everlasting Invisibility: Its power to conceal is absolute and does not fade over time. It provides true invisibility, not just concealment or camouflage.
• Protection: As explained by Xenophilius Lovegood, a true Invisibility Cloak not only conceals but also protects the wearer, repelling minor jinxes and hexes. It was also able to withstand the effects of the Thief's Downfall at Gringotts, which washed away all other enchantments.
• Limitations: The cloak does not render the wearer intangible or silent, meaning they can still be detected by touch, sound, or smell.
  • It cannot hide the wearer from beings that do not rely on sight, such as Dementors and snakes like Nagini.
  • Certain powerful magical devices can penetrate its concealment. Alastor Moody's magical eye could see through the cloak, and the Marauder's Map displayed the location of anyone hiding beneath it.
  • Albus Dumbledore was able to detect Harry and Ron Weasley under the cloak, possibly using a non-verbal `Homenum Revelio` spell, though the cloak is generally resistant to such revealing spells.

Standard Invisibility Cloaks

• These cloaks are far more common but vastly inferior. They are often woven from the hair of a Demiguise or are ordinary travelling cloaks with a Disillusionment Charm or a Bedazzling Hex placed upon them.
• Their invisibility effect wears off over time, eventually becoming opaque and full of holes.
• They offer no special protection and can be torn, burned, or affected by revealing spells. The cloak owned by Barty Crouch Jr. is an example of such an item.

According to the legend of the Deathly Hallows in The Tales of Beedle the Bard, the Invisibility Cloak was the third and final Hallow created by Death. It was gifted to Ignotus Peverell, the youngest of the three brothers, who had humbly asked for something that would allow him to leave Death's presence without being followed. He used the cloak to hide from Death for many years, finally greeting him as an old friend only when he was ready to die, passing the cloak on to his son. The cloak became a family heirloom, passed down through the direct descendants of Ignotus Peverell. This line of descent eventually led to the Potter family, and the cloak was inherited by James Potter I. Shortly before his murder by Lord Voldemort, James showed the cloak to Albus Dumbledore, who, suspecting its true nature as a Deathly Hallow, borrowed it for examination. Following the deaths of James and Lily Potter, Dumbledore held onto the cloak for a decade. He anonymously gifted it to Harry Potter on Christmas Day in 1991, with a note that read: “Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well.” The cloak remained one of Harry's most prized and useful possessions throughout his time at Hogwarts and beyond.

The Invisibility Cloak was instrumental to Harry Potter's success and survival in numerous situations.

• Early Years: Harry used it for nocturnal explorations of Hogwarts Castle, leading to his discoveries of the Mirror of Erised and the truth about the Philosopher's Stone. He and Hermione Granger also used it to smuggle Norbert the dragon out of the castle.
• Prisoner of Azkaban: The cloak was essential for Harry to sneak into Hogsmeade and overhear crucial information about Sirius Black. It was also used to navigate the grounds undetected during the dramatic events at the Shrieking Shack and the Whomping Willow.
• Half-Blood Prince: Harry's attempts to use the cloak to spy on Draco Malfoy often led to trouble, most notably on the Hogwarts Express when Malfoy discovered and immobilized him.
• Deathly Hallows: During the hunt for Voldemort's Horcruxes, the cloak's true identity as a Deathly Hallow was revealed. It was a vital tool for the trio, allowing them to travel and hide from Death Eaters and Snatchers. In his final confrontation with Voldemort, Harry wore the cloak to walk unseen into the Forbidden Forest, emulating its first owner, Ignotus Peverell.

• J.K. Rowling confirmed that Harry's ancestry traces back to Ignotus Peverell, which is why the cloak was passed down through the Potter family (Pottermore).
• In the film adaptations, the cloak often has a distinct, shimmering pattern on its exterior, likely a cinematic choice to make the magical object visually interesting. In certain scenes, it makes the wearer semi-transparent rather than fully invisible, so the audience can follow the action (film).