Meringue

• Type: Food (Dessert)
• Owners: Not applicable as a single object. Notably, lemon meringue pie is a favourite dessert of Harry Potter.
• Maker: Primarily prepared by House-Elves within the Hogwarts kitchens.

Meringue is a type of dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar, often baked to be light and crisp. In the Wizarding World, it is most famously served in the form of lemon meringue pie. This pie consists of a shortcrust pastry base filled with a lemon-flavoured custard and topped with a deep layer of soft, baked meringue. It is a common dessert served during feasts in the Great Hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Meringue itself possesses no known inherent magical properties. Its primary usage is as a food item enjoyed by witches and wizards. At Hogwarts, its appearance on the tables of the Great Hall is a result of the magical transportation from the Hogwarts kitchens below, facilitated by House-Elves. The affection shown by Dobby the House-Elf towards Harry Potter is often expressed through the offering of lemon meringue pie, signifying comfort and care.

The specific history of meringue is not detailed in the novels. As a well-known Muggle dessert, its presence at Hogwarts suggests it is one of many foods shared between the magical and non-magical communities, much like Treacle Tart or Shepherd's Pie.

Meringue, specifically lemon meringue pie, is established as Harry Potter's favourite type of pie and appears in moments that highlight his relationships with House-Elves.

• In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, after the second task of the Triwizard Tournament, Dobby brings Harry a large slice of lemon meringue pie in the Hogwarts kitchens as a gesture of friendship and concern.
• In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, lemon meringue pie appears on the tables during the Welcoming Feast, which Harry enjoys. This establishes it as a regular and comforting part of his Hogwarts experience.
• In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the pie becomes a point of contention between Dobby and Kreacher. The two House-Elves have a physical fight over who has the right to bring Harry his favourite dessert, symbolising their competing loyalties and feelings towards him.

Meringue is a real-world dessert, and its inclusion in the series helps to ground the fantastical elements of the Wizarding World with familiar, everyday details, making the setting more relatable. Unlike Treacle Tart, another of Harry's favourites, lemon meringue pie has not been the subject of extensive commentary by J.K. Rowling.