Mummies

• Type: Undead Being, Magical Creature
• Native Range: Primarily Egypt, though potentially other regions with mummification practices.

Mummies are reanimated, preserved human corpses, typically wrapped in linen bandages. The physical appearance of a mummy can vary; one seen in the depths of Gringotts Wizarding Bank was described as “shrivelled.” A Boggart that took the form of a mummy for Parvati Patil was a shambling figure with “dead, blank eyes.” When confronted with the `Riddikulus` charm, it began to trip over its own unravelling bandages.

Mummies are associated with powerful curses, a subject covered in wizarding texts such as Weird Wizarding Predicaments and Their Solutions. Ancient Egyptian tombs, presumably guarded by mummies or their spirits, were known to be protected by complex enchantments, including self-playing harps designed to lull intruders to sleep. The primary defence against a Boggart in the form of a mummy is the `Riddikulus` charm, which forces it into a less frightening, comical form. The specific weaknesses of a true mummy are not detailed in the novels.

Mummies are a known, if uncommon, presence in the Wizarding world and are a subject of study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

• History of Magic: Professor Binns's subject covers historical events where mummies are relevant. Hermione Granger learned about the enchanted guardians of Egyptian tombs through her studies in this class.
• Defence Against the Dark Arts: Mummies are considered creatures worthy of study in defending against the Dark Arts. Professor Quirrell was rumoured to have had a frightening encounter with one, and Gilderoy Lockhart falsely boasted of his exploits involving them. Professor Remus Lupin used a Boggart that could take the form of a mummy as a teaching tool.

• In 1991, Ron Weasley speculated that Professor Quirrell's garlic-reeking turban was a precaution against a mummy he had met in Egypt.
• In 1992, Gilderoy Lockhart baselessly claimed to have trapped a mummy as part of his fabricated story about defeating the Bandon Banshee.
• During the 1993-1994 school year, a Boggart in Professor Lupin's Defence Against the Dark Arts class transformed into a bandaged, stumbling mummy to frighten Parvati Patil.
• A book detailing “Mummy's Curses” was noted by Harry Potter in the Hogwarts library while he was researching for the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament.
• In 1998, Harry Potter observed goblins bundling a “shrivelled mummy” in a lower-level, laundry-like chamber within Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Boggart-mummy is shown tripping over its bandages in a slow-motion sequence after Parvati Patil casts `Riddikulus`. (film)
• In the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, mummies appear as enemies within a cursed tomb. They can be defeated with the Fire-Making Spell, `Incendio`. (video game)