Mummy

• Type: Magical Creature (Undead); Form taken by a Boggart
• Owners: Not applicable.
• Maker: Not applicable.

The only mummy physically described in the novels is a Boggart that has taken on its form. When faced by Parvati Patil, the creature was described as “horribly bandaged and bloodstained.” It moved with a lurching, shambling walk, advancing on its victim with its arms outstretched.

The specific abilities of a true mummy are not detailed in the series, but they are known to be associated with powerful, ancient curses. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Ron Weasley references a “mummy's curse” he had read about, suggesting that their tombs are often protected by Dark Magic. As a Boggart, a mummy's primary ability is to induce fear. Its main weakness in this form is the Riddikulus charm. When Parvati Patil successfully cast the charm, the mummy became comically entangled in its own bandages, tripped, and its head rolled off. This indicates a physical fragility, at least in its Boggart manifestation.

Mummies are beings associated with ancient Egypt and are understood in the wizarding world to be the magically-preserved remains of witches and wizards. Their historical significance is tied to the protective curses placed upon their tombs. The most notable appearance of a mummy occurs during the 1993-1994 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In a Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson taught by Professor Remus Lupin, a Boggart emerged from a wardrobe and transformed into a mummy, revealing this to be Parvati Patil's greatest fear. This event served as a practical demonstration for the class on how to confront and defeat a Boggart.

The mummy's role in the series is primarily educational. Its appearance in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban serves as a clear and effective example of how the Riddikulus charm works. The encounter provides a moment of levity and success before Harry Potter faces the same Boggart, which transforms into a far more menacing Dementor. This event also provides a small but significant piece of characterisation for Parvati Patil, establishing her specific fear. Furthermore, it reinforces the world-building by confirming that creatures from Muggle mythology and horror stories exist within the wizarding world.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the mummy Boggart is shown on roller skates after Parvati Patil casts Riddikulus. It comically spins and unravels its bandages before crashing into a wall. (film)
• The mummy Boggart also appears as an enemy that must be defeated in the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. (video game)