Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======Obliviators====== =====Introduction===== **Obliviators** are specialist [[wizards]] and [[witches]] employed by the [[Ministry of Magic]]. They are members of the [[Accidental Magic Reversal Squad]] and are primarily tasked with modifying or erasing the memories of [[Muggles]] who have witnessed magical phenomena. Their work is a cornerstone of enforcing the [[International Statute of Secrecy]], ensuring that the existence of the wizarding world remains hidden from non-magical society. Obliviators are masters of the [[Memory Charm]] (`[[Obliviate]]`). =====Biography===== The role of the Obliviator became essential following the implementation of the [[International Statute of Secrecy]] in 1692. Since that time, Obliviators have served as the [[Ministry of Magic]]'s first responders to breaches of secrecy involving [[Muggles]]. They are dispatched to incidents of accidental magic or deliberate magical displays to manage the non-magical witnesses. Notable instances of Obliviator intervention include: * In 1992, after [[Harry Potter]] and [[Ron Weasley]] flew [[Arthur Weasley]]'s enchanted [[Ford Anglia]] from London to [[Hogwarts]], the [[Ministry of Magic]] was forced to perform a "large number of [[Memory Charm]]s" on [[Muggles]] who had seen the flying car. * When [[Harry Potter]] accidentally inflated his [[Aunt Marge]] in 1993, [[Cornelius Fudge]] later informed him that the [[Ministry of Magic]]'s [[Accidental Magic Reversal Squad]] had been dispatched. They successfully "punctured" her and modified her memory of the event, with Fudge noting it was "one of our best" jobs. * Following the riot of [[Lord Voldemort]]'s [[Death Eaters]] at the [[Quidditch World Cup]] in 1994, Obliviators were tasked with modifying the memories of the campsite manager, Mr. [[Roberts family|Roberts]], and his family. The task was particularly difficult as Mr. Roberts was stubbornly "insisting he's not a [[Muggle]]" and that he had been "hexed." A "short, harassed-looking wizard" from the Ministry discussed the challenges with [[Arthur Weasley]]. =====Physical Appearance and Personality===== No specific physical appearance or uniform is described for Obliviators in the novels. They appear to be standard [[Ministry of Magic]] employees who dress in ordinary [[wizarding robes]]. Based on their duties, it can be inferred that Obliviators must possess certain personality traits. They are required to be highly discreet, efficient, and capable of working calmly under immense pressure. The nature of their work—routinely altering the minds of others—suggests a need for a professional and perhaps detached demeanor to perform their duties effectively without emotional complication. =====Magical Abilities and Skills===== * **[[Memory Charm]] Mastery:** An Obliviator's most crucial skill is the expert use of the [[Memory Charm]] (`[[Obliviate]]`). They must be able to precisely remove specific memories without causing unintended harm. The complexity of the human mind makes this a very delicate and difficult branch of [[magic]]. * **Risk of Damage:** Improperly performed [[Memory Charm]]s carry significant risks. A powerful but flawed charm cast by [[Barty Crouch Sr.]] permanently damaged the memory of [[Ministry of Magic]] witch [[Bertha Jorkins]]. Likewise, [[Gilderoy Lockhart]] suffered complete and irreversible amnesia when a [[Memory Charm]] he cast with a broken [[wand]] backfired. Obliviators must be skilled enough to avoid such catastrophic errors. * **[[Apparition]]:** While not explicitly stated, it is highly probable that Obliviators must be licensed to use [[Apparition]] to respond quickly to magical incidents across the country. =====Possessions===== * **[[Wand]]:** An Obliviator's [[wand]] is their most essential tool, without which they cannot perform the [[Memory Charm]]s central to their job. * **Ministry Identification:** As official [[Ministry of Magic]] employees, they would presumably carry identification to verify their authority. =====Relationships===== Obliviators are integrated into the structure of the [[Ministry of Magic]]'s law enforcement and damage control divisions. * **Department:** They are a key squad within the [[Accidental Magic Reversal Squad]]. * **Hierarchy:** The [[Accidental Magic Reversal Squad]] itself is a division of the [[Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes]]. * **Known Obliviators:** The only Obliviator explicitly named in the series is **[[Arnold Peasegood]]**. He is mentioned in the [[Daily Prophet]] as having been on holiday when he was stopped by a [[Muggle]] security guard, whom he attempted to convince that a memory of a strange event was merely a "gas leak." =====Etymology===== The name "Obliviator" is directly derived from the incantation for the [[Memory Charm]], `[[Obliviate]]`. The word itself stems from the Latin //oblivisci//, meaning "to forget," or the English word //oblivion//, which refers to the state of being forgotten or unaware of what has happened. =====Behind the Scenes===== * In the film adaptation of *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*, Obliviators are shown performing a mass-memory modification on the entire [[No-Maj]] population of New York City. This was achieved by using [[Swooping Evil]] venom, dispersed across the city in a magical rainstorm created by the [[Thunderbird]], [[Frank]]. This event showcases Obliviation on a scale far beyond anything depicted in the original novels. `(Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film)` * The work of Obliviators represents a significant ethical dilemma within the wizarding world. It involves the routine, non-consensual alteration of [[Muggles]]' minds, justified by the wizarding community as a necessary evil for the "greater good" of maintaining the [[International Statute of Secrecy]].
