Proscribed Charmable Objects

• Type: Legal Classification / Ministry of Magic Regulation
• Governing Body: Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office
• Purpose: To prohibit the enchanting of Muggle artefacts for purposes of “Muggle-baiting,” which causes harm, confusion, or distress to non-magical people.
• Official Record: The Registry of Proscribed Charmable Objects

Proscribed Charmable Objects are Muggle-made items that have been illegally enchanted, typically with malicious or mischievous intent. This classification and its corresponding legislation exist to protect Muggles and uphold the International Statute of Secrecy by preventing wizards from bewitching everyday non-magical items. The law is enforced by the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, part of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. The Ministry of Magic maintains an official list, the Registry of Proscribed Charmable Objects, which details items that are illegal to enchant. This registry is dynamic and can be expanded as new forms of Muggle-baiting are discovered. Known or likely examples of such illegally charmed items include:

• Shrinking keys
• Biting kettles
• Regurgitating toilets
• Trick wands charmed to backfire
• Bewitched shrinking cauldrons

The primary function of this legislation is to prevent wizards from using magic on Muggle items that may later fall into Muggle hands. The practice, known as Muggle-baiting, is treated as a serious offence by dedicated members of the Ministry of Magic like Arthur Weasley. However, the law contains a significant loophole concerning intent. A clause in the proscription states that an enchantment is not illegal if there was no intention for the object to be used. This allows unscrupulous wizards to charm objects and then sell them, claiming they never intended for the items to be sold or to fall into Muggle possession. This makes prosecution difficult, as the Ministry must prove the charmer's intent to distribute the object. Individuals like Mundungus Fletcher are known to exploit this loophole to get away with selling dangerous or troublesome magical items.

The proscription against charming Muggle artefacts appears to be a long-standing piece of wizarding law by the 1990s. The enforcement of this regulation is the primary responsibility of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office. Arthur Weasley, as head of this office for many years, spent a significant amount of his career conducting raids to confiscate such items, interrogating Muggles who had been affected by them, and drafting new legislation to close existing loopholes. In the summer of 1994, following the riot at the Quidditch World Cup, Arthur Weasley noted that his department was particularly busy and that the Registry of Proscribed Charmable Objects had been expanded to include items like shrinking cauldrons and trick wands, indicating that the law is actively updated to address new threats.

The concept of Proscribed Charmable Objects is central to understanding Arthur Weasley's character, profession, and values. His work in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office highlights his deep-seated belief in protecting Muggles, even when this work is looked down upon by more influential or prejudiced wizards. The legislation also serves as a key piece of world-building, illustrating the day-to-day legal challenges within the wizarding world and the constant effort required to maintain the separation between the magical and non-magical communities. Furthermore, the loophole in the law introduces the shady, semi-legal underworld of the wizarding community, exemplified by characters like Mundungus Fletcher.

The Registry of Proscribed Charmable Objects is a concept created by J.K. Rowling within the original novels to add depth and bureaucratic realism to the Ministry of Magic. It effectively illustrates the types of mundane but necessary magical laws required to govern a society that must remain hidden from the wider world. There is no significant information on this topic from supplementary materials beyond its function described in the books.