Shield Cloak

• Type: Magical Apparel, Defensive Item
• Owners: Ministry of Magic, Fred Weasley and George Weasley (as retailers), various wizards and witches
• Maker: Ministry of Magic, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes

A Shield Cloak is a type of wizarding outerwear that is outwardly indistinguishable from a standard cloak. Its value and function lie in its powerful defensive enchantments rather than its physical appearance. The cloaks sold by Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes were advertised as being stylish, suggesting that they came in various designs.

The primary function of a Shield Cloak is to provide automatic protection to its wearer by deflecting minor hexes and jinxes. The cloak is imbued with a permanent or semi-permanent Shield Charm (Protego). When a minor offensive spell is cast at the wearer, the cloak automatically repels it without any action required from the user. This makes it a form of “wearable defence,” providing a constant, low-level shield against curses. The effectiveness is noted to be limited to minor dark charms; it is unlikely to stop more powerful or Unforgivable Curses. Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes advertised their line with the slogan, “Repels Curses!”, though this may have been marketing hyperbole to attract customers in a climate of fear.

Shield Cloaks came to prominence during the Second Wizarding War, as fear of attack by Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters became widespread. In the summer of 1996, the Ministry of Magic under Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour ordered a stock of Shield Cloaks, along with Shield Hats and Shield Gloves, for its support staff. Arthur Weasley commented to Harry Potter that this was likely a psychological tactic to boost morale and make employees feel safer, rather than a truly robust defence against the Dark Arts. Concurrently, Fred Weasley and George Weasley developed their own highly successful line of Shield wear for their shop, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Their products were immensely popular, and their advertisement in the Daily Prophet promoted their effectiveness. They sold out of their initial stock, proving the high demand for such defensive items among the general wizarding population.

The Shield Cloak serves as an important indicator of the social and political climate during Lord Voldemort's second rise to power. Its existence and popularity reflect the pervasive fear and the need for constant vigilance within the wizarding community. The item also contrasts two different approaches to the war effort: the Ministry of Magic's bureaucratic and somewhat superficial measures versus the proactive, entrepreneurial, and practical solutions offered by individuals like Fred Weasley and George Weasley. For the Weasley twins, the Shield Cloak represents their commercial success and their contribution to helping ordinary people protect themselves.

There is no known additional information about Shield Cloaks from J.K. Rowling's interviews, Pottermore, or other supplementary materials.