Shield Cloaks

• Type: Magical Device, Defensive Clothing
• Owners: Ministry of Magic, general public
• Maker: Fred Weasley and George Weasley

Shield Cloaks are a type of wizarding outerwear enchanted with powerful defensive magic. Sold by Fred Weasley and George Weasley at their shop, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, they are presented as a practical solution for personal protection. The novels do not provide a specific physical description, suggesting they appear as ordinary traveling cloaks, with their true value hidden in their magical enchantments. They were marketed alongside other defensive products like Shield Hats and Shield Gloves.

The primary function of a Shield Cloak is to provide its wearer with constant, passive protection. The cloaks are imbued with a durable version of the Shield Charm (Protego), which automatically deflects minor to moderate hostile spells.

• The marketing for the cloaks at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes claimed they were “guaranteed to protect the wearer against all but the most powerful or complex of Dark Curses”.
• George Weasley later mentioned to Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour that the cloaks deflect minor to moderate jinxes and hexes, suggesting a practical limit to their defensive capabilities.
• Their key advantage is that they do not require the wearer to actively cast a Shield Charm, offering a persistent layer of defense.

Shield Cloaks were invented by Fred Weasley and George Weasley sometime after they left Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1996. They became a popular and commercially successful item sold from their shop at number ninety-three, Diagon Alley. The demand for such items rose dramatically during the Second Wizarding War, as public fear of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters grew. The effectiveness and practicality of the cloaks were such that even the Ministry of Magic placed an order for its support staff, acknowledging the widespread danger.

Shield Cloaks are introduced in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. They serve as a prime example of the Weasley twins' exceptional magical ingenuity and their ability to create practical, powerful magic for a commercial market. The sale of these cloaks to the Ministry of Magic is particularly significant. It highlights the stark reality of the Second Wizarding War under Rufus Scrimgeour's tenure, a sharp contrast to the denialism of the previous administration under Cornelius Fudge. When Scrimgeour visited the Burrow for Christmas, George Weasley used the Ministry's purchase of their cloaks to subtly mock the Minister, pointing out that his own government relied on their products for protection. This underscores both the twins' success and the Ministry's vulnerability.

• Shield Cloaks, along with Shield Hats and Gloves, are not featured or mentioned in the film adaptations of the Harry Potter series.
• In the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince video game, advertisements for Shield Cloaks can be seen in Diagon Alley, consistent with their presence in the novel. (video game)