The Atrium

• Type: Main Entrance Hall
• Location: Level Eight, Ministry of Magic, London, England
• Owner/Residents: Ministry of Magic
• Key Features: Floo Network-connected fireplaces, central fountain or monument, access lifts to all other departments

The Atrium is a long and splendid hall that serves as the main entrance and lobby for the Ministry of Magic. The floor is made of highly polished, dark wood, and the peacock-blue ceiling is inlaid with shimmering, moving golden symbols that continuously change. Both the left and right walls are lined with ornate, gilded fireplaces that allow witches and wizards to travel to and from the Ministry using the Floo Network. At the far end of the hall is a set of golden gates leading to the lifts that provide access to the other nine levels of the Ministry. Originally, the centerpiece of the Atrium was the Fountain of Magical Brethren. This impressive fountain featured a group of golden statues: a handsome wizard, a beautiful witch, a centaur, a goblin, and a house-elf. All of them were depicted gazing admiringly at the witch and wizard. Water from the fountain was collected in a pool where passers-by could throw Sickles and Knuts as a “goodwill” gesture for St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Following Lord Voldemort's takeover of the Ministry of Magic in 1997, the Fountain of Magical Brethren was destroyed and replaced with a new, imposing monument called Magic is Might. This black stone statue depicted a large throne upon which sat a witch and a wizard, carved from the blocky mass of Muggles who formed the base. A plaque on the monument read, “Magic Is Might”. This change symbolized the new pure-blood supremacist ideology that had gripped the Ministry under Voldemort's control. It is presumed to have been removed after Voldemort's defeat and the restoration of the Ministry.

The Atrium is the first part of the Ministry of Magic that Harry Potter sees when he attends his disciplinary hearing for the use of the Patronus Charm. He and Arthur Weasley arrive via the visitor's entrance and proceed through the Atrium to the lifts. It is the setting for the dramatic climax of the battle in the Department of Mysteries. After being pursued by Death Eaters, Harry and his friends are saved by the arrival of members of the Order of the Phoenix. The final confrontation occurs in the Atrium, where Albus Dumbledore engages in a spectacular duel with Lord Voldemort. During the fight, Dumbledore animates the statues of the Fountain of Magical Brethren to protect Harry and attack Bellatrix Lestrange. The duel culminates with Voldemort attempting to possess Harry, but he is ultimately forced to flee when the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, and other Ministry officials arrive via the Floo Network, witnessing Voldemort's return firsthand. In 1997, Harry, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley infiltrate the Ministry using Polyjuice Potion to retrieve Slytherin's Locket from Dolores Umbridge. They arrive in the Atrium via the employee fireplaces amidst a crowd of other workers. The oppressive atmosphere of the fallen Ministry is immediately apparent, dominated by the looming Magic is Might statue. Their mission to locate Umbridge begins from this central hub.

• Floo Network Fireplaces: Dozens of gilded fireplaces line the walls, allowing for mass transit of Ministry employees. Arrivals emerge in a gust of green flame on the left, while those departing use the fireplaces on the right.
• Security Desk: Located halfway down the hall, this desk is where security wizards, such as Eric Munch, register visitors and inspect their wands.
• Lifts: At the end of the hall, a set of golden gates leads to approximately twenty lifts that transport personnel to the various departments on other levels.
• Fountain of Magical Brethren: The original centerpiece, a golden fountain celebrating the magical community. It was destroyed during Voldemort's rise to power.
• Magic is Might: A large, dark monument that replaced the fountain, representing the pure-blood supremacist ideology of Voldemort's regime.

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the Atrium is depicted as a vast, multi-story open space with a much more modern aesthetic than described in the book. The ceiling is made of green and black tiles, and the walls are lined with offices. The Fountain of Magical Brethren is present, though its design differs slightly. (film) The method of entry is also different in the films. While the book states employees use the Floo Network to arrive directly into the Atrium, and visitors use a rundown telephone box that functions as a lift from the street, the films primarily use the telephone box entrance for all arrivals shown on screen. The book also details a separate visitor entrance for Harry's hearing, which involves flushing oneself down a toilet in a derelict public lavatory, a method not depicted in the films. (film)