Walk of the Qilin

• Type: Magical Electoral Ceremony
• Owners: The International Confederation of Wizards
• Maker: Ancient, specific origins unknown

The Walk of the Qilin is a sacred and ancient ceremony used to select the next Supreme Head of the International Confederation of Wizards (film). The ritual takes place in a dedicated arena, such as the one located in Bhutan (film). During the ceremony, candidates for the position of Supreme Head line up before an assembly of wizards and witches from around the world. A newborn Qilin, a magical creature with the ability to see into a person's soul, is then brought forth. The Qilin walks before the candidates; its appearance is that of a small, deer-like creature with shimmering scales (film). The selection is signified by the Qilin making a deep and reverent bow to the candidate it deems most worthy.

The entire ceremony is predicated on the innate magical ability of the Qilin to recognize a pure and noble heart. It is believed to be an infallible method of choosing a leader who is selfless and worthy of the trust of the global wizarding community (film).

• The Bow: The central magical act of the ceremony is the Qilin's bow. This gesture is accepted by the wizarding world as the creature's definitive choice for the new Supreme Head (film).
• Corruption: The sanctity of the ceremony can be corrupted through powerful Dark Magic. Gellert Grindelwald manipulated the ritual by using Necromancy to reanimate the corpse of a Qilin he had killed. This enchanted corpse was controlled by him and was made to bow at his feet, deceiving the onlookers into believing he had been chosen legitimately (film). The reanimated Qilin appeared desiccated and lifeless upon closer inspection, a key flaw in the deception (film).
• Validation: A true, living Qilin will not bow to one who is not pure of heart. When presented with two worthy candidates, it may bow to both, as seen when the surviving twin Qilin bowed first to Albus Dumbledore and then to Vicência Santos (film).

The Walk of the Qilin is described as an ancient tradition that has been used for centuries (film). The only known occurrence of this ceremony is the 1930s election held in Bhutan to choose the successor to Anton Vogel. The candidates in this election were Gellert Grindelwald, Vicência Santos of Brazil, and Liu Tao of China (film). Grindelwald was initially declared the winner after his reanimated Qilin bowed to him. However, the deception was revealed by Credence Barebone. A second, surviving Qilin was then brought forward. It first acknowledged Albus Dumbledore, who was not a candidate and deferred. The Qilin then bowed to Vicência Santos, who was subsequently inaugurated as the new Supreme Head of the International Confederation of Wizards (film).

The Walk of the Qilin is the central event in the climax of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (film). It represents Gellert Grindelwald's strategy to gain legitimate power over the wizarding world, moving away from open warfare to political manipulation. His subversion of this sacred tradition demonstrates the depths of his corruption and his willingness to defile even the purest forms of magic. The ceremony serves as the stage for Grindelwald's public unmasking and the ultimate failure of his political ambitions. It also provides a moment of redemption for Credence Barebone, who exposes the fraud, and results in the election of a worthy leader, Vicência Santos.

The Walk of the Qilin is a concept created for the Fantastic Beasts film series and does not appear in the original seven Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling. The Qilin itself is a creature from East Asian mythology, known for its benevolence and ability to discern good from evil, which heavily inspired its role in the film's ceremony.