The Weasley Family Clock

• Type: Magical Device
• Owners: The Weasley family
• Maker: Unknown (Inferred in supplementary material to be Molly Weasley)

The Weasley family clock is a unique magical object located in the kitchen of The Burrow. It is described as a tall grandfather clock that, instead of telling time, indicates the location and status of the nine members of the Weasley family. The clock face does not have numbers. In their place are various locations and states of being, including:

• Home
• School
• Work
• Traveling
• Lost
• Hospital
• Prison
• Mortal Peril

The clock has nine golden hands, each engraved with the name of a member of the immediate family: Arthur Weasley, Molly Weasley, Bill Weasley, Charlie Weasley, Percy Weasley, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Ron Weasley, and Ginny Weasley. Each hand points to the corresponding family member's current situation. Harry Potter noted upon seeing it that it was a magnificent object and that it was likely unique, having been made for the Weasley family.

The primary function of the clock is to serve as a magical monitoring device for the Weasley family. By glancing at the clock, Molly Weasley can instantly ascertain the general whereabouts and safety of her entire family. For example, during the school year, many of the hands would point to `School` to indicate the children were at Hogwarts. The most significant setting on the clock is Mortal Peril. During the height of the Second Wizarding War, the clock's utility as a location-finder diminished as the ambient danger level for anyone opposing Lord Voldemort became constant. By the time Harry Potter arrived at The Burrow in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, all nine of the clock's hands were pointing to Mortal Peril. Molly Weasley explained that this had been the case for some time and that she could no longer tell if her family members were safe, as the clock simply reflected the constant state of danger they all lived in. This caused her immense distress but also demonstrated the clock's sensitivity to the overarching magical climate.

The origins of the clock and how long it has been in the Weasley family's possession are not detailed in the novels. It is first seen by Harry Potter when he visits The Burrow in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The clock serves as a recurring feature of the Weasley family home throughout the series. Its state is a direct reflection of the rising tension in the wizarding world. In the earlier books, its hands move between various mundane locations. However, following Lord Voldemort's return, its hands begin to point more frequently and, eventually, exclusively to Mortal Peril, symbolizing the loss of safety and security for the family.

The Weasley clock is a powerful and multi-faceted symbol within the series:

• Family and Love: It is the ultimate physical manifestation of Molly Weasley's maternal love and constant, anxious concern for her family's well-being.
• Atmospheric Barometer: The clock's state provides the reader with a clear and immediate understanding of the level of danger in the wizarding world. Its shift to being permanently stuck on Mortal Peril is a grim indicator of how dire the situation has become during the Second Wizarding War.
• Domestic Magic: It is a prime example of the type of personal, homespun magic that exists within a wizarding family, contrasting with the more academic or martial magic seen at Hogwarts or used in duels. It highlights the way magic is integrated into everyday life.
• Characterisation: Molly Weasley's interactions with the clock are central to her character, showcasing her deeply protective and nurturing nature.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the clock is depicted with a more intricate design. The hands of the clock are adorned with small, moving photographs of each Weasley family member, a detail not mentioned in the books (film).
• J.K. Rowling has stated in an interview that the Weasley clock is one of her favorite magical objects that she created (J.K. Rowling interview).
• On the Pottermore website, J.K. Rowling revealed that every wizarding family has a clock like the Weasleys', though they are all unique, and that it was Molly Weasley's dearest wish to have a clock that simply said all her family were “safe.” (Pottermore).