Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======Website====== =====Object Information===== * **Type:** [[Muggle]] Information System * **Owners:** The [[Daily Prophet]]; J.K. Rowling (jkrowling.com) (Official supplementary website); The Blair Partnership (Pottermore/WizardingWorld.com) (Official supplementary website) * **Maker:** [[Muggle]]s =====Description and Appearance===== A website is a collection of related digital pages of information, typically containing text and images, accessed via the [[Muggle]] invention known as the [[Internet]]. It is viewed on an electronic device called a [[computer]]. Within the wizarding world, this technology is almost entirely unused and unknown, with the notable exception of the //[[Daily Prophet]]//, which maintains a website. The appearance of this specific website is not described, but it functions as a digital version of their newspaper. =====Magical Properties and Usage===== Websites possess no inherent magical properties, being a product of [[Muggle]] technology. In fact, most advanced [[Muggle]] technology is known to malfunction in areas with high concentrations of magic, such as [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. The primary usage of a website is the dissemination of information to a wide audience. The //[[Daily Prophet]]//'s website was used during the [[Second Wizarding War]] to publish news and propaganda from the [[Voldemort]]-controlled [[Ministry of Magic]]. Specifically, [[Ron Weasley]] noted that the newspaper was using its website to ask readers to report any information on the whereabouts of [[Harry Potter]]. =====History===== The concept of a website is a late 20th-century [[Muggle]] invention. Its only appearance in the original series occurs in 1997 during the hunt for [[Voldemort]]'s [[Horcrux]]es. While hiding, [[Ron Weasley]] mentions the //[[Daily Prophet]]//'s website to [[Harry Potter]] and [[Hermione Granger]]. This reveals that at least one major wizarding institution had adopted this [[Muggle]] technology, likely to extend the reach of its messaging. This mention is the sole canonical reference to a website existing within the wizarding world's sphere of influence during the events of the books. =====Role in the Story===== The mention of the //[[Daily Prophet]]//'s website serves a minor but significant world-building role. It accomplishes two things: * It demonstrates the lengths to which the [[Ministry of Magic]], under [[Voldemort]]'s control, would go to hunt [[Harry Potter]], even leveraging [[Muggle]] technology to spread its message. * It highlights that some members of the wizarding community, particularly those with an interest in the [[Muggle]] world like [[Ron Weasley]] (influenced by his father, [[Arthur Weasley]]), are aware of and can access modern technology like the [[Internet]]. =====Behind the Scenes===== * In the real world, websites have been an integral part of the *Harry Potter* fandom and franchise. J.K. Rowling's personal website was, for many years, a primary source for new canon information, clarifications, and news directly from the author. It featured interactive elements, such as a "What a load of Rubbish" section to debunk rumors and a "Wizard of the Month" award (J.K. Rowling interview). * In 2011, the //[[Pottermore]]// website was launched, providing an interactive reading experience for the seven books, along with extensive new writing from J.K. Rowling about the wizarding world. This site later evolved into //WizardingWorld.com//, which continues to serve as the official digital hub for the franchise (Pottermore). * The film adaptation of *//Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1//*, expands on the brief mention in the book. A scene shows a [[Muggle]] café worker reading an article about [[Harry Potter]] on the //[[Daily Prophet]]// website on his [[computer]] screen (film).
