Winged Keys

• Type: Magical Obstacle, Enchanted Object
• Owners: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
• Maker: Professor Filius Flitwick

The Winged Keys were a flock of hundreds of enchanted keys located in a high-ceilinged chamber guarding the Philosopher's Stone. Described as “jewel-bright,” they resembled a flock of birds with delicate, fluttering, silvery wings. Among the swarm was one key that was distinct from the others. It was a large, old-fashioned silver key, and one of its wings was bent, making it fly in a lopsided manner. This damage suggested it had already been caught and used at least once before.

The primary magical property of the Winged Keys was flight, bestowed upon them by a complex Charm created by Professor Filius Flitwick. They were designed as a living obstacle, requiring a witch or wizard to identify and catch the one correct key that would unlock the door to the next chamber. To bypass this protection, one had to use a broomstick to fly amongst the flock. The keys were enchanted to swoop and dart, evading capture, making the task exceptionally difficult for an unskilled flyer. The challenge was specifically designed to test a person's flying ability and skills of observation, much like those required of a Quidditch Seeker.

The Winged Keys were created by Professor Filius Flitwick during the 1991-1992 school year. They were part of a series of seven elaborate magical protections placed by Albus Dumbledore and the Hogwarts staff to safeguard the Philosopher's Stone, which had been moved to a hidden set of chambers beneath a trapdoor on the third floor of the castle. Professor Flitwick's contribution, the Winged Keys, constituted the fourth of these seven challenges.

The Winged Keys played a crucial role as one of the obstacles Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger faced when they went through the trapdoor to stop Lord Voldemort from stealing the Philosopher's Stone. Upon entering the chamber, they found a single broomstick, a Cleansweep Five, left behind by Professor Quirrell. Hermione Granger spotted the unique key with the bent wing, and Harry, being the youngest House Seeker in a century, was tasked with catching it. He skillfully navigated the swarm on the broom and, after a difficult chase, successfully captured the correct key. He used it to unlock the heavy wooden door, allowing the trio to proceed to the next challenge: Professor McGonagall's giant Wizard's Chess set. Before leaving, Hermione cleverly locked the door from their side, forcing the flock of keys up against the keyhole and making it more difficult for anyone to follow.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the Winged Keys are depicted as more aggressive than in the novel. They actively attack Harry Potter and his broomstick as he attempts to catch the correct key. (film)
• The correct key in the film has a distinctly broken wing, rather than a bent one as described in the book. (film)
• The challenge of catching a Winged Key is a common mini-game in various video game adaptations of the first story, testing the player's flying controls. (video game)