Wizard's Field Guide

• Type: Book (Guidebook)
• Owners: Harry Potter
• Maker: Unknown

The physical appearance of the Wizard's Field Guide is not described in the novels. It is known to be a book that Harry Potter received as a birthday present and considered to be “really useful.”

The Wizard's Field Guide is a practical handbook intended to provide guidance to a wizard or witch who finds themselves in trouble. Based on its title and Harry's assessment of its utility, the guide likely contains information on topics such as identifying potentially dangerous magical creatures, dealing with hazardous magical situations, or navigating unfamiliar territory. It is designed for practical use “in the field,” away from a structured environment like Hogwarts.

In the summer of 1993, the Weasley family won seven hundred Galleons in the Daily Prophet Grand Prize Draw. While the family used the bulk of the money for a trip to Egypt, Ron Weasley saved his personal spending money from the trip to purchase a birthday present for Harry Potter. Ron sent the Wizard's Field Guide to Harry at the Leaky Cauldron for his thirteenth birthday on 1 August 1993. The package was delivered by the Weasleys' elderly owl, Errol. Harry was very grateful for the gift, noting its practical value and telling Ron that he shouldn't have spent all his money on it.

The Wizard's Field Guide plays a minor but significant role in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by developing the character of Ron Weasley and reinforcing the depth of his friendship with Harry Potter. Ron's choice to spend his limited funds on a thoughtful and useful gift, rather than on something for himself, highlights his generosity and loyalty. The object also serves as a piece of world-building, illustrating the types of practical literature that exist in the wizarding world beyond academic textbooks. It subtly foreshadows the kind of survival knowledge that Harry, Ron, and Hermione Granger would later require during their hunt for Voldemort's Horcruxes.

• The Wizard's Field Guide as a birthday present is omitted from the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. (film)
• In the video game LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, the “Wizard's Field Guide” is an in-game menu accessible from the Leaky Cauldron where players can view and purchase character tokens they have collected. (video game)