I'm looking for some ideas for non-canon enchanted objects - things that a squib or underage wizard might use to make their life easier, magical weapons and anything else that you can think of.

 

I like the idea that most enchanted objects (and in particular, the powerful ones) aren't mass-produced commercial items but rather one-of-a-kind custom items made by individual wizards.

With that in mind:

Consider making items which have whole legends surrounding them, such as the Deathly Hallows. Extra points for making the legends and the truth only tangentially related.

Consider items made of goblin steel and interesting properties they could have absorbed.

Consider inventing other magical substances which, like goblin steel, have interesting magical properties which could be utilised by the creator of a magical artifact.

Of course there would likely also be the commercial objects created for day to day tasks but they're less interesting. And also, consider:

- Household spells are within the capabilities of the vast majority of wizards.
- Items which you buy once and then last forever are not particularly commercial, especially with such a small population.
- Kids and squibs don't have much use for magical items. The former because their parents can do stuff for them, the latter because they seem to live mostly in the Muggle world.

 

Self stirring cauldrons are a thing. If the enchanter had any idea on using them to make money, I'd assume that each would only be able to do a single type of stirring, but with a range of speeds.

The Quick Quotes Quill writes down an exaggerated version of what's being said in canon. Again, it would make sense for there to be a normal dictation quill, although I can't recall if that's canon or not.

Enchanted knives could be a thing - we already have something to make creating potions a bit simpler. So a knife/board combination that would cut at specific points. Perhaps higher end models would also sort the reagent automatically, rather than having the user place everything perfectly.

You can almost guarantee that if nobody else has, then a muggleborn would have created a self-sweeping broom. Nearly everyone I know has at least heard of the Sorcerer's Apprentice, and it would likely be the same.

In the same vein, somebody has probably created Vorpal Knives - they never blunt, and they're exceedingly sharp in the first place. Probably wouldn't see much use outside of potions work / herbology.

As for things specifically for children...

Talking plates - the fictional characters encourage the children to eat the healthy food. Imagine your hero, Harry Potter, telling you that if you eat your sprouts you'll grow strong enough to fight dragons too!

safety cups - liquid put inside will only come out if it's within a safe temperature range, and has to be held. This stops messes, and kids drinking things when they're too hot.

Weapon wise, I doubt there's much. Wizards carry wands. Why would they need a gun, or a sword, or a sledgehammer when they have spells?

 

There are likely a lot of old enchanted items knocking about from before the statue of secrecy. This could reasonable do things that a wand can, but a muggle can't.

 

Because they think it'll be funny.

I'm not of the opinion that item enchantments endure; in fact it's because of magic being so easy to throw around that most aren't expected to last even the lifespan of the enchanter, with the exceptions being wands, brooms and cursed artifacts. That last one is the most likely source of magic items being used by the wandless- where the curse can be leveraged in another way to be a tool.

Also, I'm wondering about all the enchanted mirrors and portraits that offer fashion and grooming opinions; it seems more likely for an enchantment to endure rather than fade if it includes a personality, almost as if the wizard making it has to trap a wayward ghost or elemental spirit to serve as the AI. Arthur's Ford Anglia falls into this category, too.

 

When Arthur told people he poured his soul into the Ford Anglia, they assumed he meant that it took him a lot of work and time to create it. In reality, all it took was a Killing Curse and a Memory Charm for him to have a mobile, sentient defence with the world none the wiser. As far as they were concerned, the only noteworthy thing to happen that day was that a child watched her mother die in an experiment gone wrong.

 

Jesus Christ that is an awesome plot.

 

I like this idea of enchanted objects being unique with each one slightly different depending on the wizard who made it. That said I imagine there are certain things that are mass produced or as much as they can be in the wizarding world.

I don't think all of the items have to have legends around them. That implies great age which, in turn, suggests that older magic is more powerful than modern magic (a personal peeve).

If I was an enchanter looking to make a profit I'd create an item to do a task but make it so it's only good for X amount of uses.

Where are you getting your information about squibs? Aren't there only two in canon, Figg and Filch? Figg lives in the muggle world but still seems pretty connected to the wizarding world while we know that Filch uses at least one magical object in HBP.

As for magical weapons, maybe look at Dresden Files. I remember in one Dresden used an enchanted belt to enhance his strength. However, I don't think HP wizards should have a weapon other than their wand except in rare exceptions. Goblins on the other hand ... though I've never seen that done right.

 

The dagger Bellatrix threw at harry might have been enchanted for accuracy.

 

In regards to permanent vs. fading enchantments: didn't the selfwriting quills the twins made stop working after a time?

 

Yes, thus the debacle of "Roonil Waslib" began.

 

Not to mention that old brooms are often considered faulty/dangerous.

 

I always thought the average enchanted item was just anything with a permanent charm on it to do...well anything really, and that was all that most wizards could do, but there were also items that were just better or different to their peers, like you could have a thousand flying cars but the only one that came to life was created after years of dedication to get all the charms just right, the wizard or witch had literally poured their heart into their creation.

Same for wands, they choose their wielder because the maker crafts them with such care and dedication that they become nearly living. Or the Philosophers stone, Flamel poured everything he had into making it, and it's as linked to him as he is to it, destroying one would take the other with it. i mean after all Harry Potter always had that fairy tale undertone that there was older and more esoteric magic beneath the wish washy and wand waving. Like Love, and friendship.

 

While thinking about how enchantments seem to be used to make a profit, I remembered the 'Monstrous book of Monsters'. There is no way that was enchanted for anything other than shits and giggles.

 

I disagree- that book was enchanted to teach the student one of the fundamental lessons in Care of Magical Creatures- it's only scary if you don't know how to handle it. It also illustrates that knowing how to calm a beastie isn't difficult but requires a measure of understanding.

 

And because it's funny.

 

Mhm, fair point. Didn't make them more attractive to buy, though.

 

Alternatively, the book contained so much information about magical monsters that it spontaneously turned into a magical monster itself, without the author intending it.

 

There's also the The Invisible Book of Invisibility alone the same mould. Magical books comming alive and taking on the nature of what they contain is a big part of Discworld but I'm not sure how well it fits into Harry Potter.

 

It's magic, of course.