We're all in it for the magic. That was the initial draw for so many of us. And Harry Potter is a fantastically vibrant world full of magical background details - this, more than anything else, is what separates it from the thousand lesser works trying to imitate it.

I've been thinking a lot recently about these moments of casual background magic recently as I'm trying to use this as one of the main themes for the piece I'm writing at the moment. These moments are one of the key elements I always feel is missing from fanfiction.

What are your favourite examples of background magic in Harry Potter, whether from the novels or the films?

Some of mine are:

Malfoy drawing a stick figure of Harry falling off his broom, and then enchanting it to move before sending it flying over to him.

The Weasley family clock.

Omnioculars - now this is a fantastic example of divergent wizarding technology, rather than going hurr-durr muggles are better because iPhones have eleventy billion megapixels per second.

 

Just to name a few:

- The mirrors (at the Burrow, and maybe one in Hogwarts too) commenting on your appearance is something that stayed with me.

- The floating candels in the Great Hall. It's really simple but a very nice touch, and it looks great in the movies, IMO.

- The moving pictures, especially when Harry tries to flee from a pic with Lockhart. Also, seeng Ron trying to make Dean's poster move really drove in the idea that it's another world altogether.

Basically, I really like the pieces of magic that have no impact on the plot an are only there to make the world different. It's really a nice touch, because most of the time the little details of world buildng either are plot-relevant, or try to relate to the real world so that the reader isn't too lost. But in HP, these ones do the exact opposite and it really adds to the fantastic feeling.

 

Just how weird some of the shit that happens at St. Mungo's is. Quoting from OOTP:

JKR clearly had fun thinking these up, but if you look at fanon it's all just bloody explosion curses and limbs flying everywhere and whatnot.

 

I read this in HBP just now.

 

A timelord using magic to stir his tea.