History of Myanmar and Magical objects in Harry Potter: Difference between pages

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The '''History of Burma''' ([[Myanmar]]) is long and complex. Several races of people have lived in the region, the oldest of which are the [[Mon (ethnic group)|Mon]]. In the [[9th century]] the [[Bamar]] (Burman) people migrated from the then [[Tang Dynasty|China]]-[[Tibet]] border region into the valley of the [[Ayeyarwady River|Ayeyarwady]], and now form the governing majority.

{{Unreferenced|date=November 2006}}

In the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' series, many '''magical objects''' exist for the use of the [[List of characters in the Harry Potter books|characters]].

The history of the region comprises complexities not only within the country but also with its neighbouring countries, [[China]], [[India]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Laos]] and [[Thailand]].

==Letters and signs==

==Mon==

===The Dark Mark===

Humans lived in the region that is now Myanmar as early as 11,000 years ago, but the first identifiable civilisation is that of the [[Mon people|Mon]]. The Mon probably began migrating into the area in about [[3000 BC]], and their first kingdom [[Suwarnabhumi]], was founded around the port of [[Thaton]] in about [[300 BC]]. Oral tradition suggests that they had contact with [[Buddhism]] via seafaring as early as the [[3rd century BC]], though definitely by the [[2nd century BC]] when they received an envoy of monks from [[Ashoka]]. Much of the Mon's written records have been destroyed through wars. The Mons blended Indian and Mon cultures together in a hybrid of the two civilisations. By the mid-9th century, they had come to dominate all of southern Myanmar.

{{main|Dark Mark}}

==Pyu==

The [[Pyu]] arrived in Myanmar in the 1st century BC and established city kingdoms at [[Binnaka]], [[Mongamo]], [[Sri Ksetra]], [[Peikthanomyo]], and [[Halingyi]]. During this period, Myanmar was part of an overland trade route from China to India. Chinese sources state that the Pyu controlled 18 kingdoms and describe them as a humane and peaceful people. War was virtually unknown amongst the Pyu, and disputes were often solved through duels by champions or building competitions. They even wore silk cotton instead of actual silk so they would not have to kill silk worms. Crime was punished by whippings and jails were unknown, though serious crimes could result in the death penalty. The Pyu practised [[Theravada Buddhism]], and all children were educated as novices in the temples from the age of seven until the age of 20.

===Letters===

The Pyu city-states never unified into a Pyu kingdom, but the more powerful cities often dominated and called for tribute from the lesser cities. The most powerful city by far was Sri Ksetra, which archaeological evidence indicates was the largest city that has ever been built in Burma. The exact date of its founding is not known, though likely to be prior to a dynastic change in A.D. 94 that Pyu chronicles speak of. Sri Ksetra was apparently abandoned around A.D. 656 in favor of a more northerly capital, though the exact site is not known. Some historians believe it was Halingyi. Wherever the new capital was located, it was sacked by the kingdom of [[Nanzhao]] in the mid-[[9th century]], ending the Pyu's period of dominance.

Witches and wizards can write words in the air with their wands.

[[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]] writes the lyrics to the [[Hogwarts]] school song in the air in the [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone|first novel]].

==[[Pagan Kingdom]]==

[[Tom Riddle]], at the end of ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'', does this to show that '''I am [[Lord Voldemort]]''' is an [[anagram]] of '''[[Tom Marvolo Riddle]]'''. It is possible that this is an unspoken form of the [[Canonical spells in the world of Harry Potter#Flagrate|Flagrate]] spell that Hermione uses to mark doors in the [[Ministry of Magic#Department of Mysteries|Department of Mysteries]] in [[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix|the fifth book]]. Also, after the first task in the Triwizard Tournament, the judges "write" the champions' marks in the air.

To the north another group of people, the [[Bamar]], also began to settle in the area. By [[849]], they had founded a powerful kingdom centred on the city of [[Bagan|Pagan]] (spelled Bagan today) filling the void left by the Pyu. The kingdom grew in relative isolation until the reign of [[Anawrahta]] ([[1044]] - [[1077|77]]) who successfully unified all of Myanmar by defeating the Mon city of Thaton in [[1057]]. Consolidation was accomplished under his successors [[Kyanzittha]] ([[1084]]-[[1112]]) and [[Alaungsithu]] ([[1112]]-[[1167|67]]), so that by the mid-[[12th century]], most of continental [[Southeast Asia]] was under the control of either the Pagan Kingdom or the [[Khmer Empire]]. The Pagan kingdom went into decline as more land and resources fell into the hands of the powerful [[Sangha]] (monkhood) and the [[Mongols]] threatened from the north. The last true ruler of Pagan, [[Narathihapate]] ([[1254]]-[[1287|87]]) felt confident in his ability to resist the Mongols and advanced into [[Yunnan]] in [[1277]] to make war upon them. He was thoroughly crushed at the [[Battle of Ngasaunggyan]], and Pagan resistance virtually collapsed. The king was assassinated by his own son in [[1287]], precipitating a Mongol invasion in the [[Battle of Pagan]]; the Mongols successfully captured most of the empire, including its capital, and ended the dynasty in [[1289]] when they installed a puppet ruler in Myanmar.

==Potions==

==Ava and Pegu (c. 1364-1555)==

After the collapse of Pagan authority, Myanmar was divided. A Burman [[Ava Dynasty]] (1364-1527) was eventually established at the city of [[Innwa|Ava]] by [[1364]]. Pagan culture was revived and a great age of Burmese literature ensued. The kingdom lacked easily defendable borders, however, and was overrun by the [[Shan people|Shan]] in [[1527]].

{{main|Potions in Harry Potter}}

To the south in Lower Burma, a [[List of Mon monarchs|Mon dynasty]] established itself first at [[Martaban]] and then at [[Pegu]]. During the reign of king [[Rajadhirat]] ([[1383]]-[[1421]]) Ava and Pegu were involved in continuous warfare. The peaceful reign of [[Baña Thau|Queen Baña Thau]] (Burmese: Shin Saw Bu;[[1453]]-[[1472|72]]) came to an end when she chose the Buddhist monk [[Dhammazedi]] ([[1472]]-[[1492|92]]) to succeed her. Under [[Dhammazedi]] Pegu became a centre of commerce and [[Theravada|Theravada Buddhism]].

==Prank objects==

The Kingdom of Ava was involved in continuous warfare with [[Tai]] (Shan) princelings to the north on the frontier with [[Yunnan]]. There were repeated Tai raids on the capital of Ava and Ava sent military northwards to attack Tai fiefdoms such as [[Mong Mao]]. The [[Ming]] dynasty that ruled China from the late fourteenth century often tried unsuccessfully to put an end to this warfare through traditional Chinese diplomacy. Ava ocassionally became involved in the warfare between the Ming and Tai in Yunnan such as in the [[Luchuan-Pingmian Campaigns]] ([[1436]]-[[1449|49]]).

===Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes===

{{main|Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes}}

===Other===

==Toungoo Dynasties==

King [[Mingyinyo]] founded the [[First Toungoo Dynasty]] ([[1486]]-[[1599]]) at [[Toungoo]], south of Ava, towards the end of the Ava dynasty. After the conquest of Ava by the Shan invaders in [[1527]] many Burmans migrated to [[Toungoo]] which became a new center for Burmese rule.

; Dungbomb : Explodes into a large and extremely smelly mess.

[[Mingyinyo]]'s son king [[Tabinshwehti]] ([[1531]]-[[1550|50]]) unified most of Myanmar. By this time, the geopolitical situation in Southeast Asia had changed dramatically. The Shan gained power in a new kingdom in the North, [[Ayutthaya kingdom|Ayutthaya]] ([[Siam]]), while the [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] had arrived in the south and conquered [[Malacca]]. With the coming of [[European]] traders, Myanmar was once again an important trading centre, and Tabinshwehti moved his capital to [[Pegu]] due to its strategic position for commerce. Tabinshwehti was able to gain control of Lower Burma up to Prome, but the campaigns he led to the [[Rakhine State|Arakan]], [[Ayutthaya kingdom|Ayutthaya]], and Ava in Upper Burma were unsuccessful.

; Fanged Frisbees: Literally frisbees with fangs. First mentioned in The Goblet of Fire, as one of Filch's newest restricted items at the beginning of term speech. First seen in Half Blood Prince. It whirled around the room changing course with a mind of its own, taking a bite out of a curtain, after Ron Weasley threw one in the Gryffindor common room. May be capable of causing damage.

; Screaming yo-yos: Presumably screams loudly when worked.

; Stink Pellets : Used to distract prefects and teachers, and gives an unpleasant smell.

; Ever-bashing boomerangs : Presumably hit their target repeatedly after being thrown. They are banned at Hogwarts.

==Transportation==

When [[Bayinnaung]] ([[1551]]-[[1581|81]]), Tabinshwehti's brother-in-law, succeeded to the throne he launched a campaign of conquest invading several states, including [[Manipur]] ([[1560]]) and [[Ayutthaya]] ([[1569]]). His wars stretched Myanmar to the limits of its resources, however, and both Manipur and Ayutthaya were soon independent once again.

It should be noted that a major form of transportation in the Harry Potter universe is [[Magic (Harry Potter)#Apparation and Disapparation|apparation and disapparation]], which is a [[Magic (Harry Potter)|spell]] that does not involve artifacts of any kind.

===Broomsticks===

Faced with rebellion by several cities and renewed Portuguese incursions, the Toungoo rulers withdrew from southern Myanmar and founded a second dynasty at Ava, the [[Restored Toungoo Dynasty]] ([[1597]]-[[1752]]). Bayinnaung's grandson, [[Anaukpetlun]], once again reunited Myanmar in [[1613]] and decisively defeated Portuguese attempts to take over Myanmar. His successor [[Thalun]] reestablished the principles of the old Pagan kingdom, but concentrated his efforts on religious merit and paid little attention to the southern part of his kingdom. Encouraged by the [[France|French]] in [[India]], Pegu finally rebelled against Ava, further weakening the state, which fell in [[1752]].

{{main|Broomsticks in Harry Potter}}

[[Broomstick]]s are used for transportation by wizards and witches of all ages and for the game of [[Quidditch]]. Their use is similar to flying carpets, although those are banned in [[England]].

Broomsticks are treated as a major consumer product in the wizard world. There are numerous brands and models of brooms, that all vary in their capabilities (see [[Broomsticks in Harry Potter]]). These range from expensive high-performance models that come out every year, to toy broomsticks for young children which only fly a few feet off the ground. The cultural significance of broomsticks is similar to that of cars.

==[[Konbaung Dynasty]]==

It did not take long for a new dynasty, the [[Konbaung Dynasty]], to arise and bring Myanmar to its greatest power yet. A popular Burmese leader named [[Alaungpaya]] drove the Pegu forces out of northern Myanmar by [[1753]], and by [[1759]] he had once again conquered Pegu, resulting in total subjugation of the Mon people, and southern Myanmar, while also regaining control of Manipur. He established his capital briefly at Dagon, renaming it [[Yangon]] (End of Strife). In [[1760]], he briefly conquered [[Tenasserim]]. He also marched on [[Ayutthaya]], but became seriously ill and was forced to withdraw, ending the invasion, and he died on the journey back. His second son [[Hsinbyushin]] ([[1763]]-[[1776|76]]) returned to [[Ayutthaya]] ([[Siam]]) in [[1766]] and had conquered it before the end of the next year. Even [[China]] began to fear expansion of Burmese power in the East and sent armies to Myanmar, but Hsinbyushin successfully repulsed four Chinese invasions between [[1766]] and [[1769]] stretching its limits within Chinese borders. Another of Alaungpaya's sons, [[Bodawpaya]] ([[1781]]-[[1819]]), lost control of Ayutthaya, but added [[Arakan]] ([[1784]]) and Tenasserim ([[1793]]) to the kingdom. In [[January ]][[1824]], during the reign of King [[Bagyidaw]] ([[1819]]-[[1837|37]]), a Burmese general [[Maha Bandula]] succeeded in conquering [[Assam]], bringing Myanmar face to face with [[United Kingdom|British]] interests in India.

Since Harry Potter plays Quidditch, his brooms - a Nimbus 2000 and a Firebolt - are prominent in the series. The Nimbus 2000 was given to him by Professor Minerva McGonagall, while the Firebolt was given to him by Sirius Black.

==War with Britain and the fall of Myanmar==

The expansion of Myanmar had consequences along its frontiers. As those frontiers moved ever closer to British India, there were problems both with refugees and military operations spilling over ill-defined borders. In response to the continued expansion and even direct attacks by Myanmar, the British and the Siamese joined forces against it in [[1824]]. The [[First Anglo-Burmese War]] ([[1824]]-[[1826|26]]) ended in a British victory, and by the [[Treaty of Yandaboo|Treaty of Yandabo]], Myanmar lost territory previously conquered in Assam, Manipur and Arakan. The British also took possession of Tenasserim with the intention to use it as a bargaining chip in future negotiations with either Myanmar or Siam. As the century wore on, the British in India began to covet the resources and main port of Myanmar during an era of great territorial expansion. In [[1852]], Commodore Lambert was despatched to Burma by [[Lord Dalhousie]] over a number of minor issues related to the previous treaty. The Burmese immediately made concessions including the removal of a governor whom the British had made their [[casus belli]]. Lambert eventually provoked a naval confrontation in extremely questionable circumstances and thus started the [[Second Anglo-Burmese War]] in [[1852]], which ended in the British annexation of Pegu province, renamed [[Lower Burma]]. The war resulted in a palace revolution in Myanmar, with King [[Pagan Min]] ([[1846]]–[[1852|52]]) being replaced by his half brother, [[Mindon Min of Burma|Mindon Min]] ([[1853]]-[[1878|78]]). King Mindon tried to modernise the Burmese state and economy to resist British encroachments, and he established a new capital at [[Mandalay]], which he proceeded to fortify. This was not enough to stop the British, however, who claimed that Mindon's son [[Thibaw Min]] (ruled [[1878]]–[[1885|85]]) was a tyrant intending to side with the French, that he had lost control of the country, thus allowing for disorder at the frontiers, and that he was reneging on a treaty signed by his father. The British declared war once again in [[1885]], conquering the remainder of the country in the [[Third Anglo-Burmese War]] resulting in total annexation of Myanmar.

==British=Floo rulepowder===

'''Floo powder''' is a glittering powder used by wizards to travel and communicate using fireplaces. It was invented by Ignatia Wildsmith (1227-1320) and named after the passageway which leads from a fireplace to the chimney so hot gases can escape, or [[Wiktionary:flue|flue]] (which did not exist at the supposed time of invention).

[[Image:BurmesePagodas.jpg|thumb|300px|"Burmese Pagodas", stereoptic view, c. 1890s]]

Britain made Myanmar a province of India in [[1886]] with the capital at Rangoon. Traditional Myanmar society was drastically altered by the demise of the monarchy and the separation of religion and state. Though war officially ended after only a couple of weeks, resistance continued in northern Myanmar until [[1890]], with the British finally resorting to a systematic destruction of villages and appointment of new officials to finally halt all guerrilla activity. The economic nature of society also changed dramatically. After the opening of the [[Suez Canal]], the demand for Burmese rice grew and vast tracts of land were opened up for cultivation. However, in order to prepare the new land for cultivation, farmers were forced to borrow money from Indian moneylenders called [[chettiars]] at high interest rates and were often foreclosed on and evicted losing land and livestock. Most of the jobs also went to indentured Indian labourers, and whole villages became outlawed as they resorted to 'dacoity' (armed robbery). While the Burmese economy grew, all the power and wealth remained in the hands of several British firms and migrants from India. The civil service was largely staffed by Indians, and Burmese were excluded almost entirely from military service. Though the country prospered, the Burmese people failed to reap the rewards. (See George Orwell's novel ''[[Burmese Days]]'' for a fictional account of the British in Burma.)

Floo powder can be used with any fireplace connected to the [[Floo Network]]. To transport from one fireplace to another, the traveller throws a handful of Floo powder into the fireplace (if a fire is lit, it will turn green), states the intended destination in a clear voice, then steps into the fire. Alternatively, the traveller can stand in the fireplace, then throw the powder at their feet. Floo Powder can also be used for communication, a wizard or witch can kneel in front of the fire and stick their head in, which will appear in the fire at another fireplace.

By the turn of the century, a nationalist movement began to take shape in the form of Young Men's Buddhist Associations (YMBA), modelled after the [[YMCA]], as religious associations were allowed by the colonial authorities. They were later superseded by the General Council of Burmese Associations (GCBA) which was linked with ''Wunthanu athin'' (National Associations).<ref name="ms">{{cite book|author=Martin Smith|year=1991|title=Burma - Insurgency and the Politics of Ethnicity|publisher=Zed Books|___location=London and New Jersey|pages=49,91,54,56,57,58-59,60,61,60,66,65,68,69,77,78,64,70,103,92,120,176,168-169,177,178,180,186,195-197,193,,202,204,199,200,270,269,275-276,292-3,318-320,25,24,1,4-16,365,375-377,414}}</ref> A new generation of Burmese leaders arose in the early twentieth century from amongst the educated classes that were permitted to go to [[London]] to study law. They came away from this experience with the belief that the Burmese situation could be improved through reform. Progressive constitutional reform in the early 1920s led to a legislature with limited powers, a university and more autonomy for Burma within the administration of India. Efforts were also undertaken to increase the representation of Burmese in the civil service. Some people began to feel that the rate of change was not fast enough and the reforms not expansive enough.

In the second book the [[Weasley family|Weasleys]] travelled to [[Diagon Alley]] by Floo powder. Harry did not say "Diagon Alley" clearly, so he was instead sent to [[Borgin and Burkes]] shop, in [[Knockturn Alley]]. In the [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire|fourth book]], [[Arthur Weasley]] uses his position at the [[Ministry of Magic]] to have the [[Dursleys]]' fireplace temporarily connected to the Floo network, unaware that the fireplace had been bricked up. [[Sirius Black]] uses the network to communicate with Harry in the same book. In the [[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix|fifth book]], Harry puts himself in considerable risk when he uses [[Dolores Umbridge]]'s fireplace to communicate with Sirius Black; he is however forced to do so because Umbridge is monitoring all other lines of communication in and out of Hogwarts.

In [[1920]] the first university students strike in history broke out in protest against the new University Act which the students believed would only benefit the elite and perpetuate colonial rule. 'National Schools' sprang up across the country in protest against the colonial education system, and the strike came to be commemorated as '[[National Day]]'.<ref name="ms"/> There were further strikes and anti-tax protests in the later 1920s. In [[December]] [[1930]], a local tax protest by [[Saya San]] in Tharrawaddy quickly grew into first a regional and then a national insurrection against the government. Lasting for two years, the ''Galon'' rebellion required thousands of British troops to suppress along with promises of further political reform. The eventual trial of Saya San, who was executed, allowed several future national leaders, including Dr [[Ba Maw]] and [[U Saw]], who participated in his defence, to rise to prominence.<ref name="ms"/>

===Flying carpets===

[[May]] [[1930]] saw the founding of the ''Dobama Asi-ayone'' (We Burmans Association) whose members called themselves ''Thakin'' (an ironic name as ''thakin'' means "master" in the Burmese language&mdash;rather like the Indian 'sahib'&mdash; proclaiming that they were the true masters of the country entitled to the term usurped by the colonial masters).<ref name="ms"/> The second university students strike in [[1936]] was triggered by the expulsion of [[Aung San]] and [[Thakin Nu|Ko Nu]], leaders of the [[Rangoon University]] Students Union (RUSU), for refusing to reveal the name of the author who had written an article in their university magazine, making a scathing attack on one of the senior university officials. It spread to [[Mandalay]] leading to the formation of the All Burma Students Union (ABSU). Aung San and Nu subsequently joined the Thakin movement progressing from student to national politics.<ref name="ms"/> The British separated Burma from India in [[1937]] and granted the colony a new constitution calling for a fully elected assembly, but this proved to be a divisive issue as some Burmese felt that this was a ploy to exclude them from any further Indian reforms whereas other Burmese saw any action that removed Burma from the control of India to be a positive step. [[Ba Maw]] served as the first prime minister of Burma, but he was forced out by [[U Saw]] in [[1939]], who served as prime minister from [[1940]] until he was arrested on January 19, [[1942]] by the British for communicating with the Japanese.

'''Flying carpets''' are an alternative wizarding type of transportation, possibly around the world, but illegal in [[Europe]] (or at least in England). Usually they are a thick rug, frequently highly patterned and often manufactured in the [[Middle East]]. The obvious advantages of the carpet over the broomstick are that they can seat a number of people, including children and invalids, and are probably more comfortable to ride.

Flying Carpets were once an accepted form of travel for the British magical community, but they are now banned due to being defined as a Muggle Artifact by the Registry of Proscribed Charmable Objects. It's therefore now against British wizarding law to charm carpets or fly them, although they are still legal in other countries. [[Arthur Weasley]] was very much involved in the introduction of this legislation due to his position in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office. It's known that the ban was relatively recent, not only from Arthur's involvement, but also from the fact that [[Barty Crouch Senior]]'s grandfather owned a 12-seater [[Axminster]] back in the days before they were prohibited.

A wave of strikes and protests that started from the oilfields of central Burma in [[1938]] became a general strike with far-reaching consequences. In [[Rangoon]] student protesters, after successfully picketing the Secretariat, the seat of the colonial government, were charged by the British mounted police wielding batons and killing a [[Rangoon University]] student called Aung Kyaw. In [[Mandalay]], the police shot into a crowd of protesters led by Buddhist monks killing 17 people. The movement became known as ''Htaung thoun ya byei ayeidawbon'' (the '1300 Revolution' named after the Burmese calendar year)<ref name="ms"/>, and [[December 20]], the day the first martyr Aung Kyaw fell, commemorated by students as 'Bo Aung Kyaw Day'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.burmalibrary.org/reg.burma/archives/199912/msg00642.html|title=The Statement on the Commemoration of Bo Aung Kyaw|publisher=All Burma Students League|year=Dec 19 1999|accessdate=2006-10-23}}</ref>

A merchant by the name of Ali Bashir is very keen to export flying carpets to Britain and is very upset that local laws are preventing him from doing so. He regularly berates Arthur about the subject but it's very unlikely that the law will be changed.

=== World War II and Japan ===

:''See also: [[Burma Campaign]]''

Some Burmese nationalists saw the outbreak of [[World War II]] as an opportunity to extort concessions from the British in exchange for support in the war effort. Other Burmese such as the Thakin movement, opposed Burma's participation in the war under any circumstances. Aung San with other Thakins founded the [[Communist Party of Burma]] (CPB) in [[August]] [[1939]].<ref name="ms"/> [[Marxist]] literature as well as tracts from the [[Sinn Fein]] movement in [[Ireland]] had been widely circulated and read among political activists. Aung San also co-founded the People's Revolutionary Party (PRP), renamed the [[Socialist]] Party after the [[Second World War]]. He was also instrumental in founding the ''Bama htwet yat gaing'' (Freedom Bloc) by forging an alliance of the Dobama, ABSU, politically active monks and Ba Maw's ''Sinyètha'' (Poor Man's) Party.<ref name="ms"/> After the Dobama organization called for a national uprising, an arrest warrant was issued for many of the organization's leaders including [[Aung San]], who escaped to China. Aung San's intention was to make contact with the [[Chinese Communists]] but he was detected by the [[Japanese people|Japanese]] authorities who offered him support by forming a secret intelligence unit called the ''Minami Kikan'' headed by Colonel Suzuki with the objective of closing the [[Burma Road]] and supporting a national uprising. Aung San briefly returned to Burma to enlist twenty-nine young men who went to Japan with him in order to receive military training on [[Hainan Island]], [[China]], and they came to be known as the "[[Thirty Comrades]]". When the Japanese occupied [[Bangkok]] in December [[1941]], Aung San announced the formation of the [[Burma Independence Army]] (BIA) in anticipation of the Japanese invasion of Burma in [[1942]].<ref name="ms"/>

===Hogwarts Express===

The BIA formed a provisional government in some areas of the country in the spring of 1942, but there were differences within the Japanese leadership over the future of Burma. While Colonel Suzuki encouraged the Thirty Comrades to form a provisional government, the Japanese Military leadership had never formally accepted such a plan. Eventually the Japanese Army turned to Ba Maw to form a government. During the war in 1942, the BIA had grown in an uncontrolled manner, and in many districts officials and even criminals appointed themselves to the BIA. It was reorganised as the Burma Defense Army (BDA) under the Japanese but still headed by Aung San. While the BIA had been an irregular force, the BDA was recruited by selection and trained as a conventional army by Japanese instructors. Ba Maw was afterward declared head of state, and his cabinet included both Aung San as War Minister and the Communist leader [[Thakin Than Tun]] as Minister of Land and Agriculture as well as the Socialist leaders Thakins Nu and Mya. When the Japanese declared Burma, in theory, independent in [[1943]], the Burma Defense Army (BDA) was renamed the [[Burma National Army]] (BNA).<ref name="ms"/>

{{main|Hogwarts Express}}

It soon became apparent that Japanese promises of independence were merely a sham and that Ba Maw was just a puppet. As the war turned against the Japanese, they declared Burma a fully sovereign state on [[August 1]] [[1943]], but this was just another facade. Disillusioned, Aung San began negotiations with Communist leaders [[Thakin Than Tun]] and Thakin Soe, and Socialist leaders [[Ba Swe]] and Kyaw Nyein which led to the formation of the Anti-Fascist Organization (AFO) in [[August]] [[1944]] at a secret meeting of the CPB,the PRP and the BNA in [[Pegu]]. The AFO was later renamed the [[Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League]](AFPFL).<ref name="ms"/> Thakins Than Tun and Soe, while in Insein prison in [[July]] [[1941]], had co-authored the ''Insein Manifesto'' which, against the prevailing opinion in the Dobama movement, identified world [[fascism]] as the main enemy in the coming war and called for temporary cooperation with the British in a broad allied coalition which should include the [[Soviet Union]]. Soe had already gone underground to organise resistance against the Japanese occupation, and Than Tun was able to pass on Japanese intelligence to Soe, while other Communist leaders Thakins Thein Pe and Tin Shwe made contact with the exiled colonial government in [[Simla]], [[India]].<ref name="ms"/>

The '''Hogwarts Express''' is ridden by students between [[London]] and [[Hogsmeade]]. The train starts from [[King's Cross railway station]] [[railway platform|platform]] 9¾, which is invisible to [[Muggle]] eyes and is reached through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10.

There were informal contacts between the AFO and the [[Allies]] in 1944 and 1945 through the British organization [[Force 136]]. On [[March 27]] [[1945]], the Burma National Army rose up in a countrywide rebellion against the Japanese.<ref name="ms"/> March 27 had been celebrated as 'Resistance Day' until the military renamed it '[[Tatmadaw]] (Armed Forces) Day'. Aung San and others subsequently began negotiations with [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten]] and officially joined the [[Allies]] as the Patriotic Burmese Forces (PBF). At the first meeting, the AFO represented itself to the British as the provisional government of Burma with Thakin Soe as Chairman and Aung San as a member of its ruling committee. The Japanese were routed from most of Burma by [[May]] [[1945]]. Negotiations then began with the British over the disarming of the AFO and the participation of its troops in a post-war Burma Army. Some veterans had been formed into a paramilitary force under Aung San, called the ''Pyithu yèbaw tat'' or People's Volunteer Organisation (PVO), and were openly drilling in uniform.<ref name="ms"/> The absorption of the PBF was concluded successfully at the [[Kandy]] conference in [[Ceylon]] in [[September]] [[1945]].<ref name="ms"/>

===Knight Bus===

===From the Japanese surrender to Aung San's assassination===

The surrender of the Japanese brought a military administration to Burma and demands to try Aung San for his involvement in a murder during military operations in 1942. Lord Mountbatten realized that this was an impossibility considering Aung San's popular appeal.<ref name="ms"/> After the war ended, the British Governor, Sir [[Reginald Dorman-Smith]] returned. The restored government established a political program that focused on physical reconstruction of the country and delayed discussion of independence. The AFPFL opposed the government leading to political instability in the country. A rift had also developed in the AFPFL between the Communists and Aung San together with the Socialists over strategy, which led to Than Tun being forced to resign as general secretary in [[July]] [[1946]] and the expulsion of the CPB from the AFPFL the following [[October]].<ref name="ms"/> Dorman-Smith was replaced by Sir [[Hubert Rance]] as the new governor, and almost immediately after his appointment the Rangoon Police went on strike. The strike, starting in [[September]] [[1946]], then spread from the police to government employees and came close to becoming a general strike. Rance calmed the situation by meeting with Aung San and convincing him to join the Governor's Executive Council along with other members of the AFPFL.<ref name="ms"/> The new executive council, which now had increased credibility in the country, began negotiations for Burmese independence, which were concluded successfully in [[London]] as the [[Aung San]]-[[Clement Atlee|Atlee]] Agreement on [[January 27]] [[1947]].<ref name="ms"/> The agreement left parts of the communist and conservative branches of the AFPFL dissatisfied, however, sending the Red Flag Communists led by [[Thakin Soe]] underground and the conservatives into opposition. Aung San also succeeded in concluding an agreement with ethnic minorities for a unified Burma at the [[Panglong]] conference on [[February 12]], celebrated since as 'Union Day'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/panglong_agreement.htm| title=The Panglong Agreement, 1947|publisher=Online Burma/Myanmar Library}}</ref><ref name="ms"/> Shortly after, rebellion broke out in the Arakan led by the veteran monk U Seinda, and it began to spread to other districts.<ref name="ms"/> The popularity of the AFPFL, now dominated by Aung San and the Socialists, was eventually confirmed when it won an overwhelming victory in the [[April]] [[1947]] constituent assembly elections.

[[Image:Knight Bus.jpg|thumb|300px|The Knight Bus in the [[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (movie)|''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' film]]]]

Then a momentous event stunned the nation on [[July 19]] [[1947]]. [[U Saw]], a conservative pre-war Prime Minister of Burma, engineered the assassination of Aung San and several members of his cabinet including his eldest brother Ba Win, the father of today's [[National League for Democracy]] exile-government leader Dr Sein Win, while meeting in the Secretariat.<ref name="ms"/> July 19 has been commemorated since as [[Burmese Martyrs' Day|Martyrs' Day]]. [[Thakin Nu]], the Socialist leader, was now asked to form a new cabinet, and he presided over Burmese independence on [[January 4]], [[1948]]. The popular sentiment to part with the British was so strong at the time that Burma opted not to join the [[Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]], unlike India or Pakistan.<ref name="ms"/>

The '''Knight Bus''' is a heavily enchanted, violently purple, triple-decker bus which transports [[Magic in Harry Potter|magical]] folk.

The bus functions as public transportation for the wizard or witch in need everywhere in [[England]], [[Scotland]] and [[Wales]], bringing passengers to the destinations of their choice with seemingly no set route. It bolts through the streets, entirely invisible to [[Muggle]]s and causing other objects to dodge it (rather than dodging the objects) to cover short distances. For long ones, the Knight Bus makes hundred-mile (160 km) leaps accompanied by a great bang and jolt, possibly similar to [[Apparating]]. The interior of the bus changes or is changed depending on the time of day, having chairs by day and beds by night. Its only limit in travelling is that it can't enter water.

==Independent Burma==

The first years of Burmese independence were marked by successive insurgencies by the Red Flag Communists led by Thakin Soe, the White Flag Communists led by Thakin Than Tun, the ''Yèbaw Hpyu'' (White-band PVO) led by Bo La Yaung,a member of the [[Thirty Comrades]], army rebels calling themselves the Revolutionary Burma Army (RBA) led by Communist officers Bo Zeya, Bo Yan Aung and Bo Yè Htut - all 3 of them members of the Thirty Comrades, Arakanese Muslims, and the [[Karen people|Karen]] National Union (KNU).<ref name="ms"/> Remote areas of Northern Burma were for many years controlled by an army of [[Kuomintang]] (KMT) forces after the Communist victory in [[China]] in [[1949]].<ref name="ms"/> Burma accepted foreign assistance in rebuilding the country in these early years, but continued [[United States|American]] support for the Chinese Nationalist military presence in Burma finally resulted in the country rejecting most foreign aid,refusing to join the South East Asia Treaty Organisation ([[SEATO]]) and supporting the [[Bandung Conference]] of [[1955]].<ref name="ms"/> Burma generally strove to be impartial in world affairs and was one of the first countries in the world to recognize [[Israel]] and the [[China|People's Republic of China]].

The Knight Bus is generally used only by those who can't or won't choose another means of transportation. The jolts make travelling a severely uncomfortable experience. While the bus is lightning-fast by [[Muggle]] standards, still faster are near-instananeous [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Floo powder|Floo powder]] and [[Apparating]]. It charges for the service; Harry was charged 11 Sickles to travel from [[Little Whinging]] to [[Diagon Alley]].

By [[1958]], the country was largely beginning to recover economically, but was beginning to fall apart politically due to a split in the AFPFL into two factions, one led by Thakins Nu and Tin, the other by [[Ba Swe]] and Kyaw Nyein.<ref name="ms"/> And this despite the unexpected success of U Nu's 'Arms for Democracy' offer taken up by U Seinda in the Arakan, the Pa-o, some Mon and Shan groups, but more significantly by the PVO surrendering their arms.<ref name="ms"/> The situation however became very unstable in parliament, with U Nu surviving a no-confidence vote only with the support of the opposition National United Front (NUF), believed to have 'cryptocommunists' amongst them.<ref name="ms"/> Army hardliners now saw the 'threat' of the CPB coming to an agreement with U Nu through the NUF, and in the end U Nu 'invited' Army Chief of Staff General [[Ne Win]] to take over the country.<ref name="ms"/> Over 400 'communist sympathisers' were arrested, of which 153 were deported to the Coco Island in the [[Andaman Sea]]. Among them was the NUF leader Aung Than, older brother of Aung San. The ''Botahtaung'', ''Kyemon'' and ''Rangoon Daily'' were also closed down.<ref name="ms"/>

The [[Conductor (transportation)|conductor]] of the Knight Bus is [[Stan Shunpike]], and its driver is [[Ernie Prang]]. The bus makes its début along with its staff in the [[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban|third book]] as [[Harry Potter (character)|Harry Potter]] unwittingly "hails" the Knight Bus by holding his wand arm out in front of him as he is standing on Magnolia Crescent. Harry also rides on the Knight Bus with a number of his friends in ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''.

Ne Win's [[caretaker government]] successfully stabilised the situation and paved the way for new general elections in [[1960]] that returned U Nu's Union Party with a large majority.<ref name="ms"/> The situation did not remain stable for long, when the [[Shan people|Shan]] Federal Movement, started by [[Yaunghwe]] Sawbwa [[Sao Shwe Thaik]] ( the first President of independent Burma 1948-52) and aspiring to a 'loose' [[federation]], was seen as a separatist movement insisting on the government honouring the right to secession in 10 years provided for by the 1947 Constitution. Ne Win had already succeeded in stripping the Shan [[Saopha|Sawbwa]]s of their feudal powers in exchange for comfortable pensions for life in [[1959]]. He staged a [[coup d'etat]] on [[March 2]] [[1962]], arrested U Nu, Sao Shwe Thaik and several others, and declared a 'socialist state' run by a 'Revolutionary Council' of senior military officers. Sao Shwe Thaik's son, Sao Mye Thaik, was shot dead in what was generally described as a 'bloodless' coup. [[Hsipaw]] Sawbwa Sao Kya Seng also disappeared mysteriously after being stopped at a checkpoint near [[Taunggyi]].<ref name="ms"/>

In the [[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (movie)|''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' film]], Stan and Ernie are accompanied by a talking [[shrunken head]] [[voice actor|voiced]] by [[Lenny Henry]].

===Military era===

Soon after seizing power, a peaceful student protest on Rangoon University campus was suppressed by the military killing over 100 students on [[July 7]] [[1962]]. The next day, the army blew up the Students Union building.<ref name="ms"/> Peace talks were convened between the RC and various armed insurgent groups in [[1963]], but without any breakthrough, and during the talks as well as in the aftermath of its failure, hundreds were arrested in Rangoon and elsewhere from both the right and the left of the political spectrum. All opposition parties were banned on [[March 28]] [[1964]].<ref name="ms"/> The [[Kachin people|Kachin]] insurgency by the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) had begun earlier in [[1961]] triggered by U Nu's declaration of Buddhism as the state religion, and the [[Shan State]] Army (SSA), led by Sao Shwe Thaik's wife Mahadevi and son Chao Tzang Yaunghwe, launched a rebellion in [[1964]] as a direct consequence of the 1962 military coup.<ref name="ms"/>

Stan and Ernie are the Christian names of Rowling's grandfathers. A [[shunpike]] is a back road used to avoid tolls on a [[turnpike]] (or a person who habitually uses them), while "prang" is [[British English|British]] slang for crashing a car or other form of transport (a word much used by [[RAF]] pilots in [[World War II]]). Ernie almost crashes into a house because he is so surprised at Harry's tendency to say Voldemort's name. Luckily, inanimate objects have a way of jumping out of the way of the Knight Bus.

Ne Win quickly took steps to transform Burma into his vision of a 'socialist state' and to isolate the country from contact with the rest of the world. A [[one-party system]] was established with his newly formed [[Burma Socialist Programme Party]] (BSPP) in complete control.<ref name="ms"/> Commerce and industry were nationalized across the board, but the economy did not grow at first as the government put too much emphasis on industrial development at the expense of agriculture. In [[April]] [[1972]], General Ne Win and the rest of the Revolutionary Council retired from the military, but now as U Ne Win, he continued to run the country through the BSPP. A new constitution was promulgated in [[January]] [[1974]] that resulted in the creation of a People's Assembly (''Pyithu Hluttaw'') that held supreme legislative, executive, and judicial authority, and local People's Councils. Ne Win became the president of the new government.<ref name="ms"/>

===Portkeys===

Begining in [[May]] [[1974]], a wave of strikes hit Rangoon and elsewhere in the country against a backdrop of corruption, inflation and food shortages especially rice. In Rangoon workers were arrested at the Insein railway yard, and troops opened fire on workers at the Thamaing textile mill and Simmalaik dockyard.<ref name="ms"/> In [[December]] [[1974]], the biggest anti-government demonstrations to date broke out over the funeral of former [[UN Secretary-General]] [[U Thant]].<ref name="ms"/> U Thant had been former prime minister [[U Nu]]'s closest advisor in the [[1950]]s and was seen as a symbol of opposition to the military regime. The Burmese people felt that U Thant was denied a state funeral that he deserved as a statesman of international stature because of his association with U Nu.

'''Portkeys''' are first mentioned in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''. Once created by using the ''[[Spells in Harry Potter#Portus|Portus]]'' spell, a Portkey can be set to transport anybody who touches it to a designated ___location, or to become active at a pre-determined time and transport to that ___location anybody who happens to be touching it at the moment.

The user feels a pulling or jerking sensation behind their navel, and then they suddenly appear at the destination. With enough practice, a graceful landing is possible: after the Portkeyed trip to the [[Quidditch World Cup]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire|Goblet of Fire]]'', [[Cedric Diggory]], [[Arthur Weasley]], and [[Amos Diggory]] landed on their feet, while the others (Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and the twins) fell onto the ground.

U Nu, after his release from prison in [[October]] [[1966]], had left Burma in [[April]] [[1969]], and formed the Parliamentary Democracy Party (PDP) the following [[August]] in [[Bangkok]],[[Thailand]] with the former Thirty Comrades, Bo Let Ya, co-founder of the CPB and former Minister of Defence and deputy prime minister, Bo Yan Naing, and U Thwin, ex-BIA and former Minister of Trade. Another member of the Thirty Comrades, Bohmu Aung, former Minister of Defence, joined later. The fourth, Bo Setkya, who had gone underground after the 1962 coup, died in Bangkok shortly before U Nu arrived.<ref name="ms"/> The PDP launched an armed rebellion across the Thai border from [[1972]] till [[1978]] when Bo Let Ya was killed in an attack by the Karen National Union (KNU). U Nu, Bohmu Aung and Bo Yan Naing returned to Rangoon after the [[1980]] amnesty.<ref name="ms"/> Ne Win also secretly held peace talks later in 1980 with the KIO and the CPB, again ending in a deadlock as before.<ref name="ms"/>

In ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', [[Barty Crouch Jr.]], who was impersonating [[Alastor Moody]], made the [[Triwizard Tournament]] cup a Portkey so it would transport anybody who touched it straight to the hands of [[Lord Voldemort]], expecting it would be [[Harry Potter]]. However, Harry took the cup together with [[Cedric Diggory]], so Voldemort had Cedric murdered with ''[[The Unforgivable Curses in the world of Harry Potter#Avada Kedavra (The Killing Curse)|Avada Kedavra]]''.

===Crisis and [[8888 Uprising]]===

It has been noted by some fans that the simplicity with which Portkeys are created in the beginning of the [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire|fourth book]] (as a method for transportation to the [[Quidditch World Cup]]) and in the [[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix|fifth book]] causes a possible plot hole in the fourth book: Crouch, posing as Moody, could have turned, say, a book, into a Portkey, called Harry into his office, and said, "Here, take this." This would have eliminated the need for Moody's entering Harry in the Triwizard tournament and guiding Harry through it, and the majority of the fourth book.

In the [[1980]]s, the economy began to grow as the government relaxed restrictions on foreign aid, but by the late 1980s falling commodity prices and rising debt led to an economic crisis. This led to economic reforms in [[1987]]-[[1988|88]] that relaxed socialist controls and encouraged foreign investment. This was not enough, however, to stop growing turmoil in the country, compounded by periodic 'demonetisation' of certain bank notes in the currency, the last of which was decreed in [[September]] [[1987]] wiping out the savings of the vast majority of people.<ref name="ms"/> Burma's admittance to Least Developed Country status by the [[UN]] the following [[December]] highlighted its economic bankruptcy and added insult to injury to its people.<ref name="ms"/> Ne Win retired as president in [[1981]], but remained in power as Chairman of the BSPP until his sudden unexpected announcement to step down on [[July 23]] [[1988]].<ref name="ms"/>

However, several reasonable assumptions can explain this. Since [[Hogwarts]] has an anti-apparition enchantment, it would make sense for the creation of Portkeys on the grounds to be restricted. Moody would still be able to make the Triwizard Cup a Portkey, if it was supposed to be a Portkey anyway, to transport the winner out of the maze. This would explain why the Portkey took Harry back to Hogwarts and out of the maze when he touched the Cup the second time instead of back into the maze at Hogwarts. The creation of Portkeys may be highly restricted in general; although [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]] is able to set up an "Unauthorised Portkey" in the fifth book, it is treated as a serious crime; [[Cornelius Fudge|Fudge]] is upset that Dumbledore would create one in front of him, and at one point [[Remus Lupin|Lupin]] says "...it's more than our life's worth to set up an unauthorised Portkey."

Triggered by brutal police repression of student-led protests causing the death of over a hundred students and civilians in [[March]] and [[June]] [[1988]], widespread protests and demonstrations broke out on [[August 8]] throughout the country. The military responded by firing into the crowds, alleging Communist infiltration. Violence, chaos and anarchy reigned, civil administration had ceased to exist, and by [[September]] of that year, the country was on the verge of a revolution. The armed forces, under the nominal command of General [[Saw Maung]] staged a coup on [[September 18]] to restore order. During the [[8888 Uprising]] as it became known, thousands were killed. The Constitution of 1974 was swept aside in favour of [[martial law]] under the [[State Law and Order Restoration Council]] (SLORC) with Saw Maung as chairman and prime minister.<ref name="ms"/>

It should also be noted that Voldemort may initially have intended to make his return public ([[Sirius Black|Sirius]] points out that his comeback didn't come off quite the way he wanted it to) and has a predilection for overcomplex plots (as [[Wormtail]] noted, he could have used the blood of any enemy and returned at the beginning of the book, but Voldemort then states that Harry's blood holds certain properties that Voldemort wished to acquire). It is possible that he intended to cause maximum chaos to the wizarding world by murdering Harry and returning to his former position in as spectacular a manner as possible.

At a special six-hour press conference on [[August 5]] [[1989]], Brig. Gen. Khin Nyunt, the SLORC Secretary 1 and chief of Military Intelligence Service (MIS), claimed that the uprising had been orchestrated by the [[Communist Party of Burma]] through its underground organisation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/BCP_Conspiracy.htm |title=Burma Communist Party's Conspiracy to take over State Power|year=August 5 1989|publisher=SLORC}}</ref> Although there had inevitably been some underground CPB presence as well as that of ethnic insurgent groups, there was no evidence of their being in charge to any extent.<ref name="ms"/> In fact, in [[March]] [[1989]], the CPB leadership was overthrown by a rebellion by the [[Kokang]] and [[Wa State|Wa]] troops that it had come to depend on after losing its former strongholds in central Burma and re-establishing bases in the northeast in the late [[1960]]s; the Communist leaders were soon forced into exile across the Chinese border.<ref name="ms"/>

===Military era IITime-Turners===

A Time-Turner is a device in the magical world of [[Harry Potter]], that allows for [[time travel]].

The military government changed the name of the country in [[English language|English]] from Burma to Myanmar in [[1989]]. It also continued the economic reforms started by the old regime and called for a Constituent Assembly to revise the 1974 Constitution. This led to multiparty elections in [[May]] [[1990]] in which the [[National League for Democracy]] (NLD) won a landslide victory over the [[National Unity Party (Burma)|National Unity Party]] (NUP, the successor to the BSPP) and about a dozen smaller parties.<ref name="ms"/> The military, however, would not let the assembly convene, and continued to hold the two leaders of the NLD, [[U Tin U]] and [[Aung San Suu Kyi]], daughter of Aung San, under house arrest imposed on them the previous year. Burma came under increasing international pressure to convene the elected assembly, particularly after Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] in [[1991]], and also faced [[economic sanctions]]. Saw Maung 'stepped down' in [[April]] [[1992]] to be replaced by General [[Than Shwe]].

[[Hermione Granger]] received a Time-Turner from [[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', so she could attend more classes than time would normally allow. Hermione is ordered to keep it a secret from everyone, including Harry and Ron, although they do notice the impossibility of her schedule, and several bizarre disappearances and reappearances. Hermione lets Harry in on the secret near the end of the book, where she and Harry use the Time-Turner to save [[Sirius Black]] and [[Buckbeak]].

Than Shwe released U Nu from prison and relaxed some of the restrictions on Aung San Suu Kyi's imprisonment, finally releasing her as well in [[1995]], though she was forbidden to leave Rangoon. Than Shwe also finally allowed the Constituent Assembly to meet in [[January]] [[1993]], but insisted that the assembly preserve a major role for the military in any future government, and suspended the convention from time to time. The NLD, fed up with the interference, walked out in late 1995, and the assembly was finally dismissed in [[March]] [[1996]] without producing a constitution.

Hermione's Time-Turner resembled an [[hourglass]] pendant on a necklace. The hourglass pendant would be twisted to move through time, and the number of turns on the hourglass corresponded to the number of hours one travelled back in time. It would appear that traveller is transported back to the general area where he or she was at the moment in time at which they arrive.

During the 1990s, the military regime had also had to deal with several insurgencies by tribal minorities along its borders. General [[Khin Nyunt]] was able to negotiate cease-fire agreements that ended the fighting with the [[Kokang]], hill tribes such as the [[Wa State|Wa]], and the [[Kachin people|Kachin]], but the [[Karen people|Karen]] would not negotiate. The military finally captured the main Karen base at [[Manerplaw]] in spring [[1995]], but there has still been no final peace settlement. [[Khun Sa]], a major opium warlord who nominally controlled parts of [[Shan]] state, made a deal with the government in [[December]] [[1995]] after U.S. pressure.

A large supply of Time-Turners is kept at the [[Ministry of Magic]], as seen in ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''; however, during the events of that book the entire supply of Time-Turners is destroyed. Due to their time-affecting properties, they are seen to smash and reassemble, over and over.

After the failure of the Constituent Assembly to create a new constitution, tensions between the government and the NLD mounted, resulting in two major crackdowns on the NLD in [[1996]] and [[1997]]. The SLORC was abolished in [[November]] [[1997]] and replaced by the [[State Peace and Development Council]] (SPDC), but it was merely a cosmetic change. Continuing reports of human rights violations in Myanmar led the [[United States]] to intensify sanctions in [[1997]], and the [[European Union]] followed suit in [[2000]]. Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest again in [[September]] [[2000]] until [[May]] [[2002]], when her travel restrictions outside of Rangoon were also lifted. Reconciliation talks were held with the government, but these came to a stalemate and Suu Kyi was once again taken into custody in [[May]] [[2003]] after an ambush on her motorcade, and remains under house arrest once again. The government also carried out another large-scale crackdown on the NLD, arresting many of its leaders and closing down most of its offices. The situation in Myanmar remains tense to this day.

The possibility of time travel within the Harry Potter universe may seem to allow many plot holes, but characters appear to use them for trivial tasks that have no effect on existence as a whole. The one notable use of the Time-Turner within canon (to save Buckbeak and Sirius), obeys [[Novikov self-consistency principle]]. This fatalistic theory of time-travel (i.e. "Nothing can be changed because anything a traveler does merely produces the circumstances they had noted before traveling") is, incidentally, reminiscent of Rowling's employment of [[self fulfilling prophecy]], but while prophecies within canon are relevant only to the degree that characters place relevance on them, (the books state Harry and Voldemort 'could' walk away and void the Prophecy if they chose), the same cannot be said for time-travel (there is no suggestion that one can change events by inaction). It has not been revealed in the series if any major events within the books or the Harry Potter universe as a whole have been related to time turners' misuse.

In [[August]] [[2003]], Kyin Nyunt announced a seven-step "roadmap to democracy," which the government claims it is in the process of implementing. There is no timetable associated with the government’s plan, or any conditionality or independent mechanism for verifying that it is moving forward. For these reasons, most Western governments and Myanmar's neighbours have been skeptical and critical of the roadmap.

===Vanishing Cabinet===

On [[February 17]] [[2005]], the government reconvened the [[National Convention]], for the first time since [[1993]], in an attempt to rewrite the Constitution. However, major pro-democracy organisations and parties, including the [[National League for Democracy]], were barred from participating, the military allowing only selected smaller parties. It was adjourned once again in [[January]] [[2006]].

At the end of the sixth book, Hogwarts is invaded despite its magical defences against transportation spells by means of a Vanishing Cabinet. This transfers objects which go into one Cabinet to a second paired Cabinet where they emerge. One broken Cabinet was already in the [[Hogwarts layout|Room of Requirement]] at Hogwarts. This was repaired by [[Draco Malfoy]]. At the start of book 6 he is seen in [[Borgin and Burkes]] shop in [[Knockturn Alley]] purchasing an item, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione are unable to see what it is, because he is standing behind a Cabinet. He also requests Borgin's help to repair some object. It is likely that the Vanishing Cabinet was broken in the second book, when Peeves drops it over Filch's office as a diversion.

The Vanishing Cabinet is mentioned several times in the earlier books, such as when [[Hogwarts ghosts|Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington]] convinces [[Peeves]] to drop it (perhaps breaking it) over [[Argus Filch]]'s office in ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'', in order to help [[Harry Potter (character)|Harry]] escape detention for "befouling of the castle" (tracking in [[mud]]). It was also used in ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' by [[Fred and George Weasley]], when they forced [[Minor Slytherins#Montague|Montague]], the [[Hogwarts Houses#Slytherin|Slytherin]] Quidditch captain and member of [[the Inquisitorial Squad]] into it when he tried to take house points from Gryffindor. ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' reveals that Montague's experience led [[Draco Malfoy]] to recognise that a pair of Vanishing Cabinets could be used as a magical passage. Malfoy later uses this artifact to smuggle [[Death Eaters]] into Hogwarts. The Vanishing Cabinets have yet to appear prominently in the films; in a deleted scene (available on DVD) in ''Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'' Harry hides in a cupboard in Borgin and Burke's.

In [[November]] [[2005]], the military junta started moving the government away from [[Yangon]] to an unnamed ___location near Kyatpyay just outside [[Pyinmana]], to a newly designated capital city. This public action follows a long term unofficial policy of moving critical military and government infrastructure away from Yangon to avoid a repetition of the events of [[8888 Uprising|1988]]. On Armed Forces Day ([[March 27]] [[2006]]), the capital was officially named [[Naypyidaw|Naypyidaw Myodaw]] (lit. Royal City of the Seat of Kings).

==Other magical objects==

==Ecclesiastical history of Burma==

===Magical sweets===

A multitude of sweets are produced in the stories; many have a violent or bizarre side-effect, especially those created by Fred and George Weasley. Most sweets can be found in the sweetshop [[Honeydukes]].

====Acid Pops====

* see [[Ecclesiastical history of Burma]]

[[Acid]] Pops are [[lollipop]]s that can burn a hole through one's tongue.

====Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans====

Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans are [[jelly beans]] that come in literally every flavour. The flavours described in the book as normal include [[caramel]], [[chocolate]], [[coffee]], [[marmalade]], [[peppermint]], [[strawberry]], [[lemon]], and [[toffee]].

The "unusual" flavours include [[baked bean]], [[curry]], [[earwax]], [[mucus|bogey]], [[grass]], [[liver]], pepper, [[sardine]], [[spinach]], sprout, [[tripe]], and [[vomit]]. The [[Jelly Belly]] candy company produces real versions of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. They have produced odd flavours in and out of the market since (--). Apart from some "regular" flavours, the company also produces several "unusual" flavours mentioned in the books. Other flavours include [[bacon]], dirt, [[earthworm]], rotten [[egg (food)|egg]], and [[soap]].

====Cockroach Clusters====

A very strange type of sweet, which Harry discovers accidentally to be one of the passwords to Professor Dumbledore's office. We can assume it to contain parts of or whole cockroaches, or to at least be shaped like cockroaches, as other sweets are shaped like frogs or mice. They are sold at Honeydukes shop in Hogsmeade.

====Chocolate Frogs====

Chocolate Frogs are, as the name implies, [[frog]]s made of [[chocolate]], which may also be enchanted to move about like real frogs. Like bubble gum and other items in the muggle world, they are each packaged with a [[collectible card]] displaying a magical picture and brief [[biography]] of a famous witch or wizard. The cards named by the ''Harry Potter books'' include:

* [[Historical characters in Harry Potter#Agrippa|Agrippa]]

* [[Historical characters in Harry Potter#Ptolemy|Ptolemy]]

* [[Albus Dumbledore]]

* [[Historical characters in Harry Potter#Nicolas Flamel|Nicolas Flamel]]

* [[Historical characters in Harry Potter#Morgana|Morgana]]

* [[Hengist of Woodcroft]]

* Alberic Grunnion

* [[Historical characters in Harry Potter#Circe|Circe]]

* [[Historical characters in Harry Potter#Paracelsus|Paracelsus]]

* [[Historical characters in Harry Potter#Merlin|Merlin]]

* [[Historical characters in Harry Potter#Druidess Cliodna|Druidess Cliodna]]

* [[Minor Harry Potter characters#Crospin Conk|Crospin Conk]]

* Bertie Bott

* [[Felix Summerbee]]

* [[Cassandra Vablatskey]]

* There is probably a card for [[Flavius Belby]], the only person known to have survived a Lethifold attack.

Additionally, [[J. K. Rowling]] designed{{Fact|date=June 2007}} four Wizard Cards for the four [[The Hogwarts Founders|Hogwarts founders]].

Chocolate Frogs first appear in ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'', when Harry is on the [[Hogwarts Express]] heading to Hogwarts. Having just met [[Ron Weasley]], Harry buys a large amount of food and sweets, including Chocolate Frogs, for the two of them to share. Harry opens a package to discover that the card inside depicts [[Albus Dumbledore]]. The films depict these frogs as capable of movement, though this does not appear to be canonically supported.

Chocolate Frogs appear throughout the series. Some fans had speculated that members of the [[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix|Order of the Phoenix]] used the cards found with the Frogs to communicate. [[J.K. Rowling]] has denied this. Chocolate Frogs of a sort are also available through the [[Cap Candy Company]], though availability is limited in summer months due to the risk of them melting in transport. They each come with one [[holographic]] [[lenticular]] collector card.

====Droobles Best Blowing Gum====

Drooble's Best Blowing Gum is a [[bubble gum]] that fills a room with bluebell bubbles that refuse to pop for days. In Order of the Phoenix Alice Longbottom gave Neville a Droobles Bubblegum wrapper for Christmas.

====Fizzing Whizzbees====

Fizzing Whizbees cause the consumer to levitate for a while. They are rumoured to contain dried [[Minor Harry Potter beasts#Billywig|Billywig]] stings. Fizzing Whizzbees are also made by Cap Candy, and come with three packets (one Raspberry, one Strawberry and one Orange). They actually resemble [[Pop Rocks]].

====Pepper Imps====

Pepper Imps are tiny and black; they cause the consumer to smoke at the ears and breathe fire.

====Peppermint Toads====

Peppermint Toads are peppermint creams in the shape of a [[toad]]. Once eaten, they give the sensation that they hop in the stomach.

====Pumpkin Pasties====

Pumpkin Pasties are Pumpkin shaped pasties with no magical qualities.

====Toothflossing Stringmints====

Toothflossing Stringmints are odd splintery mints that presumably clean and [[flossing|floss]] one's teeth.

====Ice Mice====

Ice Mice are [[mouse]]-shaped candy that make one's teeth squeak and chatter.

====Levitating Sherbet Balls====

Levitating Sherbet Balls are sweet balls that make the eater levitate.

====Liquorice Wands====

It is not known whether Liquorice Wands contain any magical qualities. They appear in ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' on the sweets cart on the train, and in the [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]] film when Ron requests them, again on the train.

====Sugar Quills====

Sugar [[Quill]]s are popular among students, as they can be eaten during class, "and just look like you're thinking what to write next," according to Ron Weasley.

===Two-way mirrors===

In ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'', [[Sirius Black|Sirius]] gives Harry a mirror he originally used to communicate with James in detention. It is activated by holding one of them and saying the name of the other possessor, their face appears on your mirror and vice-versa. Harry receives this mirror from Sirius in a package after spending his Christmas holiday at [[Grimmauld Place]]. Harry, at first, chooses not to open the package, although he does discover the mirror after Sirius's death, by which point it is no longer functional although it would have by far been an easier method to check if Sirius was alive. Rowling has noted that the mirror "will help more than you think", implying that it will return in the last book. It makes its appearance when [[Mundungus Fletcher]] loots Grimmauld Place and sells it to Dumbledore's brother, [[Aberforth Dumbledore]], who uses it to watch out for Harry.

===Deathly Hallows===

{{main|Deathly Hallows (objects)}}

===Foe-glass===

A '''Foe-glass''' is a mirror that shows its owner's enemies in or out of focus, depending on how close they are, though, like all Dark detectors, they can be fooled, as mentioned by Harry in the fifth book at the beginning of the first D.A. meeting.

===The Goblet of Fire===

The Goblet of Fire is used solely to choose the school champions on the occasion of a [[Triwizard Tournament]], in {{HP4}}, serving as an "impartial judge" and is apparently of the possession of [[Albus Dumbledore]]. It is not known whether it has any other magical ability, though [[Alastor Moody]] (the impostor) stated once that the Goblet of Fire was "a very powerful magical object" and it is very difficult to be hoodwinked, unless if someone uses an exceptionally strong Confundus Charm(During the fourth film). This is one of the first clues that he is involved in the hoodwinking.

===Gubraithian fire===

'''Gubraithian fire''' is first mentioned in chapter twenty of ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''. Hagrid and Madame Maxime gave a branch of Gubraithian fire to the giant leader (Gurg) in his journey. Gubraithian fire will never die out, and it is said that only extremely skilled wizards and witches can conjure it.

The name of Gubraithian Fire is evidently taken from the [[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]] phrase ''"gu bràth"'' which means "forever" [http://www.taic.btinternet.co.uk/faclair.htm]. The phrase also appears in the [[Oil Thigh]] song of [[Queen's University]] (Kingston Ontario).

In addition, it is possible that Gubraithian Fire is a reference to [[greek fire]], a type of flammable liquid used as a weapon by the Byzantine empire. Once lit, Greek fire would remain burning for long periods of time, even if doused in water (this actually made it hotter if not used sufficiently, as it would merely spread the liquid).

===Horcruxes===

{{main|Horcrux}}

===Howler===

A '''Howler''' is a bright red letter usually signifying displeasure and/or anger from the sender directed at the recipient. When it is opened, the sender's voice will bellow at the recipient with the voice magically magnified to deafening volumes before self-destructing. If it is never opened, it will explode violently and the message will be heard anyway. In the film version, the Howler folds itself into a stylised set of lips before dissolving into scraps of paper.

In ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets|Chamber of Secrets]]'', Ron receives a Howler from his mother, [[Molly Weasley|Mrs Weasley]] after he steals his father's enchanted car and flies it to [[Hogwarts]] with [[Harry Potter (character)|Harry]].

Neville Longbottom received one from his grandmother after [[Sirius Black]] used his list of passwords to enter [[Gryffindor]] Common Room in ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]''.

Dumbledore sends Petunia Dursley a Howler in ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' to remind her of the agreement to allow Harry to live at Privet Drive when Harry's Uncle Vernon attempts to throw him out after the [[Dementor]] attack.

===Invisibility Cloak===

An '''Invisibility Cloak''' makes its wearer [[invisible]]. Harry Potter inherited one from his father, who had left it in the care of [[Albus Dumbledore]], and uses it throughout the books in order to sneak around the school. The Cloak is large enough for [[Ron Weasley|Ron]] and [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] to accompany him underneath it, although this becomes more difficult as they grow throughout the series.

Invisibility Cloaks are very rare and expensive, and they are spun from the pelts of [[Magical beasts (Harry Potter)|Demiguises]], magical herbivores that are found in the [[Far East]], or are ordinary cloaks with an invisiblity spell placed on them. It is stated that over time, they will lose their invisibility ability, eventually becoming opaque. In [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]], it was revealed that the invisibility cloak Harry had was one of the [[Deathly Hallows (object)|Deathly Hallows]], which are magical objects which can give the owner of all the objects lordship over death. Harry's cloak is a perfect example. Its invisibility charm will never wear off, but gives him absolutely perfect invisibility forever.

;Known owners:

*[[Mad-Eye Moody]] (who is known to possess two; one of these is borrowed by [[Sturgis Podmore]] in the course of work for the [[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix|Order of the Phoenix]]); he can see through them with his magical eye.

*[[Harry Potter (character)|Harry Potter]]; the previous owner of this Cloak was his father [[James and Lily Potter|James Potter]]. It is also one of the fabled [[Deathly Hallows (object)|Deathly Hallows]], the others of which are the Elder Wand and the Resurrection Stone.

*[[Barty Crouch Senior]], who used it to hide his son.

Invisibility Cloaks can be seen through by certain people and creatures, such as [[Alastor Moody]] (because of his magical eye), and also apparently [[Albus Dumbledore]] and Mrs Norris, feline pet of Filch, caretaker of Hogwarts. Dementors, who are blind, and who sense rather than see humans, are unaffected by Cloaks.

Rowling has stated that James Potter's Cloak was indeed in the care of Albus Dumbledore (as stated in the note included with it when Harry received it at Christmas of his first year) at the time James died and noted that there is an important reason for this.

===The Marauder's Map===

The '''Marauder's Map''' was created by [[Remus Lupin]], [[Peter Pettigrew]], [[Sirius Black]], and [[James and Lily Potter|James Potter]] (the '''[[Marauders (Harry Potter)|Marauders]]''') to aid their mischief-making. They gained extensive knowledge about Hogwarts grounds from their frequent night-time adventures while transformed as animals (Black, Pettigrew and Potter being [[Animagus|Animagi]] and Lupin a werewolf). They used this knowledge to create the Marauder's Map. The Map bears its creators' nicknames (derived from their animal forms): ''Moony'' (Lupin, a [[werewolf]]), ''Wormtail'' (Pettigrew, a rat), ''Padfoot'' (Black, a dog), and ''Prongs'' (Potter, a [[deer|stag]]).

At first glance, the Map is simply a blank [[parchment]]; but when the user says, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," it reveals the message, "Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs are proud to present the Marauders Map," and Hogwarts' layout (including secret passageways) is shown. Saying, "Mischief managed!" returns the map to its original blank state. The Map also gives information on how to open secret passageways. Several locations (such as the [[Locations in Hogwarts#Room of Requirement|Room of Requirement]] and probably the [[Chamber of Secrets]]) do not appear on the map. It would seem that the four friends either did not have any knowledge of them, or&mdash;in the case of the former&mdash;they are unplottable.

The Marauder's Map is covered in tiny ink dots accompanied by minuscule names, indicating the every person's ___location in Hogwarts. This, according to Harry, is the map's most remarkable feature, and is helpful in evading teachers and other people whom one wishes to avoid while "managing mischief." The Marauder's Map cannot be fooled by [[Animagus]] disguises or [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Invisibility Cloak|Invisibility Cloaks]]. Not even [[Potions in Harry Potter#Polyjuice_Potion|Polyjuice Potion]] can outwit the Marauder's Map: Crabbe and Goyle liberally use Polyjuice Potion in The Half-Blood Prince, but the map continues to displays their true identities. For this reason, Barty Crouch Jr., disguised as Mad-Eye Moody, considered it a threat and asks to 'borrow' the map from a trusting Harry.

The Map was given to Harry by [[Fred and George Weasley]], who found it in [[Argus Filch|Filch]]'s office. It makes its first appearance in ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban|Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', and has been featured in all subsequent novels.

In ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban|Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', [[Severus Snape|Professor Snape]] finds the Map in Harry's possession and tries to force it to reveal its secrets; the Map responds by insulting him. Professor Lupin arrives, says he will investigate, and takes it with him. He returns the map to Harry after resigning his post at Hogwarts. The Map retains an echo of its creators' personalities, much like the [[#The Sorting Hat|Sorting Hat]] remembers the thoughts and opinions of the school founders. Snape, however, continues to insist that the Map contains Dark Magic.

In the book the Map is a piece of parchment; in the films, the Map appears with a cover that unfolds in two with many other folds inside each other. All the lines in the Map are made up of what at first glance are just random letters, but upon closer inspection are Latin words.

In the books, there is no mention of Harry recovering the Map from the office of the [[Barty Crouch Junior|Professor Moody imposter]]; when asked, Rowling answered that Harry had indeed sneaked into the office and recovered it in the days following the Third Task. She also commented that she had intended to include a scene or mention it.

===The Mirror of Erised===

The '''Mirror of Erised''' is a mystical mirror discovered by Harry in a back corridor of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]''. On it is inscribed, ''erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi'' &mdash; which, when reversed and correctly spaced, reads ''I show not your face but your heart's desire''. According to [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]], the Mirror "shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts"; Harry, upon encountering the Mirror, can see his parents, as well as what appears to be a crowd of relatives; Ron sees himself as Head Boy and [[Quidditch]] Captain holding the Quidditch Cup (thus revealing his wish to be acknowledged in the shadow of his highly successful older brothers). Dumbledore, one of the only other characters to face the Mirror in the novel, claims to see himself holding a pair of [[sock]]s, telling Harry that ''"...one can never have enough socks." '', also lamenting that he did not receive any for [[Christmas]], since people will insist on giving him books. If the claim was true, it might suggest that Dumbledore is, indeed, so content that he can wish for such small things. On the other hand, as the book is careful to inform us, Harry suspects he might merely have not wished to tell Harry. "It had been rather a personal question." Dumbledore lying about this seems to be corroborated by Rowling as well. Dumbledore's deepest desire is revealed in the last book to be the knowledge of who killed Arianna, if it was [[Grindelwald]], [[Aberforth Dumbledore]], or himself.<ref>[http://www.mugglenet.com/jkrinterview2.shtml MuggleNet | Emerson and Melissa's J.K. Rowling Interview Page 2]</ref>

The Mirror of Erised was the final protection given to the [[Philosopher's Stone]]. Dumbledore hid the Mirror and hid the Stone inside it, knowing that only a person who wanted to ''find'' the Stone, but not to ''use'' it, would be able to obtain the stone. Anyone else would see himself making an Elixir of Life or turning things to gold, rather than actually see himself find the Stone, as [[Professor Quirrell]] claimed to have seen - as Dumbledore tells Harry, "It was one of my more brilliant ideas, and between you and me, that's saying something."

===Moody's Magical Trunk===

Alastor Moody owns a rather interesting magical trunk. It has seven locks on it, and the trunk opens to a different assortment of objects for each lock. Most notably, though, the seventh compartment is about 10 feet deep, and is where Barty Crouch Jr. imprisoned the real Moody. Other compartments contain spellbooks, Dark Detectors, and Moody's Invisibility Cloak.

===Omnioculars===

Omnioculars are magical brass binoculars used by Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the fourth book during the Quidditch World Cup. Omnioculars, besides having magnified lenses, have many features. Among them, the ones mentioned are the ability to replay or slow down something seen through the lenses, although a side-effect being that the view in the lenses is not accurate of what is currently happening, since it's going slower than real life. They also have a play-by-play feature, where the names of moves performed by Quidditch players is shown in bright purple letters across the Omnioculars lenses.

===Pensieve===

A '''Pensieve''' is a stone receptacle in which to store memories. Covered in mystic runes, it has liquid nor gas within its basin. A witch or wizard can extract their own memories or someone else's and store them in the Pensieve and review them later. It also relieves the mind when it becomes flooded with information. Anyone can examine the memories in the Pensieve, which also allows viewers to fully immerse themselves in the memories stored within, much like a magical form of [[virtual reality]]. [[Tom Riddle's diary]] seems to have this same form of virtual reality. Oddly, users of these devices view the memories from a [[Third-person narrative|third person]] view, providing a near-[[omniscient]] perspective of the events preserved. This of course, raises questions of how they are able to see things beyond what they have remembered. Rowling answered this question in an interview, confirming that memories in the pensieve allow one to view details of things that happened even if they did not notice or remember them, and stated that "that's the magic of the Pensieve, what brings it alive" [http://mugglenet.com/jkrinterview3.shtml]. The contents of a Pensieve, as mentioned in the book, look neither like smoke nor like water. The "memory" has the appearance of silver threads. Memories that have been heavily manipulated or tampered with to alter perspectives (such as [[Horace Slughorn]]'s) may appear thick and jelly-like and offer obscured viewing. Memories are not limited to just those of humans, since at least one [[house-elf]] provided Dumbledore with one as well.

It is questionable as to what will happen to the Pensieve in Dumbledore's office, as it contains many secrets and a considerable part of Dumbledore's knowledge. The Pensieve could pose a possibly powerful threat if Voldemort should choose to try and take it, or a powerful tool for Harry should he have access to it.

''Pensieve'' is a portmanteau of 'sieve' (a device used for sifting) and 'pensive' (thoughtful or full of thoughts). It is also a (possibly unintentional) anagram of Pevensie, the surname of Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy in the [[Chronicles of Narnia]].

Dumbledore's Pensieve first appears in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', again in ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'', and plays a pivotal role in ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''. It makes a last appearance in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' when Harry uses it to decipher the memories of [[Severus Snape]].

===Photographs===

{{main|Portrait (Harry Potter)#Photographs}}

===Portraits===

{{Main|Portrait (Harry Potter)}}

===Deluminator===

The '''deluminator''' is a device used, and possibly invented, by [[Albus Dumbledore]] to turn off the streetlights along a street at night. It looks like a standard cigarette lighter. It never officially receives the name "Put-Outer"; after a description of what it is and what it does, the narrator dubs it a ''Put-Outer''. The Put-Outer makes four appearances:

* In ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'', Dumbledore uses the Put-Outer to darken Privet Drive, where the [[Relatives of Harry Potter#Vernon Dursely|Dursley]] household is located. Dumbledore is expecting [[Rubeus Hagrid]] to transport the infant Harry to Privet Drive, where Dumbledore will leave him at the Dursley household. Dumbledore's Put-Outer allows Hagrid to arrive with added secrecy, which is necessary because Harry's parents have been murdered the night before. This makes the Put-Outer the first piece of magic to be shown in the novels.

* In ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'', Dumbledore loans the Put-Outer to [[Mad-Eye Moody]], who uses it when transporting Harry from the Dursleys' home to the headquarters of the [[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix|Order of the Phoenix]] at [[12 Grimmauld Place]]. Again the Put-Outer provides secrecy to keep Harry and the headquarters safe.

* In ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', Dumbledore uses it again to darken Privet Drive before collecting Harry.

* In ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'', it is known as the Deluminator. It is bequeathed to [[Ron Weasley]] by Dumbledore and he uses it to return to Harry and Hermoine after leaving in a fit of anger. It is also used in the Malfoy Manor's cellar, where Ron and Harry are caught by the Death Eaters and thrown in.

===Quick Quotes Quill===

A stenographic tool of sorts employed by Rita Skeeter which spins the words of her subjects into a form more fitting to its owner.

Rita Skeeter uses the quill to interview Harry (inside a Hogwarts broomstick cupboard) about his participation in the Triwizard Tournament in the movie, "Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire" for her column "Me, Myself, and I" in the newspaper, "The Daily Prophet". Harry continually tries to correct the inaccuracy of the quill to Rita.

This quill would also seem to be acid green and needs to be licked on the tip before it can be used.

===Quidditch equipment===

There are several enchanted objects needed to play [[Quidditch]], the most obvious being flying broomsticks. All the balls in the game are enchanted in some way. The [[Golden Snitch]] is enchanted to fly around, mimicking the flight patterns of the Golden [[Minor Harry Potter beasts#Snidget|Snidget]], and also to not leave the playing field. The [[Rules of Quidditch#The Balls|Bludger]] is enchanted to fly around and try to knock players off their broomsticks. A Bludger does not focus on one player unless it has been tampered with, as was the case in ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''. The [[Quaffle]] may appear an exception, but it is also enchanted to make it easy to grip, and to fall more slowly than normal.

===Remembrall===

A '''Remembrall''' is a small, clear orb that turns red if its user has forgotten something (it most likely got its name by combining "remember all"). Unfortunately, it does not tell the user what he/she has forgotten. The very forgetful [[Neville Longbottom]] is given a '''Remembrall''' in ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'', but gives it to Harry after he retrieves it from Malfoy. This is because Neville had no use for it, as he was unable to remember what he forgot. Their use is forbidden during OWL exams.

The [[DVD]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' contains a software approximation of a remembrall.

===Revealer===

Used in ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets|Chamber of Secrets]]'' when [[Hermione Granger]] tries to make something appear in [[Tom Riddle's diary]], this object is a bright red eraser which makes invisible ink appear.

===Secrecy Sensor===

In ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire|Goblet of Fire]]'', this magical object was mentioned when Harry went into [["Mad-Eye" Moody|Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody]]'s office. It is described as "An object that looked something like an extra-squiggly, golden television aerial." It vibrates when it detects concealment and lies. Moody mentions that its, "No use here of course, too much interference-students in every direction lying about why they haven't done their homework." However, it may be that this was due to the sinister intentions of Moody.

Eric (the Atrium desk wizard) also uses a Secrecy Sensor on visitors to the Ministry of Magic.

Secrecy Sensors, like all other Dark Detectors, can be fooled, as mentioned by Harry in the fifth book at the beginning of the first D.A. meeting.

In ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', due to Hogwart's new stringent security measures, Argus Filch is assigned to run every student entering the entrance hall of the castle with Secrecy Sensors and all the owls flying into Hogwarts, too, to detect any Dark object within the castle. Later, Hermione explains that though Secrecy Sensors detect jinxes, curses, and concealment charms, they cannot detect love potions.

===Self-Shuffling playing cards===

In ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets|Chamber of Secrets]]'', a pack of these cards is mentioned as one of the objects littering the floor of [[Ron Weasley|Ron]]'s room. They are probably used to play [[Exploding Snap]].

===Sneakoscope===

A '''Sneakoscope''' is a magical device which serves as a [[Dark Arts (Harry Potter)|Dark Arts]] detector, and is described as a miniature glass spinning top that emits shrill noises in the presence of deception: for instance, when an untrustworthy person is near or when a deceitful event takes place nearby.

Sneakoscopes are first introduced in the third book, ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', when [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] gives [[Harry Potter (character)|Harry Potter]] one of the devices as a present for his 13th birthday. [[Bill Weasley]] claimed that the sneakoscope was faulty, because it howled continuously for no apparent reason once while the Weasley family were eating dinner together in Egypt, but Bill didn't realise that Fred and George had put beetles in his soup. The sneakoscope appears again on the [[Hogwarts Express]], and again up in Harry and Ron's dormitory. Harry later discovers that Scabbers, Ron's rat, who was present each time the Sneakoscope was spinning, is actually a traitorous [[animagus]] named [[Peter Pettigrew]].

In book four, ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', the somewhat paranoid [["Mad-Eye" Moody|Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody]] has several sneakoscopes that he somehow disabled (possibly related to a crack it was described as having), "It wouldn't stop whistling." However, it may have been because Mad-Eye was really [[Barty Crouch Jr]].

In book seven, Hermione gives Harry a Sneakoscope for his 17th birthday which they later use to help as a lookout.

===The Sorting Hat===

The '''Sorting Hat''' is a [[sentient]] [[artifact (fantasy)|artifact]] used at [[Hogwarts]], which magically determines to which of the four school houses &mdash; [[Hogwarts Houses#Gryffindor|Gryffindor]], [[Hogwarts Houses#Hufflepuff|Hufflepuff]], [[Hogwarts Houses#Ravenclaw|Ravenclaw]] or [[Hogwarts Houses#Slytherin|Slytherin]] &mdash; each new student is to be assigned. During the opening banquet at the beginning of the school year, the First-Year students are lined up and their names read aloud alphabetically; each then takes a seat on a stool and the hat is placed on their head. After a moment of consideration, the hat announces its choice aloud for all to hear, and the student joins the selected house. The moment of consideration varies in length, from nearly a minute to less than a second. Judging from Harry's own account of his Sorting, and a brief comment made by Hermione, the hat speaks to the student while they're being Sorted.

The Sorting Hat originally belonged to [[The Hogwarts Founders#Godric Gryffindor|Godric Gryffindor]], one of the founders of [[Hogwarts]].

The Sorting Hat's songs vary in length and content. Before sorting the students each year, the hat recites a new introductory song. These songs occasionally warn of danger to come, as in ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''.

In ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'', the hat plays a critical role in the climax of the story by coming to Harry's aid in the Chamber and providing him with Godric Gryffindor's sword. The sword and hat together make up the two known relics of that Founder.

The Sorting Hat had a difficult time placing [[Harry Potter (character)|Harry]], almost placing him into [[Slytherin]] house before he requested specifically and emphatically not to be. The Hat instead placed him into [[Gryffindor]], after both his parents.

In ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' the Sorting Hat is lit on fire by Lord Voldemort, although it is unclear if the hat was destroyed, as references to the sorting were used during the epilogue 19 years later.

In the first two Harry Potter movies, he is voiced by actor [[Leslie Phillips]].

===Spellotape===

'''Spellotape''' is [[magic (Harry Potter)|magical]] [[adhesive tape]]; it is a [[Parody|spoof]] of the real life product [[sellotape]].

Spellotape is referenced in all of the Harry Potter books, apart from ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'', and is seen in the movie [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (movie)|''Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'']].

===Tom Riddle's diary===

{{main|Tom Riddle's diary}}

===Blood Quill===

In ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'', Harry has detention with [[Dolores Umbridge|Professor Umbridge]] on several occasions. During these detentions, he is required to write lines (''I must not tell lies''), and is not released from this until Umbridge believes "the message has sunk in." Rather than use a regular quill, Umbridge makes Harry use a blood quill, which is unusually sharp with a black nib. As the user writes, the quill magically (and painfully) cuts into the back of the user's hand and uses their blood for ink. When carried out repeatedly over a period of time, this can lead to permanent scarring, as shown by Harry to [[Rufus Scrimgeour]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''. Other victims of this form of detention include [[Lee Jordan]].

===Wand===

To perform feats of magic a ''[[wand]]'' is usually used. Without a wand magic is possible, but this seems to be very difficult and uncontrolled. A wand is personal for a wizard, although other wizards' wands can be used, generally to a less potent effect than by using one's own wand. When Harry Potter was selecting his wand, he had to try out many wands until he found a wand that created sparks as he waved it. A wand is usually made of wood and has a core of an organic, magical object or substance. Such cores mentioned include [[Phoenix (mythology)|phoenix]] tail feathers, [[unicorn]] tail hairs, [[dragon]] heartstrings and [[veela]] hair. Wands with cores from the same source give strange effects ([[Canonical spells in the world of Harry Potter#Prior Incantato|Priori Incantatem]]) when forced to fight each other, as is the case with Harry Potter's and [[Lord Voldemort]]'s wands in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''. Each of their wands contains a tail feather from [[Fawkes]], the phoenix belonging to [[Albus Dumbledore]]. The only named wand shop is Ollivander's, owned by [[Ollivander]], where Hagrid takes Harry to buy his first wand. However, in the "Weighing of the Wands" chapter of "Goblet of Fire", Ollivander is seen to evaluate two foreign wands: [[Viktor Krum]]'s wand: a Gregorovitch creation and unusually thick; and [[Fleur Delacour]]'s wand, whose core (a hair from her veela grandmother) was a core he felt created "temperamental" wands, and thus did not use himself. Rather than carry a wand inside one's robes, they can be put into other objects, as Lucius Malfoy does by hiding his inside his cane in the films, and Moody seems to have his actually inside his walking staff in the Order of the Phoenix film. Harry also suspects that Hagrid has the broken halves of his wand inside his umbrella.

===Weasley Clock===

The [[Weasley family]] has a clock in their home, [[The Burrow (Harry Potter)|the Burrow]], with nine hands, one for every member of the family. Instead of telling the time, the clock reveals the ___location or status of each family member. The known locations are:

*Home

*School

*Work

*Travelling

*Lost

*Hospital

*Prison

*Mortal Peril

Only the ___location of "mortal peril" is known (it is situated where the numeral 12 would normally be). Throughout the first five books, the hands changed to reflect the varying statuses of the family members, but by [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince|Book Six]], all nine hands had taken to pointing to "mortal peril" at all times, except when someone was travelling. [[Molly Weasley|Mrs Weasley]] took this to mean that, with [[Lord Voldemort]] having returned, everyone was technically in mortal peril.

The Weasleys are the only family mentioned to own such a clock and Mrs Weasley notes that she does not know of anyone else with one.

===Wizard's Chess===

'''Wizard's chess''' is a version of [[chess]] played with small pieces and a board like real chess, except that the pieces are animated.[http://chess.about.com/b/a/187742.htm] The players simply tell the pieces to move with the proper commands, which the pieces obey. The pieces attack each other in cases where an opposing player's piece would be taken, usually by breaking the opposing piece in half. However, because sets can be inherited and loaned, the pieces are assumed to rebuild themselves after the game. Ron has a set left to him by his Uncle Bilius. Harry first plays with pieces borrowed from [[Seamus Finnigan]], and later gets a set in one of his wizard crackers during his first Christmas at Hogwarts. During the climactic chapters of ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' Harry, Ron and Hermione become chess pieces in a life-size game of wizard's chess, thus risking their lives.

Recently, the company Deagostini have released a magazine series called "Harry Potter Chess", which is based on the life-size game near the end of the film version of Philosopher's Stone. The chess pieces that come with it are based on the life-size pieces in the film. Arco Toys and others also have a Wizards Chess Set.[http://www.amazon.com/Arco-Toys-Ltd-Potter-Wizard/dp/B0000669DT][http://www.chesscentral.com/sets-pieces-chess/harry-potter-chess.htm]

===Hand of Glory===

The [[Hand of Glory]] is an unpleasant instrument used by [[Draco Malfoy]] in ''[[The Half-Blood Prince]]''. It was seen previously in ''Chamber of Secrets'', when Draco and his father, [[Lucius Malfoy]], visited the [[Dark Arts (Harry Potter)|Dark Arts]] store [[Borgin and Burkes]] down [[Knockturn Alley]]. (At that point, Lucius denied Draco's request to have it, saying that it was a tool for a common thief.) It is a large shrivelled hand displayed on a cushion in the shop. When it is given a candle, it gives light only to the one holding the hand.

In the Half Blood Prince, was used by Draco when leaving the Room of Requirements, and was able to escape Ron and a few other members of the DA, after using the Instant Darkness Powder.

In the movie ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'', the Hand appears in [[Borgin and Burkes]]. When Harry examines it, it attempts to break his wrist.

==References==

{{reflist}}

<references/>

==External links==

{{hpw|Magical objects}}

* [http://www.arts.chula.ac.th/~complit/event/hantawadi.htm Biography of King Bayinnaung (r. 1551-1581)] U Thaw Kaung

* [http://www.lib.washington.edu/asp/myanmar/main.asp University of Washington Library] papers by Burmese historians Than Tun, Yi Yi, U Pe Maung Tin, Ba Shin

* [http://web.soas.ac.uk/burma/bulletin.htm SOAS Bulletin of Burma Research] articles on Burma's history

* [http://acl.arts.usyd.edu.au/~hudson/bobhpage.htm The Origins of Pagan] Bob Hudson

* [http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/docs/wps/wps06_064.pdf The Changing Nature of Conflict Between Burma and Siam as seen from the Growth and Development of Burmese States from the 16th to the 19th Centuries] Pamaree Surakiat, Asia Research Institute, Singapore, March 2006

* [http://home.wxs.nl/~galen087/ Arakan historical documents] Stephan van Galen

* [http://www.burmalibrary.org/show.php?cat=10&lo=d&sl=0 Online Burma Myanmar Library] a veritable mine of information

* [http://slipperybannanapeel.blogspot.com/ Burma - Yunnan - Bay of Bengal (c. 1350-1600)] Jon Fernquest

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/burmese/highlights/story/2005/09/050829_vjdayspecials.shtml The Bloodstrewn Path:Burma's Early Journey to Independence] BBC Burmese, September 30 2005, Retrieved 2006-10-28

* [http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/1947_treaty.htm The Nu-Atlee Treaty and Let Ya-Freeman Agreement, 1947] Online Burma/Myanmar Library

* [http://ibiblio.org/obl/show.php?cat=1509 Burma Communist Party's Conspiracy to take over State Power and related information] Online Burma/Myanmar Library

* [http://www.irrawaddy.org/database/2001/vol9.3/special.html Strangers in a Changed Land] Thalia Isaak, ''The Irrawaddy'', March-April 2001

* [http://www.irrawaddy.org/aviewer.asp?a=6248&z=102 Behold a New Empire] Aung Zaw,''The Irrawaddy'', October 2006

==See also==

*[[History of Asia]]

*[[History of present-day nations and states]]

*[[Zogam]]

*[[British Raj]]

**[[Burma Province]]

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