Floo powder

Warning! At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in:Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery &Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells &Harry Potter: Magic Awakened. As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

Floo powder

Floo powder was a glitterymagical powder used bywitches and wizards to travel by theFloo Network, which connected the fireplaces of nearly every wizarding household and building. Through the use of Floo powder, witches and wizards were able to enter a fireplace at the origin building and exit a fireplace at the destination building.^[1]

It could also be used as a means of communication, where magical people could have their head temporarily transported to another fireplace to speak to those at the destination fireplace.^[1]

Description[]

When thrown into a fire burning in a fireplace, Floo powder turned the previously normalflames into harmless, emerald green flames that rose higher than before.^[2][3] One had to toss a handful of powder into a fireplace connected to theFloo Network, walk into the flames, and state the desired destination loudly and clearly to ensure arrival in the proper location. This could be difficult due to the ash, heat and panic.^[1]

Floo powder could only be used once; so if done incorrectly, one could end up at the wrong location, whichViolet Tillyman did in1855,^[4] andHarry Potter did in1992.^[2]

While mid-travel, individuals were advised to keep their eyes shut (to keep thesoot out of them), keep their elbows tucked in (to avoid banging them on the passing fireplaces) and refrain from fidgeting and/or panicking (to avoid coming out of the wrong fireplace).^[2]

Transportation by Floo powder was much quicker than bybroomstick, but slower thanApparition. However, unlike Apparition, one did not require a licence to use Floo powder. It could also be used when one placed only their head into the flames, to partially transport themselves to another location for direct communication.^[1]

Molly Weasley kept her household stock of Floo powder in a flowerpot on her mantle.^[2]

History[]

Floo powder was invented byIgnatia Wildsmith in the thirteenth century. Its manufacture was strictly controlled. The only licenced producer in Britain wasFloo-Pow, a company whose Headquarters was inDiagon Alley, and who never answered their front door.^[1]

No shortage of Floo powder was ever reported, nor did anybody know anyone who made it. Its price remained constant for one hundred years: twoSickles a scoop. Every wizard household carried a stock of Floo powder, usually conveniently located in a box or vase on the mantelpiece.^[1]

Although Floo powder's main ingredient wasFloo, its precise composition was a closely guarded secret. Those who tried to ‘make their own’ were universally unsuccessful. At least once a year,St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries reported what they called a ‘Faux Floo’ injury — in other words, somebody had thrown a homemade powder onto a fire and suffered the consequences. As irate Healer and St Mungo’s spokes-wizard,Rutherford Poke, said in 2010: "It's twoSickles a scoop, people, so stop being cheap, stop throwing powderedRunespoor fangs on the fire and stop blowing yourselves out of the chimney! If one more wizard comes in here with a burned backside, I swear I won't treat him. It's two Sickles a scoop!"^[1]

Use[]

In thewizarding world, Floo powder was used as a quick means of transportation.^[2] It was often used by adult wizards when travelling with underage wizards (who were notlicenced toApparate)^[5] the elderly or the infirm. It was also a more regulated means of transportation that could be used without fear of breaking theInternational Statute of Secrecy,^[4] in special circumstances to travel to and from secure locations that were often inaccessible byApparition, such asHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry^[6][7] theBritish Ministry of Magic, and theMuggle Prime Minister's office.^[8] Finally, there was little to no danger of serious injury, unlikeApparition.^[4]

The connection of fireplaces to theFloo Network required the permission of theMinistry of Magic, which was responsible for the regulation of the Floo service and preventedMuggle fireplaces from becoming inadvertently joined up. Disconnection from theFloo Network was much simpler, requiring only the use of a simplespell.^[4]

Floo powder was also used as means of communication, as an individual's head could be transported to the destination fireplace while the individual's body remained at the origin.^{[9][10][11][12][13][14]} It was a quicker and more interactive form of communication thanowl post. It was often used in cases where an immediate face-to-face meeting was necessary, butApparation was not practical or possible (such as to or fromHogwarts). In addition to the ability to transport only the head to the destination fireplace, it was also possible to transport other individual body parts^[12] or even just the individual's voice.^[15]

The protective enchantments that protectHogwarts did not allow individuals to utilise Floo powder as a means of transportation to leave or enter the school, but did allow transportation within the school. Individuals were also allowed to communicate via Floo powder atHogwarts, even to fireplaces outside ofHogwarts.^{[10][11][12][13][14]}

Known instances of use[]

Behind the scenes[]

• J. K. Rowling's use of "Floo" originates from the flue that you find on a chimney.^[4]
• The purpose in the creation of Floo powder and the Floo Network, according to J.K. Rowling, was to establish a way for young witches and wizards inthe story to travel around in compliance with the International Statute of Secrecy, which Rowling states was an inconvenient plot element that made it difficult for her to move her young characters over long distances.^[4]
• In thenovels, one must toss a handful of Floo powder onto the flames and when the fire turns green, one must speak the destination and enter the flames. However in thefilm adaptation ofHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, one stands in the fireplace recites the destination, drops the powder and the growing green flames swallow the traveller and they reappear at the aforementioned destination.
  • This is changed however in thefilm adaptation ofHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix when Harry attempted to useDolores Umbridge's fireplace to go and saveSirius Black.
• The appearance of Floo Powder when thrown into a fire is similar toBorax, which creates a yellow-green flame when burned.

Appearances[]

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)(Appears on aFamous Wizard Card)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets(First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)(All versions except PC)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play)
• J. K. Rowling's official site
• Pottermore
• HarryPotter.com
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened(Mentioned inHistory of Magic classes)
• Hogwarts Legacy(Mentioned only)

Notes and references[]

See also[]

• Floo Network Authority
• Flooboost Pro
• Portkey