Elijah Williams
Some of the most fascinating items in the Harry Potter series, like Veritaserum and Pensieves, were sadly underutilized.
Summary
- The world of Harry Potter is full of magical items that were often introduced and then forgotten about, despite their potential usefulness in various situations.
- Items like Veritaserum, Sneakoscopes, Pensieves, and Felix Felicis could have been utilized more to solve problems or gain important information.
- Despite their unique capabilities, items like the Two-Way Mirrors, Remembralls, Foe-Glass, Time-Turners, Marauder’s Map, and Mrs. Weasley’s Clock were not fully utilized or replicated in the series.
The world of Harry Potter is brimming with enchanting magical items, many of which deserved more attention. This has been a common criticism of the wizarding world—it fails to fully embrace its own inventions. Throughout the series, we would see a magical tool introduced, used briefly, and then forgotten, even when it could have made situations much easier.
Of course, there are valid reasons for this. Just because a potion or invention is useful doesn’t mean it’s safe to use in all circumstances. However, given the dire situations in the Harry Potter series, it’s hard to believe that Albus Dumbledore or the Minister for Magic couldn’t have obtained an extra vial of Veritaserum or brought along the Pensieve for important interviews. In other cases, if only one of a particular magical item existed, their unique abilities should have warranted mass production. Regardless of the reasons, these Harry Potter objects definitely deserved more screen time.
10 Veritaserum
Veritaserum, also known as the Truth Potion, was a powerful tool in the world of Harry Potter. It had the ability to make anyone who drank it tell the truth, although it worked best on those who weren’t expecting it. While it couldn’t be used in most criminal cases, it could have been incredibly useful for someone like Dumbledore. Imagine if he had used Veritaserum to ensure he hired only the best teachers for Hogwarts, we might have avoided some villains in the staff.
9 Sneakoscope
One magical item that didn’t make it into the Harry Potter movies was the Sneakoscope. Ron gave Harry one for his birthday in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This spinning-top-looking instrument would whistle and whir if someone nearby was up to no good. It even detected Scabbers, although Harry assumed it was just broken. It’s surprising that Harry didn’t keep one on him at all times, especially considering how effective even the cheap ones were at sensing secrets.
8 Pensieves
The Pensieve was a frequently used magical item in the Harry Potter series, but it was often used for mundane purposes. Dumbledore used it to organize his memories, while Snape used it to store memories he wanted to keep hidden. Fortunately, Harry was able to use the Pensieve to witness scenes he couldn’t have seen otherwise, providing crucial information to both him and the audience. However, it’s a shame that the Pensieve was never utilized in a criminal trial, as it could have been a valuable tool.
7 Felix Felicis
Felix Felicis, also known as Liquid Luck, was a potion that granted the drinker extraordinary luck. It played a significant role in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, but it’s surprising that it wasn’t used more often. With its ability to ensure success in any endeavor, it could have been a game-changer in many situations. Imagine if Harry had used Felix Felicis during the Triwizard Tournament or if the Order of the Phoenix had used it during their missions. The possibilities are endless.
A plot hole that Harry Potter is often accused of is the underutilization of Felix Felicis, but the series did come ready with an answer. As Professor Slughorn explained, Liquid Luck can be deadly if used too much and can lead a user to become dangerously overconfident. It’s also tough to brew, so only the most talented wizards could get their hands on it. Still, Dumbledore was a competent wizard, and since he knew Harry would have to face off against the greatest Dark wizard of all time, he could have kept a bottle around just in case.
6
Two-Way Mirrors
The mirror Harry used to contact Aberforth Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was first introduced in the Order of the Phoenix book. It had initially belonged to Sirius Black, who had used the two mirrors with James Potter back during their Hogwarts days. It was a nifty method of communication—far more efficient than owl mail or using Floo Powder to communicate through flames. Regardless, it was only truly used in Harry Potter when Aberforth used it to save Harry’s life.
5
Remembralls
The Remembrall is a memorable item from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Neville had received one from his Gran after starting at Hogwarts, and it wound up being the thing that would prove that Harry had what it took to be a great Quidditch Seeker. Of course, this wasn’t its intended purpose. The Remembrall is supposed to alert its users if they have forgotten something. Unfortunately, the objects were never seen again in the Harry Potter series after the first installment. Really, it seems like it would have been in the robe pockets of every witch or wizard.
4
Foe-Glass
Mad-Eye Moody loved his anti-Dark items and brought far more along with him than any other wizard. When Barty Crouch Jr was impersonating him in Harry Potter, he brought the old Auror’s Foe-Glass to Hogwarts. The giant magnifying glass is supposed to show the shadowy forms of a person’s enemies. If their image became clear, it meant they were nearby. This would have been handy when everyone thought Sirius Black was trying to kill Harry.
3 Time-Turners
Time-turners became such a problem in the Harry Potter series that the author conveniently eliminated them in Order of the Phoenix. The time-traveling devices came in handy in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, when Harry and Hermione used one to go back in time to save Sirius and Buckbeak. Of course, it would have been tempting to use it to save Sirius’ life again in Order of the Phoenix, but the Ministry of Magic’s entire supply was destroyed in the battle. Still, it’s absurd that no one would have thought to use it before Prisoner of Azkaban or that work wouldn’t have been done to create more after.
2 The Marauder’s Map
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There was no other item in Harry Potter like the Marauder’s Map. It had been created by James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, and though it was really just a version of the Humunculous charm, it possessed several features that were entirely unique to this piece of parchment. Regardless, Harry didn’t use it nearly as much as he might have. What’s more, it seems that those who knew about this map would be interested in duplicating its powers. Of course, this never happened.
1 Mrs. Weasley’s Clock
The Burrow is filled with an array of useful domestic tools, one of which is Mrs. Weasley’s extraordinary clock. This remarkable timepiece displays the whereabouts of each member of the Weasley family at any given moment, making it an invaluable asset for a mother with seven children. In the enchanting world of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, even Dumbledore himself referred to this clock as “marvelous,” suggesting its rarity among wizarding households. This begs the question, “why?” If such a remarkable invention exists, one would assume that every family would desire one. Surprisingly, even Mrs. Weasley herself did not utilize the clock in certain situations where it could have proven convenient, such as when the mischievous Golden Trio, consisting of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, found themselves embroiled in unauthorized adventures, like their daring infiltration of the Ministry of Magic.
