Wizards and Technology

The WWN

The Wizarding Wireless Network (usually abbreviated to WWN ) is a popular wizarding wireless station. After Voldemort’s era, the WWN has expanded to using televisions, on which they now stream quidditch games, live feeds of concerts, news (directly from the Ministry of Magic), and even cooking shows.

Most wizard-born children grew up listening to the station on the radio. Now, many wizards own television sets of their own, in color, and can even program muggle stations if they so desire.

Telephones, cell phones, internet.

Wizards have not adopted any of these into their communities. In terms of communication, they still prefer owling, head-only floo transport, two-way mirrors, or any other magical means of communications. 

Transportation

Likewise, most wizards apparate, floo, portkey, or use broomsticks as their means of transportation. Some wizards have flying cars, but cars are defined as a Muggle artifacts, and are, therefore, illegal to enchant under British wizarding law. Nevertheless, the British Ministry is known to have a fleet of flying cars and can navigate traffic with ease.

The Task Force’s headquarters is in the Kenwood House. Kenwood House is a former stately home, in Hampstead, London, on the northern boundary of Hampstead Heath. The house was originally constructed in the 17th century and served as a residence for the Earls of Mansfield through the 18th and 19th centuries. Part of the estate was bought by the Guinness family in the early 20th century, and the whole property and grounds came under ownership of the London County Council and was open to the public by the end of the 1920s. 

Now, it is “under heavy renovations” according to muggles. Muggles will be turned away before they even step foot on the property with thoughts such as, “Oh no, I left my stove on!” or “I think I just lost my keys. I’ve got to find them!” 

British Ministry of Magic

The headquarters of the Ministry are in Whitehall, in central London, deep underground. It is headed by the Minister for Magic. As of 2019, the Minister for Magic is Hermione Granger. Each Prime Minister of Great Britain is visited by the Minister for Magic. 

Visitors’ Entrance A visitor to the Ministry of Magic comes to a broken-down red telephone box located on a dingy street which has several shabby offices, a pub, and a wall covered with graffiti. When the telephone in the box is dialled (62442, the word M-A-G-I-C), the welcome witch’s voice answers, not from the phone but from the air as if the person is standing right there. Visitors must state their business, upon which a silver badge pops out with the visitor’s name and purpose of visit. Then the telephone box drops down like a lift for about one minute, after which the visitor is in the Atrium.

The Atrium The Atrium, located on level 8, is a large hall with fireplaces up and down both long walls. Down the left-hand side of the hall are gilded fireplaces which witches and wizards can use to arrive at the Ministry. The right-hand side contains gilded fireplaces as well, and these are used for departures. The floor is polished dark wood. The ceiling is peacock blue with golden symbols moving across it. The Fountain of Magical Brethren lies halfway down the Atrium. A group of golden statues, depicting a wizard, a witch, a centaur, a goblin, and a house-elf, spout water into the surrounding pool of water. 

At the end of the Atrium is a set of golden gates, next to which is a security stand. The Watchwizard registers the wands of visitors. Another smaller hall is beyond the gates and here there is a series of lifts. The lifts provide access to the other levels, except the tenth.

Levels Level one is the location of the offices of the Minister for Magic and other administrative staff. Level two is the location of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Level three houses the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. Level four contains the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Level five is the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Level six contains the Department of Magical Transportation. Level seven is the location of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. Level eight is the Atrium and Level nine is the Department of Mysteries.

Level ten can only be reached by the stairs to the left of the door which leads to the Department of Mysteries on level nine. Courtroom Ten was first seen during Harry’s first forays into Dumbledore’s Pensieve, when he witnessed various Death Eater trials. Dungeon-like corridors lead to Courtroom Ten. The walls of the courtroom are dark stone. In the centre of the room is a chair covered in chains that stands below rows of high benches on which the Wizengamot sit.