Harry Potter: Ministry Only Took Away Most Fun Magic to Keep Wizards in Check

Summary:

• In the Wizarding World, magic is artificially restricted for different groups of population to control them.
• Wizards are not taught wandless magic, allowing the Ministry to control their only magical mediums.
• Other species, in turn, are not allowed to make or have wands, which hampers their abilities.

When we, together with young Harry Potter, enter the Wizarding World for the first time, we only see the colorful sparks and hear cheery music: this world is captivating and thoroughly magical, and these cool guys can do anything with their wands!.. But the longer you look at it and the deeper into the books you go, the more you notice just how many fun and seemingly essential kinds of magic the Ministry banned.

All to better control the Wizarding World’s population and better sanction it.

Wandless Magic Isn’t Taught Anywhere

At some point, we discover that wandless magic exists in the world of Harry Potter; but it isn’t taught at Hogwarts, and the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students also don’t seem to use it. In the world which just underwent two Wizarding Wars, it must be clear that wandless magic could save lives: a wandless Accio to grab the wand when Death Eaters enter your house, at the very least!

And yet, it’s barely ever mentioned and is not taught at schools. Why? Control.

Wands can be taken away, broken, or disarmed; they are merely magical tools. The Ministry uses them to control wizards because it’s easy. You were sentenced to Azkaban or even just dropped out of Hogwarts? Say goodbye to your only magical medium, kid! And someone who knows wandless magic can’t be disarmed.

Magical Wands Are Exclusively for Wizards

At the same time, other sentient beings are locked into wandless magic with no alternative. Wizards make sure to keep wand-making technology a secret from other magical races and have complete monopoly on these powerful mediums. That, too, helps control those who are different: wands allow for simpler and quicker magic.

It’s the same story as with wizards, only the restriction is ironically mirrored.

We know that other magical species have been petitioning for access to wands for centuries, but in vain. For this reason alone, the whole “I don’t discriminate Muggleborns” thing sounds ridiculous: like, okay, pat yourself on the back — but then, go and talk to those tens of thousands of Merepeople, Goblins, Centaurs, House-Elves, Giants, and all the others. They’d like to have a word or two.