Editing Magic in Harry Potter (section)

{{Short description|none}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Overly detailed|date=November 2023}}
{{Tone|date=November 2023}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2023}}
}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Magic in ''Harry Potter''}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}

In the fictional universe of ''[[Fictional universe of Harry Potter|Harry Potter]]'', [[Magic in fiction|magic]] is depicted as a supernatural force that overrides the [[Physical law|laws of nature]]. In humans, magical ability is inborn and is usually inherited. Most children of magical parents are magical themselves. Some children of "[[Muggle]]" (non-magical) parents also display magical ability. Children who are born to wizard parents but are unable to perform magic are known as [[Blood purity (Harry Potter)#Squibs|Squibs]].<ref>{{cite web |title=FAQ |url=http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721042840/http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=19 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |website= jkrowling.com| publisher= J. K. Rowling |access-date=8 May 2017}}</ref>

[[J. K. Rowling]], the creator of ''Harry Potter'', based many magical elements in her fictional universe on [[Harry Potter influences and analogues|real-world mythology and folklore]]. She has described this derivation as "a way of giving texture to the world".<ref>{{cite episode |series=Harry Potter: A History of Magic |network=[[BBC]] |date=28 October 2017}}</ref> The magic of ''Harry Potter'' was the subject of a 2017 [[British Library]] exhibition and an accompanying documentary. The exhibition, entitled ''Harry Potter: A History of Magic'', was the first at the British Library to be based on a single series by a living author.<ref>{{cite news |last=Flood |first=Alison |date=8 August 2016 |title=Harry Potter's 20th birthday to be marked with British Library show |newspaper=The Guardian |url= https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/aug/08/harry-potters-20th-birthday-to-be-marked-with-british-library-show |access-date= 30 November 2017}}</ref>