======Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Law of Magic]], [[Elemental Transfiguration]]
  * **Owners:** Not Applicable
  * **Maker:** [[Gamp]]
=====Description and Appearance=====
As a magical law, Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration has no physical form. It is a fundamental, governing principle of [[magic]], specifically within the advanced field of [[Transfiguration]].
The law delineates the boundaries of [[Conjuration]], establishing that while a skilled [[witch]] or [[wizard]] can create, or conjure, a vast number of objects and substances from thin air, there are specific, defined things that cannot be created //ex nihilo// (from nothing). These are known as the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law.
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
The primary function of Gamp's Law is to define the absolute limits of [[Conjuration]]. While many inanimate objects can be conjured at will, the five Principal Exceptions represent categories of items that are impossible to create magically from nothing. Of these five exceptions, only one is explicitly identified in the original novels.
  * **1. [[Food]]:** It is impossible to conjure food. As [[Hermione Granger]] explains, "no one can" produce food out of thin air. However, [[magic]] can still be applied to food in other ways:
    *   It can be summoned from a known location using a [[Summoning Charm]] like //[[Accio]]//.
    *   The quantity of an existing food supply can be magically increased, as [[Mrs Weasley]] is known to do.
    *   It can be transformed or cooked using [[magic]].
The other four Principal Exceptions are never explicitly named in the novels. It is also understood that certain concepts and items, while not necessarily one of the five formal exceptions, are impossible to magically create, such as [[love]] and [[life]]. It is also impossible to conjure genuine [[money]], as it would be detectable as fake and would destabilize the [[wizarding economy]].
=====History=====
The law is named for its creator, the [[wizard]] [[Gamp]], though no further details about him or the circumstances of the law's discovery are provided in the novels.
The law is first and only mentioned by name in //[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]//. In 1997, while on the run and hiding from [[Lord Voldemort]]'s forces, [[Ron Weasley]] complains about their lack of food. [[Hermione Granger]] cites Gamp's Law to explain why she cannot simply conjure a meal for them, despite her considerable magical talent. This reveal establishes a critical limitation that adds to the trio's suffering and desperation during their hunt for [[Voldemort]]'s [[Horcruxes]].
=====Role in the Story=====
Gamp's Law is a crucial piece of world-building, serving to ground the magical system of the [[Harry Potter]] universe with concrete rules and limitations. It prevents [[magic]] from being a limitless solution to all problems, thereby introducing stakes and driving the narrative.
During the Horcrux hunt, the law's prohibition on creating [[food]] directly impacts the plot. It forces [[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]] to resort to scavenging and relying on meager supplies, adding a layer of mundane hardship and realism to their quest. This constant deprivation fuels the tension within the group, contributing significantly to [[Ron]]'s frustration and his temporary abandonment of Harry and Hermione.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * J.K. Rowling has stated that the other four exceptions are not [[love]], [[life]], or [[information]]. She noted that one can conjure a facsimile of a living thing, such as an [[Inferius]], but not a true being with a soul. (J.K. Rowling interview)
  * Rowling also confirmed that while [[money]] is not one of the five Principal Exceptions, it cannot be conjured from nothing. Any magically created [[gold]] or currency would be worthless, as the [[Goblins]] who run the [[wizarding economy]] have means of detecting counterfeit currency, which is why the [[Philosopher's Stone]] was so uniquely powerful. (J.K. Rowling interview)
  * The precise identity of the remaining four Principal Exceptions remains a popular topic of fan discussion and theory.