======The Golden Snitch======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Quidditch]] Equipment, Magical Device
  * **Owners:** [[Ministry of Magic]] (as game regulators), [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], [[Harry Potter]] (specifically the one caught in his first match)
  * **Maker:** [[Bowman Wright]] of [[Godric's Hollow]] (Quidditch Through the Ages)
=====Description and Appearance=====
The [[Golden Snitch]], often referred to simply as the **Snitch**, is a tiny, walnut-sized golden ball with fluttering silver wings. It is bewitched to be incredibly fast and to dart around the [[Quidditch]] pitch in unpredictable patterns, making it extremely difficult to see and catch.
A key feature of every [[Snitch]] is its **Flesh Memory**, an enchantment that allows it to identify the first person who touches it. This is a crucial security measure to resolve any disputes over its capture. For this reason, a new [[Snitch]] is used for every official match and is not handled by anyone, including the [[Referee]], before its release.
The specific [[Snitch]] that [[Harry Potter]] caught in his first-ever [[Hogwarts]] match was later bequeathed to him by [[Albus Dumbledore]]. This particular [[Snitch]] had a mysterious inscription that only became visible when Harry touched it to his lips: //"I open at the close."//
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
The primary purpose of the [[Golden Snitch]] is its role in the sport of [[Quidditch]]. It is the smallest and most important of the three types of balls used in a match.
  * **Game-Ending Capture:** The game of [[Quidditch]] does not end until the [[Snitch]] is caught by one of the team's [[Seekers]].
  * **Point Award:** The successful capture of the [[Snitch]] awards the [[Seeker]]'s team 150 points, an amount almost always sufficient to win the match.
  * **Flesh Memory:** As mentioned, this enchantment ensures that the [[Snitch]] can identify its captor, preventing foul play. This is why [[Seekers]] are forbidden from wearing gloves or touching the [[Snitch]] with anything other than their bare hands.
The [[Snitch]] left to [[Harry Potter]] by [[Dumbledore]] possessed unique enchantments. It was bewitched to hold an object within it—the [[Resurrection Stone]]—and would only reveal itself to Harry under a specific condition. The phrase "//I open at the close//" referred not to the end of a [[Quidditch]] match, but to the moment Harry willingly accepted his own death ("the close" of his life) before facing [[Lord Voldemort]].
=====History=====
The [[Golden Snitch]] was invented as a replacement for the [[Golden Snidget]], a small, exceptionally fast magical bird. The use of the live [[Snidget]] in early [[Quidditch]] matches was a tradition started in 1269 by [[Barberus Bragge]], the Chief of the [[Wizards' Council]]. This practice drove the species to the brink of extinction and was eventually outlawed by the [[Ministry of Magic]].
To preserve the sport, the skilled metal-charmer [[Bowman Wright]] of [[Godric's Hollow]] invented the mechanical [[Golden Snitch]] to replicate the size, speed, and flight patterns of the [[Golden Snidget]]. His creation was a triumph and was quickly adopted as the standard for all [[Quidditch]] games (Quidditch Through the Ages).
[[Harry Potter]]'s relationship with the [[Snitch]] began during his first year at [[Hogwarts]], when he was made the [[Gryffindor]] [[Seeker]]. In his debut match against [[Slytherin]], he accidentally caught the [[Snitch]] in his mouth, a highly unusual but valid capture that won the game. This specific [[Snitch]] was later used by [[Albus Dumbledore]] as a vessel to pass the [[Resurrection Stone]] to Harry.
=====Role in the Story=====
The [[Golden Snitch]] serves two major purposes in the series. Initially, it is the device that establishes [[Harry Potter]]'s innate talent as a flyer and his importance as a [[Quidditch]] player. His ability to spot and catch it brings him fame within [[Hogwarts]] and serves as a source of pride and accomplishment outside of his struggles with [[Lord Voldemort]].
In //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows//, the [[Snitch]] becomes a critical plot device. When [[Minister for Magic]] [[Rufus Scrimgeour]] presents [[Dumbledore]]'s will, Harry inherits the first [[Snitch]] he ever caught. For months, Harry, [[Hermione Granger]], and [[Ron Weasley]] puzzle over the meaning of its inscription, "//I open at the close//." The answer is revealed in the story's climax. As Harry walks to the [[Forbidden Forest]] to sacrifice himself, he realizes the "close" means his death. He whispers, "I am about to die," and the [[Snitch]] opens, revealing the [[Resurrection Stone]]. This allows him to summon the spirits of his parents, [[Sirius Black]], and [[Remus Lupin]], who give him the courage to face [[Voldemort]] and fulfill his destiny.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * The history of the [[Golden Snitch]]'s invention and its connection to the near-extinction of the [[Golden Snidget]] is detailed in the supplementary book //Quidditch Through the Ages//, written by J.K. Rowling.
  * In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1//, the inscription "//I open at the close//" appears magically on the [[Snitch]]'s surface as Harry brings it close to his mouth. The film also provides a detailed visual of the intricate mechanics as it opens. (film)