======Ministry of Magic Employee======
=====Introduction=====
A **[[Ministry of Magic]] Employee** is any [[witch]] or [[wizard]] who works for the [[Ministry of Magic]], the main governing body of the magical community of [[Great Britain]]. These individuals are responsible for administering and enforcing [[wizarding law]], maintaining the [[International Statute of Secrecy]], and managing all facets of organised magical society, from transportation and sports to foreign relations and the study of arcane magic. The collective body of employees represents a vast and often inefficient bureaucracy, with roles ranging from high-ranking officials like the [[Minister for Magic]] to menial workers in maintenance. Their primary workplace is the [[Ministry of Magic]] headquarters, located deep beneath Whitehall in [[London]].
=====Roles and Responsibilities=====
Employment at the [[Ministry of Magic]] is structured into several departments, each with specialised functions and a distinct hierarchy. The duties of an employee are dictated by their assigned department and specific role within it.
  * **[[Department of Magical Law Enforcement]]:** This is the largest department and acts as a combination of police force and justice system.
    * **[[Auror]] Office:** Employs elite [[Auror]]s who track down and apprehend [[Dark Wizard]]s.
    * **[[Wizengamot]] Administration Services:** Manages the wizarding high court of law, the [[Wizengamot]].
    * **Improper Use of Magic Office:** Investigates and penalises violations of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery. [[Mafalda Hopkirk]] worked here.
    * **Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office:** Headed by [[Arthur Weasley]], this small office deals with enchanted [[Muggle]] objects.
  * **[[Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes]]:** Responsible for cleaning up magical mishaps, especially those witnessed by Muggles.
    * **Accidental Magic Reversal Squad:** Reverses the effects of unintentional magic.
    * **[[Obliviator]] Headquarters:** Employs [[Obliviator]]s to modify the memories of [[Muggle]] witnesses using [[Memory Charm]]s.
    * **Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee:** Creates non-magical explanations for major magical incidents.
  * **[[Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures]]:** Manages the welfare and classification of all magical creatures.
    * **Beast, Being, and Spirit Divisions:** Handles different classifications of creatures.
    * **Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures:** Responsible for dealing with creatures that pose a threat, such as the case involving [[Buckbeak]] the [[Hippogriff]].
    * **Werewolf Registry** and **Werewolf Capture Unit**.
  * **[[Department of International Magical Cooperation]]:** Handles foreign affairs and relations with magical governments of other countries. [[Percy Weasley]] and [[Barty Crouch Sr.]] both worked in this department.
  * **[[Department of Magical Transportation]]:** Regulates all forms of magical transport.
    * **[[Floo Network]] Authority:** Controls the network of enchanted fireplaces.
    * **Broom Regulatory Control:**
    * **[[Portkey]] Office:**
    * **[[Apparition]] Test Centre:** Licenses witches and wizards for [[Apparition]].
  * **[[Department of Magical Games and Sports]]:** Oversees sporting events like the [[Quidditch World Cup]] and regulates official leagues. [[Ludo Bagman]] was the Head of this department.
  * **[[Department of Mysteries]]:** The most secretive department, its employees, known as [[Unspeakable]]s, conduct confidential research on the most profound mysteries of magic, including [[Time]], [[Death]], and [[Love]].
=====General Demeanor and Dress Code=====
The typical Ministry employee is often depicted as a serious-minded bureaucrat. Many, like [[Percy Weasley]], exhibit a sense of self-importance and rigid adherence to rules. While some, like [[Arthur Weasley]], are kind and curious, the general atmosphere of the Ministry fosters a formal and often impersonal demeanor.
Most employees wear [[robes]] to work, with the color and quality varying. For example, junior employees might wear plain polyester robes, while high-ranking officials like [[Cornelius Fudge]] wear pinstriped or lime-green robes. Some employees, particularly those in offices like the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, may wear a combination of wizarding and [[Muggle]] clothing. All employees entering the Ministry headquarters must present themselves for a security check and receive a visitor's badge. During the [[Second Wizarding War]], under [[Lord Voldemort]]'s control, employees used special enchanted coins for entry.
=====Required Skills and Qualifications=====
Qualifications for a Ministry position vary greatly by department and rank. Generally, respectable [[O.W.L.]] and [[N.E.W.T.]] scores from [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] are required for entry-level positions. More demanding roles have stricter requirements; for instance, acceptance into the [[Auror]] training programme requires a minimum of five N.E.W.T.s with top grades in subjects like [[Potions]], [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]], and [[Transfiguration]].
Beyond academic success, employees must demonstrate competence in magic relevant to their work. An [[Obliviator]] must be an expert at [[Memory Charm]]s, while an employee in the Department of Mysteries must possess a high level of intelligence and discretion. Political acumen and connections are also shown to be crucial for advancement, as seen in the careers of [[Cornelius Fudge]] and [[Rufus Scrimgeour]].
=====Typical Equipment and Possessions=====
  * **[[Wand]]:** The essential tool for any [[witch]] or [[wizard]].
  * **[[Inter-Departmental Memos]]:** Enchanted purple paper aeroplanes that fly through the Ministry corridors to deliver messages, preventing the need for internal owls.
  * **Official Documents:** Employees handle a vast amount of paperwork, from official forms and reports to court transcripts and creature registrations.
  * **Identification:** Employees use a special token or badge to pass through the security gates at the Ministry atrium.
=====Interaction with the Wizarding Community=====
The relationship between Ministry employees and the general public is complex. They are the face of the wizarding government and are viewed with a mixture of respect, annoyance, and distrust. During the tenures of [[Cornelius Fudge]] and [[Pius Thicknesse]], the Ministry's credibility plummeted due to its denial of [[Lord Voldemort]]'s return and its subsequent takeover by [[Death Eater]]s. Employees like [[Dolores Umbridge]] embodied the worst aspects of the Ministry: a lust for power, prejudice, and a willingness to abuse authority. In contrast, figures like [[Arthur Weasley]] and [[Kingsley Shacklebolt]] represent the integrity and dedication of those who genuinely work for the betterment of the magical world. After the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], [[Kingsley Shacklebolt]] became Minister and worked to purge the Ministry of corruption.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * In the film adaptations, most [[Ministry of Magic]] employees are depicted wearing formal [[Muggle]] business attire (suits and dresses from the 1940s-50s era) rather than the [[robes]] predominantly described in the books. This was a stylistic choice to blend the magical government with a recognizable, real-world bureaucratic aesthetic (film).
  * J.K. Rowling has stated that her experience working for Amnesty International provided some inspiration for the portrayal of a large, complex, and sometimes frustrating bureaucracy like the Ministry (J.K. Rowling interview).