A History of Magic [Harry Potter Lexicon]

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======A History of Magic======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Textbook]]
  * **Owners:** Various [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] students, including [[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]].
  * **Maker:** Written by the magical historian [[Bathilda Bagshot]].
=====Description and Appearance=====
//A History of Magic// is a required [[textbook]] for the [[History of Magic]] course at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. The copy [[Harry Potter]] purchased for his first year is described as a heavy book bound in black leather.
The book is renowned among students for its extremely dense and dry writing style, making it notoriously difficult and tedious to read. [[Ron Weasley]] claimed it was "about as exciting as listening to [[Professor Binns]]," the ghostly teacher of the subject. The contents of the book are known to include detailed accounts of significant events in wizarding history, such as:
  * Goblin Rebellions
  * Giant Wars
  * The persecution of witches and wizards in the Middle Ages, including the use of the [[Flame-Freezing Charm]] to survive being burned at the stake.
  * The establishment and importance of the [[International Statute of Secrecy]].
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
As a standard book, //A History of Magic// possesses no inherent magical properties of its own. Its primary purpose is educational, serving as the core curriculum for the [[History of Magic]] subject at [[Hogwarts]].
Its usage among students varies greatly. Most, like [[Harry Potter]] and [[Ron Weasley]], find the book so dull that they often fall asleep while attempting to read it for homework assignments. In contrast, highly academic students like [[Hermione Granger]] read the book thoroughly, even for pleasure. [[Hermione Granger|Hermione's]] comprehensive knowledge of the book's contents frequently provided the trio with crucial historical context for the challenges they faced.
=====History=====
//A History of Magic// was authored by the celebrated magical historian [[Bathilda Bagshot]]. By the late 20th century, it had long been established as the definitive historical text for young witches and wizards and was a fixture on the [[Hogwarts]] booklist for all first-year students.
[[Bathilda Bagshot|Bathilda]] lived in [[Godric's Hollow]] and was a contemporary and acquaintance of [[Albus Dumbledore]]. Her reputation as the wizarding world's preeminent historian lent the book immense authority, even if its prose was considered uninspiring by its student readership. A copy published by Little Red Books in 1947 is known to exist (Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibition).
=====Role in the Story=====
Initially, the book serves to characterize the [[History of Magic]] class as the most boring subject at [[Hogwarts]], providing a mundane academic counterpoint to Harry's extraordinary experiences. It also effectively highlights the personality differences between the main trio: Harry and Ron's aversion to it underscores their focus on practical action, while Hermione's mastery of it showcases her intellectual diligence.
The book's significance elevates dramatically in //[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]//. Its author, [[Bathilda Bagshot]], becomes a person of immense interest to Harry and Hermione due to her connection with [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore's]] past. When the trio goes on the run, [[Hermione Granger]] packs a copy of //A History of Magic// in her beaded bag, believing its historical information could be vital. Their search for historical truths leads them to [[Godric's Hollow]] to seek out [[Bathilda Bagshot|Bathilda]] herself, a quest that results in a deadly confrontation with [[Nagini]], who was impersonating the long-deceased historian.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * On Pottermore, it was revealed that [[Bathilda Bagshot]] was the great-aunt of the Dark Wizard [[Gellert Grindelwald]], a fact that was not included in her book (Pottermore).
  * In the film adaptations, the prop for //A History of Magic// often features a more ornate cover design than the simple black leather binding described in the novel (film).
  * A real-world non-fiction book, //Harry Potter – A History of Magic//, was published in 2017 to accompany an exhibition of the same name at the British Library in London.