Writing Instrument

• Type: General Magical Equipment; School Supplies
• Owners: Virtually all witches and wizards, including students and staff at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ministry of Magic employees, and journalists.
• Maker: Various magical artisans and manufacturers, such as those supplying shops in Diagon Alley. Novelty versions are created by companies like Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

The most common writing instrument in the wizarding world is the Quill, a pen made from the flight feather of a large bird, such as a goose, swan, or eagle. Quills must be regularly dipped into an inkwell to write on Parchment, the standard writing material that wizards and witches use in place of Muggle paper. Ink is available in various colours, with black being the standard for schoolwork and official documents. Enchanted inks also exist, such as colour-changing ink and invisible ink. While quills are the norm, some individuals with Muggle exposure, like Hermione Granger and Harry Potter, occasionally use Muggle pens or biros. Arthur Weasley also expresses a keen interest in these items due to his fascination with Muggle artifacts. However, the broader magical community staunchly adheres to the traditional use of quills and Parchment.

Beyond the standard Quill, numerous enchanted writing instruments exist, each with specific magical properties.

• Quick-Quotes Quill: A pernicious magical quill, lime green in colour, that writes automatically as a person speaks. It has a tendency to twist words and invent sensationalist quotes without the user's input. It was famously used by Rita Skeeter for her articles in the Daily Prophet.
• Spell-Checking Quill: A highly useful quill enchanted to automatically correct the user's spelling mistakes as they write. Hermione Granger owned one, and Ron Weasley expressed a desire for one before his O.W.L.s. They are sold at shops like Flourish and Blotts.
• Anti-Cheating Quill: These quills are bewitched with an Anti-Cheating Spell and are distributed to students at Hogwarts before major examinations like the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s to prevent academic dishonesty.
• Blood Quill: A dark and forbidden instrument of torture disguised as a writing implement. It is a long, thin black quill with an unusually sharp nib. It magically writes using the writer's own blood as ink, carving the words into the back of their hand and causing immense pain and permanent scarring. It requires no Ink of its own. Dolores Umbridge used one on Harry Potter and other students as a form of punishment.
• Auto-Answering Quill: A type of quill enchanted to write answers to questions on its own. It is a banned item in Hogwarts examinations.
• Tom Riddle's Diary: While primarily a Horcrux, the diary also functioned as a unique writing instrument. When a person wrote in its blank pages, the enchanted ink would disappear, and a response from the memory of Tom Riddle would appear in its place, facilitating a two-way written conversation.

The use of quills, Ink, and Parchment is a long-standing tradition in the wizarding world, reflecting its general tendency to eschew Muggle technology in favour of magical methods. This tradition is deeply ingrained in all aspects of wizarding life, from education at Hogwarts to the administration of the Ministry of Magic. Certain enchanted quills have played significant roles in recent history. During the 1994-1995 school year, Rita Skeeter's Quick-Quotes Quill was instrumental in a widespread smear campaign against Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore, shaping public opinion and making Harry's life exceptionally difficult. In the 1995-1996 school year, the Ministry of Magic's tyrannical influence at Hogwarts was epitomized by Dolores Umbridge's use of a Blood Quill for her detentions. This act of cruelty served as a potent symbol of the Ministry's corruption and left Harry with a permanent physical and psychological scar.

Writing instruments are central to the daily life and plot of the series. As fundamental tools for communication and education, quills and Parchment are ubiquitous in scenes involving homework, letter writing, and official notices. Beyond their mundane function, specific quills act as powerful plot devices. The Quick-Quotes Quill drives much of the narrative conflict in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by creating a false public image of Harry. The Blood Quill in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a critical element for demonstrating the true nature of Dolores Umbridge's evil and the oppressive regime she represents. The scar it leaves, “I must not tell lies,” becomes a recurring physical reminder of Harry's trauma and defiance. Finally, Tom Riddle's Diary serves as both a communication device and the central threat in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, showing how even a seemingly innocuous object can contain the darkest of magic.

• According to the Wizarding World website, the type of feather used for a Quill can be significant. Pheasant feathers are favoured for their flamboyant appearance, while eagle feathers are said to lend power and authority to one's writing. (Pottermore)
• The films visually distinguished the various quills. The Quick-Quotes Quill is shown floating in mid-air and scribbling furiously on a notepad, while the scenes depicting the use of the Blood Quill are stark and visceral, emphasizing the pain it inflicts. (film)
• The Wizarding World website also mentions the existence of Self-Inking and Self-Correcting Quills as more advanced and expensive alternatives to standard models. (Pottermore)