Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======Extendable Ear====== =====Object Information===== * **Type:** [[Magical Device]], [[Eavesdropping]] implement * **Owners:** [[Fred Weasley]], [[George Weasley]], [[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], [[Hermione Granger]] * **Maker:** [[Fred Weasley]] and [[George Weasley]] =====Description and Appearance===== An [[Extendable Ear]] is a magical listening device that appears as a long, thin, flesh-coloured piece of string. One end of the string is inserted into the user's ear, while the other, the "ear" end, is positioned near the source of the sound to be overheard, such as by being slipped under a door. The device functions as a magical form of ear-trumpet, channelling sound directly to the listener with remarkable clarity. =====Magical Properties and Usage===== The primary function of an [[Extendable Ear]] is to allow a user to eavesdrop on conversations from a distance and through solid barriers like wooden doors. The sound travels magically along the length of the string to the listener's ear. * **Limitations:** * The effectiveness of an [[Extendable Ear]] can be nullified by certain defensive spells. [[Molly Weasley]] successfully blocked one by casting an [[Imperturbable Charm]] on a kitchen door, which prevented the [[Extendable Ear]] from penetrating its magical barrier. * Physical interference can also disrupt its use. [[Hermione Granger]]'s cat, [[Crookshanks]], famously treated the end of an [[Extendable Ear]] as a toy, batting it away from a door and rendering it useless. =====History===== The [[Extendable Ear]] is an original invention of [[Fred Weasley]] and [[George Weasley]]. It was one of the first products developed for their joke shop enterprise, [[Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes]], created during the summer of 1995. They funded their research and development using the one-thousand [[Galleon]] prize money that [[Harry Potter]] had given them from his [[Triwizard Tournament]] winnings. =====Role in the Story===== The [[Extendable Ear]] plays a recurring role as an important tool for gathering intelligence throughout the series. * In //Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix//, [[Fred Weasley]], [[George Weasley]], [[Ron Weasley]], [[Hermione Granger]], and [[Ginny Weasley]] use [[Extendable Ears]] to spy on [[Order of the Phoenix]] meetings at [[12 Grimmauld Place]]. They manage to learn key details about [[Voldemort]]'s plans before being thwarted by their mother. * In //Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince//, [[Harry Potter]] uses an [[Extendable Ear]] to listen to a suspicious conversation between [[Draco Malfoy]] and [[Mr Borgin]] in [[Borgin and Burkes]]. This event solidifies Harry's belief that Malfoy has become a [[Death Eater]] and is involved in a dark plot. * In //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows//, the [[Extendable Ear]] proves to be a vital survival tool for Harry, Ron, and Hermione while they are on the run. They use it to monitor their surroundings for danger. Most significantly, they use it to overhear a conversation between [[Ted Tonks]], [[Dirk Cresswell]], [[Dean Thomas]], and the goblins [[Gornuk]] and [[Griphook]]. From this, they learn that the [[Sword of Gryffindor]] at [[Hogwarts]] is a fake and that the real one was moved to a [[Lestrange Vault|Lestrange]] vault at [[Gringotts]], a piece of information crucial to their hunt for [[Horcrux]]es. They also learn about the Taboo curse placed on [[Voldemort]]'s name. =====Behind the Scenes===== * The [[Extendable Ear]] is a magical enhancement of the real-world acoustic device known as an ear-trumpet, which was historically used as a hearing aid. * In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix//, the [[Extendable Ears]] are visually depicted much as they are described in the novel, appearing as long, flesh-coloured cords used by the Weasley children to eavesdrop on the [[Order of the Phoenix]]. (film)
