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. ======Romania====== =====Location Information===== * **Type:** [[Country]] * **Location:** Southeastern Europe * **Owner/Residents:** [[Charlie Weasley]], various unnamed [[wizards]] and [[witches]], staff of the [[Romanian Dragon Sanctuary]]. * **Key Features:** Home to a major [[dragon]] reservation, the [[Romanian Dragon Sanctuary]]; has a national [[Quidditch]] team. =====Description and History===== Romania is a country in Southeastern Europe with a notable presence in the [[wizarding world]], primarily due to its connection with [[dragons]]. The country is the location of the world-renowned [[Romanian Dragon Sanctuary]], a large government-sanctioned reservation dedicated to the study, breeding, and conservation of various [[dragon]] species. This sanctuary attracts [[magizoologists]] and dragon-handlers from across the globe, including [[Charlie Weasley]], who made his career there after graduating from [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. Beyond its significance in dragonology, Romania also has a presence in the sport of [[Quidditch]], fielding a national team that competed in the 1994 [[Quidditch World Cup]]. The country is also mentioned in the fraudulent memoirs of [[Gilderoy Lockhart]], who falsely claimed to have had a harrowing encounter with a [[vampire]] there, for which he was awarded the Order of [[Merlin]], First Class. This indicates that Romania holds a certain reputation for dark and dangerous creatures in the collective wizarding consciousness, even if Lockhart's specific account was a lie. =====Role in the Story===== Romania plays a key, albeit distant, role in several important events throughout the series, largely through [[Charlie Weasley]]'s work. * In //Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone//, Romania is the destination for [[Norbert]], the baby [[Norwegian Ridgeback]] illegally hatched by [[Rubeus Hagrid]]. [[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]] arrange for a group of Charlie's friends to secretly collect the [[dragon]] from the top of the [[Astronomy Tower]] and transport it to the safety of the [[Romanian Dragon Sanctuary]]. * In //Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire//, Romania is the source of the four fully-grown [[dragons]] used for the [[First Task]] of the [[Triwizard Tournament]]. Charlie Weasley is part of the team of dragon-handlers who bring a [[Hungarian Horntail]], a [[Chinese Fireball]], a [[Swedish Short-Snout]], and another [[Norwegian Ridgeback]] to [[Hogwarts]]. * The country serves as the long-term residence of [[Charlie Weasley]], establishing his character as an adventurous individual dedicated to the study of dangerous [[magical creatures]], in contrast to his brothers who took up posts at the [[Ministry of Magic]] or [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]]. =====Known Areas Within===== * **[[Romanian Dragon Sanctuary]]**: The most significant wizarding location within Romania mentioned in the books. It is a vast nature reserve where [[dragons]] of many breeds live and are studied in their natural habitat. The sanctuary is heavily protected to keep its existence a secret from [[Muggles]]. It serves as a vital center for the global study and control of the [[dragon]] population. =====Behind the Scenes===== The choice of Romania as a center for [[dragon]] activity is likely a thematic nod to the country's association with the historical figure Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for the fictional character of Dracula. Vlad's father was a member of the Order of the Dragon, and Vlad himself was known as "Dracula," which can be translated as "Son of the Dragon." In Romanian, "drac" can mean devil, but "draco" means dragon. This historical link provides a rich, folkloric backdrop for J.K. Rowling's decision to place a major [[dragon]] sanctuary in the country.
