Sandwiches

• Type: Food item
• Owners: Not applicable; sandwiches are consumable items prepared and eaten by many individuals throughout the series.
• Maker: Various witches, wizards, and house-elves. Molly Weasley is particularly known for making them for her family and guests. The Hogwarts kitchen staff also prepares them.

Sandwiches in the wizarding world are identical to their Muggle counterparts, consisting of fillings placed on or between slices of bread. They serve as a quick, practical, and common meal. The most frequently mentioned variety is the corned beef sandwich, which Molly Weasley often packs for her son Ron Weasley's lunch. Other general assortments of sandwiches are also served on platters during informal gatherings or times of crisis.

Sandwiches possess no inherent magical properties. They are a mundane food item valued for their convenience and nutritional substance. Their primary use is for sustenance, particularly during travel, such as on the Hogwarts Express, or as a simple meal when a full feast is impractical or inappropriate. While the sandwiches themselves are not magical, their preparation can be aided by magic, allowing for them to be made quickly and in large quantities. They are a staple for packed lunches and are often served at informal headquarters like Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, providing a sense of normalcy and comfort.

Sandwiches appear at several key moments, often highlighting themes of friendship, family care, and the realities of life outside the grand Hogwarts feasts.

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: On their first journey aboard the Hogwarts Express, Ron Weasley reveals his lumpy, corned beef sandwiches made by his mother. He expresses his dislike for them, which prompts Harry Potter to buy a large quantity of sweets from the trolley and share them with Ron. This act of generosity is a foundational moment in their friendship.
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Following the Dark Mark incident at the Quidditch World Cup, a stressed Arthur Weasley is brought sandwiches by Percy Weasley, sent by his wife, demonstrating Molly Weasley's tendency to care for her family with food even in times of great turmoil.
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Sandwiches are a staple food at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. After Harry Potter's Disciplinary Hearing at the Ministry of Magic, Mrs. Weasley makes a “huge pile of sandwiches” to celebrate his acquittal. Later, during a tense Christmas lunch, Kreacher serves the family a tureen of foul soup. In response, Molly dismisses the soup and quickly provides everyone with turkey sandwiches, re-establishing a sense of comfort and safety.

In the narrative, sandwiches primarily function as a symbol of maternal care and humble domesticity, most often associated with Molly Weasley. Her constant provision of sandwiches represents her love and concern for her family and for Harry. They stand in stark contrast to the magical and elaborate banquets served in the Great Hall, grounding the characters in moments of simple, everyday reality. Furthermore, the appearance of sandwiches on the Hogwarts Express in the first book serves to illustrate the socioeconomic differences between students, with Ron's modest packed lunch contrasting with Harry's newfound ability to purchase any treat he desires from the trolley.

• In the film adaptation of *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Ron's corned beef sandwich is shown on the Hogwarts Express, visually establishing the scene as described in the novel (film).