As the wizarding world has expanded with the Fantastic Beasts series and the upcoming video game Hogwarts Legacy, audiences are able to better understand the intricacies of the various world governments in the Harry Potter universe. It is now known that America has the Magical Congress of the United States of America, and Hogwarts Legacy should give fans a glimpse into what the Ministry of Magic was like about 100 years before Harry started at Hogwarts.
Of course, the British wizarding government was far from popular in Harry Potter, and it will likely be much the same in the prequel video game. Ministry officials have a bad habit of meddling in private affairs. Yet, it also seemed to do very little to regulate some of the more dangerous and problematic aspects of magic civilization. From love potions to broom transportation, some wizarding world practices deserve the attention of the Ministry of Magic (but they are too busy focusing on underage magic).
Love Charms And Potions
One of the most disturbing things in Harry Potter is the casual way that wizards regard love potions. While it’s unclear what laws the government has regarding giving the potion to unsuspecting victims, it is perfectly legal to brew and purchase love potions.
Half-Blood Prince revealed just how problematic these potions could be since Voldemort is the product of his witch mother enchanting a Muggle man against his will. It’s even revealed that the potions become stronger the longer they sit, which is why Ron had such a strong reaction. Undoubtedly, the Ministry of Magic would want to regulate such a substance.
Animal Transfiguration
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In Chamber of Secrets, Professor McGonagall teachers her second-year students the spell “Vera Verto,” which can turn an animal into a water goblet. Few students could master this in their first lesson (aside from Hermione, of course), so many ended class with their pets half transformed into cups.
Later years would reveal that human Transfiguration is regulated, but this lesson shows that even 12-year-olds are permitted to experiment with their pets. The wizarding world might not care much for animal cruelty, but individuals like Newt Scamander might press for laws forbidding such treatment of creatures (magical or not).
Potion Making And Distribution
Snape’s role in Harry Potter is that of the Potion Master, and he was sure to impress upon his students just how potent the various brews could be. They can assist, or they can kill. One potion might bring its drinker a day of luck, while another will turn them into someone else entirely.
Like prescription medication in the Muggle world, potions can be abused. However, unlike prescription medications, they seem almost entirely unregulated by the Ministry. The Unforgivable Curses can’t be taught to students, yet the potions Harry made in his N.E.W.T level class were just as dangerous.
Slander And Libel
The Daily Prophet was a significant hindrance to the characters in Harry Potter, especially in Order of the Phoenix, when it spread so much misinformation that the entire wizarding world turned against Harry and Dumbledore. Then, when everyone learned the truth, the Daily Prophet pretended it never happened and praised Harry for being the “Chosen One.”
While the Ministry seems to have some unethical control over the stories covered in the wizarding magazine, there are no laws holding the Daily Prophet or other publications accountable. If Harry could have sued the paper for defamation, they might have been more careful to publish accurate news.
Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes Items
There is no denying that Fred and George Weasley are talented inventors, and many of the items they sell at Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes would be a dream to play with. However, love potions aren’t the only thing they sell that could be a problem.
In Half-Blood Prince, Malfoy uses Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder to sneak Death Eaters right past the members of Dumbledore’s Army and the Order of the Phoenix. Harry uses the same substance in Deathly Hallows to break into the Ministry of Magic itself. Surely, the government would want to regulate this and similar items.
The Sale Of Dark Items
Dark objects are heavily regulated by the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter, especially items that could be picked up by unsuspecting Miggles. Arthur Weasley did home raids for the Ministry countless times, looking for Dark items that respectable wizards shouldn’t have.
However, it appears there are no laws forbidding the sale of Dark magical objects since Borgin and Burkes has been in operation for decades. The Dark Arts shop in Harry Potter doesn’t even hide the fact that it has cursed necklaces and dangerous potions on its shelves. So, it seems that the Ministry doesn’t care if they are sold as long as they aren’t used.
Investigations And Arrests
The justice system in the wizarding world is extremely lacking since several characters have been falsely accused and punished without a fair trial. The Ministry of Magic authorizes arrests, but it does so without real investigation.
An example of how this is a problem is Hagrid. He was expelled from Hogwarts based simply on the word of another student. Then, in Chamber of Secrets, the Ministry was willing to arrest him with no proof he had done anything to make the wizarding world believe they had everything under control. If not for Harry, Hagrid would have lived the rest of his life in Azkaban.
Wizarding Post
Wizarding post seemed to work much differently from that of Muggles since owls can be sent directly from one place to another without the need for processing. Of course, this also means that the protection of privacy for those sending mail is missing.
In Order of the Phoenix, nothing stops Dolores Umbridge from intercepting Harry’s letter to Sirius, and she even hurts Hedwig in the process. If the Ministry implemented protections of privacy, as well as for owl welfare, and ensured that it was ironclad, Umbdrige would have had a more difficult time finding a loophole in the rules.
Flying
Brooms were predominantly seen during Quidditch scenes in Harry Potter, but they are used for much more than recreation in the wizarding world. They are one of the more popular transportation methods, especially for those who want to avoid the restrictions surrounding Portkeys, Floo Powder, and Apparition.
Witches and wizards must be certified to Apparate, Portkeys have to be registered, and the Floo Network can be tracked, but flying is a free and clear mode of transportation. This seems strange since using a broom is just as risky as Apparition and far more easily abused.
Child Welfare
Year after year at Hogwarts, students’ lives a placed in danger. The castle itself presents several hazards, and the free use of magic from children means that a minor act of bullying can result in the disfigurement of a student. Then, when individuals like Dolores Umbridge or Argus Filch are involved, basic punishments can cause extreme torment and pain.
This is so commonplace in the wizarding world that no one seems to bat an eyelash, especially the Ministry of Magic. They only ever get involved when students come close to dying. Still, no one cares when Fred and George Weasley trap a Slytherin boy in a Vanishing Cabinet for several days or when Umbridge forces Harry to write lines with his blood.
