Fictional universe of Harry Potter

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The fictional universe of British author J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of fantasy novels comprises two
distinct societies: the wizarding world and the Muggle world. In the novels, the Muggle world is the
world inhabited by the non-magical majority, with which the wizarding world exists coextensively, albeit
mostly remaining hidden from the non-magical humans. The plot of the series is set in 1990s Britain, but
in a veiled and separate shadow society wherein magic is commonly used and practised, and those who
can use it live in self-enforced seclusion, hiding their abilities from the rest of the world. The term
"wizarding world" refers to the global wizard community that lives hidden in parallel with the Muggle
world; the different terms refer to different communities within the same area rather than separate
planets or worlds. Any new works taking place in this universe are released under the "J. K. Rowling's
Wizarding World" brand.

Fundamentals

See also: Magic in Harry Potter

The entire Harry Potter series is set from 1991 to 1998 aside from the opening chapter of the first book,
which takes place on 1 November 1981, and the epilogue of the seventh book, which takes place on 1
September 2017. At various points throughout the Harry Potter timeline, flashbacks and flash-forwards
depict the 1920s, the 1930s, the 1940s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 2010s, and the 2020s. The depiction of
the wizarding world is centred on magic, which not only imbues objects such as wands, but is portrayed
as an inborn ability. It is also centred on the separation of the wizarding world from the non-wizarding
(Muggle) world. Despite being an inherent talent, magic is honed into a skill through the study of various
branches of magic and practical training.

A great deal of effort is expended in keeping Muggles unaware of magic. Originally the two worlds co-
existed; however, persecution of those with magic over the centuries necessitated laws designed to
keep the existence of the wizarding world hidden from Muggles. The first and most important statute is
the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy of 1692. Enchantment of Muggle artefacts is forbidden,
underage wizards are restricted from using magic outside the school, and any deliberate revelation of
magical ability to the Muggle community is punishable. However, allowances are made for the use of
magic in the presence of a Muggle in case of a life-threatening situation (for the wizard or the Muggle).
These laws are enforced by the Ministry of Magic, while a special arm of it, the Obliviators, has the job
of making certain that Muggles who have seen magic in action will be left with no "inconvenient"
memories. Exceptions to the statute of secrecy include wizards' Muggle relatives and high-ranking
political leaders; the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, for instance, is in contact with the Minister
for Magic.
As seen in the first chapter of Philosopher's Stone, jubilation and euphoria at Voldemort's first downfall
in 1981 led to these rules being momentarily ignored and wizards exposing themselves gratuitously to
Muggles, who were greatly puzzled.

Some aspects of the wizarding world are depicted as being less-than-modern compared to the Muggle
world, sometimes even old-fashioned or quaint. The technological development of the wizarding world
is substantially behind that of its Muggle counterpart – for instance, candles are used for illumination
instead of electrical or gas bulbs/tubes – and owls are used to send messages instead of phone calls or
emails. Despite owls' slowness compared to more modern methods, they can be sent to deliver a
message without the sender needing to know the recipient's exact location or phone number.

However, a large number of technologically complex devices do exist, and most of these devices exist in
the Muggle world. From a certain perspective, it can be seen that magic and electricity are the
equivalents of each other in their respective worlds. However, electronic equipment tends not to work
around magic-filled areas, such as Hogwarts, and Muggle devices used by wizards (such as cameras and
radios) can be made to function using magic instead of electricity. Such examples are rare, however;
wizards rarely make use of Muggle technology, nor do they have much interest in doing so, even when
such technology might make their lives much easier. Pure-blood wizards are baffled by how Muggle
technology works and most have no interest in understanding it (with occasional exceptions, such as
Muggle aficionado Arthur Weasley, whose dearest ambition is "to find out how an aeroplane stays up").
"Muggle Studies" is a subject offered at Hogwarts for those students with an interest. On several
occasions, Harry Potter is tasked with having to explain the workings of commonplace Muggle
technology, such as introducing the telephone to Arthur in Chamber of Secrets; at the beginning of
Prisoner of Azkaban, Ron Weasley makes his first phone call—with disastrous results for Harry.