10 Harry Potter Objects That Would Be Total Safety Hazards In Real Life & 10 We’d Still Use Anyway
10 Harry Potter Objects That Would Be Total Safety Hazards In Real Life & 10 We’d Still Use Anyway
Accio Auto Cleaning
The intricacy of the wizarding world goes down to even the most minute details, from self-cleaning homes to very accessible transportation. Aside from the story element, there’s so much to see and love across this franchise. Even with the modern technology accessible to us, this magical world always goes a little bit further. Sure, you could have Alexa write your grocery list, but how much cooler would it be to have a floating quill dictate for you? A lot of that magic would be useful in real life. Of course, the numerous upsides also come with a flock of troubling items as well. Many of the objects we see across the series deal some sirius damage to our beloved characters. If they ever came into our world, these Harry Potter objects would either get banned immediately or become irresistible anyway.
1. Time-Turners
Sure, it’d be nice to go back a few minutes and fix a mistake you made, but in the wrong hands, it wouldn’t take long for things to go downhill. Even in the wizarding world, time travel is limited, and going too far can cause serious harm, so handing one to someone who already snoozes three alarms would be asking for trouble.
2. Basilisk Fangs
Aside from nobody wanting to go and fight this serpent beast, Basilisk fangs alone would definitely cause some trouble. They’re deadly enough to kill horcruxes— another item we wouldn’t wish for in our world- but other than that, they’re just asking for issues.
Peyton Eyre from Lille, France on Wikimedia
3. Mirror of Erised
We already get sucked into screens as is, so can you imagine what would happen if we had a mirror that shows our deepest desires? The Mirror of Erised is a powerful item, but as Dumbledore said, “this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible.”
HarshLight from San Jose, CA, USA on Wikimedia
4. Opal Necklace
Beautiful jewelry is already something we have plenty of in the muggle world, so having a cursed necklace wouldn’t really add anything positive. Katie Bell’s encounter with a cursed necklace shows how dangerous brief contact can be, so this piece and any other cursed jewels aren’t welcome to join our long list of adornments.
5. Bludgers
Bludgers belong to Quidditch, a sport that asks teenagers to fly at speed while heavy enchanted balls try to knock them off course. Put one of these things on a real playground or training field, and we’re just asking for a constant stream of medical emergencies.
6. Venomous Tentacula
Even plant lovers wouldn’t want this toothy specimen in their midst. The plant’s biting behavior makes it dangerous even before you imagine a curious kid, a cat, or one unlucky dinner guest getting too close.
Feliphe Schiarolli on Unsplash
7. Decoy Detonators
Decoy Detonators are designed to create noise, smoke, and confusion as a distraction. That’s clever during a prank or a bit of wizarding mischief, but it would certainly cause some long-term problems if one went off in a hospital, subway station, or airport.
Karen Roe from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK on Wikimedia
8. Hand of Glory
The Hand of Glory is an artefact that provides a source of light to the person it's holding onto. Draco uses it in the Half-Blood Prince to access the Room of Requirement. The item is notoriously associated with dark magic, so we can imagine it would only serve those who are ill-intent.
www.badobadop.co.uk on Wikimedia
9. Fanged Frisbee
Considered a joke shop specialty, fanged frisbees look just like our regular plastic discs, just with a few extra rows of teeth. This is clearly a dangerous item for regular people. Even Hogwarts, which has access to speedy and effective medical service, banned them in 1994.
10. Punishing Quill
Used and abused by Umbridge in Order of the Phoenix, the punishing quill is one of the ugliest objects in the series. Carving words into the user’s skin as they write, this seemingly innocent item has the grace of a medieval torture device.
1. Invisibility Cloak
Despite there being folks out there who would use this item for evil, it’s still one of the coolest bits of magic in the series. It’s easy to understand its appeal, especially for the introverts out there, who could move through the world unnoticed if and when they felt like it.
2. Marauder’s Map
The Marauder’s Map shows Hogwarts, its hidden spaces, and the people moving through them. Again, it’s a privacy nightmare, but it would also be useful as a hyper-specific, never-ending find for my friends.
3. Remembrall
A Remembrall glows red when the holder has forgotten something, which is somewhat helpful, even if it won’t tell you what you forgot. Still, that vague warning would save a lot of people from turning around five minutes after leaving home.
Karen Roe from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK on Wikimedia
4. Sneakoscope
Even though it doesn’t provide specific threats, a Sneakoscope does tell you if someone is untrustworthy. You wouldn’t want to use it for every interaction, but it would be a fantastic safety net. Teachers could use it during tests, people could bring it on first dates, and you could even take it somewhere like the casino.
Karen Roe from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK on Wikimedia
5. Mokeskin Pouch
A Mokeskin pouch would be a dream for anyone tired of bulky bags and pickpocket anxiety. As the pouch can only be accessed by its owner, it would be especially useful for travel, crowded festivals, overnight trains, and anywhere you feel your belongings might be in jeopardy.
6. Firebolt Broomstick
The Firebolt is a top-tier racing broom, and fans who’ve spent hours flying around Hogwarts Legacy completely understand the appeal. Of course, power lines, weather, and distracted drivers would make it dangerous, yet the thought of flying high over rush-hour traffic is tempting.
7. Portkey
A Portkey transports whoever touches it to another location, often using an ordinary-looking object. While it’s often described as an unpleasant experience, with many characters describing a hooking feeling in their midsection, it would certainly beat going through an airport.
8. Two-Way Mirror
Two-way mirrors let two people communicate through paired mirrors, which makes them one of the more practical magical objects on the list. Instead of dealing with wifi issues while you’re trying to FaceTime someone, you have a direct, no-nonsense line to whoever you’re trying to chat with.
9. Floo Powder
Floo Powder lets witches and wizards travel through connected fireplaces using the Floo Network. Like the portkey, it’s a bit of an uncomfortable journey, but it beats public transit any day of the week.
10. Cooking & Cleaning Tools
Best seen at the Burrow, the Weasleys have self-cleaning dishes, self-stirring pots, and self-sweeping brooms. Sure, we have things like dishwashers and Roombas, but not having to touch any cooking or cleaning at all would definitely make everyone’s lives a lot easier.
