10 Weirdest Jobs in Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is much smaller than many might think, and this is seen in the workforce. Most British wizards attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry before going on to work as government employees, St. Mungo’s healers, or shopkeepers in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. These minimal options for careers are furthered by most of the adult characters in the series being Hogwarts Professors or Ministry of Magic employees.

However, there are some rare careers mentioned throughout the Harry Potter series that stand out as unusual. Many of these careers are rather strange, as most of them do not have much information expanding on their lore in the novels. However, across Wizarding World media, some explanations can be found for these unusual careers.

The Arts School Implies There are Wizards in Arts Careers

• W.A.D.A. is a play on the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, where many adult actors from Harry Potter studied.
• Celestina Warbeck appears in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Orlando.

There is very little known information in the Harry Potter novels about careers in the arts. The novels mention a singer named Celestina Warbeck, a favorite of Molly Weasley. However, the existence of the Wizarding Academy of the Dramatic Arts (W.A.D.A.) implies that there are wizards who choose to go into the career of acting.

W.A.D.A. is first mentioned in the published version of The Tales of Beedle the Bard in Albus Dumbledore’s footnotes on the story, “The Fountain of Fair Fortune.” The notes mention Professor Herbert Beery, who felt that performances of the tale were unlucky. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park features a group of performers who are said to have graduated from W.A.D.A., who perform “The Fountain of Fair Fortune” in Diagon Alley.

Magizoologists Study Magical Creatures

The Fantastic Beasts Movies Expand on Magizoology

• Newt Scamander was a Hufflepuff student at Hogwarts.
• Newt Scamander’s name is mentioned in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Magizoologists refer to wizards and witches who study magical creatures. It is likely that one would need a N.E.W.T. qualification in Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts to pursue a career in Magizoology, though there are exceptions. Newt Scamander, for example, was expelled from Hogwarts but was still able to become a notable magizoologist.

Newt Scamander’s work as a magizoologist heavily influenced the future of the study. His in-universe book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, became a core guide for those who study magical creatures, with first years at Hogwarts having the book as a textbook. Newt’s career as a magizoologist was expanded upon in the Fantastic Beasts film series, which featured several of the magical creatures that make up Newt’s guidebook.

Some Magizoologists Specialize in Dragons

Charlie Weasley Studied Dragons in Romania

• There are ten breeds of Dragons mentioned across Harry Potter media.
• In the credits of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, there is a note saying “No Dragons were harmed in the making of this movie.”

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Harry Potter: Where Was Charlie Weasley During the Movies?

There are seven Weasley children, but Charlie, the second oldest, is never featured in the films, though he is referenced, so where is he?

Some magizoologists in the wizarding world focus on the study of dragons. These wizards, known as dragonologists, study the different breeds of dragons, usually in wildlife reserves. The Harry Potter series featured the character of Charlie Weasley, who Ron mentions is studying dragons in Romania.

When dragons were brought into the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Charlie and his fellow Dragonologists were brought in to control them. This implies that dragonologists are trained to tame dragons as well as study them. These wizards also help raise orphaned dragons, such as Norbert, the Norwegian Ridgeback dragon featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Curse Breakers Help Collect Magical Artifacts

Bill Weasley Worked as a Curse Breaker in Egypt

• Bill Weasley was played by Domhnall Gleeson in the Harry Potter films.
• In the novels, Bill makes his first appearance in Goblet of Fire, but he does not appear in the films until Deathly Hallows.

Curse-breakers were first mentioned in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, with Bill Weasley working as a curse-breaker in Egypt for Gringotts. The job involves removing and breaking curses placed on ancient treasures and artifacts. It’s described as a rather adventurous job, similar to Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider.

It is likely that a wizard would need N.E.W.T. qualifications in Arithmancy and Defense Against the Dark Arts to become a curse-breaker. While Bill Weasley is the only curse-breaker in the Harry Potter series, Hogwarts Legacy featured the character of Matilda Weasley, who is described as being a curse-breaker before becoming Transfiguration Professor at Hogwarts.

Who Paints the Magical Portraits?

The Magical Moving Portraits Imply Wizard Painters

• In the Prisoner of Azkaban film, a portrait can be seen of a wizard who looks very similar to Lord Voldemort.
• Gryffindor is the only Hogwarts house to have a portrait guarding their common room.

The Harry Potter series features several magical, moving portraits. Hogwarts Castle is described as being full of magical portraits, including the Fat Lady, Sir Cadogen, and headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black. However, the novels never describe where these paintings come from.

The existence of these magical portraits implies that there are wizard painters who specialize in making magical moving portraits. When Albus Dumbledore died in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, a portrait of him was hung in the Headmaster’s office the next morning. This implies that these painters work remarkably fast, though it is unclear what qualifications one needs to become a wizard painter.

What’s the Difference Between Hit Wizards and Aurors

Hit Wizards Are a Mysterious Part of the Ministry

• Hit Wizards are first mentioned in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
• Harry Potter became an Auror as an adult.

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15 Strongest Aurors In Harry Potter, Ranked

In the Wizarding World, some of the strongest Aurors in the Harry Potter series were skilled duelists, great detectives, and experienced magic users.

Hit Wizards are first introduced in Prisoner of Azkaban as members of the Ministry’s Magical Law Enforcement Squad who track down dangerous dark wizards. Given the nature of the career, one would certainly need an N.E.W.T. qualification in Defense Against the Dark Arts to pursue the career. What makes Hit Wizards so strange is how mysterious they are, as the career is abandoned in the Harry Potter novels in favor of Aurors, such as Alastor Moody and Nymphadora Tonks.

While the books do not expand on Hit Wizards outside of their manhunt on Sirius Black, the Hogwarts Mystery mobile game expands on their lore. The game featured characters like Elton Elderberry and Talbott Winger, who served as hit wizards. It’s clear that hit wizards likely work with Aurors regularly, though the difference between the two is unclear, as Aurors are also described as dark wizard catchers.

Obliviators Maintain the Statute of Secrecy

Obliviators Modify the Memories of Muggles

• The British Ministry of Magic has seven main departments.
• The British Ministry of Magic was founded in 1707 AD.

Obliviators are tasked with modifying the memories of muggles who witnessed acts of magic or the wizarding world. Obliviators would use memory charms to accomplish their important task, working to maintain the Statute of Secrecy. Given their use of memory charms, it’s safe to assume that Obliviators would need an N.E.W.T. qualification in Charms at Hogwarts, as memory charms are an especially complicated type of magic.

Obliviators are first introduced in Goblet of Fire at the final of the Quidditch World Cup. The Obliviators were stationed around the campsite, trying to keep the large number of wizards from exposing magic to the nearby muggles. Arnold Peasegood was introduced as one of these obliviators, with the Hogwarts Mystery mobile game introducing Ben Copper, who became an Obliviator after graduating from Hogwarts.

Wandmakers Have an Important Job

Wandmakers Study the Mysteries of Wand Lore

• Ollivander uses phoenix tail feathers, unicorn hair, and dragon heartstring as wand cores, though other wand cores are mentioned throughout the series, such as Veela hair.
• The designs of the wands in Harry Potter changed in Prisoner of Azkaban.

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How Do Wands Work in Harry Potter?

There are many mysteries surrounding wands and their abilities, and many still don’t fully understand the wand’s magic or how they work.

Wand makers are first introduced in Sorcerer’s Stone with Garrick Ollivander, the owner of Ollivander’s Wand Shop. Wand makers have a very important job: supplying wizards with their wands. The study of wand making, known as wandcraft, is a very complex field of study involving wand cores, wand woods, and their respective properties.

While Ollivander is the first wandmaker introduced in the series, Goblet of Fire introduces Gregorovitch, who was once the owner of the Elder Wand. In Deathly Hallows, Ollivander explains that Wandmakers study the history of the Elder Wand. Therefore, it can be assumed that one would need an N.E.W.T. qualification in the History of Magic to become a Wandmaker.

Unspeakables Work in the Department of Mysteries

The Mysterious Department Is Kept Strictly Confidential

• The Department of Mysteries has six rooms, each dedicated to a specific subject.
• Time-Turners are kept in the Department of Mysteries.

Unspeakables were introduced in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as Ministry employees working in the Department of Mysteries. As the job title suggests, Unspeakables are strictly forbidden from speaking of their work, as the subjects studied in the Department are kept confidential. Unspeakables study the aspects of certain subjects, including time, space, and love.

Unspeakables also study the concept of death, as the Department of Mysteries houses the Veil, a large archway that kills anyone that enters it. Some Unspeakables featured in the Harry Potter series include Broderick Bode, and Augustus Rookwood, who went on to become a Death Eater. Rookwood was arrested for passing Ministry information to his master, Lord Voldemort.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts Position Was Cursed

Lord Voldemort Gave the Position a High Turnover

• While Albus Dumbledore is shown teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts in Crimes of Grindelwald, the Harry Potter novels state that he was a Transfiguration professor before becoming Headmaster.
• After Lord Voldemort was defeated, the jinx on the DADA professor post was lifted.

While Hogwarts School holds teaching positions in many subjects, none are as strange as the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. The Defense position involves teaching the students of Hogwarts about defensive magic, curses, hexes, and dark creatures. What makes the position such a strange job, however, is its history.

In Half-Blood Prince, it was revealed that Lord Voldemort applied to teach the subject but was rejected by Albus Dumbledore. Voldemort went on to curse the position, making it so that no Defense professor would last longer than a year. This made the position incredibly unpopular, with Dumbledore struggling to fill the position for most of Harry’s time at Hogwarts.

Harry Potter

The Harry Potter franchise follows the adventure of a young boy introduced a whole new world of magic, mayhem and darkness. Traversing the obstacles in his path, young Harry’s rise to heroics pits him against Lord Voldemort, one of the most dangerous wizards in the world and all his minions.

Created by

J.K. Rowling

First Film

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Latest Film

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2

Upcoming TV Shows

Harry Potter

Where to watch

HBO Max

Character(s)

Harry Potter , Voldemort

Video Game(s)

Hogwarts Legacy , LEGO Harry Potter Collection , Harry Potter: Wizards Unite , Harry Potter: Puzzles and Spells , Harry Potter: Magic Awakened , Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets , Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 , Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

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