Transportation methods in Harry Potter
Floo network
The Floo network consists of a network of fireplaces magically connected to one another and is frequently used by wizards and witches to travel from place to place. It was invented by Ignatia Wildsmith (1227–1320). The wizard grabs a handful of Floo Powder out of a container near the fireplace, throws the Floo Powder down onto the floor of the fireplace, then steps into the fireplace and states where he wants to go. The wizard is then engulfed in green flames and is magically transported to his destination. Wizards must clearly state their intended destination when using Floo Powder or there is no telling where they will end up. Floo Powder is also frequently used to communicate, typically by inserting your head into the flames. This practice – the wizarding equivalent of a telephone call;– is said to be uncomfortable, but has the advantage of not requiring further Floo Powder for the return journey.
Apparition
Wizards and witches often Apparate to their destinations, which is quite similar to teleportation. It is quite difficult to Apparate; therefore underage wizards and witches are forbidden to do it. There are many examples of failed Apparition attempts made by people who have not passed their "Apparition test", which is like a Muggle driving test. If not Apparating correctly, a person may lose a body part in the process. To lose a body part via Apparition is referred to as getting "splinched". In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Ron gets splinched after being grabbed by Yaxley, a Death Eater. Hermione heals him with a liquid she carried in her bag, a process which took several days.
Broomsticks
Broomsticks are used for transportation by witches and wizards of all ages, and for participating in the game of Quidditch. Their use is similar to that of flying carpets, although the latter are banned in Great Britain. However, they are uncomfortable for extended trips, even with a cushion charm applied.
Broomsticks are treated as a major consumer product in the Wizarding world. There are numerous brands and models of brooms, including Cleansweeps and Comets, all of which vary in their capabilities. These range from expensive high-performance models to toy broomsticks for young children that only fly a few feet off the ground to family-sized broomsticks that have room for an entire family and even have a luggage compartment below the seating area.
Since Harry plays Quidditch, his brooms—a Nimbus 2000 and later a Firebolt—are prominent in the series. The Nimbus 2000 was given to him by special consent of Dumbledore via Minerva McGonagall, who had chosen him as Seeker. The Firebolt was given to him by Sirius as a Christmas gift after his Nimbus was destroyed during a Quidditch match. The Firebolt remains the fastest broom in the world, having surpassed the previous record holder, the Nimbus 2001 (which Draco Malfoy and the Slytherin quidditch team own), and its price is so grand that it is only available upon request.
Broomsticks are treated as a major consumer product in the Wizarding world. There are numerous brands and models of brooms, including Cleansweeps and Comets, all of which vary in their capabilities. These range from expensive high-performance models to toy broomsticks for young children that only fly a few feet off the ground to family-sized broomsticks that have room for an entire family and even have a luggage compartment below the seating area.
Since Harry plays Quidditch, his brooms—a Nimbus 2000 and later a Firebolt—are prominent in the series. The Nimbus 2000 was given to him by special consent of Dumbledore via Minerva McGonagall, who had chosen him as Seeker. The Firebolt was given to him by Sirius as a Christmas gift after his Nimbus was destroyed during a Quidditch match. The Firebolt remains the fastest broom in the world, having surpassed the previous record holder, the Nimbus 2001 (which Draco Malfoy and the Slytherin quidditch team own), and its price is so grand that it is only available upon request.
Knight Bus
The Knight Bus is a heavily enchanted, purple, triple-decker Regent Three class bus that transports witches and wizards. It makes its first appearance in Prisoner of Azkaban where Harry unintentionally hails it by holding out his wand arm. Harry has a final ride on the Knight Bus with a number of his friends in Order of the Phoenix. The Knight Bus is faster than travelling by broomstick, but not as fast as near instantaneous Floo Powder and Apparating. The bus charges for the service; Harry is charged a base fare of 11 Sickles to travel from Little Whinging to The Leaky Cauldron. Amenities such as hot-water bottles, toothbrushes, and hot chocolate are available for a small additional fee. The Knight Bus also changes from seats to beds during the night.
The bus functions as public transportation for the wizard or witch who cannot or will not choose another means of transportation. The riders are picked up by the bus from all over in-universe Great Britain, bringing passengers to the destinations of their choice with apparently no set route. It bolts through the streets, entirely invisible to Muggles and causing other objects to dodge it (rather than dodging the objects) for travelling short distances. For longer distances, the Knight Bus makes 160 km (hundred-mile) leaps accompanied by a great bang and jolt. The only mentioned limitation in travelling is that it cannot enter water.
The conductor of the Knight Bus is Stan Shunpike, and its driver is Ernie Prang in the third book of the series. In the third film, Stan is accompanied by a talking shrunken head voiced by Lenny Henry.
The actual Knight Bus seen in the film adaptation was built by grafting the top deck of a London AEC Regent III RT bus onto the top of another "RT" bus. Both buses were originally built for London Transport; the "RT" was the standard London diesel-powered double-decker bus of which approximately 4,000 were built from 1939 until the mid 1950s (and were used in daily service until 1979). The actual bus used was RT3882 (registration LLU681), with the additional top deck from former RT2240 (registration KGU169). Parts of RT 4497 (OLD 717) were also used.
The bus functions as public transportation for the wizard or witch who cannot or will not choose another means of transportation. The riders are picked up by the bus from all over in-universe Great Britain, bringing passengers to the destinations of their choice with apparently no set route. It bolts through the streets, entirely invisible to Muggles and causing other objects to dodge it (rather than dodging the objects) for travelling short distances. For longer distances, the Knight Bus makes 160 km (hundred-mile) leaps accompanied by a great bang and jolt. The only mentioned limitation in travelling is that it cannot enter water.
The conductor of the Knight Bus is Stan Shunpike, and its driver is Ernie Prang in the third book of the series. In the third film, Stan is accompanied by a talking shrunken head voiced by Lenny Henry.
The actual Knight Bus seen in the film adaptation was built by grafting the top deck of a London AEC Regent III RT bus onto the top of another "RT" bus. Both buses were originally built for London Transport; the "RT" was the standard London diesel-powered double-decker bus of which approximately 4,000 were built from 1939 until the mid 1950s (and were used in daily service until 1979). The actual bus used was RT3882 (registration LLU681), with the additional top deck from former RT2240 (registration KGU169). Parts of RT 4497 (OLD 717) were also used.
Thestrals
Black horses, only seen by those who have witnessed death (Harry began seeing them in his 5th year at Hogwarts after seeing Cedric die). This method of transportation was used in Order of the Phoenix, when members of the DA (Luna, Neville, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Harry) needed to go to the Ministry of Magic and also used when transporting Harry from the Dursley's house to Ron's house in Deathly Hallows.
Harry only sees these beasts after he sees Cedric die. Yet, it is stated he witnessed (in both the books and the films) his mother die in front of him at the age of one, therefore should have been able to see them the entire series. However, when asked about this, Rowling responded with the fact that when Harry saw his mother die, he was young, and did not fully understand the meaning of death, and what had happened. When he saw Cedric die, however, he knew what had happened, and had time to think about it until he could see Thestrals.
Harry only sees these beasts after he sees Cedric die. Yet, it is stated he witnessed (in both the books and the films) his mother die in front of him at the age of one, therefore should have been able to see them the entire series. However, when asked about this, Rowling responded with the fact that when Harry saw his mother die, he was young, and did not fully understand the meaning of death, and what had happened. When he saw Cedric die, however, he knew what had happened, and had time to think about it until he could see Thestrals.