16 This may have contributed to that Muggle King’s reputation for mental instability.

17 As intensive studies in the Department of Mysteries demonstrated as far back as 1672, wizards and witches are born, not created. While the “rogue” ability to perform magic sometimes appears in those of apparent non-magical descent (though several later studies have suggested that there will have been a witch or wizard somewhere on the family tree), Muggles cannot perform magic. The best — or worst — they could hope for are random and uncontrollable effects generated by a genuine magical wand, which, as an instrument through which magic is supposed to be channeled, sometimes holds residual power, which it may discharge at odd moments — sec also the notes on wandlore for “The Tale of the Three Brothers.”

18 For a full description of these curious little tree-dwellers, see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

19 The Cruciatus, Imperius, and Avada Kedavra curses were first classified as Unforgivable in 1717, with the strictest penalties attached to their use.

20 [Necromancy is the Dark Art of raising the dead. It is a branch of magic that has never worked, as this story makes clear. —JKR]

21 [This quotation demonstrates that Albus Dumbledore was not only exceptionally well-read in Wizarding terms, but also that he was familiar with the writings of Muggle poet Alexander Pope. — JKR]

22 [Invisibility cloaks are not, generally, infallible. They may rip, or grow opaque with age, or the charms placed upon them may wear off, or be countered by charms of revealment. This is why witches and wizards usually turn, in the first instance, to Disillusionment Charms for self-camouflage or concealment. Albus Dumbledore was known to be able to perform a Disillusionment Charm so powerful as to render himself invisible without the need for a cloak. —JKR]

23 [Inferi are corpses reanimated by Dark Magic. —JKR]

24 Many critics believe that Beedle was inspired by the Philosopher’s Stone, which makes the immortality-inducing Elixir of Life, when creating this stone that can raise the dead.

25 An old name for “Elder.”

26 Such as myself

27 Also an old name for “Elder.”

28 No witch has ever claimed to own the Elder Wand. Make of that what you will.