Map, Marauder's
See MARAUDER'S MAP.

maps, magical

• The Auror in charge of the hunt for Sirius Black kept a map of the world in his cubicle "in which little red pins were glowing like jewels", possibly marking reported sightings (OP7).

• See MARAUDER'S MAP.

Marauder's Map

This magical map of Hogwarts Castle shows the entire castle and grounds of Hogwarts, including seven secret passages out of Hogwarts and into Hogsmeade. The map also shows the location of people. It would seem that people only appear on the map if there is some reason for them to be there. A little miniscule figure of Harry only appeared once he gained possession of the map and needed to use it. The map looks like a large but empty piece of old parchment until it is activated with the words "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." To clear the map, the phrase "Mischief managed" must be spoken.

The map was created during their years at Hogwarts by Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black, and James Potter, and at some point confiscated by Filch, who didn't know how to activate it but guessed that it was a magical item of some power.

• The map was snatched from Filch's filing cabinet by Fred and George Weasley who put it to good use for years until they bequeathed it to Harry in December of 1993 [Y13] (PA10).

• Harry used it until it was "borrowed" by the fake Moody (GF25).

• Harry retrieved the map when no one was looking and he used it again in his fifth year (OP18) and his sixth year (HBP18).

megaphone, magical

• used by Lee Jordan to give Quidditch play-by-play (PA15)

• large purple megaphone used by McGonagall when she called off the last Quidditch match in May of 1993 [Y13] (CS14)

• See SONORUS.

Metamorph-Medal
If you believe the advertising, one of these will give the wearer some of the abilities of a Metamorphmagus for only ten Galleons. In fact, the changes in the wearer's appearance aren't under his or her control, and not only make the victim more rather than less conspicuous but can require hospitalization to undo (HBP5).

Mirror of Erised
A magnificent mirror, as high as a classroom ceiling, with an ornate gold frame, standing on two clawed feet. The inscription carved around the top reads "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi," which is "I show not your face but your heart's desire" written backwards (that is, in what is called 'mirror writing'). When you look into the mirror, you see the deepest, most desperate desire of your heart. The mirror has trapped people who can't bear to stop staring into it, unsure if what they see is going to actually happen. Harry sees his family in the Mirror; Ron sees himself as Head Boy and Quidditch champion (PS12).

Dumbledore described the Mirror to Harry this way:

"It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them. However, 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." (PS12)

Dumbledore used the power of the Mirror to protect the Philosopher's Stone:

"It was one of my more brilliant ideas, and between you and me, that's saying something. You see, only one who wanted to find the Stone--find it, but not use it--would be able to get it, otherwise they'd just see themselves making gold or drinking Elixir of Life. My brain surprises even me sometimes..." (PS17)

Harry, who wanted only to find the Stone when he looked into the Mirror, suddenly found it in his pocket (PS17).

mirrors

• Foe-Glass

• Mirror of Erised

• mirrors, talking

• mirrors, two-way

mirrors, talking
"Tuck your shirt in, scruffy!"
     -- the Weasleys' talking mirror

• The Weasleys have a talking mirror on the kitchen mantelpiece at the Burrow which, uh, gives advice in grooming (CS3).

• There was also one in room 11 of the Leaky Cauldron when Harry stayed there, which spoke in a wheezy voice. When he tried to flatten his unruly hair, it told him "You're fighting a losing battle there, dear" (PA4).

mirrors, two-way
Before Harry left for Hogwarts after the 1995 [Y15] Christmas holidays, Sirius gave him a package and told him to use it if he wanted to talk. Harry firmly decided not to use whatever it was so that he wouldn't encourage Sirius to leave Grimmauld Place and be put in danger. After Sirius' death in June of 1996 [Y16], Harry rediscovered the package at the bottom of his trunk and opened it to find a small, dirty, square mirror with a message scribbled on the back:

This is a two-way mirror, I've got the other one of the pair. If you need to speak to me, just say my name into it; you'll appear in my mirror and I'll be able to talk in yours. James and I used to use them when we were in separate detentions (OP38).

• After Sirius' death, Mundungus Fletcher stole his two-way mirror, later selling it to Aberforth Dumbledore. Albus Dumbledore told Aberforth what it was, and Aberforth used it to keep an eye on Harry by way of Harry's now-broken but still partly functional two-way mirror (DH28).

Moontrimmer
See entry on the broomsticks page.

motorbike, flying
See MOTORCYCLE, FLYING.

motorcycle, flying
This amazing machine was once owned by Sirius Black. It's huge, big enough to carry Hagrid (or perhaps it magically expands as necessary to accomodate its rider (PS1)). Later Arthur Weasley got hold of it, and customized it still further (DH4).

Muggle guard
Magical device that acts as an alarm when touched by a non-magical hand (DP)