Harry Potter Wiki:Canon

Since there are different sources of information for Harry Potter canon and sources do, on occasion, conflict with one another, the following guide is to be used on the Harry Potter Wiki. In order to simplify the different areas that exist as sources for canon information in the Harry Potter universe we have devised a three tier system summarised below. Please remember any type of fanon, information created by fans using the Harry Potter characters, is not considered canon at all and must be marked as such, unless made canon by a legitimate source.
Although there are different levels of canon, this does not mean relevant information cannot be included in situations where there are conflicting canon sources. Ambiguous continuity should always be noted. If an "official" canon source has been chosen, (e.g. J. K. Rowling has said that a fact was a mistake and it was meant to be something else), the information from the conflicting source should still appear in the article in the "Behind the scenes" section.
Basically put, everything is canon unless specifically contradicted by a "higher" source.
==Canon tiers==
===Tier One: J. K. Rowling===
These sources come from J. K. Rowling herself. She either wrote them herself, or was involved in writing/developing them. Texts in their original language, J. K. Rowling's British English and corrected editions are the most valuable.Differences between editions of the books When J. K. Rowling contradicts herself, the newest source is to be taken as the "most" canon.
*Books set in the Harry Potter universe:
**The seven Harry Potter novels:
***Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone
***Harry-Potter and The Chamber-Of Secrets
***Harry-Potter and The Prisoner-Of Azkaban
***Harry-Potter and The Goblet-Of Fire
***Harry-Potter and The Order-Of-The Phoenix
***Harry-Potter and The Half-Blood Prince
***Harry-Potter and The Deathly Hallows
**Companion books to the these novels:
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****Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide
****Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists
****Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies
*Short stories set in the Harry Potter universe:
**Harry Potter prequel
*Original scripts for films and plays set in the Harry Potter universe:
** (co-developed by J. K. Rowling and considered canon by her)J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) on Twitter: "The story of #CursedChild should be considered canon, though. @jackthorne, John Tiffany (the director) and I developed it together."
** (written by J. K. Rowling)
** (written by J. K. Rowling)
** (co-written by J. K. Rowling)
*Other writings and statements pertaining to the Harry Potter universe:
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** (content written by J. K. Rowling herself)
**J. K. Rowling's contributions to auctions and exhibitions
**Articles and interviews
** and (elements written by J. K. Rowling)
**Any other element from J. K. Rowling that can be verified
===Tier Two: JKR Involved===
These sources do not contain information directly from the "mouth" of J. K. Rowling, but they are projects based on works by her, and in which she was involved in some capacity at some point.
*Films
**The eight Harry Potter films:
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**Other films set in the Harry Potter universe:
*** (all elements except the script/dialogue)
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*Official books about the making of the films:
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**Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Art of The Film
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*Exhibitions about the making of the films:
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*Theme parks based on the Harry Potter universe:
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*Content from these official websites not written by Rowling herself:
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===Tier Three: Licensed===
These sources are where J. K. Rowling or Warner Bros. (the makers of the Harry Potter films and her primary licensee) licensed the use of elements of the Harry Potter universe to a third-party.
*Video games
**Other video games based on the Harry Potter universe:
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*Trading cards based on the Harry Potter universe:
**Famous Wizard Cards
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*Other official merchandise
==Examples of usage==
#Oliver Wood mentions in the Philosopher's Stone film that he took a Bludger to the head in the first few minutes of his first ever Quidditch game. This is never mentioned in the books. Is it canon according to our guide? Yes, since there is no evidence from the books to say that it didn't happen.
#The Harry Potter games contain a spell known as Avifors to change statues into birds. Is this canon according to our guide? Yes, since there is no evidence to suggest that such a spell doesn't exist. This can generally be applied to most spells/items from the games.
#In , Krum attacks Fleur in the Maze during the Triwizard Tournament. Is this considered canon? No, because the book, a higher source of canon, specifically states that Crouch/Moody did it. However, it should be noted in the "Behind the scenes" section.
#Mafalda is a cut character from an early draft of Goblet of Fire. Is she canon according to our guide? Yes and no. The fact that she exists may be considered canon, but anything about her intended part in the story cannot be considered canon because it did not happen in the books.
#In the games, are the various challenges/levels considered canon according to our guide? Yes and no. Levels like the Glacius Challenge from the Prisoner of Azkaban game should not be considered canon since it is highly unlikely that the students would be put in danger like that. However, challenges like helping to assemble Dumbledore's Army for their first meeting in Order of the Phoenix could conceivably be considered canon because they usually involve helping out with a task to free the student up to attend.
==Notes==