Extraordinary Floo Powder

> When travelling by Floo powder it is important that you speak clearly, take care to get out at the right grate, keep your elbows tucked in, shut your eyes, don’t fidget and don’t panic.
>
> Description, Pottermore

**Floo powder** was a glittery magical powder used by witches and wizards to travel by the Floo Network, which connected the fireplaces of nearly every wizarding household and building. Through the use of Floo powder, witches and wizards were able to enter a fireplace at the origin building and exit a fireplace at the destination building.
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It could also be used as a means of communication, where magical persons could have their head temporarily transported to another fireplace to speak to those at the destination fireplace.

## Description

> He took a pinch of glittering powder out of the flowerpot, stepped up to the fire, and threw the powder into the flames. With a roar, the fire turned emerald green and rose higher than Fred, who stepped right into it, shouted, “*Diagon Alley!*” and vanished.
>
> Fred Weasley using Floo Powder to travel to Diagon Alley, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

 File:Floo powder WU.jpg
When thrown into a fire burning in a fireplace, Floo powder turned the previously normal flames into harmless, emerald green flames that rose higher than before. One had to toss a handful of powder into a fireplace connected to the Floo Network, walk into the flames, and state the desired destination loudly and clearly to ensure arrival in the proper location. This could be difficult due to the ash, heat and panic. Floo powder could only be used once; so if done incorrectly, one could end up at the wrong location, which ***Violet Tillyman*** did in ***1855***, and Harry Potter did in 1992.
While mid-travel, individuals were advised to keep their eyes shut (to keep the soot out of them), keep their elbows tucked in (to avoid banging them on the passing fireplaces) and refrain from fidgeting and/or panicking (to avoid coming out of the wrong fireplace).
Transportation by Floo powder was much quicker than by broomstick, but slower than Apparition. However, unlike Apparition, one did not require a licence to use Floo powder. It could also be used when one placed only their head into the flames, to partially transport themselves to another location for direct communication.
Molly Weasley kept her household stock of Floo powder in a flowerpot on her mantle.

## Use

 File:Diagonally.gif
In the Wizarding World, Floo powder was used as a quick means of transportation. It was often used by adult wizards when travelling with underage wizards (who were not licenced to Apparate), the elderly or the infirm. It was also a more regulated means of transportation that could be used without fear of breaking the ***International Statute of Secrecy*** in special circumstances to travel to and from secure locations that were often inaccessible by Apparition, such as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the ***Ministry of Magic***, and the ***Muggle Prime Minister's office***. Finally, there was little to no danger of serious injury, unlike Apparition.

The connection of fireplaces to the ***Floo Network*** required the permission of the ***Ministry of Magic***, which was responsible for the regulation of the Floo service and prevented ***Muggle*** fireplaces from becoming inadvertently joined up. Disconnection from the Floo Network was much simpler, requiring only the use of a simple spell.

Floo powder was also used as means of communication, as an individual's head could be transported to the destination fireplace while the individual's body remained at the origin. It was a quicker and more interactive form of communication than ***owl post***. It was often used in cases where an immediate face-to-face meeting was necessary, but Apparating was not practical or possible (such as to or from Hogwarts). In addition to the ability to transport only the head to the destination fireplace, it was also possible to transport other individual body parts or even just the individual's voice.
The protective enchantments that protect Hogwarts did not allow individuals to utilise Floo powder as a means of transportation to leave or enter the school, but did allow transportation within the school. Individuals were also allowed to communicate via Floo powder at Hogwarts, even to fireplaces outside of Hogwarts.

## Behind the scenes

 File:Floo Powder PAS.png
* J.K. Rowling's use of "Floo" originates from the flue that you find on a chimney.
* The purpose in the creation of Floo powder and the Floo Network, according to J.K. Rowling, was to establish a way for young witches and wizards in the story to travel around in compliance with the International Statute of Secrecy, which Rowling states was an inconvenient plot element that made it difficult for her to move her young characters over long distances.
* In the ***novels***, one must toss a handful of Floo powder onto the flames and when the fire turns green, one must speak the destination and enter the flames. However in Template:COS, one stands in the fireplace recites the destination, drops the powder and the growing green flames swallow the traveller and they reappear at the aforementioned destination.
	+ This is changed however in Template:OOTP when Harry attempted to use ***Dolores Umbridge***'s fireplace to go and save Sirius Black.
* The appearance of Floo Powder when thrown into a fire is similar to Template:Wplink, which creates a yellow-green flame when burned.

## See also

* Floo Network Authority
* Flooboost Pro

## Appearances

* Template:COS Template:1st
* Template:GOF
* Template:OOTP
* Template:JKRS
* *Famous Wizard Card* Template:C
* Template:HPFJ
* Template:PM
* Template:WW
* Template:TCG
* Template:HM Template:Mention
* Template:WU
* Template:PAS Template:Mention
* Template:MA Template:HoM mention

## Notes and references

Template:Reflist

1. ↑ Template:WW - Nearly every witch or wizard home is connected to the Floo Network.
2. ↑ Template:COS - *He took a pinch of glittering powder out of the flowerpot, stepped up to the fire, and threw the powder into the flames. With a roar, the fire turned emerald green and rose higher than Fred, who stepped right into it, shouted, “Diagon Alley!” and vanished.*
3. ↑ Template:GOF - *Mr Weasley took a small drawstring bag from his pocket, untied it, took a pinch of the powder inside, and threw it onto the flames, which turned emerald green and roared higher than ever.*
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Template:WW
5. ↑ Template:COS
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Template:COS - *"keep your elbows tucked in," Ron advised. "And your eyes shut," said Mrs Weasley. "The soot —" "Don't fidget," said Ron. "Or you might well fall out of the wrong fireplace —" "But don't panic and get out too early; wait until you see Fred and George."*
7. ↑ Template:COS - *It felt as though he was being sucked down a giant drain. He seemed to be spinning very fast — the roaring in his ears was deafening — he tried to keep his eyes open but the whirl of green flames made him feel sick —something hard knocked his elbow and he tucked it in tightly, still spinning and spinning — now it felt as though cold hands were slapping his face — squinting through his glasses he saw a blurred stream of fireplaces and snatched glimpses of the rooms beyond.*
8. ↑ Template:COS - Mrs Weasley: *“Floo powder’s a lot quicker, dear."*
9. ↑ Template:COS - *“They don’t need the car!” said Ron impatiently. “They know how to Apparate! You know, just vanish and reappear at home! They only bother with Floo powder and the car because we’re all underage and we’re not allowed to Apparate yet…”*
10. ↑ Template:WW - *the Floo Network, while somewhat uncomfortable, has many advantages... Thirdly, it can be used to transport children, the elderly and the infirm.*
11. ↑ Template:WW - *the Floo Network, while somewhat uncomfortable, has many advantages. Firstly, unlike broomsticks, the Network can be used without fear of breaking the International Statute of Secrecy.*
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Template:HBP - *Late in the afternoon, a few days after New Year, Harry, Ron, and Ginny lined up beside the kitchen fire to return to Hogwarts. The Ministry had arranged this one-off connection to the Floo Network to return students quickly and safely to the school ... Harry stepped into the emerald fire and shouted “Hogwarts!” He had one last fleeting view of the Weasleys’ kitchen and Mrs Weasley’s tearful face before the flames engulfed him; spinning very fast, he caught blurred glimpses of other Wizarding rooms, which were whipped out of sight before he could get a proper look; then he was slowing down, finally stopping squarely in the fireplace in Professor McGonagall’s office.*
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Template:OOTP - *The empty fireplace burst into emerald green flame, making Harry leap away from the door, staring at the man spinning inside the grate. As Dumbledore’s tall form unfolded itself from the fire, the wizards and witches on the surrounding walls jerked awake, many of them giving cries of welcome.*
14. ↑ Template:HBP
15. ↑ Template:WW - *the Floo Network, while somewhat uncomfortable, has many advantages... Secondly, unlike Apparition, there is little to no danger of serious injury.*
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Template:WW - *While a fireplace may be disconnected by the use of a simple spell, connection requires the permission of the Ministry of Magic, which regulates the Floo service and prevents Muggle fireplaces becoming inadvertently joined up (although temporary connection can be arranged in emergencies).*
17. ↑ Template:GOF - *Mr Weasley bending over the fire, talking to - Harry shut his eyes hard and opened them again to make sure that they were working properly. Amos Diggory’s head was sitting in the middle of the flames like a large, bearded egg. It was talking very fast, completely unperturbed by the sparks flying around it and the flames licking its ears.*
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Template:GOF - *Harry looked back into the flames, and jumped. Sirius’s head was sitting in the fire... "I’ve broken into a wizarding house to use the fire, but they could be back at any time."*
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Template:OOTP - *There in the middle of the dancing flames sat Sirius’s head, long dark hair falling around his grinning face.*
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Template:OOTP - *Sirius’s untidy dark head was sitting in the fire again.*
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Template:OOTP - *He crouched down in front of the empty grate, his hands shaking. He had never done this before, though he thought he knew how it must work. Sticking his head into the fireplace, he took a large pinch of powder and dropped it on to the logs stacked neatly beneath him. They exploded at once into emerald green flames. “Number twelve, Grimmauld Place!” Harry said loudly and clearly.*
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Template:OOTP - *Harry dashed over to the fireplace, seized the pot of Floo powder and threw a pinch into the grate, causing emerald flames to burst into life there. He knelt down quickly, thrust his head into the dancing fire and cried, “Number twelve, Grimmauld Place!”*
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Template:OOTP - *Hermione gave a horrified gasp and leapt to her feet, still staring at the fire. A hand had appeared amongst the flames, groping as though to catch hold of something; a stubby, short-fingered hand covered in ugly old-fashioned rings.*
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Template:POA - *He strode across to his fire, seized a fistful of glittering powder from a jar on the fireplace, and threw it into the flames. “Lupin!” Snape called into the fire. “I want a word!” Utterly bewildered, Harry stared at the fire. A large shape had appeared in it, revolving very fast. Seconds later, Professor Lupin was clambering out of the fireplace, brushing ash off his shabby robes.*
25. ↑ Template:WW - *...a more secure route into the school (for instance, permitting a fireplace that might be officially entered by Floo powder) was strongly resisted by successive Headmasters, who did not wish the security of the castle to be breached.*
26. ↑ Template:WW - *The fireplaces of Hogwarts are not generally connected, although there have been occasions when one or more has been tampered with, often without the staff’s knowledge.*
27. ↑ An exact year is never given for when this initial meeting took place between this Muggle Prime Minister and Fudge. Fudge's term started in 1990 (as given in an excerpt of the Quibbler in Template:OOTP) and their second meeting occurred after Sirius Black's escape from Azkaban in 1993. In their first meeting, Fudge states to the PM: *"you’re taking it a lot better than your predecessor. He tried to throw me out the window."* This implies that Fudge was the Minister for Magic during the inauguration of the previous Muggle Prime Minister. By this reasoning, both the initial meetings of Fudge with the Muggle Prime Ministers occur between 1990 and 1993, which would be a very quick turnaround for the Muggle PMs. This is not consistent with the terms of the Prime Ministers that were actually in office for the UK at the time, which was John Major from 1990-1997.
28. ↑ Template:HBP - *He* [Muggle Prime Minister] *had been utterly terrified to find a portrait talking to him, though this had been nothing to how he felt when a self-proclaimed wizard* [Cornelius Fudge] *had bounced out of the fireplace and shaken his hand.*
29. ↑ Template:COS
30. ↑ Template:COS - *Harry took a pinch of Floo powder and walked to the edge of the fire. He took a deep breath, scattered the powder into the flames, and stepped forward; the fire felt like a warm breeze; he opened his mouth and immediately swallowed a lot of hot ash. “D-Dia-gon Alley,” he coughed.*
31. ↑ Template:COS - *But it was a subdued group that headed back to the fireside in the Leaky Cauldron, where Harry, the Weasleys, and all their shopping would be travelling back to the Burrow using Floo powder.*
32. ↑ Template:HBP - *the Prime Minister had been alone in his office when the portrait had once again announced the imminent arrival of Fudge, who had burst out of the fireplace, sopping wet and in a state of considerable panic. Before the Prime Minister could ask why he was dripping all over the Axminster, Fudge had started ranting about a prison the Prime Minister had never heard of, a man named “Serious” Black, something that sounded like “Hogwarts,” and a boy called Harry Potter, none of which made the remotest sense to the Prime Minister. “... I’ve just come from Azkaban,” Fudge had panted, tipping a large amount of water out of the rim of his bowler hat into his pocket. “Middle of the North Sea, you know, nasty flight… the dementors are in uproar”*
33. ↑ In Template:POA, it is not explicitly stated that Lupin is travelling from his own office in Hogwarts when he comes to Snape's office, but it is a safe assumption, considering Snape summoned him via fireplace and knew exactly where to find him.
34. ↑ Template:GOF - *“Mr Weasley, it’s Harry… the fireplace has been blocked up. You won’t be able to get through there.” ... “I’m trying to think what to do… Yes… only way… Stand back, Harry.”*
35. ↑ Template:GOF
36. ↑ Template:WW - *‘Floo’ came from the flue that you find on a chimney and don’t ask me to tell you exactly what a flue is, because I don’t know. I just know it exists, but I’m not sure what it does exactly.*
37. ↑ Template:WW - *I needed a way for particularly young witches and wizards to travel around because I’d created the International Statute of Secrecy, which was inconvenient, so immediately that made it quite difficult for them to move around, particularly over long distances, by magical means. So I thought they need something very discreet, and that’s how the Floo Network came about, so it was a way of moving from house to house without ever being seen by Muggles. But it was fun and comical to have it a little bit difficult to use, so that you could easily make a mistake in where you ended up.*