Canon

Canon is a word used to describe a fixed collection of material.

In order to simplify the different areas that exist as sources for canon information in the Harry Potter universe the Harry Potter Wiki use a three tier system.

Tier One: J.K. Rowling
This tier only contains all the material proved to be coming from J.K. Rowling herself. She either wrote the following sources herself, was involved in writing/developing them and/or stated to consider them as canon herself. Texts in their original language, J.K. Rowling's British English and editions with corrections she approved are the most valuable. Only the illustrations, drawings, hand-lettering, etc. she created herself, the extra material she provided for some editions or copies as well as her own pronunciation, intonation, etc. (from videos and audio recordings of her reading her writings or talking about their content for example) also belong to this category. When J.K. Rowling contradicts herself, the newest source is to be taken as the "most" canon.


 * The seven Harry Potter novels:
 * PS undefined
 * Companion books to these novels:
 * Content from J.K. Rowling published in Pottermore Presents:
 * 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
 * Original scripts for films and plays set in the Harry Potter universe:
 * 's story (only the story was co-developed by J.K. Rowling and considered canon by her)
 * Short texts set in the Harry Potter universe:
 * The ‘Daily Prophet’ series
 * Harry Potter prequel
 * Information from the original Famous Wizard cards
 * Other content and statements pertaining to the Harry Potter universe from:
 * J. K. Rowling's Twitter account
 * Articles and interviews
 * Any other element (from other sources) that can be proved to be coming from J.K. Rowling herself
 * 's story (only the story was co-developed by J.K. Rowling and considered canon by her)
 * Short texts set in the Harry Potter universe:
 * The ‘Daily Prophet’ series
 * Harry Potter prequel
 * Information from the original Famous Wizard cards
 * Other content and statements pertaining to the Harry Potter universe from:
 * J. K. Rowling's Twitter account
 * Articles and interviews
 * Any other element (from other sources) that can be proved to be coming from J.K. Rowling herself
 * Articles and interviews
 * Any other element (from other sources) that can be proved to be coming from J.K. Rowling herself
 * Any other element (from other sources) that can be proved to be coming from J.K. Rowling herself

Information from the Harry Potter films, games, and trading cards are considered canon as long as it does not contradict a higher source.

On the opposite end of the spectrum from canon is fanon, which consists of information, stories and supposition that has been created by fans, but which are not actually addressed in any of the canonical sources listed above.

The canonicity of the short film is uncertain, given that it centres around a major anachronism - the date of Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday - and contains other elements that appear to contradict the continuity of the novels and the films.

Rowling was reportedly at work on a Harry Potter Encyclopedia project, but at this point work on it has apparently been discontinued in favour of Pottermore. Nevertheless, should it someday be completed, the information within will presumably be considered canon.