Curse-Breaker

Bill Weasley, a Curse-Breaker

"Are you seeking a challenging career involving travel, adventure, and substantial, danger-related treasure bonuses? Then consider a position with Gringotts Wizarding Bank, who are currently recruiting Curse-Breakers for thrilling opportunities abroad."

— Pamphlet on Gringotts jobs available to Hogwarts students

A Curse-Breaker was an occupational title used by witches and wizards who removed, countered or broke curses placed on objects or places for a living.

Most Curse-Breakers worked for Gringotts Wizarding Bank, travelling the world in search of enchanted treasure and breaking any curses placed on it, then bringing it back to Gringotts.

Description

Ministry officials tasked with the removal of unfriendly spells from illegally bewitched objects notwithstanding, the term "Curse-Breaker" was commonly used in reference to a group of adventurous bankers in the employment of Gringotts Wizarding Bank at Diagon Alley in London, England. Operating as something akin to treasure-hunting archaeologists, Gringotts's Curse-Breakers were tasked with travelling the world in search of old treasure troves from which the bank might make a profit, and specialised in the removal of magical security measures placed upon such areas.

Curse-Breakers did not have any form of formal uniform, seen as how the goblins running Gringotts generally cared little about what they looked like in terms of appearance or dress, as long as they brought much treasure back to the bank. It was, however, nevertheless widely considered to be a very serious profession due to the amount of danger involved, as in addition to the risk they all ran of being killed as a result of an old curse left to protect their objectives, they would also encounter and have to deal with a great many Dark or otherwise dangerous creatures, artefacts, and even rivals on their travels; Dark wizards among them.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, an O.W.L. in Arithmancy was required, as some banking and transaction would be done. Some other qualifications were presumably also necessary.

Based on the Gringotts's recruitment pamphlet, the career was meant for witches and wizards so adventurous they thought that the perks of the job outweighed the risks involved. There was no official training programme proscribed for prospective applicants once they were hired by the bank; with the only training they got being on the job. Consequently, professional Curse-Breakers had their own methods and ways of doing things, based on their experiences. Curse-Breakers also often had both physical and emotional challenges to contend with during their assignments.

Known Curse-Breakers

Tertius (16th century)

Matilda Weasley (19th century)

Patricia Rakepick (Head Curse-Breaker at Gringotts by 1987)

Callum McClintock (before 1991)

Bill Weasley

• Grilco Wuthering (Head Curse-Breaker at Gringotts before 1890)
• Photine (before 1890)
• Thana (before 1890)
• Unidentified Ministry curse-breaker
• Unidentified Gringotts Curse-Breaker (1980s)
• Unidentified Gringotts Curse-Breaker

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Mentioned only) (First identified as Curse-Breaker)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Mentioned only)
• Wonderbook: Book of Potions (First appearance)
• Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (Mentioned only)
• Hogwarts Legacy (Mentioned only)