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{{HogwartsMysterySpoiler}}
{{Dialogue a-b-a|Hermione|[[Molly Weasley|Your mother]] can’t produce food out of thin air, no one can. Food is the first of the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfigura—|Ron|Oh, speak English, can’t you?|It’s impossible to make good food out of nothing! You can [[Summoning Charm|Summon]] it if you know where it is, you can [[Transformation|transform]] it, you can [[Geminio|increase the quantity]] if you’ve already got some...|[[Hermione Granger]] and [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] on the exceptions to Gamp's Law|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
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{{Quote|[[Molly Weasley|Your mother]] can’t produce food out of thin air, no one can. Food is the first of the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfigura[tion]... It’s impossible to make good food out of nothing! You can [[Summoning Charm|Summon]] it if you know where it is, you can [[Transformation|transform]] it, you can [[Doubling Charm|increase the quantity]] if you’ve already got some...|The exceptions to Gamp's Law|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
   
 
'''Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration''' is a law governing the [[magic]]al world. There are five Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law, one of which is food.
 
'''Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration''' is a law governing the [[magic]]al world. There are five Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law, one of which is food.
   
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==Description==
It should be noted that while food cannot be outright created from nothing, it can be [[Gemino Curse|multiplied]] if one already has some food to multiply, it can be [[Engorgement Charm|enlarged]] or the food can be [[Summoning Charm|summoned]] if one knows the approximate location and is fairly sure the food will still be there.<ref name="DH">{{DH}}</ref> It should also be noted that while food cannot be conjured, consumable liquids such as sauces<ref>{{GOF|B|5}}</ref> and potable water can be.<ref>{{HBP|B|26}}</ref>
 
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The formulation of Gamp's Law has not been stated, but food being one of its Principal Exceptions means that it cannot be created from nothing. Therefore, it can be reasonably inferred that Gamp's Law relates in some way to [[Conjuration|magic that creates something from nothing]]. It can also be inferred that the other four exceptions are other categories of substance which cannot be created from nothing.
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It should be noted that while food cannot be outright created from nothing, it can be [[Doubling Charm|multiplied]] if one already has some food to multiply, it can be [[Engorgement Charm|enlarged]] or the food can be [[Summoning Charm|summoned]] if one knows the approximate location and is fairly sure the food will still be there.<ref name="DH15"/>
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In addition, while "good food" cannot be conjured, consumable things such as [[Sauce-making spell|sauces]],<ref>{{GOF|B|5}}</ref> [[fountain of wine|wine]],<ref name="GOF18">{{GOF|B|18}}</ref> and [[Water-Making Spell|potable water]] can be,<ref name="HBP26">{{HBP|B|26}}</ref> as they are not particularly nutritious substances. Furthermore, creatures can be conjured, such as [[Snake Summons Spell|snakes]] and [[Bird-Conjuring Charm|birds]], but whether or not they may be used in cooking to create edible or nourishing food is unknown.
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
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[[Minerva McGonagall|McGonagall]] summoned food from elsewhere when she presented a [[Endless Sandwiches|never ending platter of sandwiches]] to Snape's office from the [[Hogwarts kitchens]].<ref name="COS5">{{COS|B|5}}</ref> [[Hagrid|Rubeus Hagrid]] created additional food by using [[Engorgement Charm]]s on already existing pumpkins.<ref name="COS7">{{COS|B|7}}</ref> As one of the Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration, good food cannot be "made from thin air", but can be [[Doubling Charm|multiplied]] if one already has some food to multiply, it can be [[Engorgement Charm|enlarged]] or the food can be [[Summoning Charm|summoned]] if one knows the approximate location.
In [[September]] [[1997]], after [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] commented that [[Molly Weasley|his mother]] could make good food out of thin air, [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] stated that this was impossible, as food is one of the five Principal Exemptions to this law, but this only irritated Ron, who wanted her to "speak English", but was not satisfied by her explanation.<ref name="DH15">{{DH|B|15}}</ref>
 
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In [[September]] [[1997]], after [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] commented that [[Molly Weasley|his mother]] could make good food out of thin air, [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] stated that this was impossible, as food is one of the five Principal Exceptions to this law, but this only irritated Ron, who wanted her to "speak English", but was not satisfied by her explanation.<ref name="DH15">{{DH|B|15}}</ref>
   
 
On [[1 May]], [[1998]], after [[Neville Longbottom]] noted that the one thing that the [[Room of Requirement]] did not seem to be able to provide was food, Ron commented that food was one of the five Principal Exceptions to this law, to "general astonishment".<ref name="DH29">{{DH|B|29}}</ref>
 
On [[1 May]], [[1998]], after [[Neville Longbottom]] noted that the one thing that the [[Room of Requirement]] did not seem to be able to provide was food, Ron commented that food was one of the five Principal Exceptions to this law, to "general astonishment".<ref name="DH29">{{DH|B|29}}</ref>
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==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
* Gamp's Law apparently uses the [[Gamp family|surname]] of the person who discovered it. [[Hesper Gamp]], a witch married to [[Sirius Black II]], might be that person or a relative of that person.<ref>[[House of Black|Black family tree]]</ref>
 
* Gamp's Law apparently uses the [[Gamp family|surname]] of the person who discovered it. [[Hesper Gamp]], a witch married to [[Sirius Black II]], might be that person or a relative of that person.<ref>[[House of Black|Black family tree]]</ref>
* According to [[Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test|W.O.M.B.A.T.]], it may or may not be possible to turn an animal into a human. 
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* According to [[Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test|W.O.M.B.A.T.]], it may or may not be possible to turn a random animal into a human. 
 
* Although many things appear impossible to conjure, there is legislation in the wizarding world about what can and cannot be conjured.<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/0700-swns-alfie.htm AccioQuote! Interview]</ref>
 
* Although many things appear impossible to conjure, there is legislation in the wizarding world about what can and cannot be conjured.<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/0700-swns-alfie.htm AccioQuote! Interview]</ref>
* The series appears to break one of these laws early on. In {{COS}}, McGonagall appears to conjure a platter of sandwiches and a jug of Pumpkin juice out of thin air when Harry and Ron arrive late; however, she may have simply apparated the food from the kitchen similar to the way the house-elfs make the food magically appear for feasts.
 
* Merope Gaunt (please expand)
 
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
 
*{{DH}} {{1st Mentioned}}
 
*{{DH}} {{1st Mentioned}}
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*{{HM}} (mentioned only)
   
 
==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
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[[de:Gamps Gesetz der elementaren Transfiguration]]
 
 
[[es:Ley de Transformación Elemental de Gamp]]
 
[[es:Ley de Transformación Elemental de Gamp]]
[[pl:Pięć Praw Wyjątków Gampa]]
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[[pl:Prawo Gampa]]
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[[ru:Закон Трансфигурации Гэмпа]]
[[Category:Magic]]
 
 
[[Category:Laws of Magic]]
 
[[Category:Laws of Magic]]
 
[[Category:Transfiguration]]

Revision as of 19:05, 4 September 2019

"Your mother can’t produce food out of thin air, no one can. Food is the first of the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfigura[tion]... It’s impossible to make good food out of nothing! You can Summon it if you know where it is, you can transform it, you can increase the quantity if you’ve already got some..."
— The exceptions to Gamp's Law[src]

Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration is a law governing the magical world. There are five Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law, one of which is food.

Description

The formulation of Gamp's Law has not been stated, but food being one of its Principal Exceptions means that it cannot be created from nothing. Therefore, it can be reasonably inferred that Gamp's Law relates in some way to magic that creates something from nothing. It can also be inferred that the other four exceptions are other categories of substance which cannot be created from nothing.

It should be noted that while food cannot be outright created from nothing, it can be multiplied if one already has some food to multiply, it can be enlarged or the food can be summoned if one knows the approximate location and is fairly sure the food will still be there.[1]

In addition, while "good food" cannot be conjured, consumable things such as sauces,[2] wine,[3] and potable water can be,[4] as they are not particularly nutritious substances. Furthermore, creatures can be conjured, such as snakes and birds, but whether or not they may be used in cooking to create edible or nourishing food is unknown.

History

McGonagall summoned food from elsewhere when she presented a never ending platter of sandwiches to Snape's office from the Hogwarts kitchens.[5] Rubeus Hagrid created additional food by using Engorgement Charms on already existing pumpkins.[6] As one of the Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration, good food cannot be "made from thin air", but can be multiplied if one already has some food to multiply, it can be enlarged or the food can be summoned if one knows the approximate location.

In September 1997, after Ron commented that his mother could make good food out of thin air, Hermione stated that this was impossible, as food is one of the five Principal Exceptions to this law, but this only irritated Ron, who wanted her to "speak English", but was not satisfied by her explanation.[1]

On 1 May, 1998, after Neville Longbottom noted that the one thing that the Room of Requirement did not seem to be able to provide was food, Ron commented that food was one of the five Principal Exceptions to this law, to "general astonishment".[7]

Behind the scenes

  • Gamp's Law apparently uses the surname of the person who discovered it. Hesper Gamp, a witch married to Sirius Black II, might be that person or a relative of that person.[8]
  • According to W.O.M.B.A.T., it may or may not be possible to turn a random animal into a human. 
  • Although many things appear impossible to conjure, there is legislation in the wizarding world about what can and cannot be conjured.[9]

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. 1.0 1.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 15 (The Goblin's Revenge)
  2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 5 (Weasley's Wizard Wheezes)
  3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 18 (The Weighing of the Wands)
  4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 26 (The Cave)
  5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 5 (The Whomping Willow)
  6. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 7 (Mudbloods And Murmurs)
  7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 29 (The Lost Diadem)
  8. Black family tree
  9. AccioQuote! Interview