"Are you a wizard, or what?"
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- "...some with a vanishing step halfway up that you had to remember to jump."
- — First mention of the vanishing step[src]
These were staircases in Hogwarts Castle that vanished a step halfway up, meaning students crossing them had to jump a step.[1][2][3]
History[]
Neville Longbottom regularly forgot to jump the step in one of these staircases.[2][3]
In 1995, Harry Potter made the same mistake due to him becoming distracted after observing Bartemius Crouch Jnr (whom he believed to be Bartemius Crouch Snr) on the Marauder's Map. He became trapped in the staircase and lost hold of his golden egg clue, which attracted the attention of Argus Filch.[3]
The commotion also drew the attention of Severus Snape, who came to investigate but was headed off by Alastor Moody, who was the only one that could see Harry in his Cloak of Invisibility with his magical eye. Though Harry did not know it at the time, the man who rescued him was actually the man he had earlier observed on the map.[3]
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter Trading Card Game
- The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac