Winged Keys

Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

For gameplay-specific information, please see the relevant article on the Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Wiki!

Hermione: "These birds... they can't be here just for decoration."

Harry: "They're not birds! They're keys! Winged keys."

— Hermione Granger and Harry Potter when they entered the chamber of winged keys^[src]

The Winged Keys^[1], also known as Flying Keys^[2], were keys that were enchanted with a Flying Charm by Professor Filius Flitwick to guard the Philosopher's Stone.^[3]

History

The keys were placed in a massive "flock" within the third of the Stone's Chambers, and only one of them would allow entry into the fourth chamber through a locked door that was made impervious to Unlocking Charms. The chamber also contained brooms, which could be used to retrieve the correct key, though the keys would scatter chaotically as soon as the brooms were used to lift-off.^[3]

Guarding the Philosopher's Stone

In 1992, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger had to overcome a series of obstacles in order to pass from one Chamber to follow Severus Snape (actually Quirinus Quirrell), whom they believed intended to hand the Stone over to Lord Voldemort, and prevent him from successfully acquiring the stone.^[3]

The third of the Underground Chambers was filled with the winged keys, which at first appeared to be birds. As they soon discovered the locked door at the end of the room was impervious to the Unlocking Charm (Alohomora), they also realised the keys were not, in fact, birds.^[3]

Winged keys flying — The winged keys attacking

Hermione cleverly deduced that the key that would open the locked door must be an old one to match the old lock on the door, and the only old key was one with a broken wing, as it had just been used by Quirinus Quirrell. As soon as Harry, Ron and Hermione took off on brooms to catch the "old key," the rest of the keys started zooming and darting all over the place. The winged key that was able to open the locked door was described as an old-fashioned silver key with bright blue wings.^[3]

Behind the scenes

UK Signature Edition 01 PS book spine Winged Key — by Clare Melinsky

In the novel, each one of the Trio seized a broomstick and kicked off into the air to catch the winged key, while in the film, only Harry used a broomstick to catch the key.
In the film adaptation, (most of) the keys swarm and attack Harry as soon as he touches the broom, which does not happen in the book.

Appearances

Winged Keys or Flying Keys — Concept artwork for the Winged Keys

FlyingKeyWU — A Flying Key as seen in *Harry Potter: Wizards Unite*

Notes and references

↑ Pottermore - Book 1, Chapter 16, Moment 1
↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) - PS1 version
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 16 (Through the Trapdoor)

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[1] Pottermore - Book 1, Chapter 16, Moment 1

[2] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) - PS1 version

[PS16-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 16 (Through the Trapdoor)

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