What was the criminal underworld like in Harry Potter?

We know of it, but rarely did we see it. What was the criminal underworld like in the big bad Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

The criminal underworld is something seen only briefly, but very vividly, in the world of Harry Potter. The first appearance, and perhaps main appearance, is in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets after Harry goes into the dangerous “Knockturn Alley.” He ends up there by accident, when he fumbles the phrase “Diagon Ally” as “diagonally” using the “Floo powder” network.

Immediately, to the reader or viewer, the atmosphere in this “dingy” setting is quite unlike “Diagon Alley”. Instead, it is a menacing place where the stores all around are “devoted to the Dark Arts.” It is almost Dickensian in its criminal element, yet while it might seem to be a time warp, the place is very dangerous indeed.

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Let us not forget, as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince notes, Tom Riddle himself worked in “Borgin and Burkes” for a while after leaving Hogwarts. He murdered Hepzibah Smith while working for this employer, but Riddle is no doubt not the only dangerous criminal around. As Harry is almost surrounded by ill-intentioned witches and wizards when he enters “Knockturn Alley” for the first very time. Thank goodness Hagrid was there to rescue him.

The trade in illegal and dangerous magical artefacts thrives in this area. One such evil object listed for trade in “Knockturn Alley” in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a “necklace of opals.” An object that is “cursed” and has “claimed the lives of nineteen muggle owners to date.”

One is left to wonder how “Knockturn Alley” developed? Was it the result of outcasts from the more civilized areas of the wizarding world? Or did it grow alongside from elsewhere? While it is possible that the community developed because of castoffs, wealthy dark wizards such as Lucius Malfoy also traverse into this criminal environment. It is perhaps because of this, that criminality goes unchecked, as Aurors certainly don’t seem to enter the domain. Or if they do it is not mentioned in the books.

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The fact Lucius Malfoy comes to “Knockturn Alley” suggests this is because of services that cannot be acquired elsewhere. Perhaps it is not just dark magic items and stolen goods that can be bought in “Knockturn Alley”. Those wizards who do not wish to sully their own hands can possibly place bounties on enemies. After all, as stated in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the evidence to convict a wizard for dark magic is their own wand; which keeps a record of spells used. So, if your wand itself is not utilized in a crime, this offers a way for wizards to skirt the law.

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The next time “Knockturn Alley” is really seen is during the Half-Blood Prince. However, by the time of the book and film, the “Alley,” even though it is still an imposing presence, had changed. As Harry notes, “it was a bit of a giveaway in these dangerous and suspicious times to buy Dark artifacts – or at least to be seen buying them.” It is almost as if the criminal underworld knew that trouble was on the horizon. Criminal trade could still occur but had to operate under wraps so to speak.

Yet, while the criminal underworld in Harry Potter may have been a disturbing and dangerous place in normal times, during the brief, but terrifying, control of Lord Voldemort over the Ministry of Magic, criminal areas became, perhaps, a possible refuge for those persecuted by the Death Eaters.

After all, all galleons are the same whether they are used by pure-blood, half-blood or Muggle-born witch or wizard. Perhaps witches or wizards in need could buy forged ID’s documents and other items to get them out of hot water with the Ministry of Magic inquisitors. Indeed, the criminal environment that Tom Riddle had thrived in after Hogwarts, was possibly a challenge to him as Lord Voldemort.

After the defeat of Voldemort, it is not known whether the criminal underworld was changed much, or continued to operate at the fringes as it had always done. Maybe former Death Eaters wanted for the crimes they had carried out under Voldemort, lied low there. Ultimately, the wizarding world criminal underworld was there before Voldemort during Voldemort and after Voldemort. Galleons and gold was the wizard underworld’s way not an ideology of any stripe.

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What do you imagine the criminal underworld in Harry Potter was like? Do you think this is something that should have been explored more in the stories? Drop a comment just below sharing your thoughts.

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