Obliviator

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An Obliviator is, in the Harry Potter novel series by J. K. Rowling, the designation for a Ministry of Magic employee who has the task of modifying the memory of a Muggle after witnessing incidents belonging to the magic world.

They are first called so in the sixth volume, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, although the mentioned practice already appears in the previous novels. The act of memory modification can be used by any wizard, by using the spell, "Obliviate." This event, however, is frowned upon in the wizarding society; most believe that memory modification should be done by Obliviators only.

Examples of times in which a memory charm was committed include when Professor Gilderoy Lockhart attempts to erase the memories of Harry and Ron in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and when Harry's Aunt Marge's mind is modified (although this is never seen first hand) in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.