Occupations
Hogwarts Ministry of Magic and the Wizard's Council Quidditch

Security Troll/Security Warlock

"HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO TRAIN SECURITY TROLLS"
-- Ministry of Magic careers advice leaflet (OP29)

Security Troll/Security Warlock

Security Trolls and Security Warlocks (wizards and/or witches) provide protection services in the Wizarding world.

Security Trolls

After the Fat Lady’s portrait was slashed by Sirius Black (who later was let into Gryffindor Tower by Sir Cadogan upon producing the passwords), she agreed to return if she got adequate protection. Groups of Security Trolls were then hired to stand guard around the corridors of Hogwarts for the rest of the school year (PA14, PA15, PA16, PA22).

A careers advice leaflet of job opportunities for trainers of Security Trolls appeared on a table with other information aimed at fifth year students who are choosing their N.E.W.T.s subjects (OP29).

There was a rumour that Dolores Umbridge had hired a Security Troll to guard Harry Potter’s confiscated Firebolt broom in the Hogwarts dungeons (OP30).

Following the riotous celebrations by American Quidditch Team supporters after their quarter-final win against Liechtenstein at the 2014 Quidditch World Cup, an ICWQC official was quoted by the Daily Prophet as saying “I’m thinking security trolls” (Pm).

Security Warlocks, Wizards and Witches

Eric, the wizard working at the security desk at the Ministry of Magic, weighs the wands of visitors and issues a receipt which he then files on a spike (OP7). The desk is empty and there is no watchwizard on duty when Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Ginny and Neville come late at night to get into the Department of Mysteries and save Sirius Black (OP34).

At the 2014 Quidditch World Cup tournament in Patagonia (Pm):

  • Security wizards stopped the match between Norway and Ivory Coast twice while they tried to find the spectators in the crowd who had tried to jinx Lars Lundekvaman, the Ivorian Chaser.
  • According to Rita Skeeter’s Gossip Column, the VIP complex within the campsite was being patrolled by Security Warlocks.
  • During the final match between Bulgaria and Brazil, security wizards were stationed around the stadium during the mascot displays to prevent any resurgence of trouble similar to the disastrous Opening Ceremony.

Commentary

Notes

The big difference between hiring warlocks over trolls is that warlocks would be expected to think and act, while the trolls are there to look intimidating and use their clubs without thinking about it too much.

One of the possible true statements about the Goblin Rebellions on the WOMBAT 3 test was "the accidental death of Nagnok, Gringotts Goblin, at the hands of an untrained security troll sent by the Ministry of Magic" (JKR-W3).

A letter to the Daily Prophet from Malory Twiddle complains about Gringott's use of Sphinxes for security. He would rather they switched to Security Trolls, who won't ask difficult questions in order to get into your vault (DP1).

Although the date printed on the first Daily Prophet Newsletter (DP1) is 31 July 1998, the timeframe for this event is 1992-1993.

From the Web

Writing by J.K. Rowling on Pottermore:

Pottermore feature: Guide to Trolls

Harry Potter Wiki: Security Warlock and Security Troll

The W.O.M.B.A.T. tests reformatted: Reddit.com post

Pensieve (Comments)

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