Department of Magical Transportation
The Department of Magical Transportation is responsible for various aspects of magical transport. It is located on the sixth level of the Ministry of Magic.
This article was originally edited from the Harry Potter Wiki:Department of Magical Transportation article.
Offices
Floo Network Authority
- Main Article: Floo Network Authority
The Floo Network Authority is responsible for setting up and maintaining the network. They also regulate the distribution of Floo powder.
The network is composed of the fireplaces of all the wizarding buildings, which are interconnected, and it allows the user, or "passenger", to transport themselves to any other fireplace on the network. The Floo Network is subject to intense scrutiny by the Ministry. The Floo Network may sometimes temporarily set up a connection between a wizarding building and a Muggle building.
Broom Regulatory Control
The Broom Regulatory Control has the authority to determine what factors allow an individual to use and ride a broom. If a broom has been determined to be dangerous or tampered with to cause damage, this office will confiscate the broom.
Portkey Office
The Portkey Office regulates and authorizes objects that are turned into portkeys as well as the network in which they are used.
Apparition Test Centre
The Apparition Test Centre grants Apparition licences to qualified witches and wizards. One must be 17 to obtain such a licence. Licensure is required to prevent the likelihood of splinching. One is usually taught and tested by a qualified Ministry employee, such as is the case at Hogwarts. However, in the case of Side-Along Apparition, the accomplice does not require a licence provided they are taken by a licensed wizard.
Weather Office
Unsure where else to put them, a small team of weather sorcerers study and occasionally manipulates the weather to support other Ministry of Magic needs. They provide weather prophecy to the Daily Prophet, other media as needed, and advise the Owl Post and Magical Games and Sports. A very small specialized team called the Tempestarii (with a very long history) can actually manipulate the weather on a very large scale. One reason it's rarely called on is because muggle weather prediction is very good and so freak changes in events must be infrequent.
