Sneakoscope
Appearance: Sneakoscopes are similar in appearance to Muggle gyroscopes or toy tops. Used to detect untrustworthy witches and wizards, Sneakoscopes spin, glow, and emit a whistling noise when activated [POA1].
Function: A magical warning device, used to advise their
owner that deceitful or treacherous people are close at hand.
How to Use: The Sneakoscope self activates when it detects
dishonest people or actions.
Notes: The Sneakoscope was invented by Edgar Strouzler sometime between the years 1703 and 1798. According to fake-Professor Moody, Sneakoscopes are a type of magical item known as a Dark Detector; a magical device used to alert its owner to danger. Moody told Harry he had to disable his Sneakoscope while at Hogwarts "because it wouldn't stop whistling." His Sneakoscope was extra sensitive and, as such, stayed in constant motion due to "students in every direction lying about why they hadn't done their homework" [GOF20]. While student lies could have been the cause for the Sneakoscope's continual activity, it is more likely that the Sneakoscope was reacting to the fact that Professor Moody was actually an imposter and the real Moody was locked away in his own trunk.
On July 31, 1993, Harry Potter received a Pocket Sneakoscope
from Ron Weasley for his 13th birthday. The Pocket Sneakoscope is merely a
smaller, pocket-sized version of a normal Sneakoscope. Ron purchased it while
vacationing in Egypt with his family and since it was a rather cheap item
marketed to tourists, neither he nor Harry took its warnings very seriously.
Harry's Pocket Sneakoscope activated several times during the 1993-1994 school
year. Each time he ignored its warnings, keeping it stored in a pair of Uncle
Vernon's old socks to muffle the noise it made.
Harry agreed to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons during the 1995-1996 school year as a way of combating Dolores Umbridge's oppressive regime at Hogwarts. Using the Room of Requirement, Harry found everything he needed to instruct his fellow students in defense, including a number of Dark Detectors. Along with a large Foe-Glass and several Secrecy Sensors, there were a few Sneakoscopes. While the other students were very interested in these magical items, Harry cautioned them not to "rely on them too much, they can be fooled…" [OOTP18].
While not especially reliable on their own, sneakoscopes can
actually pose danger if bought from questionable sources. In his line of work
for the Ministry, Mr. Weasley confiscated some cursed Sneakoscopes shortly
before Harry's sixth year. These items were probably planted by one of Voldemort's
followers.
Even though he doubted the veracity of Sneakoscopes, Harry still saw fit to bring his along on the quest to destroy Horcruxes. When the trio made camp, the Sneakoscope would usually sit on the kitchen table, not making any noise. But when Harry said Voldemort's name and activated the Taboo, the device lit up and began to spin as people began Apparating outside the tent: apparently Snatchers qualify as dishonest people [DH22]. Go figure.
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