Harry Potter: What Is the Veil in the Ministry of Magic?

Among the many mysterious artifacts in the Harry Potter series, the Veil in the Ministry of Magic is possibly the most enigmatic as its origin and purpose remain largely unknown. Located in the center of the Death Chamber, a large and dimly-lit room in the Department of Mysteries, it hangs on a “crumbling” stone archway, which stands upon a raised stone dais without any support of a surrounding wall. The ripped black cloth also seems to flutter slightly, as though it has “just been touched”. In the film, the arch is quite tall and narrow, and the Veil is shown as some sort of mist instead.