An Exclusive Interview With Felix Pepper, Magical Scientist
Magic Monthly

Felix Bartholomew Pepper describes himself as a ‘magical scientist’. He ushers me to be seated in a Victorian armchair amongst his work. His wife, Caroline sits behind me, seemingly at ease with the surroundings and content to listen.

He explains that a magical scientist specialises “in the study of how magic relates to the Muggle scientific world. Everything from our genetic differences to how we defy the Muggle ideas of physics with time travel.” A broad spectrum of ideas and concepts, you would agree. He agrees he is unique in the field of magic, and therefore a specialist. I enquire why there are so few magical scientists, and Pepper blames the laws on Magical Secrecy. His work is much blighted by being unable to work with Muggles on anything but their own work.

Many in the wizarding race believe that Muggles should never ever know about us again, through their hysteria of previous centuries. Others, such as Carlotta Pinkstone, believe otherwise. Pepper confesses he is a friend of Pinkstone, though does not follow her more radical approaches to opposing the statute.

Pepper works a fair amount with Muggles, never revealing his status as a wizard. He is particularly interested in the way magic defies the Muggle laws of physics. One such way is our use of time-turners. Pepper describes how he used to craft time turners for the Ministry for five years. The craft has been the job of the men in the family for two generations previous. He admits each one took a long time to make, and he finished less than fifty. Pepper confirms that he has been asked by the Ministry to resume production since the start of the war.

I note Pepper’s frown as he speaks of the Ministry, and ask him how he feels about our government. “I wouldn’t want to govern our part of Britain, that’s for sure.” He replies. “Personally, I find the Ministry restrictive to my research, though I do feel duty bound to my country, and the wizarding population.”

Caroline smiles at this, presumably her position as a trusted Elder of the Wizengamot has an influence on her husband’s opinion.
“He wouldn’t ever join them properly.” She explains, prompting her husband to elaborate.
“I was approached to join the Department of Mysteries, around the time I crafted the time turners. I turned the offer down. For what is the point of research, if you cannot share your knowledge with others?”

Pepper does indeed share his knowledge readily with others. He is on good terms with the Committee on Experimental Charms, who he presented a talk to last month on harnessing the powers of Muggle physics to aid the less magical. Pepper couldn’t confirm it was a great success, but felt he’d provoked some thought.



Pepper’s mother, Melody, was a popular singer for the WWN when he was a child. She had to give up her job when a virus struck. It made her ill for many years, and also ruined her singing voice. Pepper explained that despite her illness, his mother had always supported both her sons. She was a survivor of her family, two of her three sisters died before they were sixteen. Pepper explains how he thinks of her resilience when he feels low, though admits his brother was all the closer to their mother.

When Pepper married his wife Caroline, he married into a Muggle family. I asked if the Ministry interfered here too.
“Any family with Muggle relations experiences difficulties with admission. Muggles are very bad at accepting situations. We have two nieces, and at present, they are none the wiser.”

In an ideal world then, how would Pepper envisage his family situation?
“Like I wish my work to be, without boundaries between the two races. I would love to show the girls what is existing in our side of the coin.”

An increasingly likely wish to become true, or a fantasy never to be lived out? In our world where blood purity is a dying out, will we be forced to embrace the wish? It is a topic hotly debated within the Ministry chambers. It is however clear, where Felix Pepper stands. A move to relax the restrictions on the flow of information to Muggles would help both his professional and personal affairs.

Pepper Facts

• Ravenclaw Alumni
• Left Hogwarts with top grade NEWTs
• Turned down job as unspeakable.
• Married for four years to a Wizengamot Elder.
• Crafts time-turners for the Ministry.
• Member of the Wizard’s Jigsaw Society.