Here's what it does:
* Turns off lights: By pressing the button, the Deluminator can instantly extinguish all light sources in the immediate vicinity, plunging the area into darkness.
* Creates light: Conversely, by pressing a different button, the Deluminator can create a small beam of light, providing a small source of illumination.
* Disappears: The Deluminator can be used to disappear, but it requires a specific incantation (unknown to us) and a destination that has been previously stored within the device.
Significance in the story:
* Dumbledore's tool: Dumbledore uses the Deluminator to travel secretly, appearing and disappearing at will. He also uses it to guide Harry Potter in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," providing him with light in dark situations and leading him to safety.
* Symbolic of Dumbledore's nature: The Deluminator represents Dumbledore's ability to see through facades and manipulate the flow of light, much like his magical skills and wisdom.
Fun fact:
The Deluminator is a fictional device, but it was inspired by a real-life gadget: a flashlight used by the British Royal Navy in World War II. This flashlight could be turned on and off without emitting any light, making it ideal for covert operations.