Gnomes

It had skin the color of aged wood and bright blue eyes, a neatly trimmed gray beard and wisps of white hair sticking up from its almost bald head. It was just over three feet tall and wore simple, buff colored robes.

— Harry Potter & the Unforgiven

Who are the Gnomes?

Gnomes are enigmatic, even for magical creatures. Rarely standing even four feet tall, they are often dark in color. They have never been seen to eat, but they do drink tea on occasion, depending on the company.
It is known that Gnomes do not, for whatever reason, write anything of their own. Instead they tend to absorb and remember knowledge from other races and are fascinated by it. Gnomes work for the Ministry - or whatever government is around - as long as they get to spend as much time as possible with books and other sources of academic knowledge.
It is a common misconception that Gnomes can't write. They can. They write records of things - simple facts. They cannot seem to write articles, books, novels, stories, or anything else of their own.
Gnomes love stories. In trade for a story that they either transcribe for the teller or they get to read, Gnomes have been known to do great favors for a good story. Or a piece of history or knowledge they didn't already have.
Gnomes are scribes in that they write down everything - what someone said, did, wore, etc. They are completely incapable of speaking a lie, hiding the truth, or writing down something they know isn't true.
They can write down a story knowing it is fiction, and thus has a place in an ordered structure, but they cannot knowingling write a lie - and they always know when someone is lying.
Gnomes adore order - they are compelled to create order, impose order, and to maintain order. Not so much in how people behave or in a set of laws, but in creating and curating systems for things, concepts, information, and processes.
Gnomes also have perfect recall - eidetic memory - and are known for their calm, serious demeanor, despite having quite a lot of fun dryly mocking the anxious and upset British wizards who are always in a tizzy about something or another that probably won't matter in ten minutes.
There is no record of a human ever visiting a Gnomish location. They always meet humans in human places.
And if there was a record of it, the Gnomes would have it.

Gnomish Magic & Culture

Gnomish magic and Gnomish culture is almost synonymous.
Gnomes have a very powerful sympathetic magic that resonates with other magic around them. They are often able to 'read' wizards, and have mild empathic abilities - but their real power comes in their ability to know what someone else wants or needs to know or to read the condition of a person's intellectual character.
Seeking a Gnome is the same as submitting oneself to empirical judgement of one's academic fitness, intellectual integrity and hunger for knowledge. Those found wanting are often shamed in Academic circles.
Gnomes also have powerful preservation and protection magics. While not the wards that Gringotts Goblins offer or the massive buttresses and walls forged by dwarves, Gnomish magics are about keeping things exactly as they are. Untouched and unblemished. Static and unchanging.
This means their protections can keep out even Voldemort, because if they choose to keep things exactly as they are when the door is closed and locked, Voldemort's power might not be enough to stand against the stasis of gnomish magic - which grows in stature and impact the longer it stays in or on a place.

Collection and Curation of Knowledge and Stories

Gnomes collect knowledge and information. They curate it, hoard it, protect it, share it, organize it, catalog it, and otherwise care for and preserve it.
This is perhaps, the most sacred aspect of their culture and perhaps the most powerful driving force in their existence, other than their desire for and love of stories.

The Sharing of Knowledge

Gnomes believe that knowledge is power.
They use their strange empathy to decide if a person is worthy of or truly needs a certain peice of knowledge before allowing them access to it.

Relations With the Ministry

The Ministry of Magic has long employed Gnomes as librarians, running the Grand Library of the Wizengamot and running some of the more esoteric records departments of the Ministry. However, it is known that there are many more gnomes than are employed at the library or in the Ministry, but no one is quite sure where they are or what they are doing.
Gnomish history is a bit fuzzy. At some point in history, they simply appeared in several places in the world, almost at once, and made themselves useful and relevant and have stayed so ever since.
Unless knowledge is threatened, they have never invovled themselves in any conflict or war - but have gone to great lengths to collect, preserve, and hide away knowledge and books.

The Library of Alexandria

This is, perhaps, the best known place in history Gnomes have played a crucial role. The destruction of this library affected them greatly, and while Gnomes speak fondly of the vast collections they were able to protect, salvage, recover, and remove from these (and other libraries of the region) during Ceaser's civil war and during later the Arab invasion in 642 AD, there is a great cultural shame and sadness surrounding this.
It is known that in during both burnings, wizards and Loremasters were involved, and their combined powers were able to covercome Gnomish protections - something that cannot ever happen again, because the Gnomes learned how to counter and protect against the kind of arts used against the library in antiquity.

The Grand Library of the Wizengamot

The Grand Library of the Wizarngamot is one of the greatest (if not the greatest collection of written and recorded works of art, fiction, and non fiction in the entire world - and it s run by Gnomes.
It was started by the Wizard's Council or its predecessor sometime in the distant past, and because of how it was created, the treaties surrounding it, and the depth of magical protections on it, the Grand Library was the repository of everything from Alexandria - and much more since.
It is administered and cared for by Gnomes, under the oversight of the @Minis.
The Gnomes, being neutral arbiters, decide who does and doesn't get access to what's in the library, with the understanding that the Ministry can overrrule them if needed. This prevents arguments, appeals, beauracratic squabbles withing the ministry and wizengamot about who can or cannot access certain knowledge.
The British Ministry of Magic has more treaties with the Gnomes than almost any other entity, with the exception of the Vatican/Holy Roman Empire - though the Magical Congress of the United States isn't that far behind Britain anymore.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Gnomes are all short - the tallest reach three and a half feet tall. They range from rail thin to quite stout, and their skin is always the color of a wood or a stone. They grow hair on their heads and faces that is usually the color of leaves or of metal, but turns to gray or white as they age.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Gnomes have never been seen eating. They do drink tea, and seem to quite like it - and the knack for making it perfect for others.
They also enjoy tobacco, almost as much as Dwarves and Goblins.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

It cannot be emphasized enough - Gnomes are just about everywhere.
They are rarely found on small islands, and tend to be less common on coasts - the theory is that they don't really like the sea all that much. For whatever reason.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Gnomes are empaths of a sort, and it is believed by Hermione Granger and Bill Weasley that their powers are all related to mind magic and the use of ambient magic.

Empathy & Psychometry

Gnomes have incredible skill at 'reading' people and objects, and can often tell a great deal about them with a glance ot a touch. This is likely aura reading.

Empathy

It is not true empathy in that they sense the emotions of the person they are focusing on, but in terms of sensing the the character and moral center of the person. They are also able to read a person's 'need' and connection to the knowledge or story that they seek - or offer.
There are those who they know are what they call Golden Seekers who have a blue and gold aura around them. These are people of great intelligence and potential wisdom who are prepared to endure what the Gnomes call the Burden of Knowledge, which is one of the great tenets of their philosophy.
They are able to tell what a person needs to know and is often able to help them refine their search or provide them with that they need, even if they themselves don't know it.
Ginny Weasley, after training with them, is able to do something similar. Their powers allow them to see images of what is in a person's mind and what their questions are, letting them guide the person to what they need.
They also know when a person lies. No magic, no mental discipline, no trick of the tongue or skillful weaving of words can hide the intent and desire to lie.
They always know and will always know.

Psychometry

Gnomes have incredible powers of Psychometry.
They can touch and object and know its purpose, its history, the last several people who have owned it, touched it, or interacted with it. They can gain an understanding of any magic put on it or imbued into it.
This allows them to understand and contain dark artifacts, cursed objects, and other magic items.

Immunity

They are often immune to the curses and effects of magical artifacts (they are also unable to use most magic items), which allows them to determine what they are, what they do, and how to stop them without any danger to themselves or others.

Stasis and Preservation

Gnomish magic is entirely based on their ability (likely using ambient magic) to impose a sense of perfect stasis on objects, people, and areas. They can perfectly preserve things as they are - including magic.
They impose this power on artifacts, manuscripts, and the Library itself, making it an all but impenetrable fortress of knowledge.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Most Gnomish names are short, and they all seem to only have one name. Some Gnomes have mentioned families and clans and spouses and children, but there isn't much known of them.
Gnomes tend to understand how a person wants to be addressed - by name, by title, by surname - and they respect it.
But they always give only their name, not their position or anything else.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

If there is a language that has existed or does exist, there is a chance a Gnome knows it or knows of a Gnome who knows it.
They have their own language, but it is a language they have borrowed - and it is a language that shows how long they have been around wizards.
They claim their language is the ancient tongue of Babylon mingled with that of the ancient tongue of Egyptian priests and nobles, adapted and grown to fit the modern world with words borrowed, changed and added to create their language.
They do teach their language to a very few - all of who are Golden Seekers and no others. For their part, the Golden Seekers do not share this language with any other, but once they learn it, those who know them say they become incredibly adept at magic - moreso than ever before.
The only language they have not been able to learn is Parseltongue. Some scholars think they just can't make the sounds correctly, but the Gnomes won't confirm or deny this.

Common Etiquette Rules

Gnomish etiquette involves the exchange of gifts and stories, and of mutual exchanges of knowledge.
Otherwise, Gnomes are known for being quite casual and informal.
Except when it comes to libraries. They have elaborate rituals to open new spaces, create new libraries, dedicate new librarians and scholars. To accept new aquisitions.
Their most elaborate ceremonies and rituals are around those they call Golden Seekers and others they say carry the Burden of Knowledge.
Their only social hierarchy seems to focus around this concept - the more of the Burden of Knowledge a person carries, the more respect and authority an individual Gnome carries.

Common Dress Code

Gnomes dress for their tasks, but in simple, plain colors and earth tones, and rarely with any ornamentation or decoration.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

The Burden of Knowledge

While the preservation of knowledge, history and stories seems to be their primary cultural impetus and goal, what they call the Burden of Knowledge is part of their central philosophy and ethos.
They believe that those who have knowledge carry the burden to use it, share it, and hide it based on the consequences of doing so. The more knowledge a person has and the more knowledge they will have to seek, or choose to seek, or be forced to discover, the more of the burden they must carry.
The burden comes not from knowing, but from having to choose what to do with the knowledge.
If someone knows a dark spell that could end a battle, or knows of a cure for a disease, or even knows that someone - even a lot of people - are going to die, but if they take action, even more could die. What choice does a wise person make? To protect the many, or the few?
What kind of burden does one carry when they know much of dark magic and artifacts, but they cannot share this knowledge, even with other scholars or researchers, because so very few can be trusted not to use it?
The more knowledge a person has, the more choices they have to make about how to share it and when to share - and how and when to hide it.
The burden grows as knowledge grows.
But it is the duty of those who can bear the burden to take it up. The greatest sin, the worst thing a gnome believes someone can do is to be willfully ignorant, because it is wilful ignorance that leads to evil action.
On the other hand, it is also a great virtue to be wilfully ignorant. When someone knows they cannot make the right decision or will not be able to resist temptation, choosing not to seek out specific knowledge means they are sacrificing their agency and their power in the world to protect the world and others from what they might do.
Their philosophy surrounding knowledge and action is complex and carries great depth - and is the one part of the culture they will share - at great length - if anyone asks.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Gnomes love stories, and will share and hear all stories a person wants to tell for as long as they want to tell them.

History

Gnomes have been allied with wizards as long as Gnomes have been around. Around the time writing became common, Gnomes sort of appeared in magical history. They have almost never been involved in wars and conflicts unless they were protecting knowledge or artifacts.
The made treaties and deals with wizards to help them preserve, record, and collect knowledge as soon as they could, and have held to those treaties and that relationship with wizardkind ever since.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

While this is a topic not usually explored, many different groups of magical beings have relationships and agreements with each other that have nothing to do with magicians.

House Elves

Gnomes and House Elves just don't interact. At all.
They know each other exists, but there is no work for a House Elf in a Gnomish enclave, and House Elves are noticibly reluctant to go to places controlled by Gnomes.
But when asked about the other, both House Elves and Gnomes indicate a deep and abiding respect for the other.

Goblins

Goblins and Gnomes get along rather well. Goblins use Gnomes for some of their own record keeping and to administrate their own libraries and repositories of knowledge, and, in turn, keep Gnomish finances in order.
They have treaties, though no human has ever read them or knows much about them. Gnomes apparently have their own ways to visit Gringotts and are almost never seen there.
But Goblins are not an unfamiliar sight in the Grand Library and other places Gnomes have sway.

Centaurs

Gnomes consider Centaurs' unwillingness to write down or record any of their divination to be a great travesty, and find them to be quite rude, if very fascinating.
Centaurs, on the other hand, tend to shoot first and ask questions later, and find Gnomes to be irritating, frustrating, confounding creatures they would rather have absolutely nothing at all to do with, if at all possible.

Giants

Gnomes have records of giant history and events in giant culture, but beyond that, there is no known contact.

Acromantula

The Great Spiders find Gnomes to be very tasty, but some few have given Gnomes bits and peices of their history and culture.
Gnomes, for their part, prefer not to be eaten and tend to give Acromantula a wide berth.

Lifespan

600 years

Conservation Status

Gnomes are not rare. They are everywhere in the world, and they all seem to know each other. Very little is known of them or of their culture and history.

Average Height

2.8 - 3.5 feet

Average Weight

30-80lbs