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Pub trivia – fun facts you didn't know about wizarding inns

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__Spoiler warning! There are some mild spoilers ahead – turn back now if you’re not familiar with the stories…__

## The Leaky Cauldron is the oldest pub in London

Despite what many [Muggles](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/muggles) think, the title of oldest pub in London goes to this well-loved wizarding establishment. Found on Charing Cross Road, the [Leaky Cauldron](/fact-file/locations/the-leaky-cauldron) was built in the 1500s – long before Charing Cross Road was even planned! Its true address is number one, [Diagon Alley](/fact-file/locations/diagon-alley).

## Muggles used to frequent the Leaky Cauldron

This wizarding institution wasn’t always a place that where only magical folk congregated. As it was built two centuries before the imposition of the International Statute of Secrecy, it was initially visible to Muggle eyes too. Muggles weren’t made to feel unwelcome or turned away. Having said that, thanks to the *interesting* conversations and even more *interesting* magical pets, many scarpered before finishing their mead.

![LeakyCauldron WB F1 SomeoneOutsideLeakyCauldron Illust 080615 Land](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/5sxx5inySIAWsKA0gcuUEG/ca736eb81e715e092136f42c579a2719/LeakyCauldron_WB_F1_SomeoneOutsideLeakyCauldron_Illust_080615_Land.jpg)

## Neville Longbottom and Hannah Abbott lived above the Leaky Cauldron

In a turn of events that we find extremely adorable, after leaving [Hogwarts](/fact-file/locations/hogwarts) not only did [Neville](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/neville-longbottom) continue his passion for magical plants as [Herbology](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/herbology) professor, but he also married [Hufflepuff](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/hufflepuff), [Hannah Abbott](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/hannah-abbott-fact-file). The happy couple decided to make a home for themselves living above the one-and-only Leaky Cauldron.

## A pub was the headquarters of a rebellion

Although we never learnt which one it was, according to *Sites of Historical Sorcery*, one of the wizarding pubs in [Hogsmeade](/fact-file/locations/hogsmeade) was said to have been the headquarters of the 1612 [goblin](/fact-file/creatures/goblin) rebellion. Could it have been the [Hog’s Head Inn](/fact-file/locations/the-hogs-head) which was known for its dubious dealings and schemes? Or perhaps it was the cosiness of the [Three Broomsticks](/fact-file/locations/the-three-broomsticks) that convinced the goblins to make it their base?

![pottermore-moments-hp-b5-hogs-head-homepage-hero](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/2zygTLqXtChkWM7Asbbca3/14624eac244b6e0d0dd667458176dd1a/pottermore-moments-hp-b5-hogs-head-homepage-hero.jpg)

## The Hog’s Head Inn was run by a Dumbledore

While [Albus Dumbledore](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/albus-dumbledore) ran Hogwarts, just down the road his brother, [Aberforth Dumbledore](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/aberforth-dumbledore-fact-file), ran the Hog’s Head Inn. Crochety and a big fan of goats, he and his brother didn’t always see eye-to-eye. Ultimately, they were both extremely good people and Aberforth even helped the resistance at Hogwarts after Albus’ death – thanks to a secret passage that connected the [Room of Requirement](/fact-file/locations/the-room-of-requirement) to his pub.

## Sybill Trelawney made her infamous prediction at the Hog’s Head Inn

The Hog’s Head Inn was the location of many crucial story moments from the founding of [Dumbledore’s Army](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/dumbledores-army) to [Hagrid](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/rubeus-hagrid) winning a dragon egg in a game of cards. However, there was one particular moment that changed the course of wizarding history forever. On a gloomy night, Albus Dumbledore went to interview [Sybill Trelawney](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/sybill-trelawney) for the role of [Divination](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/divination) teacher. He was thoroughly unimpressed until, among the ramshackle décor and sticky floor, she made her prediction about the boy destined to end [Voldemort](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/lord-voldemort) and rid the world of his evil!

![pottermore-moments-three-broomsticks-homepage-hero](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/YvfQFf3Sc7Y1rQNcmqoKm/7278f0704d0a659047a66375127ed129/pottermore-moments-three-broomsticks-homepage-hero.jpg)

## Katie Bell was given the cursed opal necklace at The Three Broomsticks

Run by Madam Rosmerta, the Three Broomsticks was a warm and welcoming establishment in Hogsmeade. Yet Dark Magic still managed to worm its way in there in the form of the cursed opal necklace. Part of a clumsy attempt on Dumbledore’s life, [Gryffindor](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/gryffindor) Quidditch team member, [Katie Bell](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/katie-bell), took the necklace from the pub while under the influence of the [Imperius Curse](/fact-file/spells/the-imperius-curse) and narrowly escaped its deadly power.

## It wasn’t just witches and wizards who frequented the Three Broomsticks

Said to be as old as the only all-wizard village in Britain, the Three Broomsticks was a bit of a haven for all sorts of magical beings, such as hags, who couldn’t disguise themselves particularly well in the Muggle world. In fact, Ron and Hermione once thought they spotted an ogre!

Every quote to live by from your favourite witches

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Hermione wearing a red dress and smiling at Bill and Fleur's wedding.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

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and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

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## The importance of keeping things in perspective

![HP-F1-philosophers-stone-hermione-charms-learning-classroom-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/qVjLFPXczR2mwGR54M1JK/5ffbc10854b90be415e66d18504a0f56/HP-F1-philosophers-stone-hermione-charms-learning-classroom-web-landscape)

‘Books! And cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery…’

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Hermione Granger: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

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Despite being known for her exceptional brain power, [Hermione](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/hermione-granger) also knew the importance of nurturing the other elements of her personality too. It’s a lesson she learnt in her first year after finding genuine friendship. It is also one that we could do with remembering too.

## Don’t be afraid to be bold

![HP-F5-order-of-the-phoenix-ginny-da-wand-determined-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/3yxtbUPaKL5YRyOXEmcss7/b5f3840e6afd0c2e76548570d0532593/HP-F5-order-of-the-phoenix-ginny-da-wand-determined-web-landscape)

‘…anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.'

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Ginny Weasley: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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If you don’t ask you don’t get! As [Ginny](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/ginny-weasley) reminds us, if we shy away from a challenge, we’re never going to achieve our dreams. If we find our courage? Well, the world is our oyster.

## Be proud of who you are

![HP-F4-goblet-of-fire-mcgonagall-desk-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/71JqjFqxFPKBLmoFUGKYJD/22d4d28400d268c5d1382d675b5ce1ae/HP-F4-goblet-of-fire-mcgonagall-desk-web-landscape)

‘It’s high time your grandmother learned to be proud of the grandson she’s got, rather than the one she thinks she ought to have...’

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Minerva McGonagall: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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The no-nonsense [McGonagall](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/minerva-mcgonagall) was a witch worth listening to! It’s all too easy to get caught up in the comparison trap, trying to think about who you *should* be and feeling inadequate next to others. However, you are brilliant just the way you are. You are one-of-a-kind. If the Head of [Gryffindor](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/gryffindor) can see that – so can you.

## There is always hope

![HP-F5-order-of-the-phoenix-luna-da-room-of-requirement-casting-patronus-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/5zrwB81bovDEUXWbMyCWia/26babee3a72e41ff8557681a28703f5a/HP-F5-order-of-the-phoenix-luna-da-room-of-requirement-casting-patronus-web-landscape)

‘The things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end. If not always in the way we expect.’

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Luna Lovegood: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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When times are hard, it can be easy to give up hope and become despondent. Yet this poignant point from the wonderfully eccentric [Ravenclaw](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/ravenclaw) is a reminder that good days are on the horizon – even if we can’t quite see them yet.

## Don’t be afraid to dream big

![WB-HP-F7-hermione-reading-promo-crop](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/7uWvZ2RIgkybj8J1lCs5RA/39672ce02de6ff4e27d39381deb3c05f/WB-HP-F7-hermione-reading-promo-crop.jpg)

‘I’m hoping to do some good in the world!’

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Hermione Granger: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

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No matter who you are, you *can* make a difference. If you channel Hermione’s determination, we’re sure you will go on to do great and brilliant things.

## An excellent reminder

![HP-F5-molly-weasley-harry-potter-web-10744](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/1ugOAEKJsmxHxy7rDSEkO8/d6f828346ab08de9e2eb69ed086fdf71/weasley-quiz-title-.jpg)

‘A good first impression can work wonders.'

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Molly Weasley: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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A sage piece of advice from [Mrs Weasley](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/molly-weasley)! She might have said this to Harry before his [Ministry](/fact-file/locations/the-ministry-of-magic) hearing, but we think this is something that can be applied to many different areas of your life. From making friends to job interviews, things are always easier if you start off on the right foot.

## Do what is right, not what is easy

![WB-HP-F2-hermione-examining-potion-ingredients-with-cauldron-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/4L5hkIozTd68acqd3hpP2I/27590dc492caea34621b56bdd472e45b/WB-HP-F2-hermione-examining-potion-ingredients-with-cauldron-web-landscape.jpg)

‘Well, if you two are going to chicken out, fine… I don’t want to break rules, you know. I think threatening Muggle-borns is far worse than brewing up a difficult potion.’

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Hermione Granger: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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Hermione was the witch who once declared being expelled to be a fate worse than death. To hear her trying to convince [Harry](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/harry-potter) and [Ron](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/ron-weasley) to break the rules was rather shocking. Yet she raises an extremely valuable point. Sometimes you need to push the boundaries to do what is right. Following the rules can only go so far – especially if those rules cause more harm than good. It can be hard to stand up and be counted but we should all try to do so.

## Protect what is important

![WB-HP-F8-professor-sprout-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/6PcDR4xjlhQ8xtErVUHYBc/198864f4ef4413d1ed6e50f91411088e/WB-HP-F8-professor-sprout-web-landscape.jpg)

‘I feel that if a single pupil wants to come, then the school ought to remain open for that pupil.’

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Pomona Sprout: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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This was a brave statement from [Professor Sprout](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/pomona-sprout) in the wake of [Dumbledore’s](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/albus-dumbledore) death. [Hogwarts](/fact-file/locations/hogwarts) was so much more than a school. For many like Harry, it was a sanctuary and place they could call home. A place that should be protected. This is a sentiment we could all take on board. We should all work hard to take care of what, and who, is important to us.

## Don’t judge a book by its cover

![hp-f4-fleur-arrival-beauxbatons-great-hall-uniform-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/7L4Bw903CP5Rnv0MuCknWF/16abc8334d6185d0b8be2af4c5f93c45/hp-f4-fleur-arrival-beauxbatons-great-hall-uniform-web-landscape.jpg)

‘What do I care how ’e looks? I am good-looking enough for both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave!’

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Fleur Delacour: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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You might think glamorous and goodlooking [Fleur Delacour](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/fleur-delacour) would also be extremely vain. Yet she wasn’t. Filled with self-confidence, she didn’t judge her husband based on his appearance – she knew it was the content of his character that truly mattered. That attitude is one we think everyone should embody.

## Boundaries are good

![mcgonagall-web-header-wand](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/6J6heLMpK9Lee0eL8faPnj/18ebb3e1a6694c1ed440bf094b02a127/mcgonagall-web-headrer.jpg)

‘I do not generally permit people to talk when I am talking.’

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Minerva McGonagall: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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Quite right too! Don’t let anybody try to take your voice or diminish you. If someone tries to talk over you, channel your inner McGonagall and lay down the law – they’ll soon learn a valuable lesson.

Your birth month tells us your Harry Potter soulmate

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## January: The determined and dedicated Oliver Wood is your perfect match

![WB-HP-F1-philosophers-stone-oliver-wood-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/7iJHeRIUbca989dspC4c2t/a8eae533de5cb364c2b8ef17aa39c857/WB-HP-F1-philosophers-stone-oliver-wood-web-landscape.jpg)

When considering your ideal partner, you don’t want someone who is afraid of commitment and isn’t willing to put the work in. You want someone who is going to give the relationship their all. This is why you and [Oliver Wood](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/oliver-wood) make a perfect pair. This [Gryffindor](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/gryffindor) proved his determination time and time again as [Quidditch](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/quidditch) Captain. He was always coming up with training techniques and drills to make the team better. Yes, some of his teammates might have complained about the early starts, but it didn’t put Oliver off… and it worked. That’s the type of dedication you admire.

## February: Your soulmate is the creative and eccentric Luna Lovegood

![WB-HP-F5-luna-lovegood-wears-spectrespecs-with-quibbler-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/5jiVEF9rz3GdDt6go666da/6431193cd66631881320a9921f2913fe/WB-HP-F5-luna-lovegood-wears-spectrespecs-with-quibbler-web-landscape.jpg)

There is nothing that bores you more than blending into the crowd. From your curious insights to your wacky wardrobe, you march to the beat of your own drum. You are proud to celebrate your uniqueness, and you are looking for a partner that doesn’t shy away from their individuality too. This is why [Luna Lovegood](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/luna-lovegood) with her [Spectrespecs](/fact-file/objects/spectrespecs) and radish-like earrings is your ideal match. The two of you would have a joyful relationship that celebrated creativity, eccentricity and a shared belief in the Crumple-Horned Snorkack.

## March: The brilliantly hilarious Ron Weasley is the one for you

![HP-F6-ron-in-bed-smiling-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/51khMqIDGh7ltBpFgDIet4/4390b7228f2368b128a11304e8a73108/HP-F6-ron-in-bed-smiling-web-landscape.jpg)

Life’s too short not to have fun. Who wants to be miserable? Yes, serious things happen but you still want to find the joy in life, and you want a partner who can do that too. This is why you and [Ron Weasley](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/ron-weasley) would make the perfect pair. From his ‘Merlin's most baggy Y-fronts’ exclamations to quippy ‘Oh, of course… I forgot we’ll be hunting down [Voldemort](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/lord-voldemort) in a mobile library’ comebacks – his quick with would keep you entertained for life.

## April: The elegant and poised Fleur Delacour is your ideal soulmate

![hp-f4-fleur-arrival-beauxbatons-great-hall-uniform-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/7L4Bw903CP5Rnv0MuCknWF/16abc8334d6185d0b8be2af4c5f93c45/hp-f4-fleur-arrival-beauxbatons-great-hall-uniform-web-landscape.jpg)

Graceful, elegant and gliding through life – that’s the ultimate dream. You aren’t interested in awkward situations and embarrassing encounters; you want life to be as serene as possible. As you want this from your partner too, you and [Fleur Delacour](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/fleur-delacour) would make a flawless duo. No matter what situation she faced – from walking into the [Great Hall](/fact-file/locations/the-great-hall) for the first time to rejecting [Yule Ball](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/yule-ball) dates, she was always perfectly poised which is something you appreciate.

## May: The thoroughly good Cedric Diggory is who you’re drawn to

![HP-F4-goblet-fire-cho-cedric-walking-into-yule-ball-together-happy-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/7Gg3rW3wpho401kh28ueXG/2ce6bdeb293a9f962407b31ab38c3c2b/HP-F4-goblet-fire-cho-cedric-walking-into-yule-ball-together-happy-web-landscape)

You have no time for people that like to play games in relationships. You abhor anyone who has a mean streak. You really can’t stand when people are rude to those around them. This is why [Cedric Diggory](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/cedric-diggory) is the perfect person for you. Despite being handsome, intelligent and an extremely talented wizard, this [Hufflepuff](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/hufflepuff) was also humble. He was *good*. He helped Harry despite him being his [Triwizard](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/triwizard-tournament) rival and never let being the rising star at [Hogwarts](/fact-file/locations/hogwarts) go to his head. Cedric is a partner you would always feel safe with… and he is perfect for you.

## June: Your soulmate is Lavender Brown who wears her heart on her sleeve

![HP-F6-half-blood-prince-weasleys-wizard-wheezes-lavendar-looking-at-ron-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/41iicwNjHTdrMVNZoiTdoC/ddf961f7074d912a9307c0dc9e2716aa/HP-F6-half-blood-prince-weasleys-wizard-wheezes-lavendar-looking-at-ron-web-landscape)

As someone who is often described as vivacious and an open book, you have real difficulty bonding with people who are closed off or reserved. You find those who keep their cards close to their chest rather unsettling – which is why [Lavender Brown](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/lavender-brown) is your soulmate. Whether she was snogging Ron in front of the whole [Gryffindor common room](/fact-file/locations/the-gryffindor-common-room) or giving him gaudy necklaces as a token of her affection, she was not afraid of her emotions or letting everyone else see them. This type of openness is something you can’t help but be drawn to.

## July: Your perfect match is loyal Neville Longbottom

![HP WB F4 Neville and his plant crop ](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/66z5lwGFVYTJTiW2dNdKfw/e99e49796545303b7dec644c11004840/NevilleLongbottom_WB_F4_NevilleLongbottomWithPlantPromoShot_Promo_080615_CROP.jpg)

Don’t underestimate [Neville](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/neville-longbottom). He might have initially been a clumsy underdog, but he soon surpassed that and became a [sword-of-Gryffindor-wielding](/fact-file/objects/the-sword-of-gryffindor) hero. One who was loyal to his friends, his school and loyal to what was right. As someone born in July, this is what you would like to find in a partner. You don’t want a person who could easily be swayed. You want someone who is as committed to you as Neville is to his [Mimbulus mimbletonia](/fact-file/plants-and-potions/mimbulus-mimbletonia), which is why he is the one for you.

## August: The logical and intelligent Hermione Granger is the one for you

![HP-F7-deathly-hallows-part-one-hermione-bill-fleur-wedding-red-dress-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/5aJclseoYsrr4a0y0XPiQY/be44e1bfabc2a5f7422ed6e87a5df30e/HP-F7-deathly-hallows-part-one-hermione-bill-fleur-wedding-red-dress-web-landscape)

As somebody who is known for their sharp mind and love of learning, we think you and the [cleverest witch of her age](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/hermione-granger), who takes the largest books out of the [Hogwarts library](/fact-file/locations/the-hogwarts-library) for ‘light reading’, would get on like a house on fire. Your days would be spent verbally sparring with each other, debating Ancient Rune translations and generally broadening your minds and you wouldn’t want it any other way.

## September: The discerning Draco Malfoy is your wizarding soulmate

![WB-F3-draco-in-care-of-magical-creatures-with-monster-book-of-monsters-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/4FeDA9gWYlkm3iFXZMUOF5/47927d38da6fcc8d4660a5cd92a7e6d6/WB-F3-draco-in-care-of-magical-creatures-with-monster-book-of-monsters-web-landscape.jpg)

There’s nothing wrong with being shrewd or ambitious, these are traits that you rather admire. In fact, you find someone who knows exactly what they want and how to get it extremely attractive. This is why [Draco Malfoy](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/draco-malfoy) is the one for you. We are in no way saying you are prejudiced or a bully like he was. However, the embodiment of [Slytherin](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/slytherin) traits, he was not afraid to openly say he liked the finer things in life or believe he deserved them – just like you.

## October: Fiery Ginny Weasley is your magical match

![GinnyWeasley WB F6 GinnyAtSlughornsParty Still 080615 Land](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/4otWY19HKE4WyOOy4Q0wSu/66177ea78a84f5e28b9fb79b2b961e51/GinnyWeasley_WB_F6_GinnyAtSlughornsParty_Still_080615_Land.jpg)

If there was a witch that knew exactly who she was, it was [Ginny Weasley](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/ginny-weasley). Having had a rough start at Hogwarts she blossomed into a fierce and phenomenal person – with an excellent talent for the [Bat-Bogey Hex](/fact-file/spells/the-bat-bogey-hex). That self-assuredness is something that you are looking for in a partner. You don’t want somebody who doesn’t take the time to work on being the best version of themselves. You want someone who is confident and powerful – exactly like Ginny.

## November: Harry Potter’s bravery is what makes him your soulmate

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[Harry Potter](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/harry-potter) is not afraid to confront the difficult things in life. He doesn’t shy away from a challenge or let fear stop him. He puts himself out there whether that’s soaring through the sky on his [broomstick](/fact-file/objects/broomstick), fighting the forces of evil or summoning up the courage to ask his crush to the Yule Ball. This is something that you strongly relate to. You’re not one to be called timid and you can’t stand cowardice. We’re not saying you’re necessarily an extrovert, but you stand up when it matters and that’s why Harry is your ultimate wizarding soulmate.

## December: The glass half-empty Moaning Myrtle is your perfect match

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There is no person that gets on your nerves more than the one who is relentlessly optimistic. You don’t have time from all that chirpiness and being constantly told to look on the bright side. In fact, being stuck with someone like that would be your worst nightmare. You want someone who will always look on the gloomy side – which is why [Moaning Myrtle](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/moaning-myrtle) (emphasis on the *Moaning*) is your perfect match. Despite her crush on Harry Potter, with your maudlin outlook, we’re sure you could win her over and many (un)happy centuries sitting in the [u-bend of a Hogwarts toilet](/fact-file/locations/moaning-myrtles-bathroom) discussing all the reasons why everything is awful.

For beginners, for novices, for Harry Potter superfans going 20 years-strong, dig deep into the wizarding world with our collection of features.

Features - Wizarding World

7 things we tend to do when we channel Luna Lovegood  

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Harry with Luna in the Forest looking at Thestrals. 

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Luna with her Spectre Specs holding the Quibbler  

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## 1. Daydream – constantly 

Life can be awfully dull sometimes. But thankfully, us Luna fans, we can create a far more interesting time of it in our minds. Just be careful to remember that reality is still going on without us, and we may be liable to miss our stops on various trains and buses as a result. But it’s usually worth it – and it’s fun to explore new places, right?

## 2. Embrace the more innovative sides of fashion 

Jackets? Boring. Hats? Boring. Unless they look like giant lion heads, obviously. And regular jewellery that *isn’t* constructed out of Butterbeer corks? Forget it. A typical Luna Lovegood supporter knows all too well that fashion is an art-form and therefore is a medium to apply creative license. Luna fans tend to be artistic folks with a flair for the inventive, and Luna is very much our style icon as a result. 

## 3. Stop worrying so much 

This is certainly something that’s easier said than done, but our Luna manages to excel in indifference with aplomb. If you consider Luna your life inspiration, try and let go of your concerns if, say, you lose your keys.

Don’t worry, they’ll come back, they always do in the end. 

## 4. Come out with unexpected gems of wisdom 

Do you tend to find people create certain perceptions of you and don’t take you seriously sometimes? Ah, happens to the best of us. 

Our Luna certainly faced this issue once or twice, being dubbed ‘Loony Lovegood’ by fellow Hogwarts classmates and all, but the young Ravenclaw was far wiser than her peers gave her credit for.

In a moment of crisis during *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*, Luna was able to calmly solve the riddle to enter the Ravenclaw common room, so Harry was able to find the Grey Lady – who held the mysteries to one of the final Horcruxes. 

‘What came first, the phoenix or the flame?’ 
‘A circle has no beginning,’ Luna reasoned. See – all that daydreaming is basically just brain exercise. 

## 5. Always see the positive side of life 

When speaking of her late mother or even trapped in the Malfoy Manor basement, Luna was always able to find a bright side to the situation. Despite her mum dying in an awful accident, Luna simply admits that, ‘yes, it was rather horrible’, but ‘I’ve still got Dad. And anyway, it’s not as though I’ll never see Mum again, is it?’.

So, when facing hard times in your own life, no matter what you believe, know that Luna deals with her own tragedies with this optimistic mindset that we can all be inspired by. It’s sometimes tough, but Luna proves that we can tackle anything if we really put our minds to it.

## 6. Say it how it is 

> ‘You went to the Yule Ball with Padma Patil,’ said a vague voice. Everyone turned to look at Luna Lovegood, who was gazing unblinkingly at Ron over the top of *The Quibbler*. He swallowed his mouthful of Frog. 
> ‘Yeah, I know I did,’ he said, looking mildly surprised. 
> ‘She didn’t enjoy it very much,’ Luna informed him. 
>*Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*
> 
>

Luna doesn’t exactly have a filter when it comes to bringing up awkward topics or elephants in the room. And thank Merlin for that.

If everyone kept everything bottled up all the time, we’d probably never address anything. The world needs people like Luna to break the tension – even if it causes the tension in the first place. As Luna devotees, we must follow gallantly in her footsteps and be honest! It is our civic duty as Lovegood aspirants. 

## 7. Worry about the constant ongoing threat of Nargles 

Any Luna Lovegood aficionado knows that Nargles are actually real and we must stay away from mistletoe at all costs, right? Exactly. Whenever will the rest of the world believe us... 


*How do you channel Luna Lovegood?*

Discover the films

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to Fantastic Beasts

The characters of the wizarding world we’d really like to be best mates with 

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## Harry, Ron and Hermione, of course 

This sort of goes without saying, but it bears repeating that Harry, Ron and Hermione are the catalyst that hold the books together with their friendship. We would very much enjoy having a laugh with them in the [Gryffindor common room](/features/gryffindor-common-room), chuckling about Harry and Ron’s failed dates, and finishing off the day with a warm Butterbeer at The [Three Broomsticks](/features/the-three-broomsticks). Is it possible to skip all the defeating-Voldemort stuff, though? We’ll meet the trio back at Honeydukes once they’re done, yeah?

## Mr and Mrs Weasley

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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and the Half-Blood Prince

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Arguably the best couple in the whole of Harry Potter (sorry Lavender Brown and Ron, you just missed the cut) – imagine popping over to [The Burrow](/features/the-burrow) with Molly and Arthur for a lovely dinner party? Maybe even a games night?

Imagine Arthur being introduced to the Muggle delights of Scrabble! It’s always a pleasure having such a long-standing couple in your friendship group (even if they do bicker from time to time) and Molly and Arthur are just the members we need to remind us that love is all around. 

## Fred and George

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Carousel Fred and George twins feature common room

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Of course, the less wholesome choice would be to make friends with Fred and George – who come free with [Lee Jordan](/feature/unsung-heroes-of-harry-potter-stories-lee-jordan), who is also hilarious. This would be the far cooler friendship group to be part of, although you’d most likely end up in detention quite a lot.

Still, you’d get invited to all the best Gryffindor common room parties *and* get to hang out with the Gryffindor Quidditch team. What could go wrong? Fred and George testing their [Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes](/features/weasleys-wizard-wheezes) experiments on you, perhaps...

## Nymphadora Tonks

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Tonks looking scared with Lupin at her side from the Half Blood Prince.

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From her very first ‘Wotcher’ we were hooked on [Tonks’](/features/nymphadora-tonks) wonderfully addictive personality. With her pink hair, endearing clumsiness and endlessly entertaining Metamorphmagus tricks, she immediately brought the party to the Order of the Phoenix. We’d love to hear all about her days of Auror training with Mad-Eye Moody – and we'd definitely be around to lend an ear when she started falling for Lupin. 

## Remus Lupin

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The more rebellious among you would probably love to be best friends with all the [Marauders](/feature/the-mischievous-marauders-quiz) – but we’ve just picked calm, collected Remus. Why? Well, because Peter Pettigrew is just dreadful and James Potter was too immature in his Hogwarts days. But Lupin was always the measured voice of reason, kind, clever and dry-witted. Also, it’d be a great excuse for us to learn the skills of an Animagus, to accompany Lupin during ‘that time of the month’. What are friends for?

## Hagrid

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 

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and the Philosopher's Stone 

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Is there anything more comforting than a giant mug of tea at Hagrid’s Hut? Surely not. Hagrid wore his heart on his sleeve and, in turn, our hearts go out to him. When Hagrid *wasn’t* sharing his company with Blast-Ended Skrewts or baby dragons, we were always aching to be right by his side. 

Even funerals are fun with [Hagrid](/features/rubeus-hagrid) (take Aragog’s, for example) and come complete with elf-made wine and singing old wizard shanties. Hagrid is definitely our kind of people.

## Professor McGonagall

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McGonagall Homepage Carousel

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Sure, this might seem like an odd choice – but once you get past her icy veneer and that tight bun, we are positively certain McGonagall would be a great comrade to have. She has a fantastically dry sense of humour (‘Tripe, Sybill?’), a great matter-of-fact attitude that would shake us out of any slump, and she can [turn into a cat](/feature/who-is-the-best-harry-potter-cat). Imagine popping to her office for a biscuit out of her tartan biscuit tin, putting the world to rights, gossiping about Professor Umbridge... The claws would come out, for sure. 

*Who would be your wizarding world best mate? We simply must know.*

Muggle gadgets Arthur Weasley would just love 

PMARCHIVE-Muggle gadgets Arthur Weasley would just love 

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Arthur Weasley and Harry Potter homepage carousel 

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Harry and Arthur use the guest entrance to the Ministry.

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If our beloved Arthur Weasley can get excited over one singular battery, we can only dream of his elation if he were to get his hands on some of our favourite, everyday Muggle gadgets. Arthur, we’d swap everything on this list for a wand any day. 

## Washing machine 

They spin around. They wash things. They drain things. They spin around some more. They make a loud noise! They wobble about a bit! What’s not to love? Imagine introducing Arthur Weasley to an actual washing machine – a huge box full of goodies, such as a motor, a gearbox, cables, springs, the works. All of Arthur’s faves.

Despite the fact wizards and witches can simply use Scourgify should they need to do any washing, we can imagine Arthur spending hours of fun watching his robes spinning round and round... You know, despite magic being faster. 

We also conceive that Arthur would absolutely lose his mind over washing liquid tabs too.

## Electric drills

We know Arthur Weasley worships Muggle tools, due to his OTT reaction to a set of screwdrivers Harry gets him one Christmas. So, imagine when he sees the next level of these – electric tools.

With a press of a button, Arthur can enjoy the delights of... watching a drill make a loud noise. Now, that’s real magic. We also imagine The Burrow would be considerably more holey as a result, though. 

## Computers 

Based on what he does to his old Ford Anglia car, surely a computer would be the ultimate Muggle artefact for Arthur to get his hands on. He’d probably spend several weeks with the motherboard alone.

While regular Muggles sigh in irritation and end up on hold to a call centre when their computers break, we imagine Arthur would voluntarily break his just to put it back together again. We also imagine he would have an adorable social media presence. 

## Toasters

You put bread in. It springs back up and becomes toast. Even as Muggles, we still get pretty excited by the invention of the toaster, to be honest. We know in Arthur’s line of work at the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts office he’s had to deal with a hiccoughing one, on occasion. But that’s the job. Imagine if Arthur owned a fully-working one to play with in his spare time. Bliss. And so much toast. 

## Clapper lights 

Sure, light switches are cool – but clapper lights are where it’s at. And, well, though they might be considered a bit retro these days, need we remind you that wizards and witches still use parchment and quills? We understand the lack of computers – Muggle technology is known to go haywire in a magical environment – but not even a ballpoint pen, guys? 

Anyway, Arthur Weasley plus a clapper light would be hours of endless entertainment. Remember your first dimmer switch when you were kids? Be honest – that was a bit exciting. 

## Smartphones

Picture the scene: Arthur Weasley trying to make a video call on a smartphone and filming his ear the entire time. It’s a classic dad move, and when you happen to be a wizard-dad, the larks Arthur would have with a modern Muggle smartphone would potentially be endless. An Arthur Weasley selfie with his thumb over the camera would be a definite. And we live for the day that Arthur discovers emojis.  

## Robots!

As technology evolves for us Muggles, the more Arthur Weasley would have to get excited about. Although he’s already sort of invented a self-driving car. As our inventions get bigger and more innovative, we bet Arthur would certainly be keeping up to speed. Arthur would probably get more excited about a drone than an actually magic broomstick, wouldn’t he? 

We’d just love to see poor Molly’s face if Arthur ever discovered robots – and the hours he would spend tinkering with them. And don’t get us started on Artificial Intelligence – we wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if Arthur were to invent the wizarding world’s equivalent of the Terminator. 

*Happy birthday, Arthur!*

The importance of mirrors in the Harry Potter books

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Professor Quirrell is standing with his back to the Mirror of Erised in a stone room.

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To us Muggles, mirrors may serve no greater purpose than to ensure our teeth are spinach-free or to fix unruly strands of hair. But in the Wizarding World, though they mostly sat quiet and unnoticed, mirrors were powerful instruments that revealed desires and fears, and reflected truths and distorted realities.

Their enigmatic quality has been explored in literature for centuries and used symbolically in various ways. For instance, the usurped king in Shakespeare’s *Richard II* smashed a mirror as a reflection of his inner destruction. Alice in Lewis Carroll’s *Through the Looking Glass* slipped through a mirror to another world, only for it all to have been just a dream. In various versions of *Snow White*, mirrors were a tell-tale sign of the Evil Queen’s vanity while in Bram Stoker’s *Dracula*, they revealed the soul (or a vampire’s lack of one).

It was no surprise, then, that mirrors in the Harry Potter books also offered significant clues and insights if we looked a little closer. Each mirror came to represent so much more than mere reflections. 

Here are some of the important mirrors we learned of and what we think they mean.

## The two-way mirror

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Harry and Hermione looking into the broken mirror shard  

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If you need to speak to me, just say my name into it; you’ll appear in my mirror and I’ll be able to talk in yours.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 

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and the Order of the Phoenix 

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Harry’s untimely discovery of his late godfather’s gift completely gutted us. For a moment, Harry was hopeful that he would be able to talk to and see Sirius again through the two-way mirror. But all he was left with were his own eyes blinking back at him and Sirius’s name hanging in the air. In anger, he hurled the small square mirror back into his trunk, shattering it in the process (uh-oh, bad omen).

The mirror, intended to open up a connection between Harry and Sirius, ended up reminding Harry of the great barrier between them. Even death was beyond the reach of magic. The broken two-way mirror represented Harry’s grief and shattered emotions in a way words alone couldn’t, intertwining the looking glass with death. And it wasn’t the only time it did.

After Albus Dumbledore died, when Harry had been thinking of his late headmaster, he found one of the shards from the mirror and saw ‘a flash of brightest blue’. But he brushed it off as his imagination, a moment that again embodied his inability to interact with a dead loved one. The jagged piece would also foreshadow another significant death to come. The blue eyes actually belonged to Aberforth, who would later send Dobby to the cellar of Malfoy Manor to help Harry in what would become the house-elf’s last heroic act.

## The Mirror of Erised

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Things were also not as they seemed with the Mirror of Erised. The old device reflected one’s deepest desires but kept them just out of reach. For Harry, his wish was to be with a family he had never known. For Ron, it was to finally step out of his brothers’ shadows and be the best. Dumbledore, too, despite his initially evasive ‘thick, woollen socks’ answer, knew what it was like to dream of seeing his family whole and happy once again. 

But the Mirror of Erised also symbolised the dangers of clinging to those wishes. Dumbledore himself warned Harry that it provided neither knowledge nor truth. Instead, obsession could leave people in disrepair and blur the line between reality and dreams. 

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The Mirror of Erised

The advice to ‘hold on to your dreams’ is all well and good, but there comes a point when holding on to your dreams becomes unhelpful and even unhealthy. Dumbledore knows that life can pass you by while you are clinging on to a wish that can never be – or ought never to be – fulfilled.

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It was by moving past those obsessions and living their own life that the characters ended up realising their dreams in some way. Harry was not reunited with his late parents, but they appeared to him when he needed them most, and he ended up with people who loved him just as much. Ron too faced his fears when he retrieved the sword of Gryffindor, saved Harry and destroyed a Horcrux – becoming the hero he always wanted to be.

## Foe-Glass

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The dark and mysterious aura of mirrors was amplified through the Foe-Glass. Instead of hopes and dreams, the Dark detector displayed one’s fears by revealing the possessors’ true enemies. Barty Crouch Jr, in his impersonation of Moody, relied on the magic mirror to keep an eye on his foes, but in his blind rage and desire to kill Harry, he did not see the images of Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall growing more distinct.

The Foe-Glass appeared again a year later during the DA’s first meeting in the Room of Requirement, but the mirror was now cracked. 

(Sidenote: cracked mirrors seemed to follow Harry a lot, and often appear in connection to Voldemort. For instance, in *Chamber of Secrets*, Harry noticed a cracked and spotted mirror in the bathroom of Moaning Myrtle, who was killed by Tom Riddle. And in the *Order of the Phoenix*, Harry saw Voldemort’s white face and red eyes through a cracked, age-spotted mirror in his dreams.) 

It was probably a good thing then that Harry turned his back on the cracked Foe-Glass, because as we kept seeing, depending on magic too heavily could be dangerous. Like he told Dean, ‘You don’t want to rely on them too much, they can be fooled.’ That is, what one saw wasn’t always the truth. It was a lesson even Harry himself would continually learn.

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What appeared to be a mirror hung opposite Harry on the wall, but it was not reflecting the room. Shadowy figures were moving around inside it, none of them clearly in focus.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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and the Goblet of Fire

Why being a Legilimens isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

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Snape pushes Harry and Ron's heads down in the Goblet of Fire.

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What do Professor Snape, Queenie Goldstein, Lord Voldemort and the Sorting Hat all have in common? Not much at all, apart from a rare ability that allows them to read a person’s thoughts. That’s great if you’re a piece of headwear specialising in school admin. But for the rest of us, life as a Legilimens would be tougher than you’d expect.

__First of all, though, what exactly is (or rather, isn’t) Legilimency?__

> ‘Only Muggles talk of “mind-reading”. The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by any invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing, Potter – or at least, most minds are.’ He smirked. 
>*Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*
>

Epic Snape-snark aside, this does help explain things. Legilimens don’t see a stream of coherent and well-formatted sentences laid out before them, because that’s not the way humans think. Thoughts are intermingled with emotions, memories, sensations and whatever annoying tune just popped into your head. Legilimens must hear a lot of advertising jingles. 

There’s no doubt this skill would come in handy at times (it certainly helped Queenie in *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*) but it would also be a real headache – maybe literally, thanks to all those noisy thoughts buzzing around. Here are a few reasons why Legilimency might be no fun at all.

## It’d be hard making (and keeping) friends

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Trust is the key to friendship, but how do you trust someone who can pry into your deepest secrets without permission? Even if your Legilimens BFF promised to respect your privacy, well… sometimes they just wouldn’t be able to help themselves. Especially when you were getting emotional about something – apparently this makes people easier to read.

Most people wouldn’t want to get too close to a Legilimens no matter how friendly they were. It spoke volumes that someone as kind and charming as Queenie Goldstein didn’t seem to have many friends besides Tina, and even she seemed uncomfortable around her sister at times. When talking to Pottermore about playing a Legilimens, Alison Sudol told us, ‘It can make you feel quite lonely, to have something that differentiates you from people like that.’ Aww, poor Queenie!

## School could be a nightmare

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Severus Snape had a ‘slight natural ability’ as a Legilimens, and we know he didn’t have the happiest childhood. Imagine feeling the mirth of your bullies as they mocked you, while hearing all the names they wouldn’t dare call you out loud. Or knowing your best friend, who you’ve developed secret romantic feelings for, was daydreaming about someone else. We don’t know exactly how young Severus experienced the world, but Legilimency might have made his school days extra miserable.

And yet Professor Snape returned to Hogwarts, prepared to take absolutely no nonsense in the classroom. By then he would have trained his Legilimency to perfection, but what teacher would want to hear the innermost thoughts of a bunch of insipid, snickering youths? Not Severus, that’s for sure. No wonder he seemed to loathe them all.

## Dating would be… awkward

PMARCHIVE-WB COG Queenie Goldstein and Floating Teapot OeIbuKaq8o2OgaS8IsMW6-b1

Queenie Goldstein and the floating teapot in Grindelwald's Paris apartment

WB COG Queenie Goldstein and Floating Teapot

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If you thought friendships would be difficult as a Legilimens, just think of the damage it would do to your love life. First dates can be a minefield, trying to avoid saying or doing anything too embarrassing. Throw Legilimency into the mix and the other person would have to make sure they didn’t even *think* of anything inappropriate. Awkward for them… and so much worse for you.

> ‘Aww, don't worry honey. Most guys think what you was thinking, first time they see me.’ 
> Queenie - *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them* (2016)

Queenie Goldstein was a confident witch who didn’t happen to be self-conscious about her body. Good for her, but that isn’t the case for everyone. Unwanted attention can feel awful, especially when it comes from complete strangers or people you don’t like. Who’s to say Queenie was comfortable with it all the time, either? 

As a Legilimens, you’d be forgiven for wanting to avoiding human contact altogether, never mind turning down that second date.

## It could drive you absolutely mad

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Voldemort WB F7 VoldemortStaringAheadAtTheMalfoyManor Still 080615 Land

Voldemort stares ahead while in Malfoy Manor in a film still from the Deathly Hallows Part .

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Imagine you’re having a bad day. Everything’s gone wrong and people have been rude to you all morning. To cap it off, your boss reminds you of some tedious job you were supposed to have finished already. Briefly, you think of some wonderfully nasty name you’d like to call them, before getting back to work. 

Now imagine your boss is Lord Voldemort. Not so funny anymore, is it? Especially not for the person whose job it now is to clear all the bits of you off your desk.

Not that we’re at all sympathetic to the Dark Lord, but just think of what his powerful Legilimency talents would have done to his sanity. The more often he heard thoughts of betrayal, however fleeting or insincere, the more he would have feared mutiny. He would have ended up seeing a potential traitor at every turn. By the end, he must have been utterly paranoid. His solution – to kill loads of people – is, of course, not recommended.

## It’s just not that great, is it?

Always be careful what you wish for. Would you really want to hear what everyone thought about you all the time? Legilimency sounds like far more hassle than it’s worth. Those around you would probably agree.

Aurors we wish we could sit down and have a Butterbeer with

PMARCHIVE-Aurors we wish we could sit down and have a Butterbeer with

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Illustration of the Advance Guard in flight with Harry Tonks Hestia Lupin Emmeline Moody Sturgis Kingsley Elphias

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Illustration of the Advance Guard at Privet Drive with Harry Tonks Hestia Lupin Emmeline Moody Sturgis Kingsley Elphias

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