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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

![HP-F8-harry-lake-web-header](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/3SzHQWDxZAPjea1KYpaIO0/cc24a62a6e35937f165b190cf14df8e6/harry_heaer.png)

[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

Why Newt Scamander and Harry Potter were different kinds of Chosen One

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Newt Scamander stands amongst the rubble of the destroyed City Hall Subway Station

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Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) stands in the rubble of City Hall subway station 

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Newt Scamander has his arm around Tina Goldstein, both with wands at the ready

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Newt Scamander puts his arm around Tina Goldstein as they shelter anxiously with their wands at the ready

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To be the Chosen One, it seems that there are certain qualities you must possess. You must be courageous, honest and true. You must take on any and all responsibilities thrust upon you and thrive. Oh, and of course you have to save the world, preferably on your own, and try not to get too annoyed about it. 

While Harry Potter and Newt Scamander, both the ‘Chosen One’ in their own right, have these qualities, they really couldn’t have been more different kinds of heroes. Here’s why... 

## Hufflepuff vs Gryffindor 

The best way to sum up the fundamental differences between Harry and Newt is by looking at which Hogwarts house they belonged to. 

Harry was in Gryffindor, which took students for qualities including bravery and daring. Gryffindors typically also had some less admirable traits, including recklessness and short tempers (any enraged Gryffindors reading this will only prove our point!). These were traits that, [love him for it or not](/features/adorable-problems-harry-had-to-suffer-through-in-philosophers-stone), Harry possessed in bundles: he was heroic and brave, yes, but let’s not forget his year of angst in *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*.

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As a result, Harry’s reaction to being the Chosen One was somewhat mixed. Although he accepted his fate and rose to the occasion from his very first year at Hogwarts, he also tried to fight against it – particularly following the death of his godfather, Sirius Black, in which his own recklessness contributed to Sirius coming to his rescue at the Ministry, where he was killed.

> ‘I DON’T CARE!’ Harry yelled at them, snatching up a lunascope and throwing it into the fireplace. ‘I’VE HAD ENOUGH, I’VE SEEN ENOUGH, I WANT OUT, I WANT IT TO END, I DON’T CARE ANY MORE –’
> *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*

Meanwhile, Newt was a Hufflepuff, who are known to be hard workers, loyal and dedicated. He rarely grew angry in *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*, but instead accepted his fate when he was arrested by Tina, and remained cool-headed after being given the death penalty (and fought his way out, of course). In fact, the only time we really saw Newt upset was when his suitcase was confiscated at MACUSA, putting the creatures he was so dedicated to caring for at risk.

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Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) tries to escape from MACUSA in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

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Newt Scamander tries to escape the Death Cell at MACUSA

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While Harry spent plenty of time in his own head and at odds with his fate, particularly when he found out he would have to kill Voldemort, it appeared that Newt would always do the Hufflepuff thing, and do whatever was right for those he cared about the most. Yep, a Gryffindor and a Hufflepuff indeed. 

> ‘No – no – don’t hurt those creatures – please, you don't understand – nothing in there is dangerous, nothing!’
> *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay*

## Fate vs Choice 

Harry was prophesied to be the wizard that Voldemort would mark as his equal, and so his fate as the Chosen One was selected for him. Of course, he rose to the occasion and dealt with his destiny like a trooper, but the fact remains that if he hadn’t needed to do it, chances are that Harry would have spent his years at Hogwarts chilling with Ron and Hermione, training at Quidditch and barely getting by on his lessons (kind of like he did anyway, but without the permanent threat of death). In short, Harry didn’t choose his fate, it chose him – with a little help from Dumbledore, of course.

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Voldemort grabbing Harry's face in the Deathly Hallows part 2

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On the other hand, Newt chose to be a protector and defender of [the magical creatures he took care of](/features/why-the-niffler-deserves-his-own-spin-off-series). No one asked it of him; he did it willingly because of his passion for animals and his compassionate nature, and even risked his life several times by placing their needs above his own.

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## Friendships 

Newt always considered himself to be a loner, and it is made evident in the first film that his one close friendship at Hogwarts with Leta Lestrange ended due to rocky circumstances, though we have yet to find out exactly what happened. Apart from Leta, and before meeting Tina, Queenie and Jacob, it was clear that Newt struggled to build friendships with… well, anything that didn’t live in his suitcase.

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Leta Lestrange in the trailer for Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald

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> QUEENIE: That was a real close friendship you had at school. 
> NEWT: Yes, well, neither of us really fitted in at school, so we — 
> QUEENIE: — became real close. For years.
> ... She was a taker. You need a giver.
> *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay*

As for Harry, he was a loner before Hogwarts thanks to his bullying relatives, the Dursleys, and immediately made [lifelong friends upon starting at the school](/features/why-ron-weasley-is-our-chosen-one). Since he was treated poorly all of his childhood by his family, it would have been easy for Harry to distance himself from others. Instead, he was a natural born leader who proved popular with his peers and always relied upon his friends, whether he knew it or not. Newt, however, always felt he had to do it alone (before travelling to NYC, of course).

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Harry and McGonagall in Dumbledore's Office 

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## They are not entirely unalike... 

While Newt and Harry might have been very different people, we think they would have got along quite nicely if they were around at the same point. For starters, Harry and Newt both protected the underdog no matter what. For Newt, it was his magical creatures and at times Jacob, while Harry was Hagrid’s fiercest supporter whenever he got a little too ‘Hagrid’ about any of his creatures.

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The pair also had [the support of Dumbledore](/features/biggest-questions-we-still-have-about-albus-dumbledore), who was clearly an excellent judge of character to trust them both, despite the level of mischief they each got up to at Hogwarts. Although we’re not sure why Newt was expelled (yet), it’s clear that both he and Harry barely toed the line during their time at Hogwarts. We're actually still pretty surprised that Harry was never given the boot, to be honest!

Discover the films

Wizarding World Image Crediting

to Fantastic Beasts

Actors of the Wizarding World, Part One: The stars that rose 

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Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

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## Daniel Radcliffe

> ‘Dan, who has so many colours and shows them in many ways I think has the most difficult part in the series. Yes, he’s the hero, but it’s a really difficult role and he does it so brilliantly.’
> David Heyman, producer of Harry Potter
> *Huffington Post*
> 

Of all the people affected by the Harry Potter film franchise, of all the actors moulded, of all the careers changed, none were as profoundly impacted as Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe.

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Like his co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, Radcliffe spent nine years of his life – from the ages of 11 to 20 – on the sets of eight Harry Potter films. After spending the vast majority of his childhood in his iconic round glasses, Radcliffe left the franchise with an attraction to stranger, darker roles. As he once told the *Guardian*: ‘I can't put it down to anything more than that I've got weird taste… I'm not interested in making films I've seen before. There's nothing more exciting to me when I read a script than originality.’

Such roles include his (fully naked) turn as a young man obsessed with horses in the 2007 stage play *Equus*, as legendary beat poet Allen Ginsberg in 2013 biopic *Kill Your Darlings*, and as an undercover cop posing as a Neo-Nazi in 2016 thriller *Imperium*. But most infamously of all, of course, was his part as a seemingly sentient farting corpse in 2016 drama *Swiss Army Man* – which was about as far away from Hogwarts as you can get. Well, we suppose he was technically an Inferius… 

## Emma Watson

> ‘I deeply respected her, encouraged her. She’s very smart, always was, and fiercely intelligent.’ 
> David Heyman, producer of Harry Potter
> *The Hollywood Reporter* 


Being a straight-A student in real life, Emma and Hermione were one and the same. And much like Radcliffe, Emma Watson’s post-Harry Potter career has gone from strength to strength – and has involved some decidedly different roles from the book-smart icon that brought her into the world of acting. A year after *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2*, for example, she starred in coming-of-age hit *The Perks of Being a Wallflower* (interestingly, playing alongside future *Fantastic Beasts* star Ezra Miller) as the flirtatious free spirit Sam. While in 2013 she took on the role of narcissistic wannabe actress (and celebrity home burglar) Nicki Moore in *The Bling Ring*. Not to mention her huge all-singing, all-dancing role as Belle in 2017’s *Beauty and the Beast*.

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But perhaps the most significant thing to happen to Emma Watson after Potter was finding a platform to campaign for women’s rights and equality. In 2014 she was appointed as UN Women Goodwill ambassador, and later that year launched the campaign HeForShe – which called on men to get involved in the feminist movement – with a speech at the UN headquarters in New York. Hermione would be proud. 

## Rupert Grint

> ‘My strong feeling with Rupert is that he got Ron inside out. And I don’t think he ever needed anyone to tell him. He just knew.’
> J.K. Rowling, *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2* DVD

Rupert Grint exuded Ron Weasley’s cheekiness right from the off, even writing a rap in his audition tape to take on the role of Harry Potter’s best friend. Grint’s natural comic timing as Ron is well-known and beloved among fans, from his unforgettable reaction to meeting spiders in *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (‘why couldn’t it be “follow the butterflies”?’) to maturing into an earnest hero in his own right in the later films.

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Ron holding a crying Hermione at Shell Cottage 

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Grint’s sense of humour lived on after Ron, of course, such as starring in Ed Sheeran’s music video 'Lego House' - making light of their similar appearance. Along with more film projects and TV, Grint began a foray into theatre, earning a [WhatsOnStage](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-news/10656543/Daniel-Radcliffe-and-Rupert-Grint-win-at-WhatsOnStage-Awards.html) award for Newcomer of the Year in the black comedy *Mojo* in 2014.

Most recently, Grint has been on our screens in two comedies: *Sick Note*, co-starring Nick Frost, and a TV remake of *Snatch*. The little boy who did a funny rap to get his life-changing role is still making everybody laugh.

## The rest of ‘The Big Seven’ 

> ‘I could never have dreamt of the talent we’d have in these films, but there are seven, that in private, I refer to as "The Big Seven".' 
> J.K. Rowling at the premiere of *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2*
 
J.K. Rowling once revealed that she refers to the core kids of the Harry Potter franchise as ‘The Big Seven’. They are: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) and Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy). 

We have, of course, already covered Harry, Ron and Hermione, but the rest of the Seven have also found themselves shaped, in varying ways, by their years at Hogwarts. 

Bonnie Wright, for example, has turned from acting in recent years to directing, and even directed Harry Potter co-star Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) in her 2018 feature film debut *Medusa’s Ankles*. While Evanna Lynch, in addition to her film and stage roles, has returned to her roots as a Harry Potter fan and used her fame for good. Both on her own, and helping the non-profit organisation The Harry Potter Alliance, she has raised money and awareness on issues ranging from anorexia to multiple sclerosis to same-sex marriage. Evanna and Bonnie together are also ambassadors for J.K. Rowling’s charity, Lumos. Dumbledore’s Army united once more.

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Matthew Lewis, meanwhile, has had a healthy career on television, film and theatre, appearing in BBC dramas and comedies such as *Bluestone 42*, *Ripper Street* and *Happy Valley*. Lewis once observed to the *Evening Standard* that, post-Neville, ‘I realised how much of a fondness I have for playing people who aren’t heroes.'

And last but certainly not least, there is Tom Felton, who has landed roles in films such as 2011 blockbuster *Rise of the Planet of the Apes*, and the critically acclaimed 2016 British film *A United Kingdom*, alongside David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike. Most notable for Harry Potter fans however was his 2015 BBC Three documentary *Tom Felton Meets the Superfans*, in which Felton spoke to Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and J.K. Rowling about reckoning with fame and adulation.

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## Domhnall Gleeson

> ‘I was a Weasley waiting for a role.’ 
> Domhnall Gleeson on Bill Weasley 
> *Daily Telegraph* 

Domhnall Gleeson made his Wizarding World debut in *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1* as the effortlessly cool and handsome Bill Weasley. He was not the first Gleeson to be cast in Harry Potter of course - his father Brendan Gleeson famously played Auror Alastor 'Mad Eye' Moody. Since Potter, Gleeson has very much forged his own path, and become a star in his own right – one who has become a regular feature in both critically acclaimed and hugely successful movies.

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On the smaller end of the scale are films like the black comedy *Frank*, about an ‘eccentric’ singer who wears a papier-mâché mask over his head; the Oscar-winning artificial-intelligence thriller *Ex Machina*; and the BAFTA award-winning and Oscar-nominated immigrant drama *Brooklyn*. He also reunited with his father onscreen to share a memorable scene in Irish film *Calvary*, in which Domhnall plays a killer begging for forgiveness from a priest (Brendan). 

But of course, arguably his biggest role to date has been his portrayal of the cartoonishly evil General Hux from 2015’s *Star Wars: The Force Awakens*; a role he reprised wonderfully in last year’s sequel *Star Wars: The Last Jedi*. 

But to us, we’ll always remember him as Bill. 

## Robert Pattinson 

> ‘He's not really a complete cliché of the good kid in school. He's just quiet. He is actually just a genuinely good person, but he doesn't make a big deal about it or anything.’ 
> Robert Pattinson on Cedric Diggory
> *Newsround* 

*Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire* was a breakout film for Robert Pattinson, who played the cool, confident and ultimately tragic Cedric Diggory. At the time, the role came from a spell of bad/good luck – with Pattinson landing the audition thanks to a casting director who felt guilty that his part was cut from 2004 period drama *Vanity Fair*. 

The strange luck would continue a few years later, when Pattinson found himself bombing in one audition he was certain he was going to get, but then nailing another the next day – for the role of Edward Cullen, the sparkly vampire from romantic young adult sensation *Twilight*. In the space of three years, he had gone from appearing in one huge film franchise, to becoming the face of another.

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*Twilight* made Pattinson a star, but later smaller and bolder projects showed just what a talented and versatile actor he really is. David Cronenberg’s 2012 film *Cosmopolis*, for example, saw Pattinson – who was playing a self-loathing billionaire – balance a cold exterior with a raging inner life; while James Gray’s 2016 biopic *The Lost City of Z*, about British explorer Percy Fawcett, cast Pattinson as Fawcett’s charismatic and likeable co-explorer Henry Costin. 

But perhaps his best role in recent years has been in the relatively little-known 2017 crime thriller *Good Time*, in which Pattinson plays a robber who, at the same time as robbing, is also looking after his brother who has learning disabilities. It’s a ferociously commanding performance, a role filed with moral contradictions and emotional complexity.

*Join us next week where we’ll be looking at the new Fantastic Beasts family, including its main star, Eddie Redmayne.*

How ‘The Tale of the Three Brothers’ shapes the whole Harry Potter series . 

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## The evasion of death and Lord Voldemort

The foundation of ‘The Tale of the Three Brothers’ is the idea that death is something that can be evaded. The three men do cheat Death, but only in a temporary way, as they are pursued through their lives, with Death hoping to claim what he was due. 

Their situation mirrors Voldemort, who spent his lifetime hoping to achieve immortality and reap the benefits. Ultimately, as with the three brothers, death caught up with Voldemort and his quest to become notorious and powerful through gaining mastery over it was over. 

When Harry, Ron and Hermione were told [‘The Tale of the Three Brothers’](/features/tale-of-the-three-brothers) by Xenophilius Lovegood, it was during a time when Voldemort’s mortality was a hot topic. The three were hunting for Horcruxes to eventually destroy Voldemort, so you’d imagine this story of three brothers attempting to cheat death and failing would be rather encouraging for them. 

> ‘I, who have gone further than anybody along the path that leads to immortality. You know my goal – to conquer death.’ 
> *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*

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Voldemort in the Ministry of Magic from the Order of the Phonix 

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## Be humble in your desires

Harry was a character who, because of his decidedly humble origins, started off with humility in buckets. He was a sympathetic boy who cared for those also downtrodden, and was seldom cocky. 

This, of course, changed as the books went on – Harry became more stubborn, more hardened, though he never veered close to being like his father. Still, he was less humble than he used to be and ‘The Tale of the Three Brothers’ was an important warning for him in many ways. 

The only brother not to die prematurely was the brother who just requested sanctuary from Death’s gaze, so that Death would not be able to pursue him. He ultimately lived a happy life and died peacefully – in contrast to his brothers, who suffered horrible fates.

It was a theme that the story shared with the series in general. Voldemort was the opposite of humble and his grand desires were what corrupted him and eventually killed him. We learnt that it’s important to be ethical in your decisions, and to not allow your ambition to overcome you.

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Harry, despite becoming obsessed with the Deathly Hallows, learnt this lesson in the end too, parting ways with the Elder Wand despite its immense power. Much like the brother with the invisibility cloak, the very cloak that would be passed down in Harry’s family, [Harry learnt to accept death rather than go against it](/features/chapter-that-made-us-fall-in-love-with-harry-potter). 

> But though Death searched for the third brother for many years, he was never able to find him. It was only when he had attained a great age that the youngest brother finally took off the Cloak of Invisibility and gave it to his son. And then he greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life. 
> *The Tales of Beedle the Bard*

## Magic can’t solve grief

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An important message to be learnt from the three brothers’ story, and one especially important to someone like Harry, was that magic can’t solve grief. The second brother requested the Resurrection Stone as his gift from Death in order to bring back to life a long-lost love, but she was a shadow of her former self and he drove himself to suicide. 

> To his amazement and his delight, the figure of the girl he had once hoped to marry before her untimely death appeared at once before him.
> Yet she was silent and cold, separated from him as though by a veil. Though she had returned to the mortal world, she did not truly belong there and suffered. 
> *The Tales of Beedle the Bard*

The idea that [magic can’t fix your sorrow](/features/what-harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone-teaches-us-about-death) was something that appeared countless times in the series. [Horcruxes](/features/everyone-connected-to-voldemorts-horcruxes) have been portrayed as a poor substitute for life – you can’t avoid your own mortality in any meaningful way no matter how hard you try. Likewise, the Philosopher’s Stone was another hollow attempt at life extension. Even a Cheering Charm will wear off eventually.

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Philosophers-Stone

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Ghosts may continue to exist in the mortal world after death, but once again life as a ghost is, as Nearly Headless Nick described it, a ‘feeble imitation of life’. ‘The Tale of the Three Brothers’ showed us that magic can’t solve the death of a loved one, and it can’t cure grief either.

## Arrogance can lead to your doom

It’s not difficult to see the correlation between the fate of the brother who was granted the Elder Wand and that of Voldemort. Though Harry did not, of course, know this at the time, it’s an accurate comparison as the brother who possessed the Elder Wand was corrupted by arrogance and lust for power, and this ultimately got him killed.

In a very similar way, Voldemort’s own arrogance and belief that he was unconquerable was what got him killed. He still managed to underestimate his opposition, and failed in becoming the greatest wizard of all time.

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How ‘The Tale of the Three Brothers’ shapes the whole Harry Potter series

8 burning questions we still have about Hogwarts

PMARCHIVE-8 burning questions we still have about Hogwarts

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Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a castle so ancient, so full of magic, that not even Albus Dumbledore knows all of its secrets. There are questions to be asked about Hogwarts, mysteries to be unravelled about its history, its grounds and its soul – mysteries such as...

## Who was the wizard architect behind Hogwarts?

It’s well-known that Hogwarts was founded by two wizards and two witches: Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw. But who planned and designed the actual castle? The books don't speak of an architect as such but the films are a bit more helpful, treating us to the sight of a golden statue known as the Architect of Hogwarts: a bearded wizard holding a scroll (presumably the Hogwarts blueprints) and a miniature model of the castle. Who this man is, exactly, is unknown, but it makes sense that the founders would need a wizard who could put their ideas into action. Castles don’t just build themselves. Or do they?

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HogwartsCastle WB F6 HogwartsCastleWalls Illust 100615 Land

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## And why is Hogwarts in Scotland?

Of all the locations in Britain, why was Hogwarts built in the Highlands of Scotland? After all, only one of the four Founders – Rowena Ravenclaw – was Scottish. Why not build it in Helga Hufflepuff’s native Wales? Or the England of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin? A good theory is simply that, with all its Highlands and hills, Scotland is a pretty handy place to build a secret fortress: spacious, remote and lovely. Also, J.K. Rowling wrote the books in Scotland, which probably helped matters too.

But all in all, it's just a lovely, picturesque location - not to mention being near a lake and a forest. Sure, both have quite a few terrifying magical creatures dwelling within them, but lovely to look at from the outside!

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Hogwarts students learn about unicorns in Care of Magical Creatures

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## What are the limits of the Room of Requirement?

When introduced to the concept of a room that can turn into ‘anything’ the wizard or witch requires, we must ask this rather massive question: what counts as ‘anything’?

[The Room of Requirement](/features/room-of-requirement-infographic) transformed into many different rooms during Harry’s time at Hogwarts, such as the headquarters for Dumbledore’s Army, a place to hide Horcruxes and dodgy Potions books, and even a house-elf recuperation centre for poor Winky to sleep off the Butterbeer.

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Harry hides his copy of Advanced Potion-Making in the Room of Requirement

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There are certain things we know the room definitely can’t do. According to the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration, for instance, it cannot produce food. You can bring food into the Room of Requirement, but don’t expect much if you suddenly ‘require’ a banquet. But what else can and can’t the Room do? Can it summon people, if you suddenly fancy talking to the Minister of Magic? How big can it get? Can you truly ‘require’ a room that absolutely no one else can ever enter? If the Room can create a passage to the Hog’s Head, can it make passages to further away places, such as Brazil? Probably not, but you can’t blame us for wondering. 

Check out [some of the things we wish the Room of Requirement could turn into here.](/features/11-things-the-room-of-requirement-shouldve-turned-into)

## Why do ghosts return to Hogwarts?

In any tradition, beyond Harry Potter, it’s common knowledge that ghosts usually return to the living world because of ‘unfinished business’. This is also true of certain Hogwarts ghosts. We know that Moaning Myrtle came back to haunt the bully who made her life hell. We know that the Grey Lady has a sad past with her mother, the Hogwarts founder Rowena Ravenclaw.

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