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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

![HP-F2-chamber-of-secrets-moaning-myrtle-girls-bathroom-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/2HdGuqY9aOgGStQJii0yVY/5013a2d38cecb8e9f536e42f6dbf0036/HP-F2-chamber-of-secrets-moaning-myrtle-girls-bathroom-web-landscape.jpg)

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 is love such a powerful form of magic?

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Love, Dumbledore says repeatedly, is the single most important thing Harry has in his armoury, because it is the only tool he possesses which Voldemort does not.

Conceived through enchantment, abandoned by his father and given up by a mother too heartbroken to live, Voldemort has never experienced love. He cares only about how other humans can serve him, so he will never comprehend the selfless nature of an act like Harry’s mother’s, or that love for a person can overcome obstacles as Snape’s does for Lily, or the benefits of a deep friendship like Harry has with Ron and Hermione.

And he is missing something valuable. Not just because it’s a great shame to live a life without love, but because love is a deeply powerful magic. 

> ‘There is a room in the Department of Mysteries,’ interrupted Dumbledore, ‘that is kept locked at all times. It contains a force that is at once more wonderful and more terrible than death, than human intelligence, than the forces of nature. It is also, perhaps, the most mysterious of the many subjects for study that reside there...’ 
 *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* 

That love is studied by learned witches and wizards shows it is more than sentiment that brings Dumbledore back to the subject. In the wizarding world, love has literal magical properties, and these keep Harry safe – time and time again.

## Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

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Quirrell and Harry in front of the Mirror of Erised.

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When Harry faces Voldemort-as-Quirrell, Quirrell is unable to touch him because of the enchantment that lives in Harry’s blood. His mother died to save him, and it has left its mark.

Voldemort doesn’t take this protection seriously, and there’s something else he fails to recognise as significant: the fact that Harry is able to stop Quirrell claiming the Philosopher’s Stone. Dumbledore says later: ‘Have you any idea how few wizards could have seen what you saw in that mirror?’ That Harry, at 11, was thinking not of himself but of preventing harm, should have made his character clear to Voldemort. But he cannot comprehend Harry’s actions, and so he doesn't understand their importance.

## Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets  

Harry’s love and loyalty to Dumbledore allows him to defeat Tom Riddle, the teenage apparition of Voldemort preserved in diary form. It’s also love that sends him into the Chamber in the first place, in the form of friendship. Ron is worried about his sister and both he and Harry are concerned about Hermione, so when Ron says he is going to tell Lockhart about the Basilisk, Harry joins him without hesitation.

In the Chamber, when Harry is once more faced with Voldemort, he announces his loyalty to Dumbledore wildly and without much hope. Yet he is rewarded by the appearance of Fawkes – who distracts the Basilisk and heals Harry’s wounds – and the Sorting Hat, which presents him with the sword of Gryffindor.

## Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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Harry, Hermione and Sirius are overwhelmed by a swarm of Dementors by the lake.

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In *Prisoner of Azkaban,* Harry’s love for his lost parents turns a little twisted when he half-wants to be near the Dementors just so he can hear his parents’ dying voices.  His connection with his parents is also revealed by the fact that his Patronus is the same as his father’s. Without family, Harry creates relationships that mean just as much to him, from Ron and Hermione to Hagrid and Dumbledore. His readiness to add Lupin and Sirius to this list shows his desire to connect with people.

This ability to love is what will protect Harry, as it gives him the strength to endure what follows. Much later, when he stands in the Forbidden Forest preparing to face Voldemort, he uses the Resurrection Stone to summon Lily, James, Sirius and Lupin, and their presence is his courage.

## Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Having realised the benefits of the protection in Harry’s blood, Voldemort uses Harry to help him return to human form. He intends to take in some of that loving sacrifice, but this is a big mistake. In using Harry’s blood, Voldemort ties the two of them closer together, tethering Harry to life while he, Voldemort, survives. So even as Voldemort thinks he has understood the ancient magic that protects Harry, it thwarts him again.

## Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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Sirius falls through the vail in the Department of Mysteries 

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Voldemort uses Harry’s ability to love against him by luring Harry to the Department of Mysteries in pursuit of Sirius. It works, because Harry is unable to risk not helping a person in need, especially his godfather.

Yet love saves Harry, again, when Voldemort attempts to possess him. Harry is so consumed with grief for Sirius that Voldemort cannot remain inside his head; it causes him agonising pain. Harry experiences the same thing when Dobby dies, and realises that Dumbledore is right – grief is an expression of love, and love keeps Voldemort out.

## Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

As Dumbledore and Harry explore Voldemort’s life, his disdain for love remains clear. ‘Nothing I have seen in the world has supported your famous pronouncements that love is more powerful than my kind of magic, Dumbledore,’ Voldemort says in one recollection.

It is this arrogant assumption that led Voldemort to unwittingly provide Harry with tools to defeat him – the opportunity to read his mind, the ability to talk to snakes, the lingering protection of his mother’s sacrifice; these all result from Voldemort’s first attempt to kill Harry.

## Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

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Harry, accompanied by the spirits of his dead family and friends, approaches Lord Voldemort prepared to die.

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And so we come to the close. As the spirits of his parents, Sirius and Lupin accompany him into the Forbidden Forest, Harry prepares to make the same sacrifice his mother made for him. His love for his friends, for the memory of his family, for the greater good, is such that he is prepared to die. That, in the end, is what destroys Voldemort.

So why is love such a powerful form of magic? Because, both at the same time, it is a valuable weapon – and a reason for fighting.

*Want to join the Wizarding World Book Club? [Sign up here](https://my.pottermore.com/wizarding-world-book-club) for your guided read-along of the Harry Potter series, set at your own pace. You can also still [join the conversation](https://twitter.com/wwbookclub "Wizarding World Book Club on Twitter") over on Twitter every Friday. Happy reading!*

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8 wizarding mishaps and injuries that make us glad we're Muggles

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Madam Pomfrey tends to petrified students in the hospital wing

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Madam Pomfrey tends to Harry with Skele-Gro after Lockhart removes all the bones in Harry's arm

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While we in the Muggle world are certainly not immune to injury, when spells, fantastic beasts and flying broomsticks are thrown into the pot, they create a recipe for potential harm way beyond anything we’d want to suffer – even with super-healing magical remedies available.

Here are a few of the most painful, memorable and downright gross injuries and ailments suffered in the Harry Potter books.  

## When Ron puked up slugs

Slugs are scientifically fascinating animals, what with their omnivorous diet and telescopic eyes, but they do have an image problem. On the cuteness scale, they’re at the opposite end to piglets and [Pygmy Puffs](/feature/5-magical-creatures-every-muggle-wishes-they-could-own-as-a-pet), and needless to say they’re the last thing we’d want in our mouth. However, that’s just what happened to Ron in *Chamber of Secrets*: he valiantly tried to defend Hermione’s honour from a defamatory Draco, but ended up on the wrong end of his own slug-vomiting curse, resulting in one of the series’ most nauseating moments (literally).

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## When Neville became a bird for a short while 

Ginger jokesters Fred and George Weasley were endlessly creative with their inventions, but not everyone appreciated their artistic license. A prime example is in *Goblet of Fire*, when the pair took the old Muggle favourite, custard creams, and turned them into a much more exciting biscuit. (Sorry everyone, but custard creams are among the most boring of tea-time snacks.)

The newly christened [Canary Creams](/feature/harry-potter-relationships-that-only-warring-siblings-will-understand) claimed Neville Longbottom as their first victim, who transformed… yes, you’ve guessed it, into a canary. Neville went through many transformations during his Hogwarts days, going from shy first-year to Battle of Hogwarts hero. His short time as a large bird, however, is still our favourite.

## When Harry followed the mostly awful advice of the Half-Blood Prince 

Okay, there is nothing amusing about a curse that causes gory slashes to open up on its victim’s body – Draco Malfoy would agree that [Sectumsempra should have remained in the fevered mind of its creator](/feature/priori-incantatem-history-of-notable-slytherin-wands), the Half-Blood Prince. But when Harry got hold of Snape’s annotated copy of *Advanced Potion-Making*, he couldn’t help but try out some of the more frivolous spells: he hexed Crabbe’s toenails to grow ‘alarmingly fast’, glued Argus Filch’s tongue to the roof of his mouth and (inadvertently) dangled Ron in mid-air above his bed with a Levicorpus. So many scribblings, so much potential for casual injury. Snape had a lot to get off his chest.

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Illustration of the effects of Levicorpus on Ron Weasley

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## When Hogwarts students grew vegetables from their ears 

We know very little about this incident, save a scant few lines of explanation in *Prisoner of Azkaban*: ‘A number of small scuffles broke out in the corridors, culminating in a nasty incident in which a Gryffindor fourth-year and a Slytherin sixth-year ended up in the hospital wing with leeks sprouting out of their ears.’ 

What caused this intriguing condition? Does it hurt to have an allium growing from one’s head? And did the house-elves make the ear-leeks into ear-leek soup in the Hogwarts kitchens? So many questions.

## When Harry’s arm is de-boned

Given he had the most murderous Dark wizard of all time after his blood for most of his life, it’s miraculous Harry didn’t experience more terrible injuries. Of course, he didn’t escape completely unscathed, but perhaps his most unusual impairment came in *Chamber of Secrets*. And it was nothing to do with Voldemort.

After Dobby tampered with a Bludger, Harry ended up falling from his broomstick with a broken arm during a Quidditch match. Gilderoy Lockhart then made things a whole lot worse by de-boning the arm into a rubbery mess with an ineptly cast charm. Luckily, Madam Pomfrey was on hand with her bottle of [Skele-Gro](/feature/a-wizards-first-aid-kit). Interestingly, Skele-Gro was invented by a wizard called Linfred of Stinchcombe, a very old ancestor of Harry’s. 

## When Hermione turned into a cat, sort of

After weeks of painstaking preparation, including the procurement of some hard-to-find ingredients (‘shredded skin of a Boomslang’ is not on the shelves of the local supermarket, we gather), the ever-intelligent Hermione was ready to temporarily take on the appearance of Millicent Bulstrode in order to identify the heir of Slytherin in *Chamber of Secrets*. But for once the witch’s usual rigour deserted her, turning her into a feline/human hybrid after accidentally [brewing the potion with hair from Millicent’s cat](/feature/influential-cats-of-the-wizarding-world). Maybe Hermione should’ve stuck with the half-cat, half-witch look – she could have become Hogwarts’ brand new superhero.

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An illustration of Hermione after taking Polyjuice Potion of a cat 

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## When several students (and a ghost and a cat) are Petrified

A trip to the school nurse is a rite of passage for most children. But when your school is Hogwarts, it’s usually for something a bit more complex than a grazed knee. Madam Pomfrey has treated all manner of conditions, including Alicia Spinnet’s overgrown eyebrows and Eloise Midgen’s cursed-off nose, but the hospital wing was especially full when the Basilisk went on its rampage in *Chamber of Secrets*.

We know that the first time the Chamber was opened in 1943, three pupils were Petrified by the terrifying serpent; in Harry’s second year, the sight of it turns Hermione, Mrs Norris and others into living statues. Or in the case of Nearly Headless Nick, an [eerie, undead one](/image/nick-petrified).   

## When Professor Lockhart erases his own memory

What a terrible waste. That a man with such an incredible life, so full of varied and estimable achievements, would find himself on the wrong end of a backfiring Memory Charm and forget how amazing he was. Or it would be a terrible waste, if any of it had actually happened. All those awards, bestselling books, adventures and brave acts were conjured out of the ether by the vainglorious Professor, and into the ether they returned, leaving Lockhart [a permanently befuddled resident of the Janus Thickey Ward at St Mungo’s](/book-extract-long/the-patients-of-st-mungos). Despite his hospitalisation, we learn that he managed to retain his famous ‘dazzlingly white teeth' though. Small consolation.

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What is the most evil spell in the wizarding world?

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Bellatrix Lestrange casts a spell in the Ministry of Magic.

There are truly evil spells in the wizarding world, including the Unforgivable Curses, but which is the absolute worst? Read on to find out.

The Most Unforgivable Spells in Harry Potter | Wizarding World

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Dumbledore falls from Hogwarts' top tower after he is killed

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Some would say there’s no spell worse than Avada Kedavra, the Killing Curse that Voldemort used so indiscriminately. But it’s definitely not the wizarding world’s only Unforgivable Curse. And beyond those three, there are other types of magic that arguably do more harm than anything else.

So – what *is* the worst thing a wizard or witch could cast? Let's take a look...

## Legilimency (*'Legilimens'*)

An unpleasantly intrusive spell, any witch or wizard adept at [Legilimency](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/a-guide-to-legilimency) has the means to access another person’s thoughts and memories. Seriously skilled Legilimens like Queenie Goldstein could instantly read minds like books, and those with sinister motives – like Voldemort, when he made Harry dream of Sirius in the Department of Mysteries – could take a person’s feelings and turn them to their advantage. In Harry’s case this ultimately led to Sirius’s death, so anyone who values privacy and safety should definitely perfect Occlumency, aka the practice of repelling a Legilimens attack using your mind.

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WB FB Queenie and Jacob 

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## Imperius Curse (*'Imperio'*)

The first of the three Unforgivable Curses, Imperius gives the spell-caster total control over their subject. As fake-Moody explains as he demonstrates on a spider:

> ‘I could make it jump out of the window, drown itself, throw itself down one of your throats…’
> ***Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire***

Those subjected to the Imperius Curse don’t seem aware of what they're doing while under another person’s control, but imagine how traumatic it would be to look back on actions you made against your will. From the imprisoned Moody, kept weak and quiet so a [Death Eater could impersonate him](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/12-shocking-wizarding-world-twists), to (relatively) innocent wizards like Stan Shunpike, forced to join Voldemort’s side, Imperius robs its victims of any autonomy. It’s utter subjugation. Not to mention that the very existence of the Imperius Curse gives others an excuse for their actions after the fact.

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The real Alastor Moody discovered at the bottom of his chest after the Triwizard Tournament

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## Cruciatus Curse (*'Crucio'*) 

The second Unforgiveable Curse, Cruciatus causes such excruciating pain that when Voldemort used it on Harry, it was ‘so intense, so all-consuming, that he no longer knew where he was…’ 

Repeated use of the Cruciatus Curse is torture and [Bellatrix Lestrange subjected the Longbottoms to such extremes of pain that it sent them insane](/features/why-neville-longbottom-story-always-deserved-a-happy-ending). ‘Better dead than what happened to them,’ was what Moody said of the Longbottoms’ fate, and there’s a sad ring of truth to that statement.

Harry tried to use this spell himself. The first time was against Bellatrix after she had killed Sirius. His attempt was unsuccessful because, as Bellatrix mockingly explained: ‘You need to really want to cause pain – to enjoy it – righteous anger won’t hurt me for long…’

This shows that Cruciatus is bad for both parties – the wizard or witch has to mean pure evil intent in order to even cast it.

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The Death Eaters attack Dumbledore's Army in the Hall of Prophecy.

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## The Killing Curse (*'Avada Kedavra'*)

Obviously there’s no coming back from this spell, and according to the Ministry of Magic’s classifications (and, again, fake-Moody) this is the worst Unforgivable Curse. If this countdown were about which spell is the most unforgivable we might agree – but weirdly enough it’s not. In our eyes, the quick death afforded by Avada Kedavra seems to us a (very slightly) better option than suffering the curses below. At least [Cedric Diggory](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/unsung-heroes-of-harry-potter-stories-cedric-diggory) had no inkling of what was about to happen and probably experienced little, if any, pain, unlike those left behind.

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## *'Sectumsempra'*

The note accompanying this spell in the Half-Blood Prince’s textbook reads ‘For Enemies’, so it stands to reason this is not a charm to be used lightly. It causes excessive bleeding, as victims’ faces and chests react to being ‘slashed with an invisible sword’. When [Harry used this on Malfoy](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potters-worst-decisions) not knowing what it would do, it was only Snape’s intervention that appeared to save him from bleeding to death. Left to its natural conclusion this is a particularly nasty spell, given the shock and fear it must cause in its victims before they die. At least Avada Kedavra is instantaneous.

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Still of Draco bleeding after being hit by Sectumsempra as Snape uses the counter curse

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## Creating a Horcrux 

All of the spells we’ve mentioned show that it's not just the victim that suffers from the spell chosen, but the psychological and moral state of the caster. Creating a Horcrux involves some of the Darkest magic imaginable – so dark that none of the schoolbooks in the Hogwarts library even mention it. Only a wizard like Voldemort, obsessed with immortality and utterly lacking in love, would even consider it. It requires the murder of another person, after which the spell-caster can split their own soul and place it in an object outside the body. Theoretically this makes them harder to kill but, as Slughorn says in *Half-Blood Prince*: ‘… few would want it, Tom, very few. Death would be preferable.’

Voldemort did not care. He chose to split his soul multiple times because, for him, life was more important than anything else – even his own soul. And so the worst spell in the wizarding world ensured the continued survival of its darkest wizard. Voldemort’s Horcruxes showed his utter disregard for others – [creating a Horcrux](/features/everyone-connected-to-voldemorts-horcruxes) didn’t just mean killing someone, it meant using that person’s death for your own gain. Both are soulless acts, and everyone except Voldemort knows a life without a soul is no life at all. Like Dumbledore said, there are many things worse than death. Splitting your soul is definitely one of them.

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Illustration of Salazar Slytherin's broken locket

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What is the worst spell from the wizarding world?

Some interesting facts you may not have known about Ron Weasley

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## He was one of the very first Harry Potter characters created

J.K. Rowling first thought of Harry while travelling on a train from Manchester to London. But his best friend was not far behind:

> ‘I didn’t know then that it was going to be a book for children – I just knew I had this boy, Harry. During that journey I also discovered Ron...’
> ***Conversations with J.K. Rowling*** (2001)

Other characters invented on that same trip were Nearly Headless Nick, Hagrid and Peeves. Rowling didn’t have a pen or notebook with her, so we’re glad she remembered them all later.

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## He was always a Weasley 

Many of the Harry Potter characters had their names altered during development, hence we never met ‘Draco Spungen’ or ‘Hermione Puckle’, as were J.K. Rowling’s original last names for Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. (You can read more about that in this piece about [J.K. Rowling’s ‘Original 40’ characters](/writing-by-jk-rowling/the-original-forty)). However, Ron and his family were Weasleys from the word go. 

The name comes from the author’s love of the Mustelidae family, which includes badgers, otters and, of course, weasels. Though considered unlucky or even evil creatures by many, J.K. Rowling believes weasels are just misunderstood. The same can be said for the family’s iconic ginger barnets: 

‘There are also many superstitions associated with redheaded people and most state that they are in some way unlucky (Judas Iscariot was supposedly red-haired), but this is nonsense; I happen to like red hair as well as weasels.’

Tackling two negative misconceptions at the same time – yet another reason why Weasley is our King.

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## His middle name was ‘Bilius’

Ron’s unfortunate middle moniker sounds like ‘bilious’ – a word relating to nausea, which Ron might recognise as ‘that feeling you get when you suddenly start [vomiting slugs](/image/puking-slugs)’. But why would Molly and Arthur give their son this literally sickening name? Most likely, it came from an uncle of Ron’s who reportedly died after seeing a Grim. Before then, Uncle Bilius was apparently a bit of a character: 

> ‘He used to down an entire bottle of Firewhisky, then run onto the dance floor, hoist up his robes and start pulling bunches of flowers out of his –’
> ***Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows***

Here’s hoping Ron never tried to emulate his uncle’s antics. What would Hermione say?

## He should have been swearing

When Stephen Fry (the voice behind the British versions of the Harry Potter audiobooks) asked J.K. Rowling if she’d ever had something ‘too scary, sad or rude’ for inclusion in the books, she replied that her editor wouldn’t allow any swearing from the characters. This created difficulties in writing Ron’s dialogue, as she noted ‘Ron is definitely a boy who would swear’. 

Rather than compromise by having Ron exclaim ‘Merlin’s pants’ every five minutes, Rowling craftily worked her way around the problem with phrases such as this:

> ... he called Snape something that made Hermione say ‘Ron!’
> ***Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban***

Whatever Ron called his teachers was probably best left to our imaginations anyway.

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## He had a cousin, Mafalda, who we never met

With [so many Weasleys around](/features/the-weasley-family-tree), it seems inevitable that one or two would get lost among the redrafts. This was the case with Ron’s cousin Mafalda, who was supposed to appear in *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*. 

Having ‘inconveniently’ produced a magical daughter, Mafalda’s parents – her father an accountant, her mother a Muggle – were supposed to send her to the Burrow for summer. During her stay, Mafalda would turn out to be ‘the most unpleasant child Mrs Weasley has ever met’. Knowing Ron, he wouldn’t have had much time for his nosy, show-off of a cousin either. As the character was cut, the only mention of her side of the family came from Ron in the first book:

> ‘I think Mum’s got a second cousin who’s an accountant, but we never talk about him.’ 
> ***Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone***

## He didn’t have much luck with pets

Now we all know [the truth about Scabbers](/features/peter-pettigrew), it gives us the creeps every time he shows up in the first two books. But the hand-me-down rat wasn’t Ron’s first pet. According to some scribbles in the original 2001 Comic Relief edition of *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*, Ron once owned a Puffskein – a round, custard-coloured furball with a high tolerance for being thrown about. The name of Ron’s Puffskein is unknown but its fate, unfortunately, is. Apparently one of the twins needed something round-shaped for Bludger practice and, well... you get the idea. Poor Puffskein.

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## His fear of spiders was all too real on film

Ron’s arachnophobia was put to the test in the film *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* in more ways than one. Rupert Grint, who portrayed Ron on screen, also suffers from a fear of spiders:

> ‘I hate them – even rubber ones I get scared of. Luckily, some of them were CGI. But that car-sized one, that was actually there unfortunately. So that wasn’t my favourite scene to film.’ 

Another [self-confessed arachnophobe](/news/harry-potter-aragog-creature-designer-nick-dudman-bad-with-spiders) was Harry Potter creature designer Nick Dudman, who created the model for Aragog. We’ll appreciate their efforts all the more next time we watch the film.

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## His ‘finest hour’ was getting his own Chocolate Frog card

We’re guessing that ‘destroying a Horcrux’ was probably a close second. 

On Ron’s first trip aboard the Hogwarts Express, we learned he was a keen card collector. However, Ron said something quite important to Harry as they bonded over their shared sweets:
						
> ‘Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it’s no big deal, because they did it first.’
> ***Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone***

Yet the day would eventually come where Ron achieved something no one in his family could boast. His brothers might have also been prefects, star Quidditch players and fought at the Battle of Hogwarts. But being immortalised on a Chocolate Frog card? That was something special, just for Ron.

7 of Hermione's magical tricks that would be really handy in real life

PMARCHIVE-7 of Hermione's magical tricks that would be really handy in real life

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HermioneGranger WB F6 HermioneGrangerFullbody V2 Promo 0801615 Port

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Hermione’s magical talents saved the day on several occasions – preventing Harry and Ron from being crushed by Devil’s Snare, teaching Harry the Summoning Charm he used to great effect in the Triwizard Tournament, fixing Ron up [after he was Splinched](/image/Ron-splinched), hiding their camp from prying eyes and many, many more very important things. But while all of those would undoubtedly be useful in our lives, we also enjoyed the more nuanced tricks and charms of Hermione’s magical trade. Here are some of our favourites.

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## The bluebell flames spell

As we discover in *Chamber of Secrets*, ‘conjuring up portable, water-proof fires was a speciality of Hermione’s’. While she used this skill for setting Snape’s robes alight, brewing Polyjuice Potion and keeping people warm, we also think it’d be mighty useful for aesthetic reasons. [Pretty blue waterproof flames](/features/magical-spells-we-first-learned-in-philosophers-stone)? Imagine how well they’d go down in the decor of one of our many, many parties. Put them in one of those jars Hermione occasionally carried them in, and they’d make fine table decorations. 

## Impervius

This is surely a spell all glasses-wearers wish existed in real life, and one that helped Harry during some particularly stormy Quidditch matches. Okay, we don’t have to contend with rainy Quidditch matches ourselves, obviously, but any spectacle-wearer knows how annoying it is wearing glasses on a rainy day – on the ground. Thankfully, [Hermione introduces us to Impervius](/book-extract-long/capturing-the-cup): the spell that repels water, so there’d be no more blinking behind rain-speckled glasses if you got caught in a downpour. And if you live in the UK, you’ll know that this happens pretty much all the time.

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Harry is being chased by the rogue bludger during quidditch  

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## The Protean-Charmed coins

Hermione’s method of communicating with Dumbledore’s Army was genius – or definitely very advanced, seeing as [the Protean Charm she put on those Galleons](/book-extract-long/not-in-ravenclaw) was some major N.E.W.T.-level magic. Never mind that, though. Just think how cool it would be to summon your friends to your social gatherings rather than faffing about with Facebook invites. Who needs technology? This way’s much simpler and cooler. No need to put up with everyone chiming in on group chat with alternative dates, times and locations – there’s one date, one location, you go or you don’t go and that’s it. We admit this isn’t as important as summoning together Dumbledore’s Army for a battle against Lord Voldemort, but… making plans is hard! 

## The Confundus Charm

Alright, it wasn’t just Hermione who mastered this one, but her sneaky usage of it to [help Ron beat Quidditch Keeper rival Cormac McLaggen](/features/the-harry-potter-characters-that-got-their-comeuppance) is a perfect example. Designed to confuse its subject (or object, given the fake Mad-Eye Moody used it on the Goblet of Fire), Confundus would be a great charm to have in your repertoire for tricky situations. ‘Oh, didn’t I reply to your invitation? I’m sure I did (coughCONFUNDUScough).’ ‘I’ve failed my driving test, you say? That’s funny, I could have sworn you said I’d passed (coughCONFUNDUScough)…’

## Oppugno

Conjuring up a flock of twittering birds is not necessarily what we’d think of during a moment of heartbreak. We’d probably just tweet about it. See what we did there. However, this is what Hermione did after she saw Ron ‘wrapped so closely around [Lavender Brown](/features/lavender-brown) it was hard to tell whose hands were whose’. Still, the second part of that charm was interesting – you know, the bit where she made the birds fly at Ron and peck him. It’s not a spell we’d use every day, but if you really wanted someone to go away it would certainly come in useful.

7 of Hermione’s magical tricks that would be really handy in real life

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