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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

In defence of Percy Weasley

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For many years, [Percy](/features/percy-weasley "Percy Weasley") was seen as the rather pompous but ultimately harmless older brother of Ron, Fred and George. But, as [Voldemort](/features/lord-voldemort "Lord Voldemort") started to take power, Percy ended up siding with his beloved [Ministry](/features/the-ministry-of-magic "The Ministry of Magic") over his own family.

Percy wasn’t a bad person and didn’t have any desire to join the Dark Side, he was just easily impressed by power and status. He came from a [family](/feature/the-weasley-family-tree "The Weasley family tree") who weren’t particularly well-off, and had hand-me-downs throughout his life. Although his [father](/features/arthur-weasley "Arthur Weasley") worked at the Ministry, the job wasn’t well-paid and, due to the nature of his personality, he didn’t command the same level of respect as some of his colleagues. It’s easy to see why Percy would aspire to be something more, and he wasn’t the only Weasley that felt their family status and comparative wealth quite keenly. [Ron](/features/ron-weasley "Ron Weasley") was often dispirited by the family’s lack of funds, becoming jealous of [Harry’s](/features/harry-potter "Harry Potter") fame and gold on numerous occasions. Percy dealt with this feeling in a different way, channelling his energies into his ambition.

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JKR Peeves and Percy illustration

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Unlike [Fred](/features/fred-weasley "Fred Weasley") and [George](/features/george-weasley "George Weasley"), Percy always put a lot of faith in authority. He seemed to think that those in senior positions were untouchable. When Penelope Clearwater was attacked by the [Basilisk](/features/basilisks "Basilisks"), Percy was visibly distressed, causing George to observe: ‘I don’t think he thought the monster would dare attack a Prefect.’

He was extremely proud of being a prefect and took the role very seriously, enjoying the level of seniority it gave him over other students and becoming very self-important. He seemed to take great pleasure in catching students in their wrongdoing and was always trying to gain praise from his teachers. But in Percy’s eyes he was just taking his title seriously and performing the job as best he could.

When he left Hogwarts and got a job at the Ministry of Magic, he openly hero-worshipped his boss [Barty Crouch](/features/barty-crouch-sr "Barty Crouch Sr.") and was very keen to get promoted. He took his work seriously, hiding away in his room to finish tasks before the given deadline in order to impress his peers.

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It was Percy’s promotion to Junior Assistant to the Minister for Magic that caused a real rift between the [Weasleys](/collection/the-weasley-family "The Weasley Family"). Percy was proud and believed he had achieved the recognition himself, but Arthur was convinced that he was given the position so the Ministry could spy on the Weasleys. It’s completely understandable that Percy would take huge offence at the suggestion that he was just being used, especially as he had put so much time and effort into getting promoted.

He refused to believe his father and gave his loyalty to the Ministry, so much so that when Voldemort returned and the Ministry refused to accept it, Percy steadfastly toed the ‘Voldemort is not back’ line.

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Weasley family tree hero 

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This resulted in his complete estrangement from the family, as they were all actively playing a part in fighting Voldemort. It made sense that Percy would put so much faith in the Ministry’s word; he’d spent all his life looking up to those in power and didn’t believe they could get it wrong. As his family wasn’t taken seriously, it’s easy to see how he could have fallen into the trap of believing they were mistaken and in the wrong.

Percy was guilty of having a superior attitude at times and abandoning his family in favour of the Ministry, but he wasn’t a bad person. He simply got blinded by his own position and faith in the system. When the penny finally dropped that Voldemort really was back, he was ready to hold up his hands and admit to his mistake. And, during the [final battle](/feature/battle-of-hogwarts-timeline "The Battle of Hogwarts"), he took up his wand against Voldemort and his supporters; Percy was reconciled with his family just before Fred was killed. It says a lot about Percy’s character that he would return and fight, admitting he was wrong, and even joking about his [Ministry colleagues](/collection/ministry-of-magic-employees "Ministry of Magic employees").

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Really, it was Percy’s youth and inexperience in the world, as well as his need to escape what he perceived as the limitations of his family, that caused him to take the wrong path. But everyone makes mistakes, especially when they’re young, and Percy redeemed himself in the end.

*Each month Pottermore will try to defend the more… questionable characters from the Harry Potter stories. Come back next month when we make the case for [Lavender Brown](/feature/in-defence-of-lavender-brown "In defence of Lavender Brown").*

Discover the films

Wizarding World Image Crediting

to Fantastic Beasts

How do wizards keep themselves so secret from Muggles?

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Harry uses the Patronus spell against a Dementor to protect his cousin.

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The most extraordinary thing about wizarding society is not the magic – although that *is* pretty extraordinary – but the fact that it has been able to [keep that magic a secret](/features/9-times-when-Muggles-probably-should-have-noticed-magic-but-didnt "9 times when Muggles should have noticed magic, but didn’t") from the Muggle world. It must be an immense task: to keep an entire society hidden from the inside of another society. The logistics are head-spinning, with so much potential for everything to go horribly wrong. But so far, it hasn’t; the wizarding world has kept itself safe and hidden for hundreds of years. 

## In the beginning… 

Wizarding society wasn’t always so hidden: not systemically, anyway. During the Medieval period, wizards were persecuted brutally by [Muggles](/collection/muggles "Muggles"), who were afraid of magic but not very good at recognising it. This caused many wizards to operate in self-imposed secrecy. 

## The International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy 

Extremist wizards wanted war against Muggles, but the wider community instead opted for secrecy: an international law enforced by each country’s [Ministry of Magic](/features/the-ministry-of-magic "The Ministry of Magic"), which was responsible for concealing societies, controlling [magical beasts](/collection/creatures "Collections: Creatures"), beings and spirits, and making sure wizards don’t blow everyone’s cover.

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Harry and Arthur Weasley inside the Minstry of Magic.

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## What this meant for wizards 

Above all, the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy kept wizards safe; it also required them to be vigilant and responsible. Wizards were required to dress like Muggles when interacting with them, for example, and they were prohibited from participating in [Muggle sports](/writing-by-jk-rowling/scottish-rugby "Scottish Rugby: Writing by J.K. Rowling"). Deliberate breach of the law could result in serious punishments. 

As a result, many wizards set up their own magical communities within Muggle communities. Villages such as Ottery St Catchpole on the south coast of England, or [Godric’s Hollow](/features/godrics-hollow "Godric’s Hollow") in the West Country, thrived due to mutual magical support and a variety of concealment charms, including [Confunded](/features/confundo "Confundo") Muggles. 

## Not all wizards were happy 

The International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy has been the source of a contentious debate in wizarding society, namely because people have asked whether wizards should be the ones living underground. Carlotta Pinkstone, for instance, campaigned to have the statute repealed in the early twentieth century; she was imprisoned numerous times for performing spells in front of Muggles, and telling them the truth about magic. Other wizards practised more violent and extreme measures, the most famous of whom was Dark wizard [Gellert Grindelwald](/features/gellert-grindelwald "Gellert Grindelwald"). His campaign of terror was partly motivated by his dream of overthrowing the Statute of Secrecy and leading wizards out of hiding. 

## Some methods of secrecy are… imaginative 

Wizarding society is kept hidden from Muggle society through a vast and complex range of concealment charms. If a Muggle were to look at [Hogwarts](/features/hogwarts "Hogwarts"), for example, all they would see is a ruin with signs telling them to keep out. Some magical locations are sequestered entirely from the Muggle world – with [Diagon Alley](/features/diagon-alley "Diagon Alley"), in particular, being accessible through a number of gateways between the two worlds. 

But, of course, magic can be weird and wonderful. Take the entrance to [St Mungo’s Hospital](/features/st-mungos "St Mungo's Hospital") for Magical Maladies and Injuries, which to Muggle eyes looks like a shabby department store. To gain entrance you enter through a magical window and speak to a mannequin. And that’s nothing compared to the Ministry of Magic, with entrances including a phone box and a loo you must flush yourself down.

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Arthur Weasley and Harry Potter homepage carousel 

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## Keeping the secret is hard work… 

As you can imagine, keeping an entire society concealed from another society is not easy; in fact, it’s a full-time job. Located in the Ministry of Magic’s Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes are the Obliviators: specially trained wizards who are skilled in [Memory Charms](/features/obliviate "Obliviate"). If the Statute of Secrecy is breached, it is their job to clean up the mess, which usually means modifying the memory of any Muggle witnesses. 

## …and sometimes impossible 

The wizarding world is so chaotic, so much larger than Muggle life, that sometimes it’s impossible to keep it hidden. This especially goes for magical creatures. Scotland, for instance, has repeatedly breached the Statute of Secrecy thanks to it being home to the world’s largest [kelpie](/features/kelpies "Kelpies") – known to Muggles as the Loch Ness Monster. In Tibet, the Yeti situation got so out of control that the International Confederation of Wizards had to station a task force of wizards in the mountains to keep it hidden.

But it’s not only magical creatures who prove difficult to manage – wizards often cause chaos too. In the days following [Lord Voldemort’s](/features/lord-voldemort "Lord Voldemort") first downfall, in 1981, the wizarding world came dangerously close to blowing its cover through vigorous celebration: most notably there were [owls](/features/owls "Owls") flying through the daylight, and the skies were full of [shooting stars](/quote/shooting-stars-in-kent "Shooting stars in Kent"). 

## There are exceptions to the rule

Wizarding society is [not entirely closed off](/features/muggles-who-are-in-on-the-wizarding-secret "The Muggles who are in on the wizarding secret") from the Muggle world, however. It is not uncommon, for example, for wizards and witches to fall in love with Muggles, and let them in on the secret. Nor is it uncommon for Muggles to give birth to a magical child.

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And then there are times when Muggles have to be told about the wizarding world. A famous example is the Muggle Prime Minister of the UK, who is visited by his or her magical counterpart, the [Minister for Magic](/writing-by-jk-rowling/ministers-for-magic "Ministers for Magic by J.K. Rowling"), on the day they move into 10 Downing Street. Some Prime Ministers take the news well; others have tried to throw the Minister for Magic out of the window.

The gravest mistakes of the wizarding world

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We all make mistakes – and that applies whether you’re the wisest wizard in the world, the Boy Who Lived or the Dark Lord. But which errors were the most devastating for the wizarding world? 

## Cornelius sending Hagrid to Azkaban

[Cornelius Fudge](/features/cornelius-fudge "Cornelius Fudge"), Minister for Magic, was definitely a career politician, a self-serving tyrant without principles who rarely considered anything but his own importance. When he turned up at [Hagrid’s hut](/features/hagrids-hut "Hagrid's hut") in *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* to take [Hagrid](/features/rubeus-hagrid "Rubeus Hagrid") to Azkaban, he displayed the sort of petty bureaucracy and self-preservation that would become his hallmark: ‘I’m under a lot of pressure. Got to be seen to be doing something,’ he said, blaming Hagrid for opening the Chamber and releasing the [Basilisk](/features/basilisks "Basilisks"). 

What he was actually *doing,* though, was sending an innocent man/giant to the most horrifying place we’ve ever heard of – an [offshore prison](/features/azkaban "Azkaban") staffed by [Dementors](/features/dementors "Dementors") where inmates were depressed to death. It’s a testament to Hagrid’s strength of character that he recovered after release, only once telling Harry, Ron and Hermione about his experience: ‘I used ter hope I'd jus' die in me sleep.’ All on your conscience, Fudge.

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## Voldemort thinking Snape was Master of the Elder Wand

The [Elder Wand](/features/elder-wand "Elder Wand") had a long and bloody history stretching back centuries, and its owners, from Antioch Peverell through Emeric the Evil and [Gellert Grindelwald](/features/gellert-grindelwald "Gellert Grindelwald"), sought to become masters of death by winning its allegiance. [Voldemort](/features/lord-voldemort "Lord Voldemort") knew this and needed it for himself, so when [Severus Snape](/features/severus-snape "Severus Snape") killed Dumbledore in *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,* he assumed Snape was the new holder. He was wrong: [Draco Malfoy](/features/draco-malfoy "Draco Malfoy"), having [disarmed](/features/disarming-charm "Expelliarmus") Dumbledore shortly before, was now its master. 

So when the Dark Lord ordered [Nagini](/features/nagini "Nagini") to finish off Snape so he could claim the wand, he was no closer to his dream of immortality. And in the end, this mistake spelt the end of Voldemort too, when his [Killing Curse](/features/killing-curse "Avada Kedavra") backfired from the Elder Wand at the Battle of Hogwarts. The take-home: do your research before you act.

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A head shot of Snape looking sideways from the Deathly Hallows Part 2 

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## Barty Crouch Sr breaking his son out of Azkaban

[Barty Crouch Jr](/features/barty-crouch-jr "Barty Crouch Jr.") was a nasty piece of work, taking the Dark Mark at an early age and showing fanatical support for Lord Voldemort. His father [Barty Sr](/features/barty-crouch-sr "Barty Crouch Sr."), as a member of the Council of Magical Law, sent him to Azkaban for torturing the Aurors [Frank](/features/frank-longbottom "Frank Longbottom") and [Alice Longbottom](/features/alice-longbottom "Alice Longbottom"), but even then a mother’s love shone through: she persuaded her husband to allow her to switch places with her son in prison using [Polyjuice Potion](/features/polyjuice-potion "Polyjuice Potion"). Big mistake. Although Barty Sr kept tabs on Jr for a while with an [Imperius curse](/features/imperius-curse "Imperio") and [Invisibility Cloak](/features/invisibility-cloak "Invisibility Cloak"), he broke free at the [Quidditch World Cup](/writing-by-jk-rowling/history-of-the-quidditch-world-cup "History of the Quidditch World Cup by J.K. Rowling") in *Goblet of Fire* and began causing havoc on behalf of Voldemort once again. 

And what havoc – he assumed the appearance of [Alastor Moody](/features/alastor-moody "Alastor Moody"), sent an underage Harry into the Triwizard Tournament and caused the death of [Cedric Diggory](/features/cedric-diggory "Cedric Diggory"). Barty Sr, we know he was your own son, but it really would have been better to leave him where he was.

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Barty Crouch is apprehended by officials at the Wizengamot.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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and the Goblet of Fire

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## Harry’s misplaced bravery led to Sirius’s death

Aware of how susceptible Harry’s mind was to the intrusions of Lord Voldemort, [Dumbledore](/features/albus-dumbledore "Albus Dumbledore") pressed Professor Snape to teach him Occlumency to defend himself in *Order of the Phoenix,* but to no avail. Harry was too curious about what was in that orb in the [Department of Mysteries](/features/most-mysterious-things-in-the-department-of-mysteries "The most mysterious things in the Department of Mysteries"), so he travelled there in his dreams and was tricked by Voldemort. Not for the first time, we admired his bravery when he stepped up to save his beloved godfather; not for the first time, Harry proved his fallibility, but as ever he acted with honour. 

That may have been scant consolation for him, however, as he struggled with the deadly consequences of his actions – he’d felt the pain of losing someone close to him, again, this time more acutely than ever before.

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Sirius falls through the vail in the Department of Mysteries 

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## Dumbledore wore Marvolo Gaunt’s ring

For anyone who knows wizarding history, the [Resurrection Stone](/features/resurrection-stone "Resurrection Stone") is clearly not to be messed with. For one – legend has it – it was made by Death himself. It drove its first owner, Cadmus Peverell, to suicide. It was set into a gold ring, which [Tom Riddle Jr](/features/tom-riddle "Tom Marvolo Riddle") stole after murdering half his own family. Although he knew its terrible power, Dumbledore couldn’t help putting it on in the vain hope of seeing his family again in *Deathly Hallows,* proving that even someone so wise and worldly is not immune to the temptations and feelings that face us all in life. ‘I… was a fool,’ he said. No, Dumbledore, you were only human.

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## Sirius Black made Peter Pettigrew a Secret-Keeper

When [Lily](/features/lily-potter "Lily Potter") and [James Potter](/features/james-potter "James Potter") hid out in [Godric’s Hollow](/features/godrics-hollow "Godric’s Hollow") during the First Wizarding War under a Fidelius Charm, they needed [someone to hold the secret](/writing-by-jk-rowling/secret-keeper "Secret Keeper by J.K. Rowling") in their soul. [Sirius Black](/features/sirius-black "Sirius Black"), a great choice, thought Voldemort had him figured out, so he passed the responsibility on to [Peter Pettigrew](/features/peter-pettigrew "Peter Pettigrew"). Not a great choice. 

He was already traitorously spying on the Order of the Phoenix for Voldemort, and immediately informed his master of the whereabouts of the Potters. They were slaughtered by the Dark Lord, leaving the infant [Harry](/features/harry-potter "Harry Potter") an orphan. Without this betrayal there would have been no living with the Dursleys, no deaths of dozens of blameless wizards and Muggles, no more war. Peter, it didn’t have to be this way.

Expelliarmus! Exploring Harry Potter’s signature spell

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We all know that Expelliarmus is Harry Potter's trademark spell, but why did The Boy Who Lived develop such an affinity for the disarming spell?

Expelliarmus: Harry Potter’s Signature Spell | Wizarding World

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*Spoiler warnings should be heeded in this article.*

Roughly translated, Expelliarmus – the Disarming Charm – means ‘[to drive out a weapon](/features/the-etymology-of-harry-potter-spells "The etymology of Harry Potter spells")’ and that’s what it does: forces the subject to drop whatever they’re holding. Usually that’s a wand, which is why it’s often seen in duels, and Harry definitely took that to heart, given how much he used it in combat. Harry became so enamoured with the spell that he eventually used it to finish off Lord Voldemort. Here’s how Harry’s relationship with Expelliarmus became his signature – and why that’s a good and bad thing. 

## Professor Snape taught Harry the spell 

It was during Professor Lockhart’s short-lived Duelling Club that Harry learned the spell that would define him. Not from Lockhart (of course) but from Snape. In the second year, we knew Snape as the bad-tempered [Potions](/writing-by-jk-rowling/potions "Potions by J.K. Rowling") Master who supposedly hated Harry, but it’s interesting to think it was this brave former follower of Voldemort who taught Harry the spell that toppled the Dark Lord.

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Lochart attempts to curse the snake that Snape has conjured.

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## Learning Expelliarmus

Spells are tricky things. Harry took a while to get to grips with the Summoning Charm he used in the first Triwizard task and even Hermione struggled with her Patronus. So the fact that Harry quickly developed an aptitude for Expelliarmus could explain why he was confident enough to use it in challenging situations. Within months of learning it, Harry used Expelliarmus to get Riddle’s diary back from Malfoy and to disarm Lockhart, plus he spent the final hours of second year practicing it, getting very good in the process.

Harry also successfully used Expelliarmus when he disarmed Snape in the Shrieking Shack and when he made a giant spider release him during the third Triwizard task, but it wasn’t until he turned it against Voldemort that it started to become associated with him – and that, as Lupin later implied, was where the danger lay.

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The empty bedroom of the Shrieking Shack 

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## Disarming Lord Voldemort

When Harry took Hermione and Ron to task over the offhand way they listed all the times he’d defeated Voldemort, he told them:

> ‘I got through it all because – because help came at the right time, or because I guessed right – but I just blundered through it all, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing…’ 
 *[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix](https://www.wizardingworld.com/discover/books/harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix)* 

That moment in the graveyard was a case in point. As Voldemort forced Harry to duel, he remembered Expelliarmus. Surrounded by Death Eaters, with Voldemort prepared to kill him, he was aware a Disarming Charm wasn’t going to get him very far and yet it was all he had – that, and a refusal to die without at least trying to defend himself.

As it happened, he guessed right, although since he didn’t actually manage to disarm Voldemort that was actually more to do with Priori Incantatem. Still, to put it in Harry’s words, he blundered through, aided by the shadowy echoes of Voldemort's victims.

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## How it became his 'signature move'

The outcome of that scene may not have been to Voldemort’s liking, but he and his Death Eaters did witness Harry attempt to fight by Disarming and not Stunning. This came back to bite Harry, when he used Expelliarmus on an Imperiused Stan Shunpike during the Battle of the Seven Potters and inadvertently revealed himself. Lupin berated him for it:

> ‘Expelliarmus is a useful spell, Harry, but the Death Eaters seem to think it is your signature move, and I urge you not to let it become so!’ 
 *[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows](https://www.wizardingworld.com/discover/books/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows)* 

It seems at least partly the case that Harry fell back on Expelliarmus because he’d used it to defeat Voldemort before – although he didn’t really, given the spell didn’t work. Still, that’s what he told Zacharias Smith when he sneered at Harry’s decision to teach the D.A. how to Disarm, and that’s what he told [Lupin](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/remus-lupin) in defence of his actions against Stan: it saved him, so why wouldn’t it save others?

But it’s not the whole story. Harry might be confident with Expelliarmus; he might have an overdeveloped faith in it that makes him predictable – Lupin certainly thought so – but by this point it had also become as symbolic as it was practical.

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WB F5 Dumbledores army HP5D-2921

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## Defeating The Dark Lord with his signature spell

As Harry told Lupin, if he’d Stunned Stan Shunpike as they were flying hundreds of feet above ground, ‘He’d have died the same as if I’d used [Avada Kedavra](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-is-the-worst-spell-from-the-wizarding-world)!’

That’s what makes the difference. Disarming is about defence, not murder. Voldemort was a killer, Harry was not. It was an important distinction for Harry, who had learned so much about Voldemort and seen first-hand the ways in which they were similar. So while Lupin had a point, it’s a difference Harry owned: ‘I won’t blast people out of my way just because they’re there… that’s Voldemort’s job.’

In the final battle, Harry used his signature spell with defiance. This time he was more experienced but in some ways he was still guessing, with his assumptions about the Elder Wand. Still, when he shouted, ‘Expelliarmus!’ as Voldemort screamed, ‘Avada Kedavra!’ he was giving all those around him the message he gave Lupin: this was about ending bloodshed, not creating it.

Voldemort’s signature spell was Avada Kedavra. Harry’s was Expelliarmus. We know which we prefer.

Expelliarmus: exploring Harry Potter’s signature spell

The biggest lies Harry Potter characters told

PMARCHIVE-The biggest lies Harry Potter characters told

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Rita Skeeter and Harry in the broom cupboard 

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‘The truth,’ said [Dumbledore](/features/albus-dumbledore "Albus Dumbledore") in *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.* ‘It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.’ This piece of wisdom highlights a theme that runs through the whole series – the consequences and morality of dishonesty. If a lie protects good people from evil, is it justifiable? 

Sometimes it’s easy to see which side we should be cheering for – [Rita Skeeter](/features/rita-skeeter "Rita Skeeter"), for example, was fake news before it was even a thing, and on the other hand [Neville Longbottom](/features/neville-longbottom "Neville Longbottom") was one of the most genuine people we’ve ever known of. But on other occasions, it wasn’t always clear who was ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. Read on and this might even change the way you think about some of your favourite characters… 

## Harry Potter

> ‘I dreamed I was watching you lot play Quidditch,’ Harry lied brutally. ‘I was trying to get you to stretch out a bit further to grab the Quaffle.’ 
 *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* 

‘The Boy Who Lies’, ran a *[Daily Prophet](/writing-by-jk-rowling/the-daily-prophet "The Daily Prophet by J.K. Rowling")* headline in *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* (2007). It was part of the character assassination the tabloid was conducting on [Harry](/features/harry-potter "Harry Potter"), although he did bend the truth on occasion. But who could blame him? He knew many things he just couldn’t tell other people; plus a good number of those people wanted him locked up or dead, so he was in a difficult position. 

But when he wrongly told [Ron](/features/ron-weasley "Ron Weasley") and [Hermione](/features/hermione-granger "Hermione Granger") he was still practising Occlumency to block [Voldemort](/features/lord-voldemort "Lord Voldemort") from his mind… that was *not* such a situation. It’s hard to take – he lied to the faces of his two best friends, he kept it going when they suspected the untruth, and it was for self-serving reasons, albeit understandable ones. 

(Ironically, the one time Harry got punished for lying, when [Dolores Umbridge](/features/dolores-umbridge "Dolores Umbridge") made him scar himself with the black quill, he was actually telling the truth. Sod’s law.)

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WB F5 Umbridge office HP5D-16600r

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## Hermione Granger

> ‘I went looking for the troll because I – I thought I could deal with it on my own – you know, because I’ve read all about them.’ 
 *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* 

Of all the lies that have ever been told, this may not be the most heinous. But it came from Hermione Granger, who seemed incapable of fibbing (witness her lame attempts at deception in [Borgin and Burkes](/features/borgin-and-burkes "Borgin and Burkes") during *Half-Blood Prince*). It made Ron drop his [wand](/features/wands "Wands") in shock, and it’s a significant moment – by doing so she saved Ron and Harry from punishment, and the bond between the three was forged, along with an unspoken agreement that they’d look out for each other no matter what. So we forgive you, Hermione.

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Hogwarts PM B1C10M3 TrollInBathroom Moment

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## Narcissa Malfoy

> ‘He is dead!’ Narcissa Malfoy called to the watchers. 
> And now they shouted, now they yelled in triumph and stamped their feet, and through his eyelids Harry saw bursts of red and silver light shoot into the air in celebration. 
 *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows* 

This was a lie so enormous it makes us catch our breath on every read. Having spent the best part of seven books being thoroughly unlikeable, [Narcissa Malfoy](/features/narcissa-malfoy "Narcissa Malfoy") betrayed Voldemort at the Battle of Hogwarts and in doing so saved Harry when it seemed like it was curtains for him. Deceiving the Dark Lord put her own life in danger, but her redemption wasn’t complete – the waters were muddied by the fact she only did it to rescue her son [Draco](/features/draco-malfoy "Draco Malfoy"). Narcissa’s moral ambiguity is an example of what makes the books such interesting character studies: everyone has the potential to lie, whether it’s for good or bad ends.

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NarcissaMalfoy WB F8 NarcissaCheckingIfHarryIsDead Still 080615 Land

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## Severus Snape

> ‘Ah, Professor Snape,’ said Umbridge, smiling widely and standing up again. ‘Yes, I would like another bottle of Veritaserum, as quick as you can, please.’ 
> ‘You took my last bottle to interrogate Potter,’ he said, observing her coolly through his greasy curtains of black hair. 
 *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* 

[Severus Snape](/features/severus-snape "Severus Snape") was, perhaps, the most nuanced character in the whole series, from when he first glared at Harry during the welcome banquet to his death at the fangs of [Nagini](/features/nagini "Nagini"), and there were many occasions when we wondered where his loyalties really lay. One minute he was hostile, the next he was honourable; we loved him, then hated him, but never wanted to stop reading about him. By *Order of the Phoenix*, we had realised that Snape was a complicated chap who still had a problem with Harry, who doesn’t completely trust him. But by lying to Dolores Umbridge about the Truth Potion, he was helping to shield Harry and the whole Order from the attention of the [Ministry of Magic](/features/the-ministry-of-magic "The Ministry of Magic"), showing us his intentions really were noble, even if he was not always able to show them.

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Illustration of Severus Snape casting his doe Patronus from Read the Magic

Snape Patronus illustration Read the Magic B7

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## Albus Dumbledore

> ‘It is time,’ he said, ‘for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry. Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything.’ 
 *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* 

In 1980, the Hogwarts Headmaster sat in the [Hog’s Head](/features/behind-the-scenes-the-hogs-head "Behind the scenes: The Hog’s Head") and listened to [Sybill Trelawney](/features/sybill-trelawney "Sybill Trelawney") recount what would become known as the Lost Prophecy. It was, you might say, pretty important to the life of Harry Potter, given that it explained why the Darkest wizard of all time so badly wanted to kill him (turned out it wasn’t just because he was jealous of his [Quidditch](/collection/quidditch "Quidditch") skills). However, Dumbledore decided not to pass it on to Harry – not when he started at [Hogwarts](/features/hogwarts "Hogwarts"), not after he had several encounters with Voldemort himself, not even when Harry asked him why Voldemort tried to murder him when he was a baby. 

Dumbledore had his reasons, of course, and did what he thought best, but would a bit more information have helped Harry understand the situation in which he found himself? You could argue that withholding the truth is a form of lying: if so Dumbledore dropped one of the biggest whoppers of all time.

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Harry and Dumbledore in his office from the Half Blood Prince 

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