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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

Hallowe’en party tips from Nearly Headless Nick

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Hallowe’en parties are so unoriginal these days: anyone can carve a pumpkin and organise a fancy dress competition. If you really want to throw a standout celebration you could do worse than listen to the advice of Gryffindor’s resident ghost, [Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington](/features/nearly-headless-nick "Nearly Headless Nick"), aka Nearly Headless Nick. Harry, Ron and Hermione might not have had much of a laugh at Nick’s Deathday Party, but he certainly threw a party that would never be forgotten.

## Invitations

Nick considered his guest list carefully. Never forget that the Wailing Widow came all the way from Kent for Nick’s special day. Kent! However, Nick did get himself in a flap by inviting members of the Headless Hunt, a society he so longed to be a member of. Take Nick’s mistake as advice for your own parties. Inviting those you want to impress also means you won’t enjoy yourself so much, and who wants that? It’s your party, after all: far better to invite people you actually want to eat mouldy cheese and dance to the Weird Sisters with. Or, you know, whatever snacks and entertainment you would more likely have…

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## Dress code and decorations

Nick, coming from the 1400s, was constantly in fancy dress by proxy. But for those who don’t have the luxury of being a ghost from centuries ago, a Hallowe’en outfit is always key. Something suitably spooky, obviously. You could, for instance, hold your own Deathday Party: pack the room full of ice and chill it right down, put up some mirrors for a spot of misdirection, get a tombstone cake, and invite your guests to wear long, flowing clothes that will flutter in the cold air as they wander around mournfully. You know, ghost-style. It worked for Nick, but he didn’t really have much choice in the matter when it came to picking his ensemble. 

## Music

The music is your opportunity to really set the party mood, so make sure it’s suitable. You could make a playlist and get your speakers out, but Nearly Headless Nick favours an orchestra of musical saws and a sound like fingernails scraping down a blackboard. It’s an acquired taste, maybe, but it would fit well with the Deathday Party theme, if you’re looking for a bit of inspiration.

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Nearly Headless Nick greeting guests to his Deathday party 

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## Food and drink

It’s always important to consider your guests’ dietary requirements beforehand. For Nick, the majority of his guests were dead, so anything that packed flavour (ie: containing mould) were essential party snacks. Nearly Headless Nick’s recipe for maggoty haggis, as well as his speciality, rotten fish and mouldy cheese, can be supplied for your own parties, er, if you want. But you don’t need to take Nick’s advice for everything… 

## The speech

If you’re planning a speech, make sure you give it nice and early… especially if you’ve invited anyone like that rabble-rousing Headless Hunt lot, because they will definitely try and disrupt it. Practice first, too: you’ll want to make sure you can be heard above the conversation and the noise of musical saws, if you’ve really followed Nick’s party tips to the letter.

## Don’t lose your head

One of the most important things Nick ever taught us. Nobody likes a party host who flips out, so our main tip is to keep your cool at all times. We suggest ice. Nick had ghosts.

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Animated illustration of Gryffindor house ghost, Nearly Headless Nick

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## Have fun

Last of all: enjoy it! Nick sure knew how to throw a spooky shindig, and just because you’re not a ghost, doesn’t mean you can’t too. So grab a plate of furry cheese, enjoy the musical saws, and ask yourself why on earth you didn’t take party advice from someone better in the first place.

Discover the films

Wizarding World Image Crediting

to Fantastic Beasts

How to react when you’re not chosen as Hogwarts champion

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Playing in front of huge crowds for the glory of your school, being lauded for bravery and magical prowess, instant fame and exemption from exams – it doesn’t take a genius to work out why you’d want to enter the [Triwizard Tournament](/features/triwizard-tournament-timeline "The Triwizard Tournament").

With a firm age restriction in place – and a gift of long white beards to whoever ignores that little rule – [Hogwarts](/features/hogwarts "Hogwarts") is thrown into scandal when [Harry](/features/harry-potter "Harry Potter"), a fourth-year, is announced as the Triwizard’s fourth champion. While Harry remains nonplussed by these unprecedented events, [Ron](/features/ron-weasley "Ron Weasley") leaps to the conclusion that famous Harry Potter wanted a bit more attention – and gets it so, so wrong. Instead of being proud of Harry, or even asking if Harry is alright, he just falls out with him instead – at the exact point when Harry could’ve really done with his best friend. Oh, Ron.

Maybe Ron should read our handy guide on how you should actually react if you’re not chosen as Hogwarts champion:

## Don’t cry…

… or shout, or scream, or generally make any kind of negative noise. Positivity is the name of the game here. Okay, the disappointment might be gut-wrenching – all those dreams of fame and glory and exam exemption turning to dust beneath your feet, dust that is no doubt about to get kicked up even more by the actual champion (especially if that champion already gets more than his or her fair share of glory) – but don’t let them see you suffer. It makes you look bitter and jealous. Which you may well be, but it’s not going to help anyone. Including you.

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## Smile 

You’ve seen the Oscars, right? A gracious smile is the best way to save face. And while we’re here, please note that a genuine smile is always preferable to one of those grit-your-teeth-and-wince grimaces. Practising can help – you never know when you might need to fake a breathlessly-delighted-but-totally-spontaneous smile. Use a mirror. Ask a friend. Maybe there’s a spell that can help? A potion you can carry? Just be prepared, that’s what we suggest. 

## Nod graciously

Nod graciously, for this is what truly gracious losers do. They move their heads up and down, slowly, while smiling (see above). It’s nodding, yes, but it’s more than that. It conveys something. It says, ‘I may not be *the* champion but I am still *a* champion, and I am so filled with grace about the whole thing that I didn’t even notice the Triwizard Tournament was on anyway.’ 

## Congratulate the chosen champion

This is very important. (Here’s looking at you, Ron.) After the dust has settled, seek out the chosen champion, especially if the chosen champion is a friend of yours. Do not let them find you alone in your dormitory, hugging a pillow and/or staring moodily at the curtains around your bed. Instead, go to them and offer your congratulations. Shake their hand, and try not to crush their fingers. Pat them on the back, but not too firmly. Smile some more. Don’t cry.

## Invite them to celebrate

If you were Hogwarts champion, you’d want to celebrate with your friends, right? So bury those feelings for a while longer and get them a [Butterbeer](/features/butterbeer "Butterbeer"). Get one for yourself while you’re there. And maybe some crisps and peanuts and napkins to dry your tears on. Eat the food, but save the napkins for later. Remember: no crying. At least not while anyone can see you.

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## Support them

Unfortunately you’re going to have to keep this up for a while – you know, the public smiling and the not-crying and the congratulating. You’re probably even going to have to cheer for the actual Hogwarts champion(s) at some point, maybe make a sign to wave at a Tournament event, maybe admire some magical feat or other. Don’t worry. No Triwizard Tournament lasts forever, but your support will be noted. And appreciated. And remembered. Which, all in all, is a much better look.

*Want to join the Wizarding World Book Club? [Sign up here](https://my.pottermore.com/wizarding-world-book-club "Join the Wizarding World Book Club") to read along, gain awards and discover new content every week. You can also [join the conversation](https://twitter.com/wwbookclub "Wizarding World Book Club on Twitter") over on Twitter.*

Why domestic magic should not be underestimated

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Muggles love to imagine what spells we’d use if we were witches and wizards. We’d obviously all be made [Aurors](/collection/aurors "Aurors"), and travel across the world duelling Dark wizards. Reducto! Expulso! [Petrificus Totalus](/features/full-body-bind-curse "Petrificus Totalus")! Etc. 

But the sort of spells that Aurors do isn’t the only powerful magic. Even though duels and big, loud, explosive spells seem like the most exciting ones, we often forget that some magic-users prefer to use their abilities on domestic tasks – not that this magic isn’t any less important. 

For starters, knowing a few strong domestic charms can be much more useful in the life of an everyday witch or wizard, and will only get more impressive as you grow up. It’s like how in the Muggle world knowing how to bleed a radiator is really helpful, but not very sexy.

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Burrow homepage carousel 

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Being able to make your laundry put itself away or make the dishes wash themselves may not get you a date to the [Yule Ball](/feature/behind-the-scenes-at-the-yule-ball "Behind the scenes: crafting the Yule Ball"), but it’ll pay off for you long term. Turning into a cat has some wow factor, but only a few witches and wizards become [Animagi](/feature/behind-the-scenes-animagus "Behind the scenes: Animagus"), and how often would that be actually helpful in your general day-to-day anyway? 

More importantly, the wizarding world has shown us several times that you should never discount someone who’s good at magical home economics as *only* being good at that – they can still be formidable opponents. 

[Molly Weasley](/features/molly-weasley "Molly Weasley") was the second mother we all wish we’d had. She cooked, cleaned and cared for an [entire family](/collection/the-weasley-family "The Weasley Family") (and a large one at that), often performing several chores at once using only her magic. With the time she saved she was able to knit extremely fetching jumpers for her family.

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WB FB Queenie Goldstein wand mannequin

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[Queenie Goldstein](/features/queenie-goldstein "Queenie Goldstein"), Tina’s sister and a native New Yorker from *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them* (2016), was a beautiful witch who designed equally beautiful robes and dresses. She worked a desk job at [MACUSA](/features/macusa "Magical Congress of the United States of America") and was overlooked for promotion, despite the fact that she had a sufficiently strong command of magic – even if that command was to boil and plate potatoes, slice apples, roll pastry and lay the table all at once. That’s not to mention combining and baking ingredients into an apple strudel in mid-air! Trust us, food is one of the only exceptions to Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration: you can’t just make it appear. Even if you’re really good at Transfiguration, you need to be as good at charms as Queenie to turn raw ingredients into a pudding without even using an oven.

Both these witches were incredibly formidable magic users, but were often discounted as being the opposite, especially by their opponents, simply because they chose to divert their skills to domestic spells. Just look at how the majority of wizard-kind perceived [house-elves](/features/house-elves "House-elves")! And we all know that the Malfoys learned their mistake the hard way in underestimating [Dobby](/features/dobby "Dobby") – Dobby, the brave, loyal friend who ended up having a pivotal role in the Second Wizarding War.

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Dobby bows to Harry in his bedroom in Privet Drive

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You can’t tell us that Molly Weasley protecting her daughter and defeating [Bellatrix Lestrange](/features/bellatrix-lestrange "Bellatrix Lestrange") in a single-combat duel wasn’t one of the most affecting moments in all of the books. Bellatrix Lestrange, let’s not forget, was one of [Voldemort’s](/features/lord-voldemort "Lord Voldemort") most trusted lieutenants and proved herself time and again to be an extremely powerful opponent. Lestrange was able to defeat [Sirius Black](/features/sirius-black "Sirius Black") and [Nymphadora Tonks](/features/nymphadora-tonks "Nymphadora Tonks"), both seasoned duellists (and Tonks was even trained as an Auror), but proved no match for the might of Molly Weasley: mother, home-maker, dangerous.

Queenie, meanwhile, aided [Jacob Kowalski](/features/jacob-kowalski "Jacob Kowalski") in breaking into Percival Graves’s office, and held her cool as she smuggled all of her friends right out of MACUSA in Newt’s magical suitcase. She was able to do this despite being stopped by her supervisor [Abernathy](/features/mr-abernathy "Mr Abernathy"), who was, tellingly, overcome with embarrassment when she nebulously claimed the suitcase contained ‘ladies’ things’!

Despite Abernathy’s obvious attraction to her, Queenie was much more drawn to Jacob, who respected her abilities, and shared her affinity for [pastry-making](/features/kowalskis-bakery "Kowalski's Bakery").

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We must remember that, just like in the Muggle world, different people have different skills, and enjoy different things. Just because someone makes the choice to use their magic for domestic charms, that doesn’t make them any less powerful, intelligent or able to whip you in a duel than any other witch or wizard.  You can ignore it if you want, but don’t come crying to us when you realise you don’t know how to make your own dinner. If you don’t respect these people they’re unlikely to share any of their excellent strudel.

Peeves’s most outrageous pranks

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On the subject of [Peeves, J.K. Rowling says](/writing-by-jk-rowling/peeves "Peeves By J.K. Rowling"), ‘It was inevitable that, in a building bursting with teenage witches and wizards, a poltergeist would be generated.’ 

So perhaps Peeves just came with [Hogwarts](/features/hogwarts "Hogwarts"), like dry rot or some particularly pesky asbestos. For oh so many years, he haunted its corridors, causing all sorts of mayhem for both students, professors and, of course, caretakers. He was the manifestation of pranks, the apex prankster, a poltergeist for whom pranking was more than just a bit of fun, but a way of life – an art form to be perfected over the centuries. But what was his finest work? What was the ‘Mona Lisa’ of Peeves’s outrageous prankery? Let’s count down the top five to find out...

## Peeves wreaks revenge on the welcoming feast (Goblet of Fire)

You know what’s not a good idea? Peeving [Peeves the poltergeist](/features/peeves "Peeves"), a poltergeist literally named Peeves. Hogwarts learned this the hard way in *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*, when the school’s ghosts voted to ban Peeves from the welcoming feast. In the words of [Nearly Headless Nick](/features/nearly-headless-nick "Nearly Headless Nick"): ‘The usual argument, you know. He wanted to attend the feast – well, it’s quite out of the question, you know what he’s like, utterly uncivilised, can’t see a plate of food without throwing it.’

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JKR Peeves and Percy illustration

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Unsurprisingly, this didn’t go down well with Peeves. First he got his revenge on the kitchens, wreaking ‘havoc and mayhem’ on the [house-elves](/features/house-elves "House-elves") by throwing pots, pans and soup everywhere. And then he attacked the feast itself. Floating 20 feet in the air, he lobbed water balloons at the students below – including Ron, who got hit in the head. Seeing as the children were already coming in from the rain, however, Peeves didn’t really see what he was doing as wrong...

> ‘Not doing nothing!’ cackled Peeves, lobbing a water bomb at several fifth-year girls, who screamed and dived into the Great Hall. ‘Already wet, aren’t they? Little squirts! Wheeeeeeeeee!’ And he aimed another bomb at a group of second-years who had just arrived. 
 *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire* 

## Peeves makes Neville Longbottom set fire to his own pants (Half-Blood Prince)

If there was anyone who was going to suffer under Peeves’s reign of pranking terror, it was going to be [Neville Longbottom](/feature/why-neville-had-the-worst-time-out-of-anyone-at-hogwarts "Why Neville had the worst time out of anyone at Hogwarts"). Case in point: one of Peeves’s more casual pranks was to block the entrance to the Gryffindor Tower, telling students that they could only pass if they set fire to their pants. Harry and Ron simply turned around and used one of their short cuts. Yet what did they find when they got back to their dormitory? Neville, smelling strongly of ‘singed material’ and rummaging in his trunk for a fresh pair of pants. Oh, Neville.

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Neville with his Mimbulus Mimbletonia in a Herbology class

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## Peeves crosses the line with Professor Lupin (Prisoner of Azkaban)

It wasn’t only students that fell prey to Peeves, however. Professors got pranked too. One such professor was [Remus Lupin](/writing-by-jk-rowling/remus-lupin "Remus Lupin By J.K. Rowling"), who encountered Peeves when leading his Defence Against the Darks Arts class to the staff room for a practical lesson. Upon arriving, Lupin found an upside-down Peeves clogging up a keyhole with some chewing gum, which sounds pretty tame by Peeves’s standards. Yet it’s what he did next that shocked the students – he openly disrespected a professor.

> Peeves didn’t look up until Professor Lupin was two feet away, then he wiggled his curly-toed feet and broke into song. 
> ‘Loony, loopy Lupin,’ Peeves sang. ‘Loony, loopy Lupin, loony, loopy Lupin —’ 
> Rude and unmanageable as he almost always was, Peeves usually showed some respect towards the teachers. Everyone looked quickly at Professor Lupin to see how he would take this; to their surprise, he was still smiling. 
 *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban* 

What followed must certainly have come as an education for Peeves. Lupin told his class to ‘please watch closely’ and then cast a spell that made the chewing gum shoot out of the keyhole and down into Peeves’s left nostril.

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Animated illustration of Hogwarts poltergeist, Peeves

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## Peeves shuts down Hogwarts for three days (Writing by J.K. Rowling)

As established, pranking was a way of life for Peeves. It’s just what he did, how he passed his time. This meant a lot of day-to-day low-level pranking, like dropping walking sticks on Neville’s head or hiding in a suit of armour and singing rude songs. But every now and then Peeves would go big – just as he did in 1876.

It all started because of Rancorous Carpe, the caretaker at Hogwarts at the time. He devised a plan to get rid of Peeves by laying an elaborate trap: a bait of assorted weapons that Carpe would use to lure Peeves underneath a huge, enchanted bell jar, reinforced by Containment Charms. The point, of course, was to drop the jar on Peeves, which Carpe did. But it was not enough to hold him.

Peeves escaped and – now armed with cutlasses, crossbows, a blunderbuss and a miniature cannon – went on an epic rampage, threatening students with his cannon, which he liked to fire at random. Hogwarts had to be evacuated for three days while Professor Eupraxia Mole, Headmistress of the day, tried to agree a peace settlement. Peeves agreed to relinquish the weapons in exchange for a once-weekly swim in the boys’ toilets on the ground floor, first choice on stale bread from the kitchens for throwing purposes, and a new hat.

Soon after, Carpe took an early retirement ‘for health reasons’. [Argus Filch](/features/argus-filch "Argus Filch") didn’t know how lucky he was.

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## Peeves redeems himself (Order of the Phoenix and Deathly Hallows)

Peeves was a law unto himself – and not a particularly nice one, either. Yet there were those rare occasions where he put aside his devotion to chaos and utilised his pranking power for good.

One such example, of course, was when Hogwarts found itself under the tyrannical regime of [Dolores Umbridge](/features/dolores-umbridge "Dolores Umbridge") — a regime that Weasley twins [Fred and George](/feature/fred-and-george-weasley-infographic "All about... Fred and George Weasley") heroically escaped by unleashing prankageddon upon the school. Having flooded the fifth floor with a Portable Swamp, set off fireworks and hexed most of Umbridge’s Inquisitorial Squad, the twins then summoned their [broomsticks](/features/broomsticks "Broomsticks") and flew off in a blaze of glory, parting with the words: ‘Give her hell from us, Peeves.’

Now Peeves, of course, took orders from no one. But he did hold a certain respect for the Weasley twins, who were [renowned pranksters](/feature/fred-and-george-weasley-troublemakers-in-chief-infographic "Fred and George Weasley: Troublemakers-in-Chief"), and following their explosive exit he went on a rampage of mayhem:

> Cackling madly, he soared through the school, upending tables, bursting out of blackboards, toppling statues and vases; twice he shut Mrs Norris inside a suit of armour, from which she was rescued, yowling loudly, by the furious caretaker. Peeves smashed lanterns and snuffed out candles, juggled burning torches over the heads of screaming students, caused neatly stacked piles of parchment to topple into fires or out of windows; flooded the second floor when he pulled off all the taps in the bathrooms, dropped a bag of tarantulas in the middle of the Great Hall during breakfast and, whenever he fancied a break, spent hours at a time floating along after Umbridge and blowing loud raspberries every time she spoke. 
 *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* 

His coup de grâce, however, came when Umbridge tried to sneak out of Hogwarts after being suspended. For rather than creeping away unseen, Peeves loudly chased her out of the school while whacking her alternately with a walking stick – borrowed from [Professor McGonagall](/features/minerva-mcgonagall "Minerva McGonagall") – and a sock full of chalk.

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Peeves PM B5C30 PeevesTauntingUmbridge

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A few years later he would have the opportunity, yet again, to prove useful, with McGonagall calling upon his talent for chaos during the [Battle of Hogwarts](/feature/battle-of-hogwarts-timeline "The Battle of Hogwarts timeline"); a call he accepted gladly by dropping Snargaluff pods on Death Eaters and shouting, ‘Wheeeeeeeeeeee!’ Once the battle was won, he celebrated by singing, ‘We did it, we bashed them, wee Potter’s the One, And Voldy’s gone mouldy, so now let’s have fun!’

Aw, maybe he wasn’t so bad after all. (He definitely was).

In defence of Igor Karkaroff

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It’s been observed that [Igor Karkaroff’s](/features/igor-karkaroff "Igor Karkaroff") smile never touched his cold, shrewd little eyes. That his teeth were yellow and his chin was weak, unflatteringly dressed in a goatee which affected a curl as much through agitated fussing as vanity.

One should never judge a crook by his cover, of course. Though, by all accounts, Karkaroff’s rotten exterior reflected quite fairly the sorry, cynical, snivelling soul inside.

But… is a bad guy who turns an even worse guy in to the authorities perhaps, in a roundabout way, a force for good?

When Karkaroff – a [Death Eater](/collection/characters-deatheaters "Collections: Death Eaters") – was dragged before the Wizengamot to stand trial he’d already spent time pondering his life choices with the Dementors of [Azkaban](/features/azkaban "Azkaban"). As such, when the opportunity came to bargain for his freedom, he desperately threw several former associates under the proverbial bus.

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To his horror, of course, Karkaroff’s preselected scapegoats of Dolohov, Rosier, Travers, Mulciber and [Snape](/features/severus-snape "Severus Snape") were of no interest to the baying jury. Only when he played his high-value card – that of [Ministry of Magic](/features/the-ministry-of-magic "The Ministry of Magic") infiltrator Augustus Rookwood – did the esteemed assembly take notice. After a further period of reflection with his old friends the [Dementors](/features/dementors "Dementors"), Karkaroff was set free and the pernicious spy Rookwood ousted from his position in the highly sensitive Department of Mysteries, and sentenced to life in Azkaban.

Turncoat. Betrayer. Those are among the worst accusations you can level at a person. And to be sure, in time Karkaroff got his comeuppance.

Yet in the intervening years he industriously rose to become the head of [Durmstrang](/features/durmstrang-institute "Durmstrang Institute"), a controversial but undeniably eminent North European school of witchcraft and wizardry.

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By no means should we shy away from talking about his harsh rule of that ancient seat of learning. Parents were known to pull their children out of Durmstrang – which always had a reputation as a hotbed of Dark wizardry anyway – due to Karkaroff’s perceived egotism and unprincipled behaviour. He maintained the strict [blood-purity](/writing-by-jk-rowling/pure-blood "Pure-Blood By J.K. Rowling") policy of never admitting Muggle-borns – consider how he sneered when his favourite, [Viktor Krum](/features/viktor-krum "Viktor Krum"), made eyes at Hermione Granger during the Triwizard Tournament.

But once in the post, he demonstrated a good degree of respect for the institutions he found himself leader of. When he first arrived at Hogwarts for the [Tournament](/features/triwizard-tournament-timeline "The Triwizard Tournament timeline") he seemed genuinely pleased to be there, and greeted Albus Dumbledore warmly as an equal. He later said he was ‘proud’ to ‘protect’ the integrity of Durmstrang. When [Harry Potter](/features/harry-potter "Harry Potter") was unexpectedly nominated as an unprecedented fourth competitor in the Tournament, Karkaroff took his – really quite legitimate – grievance directly to Dumbledore, complaining that the Hogwarts Headmaster’s ‘talk of closer international wizarding links, of rebuilding old ties, of forgetting old differences’ was a sham.

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The remainder of Karkaroff’s time at Hogwarts was marred by anxiety over the return of [Voldemort](/features/lord-voldemort "Lord Voldemort"). As his Dark Mark tattoo darkened, and eventually burned, he fled. Clearly no slouch when it came to magic, he survived a full year in the wilderness before the Death Eaters tracked him down and took their vengeance on him.

We can only speculate, of course, how events might have played out had Rookwood remained embedded in the Ministry. But it can probably safely be argued that Voldemort’s progress was at least hampered when his mole was extricated and dispatched to Azkaban on Karkaroff’s word. And had the Dark Lord not returned for the final time, Karkaroff could well have continued to be a noble head of Durmstrang, and his worthy champion Viktor Krum may well have taken the [Triwizard Cup](/features/triwizard-cup "Triwizard Cup") back to the icy wastes of Northern Europe.

Who doesn’t love a reformed villain?

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*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 [Rita Skeeter](/features/in-defence-of-rita-skeeter).*

The etymology of Defence Against the Dark Arts professor names

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Quirrell teaching in his classroom with a lizard

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We uncover the interesting etymology of the names of the witches and wizards who took the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

## Quirinus Quirrell  

[Professor Quirrell’s](/writing-by-jk-rowling/professor-quirrell "Professor Quirrell by J.K. Rowling") name has an uncannily accurate connection to his unfortunate run-in with Lord Voldemort.

The word ‘quirinus’ has its origins in Roman mythology and is loosely translated to ‘spear’ or ‘wielder of the spear’. As we know, Quirrell wielded something even more deadly under his turban.

Quirinus was also the name of the Sabine god of war and is referred to as the ‘oak-god’. In short, the name is synonymous with battle and domination: certainly a good fit for Lord Voldemort, the man who dominated him. 

The Professor’s surname, on the other hand, is also linked with oak from the Middle High German word ‘eichhorn’ or ‘oak horn’. In Old English it was written as ácweorna, which loosely translates to squirrel. In modern linguistics squirrel has several meanings beyond the description of an adorably fuzzy animal – it describes someone who has a limited attention span, and the action of ‘squirrelling away’ food or items for later use. Professor Quirrell was notoriously twitchy and hard to pin down, and you could say he had Voldemort squirrelled away beneath his turban. It is a name as aptly suited to his personality as his actions.

## Gilderoy Lockhart

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[Professor Gilderoy Lockhart](/writing-by-jk-rowling/gilderoy-lockhart "Gilderoy Lockhart by J.K. Rowling") was one of the funniest of the Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers at Hogwarts. His unending vanity and ridiculous pretences at bravery were pretty much the theme of all of his books. Gilderoy’s popularity with the ladies made his forename very apt indeed: it was also the name of a famous Highland outlaw who had poetry written about his exploits with women and penchant for breaking the law.

*‘Gilderoy was a bonny boy, 
Had roses till his shoon; 
His stockings were of silken soy, 
Wi’ garters hanging doun, 
It was, I ween, a comelie sight 
To see sae trim a boy; 
He was my joy and heart’s delight, 
My handsome Gilderoy.’*

While Professor Lockhart’s first name managed to capture his startling good looks, it was his surname which really sealed the deal. Lockhart is of Scottish origin and is said to mean ‘brave’ and ‘hardy’. Can anyone say irony? 

## Remus Lupin

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The most loved of all the Dark Arts professors, [Remus Lupin](/writing-by-jk-rowling/remus-lupin "Remus Lupin by J.K. Rowling") was also one of the most tragic. Cursed from a young age to transform into a werewolf at every full moon, Lupin was as his name suggested: wolfy. Lupin is from the Latin ‘lupinus’ which translates to mean ‘wolfish’, and is also the name given to a series of spiky but brightly coloured flowers called Lupinus. In America, these plants were so named because they were seen as damaging to the soil – wolfish in their need to consume. However, in Portugal this was perceived as an advantage and the plants are used to choke out weeds. For our professor, both the wolfish curse and his utter dedication to rooting out evil defined who he was, just like his surname.

Remus, on the other hand, is from Roman mythology, and the original owner of the name was the brother of Romulus, the son of Mars and one of the founders of Rome. He was also, wait for it, raised by a wolf…

## Barty Crouch Jr.

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Barty Crouch is apprehended by officials at the Wizengamot.

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