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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

The magical spells we first learned in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

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Harry, Ron and Hermione in the Gryffindor common room. Hermione is casting Petrificus Totalus.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 

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and the Philosopher's Stone 

From Wingardium Leviosa to Petrificus Totalus, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone introduced some of the most iconic spells in the series.

Spells we learned in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | Wizarding World

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Sure, Harry knows some far more advanced magical methods these days, but who could forget these classics from first year? And let’s not forget how important these spells would be later on in his life. 

## Transfiguration 

We never hear an incantation for the act of Transfiguration – changing something into something else – but it’s one of the first pieces of magic we witness in *[Philosopher’s Stone](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/the-philosophers-stone)*.

Professor McGonagall’s appearance as a cat is an act of Transfiguration, in a sense. [Being an Animagus](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/web-how-do-you-become-animagus) – having the ability to turn yourself into an animal – involves a lot of hard work, so while it’s not a spell in the wand-waving sense, it’s a powerful piece of transformative magic. We saw some proper Transfiguration magic when Hagrid gave Dudley a pig’s tail. Again it’s non-verbal, although it is accompanied by some help from Hagrid's mysteriously magical umbrella.

Ron is the first person we see attempting a verbal Transfiguration spell, when he tries to turn Scabbers' fur yellow. Unfortunately, we suspect Fred and George, who ‘taught’ Ron the spell, might’ve been joking. 

As she’s Transfiguration teacher, it’s fitting that McGonagall shows us how it’s really done. During Harry’s first lesson, she turns her desk into an actual pig and back again – again, without any particular words.

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## Wingardium Leviosa

This is the spell that nearly ended Hermione and Ron’s relationship way before it began, when Hermione went full know-it-all:

‘It’s Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the “gar” nice and long.’

This spell is taught to first years in [Professor Flitwick’s Charms class](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/how-well-would-you-do-in-professor-flitwicks-charms-classes). When accompanied by the right wand movement, it causes objects to levitate. Obviously Hermione got it straight away, and Ron mercilessly mocked her for being a teacher's pet. However, when Hermione overheard Ron's cruel words and ran to the girl's bathroom for a little cry, Ron ended up using *Wingardium Leviosa* to save Hermione's life from a giant troll, who just so happened to be in the bathroom at the same time. What goes around comes around. 

It’s also particularly handy when there are Death Eaters about, including:

- During the battle at the Department of Mysteries, when Harry uses it as he’s about to be attacked by brains
- When Harry uses it to keep the sidecar he’s travelling in in the air during <em>Deathly Hallows</em>’ battle of the seven Potters
- When Ron uses it to open the Whomping Willow as he, Harry and Hermione make their way to the Shrieking Shack in *Deathly Hallows*

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Seamus sets fire to his feather whilst attempting Wingardium Leviosa

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## Alohomora

The first time we hear this spell is when Hermione unlocks the third-floor corridor in a bid to avoid being caught out of bed. 

Presumably Hermione learns *Alohomora*, otherwise known as the ‘thief’s friend’, in Charms. It certainly comes in useful – there are seven other instances of it being cast, including:

- By Hermione, unsuccessfully, in the flying-key room in *[Philosopher’s Stone](https://www.wizardingworld.com/discover/films/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone)*
- By Hermione, to open the window of the tower Sirius is held in, in *Prisoner of Azkaban* 
- By a healer, to open a door to Lockhart’s ward in St Mungo’s Hospital
- By Hermione, unsuccessfully, during the battle at the Department of Mysteries
- By the Death Eaters who have followed Harry and co. to the Department of Mysteries
- By Harry, when he tries – unsuccessfully – to unlock the Hogwarts gates in *Half-Blood Prince*
- By Hermione, again, when she opens Regulus’ room in *Deathly Hallows*

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## Locomotor Mortis

Also known as the Leg-Locker Curse, this spell is used on Neville by Malfoy, although we don’t know the incantation until Hermione whispers it to Ron. They plan to use it on Professor Snape if he attempts anything against Harry during a Quidditch match, but as it turns out, they don’t need to.

*Locomotor Mortis* doesn’t seem particularly popular, as the only other time it’s mentioned is when Harry uses it against Malfoy during a fight in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom in *Half-Blood Prince*. The full Body-Bind, *Petrificus Totalus*, is probably more preferable, but more on that in a moment. 

## Petrificus Totalus

Poor Neville. He tries to do the right thing and stop Harry, Ron and Hermione leaving the common room at night, but all he gets is Hermione and the *Petrificus Totalus* spell, which leaves his entire body momentarily paralysed.

[Hermione’s](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/importance-of-hermione-granger) not the only one to try a Body-Bind Curse every now and then, though.

- Sirius used *Petrificus Totalus* against Snape, encouraged by James, in an episode Harry watches in Snape’s Pensieve
- Harry uses it against two Death Eaters during the battle at the Department of Mysteries
- In *Half-Blood Prince*, Malfoy uses it against Harry in a particularly malicious way, breaking his nose, and then hiding him with the Invisibility Cloak. 
- Dumbledore uses a Body-Bind spell on Harry as Death Eaters surround them in *Half-Blood Prince* 
- Hermione uses it on a Death Eater who has followed them to London from Bill and Fleur’s wedding
- There are also a few Body-Bind curses in the Battle of Hogwarts, but the most significant is Voldemort performing it on Neville before forcing the Sorting Hat on to his head

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Neville falls victim to Hermione's Petrificus Totalus spell

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## Hermione’s bluebell flames

This spell becomes one of Hermione’s trademarks. We don’t hear the incantation for it in *Philosopher’s Stone*, but it could be a variation on *Incendio*.

Hermione first uses it against Snape when she and Ron think he is cursing Harry’s broom in his first Quidditch match. Her bright blue flames set Snape’s robes alight, before Hermione scoops them up and puts them into a jar.

This ingenious spell comes in very useful – in *Philosopher’s Stone* Hermione uses it to free Harry and Ron from Devil’s Snare, and much later it is an integral part of their *Deathly Hallows* travels.

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Hermione - Jim Kay[1]

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## Honorary mentions

[Other spells introduced in *Philosopher’s Stone*](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/guide-to-the-spells-creatures-and-potions-of-philosophers-stone) include:

- The vanishing spell Harry unwittingly casts when he frees the boa constrictor, possibly ‘Evanesco'
- The Curse of the Bogies, a spell apparently taught by Professor Quirrell to his first years
- The Anti-Cheating spells used on exam papers

And as the books unfolded, there would be plenty more where those came from.

6 reasons Neville Longbottom was just as brave as Harry Potter

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Harry and Neville in the Room of Requirement from the Order of the Phoenix  

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Neville Longbottom had a rough time at Hogwarts. Throughout the Harry Potter series, the wizard was seen by others as clumsy, as dim, as a coward. Even the idea that Sybill Trelawney’s first prophecy – referring to the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord – could have been about Neville, rather than Harry, was hardly expected. But that, of course, is unfair. For Neville might not have been as gifted as Harry Potter; he might not have been as confident or as famous, but that didn’t make him any less brave – it just meant that he exhibited a different kind of bravery. For example… 

## Neville, too, had a tragic upbringing

Neville Longbottom’s parents were not killed, but they arguably suffered something worse. Frank and Alice Longbottom, Aurors and members of the Order of the Phoenix, were tortured into insanity by Death Eaters; to the point where they couldn’t even recognise their own son. While Harry lost James and Lily instantly in a flash of green light, Neville grew up knowing exactly what happened to his own mum and dad, choosing not to tell anyone at Hogwarts of the secret tragedy. When Harry realised, he was devastated for Neville, as were we all.

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Illustration of Frank and Alice Longbottom with baby Neville

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## He wasn’t as naturally gifted, so had to work with what he had 

As mentioned before, Neville wasn’t a particularly gifted wizard – a fact that was either the cause or a symptom of his confidence issues. His relatives feared he might be a Squib: his great-uncle even pushed him off Blackpool pier, hoping it would inspire some magic in him (Neville nearly drowned instead). So from the very start, Neville was working with a disadvantage; a contrast with Harry, who picked up magic remarkably quickly, and even managed to master some very advanced spells. But it’s easier when you’re naturally gifted; it’s much harder when you’re not. Neville had to overcome his limitations, conquer his confidence issues and work harder than anyone else. Considering where he started from, Neville’s skill and confidence by the end of *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows* was just as remarkable as Harry’s. 

## He wasn’t the Chosen One 

Neville Longbottom may have been part of Sybill Trelawney’s prophecy, but he was not the Boy Who Lived. That was Harry Potter, and while the resulting fame didn’t always make Harry’s life easier, it certainly helped him to make an impression at Hogwarts and beyond. Neville, like so many other students, wasn’t special; he didn’t come to school as a celebrity, or even as someone who was cool. Neville was nerdy, shy and picked upon – a target for bullies and Peeves. And as anyone who has ever been unpopular in school can attest, getting through all that is bravery enough.

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Illustration of Neville Longbottom from the Dumbledore's Army infographic

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## Harry got more help and guidance 

Although Harry never asked for it, his fame came with perks. Neville, for instance, was never invited to Albus Dumbledore’s office (that we know of), nor was he given special lessons by Remus Lupin. He was, of course, a favourite of Professor Sprout, but that’s only because he worked hard at something he was good at; not because of his name. In fact, the only teacher to invite Neville for tea was Mad-Eye Moody – later revealed to be Barty Crouch Jr – who was only using Neville to get to Harry. Hogwarts is different when you’re not Harry Potter. 

## Harry had Ron and Hermione – Neville didn’t 

In time, Neville became good friends with Harry, Ron and Hermione, but he didn’t seem to have a strong inner circle – or even a best friend – of his own. You could argue, of course, that Harry, Ron and Hermione were his best friends, but it’s not the same. The trio didn’t invite him along on adventures, for example; indeed, as seen in *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,* they hit him with a Body-Bind Curse when he tried to stand up to them. Instead, Neville spent his years at Hogwarts on the periphery of friendship groups, with no one good friend to call his own. It’s little wonder that he took to Dumbledore’s Army – more a fraternity than anything else – as enthusiastically as he did.

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Neville defies Lord Voldemort and holds the sword of Gryffindor in the aftermath of the Battle at Hogwarts.

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## He wasn’t naturally brave – which made him all the braver 

Neville Longbottom’s defiant stand against Lord Voldemort at the end of *Deathly Hallows* was iconic for many reasons, but it’s mostly because it was so unexpected. Neville was never the actual hero. Nor was he naturally brave. For it’s easy to overcome fear if you’re not naturally a coward. Harry Potter, the epitome of the brave Gryffindor, walked towards danger because it was the right thing to do, yes, but also because he could; because he was naturally good at it. But for people like Neville, walking towards danger – or, in this case, standing up to evil – required a different kind of courage; a strength to overcome your natural fears, a battle to be fought within yourself before the actual battle is fought. As Albus Dumbledore once said to Harry, the time may come ‘when you have to make a choice between what is right, and what is easy’.

It’s something Neville never had to be told.

Discover the films

Wizarding World Image Crediting

to Fantastic Beasts

All the myths that were debunked in Chamber of Secrets

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It’s not really surprising that Hogwarts’ Chamber of Secrets is the subject of speculation. A secret underground chamber that can only be accessed by the heirs of Salazar Slytherin – a wizard with a preference for pure-bloods and a rumoured fondness for the Dark Arts – is not exactly something you’d put on the school prospectus. 

But it is a great exercise in sorting wizarding world fact from fiction…

## Myth 1: the Chamber of Secrets doesn’t really exist

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The biggest myth surrounding the Chamber of Secrets is that it doesn’t exist at all. Professor Binns is adamant that the idea of Slytherin first creating a chamber unknown to the other Hogwarts founders, and then magically sealing it with some sort of horrifying creature inside, is ludicrous. He points to the fact that many learned witches and wizards have searched over the years and none has been successful. 

But, as Parvati Patil says, that could be because Slytherin used Dark Magic to seal it. Which, of course, he did, meaning that only wizards with Slytherin’s ability to speak to snakes are able to open the Chamber.

## Myth 2: only Dark witches and wizards can talk to snakes

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Salazar Slytherin and many others seem to think only witches and wizards with a shared affinity for Dark Magic can speak Parseltongue, the language of snakes. Which, as Harry proves, is another myth. 

It’s something that worries Harry though – when he finds out he shares his Parselmouth status with Voldemort, he remembers the Sorting Hat’s suggestion that he might do well in Slytherin. But he chose not to join that house precisely because he wanted nothing to do with the Dark Arts. As Dumbledore says, it’s this choice that defines Harry, and even the most skilled practitioners of Parseltongue have choices.

## Myth 3: only the heir of Slytherin can open the Chamber of Secrets

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Harry crouches over Ginny in the Chamber of Secrets while Tom Riddle watches.

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If most people think only Dark wizards speak Parseltongue, and the Chamber of Secrets was sealed by history’s best-known Parselmouth, you can see how the idea that only Slytherin’s heir could access the Chamber solidified into myth.

It’s not strictly true, though, because anyone who can speak Parseltongue can open the Chamber and, despite Voldemort-as-Tom-Riddle’s assumption, not all are Slytherin’s descendants. Ginny Weasley opens the Chamber under the influence of Tom Riddle, and Harry – who only ever uses Parseltongue to save someone – opens it to rescue Ginny. Neither of them is Slytherin’s heir. Although, as Dumbledore says, Harry’s ability to speak Parseltongue is a skill accidentally transferred by Slytherin’s actual heir, Voldemort, when he tried to kill Harry as a baby. So perhaps this is one myth with a bit of truth to it.

## Myth 4: Hagrid opened the Chamber 50 years ago

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If people really believe that only Slytherin’s heir can open the Chamber of Secrets, it’s hard to credit that Tom Riddle’s framing of Hagrid was ever taken seriously. But it was, as Riddle reveals to Harry through the medium of his diary. 

When Moaning Myrtle was killed by the creature lurking in the Chamber of Secrets, Hagrid’s love of frightening beasts left him open to suspicion. Riddle used this, revealing Hagrid’s care of one such creature, Aragog, and implying that Aragog was the beast wreaking havoc on Hogwarts. Given that Aragog answered only to Hagrid he was an easy scapegoat, but Hagrid’s expulsion from Hogwarts was as unjust as Riddle’s reward.

## Myth 5: Slytherin’s monster was a gigantic spider

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Aragog is a huge, hairy, very frightening-looking spider with lots of eyes and razor-sharp pincers. He’s a scary beast all right, and his appearance at the time that the Chamber of Secrets was first opened, combined with his natural inclination towards eating people, did give Hogwarts staff pause. But Aragog is not Slytherin’s monster. 

Slytherin’s monster is a Basilisk – a giant serpent that can kill people with one look. Aragog and his colony of spiders are terrified of it. When Hermione discovers the Basilisk is getting round Hogwarts through the pipes, it all fits together. The reason Slytherin could control it, and the reason Riddle and Harry can hear and speak to it, is because they all speak Parseltongue.

## Myth 6: the Malfoys are heirs of Slytherin

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If Hagrid makes an unlikely Slytherin heir, then there is a more obvious candidate. Draco Malfoy is vicious in his treatment of those with Muggle heritage, and his equally morally repugnant father Lucius is a known Dark wizard with a number of Voldemort’s old school things. You can see why Ron and Harry suspect Malfoy might be the one attacking Muggle-born students.

So it’s a surprise to find out Malfoy’s as confused as everyone else. The only thing he is heir to is his family name, and as his father doesn’t see fit to tell him about plans their house-elf Dobby is aware of, it seems he has a way to go yet…

The revealing etymology of the Weasley family tree

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## Ron Weasley 

If we were going to go for a literal translation, then Ronald Bilius Weasley in full means ‘having the god’s power’, ‘nausea’ and ‘weaselly’. Some of those more or less align with the Ron we know, although perhaps don’t take them too literally, unless Ron has been vomiting slugs again.

Let’s look at ‘Ronald’ first: quite a common male name that has its roots in Old Norse language, from the name ‘Rognvald’. Rognvald, or Ragnvald, was the name of many old kings – giving a whole new meaning to Malfoy’s ‘Weasley is Our King’ chant.

‘Bilius’ has its origins in ‘bilious’, with bile making up two of the four humours – the bodily fluids that Ancient Greeks thought controlled a person’s health and temperament. Bile was said to indicate anger and melancholy, and Ron was definitely guilty of having a temper, especially when he got a bit jealous of Harry or his siblings. 

It doesn’t take a great stretch of the imagination to figure out what ‘Weasley’ means. Weasels traditionally tend to be pretty sly and deceitful, but we’d wager this wasn’t supposed to suggest the Weasley family are in any way devious, but rather that the weasel’s bad reputation is undeserved. It’s also no coincidence, of course, that weasels live in a burrow… as do the Weasleys.

## Ginny Weasley

If you know your Arthurian legends then you might recognise Ginny’s full name, Ginevra, as the Italian form of Guinevere. Guinevere was, of course, King Arthur’s wife, and her name means ‘fair one’. The name we best know Ginevra by – Ginny – translates as ‘virginal’, with the link here being that both names suggest purity and innocence. 

Ginny definitely started off innocent and sweet due to her young age – especially when she was manipulated by Tom Riddle’s diary – but grew infinitely more mature, becoming a match for her brothers and a bit more like her strong-willed queenly namesake.

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Illustration of Ginny Weasley from the Dumbledore's Army infographic

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## Molly Weasley

As far as we know, Mrs Weasley didn’t have a middle name, so we just have her forename to go with, and ‘Molly’ is pretty straightforward in that it is a Hebrew name meaning ‘bitter’. Mrs Weasley definitely wasn’t a bitter person, but she certainly was a very sharp woman, with a shrewd intellect and the ability to be stern when she needed to be.

Another interpretation of Molly’s name could be that it is a shortened form of ‘mollycoddle’, which makes a lot of sense because, while Mrs Weasley was a firm matriarch, she was also a doting mother and maybe even a little overprotective. This might also be where Arthur’s not-so-private pet name, Mollywobbles, originated.

## Arthur Weasley

Much like his wife, Mr Weasley didn’t seem to possess a middle name, so we can only unpick his first name for any kind of hidden meaning. ‘Arthur’ is surprisingly complex but it has Celtic roots, made up of the term ‘artos’ meaning ‘bear’ and ‘rigos’ meaning ‘king’. So… king of the bears? The Weasley clan being like a family of bears makes a lot of sense, as they were very protective and there were a lot of them. Alright, maybe we’re clutching at straws.

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Harry and Arthur use the guest entrance to the Ministry.

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## Bill Weasley 

There were very few instances of Bill being referred to by his full name – William Arthur Weasley – save for his and Fleur’s wedding. William, like Arthur, is a name that doesn’t have one explicit meaning. It is comprised of the Germanic terms ‘wil’ and ‘helm’, meaning ‘desire’ and ‘protection’. 

Bill’s school career as Prefect and Head Boy highlight his more gallant side and how he was keen on being in authority roles, while his job as a curse-breaker at Gringotts showed that, as Ginny put it, ‘He likes a bit of adventure, a bit of glamour…’ Bill was definitely someone full of desire – particularly a desire to protect. 

## Percy Weasley

Percy Ignatius Weasley was probably the most conceited of the Weasleys, often being a humourless sourpuss. There isn’t a specific meaning behind the name Percy, but what we do know is that it’s a name commonly used in past and present by English nobility. Percy’s stuffiness and general haughty manner definitely fits with it, and it’s altogether more aristocratic than his siblings or parents’ names.

There’s a bit more to Percy’s middle name, Ignatius, which is a Late Roman word for ‘fire’. Initially there didn’t seem to be a lot about Percy that seemed particularly fiery, but he was very opinionated, often expressing his loaded views about things that didn’t really concern him. Percy’s ambition was overall pretty fiery, too, as he had an unquenchable thirst for power and to excel in his career.

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WB F5 Percy Weasley  HP5D-6118

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## Charlie Weasley 

He may not have dominated the pages of the books but Charlie Weasley was still an important member of the family. We don’t know much about him aside from his love for animals, but his name, Charles (we don’t know of a middle name), derives from the German name Karl, meaning ‘man’, and the word ‘hari’ meaning ‘army’ or ‘warrior’.

Charlie might not have seemed warrior-like at first glance, but who says warriors have to be violent? He went on to study dragons in Romania and became a fierce defender of them, taking Norbert under his wing. Charlie Weasley: definitely our favourite kind of fighter.

## Fred and George Weasley

The cheekiest Weasley boys were two characters with doubly interesting names – though neither have middle names. George is derived from the Greek ‘farmer, earth worker’. While he was most definitely not a farmer, he was a born inventor and he and his brother worked very hard to build Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes from the ground up. 

Similarly, Fred’s name means ‘peaceful ruler’, which, as he was the more outgoing of the Weasley twins, definitely has to be ironic. Fred’s endless tricks, pranks and rejection of authority were testament to the fact that he was anything but ‘peaceful’.

Pottermore’s guide to trolls

PMARCHIVE-Pottermore’s guide to trolls

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*Philosopher’s Stone* introduced us to the trolls of the wizarding world: they’re big, brutish and more than a little bit stupid. But [trolls](/features/mountain-trolls) were in (fictional) existence long before Harry’s wand got stuck up the nostril of that particularly nasty one in the girls' bathroom. So, where exactly do they come from?

## Beasts or beings?

*The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them* textbook, written by J.K. Rowling as Newt Scamander, describes a troll as ‘a fearsome creature up to twelve feet tall and weighing a tonne’. They originated in Scandinavia, Newt explains, and they are strong, unpredictable creatures with a propensity towards violence and stupidity.

In fact, the stupidity of trolls is what caused them to be officially listed as beasts, after early wizarding attempts at classification identified ‘any member of the magical community that walked on two legs’ as a ‘being’, distinct from the ‘beasts’ that flew or crawled on four legs.

According to *Fantastic Beasts*, trolls were used by goblins to demonstrate how absurd this method of classification was. When it was later overturned, the trolls’ lack of understanding was key to their being termed ‘beasts’.

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Mountain Troll WB F1 Wand Up Trolls Nose Still 080615 Land

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## Scandinavian roots

Strong, unpredictable, stupid and violent – these are all traits that are true of the trolls of mythology. Trolls did originate in Scandinavia, with early fairy tales like ‘The Three Billy Goats Gruff’ gradually embedding them in popular culture.

## Early history

The word ‘troll’ first appeared in 1276, when Norway’s King Magnus Haakonsson created a set of laws that made it illegal to wake the trollish ‘mound dwellers’, which were actually the graves of early pagan ancestors buried in mounds of earth. Worshipping these ancestors was a practice that the Christian elite of Norway were keen to stamp out. King Magnus’s creation of these laws included the first written record of the word ‘troll’, and so trolls became associated with the Scandinavian pagans of the thirteenth century.

But the word has an even longer history. In early Norse folklore, ‘trolleri’ referred to a particular type of magic that was designed to do harm, and it can also be traced back to early German words meaning giant, monster or fiend.

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Hogwarts PM B1C10M3 TrollInBathroom Moment

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## Habitat

The trolls of mythology were monstrous, but although they have been linked to a race of Norse giants known as ‘jötnar’ they weren’t always huge. In the southern Scandinavian countries they were often depicted as small, mysterious, cave-dwelling creatures.

The trolls of early folklore have as many different habitats as they do variations in appearance. Some stories have them living in mountains, others in caves, or in forests. So when Newt identifies three types of troll in the *Fantastic Beasts* textbook: mountain, forest and river – his description has its roots in existing myths.

## Appearance

From ancient myth to modern fiction, trolls have always been ugly. The Danish ballad ‘Eline of Villenskov’ includes a line that describes trolls as ‘both ugly and grim’ and this has filtered through to our popular culture.

## Alternative interpretations

There have been other visual interpretations of trolls. The Swedish name for Finnish author Tove Jansson’s Moomins is ‘Mumintroll’, because those popular, white hippopotamus-like creatures also have roots in the old fairytales – although the peaceful Moomins are nothing like the destructive creatures of the wizarding world.

And, in 1959, a Danish woodcutter called Thomas Dam created a plastic doll with a wrinkled face and upcombed hair. His creations became known as Troll dolls, and the 2016 animated film *Trolls* brought them back to popular attention.

Like Moomins, Dam’s trolls aren’t scary or particularly stupid, which just goes to show that even folklore’s most monstrously magical creatures can, with a bit of help, change their reputation.

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There are no such reputational makeovers for the trolls of the wizarding world. The best we can say for the two that Harry, Ron and Hermione encounter in *Philosopher’s Stone* is that at least they caused no harm, thanks to Ron’s wand and Quirrell’s special affinity with their kind.

It’s not exactly high praise. Best stick to Newt’s definition in *Fantastic Beasts*.

17 painful lessons in exam hell from Hogwarts students

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If you’re about to sit exams, or are awaiting results, you’re no doubt experiencing a wide array of emotions. Fear. Anxiety. Trepidation. The thrilling prospect that, one way or the other, it’ll all be over soon.

We had a look back through the books to find 17 examples of exam-season awfulness, to help you remember you’re not alone. Because however bad things get, remember Harry Potter and his friends went through it all too!

While simultaneously battling the forces of darkness.

(Just saying.)

## They tend to arrive just as the weather’s perking up

We’ve all been Ron Weasley, gazing longingly out of the library window at a clear, forget-me-not blue sky. Those ‘enticing wafts of summer’ will just have to wait, alas…

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