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Pub trivia – fun facts you didn't know about wizarding inns

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__Spoiler warning! There are some mild spoilers ahead – turn back now if you’re not familiar with the stories…__

## The Leaky Cauldron is the oldest pub in London

Despite what many [Muggles](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/muggles) think, the title of oldest pub in London goes to this well-loved wizarding establishment. Found on Charing Cross Road, the [Leaky Cauldron](/fact-file/locations/the-leaky-cauldron) was built in the 1500s – long before Charing Cross Road was even planned! Its true address is number one, [Diagon Alley](/fact-file/locations/diagon-alley).

## Muggles used to frequent the Leaky Cauldron

This wizarding institution wasn’t always a place that where only magical folk congregated. As it was built two centuries before the imposition of the International Statute of Secrecy, it was initially visible to Muggle eyes too. Muggles weren’t made to feel unwelcome or turned away. Having said that, thanks to the *interesting* conversations and even more *interesting* magical pets, many scarpered before finishing their mead.

![LeakyCauldron WB F1 SomeoneOutsideLeakyCauldron Illust 080615 Land](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/5sxx5inySIAWsKA0gcuUEG/ca736eb81e715e092136f42c579a2719/LeakyCauldron_WB_F1_SomeoneOutsideLeakyCauldron_Illust_080615_Land.jpg)

## Neville Longbottom and Hannah Abbott lived above the Leaky Cauldron

In a turn of events that we find extremely adorable, after leaving [Hogwarts](/fact-file/locations/hogwarts) not only did [Neville](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/neville-longbottom) continue his passion for magical plants as [Herbology](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/herbology) professor, but he also married [Hufflepuff](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/hufflepuff), [Hannah Abbott](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/hannah-abbott-fact-file). The happy couple decided to make a home for themselves living above the one-and-only Leaky Cauldron.

## A pub was the headquarters of a rebellion

Although we never learnt which one it was, according to *Sites of Historical Sorcery*, one of the wizarding pubs in [Hogsmeade](/fact-file/locations/hogsmeade) was said to have been the headquarters of the 1612 [goblin](/fact-file/creatures/goblin) rebellion. Could it have been the [Hog’s Head Inn](/fact-file/locations/the-hogs-head) which was known for its dubious dealings and schemes? Or perhaps it was the cosiness of the [Three Broomsticks](/fact-file/locations/the-three-broomsticks) that convinced the goblins to make it their base?

![pottermore-moments-hp-b5-hogs-head-homepage-hero](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/2zygTLqXtChkWM7Asbbca3/14624eac244b6e0d0dd667458176dd1a/pottermore-moments-hp-b5-hogs-head-homepage-hero.jpg)

## The Hog’s Head Inn was run by a Dumbledore

While [Albus Dumbledore](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/albus-dumbledore) ran Hogwarts, just down the road his brother, [Aberforth Dumbledore](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/aberforth-dumbledore-fact-file), ran the Hog’s Head Inn. Crochety and a big fan of goats, he and his brother didn’t always see eye-to-eye. Ultimately, they were both extremely good people and Aberforth even helped the resistance at Hogwarts after Albus’ death – thanks to a secret passage that connected the [Room of Requirement](/fact-file/locations/the-room-of-requirement) to his pub.

## Sybill Trelawney made her infamous prediction at the Hog’s Head Inn

The Hog’s Head Inn was the location of many crucial story moments from the founding of [Dumbledore’s Army](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/dumbledores-army) to [Hagrid](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/rubeus-hagrid) winning a dragon egg in a game of cards. However, there was one particular moment that changed the course of wizarding history forever. On a gloomy night, Albus Dumbledore went to interview [Sybill Trelawney](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/sybill-trelawney) for the role of [Divination](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/divination) teacher. He was thoroughly unimpressed until, among the ramshackle décor and sticky floor, she made her prediction about the boy destined to end [Voldemort](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/lord-voldemort) and rid the world of his evil!

![pottermore-moments-three-broomsticks-homepage-hero](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/YvfQFf3Sc7Y1rQNcmqoKm/7278f0704d0a659047a66375127ed129/pottermore-moments-three-broomsticks-homepage-hero.jpg)

## Katie Bell was given the cursed opal necklace at The Three Broomsticks

Run by Madam Rosmerta, the Three Broomsticks was a warm and welcoming establishment in Hogsmeade. Yet Dark Magic still managed to worm its way in there in the form of the cursed opal necklace. Part of a clumsy attempt on Dumbledore’s life, [Gryffindor](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/gryffindor) Quidditch team member, [Katie Bell](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/katie-bell), took the necklace from the pub while under the influence of the [Imperius Curse](/fact-file/spells/the-imperius-curse) and narrowly escaped its deadly power.

## It wasn’t just witches and wizards who frequented the Three Broomsticks

Said to be as old as the only all-wizard village in Britain, the Three Broomsticks was a bit of a haven for all sorts of magical beings, such as hags, who couldn’t disguise themselves particularly well in the Muggle world. In fact, Ron and Hermione once thought they spotted an ogre!

Every quote to live by from your favourite witches

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Hermione wearing a red dress and smiling at Bill and Fleur's wedding.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

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and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

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## The importance of keeping things in perspective

![HP-F1-philosophers-stone-hermione-charms-learning-classroom-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/qVjLFPXczR2mwGR54M1JK/5ffbc10854b90be415e66d18504a0f56/HP-F1-philosophers-stone-hermione-charms-learning-classroom-web-landscape)

‘Books! And cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery…’

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Hermione Granger: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

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Despite being known for her exceptional brain power, [Hermione](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/hermione-granger) also knew the importance of nurturing the other elements of her personality too. It’s a lesson she learnt in her first year after finding genuine friendship. It is also one that we could do with remembering too.

## Don’t be afraid to be bold

![HP-F5-order-of-the-phoenix-ginny-da-wand-determined-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/3yxtbUPaKL5YRyOXEmcss7/b5f3840e6afd0c2e76548570d0532593/HP-F5-order-of-the-phoenix-ginny-da-wand-determined-web-landscape)

‘…anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.'

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Ginny Weasley: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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If you don’t ask you don’t get! As [Ginny](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/ginny-weasley) reminds us, if we shy away from a challenge, we’re never going to achieve our dreams. If we find our courage? Well, the world is our oyster.

## Be proud of who you are

![HP-F4-goblet-of-fire-mcgonagall-desk-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/71JqjFqxFPKBLmoFUGKYJD/22d4d28400d268c5d1382d675b5ce1ae/HP-F4-goblet-of-fire-mcgonagall-desk-web-landscape)

‘It’s high time your grandmother learned to be proud of the grandson she’s got, rather than the one she thinks she ought to have...’

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Minerva McGonagall: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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The no-nonsense [McGonagall](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/minerva-mcgonagall) was a witch worth listening to! It’s all too easy to get caught up in the comparison trap, trying to think about who you *should* be and feeling inadequate next to others. However, you are brilliant just the way you are. You are one-of-a-kind. If the Head of [Gryffindor](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/gryffindor) can see that – so can you.

## There is always hope

![HP-F5-order-of-the-phoenix-luna-da-room-of-requirement-casting-patronus-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/5zrwB81bovDEUXWbMyCWia/26babee3a72e41ff8557681a28703f5a/HP-F5-order-of-the-phoenix-luna-da-room-of-requirement-casting-patronus-web-landscape)

‘The things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end. If not always in the way we expect.’

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Luna Lovegood: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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When times are hard, it can be easy to give up hope and become despondent. Yet this poignant point from the wonderfully eccentric [Ravenclaw](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/ravenclaw) is a reminder that good days are on the horizon – even if we can’t quite see them yet.

## Don’t be afraid to dream big

![WB-HP-F7-hermione-reading-promo-crop](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/7uWvZ2RIgkybj8J1lCs5RA/39672ce02de6ff4e27d39381deb3c05f/WB-HP-F7-hermione-reading-promo-crop.jpg)

‘I’m hoping to do some good in the world!’

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Hermione Granger: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

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No matter who you are, you *can* make a difference. If you channel Hermione’s determination, we’re sure you will go on to do great and brilliant things.

## An excellent reminder

![HP-F5-molly-weasley-harry-potter-web-10744](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/1ugOAEKJsmxHxy7rDSEkO8/d6f828346ab08de9e2eb69ed086fdf71/weasley-quiz-title-.jpg)

‘A good first impression can work wonders.'

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Molly Weasley: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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A sage piece of advice from [Mrs Weasley](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/molly-weasley)! She might have said this to Harry before his [Ministry](/fact-file/locations/the-ministry-of-magic) hearing, but we think this is something that can be applied to many different areas of your life. From making friends to job interviews, things are always easier if you start off on the right foot.

## Do what is right, not what is easy

![WB-HP-F2-hermione-examining-potion-ingredients-with-cauldron-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/4L5hkIozTd68acqd3hpP2I/27590dc492caea34621b56bdd472e45b/WB-HP-F2-hermione-examining-potion-ingredients-with-cauldron-web-landscape.jpg)

‘Well, if you two are going to chicken out, fine… I don’t want to break rules, you know. I think threatening Muggle-borns is far worse than brewing up a difficult potion.’

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Hermione Granger: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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Hermione was the witch who once declared being expelled to be a fate worse than death. To hear her trying to convince [Harry](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/harry-potter) and [Ron](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/ron-weasley) to break the rules was rather shocking. Yet she raises an extremely valuable point. Sometimes you need to push the boundaries to do what is right. Following the rules can only go so far – especially if those rules cause more harm than good. It can be hard to stand up and be counted but we should all try to do so.

## Protect what is important

![WB-HP-F8-professor-sprout-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/6PcDR4xjlhQ8xtErVUHYBc/198864f4ef4413d1ed6e50f91411088e/WB-HP-F8-professor-sprout-web-landscape.jpg)

‘I feel that if a single pupil wants to come, then the school ought to remain open for that pupil.’

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Pomona Sprout: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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This was a brave statement from [Professor Sprout](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/pomona-sprout) in the wake of [Dumbledore’s](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/albus-dumbledore) death. [Hogwarts](/fact-file/locations/hogwarts) was so much more than a school. For many like Harry, it was a sanctuary and place they could call home. A place that should be protected. This is a sentiment we could all take on board. We should all work hard to take care of what, and who, is important to us.

## Don’t judge a book by its cover

![hp-f4-fleur-arrival-beauxbatons-great-hall-uniform-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/7L4Bw903CP5Rnv0MuCknWF/16abc8334d6185d0b8be2af4c5f93c45/hp-f4-fleur-arrival-beauxbatons-great-hall-uniform-web-landscape.jpg)

‘What do I care how ’e looks? I am good-looking enough for both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave!’

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Fleur Delacour: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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You might think glamorous and goodlooking [Fleur Delacour](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/fleur-delacour) would also be extremely vain. Yet she wasn’t. Filled with self-confidence, she didn’t judge her husband based on his appearance – she knew it was the content of his character that truly mattered. That attitude is one we think everyone should embody.

## Boundaries are good

![mcgonagall-web-header-wand](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/6J6heLMpK9Lee0eL8faPnj/18ebb3e1a6694c1ed440bf094b02a127/mcgonagall-web-headrer.jpg)

‘I do not generally permit people to talk when I am talking.’

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Minerva McGonagall: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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Quite right too! Don’t let anybody try to take your voice or diminish you. If someone tries to talk over you, channel your inner McGonagall and lay down the law – they’ll soon learn a valuable lesson.

Your birth month tells us your Harry Potter soulmate

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## January: The determined and dedicated Oliver Wood is your perfect match

![WB-HP-F1-philosophers-stone-oliver-wood-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/7iJHeRIUbca989dspC4c2t/a8eae533de5cb364c2b8ef17aa39c857/WB-HP-F1-philosophers-stone-oliver-wood-web-landscape.jpg)

When considering your ideal partner, you don’t want someone who is afraid of commitment and isn’t willing to put the work in. You want someone who is going to give the relationship their all. This is why you and [Oliver Wood](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/oliver-wood) make a perfect pair. This [Gryffindor](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/gryffindor) proved his determination time and time again as [Quidditch](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/quidditch) Captain. He was always coming up with training techniques and drills to make the team better. Yes, some of his teammates might have complained about the early starts, but it didn’t put Oliver off… and it worked. That’s the type of dedication you admire.

## February: Your soulmate is the creative and eccentric Luna Lovegood

![WB-HP-F5-luna-lovegood-wears-spectrespecs-with-quibbler-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/5jiVEF9rz3GdDt6go666da/6431193cd66631881320a9921f2913fe/WB-HP-F5-luna-lovegood-wears-spectrespecs-with-quibbler-web-landscape.jpg)

There is nothing that bores you more than blending into the crowd. From your curious insights to your wacky wardrobe, you march to the beat of your own drum. You are proud to celebrate your uniqueness, and you are looking for a partner that doesn’t shy away from their individuality too. This is why [Luna Lovegood](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/luna-lovegood) with her [Spectrespecs](/fact-file/objects/spectrespecs) and radish-like earrings is your ideal match. The two of you would have a joyful relationship that celebrated creativity, eccentricity and a shared belief in the Crumple-Horned Snorkack.

## March: The brilliantly hilarious Ron Weasley is the one for you

![HP-F6-ron-in-bed-smiling-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/51khMqIDGh7ltBpFgDIet4/4390b7228f2368b128a11304e8a73108/HP-F6-ron-in-bed-smiling-web-landscape.jpg)

Life’s too short not to have fun. Who wants to be miserable? Yes, serious things happen but you still want to find the joy in life, and you want a partner who can do that too. This is why you and [Ron Weasley](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/ron-weasley) would make the perfect pair. From his ‘Merlin's most baggy Y-fronts’ exclamations to quippy ‘Oh, of course… I forgot we’ll be hunting down [Voldemort](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/lord-voldemort) in a mobile library’ comebacks – his quick with would keep you entertained for life.

## April: The elegant and poised Fleur Delacour is your ideal soulmate

![hp-f4-fleur-arrival-beauxbatons-great-hall-uniform-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/7L4Bw903CP5Rnv0MuCknWF/16abc8334d6185d0b8be2af4c5f93c45/hp-f4-fleur-arrival-beauxbatons-great-hall-uniform-web-landscape.jpg)

Graceful, elegant and gliding through life – that’s the ultimate dream. You aren’t interested in awkward situations and embarrassing encounters; you want life to be as serene as possible. As you want this from your partner too, you and [Fleur Delacour](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/fleur-delacour) would make a flawless duo. No matter what situation she faced – from walking into the [Great Hall](/fact-file/locations/the-great-hall) for the first time to rejecting [Yule Ball](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/yule-ball) dates, she was always perfectly poised which is something you appreciate.

## May: The thoroughly good Cedric Diggory is who you’re drawn to

![HP-F4-goblet-fire-cho-cedric-walking-into-yule-ball-together-happy-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/7Gg3rW3wpho401kh28ueXG/2ce6bdeb293a9f962407b31ab38c3c2b/HP-F4-goblet-fire-cho-cedric-walking-into-yule-ball-together-happy-web-landscape)

You have no time for people that like to play games in relationships. You abhor anyone who has a mean streak. You really can’t stand when people are rude to those around them. This is why [Cedric Diggory](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/cedric-diggory) is the perfect person for you. Despite being handsome, intelligent and an extremely talented wizard, this [Hufflepuff](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/hufflepuff) was also humble. He was *good*. He helped Harry despite him being his [Triwizard](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/triwizard-tournament) rival and never let being the rising star at [Hogwarts](/fact-file/locations/hogwarts) go to his head. Cedric is a partner you would always feel safe with… and he is perfect for you.

## June: Your soulmate is Lavender Brown who wears her heart on her sleeve

![HP-F6-half-blood-prince-weasleys-wizard-wheezes-lavendar-looking-at-ron-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/41iicwNjHTdrMVNZoiTdoC/ddf961f7074d912a9307c0dc9e2716aa/HP-F6-half-blood-prince-weasleys-wizard-wheezes-lavendar-looking-at-ron-web-landscape)

As someone who is often described as vivacious and an open book, you have real difficulty bonding with people who are closed off or reserved. You find those who keep their cards close to their chest rather unsettling – which is why [Lavender Brown](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/lavender-brown) is your soulmate. Whether she was snogging Ron in front of the whole [Gryffindor common room](/fact-file/locations/the-gryffindor-common-room) or giving him gaudy necklaces as a token of her affection, she was not afraid of her emotions or letting everyone else see them. This type of openness is something you can’t help but be drawn to.

## July: Your perfect match is loyal Neville Longbottom

![HP WB F4 Neville and his plant crop ](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/66z5lwGFVYTJTiW2dNdKfw/e99e49796545303b7dec644c11004840/NevilleLongbottom_WB_F4_NevilleLongbottomWithPlantPromoShot_Promo_080615_CROP.jpg)

Don’t underestimate [Neville](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/neville-longbottom). He might have initially been a clumsy underdog, but he soon surpassed that and became a [sword-of-Gryffindor-wielding](/fact-file/objects/the-sword-of-gryffindor) hero. One who was loyal to his friends, his school and loyal to what was right. As someone born in July, this is what you would like to find in a partner. You don’t want a person who could easily be swayed. You want someone who is as committed to you as Neville is to his [Mimbulus mimbletonia](/fact-file/plants-and-potions/mimbulus-mimbletonia), which is why he is the one for you.

## August: The logical and intelligent Hermione Granger is the one for you

![HP-F7-deathly-hallows-part-one-hermione-bill-fleur-wedding-red-dress-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/5aJclseoYsrr4a0y0XPiQY/be44e1bfabc2a5f7422ed6e87a5df30e/HP-F7-deathly-hallows-part-one-hermione-bill-fleur-wedding-red-dress-web-landscape)

As somebody who is known for their sharp mind and love of learning, we think you and the [cleverest witch of her age](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/hermione-granger), who takes the largest books out of the [Hogwarts library](/fact-file/locations/the-hogwarts-library) for ‘light reading’, would get on like a house on fire. Your days would be spent verbally sparring with each other, debating Ancient Rune translations and generally broadening your minds and you wouldn’t want it any other way.

## September: The discerning Draco Malfoy is your wizarding soulmate

![WB-F3-draco-in-care-of-magical-creatures-with-monster-book-of-monsters-web-landscape](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/4FeDA9gWYlkm3iFXZMUOF5/47927d38da6fcc8d4660a5cd92a7e6d6/WB-F3-draco-in-care-of-magical-creatures-with-monster-book-of-monsters-web-landscape.jpg)

There’s nothing wrong with being shrewd or ambitious, these are traits that you rather admire. In fact, you find someone who knows exactly what they want and how to get it extremely attractive. This is why [Draco Malfoy](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/draco-malfoy) is the one for you. We are in no way saying you are prejudiced or a bully like he was. However, the embodiment of [Slytherin](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/slytherin) traits, he was not afraid to openly say he liked the finer things in life or believe he deserved them – just like you.

## October: Fiery Ginny Weasley is your magical match

![GinnyWeasley WB F6 GinnyAtSlughornsParty Still 080615 Land](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/4otWY19HKE4WyOOy4Q0wSu/66177ea78a84f5e28b9fb79b2b961e51/GinnyWeasley_WB_F6_GinnyAtSlughornsParty_Still_080615_Land.jpg)

If there was a witch that knew exactly who she was, it was [Ginny Weasley](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/ginny-weasley). Having had a rough start at Hogwarts she blossomed into a fierce and phenomenal person – with an excellent talent for the [Bat-Bogey Hex](/fact-file/spells/the-bat-bogey-hex). That self-assuredness is something that you are looking for in a partner. You don’t want somebody who doesn’t take the time to work on being the best version of themselves. You want someone who is confident and powerful – exactly like Ginny.

## November: Harry Potter’s bravery is what makes him your soulmate

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

[Harry Potter](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/harry-potter) is not afraid to confront the difficult things in life. He doesn’t shy away from a challenge or let fear stop him. He puts himself out there whether that’s soaring through the sky on his [broomstick](/fact-file/objects/broomstick), fighting the forces of evil or summoning up the courage to ask his crush to the Yule Ball. This is something that you strongly relate to. You’re not one to be called timid and you can’t stand cowardice. We’re not saying you’re necessarily an extrovert, but you stand up when it matters and that’s why Harry is your ultimate wizarding soulmate.

## December: The glass half-empty Moaning Myrtle is your perfect match

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There is no person that gets on your nerves more than the one who is relentlessly optimistic. You don’t have time from all that chirpiness and being constantly told to look on the bright side. In fact, being stuck with someone like that would be your worst nightmare. You want someone who will always look on the gloomy side – which is why [Moaning Myrtle](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/moaning-myrtle) (emphasis on the *Moaning*) is your perfect match. Despite her crush on Harry Potter, with your maudlin outlook, we’re sure you could win her over and many (un)happy centuries sitting in the [u-bend of a Hogwarts toilet](/fact-file/locations/moaning-myrtles-bathroom) discussing all the reasons why everything is awful.

For beginners, for novices, for Harry Potter superfans going 20 years-strong, dig deep into the wizarding world with our collection of features.

Features - Wizarding World

The chapter that made us fall in love with... Albus Dumbledore

PMARCHIVE-The chapter that made us fall in love with... Albus Dumbledore

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It’s important to note, first of all, that Albus Dumbledore was loved – by us, and by you – long before *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*.

He was loved in *Philosopher’s Stone*, when he comforted Harry about the loss of his parents; he was loved in *Order of the Phoenix*, where he faced off against Lord Voldemort; he was loved in *Half-Blood Prince*, in which he sacrificed himself for the greater good. If anything, Albus Dumbledore is as much loved as Harry Potter himself – maybe even more so.

And yet it wasn’t until *Deathly Hallows* that we realised: did we ever really know Dumbledore? Or had we merely *met* him? Sure, we knew Dumbledore as well as Harry knew Dumbledore: as a kind, wise, lovely bearded headmaster; as one of the wizarding world’s most famous figures; as a wizard of incredible power and prestige. But *know* him?

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Dumbledore casts fire spell against the attacking Inferi in Horcrux Cave.

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To truly know someone, you have to go beyond the mystique of what they are, and find out who they were: the past that shaped them, the experiences and decisions that informed who they have become. And that is exactly what we got in *Deathly Hallows*... and especially the chapter ‘King’s Cross’.

## King’s Cross

It’s one of the final chapters in *Deathly Hallows*, a book defined not only by the end of the Harry Potter series – and indeed, the end of Lord Voldemort – but by Harry discovering that Albus Dumbledore was not the man that he thought he was.

For with Dumbledore’s death came revelations of a murky past; stories of Dark Arts and a mysterious sister. As revealed by his brother Aberforth, Dumbledore used to be a different man. He was young, brilliant and frustrated; his talents were held back by the responsibility of caring for his sister Ariana, who was left traumatised after a Muggle attack. Aberforth bitterly painted Dumbledore as pompous and arrogant, as thinking he was above the task, that it was a waste of his talents. Hence his seduction by ‘equal’ Gellert Grindelwald, a Dark wizard with plans for a new wizarding order: a world in which Muggles were taught their place. Their friendship partly resulted in the death of Ariana, killed during a three-way duel between Albus, Aberforth and Grindelwald.

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These revelations troubled Harry; they tainted his perception of a man he’d long admired. But then ‘King’s Cross’ happened. You no doubt know the circumstances: Harry, having found out that he himself was a Horcrux, has sacrificed himself to Lord Voldemort. In ‘death’, he woke in a strange but familiar place (King’s Cross Station), only to be greeted by a strange and familiar friend. It was unclear, of course, whether Dumbledore was actually real, whether this King’s Cross Station was some kind of purgatory between life and death, or whether it was just some sort of elaborate dream. But as Dumbledore said, ‘Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?’

Real or not, ‘King’s Cross’ allowed Harry to confront Dumbledore – or, at the very least, allowed Harry to come to terms with Dumbledore’s demons. Ashamed, and with tears in his eyes, Dumbledore told Harry how he had been a selfish young fool; how he – ‘trapped and wasted’ – had let himself be seduced by the brilliance of Grindelwald and the power of the Deathly Hallows.

‘Master of death, Harry, master of Death! Was I better, ultimately, than Voldemort?’ Despite Harry’s protestations, he went even further to say that power was his greatest weakness, his greatest temptation, and that he should never be trusted with it; he even revealed that he turned down the post of Minister for Magic several times, for fear that absolute power would corrupt him absolutely. It was a version of Dumbledore that Harry had never seen before: vulnerable, flawed, human.

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The Hogwarts Express at platform nine and three-quarters.

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And that’s what was so important about ‘King’s Cross’. It’s the chapter that humanised Dumbledore, that grounded him from the heights of gods, that let us truly know him for the first time. And despite the faults, despite Dumbledore perhaps not being the perfect wizard Harry thought he was, never before has Dumbledore seemed more heroic. For men and women are not born great. They learn greatness over time – from experience, from mistakes. Dumbledore looked at his deeds, at his flaws, and he had the wisdom to confront and overcome them; he fought the greatest nemesis there was: himself.

And in the end, that was what made him so remarkable: for in order to become a great wizard, Dumbledore had to know what it meant to be a bad one. Who better to teach the next generation of wizards? Who better to face Lord Voldemort? Who better to send Harry on his way from King’s Cross station, with one last piece of wisdom: ‘Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.’

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Dumbledore smiling from the Philosopher's Stone 

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Pottermore looks back at the moments that made our favourite characters so memorable. Read about the chapter that made us fall in love with... [Professor Snape.](/features/chapter-that-made-us-fall-in-love-with-severus-snape)

Discover the films

Wizarding World Image Crediting

to Fantastic Beasts

5 times eggs were significant in Harry Potter

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The egg Hagrid was given by a stranger sits in the fire in his hut, waiting to hatch

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## The Hogwarts Acceptance Eggs

Before Harry even knew he was a wizard, eggs genuinely helped Harry go to Hogwarts. Just think. When Harry’s first Hogwarts acceptance letter didn’t make it into his hands, countless others were delivered en masse by owl post, right?

Of course, it didn’t stop there. As much as Uncle Vernon tried to put a stop to it, Hogwarts was so determined to have Harry as a student it went to egg-stra levels of sneakiness – hiding tiny letters inside each of the Dursleys’ two dozen eggs. Okay, so these letters didn’t get to Harry either. But the eggs played their part, people!

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The Privet Drive kitchen full of Hogwarts letters 

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## The Norbert Egg

Hagrid was notorious for seeing the kinder, gentler, and more adorable side to some of the world’s most heinous and dangerous beasts throughout wizarding history. This life-threatening pastime caused a lot of fun for our intrepid trio; especially when Harry, Ron and Hermione met Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback in their first year.

After winning a dragon egg in a rather drunken card game, Hagrid did what any other dragon-lover would do – he hatched it in the fire in his wooden hut and became Norbert’s ‘mummy’. Norbert (or Norberta, as we later discovered) might have been whisked off by Charlie Weasley in the end, but Harry’s dealings with dragons – and eggs for that matter – were far from over.

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## The Golden Egg

The Triwizard Tournament was renowned for its terrifying trials but this fire-fuelled task was a (s)hellish experience. As if facing down a dragon wasn’t enough, the champions had to steal a golden egg from their nest. Unluckily for Harry, he got the most vicious of the lot: the Hungarian Horntail.

The result? A death-defying, awe-inducing, breathless flight on a broomstick from Harry, who finally managed to retrieve his loot in one piece. It wasn’t all bad though, after Ron witnessed just how dangerous the tasks could be, he made up with Harry immediately. Once again, the egg saved the day. 

## The Puzzling Egg

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Harry may have successfully retrieved the egg, but figuring out the egg’s mystery ended up being very hard (boiled). The golden egg held a clue to the second task and, after mulling it over in the water in the prefect’s bathroom on a tip-off from fellow champion Cedric, Harry realised that he was in serious trouble.

Elated that he had cracked the egg, he was soon despairing because he had no idea how to survive at the bottom of a massive lake. Even Hermione and Ron were stumped, so it’s a good thing Dobby had his rather large ears to the ground and knew exactly what Harry needed. Okay, so this egg wasn't delivering good news, but it was still egg-stremely useful. 

## The Easter Egg

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Mrs Weasley was known for her egg-squisite gifts. How many of us would love our own Weasley jumper original? In *Goblet of Fire*, when Easter came around, it was only natural that she sent Ron and Harry giant eggs filled to the brim with toffee. Sadly, due to a Rita Skeeter ‘exclusive’ about Hermione in *Witch Weekly* – Mrs Weasley was under the impression she had recently broken Harry Potter’s heart by getting off with Viktor Krum – Hermione received a smaller-than-chicken-sized chocolate egg as a result of her fictional love triangle. A tiny Easter egg. The ultimate punishment. 

> Hermione looked sadly at her tiny egg. 
> *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*

The best and worst Ministers for Magic

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Ever since the position was founded in 1707, there have been 35 Ministers for Magic: witches and wizards who are elected to run the Ministry of Magic and govern wizarding Britain. There have been good Ministers for Magic, there have been bad Ministers for Magic, there have been competent, average and totally fine Ministers for Magic. But every now and again, the wizarding community elects someone who makes history – and sometimes not for brilliant reasons. Here are the five best and five worst of them.

## The best

### 5. Maximilian Crowdy (Term of Office: 1770–1781)

A charismatic leader, Maximilian Crowdy was one of the earliest Ministers for Magic to stamp down on anti-Muggle sentiment. Taking office in 1770, his tenure followed a turbulent period of revolts from magical beings (quelled by his predecessor Hesphaestus Gore) and anti-Muggle sentiment; this had been strengthened by anti-Muggle Ministers such as Damocles Rowle in 1718, and then Perseus Parkinson in 1726. Under Crowdy’s charge, however, the Ministry rooted out several groups of pure-blood extremists, all planning attacks on Muggle society. His mysterious death in office has been the subject of numerous books and conspiracy theories.

### 4. Artemisia Lufkin (1798–1811)

History remembers Artemisia Lufkin as the first female Minister for Magic; she was elected following 91 years of the position being filled by men. But that’s unfair. For her most notable achievement was establishing the Department of International Magical Co-operation, a division of the Ministry of Magic: a noble ideal in a time of disharmony. As proof of her determination, she also lobbied hard for the Quidditch World Cup to be held in Britain during her tenure – and was successful. She was so much more than just a statistic.

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### 3. Leonard Spencer-Moon (1939–1948)

While Muggles had Prime Minister Winston Churchill to guide them through World War II, the magical counterpart was Leonard Spencer-Moon. For as Muggles tore themselves apart, so did wizards, who faced conflict with legendary Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. Spencer-Moon had a good working relationship with Churchill, who like him was a steady hand through a turbulent time, one that came to an end after the intervention of Albus Dumbledore.

### 2. Millicent Bagnold (1980–1990)

The First Wizarding War claimed the lives of many victims, and also saw the death of a few political careers. Eugenia Jenkins and Harold Minchum were both voted out after their failure to stop Lord Voldemort during their tenures for Minister for Magic. Minchum’s successor, Millicent Bagnold, fared better; she took charge at the height of the First Wizarding War and was still in power when Voldemort fell a year later, like a wizarding Winston Churchill.

Now Bagnold, of course, had little to do with Voldemort’s actual downfall (that was a freak occurrence that no one could ever have seen coming), but her defining moment in office did arise from the night he was defeated. For Britain, on a high, experienced numerous breaches of the International Statute of Secrecy, mostly from witches and wizards celebrating their V-Day. Called to the International Confederation of Wizards to justify the breaches, she acquitted herself with the now infamous words: ‘I assert our inalienable right to party.’

From there, she went on to oversee the arrests of numerous Death Eaters, before retiring in 1990, the year before Harry Potter arrived at Hogwarts.

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Panic at the Ministry of Magic from the Deathly Hallows PArt 2 

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### 1. Ulick Gamp (1707–1718)

Ulick Gamp became Britain’s first-ever Minister for Magic in a time of fear, chaos and confusion.

Prior to Gamp – prior to the Ministry of Magic – the British wizarding government was fragmented and disorganised, with decisions mostly coming from a body known as the Wizards’ Council. That changed, however, with the International Statute of Secrecy in 1692, a law that required witches and wizards to conceal themselves from Muggles, who had spent the past few centuries persecuting anyone suspected of magical ability. In order to support, regulate and communicate with a community in hiding, however, wizarding Britain needed a government structure of immense size, organisation and complexity – and a Minster at the top of it all – to ensure that it worked.

Previously head of wizarding Britain’s high court of law, the Wizengamot, Gamp had the tough task of not only guiding the magical community through a period of profound change, but essentially building a governmental structure from scratch. His greatest legacy, one which still lives on today, is the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

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Harry and Arthur Weasley inside the Minstry of Magic.

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## The worst

### 5. Albert Boot (1747–1752)

Some Ministers for Magic are not bad because they’re malicious or evil – some are simply rubbish. This was the case with Albert Boot, who’s remembered by history as likeable but inept, having mismanaged a goblin rebellion in the 18th century. His failure would end up carrying over to the next Minister, Basil Flack, who lasted two months after the goblins joined forces with werewolves. It then took Hesphaestus Gore, elected after Flack, to successfully put down the revolts.

### 4. Ignatius Tuft (1959–1962) 

The short-lived tenure of Ignatius Tuft seemed to be the result of some heavy nepotism; he rode the popularity of his mother, predecessor Wilhelmina Tuft, to be elected Minister for Magic in the late 1950s. He didn’t last long, however, and was kicked out after his proposed Dementor breeding program ended up being overwhelmingly unpopular.

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Dementors Carousel

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### 3. Josephina Flint (1819–1827) 

Not much is known about Josephina Flint, but what is known is not good. As an on-off period of Muggle prejudice in the 1700s showed signs of clearing up for the better, Josephina Flint came to power to inflict a new age of anti-Muggle paranoia. A pure-blood herself with an ‘unhealthy anti-Muggle bias’, Josephina was known to dislike Muggle technology such as the telegraph, as she feared it would interfere with wands.

### 2. Cornelius Fudge (1990–1996) 

On the surface, that adorable bowler hat and bumbling personality seemed charming on Cornelius Fudge, who became Minister for Magic at the beginning of the 1990s, and ended his tenure abruptly during Lord Voldemort’s return to power.

Although having to govern through the ascent of a previously-thought-vanquished Dark wizard seems a little on the unlucky side, it was the way Fudge handled Lord Voldemort’s resurrection that places him so highly on this list. Cornelius caused his own downfall after he decided to deny that Lord Voldemort had returned, and led a smear campaign against Harry Potter instead.

This was the apex of a huge series of slip-ups from the Minister, including sending the wrong man (Hagrid) to Azkaban during the opening of the Chamber of Secrets; sending Dementors to Hogwarts during Harry’s third year; befriending Death Eaters, such as Lucius Malfoy; and turning his back on Albus Dumbledore, the one man who could’ve helped him during such a dark and difficult time. 

Fudge may not have been a deadly force himself, but his denial of deadly forces turned out to be just as dangerous.

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### 1. Damocles Rowle & Perseus Parkinson (1718–1726, and 1726–1733) 

A dark cloud moved over the wizarding world in the early 1700s, with anti-Muggle feeling hanging high in the air, and the conception of Azkaban prison terrifying the wizarding community. Two consecutive leaders played their part in this stormy period, which is why we award them joint first place for worst Minister for Magic ever. 

First there was Damocles Rowle, a sadistic man with a ‘tough on Muggles’ mentality. After he was elected to power, Rowle scuppered plans for a new wizard prison and instead proposed Azkaban: a derelict fortress on a lonely island once occupied by a Muggle-torturing madman. So far, so good. Rowle decided this Dementor-infested jail would be the ideal place to send criminal witches and wizards, and so began one of the most heinous wizarding establishments imaginable, known for plunging its prisoners into insanity or despair.

Continuing Rowle’s reign was Perseus Parkinson, who attempted to legitimise anti-Muggle attitudes by suggesting a law that would make it illegal for Muggles and magical folk to marry. Despite the wizarding community’s initial anger at Muggles for driving them to secrecy, this was deemed a step too far. Tired of the divide between the magical and the non-magical, everyone promptly voted him out.

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The throwaway Dumbledore remarks that got us thinking

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Dumbledore addressing students in the Great Hall from th

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> ‘I don’t need a cloak to become invisible.’ 
> *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*

Wait, what? How did Dumbledore have the power of invisibility? Maybe he’d just mastered the art of dressing like a Muggle and blending in with a crowd. Either that or he was very good at hiding. It would explain how he seemed to know everything that was going on at Hogwarts, though perhaps it wasn’t only Harry slinking around the corridors in the dead of the night…

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> ‘The time may come when you will be very glad you saved Pettigrew’s life.’ 
> *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*

Nothing was quite what it seemed where Dumbledore was concerned and his comforting words after Pettigrew’s escape were no exception. He accurately predicted the exact circumstances of Pettigrew’s death years later; in saving Peter’s life, Harry also saved his own. It wouldn’t surprise us to learn Dumbledore could foretell the future — maybe he should have taken over from Professor Trelawney?

> ‘My own brother, Aberforth, was prosecuted for practising inappropriate charms on a goat.’ 
*Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*

The first mention of Aberforth Dumbledore definitely got our attention. Did the Dumbledores have a pet goat growing up? What exactly was his brother trying to achieve? The mind boggles! Regardless of our many, many questions about this incident, one thing is for sure — it shows how truly open-minded our favourite headmaster was.

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Illustration of Aberforth Dumbledore's goat Patronus

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> ‘Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!’ 
*Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*

These four words seemed like nothing more than evidence of Dumbledore’s delightful eccentricity, but there could be more to it. A dare from Professor Flitwick over a glass of mead at The Three Broomsticks, perhaps? A clever tactic to put the newly-sorted first years at ease? Or maybe he was just indulging himself and wanted to see how everyone would react. 

Nimble! Fluff! Dollop! Squelch! It is quite fun, actually.

> ‘Ah, music,’ he said, wiping his eyes. ‘A magic beyond all we do here!’ 
> *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*

We don’t associate Dumbledore with music, but he certainly had an appreciation for his students’ voices. While the Hogwarts song isn’t our favourite tune (considering it has *so many* tunes), it made us wonder if he ever gave singing a go in his youth. He could have even penned the school song himself – after all, none of the other teachers seemed to enjoy it quite as much as he did. Or maybe he was just tone deaf. Nobody’s perfect.

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Twinkle in Dumbledore's eye carousel

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> ‘You flatter me,’ said Dumbledore calmly. ‘Voldemort had powers I will never have.’ 
> *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*

As far as we’re concerned, Dumbledore will always be the greatest, but he didn’t like to brag. The first time we saw him discussing Voldemort we didn’t realise at the time that he was likely referring to the practice of making Horcruxes; it’s incredible to think just how clued up he was about Voldermort’s plans even back then. 

Besides, Dumbledore has plenty of powers the Dark Lord did not – he could pull off a flowered bonnet with panache, for a start.

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> ‘I have one myself above my left knee which is a perfect map of the London Underground.’ 
> *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*

Dumbledore with an Oyster card – there’s an idea. He could easily Apparate, travel by Floo Network or jump on a broomstick, but here’s a hint that Dumbledore liked to occasionally embrace Muggle life and take a jaunt on the Central Line. He also described his map as ‘useful’, which is interesting. Maybe it was a hidden gateway to Diagon Alley?

> ‘Only this morning, for instance, I took a wrong turning on the way to the bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I have never seen before containing a really rather magnificent collection of chamberpots. When I went back to investigate more closely, I discovered that the room had vanished.’ 
> *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*

One can only wonder what else Dumbledore used the Room of Requirement for. A secret gateway to a sweet shop, perhaps, to satisfy his confectionary craving – he did always seem to have a generous stash of sherbet lemons on hand. Or he could have just been giving Harry a hint that there was a very useful magical room hiding within the castle in the first place: it certainly came in handy on more than one occasion.

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PM Room of Requirement Carousel

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> ‘I take my hat off to you — or I would, if I were not afraid of showering you in spiders.’ 
> *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*

Why did Dumbledore have so many spiders in his hat? Could this be an insight into how he spent his free time? Alright, we know Dumbledore only said this because he and Harry were in a run-down outhouse at the time, probably filled with spiders, where the Weasleys kept their broomsticks. But we like to pretend otherwise.

What’s in a wand? Tree symbolism and wandlore in Harry Potter

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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Like so much in the Harry Potter books, symbolic meaning can be found in the smallest of details. By looking at folklore, the properties of British trees and Garrick Ollivander’s personal notes, we see how a wand reflects its owner’s personality and fate.

> ‘It’s really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course.’ 
> *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* 

## Yew and holly

It might seem odd at first that Harry and Voldemort shared ‘twin’ wand cores (phoenix feathers, both taken from none other than Fawkes), yet these characters did have a lot in common. Aside from Lord Voldemort’s connection to Harry as a Horcrux, giving them forced similarities such as the power of Parseltongue, they grew up in similar ways. They were both orphans raised by Muggles, both were unaware they were wizards for years, and – as they owned Peverell family heirlooms – probably blood-related. To understand their key differences, however, look no further than their wand woods.

> The wand of yew is reputed to endow its possessor with the power of life and death. 
> *‘Wand Woods’, Pottermore* 

Yew, the wood used in Voldemort’s wand, is poisonous. Every part of the tree (aside from the berry flesh) contains alkaloids that are fatal to humans. Like the yew, Voldemort brought death to many victims, while his beliefs, such as pure-blood supremacy, were equally toxic.

One interesting property of yew is that it remains poisonous after the tree has died. Similarly, Voldemort’s Horcruxes and Death Eaters linger on after his demise at Godric’s Hollow, poisoning minds and destroying lives.

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Voldemort holding his wand in the Ministry of Magic from the Order of the Phoneix 

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> Holly wands often choose owners who are engaged in some dangerous and often spiritual quest. 
> *‘Wand Woods’, Pottermore* 

Harry’s wand could not be more different. Holly is a traditional symbol of luck, prosperity and protection from evil. It’s been used in celebration rituals throughout history including the Roman festival of Saturnalia, the Pagan Winter Solstice and, of course, Christmas.

Like holly, Harry repelled evil in the form of Voldemort and united the wizarding world in celebration as they toasted ‘The Boy Who Lived’.

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## Elder

> Only a highly unusual person will find their perfect match in elder, and on the rare occasion when such a pairing occurs, I take it as certain that the witch or wizard in question is marked out for a special destiny. 
> *‘Wand Woods’, Pottermore* 

Elder trees have a curious role in Druidic mythology. These sacred plants were believed to possess not only healing powers but also a link to the magical world. Cutting an elder or burning the wood was believed to anger the Mother Goddess and provoke her to seek revenge. This is a line from the Wiccan Rede: ‘Elder is the Lady’s Tree, burn it not or cursed ye be!’ It’s possible the legendary Elder Wand was cursed from the moment its wood was cut.

These instances of blessings and curses rang true with Albus Dumbledore, who held the Elder Wand for many years. Dumbledore was gifted with immense talent but equally cursed by a tragic family past. Once he understood the dangers of abusing power, the Elder Wand came into his possession: a powerful instrument which, when misused, quickly tured its owner into a target. Dumbledore’s special destiny, it seemed, was to use his wisdom to protect others from corruption.

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