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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

Ten satisfying moments when wizarding folk got their comeuppance

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## That time Harry was sassy with Rita Skeeter...
‘It was Rita Skeeter. She was wearing acid-green robes today; the Quick-Quotes Quill in her hand blended perfectly against them.
‘Congratulations, Harry!’ she said, beaming at him. ‘I wonder if you could give me a quick word? How you felt facing that dragon? How you feel now about the fairness of the scoring?’
‘Yeah, you can have a word,’ said Harry savagely. ‘Goodbye.’ 
And he set off back to the castle with Ron."

## That time Hermione gave Malfoy exactly what he deserved...
‘She had slapped Malfoy around the face with all the strength she could muster. Malfoy staggered. Harry, Ron, Crabbe and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again.
‘Don’t you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul – you evil –’
‘Hermione!’ said Ron weakly, and he tried to grab her hand as she swung it back.
‘Get off, Ron!’
Hermione pulled out her wand. Malfoy stepped backwards. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered.
‘C’mon,’ Malfoy muttered, and next moment, all three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeons.’ 

## That time Professor McGonagall told Dolores Umbridge exactly how she felt about her teaching...
"I’m terribly sorry to have to contradict you, Minerva, but as you will see from my note, Harry has been achieving very poor results in his classes with me –’
‘I should have made my meaning plainer,’ said Professor McGonagall, turning at last to look Umbridge directly in the eyes. ‘He has achieved high marks in all Defence Against the Dark Arts tests set by a competent teacher."

## That time Lucius Malfoy lost his power over Dobby... 
‘But Dobby didn’t move. He was holding up Harry’s disgusting, slimy sock, and looking at it as though it were a priceless treasure. 
‘Master has given Dobby a sock,’ said the elf in wonderment. ‘Master gave it to Dobby.’
‘What’s that?’ spat Mr Malfoy. ‘What did you say?’
‘Dobby has got a sock,’ said Dobby in disbelief. ‘Master threw it, and Dobby caught it, and Dobby – Dobby is free."

## That time Hermione decided she’d had quite enough of unfogging the future...  
"I am sorry to say that from the moment you have arrived in this class, my dear, it has been apparent that you do not have what the noble art of Divination requires. Indeed, I don’t remember ever meeting a student whose mind was so hopelessly Mundane.’
There was a moment’s silence. Then –
‘Fine!’ said Hermione suddenly, getting up and cramming Unfogging the Future back into her bag. ‘Fine!’ she repeated, swinging the bag over her shoulder and almost knocking Ron off his chair. ‘I give up! I’m leaving!"

## That time Harry declined Draco Malfoy’s offer of friendship... 
"You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.’
He held out his hand to shake Harry’s, but Harry didn’t take it.
‘I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks,’ he said coolly.'

## That time Dumbledore got the better of Fudge in style...
"So,’ sneered Fudge, recovering himself, ‘you intend to take on Dawlish, Shacklebolt, Dolores and myself single-handed, do you, Dumbledore?’
‘Merlin’s beard, no,’ said Dumbledore, smiling, ‘not unless you are foolish enough to force me to." 

## That time Mrs Weasley took on Bellatrix Lestrange...  
"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!’
Mrs Weasley threw off her cloak as she ran, freeing her arms. Bellatrix spun on the spot, roaring with laughter at the sight of her new challenger.
‘OUT OF MY WAY!’ shouted Mrs Weasley to the three girls, and with a swipe of her wand she began to duel. Harry watched with terror and elation as Molly Weasley’s wand slashed and twirled, and Bellatrix Lestrange’s smile faltered, and became a snarl.' 

## That time Dumbledore told off the Dursleys... 
"Dumbledore paused, and although his voice remained light and calm, and he gave no obvious sign of anger, Harry felt a kind of chill emanating from him and noticed that the Dursleys drew very slightly closer together.
‘You did not do as I asked. You have never treated Harry as a son. He has known nothing but neglect and often cruelty at your hands. The best that can be said is that he has at least escaped the appalling damage you have inflicted upon the unfortunate boy sitting between you." 

## That time Hermione got real with Ron...
"A slightly stunned silence greeted the end of this speech, then Ron said, ‘One person can’t feel all that at once, they’d explode.’
‘Just because you’ve got the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn’t mean we all have,’ said Hermione nastily, picking up her quill again."


Learn to make bracelets that show off your Hogwarts house colours

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Did the Sorting Hat place you in Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin or Gryffindor? Wherever you belong, these bracelets are perfect for showing off your house pride. And when you’ve made one for yourself, how about using your crafting magic to gift them to the Harry Potter fans amongst your friends and family? 

Don’t know which house you belong in yet? [Visit the Official Sorting Ceremony on our website, where you can be sorted into your house, as well as discover your wand, Patronus and Hogwarts pet!](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register) 

Watch the video below to discover how to make these special Hogwarts-house bracelets… 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P7X60eqLuFM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

For more of our arts and crafts videos, [sign up for the Harry Potter Fan Club newsletter today](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register)and be among the first to receive the latest Wizarding World news, events, activities, exclusive access and more – straight to your inbox.


Your definitive guide to LEGO Harry Potter in 2020 

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Here’s your rundown of everything released so far, and a few extras to look forward to as we approach the end of 2020.

## 2020 Playtheme sets 

From the Room of Requirement to the Forbidden Forest, LEGO released several iconic locations inspired by the Harry Potter films earlier this year, with each set featuring unique quirks to make each set that little bit more magical. Including...

*LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™ Room of Requirement – This set comes complete with a sliding hidden entrance and Harry, Hermione and Luna learning Defence Against the Dark Arts training.

![lego-room-of-requirement](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/6qWZInR0qkERM1aJYLolxp/2dc7c277ba79829514dd6f491dbace03/Room_of_Requirement_Prod_01.jpg)

*LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™ Astronomy Tower – This set shows off Horace Slughorn’s classroom and office, the Ravenclaw dormitory, and many Hogwarts students as mini-figures.

![lego-astronomy-tower](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/kj3I5SjzEynMPJWVVEVTs/9ffa3abbbd98fdd2f6b7fa75ed876e65/Astronomy_Tower_Prod.jpg)

*LEGO® Harry Potter™ Forbidden Forest – This set plays out the moment from Order of the Phoenix where the devilish Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Umbridge meets Grawp and the centaurs.  

![lego-forbidden-forest](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/27F95LOcq5J19l9Q3qvwG6/8b8c618c467cf09113842de438ca2cb7/Forbidden_Forest_Prod_01.jpg)

*LEGO® Harry Potter™ 4 Privet Drive – This set captures Harry’s Muggle childhood home, along with figures of the Dursley family, Harry, Ron and Dobby.

![lego-privet-drive](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/6Cf5SRTZJDhZZwsINbNSrA/6b190b022385b7479496c0a63ce337b3/4_Privet_Drive_Prod_01.jpg)

*LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hedwig™ -  This new mechanical figure represents everyone’s favourite snowy owl. This particular figure is available exclusively from [Barnes and Noble in the US](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toys-games-lego-harry-potter-hedwig-75979/35400991?) and many other retailers globally.

![lego-big-hedwig](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/3WuE9ijqKyRZrILQymybyR/24e94468db8a566284b149e30bd2d54f/Hedwig_Prod_01.jpg)

*LEGO® Harry Potter™ Attack on The Burrow – This set portrays the moment Death Eaters descend on the Weasley’s family home. The product features minifigures of key characters from the Death Eater collective, some of the Weasley family members, and the Order of the Phoenix. This particular product is available exclusively from [Smyth’s Toys](https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/lego-and-bricks/lego-harry-potter/lego-75980-harry-potter-attack-on-the-burrow-weasley-house-set/p/186943) in the UK and [Target in the US. ](https://www.target.com/p/lego-harry-potter-attack-on-the-burrow-weasley-8217-s-family-dollhouse-building-toy-for-kids-75980/-/A-78930010)

![lego-burrow](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/3coOI0XscmsaKsM88jG4xa/76354a3acdee46c82ce2d93826e2636b/Burrow_Prod_01.jpg)

You can browse the [LEGO website to learn more.](https://www.lego.com/themes/harry-potter)

## LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar

![LEGO-harry-potter-advent-calendar](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/3t60sadH1BU1v1m8iX5iqA/dbd591a0b67e91fb749d244f4523cebf/lego-yule-ball-advent.jpeg)

With Christmas only a few months away (!) LEGO have created a rather unique Advent Calendar for you to make the countdown to the festive season even more exciting. 

Complete with 24 special gifts, fans can expect to find minifigures of favourite characters and buildable models, such as a miniature Beauxbaton’s carriage and a rather Christmassy dining table, themed around the Yule Ball. The devil is certainly in the details with this Advent Calendar’s daily surprises, so you’ll have to try very hard not to reveal its secrets all at once!   

## 2020 minifigures 

![LEGO-2020-minifigures](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/5y5L9ga6EzxqEAeMU052q0/6ac7d39cccbe9a2988c9c29b972b0594/Minifigures_Prod.jpg)

Luna in her lion hat! Moaning Myrtle clutching Tom Riddle’s diary! The Weasley twins with the Marauder’s Map! The latest round of LEGO minifigures brings together more iconic Harry Potter characters with little props that make them even more unique. The collection features characters you may not have in your collection yet, such as Lily and James Potter holding a photo album and... a very tiny baby Harry. 

## Diagon Alley 

![phelps-twins-crop-lego-hero](//contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/oNSAvZ1ycxqWkS7WjppI5/ff84182e8887ce4769d632fb43c622d4/phelps-twins-crop-lego-hero.jpg)

LEGO recently revealed one of their most exciting Harry Potter sets yet: a huge, multi-faceted Diagon Alley. The recreation of the legendary wizarding shopping district is comprised of over 5000 pieces and was recently brough to life with a special AR experience on LEGO’s official website for fans to explore the set virtually. Learn more about the [Harry Potter LEGO Diagon Alley set here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/lego-harry-potter-introduces-through-the-bricks), with a helping hand from James and Oliver Phelps.

## LEGO Harry Potter Magical Treasury: A Visual Guide to the Wizarding World 

[This visual guide](https://www.amazon.com/Potter-Magical-Treasury-exclusive-minifigure/dp/1465492372/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=lego+book+tom+riddle&qid=1600217710&s=books&sr=1-1) will help you navigate through the many exciting LEGO releases of recent times. This official DK compendium features the very best LEGO Wizarding World sets and minifigures for your perusal. Speaking of minifigures, it even comes with an exclusive Tom Riddle to add to your collection. 

For more info on [LEGO Harry Potter, be sure to visit their official website.](https://www.lego.com/themes/harry-potter)

Play our Wizarding World general knowledge crossword

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Today's crossword is purely general knowledge (general Wizarding World knowledge, of course...) so see how quickly you can complete it. 

<iframe width="550" height="700" allowtransparency="true" style="background: #FFFFFF" src="https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/crossword/20200613/00019/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

*If you're enjoying our puzzles, look out for more in our [Potter Puzzles hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles). [Gold Members](https://www.wizardingworld.com/harry-potter-fan-club) can play regular challenges in our app feed, with a few treats thrown in for free-users too.*

Could Harry and Draco ever have been friends?

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**Spoiler warning: This article contains info on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child**

## Maybe they could have been friends 

Yes, Draco Malfoy was abhorrent at Hogwarts. Yes, he was cocky. Yes, he was awful to Harry, got mixed up in a very dark crowd, and was generally just, as Ron would call him, a git. All of these things are very fair to say. 

However, was all of this behaviour down to influences in Draco’s life? If he’d made better choices, made better friends, could things have been different for him? Could he then have been friends with someone like Harry, if he had the capability of being a better person? If his parents had been kinder, maybe he would’ve been kinder? And maybe then, when he met Harry in Madam Malkin’s shop in Diagon Alley for the first time, would he have seemed more attractive to Harry as a companion?

The signs were there that this could have been. Very much a product of his parents’ making, (just look at how frequently Draco brought up his father...) Draco strutted around Hogwarts with his cronies boasting about how great it was being rich, being in Slytherin, and being pure-blood. But these are all things he was taught to be proud of. Draco’s ideologies were very much passed on by mum and dad, Lucius and Narcissa, who, in turn, absorbed these ideologies from their own families: the Malfoys and the Blacks respectively. 

Both families dabbled in Dark magic and the idea that to be a Muggle, or have non-magical blood, or to be ‘half’ in some way, was wrong. It is no surprise that a lot of family members on both sides were connected to Lord Voldemort. Arguably, Draco was simply too enveloped in this world to think any differently, and within this general mindset, came a lot of cruelty, anger and coldness – which all began to shape his personality.

But what does all of this have to do with being friends with Harry? Well, it was Draco’s general demeanour that repelled Harry in the first place. And there are examples of wizards who came from Dark wizarding families who did choose different company to become better people. Sirius Black is probably the best example of this – running away from his pure-blood loving family that he didn't agree with to find kinder company. Sirius’s bravery led him to the Hogwarts house Gryffindor (the rest of his family were usually Slytherins) and there he found his like-minded friends, James Potter and Remus Lupin. So Sirius broke the cycle of the rest of his family, and spent the rest of his life fighting against the darker side of the Wizarding World, rather than joining it.

Draco could've chosen different friends and a different attitude at Hogwarts, just like Sirius, but Draco was always dogged by fear and insecurity. In later books, we began to learn that Draco was terrified of his Death Eater father’s way of life, despite often bragging about it. Due to Draco’s bravado, which he used as a self-defence mechanism, Harry chose not to be friends with the rude boy he met in Madam Malkin’s, who instantly displayed prejudice towards his half-giant friend Hagrid (something his parents would’ve taught him to feel) and generally exuded bad faith. Even the name ‘Malfoy’ roughly [translates to ‘bad faith’ in French!](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/etymology-behind-harry-potter-character-names)

But it all could have been different. In *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child*, [a more wholesome Draco emerged](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-i-learnt-from-draco-malfoy-by-playing-draco-malfoy). In a post-Voldemort atmosphere, no longer surrounded by the toxicity of his parents, Draco was making better choices, such as [marrying someone who did not carry the ideals of his own family](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/draco-malfoy). And then there was his son [Scorpius](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/how-scorpius-malfoy-proved-everyone-wrong-about-slytherin), who was naturally compassionate. This surely shows that Draco, like his son, had the potential to be ‘good’, if only he had grown up without such terrible influences. Maybe a more secure Draco would’ve been a little nicer in Madam Malkin’s, and maybe a braver Draco could’ve rejected his family’s ideals, like Sirius did. If he'd been encouraged to be more open-minded, maybe he would've met people who challenged his viewpoints, rather than Crabbe and Goyle, who simply always agreed with him.

Only a very different Draco could’ve been friends with Harry. But it *could* have been different.

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## No, they could never have been friends

*‘You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.’ 
He held out his hand to shake Harry’s, but Harry didn’t take it.’*

__Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone__ 

The truth is, Harry was never going to take Draco’s hand on the Hogwarts Express, whether Harry had met Ron Weasley or not. Harry had already got the measure of Draco Malfoy back in Diagon Alley, when Draco had been quick to dismiss Hagrid as a ‘sort of savage’. Hagrid was the first person Harry could really remember being kind to him at all, so that was never going to go down in Draco’s favour when it came to friendship. But there was something else about Malfoy – first in Madam Malkin’s and then later, on the Hogwarts Express, that we argue meant that Harry would never have considered being his friend – Draco liked to make people feel like outsiders. 

During his long years with the Dursleys, Harry had been made to feel like the outsider, the poor relation, every single day he spent in the cupboard, rather than a real bedroom. For so many years, Harry had been the ‘wrong sort’ to the Dursleys, who liked to remind him of it at every opportunity. He knew what it was like to be the person other children were nasty about at school, the way Draco gossiped spitefully about Hagrid in Madam Malkin’s. And he also knew what it was like to be constantly told that some people were better than others. The Dursleys constantly compared him to Dudley and told Harry that his cousin was every bit his superior.  Harry was never going to take kindly to someone warning him not to make friends, ‘with the wrong sort’ because that kind of attitude had meant that he – Harry – had been friendless and miserable in his school and home life for as long as he could remember. 

Draco Malfoy, though he initially offered his hand to Harry, would arguably have been unable to tolerate a friendship with the Boy Who Lived too. It was Draco’s mission in life to tell people how superior he was to them, but that might have become a little tricky if he was best mates with one of the most famous wizards of all time – something even the infinitely humbler, Ron, struggled with. From boasting about his father’s influence at the Ministry to sucking up to Umbridge and [becoming a member of the Inquisitorial Squad](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/importance-of-badges-in-the-harry-potter-books), Draco tirelessly fought to make himself stand out from his peers. But this was something that Harry had never had to work at – the scar on his forehead marking him out as special from the start. We argue this would have been extremely difficult for Draco to maintain a proper friendship with famous Harry Potter – his ego just couldn’t have coped with it.

Given this intrinsic need to distinguish himself from others, it is no wonder really, that Draco would get sucked into Lord Voldemort’s rhetoric of pure-bloods and power; it fed directly into Draco’s need to feel superior. Harry, on the other hand, was never going to befriend a boy who made others feel small or inferior. 

Draco and Harry might have had a shared love for Quidditch, both playing Seeker on their house teams. And indeed, they had a shared experience of being raised by a bully – Lucius for Draco, and the Dursleys for Harry. 

But that was never going to be enough to mean these two would ever be friends.

***

What do you think? Could Harry and Draco ever have been friends?

Harry’s first terms at Hogwarts: ranked

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## Sixth place: First term in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
The first term that Harry ever spends at Hogwarts comes at the bottom of our rankings, mainly because Harry mostly just has a great time and has the opportunity to enjoy the school of magic. Where do we even begin? Harry meets his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, he gets sorted into Gryffindor, he rides a broomstick for the first time, plays Seeker in his first ever Quidditch match and he’s given the rare and extremely useful Invisibility Cloak. He’s introduced to Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts and much more, as well as plenty of ghosts. 

Not to mention he sees his parents faces for the first time reflected in the Mirror of Erised. On the adventure-side, he attempts to duel Draco Malfoy, only to find himself wandering the corridors at night pursued by Filch and coming face to face with a giant three-headed dog. Oh yes, and don’t forget that he, Ron and Hermione take on a twelve-foot mountain troll. Now that’s a house cup-winning first term!

## Fifth place: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Whilst still on the Hogwarts Express, Harry is invited to the Slug Club, but on leaving tries to spy on Malfoy and ends up getting attacked by him and trapped in a carriage under the Invisibility Cloak. Eeesh! Not a great start. With Snape appointed as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Harry takes Potions and acquires a copy of Advanced Potion-Making belonging to someone called the Half-Blood Prince, which helps him win a bottle of Felix Felicis. Harry begins private lessons with Dumbledore and they travel into memories of Tom Riddle’s childhood, whilst Harry also captains the Gryffindor Quidditch team. 

On the way back from a trip to Hogsmeade, Katie Bell is cursed by a necklace and Harry is convinced Malfoy is to blame. On the romance side, Harry tries to quell his feelings for Ginny Weasley, and Ron gets together with Lavender, which causes a rift with Hermione. Harry asks Luna to Slughorn’s Christmas party, whilst Hermione attends with Cormac to annoy Ron. There’s plenty of drama inside the party, but outside of it, Harry overhears a conversation between Snape and Malfoy that makes him even more suspicious of Draco. Harry and Ron spend Christmas at the Burrow, but it is interrupted by the Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour attempting to recruit the Chosen One’s help. 

## Fourth Place: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 
By the time Harry boards the Hogwarts Express in his third year, he already knows that mass-murderer and Azkaban escapee Sirius Black is out to get him. Things get even more grim when Dementors board the Hogwarts Express and Harry passes out with screaming in his ears. On the more light-hearted side, Professor Lupin joins the Hogwarts teaching staff and the third years tackle Boggarts – Neville’s Boggart Snape in his grandmother’s clothes is a real highlight. Within the same term, Sirius Black breaks into Gryffindor Tower and Harry falls off his broomstick in a Quidditch match against Hufflepuff after Dementors come to the game, his Nimbus Two Thousand shattered beyond repair. 

Fred and George Weasley give Harry the magnificent Marauder’s Map and he sneaks into Hogsmeade, only to find out that his parents and Black were friends at Hogwarts, he betrayed them as their Secret Keeper and he is also Harry’s godfather. Things seem to be looking up at Christmas when Harry receives a Firebolt as an anonymous present but Hermione tells McGonagall and it’s confiscated almost immediately. What a term!

## Third place: First term in Harry Potter and the Chamber Secrets 
Harry starts the first term of his second year with an absolutely bang – straight into the Whomping Willow after he and Ron fly a car to Hogwarts. Not long after this he, Ron and Hermione attend Nearly Headless Nick’s Deathday party – an adventure in itself – and on the way back to the common room they’re falsely accused by Filch of petrifying Mrs Norris. Throughout the first term the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets grips the school, and Harry becomes the centre of the intrigue after speaking Parseltongue at the disastrous duelling club run by Gilderoy Lockhart. 

Let’s not forget that during this term Ron also ends up vomiting slugs, a rogue Bludger breaks Harry’s arm, and Lockhart makes all his bones disappear. This extremely eventful term is topped off with the Golden Trio brewing up Polyjuice Potion in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom, and Hermione getting a tail. Phew. What a term! 

## Second place: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
At the start of term feast in his third year, Dumbledore announces that the Triwizard Tournament will be held at Hogwarts. As if that isn’t enough excitement, the distinguished and terrifying Dark-wizard-catcher, Mad-Eye Moody interrupts the feast by his late arrival – and it isn’t long until he Transfigures Malfoy into a ferret and causes controversy by showing students the Unforgiveable Curses.  The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrive and cause quite a stir, but nowhere near as much as Harry does when his names come out of the Goblet of Fire. Harry becomes the fourth champion, and he and Ron fall out until Harry demonstrates just how “not fun” the tournament is when he faces a Hungarian Horntail dragon in the First Task. 

Rita Skeeter is already making a nuisance of herself in the first term, along with Hagrid’s Blast-Ended Skrewts. The Weasley twins lighten the mood with their Canary Creams, but things get fraught with the announcement of the Yule Ball. Harry is turned down by Cho Chang, but Hermione surprises everyone by turning up with Viktor Krum, not least Ron… 

## First place: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
And top of our rankings is Harry’s first term in his fifth year. The Hogwarts Express journey in Harry’s fifth year has him meeting Luna Lovegood, as well as the Thestrals pulling the carriages up to the castle. At the start of term feast the Sorting Hat sings a new song about division, and Dolores Umbridge makes clear she’ll be meddling at Hogwarts. Umbridge and Harry soon clash when he insists that Lord Voldemort has returned and he has a detention with a quill that cuts ‘I will not tell lies’ into the back of his hand. As Umbridge is made Hogwarts High Inquisitor, Hermione encourages Harry to fight back and Dumbledore’s Army is formed – though group gatherings are banned soon afterwards meaning the meetings must take place in secret in the Room of Requirement. Hedwig is attacked, Fred and George try out their Skiving Snackboxes, and Ron makes it onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team as Keeper, to Slytherin choruses of ‘Weasley is our King’. 

Harry has is first kiss with Cho Chang, but continues to be plagued by dreams of long corridors and locked doors, until he sees Arthur Weasley attacked and dreams begin to shade into reality. Dumbledore still won’t look at Harry, and he goes with the Weasleys to Grimmauld Place for Christmas, which includes a visit to St Mungo’s hospital… 
Now that is a first term to write home about!

***
You can find out how we are celebrating Back to Hogwarts season 2023, be it physically or digitally, [right here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/back-to-hogwarts). You can also sign up to our handy newsletter at the [Harry Potter Fan Club](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register), to be kept constantly in the loop.


Which first year Hogwarts subject would most suit you?

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Flitwick teaches his first year Charms class Wingardium Leviosa

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## Transfiguration
__A moment that Transfiguration transfixed us:__

"And now – piertotum locomotor! ’ cried Professor McGonagall. And all along the corridor the statues and suits of armour jumped down from their plinths, and from the echoing crashes from the floors above and below, Harry knew that their fellows throughout the castle had done the same.

‘Hogwarts is threatened!’ shouted Professor McGonagall. ‘Man the boundaries, protect us, do your duty to our school!"

__Transfiguration would suit you if:__

•	you’re good at understanding complicated diagrams 

•	your mind is more scientific than creative

•	you’re a perfectionist

•	you have excellent concentration

•	you learn and accept that there are limits on what can be achieved – think Gamp’s Law

## Charms
__A moment that Charms charmed us:__

"I can act from here,’ said Flitwick, and although he could barely see out of it, he pointed his wand through the smashed window and started muttering incantations of great complexity. Harry heard a weird rushing noise, as though Flitwick had unleashed the power of the wind into the grounds.’ 

__Charms would suit you if:__

•	you enjoy creativity

•	you’re imaginative

•	you’d be keen for a duel (Professor Flitwick was a duelling champion!)

•	you find it easy to pronounce tricky words and phrases, like Wingardium Leviosa

•	you have a good memory for incantations 

## Defence Against the Dark Arts
__A moment Defence Against the Dark Arts awed us:__

"The Dark Arts,’ said Snape, ‘are many, varied, ever-changing and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible."

__Defence Against the Dark Arts would suit you if:__

•	you have fast physical and mental reactions 

•	you are quick to adapt to new situations and threats

•	you are inventive (just think about all those spells the Half-Blood Prince came up with)

•	you have good defensive instincts – in Defence Against the Dark Arts there isn’t always time for planning

•	you think that ‘know your enemy’ is a good mantra


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Sprout holds a mandrake in her greenhouse.

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## Herbology
__A moment Herbology made us shout hooray:__

"Oh, right!’ said Hermione, and she whipped out her wand, waved it, muttered something and sent a jet of the same bluebell flames she had used on Snape at the plant. In a matter of seconds, the two boys felt it loosening its grip as it cringed away from the light and warmth. Wriggling and flailing, it unravelled itself from their bodies and they were able to pull free.
‘Lucky you pay attention in Herbology, Hermione,’ said Harry as he joined her by the wall, wiping sweat off his face.'

__Herbology would suit you if:__

•	you like being outdoors

•	you don’t mind a bit of mud and dirt

•	you are patient – just think how long those Mandrakes took to reach maturity!

•	you have a good memory for complicated names, like Mimbulus mimbletonia

•	you are a caring person – we reckon magical plants need a lot of love

## Astronomy
__A moment Astronomy amazed us:__

"I know that you have learned the names of the planets and their moons in Astronomy,’ said Firenze’s calm voice, ‘and that you have mapped the stars’ progress through the heavens. Centaurs have unravelled the mysteries of these movements over centuries. Our findings teach us that the future may be glimpsed in the sky above us –"

__Astronomy would suit you if:__

•	you like maps – both creating them and reading them

•	you prefer night to day 

•	you aren’t afraid of heights – lessons take place up the Astronomy Tower!

•	you have good eyesight – for using a telescope and plotting star charts

•	you like to ponder the wider universe and our place in it

## History of Magic 
__A moment History of Magic excited us:__

"All the copies of Hogwarts: A History have been taken out,’ she said, sitting down next to Harry and Ron. ‘And there’s a two-week waiting list. I wish I hadn’t left my copy at home, but I couldn’t fit it in my trunk with all the Lockhart books.’

‘Why do you want it?’ said Harry.

‘The same reason everyone else wants it,’ said Hermione, ‘to read up on the legend of the Chamber of Secrets."

__History of Magic would suit you if:__

•	you enjoy learning names and dates – especially of giant wars and goblin rebellions

•	you are immune to the sleep-inducing effects of a droning voice (mentioning no names…ehem…Professor Binns!)

•	you wouldn’t mind being taught by a ghost

•	you appreciate that history is inextricably linked to the modern day

•	you like secrets – just look at all the amazing things that Hermione found out from Hogwarts: A History!

## Potions
__A moment Potions impressed us:__

"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don’t expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses ... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death – if you aren’t as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

__Potions would suit you if:__

•	you like following instructions

•	you have excellent attention to detail 

•	you’re precise when it comes to measurements or amounts

•	you aren’t squeamish – there are often leeches or rat tails involved in brewing!

•	you are patient 

## Flying
__A moment flying made our hearts soar:__
‘He mounted the broom and kicked hard against the ground and up, up he soared, air rushed through his hair and his robes whipped out behind him – and in a rush of fierce joy he realised he’d found something he could do without being taught – this was easy, this was wonderful. He pulled his broomstick up a little to take it even higher and heard screams and gasps of girls back on the ground and an admiring whoop from Ron.’

__Flying would suit you if:__

•	you have good balance

•	you don’t mind heights 

•	you prefer to rely on instinct and feeling rather than facts from a book

•	you enjoy travelling at speed

•	you’re competitive and love an adrenaline rush


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So, which of these subjects sounds most like you? Luckily if you say all of them, you wouldn’t need a Time-Turner quite yet, as they’d all fit on your Hogwarts timetable. But tune in next time to find out which Hogwarts elective subjects would suit you best and build your very own ideal Hogwarts timetable!

An unofficial guide to making friends at Hogwarts

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## DO: share your sweets on the Hogwarts Express
When you meet someone, conversation can be tricky – even for the famous Boy Who Lived. What worked for Harry and Ron was bonding over sweets Harry bought from the trolley on the Hogwarts Express. Forget the weather, chatting about Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans were a great starting point that soon got them talking about their own families and the magical world. 

## DON’T: try to make friends by insulting other people
This was an error made by Draco Malfoy when he tried to befriend Harry Potter on their first train ride to Hogwarts. After insulting Ron and his family, his exact words here: ‘You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.’ It didn’t go down well – he really should have offered Harry a Pumpkin Pasty instead. 

## DO: share any knowledge you have about Hogwarts

Starting at Hogwarts is overwhelming for everyone, but particularly for those from non-wizarding families. Sharing anything you’ve heard about the wizarding school is a must when making friends – even if it’s just admitting you don’t know very much at all! Ron often made Harry feel like he wasn’t alone in being a little out of his depth when it came to the Sorting Ceremony or lessons – sometimes it’s nice to go into the unknown together. 

## DON’T: whisper about all the spells you know already 

This is a Hermione Granger classic. We didn’t judge her for learning all the set texts off by heart before she’d even started school – if we could get our hands on Hogwarts: A History, we’d be reading it cover to cover before we arrived too. However, being mindful that others probably won’t appreciate you showing off all your bright, shiny knowledge before the very nerve-wracking Sorting Ceremony, might have got Hermione off to a better friendship start.

## DO: be proud when your newfound friends succeed
Though Harry and Ron found Hermione a bit of a know-it-all at the beginning, they soon learned to be proud of their friend for all the house points she won for Gryffindor, as well as the tight spots she saved them from (ahem Devil’s Snare). And Ron, a huge Quidditch fan – and probably a little bit jealous of Harry making it onto the house team –still put his new friendship first and was prouder than anyone that Harry became the youngest Seeker in a century. 

## DON’T: point out that one of your fellow students is a “nightmare”

This one is a Ron Weasley special. Not only is it unkind to call someone a “nightmare”, in Ron and Harry’s case it had some pretty catastrophic consequences. And sure, taking on a twelve-foot mountain troll finally brought the Golden Trio together, but a lot of that was down to luck! Ron calling Hermione a “nightmare” just goes to show that you shouldn’t judge anyone too early or call them names – you never know, you just might end up marrying them!

## DO: remember that there are more important things than books and cleverness

Hermione was very smart, and not just when it came to lessons. She had some words of wisdom for all of us when it came to friendship near the end of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. 

*‘Harry – you’re a great wizard, you know.’
‘I’m not as good as you,’ said Harry, very embarrassed, as she let go of him.
‘Me!’ said Hermione. ‘Books! And cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery and – oh Harry – be careful!’*

Enough said, we reckon. Thanks Hermione, wisest witch of your age. 

## DON’T: forget to write to your friends over the summer holidays

As Harry found over the years, it’s tough being away from new friends and magic over the long summer holidays, particularly if you live with Muggles like the Dursleys. After an adventurous year, full of fun and friendship, remembering to send an owl or two letting your new friends know you’re still around will really help calm the nerves when September 1st arrives and you need someone to save you a seat… 

## DO: remember to be yourself
Harry, Ron and Hermione couldn’t be more different, but they soon become the closest of wizarding trios. Making new friends is all about being yourself. And even if it takes a while – like Hermione – when you find the right friends, they’ll love you exactly as you are. And that’s pretty – well – magical.

Go Back to Hogwarts with LEGO Harry Potter: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

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Hogwarts Express LEGO 

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## Finding Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

This recreation is particularly poignant around the 1st September. Check out the LEGO steam on the Hogwarts Express!

Platform Nine and Three-Quarters | LEGO

LEGO Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

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Find more animations from our friends at LEGO here! Just click on the video you want to watch and enjoy the magic... But that's not all – we've hidden 7 letters that make up a secret code on 7 of the 9 video pages below. Watch the video and then scroll all the way to the bottom of each page see what you can find. Collect all 7 letters and try to work out the magical word. Then download the Wizarding World App, enter the code and unlock an extra surprise!

[Watch Potions and parties in the Astronomy Tower here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-astronomy-tower)

[Watch the Privet Drive Invasion scene here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-privet-drive-invasion) 

[Watch the Privet Drive rescue scene here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-privet-drive-rescue)

[Watch Harry catching the Snitch scene here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-catching-the-golden-snitch)

[Watch the famous flying car adventure here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-the-flying-car-adventure)

[Watch Buckbeak's rescue here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-buckbeak-rescue)

[Watch the Hungarian Horntail at the Triwizard Tournament here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-triwizard-tournament)

[Watch Dolores Umbridge in the Forbidden Forest here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-the-forbidden-forest)

[Watch the attack on The Burrow here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-attack-on-the-burrow)

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LEGO have also put together some Back to Hogwarts activities for you to download here to get properly into the spirit with the family. It’s not all about building bricks, you know.

[Identify the magical creatures](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/1DK6pO6SCaoD46Oyn8qqUc/79808977553ac048570aa2cf0022dc47/HP_at_home_x_LEGO_LEL_A4_01_FINAL.pdf)

[Spot the differences in this Hogwarts lake scene](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/5sL3EAVcrxrQiOUMQszHbj/0f7fe90ed0f83ab59d80f2d7aa7062ff/HP_at_home_x_LEGO_LEL_A4_03_FINAL.pdf)

[Phoenix and Basilisk art challenge ](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/50PBi5FYjFMFAGNtPoW0P6/6f3a06c2d6adf7354de26692314a469a/HP_at_home_x_LEGO_LEL_A4_04_FINAL.pdf)

[Draw a picture of a Pensieve memory](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/18R2xfINS7Te5qmEwkOZC0/f10e14b2d80fa8387bdb2f990a7d3c9b/HP_at_home_x_LEGO_LEL_A4_05_FINAL.pdf)

See more on [LEGO Harry Potter on LEGO.com or build your own magical Wizarding World adventures!](https://www.LEGO.com/HarryPotter)


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