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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

When Harry Potter got it right

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Dobby bows to Harry in his bedroom in Privet Drive

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Perhaps it comes with having faced one of the world’s Darkest wizards before his second birthday, but Harry Potter has a very well-developed sense of justice. That his mother died to protect him from Voldemort has left more than the protection that lingers in Harry’s skin – it’s also left him with an acute awareness of right and wrong, even if those around him don’t always agree. 

From that first ride on the [Hogwarts Express](/writing-by-jk-rowling/the-hogwarts-express "The Hogwarts Express by J.K. Rowling") to the moments after the final Triwizard task, here are some of Harry’s memorable moral moments:

## When he refused Malfoy’s friendship

As soon as he meets the sneering, condescending Malfoy, Harry has a bad feeling about him. So when Malfoy turns up in the Hogwarts Express carriage Harry is sharing with Ron, warning Harry not to associate with the ‘wrong sort’, Harry’s reaction is instant. ‘I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks,’ he tells Malfoy, aligning himself firmly with Ron. 

## When he set off to retrieve the Philosopher’s Stone

When Harry, Ron and Hermione become convinced Snape wants to get his hands on the Philosopher’s Stone, they try to enlist the help of a couple of teachers. But Dumbledore’s away and McGonagall won’t listen, so Harry takes it upon himself to rescue the Stone. When Hermione and Ron try to dissuade him, he won’t budge, saying: ‘I’m going through that trapdoor tonight and nothing you two say is going to stop me!’ So they join him instead.

## When he used the Mirror to get the Stone

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Quirrell and Harry in front of the Mirror of Erised.

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Dumbledore’s first great Harry-shaped gamble becomes clear when Harry discovers Quirrell in front of the Mirror of Erised trying to get his hands on the Philosopher’s Stone. When Harry stands in front of the Mirror, like Quirrell he sees himself with the Stone – but in Harry’s case this vision comes true, because only a person who wants to find but not use the Stone can get their hands on it. At the age of 11, Harry displays exactly the kind of moral courage Dumbledore has banked on.

## When he saved Justin Finch-Fletchley

When a snake conjured up by Malfoy seems about to attack Justin Finch-Fletchley at the end of their first Duelling Club in *Chamber of Secrets*, Harry unthinkingly speaks in Parseltongue, telling the snake to leave Justin alone. It works – at Harry’s words the snake falls docile. It’s just a shame nobody understands Parseltongue, a skill Harry shares with Voldemort and Salazar Slytherin, and therefore they all wrongly think Harry is egging the snake on. 

## When he followed the spiders

Hagrid’s instruction to ‘follow the spiders’ isn’t something Ron is keen on – it’s Harry who trusts in Hagrid’s instruction and insists they head to the Forbidden Forest. While encountering Aragog and his large family of monstrously huge spiders with a taste for eating people isn’t exactly a picnic, it is worth it for what Aragog tells them about the [Chamber of Secrets](/writing-by-jk-rowling/chamber-of-secrets "Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling").

## When he freed Dobby

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Dobby holds the sock which grants his freedom from the Malfoys.

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Dobby the house-elf’s attempts to keep Harry safe might be a bit, well, dangerous, but Harry knows his heart is in the right place. So when he sees a chance to free Dobby he takes it, tricking Lucius Malfoy into giving Dobby clothes and ending his servitude. This is despite the fact that Harry has just undertaken a gruelling fight with Voldemort-as-Tom-Riddle. He’s never too exhausted to ignore injustice.

## When he thought he was being followed by a dog

After storming out of the Dursley’s house in *Prisoner of Azkaban*, Harry starts seeing a large black dog, seemingly everywhere. It begins to worry him when first Professor Trelawney and then Ron draw comparisons to the Grim, a death omen. Despite Ron’s concerns, Harry is convinced the dog is real and not just a figment of his imagination. When he discovers Sirius’s true identity – and his unregistered Animagus status – Harry is proved right.

## When he stopped Lupin and Black killing Pettigrew

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Peter Pettigrew’s eventual confession about betraying Harry’s parents is enough to make Remus and Sirius prepare to kill him. But Harry stops them, saying to Pettigrew, ‘I’m doing it because I don’t reckon my dad would have wanted his best friends to become killers – just for you.’ It’s a noble decision and one Harry later has cause to regret when Pettigrew escapes. But, as Dumbledore tells him, ‘The time may come when you will be very glad you saved Pettigrew’s life.’

## When he resisted the Imperius Curse

In Harry’s fourth year, ‘Professor Moody’ – newly appointed Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher – takes the unusual step of demonstrating the three Unforgivable Curses: the killing curse, Avada Kedavra; the pain curse, Cruciatus; and the Imperius curse, used to control minds. Moody practises the Imperius curse on all his students, but only Harry attempts to fight it off, right from the first. Which, when you think about how Voldemort uses the Imperius Curse, shows how strong-willed Harry is.

## When he told Cedric about the dragons

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People try to restrain the four dragons before the first Triwizard Task

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When Harry discovers the first Triwizard task is dragons, one of his first thoughts is to share that information with his fellow Hogwarts champion, Cedric Diggory. When he finds out Krum know as well, it becomes even more important. Harry doesn’t share the knowledge because he anticipates it being reciprocated, but his actions are rewarded when Cedric returns the favour ahead of the second task.

## When he waited for all the hostages to be rescued

Harry’s moral fibre is really put on display during his second Triwizard task, when he refuses to leave the hostages under the lake until they have all been rescued. It means forfeiting the task, and it also means fighting the merpeople and rescuing Fleur’s sister. He realises later that he didn’t need to do this, but again, his actions are rewarded and he ends up tying with Cedric.

## When he took Cedric’s body back

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He would have tied with Cedric as the overall winner of the Triwizard Tournament, too, had Voldemort not used the moment to transport Harry and – by virtue of their mutual decision to take hold of the Cup together – Cedric to the graveyard where he is waiting. Voldemort’s first action is to kill Cedric; his second is to put Harry through a nightmarish experience that only ends when their wands meet and, once again, Voldemort is unable to kill Harry, instead unleashing a series of visions of his previous victims – including Cedric and Harry’s parents. After all that, Harry’s overriding thought is to abide by Cedric’s final wish and return his body to his parents.

Well done, Harry Potter for showing so much moral fibre in times of danger and difficulty! A Gryffindor through and through. 

Discover the films

Wizarding World Image Crediting

to Fantastic Beasts

Chapter Challenge: 'The Man with Two Faces'

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Welcome to your final challenge!

One final reminder... We created a special house points tracker that you can make at home which will help you keep score of your chapter challenge achievements. Take a look.

Harry Potter Reading Magic | House Points Jars

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<IMG src="https://contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/z505aKu6dbnv4BtYwmxmU/630454740a59bfa2987a7920bbc746a6/1.png">

__Write down whether you guessed that Professor Quirrell was the one going after the Philosopher’s Stone. If not, who did you think it was? Why?__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*

<IMG src="https://contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/yOxIcxHhrhZOArv0ELkzy/f0a35d54a4d538c31985beb47eaafc3a/2.png"> 

__Draw a picture of the Philosopher’s Stone.__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*

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__Answer this question and get a clue about the next chapter. *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*. When Harry went to the zoo with the Dursleys all the way back in Chapter Two, which creature did he talk to?__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*

<IMG src="https://contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/6XvglminJY0E2faLECIQ2v/14ad2062752ee0fab295ee48a0758e9e/4.png">

__Write about yourself: What was your favourite chapter of *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*? Why?__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*

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__Prediction time! Do you think Harry, Ron and Hermione will have to solve any mysteries in their second year at Hogwarts? Or do you think they can just be normal wizarding students?__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*

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__Time to be a book reviewer: So, you’ve finished *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*. It’s time to give it a review. Decide how many stars you would give it out of five. Would you recommend it to your friends? Did you enjoy the story? Did you like the characters? Are you excited to read the next book about Harry?__

*This mini-challenge is worth 2 house points.*

<IMG src="https://contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/5kIRgx7Pxh0bNuMPmcaguy/0cd8d07f3c587d0c32f678e9480156f8/7.png">

__Secret quest: Remember Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour-Beans? Well, your secret quest is to think of a flavour you would give each member of your household and/or your friends. For example, would you give your Dad earwax flavour, like Dumbledore gets in this chapter? Would you give your best friend bogey flavour? Would you choose sprout flavour for your guardian? .__

*This mini-challenge is worth 3 house points.*

  OR...

                              ***

__Quiz time: If this secret quest isn’t for you, you can collect the same number of house points if you answer every question correctly in our [Chapter Seventeen Quiz here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-seventeen-five-questions "CQ17")...__

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Congratulations! You’ve completed the last Chapter Challenge! Did you know there were a possible __170 house points__ available over the seventeen Chapter Challenges? How many did you collect? Well done for getting to the end of the book! That’s pretty magical! Professor Dumbledore would be proud.  

We expect you know by now, but if you still need to find out which Hogwarts house you belong in, [here’s a link to the Sorting Ceremony on our website](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register). Or download the Wizarding World app to find out your house whilst wearing the Sorting Hat! You’ll need an adult to help you register.

We hope you had fun!

__Illustration by Mary GrandPré © Scholastic__ 

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The wizarding world cryptic crossword #2

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If you missed our first cryptic crossword, you can [play it here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/wizarding-world-cryptic-crossword). For the rest of you budding Hermiones, try our latest here. Remember to keep an eye on your time! 

<iframe width="550" height="700" allowtransparency="true" style="background: #FFFFFF" src="https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/cryptic/20200620/00006/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

For more puzzles, crosswords and wordsearches, [visit our puzzles hub.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles) We have even more lurking in our Wizarding World app. 

Plot twist: Did you guess the identity of the man with two faces?

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**Warning! This piece contains spoilers for the ending of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone/Sorcerer’s Stone. You have been warned!** 

For everyone else! Hello! 

Today we’re looking at who we thought was trying to take the Philosopher’s Stone from the safety of Hogwarts. Severus Snape or Quirrell? Of course, you know the answer by now – but we go back to a time before we knew the answer... 

## Severus Snape

That last line of Chapter Sixteen shook us to our bookish core: ‘There was already someone there – but it wasn’t Snape. It wasn’t even Voldemort.’ How did those of us who always suspected Snape get it so wrong?


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Snape in his potions class room from the Order of the Pheonix 

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The moment Harry Potter set eyes on Severus Snape ‘a sharp, hot pain shot across the scar’ on Harry’s forehead. Suspicious. Well, we really thought so. And we felt very protective of poor Harry at this point. We’d barely just found out his parents were killed by a Dark wizard, and that Voldemort gave him the very scar that Snape seemed to have just set alight with pain. Curious, very curious. From that moment on, we decided to keep an eye on Snape. And we didn’t have to try very hard as he looked guilty at every turn!

Snape was awful to Harry in his first ever Potions class for no reason whatsoever – plus there was all his talk about bottling fame, brewing glory, and even putting a stopper in death. Does an innocent person talk like that? Then we noticed – it was very subtle but we noticed it – that Snape was heading to the third floor when Harry and Ron went looking for Hermione and came across the troll. Aha, we thought to ourselves… Snape was certainly up to something fishy. A bit later Snape limped past the Golden Trio, and then Harry heard him talking about something with three heads – he was seriously up to something! Why would anyone get that close to Fluffy? 

But at Harry’s first Quidditch game we started to question ourselves. Snape jinxing Harry’s broom? It didn’t seem very subtle – not exactly up Snape’s street, who was all about the exact art of Potion making. It was bold, it was risky, and surely he could have found easier ways to kill Harry? Hadn’t he already mentioned the Draught of Living Death? Couldn’t he have just slipped that into Harry’s pumpkin juice? The broom jinxing was very public, too obvious… Our conclusion? A double bluff, of course.

It was so obviously Snape that of course the reader was supposed to go looking for other suspects. Filch, maybe? Or what about someone really innocuous, like poor Quirrell? Yes, that was the garden path the reader was supposed to be led down. And we were not falling for it. We weren’t going to be tricked. Snape was the wannabe thief; we’d known it from the start. And anyway, who were we to argue with Hermione Granger’s logic?

Imagine our dismay when it really was Quirrell standing in the last chamber. And he revealed that Snape had actually been trying to stop him stealing the Philosopher’s Stone! 
Give us a break okay, Quirrell might have had Voldemort on the back of his head, but you have to admit, he wasn’t the only man with two faces throughout Philosopher’s Stone.  

## Professor Quirrell 

Yes, it’s perfectly understandable that Harry, Ron and Hermione, and many, many readers around the world would’ve been convinced that it had to be Snape who wanted the Philosopher’s Stone. His whole, general demeanour seemed to scream that he was no good egg from the moment we met him. But Professor Quirrell didn’t exactly seem like a wholesome, trustworthy sort either. He just presented his shiftiness in a different sort of way.


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Quirrell teaching in his classroom with a lizard

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From Harry’s very first meeting with the nervy Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Quirrell acted suspiciously. Some may have mistaken his stutter for nervousness... especially after Hagrid’s explanation that he had been perfectly fine before a run-in with vampires and a hag in the Black Forest. But surely this explanation prompted more questions than it did answers? 

Things did not improve when Harry got to Hogwarts and experienced Quirrell as a professor. Did you really think this man was perfectly sound? The abundance of garlic in his classroom, for one thing, and the farfetched stories about the origins of Quirrell’s turban, which Quirrell himself often avoided talking about ‘turning pink and talking about the weather’, when asked. 

Again, this could have been mistaken for a man who had come back from his travels deeply disturbed – but he was still supposed to be a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Why so secretive? Why was he specialising in a topic he seemed absolutely terrified of? Even the thought of a troll in the dungeon caused him to faint upon the mere thought. Something never added up about Quirrell being professor of this field, especially considering how knowledgeable all the other staff were about their topics. What was he so afraid of, really?

The signs were always there that it was Quirrell, not Snape, who was the man with two faces. Even upon Harry’s first night at Hogwarts, he had a dream about wearing Quirrell’s turban, which was acting as the Sorting Hat. Was there something in Harry’s subconscious that led him to question Quirrell too? 

We just couldn’t put our finger on what exactly it was about Quirrell that was giving us pause for thought. While Snape was more outwardly villainous in his actions and the way he spoke, Quirrell’ quietness should not have been so easily overlooked. And he was always with Snape! If Snape was so suspicious, we should have been keeping more of an eye on who he keeps company with, too. If Snape had something to hide, maybe he would’ve been a bit nicer to his students to try and cover up things more, but Snape never had a problem being in the spotlight. Quirrell, on the other hand, seemed terrified whenever he turned up in any scene. 

In the overheard conversation with Snape in [Chapter Thirteen](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-nicolas-flamel), Quirrell may have been acting all terrified in Snape’s wake, but he was still asking Snape if he’d ‘found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid’s’ and was clearly potting alongside him. And then there was Snape confronting Quirrell about ‘where his loyalties lie’ – thinking back, this was a huge red flag about Quirrell that many of us misconstrued. 

All the little signs about Quirrell were there, but with the far more naturally antagonistic Snape so often in the foreground, Quirrell was cleverly hidden in plain sight. But were you one of the readers who saw through him? 

                                ** 

So, how about you? Did you see the plot twist in Philosopher’s Stone coming? Let us know on Wizarding World [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/wizardingworld), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/wizardingworld) or [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/wizardingworld/). And remember, you can remind yourself of the moment all was revealed in [Chapter Seventeen, 'The Man With Two Faces', narrated by three families of Harry Potter fans here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-man-with-two-faces).


What we’ve learned from 50 issues of the Wizarding Weekly

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Wizarding Weeklies have been winging their way into your Wizarding World App every Wednesday for 50 issues! 50? That’s as many points as Harry lost for sneaking out of bed in his first year at Hogwarts, the height of the dive he made to catch Neville’s Remembrall, the approximate number of witches and wizards on the Wizengamot. Phew... well... fifty is a lot of issues, so let’s take a moment to reflect and celebrate the Wizarding Weekly, and you, the fans, who have been reading and interacting with them through polls, watching videos, playing quizzes, reading articles and much more.

## Some of your favourite film clips were...

__1.__ “It’s all here in your head” - the moment Harry gets sorted into Gryffindor

__2.__ Buckbeak’s flight from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 

__3.__ The Tale of the Three Brothers – the beautifully animated Beedle the Bard tale 

__4.__ Narcissa and Bellatrix in Spinner's End from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

__5.__ “Farewell Aragog” - Slughorn and Hagrid get emotional at Aragog’s funeral 

## Some of your favourite articles were...

__1.__ [The stories of the Hogwarts founders](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/stories-of-the-hogwarts-founders) 

__2.__ [What your Patronus says about you ](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-your-patronus-says-about-you)

__3.__ [6 reasons to get excited if you’re in Ravenclaw](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/6-reasons-to-get-excited-if-youre-sorted-into-ravenclaw)

__4.__ [6 reasons it’s great to get sorted into Slytherin](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/6-reasons-its-okay-if-you-get-sorted-into-slytherin)

__5.__ [7 reasons it’s great to be sorted into Hufflepuff ](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/7-ways-hufflepuff-are-way-better-than-you-realise)

## The five characters you learnt the most about were...

__1.__ Luna Lovegood

__2.__ Newt Scamander

__3.__ Leta Lestrange

__4.__ Scorpius Malfoy 

__5.__ Pomona Sprout 

## The five most popular polls you loved voting in... 

__1.__	Who is the better Care of Magical Creatures professor? 

__2.__	How would you describe Narcissa Malfoy? 

__3.__	Who was the worst DADA professor?

__4.__	Which Hogwarts subject would be your favourite?

__5.__	If you were an Animagus, which would you rather turn into?

## And speaking of polls, here are some interesting poll results...

__Our most popular poll ever is...__

*“Who is the better Care of Magical Creatures Professor?”*

Yes, you all have extremely strong opinions on this particular profession at Hogwarts, as this was the poll that people have played the most in our humble app. And, of course, you all banded together to make sure that Hagrid was the winner across all four houses.
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__The character you would most like to channel in 2020 is...__

*Hermione!*

At the start of this year, we asked you to pick a Wizarding World mascot to embrace in 2020, with the choice of Harry, Neville, Hermione or Draco. Hermione was the resounding winner across all four houses... although Draco nearly pipped her to the post for the Slytherins, with just 3% in it!
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__The Hogwarts gang you’d all most like to hang out with is...__ 
 
*The golden trio!*  
 
When given the choice between the Marauders, the Golden Trio, Draco’s cronies and Ernie Macmillan’s gossipy Hufflepuffs, you voted in your thousands to proudly declare you’d like to be part of Harry Potter’s gang, alongside Ron and Hermione. Even the Hufflepuffs among you picked the golden trio over the characters in your house! However, there is an anomaly here – the Slytherins would much rather be managing mischief with the Marauders than Harry’s lot. Interesting! 
<br>

__You all think that Severus Snape was...__ 
 
*A hero.*  
 
Yes, in our Wizarding Weekly themed all around ‘heroes of the Dark Arts’, we received 20,000 votes on one of the biggest Harry Potter debates going: did you see Snape as a hero or a villain? Or... is the jury still out? The majority of you (around 60% at the time of writing) declared him to be a hero, collectively, with only around 7% dubbing him a villain, and the rest on the fence. No matter what house you’re in, this decision seems pretty unanimous too. But the debate will continue to wage on... Always...  
<br>

__When asked if you’d rather be a Squib or a Muggle, you picked...__ 
 
*Squib! But only just.* 
 
This is perhaps one of our closest polls yet, with 23,000 of you trying to decide which non-magical life you’d prefer. Pick a Squib, and you get to actually know about the wizarding world, see ghosts and get one of your wizard mates to pass you your cup of tea with the Summoning Charm. Pick a Muggle, and you can live in blissful ignorance without the frustration of not being able to perform magic. After all, you don’t know any better. 

 
But when all is said and done, 51% of you (at the time of writing...) decided that being a Squib was the ever-so-slightly superior option. And you could always try the Kwikspell course, after all... 
 
***


We want to thank those of you who have joined us so far on our adventures re-visiting the wizarding world we all love. For those of you who joined us from the first issue of the Wizarding Weekly, thank you for accompanying us on our magical way. And for those who have only just downloaded the Wizarding World App, you’re in luck – there are 50 issues for you to enjoy, as well as many more to come! 

*The Wizarding World app is available from [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/wizarding-world/id1427926466) and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wwdfe.goog.wizardingworld&hl=en_GB) in selected territories.*
[Find out here](https://help.wizardingworld.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032161172-Where-and-when-will-the-app-be-available-) if it's available where you are. 

Chapter Challenge: 'Through the Trapdoor'

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Welcome to your sixteenth Chapter Challenge! Nearly at the end, already? Another handy reminder before we start: we've created a brand new special house points tracker that you can make at home which will help you keep score of your chapter challenge achievements. Take a look. 

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<IMG src="https://contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/z505aKu6dbnv4BtYwmxmU/630454740a59bfa2987a7920bbc746a6/1.png">

__Write down which of the tasks so far you think is the most difficult. Getting past Fluffy? Defeating Devil’s Snare? Catching the enchanted key? Winning the giant wizard chess game? Choosing the correct potion? Don’t forget to write down why you have chosen that challenge!__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*

<IMG src="https://contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/yOxIcxHhrhZOArv0ELkzy/f0a35d54a4d538c31985beb47eaafc3a/2.png">

__Draw a picture of the specific winged key that Harry has to catch.__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*

<IMG src="https://contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/1ijZO9HuWGqfNvOAJn3uyX/5b702a556d438b95f72aa8ca047c072b/3.png">

__Answer this question and get a clue about the next chapter. What do you call an object in which you can see your clear reflection?.__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*

<IMG src="https://contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/6XvglminJY0E2faLECIQ2v/14ad2062752ee0fab295ee48a0758e9e/4.png">

__Write about yourself: In this chapter Hermione tells Harry that friendship is very important. Pick one of your friends and write about them. What do they look like? What are their hobbies? What is the best thing about being friends with that person?__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*

<IMG src="https://contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/4Jaq0FK5wBobon9dUkJbHa/b9fe97c017b788149fcba5c3511ef5d7/5.png">

__Prediction time! Who do you think Harry can see in the last chamber? We know it’s not Snape or Voldemort. Who is it? And no peaking at the beginning of the next chapter!__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*

<IMG src="https://contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/4e75X3nG3vj7Li3Kib76w4/da2b3bc99a7665be67ccfd0219e6316b/6.png">

__Time to be Neville Longbottom: In 'Through the Trapdoor', Neville stands up to Harry, Ron and Hermione to try to stop them sneaking out of the common room. Pretend you’re Neville later that night writing in his diary. Are you upset with Hermione for cursing you? Are you glad you stuck up for yourself? Are you worried Harry, Ron and Hermione will get caught? Do you tell any other Gryffindors about it? Have you lost Trevor again? Use your imagination!__

*This mini-challenge is worth 2 house points.*

<IMG src="https://contentful.harrypotter.com/usf1vwtuqyxm/5kIRgx7Pxh0bNuMPmcaguy/0cd8d07f3c587d0c32f678e9480156f8/7.png">

__Secret quest: Challenge someone in your household to a game. It could be chess (like the characters play in this chapter) or something else you have in the house. [Here are some magical ideas, if you’re stuck](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/how-to-cast-a-spell-over-everyday-games). At the end of the game – whether you win or lose – you must thank the other player for helping you get one step closer to the Philosopher’s Stone. Keep a straight face and absolutely do not laugh ...__

*This mini-challenge is worth 3 house points.*

  OR...

***

__Quiz time: If this secret quest isn’t for you, you can collect the same number of house points if you answer every question correctly in our [Chapter Sixteen Quiz here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-sixteen-five-questions "CQ16")...__

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Did you complete this Chapter Challenge? How many house points did you collect of the possible 10? 

Still need to find out which Hogwarts house you belong in? [Here’s a link to register and find the Sorting Ceremony on our website](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register?utm_medium=social&utm_source=wwd_web&utm_campaign=chapterchallenge-register). Or download the Wizarding World app to find out your house whilst wearing the Sorting Hat! You’ll need an adult to help you register.

And for more quizzes, crafting, articles and other fun activites go to the [Harry Potter Reading Magic Hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/starting-harry-potter"). 

__Illustration by Mary GrandPré © Scholastic__

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How Ron Weasley’s wizard chess match showed his true potential

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PMARCHIVE-WB F1 Wizards Chess Harry Ron Hermione Crossing chess board 8637 YW24X63JssAOeeycsOke6-b3

WB F1 Wizards Chess Harry Ron Hermione Crossing chess board 8637

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The Ron we meet in *Philosopher’s Stone* isn’t exactly brimming with self-belief. He’s embarrassed about his hand-me-downs, overshadowed by his older brothers and burdened by the weight of family expectation. It’s really no surprise that the Mirror of Erised shows him basking in the glory of being the best Weasley boy – something, he gloomily tells Harry, is unlikely to happen in real life:

> ‘Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it’s no big deal, because they did it first.’  
<br> *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone* </br>

All that sibling rivalry, plus the added factor of being the best friend of the incredibly famous Harry Potter, all seems to contribute to knocking Ron’s self-esteem, and it can lead him to being pretty jealous at times. But in his very first year, Ron shows poise and bravery while battling Professor McGonagall’s huge enchanted chessboard, one of the many obstacles protecting the Philosopher's Stone. He’s even willing to sacrifice himself by being knocked unconscious by the giant chess pieces so Harry and Hermione can move on. It's a hugely mature decision for someone so young, especially for someone who can be a bit immature at times like Ron.

Here’s why Ron’s chess match was so important.

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## He’s in control

Ron’s part of a big family, constantly jostling for room. At Hogwarts, it’s even worse: not only does he have the legacy of his two eldest brothers to contend with, he’s also got perfect Percy and practical jokers Fred and George on his case.

If everyone expects certain things of you, it’s hard to feel in control of your own choices. Chess might be an unpredictable game, but when Ron is directing his pieces around that chessboard it’s just him and his opponent.

## It’s all about strategising

Ron can be impulsive, reckless and irrational – such as stealing his dad’s car in *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, for instance – or falling out with Harry over his Triwizard Cup entry in *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*. Chess, however, is a long game with only three possible outcomes. Chess forces Ron to think strategically, and quickly. This is where he’s at his best. He thrives on action and at the very least he likes a plan. In *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*, he initially struggles with the randomness of his Horcrux journey but later, during the Battle of Hogwarts, he has the idea of gathering Basilisk fangs to destroy the remaining Horcruxes — the kind of thinking on the spot that chess encourages.

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## There are no expectations

He says it himself — at every point in Ron’s Hogwarts journey, from the Sorting Hat to his lessons to the Quidditch pitch, he’s burdened by expectation: all his family were Gryffindors, Bill was Head Boy, Charlie was Quidditch captain, Percy’s a prefect and Fred and George make everyone laugh.

But a game of chess demands nothing of you except that you play, and in Ron’s case, he plays well. To lose is disappointing, but not devastating (or at least until he comes to play Professor McGonagall’s giant set), and in any case, he doesn't often lose.

## He can be instinctive, without feeling self-conscious

It’s precisely because nobody expects anything in particular of him that Ron can play wizard chess without feeling self-conscious. When Ron makes it on to the Gryffindor Quidditch team, his anxieties about becoming the new Keeper become so overwhelming that they affect his ability to play – especially joining the team years after Harry did. His insecurities really play havoc with his intentions in *Deathly Hallows*, when he abandons Harry and Hermione after one too many Horcrux-influenced bad thoughts. He has no such insecurity when faced with a chess board so he just plays instinctively, analysing nothing but his opponent.

## He knows he can do it

In *Half-Blood Prince*, Ron’s pre-Quidditch match nerves get so bad that Harry pretends to add a drop of liquid luck to his pumpkin juice. It’s only then that Ron starts to feel confident. But when he comes across Professor McGonagall’s chess set in *Philosopher’s Stone*, he already has the confidence to know he doesn’t need luck. He wastes no time telling Harry and Hermione what to do — he knows he's the best chess player, so he takes charge and says so.

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The giant wizard chess on the way to get to the Philosopher's Stone

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The giant wizard chess on the way to get to the Philosopher's Stone.

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## It’s all his

Above all, wizard chess is Ron’s game. Elsewhere he is overshadowed and sometimes entirely overlooked, but when faced with a chess board, he knows he’s playing to his strengths.

This is what gives him the confidence to face McGonagall’s merciless white queen. When he steps across the square knowing he will be attacked by a large stone chess piece, he does it so that Harry can checkmate the king. Sure enough, Ron is knocked out with rapid brutality, but his strategising works and Harry and Hermione can move on.

Ron’s a Gryffindor, so of course there are many moments where he proves his bravery and determination — attempting to save his sister in *Chamber of Secrets*, ignoring a broken leg to challenge Sirius in *Prisoner of Azkaban*, battling Death Eaters in *Order of the Phoenix*, to name a few. But off the chess board, he generally works best as part of a team.

He has a family full of high-achieving siblings and friends like Harry and Hermione, so the moments that Ron gets to singlehandedly save the day are few. Chess gives him an opportunity to shine, and the things it teaches him — strategy, quick thinking and the importance of self-belief — are pretty important lessons.

Fifty points to Ron.

What the Forbidden Forest reveals about Harry Potter characters

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## Hagrid

For Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds, the Forbidden Forest was practically his back garden. His fascination with its creatures showed him to be an eternally curious man with a need to champion the underdog.

The first time we saw Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest he was looking to rescue a unicorn. He clearly spent a lot of time there – it was where he hid his brother Grawp, after all, and as Care of Magical Creatures teacher, he usually used the forest as a good place to find beasts to teach his class about.

And then there was Aragog, Hagrid’s childhood friend who just so happened to be a giant, hairy, talking spider. That’s the Aragog who caused Hagrid’s expulsion from Hogwarts and offered Ron and Harry as lunch to his children, of course. Hagrid sure knew how to pick ’em.

We got an insight into why Hagrid was drawn to frightening creatures in *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*, when the truth about his giantess mother emerged and he went into hiding. Dumbledore wouldn’t accept his resignation, refusing to judge Hagrid on his parentage – much like Hagrid, who refused to judge any creature on their frightening appearance.

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Harry teaching a lesson on the Forbidden Forest from the Prisoner of Azakaban 

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## Draco Malfoy

The Forbidden Forest showed Malfoy for what he was: a classic school bully, all sneering bravado and no actual bravery. Well, not in *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*, anyway; then, he was a terrified first-year who tried to get out of entering the forest by calling it ‘servant stuff’, and implying that his father wouldn’t stand for such a punishment.

Malfoy often relied on his family name to intimidate others, as Hagrid found out in *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, when Malfoy’s overreaction to a Hippogriff skirmish led to a death sentence for Buckbeak. Neville Longbottom was another particular target. In *Philosopher’s Stone* Malfoy deliberately frightened Neville in the Forbidden Forest, causing Hagrid to partner Malfoy up with Harry instead.

It was all a bluff, though. When Harry and Malfoy came face to face with a certain someone drinking the blood of a unicorn, it was Malfoy who ran. He didn’t even have the presence of mind of Neville, who at least remembered Hagrid’s instruction to send up red sparks.

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## Ron

If Malfoy was all bravado and no bravery, then Ron was the exact opposite. In *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* Ron revealed he was frightened of spiders.

‘You wouldn’t like them either if you’d been holding your bear and suddenly it had too many legs…’ he says to Hermione, about the time Fred turned his teddy bear into a giant spider.

He might have been terrified, but when Hermione was attacked by the creature lurking in the Chamber of Secrets and the only way of getting answers was to follow the spiders, Ron put his fears aside. He and Harry followed those spiders to the Forbidden Forest where they came face to face with Aragog and his many hungry children.

Ron’s terror when he saw Aragog was obvious. He never tried to hide his fear, but he also never hid behind it. Ron had his faults, but he was honest and brave and those are traits that served him well, inside and outside the Forbidden Forest.

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RonWeasley WB F2 RonDrivingFordAnglia Still 100615 Land

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## Hermione

In their first year Hermione helped Harry get the Philosopher’s Stone by solving Snape’s Potions puzzle, for which she was rewarded 50 points. Dumbledore praised her ‘use of cool logic in the face of fire’.

It’s a statement that sums up a lot about Hermione. Her quick thinking got Harry and Ron out of many a fix, and in *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* she really held her nerve. When the members of Dumbledore’s Army were caught in Umbridge’s office, Umbridge prepared to use the Cruciatus Curse to force Harry to reveal what they were doing. Hermione stopped Umbridge by pretending they were hiding a weapon in the Forbidden Forest, tricking her into following them.

In the Forest, Hermione attracted the attention of the centaurs, counting on Umbridge to reveal her worst prejudices. Umbridge obliged, calling the centaurs ‘filthy half-breeds’. Hermione didn’t quite get it right, as the centaurs resented her presumption, but she still managed to get out of a tricky situation.

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Umbridge, Harry and Hermione in the Forbidden Forest.

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## Harry

Harry’s experiences in the Forbidden Forest were mostly chaotic and they often had some connection to Voldemort, as he learnt more about his destiny and the people around him.

But in *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows* – at the close – Harry experienced a calmer moment in the Forest. He whispered those words to the Snitch left to him by Dumbledore, and as it opened to reveal the Resurrection Stone he saw his family, waiting to accompany him as he offered his life to Voldemort.

The Forbidden Forest was often dark and frightening but in the end, it was not the place in which Voldemort killed Harry. It was the place where Harry finally understood, the place where he saw his loved ones, and the place where he came back.

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Harry, accompanied by the spirits of his dead family and friends, approaches Lord Voldemort prepared to die.

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