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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

Harry Potter and the power of letters

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## The forbidden letters

In the chapter ‘The Letters from No One’, Harry receives a piece of post specifically addressed to him. Upon reading this chapter, you will have noticed Harry’s desperation, quite understandably, to get his hands on one of the letters addressed to Mr H. Potter. These unopened, mysterious letters hold enormous power, not just over Harry but over the entire Dursley family. They send Uncle Vernon into a frenzy. Not only does he sleep under the letterbox, but he also boards up all possible gaps for the letters to slip through and takes time off work to ensure nothing gets past him. 

For Harry, the letters become so important that he doesn’t even care that he is now allowed to move out of the cupboard under the stairs and into a real bedroom. It comes, perhaps, partly from the fact that Harry feels ‘seen’ for the first time in his life. Somebody knows where he sleeps, and somebody has sent him – the boy who wears Dudley’s old clothes ¬– a letter that is entirely his. ‘I want to read it,’ said Harry furiously, ‘as it’s mine.’ And let’s not forget that by the end of Chapter Three, the Dursleys have actually left their home to flee the letters addressed to their nephew ¬– it is the only real power Harry has ever had over them. 

## The Hogwarts letter

How many of us have dreamed about receiving our letter from Hogwarts? Part of its power, for Muggle-borns, is that it arrives without warning – a life-changing surprise right through their letterboxes. And even without knowing its whole significance, there is an undeniable magic in that very first line:

> 	‘Dear Mr Potter,
> We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.’ 

And for Harry, whose life with the Dursleys is nothing short of miserable, the power of the Hogwarts letter, first and foremost, is that glimpse of his new life. A life – just like the forbidden letters – that is entirely his. For Harry, the letter is also the first link between him and his parents. They too attended this school, and the Hogwarts letter sheds a light both backwards and forwards for him – on his wizarding past and on his wizarding future. 

## Howlers

A Howler first makes an appearance in *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, and its power lies, not necessarily in its message, but in the way that message is communicated. Arriving in an angry scarlet envelope, once opened the letter booms with the voice of the writer which is magnified beyond all belief. Usually, letters are private, read by the person named on the outside of the envelope, but the power of the Howler is that it takes that private experience and makes it public. The Howler shares written secrets, and often causes intense embarrassment in the process. Oh, and if you don’t open it? It explodes. Imagine sitting in school assembly and receiving a Howler like the one Ron did in the Great Hall, Mrs Weasley’s voice ringing out:

> ‘… LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN’T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS’

On one memorable occasion, Petunia Dursley receives a Howler. In *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*, the Dursleys are terrified by the smoking red envelope. ‘You can open it if you like,’ said Harry, ‘but I’ll hear what it says anyway. That’s a Howler.’ Again, what would have been private echoes around the room intended for everyone to hear: ‘Remember my last, Petunia.’ She is then questioned by both Harry and Uncle Vernon about the meaning of the message but refuses to answer. Although as a result of the power of the Howler, Vernon and Harry both realise that Petunia is more involved with the wizarding world than they knew. 

Speaking of Howlers, would you like to learn how to make one? [You can watch our video tutorial here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/watch-our-video-tutorial-on-how-to-make-a-paper-craft-howler)

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## Letters from Sirius 

The power of Sirius’ letters to Harry is multi-faceted. First, it gives Harry an adult guardian other than the Dursleys, and within the wizarding world itself. In his first ever letter to Harry, Sirius encloses a piece of parchment saying: 

> ‘I, Sirius Black, Harry Potter’s godfather, hereby give himpermisison to visit Hogsmeade at weekends.’

Inability to get the Dursleys to sign his Hogsmeade form caused Harry all kinds of anger and irritation, and in a simple line, Sirius shows the power he can wield as Harry’s godfather, the doors he can open for him. 

But the power of the letters from Sirius were also that they allowed the godfather and godson to get to know each other, whilst Sirius was still on the run. It allowed Sirius to advise Harry during the Triwizard Tournament and Umbridge’s reign and allowed Harry to communicate with someone outside of Hogwarts, outside of Ron and Hermione, about his problems. After all, it was Sirius who Harry wrote to first about his scar hurting ¬– not Hermione, not Ron. But most of all it allowed Harry to feel the kind of love he might have felt from James and Lily. That fierce, unrequited love that Sirius had for him was something Harry had always been missing – and it was something that was able to shine through in their letters to each other. 

## Lily Potter’s letter to Padfoot

The power of this letter – and all letters from those we have loved and lost – is the ability to hear their voice again through the words on the page. And for Harry, who was only a baby when his mother was killed, this letter was a way to hear her talking about him in a past he couldn’t remember:

> ‘The letter was an incredible treasure, proof that Lily Potter had lived, really lived, that her warm hand had once moved across this parchment, tracing ink into these letters, these words, words about him, Harry, her son’. 

Harry doesn’t find the missing second page in Grimmauld Place – it is with someone else, and for him it holds as much power as it does for Harry. That second part of the letter which contains, ‘Lots of love, Lily’ enabled him to take ‘Lily’s signature, and her love’, and tuck it inside his robes for safe keeping...

From Hogwarts book lists to Howlers, letters in the wizarding world hold a certain undeniable power, and no more so than for Harry Potter, the boy who never expected to be written to at all… 

Chapter Challenge: 'The Vanishing Glass'

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Welcome to your second Chapter Challenge! And once you're done with this one, you can move on to [Chapter Three here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-philosophers-stone-chapter-challenge-three-the-letters-from-no-one)

A reminder! 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.

Harry Potter Reading Magic | House Points Jars

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There are __10 points in total__ to be collected today.

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__Write down which character you think is the most horrible to Harry in Chapter Two and write a short description of them.__

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

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__Draw Harry Potter as he is described in this chapter. Don’t forget to include the scar on his forehead...__

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

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__Answer this question and get a clue about the next chapter. What arrives in the post and also makes up the alphabet?__

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

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__Write about yourself: Dudley Dursley ends up with thirty-nine birthday presents on his birthday! What is the best birthday present you’ve ever received?__

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

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__Prediction time! This is where you guess what might happen later in the book. Do you think the Dursleys will always make Harry sleep in the cupboard under the stairs?__

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

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__Time to be a zookeeper: In 'The Vanishing Glass', a boa constrictor escapes from its enclosure. Pretend you’re the zookeeper who looks after the snakes in the reptile house. Imagine what happened after the snake escaped (Did you help catch it? How far did it get?). Write down your thoughts.__

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

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__Secret quest: Try to get someone in your household to talk to you about motorbikes. When they say the word ‘motorbikes’, interrupt them by saying ‘MOTORBIKES DON’T FLY’ just like Uncle Vernon – to complete the quest.__

*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 Two Quiz here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-two-five-questions "Quiz 2")...__

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Did you complete this Chapter Challenge? How many house points did you collect of the possible 10? Have you kept track of all your points so far?

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 Harry Potter Fan Club app to find out your house whilst wearing the Sorting Hat! You’ll need an adult to help you register.

For more Harry Potter Reading Magic, [visit our collection page](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/week-one-the-magic-begins) where you can explore more fun and games with chapters 1-3 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone. Next time... we'll be on Chapter Three! 

__Illustration by Mary GrandPré © Scholastic__

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Harry Potter Who’s Who - Muggles Edition: Introducing the Dursleys

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## Vernon Dursley:
Vernon Dursley, or Uncle Vernon as Harry Potter calls him, lives at number 4, Privet Drive with his wife, Petunia and son, Dudley. He is a director of a firm called Grunnings, which makes drills. He is a big, beefy man with hardly any neck, and he has a moustache. He doesn’t like people who dress in funny clothes (particularly cloaks), he hates Harry talking about anything acting in a way it shouldn’t – like a motorbike flying, and he is irritated by most things his nephew, Harry does. He does however like large doughnuts.  

## Petunia Dursley:
Petunia Dursley, or Aunt Petunia as Harry Potter calls her lives at number 4, Privet Drive with her husband Vernon and her son, Dudley. She is the sister of Lily Potter, Harry’s mother but that doesn’t mean that she treats Harry any better than Uncle Vernon. Petunia is thin and blonde with nearly twice the usual amount of neck – which comes in very useful when she’s spying on the neighbours over the garden fence. She has some funny nicknames for her son, like Dinky Duddydums and she sometimes looks as though she’s swallowed a lemon. 

## Dudley Dursley:
Dudley Dursley lives with his parents, Vernon and Petunia and Harry at number 4, Privet Drive. He is Harry's horrible, non-magical and slightly older cousin. He is blond, hates exercise and bullies Harry whenever he can, including at school where Dudley has a gang that he gets to pick on his own cousin. A very spoiled little boy, he insists on having more birthday presents than the year before and he pretends to cry to get whatever he wants. He likes watching television and never likes to miss his programmes.  

And now you’ve read their descriptions, why don’t you try drawing their portraits?

And for more games and guides on Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone, visit our[ Harry Potter Reading Magic hub,](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/starting-harry-potter) where we're treating you to five weeks of goodies. 

                                         ***

For our complete guide to the characters in the Harry Potter books, you can [visit Bloomsbury’s Who’s Who page on the Bloomsbury website](https://harrypotter.bloomsbury.com/uk/fun-stuff/harry-potter-whos-who/ "Who's Who Bloomsbury")!

__Illustration by Jim Kay © Bloomsbury__

Who was the worst Dursley: Petunia or Vernon?

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Aunt Petunia looking shocked from the Prisoner of Azkaban 

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We got a pretty good impression of the sort of person Vernon Dursley was right from the beginning of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer's Stone. He worked at a drilling company. He had a big moustache. He hated anything remotely out of the ordinary. This, of course, was unfortunate, considering he would soon have a baby wizard planted on his doorstep. Skip forward eleven years, and it transpired that Vernon didn’t handle that situation very well at all – with his unwanted nephew, Harry, confined to a cupboard under the stairs, and always on the end of a torrent of abuse from his uncle, while his cousin Dudley was lauded with praise for being a puerile bully. 

So, what’s the argument for Vernon, the patriarch of the family, for being the most despicable Dursley over his wife, Petunia? Well, while neither member of the couple will be winning any Humanitarian awards any time soon, there’s something about the small-mindedness of Vernon, and the utter stubbornness to accept anything remotely otherworldly, that continues to frustrate generations of readers. 

Vernon’s behaviour will always be unforgiveable – just look at the way he always barked at Harry given any opportunity, threatened him or belittled him. In fact, he always reached the apex of his short fuse the second poor Harry tried to speak to him about anything. Even Harry  commenting about a dream he had about a flying motorbike is met with a ‘MOTORBIKES DON’T FLY’ tirade from Vernon.

Most of Vernon’s anger towards Harry certainly comes from a place of fear, in particular, his fear of magic. Vernon’s attitude to his wife’s magical family members is one of utmost ignorance, which manifests, most of the time, into either rage or simply completely ignoring the fact they ever existed. But Vernon’s fear for the unknown cannot excuse his cruelty, or indeed his constant encouragement of his son Dudley’s brattish, bad behaviour. 

Even if Vernon didn’t have a wizard for a nephew, the way he encouraged Dudley was a red flag that Vernon doesn’t have any understanding of kind-heartedness or compassion. Dudley’s greed was awarded with more material benefits. Dudley bullying people at school was commended by Vernon, who often encouraged violence, talking about it as if it was a good thing. 

Throughout the books as a whole, we get snippets of Vernon’s worrying ideologies. We see him making snide comments about the news or just generally complaining about the world around him in an ignorant manner. Vernon’s coping mechanism does just seem to be locking away anything he doesn’t like or find some way to simply get rid of it, in an overtly masculine way, while Petunia usually just watched on approvingly. It’s never strictly said, but Harry being locked in a cupboard definitely sounded like Vernon’s original idea.

The fact that Vernon is so definitively set in his ways, whereas with Petunia, we sometimes see tiny flashes of emotion, shows that Vernon is the most despicable, the definition of shaking hands with a fist, a man utterly afraid of anything different. And if you need any further convincing Vernon is the most awful – just look at his sister, Marge, who is arguably even worse.

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Petunia Dursley, or Petunia Evans was much worse than her husband Vernon, for one categorically, undeniable reason… She *knew*. 

Growing up with Lily Potter, Petunia experienced what it was like to live with someone with magical powers they didn’t understand. And we saw, much later on in the series, that Lily and ‘Tuney’, as her sister called her, were very close up until Lily went to Hogwarts and Petunia was left behind. Petunia knew what it was like for a witch to grow up with Muggles, away from the magical world to which they belonged. But instead, she chose to keep Lily’s wizard son in the dark, even keeping up the pretence once his Hogwarts letters started to arrive. 

The hypocrisy of Petunia – the Muggle child who wrote to Professor Dumbledore begging for a place at Hogwarts – hiding that same letter from her nephew sheds a light on a very dark and jealous part of her character. A jealousy and anger that she still could not overcome to protect and comfort her dead sister’s child. 

As Harry grew up and entered the wizarding world, we realised that Petunia had always known more than she had let on, and in turn, that highlighted how bad her treatment of Harry really was. Cupboard under the stairs and constant bullying aside, Petunia allowed Harry to leave the house after he blew up Aunt Marge. And she did this having read Dumbledore’s letter explaining that Harry was protected as long as he called number 4, Privet Drive home. She allowed a thirteen-year-old boy, whose parents she knew were killed by Lord Voldemort, to run away from home in the middle of the night. 

And in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, when Harry and Dudley were attacked by Dementors, Petunia revealed that she knew they guarded the wizard prison. But at the news that there were two of them floating around Little Whinging, and that Lord Voldemort –the wizard who murdered Harry’s parents – was back, Petunia still did not jump to Harry’s defence; she didn’t even comfort him. We don’t know whether Petunia would have stopped Vernon from throwing Harry out of the house, but she certainly didn’t raise any objections until she received Dumbledore’s Howler. And even then, did she really act out of care for Harry? Or was it fear of Dumbledore that drove her decision?

Aunt Petunia’s treatment of Harry would have been horrendous, even without her knowledge of the wizarding world. But her coldness, her indifference, and her lack of care for him was made so much worse by the fact that, unlike Vernon, she understood exactly what she was keeping from him. She knew about magic, about Hogwarts and how much of Harry’s wizarding life he was unable to share with the only family he had left. 

And if all that wasn’t enough to convince you that Petunia was the worse Dursley, there was that moment when Harry left Privet Drive for good and she knew he was off to fight Lord Voldemort. Dudley put old prejudices aside, but Petunia couldn’t even bring herself to hug her sister’s only son goodbye. 

                                      **

So, there you have it. Salient points made on both sides, we’re sure you will agree. But who is your least favourite Dursley, or the one you think is the most despicable? 

Play our Wizarding World locations crossword

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What's your favourite wizarding location? Hogwarts? The Burrow? Surely not Knockturn Alley?! 

Anyway, see how you navigate our latest crossword challenge.

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You can find more of our [crosswords & wordsearches in our puzzles hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles) or on the Wizarding World app.

Oh and psst - if you're a [Wizarding World Gold Subscriber](https://www.wizardingworld.com/about-gold), you'll get even more than usual. 

Make your own Hogwarts house bookmarks

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Whether you’re a Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin or Hufflepuff, these bookmarks are a great way to show off your house colours – and mark your place in that great book you’re reading!

If you don’t know which house you belong to yet then, don’t worry! You can find out in the [Sorting Ceremony on our website here](https://www.wizardingworld.com "Sorting link"). If you’re one of our younger fans, you’ll need an adult to help you register.

Now you know where your house loyalty lies, watch the video below and learn how to make these Hogwarts house bookmarks at home… 

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For more of our arts and crafts videos, check out our [Crafting Magic page](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/crafting-magic "Crafting Magic"), as well as our [Wizarding World YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChPRO1CB_Hvd0TvKRU62iSQ "Youtube"). 

For more [Harry Potter Reading Magic](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/starting-harry-potter) - join us back at the hub for more activities, quizzes, puzzles and beyond.


Chapter Challenge: 'The Boy Who Lived'

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To celebrate __Harry Potter Reading Magic__, our chapter challenges are back! There will be a fresh challenge for every chapter of the first Harry Potter book. This is the very first one – welcome! And once you're done, you can find [Chapter Two here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-philosophers-stone-chapter-challenge-two-the-vanishing-glass)

First thing's first. 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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Your task is to collect as many house points as you can throughout the challenges and record them in your jar. If you don't have a jar, it can be any container – a bottle or a box, perhaps. Same goes for the marbles or rocks - just use your imagination!

And if you don’t know which house you belong to yet, then don’t worry! You can find out in the [Sorting Ceremony on our website here. ](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register)

At the end of all seventeen chapters, you can count up all your house points!

We wish you the best of luck at the start of your Hogwarts journey!

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So, as you play our chapter challenges, you'll be able to add points to your jar (or whatever receptacle you may be using!) be them pebbles, marbles or something else. 

Here's how we suggest doing it: mark each pebble or marble with __'2 points'__ and every time you score 2 points, add a pebble or marble to your jar. You might need a few __'1 point'__ markers as well, in case you score an odd number! 

In this challenge below, __10 house points__ are available - so you could be putting a maximum of 5 marbles or pebbles (or whatever!) in your jar today.

Good luck... 

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__Write down which character is your favourite so far and write a short description of them.__

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

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__Draw Professor McGonagall as a cat, sitting on the wall outside number 4, Privet Drive.__

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

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__Answer this question and get a clue about the next chapter. What is the name of the place you can go to visit exotic animals – think lions, tigers, and snakes?__

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

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__Write about yourself: Albus Dumbledore likes sherbet lemons. Write down your favourite treat, and try to describe why you like it.__

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

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__Prediction time! This is where you guess what might happen later in the book. Write down whether you think the Dursleys will be nice to Harry Potter?__

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

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__Time to be a news reporter: In 'The Boy Who Lived', we hear on the news that there have been sightings of owls in the daytime and reports of shooting stars. Pretend you’re reporting on this story, and think up a headline for your newspaper, as well as a short caption to get people interested!__

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

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__Secret quest: Pretend you have a Put-Outer and turn off all the lights in one room in your home. An empty room doesn't count – there must be someone else in there. Nobody must see you doing it...__

*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 One Quiz here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-one-five-questions "Chapter One quiz link")...__

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For more Harry Potter Reading Magic, [visit our collection page](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/week-one-the-magic-begins) where you can explore more fun and games with chapters 1-3 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone. 

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*Did you complete this chapter challenge? How many house points did you collect of the possible 10? Have you collected all your points so you don’t lose count?*

Illustration by Mary GrandPré © Scholastic

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The man in the purple cloak: what Chapter One can teach us about one of the greatest wizards of all time

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## A silly sense of humour

The first sound we ever hear leave Albus Dumbledore’s lips is a chuckle. He finds it amusing that Professor McGonagall is on the wall waiting for him, sitting stiffly as a cat. And when she says that he’s noble, he jokes that he hasn’t ‘blushed so much since Madam Pomfrey told me she liked my new earmuffs’. This sense of humour is an intrinsic part of Dumbledore’s personality, not just in the first chapter, but throughout the Harry Potter stories. Like on the night Harry Potter survived Lord Voldemort’s attack, he has a particular tendency to lighten a sombre mood with a funny line or observation. 

When Harry wakes up in the hospital wing at the end of *Philosopher’s Stone* – worried, disorientated and asking serious questions – Dumbledore relieves the tension by joking about Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans. Similarly, in *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, when Professor Trelawney makes a terrifying prophecy to Harry, Dumbledore remarks amusingly, ‘That brings her total of real predictions up to two. I should offer her a pay rise’. And let’s not forget that time Dumbledore came to fetch Harry from Privet Drive in *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*. When the Dursleys refused to take the drinks he offered them, the wizard enchanted the glasses to nudge against the Muggles’ heads until it drove them to distraction. Dumbledore’s response: ‘But it would have been better manners to drink it, you know.’  

Albus Dumbledore can be serious, but he certainly sees the funny side of wizarding life – even in times of strife or difficulty. 

## A belief that there is good in everyone, if you give them a chance

The act of leaving any child on a doorstep – particularly as precious and important child as Harry Potter – arguably demonstrates a core belief that other human beings are fundamentally good. Dumbledore gives the Dursleys a chance to love Harry, to raise him as their son despite the observations of his friend and colleague, Minerva. We later find out in *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince* that Dumbledore even expressed this ‘hope’ in the letter he left with baby Harry – a hope that the Dursleys would ‘care for him’ as though Harry was their own son.

Time and time again throughout the Harry Potter stories, Dumbledore shows us how strongly he believes that there is good in everyone, no matter who they are or what they’ve done: Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Sirius Black, Draco Malfoy, even Voldemort himself. When we see Dumbledore visit him at the orphanage in the Pensieve, Dumbledore knows that this lonely boy has stolen from, and bullied, the other children, and that he has a tendency towards cruelty. Yet he gives him the chance at a new life, a chance to attend Hogwarts and prove himself better. 

Some might argue that this belief that there is good in everyone is a weakness of Dumbledore’s, and childishly naïve. But on the other hand, is it not also a strength? Is it not beautiful to think that Dumbledore has a core positivity that shines so bright, it helps people believe they are capable of good, even when they can’t see if for themselves?

## Heaps of humility 

In Chapter One of *Philosopher’s Stone*, Professor McGonagall says to Dumbledore, ‘Everyone knows you’re the only one You-Know – oh, all right, Voldemort – was frightened of.’ And he replies, ‘You flatter me' and ‘Voldemort had powers I will never have’. This exchange introduces Dumbledore’s humble nature, which is a core aspect of his personality throughout the books. He is, as it says on his Chocolate Frog Card, ‘Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times’. Yet he rarely chooses to show the extent of his magical power or take advantage of his fame and influence. 

Dumbledore’s longstanding post as Headmaster of Hogwarts is an excellent illustration of this humility. Hogwarts Headmaster might be an eminent and respected position, but Hagrid tells Harry in *Philosopher’s Stone* that ‘they wanted Dumbledore fer Minister, o’ course’. Instead of Dumbledore accepting a position that would carry with it more political clout and influence, he is instead content to advise Cornelius Fudge from afar – Hagrid tells us Fudge, ‘pelts Dumbledore with owls every morning, askin’ fer advice’. Indeed, it is remarkable that Dumbledore only mentions his legendary duel with Dark wizard, Gellert Grindelwald, once throughout the whole series – and there is more detail about it on the back of a Chocolate Frog card than he himself ever gives. 

As well as being a humble man himself, Dumbledore appears to want to encourage that trait in others. In 'The Boy Who Lived' Dumbledore is keen for Harry to avoid the fame that might turn his head: ‘Famous before he can walk and talk! Famous for something he won’t even remember! Can’t you see how much better off he’ll be, growing up away from all that until he’s ready to take it?’ In Dumbledore’s worries about Harry’s head being turned by the attraction of celebrity, and the power that comes with it – perhaps we also see Dumbledore’s own concerns for himself. 

## A loveable eccentric

Albus Dumbledore is unconventional, and let’s be honest, slightly strange, but we love him all the more for it. In the very first chapter of *Philosopher’s Stone* he is seen ‘unsticking two sherbet lemons’ whilst he casually discusses Voldemort. He also reveals that he has a scar above his ‘left knee which is a perfect map of the London Underground’. Not to mention that he doesn’t really dress down for the occasion of visiting the very Muggle Privet Drive: ‘He was wearing long robes, a purple cloak which swept the ground and high-heeled, buckled boots’.

This eccentricity is a wonderful part of Dumbledore’s nature, and one that makes him all the more pleasurable to read about. At Harry’s very first feast he announces, ‘Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!’ and is brought to tears by the whole student body singing the Hogwarts school song to different tunes: ‘Ah, music,’ he said, wiping his eyes. ‘A magic beyond all we do here!’ From helping himself to earwax-flavoured Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans to his professed love of knitting patterns, Dumbledore was never afraid to be himself. 

                                      ***


Why Neville Longbottom was always a true Gryffindor

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

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## Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone 
In *Philosopher’s Stone*, Neville himself doubted whether he should have been put in 	Gryffindor: ‘*There’s no need to tell me I’m not brave enough to be in Gryffindor, Malfoy’s 	already done that*’.  However, when he found Ron, Hermione and Harry trying to sneak out 	of the Gryffindor common room, we saw a much more lion-hearted Neville Longbottom: 

*‘I won’t let you do it,’ he said, hurrying to stand in front of the portrait hole. ‘I’ll – I’ll fight 	you!'*

Though Hermione cursed him with ‘*Petrificus Totalus*!’ and they left the common 	room anyway, Dumbledore recognised the bravery – a trait prized by Godric Gryffindor – 	Neville had shown in standing up to his friends:‘*There are all kinds of courage,’ said 	Dumbledore, smiling. ‘It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr Neville Longbottom*.’



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Neville falls victim to Hermione's Petrificus Totalus spell

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## Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 
In *Chamber of Secrets*, Gilderoy Lockhart decided to start a Duelling Club. You might have 	expected to find the likes of Harry, Ron and Hermione there, but how about Neville? It’s important to note that the Duelling Club wasn’t compulsory, but Mr Longbottom went along, even though he hadn’t had much luck in any lessons other than Herbology. Paired 	up with Justin Finch-Fletchley, they both ended up ‘*lying on the floor, panting*’ but it’s the courage it took for Neville to attend that shows his real Gryffindor colours, rather than whether he could actually duel.

Neville showed a different Gryffindor trait in Chamber of Secrets too – that of loyalty. When Ron received a Howler from Mrs Weasley, Neville advised him to open it quickly, and 	stuck by him whilst it wailed away. Though he did stick ‘*his fingers in his ears*’ – very 	sensible if you ask us!

## Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 
Let’s not forget that it was Neville who faced the Boggart first in a Defence Against the Dark Arts class with Professor Lupin. A Boggart, as Hermione told us, ‘*takes the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us most*’. It must have taken some serious Gryffindor bravery to be the first to take the scary shape-shifter on! Bravery isn’t necessarily about not 	being afraid, it’s more about being terrified and carrying on anyway. We read how scared Neville was of facing the Boggart, but he didn’t try to back out – ‘*He looked pale and frightened, but he had pushed up the sleeves of his robes and was holding his wand ready*’. That’s true courage right there. 

And we will be forever grateful that Neville used ‘*Riddikulus!*’ successfully and we got the image of Severus Snape ‘*wearing a long, lace-trimmed dress and a towering hat topped with a moth-eaten vulture, and swinging a huge crimson handbag from his hand*’. Thanks Neville! We’ll be chuckling about that one for years to come.

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A confused Boggart disguised as Snape in Neville's Grandmother's clothes 

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## Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 
As Dumbledore reminded us back in *Philosopher’s Stone*, ‘*there are all kinds of courage*’ and asking someone to go with you to a ball certainly takes some nerve. In *Goblet of Fire*, we heard from Ginny that Neville plucked up the courage not once, but twice! ‘*I’m going with – with Neville. He asked me when Hermione said no*’, Ginny said. In this particular part of the 	book, Harry and Ron had been stressing over asking people to the Yule Ball every couple of lines – and here’s Neville already with a date! To first ask Hermione, get turned down,and then pick himself back up and ask Ginny? That’s some Gryffindor bravery right there.

In lessons, Neville had to face something truly terrible in Defence Against the Dark Arts. We didn’t know it at the time but witnessing the Cruciatus curse must have been extremely distressing for Neville, given that his parents had been tortured with it. We would find out later that Neville Longbottom had seen much more trauma than his smiling face and sunny disposition would suggest. 

## Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 
In *Order of the Phoenix*, not only was Neville loyal to Harry, sticking up for him – and 	Dumbledore – when Seamus believed the lies in the Daily Prophet, he was also one of the very keenest to join Dumbledore’s army. Neville was one of the first to enter the Hog’s Head when Hermione called a meeting to form the Defence Against the Dark Arts group, and he was also one of Harry’s most enthusiastic advocates, reminding everyone that Harry saved the *Philosopher’s Stone* – although Neville called it ‘*Philological*’ – in his first year.

As the year went on, Neville improved in Defence Against the Dark Arts beyond all recognition. Then came possibly his most Gryffindor moment so far – when he insisted on accompanying Harry to the Department of Mysteries:

*‘We were all in the DA together,' said Neville quietly. ‘It was all supposed to be about fighting You-Know-Who, wasn’t it? And this is the first chance we’ve had to do something real – or was that all just a game or something?’*

Despite being afraid, despite knowing he’d almost certainly be facing Death Eaters of the kind that tortured his parents – Neville was determined to fight. And once there, he fought valiantly beside his friends – loyal and brave as Godric Gryffindor himself. 


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## Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 
Sometimes bravery is staying true to yourself, even though you know you might to 	disappoint someone – and Neville’s grandmother, Augusta certainly had a lot of 	expectations for him. But although his grandmother said Charms was a ‘*soft option*’, 	Neville accepted McGonagall’s advice and decided to study it on his new timetable.
Neville also reignited his passion and bravery for Dumbledore’s Army on that fateful night 	Harry left the castle with Dumbledore to search for a Horcrux. He, with Ginny, kept watch on Malfoy outside the Room of Requirement and ended up, yet again, embroiled in a fight against Death Eaters. We loved the detail that Neville and Luna alone had been the ones 	who had bravely ‘*responded to Hermione’s summons*’ that night. It was put down, by Harry, to them being the ones who checked their coins the most regularly, ‘*who had 	missed the DA the most*’. 

## Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Deathly Hallows is the book that many people associate with Neville showing his true 	Gryffindor colours – though we hope we’ve managed to convince you otherwise with this 	book by book account! 
It can’t be denied however, that Neville came into his own in the final instalment of the 	Harry Potter series. He, alongside Ginny, lead the resistance against Snape and the Carrows at Hogwarts, whilst Harry, Ron and Hermione were off hunting Horcruxes. He rebelled, he found a base for the resistance in the Room of Requirement, and he re-formed 	Dumbledore’s Army. Then, he fought valiantly at the Battle of Hogwarts, taking on the likes of the werewolf, Fenrir Greyback. He even told Voldemort that he’d join him when ‘*hell freezes over*’. Go Neville!

And if you needed any more convincing, here’s one last piece of hard evidence that Neville Longbottom always belonged in Gryffindor:

*“In one swift, fluid motion Neville broke free of the Body-Bind Curse upon him; the flaming Hat 	fell off him and he drew from its depths something silver, with a glittering, rubied handle –”*

Following this, he cut off the head of the great snake, destroying the Horcrux with Godric’s 	heirloom. In the words of Albus Dumbledore: 

*‘Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the Hat*’. 


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