Some pleasing Harry Potter facts that might cheer you up
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Having a bit of a down day? Ah, it happens to both of us. Here are some interesting facts about Harry Potter and Hogwarts: The school of witchcraft and wizardry. Have a Great ride of Harry Potter world.
The wizarding world is full of wonder: broomsticks, massive castles, talking hats, that sort of thing. And in the darker times, you can always find a small spark of joy to make everyone smile once again, whether that be a classic Fred and George prank, a bow from Buckbeak, or a wry remark from Dumbledore.
Here are some random titbits from the wizarding world that might cheer you up.
Hagrid was never going to die
Er, yes, we’re starting off by talking about death – but bear with us, this is meant to be a cheery point. We’ve all had many years to digest the painful demises that happen in the Harry Potter stories, and let’s face it, some of them still smart. (Hedwig, why?) While J.K. Rowling has apologised for killing off a few characters, there was one who was always safe: Hagrid.
Yes, according to Rowling, the loveable gamekeeper was always going to be in the series from start to finish – with the author picturing him carrying a ‘dead’ Harry during a Hogwarts battle before she had even written Deathly Hallows. This was intended to mirror Hagrid bringing Harry into the wizarding world in the first place in Philosopher’s Stone.
In an interview for the Blu-ray edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011), she said: ‘I always knew – and this was from really early on – I was working towards the point where Hagrid carried Harry, alive but supposedly dead, out of the forest.’
It’s comforting to know that Hagrid was always going to be there right at the end.
Wizarding words get translated into amazing things
In different translations of the Harry Potter books, we are met with many fun alternatives. For example, in the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the Scots version, the first chapter is called: ‘The Laddie Wha Lived’. Yes, hen. Here’s another favourite: in French, in order for Tom Marvolo Riddle’s name to successfully be re-ordered to say ‘I am Lord Voldemort’, his middle name in the French translation has to be… Elvis. And now we’re imagining the darkest wizard in the wizarding world wearing a spangled white suit…
The meanings behind certain names and words are always very clever
You probably know our favourite Harry Potter name that comes from Old English: Albus Dumbledore’s last name means bumblebee! And we’re buzzing at how adorable that is. Of course, a lot of the Harry Potter language comes from Latin, including a lot of spells, and the Hogwarts motto: ‘Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus’ (never tickle a sleeping dragon). Latin sneaks in everywhere in the Harry Potter books: for example, Ludo Bagman, the former Quidditch player and Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, has a name that roughly translates into: ‘I play’. He liked to play in all sorts of ways of course, such as with a nasty gambling habit.
But just from reading the Harry Potter books, we’ve accumulated quite a bit of Latin by osmosis. Look up your favourite spell, character or location and delve into the etymology for yourself. Or read more of our own Latin observations here.
J.K. Rowling chose to feature King’s Cross Station in Harry Potter in homage to her parents
In ‘King’s Cross Station’, J.K. Rowling revealed that the London station had special significance for her, hence its importance in the Harry Potter books as the gateway to platform nine and three-quarters.
Of course, a train is also the setting on which J.K. Rowling thought of the concept of Harry Potter in the first place. So the moral of this story is to take more trains, clearly.
Wizards hate wearing trousers
Don’t we all? But especially wizards, as it turns out.
The International Statute of Secrecy has clear guidelines on what wizards really should be wearing while out and about among Muggles – which should be ‘Muggle standard’, climate appropriate, as close as possible to the fashion of the day, and definitely not very wizard-looking robes. However, some wizards enjoy disregarding this rule, and are particularly averse to how constricting trousers are.
You may recall one wizard from Goblet of Fire who remarked that he ‘likes a healthy breeze around his privates, thanks’. And it’s not just him. According to J.K. Rowling, a fringe movement called ‘Fresh Air Refreshes Totally’ was once initiated to counteract the wearing of trousers. And, even more brilliantly, the acronym for that movement is F.A.R.T.
Dolores Umbridge ended up in Azkaban for her cruel deeds
As you might hope, Umbridge did not get away with her horrible ways – but in the Harry Potter books, we never found out exactly what happened. Don’t worry, in an interview J.K. Rowling confirmed that Umbridge did indeed get imprisoned for her actions at the Ministry of Magic.
We imagine there are no cat plates in Azkaban.
One of J.K. Rowling’s favourite funny moments from the Harry Potter books is…
This bit from the end of the Battle of Hogwarts:
Somewhere in the distance they could hear Peeves zooming through the corridors singing a victory song of his own composition:
‘We did it, we bashed them, wee Potter’s the One, And Voldy’s gone mouldy, so now let’s have fun!’
‘Really gives a feeling for the scope and tragedy of the thing, doesn’t it?’ said Ron, pushing open a door to let Harry and Hermione through.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The cat who doubled for Professor McGonagall in Philosopher’s Stone had a fabulous name
We all know that Minerva McGonagall was played by the wonderful Dame Maggie Smith, but did you know that the cat who played her Animagus other self in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was named… wait for it… Mrs P. Head?
Our guess is that the ‘P’ stands for ‘Potter’.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was the primary setting for the "Harry Potter" series. But despite its prevalence in the books and films, little is known about the castle and its many secrets.
Prior to using her platform to spread transphobic messages, the series' controversial author, J.K. Rowling, was known to use Twitter, interviews, and the official Wizarding World website (originally known as Pottermore) to expand the "Harry Potter" canon by sharing new information about characters and plotlines beyond the seven books.
With all that information in mind, here are some interesting facts even the biggest "Harry Potter" fans might not know about Hogwarts:
The school was built in the late 10th century
The exact date the castle was built is unknown, but we can infer that Hogwarts was founded sometime in the late 10th century because there are multiple references in the books to the school being over 1,000 years old.
According to Wizarding World, the 10th century wasn't a safe time for witches and wizards, so Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin founded the school and concealed it from the Muggles who were persecuting them.
The founders went on to lend their surnames to the four Hogwarts Houses.
No matter what day of the week it falls on, the school year always begins on September 1
Unlike most schools that start each new year on a Monday, Hogwarts begins on September 1, no matter what day of the week it is.
Since Harry started at the school in 1991, his first day at Hogwarts was a Sunday.
Luckily, there aren't any classes on the first day at the school, so even if it falls on a weekend, there won't be much work to do.
Students didn't always take the Hogwarts Express to get to the castle
For the most part, students travel to and from the castle via the Hogwarts Express throughout the "Harry Potter" series — the biggest exception being Ron and Harry's flying car adventure during their second year.
But since the first steam trains weren't invented until the early 19th century, this clearly isn't how transportation always worked.
In a 2015 feature on Pottermore (now Wizarding World), Rowling wrote that students used to arrive at Hogwarts however they wanted, including by broom, magical creatures, and even Portkeys.
But between Muggle sightings and students falling "Portkey-sick" from the dizzying motion, a better method was needed, so they created the Hogwarts Express.
The school's motto is 'Never tickle a sleeping dragon'
The Hogwarts crest features a large "H" surrounded by the animal symbols of the four houses — the Gryffindor lion, the Ravenclaw eagle, the Hufflepuff badger, and the Slytherin snake.
The bottom of the crest also has the school motto in Latin, "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus," which roughly translates to "Never tickle a sleeping dragon."
It may seem like a silly saying, but in a 2005 press conference, Rowling said she wanted an "entirely practical piece of advice for the Hogwarts school motto."
Some of the Hogwarts portraits are more capable than others
The portraits hanging at Hogwarts are no ordinary paintings. The subjects can talk, move around, and even walk into other portraits.
In another 2015 feature on Pottermore, Rowling revealed some of the secrets behind the wall hangings.
Though it may seem like the person has been captured in the portrait, the painting is simply imitating the subject's behavior and common catchphrases.
This is why Sir Cadogan's portrait is always challenging people and other portraits to duels.
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