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What does your Hogwarts house mean?

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At Hogwarts you will sorted into one of four houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. Find out what it means to be part of each house!

What does your Hogwarts house say about you? | Wizarding World

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__Illustration by Jim Kay © Bloomsbury Publishing Plc__

## [Gryffindor](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/gryffindor)

Gryffindor house is where you would find the pluckiest and most daring students (there’s a reason the house symbol is the brave lion). The house colours are scarlet and gold, the common room lies up in Gryffindor Tower and the Head of House is Professor Minerva McGonagall. 

If the Sorting Hat placed you here, you would have demonstrated qualities like courage, bravery and determination. Some of the wizarding world’s best and brightest belonged to this house – Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore are just a couple that spring to mind!

If you are lucky enough to end up in Gryffindor, we imagine you’re the type of person who likes to stand up for the little guy, challenges authority, has a tendency to act first and think later, is known as a class clown and takes board games very seriously.

## [Slytherin](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/slytherin)

Slytherin house has an unfortunate reputation. While it is true that a lot of dark witches and wizards were sorted into Slytherin, not all who belong to this house are bad. In fact, there are a lot of excellent qualities the Sorting Hat looks for in potential Slytherins and Merlin himself even belonged to this misunderstood house! 

The house colours for Slytherin are silver and emerald green and the emblem is a serpent. The Head of House is Professor Severus Snape, and the common room can be found down in the dungeons under the lake (which only adds to the Slytherin air of mystery). 

If the Sorting Hat placed you in this noble house, then you are most likely ambitious, shrewd and possibly destined for greatness. We can imagine you’re the kind of person who is always one step ahead, has a dark sense of humour, thinks reputation is important, takes pride in their appearance and doesn’t let anyone see their soft side.

## [Ravenclaw](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/ravenclaw)

If you are looking for the brainiest students – you would find them in Ravenclaw (with a couple of notable exceptions like Hermione Granger). The Ravenclaw colours are blue and bronze, the emblem is an eagle, the Head of House is Professor Filius Flitwick and the common room sits at the top of Ravenclaw Tower behind an enchanted knocker.

The Sorting Hat would only put you in this house if you demonstrated excellent wisdom, wit and a skill for learning. Ravenclaws are often known for being quite eccentric and most of the great wizarding inventors and innovators have come from this house.

We can imagine that you would get to sit up in Ravenclaw Tower, while surveying the excellent views, if you’re the type of person who analyses everything, is an overachiever, can be described as away with the fairies, is not afraid to be an individual and has a head stuffed full of interesting facts.

## [Hufflepuff](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/hufflepuff)

Hufflepuff is where you will find the most trustworthy and hardworking students. In fact, out of all the houses Hufflepuff has produced the least number of dark witches and wizards. The badger is the symbol of this house, the colours are yellow and black, the Head of House is Professor Pomona Sprout and the common room can be found near the kitchens in Hogwarts.

There is an idea that Hufflepuffs are the least clever of all Hogwarts students – but that is not true. Hufflepuffs are just the most humble of all the houses and don’t feel the need to shout about their achievements in the same way as the others.

If you were lucky enough to be sorted into this house, we can imagine you’re the type of person who has a strong moral compass, always works hard, is the most loyal friend, knows it is the taking part that counts and always has the best snacks. 

## Take part in the Sorting Hat ceremony - discover your house!

Fancy getting sorted into your own Hogwarts house? Step this way to our [Sorting Hat Quiz](https://my.wizardingworld.com/sorting-hat)!

Grindelwald and Dumbledore's chequered history: A deep dive

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Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

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The Crimes of Grindelwald

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## Albus and Gellert's first meeting
Albus Dumbledore first met Gellert Grindelwald at a rather difficult time in his life, when he was seventeen years old. He had just finished his studies at Hogwarts, where he had excelled at everything, been Head Boy and won prize after prize – including the Barnabus Finkley Prize for Exceptional Spell-Casting. This exciting stage of his life had been set to continue, as he was supposed to go on a tour of the world with his friend Elphias Doge. However, tragedy struck on the eve of their trip. His mother, Kendra, was killed in an accident and Albus had to return to Godric’s Hollow to take care of his brother, Aberforth and sister, Ariana. This was no easy task, as after being brutally attacked by a group of Muggle boys, his sister had turned her magic inwards, was unstable, sometimes dangerous and needed constant care. 

It just so happened that during that summer another wizard was preparing to spend some time in that particular village, Gellert Grindelwald. He had come to stay with his great aunt Bathilda Bagshot. Like Albus, Gellert was another gifted young wizard. However, according to Rita Skeeter (who isn’t known for being an especially reliable source), rather than channelling his abilities into winning prizes and achievements, Grindelwald had taken a different path and had been expelled from the Durmstrang Institute as a result. 

Yet, as two highly intelligent wizards of the same age who were stuck in a small village, it is easy to understand why these two were drawn to one another. Dumbledore and Grindelwald soon struck up a friendship, bouncing ideas off one another, obsessing over the Deathly Hallows and coming up with their plan of how the wizarding world could look if Muggles were subservient to wizards. 

Their conversations served as an escape for Dumbledore, who had felt trapped after the death of his mother and allowed him to imagine a future where he was free to do as he pleased. Dumbledore believed that if he and Grindelwald were successful at finding all the Hallows, not only would they become immensely powerful and the masters of death, but he could use the Resurrection Stone to bring his parents back and lift all the responsibility he had from his shoulders.

Yet, reality soon came calling for Dumbledore, in the form of his siblings…

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Albus Dumbledore and Newt Scamander standing on the rooftop of St. Paul's Cathedral in London

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## A fracture in their relationship
During that summer, Dumbledore had neglected both his brother and his sister and Aberforth soon let him know about it. Aberforth was set to return to Hogwarts and was fed up with Dumbledore’s plotting with Grindelwald – in addition to being concerned about Ariana’s care. He bluntly reminded Albus that he could not go searching for the Deathly Hallows with his fragile sister in tow. Albus and Gellert were not happy to have their dreams crushed and made their feelings clear. 

According to Aberforth, this involved Grindelwald becoming angry and calling him a stupid little boy. He told Aberforth that Ariana would no longer have to be hidden if he and Albus were successful and that he shouldn’t stand in their way. 

Unfortunately, this argument soon took a turn for the worse and escalated into a fight. Aberforth drew his wand and so did Gellert. He used the Cruciatus Curse on Aberforth, which prompted Albus to try and stop him. Soon, all three wizards were duelling. The loud noises and flashing lights caused immeasurable distress to Ariana, who then tried to become involved. Aberforth always maintained that she wanted to help but didn’t know how. Amidst all the chaos, she ended up dead. Though nobody knows who was the one to cast the curse that killed her, Grindelwald fled and that marked the end of his and Dumbledore’s friendship.

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Albus Dumbledore is sat down on the steps in his office at Hogwarts.

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## Their complicated ties in *Fantastic Beasts*
By the time we came across Dumbledore and Grindelwald in *[Fantastic Beasts](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/fantastic-beasts-collection)*, decades had passed since their summer together as teenagers. Grindelwald was still determined to enact his vision for the wizarding world. He had also managed to steal the Elder Wand from the wandmaker Gregorovitch – so was now in possession of one of the Deathly Hallows.

Meanwhile, Dumbledore had taken a different path entirely. Distancing himself from Grindelwald, he had become a respected teacher at Hogwarts. He had also built up a reputation as a talented and powerful wizard – even if he did find himself at odds with the Ministry of Magic on occasion. In the ensuing years, he saw that his former friend was becoming even more dangerous (especially after Grindelwald’s escape from MACUSA custody at the beginning of *Crimes of Grindelwald*) but mysteriously refused to move against him – although many believed that he was the only wizard capable of stopping Grindelwald.

We soon learnt that Dumbledore’s refusal was due to the fact he was unable to oppose him, rather than unwilling. In the chaos caused by Grindelwald’s deadly rally in Paris, Teddy the Niffler stole a jewelled vial from the Dark wizard. It turned out to be a blood troth between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, which meant that they were prohibited from moving against each other. It also offered and added insight into their relationship as teenagers. They must have been extremely close to be willing to form such a pact.

Yet, as Newt presented the troth to Dumbledore at the end of *Crimes of Grindelwald*, we can’t help but wonder what that now means for the pair. Will Dumbledore be able to destroy it? Will he even want to? And though we know they supposedly don’t come face-to-face until their duel in 1945, does this now mean Dumbledore can move against the Dark wizard?

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Albus Dumbledore and young Newt Scamander in a lesson. Newt has his wand raised as Dumbledore watches.

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## Their story in their later years
While Dumbledore had defeated Grindelwald many years before Harry Potter’s story took place, we still think that part of their history is worth mentioning – especially as Grindelwald’s name cropped up.

In fact, Grindelwald was mentioned as far back as *Philosopher’s Stone*. When Harry unwrapped his first-ever Chocolate Frog, he got the Dumbledore card which read, ‘Professor Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945’ – though that’s the last we heard about that particular Dark wizard until the *Deathly Hallows*. It was in this book that we learnt about the pair’s turbulent past and how they knew each other so well. Yet it was also this book that showed us the end of Grindelwald’s story, when he was murdered in his cell at Nurmengard by Lord Voldemort – who was in pursuit of the Elder Wand. 

What made things interesting was that Grindelwald had refused to tell Voldemort where the Elder Wand was. He knew that Dumbledore was the current owner and he probably worked out that it remained with Dumbledore in his tomb. You might think that as Dumbledore was the reason that he was locked up, he would be more than happy to share the information with Voldemort, but he didn’t. It was his unspoken motivation behind that decision that was fascinating. 

Some say that in his fifty years in Nurmengard, Grindelwald had begun to show remorse for his actions. So, this could have been an attempt to try and make some small amends by stopping Voldemort from getting his hands on the Hallow. But it was Harry who raised another interesting and valid point. Harry said he may have withheld the information to stop Voldemort from desecrating Dumbledore’s tomb. If that had been the case, it could have meant that, despite everything that went on between them, Grindelwald still had a lingering affection or respect for his former friend…

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Albus Dumbledore stands in a dream version of King's Cross station which is empty, hazy and white.

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## What does this all mean for *The Secrets of Dumbledore*
While we know the start and the end of this pair’s story, what happened in the middle is still rather a mystery. Though, if the trailers for *[The Secrets of Dumbledore](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/fantastic-beasts-the-secrets-of-dumbledore)* are anything to go by, we might be about to learn a little more about that period of time. At the very least, we think we are going to get a deeper insight into their relationship.

We wonder whether this film will reveal more about the aforementioned blood troth and what Dumbledore decides to do with it. While it was arguably his relationship with Grindelwald that caused the death of his sister, the fractured bond with his brother and his own decision to never pursue power in the same way again, how easy would it really be for Dumbledore to move against someone with whom he had such a complex and long history?  

On another note, we can’t help but be curious about the glimpses we’ve seen of the pair together. They famously never came back into contact until their climactic duel in 1945… but was that really the case? Or is there more to their intricate history than we ever knew? What seems sure is that these two wizards appear to be bound to one another, and we’re excited to see where their story takes us next.

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Love & Patronuses: How does love impact a Patronus?

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Is your Patronus affected by love? Does it change shape depending on who you love? Find out as we examine beloved wizarding world characters!

Is a Patronus Impacted by Love? | Wizarding World

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As ‘the majority of witches and wizards are unable to produce Patronuses, it’s no wonder that they are shrouded in so much mystery. And the effect of love on Patronuses is one of the most intriguing features of all. But as Harry, Ron and Hermione know so well, if you’re going to try to solve a mystery, you’re going to need some clues. Let’s look at some Patronus case studies… 

*Hold up! Best wait until you’ve finished all the Harry Potter books before you read this article, it has more spoilers than Lockhart received Valentine’s cards…*

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## Case study 1: Nymphadora Tonks

It was Snape that first mentioned the change to Tonks’s Patronus in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. When Malfoy attacked Harry on the Hogwarts Express and left him immobile under the Invisibility Cloak, Tonks found him and escorted him back up to the school. When they met Snape at the Hogwarts gates, he commented to Tonks: ‘I was interested to see your new Patronus.’ And then, unkindly: ‘I think you were better off with the old one… The new one looks weak.’

Tonk’s’ original Patronus was a jackrabbit – an animal similar in size and form to Luna Lovegood’s silver hare - but the Patronus Harry saw as they made their way up to Hogwarts was ‘an immense silvery four-legged creature’. A wolf, as it turned out that exactly matched the form of Remus Lupin’s Patronus.

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## Case study 2: Severus Snape

Severus Snape might have been rude to Tonks, but love had a long-lasting and – let’s be honest – tear-jerking effect on his own Patronus too. It wasn’t until after Snape’s death and the heart-breaking revelations in ‘The Prince’s Tale’ chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that we learnt its shape. A doe. And in his final battle with Lord Voldemort, Harry explained the significance of this to his adversary, and to us: ‘Snape’s Patronus was a doe,’ said Harry, ‘the same as my mother’s, because he loved her for nearly all of his life, from the time when they were children’.

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## Case study 3: Hermione Granger 

‘Hermione’s Patronus, a shining silver otter, was gambolling around her. They are sort of nice, aren’t they?’ she said, looking at it fondly.’ We loved hearing that Hermione’s Patronus had such a carefree way of gambolling about her, given that she was so often solving mysteries, getting ahead on homework and researching complicated potions in the library. But then again, according to eighteenth-century Charms researcher Professor Catullus Spangle, ‘the Patronus is the awakened secret self that lies dormant until needed’.  Was there some other hidden meaning in Hermione’s otter Patronus though? A meaning related to her feelings for a certain red-headed Gryffindor, perhaps? 

We don’t know for sure but otters and weasels belong to the same mammal family (the Mustelidae). Is it really coincidence that Hermione ends up marrying into the Weasley family and her Patronus is a otter? Plus, Ron’s family home was in Ottery St Catchpole. Ottery? Otter? Perhaps Hermione and Ron’s love was reflected in their Patronuses after all?


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Although Lily and Snape’s doe Patronuses matched, Severus’s love was devastatingly unrequited. Lily’s true love was James Potter, who, although Lily once told him ‘I wouldn’t go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid’, she ended up marrying the untidy-haired Quidditch player after they left Hogwarts. Their connection and love showed through their Patronuses in a different way to an exact match like Tonks and Lupin. Lily’s husband’s Patronus was a stag, the male form of her doe. The stag and doe complemented each other rather than matched. Interestingly, James’s Animagus form was also a stag, hence his school nickname: Prongs. 

##  Case study 5: Harry Potter 

Our last case study looks at the Boy Who Lived himself, who discovered that his Patronus was a stag in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This stag matched both his father’s Animagus form and his Patronus, and was the male form of his mother’s doe Patronus. Harry ‘s Patronus is perhaps an illustration that a Patronus form isn’t just influenced by romantic love, but also love for family, and in his case particularly those loved ones you have lost. Harry thought himself stupid to have believed the stag Patronus he saw at the lake in Prisoner of Azkaban was his father. But Dumbledore reassured him: ‘You think the dead we have loved ever truly leave us?’


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## The protective magic of love

Our case studies have shown us how great an impact love can have on a Patronus, whether that be an influence on its shape or a change to an already settled form. The Patronus is, after all, on its most fundamental level, ‘a pure, protective magical concentration of happiness and hope’. Happiness and hope, with which love often walks arm in arm. 

Besides the Patronus, love as a magical protection was seen in many different forms throughout the wizarding world, perhaps the most important that of Lily’s love protecting Harry as a baby, allowing him to survive and later defeat Lord Voldemort. Dumbledore had – as always – some wise words to say on the matter.

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In *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*, Dumbledore told Harry: ‘to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection for ever’. But it isn’t just being loved that protected Harry, Dumbledore insisted to Harry in Half-Blood Prince: ‘You are protected, in short, by your ability to love!’ It seems that if we love and are loved in return, we are protected two-fold. 

Looking at our case studies and the wider wizarding world, it isn’t so much of a surprise that love has the power to influence a Patronus, especially when love has the power to protect wizards and witches, just like those mysterious silver guardians.

How well do you know the seventh Harry Potter book?

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Slytherin's locket lies on the floor among grass and dead leaves.

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Good luck! 

<div class="quizz-container" data-width="100%" data-iframe-title="QUIZ: How well do you know the seventh Harry Potter book?" data-height="auto" data-quiz="489283" data-networks="none"> </div>
<script src="//dcc4iyjchzom0.cloudfront.net/widget/loader.js" async></script>

Fancy another quiz? Click [here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/how-well-do-you-know-the-sixth-harry-potter-book) and see how much you really know about the sixth Harry Potter book.

Catch up on Back to Hogwarts 2022

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The Royal Mint to release commemorative collection of Harry Potter coins

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When it comes to coinage, the Wizarding World might have Gringotts, but we Muggles have The Royal Mint – one of Britain's oldest organisations, with over 1,100 years experience in making coins.

This week, The Royal Mint is releasing a new collection of UK coins to commemorate the 25th anniversary of *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.*

Each coin in the set will feature a much-loved character from the series, based on the work of artist Jim Kay, who was commissioned in 2015 by Harry Potter publishers Bloomsbury to create the first fully-illustrated edition of J.K. Rowling’s classic story.

No, we’re not Knuts: this is real Muggle money we’re talking about.

The first design from the collectable Harry Potter coin collection is set to be revealed during a special live-stream event this coming Thursday 8th September at 7pm BST. And you don’t need a Gringotts account to take part – just [register to join the live-stream](https://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/events/harry-potter/) and see the new coin design as it is unveiled. 

During the Royal Mint’s live event there will also be the opportunity to ask questions to a panel of experts, so if there’s anything you want to know, make sure you submit your questions ahead of time for the panel to discuss.

For more information, and to sign-up for the live-steam, [visit the Royal Mint website](https://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/events/harry-potter/).

Dark Arts returns to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London for 2022 

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From Friday 23rd September to Sunday 6th November, fans stopping by Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter will be in for a fright, as the regular Dark Arts feature returns for a new year.

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In the Great Hall set, over 100 floating pumpkins will decorate the scene, with each Jack-o-Lantern face individually carved by the talented Prop Making Department.  You can also expect a traditional fare of red apples and cauldrons filled with lollipops to complete the spooky aesthetic. 

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New for the tour this year, you can discover the secrets of Professor Lupin’s Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons, learning the magic behind the Boggart-banishing charm Riddikulus, and even check out Neville’s grandmother’s iconic vulture hat, as modelled by Professor Snape in *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, to the delight of us all. 

But, as ever with Hallowe’en, alongside the treats there will always be tricks. Be wary as you walk through the Studio Tour’s sets, as Death Eaters will be present – ready to keep you on your toes with some menacing wand moves and dressed in the traditional dark robes and masks you’ll remember from the films. There’ll even be an opportunity to duel with the Death Eaters, using moves as choreographed by Paul Harris, who perfected the combat scenes during the Battle of Hogwarts in *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.* 

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You’ll also spot Lord Voldemort’s symbol projected throughout the Studio Tour for you to discover during your visit. Look out for the Dark Mark between the imposing trees of the Forbidden Forest or hidden within the turrets of the enchanting Hogwarts Castle model.

For those not afraid of a sticky situation, you’ll also get to observe some of the more disgusting elements of the wizarding world, as Studio Tour interactors will tell you the secrets behind the making of unicorn blood, troll snot and even the drool of Fluffy the three-headed dog. 

And if all that isn’t enough for the most dedicated of Hallowe’en lovers, the Studio Tour will also be reigniting its “Hogwarts After Dark” events on the 5th, 6th and 7th of October, where guests will be invited to a delicious feast, canapes and special potion-esque cocktails to really get into the spooky mood. And a Dark Arts evening truly wouldn’t be complete without a jaunt through the Forbidden Forest set where you’ll bump into Aragog and Buckbeak along the way. But don’t get too comfortable, for the Death Eaters will also be stalking these special evenings too...

Check out the [Studio Tour’s official website](https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/whats-on/dark-arts/) to learn more about this year’s festivities. 

Cursed Child celebrates 7 year anniversary: your latest updates on all territories 

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Pictured (L–R): Benjamin Papac as Albus Potter and Jon Steiger as Scorpius Malfoy in the San Francisco production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Photo credit: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

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As *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* enjoys its latest worldwide anniversary, you can watch the various actors who play Harry Potter across the world get ready for their shows in this new montage. Take a look at all the current Harrys, as seen in London, New York, San Francisco, Melbourne, Hamburg, Toronto and Tokyo right here. 

Seven Harrys | Cursed Child 2022 Anniversary

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This weekend marks seven years since the award-winning production first opened in London’s West End, and since then, *Cursed Child* has been making waves across the globe, including new shows opening in Japan and Canada this year.

Alas, as some doors open, some must close, as it was revealed this week that the production of *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* in San Francisco is set to close 11th September, marking the show as the longest-running play in the history of the city. 

‘We are extremely proud of our San Francisco production,’ said producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender. ‘To be the longest running play in the city is an amazing achievement. We would like to thank all our cast, company and creative team for getting us to this incredible milestone. There is a rich culture of arts and theatre here, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to San Francisco audiences for embracing our play.’

To commemorate the closure, the San Francisco production will be putting on extra performances of the show, so fans who haven’t had a chance to see it yet can snap up tickets. [You can learn more about that from the official website.](https://sf.harrypottertheplay.com/)

Elsewhere, productions of *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* continue to cast their spell globally, currently playing to sold-out audiences at the Palace Theatre, London, UK; at the Lyric Theatre, New York, US; at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto, Canada; and at the TBS Akasaka ACT Theatre, Tokyo, Japan. The play has also broken records as the longest running play in Australia and Hamburg at the Princess theatre, Melbourne, Australia; and at the Mehr! Theater, Hamburg, Germany respectively. 

In fact, *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* has now been seen by over 5 million people worldwide. Have you immersed yourself in the eighth story yet? 

You can learn more about the play, including character guides, quizzes and behind-the-scenes videos at our [Cursed Child hub.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/cursed-child-collection)