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Which Quidditch position would be right for you? 

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## For thrill-seeking adventurers, you should be a Seeker 

*Notable Seekers*: Viktor Krum, Glynnis Griffiths, Harry Potter, Charlie Weasley

*Seeker objective*: Catch the Golden Snitch before the other team’s Seeker

__Seeker would be the right Quidditch position for you if…__
… you keep a cool head under pressure and never shy away from shouldering responsibility. Individuality is important to you; you love the limelight, but you believe working as part of a team makes your success all the more meaningful. You notice small details that other people don’t and often follow your instincts when the way forward is unclear. You are bold and brave in the face of physical danger and would never dream of running the other way. 

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## For a goal-orientated team player, you should be a Chaser 

*Notable Chasers*: Ginny Weasley, Dragomir Gorgovitch, Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell

*Chaser objective*:  Throw the Quaffle through one of the three goal hoops

__Chaser would be the right Quidditch position for you if…__ 
… you’re a team player and feel most fulfilled when working towards a common goal. You read situations quickly, and often successfully pre-empt a particular outcome. You don’t crack under pressure, but you prefer to share the burden of responsibility with a select and trustworthy few. You’re excellent at thinking on your feet and unafraid of a challenge. You don’t shy away from hard work and are a fan of the mantra, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. For you, victory isn’t sweet unless it’s shared. 

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Quidditch Pitch and its stands from the Half Blood Prince 

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## For the selfless, you should be a Keeper 

*Notable Keepers*: Oliver Wood, Ronald Weasley, Barry Ryan, Cormac McLaggen

*Keeper objective*: Protect the hoops from goal-scoring Chasers

__Keeper would be the right Quidditch position for you if…__ 
… you’re an all-or-nothing kind of person, for whom there is no middle ground. Good or bad, that’s how you see things. You save the goal, or you let it in – no grey area exists. You stand strong in the face of adversity and cope well under pressure, as well as under intense scrutiny. You are happy to sacrifice personal glory for the good of others, even if it means you’re the centre of negative (rather than positive) attention. When it comes to a showdown, you always stand your ground. Some might describe you as an unsung hero or heroine, but you don’t need their praise to know your own worth. 

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## For the free-spirited exuberant, you should be a Beater 

*Notable Beaters*: Kevin and Karl Broadmoor, Gwenog Jones, Fred and George Weasley

*Keeper objective*: Protect team members from Bludgers using a bat

__Beater would be the right Quidditch position for you if…__ 
… you’re fiercely protective of your friends, sometimes taking it to... extremes. Rather than focussing on specific goals, you prefer to take life as it comes, and go with the flow. When you have a challenge in your sights, however, there’s no holding you back. You’re a team player, but only as long as you’re enjoying your own role within the group. You prefer to tackle new obstacles as they arise, rather than plan for them in advance. People call you unpredictable, mainly because you have a strong sense of fun and nobody can tie you down. You only live once, right?

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## For the thick-skinned, you should be a referee 

*Notable referees*: Madam Hooch, Hassan Mostafa

*Referee objective*: Implement the rules of Quidditch in a fair manner

__Referee would be the right Quidditch position for you if…__ 
… you have a clear and unshakeable moral compass and don’t mind getting a bit of stick. You are never swayed by bias and judge events based on the facts in front of you rather than making any assumptions, even if people are arguing otherwise. If you are convinced of a particular way forward, you will not be deterred, even if it makes you unpopular. Indeed, a referee of any sport requires a thick skin, and judging by some of the injuries we’ve heard about Quidditch referees suffering, we might mean literally. 

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## If you have a way with words, you should be a commentator 
 
*Notable commentators*: Lee Jordan, Luna Lovegood, Ludo Bagman

*Commentator objective*: Communicate the action on the Quidditch pitch to the crowd

__Commentator would be the right Quidditch position for you if…__ 
… you prefer to watch the action rather than be caught up in it – but that doesn’t mean you don’t know exactly what’s going on. You like facts and figures, and you have an excellent memory for names and faces. You have a love of words and like the sound of your own voice, and others like listening to you too. You are generally trustworthy, honest and call things as you see them. You also have an infectious sense of humour and don’t mind being the centre of attention – even if you’re happy on the sidelines most of the time. And, of course, you are absolutely, 100% impartial.  

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What if Dumbledore had told Harry that he was the chosen one from the beginning?

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Dumbledore and Harry stand near the Pensieve in the Half Blood Prince

In our new series, we explore 'what if' scenarios in the Wizarding World - and ponder, hypothetically, how things could have been.  

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There are many things that Albus Dumbledore does in the Harry Potter series that have left us stroking our beards and wishing we had a spell to tell us exactly what he was thinking.  

Why, for example, didn’t he tell Harry in *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince* that he knew that Draco would attempt to kill him? It might have been handy, too, if Harry had known of Dumbledore’s friendship with Grindelwald. Given that for most of *Half-Blood Prince*, Dumbledore knew that he was dying, why didn’t he just tell Harry that he was a horcrux or that Snape was in love with Lily? 

Of course, there are a multitude of reasons for why Dumbledore didn’t share these facts – the biggest being that, despite his incredible mind, he was fallible like the rest of us. Still, it’s intriguing to wonder what might have happened had Dumbledore divulged some secrets. In fact, if we had a Time-Turner wouldn’t it be fun to go back and see what might have occurred if Dumbledore had shared more details with Harry? For example: what if Dumbledore had told Harry from the beginning that he was the Chosen One? 

Naturally, given that at the beginning of *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* Harry didn’t even know that he was from the wizarding world, it might have been information overload for an 11-year-old to be told not only could he use magic but that he was also at the centre of a prophecy in which either he or the darkest wizard of all time would have to die in order for either of them to survive. 

However, by the end of that first book, Harry had faced and, at least for that moment, defeated Voldemort. Lying in the hospital wing after his confrontation, he is visited by Dumbledore, who, when quizzed, is unable to tell Harry why Voldemort tried to kill him in the first place. “When you are ready,” Dumbledore says, “you will know.” 



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Harry showing his scar to Ron on the Hogwarts Express 

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Imagine, though, that in that moment, Dumbledore – the only person with knowledge of the true prophecy – had shared that information with Harry. Well, it would have changed everything. 

It’s not unfair to say that Harry has a hero complex. If you take *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*, instead of really trying to alert the Order about his visions of Sirius at the Department of Mysteries, he takes the word of a miserable house-elf and heads to London, putting him, his friends and the Order at risk. If Harry had already known about the prophecy, his eagerness to help may have been tempered. In fact, it could have ultimately saved Sirius.

With that knowledge, Harry might actually have focused on learning Occlumency, too. While his connection to Voldemort saved Arthur Weasley’s life, it also put numerous people at risk, Harry included. It might also have saved a lot of angst in *Order of the Phoenix* as Dumbledore wouldn’t have had to give Harry the cold shoulder for a year. 


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Voldemort holding his wand in the Ministry of Magic from the Order of the Phoneix 

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Indeed, with the foresight that he would one day have to vanquish Voldemort or perish himself, you can’t help but wonder whether Harry might have held on to a smidgen of self-preservation. Instead of descending into the Chamber of Secrets, he might have known not to get involved. Likewise with the Triwizard Tournament – while Harry couldn’t have prevented his name being entered, surely an awareness of the prophecy could have meant that he failed all the tasks (perhaps on purpose). It could have stopped Voldemort’s full return and given Harry more time to really train himself for the final battle. 

Indeed, the knowledge that he is the Chosen One doesn’t mean that during the Battle of Hogwarts Harry balks at the brave and distressing decision he makes to sacrifice himself for his friends and the rest of the wizarding world. However, if he had just been given more time, it could have prevented the battle in totality. 


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Nevertheless, all of this is subject to the idea that the notion of being the Chosen One doesn’t affect Harry’s wellbeing. Snape always called him arrogant, and there’s every chance that knowledge of the prophecy could have gestated inside Harry, giving him an inflamed sense of importance. Who knows what an enlarged ego could have done to Harry Potter. It’s likely he may have turned out like Gilderoy Lockhart, leaning into his celebrity. Such a profile would make it easy for the Ministry of Magic to use Harry as their pawn, and when Voldemort ultimately returned (which, no matter the order of events, would have happened), it’s debatable whether the wizarding world would have had the capacity to fight him off. Certainly, there would have been no Dumbledore’s Army. Likewise, would Harry have the humility to face Voldemort and sacrifice himself if, for his entire adolescence, he was told how important he was? 

In choosing not to tell Harry about just how significant he is in the battle against Voldemort, Dumbledore makes a wider decision, one that helps Harry become the man he needs to be in order to overcome the difficult choices he has to make to save the wizarding world. And while it’s easy to see how Dumbledore’s omission of the truth incurred additional trauma upon the Boy Who Lived, it’s also clear that Harry had to experience the things he did in order to fully realise what was at stake. 

'Can you forgive me?', Dumbledore asks Harry in the ‘Kings Cross’ chapter in *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*. 'Can you forgive me for not trusting you? [...] I only feared that you would fail as I had failed.' 

While he is talking about withholding the knowledge of the Deathly Hallows, it could easily apply to the prophecy, too. Dumbledore’s knowledge about the Chosen One didn’t stop Voldemort from killing Harry’s parents, nor the wrongful incarceration of Sirius Black. He didn’t stop Voldemort’s reign of terror, either. Instead, a baby boy, protected by his mother’s love, did it. It took Harry not knowing to get him to a position where knowing wouldn’t set him on the wrong path. Most likely, Dumbledore knew that all along. 

What if… Harry had gone through the Triwizard Tournament without 'Mad-Eye Moody’s' help?

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__Warning: spoilers for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire are more abundant than gnomes at the Burrow. Proceed with caution!__ 

Harry Potter never asked for help with the Triwizard Tournament. And he certainly never asked to be assisted by Death Eater Barty Crouch junior disguised as famous Auror Mad-Eye Moody. In fact, he never actually asked for his name to be entered into the Goblet of Fire in the first place. It’s complicated. 

Let’s take this step-by-step and explore how we think Harry would have fared in the Triwizard Tournament without Mad-Eye Moody’s help.

Oh, and you might notice we’ve referred to Barty Crouch junior as Mad-Eye Moody in the title of this article to save people from spoilers. For consistency, we’ll be referring to Barty Crouch junior as Mad-Eye Moody throughout, just to put you in the same position as Harry and keep you on your toes.

## The Goblet of Fire hurdle


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According to the new rules of the Triwizard Tournament, Dumbledore drew an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire, to prevent anyone under seventeen from entering. Harry was as surprised as everyone else when his name came out as a fourth Triwizard champion. Only later did he find out that it was Mad-Eye Moody who put his name in the Goblet of Fire, under the name of a different school. But if Harry had really wanted to enter the Tournament, could he somehow have figured out a way around Dumbledore’s Age Line? 

Fred and George Weasley attempted it with an Ageing Potion and, as Hermione predicted, it didn’t work. But what about if Hermione had really put her mind to it and helped Harry enter the Triwizard Tournament? Could she have used her famous logic to outsmart even Albus Dumbledore? After all, Mad-Eye Moody did, and he wasn’t even the real Mad-Eye. 
One hurdle might have been Hermione not being all too keen on breaking rules. But then she did brew Polyjuice Potion in her second year at Hogwarts, breaking – in her words – ‘about fifty school rules’. 

For the sake of argument, let’s say Harry managed to persuade Hermione to help him, and as a Hogwarts champion, he progressed to the first task… 


## Here be Dragons

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Harry holding his wand in the first task of the Triwizard Tournament 

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It was Mad-Eye Moody who nudged Hagrid into showing Harry the dragons, as well as Mad-Eye who helped Harry see how he could play to his Quidditch strengths to succeed in the first task.

But we’re not entirely sure what difference Mad-Eye Moody’s help actually made on this particular task. Hagrid was never a brilliant keeper of secrets – in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, his catchphrase could have been, ‘I shouldn’ta told yeh that!’. And given how much Hagrid cared about Harry, we reckon he would have been likely to show Harry the dragons anyway, to prepare him. Even if Hagrid hadn’t, we’re not entirely sure it was helpful for Harry to have seen the Hungarian Horntail up close. Arguably, it made him even more nervous just before he was about to begin the first task! 

We should also add into our considerations the fact that Harry wasn’t as unfamiliar with dragons as some of the other Triwizard champions might have been. He’d unwillingly come far too close to a Norwegian Ridgeback in his first year at Hogwarts – a dragon Hagrid affectionately named Norbert. Perhaps this familiarity might have helped him in the first task, even without the dragon warning?

Then there is the small matter of getting past the dragon and retrieving the golden egg. Would Harry have been prepared to do this without Mad-Eye Moody’s hints about using a broom? It’s worth remembering that it was actually Harry who worked out that he’d need a Summoning Charm. And then it was Hermione who helped Harry to learn how to Summon his broom from a great distance. Had they had prior warning from Hagrid about the dragons, we reckon Harry and Hermione might have worked things out on their own. 
On to the second task… 
  
## Anyone fancy a swim?

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Hermione wrapping Harry in a towel after task 2 

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Mad-Eye Moody told Harry that it was he who told Cedric Diggory to open the golden egg underwater, and then trusted that Cedric would pass the information on to Harry in repayment for the dragons. But it was actually Harry who made the decision to tell Cedric about the dragons himself, so that all the champions were on an equal footing for the first task. Also, Mad-Eye Moody might have pointed Cedric in the right direction with the egg, but Cedric was a clever and resourceful student, as well as kind; he may very well have worked it out on his own and shared the information with Harry anyway.

The trickster Moody also planted (excuse the pun) the book Magical Mediterranean Water-Plants and Their Properties in Harry’s Gryffindor dormitory – and by planted we mean he gave it to Neville Longbottom. When Harry didn’t ask Neville for help, Moody then staged a conversation with Professor McGonagall about Gillyweed in front of Dobby, who ‘ran straight to Snape’s store- cupboard’ to get a mouthful for Harry in time for the second task. 

We think that the question of how Harry would have fared in the second task without Moody’s interference really comes down to loyalty. Harry was a loyal friend and inspired loyalty in others too – perhaps his Gryffindor roots were to thank for this? Neville was great at Herbology and may well have known about Gillyweed even without the book. Perhaps at the eleventh hour, Harry might have sought him out, and no doubt Neville would have helped him anyway.

Then there’s the matter of the second task itself. Moody might have helped with the Gillyweed but he didn’t help down in the lake. Professor Lupin taught Harry about Grindylows – they were in his Defence Against the Dark Arts exam in third year. Harry managed to fight them off in the second task, where Fleur failed. It was also Harry’s Gryffindor courage and loyalty that got him the extra points from the second task – saving both Ron and Fleur’s little sister. On to the third and final task… 


## A-MAZE-ing at the maze

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You had an easier time of it than you should have done in that maze tonight, of course,’ said Moody. ‘That was because I was patrolling around it, able to see through the outer hedges, able to curse many obstacles out of your way. I Stunned Fleur Delacour as she passed. I put the Imperius Curse on Krum, so that he would finish Diggory, and leave your path to the Cup clear.’

We don’t want to be rude, but Moody might have had an inflated sense of his own importance here. Harry’s Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons with Lupin the previous year were hugely beneficial to him in the maze – he cast a Patronus and then saw off a Boggart in quick succession. Harry was also very naturally talented at defensive magic, as we saw with his duel with Lord Voldemort only moments after he completed the maze. Also, let’s not forget that the year after the Triwizard Tournament, Harry actually taught defensive magic to a whole bunch of people known as Dumbledore’s Army. 

We can’t say for sure, but we reckon Harry would have had just as good a chance of getting to that cup first as Cedric, or Krum, or Fleur, even without Moody’s interference. 

## Conclusion


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We can’t deny that it would have been tough for Harry to get through to the third task without Moody’s help. But we don’t think it would have been impossible, as long as Harry had help from his friends. 

One of Harry’s greatest qualities was that he knew the importance of friendship and knew that sometimes you just have to ask for a helping hand. It didn’t hurt that one of his best friends happened to be the cleverest witch of her age, either.


Still curious? This is just one of the 'What if' articles in the series. Click [here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-if-dumbledore-had-told-harry-that-he-was-the-chosen-one-from-the-beginning "What if Dumbledore had told Harry he was the chosen one article") to read one about Dumbledore...   


Things we notice watching Harry Potter films ten years on

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## Neville’s Remembrall scene actually reveals what he forgot 


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All eight Harry Potter films are loaded with miniscule details you’d have to pause to notice. But here’s one from *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)* that really amused. During the scene where Neville is telling Harry and co. about his Remembrall (the magical object that glows red upon forgetting something), Neville wonders why his is glowing on that occasion. Looking at the scene again reveals why – Neville is the only character not wearing his Hogwarts robes. In the books, we didn’t get this little nuance, and it’s one of many moments that the film-makers hid in plain sight, ready for us to spot!

## So. Much. Knitwear. 


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For those who enjoy a healthy game of Harry Potter movie bingo, a recommended check box would be to spot all the glorious knitwear. We know Hogwarts is based somewhere in Scotland, so everyone is freezing at all times, but once you notice all the cardigans, jumpers, cardigans over jumpers and Neville’s fetching sweater vests, you can’t stop noticing them. In fact, we wrote about our favourite [woolly fashion here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/an-appreciation-of-harry-potter-knitwear-web) 

## In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, all the boys are clearly going through an indie band phase


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Ron and Harry looking at their dress robes from the Goblet of Fire

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In the fourth Harry Potter adventure, a lot of the male characters have opted for the same hairstyle. Harry, Ron, Neville and the Weasley twins are *all* rocking a Beatles-style mop top we remember quite well from our own teenage days. Then, in *Order of the Phoenix*, everyone’s clearly got it out of their system and had a haircut. Ah, to be young. 

## The significance of seven 


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Just like in the books, there are many instances of the number seven scattered throughout the films, alluding to Voldemort’s comment that seven is the most magical number. In the end, there are seven Horcruxes. But there are smaller mentions too; Harry’s Quidditch uniform is splayed with the number seven. In *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, (2009)*, during the orphanage scene, a young Tom Riddle even has seven rocks on his windowsill. 

This theme is true in the books too. Seven Hogwarts years. Seven Weasley children. Seven socks owned by Dobby... [the list goes on. ](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/the-significance-of-seven-infographic)

## Making plans for Nigel  


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The Harry Potter films are famously extremely loyal to their book counterparts, but sometimes, unexpected joys pop up that us book-readers weren’t expecting. One example of this? Lovely, completely random, Nigel. A helpful young student who first crops up in *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2004)*. He’s a lad of few words, but his adorably endearing presence made quite the statement. 

## Sirius’s ‘Nice one James’ line was quietly devastating

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Harry and Sirius standing in the Department of Mysteries 

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Another moment from the films not in the books was this sucker-punch line from Sirius, just before we lost him. When Harry’s duelling skills impress Sirius, he says, ‘Nice one, James’ just before being hit by Bellatrix’s deadly curse.

The line reminds us of the argument Molly and Sirius have in the book, *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*, where Molly accuses Sirius of seeing Harry as his old best friend, James, not Harry himself. This line seems to allude to that – in a subtle, devastating fashion. 

## Professor Slughorn’s fish, Francis 



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Francis the fish! How on earth could we forget Francis the fish?! In the film, *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)*, Professor Slughorn tells us the story of Francis, created from a clever charm that Harry’s mother, Lily, had performed, in which she turned a flower (a lily, in fact) into a ‘wee fish’. This sweet story turns into something far more poignant when Slughorn reveals that the fish disappeared on the day Lily died.

## Neville fancies Luna! 


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In the final instalment, *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2* (2011), we all remember the thrilling sequences of the Battle of Hogwarts, the tragic deaths and the shocking twists. But book-readers who haven’t seen the last film since its release may have forgotten a passing remark from Neville Longbottom, where he suddenly reveals he’s crazy about Luna – and goes off to find her. In the books, no such admission is made at all, leaving book-readers collectively surprised, confused, overjoyed or outraged depending on preference. 

Whether or not Luna and Neville ever made a go at it has not been revealed, but we do know that Neville eventually goes on to marry Hannah Abbott and works at Hogwarts as Herbology Professor many years later, while Luna marries Newt Scamander’s grandson, Rolf. What could have been!

# The Warner Bros. logo gets darker and darker 


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Again, it’s the little things that we love realising about the Harry Potter films the most. Take the very opening seconds of each film, emblazoned with the Warner Bros. logo. When you re-watch, you’ll spot that the logo gets darker and becomes covered in cracks and blemishing as the film series goes on. As the adventures get more and more dark and dangerous, it’s only fair that the Warner Bros. logo follows suit! 

*The Harry Potter films [are currently playing back-to-back in the US during the Thanksgiving weekend](https://www.usanetwork.com/wizardingworld/watch). Check your local TV listings to see exactly when and where, from 28th November to the 30th. There’s always time for another rewatch!*


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From eBooks to exclusive series, priority ticketing to collectible pins – here’s a guide to the glittering goodies that come with [your subscription.](http://wizarding.world/AboutGold)

Are there any Nifflers around? Keep your eyes peeled for them, because we’re about to talk about Gold. Launching this autumn, [Wizarding World Gold](http://wizarding.world/AboutGold) is an annual paid subscription that promises to serve up all manner of Wizarding World treats. Currently on offer to UK and US-based fans (with more countries to follow in the coming months), it’s available to pre-order now and will enhance your free membership of the Official Harry Potter Fan Club.

Here are just some of the things on offer…

### A magical welcome gift

Subscribers will receive a magical welcome gift, including a postcard-sized print of J.K. Rowling’s sketch of Hogwarts, an exclusive collectible pin and a personalised, interactive journal we’re calling *Keys and Curios*. 

### Curious about *Keys and Curios*? Read on…

This beautiful journal will arrive personalised with your name, Hogwarts house and more. And *Keys and Curios* knows more about you than just your house – flip through its pages to find personalised surprises and, as the title may suggest, discover Enchanted Keys that you can scan with your Wizarding World app to unlock hidden secrets. Each month will offer up something new, display gorgeous themed artwork from across the Wizarding World and propose regular activities for you to scribble in.

(And it absolutely won’t be mistaken for Tom Riddle’s diary!)

Did we mention? The *Keys and Curios* cover is specially designed by the graphic design team behind the *Harry Potter* and *Fantastic Beasts* films, MinaLima.

Those that take advantage of the pre-order window can be among the first to receive this amazing journal. We really hope you like it.

### And even more magic

As well as your welcome gift, a 12-month Wizarding World Gold subscription will also give you*:

•	__Wizarding World Originals__ – Our new exclusive video series, set to unravel the mysteries and uncover the secrets from all corners of the Wizarding World.

•	__All 7 eBooks of the original Harry Potter stories__ – Take the magic of J.K. Rowling’s stories wherever you go with these 7 eBooks, available on the Wizarding World app for the duration of your subscription. 

•	__Collectible pin badges__ – You’ll receive the first pin badge in your welcome gift. But there are more to collect!

•	__Special events__ – Access Gold subscriber events throughout the year, such as the Wizarding World Gold Christmas Party in the Great Hall at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter, later this year.

•	__Exclusive discounts__ – Enjoy discounts from the Wizarding World.com shop, Platform 9¾ store in London’s King’s Cross Station, and shops within Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter and Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, as well as discounts on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ Exclusive Vacation Package at Universal Orlando Resort.

•	__Priority booking__ – Priority access to tickets for the most popular Wizarding World events and locations, including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child shows in London, New York and San Francisco as well as Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. 

•	__Early access__ – Unlock early access to limited-edition Wizarding World Gold merchandise ranges and curious collectibles - before they go on general release. 

•	__Plus, plenty of perks__ – including new quizzes and puzzles, chances to win once in-a-lifetime experiences and much, much more! 

__Enjoy all this for just $74.99 (US) and £59.99 (UK).__

*Certain Gold benefits are subject to availability and change from time to time. Some exclusions and other conditions may apply.

*Any extra questions on Wizarding World Gold? [Click here](http://wizarding.world/AboutGold) to learn more. And watch out for peeping Nifflers!*


Scholastic reveal new illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone designed by MinaLima

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Along the dusty shelves of the Hogwarts library, young witches and wizards are accustomed to finding books containing magical surprises. Now we can experience a bit of sorcery ourselves with this new, innovative version of the first Harry Potter book.

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From US Harry Potter publishers Scholastic, this new edition of *Sorcerer’s Stone* is adorned with paper craft features and special fold-out pages, artistically recreating the likes of Diagon Alley, and, naturally, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You can even immerse yourself in a pop-out Great Hall feast and (almost) join the festivities yourself.

“This new edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the perfect way to start a new generation of readers on their Hogwarts journey, and at the same time is sure to be a treasured keepsake for fans to add to their collection,” said Ellie Berger, President Scholastic Trade. “The Harry Potter series continues to inspire readers of all ages with its universal themes of friendship, imagination and the triumph of good over evil.”

The book has been designed and illustrated by the talented team at MinaLima, helmed by Mira Mina and Eduardo Lima, who have injected their unique style into the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.

“Twenty years of designing for the Wizarding World have come full circle in this extraordinary opportunity to depict Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in a whole new way. From creating Harry's Hogwarts acceptance letter for the first film, to envisioning his world for this new illustrated edition, MinaLima's many invitations to visualize this fantastic universe never cease to beguile. We have sought to bring together our artistry with J.K. Rowling's singular storytelling to offer the reader a completely fresh experience of this now new classic work," said Eduardo Lima and Miraphora Mina.

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__Look out for the new edition of *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone*, coming 20 October 2020, published by Bloomsbury in the UK and Scholastic in the US.__


Fantastic Beasts, Magical Creatures and the Wonder of Nature

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Mythical beasts have fascinated authors and artists throughout time, and these creatures are often inspired by the real-life wonders of nature. Thanks to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter stories and the Fantastic Beasts films, we have followed Harry and Newt as they introduced us to all manner of magical creatures and fantastic beasts. With a wealth of legend and mystery behind them, and their links with remarkable animals of the natural world, the Wizarding World has joined up with some very special partners to deliver a new stand-out project.

In the UK in 2020, Warner Bros., the Natural History Museum, BBC, Bloomsbury Publishing and Pottermore Publishing will all be exploring the parallels between these magical creatures and how nature inspired the creative teams that brought them to life onscreen and on the illustrated page.  

Here’s a taster of what’s in store...

BBC One is creating a new documentary, to be presented by Stephen Fry, which will dive into the fascinating history of some of the world’s most awe-inspiring beasts (we’ll have more news on when that will air soon, so watch this space).

In spring, the exhibition *Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature* will open at London’s Natural History Museum. An international tour will soon follow.

Both the documentary and exhibition will look at remarkable animal behaviours and abilities in the natural world, and explore the history as well as connections that inspired and helped bring to life the magical creatures of the Wizarding World. Beasts, both magical and Muggle, will have their stories told, from 11,000-year-old woolly rhinos to Erumpents and Zouwus. Through innovative storytelling, both teams hope to inspire visitors and viewers to help care for and protect the planet today, and in the future.  

Bloomsbury, the original publisher of the Harry Potter books, will be working closely with the experts at the Natural History Museum to bring this exhibition to life on the page, as well as the Pottermore Publishing team, who will bring their digital and audiobook expertise to the project.

*That’s all for now, more details will follow over the coming months.*

Introducing new puzzles to the Wizarding World app 

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__UPDATE: Crosswords are now available in the Wizarding World app for Gold members and a special free treat for those with Wizarding Passports!__

If you’re subscribed to Wizarding World Gold (you can [learn more about Gold here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/about-gold)) get ready for regular challenges, which come with their own magical twists. There are also a few free puzzles for all app-users to try out.

For Gold members, you’ll begin to see wordsearches popping up in your feed, but keep checking in, for more puzzle-types are on the way, ranging from easy, medium and hard. And be warned, the hard puzzles really will be a challenge...

And, seeing as this is the Wizarding World, expect your puzzles to be peppered with a little sorcery, which shall become apparent once you start playing. Some puzzles will also come with secret codes, which you can unlock with the Wizarding World app for an extra treat.

*Check the Wizarding World app to check out our puzzles - with more to come!*

All they want for Christmas: A Harry Potter gift guide

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An illustration of a snowy Hogsmeade and the exterior of the Three Broomsticks.

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## Rubeus Hagrid: a new recipe book

A very well-meaning cook, [Hagrid](/image/an-apron-clad-hagrid) could nonetheless use a few pointers in the kitchen if his jaw-breaking rock cakes are anything to go by. [Mrs Weasley](/features/molly-weasley "Molly Weasley") could undoubtedly recommend a good one. He’d probably prefer a [dragon](/features/dragons "Dragons"), though.

## Gilderoy Lockhart: a framed picture of himself
With his dazzling smile and coiffed blonde locks, [Lockhart](/features/gilderoy-lockhart "Gilderoy Lockhart") never lost his love of signing his own pictures, even when he ended up in [St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries](/writing-by-jk-rowling/illness-and-disability), so he would be delighted with another framed photo of those pearly whites.

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## Mr Weasley: a Muggle computer
Good old [Arthur](/features/arthur-weasley "Arthur Weasley") just can’t help himself when it comes to [Muggle](/collection/muggles "Muggles") artefacts – they’re a real source of wonder to him. So imagine his excitement if he was given a Muggle computer. Not only do they run on ‘[eckeltricity](/writing-by-jk-rowling/technology "Technology by J.K. Rowling")’, they also have plenty of wires to keep him occupied. Of course, he’d probably end up bewitching it in some way and having to hide it in his shed in case Molly ever found out. 

## Ron Weasley: new dress robes
[Harry](/features/harry-potter "Harry Potter") did ask the Weasley twins to buy [Ron](/features/ron-weasley "Ron Weasley") a new set after he gifted them both his Triwizard Tournament winnings, but we never actually saw them. So just to make sure that poor old Ron never has to wear that [frilly maroon monstrosity](/image/dress-robes) again, a sleek, black stylish cloak would be just the thing.

## Hermione Granger: a trip to the British Library
Her constant refrain of ‘I’m going to the library’ almost became her catchphrase, and there are few wizarding books [Hermione](/features/hermione-granger "Hermione Granger") hasn’t read –  even the ones she’s not strictly supposed to have access to. The only thing is, a day out at this wondrous institution probably wouldn’t be long enough for [Hogwarts](/features/hogwarts "Hogwarts")’ resident bookworm.

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## Professor McGonagall: a tin of shortbread
The head of [Gryffindor](/collection/all-about-gryffindor "Hogwarts houses: Gryffindor") is a woman of simple tastes, but she does keep a jar of biscuits on her desk, so she must enjoy the odd [treat](/feature/sweets-and-treats-infographic "Sweets and treats from the wizarding world") or two. With a nod to her [Scottish roots](/writing-by-jk-rowling/professor-mcgonagall), a slab of buttery shortbread would no doubt raise one of [Professor McGonagall’s](/features/minerva-mcgonagall "Minerva McGonagall") rare smiles.  

## Albus Dumbledore: a new pair of socks
[Dumbledore](/features/albus-dumbledore "Albus Dumbledore") told Harry that when he looked in the [Mirror of Erised](/features/the-mirror-of-erised "The Mirror of Erised") he saw himself holding a new pair of thick woollen socks, because one can never have enough socks. Although he may not have been entirely truthful, it does make the task of what to get the wizard-who-has-everything much easier. Socks it is. And we’ll chuck in a bowl of Liquorice Wands for his sweet tooth too.

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