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Introducing our new Wizarding World video series for beginners, Discover Harry Potter 

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Do you have someone in your life who doesn’t know their Muggles from their Mugwumps? Your ghouls from your gargoyles? Your Quidditch from your Quibblers? Then this series is especially for them.

In our new series, Discover Harry Potter, we’ll be helping budding Harry Potter experts learn all about wizarding life, Hogwarts and beyond with these easy guides to get you started. After all, there is a lot of magic crammed into those seven stories. Where to even begin? 

Never fear. You can peek at our first episode in the series here, where we boil down quite a big question: what exactly is the wizarding world, anyway?

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Of course, this video is simply the tip of the iceberg when it comes to a Hogwarts education. Be sure to check out the rest of our Discover Harry Potter series on YouTube over the coming weeks as we get ready for Back to Hogwarts season in style. We’ll be exploring such themes as the true meaning of your Hogwarts house, an evaluation on Wizarding World heroes, how magic even works and much, much more. 

And look out for an extra-special episode courtesy of our friends at The LEGO<sup>&reg;</sup> Group, who have been exploring the mysteries of Harry’s school, Hogwarts castle, using iconic locations such as Dumbledore’s Office, the Chamber of Secrets and the Whomping Willow. You can visit the LEGO<sup>&reg;</sup> [website](https://www.lego.com/en-gb/themes/harry-potter) to see which Harry Potter characters, sets and locations are available in brick form, including a few new goodies especially for 2022’s Back to Hogwarts season.

Be sure to sign up to the [Harry Potter Fan Club](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register) where you can learn about later Discover Harry Potter episodes, upcoming Back to Hogwarts goodness and our general slew of regular magic! 

What is the story behind each of Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes?

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Harry Potter sits down with Ravenclaw's diadem, a blue tiara, alongside various other trinkets.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

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and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

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## But first, a reminder: what is a Horcrux?

To create a Horcrux is to commit a horrific sin in the wizarding world. A Dark wizard of yesteryear called [Herpo the Foul was known as the first to dabble with Horcruxes](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/the-hardest-wizarding-world-spells) and would be one of the rare ones to do so. For this magic involves carrying out a terrible atrocity, which then begins to tear apart your soul. 

For Lord Voldemort, he callously murdered several people in order to invest a piece of his soul into (what he considered to be) a valuable object. Committing such a horror meant that Lord Voldemort could prolong his life, unless the Horcrux was destroyed. 

While researching the topic, Hermione could barely uncover any information about this profoundly Dark magic (and you know that Hermione is usually good at this sort of thing!) apart from a sinister slice of text from one book aptly named *Magick Moste Evile...*

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

...of the Horcrux, wickedest of magical inventions, we shall not speak nor give direction.

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This is how taboo the topic of Horcruxes was, not that this stopped Voldemort from endeavouring to have seven pieces of his soul, as seven is usually considered to be the most magical number. Here is the story behind each object he chose.

__And as you’ve probably guessed from even being here, you can expect to stumble upon many a spoiler.__

## The diary 

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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and the Chamber of Secrets

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__Who was murdered to create it? Myrtle Warren <br>
Destroyed by who? Harry Potter__

Lord Voldemort’s first Horcrux was created when he was still at Hogwarts, known then as Tom Riddle. After murdering a [schoolgirl called Myrtle](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/ten-moaning-myrtle-moments), with the help of the ancient monster that dwelled within the castle, the Basilisk, his soul was split for the first time. The object that enveloped a piece of his soul was a simple diary, one that he attained from a Muggle bookshop. Years later, when others came across the diary, such as a young, impressionable Ginny Weasley, she would meet an echo of a young Lord Voldemort at the time he created the Horcrux, that was able to communicate through the object. In fact, the diary had the ability to take hold of Ginny’s strength, even nearly killing her.

The diary was the first of Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes to be destroyed, by Harry Potter in the [Chamber of Secrets](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/chamber-of-secrets), who stabbed it with the fang of the very Basilisk that was used to commit murder in the first place. Basilisk venom is extremely rare and powerful, one of the few things powerful enough to destroy a Horcrux.

As for Myrtle, she did not go quietly, and would go on to haunt the girls’ bathroom of Hogwarts mournfully for many decades to come, eventually helping Harry to avenge her murder. 

## Marvolo Gaunt’s ring

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and the Half-Blood Prince

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__Who was murdered to create it? Tom Riddle Sr. <br>
Destroyed by who? Albus Dumbledore__

Okay, this will be a long one! Albus Dumbledore, the man who discovered Voldemort’s Horcrux plan and deigned to destroy them, long suspected that many of said Horcruxes would hold some sort of historical or personal value to the Dark wizard, and that was extremely true of this Horcrux, a family heirloom, and transformed by murdering his own father. 

Lord Voldemort’s family stretched back centuries and were known as one of the last ‘pure-blood’ wizarding clans, [the Gaunts](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/the-sad-history-of-merope-gaunt). The Gaunts’ ancestry stemmed all the way back to Hogwarts house founder Salazar Slytherin, with a lot of his values imprinted on the generations to come. 

Lord Voldemort’s immediate family were a despicable lot, obsessed with their heritage, cruel and violent to each other and instilled with a burning hatred of anyone who wasn’t pure blood. The awful Marvolo, the head of the household, along with his son Morfin, tormented the timid Merope, the youngest of the family, while committing foul acts of violence against Muggles. These tensions rose to a climax when Merope fell in love with a local, rich Muggle called (you guessed it…) Tom Riddle. Albus Dumbledore theorised that Merope used love potions in order to attract him, and eventually, she fell pregnant with the future Lord Voldemort. The magical enhancements didn’t last forever, though, and once they were gone, so was Tom Riddle, leaving a pregnant Merope to give birth, then die of a broken heart. 

Years later, Tom Riddle Jr. returned to his old family home, only to find a lone Morfin, with his grandfather Morvolo long since dead after a spell in Azkaban for his crimes against Muggles. There, he took the only object in the house worth any value, an ancient ring, encrusted with a mysterious stone. That stone would later turn out to be the Resurrection Stone, one of the Deathly Hallows, with the power to bring back people from the dead, showing just how old the heirloom was. After a time of wearing the ring himself, Voldemort eventually transformed the ring into a Horcrux, and buried it deep within the ruins of his old family home, protecting it with enchantments. However, all of this was no match for Albus Dumbledore who was able to retrieve the Horcrux and destroy it with the Sword of Gryffindor. For his troubles, he discovered the ring to be cursed, which blackened his hand and left him with a death sentence placed upon him. However, he was able to retrieve the [Resurrection Stone](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-truly-is-the-best-deathly-hallow), and was able to coach a young Harry Potter to finish what he started.  

## Slytherin’s locket 

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

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__Who was murdered to create it? A homeless Muggle <br>
Destroyed by who? Ron Weasley__

Beyond the ring, another heirloom was transformed into a Horcrux, and was one of the hardest to find and destroy. This immaculate piece of jewellery, encrusted with emeralds in the shape of a serpentine S, was once the possession of Salazar Slytherin. Again, this heirloom passed down to the Gaunt family, but was taken by Merope when she eventually escaped her cruel household. Not knowing the true value of such a trinket, Merope sold it for ‘a pittance’ to Knockturn Alley’s local wheeler and dealer Caractacus Burke, one half of Borgin and Burke, who owned a shop of Dark and mysterious artefacts. 

There, the locket was acquired by a boastful collector by the name of Hepzibah Smith, but it didn’t remain with her for long when she met a young Lord Voldemort, then a handsome and charming Tom Riddle. After befriending Hepzibah, he soon killed her, pinning the death on her house-elf, Hokey. 

Once again, Voldemort chose a personal place to hide the Horcrux. In his youth, Riddle had tortured two children from his orphanage in a nearby cave. It was here, he chose to return to, and thus hid the locket once he had turned it into a Horcrux. For this kill, he simply chose a local Muggle to be his victim. It would be one of his former followers, Regulus Black, who would be the one to eventually find the locket, after he defected from being a Death Eater. After making a copy of the locket and leaving a note, he took it away to destroy it, but was killed before getting the chance.

While the locket remained at Regulus’s family home for some time undisturbed, (at one point, we frustratingly come across it in an old cupboard while Mrs Weasley is tidying the house!) one of the less trustworthy members of the Order of the Phoenix, Mundungus Fletcher, eventually stole it. However, this was in turn stolen from him, by Dolores Umbridge – leading to a dramatic break-in at the Ministry of Magic to find it. 

However, it would not be easy to destroy the locket. After such hardship finding the copy, finally seeking the original, Harry, Ron and Hermione found that the Horcrux instilled terrible thoughts in the one who possessed it, nearly driving a particularly vulnerable Ron to madness. Eventually, he would be the one to destroy it, after Severus Snape sent his Patronus to guide Ron into finding a weapon that would help him: the [Sword of Gryffindor. ](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/the-sword-of-gryffindor)

## Hufflepuff’s cup 


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__Who was murdered to create it? Hepzibah Smith <br>
Destroyed by who? Hermione Granger__

You may have been wondering why Tom Riddle did not use Hepzibah Smith’s murder to create a Horcrux out of the locket. This is because he acquired one other item from her. A fervent collector of priceless items, Hepzibah loved to show things off, and piqued Tom’s interest with another curio, again once owned by a Hogwarts house founder. This time, it was a cheerful golden cup, embossed with Hufflepuff’s animal, the badger, which was an heirloom from Hepzibah’s own family, once owned by Helga Hufflepuff herself. 

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‘A badger,’ murmured Voldemort, examining the engraving upon the cup. ‘Then this was ...?’ 
‘Helga Hufflepuff’s, as you very well know, you clever boy!’ said Hepzibah, leaning forwards with a loud creaking of corsets and actually pinching his hollow cheek. ‘Didn’t I tell you I was distantly descended? This has been handed down in the family for years and years. Lovely, isn’t it? And all sorts of powers it’s supposed to possess, too, but I haven’t tested them thoroughly, I just keep it nice and safe in here ...

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Eventually, Harry, Ron and Hermione would find this Horcrux’s whereabouts within Bellatrix Lestrange’s Gringotts vault, and it would come down to Hermione to take care of that one. But why Hufflepuff in the first place? For Lord Voldemort was a staunch Slytherin through and through.

In his research, Dumbledore deduced that Voldemort ‘could not resist an object so steeped in Hogwarts history’, leading on to our next Horcrux...

## Ravenclaw’s Diadem 


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__Who was murdered to create it? An Albanian peasant <br>
Destroyed by who? Vincent Crabbe__

Not content with having so much Hogwarts paraphernalia already, Lord Voldemort was able to secure the tiara of the Ravenclaw house founder, Rowena, whose daughter Helena was murdered at the hands of Slytherin’s house ghost, [the Bloody Baron](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/hogwarts-ghosts).

The sad story goes that Helena was jealous of her mother’s great wisdom that comes with the diadem and stole it, then going into hiding. Distraught, Rowena sent The Bloody Baron to go and find her. However, the Baron was intensely in love with Helena, and ended up finding her in the forests of Albania and murdering her instead, when she did not return his feelings. He then killed himself shortly thereafter. As for the diadem? Helena had already hidden it in a hollowed tree. Both Helena’s ghost (otherwise known as the Grey Lady) and the Bloody Baron’s haunted Hogwarts for centuries after. 

Lord Voldemort managed to find this ancient diadem, that supposedly brings wisdom to the wearer, by persuading Helena to tell him. Out in the forests of Albania is where Lord Voldemort eventually uncovered it, bringing it back to Hogwarts.

Again, somewhat infuriatingly, Harry had passed by this very tiara before knowing what Horcruxes were, as it was living amongst all manner of junk in [the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts!](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-room-of-requirement) 

Upon recovering it, a showdown between Harry’s enemies Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle ensued, with Crabbe using the cursed flames of Fiendfyre to destroy the room. However, he ended up both dying in the ensuing struggle – and destroying the diadem, as Fiendfyre was another Dark magic that could take on a Horcrux.

## Nagini

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__Who was murdered to create it? Bertha Jorkins <br>
Destroyed by who? Neville Longbottom__

It wasn’t just inanimate objects that could become Horcruxes. Lord Voldemort’s beloved snake companion, Nagini, was also transformed into one, and Dumbledore seemed to know it, ominously predicting that a day would come where Voldemort would ‘fear for his snake’. 

It was the [Ministry of Magic](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/ministers-for-magic) employee Bertha Jorkins that fell to Voldemort on this occasion, after Voldemort found out valuable information from her regarding the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts.

At this stage, Voldemort did not have a body, and was working with Nagini and defector [Peter Pettigrew](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/everything-we-know-about-the-marauders) in order to devise a plan to return to one. It would be during the Triwizard Tournament that Voldemort was able to execute his idea, and it all started with the murder of poor Bertha. 

It would come down to Harry’s class mate Neville Longbottom, to destroy Nagini, heroically using the Sword of Gryffindor at the Battle of Hogwarts.

## Harry

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__Who was murdered to create it? Lily Potter <br>
Destroyed by who? Lord Voldemort__

And then, as it transpired, came the knowledge that not all Horcruxes are forcibly made. And in fact, Lord Voldemort’s downfall happened right at the beginning of Harry’s story.

During Voldemort’s attack on Godric’s Hollow, where the Potter family had lived, his killing of Harry’s parents inadvertently created another Horcrux, one that would dwell on inside Harry.

This explained everything – why Harry’s lightning bolt scar pained him every time Lord Voldemort was up to something, why Voldemort had a psychic link to him, why Harry could speak [Parseltongue](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/everything-you-didnt-know-about-parseltongue), a skill usually known throughout Slytherin’s lineage. When Harry was told his mother ‘died to save him’, he had no idea just how poignant this was. In killing Lily, Lord Voldemort created a Horcrux within Harry, creating a connection between them that one day be severed. 

When Lord Voldemort eventually found himself face to face with Harry to finally kill him in the Forbidden Forest, he instead ended up destroying his last Horcrux, the final shield between himself and his inability to die.

In the end, Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes ended up being his undoing, leaving him a husk of the Dark wizard he once was.

Why we should all try and be a bit more Ginny Weasley

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## Her loyalty

Although the Ginny we met in *Philosopher’s Stone* was shy and awkward, particularly with Harry – [a far cry from the Ginny](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/favourite-couple-moments-harry-ginny-ron-hermione-cursed-child) of *Cursed Child*, who had no problem challenging Harry’s behaviour – there was one consistent thread that runs through all Ginny’s rela-tionships: she was fiercely and unendingly loyal. 

Whether it was defending Harry to Malfoy after that whole Lockhart bookshop debacle, sticking up for Neville and Luna, fighting to protect her loved ones during the Battle of Hogwarts, or forcing Harry to engage with their son, Albus, on his terms, Ginny always had everyone’s best interests at heart, and she’d do whatever was needed to protect them.

## Her determination

Despite being desperate to follow in her older brother’s footsteps Ginny did not have the most auspicious start at Hogwarts. But while being slowly possessed by an early version of Lord Voldemort might be enough to knock the stuffing out of other first-years, for Ginny, her experience with Tom Riddle’s diary did not defeat her.

That’s not to say she ever forgot it. When Harry was struggling to understand what had happened after the vision he had of Voldemort attacking Arthur Weasley, it was Ginny who made him realise that refusing to talk wasn’t helping.

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

‘Well, that was a bit stupid of you,’ said Ginny angrily, ‘seeing as you don’t know anyone but me who’s been possessed by You- Know-Who, and I can tell you how it feels.’

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 

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and the Order of the Phoenix 

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Perhaps it had something to do with [surviving a personal encounter with Voldemort at a young age](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-if-ginny-had-never-possessed-tom-riddles-diary), but as Ginny got older she only became more resilient. Like Harry, Ginny had a built-in determination to keep fighting. In many ways, her experience with Voldemort gave her an insight and a strength that few others could ever hope to have. With the ex-ception of Harry, of course. 

## Her bravery

Another trait Ginny shared with Harry was bravery. As she says of him in *Cursed Child*:

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

“After I came out of hospital – everyone ignored me, shut me out – other than, that is, the boy who had everything – who came across the Gryffindor common room and challenged me to a game of Exploding Snap. People think they know all there is to know about you, but the best bits of you are – have always been – heroic in really quiet ways.”

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This is something that could equally apply to Ginny. Yes, she showed undeniable brav-ery when she escaped Umbridge’s Inquisitorial Squad; when she, Neville and Luna followed Harry to the Department of Mysteries; when she tried to steal Gryffindor’s sword; and – of course – during the Battle of Hogwarts. But Ginny was also brave in other ways. 

After shedding her initial awkwardness, she pursued romantic relationships without fear or embarassment. She was never afraid to call out the bad behaviour of her brothers, her teachers, even Harry. And she, too, supported others in quietly heroic ways. She insisted on sitting with Luna on the Hogwarts Express, when others were avoiding her. She refused to let Neville call himself a nobody. And as a mother, she recognised that what Albus needed from Harry was acceptance, not heroics.  

## Her talent

Ginny was a witch of many talents: [Quidditch](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/things-you-might-not-know-about-quidditch), sports writing, Bat Bogey Hexes.

But even more admirable than her skills was her confidence in, and open enjoyment, of them. She preferred playing Chaser to Seeker, because she liked scoring goals. She was a committed [member of the DA](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/which-member-of-dumbledores-army-are-you-like). And she was a fierce dueller – singled out by her brother George as evidence of the fact that “size is no guarantee of power.” 

So while we might not share Ginny’s magical talents, we can still try and emulate the pleasure she took in practicing the things she excelled at.

## Her way of looking at the world

Ginny may have originally been overshadowed by other members of her family, she may have taken a few years to find her voice, and she may have once poured her heart out to the preserved memory of Voldemort. But as she grew up, Ginny emerged as one of the Wizarding World’s most fearless characters. Perhaps this is best summed up in *Order of the Phoenix*:

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“The thing about growing up with Fred and George,” said Ginny thoughtfully, “is that you start thinking anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.”

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And it wasn’t just Fred and George’s nerve that Ginny inherited. Growing up with her older brothers also taught her when to find the humour in a situation – she had that light-hearted Weasley touch that made even difficult situations seem a bit more fun. After all, who else would shut down an annoying classmate with a Bat Bogey Hex, nickname their sister-in-law Pleghm, or openly tell Harry he was being stupidly noble?

So thanks, Ginny, for all the times you supplied that silver lining we were looking for. Oh, and happy birthday.

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For beginners, for novices, for Harry Potter superfans going 20 years-strong, dig deep into the Wizarding World with our collection of features.

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Uncovering the magic behind the new digital Harry Potter book covers

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They say “don’t judge a book by its cover”, but when it came to [redesigning the Harry Potter ebook and audiobook covers](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/pottermore-publishing-reveals-new-ebook-and-audiobook-harry-potter-covers), every creative decision was meticulously analysed by the experts.

Pottermore Publishing and The Blair Partnership sat down with Jack Bedford of Studio La Plage, the creative agency that reimagined the Harry Potter stories with a vibrant suite of new covers. In this roundtable interview we delve deep with the team as they discuss the core themes and visual choices they explored when developing this new look.

## “Not just a book cover” 

This is a particularly special year in the Wizarding World, marking 10 years of Pottermore and [25 years since the first Harry Potter book was published in the UK](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/bloomsbury-celebrates-harry-potter-25th-anniversary). What better time to reimagine the ebook and audiobook covers originally designed by Olly Moss. In this series, the team discuss the challenges of reimagining the stories, incorporating new digital trends and reflecting how the wizarding world is represented for a new generation. From colour palette choices to deciding how many freckles Hermione should have, the minutia of every artistic decision was taken very seriously! Take a look.

Uncovering the Magic | Why create new covers now?

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## “The little details” 

The first thing you notice in the new covers is their vibrant use of colour, but look closer and you’ll discover that each of the seven covers have their own unique flourishes. The team was extremely conscious about creating something relevant and contemporary for digital readers whilst respecting the most magical moments from each of the stories for fans who have followed Harry Potter since the very beginning. 

Uncovering the Magic | Finding the goalposts

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## “Weird conversations”

When it came to actually picking which moments to highlight on each of the seven book covers, the team faced an embarrassment of riches. For the first book cover, the team decided that Harry playing Quidditch was the perfect way to represent his first adventure, with meticulous choices being made to reflect him at his happiest whilst also showing how young and inexperienced he was (for example by showing his leg at a crooked angle whilst riding the broom).

“Showing that naivety was super important,” the team observed. Beyond Harry, characters, such as Ron, Hermione, Neville and Dumbledore were all important to feature, leading to “weird conversations” about how many freckles Hermione should have and the size of her teeth! No stone was left unturned when depicting beloved characters and iconic scenes.

Uncovering the Magic | Choosing the moments

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## “Easter eggs”

For each cover, it’s not just about what’s going on in the foreground – the backgrounds deserved just as much attention. Fans can spot nuances throughout the series, including giving the [Knight Bus](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/the-knight-bus) a number and adverts just like a Muggle bus, and Krum’s shark head in the *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire cover*.

Challenges of canonical accuracy remained at the forefront of everyone’s mind, including questions you may not think about, such as how Lord Voldemort would hold his wand. But certain artistic liberties were also taken, including ensuring Harry’s “beloved feathered companion” Hedwig featured in the covers somewhere, even if she wasn’t technically in the original scene.

Uncovering the Magic | Being true to canon

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“We went back and forth over those moments”.

***

To watch the full interview, [head to the Wizarding World YouTube channel.](https://www.youtube.com/c/WizardingWorld/videos)

The most memorable journeys on the Hogwarts Express

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The Trolley Witch scene from Cursed Child on Broadway

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From the moment Harry first stepped onto a packed [platform nine and three-quarters](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/platform-nine-and-three-quarters) and spied the Hogwarts Express, we knew we were in for a trip. Some of the most important relationships in the wizarding world began aboard that magical scarlet steam train. Here are some of our favourite moments.

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## When Harry met Ron

Basically, that first journey to Hogwarts set the tone for the rest of Harry’s school career. Hermione referenced three books within seconds of meeting him. Neville showed up, in tears, looking for something. A sneering Malfoy barged in, accompanied by [Crabbe and Goyle](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/top-five-stupidest-things-crabbe-and-goyle-ever-did), throwing insults around. Harry even got his first proper look at Dumbledore, via the medium of a Chocolate Frog card – at least, until Dumbledore wondered out of the frame and left Harry bewildered.

But arguably it was his initial meeting with Ron that really sealed his fate. The two got on instantly, cementing their bond with a selection of the Trolley Witch’s sweets and a run-in with Malfoy. And that friendship also gave Harry something he’d never really experi-enced before: a sense of family. So when Ron’s (apparent) rat Scabbers bit Goyle’s finger, it was just the icing on the Cauldron Cake.

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## The Dementors’ visit – and Professor Lupin

Harry’s second outbound journey on the Hogwarts Express was just as eventful, if less enjoyable, thanks to some unwanted passengers. This was when Harry first came face-to-almost-face with a [Dementor](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/dementors-and-chocolate), which stirred up some feelings...


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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

An intense cold swept over them all. Harry felt his own breath catch in his chest. The cold went deeper than his skin. It was inside his chest, it was inside his very heart ...

Harry’s eyes rolled up into his head. He couldn’t see. He was drowning in cold. There was a rushing in his ears as though of water. He was being dragged downwards, the roaring growing louder ...

And then, from far away, he heard screaming, terrible, terrified, pleading screams …

HP-B3

and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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His intense reaction to the Dementors was certainly not pleasant, but it also gave Harry some insight into the night his parents died – something that would haunt him for the rest of the school year. Still, there was another pretty memorable moment on that journey to Hogwarts, as it was also the day Harry met Lupin. Plus, we learnt the appropriate remedy for fighting down a Dementor: chocolate. Good to know.

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## Meeting Luna Lovegood

For many of us, [Luna Lovegood](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/things-you-may-not-have-noticed-about-luna-lovegood) made such a lasting impression it’s hard to believe we didn’t meet her until *Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix*, when, once again, it was the Hogwarts Express that delivered her into our lives. 

There are surely parts of that train journey Harry himself would prefer not to remember – greeting Cho whilst covered in Stinksap from Neville’s Mimbulus mimbletonia, listening to Malfoy goad him about not being a prefect – but who could possibly forget that first view of Luna, staring unashamedly over the top of her upside-down copy of [The Quibbler](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/which-is-better-the-quibbler-vs-the-daily-prophet), necklace of Butterbeer corks bouncing? Talk about making an impression.

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Luna sitting in a carriage holding The Quibbler upside down

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and the Order of the Phoenix

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## Harry’s final (outbound) Hogwarts Express journey 

At this point it’s safe to say every trip to Hogwarts was pretty eventful for Harry (and we haven’t even discussed the flying Ford Anglia), but the one that would become his last was perhaps the most action-packed of all. 

It started with an invitation to join Professor Slughorn’s bizarrely [exclusive Slug Club](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/the-pros-and-cons-of-joining-the-slug-club), which somehow led to an Invisibility Cloak-clad Harry spying on Malfoy from atop a lug-gage rack, and ended with him on the carriage floor, sporting a broken nose and being unable to move or speak, thanks to a sneaky spell from Malfoy.

Harry could not move a muscle. He lay there beneath the Invisibility Cloak feeling the blood from his nose flow, hot and wet, over his face, listening to the voices and footsteps in the corridor beyond. His immediate thought was that someone, surely, would check the compartments before the train departed again? But at once came the dispiriting realisation that even if somebody looked into the compartment, he would be neither seen nor heard. His best hope was that somebody else would walk in and step on him.

All pretty full-on, yes, but let’s not forget that this was also when we first heard about Ginny’s infamous Bat-Bogey Hex, a spell so brilliant it earned her Slughorn’s immediate (if unwanted) approval. Now that’s a [hex](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/a-handy-guide-to-the-lesser-known-spells-in-the-wizarding-world) we’d like to learn.

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## When Albus met Scorpius

The Hogwarts Express was not only important in Harry’s life – in *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* it was also the setting for his son, Albus, to meet the son of Harry’s old enemy, Malfoy. And guess what? Just as Harry and Ron had bonded over the Trolley Witch’s epic sweet selection all those years before, so too did Albus and Scorpius, leading to a friendship that was no less eventful. 

[That Trolley Witch](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/10-things-you-might-not-have-known-about-hogwarts-express) – she and her Pepper Imps must have helped create a lot of friendships over the years. Still, we suppose there are worse things to bond over.

Ranked: Harry Potter’s birthday presents

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A close up image of Harry's pink birthday cake with green icing. 

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 

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and the Philosopher's Stone 

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## 14th place: Anything (or nothing) from the Dursleys 
The best presents the Dursleys got Harry were a pair of Uncle Vernon’s old socks and a coat-hanger… and we only say ‘best’ because they had actually remembered his birthday. Once Harry turned eleven, they pretty much ignored it entirely. So yeah, the Dursleys were talented when it came to presenting pitiful presents and have easily secured last place on our list. We wouldn’t expect anything else from that miserable bunch.

## 13th place: Chocolate 
Firstly, we have to say chocolate is brilliant. It’s easily one of the best foods. Yet, we do have our reasons for putting it so low down on this list. When Ron and Hermione gave Harry boxes of Honeydukes chocolate for his fifteenth birthday, he was not exactly grateful. Angry at having barely heard from them that summer, he threw them away unopened. While we consider this a crime against chocolate, as Harry didn’t eat any, we can’t call this a successful gift. We do wonder whether he was more appreciative of the box he received from Mr and Mrs Dealcour for his seventeenth birthday…

## 12th place: *The Monster Book of Monsters*
Next, we have the textbook with a bite. Although Hagrid got Harry something that was technically useful for his third year at Hogwarts, we doubt that being given a book that seemed determined to attack him was something Harry dreamed of. Also, it could hardly be described as a discreet or inconspicuous gift – what with all the snapping. And as Harry had to keep this book under control while staying at the Dursleys, we can imagine it only added an extra level of stress…


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A closeup of The Monster Book of Monsters textbook. 

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## 11th place: *Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches*
Books really weren’t the best gifts for Harry. Ron may have found this book to be rather useful, but we can’t recall Harry ever looking at his copy. By the time Ron gave it to him for his seventeenth birthday, Harry’s thoughts were firmly on hunting Horcruxes, and his romantic life had taken a backseat. He also had an established bond with Ginny, even if they weren’t together. Maybe it would have been a more successful present if he had owned it during the period when he had a crush on Cho? Who knows? Perhaps, if he had looked at it before his disastrous date at Madam Puddifoot’s, things could have been different? But overall, we don’t rate this as one of Harry’s best gifts.

## 10th place: An enchanted razor
Don’t get us wrong, this gift from Bill and Fleur was practical and useful. And yes, according to Mr Delacour this razor would give Harry the smoothest shave he would ever have, but it was also just a little bit dull? In a magical world, full of the most weird and wonderful objects, this does feel rather ordinary. This is why we think it only deserves tenth place on our list. 

## 9th place: Sneakoscope 
Both Hermione and Ron gave Harry a Sneakoscope at one point. Ron on Harry’s thirteenth birthday and Hermione on his seventeenth. While there is no doubt that these are handy objects, they can also be rather annoying – especially when they won’t stop whirling and whistling. Granted, when this happened in Harry’s third year at Hogwarts, it was because the nefarious Peter Pettigrew was close by in his disguise as Scabbers. Still, it must have been pretty irritating.

## 8th place: Toy broomstick
Harry may not remember this present, but we wanted to include it because it was just so adorable. For his first birthday, his godfather Sirius gave him a toy broomstick which he had endless fun zooming around on. Though this gift probably helped spark his love of flying, we think it only deserves eighth place because Harry didn’t have it for very long, he can’t remember using it and it scared the family cat.

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Fred and George Weasley standing behind a table in Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes while surrounded by products.

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## 7th place: Enormous box of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes
There’s definitely nothing wrong with getting a big box of pranks as a present and Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes are some of the very best. However, it also seems like quite a lazy present from Fred and George – especially for Harry’s coming-of-age birthday. All the twins had to do was swipe their own merchandise from the shelves of their own shop – you can’t really call it the most thoughtful gift. We think this present sits in the middle of our list because although it was low effort it was still fun. 

## 6th place: Mokeskin pouch
This was a rather nifty gift that Hagrid gave Harry for his seventeenth birthday – and rare too! As it was made from Mokeskin, only the owner of the pouch could remove whatever was placed into it. This meant that Harry could use it store important items while being safe in the knowledge that only he could get them back out. In the end, he used this handy pouch to store some of his prized possessions, such as the Marauder’s Map. He also used it to keep the shards of the enchanted mirror given to him by Sirius – which ended up being vital in his escape from Malfoy Manor. Overall, a rather excellent present if you ask us.

## 5th place: Broomstick Servicing Kit
This gift was a stroke of genius from Harry’s, well, genius friend Hermione. Even though she wasn’t a fan of Quidditch or flying in general, she had clearly put a lot of thought and effort into finding something that Harry would truly appreciate and her efforts were rewarded. From the moment he unwrapped it, Harry was thrilled, and he used this handy kit whenever he could. When Aunt Marge came to visit the Dursleys, just thinking about it was enough to stop Harry from retaliating when she made her nasty remarks and kept him out of trouble… for the most part…

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Harry and Ginny sharing a kiss at The Burrow.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

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and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

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## 4th place: A kiss from Ginny 
Creeping towards the top we have Ginny’s gift to Harry when he turned seventeen. Even though the pair had broken up at this point, they both still had feelings for one another. We bet Harry wasn’t complaining about getting a big old snog from a person who he cared about deeply. While not the most conventional of presents, we think it was definitely one of Harry’s more memorable ones. 

## 3rd place: Fabian Prewett’s watch
In third place we have the watch that Molly Weasley presented to Harry on his seventeenth birthday. Even though it was technically second hand, this watch had belonged to Molly’s brother Fabian, who had tragically lost his life the first time Voldemort came to power. There is no doubt that this watch meant a lot to Molly so for her to give it to Harry was a very big deal. It showed that she truly considered Harry to be a member of her family and for Harry, that was the real gift.

## 2nd place: Hedwig
Just missing out on the top spot is Harry’s gift of Hedwig. This beautiful, sassy and wise owl was definitely one of the best birthday presents Harry ever received. Not only was she a perfect, not to forget loyal, companion – but she was his connection to the wizarding world when he was stuck back in the suburban horror of Privet Drive. Hedwig was there for Harry from the very beginning and was one of his first friends. As the person who gave Harry Hedwig, we wouldn’t blame Hagrid if he felt pretty smug about his gift-giving skills.

## 1st place: Hogwarts letter
How could it be anything else? In the top spot we have to have Harry’s Hogwarts letter. This was the moment that Harry realised that there was so much more than his miserable life with the Dursleys. In fact, there was a whole other world – and one in which he truly belonged. Receiving that letter changed his life forever and finally gave him the opportunity to discover who he truly was. A pretty perfect present.

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Harry stood outside in his Hogwarts robes and Gryffindor scarf with Hedwig perched on his arm.

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What do you think? Do you agree with our order or do you have something different in mind?

What does it mean to go Back to Hogwarts?

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## What is Back to Hogwarts Day? 

Glad you asked. Back to Hogwarts Day is a homegrown celebration created by Harry Potter fans on the 1st September every year, the day that Harry is due to board the [Hogwarts Express](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/the-hogwarts-express) and go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry for a new year. As Harry goes to King’s Cross Station in London to seek out the secret location, [platform nine and three-quarters](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/platform-nine-and-three-quarters), this train station quickly became a homing beacon for fans to flock to in real life, particularly on the 1st September. Paying homage to the iconic moment from the books and films, where Harry would disappear in between platforms nine and ten to reach the half-way point between his life in the Muggle world and the wizarding world, fans love to countdown to 11 o’ clock, the time the Hogwarts Express train is due to set off. 

![WB-HP-F1-philosophers-stone-hogwarts-express-on-way-web-landscape](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/izu7fEXDnPOtECWptisYE/0c0c2282dee0f5139e4643bfbef759df/WB-HP-F1-philosophers-stone-hogwarts-express-on-way-web-landscape.jpg)

## The significance of King’s Cross Station 

Years on from when the Harry Potter books were released, the real King’s Cross Station in London recognised its important placement in the stories. A luggage cart was installed into a wall, so fans could come and pretend to *push* their cart into a magical platform, just like Harry did, for some excellent photos. And eventually, a shop, aptly named Platform 9 ¾, popped up nearby, for Harry Potter fans to indulge in some Wizarding World goodies before embarking on their own journeys. In fact, King’s Cross Station has taken the tradition so deeply into its heart, that the train announcement timetable even recognises Hogwarts as a destination on this day. 

![KingsCross WB F2 KingsCrossHarryPotterAndRonWeasley Still 100615 Land](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/3fazWd8xIImAI6eg6OAoAc/c5e4d2867bf04d15f77a84e1f7177eb6/KingsCross_WB_F1_KingsCrossHarryPotterAndRonWeasley_Still_100615_Land.jpg)

## That’s nice if you live in London. But what about me? 

But Back to Hogwarts Day goes far deeper than just turning up to King’s Cross Station in London – especially if you live far across the world. Over the years since the Harry Potter books and films were released, fans found all sorts of ways to celebrate this significant moment in Harry’s story, whether that was dressing up in your best Hogwarts robes, rewatching a movie, or even getting up at Silly O’ Clock to countdown the moment on UK time, or throwing your own magical bash. The hashtag BacktoHogwarts across social media is always in full swing to see what people are up to. 

And in recent times, the 1st September has become a day of Wizarding World announcements and surprises. 

## What has happened at previous Back to Hogwarts Days?

Every year, Back to Hogwarts season gets bigger and more exciting, with more and more celebrations popping up all over the world. Back in 2018, for example, [Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law turned up at King’s Cross Station](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/what-happened-when-everyone-went-back-to-hogwarts-in-2018) to the shock of fans to commemorate the second Fantastic Beasts film. In the same year, a special version of the Knight Bus went up and down the UK, touring the country. In 2019, the cast of *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* rocked up for a magnificent wand dance that we’re sure distracted a few commuters! In the past couple of years, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, things have been a little bit different, but that hasn’t stopped Harry Potter loving generations, old and new, wearing their Hogwarts house pride like a badge of honour.

![Kings Cross 2019](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/9ci2SdeacRKXi26zuzuzw/abaaac0be5068ff0a29e30195826568b/Kings_Cross_2019.jpg) 

## So, get involved! 

It doesn’t matter if you’re in your living room swishing around your wand (or whatever household object closely resembles one!) or out and about, raising a Butterbeer with friends and family to toast a new term of Hogwarts. So, whether this is your first time celebrating Back to Hogwarts Day or you’ve been counting down to 11 o’ clock every year since 1997... we want to hear from you. Share your own magic with us using the BacktoHogwarts hashtag online on 1st September. Because one day, if we wait patiently enough, an owl *will* turn up on our doorstep with our very own Hogwarts! 

The Quidditch World Cup crossword

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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and the Goblet of Fire

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Can you soar through today's puzzle?

<iframe width="550" height="700" allowtransparency="true" style="background: #FFFFFF" src="
https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/crossword/20220628/00114/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

__And remember, you can play more wordsearches, crosswords and Number Magic challenges over at our [puzzles hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles). Get cracking!__

The Knight Bus wordsearch

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Harry Potter standing outside the purple Knight Bus in London.

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Can you finish this faster than a rambunctious Knight Bus trip? Have a go, and remember to compare your times with friends! 

<iframe width="550" height="900" allowtransparency="true" style="background: #FFFFFF" src="https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/wordsearch/20220628/00113/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

For more Wizarding World puzzles, [check our puzzles hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles) or try our [app for bitesized challenges.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/a-handy-guide-to-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-harry-potter-fan-club-app)

Which Dursley could you be friends with?

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Petunia and Vernon Dursley sitting close to Dudley in their living room. Dudley looks queasy after his encounter with the Dementors.

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## If you are willing to change your mind… you’d be friends with Dudley
For the most part, Dudley Dursley was nothing more than a spoilt, bullying, brute of a boy. However, after the incident with the Dementors in *Order of the Phoenix*, things changed a little bit. Dudley seemed to have a bit of a wakeup call and, dare we say it, grew as a person. He went from hating Harry to telling him that he didn’t think he was a waste of space and even left a cup of tea outside his room. We even know that in later life he and Harry hung out a little bit. While these changes don’t suddenly make him a good person – we can’t help but think he was at least trying to be a better one. If you’re someone who can relate to the process Dudley went through, then we think you’d be his friend. Whether you’re someone who was known to be mean in the past or you just weren’t keen on the person you were, you managed to catch yourself before it got too late. You have done some serious reflecting on who you want to be and (like Dudley) have made changes for the better. We think the two of you would encourage one another and would help to keep each other accountable. 

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The Dursleys celebrating Dudley's birthday. Harry is cooking bacon in the kitchen, Vernon is sat at the table and Petunia is hugging Dudley who is surrounded by a huge pile of presents.