feature

Features

Hero Features Hub Texture

The chapter that made us fall in love with... Hogwarts

WEB-FEATURE-the-chapter-that-made-us-fall-in-love-with-hogwarts

HP-F3-prisoner-of-azkaban-harry-ron-hermione-steps-hogwarts-grounds-web-landscape

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

HP-F3

and the Prisoner of Azkaban

the-chapter-that-made-us-fall-in-love-with-hogwarts-text-section-1

Hogwarts

Hogwarts Fact File

Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley Fact File

The Hogwarts Express

Hogwarts Express Fact File

## Before the chapter
Growing up, Harry had always felt out of place. Odd things seemed to happen around him – like the glass in front of the boa constrictor at the zoo vanishing. So, when Hagrid broke down the door at the Hut-on-the-Rock and revealed that Harry was a wizard with a place at [Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry](/fact-file/locations/hogwarts), things finally began to make sense. 

Yet, before this chapter Hogwarts was still only an idea in Harry’s mind. He still had one foot in the Muggle world and only had brief moments in the wizarding one – like his trip to [Diagon Alley](/fact-file/locations/diagon-alley) to pick up school supplies. He had never seen the magical school and only had scraps of information which were not always from the most reliable of sources… we mean Malfoy.

So, by the time 1st September finally arrived, and we took that journey with Harry on the [Hogwarts Express](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/hogwarts-express), we couldn’t wait to see the iconic castle and finally be fully immersed in the magical world. It certainly didn’t disappoint and that first evening at Hogwarts made us fall in love with it.


HP-F1-philosophers-stone-hogwarts-boats-lake-first-years-web-landscape

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 

HP-F1

and the Philosopher's Stone 

the-chapter-that-made-us-fall-in-love-with-hogwarts-text-section-2

HP-B1-quote-harry-walking-into-great-hall-first-time

Harry had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles which were floating in mid-air over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the Hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first-years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, Harry looked upwards and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. He heard Hermione whisper, ‘It’s bewitched to look like the sky outside, I read about it in Hogwarts: A History.’

It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn’t simply open on to the heavens.

the-chapter-that-made-us-fall-in-love-with-hogwarts-text-section-3

The Great Hall

The Great Hall Fact File

The Sorting Hat

The Sorting Hat Fact File

Following a trip across the Lake with Hagrid and the other first-years, Harry had finally arrived at Hogwarts. The castle was completely different to anything that he had encountered in the Muggle world – there were ghosts for starters! 

And after a few minutes nervously waiting in an antechamber while wondering what scary test might be facing him and his fellow first-years, Harry finally walked into the [Great Hall](/fact-file/locations/the-great-hall) for the very first time. Filled with floating candles and a ceiling that looked like the night sky, it was truly magnificent. It was then that we realised that everything had truly changed for Harry, and this was where his real story would begin. 

But first things first, Harry had to find out which house he would be placed into courtesy of the [Sorting Hat](/fact-file/objects/the-sorting-hat) (whose song gave us an insight into the traits that each Hogwarts house represented). When he was finally sorted into Gryffindor – after a brief battle of wills with said magical hat – it was an incredibly important moment. This was the house that he would belong to for the rest of his time at school and beyond. It was arguably one of the first places that Harry had truly fitted in. We also enjoyed the enthusiastic welcome he received from his fellow Gryffindors. 


HP-B1-quote-albus-dumbledore-start-of-term-speech

Albus Dumbledore had got to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.

‘Welcome!’ he said. ‘Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!

the-chapter-that-made-us-fall-in-love-with-hogwarts-text-section-4

Albus Dumbledore

Albus Dumbledore Fact File

This chapter was where we also got to see [Albus Dumbledore](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/albus-dumbledore) again – nearly ten years after he dropped Harry off at the Dursleys. His brief opening speech gave us a glimpse into the whimsicality of Hogwarts and the wizarding world (not forgetting a glance at his own eccentricity). Yes, Harry might have questioned Dumbledore’s sanity in this moment, but we found the whole thing endearing. 

Finally, after an evening of magic, excellent food and good company, Harry was able to fall into his brand-new four-poster bed in the place that was now his home – much more comfortable than the cupboard under the stairs…

HP-F1-philosophers-stone-harry-sorting-hat-eyes-closed-web-landscape

the-chapter-that-made-us-fall-in-love-with-hogwarts-text-section-5

Dumbledore's Army

Dumbledore's Army Fact File

Number Four, Privet Drive

Number Four, Privet Drive Fact File

## Why it matters
Harry Potter had a miserable childhood with the Dursleys who treated him abysmally. Despite the fact that [Privet Drive](/fact-file/locations/number-four-privet-drive) was where he grew up, it never felt like home. He had only ever been an afterthought – shoved in a cupboard and forgotten about as much as possible. However, in this chapter he had escaped the Dursleys and arrived at a place that was better than his wildest dreams. He was finally alongside people that were just like him. He wasn’t the oddball who made weird things happen, he was a wizard just like his fellow classmates. If there was a place where Harry could finally find people that cared about him, it would be Hogwarts – which is exactly what happened. From Ron and Hermione to Neville, Luna, Ginny and the [DA](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/dumbledores-army), Hogwarts was where Harry found his family.

HP-B1-quote-harry-eating-start-of-term-feast

Harry’s mouth fell open. The dishes in front of him were now piled with food. He had never seen so many things he liked to eat on one table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, chips, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup and, for some strange reason, mint humbugs.

The Dursleys had never exactly starved Harry, but he’d never been allowed to eat as much as he liked. Dudley had always taken anything that Harry really wanted, even if it made him sick. Harry piled his plate with a bit of everything except the humbugs and began to eat. It was all delicious.

the-chapter-that-made-us-fall-in-love-with-hogwarts-text-section-6

Gryffindor

Gryffindor Fact File

Quidditch

Quidditch Fact File

We also wanted to draw attention to the importance of Harry’s reaction to the start-of-term banquet. It was the perfect example of Harry discovering a freedom that he had never had before. For once he didn’t have to go hungry – he could eat what he liked and not be afraid that it would be taken from him. That must have been a revelation to him, the fact that while he was at Hogwarts, he would never go hungry again. Despite his nerves, we think it would have given him a sense of security and safety that had previously eluded him. 

This chapter also marked the moment where Harry could start to discover himself thanks to the boundless opportunities Hogwarts presented. With magic flowing through its very core, we knew that Harry was going to get up to all sorts of adventures. This chapter alone mentioned [Quidditch](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/quidditch), ghosts, the Forbidden Forest and the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side which was most definitely out of bounds. It was the starting point for Harry, the moment where he would begin to grow as a person and a wizard and live up to his true potential. 

Finally, even though Harry was nervous throughout this chapter – starting  a new school whether it’s magical or Muggle is always a big deal – we know that Harry was exactly where he needed to be. Everything from Dumbledore’s speech to the reception he received from his fellow [Gryffindors](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/gryffindor) to the warn embrace of his bed was welcoming. Harry had finally come home and that is why we fell in love with Hogwarts.

harry-hedwig-castle-image-whimsical-hogwarts-web-hero

harry-hedwig-castle-image-whimsical-hogwarts

Why you should never cross Hermione Granger

WEB-FEATURE-why-you-should-never-cross-hermione-granger

hermione-malfoy-prisoner-of-azkaban-punch-moment-hp3

why-you-should-never-cross-hermione-granger-text-section-1

Polyjuice Potion

Polyjuice Potion Fact File

## She was unnervingly smart
First things first, we couldn’t talk about Hermione without mentioning that big old brain of hers. Quite frankly, if you’re not intimidated by her intelligence, you should be. This is a witch who successfully brewed [Polyjuice Potion](/fact-file/plants-and-potions/polyjuice-potion) in her second year, figured out what was lurking in the Chamber of Secrets, got a hundred and twelve per cent on her Charms exams and came up with the idea for [Dumbledore’s Army](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/dumbledores-army). She could accomplish anything if she put her mind to it and demonstrated that repeatedly. If we’re truly honest both Harry and Ron would not have survived without Hermione’s mind. You wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of someone with brainpower like that… as several people soon learnt when they ended up there.


WB-HP-F2-hermione-examining-potion-ingredients-with-cauldron-web-landscape

why-you-should-never-cross-hermione-granger-text-section-2

Rita Skeeter

Rita Skeeter Fact File

## She defeated the slippery Rita Skeeter
[Rita Skeeter](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/rita-skeeter) with her Quick-Quotes Quill and her nasty little articles caused quite the kerfuffle in *Goblet of Fire* – whether that was revealing Hagrid was a half-giant or falsely insinuating that romance was blossoming between Harry and Hermione. No matter how many people she hurt, she always seemed to get away with her poison penmanship… until Hermione decided to put a stop to it. Turns out Rita Skeeter was an unregistered Animagus and could transform into a beetle. Who was the person to figure that out? Hermione of course. She caught Rita Skeeter hiding in the hospital wing at Hogwarts and kept her in a jar with an Unbreakable Charm on it until the end of the school term – when the [Hogwarts Express](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/hogwarts-express) arrived back in London. She even managed to make Rita promise to keep her quill to herself for an entire year. For an adult to be willing to bow to the demands of a teenager shows just how impressive and daunting Hermione really was. We also enjoyed the fact that the next time Rita wrote anything, it was at Hermione’s, let’s say… request.


WB-HP-F4-goblet-of-fire-harry-hermione-rita-skeeter-web-landscape

why-you-should-never-cross-hermione-granger-text-section-3

Hermione Granger

Hermione Granger Fact File

The Disarming Charm

The Disarming Charm Fact File

## There was that time she attacked a teacher
In her third year at Hogwarts, Hermione attacked a teacher. Yes, you heard us right. Rule-abiding bookworm [Hermione Granger](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/hermione-granger) attacked one of her teachers when she deemed it necessary. In *Prisoner of Azkaban*, when Harry, Ron and Hermione met Sirius Black for the first time, Professor Snape happened to get in their way. When Hermione tried to suggest that Snape should allow Lupin and Sirius to explain themselves, he refused. Well, that just wouldn’t do. Hermione, along with Harry and Ron, [disarmed](/fact-file/spells/the-disarming-charm) the Potions professor and the collective force of their spells rendered him unconscious. We’re guessing that wouldn’t have been in Snape’s top five favourite memories.


PMARCHIVE-HarryPotter WB F3 HarryRonHermioneScabbersInShriekingShack Still 080615 Land 3jXnAdT2SAMqaoGw8SqG8O

HarryPotter WB F3 HarryRonHermioneScabbersInShriekingShack Still 080615 Land

Harry Hermione Ron and Scabbers in the Shrieking Shack 

why-you-should-never-cross-hermione-granger-text-section-4

Dolores Umbridge

Dolores Umbridge Fact File

The Confundus Charm

The Confundus Charm Fact File

## Hermione might just hex you…
It wasn’t just teachers that ended up on the wrong end of a spell courtesy of Hermione – several of her fellow students did too. There was Marietta Edgecombe whose face was covered in disgusting purple pustules spelling the word SNEAK when she betrayed Dumbledore’s Army to [Professor Umbridge](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/dolores-umbridge). There was Cormac McLaggen who she [Confunded](/fact-file/spells/the-confundus-charm) to help give Ron the edge in Quidditch try-outs. Speaking of Ron, there was the time Hermione sent a flock of little golden birds to attack him in a moment of anger. Knowing all this, we reckon you would be nothing short of a fool to do something to annoy Hermione because one way or another you will always get your comeuppance. 

HP-F7-deathly-hallows-part-1-hermione-ron-return-camp-angry-web-landscape

Hermione and Ron outside in a snowy wood. She is angrily hitting him with a bag and Harry is stood in the background.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

HP-F7

and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

why-you-should-never-cross-hermione-granger-text-section-5

Draco Malfoy

Draco Malfoy Fact File

## She doesn’t even need magic to be a little terrifying
Yes, Hermione might be a whiz when it comes to spellwork and a dab hand at brewing potions, but when it comes to standing up for her friends this witch doesn’t even need magic to be a formidable foe – just ask [Draco Malfoy’s ](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/draco-malfoy)face. When he insulted Hagrid, he felt the full force of Hermione’s wrath…


HP-B3-hermione-punches-malfoy

‘Look at him blubber!’
Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle had been standing just inside the castle doors, listening.
‘Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?’ said Malfoy. ‘And he’s supposed to be our teacher!’
Harry and Ron both made furious moves towards Malfoy, but Hermione got there first – SMACK!
She had slapped Malfoy around the face with all the strength she could muster. Malfoy staggered. Harry, Ron, Crabbe and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again.
‘Don’t you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul – you evil –’

why-you-should-never-cross-hermione-granger-text-section-6

He should have just kept his nasty opinions to himself.


PMARCHIVE-videograb-hermione-punching-draco 1tT8gv3YCoE2OuogWAiU2E-b3

videograb-hermione-punching-draco

why-you-should-never-cross-hermione-granger-text-section-7

***
So, there you have it. This is one witch who was as fierce as she was smart – we bet everyone who dared to cross her soon regretted it… we know we would.

Funny details you may have missed in Hogwarts Legacy

WEB-FEATURE-funny-details-you-may-have-missed-in-hogwarts-legacy

hogwarts-legacy-funny-moments-video-article-screengrab-levitating-web-landscape

A student is levitating uncontrollably while two other students hold on to his ankles to stop him floating away. 

funny-details-you-may-have-missed-in-hogwarts-legacy-text-section-1

Hogwarts Legacy is packed full to the brim with adventure and magic. Yet when you’re not evading poachers, completing Merlin Trials, tackling trolls or trying to get top marks in Transfiguration – you’ll notice that it is also rather funny.

However, if you were too busy focussing on all the things we’ve mentioned above, you might have missed a few of the hilarious highlights. Luckily for you, we’ve got a video to remind you of exactly how amusing some of the Hogwarts Legacy background moments can be… 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/ut1SQi4CimE?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

We don’t know about you, but our favourite has to be the levitating student – watch out for those Billywigs!

If you want to explore all things Hogwarts Legacy, we have you covered. Check out our [Hogwarts Legacy hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/hogwarts-legacy) where you can discover everything from exclusive behind-the-scenes footage to quizzes that challenge your knowledge of the game… you can even find out what type of Hogwarts Legacy gamer you are.


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

Features - Wizarding World

For beginners, for novices, for Harry Potter superfans going 20 years-strong, dig deep into the Wizarding World with our collection of features. We also have 'first-year' quizzes for Harry Potter beginners!

Footer

Footer About Us

Footer Privacy Settings

Footer Press

Footer FAQs

Footer Terms & Conditions

Footer Ad Choices

Footer Privacy & Cookies

Footer Children's Privacy Policy

Footer Legals

The Fat Lady's passwords wordsearch

WEB-PUZZLE-fat-ladys-passwords

HP-F3-prisoner-of-azkaban-fat-lady-singing-web-landscape

fat-ladys-passwords-wordsearch-text-section

How quickly can you complete this wordsearch? You don't want to get locked out of Gryffindor Tower for the night...

<iframe width="600" height="650" allowtransparency="true" style="background: #FFFFFF" src="https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/wordsearch/20230901/00175/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[More puzzles await you here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles)

The Portraits crossword

WEB-PUZZLE-portraits-crossword

PMARCHIVE-Hogwarts WB F3 HogwartsStaircases Illust 100615 Land 5Thwzb6WpaUS866Ymqyc0q-b15

Hogwarts WB F3 HogwartsStaircases Illust 100615 Land

portraits-crossword-text-section

Can you finish this crossword before all the portraits wander off?

<iframe width="550" height="700" allowtransparency="true" style="background: #FFFFFF" src="https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/crossword/20230901/00175/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[See our latest wordsearches, crosswords and Number Magic puzzles over at our hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles)


The first-year Potions wordsearch

WEB-PUZZLE-first-year-potions

WB-HP-F1-harry-potions-cauldron-web-landscap

first-year-potions-wordsearch-text-section

See if you can complete this wordsearch faster than Hermione raises her hand to all of Snape's questions!

<iframe width="600" height="650" allowtransparency="true" style="background: #FFFFFF" src="https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/wordsearch/20230819/00174/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[More puzzles await you here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles)

Muggle on the Street: Scholastic celebrate the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone at San Diego Comic-Con

WEB-FEATURE-muggle-on-the-street-scholastic-celebrates-25-years-harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone-san-diego-comic-con

muggle-on-the-street-san-diego-comic-con-hufflepuff-dog-web-landscape

muggle-on-the-street-scholastic-celebrates-25-years-sorcerers-stone-san-diego-comic-con-text-section-1

Join us for more Potter ponderings in our brand-new episode of Muggle on the Street! Watch as the brilliant Mikaila digs deep and quizzes the fans on everything from who they would like to take to the Yule Ball to whether Dumbledore was the real villain of the story – interesting... 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/l05LD6TX9Sk?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Hufflepuff hound and Aurora the cat made the best points in our humble opinion… 

***
Be sure to catch up on all of our Muggle on the Street episodes so far:

[Muggle on the Street: The First One](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/watch-our-new-video-series-muggle-on-the-street)

[Muggle on the Street: The fans react to the new TV series](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/muggle-on-the-street-asks-fans-about-new-tv-series)

[Muggle on the Street: Lyric Theatre, New York
](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/muggle-on-the-street-cursed-child-new-york-edition)

[Muggle on the Street: Muggle on the Street: Back to Hogwarts edition at King’s Cross Station](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/muggle-on-the-street-back-to-hogwarts-kings-cross-station)


Muggle on the Street: Back to Hogwarts edition at King’s Cross Station

WEB-FEATURE-muggle-on-the-street-back-to-hogwarts-kings-cross-station

muggle-on-the-street-sam-thompson-crowd-kings-cross-web-landscape

muggle-on-the-street-back-to-hogwarts-kings-cross-station-text-section-1

Join us for more Potter ponderings in a fresh episode of Muggle on the Street right here and watch as Sam Thompson quizzes fans on everything from their Patronus to who they would most like to hang out with in the common room… 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/D8HcMyjLNuE?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

We must say we love the toy Niffler called Sam…

***
Be sure to catch up on all of our Muggle on the Street episodes so far:

[Muggle on the Street: The First One](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/watch-our-new-video-series-muggle-on-the-street)

[Muggle on the Street: The fans react to the new TV series](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/muggle-on-the-street-asks-fans-about-new-tv-series)

[Muggle on the Street: Lyric Theatre, New York
](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/muggle-on-the-street-cursed-child-new-york-edition)

Harry, Ron or Hermione? Who was the better friend?

WEB-FEATURE-harry-ron-hermione-who-was-the-better-friend

HP-F4-goblet-of-fire-harry-ron-hermione-library-golden-egg-web-landscape

Harry, Ron and Hermione in the library together. Ron is holding the Golden Egg, Harry is sat by some books and Hermione is standing.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

HP-F4

and the Goblet of Fire

harry-ron-hermione-who-was-the-better-friend-text-section-1

Omnioculars

Omnioculars Fact File

Merperson

Merperson Fact File

Number twelve, Grimmauld Place

Number twelve, Grimmauld Place Fact File

## Let’s talk about Harry…
Before he went to Hogwarts, it appeared as though Harry didn’t really have friends. So, we imagine that he was incredibly happy when he went to the magical school and finally found his people. While he didn’t have much experience when it came to friendship, there were still plenty of ways in which he was excellent at it. 

We have to start off by mentioning his generosity. Harry had grown up with nothing and suddenly he had a fortune left to him by his parents. He could easily have kept it all to himself and spent it on anything he wanted… but he didn’t. Instead, he was only too happy to share it with those closest to him. There was the time he first met Ron and bought them both a feast of goodies on the [Hogwarts Express](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/hogwarts-express). Then there was when he bought both Ron and Hermione a pair of [Omnioculars](/fact-file/objects/omnioculars) so they could have a better view of the Quidditch World Cup. Harry didn’t think twice about sharing what was his with those he cared about – it was just in his nature. And it didn’t have to be money. In fact, we think Harry would still have been the same even if he didn’t have a single Galleon to his name. 

Harry was someone who encouraged his friends. He believed in them and wanted to make sure that they did too. He reminded Hermione on more than one occasion of just how intelligent she was. He also went to great lengths to make sure that Ron knew that he had it in him to be a great Quidditch player – though on one occasion it involved some sleight of hand and a certain potion appearing to be poured into Ron’s cup.

We also can’t talk about Harry as a friend without mentioning how he would go to great lengths to defend those around him. In the second task of the Triwizard Tournament, he was desperate to save both Ron and Hermione from the clutches of the [merpeople](/fact-file/creatures/merperson) despite Hermione not being his to save. His determination to protect them both meant that he waited until he knew that Krum was there to help Hermione and paid little thought to how it would affect his chances of winning the task. That dedication to protecting people went further than this. Harry was willing to give up his life to save the wizarding world and those he loved including his closest friends. Hermione and Ron were never far from Harry’s mind whenever he had to do something dangerous and his loyalty to them often spurred him on – which only reinforces what a fantastic friend he was.

That’s not to say Harry didn’t have his flaws as a friend. One of those was how he would often side with Ron against Hermione – including when Ron was in the wrong. This tied into the fact that he always seemed to forgive Ron more quickly than Hermione. When Ron returned after leaving Harry and Hermione on the Horcrux hunt, Harry forgave him pretty much immediately. Whereas, when Hermione turned his Firebolt over to Professor McGonagall in his third year, he stopped speaking to her for weeks. Does that seem fair to you?

Harry also had a habit of losing his temper at Ron and Hermione when they didn’t really deserve it. Like when he screamed at them after arriving at [Grimmauld Place](/fact-file/locations/number-twelve-grimmauld-place) for the first time. It just felt unnecessary. Yes, they had been there together for a while before he had arrived. And yes, they hadn’t been able to tell him much in their letters, but it was hardly their fault. Dumbledore had been the one that had insisted on the secrecy. Harry’s anger was misplaced, and he shouldn’t have lashed out at his two best friends… he didn’t even apologise.

However, we have to remember that nobody is perfect and that includes the Chosen One. Harry was a teenager with more on his plate that most adults, so we understand that he was probably often overwhelmed by the huge burden he had to carry and it doesn’t take away from the fact that he was encouraging, generous and dedicated to his closest friends.


HP-F1-philosophers-stone-harry-ron-hermione-hogwarts-express-web-landscape

Harry, Ron and Hermione by the Hogwarts Express. Hermione and Ron are leaning out of one the doors while Harry is next to them.They are all smiling slightly. 

harry-ron-hermione-who-was-the-better-friend-text-section-2

The Forbidden Forest

The Forbidden Forest Fact File

The Weasleys

The Weasleys Fact File

Triwizard Tournament

Triwizard Tournament Fact File

## Was Ron the superior friend?
Ron Weasley was Harry’s first school friend. The pair of them immediately bonded and they were pretty much inseparable from day one. There were plenty of things that made Ron Weasley a good friend and some may argue that he was the very best. 

There were lots of times when Ron stood up for his friends. The incident that immediately springs to mind is when Malfoy called Hermione a Mudblood. Despite having a broken wand, Ron tried to cast a spell on Malfoy which backfired spectacularly and ended with Ron being the one to belch slugs (well the thought was there). He also stood up for Hermione against Professor Snape. When Snape called Hermione and ‘insufferable know-it-all’, Ron spoke back to him and ended up with a detention for his troubles. He also refused to stop talking to Harry in *Order of the Phoenix*, despite a plea from his brother Percy.

Ron was also willing to follow Harry on his many adventures without questioning him. He would accept what Harry told him and would go along with it. In *Chamber of Secrets*, he followed the spiders into the [Forbidden Forest](/fact-file/locations/the-forbidden-forest) (despite them being his greatest fear) because Harry asked him to. He would rarely hesitate and would back Harry up whenever he required it. Like Harry, he was also known to put his friends before himself. For instance, there was the time he sacrificed himself on the giant chessboard in *Philosopher’s Stone* so Harry and Hermione could move on through the other obstacles and stop Voldemort – that’s some top-level friending there.

We also can’t forget that he accepted Harry into his family. As soon as Harry became friends with Ron, he also became an honorary [Weasley](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/the-weasleys) and spent some of his happiest summers amongst his favourite redheads. This again was Ron being an excellent friend – Harry needed a family and Ron was more than willing to provide him with one.

Yet, Ron had his fair share of issues. He allowed his jealousy of Harry to cause problems between them. When Harry was selected for the [Triwizard Tournament](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/triwizard-tournament), Ron’s feelings of envy meant that he refused to speak to him until after the First Task. Harry could have done with his friend then, when it felt like most of the school were against him, but Ron had abandoned him. Ron’s jealousy was also a factor when he decided to abandon Harry a second time. In this instance, he left both Harry and Hermione on their own on the dangerous hunt for Horcruxes. Though Ron returned (and deserves credit for swallowing his pride and doing that), the fact he left the pair of them in the first place was terrible and not what a good friend should do.

Ron also had a mean streak. There were numerous occasions when he made Hermione cry. He might have stood up for her against people like Malfoy – but he too was guilty of calling her a know-it-all. Luna Lovegood even commented on his habit of saying unkind things. This unpleasant streak of his also reared its head during the Yule Ball when Ron ruined Hermione’s experience by suggesting that Viktor Krum only invited her to get information about Harry and his strategy for the Triwizard Tournament. Yet again, Ron’s jealousy got in the way of his ability to be a good friend. However, we must say that although Ron had his moments, overall, he was still a caring, funny and faithful friend to both Harry and Hermione.

HP-F6-half-blood-prince-harry-ron-hermione-the-burrow-web-landscape

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

HP-F6

and the Half-Blood Prince

harry-ron-hermione-who-was-the-better-friend-text-section-3

Lavender Brown

Lavender Brown Fact File

The Ministry of Magic

The Ministry of Magic Fact File

## Maybe it was Hermione?
When it came to making friends, Hermione struggled at first. A lot of people seemed to think she was a rather obnoxious know-it-all (though we know there is far more to her than that). Yet, she did become firm friends with Harry and Ron and she more than proved her worth. When it came to Harry, Hermione always had his best interests at heart. In *Prisoner of Azkaban*, she was willing to sacrifice their friendship if it meant keeping him safe. After telling Professor McGonagall that Harry had mysteriously received a Firebolt, it was taken away from him for inspection. Although Hermione was just trying to protect Harry, he and Ron saw it as interfering and stopped speaking to her completely – which was a rubbish thing for her best friends to do. We know it hurt her that they wouldn’t talk to her, but it demonstrated how she was willing to forgo her own happiness if it meant her friends were safe.

Building on this, Hermione was always loyal to Harry. She never left him or stopped talking to him. She was always there to support him – from helping him prepare for the Triwizard Tournament to staying with him during the hunt for Horcruxes in *Deathly Hallows*. Even when she was being tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange, she never cracked and gave away any secrets as she was committed to her friends and their mission. Speaking of the Horcrux mission, she wiped her parents’ memories and made them forget about her to make sure they were safe from Voldemort and the Death Eaters while she embarked on this perilous journey. She didn’t have to do any of that and she could have left Harry to hunt the Horcruxes alone. Yet, she didn’t. She shouldered the enormous personal cost to be there for her friend when he needed her most. Let’s be honest… Harry would never have survived without her.

One other thing, despite it going against her nature, Hermione would break school rules to help Harry – like the time she successfully brewed [Polyjuice Potion](/fact-file/plants-and-potions/polyjuice-potion) in her second year or the time she set up Dumbledore’s Army in her fifth. She also attacked Snape in their third year to try and protect Harry and Ron. For rule-loving Hermione that can’t have been easy.

All that being said, Hermione was not perfect. While she and Ron eventually ended up married, their friendship had their fair share of rocky patches. None more so than when Ron ended up dating [Lavender Brown](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/lavender-brown). That led to Hermione setting a flock of birds ‘speeding like a hail of fat golden bullets’ to attack Ron, which was not an ok thing to do no matter how upset she was. That falling out also ended up with Harry being stuck in the middle between the pair of them which must have been uncomfortable.

We also reckon if you were to ask Harry and Ron, they would say that she was sometimes overbearing when it came to homework, revision or school rules. They might also say they found it a tad annoying when she would question the plans and schemes that they (usually Harry) had concocted. We can see why it would be frustrating to have someone constantly play devil’s advocate especially on the occasions when you know you are right.

Yet, we don’t think this is necessarily an example of being a poor friend. Yes, Hermione might have annoyed them, but she was always wanting them to do their best, stay safe and not dive headlong into dangerous situations that could go wrong – like the time Harry refused to listen to her telling him not to go to the [Ministry of Magic](/fact-file/locations/the-ministry-of-magic) to save Sirius. Really, Hermione was a very good friend indeed.


HP-F6-half-blood-prince-harry-hermione-ron-walking-hogsmeade-web-landscape

harry-ron-hermione-who-was-the-better-friend-text-section-4

So, who do you think was the winner? We know that we are finding it really difficult to decide between the golden trio. Each of them brought different strengths and different weaknesses to the table. But you can always let us know if you have the definitive answer…

Everything we know about the four Hogwarts common rooms

WEB-FEATURE-everything-we-know-about-the-hogwarts-common-rooms

HP-F4-goblet-of-fire-harry-hermione-golden-egg-gryffindor-common-room-web-landscape

Harry is lying down on the sofa in the Gryffindor common room holding the golden egg. He is looking at Hermione who is perched on the back of the sofa.

everything-we-know-about-the-hogwarts-common-rooms-text-section-1

The Gryffindor common room

The Gryffindor common room Fact File

House-elf

House-elf Fact File

## Gryffindor common room
The one [common room](/fact-file/locations/the-gryffindor-common-room) that we undoubtedly see the most of is Gryffindor’s. Up in Gryffindor Tower, if students gave the portrait of the Fat Lady the correct password (easier said than done for certain Gryffindors… aka Neville), they could climb through the portrait hole and into a circular common room. There they would find a warm, cosy and inviting space with squashy armchairs and bedecked in the house colours of scarlet and gold. Off the common room were spiral staircases which led to the boys’ and girls’ dormitories. In the heart of the common room was a roaring fire maintained by the [house-elves](/fact-file/creatures/house-elf) of Hogwarts (when they weren’t boycotting Gryffindor Tower after Hermione’s many attempts to free them with her questionable knitting). Plenty of memorable moments took place there – from Fred and George testing their Skiving Snackboxes to Neville standing up to his friends to epic parties to celebrate Quidditch victories, and it was certainly a place that made Gryffindors students feel at home.


HP-F1-philosophers-stone-harry-ron-hermione-hogwarts-common-room-fire-web-landscape

Harry, Ron and Hermione are in the Gryffindor common room. Harry is stood in front of the fire looking at the other two who are sat down. Ron is on the sofa and Hermione is in an armchair.

everything-we-know-about-the-hogwarts-common-rooms-text-section-2

The Slytherin common room

The Slytherin common room Fact File

Scorpius Malfoy

Scorpius Malfoy Fact File

Albus Potter

Albus Potter Fact File

## Slytherin common room
Deep down in the dungeons under the lake was the [Slytherin common room](/fact-file/locations/the-slytherin-common-room). As it lay below the surface of the water, the long, low room with rough stone walls and ceilings had a greenish hue – which was in keeping with its house colours of emerald and silver. Unlike the other common rooms which had more obvious entrances, the Slytherin one was hidden behind a bare stretch of wall and accessible once the correct password was given (one such password was *pure-blood*). It didn’t have a cosy vibe, but it was rather regal. The large fireplace and mantlepiece, carved chairs and walls draped with tapestries helped to create a rather grand feel. Although we didn’t see much of it within the first seven stories, we did catch a glimpse of it when Harry and Ron snuck in disguised as Crabbe and Goyle. It was also the home of two of our favourite Slytherins – [Scorpius Malfoy](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/scorpius-malfoy) and [Albus Potter](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/albus-potter).
