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Eight moments we loved from the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix film 

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Harry and Dumbledore's Army in the Room of Requirement 

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## Dumbledore’s Army training montage …   

One of the most joyous sequences of the fifth Harry Potter film was Dumbledore’s Army training and undermining Dolores Umbridge at every turn. Everything was wonderful about this montage: the Room of Requirement setting, the spirited accompanying music, the cries of Expelliarmus interspersed with Umbridge and Filch’s desperate attempts to catch the illegal society, Harry and Cho flirting, and of course – Neville’s journey that ends in his final successful use of Harry’s favourite Disarming Charm! You go Neville! 

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## Mr Weasley and Harry travelling to the Ministry …   

Watching Mr Weasley navigating the London Underground brings a moment of joy as Harry makes his way to his Ministry of Magic hearing. Not only do we get to see Arthur attempting to get through the barriers without a ticket, but there’s another treat in store as we’re introduced to the Ministry of Magic visitors’ entrance and the Ministry itself…  

<iframe width="2880" height="1284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/13OoxNUcZ70?list=PLxDk3VcyNY6CVuY5s1apiYcFJ0nRQgWqK" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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## Meeting Luna Lovegood…   

Order of the Phoenix is where we first meet Luna Lovegood, so of course we had to include her and the way her character is brought to life by Evanna Lynch. Her calming voice, her whacky statements, all that talk of Nargles – oh Luna, we love you and this film for introducing you to us! 

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## Emotional range of a teaspoon… 

If you enjoyed the awkward post-Cho and Harry kissing chat in the Gryffindor common room when you read the book, the film certainly does that moment justice! A really nice touch for screen though is the cosy common room setting, with the roaring Gryffindor fire behind them and how they adorably get the giggles. We love this moment for its lightness in the darkness that descends on the wizarding world in this film.  

<iframe width="2880" height="1284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r94aUPdPgzk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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## Dumbledore and Fawkes team up…   

We love the moment Dumbledore shows how little control Fudge and Umbridge really have over him – and how he actually tells them he has no intention of going to Azkaban, as though he’s refusing an invitation to dinner! We also get to see the magnificent power of the phoenix in this scene – and listen out for Kingsley Shaklebolt’s hilarious line at the end of the clip, we certainly agree with him!

<iframe width="2880" height="1284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-cV-MCqEMF8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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## Fred and George Weasley leave Hogwarts with a bang…   

It starts with the distant sound of bangs interrupting a Charms O.W.L. exam, and ends in complete glorious pandemonium as the Weasley twins show Umbridge exactly how much trouble they can make. We love the music that accompanies the whizzing and fizzing of the fireworks, as well as the look on Dolores Umbridge’s face, of course. Watch out for what happens to those dozens of Ministry Decrees, and Professor Flitwick’s show of support for the troublesome twins…  

<iframe width="2880" height="1284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ew0NiL1ehq4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>


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## Expecto Patronum…   

It’s hard to believe that just two Hogwarts years before, Harry was learning how to cast the Patronus Charm with Professor Lupin. We love it when he teaches his friends this beautiful, protective enchantment, and the moment this film brings all their different Patronuses to life. Oh, and don’t you just love the music in this montage? Remember, you can find out your own Patronus by signing up for the Harry Potter Fan Club [here.](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register)

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## Dumbledore and Voldemort duel at the Ministry…    

‘It was foolish of you to come here tonight, Tom.’ Albus Dumbledore shows why he is the only wizard Lord Voldemort ever feared as good and evil duel inside the Ministry of Magic. The way their complex spells are brought to life in this scene is truly breath-taking. We particularly love the sound of the magic, particularly when Dumbledore manipulates the water in the fountain – listen out for it! 

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Harry Potter crafting magic for you to enjoy at home

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## [Make your own Hogwarts house bookmarks](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/make-your-own-hogwarts-house-bookmarks) 
How about starting off with these beautiful bookmarks? Whether you’re a Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin or Hufflepuff these colourful crafts are a great way to show off your Hogwarts house and they’re also very useful for marking your place in a Harry Potter book! Still need to find out which house you belong to? [Take our Sorting Ceremony here](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register). 
Need some inspiration? We recommend watching one of our chapter video reads to get you started… 
Best chapter video for Hogwarts houses: [Chapter Seven - 'The Sorting Hat'](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-sorting-hat).

## [Learn how to make your very own broomstick charm](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/learn-how-to-make-broomstick-charm)
Quidditch is one of Harry’s favourite things about Hogwarts – and he’s really good at it too! If you’re a Quidditch fan like him, then you’re going to love this crafting tutorial, where we teach you how to make your very own broomstick. Is it a Nimbus Two Thousand? You decide! Need some inspiration? 
Best chapter video for Quidditch: [Chapter Eleven – 'Quidditch'](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-quidditch).  

## [Make your own Hogwarts-style paper quills](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/make-your-own-hogwarts-style-paper-quills)
Once witches and wizards start at Hogwarts, just like Muggle children, they have to do their homework. Why not make your own writing more fun with one of these paper quills? You can pretend you bought it at Diagon Alley – we won’t tell! Need some inspiration?
Best chapter video for Hogwarts school supplies: [Chapter Five - 'Diagon Alley'](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-diagon-alley). 

## [Make your own Cornish pixie light up jar](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/make-your-own-cornish-pixie-light-up-jar)
Cornish pixies feature in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and cause quite a bit of bother! With this crafting video you can learn how to make your very own pesky pixie and pop it in its very own light up jar. And if you want to use a pixie template, you’ll find two different kinds on the article page. But watch out – these creatures cause all kind of trouble! Need some inspiration?
Best chapter video for trolls and trouble: [Chapter Ten - 'Hallowe’en'](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-halloween). 

## [Create your own paper owls](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/create-your-own-paper-owls)
This crafting video is a celebration of the owls of the wizarding world – who deliver post but also make wonderful companions! With this tutorial you can learn how to make your very own feathered friend – tawny, screech, barn, brown or snowy? It’s up to you! Need some inspiration?
Best chapter video for unexpected owls: [Chapter One - 'The Boy Who Lived'](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-boy-who-lived).

## [Learn how to draw a Niffler](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/watch-our-guide-on-how-to-draw-a-niffler-video)
These cute creatures feature in one of Harry, Ron and Hermione’s Care of Magical Creatures lessons – but they’re not quite as well-behaved as they look! We teach you how to draw one of these cuddly troublemakers in this video. Need some inspiration?
Best chapter video for gold: [Chapter Thirteen - 'Nicolas Flamel'](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-nicolas-flamel).

## [Show off your Hogwarts house with these rock painting tutorials](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/show-off-your-hogwarts-house-with-these-rock-painting-tutorials)
Learn how to paint your own house mascot onto a rock with this crafting video! Did you know the Hogwarts coat of arms features a lion for Gryffindor, an eagle for Ravenclaw, a badger for Hufflepuff and a snake for Slytherin? Show how proud you are of your Hogwarts house with this fun activity! Need some inspiration?
Best chapter video for the Hogwarts coat of arms: [Chapter Three - 'The Letters from No One'](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-letters-from-no-one).

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Find all these crafting videos, and more on our [Crafting Magic hub here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/crafting-magic). And if you fancy another challenge once you’ve finished crafting, you can [find puzzles and quizzes about the first Harry Potter book here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/first-year-challenges).


Try our four Hogwarts house-themed wordsearches 

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Simply click and drag to find all the words, all connected to each of the four Hogwarts houses. And if you don't know which house you're in, [remember you can get sorted with us right here.  ](https://my.wizardingworld.com/sorting-hat)

## The Gryffindor wordsearch 

<iframe width="600" height="650" src="https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/wordsearch/20200617/00023/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

## The Ravenclaw wordsearch

<iframe width="600" height="650" src="https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/wordsearch/20200612/00022/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

## The Hufflepuff wordsearch

<iframe width="600" height="650" src="https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/wordsearch/20200522/00019/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

## The Slytherin wordsearch

<iframe width="600" height="650" src="https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/wordsearch/20200620/00025/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

For more puzzles, [visit our puzzles hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles) or check out our Wizarding World app. 

Chapter Challenge: 'Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback'

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Welcome to your fourteenth Chapter Challenge! If you need a reminder of Chapter Fourteen, [you can watch Jason Isaacs, Tom Felton and Helen McCrory, reading 'Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback' any time you like here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-norbert-the-norwegian-ridgeback "CH14").

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__Write down who your favourite character is in the book so far and why. We asked you the same question back in the first Chapter Challenge, but has it changed?__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*

  
<IMG src="//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/7DGPxsJ6CKKAybKJk2z8VU/55be28bac6ab6daded4ac10bb10c57a5/numbersquaresArtboard-1-copy-15.png" alt="my boat"> 

__Draw a picture of Norbert the baby dragon.__
  
*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*
 
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__Answer this question and get a clue about the next chapter. What is the very large group of trees in the Hogwarts grounds called? Clue: it is out of bounds!__
  
*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*
  
<IMG src="//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/3RO65v5jlfLcUheOJIz3Ky/a17b402d7bf7171748d33604faec3580/numbersquaresArtboard-1-copy-17_1.png" alt="my boat">

__Write about yourself: Would you would want a pet dragon like Hagrid? Would it be fun? Or does it sound like too much trouble?__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*
  
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__Prediction time! Harry and Hermione get caught by Filch at the end of this chapter. Do you think that Harry and Hermione will end up getting detention?__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*

  
<IMG src="https://images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/4EH2eETTkq3a5Mbf24yLt4/c2bf7363fb4493fba513fc766137d831/numbersquaresArtboard-1-copy-17_3.png" alt="my boat">

__Time to be Ron Weasley: In 'Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback', Ron writes to his brother Charlie, who works with dragons in Romania. We hear/see Charlie’s reply in this chapter, but we don’t know exactly what Ron said to his brother. Write a letter to Charlie Weasley, pretending you’re Ron asking for help with Norbert. Remember to explain what’s been going on at Hogwarts! Charlie probably doesn’t know much about Harry or Hermione so you might want to tell him about them too ...__

*This mini-challenge is worth 2 house points.*

  
<IMG src="https://images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/5kRx9NHQ0mdxxkoKpgC0gV/865d36dd4c210aa10a8cec9e846f9abb/numbersquaresArtboard-1-copy-18.png" alt="my boat">

__Secret quest: In this chapter, Hermione is worried about the school exams only being ten weeks away. Her reply to Ron saying that they’re ages away is: ‘That’s not ages. That’s like a second to Nicolas Flamel.’ Your secret task is to ask someone (ideally a parent or guardian) in your household how old they are. You need to reply, ‘That’s not old. That’s like a second to Nicolas Flamel.’ When they look confused, tell them that Nicolas Flamel is six hundred and sixty-five years old, so they have nothing to worry about!__

*This mini-challenge is worth 3 house points.*
  
  OR...

***

__Quiz time: If this secret quest isn’t for you, you can collect the same number of house points if you answer every question correctly in our [Chapter Fourteen Quiz here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-fourteen-five-questions "CQ14")...__

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Did you complete this Chapter Challenge? How many house points did you collect of the possible 10? Have you put all your pieces of paper in the hourglass so you don’t lose count? When a reading of Chapter Fifteen becomes available, there’ll be another challenge waiting for you!

Still need to find out which Hogwarts house you belong in? [Here’s a link to the Sorting Ceremony on our website](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register "Register"). Or download the Wizarding World app to find out your house whilst wearing the Sorting Hat! You’ll need an adult to help you register.

And for more quizzes, crafting, articles and other fun activites go to the [Harry Potter At Home Hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/harry-potter-at-home "HPAH hub").

__Illustration by Mary GrandPré © Scholastic__

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Play our Fantastic Beasts crossword

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How well do you remember the Fantastic Beasts films? How impeccable are your crossword skills? Well, why not combine those two things and have a go at our latest puzzle?

<iframe width="550" height="700" allowtransparency="true" style="background: #FFFFFF" src="
https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/crossword/20200602/00018/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Visit our puzzles section to enjoy more challenges](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles) or visit the Wizarding World app.

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

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

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The Hermione Granger Challenge Quiz 

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The First Year Hagrid Quiz

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The Hogwarts School List Quiz

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Put your wizarding knowledge to the test with new quizzes. Explore curious quizzes for all levels.

Quizzes

Put your wizarding knowledge to the test with curious quizzes for all levels

chapters

Chapters

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Chapter Fourteen: ‘Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback’  

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Watch Jason Isaacs, Tom Felton and Helen McCrory read Chapter Fourteen of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone. Sign up to hear who's next.

Jason Isaacs, Tom Felton & Helen McCrory read Harry Potter

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Jason Isaacs, Tom Felton and Helen McCrory read Chapter Fourteen for Harry Potter At Home. 

[You can register with the Harry Potter Fan Club](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register) to get all the latest updates on further video readings of *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone.*

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Chapter Fourteen | Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback

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And remember, [you can catch up with Chapter Thirteen, read by Hugh Bonneville, here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-nicolas-flamel)

Today, it’s a Malfoy family reunion as the actors who portrayed Lucius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy and Narcissa Malfoy join forces to read Chapter Fourteen. That’s right, Jason Isaacs, Tom Felton and Helen McCrory introduce us to Norbert, Hagrid’s rather problematic new pet, in Chapter Fourteen. But Norbert doesn’t stay secret for long...

Jason Isaacs loves an evil wig. Beyond his portrayal of luscious blonde Death Eater Lucius Malfoy, his hair has been augmented as a ringleted Captain Hook in *Peter Pan* and pony-tailed psychopath Colonel Tavington in *The Patriot*. His career has spanned film, TV, theatre, animated movies and video games and has seen him nominated for or winning a BAFTA, Golden Globe, Emmy, Satellite, Critic’s Choice, Saturn and many other awards. He can currently be seen online in *The OA, The Dark Crystal, Star Trek: Discovery*, *Star Wars Rebels* and *Scoob!* and was most recently seen in cinemas in *The Death of Stalin* and *Hotel Mumbai.*

Jason had this say about his relationship with reading Harry Potter.

‘I’ll confess that when I was first asked to play Lucius I hadn’t read any of the books,’ he said. ‘I was confused why so many of my adult friends - not to mention everyone on the tube - were reading children’s books. I cracked open the first one just to get a flavour and lost myself in a world that, luckily, I’ve never had to leave. Decades later my life is still enriched not just by the intoxicating magic of Jo’s stories and the timelessly human fears and triumphs they bring to life, but by getting to meet and hear from the endless tides of people (and now their kids) whose lives were profoundly affected - sometimes literally saved - by the struggles, love and friendship of Harry, Ron, Hermione and, mostly, obviously, the inspiring and heart-warming heroism of the entire Malfoy family. Or maybe I’m biased...’

Tom Felton played Harry’s nemesis, Draco Malfoy, in all eight Harry Potter films. Tom’s other film credits include *A United Kingdom*, *Rise of the Planet of the Apes* and *Ophelia*, while his recent TV roles include *The Flash* and YouTube series, *Origin*. Tom also created a BBC documentary on Harry Potter fandom called *Meet the Superfans* in 2015.

Helen McCrory, who portrayed Draco’s mother, Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, completes Chapter Fourteen for us. Helen’s acting work has traversed film (*The Queen, Skyfall, A Little Chaos*) TV, (*Peaky Blinders, Penny Dreadful, Quiz*) and theatre (*As You Like It, Medea, The Deep Blue Sea*). The actor was awarded an OBE in the 2017 New Year Honours. 

A huge thank you to all three of today’s narrators! 

Look forward to more famous faces and friends of the Wizarding World (and beyond!) to help us to read through all seventeen chapters of *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone* over the upcoming weeks. You can see all of our chapters right here in our chapter hub.

**

You may notice some wonderful drawings representing the chapter during the read-through. Look forward to more artwork in every chapter and read below to see how you can get involved in [contributing yourself.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/terms/content-submission-guidelines)

[You can also listen to ‘Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback’ on Spotify if you fancy an audio-only version. ](https://open.spotify.com/episode/63P8ttGUf8d6VdIC8jL1oc)

## Chapter Fourteen: ‘Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback’ – Further reading and new activities 

Now that you’ve refreshed your memory of J.K. Rowling’s fourteenth chapter of *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* (or *Sorcerer’s Stone* for our US readers), here’s more about ‘Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback’.       

- How much did you just learn? For the young (and the young at heart!) – [try our new Chapter Challenge!](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-philosophers-stone-chapter-challenge-fourteen-norbert-the-norwegian-ridgeback) Collect house points as you complete chapter-themed tasks and quizzes, along with a secret quest. Oh and speaking of ‘house points’ [remember to get sorted into your Hogwarts house too!](https://my.wizardingworld.com/sorting-hat) 

- For those who’ve visited the wizarding world before – today we’re thinking about roaming around Hogwarts. Is it really worth exploring this amazing castle considering the consequences? [Read our musings here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/is-sneaking-around-the-hogwarts-castle-at-night-ever-a-good-idea)

- How good are you at describing magical things? In this fun game from Scholastic, a player must describe a word from the first Harry Potter book. Sound easy? Well,to make it trickier,there are some things that must not be named... [Find the game and instructions here!](https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/parents/Printables/PDFs/scholastic-harry-potter-things-that-must-not-be-named-game.pdf)

- But when is Chapter Fifteen coming, we hear you cry? Be sure to check back at HarryPotterAtHome.com every week where you can expect new readings from a stellar cast of narrators.

-  In fact, if you’re worried about missing out on any updates from Harry Potter At Home and beyond, don’t worry. [Sign up to our Harry Potter Fan Club newsletter](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register) where you can receive exciting new updates every week on Harry Potter At Home, further chapters, and much more. [Here’s how.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/new-harry-potter-fan-club-newsletter) 

- And what about this fan art? Yes, well reminded. We’re inviting you to send in your pieces to represent key moments from the first book, which will feature in future videos. At the moment, we’re looking for moments that feature in Chapter Fifteen onwards. 

By our mathematics skills, that would give us just three more chapters to go, so please do send us your interpretations of famous scenes from those chapters via the hashtag #HarryPotterAtHome to @WizardingWorld’s Twitter account. Submitting your artwork this way ensures the Harry Potter At Home project absolutely has your permission to use your pieces online.

You can [check out our rules and guidelines to submitting here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/terms/content-submission-guidelines) and an important note to all parent and guardians that you must submit your children’s art on their behalf.

- If you’re old enough, come join us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/wizardingworld/), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/wizardingworld) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/wizardingworld) where the fun just keeps on coming with more quizzes, puzzles and extra challenges.

- The easiest way to keep up to date with all the wizarding business we’re up to, is simply by registering. [Go here for more details. ](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register)

## Harry Potter At Home 

Harry Potter At Home is our way of bringing the magic into people’s homes, casting a Banishing Charm on boredom. These special video readings are just one of the many things you can do at home with us, whether alone or with your friends or family. Our new Harry Potter At Home project is very much a team effort, combining the resources of Harry Potter UK and US publishers Bloomsbury and Scholastic, Pottermore Publishing, Warner Bros., leading spoken-word producer and provider Audible, our numerous library suppliers, library supplier OverDrive, streaming platform Spotify, and of course, our very own magic-makers here at WizardingWorld.com.

Watch familiar faces reading Harry Potter at home - including Daniel Radcliffe, Whoopi Goldberg, Olivia Colman & Tom Felton. Sign up to hear who's next.

Harry Potter At Home Readings

Watch familiar faces read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone for Harry Potter At Home - including Daniel Radcliffe, Eddie Redmayne & Stephen Fry.

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Take a first look at the new Harry Potter x Ulta Beauty Collection 

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__Update (8th July): Please be aware that some of the Ulta products are currently sold out online.__

While we’ll never be a Metamorphmagus, this brilliant new collection, created by Ulta Beauty, invites you to magically transform yourself with Wizarding World themed cosmetics, nail and skincare products, along with bath and body accessories. 

Inspired by the stories of Harry Potter and the Wizarding World, the collection features everything from bath bombs, body lotions and beauty masks, with some magical surprises woven in. 

The collection caught the imagination of Harry Potter and beauty fans alike, calling it 'every Harry Potter fans' dream', with others saying, 'the line truly has it all'. InsideTheMagic.net dubbed it 'more exciting than a trip to Hogsmeade!', while ThePopInsider.com praised the collection for its 'ultimate nostalgia' feel, promising the range would 'add a little Lumos to your life'. 

Here’s a first glance at the whole [Harry Potter x Ulta Beauty collection, available from their official website now for US-based fans. ](https://www.ulta.com/ulta/a/_/Ntt-HARRY%20POTTER/Nty-1?Dy=1&ciSelector=searchResults/)

## Harry Potter Bath Bombs 

![harry-potter-bath-bombs](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/1ERamSytnhrEhnkFCxB91o/0680357fc63723dfe2d2a559cc67b941/bath_bomb.png)

Themed by the four Hogwarts houses, these bath bombs are no ordinary ones. Upon hitting the water, expect the bomb to transform your bath into a celebration of your favourite Hogwarts house colour. 

## Harry Potter Bewitching PH Balm 

![ph-lip-balm](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/TkFrusXD8mbev9pDWfoFe/ad4a8877b1cd8b7a9e3b58adceb29688/lip_balm_bigger.png)

Infused with coconut oil, Vitamin E and Aloe Leaf Extract, these magical lip balms react to your skin’s PH levels and create the perfect colour shade to compliment your tone. 

## Harry Potter Body Lotion 

![body-lotion-no-background](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/274owfPR51ccElhuNrVKpY/b0ab161d69e35c4b84f0439e854135fb/bottles.png)

Again, themed around the Hogwarts houses, these body lotions are individually flavoured to match your house traits. Gryffindor’s lotion is flavoured with the bold scent of blackberries, Slytherin’s lotion smells like soothing rain drops, Hufflepuff’s scent has floral notes, and Ravenclaw’s is flavoured with cucumbers.

## Harry Potter Cosmetic bag 

![cosmetic-bag-no-background](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/4AIXM9xl9XGAMX9ouVbt9J/67d1c098d47856020518b7d48dc66740/bags.png)

Of course, you’ll need something to put all your new products in, and these cosmetic bags come adorned with your Hogwarts house traits. 

## Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Brush Kit 

![hallows-brushes-bigger](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/G50p9cse1bo74zWBJlVeB/5515661bf499c7db0370f54a6e5c7df3/brushes.png)

Themed around the Deathly Hallows, the most powerful objects in the wizarding world, these brushes will certainly help you become the Master of Make-up! 

## Hogwarts house themed eye shadow palettes 

![eye-shadow](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/F4Dv2pzOnfqRO3ghSixot/c63515d818a84dc22428b7c0949f4893/eyeshadowbigege.png)

Next up, these eye shadow palettes, with different wizarding world colour schemes. After all, why have boring old brown eye shadow when you can now have Chocolate Frog brown matte?

Each set is once again coloured around your Hogwarts house, with Gryffindor championing strong autumnal shades, Hufflepuffs boasting golds and rust-coloured tones, Ravenclaws shimmering with baby blues and silver glitter, and Slytherins celebrating shades of sage greens and silver shimmer. 

For those who aren’t so sure where they belong, you could always get all four palettes, boxed up in this special ‘vault’. 

## Harry Potter house nail polish strips 

![nail-polish-strips](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/5ZlrCt2K9pZFiGYGxTAkdA/886b48e863d28c14d32371450a55742c/nail_varnish.png)

Get your Hogwarts house inspired nails on, with these polish strips that dry in no time at all. Magic.  

## House pride hair set 

![hair-ties](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/4OgEFktGptI0i8ehx9fnDQ/9211ba37f249bfca7b6675a4f0c96ff6/hair_ties.png)

Embrace your inner 90s kid with these hair ribbons and velvet scrunchies, themed around Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin or Ravenclaw.

## Harry Potter lip gloss 

![lip-gloss](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/5hH2RZYTbFmlRJGrjEFyOr/4c51cc67dbe5815bd6ceb3612e4f45fb/lipgloss_.png)

No Scourgify spells required here; this lip gloss will leave you sparkling.

## Lumos Face and body shimmer drops 

![shimmer-drops-smaller](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/5ubEHJi7CN3Ss7UHvWjC5n/e0e09e6ecf23eec1d182a744e7226543/shimmer.png)

Inspired by the illuminating charm, Lumos, these shimmer drops will help give your skin some extra sparkle.

## Harry Potter lip crayons 

![lip-crayons](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/7rTrAhQpbchDr3yEFbPURs/ce9ee631716ca475b5d9072ca123e069/lip_crayons.png)

This lightweight pigmented lipstick has a natural matte finish, so you can rock up to your Harry Potter parties looking extra slick. 

## Pygmy Puff blush 

![pygmy-puff](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/7hcEv03ompuF8WjTdeZflj/5edb22e0cf79c34801bf873eb82d9f56/JELLY.png)

The Harry Potter x Ulta Beauty collection’s Jelly Blush set is inspired by the adorably colourful magical creatures, Pygmy Puffs! Well, you wouldn’t want a beauty-set looking like a Blast-Ended Skrewt, would you?

## Quidditch sheet face masks 

![face-masks](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/ci4WUDaKjmMAS2OUQGEyE/af57ff61ceeebe4b66ebb35345b3a8c4/facemasks.png)

Finally, hydrate your face with these Quidditch-themed masks, with each Hogwarts house represented accordingly. Gryffindor masks come infused with bamboo charcoal, Slytherins with Aloe Vera juice, Hufflepuffs with lime juice, and Ravenclaws come with a touch of pomegranate. Just what you need after a stressful match! 

If you're based in the US, you can peruse the entire Harry Potter x Ulta Beauty collection at the [official website](https://www.ulta.com/ulta/a/_/Ntt-HARRY%20POTTER/Nty-1?Dy=1&ciSelector=searchResults). The range is also available from Ulta Beauty stores from 26 July. 

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone named best and most influential book in the past 30 years by British Book Awards 

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The British Book Awards showcase and celebrate the best books, bookshops and publishers, and this year, *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*, published by Bloomsbury in the UK, has been honoured in their special 30from30 prize. Watch below to see J.K. Rowling’s acceptance speech. 

The Nibbies Acceptance Speech

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‘It is a massive honour to receive a 30th anniversary Best of the Nibbies award for *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*,’ she said. ‘It is particularly meaningful because the first award Harry ever won was a Nibbie.’ 

*Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* was chosen from a longlist of 30 books, all past winners of the awards.  In their Winners’ Supplement The Bookseller said of the win: 

‘*Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* was the book that lived. It changed everything for everyone and is the rightful winner of this one-off award.’

You can [visit The Bookseller website](https://www.thebookseller.com) to see more award winners from this year’s virtual ceremony. 

*Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* is currently being revisited as part of Harry Potter At Home, with famous fans and friends of the Wizarding World reading different chapters of the first book in a very special readalong.

[You can visit the Harry Potter At Home hub here](http://harrypotterathome.com/), where you’ll find all sorts of activities to entertain fans at home, including special contributions from Bloomsbury and Scholastic, craft videos, fun articles, quizzes, puzzles and plenty more for first-time readers, as well as those already familiar with the wizarding world.

Illustration © Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

New Wizarding World face coverings coming soon 

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Warner Bros. Consumer Products has partnered with several different licensees to introduce face coverings that will feature beloved characters and iconic imagery from the Harry Potter series. 

Designed for fans of all ages, these family-friendly face coverings are adorned with various Wizarding World prints, showcasing everything from wands to Hogwarts house pride. As we continue to practise social distancing all over the world, these designs may be particularly beneficial for children, helping them feel more comfortable and normalising their experience.

![face-mask-png-crop](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/4Nuqt70CzjnxoeAPtlhvgI/99c4104397a9d8e678e6e4d2454426e9/Zazzle-Harry-Potter-Mask-Image-Optimised.png)

In addition, the purchase of Wizarding World-themed face coverings will directly support those in need of assistance. Our partners involved in the creation of the coverings have committed to making a variety of donations to charities actively supporting first responders, underserved communities and others impacted by the spread of COVID-19.    

We hope this sprinkle of magic helps to bring a little familiarity and joy to Wizarding World fans.

*More information about how to purchase the new face coverings range will be coming soon.*

*Images from Trevco and Zazzle.*

Introducing the next phase of Harry Potter At Home 

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Some of the best-loved faces from global entertainment, music and sport have lent their voices to the story they love by recording videos of themselves reading the timeless first Harry Potter book, *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone/Sorcerer’s Stone*.

We, alongside J.K. Rowling, have announced seven of those readers from the stellar line-up today.

Excitingly, Daniel Radcliffe, Stephen Fry, David Beckham, Dakota Fanning, Claudia Kim, Noma Dumezweni, and Eddie Redmayne are amongst the cast of narrators, with more surprises and special appearances from across the Wizarding World and beyond to come. Each will be reading different sections of this iconic book – with its themes of family, friendship, courage and overcoming adversity – to families around the world.  

And here is a sneak peek!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vm1xuYUY0dY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Who better to lend their voice to Chapter One than the prolific actor who portrayed Harry in all eight films? Daniel Radcliffe has kindly read the whole of Chapter One of *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone/Sorcerer’s Stone*, [‘The Boy Who Lived’, for your viewing and listening pleasure. ](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-boy-who-lived)

As the figurehead of the Harry Potter films for so many years, we hope you love watching this incredibly special video of Daniel revisiting Harry’s adventure – this time not on a film set, but through the pages of the first book. 
 
While you can watch Daniel’s [reading right here,](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-boy-who-lived) you can also listen in audio form thanks to Spotify, who will be hosting all of our readings on their platform. [You can listen via Spotify or Spotify Kids](https://newsroom.spotify.com/2020-05-05/stars-from-the-wizarding-world-and-beyond-bring-harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-philosophers-stone-to-spotify/) – so parents and carers can enjoy the series with younger fans too. 

We look forward to new narrators every week as they take turns to read different sections of the *Philosopher’s Stone*/*Sorcerer’s Stone*, until we reach the end with Chapter Seventeen. Keep an eye out for some very special surprise cameos along the way too. 

As you watch Daniel read through ‘The Boy Who Lived’, you’ll notice some amazing artwork interspersed in the experience, thanks to some talented fans. Brilliantly, you yourself can get involved in future chapters, from Chapter Two onwards, so your own pieces can feature alongside our special guest narrators. According to our incredible mathematics skills, you have sixteen chapters remaining of *Philosopher’s Stone*/*Sorcerer’s Stone* to work with – so please do send in your artistic interpretations of key scenes. [Read all about how to get involved here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/terms/content-submission-guidelines) 

[Harry Potter At Home](http://harrypotterathome.com/) is the Wizarding World’s way of bringing Hogwarts closer to you, as we all continue to stay at home and keep safe. For parents looking for new magical ways to entertain their children during this time, we launched the Harry Potter At Home hub full of quizzes, puzzles, fun videos and features, along with contributions from our friends, UK and US Harry Potter publishers, Bloomsbury and Scholastic, alongside assistance from Warner Bros., Audible and our many library partners. To learn more about everything Harry Potter At Home has to offer, our handy round-up should help! 

So, without further ado, make sure you’re sitting comfortably, as we enjoy the first Harry Potter book in a whole new way. Grab a Portkey over to the first video now.

For more Harry Potter at Home updates, be sure to keep checking our [magically evolving hub](http://harrypotterathome.com/), or learn how to sign up to the [Harry Potter Fan Club weekly newsletter](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/new-harry-potter-fan-club-newsletter). But for the whole Wizarding World experience, such as getting sorted into your official Hogwarts house, discovering your Patronus, your wand and much more, be sure to [register right here.](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register?utm_medium=newsarticle&utm_source=wwd_web&utm_campaign=hpah-video-chap1-register)

Illustration by Jim Kay © Bloomsbury Publishing 2015

A first look at Harry Potter: Magic Awakened revealed in China 

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NetEase Inc., one of the largest internet and video game companies in the world, have collaborated with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on their own exciting Wizarding World mobile game, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened. At their Sixth Annual Product Launch 520 Conference, NetEase revealed video highlights of the game alongside a rousing live orchestra performance of John Williams’ iconic Hedwig’s Theme. 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W0h1MR-TdQw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is co-developed and officially licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and will launch under the Portkey Games label. The upcoming mobile game, which focuses on collectible cards and features strategy roleplay elements, is set to delight Harry Potter fans across China, where this game will be available to play.  

Set some years after the Second Wizarding War, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened invites players to embark on their very own illustrious wizarding journey, which includes mastering spells, recruiting allies, and devising unique strategies and magical combinations for player versus player combat. 

![magic-awakened-logo-gold](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/2M7B6Wt8zTJS2DeU1DR7KD/92fd7b7362946407ec35102d138e8652/End-Card-HPMA-logo.jpg)

Fans in China will be able to visit [www.harrypottermagicawakened.com](https://www.harrypottermagicawakened.com) for more details.

*Stay tuned for more exciting Portkey Games developments, coming soon.*

Stay up to date with the latest Wizarding World news here. Faster than an owl and more accurate than the Daily Prophet.

Get the latest Wizarding World news here. Faster than an owl and more accurate than the Daily Prophet

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J.K. Rowling Originals

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The Marauder’s Map

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Harry locates the One Eyed Witch using the Maurauder's Map.

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Perhaps no students (even including Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Tom Riddle) have ever explored the castle and grounds of Hogwarts as thoroughly and illicitly as the four creators and contributors to the Marauder’s Map: James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew.

James, Sirius and Peter were not initially impelled to explore the school grounds by night out of devilment alone (though that played its part), but by their desire to help their dear friend Remus Lupin to bear his lycanthropy. Prior to the invention of the Wolfsbane Potion, Lupin was compelled to undergo an excruciating transformation every full moon. Once his condition was discovered by his three best friends, they sought a way to render his transformations less solitary and painful, which led to them learning to become (unregistered) Animagi, so that they could keep him company without harm to themselves. The ability of Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and James Potter to become, respectively, a dog, a rat and a stag, enabled them to explore the castle grounds by night undetected. The interior of the castle, meanwhile, was mapped over time with the help of James Potter’s Invisibility Cloak.

The Marauder’s Map is lasting testimony to the advanced magical ability of the four friends who included Harry Potter’s father, godfather and favourite teacher. The map they created during their time at Hogwarts appears to be a blank piece of parchment unless activated by the phrase: ‘I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,’ a phrase that, in the case of three of the four makers, should be understood as a joke. The ‘no good’ of which they wrote never denoted Dark magic, but school rule-breaking; similar bravado is evinced by their use of their own nicknames on the map (‘Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs’).

The magic used in the map’s creation is advanced and impressive; it includes the Homonculous Charm, enabling the possessor of the map to track the movements of every person in the castle, and it was also enchanted to forever repel (as insultingly as possible) the curiosity of their nemesis, Severus Snape.

Although the precise circumstances surrounding the makers’ loss of their map are not given in the Harry Potter novels, it is easy to conclude that they eventually over-reached themselves and were cornered by Argus Filch, probably on a tip-off from Snape, whose obsession it had become to expose his arch-rival, James Potter, in wrongdoing. The masterpiece of a map was confiscated in Sirius, James, Remus and Peter’s final year and none of them were able to steal it back from a well-prepared and suspicious Filch. In any case, their priorities changed in their final months at school, becoming far more serious and focused on the world beyond Hogwarts, where Lord Voldemort was successfully rising to power. All four of the map’s creators would shortly be inducted into the renegade organisation headed by Albus Dumbledore, the Order of the Phoenix, and a map of their old school – no matter how ingenious – would no longer be of use to them except as a piece of nostalgia.

The Marauder’s Map was, however, of immense use to the young Weasley twins. The story of Fred and George’s acquisition of the map is told in *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*. It was a mark of their high esteem for Harry Potter, and their belief that he stood in need of assistance with a destiny none of them yet fully understood, that they later gifted the map to him, unwittingly passing it on to the child of one of the creators.

The map was subsequently confiscated from Harry Potter by a Death Eater in disguise at the school, who recognised it as a likely source of his own discovery.

## J.K. Rowling’s thoughts

The Marauder’s Map subsequently became something of a bane to its true originator (me), because it allowed Harry a little too much freedom of information. I never showed Harry taking the map back from the empty office of (the supposed) Mad-Eye Moody, and I sometimes regretted that I had not capitalised on this mistake to leave it there. However, I like the moment when Harry watches Ginny’s dot moving around the school in *Deathly Hallows*, so on balance I am glad I let Harry reclaim his rightful property.

Cauldrons

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Professor Slughorn teaches potions to Harry's class

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Cauldrons were once used by Muggles and wizards alike, being large metal cooking pots that could be suspended over fires. In time, magical and non-magical people alike moved on to stoves; saucepans became more convenient and cauldrons became the sole province of witches and wizards, who continued to brew potions in them. A naked flame is essential for the making of potions, which makes cauldrons the most practical pot of all.

All cauldrons are enchanted to make them lighter to carry, as they are most commonly made of pewter or iron. Modern inventions include the self-stirring and collapsible varieties of cauldron, and pots of precious metal are also available for the specialist, or the show-off.

## J.K. Rowling’s thoughts

Cauldrons have had a magical association for centuries. They appear in hundreds of years’ worth of pictures of witches, and are also supposed to be where leprechauns keep treasure. Many folk and fairy tales make mention of cauldrons with special powers, but in the Harry Potter books they are a fairly mundane tool. I did consider making Helga Hufflepuff’s hallow a cauldron, but there was something slightly comical and incongruous about having such a large and heavy Horcrux; I wanted the objects Harry had to find to be smaller and more portable.  However, a cauldron appears both in the four mythical jewels of Ireland (its magical power was that nobody ever went away from it unsatisfied) and in the legend of The Thirteen Treasures of Britain (the cauldron of Dyrnwch the giant would cook meat for brave men, but not for cowards).

The Sorting Hat

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The famous Hogwarts Sorting Hat gives an account of its own genesis in a series of songs sung at the beginning of each school year. Legend has it that the hat once belonged to one of the four founders, Godric Gryffindor, and that it was jointly enchanted by all four founders to ensure that students would be sorted into their eponymous houses, which would be selected according to each founder’s particular preferences in students.

The Sorting Hat is one of the cleverest enchanted objects most witches and wizards will ever meet. It literally contains the intelligence of the four founders, can speak (through a rip near its brim) and is skilled at Legilimency, which enables it to look into the wearer’s head and divine his or her capabilities or mood. It can even respond to the thoughts of the wearer.

The Sorting Hat is notorious for refusing to admit it has made a mistake in its sorting of a student. On those occasions when Slytherins behave altruistically or selflessly, when Ravenclaws flunk all their exams, when Hufflepuffs prove lazy yet academically gifted and when Gryffindors exhibit cowardice, the Hat steadfastly backs its original decision. On balance, however, the Hat has made remarkably few errors of judgement over the many centuries it has been at work.

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## J.K. Rowling’s thoughts

The Sorting Hat does not appear in my earliest plans for Hogwarts. I debated several different methods for sorting students (because I knew from early on that there would be four houses, all with very different qualities). The first was an elaborate, Heath Robinson-ish machine that did all kinds of magical things before reaching a decision, but I did not like it: it felt at once too complicated, and too easy. Next I placed four statues of the four founders in the Entrance Hall, which came alive and selected students from the throng in front of them while the school watched. This was better, but still not quite right. Finally, I wrote a list of the ways in which people can be chosen: eeny meeny miny mo, short straws, chosen by team captains, names out of a hat – names out of a talking hat – putting on a hat – the Sorting Hat.

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The Potter Family

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The Potter family is a very old one, but it was never (until the birth of Harry James Potter) at the very forefront of wizarding history, contenting itself with a solid and comfortable existence in the backwaters.  

Potter is a not uncommon Muggle surname, and the family did not make the so-called ‘Sacred Twenty-Eight’ for this reason; the anonymous compiler of that supposedly definitive list of pure-bloods suspected that they had sprung from what he considered to be tainted blood. The wizarding Potter family had illustrious beginnings, however, some of which was hinted at in *Deathly Hallows*. 

In the Muggle world ‘Potter’ is an occupational surname, meaning a man who creates pottery. The wizarding family of Potters descends from the twelfth-century wizard Linfred of Stinchcombe, a locally well-beloved and eccentric man, whose nickname, ‘the Potterer’, became corrupted in time to ‘Potter’. Linfred was a vague and absent-minded fellow whose Muggle neighbours often called upon his medicinal services. None of them realised that Linfred’s wonderful cures for pox and ague were magical; they all thought him a harmless and lovable old chap, pottering about in his garden with all his funny plants. His reputation as a well-meaning eccentric served Linfred well, for behind closed doors he was able to continue the series of experiments that laid the foundation of the Potter family’s fortune.  Historians credit Linfred as the originator of a number of remedies that evolved into potions still used to this day, including Skele-gro and Pepperup Potion. His sales of such cures to fellow witches and wizards enabled him to leave a significant pile of gold to each of his seven children upon his death. 

Linfred’s eldest son, Hardwin, married a beautiful young witch by the name of Iolanthe Peverell, who came from the village of Godric’s Hollow. She was the granddaughter of Ignotus Peverell. In the absence of male heirs, she, the eldest of her generation, had inherited her grandfather’s invisibility cloak. It was, Iolanthe explained to Hardwin, a tradition in her family that the possession of this cloak remained a secret, and her new husband respected her wishes. From this time on, the cloak was handed down to the eldest in each new generation. 

The Potters continued to marry their neighbours, occasionally Muggles, and to live in the West of England, for several generations, each one adding to the family coffers by their hard work and, it must be said, by the quiet brand of ingenuity that had characterised their forebear, Linfred.  

Occasionally, a Potter made it all the way to London, and a member of the family has twice sat on the Wizengamot: Ralston Potter, who was a member from 1612-1652, and who was a great supporter of the Statute of Secrecy (as opposed to declaring war on the Muggles, as more militant members wished to do) and Henry Potter (Harry to his intimates), who was a direct descendant of Hardwin and Iolanthe, and served on the Wizengamot from 1913-1921. Henry caused a minor stir when he publicly condemned then Minister for Magic, Archer Evermonde, who had forbidden the magical community to help Muggles waging the First World War. His outspokenness on the behalf of the Muggle community was also a strong contributing factor in the family’s exclusion from the ‘Sacred Twenty-Eight’.  

Henry’s son was called Fleamont Potter. Fleamont was so called because it was the dying wish of Henry’s mother that he perpetuate her maiden name, which would otherwise die out. He bore the burden remarkably well; indeed, he always attributed his dexterity at duelling to the number of times he had to fight people at Hogwarts after they had made fun of his name. It was Fleamont who took the family gold and quadrupled it, by creating magical Sleekeazy’s Hair Potion ( *‘two drops tames even the most bothersome barnet’* ).  He sold the company at a vast profit when he retired, but no amount of riches could compensate him or his wife Euphemia for their childlessness. They had quite given up hope of a son or daughter when, to their shock and surprise, Euphemia found that she was pregnant and their beloved boy, James, was born. 

Fleamont and Euphemia lived long enough to see James marry a Muggle-born girl called Lily Evans, but not to meet their grandson, Harry. Dragon pox carried them off within days of each other, due to their advanced age, and James Potter then inherited Ignotus Peverell’s Invisibility Cloak.

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JKR Mirror of Erised illustration

The Hogwarts Express

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The Hogwarts Express steaming through the country side

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As we know from early historical accounts, and from the evidence of early woodcuts and engravings, Hogwarts students used to arrive at school in any manner that caught their fancy. Some rode broomsticks (a difficult feat when carrying trunks and pets); others commandeered enchanted carts and, later, carriages; some attempted to Apparate (often with disastrous effects, as the castle and grounds have always been protected with Anti-Apparition Charms), others rode a variety of magical creatures.

In spite of the accidents attendant on these various modes of magical transport, not to mention the annual Muggle sightings of vast numbers of airborne wizards travelling northwards, it remained the responsibility of parents to convey their children to school, right up until the imposition of the International Statute of Secrecy in 1692. At this point, it became a matter of urgency to find some more discreet method of transporting hundreds of wizarding children from all over Britain to their secret school in the Highlands of Scotland.

Portkeys were therefore arranged at collecting points all over Britain. The logistics caused problems from the start. Up to a third of students would fail to arrive every year, having missed their time slot, or been unable to find the unobtrusive enchanted object that would transport them to their school. There was also the unfortunate fact that many children were (and are) ‘Portkey-sick’, and the hospital wing was frequently full to bursting for the first few days of every year, while susceptible students overcame their hysterics and nausea.

While admitting that Portkeys were not an ideal solution to the problem of school transportation, the Ministry of Magic failed to find an acceptable alternative. A return to the unregulated travel of the past was impossible, and yet a more secure route into the school (for instance, permitting a fireplace that might be officially entered by Floo powder) was strongly resisted by successive Headmasters, who did not wish the security of the castle to be breached.

A daring and controversial solution to the thorny problem was finally suggested by Minister for Magic Ottaline Gambol, who was much intrigued by Muggle inventions and saw the potential in trains. Where exactly the Hogwarts Express came from has never been conclusively proven, although it is a fact that there are secret records at the Ministry of Magic detailing a mass operation involving one hundred and sixty-seven Memory Charms and the largest ever mass Concealment Charm performed in Britain. The morning after these alleged crimes, a gleaming scarlet steam engine and carriages astounded the villagers of Hogsmeade (who had also not realised they had a railway station), while several bemused Muggle railway workers down in Crewe spent the rest of the year grappling with the uncomfortable feeling that they had mislaid something important.

The Hogwarts Express underwent several magical modifications before the Ministry approved it for school use. Many pure-blood families were outraged at the idea of their children using Muggle transport, which they claimed was unsafe, insanitary and demeaning; however, as the Ministry decreed that students either rode the train or did not attend school, the objections were swiftly silenced.

Explore J.K. Rowling’s articles on wizarding world themes. The inner workings of the wizarding world with a collection of original writings. 

Explore the inner workings of the wizarding world with a collection of writing from J.K. Rowling

Is sneaking around the Hogwarts castle at night ever a good idea?

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Filch and Mrs Norris catch Ron and Harry out of bed

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## No, it’s never a good idea 

The Hogwarts castle is hard enough to navigate during the day. With one hundred and forty-two staircases that like to change, the subjects of portraits visiting each other’s frames, and Peeves the poltergeist causing havoc left, right and centre, it’s frankly surprising any Hogwarts student would even think about leaving their nice cosy common rooms after a long day of all that. But navigational difficulties aside, we’ve got plenty of other arguments for why it is never a good idea to sneak around the Hogwarts castle at night. 

It’s no use trying to deny it, there are scary surprises hidden just about around every corner of the castle. In fact, the very first time Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville ventured out in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, they came face-to-face with a monstrous three-headed dog. No matter what Hagrid says, Fluffy is not something you’d want to come across on a midnight stroll of a ghost-filled castle. And let’s not forget the Basilisk in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, that dwelt in the bowels of the castle and would kill you if it looked you straight in the eye. Imagine coming across that? 



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If the Monster of Slytherin isn’t enough to worry about, then what about the wrath of your fellow students the following morning, when they realise that you’ve lost them a ton of house points? Harry Potter might have ended the first Wizarding War, but even that wasn’t enough to save him from the whole school giving him the cold shoulder when he, Hermione and Neville lost 150 points in one night for being out of bed. Okay, so he helped Hagrid out with Norbert, but was it worth it? And since he had an Invisibility Cloak, wouldn’t things have gone so much more smoothly if he and Hermione had taken Norbert up the top of that tower during the day?  

Harry and Hermione were caught out in Philosopher’s Stone, because they left the Invisibility Cloak at the top of the tower, but your average student doesn’t own one of the Deathly Hallows. And even with the cloak, there’s so much risk of being caught – there are eyes everywhere. A portrait could see you and gossip – Sir Cadogan isn’t exactly a quiet soul, is he? Or what about a ghost, particularly Peeves or an unfriendly one like the Bloody Baron. Then, of course, there’s Filch, with his feline side-kick Mrs Norris to contend with, and Snape often seems to be out and about at night. And then, there’s Dumbledore. In Philosopher’s Stone, it becomes clear that even though Harry used the cloak to get to the Mirror of Erised, Dumbledore knew exactly what he was up to: 

‘He’s a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know.’ 

So in summary, sneaking around the castle at night is never a good idea because you’ll probably come up against a terrifying creature, you’ll almost definitely get caught – and if you don’t get eaten by said terrifying creature – your fellow students will never speak to you again if you lose them about a hundred house points. Case closed. 

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## Yes, it can be a good idea

Now, hold on a minute. Obviously, we’re not encouraging general rule-breaking here... But this is no ordinary rule-breaking! This is exploring a magical castle full of secrets and mysteries rule-breaking! 

Of course, we know all about the consequences of roaming the castle at night, such as losing substantial amounts of house points, detentions or quite simply incurring Filch’s personal wrath – but that is only if you get caught. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the full scope of Hogwarts, a magnificent, sprawling building bursting with surprises at every corner, inexhaustible magic seeping from its very crevices. Of course, it’s dangerous, but if you took the right precautions, think of the wonders you could discover. Fred and George Weasley collected detentions like others collect stamps for their exploits, but you can’t deny they uncovered a number of amazing things during their time at Hogwarts. They followed in the footsteps of the Marauders, another group of Hogwarts explorers, who loved sneaking around the school so much they made a handy map all about it. 

It is no surprise that the naturally inquisitive Harry developed a penchant for trips around the castle after-dark. After all, he had spent eleven years at Privet Drive, and for the vast majority of that time, cooped up in a tiny cupboard. Give this young lad an entire castle full of riddles and hidden passageways, and no wonder he slowly became addicted to the thrill of it. Usually, Harry was wandering the corridors for mystery-solving purposes, but there were also other perks, such as how he was able to finally find a way to visit Hogsmeade (psst, just look behind the one-eyed witch statue!) when cruel Uncle Vernon wouldn’t sign his permission slip.

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Roaming the castle gave Harry the freedom he so often desired, and if he hadn’t, half of his adventures wouldn’t have happened. Roaming the castle was genuinely required to thwart Voldemort in his attempts to obtain the Philosopher’s Stone. Roaming the castle allowed Harry to research Nicolas Flamel in the Restricted Section of the library. Roaming the castle was paramount so Harry could sneak into the Prefect’s bathroom and figure out the mysteries of the golden egg in Goblet of Fire. Roaming the castle meant Harry found the Mirror of Erised, and got to see a glimmer at the family he would never know. So many memorable moments happened at Hogwarts in the dead of night, and, if anything, the castle invites you to go and explore it! Think of rooms like the Room of Requirement, which is just itching for you to find it, so it can magically assist you. The staircases literally change direction, enticing you to get lost. 

You only live once. And if, in that lifetime, if you find yourself with magical powers, living in one of the wizarding world’s most enchanting buildings for only a handful of years, are you really going to spend all that time cooped up in your common room, reading your Ancient Runes textbook? Yes, we hear the armchairs are very cosy and squishy, but you can sit in armchairs whenever you like.

                                 ***

What do you think? And remember, you can remind yourself of one of Harry’s more...unsuccessful late-night Hogwarts trips in [Chapter Fourteen, 'Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback', narrated by Jason Isaacs, Tom Felton, and Helen McCrory here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-norbert-the-norwegian-ridgeback "CH14").
