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

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## Her loyalty

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

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

## Her determination

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

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

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 

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and the Order of the Phoenix 

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

## Her bravery

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

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

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

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

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

## Her talent

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

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

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

## Her way of looking at the world

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

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

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

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

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Uncovering the magic behind the new digital Harry Potter book covers

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

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

## “Not just a book cover” 

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

Uncovering the Magic | Why create new covers now?

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## “The little details” 

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

Uncovering the Magic | Finding the goalposts

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## “Weird conversations”

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

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

Uncovering the Magic | Choosing the moments

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## “Easter eggs”

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

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

Uncovering the Magic | Being true to canon

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“We went back and forth over those moments”.

***

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

The most memorable journeys on the Hogwarts Express

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The Trolley Witch scene from Cursed Child on Broadway

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

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## When Harry met Ron

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

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

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## The Dementors’ visit – and Professor Lupin

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


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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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

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

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

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and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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

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## Meeting Luna Lovegood

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

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

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Luna sitting in a carriage holding The Quibbler upside down

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and the Order of the Phoenix

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

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

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

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

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

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## When Albus met Scorpius

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

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

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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Ranked: Harry Potter’s birthday presents

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

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and the Philosopher's Stone 

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

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

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


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A closeup of The Monster Book of Monsters textbook. 

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

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

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

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

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

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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and the Half-Blood Prince

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

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

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

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Harry and Ginny sharing a kiss at The Burrow.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

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and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

What does it mean to go Back to Hogwarts?

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## What is Back to Hogwarts Day? 

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

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

## The significance of King’s Cross Station 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

## So, get involved! 

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

The Quidditch World Cup crossword

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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and the Goblet of Fire

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Can you soar through today's puzzle?

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https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/crossword/20220628/00114/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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

The Knight Bus wordsearch

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Harry Potter standing outside the purple Knight Bus in London.

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

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

Which Dursley could you be friends with?

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

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

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

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## If you are a whiz at organisation… you’d be friends with Petunia
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who kept their house as shipshape and shiny as Petunia Dursley. From the kitchen to the living room to the garden, everything had its place, and everything was as neat and tidy as it could possibly be. In fact, 4 Privet Drive was clinical in its cleanliness. If you’re someone who finds this appealing, then we think you’d be friends with Petunia Dursley. We imagine that you’re the type of person who does their washing up straightaway and breaks out in hives at the thought of dust. You find inner peace when coming up with new ways to organise your home and you live by the mantra ‘tidy home, tidy mind’. You and Petunia would instantly bond over your hatred of mess and would spend your time swapping tips on how to keep your home a perfect and pristine little sanctuary. 

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Petunia Dursley looking shocked and worried in Privet Drive 

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## If you pride yourself on being ‘normal’… you’d be friends with Vernon
Are you the type of person that can’t stand eccentricity? Do you like things to be straightforward, uncomplicated and free from silly, fluffy nonsense? Then we think you’d most likely be friends with Vernon Dursley. Vernon prided himself on how ordinary he was. He had a good job, nice house, decent car and a wife and child that fit perfectly into their allotted roles. He hated anything that disrupted this perfect idyll he had created for himself – including his magical nephew, Harry. As someone who thrives on order, likes to keep life in a neat little box and hates surprises, we think you two would make a perfect pair. You would have ordinary conversations about drills, the weather and moustache maintenance and would eschew anything that could even be considered remotely unusual or odd.

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Vernon Dursley sat at the kitchen table holding Harry's Hogwarts letter. Petunia and Dudley are both looking over his shoulder. All three look surprised and concerned.

Exciting locations we visit in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

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Newt is crouching down by his case while in a jungle

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__Spoiler warning! This article contains spoilers for *Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore*. If you haven’t seen the film yet, you should turn back now…__

## Hogwarts!
This might be a place we are all very familiar with, but who doesn’t love going back to Hogwarts? We know we do. In the third *Fantastic Beasts* film we got to see quite a lot of this iconic castle – from the Great Hall to the Room of Requirement. What we really enjoyed though was watching Jacob visit Hogwarts for the first time. We don’t think there are many (if any) other Muggles who can say they have walked its halls. And yes, he might have been tricked into eating some Cockroach Clusters by some cheeky Slytherins (typical!), but we still reckon he had a brilliant time visiting the wizarding school. 


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Bunty is standing in the Room of Requirement holding a case in her hand with multiple identical ones in front of her

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## The German Ministry of Magic
Thanks to the *Fantastic Beasts* series, we have been able to go beyond the British Ministry of Magic and start to become familiar with other wizarding governments – from France to the USA. And in this film, we got to expand our horizons even further and visit yet another Ministry, this time the German one in Berlin. And it was a rather eventful visit too. Things didn’t get off to the best start when the German Minister for Magic, Anton Vogel, refused to help Newt and his team stop Grindelwald. But then it got worse. It was here that Theseus Scamander was arrested and taken away. And worst of all, it was here that Grindelwald was acquitted of all his crimes and able to launch his bid to become the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards.

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Jacob, Newt and Lally are purposefully walking through a corridor at the German Ministry of Magic.

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## Bhutan
The final act of *The Secrets of Dumbledore* took place in Bhutan with its spectacular scenery. And those dramatic views certainly matched the drama that unfolded there. High up on a mountaintop, this was where the Qilin ceremony took place which would lead to the selection of the new Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards. It was also the setting where Grindelwald tried to steal the election, where his and Dumbledore’s blood troth was broken and where they faced off in a duel – so a pretty lively location if you ask us. 

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Theseus and Lally stand back-to-back on steps in Bhutan. Both are holding cases and are ready to defend themselves.

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## The Erkstag 
One of the murkier locations we saw in this film had to be the Erkstag. This prison was not somewhere you would want to be. Underground, dark, damp and dirty it was hardly the most welcoming of places. Unfortunately for Theseus, it was where he was taken after his arrest. And even more unfortunately, it was home to a Manticore – with a taste for human flesh (and don’t get us started on its many, many, offspring). This dank German prison might be something straight out of a nightmare, but it was also where we saw Teddy and Pickett work as an adorable team to undertake a thrilling rescue mission. 

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Theseus and Newt are underground in The Erkstag. Theseus is holding a lantern aloft.

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## China
The first time we saw Newt in this film he was trekking through the depths of a wild jungle. But what was he looking for? It turned out to be a magical Qilin. At that moment we had no idea just how important this beautiful creature would become. Watching Newt help the Qilin give birth was a joyful moment, which soon turned sour, thanks to Credence and some of Grindelwald’s other acolytes. Though not all was lost, and we couldn’t help but be mesmerised by the wild scenery – especially looking down at it as Newt’s Wyvern flew him to safety in the aftermath of the attack. 


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A waterfall in a jungle in China at night.

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## Kowalski Quality Baked Goods
We really enjoyed catching a glimpse of New York – it was where this series of films started after all. And we especially loved that we got to go to Jacob’s bakery again. Although, we must say, at the start of the film it was looking a tad rundown. However, by the time we came back to it, it was full of warmth, light and was the location for something very exciting – Jacob and Queenie’s wedding! We were always rooting for this pair and were delighted when they found their way back to one another… and we must say, their wedding cake did look rather delicious. 

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Queenie looking out the window at Nurmengard and appears unhappy 

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## Nurmengard
For fans of the *Harry Potter* series, when you hear the word Nurmengard, you automatically think of the wizarding prison where Grindelwald was kept until his death. And while that was one use for this rather foreboding castle, it had also served a very different purpose. Nestled in the mountains, this stone fortress was firstly a place where Grindelwald had imprisoned *his* opponents. It was also the headquarters for him and his followers. In this film we got to see a lot more of it – and the horrors that went on within its walls. From murder to Necromancy, it was somewhere we would rather avoid. 

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Aberforth and Albus Dumbledore standing at the bar of the Hog's Head Inn.

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## Hogsmeade
On a lighter note, it turns out that Hogwarts wasn’t the only well-known location we got to see in this latest instalment of the *Fantastic Beasts* story. We also got to see the wizarding village of Hogsmeade again. It was just wonderful to see Newt and Theseus walking through the village amongst the familiar snow-capped rooftops. We also got to take a trip to the Hog’s Head Inn and meet the younger version of Aberforth – who was still just as grumpy and still full of that same… unique charm of his.


The summer holiday crossword

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And remember to select "Show Magic" in the settings to see a little magical tomfoolery as you play. Enjoy!

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https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/crossword/20220606/00112/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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