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Ranked: Jacob Kowalski's top five funniest moments so far

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

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and Where to Find Them

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__A warning! Spoilers for both Fantastic Beasts films are featured in this article.__

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## 5: When Jacob met Nicolas Flamel

It's always awkward meeting new people - but imagine meeting someone who is essentially immortal. This is exactly what happened to Jacob when he met the famed alchemist and creator of the Philosopher's Stone, Nicolas Flamel. And what's the best thing to say to an immortal person? "You don't look a day over 375", of course! 

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## 4: When Jacob tried to style out Newt’s Niffler robbing a jewellery store 
This was certainly a moment that made us chortle. While Newt was trying to catch his Niffler, who was happily causing chaos in a closed jewellery shop, Jacob was just stood there trying to act casual and not draw attention to this amusing scene. His little winces were excellent. And when he found himself facing the police, while inexplicably covered head to toe in jewels, he tried to style it out by saying ‘they went that way’ – and gave us all a good laugh in the process.

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## 3: When Jacob saw Newt climb into his case for the first time
Jacob has some brilliant reactions to things and this moment is no exception. The little scream he emits when Newt climbs into his case gets us every time. It was so involuntary but also so loud – he was clearly struggling to process what was going on in front of him. Though, he does quickly accept what he has seen and follows Newt – providing us with more merriment. The sight of Jacob climbing into the case and ungracefully falling down the ladder is never not going to be funny.

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## 2: When Jacob tried Gigglewater 
In second place we have yet another Jacob noise. This time it’s his giggle when he tries Gigglewater. Poor Jacob. Here he is trying his best to fit into a world that makes no sense, while attempting to act all suave and flirt with Queenie… and then he takes a sip of that magical drink. Out of nowhere comes a loud and ridiculous laugh that he can’t stifle. While we reckon that this was not the impression that he was trying to make, we couldn’t help but find it endearing and hilarious. 

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No-Maj Jacob Kowalski gets a glimpse into New York's secret magical world with Queenie Goldstein at The Blind Pig speakeasy

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## 1: When Jacob was chased by an Erumpent 
The top spot really couldn’t belong to anything else. While we thought the mating dance that Newt did was funny, it was no match for the hilarity that ensued when Jacob accidentally spilled Erumpent musk on himself. Watching him be chased, while wearing his little helmet, by an amorous Erumpent was just so funny. The No-Maj had gone from trying to get a loan at the bank to finding himself slap bang in the middle of creature chaos. His expression as he was hanging from a tree was priceless... and we bet he was trying to work out just how he had ended up in this ridiculous situation.

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Which Marauder are you most like?

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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and the Order of the Phoenix

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## If you’re supremely confident… you’re most like James
James Potter was known for being very sure of himself – and he did have good reason. He was a talented Quidditch player, very intelligent and had a group of friends who adored him. Sometimes that confidence could seem like arrogance (just ask Severus Snape), but you have to applaud James for his unshakeable belief in himself. If you’re the type of person who knows they can do anything they put their mind to, carries themselves with their head held high and whose attitude sometimes border on arrogant, you’re most like James Potter.

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## If you’re a mischievous rebel… you’re most like Sirius
If there was one thing that Sirius was good at, it was getting himself into trouble – whether he was messing around with his friends at school or sneaking out of Grimmauld Place when he was supposed to stay put as an adult. If there was any chaos, you’d find him at the centre of it. His devil-may-care attitude may have been reckless, but Sirius’s mischievous nature always seemed to land on the right side of charming. So, if you’re someone who was frequently in detention, still doesn’t always think before they leap and sees themselves as a bit of a rogue, you’re most like Sirius Black.  

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## If you like to follow the leader… you’re most like Peter
Do you find it hard to make decisions for yourself? Do you prefer to hide behind those who are more confident and talented than you? Do you have a real instinct for self-preservation? Then you’re most like Peter. Now, we are not saying that you would betray your friends like he did. And we are not saying you would ever go down the same dark path. But if you’re someone who would tell on a friend to avoid getting into trouble, have taken credit you don’t deserve and are always looking for how a situation benefits you, you’re most like Peter Pettigrew.

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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## If you are kind to others… you’re most like Remus
Remus Lupin was compassionate. Having been an outsider himself, he made sure to extend the kindness he was not often shown to others. He certainly looked out for the underdog, even if it did get in the way of his better judgement – he was the one to befriend Peter after all. He also accepted that people had flaws, even if he wasn’t very good at accepting his own. If you’re like Remus, we imagine that you’re the type of person to be a mentor to others, a person whose friends turn to for non-judgemental advice and someone who believes that most people deserve a second chance in life.

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A guide to magical languages

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

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and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

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## Parseltongue
If you are lucky (or unlucky) enough to speak Parseltongue, you have the ability to communicate with snakes. Salazar Slytherin was one very famous Parselmouth – it’s why Slytherin’s symbol is a serpent! However, as Harry (another Parselmouth) found out, it’s a language which is often regarded with suspicion and seen as the mark of a Dark wizard. In some ways that could make sense, as Voldemort was someone who could communicate with snakes, as well as being a descendent of Slytherin. Although, as Harry demonstrates, not all those who speak this language are bound to do Dark deeds.

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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and the Chamber of Secrets

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## Gobbledegook
Goblins have a long and complicated history in the wizarding world – from their many rebellions to working at Gringotts bank. But did you know that they had their own language, Gobbledegook? It was one of over two hundred languages that Barty Crouch spoke. Which is much more impressive than Ludo Bagman who only knew the Gobbledegook word for pickaxe – which is Bladvak if you were wondering. 

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 

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and the Philosopher's Stone 

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## Troll
According to Fred Weasley anyone can speak Troll – it’s just a case of pointing and grunting at things. He doesn’t seem to be wrong. According to Newt Scamander’s *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*, trolls seem to have a crude language made up of mainly (you guessed it) grunts. Though they have also been known to be able to understand and even speak a few human words. But as creatures of rather limited intelligence… there is only so much they can comprehend. 

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## Mermish
This is another language in Barty Crouch’s repertoire – and one in Albus Dumbledore’s too! Mermish in the language spoken by merpeople. One interesting fact is that merpeople’s voices sound different when above the water and under it. Underneath, they speak in what sounds like a human language (the merpeople in the lake at Hogwarts appear to speak English). But when they are out of the water their voices suddenly sound completely different – and rather unpleasant. As Harry learnt when he opened the Golden Egg above water in *Goblet of Fire*, when merpeople aren’t in water they sound as though they are screeching and caterwauling. 

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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and the Goblet of Fire

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## Runes
If you look closely Runes appear throughout the Harry Potter series in one form or another. For instance, Ancient Runes was one of the many subjects that Hermione Granger studied and excelled at (even if she got the words ehwaz and eihwaz mixed up in her O.W.L.). Runes were also found inscribed around the Pensieve in Dumbledore’s office. And after his death, Dumbledore left a copy of *The Tales of Beedle the Bard* to Hermione that were all written in these curious symbols. It’s a shame that Harry never learnt to read them himself – as they crop up rather frequently. 

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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and the Half-Blood Prince

From Parseltongue to Gobbledegook to Troll to Mermish and Runes... we explore the different magical languages of the wizarding world. 

The Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone movie crossword

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So, do you need a Remembrall like Neville Longbottom? Or are you as adept at this puzzle as Hermione casting Wingardium Leviosa? 

Remember to toggle our "Show magic" setting to see some cute little enchantments! 

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https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/crossword/20210623/00062/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

We have plenty more puzzles at our [Puzzles Hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles) or our Harry Potter Fan Club app if you fancy some more. You can download said app just here.

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***

And remember, we're currently celebrating 20 Moments of Movie Magic in the upcoming weeks and months. [Pop over to our page and see which moment we are currently celebrating.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/harrypottermovie20)

What if Sirius Black had cleared his name in the Prisoner of Azkaban?

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Before we think about what could have happened, let’s recap why he was falsely accused in the first place and remained a wanted man.  

When Voldemort heard the prophecy that spoke of a baby ‘born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies’, he assumed it was talking about the son of James and Lily Potter and marked Harry and his parents for death.

So, the Potters went into hiding under the protection of the Fidelius Charm. This is a complex spell, where a secret is hidden within a single, living soul. The person who the information is hidden in, is known as the Secret Keeper. In this instance, as long as Lily and James’s Secret Keeper didn’t divulge the information to Voldemort, they would always be impossible to find. 

Originally Sirius Black was entrusted with this role. Yet, unbeknownst to most, he persuaded Peter Pettigrew to switch places with him. He thought it was the perfect plan. There would be no way that Voldemort would suspect snivelling Peter. However, Pettigrew being the weak and selfish person he was, betrayed James and Lily to Voldemort, sealing their fate.

When Sirius realised what Wormtail had done, he tracked him down. Peter faked his own death to escape and framed his supposed friend. Before transforming into a rat, Pettigrew cut off his finger, screamed that Sirius had betrayed Lily and James and blew apart the street – killing everyone in a twenty-foot radius. He then sped off down into the sewers to hide.

Peter was taken in by the Weasleys and for twelve years lived with them as Scabbers. One day, while in Azkaban, Sirius asked Cornelius Fudge for his newspaper and saw a photo of Scabbers (aka Peter). Realising he was at Hogwarts, Sirius escaped to come and find him. And while he was able to convince Lupin and the golden trio of the truth, disaster struck before he could clear his name. 

After a confrontation in the Shrieking Shack, Sirius, Remus Harry, Ron and Hermione were bringing Peter to the castle to face the Dementors. It also happened to be a full moon that night and Lupin transformed into a werewolf. In the chaos, Peter turned back into a rat and escaped – leaving Sirius with no evidence to prove his innocence. 

If Lupin hadn’t transformed and they had made it back to the castle we wonder how different things would have been. Would Harry have lived with him? Would he have been so reckless? And would he have gone to the Department of Mysteries?

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## Would Peter Pettigrew have been brought to justice?
Wormtail’s story could have looked rather different if he hadn’t been able to escape at that crucial moment. Instead, if he was brought to the castle, we think that there would have been a good chance that he would finally have to face the music. 

We think that the moment Dumbledore saw Peter he would realise the truth. After all, when Peter did escape during *Prisoner of Azkaban*, he was the one to believe the story of Sirius’s innocence.

Although, we also believe it would have been more difficult to convince Cornelius Fudge. The bumbling Minister for Magic was someone who refused to believe in something if it scared him – like the return of Voldemort. We think he wouldn’t believe that it was Peter Pettigrew in front of him without some serious convincing. Then we think it is possible that he would try to suggest Sirius and Peter were in cahoots and working together. Nonetheless, we imagine he could have eventually realised the truth with a lot of cajoling. 

If that was the case, we think Peter would have been sent to Azkaban to face the Dementors’ Kiss. He would have been brought to justice. More importantly, if he was locked up, he wouldn’t have helped Voldemort return to power and things could have looked very different indeed.

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## Would Harry have gone to live with Sirius? 
As we know in *Prisoner of Azkaban*, Sirius made Harry a tentative offer of coming to live with him once his name had been cleared – which Harry was more than thrilled about. However, because of Lupin’s transformation and Pettigrew’s escape, Sirius remained a wanted fugitive. Any hope that Harry had of moving away from the Dursleys was dashed and he was set to spend many more miserable moments stuck in Privet Drive.

But would Harry have been able to live with Sirius even if things had gone to plan? While we would have liked them to, we can’t help but believe it would never have come to pass. In fact, we think Dumbledore probably wouldn’t have allowed it because of the sacrifice Harry’s mother made.

When Voldemort came to murder Harry, he gave Lily a choice. If she stepped aside and allowed him to kill her baby, he would let her live. As we found out later in the series, Voldemort extended this offer after Snape pleaded with him to spare the life of the woman he had always loved. Nevertheless, Lily refused. She placed herself in front of Harry and Voldemort and her love and sacrifice were what gave Harry his protection. 

Lily’s choice invoked an ancient magic which gave Harry a protection that flowed through his veins. Dumbledore knew that Voldemort would most likely return one day and so decided to place his trust in Lily’s blood and leave Harry with his mother’s remaining blood relative. 

When Petunia Dursley begrudgingly brought Harry into her home, she sealed the Charm that had been placed upon him. While Harry could still claim the place where his mother’s blood dwells as his home, he could not be touched or harmed by Voldemort. Lily’s blood and protection lived on and would last until he came of age. 

Therefore, if Harry had gone to live with Sirius while he was still underage, he would not be safe from Voldemort. The miserable years he spent with the Dursleys would have been for nothing and he would be without the protective shield of his mother’s blood. 

Consequently, we reckon Harry would have had to wait until he was at least seventeen before he could officially move in with his godfather. Though we also reckon he would have visited Sirius rather frequently – there’s only so much Vernon, Petunia and Dudley that a person can take.

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## Would Sirius have been as reckless? 
After Sirius escaped from Azkaban, it must have been difficult for someone like him to have to keep a low profile. He was a natural risktaker, rulebreaker and it was clear that he hated to be cooped up. We know that he really struggled once he was confined to Grimmauld Place. As a result, he started to take some stupidly big risks. 

One example of his irresponsible attitude was when he went to see Harry onto the Hogwarts Express while in his Animagus form. Sirius was incredibly blasé about the whole thing, but he really should have exercised more caution. Not only was he spotted, but it was by Lucius Malfoy – someone who could really cause Sirius problems. 

Hermione even realised that Sirius was becoming more reckless the longer he stayed in hiding. She even suggested he was trying to live vicariously through them. But as is often the way, her concerns fell on deaf ears.

So, while we think that Sirius would still have thrown himself headfirst into any situation if he were a free man, we also believe he might not have been quite so desperate to see any form of action. He wouldn’t feel like he had to prove himself – especially when faced by antagonistic people like Snape who called him a coward – as he would have been able to contribute more. 

Hopefully, without the cabin fever and the feeling of uselessness, Sirius would have been able to regulate his emotions and may not have been quite so foolhardy.

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## Would there have been a Battle of the Department of Mysteries? 
We think that there is a small chance that the Battle of the Department of Mysteries might never have occurred if Sirius had been free. 

When Voldemort placed false images of Sirius being tortured in Harry’s mind – he was relying on the fact that Harry would want to rescue him. Harry fell for it hook, line and sinker and went to save his godfather.

But if Sirius hadn’t been stuck at Grimmauld Place and had been able to communicate with Harry more easily and openly, this misunderstanding may never have occurred. Harry would have been able to confirm with Sirius that he was safe, realised that Voldemort was tricking him and may have even been startled into working a bit harder at Occlumency.

Nevertheless, that is not to say that Voldemort would have not found another way to lure Harry to the Ministry. Once he realised that there was a connection between them, he would have exploited it anyway. If he had managed to trick Harry using a different person or scenario to lure him, we think the battle would still have occurred.

Sirius and the rest of the Order of the Phoenix would have gone to try and save him no matter what. There would still have been a fight for the prophecy with the Death Eaters, and Voldemort would probably still have made an appearance. 

However, if Sirius had been able to be a more active member of the Order of the Phoenix his battle skills might not have been quite so out of practice, and it is possible he may not have lost his life there that night. Though as Bellatrix was a fearsome foe, it may still have been his fate.

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## Would Remus Lupin still have been a teacher?
Now this entirely depends on what happened the night of the full moon in *Prisoner of Azkaban*. We believe that for Sirius to have cleared his name, Lupin would have had to have remembered to take his Wolfsbane Potion – which would allow him to transform into a sleepy wolf rather than a fearsome werewolf. If that had been the situation, and the ensuing chaos hadn’t happened, Peter may not have slipped away and there wouldn’t have been a full-blown werewolf running around the grounds. 

This leaves the possibility that Lupin’s secret could have still been kept under wraps. Especially if Fudge hadn’t hailed Snape as a hero, promised him an Order of Merlin, then backtracked when Sirius vanished.  

Though, we think it is more likely that he still would have had to resign. Professor Snape was the one to make sure that Lupin’s ‘furry little problem’ didn’t remain private, and we reckon he would have found another reason to reveal his secret. His hatred for Sirius and Remus ran deep and if Sirius had been able to clear his name, we can imagine Snape would have still lashed out. 

You also have to remember that the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher was cursed – nobody lasted more than a year and that would probably have applied to Lupin too.

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## Would Sirius have joined Harry, Ron and Hermione on their hunt for Horcruxes?
If we believe that Sirius was free and hadn’t died during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, he may have joined the golden trio on their Horcrux hunt. We doubt he would want to miss out on such an adventure. 

While we do know that Lupin’s request to join Harry, Ron and Hermione was turned down, we think it could have been different if it was Sirius who had asked. At that moment in time, Lupin had a pregnant wife waiting for him at home. Whereas the most important person in Sirius’s life was Harry. So, in some ways it makes sense that he would accompany them on their journey. He was a skilled, intelligent wizard who was unafraid of danger and would want to keep Harry safe.

Yet, Harry would also want to keep Sirius safe. He was always reluctant to involve anyone he loved in anything dangerous. This might have meant Sirius could not come along. Sirius was one of the strongest father figures in his life and we don’t think Harry would have wanted to risk losing him if he could help it.

Then there is the secrecy surrounding the Horcruxes themselves. Dumbledore had warned Harry to not talk to anyone outside of Ron and Hermione about them. If Harry were to stick to Dumbledore’s rules, it would be highly awkward to have Sirius tagging along with no real understanding of what they were doing. 

Still, we reckon Sirius probably would have tried to wheedle the truth from Harry. Though as both godfather and godson are stubborn, we think that… discussion would have been quite heated. Both would be trying to protect the other, and both would find it difficult to back down.

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Do you agree with our thoughts about what would have happened if Sirius had been free? Or do you have a different view?

If this has made you wonder about more ‘what if’ scenarios – then take a look at some of our previous musings.

[What if Remus Lupin had never become a werewolf?](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-if-remus-lupin-was-never-werewolf)

[What if Ginny Weasley had never possessed Tom Riddle's diary?](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-if-ginny-had-never-possessed-tom-riddles-diary)

[What if Snape had never been in love with Lily Potter?](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-if-snape-had-never-been-in-love-with-lily-potter)

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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Inside Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature

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__This article is an extract from Issue 44 of the Natural History Museum's Evolve Magazine, written by Kate Whittington. For more information on Membership, visit www.nhm.ac.uk/membership__

This December, you’re invited to enter an extraordinary world where mythical animals roam, where spiky fossils look like dragon skulls, and where natural curiosities are revealed.

Our new exhibition – Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature – celebrates creatures, real and magical, through the lens of J.K. Rowling’s spellbinding world of magic and adventure.

In the wizarding world, Newt Scamander is a Magizoologist on a mission to study and describe magical animals in his book, *Fantastic Beasts and
Where to Find Them*. Step into our exhibition, created in partnership with Warner Bros., and you’ll follow in his footsteps, surrounded by props
from the Fantastic Beasts films and real specimens from the Museum’s collections.

Uncover the origins of mythical animals, explore parallels between the remarkable creatures Newt cares for and real-life species, and discover how we’re fighting to protect them.

## ZONE 1: FROM DRAGONS TO DINOSAURS

For centuries, humans have whispered tales of mysterious creatures. Some are terrible and fierce, others pure and benevolent, and many boast remarkable magical properties.

Mythological creatures such as unicorns, dragons, merpeople
and sea serpents are given a wizarding-world twist in the pages
of *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*. But could they have
their origins in nature?

Scholars think that early descriptions of these extraordinary creatures may have been inspired or reinforced by encounters with real, but unfamiliar, wild animals. So for each fantastic beast, the exhibition explores the real-life species that may be responsible for the myths.

The most iconic of these creatures is the dragon. Its likeness appears in many cultures throughout the ages. Could this firebreathing behemoth be inspired by snakes or crocodiles with their smooth scales, long tails, sharp teeth and often impressive sizes?

Or might human imagination have conjured up giant reptilian creatures after seeing strange bones pulled from the earth?

## MEET THE HOGWARTS DINOSAUR

In 2004, a spectacular dinosaur skull was discovered in the Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota in the US. It bore a close resemblance to a Western fairytale dragon, with its bony head covered in spikes
and knobs.

Fossil collectors Brian Buckmeier and brothers Steve and Pat Saulsbury donated their find to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and, in
2006, a team of scientists formally described the new species. Inspired by its dragon-like appearance, they named it Dracorex hogwartsia, which translates as the ‘dragon king of Hogwarts’, in honour of Harry Potter’s
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Dracorex proved to be a type of ‘bone-headed’ dinosaur known as a pachycephalosaur. Despite its fearsome spiked skull, these dinosaurs are thought to have been mainly plant-eaters that lived sociably in small groups. As with many herd animals, individuals may have competed with each other for mates.

Indeed, the vertebrae show evidence of strong neck muscles that supported its flat-topped head. Experts think Dracorex may have fought by pressing their heads together and pushing, using upward thrusts to force their opponent backwards, a behaviour seen in some types of cows today.

The ridges and knobs on the skull of Dracorex may also have helped to stop its head slipping when pressed against another’s in a battle of strength.
Scientists have speculated that Dracorex may have used its horns to gore the flank of its opponents or in defence against predators, a behaviour seen in modern-day antelope known as oryx. Though it may not have been able to breathe fire like a mythical dragon, Dracorex was clearly not a dinosaur to be messed with.

Thanks to modern scientific techniques, we can infer how a dinosaur might have behaved from a fossil. Yet take one look at the extraordinary Dracorex skull in the exhibition and you’ll see why people pulling fossils
from the ground hundreds of years ago might have taken them for enormous, horned reptiles.

## ZONE 2: AMAZING ABILITIES

Leaving behind creatures of ancient legend, the next step on your journey of discovery takes in modern-day marvels. Like many real-life naturalists, Newt Scamander travels the world observing the remarkable adaptations and abilities of his fantastic beasts in their natural environments. From the Mooncalf’s elusive lifestyle to the Demiguise’s ability to vanish, and the Niffler’s compulsive collecting to the Erumpent’s fondness for dance, all of these ‘magical’ powers have parallels among real-life animals.

## THE OCCAMY

Newt describes the Occamy as a ‘plumed, two-legged winged creature with a serpentine body’. He explains that the Occamy is ‘choranaptyxic’, a word invented by Rowling to describe the animal’s magical ability to
change its size to fit the available space. Though the instant and dramatic shape-shifting displayed by the Occamy – which expands to fill a room and then shrinks to fit into a teapot – has not been observed in real
animals, some species can alter their size and shape in surprising and impressive ways.

When threatened by a predator, the porcupinefish can triple the volume of its body by drawing water into its extremely stretchy stomach. Its skin is covered in sharp spines, which are forced upright as the fish
expands.

Faced with a large, spiky ball, most predators will think twice before trying to take a bite. While porcupinefish expand to avoid death, queen
termites expand to produce life. The queen begins life around 17mm long, the same size as most other termites. But once the queen has mated, its body grows to up to seven times its original size. When its abdomen is around the size of a human finger, it’s too large to leave its small underground cell. The queen will remain there for the rest of its life, being cared for by its normalsized offspring, while it lays around one egg every three seconds.

That’s about 30,000 eggs a day and as many as 219 million eggs in its roughly 20-year lifespan. The queen produces the entire colony, hatching workers that build the termite mound, collect food and nurse young, soldiers that defend the colony, and winged adults that start new colonies of their own.

While the Occamy’s ability to expand is not unheard of in nature, shrinking is a much rarer and more challenging biological feat. Galapagos marine iguanas have adapted to shrink during times of stress. Living on the rocky coasts of the Galapagos islands, these lizards feed only on algae and seaweed. During El Niño years – a periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean – the iguana’s food becomes scarce.

Their usual diet of green and red algae is replaced by brown algae, which they struggle to digest. Scientists measuring the lizards’ body lengths noticed they became shorter by up to 7cm, around 20 per cent of their regular length. If the average person were to shrink by 20 per cent, they would become around 33cm shorter.

It’s thought that by reducing in size, marine iguanas can reduce their need for food and therefore expend less precious energy foraging. When their favourite food regrows, the iguanas return to their original length. The shrinking process can take up to two years, so it’s not as
fast as the magical Occamy, but still a remarkable feat.

## ZONE 3: PROTECTING FANTASTIC BEASTS

Newt’s book, *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*, is not just an ID guide – it aims to inspire his fellow wizards to love and protect all magical creatures. He explains that many magical beasts are hunted for their valuable horns or silver eggs, or are persecuted due to fear or misunderstanding. So we felt it was important that the exhibition highlights some real-life endangered creatures and reveals how – just like Newt – conservationists are working to change people’s opinions in order to save ‘unpopular’ species from extinction.

When developing any exhibition, many ideas are explored and developed that don’t make the final line-up. Outside of the exhibition, it’s been interesting to learn about some of the wizarding world’s less
charismatic beasts, and explore how our perceptions of animals can influence the way we treat them and, as a result, affect their survival.

In the wizarding world, [werewolves are outcasts](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/werewolves), and people living with the condition are seen as evil and corrupt. In the Harry Potter series, the character Remus Lupin was a Hogwarts Professor and a werewolf.

Unbeknown to many, Lupin struggled with his ‘furry little problem’ until he was eventually forced to resign from Hogwarts when his condition was revealed. However, Lupin was the first werewolf to be awarded the Order of Merlin, and his kindness and courage helped challenge the stigma faced by
all werewolves.

In real-world mythology, werewolves are similarly feared and reviled, and some people feel the same antipathy to their natural world counterpart, the wolf.

Whether they’re depicted as evil, gluttonous predators, respected hunters, or symbols of wildness, wolves stir strong feelings in many cultures. Popular Western fairy tales such as Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs cast wolves as sly and untrustworthy predators to be defeated. 

However, unlike werewolves, wolves are highly unlikely to
attack humans, though occasional depredations on farmers’ livestock can bring them into conflict with local communities.

In response, humans have driven wolves to extinction across much of their natural range.

Yet these top predators are incredibly important to the health and diversity of their environment, and help control populations of grazing animals, such as deer. With rewilding initiatives on the rise, wolves are
steadily returning to much of their former European range. As populations recover, conservationists are trying to find ways to help us live with the ‘Big Bad Wolf’ once more.

## WHAT’S IN A NAME?

From killer whales to vampire bats, the names we give to animals can have a lasting negative influence on how they’re perceived. In the wizarding world, the unfortunately named ‘Swooping Evil’ is feared for its ability to suck the brains out of its prey. However, its venom, when properly diluted, can be used to erase bad memories.

To counteract negative attitudes, scientists are trying using names to improve how we ‘see’ animals. Tom Saunders, an entomologist from the University of Auckland, wanted to challenge people’s dislike of wasps by naming a newly discovered species Lusius malfoyi, after the Harry Potter character Lucius Malfoy. Though widely considered a villain for his work as a Death-Eater under the Dark Lord, Voldemort, Malfoy later gives evidence against other Death-Eaters, aiding in their capture.

Humans can’t survive without nature, and as we discover more about how interconnected our world truly is, conservationists like Newt are working to transform our feelings from fear and dislike to respect and admiration when it comes to animals such as wasps, wolves, spiders and sharks. We hope the exhibition will help inspire a love of all beasts, furry,
scaled, slithering, flapping and crawling.

As Newt Scamander says: ‘Why do we continue… to attempt to protect and conceal magical beasts, even those that are savage and untameable? The answer is, of course, to ensure that future generations of witches
and wizards enjoy their strange beauty and powers as we have been privileged to do.’

PMARCHIVE-Dragon WB F4 TriwizardTournamentTaskOneDragon Still 100615 Land 3BnjawvtUk26a4Qim24iM4-b1

Dragon WB F4 Triwizard Tournament Task One Norwegian Ridgeback Still 100615 Land

fantastic-beasts-wonder-of-nature-extract-text-section-2

For centuries, humans have whispered tales of mysterious creatures. Some are terrible and fierce, others pure and benevolent, and many boast remarkable magical properties.

Mythological creatures such as unicorns, dragons, merpeople
and sea serpents are given a wizarding-world twist in the pages
of *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*. But could they have
their origins in nature?

Scholars think that early descriptions of these extraordinary creatures may have been inspired or reinforced by encounters with real, but unfamiliar, wild animals. So for each fantastic beast, the exhibition explores the real-life species that may be responsible for the myths.

The most iconic of these creatures is the dragon. Its likeness appears in many cultures throughout the ages. Could this firebreathing behemoth be inspired by snakes or crocodiles with their smooth scales, long tails, sharp teeth and often impressive sizes?

Or might human imagination have conjured up giant reptilian creatures after seeing strange bones pulled from the earth?

## MEET THE HOGWARTS DINOSAUR

In 2004, a spectacular dinosaur skull was discovered in the Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota in the US. It bore a close resemblance to a Western fairytale dragon, with its bony head covered in spikes
and knobs.

Fossil collectors Brian Buckmeier and brothers Steve and Pat Saulsbury donated their find to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and, in
2006, a team of scientists formally described the new species. Inspired by its dragon-like appearance, they named it Dracorex hogwartsia, which translates as the ‘dragon king of Hogwarts’, in honour of Harry Potter’s
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Dracorex proved to be a type of ‘bone-headed’ dinosaur known as a pachycephalosaur. Despite its fearsome spiked skull, these dinosaurs are thought to have been mainly plant-eaters that lived sociably in small groups. As with many herd animals, individuals may have competed with each other for mates.

Indeed, the vertebrae show evidence of strong neck muscles that supported its flat-topped head. Experts think Dracorex may have fought by pressing their heads together and pushing, using upward thrusts to force their opponent backwards, a behaviour seen in some types of cows today.

The ridges and knobs on the skull of Dracorex may also have helped to stop its head slipping when pressed against another’s in a battle of strength.
Scientists have speculated that Dracorex may have used its horns to gore the flank of its opponents or in defence against predators, a behaviour seen in modern-day antelope known as oryx. Though it may not have been able to breathe fire like a mythical dragon, Dracorex was clearly not a dinosaur to be messed with.

Thanks to modern scientific techniques, we can infer how a dinosaur might have behaved from a fossil. Yet take one look at the extraordinary Dracorex skull in the exhibition and you’ll see why people pulling fossils
from the ground hundreds of years ago might have taken them for enormous, horned reptiles.

## ZONE 2: AMAZING ABILITIES

FB-fantastic-beasts-demiguise-web-landscape

fantastic-beasts-wonder-of-nature-extract-text-section-3

Leaving behind creatures of ancient legend, the next step on your journey of discovery takes in modern-day marvels. Like many real-life naturalists, Newt Scamander travels the world observing the remarkable adaptations and abilities of his fantastic beasts in their natural environments. From the Mooncalf’s elusive lifestyle to the Demiguise’s ability to vanish, and the Niffler’s compulsive collecting to the Erumpent’s fondness for dance, all of these ‘magical’ powers have parallels among real-life animals.

## THE OCCAMY

WB-F1-FB-fantastic-beasts-occamys-hatched-web-landscape

WB-F1-FB-fantastic-beasts-occamys-hatched-web-landscape.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Occamy

fantastic-beasts-wonder-of-nature-extract-text-section-4

Newt describes the Occamy as a ‘plumed, two-legged winged creature with a serpentine body’. He explains that the Occamy is ‘choranaptyxic’, a word invented by Rowling to describe the animal’s magical ability to
change its size to fit the available space. Though the instant and dramatic shape-shifting displayed by the Occamy – which expands to fill a room and then shrinks to fit into a teapot – has not been observed in real
animals, some species can alter their size and shape in surprising and impressive ways.

When threatened by a predator, the porcupinefish can triple the volume of its body by drawing water into its extremely stretchy stomach. Its skin is covered in sharp spines, which are forced upright as the fish
expands.

Faced with a large, spiky ball, most predators will think twice before trying to take a bite. While porcupinefish expand to avoid death, queen
termites expand to produce life. The queen begins life around 17mm long, the same size as most other termites. But once the queen has mated, its body grows to up to seven times its original size. When its abdomen is around the size of a human finger, it’s too large to leave its small underground cell. The queen will remain there for the rest of its life, being cared for by its normalsized offspring, while it lays around one egg every three seconds.

That’s about 30,000 eggs a day and as many as 219 million eggs in its roughly 20-year lifespan. The queen produces the entire colony, hatching workers that build the termite mound, collect food and nurse young, soldiers that defend the colony, and winged adults that start new colonies of their own.

While the Occamy’s ability to expand is not unheard of in nature, shrinking is a much rarer and more challenging biological feat. Galapagos marine iguanas have adapted to shrink during times of stress. Living on the rocky coasts of the Galapagos islands, these lizards feed only on algae and seaweed. During El Niño years – a periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean – the iguana’s food becomes scarce.

Their usual diet of green and red algae is replaced by brown algae, which they struggle to digest. Scientists measuring the lizards’ body lengths noticed they became shorter by up to 7cm, around 20 per cent of their regular length. If the average person were to shrink by 20 per cent, they would become around 33cm shorter.

It’s thought that by reducing in size, marine iguanas can reduce their need for food and therefore expend less precious energy foraging. When their favourite food regrows, the iguanas return to their original length. The shrinking process can take up to two years, so it’s not as
fast as the magical Occamy, but still a remarkable feat.

## ZONE 3: PROTECTING FANTASTIC BEASTS

Newt’s book, *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*, is not just an ID guide – it aims to inspire his fellow wizards to love and protect all magical creatures. He explains that many magical beasts are hunted for their valuable horns or silver eggs, or are persecuted due to fear or misunderstanding. So we felt it was important that the exhibition highlights some real-life endangered creatures and reveals how – just like Newt – conservationists are working to change people’s opinions in order to save ‘unpopular’ species from extinction.

When developing any exhibition, many ideas are explored and developed that don’t make the final line-up. Outside of the exhibition, it’s been interesting to learn about some of the wizarding world’s less
charismatic beasts, and explore how our perceptions of animals can influence the way we treat them and, as a result, affect their survival.

In the wizarding world, [werewolves are outcasts](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/werewolves), and people living with the condition are seen as evil and corrupt. In the Harry Potter series, the character Remus Lupin was a Hogwarts Professor and a werewolf.

HP-F3-prisoner-of-azkaban-werewolf-lupin-full-moon-web-landscape

fantastic-beasts-wonder-of-nature-extract-text-section-5

Unbeknown to many, Lupin struggled with his ‘furry little problem’ until he was eventually forced to resign from Hogwarts when his condition was revealed. However, Lupin was the first werewolf to be awarded the Order of Merlin, and his kindness and courage helped challenge the stigma faced by
all werewolves.

In real-world mythology, werewolves are similarly feared and reviled, and some people feel the same antipathy to their natural world counterpart, the wolf.

Whether they’re depicted as evil, gluttonous predators, respected hunters, or symbols of wildness, wolves stir strong feelings in many cultures. Popular Western fairy tales such as Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs cast wolves as sly and untrustworthy predators to be defeated. 

However, unlike werewolves, wolves are highly unlikely to
attack humans, though occasional depredations on farmers’ livestock can bring them into conflict with local communities.

In response, humans have driven wolves to extinction across much of their natural range.

Yet these top predators are incredibly important to the health and diversity of their environment, and help control populations of grazing animals, such as deer. With rewilding initiatives on the rise, wolves are
steadily returning to much of their former European range. As populations recover, conservationists are trying to find ways to help us live with the ‘Big Bad Wolf’ once more.

## WHAT’S IN A NAME?

From killer whales to vampire bats, the names we give to animals can have a lasting negative influence on how they’re perceived. In the wizarding world, the unfortunately named ‘Swooping Evil’ is feared for its ability to suck the brains out of its prey. However, its venom, when properly diluted, can be used to erase bad memories.

To counteract negative attitudes, scientists are trying using names to improve how we ‘see’ animals. Tom Saunders, an entomologist from the University of Auckland, wanted to challenge people’s dislike of wasps by naming a newly discovered species Lusius malfoyi, after the Harry Potter character Lucius Malfoy. Though widely considered a villain for his work as a Death-Eater under the Dark Lord, Voldemort, Malfoy later gives evidence against other Death-Eaters, aiding in their capture.

Humans can’t survive without nature, and as we discover more about how interconnected our world truly is, conservationists like Newt are working to transform our feelings from fear and dislike to respect and admiration when it comes to animals such as wasps, wolves, spiders and sharks. We hope the exhibition will help inspire a love of all beasts, furry,
scaled, slithering, flapping and crawling.

As Newt Scamander says: ‘Why do we continue… to attempt to protect and conceal magical beasts, even those that are savage and untameable? The answer is, of course, to ensure that future generations of witches
and wizards enjoy their strange beauty and powers as we have been privileged to do.’

*Fantastic Beasts™: The Wonder of Nature opens on 9 December 2020 and
is free to Members and Patrons.*

In this extract from the Natural History Museum's magazine, Evolve, learn more about their exhibition celebrating Fantastic Beasts.

What type of house point earner would you be?

WEB-FEATURE-what-type-of-house-point-earner-would-you-be

WB-HP-F6-half-blood-prince-harry-ron-hermione-at-dinner-great-hall.

what-type-of-house-point-earner-would-you-be-text-section-1

## If you’re a team player… you’d earn points on the Quidditch pitch
Are you someone that is dedicated to their favourite sport? Are you determined to make your team the best it can possibly be? Do you value teamwork over individual performance? Then we think you’d earn most of your house points for Quidditch reasons. While we are sure that you would be rewarded for being an excellent Chaser, Beater, Keeper or Seeker – it would be your ability to get everyone to work together that really helped pull in those important points. We reckon that not only would you make an excellent Quidditch captain, but Madam Hooch would be particularly impressed by the unwavering support and encouragement you gave to every member of your team. 

HP-F6-half-blood-prince-ron-quidditch-keeper-happy-cheering-web-landscape

what-type-of-house-point-earner-would-you-be-text-section-2

## If courage is your middle name… you’d earn points saving the school from Dark wizards
For a magical school, Hogwarts does seem to have its fair share of drama involving Dark wizards. Whether its Voldemort possessing the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher or Death Eaters sneaking in via a Vanishing Cabinet – there always seems to be a threat that needs defeating. So, if you’re someone who is unfazed by danger, likes to dive headfirst into adventure and will happily duel with the best of them, then we think you’d earn quite a few points for sticking your neck out and saving the school. Though if you’re not successful, this could also be a way to lose valuable points…

HP-F7-deathly-hallows-part-one-voldemort-sitting-staring-web-landscape

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

HP-F7

and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

what-type-of-house-point-earner-would-you-be-text-section-3

## If you’re a know-it-all… you’d earn points in every class
If you and Hermione Granger are similar in any way, then this is how you would earn house points. As a highly intelligent and knowledgeable person, we’re sure you would be sticking your hand up and answering every question you could. No matter whether it’s Transfiguration, Charms, Care of Magical Creatures or even Potions – your detailed answers and enthusiasm for learning would amaze all of your professors. In fact, they’d be so impressed, you would be showered in a constant stream of house points – and certainly on your way to winning the House Cup.

HP-F3-prisoner-of-azkaban-ron-harry-bored-divination-crystal-ball-web-landscape

what-type-of-house-point-earner-would-you-be-text-section-4

## If you’re the caring type… you’d earn points for helping your friends
Are you someone that likes to put others before themselves? Do you take pleasure in helping your friends and family? If someone is moving house, or stuck on their homework, or struggling with organising a party, are you the person they turn to for help? If this is you, then we think you’d earn house points for assisting your friends. We can see you mentoring someone with a particularly tricky bit of Transfiguration, helping the new first-years find their classrooms and we can imagine that you’d be in the running for Prefect. Your caring attitude wouldn’t go unnoticed, and your kindness would earn your house a lot of points.

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

what-type-of-house-point-earner-would-you-be-text-section-5

## If you’re hardworking and conscientious… you’d earn points for being a homework hero
If you’re the type of person who is highly organised, wouldn’t dream of missing a deadline and is unafraid of a little hard work, then this would be the attitude that helped you secure those points. One thing that both magical and Muggle schools seem to love is homework, and you would be the very best when it came to that. No matter whether you’re writing an essay on goblin rebellions or trying to master the Summoning Charm, you always try your best and only ever turn in your highest standard of work. Your professors would be suitably awestruck, and you would be known as a homework hero.

web-image-harry-ron-hermione-library-goblet-of-fire-F4

what-type-of-house-point-earner-would-you-be-text-section-6

## If you’re savvy… you’d earn points for helping your teachers 
To win the House Cup, you need house points. And to earn house points, you need to be on the good side of those who award them, which is mainly the professors. Therefore, it only makes sense to keep them sweet. If this style of thinking makes sense to you and you’re known for being shrewd, then this is how you would earn house points. We can just see you now – helping Madam Hooch with sorting out the spare broomsticks, collecting weird and wonderful ingredients for Potions and watering magical plants in the Greenhouse when Professor Sprout is too busy… all with that coveted trophy in mind. Though your desire to help is fuelled by your ambition, it’s a win-win for everyone – and where’s the harm in that?

HP-F5-order-of-the-phoenix-mcgonagall-snape-umbridge-table-great-hall-web-landscape

Ranked: The shops in Diagon Alley from worst to best

WEB-FEATURE-ranked-the-shops-in-diagon-alley-from-worst-to-best

HP-WB-F6-draco-borgin-burkes-web-landscape

ranked-the-shops-in-diagon-alley-from-worst-to-best-text-section-1

## 11: Borgin and Burkes 
In last place it has to be Borgin and Burkes. Though the items they have in their shop are… interesting, it is overwhelmingly a place full of Dark magic and artefacts. It is where Draco Malfoy purchased his sinister ‘Hand of Glory’ that only gives light to the holder. It was also home to the Vanishing Cabinet that the Death Eaters used to break into Hogwarts on the night that Dumbledore died. One of the most notorious Dark wizards even worked there, when Voldemort took a job with them after leaving school. Overall, it’s a place to be avoided.

HP-F6-half-blood-prince-draco-malfoy-borgin-and-burkes-knockturn-alley-web-landscape

ranked-the-shops-in-diagon-alley-from-worst-to-best-text-section-2

## 10: The apothecary 
Next on our list has to be the apothecary. While Harry may have been fascinated by all the strange potion ingredients, dragon livers and unicorn horns, we don’t think we’d be able to get past the smell. The pungent aroma that emanated from the shop was described as ‘a mixture of bad eggs and rotted cabbages’. That is enough to put us off any shop – no matter what it may contain.

ranked-the-shops-in-diagon-alley-from-worst-to-best-text-section-3

## 9: Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions
Luckily our next shop, Madam Malkin’s, was not known for its bad smell. Instead, it was known for its wonderful robes for all occasions. From dress robes to school uniforms, you could find everything you needed there. We are sure it was a firm favourite of the fashionistas of the wizarding world. However, while this shop was full of excellent fabrics and designs, it is not higher on our list because how exciting can a shop where you buy your school uniform actually be?

HP-F1-philosophers-stone-diagon-alley-hagrid-harry-walking-crowd-web-landscape

ranked-the-shops-in-diagon-alley-from-worst-to-best-text-section-4

## 8: Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop
Poor old Gambol and Japes. When Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes came to Diagon Alley you can’t help but wonder what impact that had on their business. Though before the appearance of Fred and George’s shop, it was the go-to place for all your magical pranking needs. We certainly know that Fred, George and Lee Jordan were fans. In the *Chamber of Secrets*. Harry, Ron and Hermione caught them stocking up Dr Filibuster’s Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Heat Fireworks – and who knows what mischief they were planning.


ranked-the-shops-in-diagon-alley-from-worst-to-best-text-section-5

## 7: Quality Quidditch Supplies
Next on our list must be the place you can get all your Quidditch bits and bobs. Packed full of broomsticks and robes it has everything a budding player could desire. Whether you’re Ron wistfully gazing at a set of Chudley Cannon robes, or Harry wrestling with himself to not give in and buy a Firebolt, it’s a treasure trove to those who love the wizarding sport. We haven’t placed it higher on the list because it seems to be rather expensive and more of a place to window shop.

HP-F2-chamber-of-secrets-hermione-running-diagon-alley-web-landscape

ranked-the-shops-in-diagon-alley-from-worst-to-best-text-section-6

## 6: Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour
Who doesn’t love an ice-cream? And we reckon that the ones you could get at Florean Fortescue’s were some of the very best. We were very jealous when Hagrid greeted Harry with a large chocolate and raspberry ice-cream with chopped nuts. And even though we don’t hear much about him, we were rather fond of the owner Florean. Not only did he help Harry with his homework on medieval witch-burnings in *Prisoner of Azkaban*, but he also gave him free sundaes every half an hour – what a guy! Unfortunately, when Voldemort was returning to power, he was one of the casualties and his splendid ice-cream parlour was no more.

ranked-the-shops-in-diagon-alley-from-worst-to-best-text-section-7

## 5: Flourish and Blotts
Bookshops are wonderful places full of hidden gems – whether that is in the magical world or the Muggle world. Flourish and Blotts was no different and had everything a curious witch or wizard could desire. It was a place you could expand your knowledge on spells or wizarding history, a place to buy your school textbooks and (if you really fancied) it was where you could pick up a copy of one of Gilderoy Lockhart’s many works. It was also the shop where we saw Mr Weasley lose his cool and start a fight with Lucius Malfoy – but we should probably gloss over that.

HP-F2-chamber-of-secrets-harry-ron-ginny-flourish-and-blotts-web-landscape

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## 4: Magical Menagerie 
A wizarding shop full of wonderful creatures? What’s not to love. Especially when this shop was where the delightful Crookshanks came from! Half-cat and half-Kneazle, this squashy ginger ball of fur was not only adorable but helpful too. A great judge of character, he saw straight through Scabbers and tried to help Sirius in any way he could. He stole the passwords to the Gryffindor common room and tried to defend him when confronted by Harry, Ron and Hermione (before they knew the truth). And if it wasn’t for the Magical Menagerie then this marvellous moggie would not have been in our favourite trio’s life.

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## 3: Eeylops Owl Emporium
Similar to the Magical Menagerie, Eeylops Owl Emporium was the reason one of our favourite characters became a part of Harry’s story. We are talking about Hedwig of course! She was Harry’s first companion in the wizarding world and his connection to it when he was stuck at the Dursleys’ during summer. Bought by Hagrid on Harry’s first trip to Diagon Alley, she was also a reminder of the best birthday he ever had. And Eeylop’s was great place to buy all the owl nuts your owl could ever need.

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## 2: Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes 
In second place is the one and only Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. Bright, colourful and crammed full of everything a mischief-maker could possibly want, it was probably the most fun shop to ever open in Diagon Alley. There were Pygmy Puffs in various shades of pink and purple. There was U-No-Poo. There were Skiving Snackboxes. There was Peruvian Instant Darkness Power. The list goes on and on. And to top it all off, it was founded by two incredibly funny wizards who knew exactly what their customers were after. And even when Fred passed away, George continued on (with help from Ron) and brought joy and laughter to thousands of witches and wizards.

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## 1: Ollivanders
How could the top spot not be Ollivanders? Nearly every youngster who passes through the doors of Hogwarts comes equipped with a wand from this famous shop. We can only dream of how it would feel to hold your first wand in your hand knowing it had chosen you. From that moment on, you really are a part of the wizarding world and ready to start your journey to become the best witch or wizard you can possibly be.