All about... Severus Snape

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Severus Snape Infographic Feature Image

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[Full version](https://images.pottermore.com/bxd3o8b291gf/1Zc0x0UHycEE8sCUiSKqoG/be7654a0dfd1a0ca62ab604089ba5913/Severus_Snape_Infographic.jpg)

[Text version](/about/severus-snape-infographic-text-version)

[*Click here to learn about one of Professor Snape's favourite students, Draco Malfoy.*](/features/pottermore-draco-malfoy-infographic "All about... Draco Malfoy")

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Chapter Challenge: 'Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback'

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

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<IMG src="//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/5NbVl2rYgQOsomiheQlToy/603c0b01ec47be9b76d40e9b917a327a/numbersquaresArtboard-1-copy-14.png" alt="my boat">
  
__Write down who your favourite character is in the book so far and why. We asked you the same question back in the first Chapter Challenge, but has it changed?__

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

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

__Draw a picture of Norbert the baby dragon.__
  
*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*
 
<IMG src="//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/76EKXm249R6Av82pPNGMoG/e4a932f2b477a3e645b7280773330069/numbersquaresArtboard-1-copy-16.png" alt="my boat"> 

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

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

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*
  
<IMG src="https://images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/1XMWX309jyKzFCwPLGQanc/2281a50062bd3fddf1828bd941302a3d/numbersquaresArtboard-1-copy-17_2.png" alt="my boat">

__Prediction time! Harry and Hermione get caught by Filch at the end of this chapter. Do you think that Harry and Hermione will end up getting detention?__

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

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

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

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

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

__Illustration by Mary GrandPré © Scholastic__

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Harry Potter crafting magic for you to enjoy at home

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                  ***

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


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

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Filch and Mrs Norris catch Ron and Harry out of bed

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## No, it’s never a good idea 

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

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



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

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

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

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

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## Yes, it can be a good idea

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

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

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

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

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

                                 ***

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


Chapter Challenge: 'Nicolas Flamel'

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Welcome to your thirteenth Chapter Challenge! If you need a reminder of Chapter Thirteen, [you can watch Hugh Bonneville reading 'Nicolas Flamel' any time you like here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-nicolas-flamel "CH13").

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<IMG src="//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/5NbVl2rYgQOsomiheQlToy/603c0b01ec47be9b76d40e9b917a327a/numbersquaresArtboard-1-copy-14.png" alt="my boat">
  
__Write down whether you think the Sorting Hat was right to put Neville Longbottom in Gryffindor. Why?__

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

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

__Draw a picture of what you think Nicolas Flamel would look like. Remember he’s six hundred and sixty-five years old.__
  
*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*
 
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__Answer this question and get a clue about the next chapter. Which mythical beast breathes fire and usually has wings? Clue: Back in Chapter Five, Hagrid mentioned there were some guarding vaults at Gringotts?__
  
*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*
  
<IMG src="//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/3RO65v5jlfLcUheOJIz3Ky/a17b402d7bf7171748d33604faec3580/numbersquaresArtboard-1-copy-17_1.png" alt="my boat">

__Write about yourself: Would you want a magical object that makes gold and stops you ever dying, like the Philosopher’s Stone? What would be good about it? What might be difficult?__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*
  
<IMG src="https://images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/1XMWX309jyKzFCwPLGQanc/2281a50062bd3fddf1828bd941302a3d/numbersquaresArtboard-1-copy-17_2.png" alt="my boat">

__Prediction time! Harry flies above the Forbidden Forest in this chapter. Do you think he will visit the forest on foot in a later chapter? Or do you think that would be too out of bounds?__

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

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

__Time to guard the Philosopher’s Stone: In 'Nicolas Flamel', Harry guesses that there are other things guarding the Philosopher’s Stone apart from Fluffy. What would you choose to guard the precious stone? Try to think of at least three.__

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

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

__Secret quest: Pretend that you’ve been hit by a Leg-Locker Curse like Neville Longbottom in this chapter. This curse means that your legs have been stuck together so in order to get about, you need to bunny hop everywhere. You must pretend you’ve been hit by the curse for at least fifteen minutes! If anyone asks what’s wrong, blame it on Draco Malfoy.__

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

***

__Quiz time: If this secret quest isn’t for you, you can collect the same number of house points if you answer every question correctly in our [Chapter Thirteen Quiz here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-thirteen-five-questions "CQ13")...__

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

And don’t forget to collect all your house points in your house hourglass. Remember, your hourglass can be any container – a bottle, a jar, a box. Every time you earn a house point, cut out a little square or circle of paper or card – colour it in with your house colour – and then put it into your hourglass. When you need to use scissors, make sure you ask an adult to help you.

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

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

__Illustration by Mary GrandPré © Scholastic__

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The real Nicolas Flamel and the Philosopher’s Stone 

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Harry Rona and Hermione search for Nicholas Flamel's name in the libary  

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In *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*, Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher’s Stone, an object capable of turning metal into gold and granting immortality with its Elixir of Life. At 665 years old, Nicolas and his 658-year-old wife Perenelle certainly make use of the Elixir, but having lived more than six centuries in the wizarding world they favour a quiet life.

The real Nicolas Flamel – because he was a real person – was probably born in 1330 in Pontoise, near Paris. Which would indeed make him around 665 at the time of *Philosopher’s Stone* if he had really had access to Elixir of Life (and some people think he might have…).

But how did a little-known bookseller from 14th-century France become so synonymous with alchemy that he fetched up in the wizarding world?

## The man

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Image of Beauxbatons Crest from the designers Mina Lima

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We are told that the Flamel of the wizarding world met his wife, Perenelle, at Beauxbatons. While we don’t know where they met, the real Flamel’s wife was called Perenelle. She been widowed twice before and brought the fortune of her two previous husbands to her marriage with Nicolas.

After their marriage, Flamel continued to work as a bookseller. The couple were relatively wealthy – they owned several properties and donated money to the French Catholic church. Their wealth and philanthropy has become part of the legend that surrounds Flamel’s posthumous reputation as an alchemist. 

Records show that Flamel died in 1418. He was buried in Paris, beneath a tombstone he designed himself, and his will – dated 1416 – apparently left the majority of his library to a nephew, Perrier, of whom little else is known.

## The dream

This is where the historical facts about Flamel start to merge with the stories. Because some people don’t believe he died at all. There are reports of him and Perenelle having faked their deaths and escaped to India, and their immortality is all down to his supposed alchemical genius.

Flamel’s interest in alchemy apparently began with a book. It is said that a stranger approached him one day with a rare manuscript. Flamel recognised it, because not long before, he had dreamed about an angel. The angel had appeared holding a book, telling him: ‘One day you will see in it that which no other man will be able to see…’

## The book

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The book was written by a man called Abraham the Jew. It was in Greek and other languages Flamel couldn’t understand, including Hebrew. It was also full of awe-inspiring symbols which Flamel realised were instructions on alchemy.

Flamel supposedly spent 21 years trying to decipher it all. When Paris couldn't provide answers, he set off to Spain to find a Jewish scholar and came across Maestro Canches, a learned Jewish man living in Leon. Canches recognised Abraham the Jew as one of the earliest masters of the Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah and translated the few pages Flamel had with him before agreeing to travel back to France and translate the rest. Unfortunately, he fell ill on the journey and died before they reached Paris.

Luckily for Flamel, Canches had taught him enough. Over the next three years he went on to translate the entire book, learning the secrets of Hermeticism – an esoteric tradition based on the divine writings of Hermes Trismegistus.

## The legend

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Those who believe Flamel used the Book of Abraham the Jew to create a Philosopher’s Stone point to the fact that Flamel then became rich. Apparently, his incredible wealth and generosity brought him to the attention of Charles VI, who ordered an investigation into Flamel but found nothing of interest.

Others say there is no indication that Flamel had any involvement in alchemy at all, and the stories about the mysterious book are just that: stories. Some believe that the character of Flamel was invented by 17th-century publishers in a bid to sell lots of supposedly ancient alchemical books.

## Posthumous reputation

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Flamel’s reputation was fuelled by a number of books attributed to him long after his death. One was *Le Livre des Figures Hiéroglyphiques*, or *The Book of Hieroglyphic Figures*, published in Paris in 1612. By the mid 17th-century, Flamel had become legendary, with reported sightings and well-known historical figures like Isaac Newton referring to his alchemical prowess.

Interest resurfaced in the 19th-century. Flamel is mentioned in Victor Hugo’s *The Hunchback of Notre Dame*, the composer Erik Satie was said to be fascinated by him, and the freemason Albert Pike mentions him in his book *Morals and Dogma*, a philosophical rationale of freemasonry. Whether or not they believed he was still alive is another thing, but these learned figures all identified Flamel as an alchemist. 

More recently, as well as *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*, Flamel has been mentioned in fictional works including Umberto Eco’s *Foucault’s Pendulum* in 1988 and Dan Brown’s *The Da Vinci Code* in 2003.

So, while the real Flamel may not have been a genuine alchemist, even without the Elixir of Life, his legendary reputation has certainly made him immortal. 

Remember, if you want to [watch Hugh Bonneville reading Chapter Thirteen, 'Nicolas Flamel' again, you can find it here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-nicolas-flamel)! 

What the Mirror of Erised can tell us about the Boy Who Lived

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__Beware! This article contains spoilers for the entire Harry Potter series, so we wouldn’t advise reading it until you’ve read all seven books...__

What does Harry see in the Mirror of Erised? Unlike his friend Ron, he doesn’t see a successful future, but an unreachable past. In the mirror, Harry encounters the Potter family for the first time in his life. Most prominently he sees his mother and father smiling down at him and it is this that is ‘nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire’ of young Harry’s heart. 

This fundamental part of Harry Potter – this longing for a real family – reveals a lot about his experiences up until this point. Though, as readers, we’ve met the Dursleys, perhaps we don’t truly understand the extent of what they haven’t given Harry until he stands in front of the mirror. He’s never seen a photograph of a single member of his family before – not even his parents’ faces. Their smiles remind us how Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon have treated him with utter contempt and pure dislike. The juxtaposition between the family Harry wishes he has, and the one he ended up with in Privet Drive is stark, and shines a light on the lonely and loveless childhood Harry has endured before arriving at Hogwarts. Harry has never pined for material things – he was never going to get them living with the Dursleys anyway – what he wants, most desperately, is a family that loves him. Something that his aunt, uncle and cousin could have given him, but chose not to. 

We also see this desire for family reflected in Harry’s actions in the future. Once Harry finds out the truth about Sirius Black – particularly that he was his godfather and his father’s friend – he can do nothing wrong in Harry’s eyes. The affection between them is almost instantaneous, and by the summer holidays after Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, it is Sirius that Harry chooses to write to about his scar hurting, rather than Ron or Hermione. And when Harry loses Sirius… the renewed grief is unbearable. The importance of family to Harry is also perhaps why he loves his summers at the Burrow so much. Molly and Arthur love Harry like a son – indeed when Sirius reminds Molly during an argument that Harry is not, in fact, one of her own, she replies: 'He’s as good as’. No doubt Harry feels a closeness to Mr and Mrs Weasley that fills the family-shaped hole that the vision in the Mirror of Erised revealed. 


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After Harry first discovers the mirror in Chapter Twelve of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone, he becomes obsessed with going back to it night after night. And this obsession – though we can hardly blame him for wanting to spend time with the family he never knew – becomes all-consuming. He won’t play chess; he won’t visit Hagrid; and he certainly won’t listen to Ron trying to stop him getting back in front of the mirror. This early sign that Harry is prone to obsessive behaviour is important to note. 

As Harry gets older this part of his nature shows itself time and time again – with varying consequences. His hunches, which often turn into obsessions, can be vital in the fight against Lord Voldemort, but can also be a hinderance. In Philosopher’s Stone itself, Harry is preoccupied with the idea that it is Snape who is trying to steal the stone, which leads to a kind of blindness only being face to face with the truth can dispel. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, he becomes fixated with finding out about Riddle’s diary: ‘even though he knew the diary was blank, he kept absent-mindedly picking it up and turning the pages, as though it was a story he wanted to finish’. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the door to the Department of Mysteries haunts his dreams over and over again. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, his obsession with Draco Malfoy means that his friends are protected with Felix Felicis the night Draco finally succeeds in his plan. But it also alienates Harry from his friends for much of the school year and leaves him brooding and pawing over the Marauder’s Map alone. 

Harry’s episode with the Mirror of Erised also reveals a tendency to seek out solitude. This is the first time Harry pushes Ron – his best friend – away. He finds the mirror alone because he wants to adventure wearing his father’s cloak on his own. Harry sometimes finds it difficult to share or even express the burdens he feels – the burdens that come with being orphaned by Lord Voldemort. When he is determined to save the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry initially assumes he’s going alone. And still, even after six years of adventures together, Harry tries to separate himself from Ron and Hermione when it comes to hunting down Horcruxes: ‘No –’ said Harry quickly; he had not counted on this, he had meant them to understand that he was undertaking this most dangerous journey alone’. Luckily Ron and Hermione know him well enough by this point that they understand – and then as good friends often do – tell him he’s being ridiculous. 

The final and most important aspect of Harry’s character that his second encounter with the Mirror of Erised tells us, is that he lacks a thirst for power. Faced with his reflection with the Philosopher’s Stone, it enters his pocket – as Dumbledore tells us – because he ‘wanted to find the Stone – find it, but not use it’. 

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It is, we are led to believe, a rare witch or wizard who could ignore the powerful attraction of the Elixir of Life. And this part of Harry plays an enormously important role in his eventual vanquishing of Lord Voldemort. Harry unites the Deathly Hallows but not so as to use them – no – but to defeat one of the darkest wizards of all time. And when he’s done, what does he do? He ends the cycle. He puts the Elder Wand to rest. 
‘Maybe a man in a million could unite the Hallows, Harry’, Dumbledore tells him. Perhaps that is what the Mirror of Erised tells us about the Boy Who Lived – he is one unique wizard with a Gryffindor heart of gold. 


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And remember you can [watch Matthew Lewis, Helen Howard and Imelda Staunton reading Chapter Twelve of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, where you can revisit Harry’s first encounter with the Mirror of Erised here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-mirror-of-erised "C12").



Chapter Challenge: 'The Mirror of Erised'

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Welcome to your twelfth Chapter Challenge! If you need a reminder of Chapter Twelve, [you can watch Matthew Lewis, Helen Howard and Imelda Staunton, reading 'The Mirror of Erised' any time you like here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-mirror-of-erised "CH12"). 

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<IMG src="//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/5NbVl2rYgQOsomiheQlToy/603c0b01ec47be9b76d40e9b917a327a/numbersquaresArtboard-1-copy-14.png" alt="my boat">
  
__Write down which you think was Harry’s best Christmas present and why.__

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

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

__Draw the Mirror of Erised. Make sure you include what *you* would see in its reflection.__
  
*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*
 
<IMG src="//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/76EKXm249R6Av82pPNGMoG/e4a932f2b477a3e645b7280773330069/numbersquaresArtboard-1-copy-16.png" alt="my boat"> 

__Answer this question and get a clue about the next chapter. What do you get with a Chocolate Frog?__
  
*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*
  
<IMG src="//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/3RO65v5jlfLcUheOJIz3Ky/a17b402d7bf7171748d33604faec3580/numbersquaresArtboard-1-copy-17_1.png" alt="my boat">

__Write about yourself: If you had an Invisibility Cloak, what would be your first adventure?__

*This mini-challenge is worth 1 house point.*
  
<IMG src="https://images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/1XMWX309jyKzFCwPLGQanc/2281a50062bd3fddf1828bd941302a3d/numbersquaresArtboard-1-copy-17_2.png" alt="my boat">

__Prediction time! Do you think Harry will ever see the Mirror of Erised again?__

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

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

__Time to be Mrs Weasley: In 'The Mirror of Erised', Mrs Weasley sends her children – and Harry – a special knitted Weasley jumper. Design a Weasley jumper for every member of your household. What colour would it be? Would it have a letter on the front? Or something else? And don’t forget to design one for yourself!__

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

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

__Secret quest: Choose something that belongs to you – perhaps a book or a toy or a mug or similar. Leave it somewhere with a note addressed to someone in your household. The note must say the person’s name and the words ‘Use it well’ just like the Invisibility Cloak. After a day you can ask for the object back if you want to!__

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

***

__Quiz time: If this secret quest isn’t for you, you can collect the same number of house points if you answer every question correctly in our [Chapter Twelve Quiz here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-twelve-five-questions "CQ12")...__

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

And don’t forget to collect all your house points in your house hourglass. Remember, your hourglass can be any container – a bottle, a jar, a box. Every time you earn a house point, cut out a little square or circle of paper or card – colour it in with your house colour – and then put it into your hourglass. When you need to use scissors, make sure you ask an adult to help you.

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

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

__Illustration by Mary GrandPré © Scholastic__

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Harry Potter At Home: fun articles for first time readers

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## [Make your very own scrapbook of Harry Potter characters with Scholastic](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/make-your-own-harry-potter-scrapbook)
Read about some of the characters Scholastic would include in their Harry Potter scrapbook and then make your own! You can even use a template they’ve provided on their website – you’ll see the link at the bottom of the article. 
Best chapter video for meeting new characters - [Chapter Six: The Journey From Platform Nine and Three-Quarters](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-journey-from-platform-nine-and-three-quarters). 

## [Harry Potter Who’s Who: Introducing the Dursleys](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-whos-who-muggles-edition-introducing-the-dursleys)
Learn all about the dreadful Dursleys with this article from Bloomsbury, plus you can find a link to the Who’s Who page on their website where you can find out other facts about Harry Potter characters.
Best chapter video for introducing the Dursleys - [Chapter Two: The Vanishing Glass.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-vanishing-glass) 

## [A handy guide to reading the Harry Potter books for the first time](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/handy-guide-to-reading-harry-potter-for-first-time)
The Wizarding World team have put together this guide if you’re just embarking on your first ever Hogwarts journey. It has handy tips and introductions to get you started. 
Best chapter video to start your journey with: [Chapter One: The Boy Who Lived](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-boy-who-lived) 

## [Twenty fantastic facts about Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone from Bloomsbury](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/find-twenty-fantastic-facts-about-harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone)
Can you answer these twenty questions about the book that started off Harry Potter’s journey? Have a go, and when you’ve answered as many as you can – Bloomsbury have provided a beautiful infographic to help you learn even more about the first Harry Potter book. 
Best chapter video for learning some magical facts - [Chapter Eight: The Potions Master](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-potions-master)

## [Ten words you need to know when reading the first Harry Potter book ](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/web-ten-words-you-need-to-know-for-hp1)
The magical world is full of new and wonderful things, including words! This article from Bloomsbury will really help you out when you come across some of the trickier ones at the start of Harry’s journey. And if you want to look up more magical words, you can find a link in the article to Bloomsbury’s Harry Potter Glossary on their website. 
Best chapter video for silly magical words - [Chapter Seven: The Sorting Hat](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-sorting-hat)

## [How to cast a spell over everyday games](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/how-to-cast-a-spell-over-everyday-games)
Forget wizard chess, this article is all about bringing some magical activities into your home. The Wizarding World team teach you how to play Wizard’s hangman, Harry Potter Bingo and Snitches & Lightning Bolts! 
Best chapter video for wizard games: [Chapter Eleven: Quidditch](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-quidditch)

## [Make reading Harry Potter even more fun with these three easy tips from Scholastic](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/make-reading-harry-potter-fun-three-easy-tips)
Scholastic has set out some great ideas to inspire you with your reading, from reading aloud to making art part of your Harry Potter experience. Speaking of art, how about checking out our Crafting Magic collection too, where you can find video tutorials about drawing magical beasts to making a broomstick keyring! 
Best chapter video for magical imagination - [Chapter Five: Diagon Alley](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-diagon-alley)

## [Learn some friendship lessons and discover your best friend with Bloomsbury](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/hogwarts-best-friend-with-bloomsbury)
Hogwarts might be a school of magic, but starting at Hogwarts is as much about making friends, as it is learning spells. Read all about the wizarding friendship from the first Harry Potter book in this article, and then find out who would be your Hogwarts best friend with Bloomsbury’s fun quiz. 
Best chapter video for friendship: [Chapter Ten: Hallowe’en](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-halloween)

## [Chapter Challenges for Chapters One to Eleven](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/first-year-readers) 
Have you been taking our Chapter Challenges? We release one with every chapter video reading, where you can collect house points with every challenge and secret quest you complete. We’ll test you on everything from your ability to draw Dudley with a pig’s tail to whether you can get your whole household to use a secret password, just like Gryffindor Tower. 

Find Chapter Challenges, and even more first year reading fun [here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/first-year-readers). And if you’re ready for a challenge, you can [find puzzles and quizzes about the first Harry Potter book here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/first-year-challenges).


Enjoy the many voices of Hagrid from Harry Potter At Home

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Here are some of our favourite impressions of the gruff-voiced gamekeeper from our Harry Potter At Home readings so far. [And remember, you can revisit our most recent chapters right here. ](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We&#39;ve had some brilliant character voices from our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarryPotterAtHome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HarryPotterAtHome</a> narrators, the Hagrid impressions have been a particular joy! <a href="https://t.co/sm8ZfTTmdC">pic.twitter.com/sm8ZfTTmdC</a></p>&mdash; Wizarding World (@wizardingworld) <a href="https://twitter.com/wizardingworld/status/1276896917314813952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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For more Harry Potter At Home fun for your amusement, [simply visit our hub.](http://harrypotterathome.com/)

Ten times the Dursleys were the absolute worst 

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## That time they dropped Harry off at King’s Cross only so they could laugh at him…  
‘He was quite right, of course. There was a big plastic number nine over one platform and a big plastic number ten over the one next to it, and in the middle, nothing at all.
‘Have a good term,’ said Uncle Vernon with an even nastier smile. He left without another word. Harry turned and saw the Dursleys drive away. All three of them were laughing.'

__Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone__

## That time they made Harry pretend he didn’t exist…  
“And you, boy?’
Harry fought to keep his face straight as he emerged.
‘I’ll be in my room, making no noise and pretending I’m not there,’ he said.”

__Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets__

## That time they gave Harry the worst Christmas present of all time …  
‘Harry’s other presents were much more satisfactory than Dobby’s odd socks – with the obvious exception of the Dursleys’, which consisted of a single tissue, an all-time low…’

__Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire__

## That time Aunt Petunia revealed she knew a lot more about magic than she’d let on … 
‘‘They guard the wizard prison, Azkaban,’ said Aunt Petunia. 
Two seconds of ringing silence followed these words before Aunt Petunia clapped her hand over her mouth as though she had let slip a disgusting swear word. Uncle Vernon was goggling at her. Harry’s brain reeled. Mrs Figg was one thing – but Aunt Petunia?’

__Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix__

## That time they allowed Aunt Marge to mercilessly insult Harry and his parents…  
“Now, I’m saying nothing against your family, Petunia’ – she patted Aunt Petunia’s bony hand with her shovel-like one, ‘but your sister was a bad egg. They turn up in the best families. Then she ran off with a wastrel and here’s the result right in front of us.”

__Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban__

## That time they locked Harry up and passed him food through a cat-flap in his bedroom door …  
‘He was bearing down on Harry like a great bulldog, all his teeth bared. ‘Well, I’ve got news for you, boy ... I’m locking you up ... you’re never going back to that school ... never ... and if you try and magic yourself out – they’ll expel you!”

__Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets__

## That time Dudley teased Harry about his bad dreams…  
“Don’t kill Cedric! Don’t kill Cedric!” Who’s Cedric – your boyfriend?’
‘I – you’re lying,’ said Harry automatically. But his mouth had gone dry. He knew Dudley wasn’t lying – how else would he know about Cedric?
‘“Dad! Help me, Dad! He’s going to kill me, Dad! Boo hoo!”

__Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix__

## That time Uncle Vernon couldn’t get the word Dementor right …   
“But what ARE Dementoids?’ asked Uncle Vernon furiously. ‘What do they DO?”

__Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix__

## That time Aunt Petunia couldn’t bring herself to say anything meaningful to her nephew …  
‘She stopped and looked back. For a moment Harry had the strangest feeling that she wanted to say something to him: she gave him an odd, tremulous look and seemed to teeter on the edge of speech, but then, with a little jerk of her head, she bustled out of the room after her husband and son.’

__Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows__

## And every time they lied about how his parents had died …  
‘The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead which was shaped like a bolt of lightning. He had had it as long as he could remember and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Petunia was how he had got it.
‘In the car crash when your parents died,’ she had said. ‘And don’t ask questions.”

__Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone__



Create your own paper owls

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Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown or Snowy – why choose when you can make them all with this hoot of a crafting video!

Harry’s owl, Hedwig, kept him company throughout his time at Hogwarts, and was also his only friendly companion whilst he spent long summer holidays with the Dursleys.  

Now you can learn to make your very own owl. Watch the video below and find out how ...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wrYlWHCs6gM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>


For more of our arts and crafts videos, check out our [Crafting Magic page](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/crafting-magic "Crafting Magic"), as well as our [Wizarding World YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChPRO1CB_Hvd0TvKRU62iSQ "Youtube"). 
And for even more stay at home fun, check out our [Harry Potter At Home hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/harry-potter-at-home "HPAH hub"), and bring the magic to you!


Try our four Hogwarts house-themed wordsearches 

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

## The Gryffindor wordsearch 

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

## The Ravenclaw wordsearch

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

## The Hufflepuff wordsearch

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

## The Slytherin wordsearch

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

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

The story so far from the Harry Potter At Home chapter readings 

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## Chapter One – ‘The Boy Who Lived’
__Reader__: Daniel Radcliffe

__What’s it about?__ Daniel Radcliffe introduces the Dursleys, who don’t like anything mysterious. Enter a cat reading a map, owl-filled skies and whispers about the Potters. [Watch the chapter here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-boy-who-lived)

__More at home fun:__ Once you’ve finished watching or listening to Chapter One, you can collect house points with our first [Chapter Challenge](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-philosophers-stone-chapter-challenge-one-the-boy-who-lived), as well as test your knowledge of the chapter [in this quiz](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-one-five-questions)!
For parents, carers and teachers, our friends at Scholastic have put together a wonderful discussion guide called [Finding Strength in Harry Potter which you can find here](https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/parents/Printables/PDFs/Scholastic_FindingStrengthinHP.pdf). And for those who’ve visited the wizarding world before – read more about ‘The Boy Who Lived’, with [our article analysing what we can learn about Albus Dumbledore from this first encounter](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/the-man-in-the-purple-cloak-what-chapter-one-can-teach-us-about-dumbledore)… 

## Chapter Two – ‘The Vanishing Glass’
__Reader:__ Noma Dumezweni

__What’s it about?__ Noma Dumezweni narrates Harry and the Dursley’s trip to the zoo, where it becomes clear that his scar isn’t the only unusual thing about him. [Watch the chapter here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-vanishing-glass).

__More at home fun:__ Once you’ve finished watching or listening to Chapter Two, you can collect house points with our second [Chapter Challenge](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-philosophers-stone-chapter-challenge-two-the-vanishing-glass), as well as test your knowledge of the chapter [in this quiz](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-two-five-questions)!
For those who’ve visited the wizarding world before, [read this debate between two Wizarding World writers](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/who-was-the-worst-dursley-petunia-or-vernon) about who was the worst Dursley: Vernon or Petunia?
Speaking of Muggles, our friends at Bloomsbury invite you to learn more about the despicable Dursley family, with [this handy ‘who’s who’ guide if you’re a first-time reader](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-whos-who-muggles-edition-introducing-the-dursleys).

## Chapter Three – ‘The Letters from No One’
__Reader:__ Eddie Redmayne

__What’s it about?__ Eddie Redmayne narrates the Dursleys’ desperate attempts to escape the mysterious letters addressed to Mr H Potter. But will Harry ever get to read one? [Watch the chapter here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-letters-from-no-one).

__More at home fun:__ Once you’ve finished watching or listening to Chapter Three, you can collect house points with our third [Chapter Challenge](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-philosophers-stone-chapter-challenge-three-the-letters-from-no-one), as well as test your knowledge of the chapter [in this quiz](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-three-five-questions)!
Harry is desperate to open the letters that keep arriving for him in Chapter Three. But how about [making your own with this crafting video Bloomsbury](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWow8MODO1U) have kindly shared with us from their Harry Potter Book Night celebrations? If you’re feeling really creative, you could make one for every member of your household! And for those who’ve visited the wizarding world before – [read more about ‘The Letters from No One’, as we explore the importance of post](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/the-power-of-letters-in-harry-potter) across the Harry Potter books.

## Chapter Four – ‘The Keeper of the Keys’
__Reader:__ Stephen Fry

__What’s it about?__ Stephen Fry introduces us to Rubeus Hagrid, who arrives with a birthday cake, a pink umbrella, and some news that will change Harry’s life forever. [Watch the chapter here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-keeper-of-the-keys)

__More at home fun:__ Once you’ve finished watching or listening to Chapter Four, you can collect house points with our fourth [Chapter Challenge](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-philosophers-stone-chapter-challenge-four-keeper-of-the-keys), as well as test your knowledge of the chapter [in this quiz](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-four-five-questions)! 
Also, did you know that the Hogwarts school motto is ‘Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus’? It means ‘Never tickle a sleeping dragon’. Use the wizarding school’s motto to [play Scholastic’s Magical Motto word game](https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/parents/Printables/PDFs/harry-potter-magical-motto-word-game.pdf)! And for those who’ve visited the wizarding world before – [read more about ‘The Keeper of the Keys’ as we look at one pivotal character who features in the chapter](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/web-the-stranger-with-the-pink-umbrella), a certain Mr Rubeus Hagrid.

## Chapter Five – ‘Diagon Alley’
__Readers:__ Simon Callow, Bonnie Wright and Evanna Lynch

__What’s it about?__ Simon Callow, Bonnie Wright and Evanna Lynch introduce us to Diagon Alley, where Harry goes on the most magical shopping trip of his life. [Watch the chapter here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-diagon-alley).

__More at home fun:__ Once you’ve finished watching or listening to Chapter Five, you can collect house points with our fifth [Chapter Challenge](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-philosophers-stone-chapter-challenge-five-diagon-alley), as well as test your knowledge of the chapter [in this quiz](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-five-five-questions)! 
For those who’ve visited the wizarding world before – [read more about ‘Diagon Alley’ as we debate which wizarding shopping district we prefer](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/which-is-better-diagon-alley-or-hogsmeade): Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade? You can also watch this video Bloomsbury have kindly provided of illustrator [Jim Kay talking about designing Diagon Alley](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx2peN6D264) here, as well as [download a colouring activity](https://hpmedia.bloomsbury.com/rep/files/hpbn-event-kit-colouring-in-diagon-alley.pdf). Plus, you can learn how to make your own wand with [Scholastic’s crafting activity here](https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/parents/Printables/PDFs/harry-potter-make-your-own-wand-printable.pdf)!

## Chapter Six - ‘The Journey from Platform Nine and Three Quarters’
__Readers:__  Jamie Parker, with Broadway cast members of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

__What’s it about?__ Jamie Parker, and the Broadway Cursed Child cast, delight with a dramatised reading of the journey to Hogwarts. Prepare for spells, toads and Chocolate Frogs! [Watch the chapter here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-journey-from-platform-nine-and-three-quarters).

__More at home fun:__ Once you’ve finished watching or listening to Chapter Six, you can collect house points with our sixth [Chapter Challenge](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-philosophers-stone-chapter-challenge-six-journey-platform-nine), as well as test your knowledge of the chapter [in this quiz](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-six-five-questions)! 
To learn more about the entire cast of readers you see and hear reading this chapter, [check out this article](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/guide-to-cursed-child-readers-for-chapter-six). Plus, can you spot the differences between these two illustrations of platform nine and three-quarters? [Click here to have some fun with this activity provided by Bloomsbury](https://hpmedia.bloomsbury.com/rep/files/spot-the-difference.pdf)! And click [here for the answers](https://images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/6HXVXAVeDhIvrzkKp410aB/329635cd8d1da1d9522e8de9d74b40ac/spot_difference.png)! And finally, for those who’ve visited the wizarding world before – [read more about how the famous magical platform perfectly represents the passage of time throughout the books](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/web-passing-through-time-platform-nine-three-quarters).

## Chapter Seven – ‘The Sorting Hat’
__Readers:__ Olivia Colman, with Jonathan Van Ness and Kate McKinnon

__What’s it about?__ Olivia Colman, with Jonathan Van Ness and Kate McKinnon, introduce us to the Sorting Hat. But which Hogwarts house will it choose for the Boy Who Lived? [Watch the chapter here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-sorting-hat).

__More at home fun:__ Once you’ve finished watching or listening to Chapter Seven, you can collect house points with our seventh [Chapter Challenge](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-philosophers-stone-chapter-challenge-seven-the-sorting-hat), as well as test your knowledge of the chapter [in this quiz](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-seven-five-questions)! 
Did you know each house at Hogwarts has a crest which features a particular animal? Colour in the crests and make four house-inspired door hangers, with [this activity sheet provided by Scholastic](https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/parents/Printables/PDFs/scholastic-harry-potters-color-house-crest.pdf). And our friends at Bloomsbury have come up with a brilliant way to make cakes inspired by the Sorting Ceremony. You can [watch the video they made for Harry Potter Book Night celebrations here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPCOz2xuwL8&feature=youtu.be). For those who’ve visited the wizarding world before – [read more about the Sorting Hat’s interesting choices here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/the-harry-potter-characters-whose-hogwarts-houses-are-up-for-debate), as we examine certain characters and their Hogwarts houses. 
Still don’t know which Hogwarts house you belong to? Join the Harry Potter Fan Club and [find out here!](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register)

## Chapter Eight – ‘The Potions Master’
__Reader:__ Alia Bhatt, with Alec Baldwin and his daughter Carmen

__What’s it about?__ Alia Bhatt, with Alec Baldwin and his daughter Carmen, introduces us to Professor Snape’s Potions class. But he doesn’t seem to like Harry Potter at all… [Watch the chapter here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-potions-master).

__More at home fun:__ Once you’ve finished watching or listening to Chapter Eight, you can collect house points with our eighth [Chapter Challenge](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-philosophers-stone-chapter-challenge-eight-the-potions-master), as well as test your knowledge of the chapter [in this quiz](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-eight-five-questions)! 
Now you’ve met the Potions master, how about colouring him in? Our friends at Bloomsbury have kindly provided [this colouring activity and you can find it here](https://hpmedia.bloomsbury.com/rep/files/professor-snape-colour-in.pdf). And Scholastic have provided an imaginative activity that helps you create your very own Hogwarts student profile. [Click here to start!](https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/parents/Printables/PDFs/scholastic-harry-potters-hogwarts-student-fill-in.pdf) For those who’ve visited the wizarding world before – [we’re thinking about the subtle science and exact art of potion-making a little more](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/wizarding-world-potions-we-want-in-real-life) alongside this chapter. Which magical concoction would you love to try in real-life?

## Chapter Nine – ‘The Midnight Duel’
__Reader:__ Alison Sudol and Dan Fogler

__What’s it about?__ Alison Sudol and Dan Fogler and narrate Harry’s first flying lesson, as well as a midnight adventure in the castle, where he meets a rather unusual dog. [Watch the chapter here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-midnight-duel)

__More at home fun:__ Once you’ve finished watching or listening to Chapter Nine, you can collect house points with our ninth [Chapter Challenge](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-philosophers-stone-chapter-challenge-nine-the-midnight-duel), as well as test your knowledge of the chapter [in this quiz](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-nine-five-questions)! 
For those who’ve visited the wizarding world before, [enjoy our ranking of all the wizarding world dogs](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/celebrating-the-best-dogs-of-the-wizarding-world), seeing as a certain canine makes their debut appearance in this chapter. And since you’ve spent a little time at Hogwarts with Harry and his friends, [how about challenging yourself with Bloomsbury’s Hogwarts wordsearch](https://hpmedia.bloomsbury.com/rep/files/hogwarts-wordsearch-answers.pdf)? But there’s more – Harry and his fellow first-years have their first flying lesson in Chapter Nine, so Scholastic have provided a fun Madam Hooch-inspired crafting activity.[ Learn how to make your very own broomstick bookmark here!](https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/parents/Printables/PDFs/scholastic-harry-potter-broomstick-bookmark-printable.pdf)

## Chapter Ten – ‘Hallowe-en’
__Reader:__ Whoopi Goldberg

__What’s it about?__ Whoopi Goldberg introduces us to the rules of Quidditch, as well as the Hallowe’en feast, where an unwelcome visitor causes havoc in the castle. [Watch the chapter here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-halloween)

__More at home fun:__ Once you’ve finished watching or listening to Chapter Ten, you can collect house points with our tenth [Chapter Challenge](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-philosophers-stone-chapter-challenge-ten-halloween), as well as test your knowledge of the chapter [in this quiz](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-ten-five-questions)! 
Then how about a crossword challenge? Now you know a lot more about Harry Potter, Hogwarts and magic, [try this word puzzle kindly provided by Scholastic here](https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/parents/Printables/PDFs/scholastic-harry-potter-kings-crossword-puzzle-printable.pdf)! And you once you’re done, you can [find the answers here](https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/parents/Printables/PDFs/scholastic-harry-potter-crossword-answer-key.pdf). For those who’ve visited the wizarding world before – today we’re thinking about Hallowe’en, a hugely important date in Harry’s life. [Find out about other eventful Hallowe’ens in the Harry Potter books here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/why-halloween-was-so-important-for-harry-potter).

## Chapter Eleven – ‘Quidditch’
__Reader:__ David Tennant, with David Beckham

__What’s it about?__ David Tennant, with David Beckham, narrates Harry’s first Quidditch match against Slytherin. But catching the Snitch soon becomes the least of Harry’s worries. [Watch the chapter here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-quidditch)

__More at home fun:__ Once you’ve finished watching or listening to Chapter Eleven, you can collect house points with our eleventh [Chapter Challenge](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/harry-potter-philosophers-stone-chapter-challenge-eleven-quidditch), as well as test your knowledge of the chapter [in this quiz](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quiz/chapter-quiz-chapter-eleven-five-questions)! 
For those who’ve visited the wizarding world before – if you were a Quidditch player, which position would you like to be in? [We’ve put together this handy guide with our recommendations](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/which-quidditch-position-would-be-right-for-you).
As you will have heard in Chapter Eleven, Quidditch matches get very competitive at Hogwarts with students supporting their own house teams. How about coming up with your own Quidditch cheer for your Hogwarts house? [Try it here with Scholastic’s activity sheet to help you](https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/parents/Printables/PDFs/scholastic-harry-potter-quidditch-cheer-printable.pdf)! 
			
                                  ***

That’s all for now, but be sure to check out the [Chapters page on WizardingWorld.com](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters) for new chapters coming very soon. And if you’re keen for more [Harry Potter At Home](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/harry-potter-at-home) activities, you can find our [Crafting Magic hub here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/crafting-magic), as well as the [First Year Challenges hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/first-year-challenges) – full of quizzes and puzzles – and the [First Year Readers hub here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/first-year-readers), which is packed with articles for first-time readers.

__Illustration by Mary GrandPré © Scholastic__


Play our Hogwarts lessons crossword 

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Divination, Potions, Herbology... there's a Hogwarts class for all walks of magic. Even Ancient Runes, which is still a bit of an enigma to us. Oh well, let's hope it doesn't come up in today's crossword, all about Harry's lessons.

<iframe width="550" height="700" allowtransparency="true" style="background: #FFFFFF" src="
https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/crossword/20200618/00022/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Visit our puzzles section to enjoy more challenges](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles) or visit the Wizarding World app. More puzzles for Gold subscribers can also be found there! 

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Make your own Cornish pixie light up jar

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*‘The pixies were electric blue and about eight inches high, with pointed faces and voices so shrill it was like listening to a lot of budgies arguing. The moment the cover had been removed, they had started jabbering and rocketing around, rattling the bars and pulling bizarre faces at the people nearest them.’*

Professor Lockhart set these Cornish pixies loose in a Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson! And unfortunately, he didn’t seem to know the spell to get them back into their cage. The lesson ended with Lockhart fleeing the classroom – after asking Harry, Ron and Hermione to sort them out for him!

We’re sure you’ll be much more careful when you’re creating this light up jar containing your very own Cornish pixie craft. But just remember not to underestimate this magical creature like Dean Thomas did! Watch the video and download the Cornish pixie templates below ...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uooLsza6ToU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Template 1 - you can save this image and make it bigger or smaller to fit your own jar!

![cornish-pixie-template-1](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/7cL9b8X1Plmf8ymMdEOzHI/b0e3287d49196f579ce78e64a55563ce/Approved_Cornish_Pixies_Silhouette_Artboard01_copy.jpg)

Template 2 - you can save this image and make it bigger or smaller to fit your own jar!

![cornish-pixie-template-2](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/7uuFs35aTFxaqxIQPwrRf0/dbad76997e892779149aba0c776b6996/Approved_Cornish_Pixies_Silhouette_Artboard02_copy.jpg)


For more of our arts and crafts videos, check out our [Crafting Magic page](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/crafting-magic "Crafting Magic"), as well as our [Wizarding World YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChPRO1CB_Hvd0TvKRU62iSQ "Youtube"). 

And for even more stay at home fun, check out our [Harry Potter At Home hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/harry-potter-at-home "HPAH hub"), and bring the magic to you!
